My economic agenda, by Buhari

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62809

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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

From left: Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Francesco Angelone; Etisalat Prize for Literature Judge, Molara Woods; Winner, 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature, Fiston Mwanza Mujila; Zukiswa Wanner, Prof. Ato Quayson and the Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher with the cheque presented to Mujila at the awards ceremony in Lagos.

Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

No more polls in Rivers until peace reigns —INEC 8

My economic agenda, by Buhari

Says power situation in Nigeria no longer funny Assures of 10,000 megawatts by 2019 Lauds campaign for made-in-Nigeria products Nigerians spend $1bn yearly on medical tourism

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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B U J A — PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, unfolded his economic agenda, which revolves around power, agriculture, housing and promotion of made-inNigeria goods, saying the power situation in the country was no longer acceptable.

He said because of the role power plays in all other sectors of the economy, his administration would concentrate on how to increase power generation by at least 2,000 Mega Watts before the end of year.

According to him, the power situation will definitel y affect the

Continues on Page 5

New cover prices Due to skyrocketing prices of newsprint and printing consumables, we have come to the painful conclusion to slightly raise our cover prices beginning Monday, March 28, 2016 as follows: Monday-Friday— N200 Saturday —N250 Sunday — N250

RETREAT—President Muhammadu Buhari (r) being received by the Chairman, Governors' Forum, Governor Abdulaziz

Yari of Zamfara State, while Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (M) looks on as the President arrived to declare open the National Economic Council Retreat at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

RMAFC, AuGF disagree on NNPC N4.9trn ‘unremitted' revenue COLUMNIST:

NUT, SUBEB at daggers drawn over audit of Equality bill and teachers in Cross River Nigeria's clash of See Inside civilisations •P.17

— Management

Mr & Mrs

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PIB to be presented to NASS next week — SARAKI 16 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON interest is safe-guarded.

“Government to fasttrack completion of pipelines from gas points to power stations and provide more security to protect gas and oil pipelines.

Power companies should be encouraged to replace obsolete equipment and improve the quality of service and technicians," the president said.

Agriculture

From left: Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, Governor of Niger State; Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State and Moses Ekpo, Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State at the National Economic Council retreat in Abuja, yesterday.

My economic agenda on power, agric, others, by Buhari Continues from Page 1 change agenda of the present administration, if it persists.

The President said his administration would do everything necessary to increase power generation and distribution from its present status of about 1,500 to 3,500 megawatts, with additional 2000 before the end of the year as a way of halting the ripple effects on the economy.

But giving high hopes on the power sector, the President stated that before his government wound up in 2019, he would achieve a historic 10,000 megawatts of electricity.

The promise was contained in a keynote address which he presented at the opening ceremony of a two-day summit of the National

Economic Council, NEC, in Abuja.

The President, who noted that the theme of the summit, "Nigerian States: Multiple Centers of Prosperity", was apt, identified five key areasagriculture, power, manufacturing, housing and healthcare as challenges the Council must prioritize.

President Buhari also expressed misgivings over the privatization of the power sector in the country, saying the process was more profitoriented than a thing of public interest.

He stated that the sector was yet to show the gains of the privatization programme as quality of service was still in a sorry state, adding that being an ongoing process, it must be completed.

Power situation

IT'S UP TO YOU

W

BY AYO ADIO

ITH faith, discipline and selfless devotion to duty, there is nothing worthwhile you cannot achieve. It's up to you.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor—Jackson Brown Jr.

Y

OUR life is a golden opportunity. This moment is the perfect time to make positive changes and to take action upon your dreams. Divine timing also means having patience with the process, especially if other people’s free will choices are involved. Stay focused and positive; it will help you lose fears or control issues which could be limiting in the process of making your dreams a reality.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE A woman with a large buttocks will realise what has happened to her when the race for survival begins.

unacceptable

He said: “Nigerians’ favourite talking point and butt of jokes is the power situation in our country. But ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer a laughing matter. We must and by the grace of God we will put things right.

"In the three years left for this administration, we have given ourselves the target of 10,000 megawatts distributable power. In 2016 alone, we intend to add 2,000 megawatts to the national grid.

“This sector has been privatized but has yet to show any improvement in the quality of service.

Common public complaints are constant power cuts destroying economic activity and affecting quality of life; high electricity bills, despite power cuts; low supply of gas to power plants due to vandalism by terrorists; obsolete power distribution equipment such as transformers; power fluctuations, which damage manufacturing equipment and household appliances; low voltage which cannot run industrial machinery.

“These are some of the problems, which defied successive governments.

In our determination to change, we must and will, insha Allah, put a stop to power shortages.

“Key points to look at here are: Privatization.

We are facing the classic dilemma of privatization: Public interest Vs Profit Motive. Having started, we must complete the process. But National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the regulatory authority, has a vital job to ensure consumers get value for money and overall public

On agriculture, the President noted with dismay the high cost of food items, saying government must play active role in achieving food production and selfsufficiency.

He also observed that commercial banks had no meaningful credit facilities for the agriculture sector, asking them to increase their lending to the sector.

He said: “On agriculture today, both the peasant and the mechanized farmers agree with the general public that food production and selfsufficiency require urgent government action. For too long, government policies on agriculture have been half-hearted, suffering from inconsistencies and discontinuities.

“Yet our real wealth is in farming, livestock, hatcheries, fishery, horticulture and forestry.

From the information available to me, the issues worrying the public today are: Rising food prices, such as maize, corn, rice and gari, lack of visible impact of government presence on agriculture, lack of agricultural inputs at affordable prices. Cost of fertilizers, pesticide and labour compound the problems of farming.

Extension services are virtually absent in several states.

“Imports of subsidized food products such as rice and poultry discourage the growth of domestic agriculture. Wastage of locally grown foods, notably fruits and vegetables which go bad due to lack of even moderate scale agroprocessing factories and lack of feeder roads.

“These problems I have enumerated are by no means exhaustive and some of the solutions I am putting forward are not necessarily the final word on our agricultural reform objectives: “First, we need to carry the public with us for new initiatives. Accordingly, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the states should convene early meetings of stakeholders and identify issues with a view to addressing them.

“Inform the public in all print and electronic media on government efforts to increase local food production to dampen escalating food prices.

“Banks should be leaned upon to substantially increase their lending to the agricultural sector.

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should bear part of the risk of such loans as a matter of national policy.

“States should increase their financial support through community groups. The appropriate approach should be through leaders of community groups such as farmers cooperatives.

“Provision of feeder roads by state governments to enable more effective evacuation of produce to markets and processing factories.”

Manufacturing

On manufacturing, President Buhari felt grieved that many industries were having the challenges of accessing foreign exchange to buy their raw materials.

Noting that the situation was a phase, he also identified inadequate infrastructure, power, roads, security, high cost of borrowing money, lack of long term funding as factors militating against manufacturing in Nigeria.

As a way of surmounting the problems, President Buhari said: “The infrastructure Development Fund should be fast-tracked to unlock resources so that infrastructural deficiencies can be addressed.

“Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should create more incentives and ease credit terms for lending to manufacturers. A fresh campaign to patronize Made-in-Nigeria goods should be launched.

Example, all uniforms in government-sponsored institutions should be sourced from local factories,” he said.

Housing

On housing, President Buhari said there was housing deficit in Nigeria, lamenting, however, that the plan by his party, the All progressives Congress, AP C, to build 250,000 housing units might not be realized.

He said: “Some estimates put Nigeria’s housing deficit at about 16

million units. In our successful campaign to win the general elections last year, our party, the APC, promised to build a million housing units a year. This will turn out to be a very tall order unless, the Federal Government builds 250,000 units. The 22 APC States together manage another 250,000 units.

“We invite foreign investors together with local domiciled big construction companies to enter into commercial housing building to pick up the rest.”

The President also noted that “severe shortage of housing, high rents, unaffordable prices for prospective buyers, especially middle and low-income earners”, in addition to “ red tape, corruption and plain public service inefficiency lead to long delays in obtaining ownership of title documents.” Others were the huddles faced in actualizing meaningful housing scheme for all.

Health

President Buhari, while speaking on health as prerequisite for economic development, revealed that a whopping sum of $1 billion was being spent

by Nigerians for medical treatment abroad.

He said: “In my inauguration speech last May, I remarked that the whole field of Medicare in our country needed government attention.

Dirty hospitals! (Few sights are more upsetting than a dirty hospital), inadequate equipment, poorly trained nursing staff, overcrowding. The litany of shortcomings is almost endless.

“Sound health system is part of the prerequisites for economic development. Nigerians travel abroad, spending an estimated One Billion US Dollars annually to get medical treatment.

Despite huge oil revenues the nation’s health sector remains undeveloped.”

In attacking the challenges of the sector, the president stated that there should be more funding for health centres to improve service delivery."

6 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MARCH 22 , 2016

Pop singer, Nomoreloss is dead

By Kehinde Ajose

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A G O S — M U LT I TALENTED singer and comedian, Olumuyiwa Osinuga popularly known as Nomoreloss is dead.

Nomoreloss, who is known for his hit songs, ‘Iyawo Asiko’ and ‘Let Them Say” died yesterday morning at an undisclosed hospital in Opebi, Lagos.

The talented singer was said to have been diagnosed with Typhoid fever.

Confirming the news of his death, the singer’s manager, Joyce Ize Iyamu said: “The news is true, but I don’t have all the details yet. The family will make an official statement disclosing what happened.”

Although the cause of his death is yet to be ascertained, a source close to the deceased said, he has been sick since the beginning of the year.

Nomoreloss hit the limelight in 2002, after he featured in Ruggedman’s classic cut ‘Ehen’. Prior to that, he was a presenter on the music TV show ‘Groovoidz.’

In 2006, he released his debut album, ‘Let Them Say’, and in 2015, he released his 'Grass to Grace' song. He wrote Jaywon’s hit song, ‘This Year’, in 2012. In 2014, he dropped the albums; ‘Standing, and ‘Then and Now.’ Many of his colleagues have been expressing their condolences through their social media handles.

He will be greatly remembered for his priceless role as the coordinator of the Save OJB Campaign during OJB’s kidney crisis.

Late Nomoreloss

Court orders robbery czar, Million, 12 others remanded

By Ifeanyi Okolie

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AGOS—THIRTEEN robbery suspects linked to Lekki, Ikorodu, Agbara and Festac bank robberies, were yesterday remanded in prison custody by an Ebute -Meta Magistrate Court.

The suspects who were arrested separately by operatives of the Inspector General of Police, IGP’s Special Intelligence Response Team, IRT, in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Oyo and Rivers States, were brought before Chief Magistrate,

O.I Adelaja, in a nine count charge bordering on armed robbery, murder, attempted murder and illegal possession of fire arms.

The gang was allegedly led by a robbery czar known in the underworld as Million One of the charges read: That you Clement Abanara, Aka Million, Denis Njoku Blessing Olotu Sunday Owoloko, John Sobijoh, Idowu sobijoh, Akiritempate Joseph, Opeyemi Balogun , Olamilekan Moronkeji, Ayodeji Fanileye, Michael Adebayo ,Ahmed Monsuru, Daniel Ukaeju and others at large

DINNER AND AWARDS: A cross section of the University of Benin, Lagos Branch's Executive Council cutting its dinner cake during the 86th National Council Meeting, Dinner and Awards in Lagos weekend.

Queens College mgt defends teacher accused of sexual harassment positive things about the man.

By Esther Onyegbula

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AGOS—FOLLOWING the alleged molestation and sexual harassment of a Junior Secondary School, JSS2 student, the Management of Queens College Lagos has exonerated the accused teacher, Mr Olaseni Osifala, a Biology teacher, saying the propaganda was targeted primarily at the school’s reputation.

A statement by the school Principal, Mrs Lami Amodu, said that the allegation is an attempt to ridicule, not just Osifala, but the “hard-earned reputation” of Queens College.

The Principal statement read: “I have zero tolerance for such behaviour. I have a daughter who

schools here, even before I became the Principal. I will not take chances.

“As I speak, no single parent has come to me or any of my VicePrincipals to report the teacher as a molester. I assure you that if the allegation was true, other parents would have been buzzing our lines non-stop. ‘’Children spread gossip fast.

They would have told their parents or relations if anyone was molesting them here. No parent would have taken such news lightly. ”When this news reached me, I summoned an emergency meeting of all the critical stakeholders. We all discussed before inviting Osifala. ‘’Every one of my staff said

Court adjourns Judge’s contract breach suit against airline

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till May 12 to hear a suit by a Lagos High Court judge, Mrs Oke Lawal, against Air France airline, over breach of contract.

The judge alongside her husband, Chief Bayo Lawal, had sued Air France-KLM, claiming C M Y K

between the month of March 2015 and October 2015 at Ishawo Creek, in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit Felony to wit: armed robbery and murder and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 295 (2) and 231 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The lead prosecuting counsel, CSP Eno-Edobor Aidenoge filed an expert motion before the court asking that the suspects be remanded in prison custody pending when the Department of Public Prosecution DPP, gives its advice on their prosecution.

the sum of N30 million as damages for breach of contract of carriage by airline.

The plaintiffs are claiming the sum as compensation for anguish and mental distress they both suffered as a result of the breach of the contract.

At the hearing in the matter, Mr Afolabi Kuti announced appearance for the plaintiff, while Mr Sylvester Elema announced

appearance for the defendant.

Counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that parties were still exploring settlement options.

He said that the defendants had made an offer, while the plaintiffs made a counter offer, which the defendants were still considering.

Consequently, Justice Saidu adjourned the case to May 12 for either report of settlement or trial.

In their statement of claim, the

Of course they were all here (Queens College) before me, so they are qualified to assess members of staff properly.”

According to Amodu: ''There was a campaign of calumny against Osifala, who happens to be the best teacher in our school.''

Ruling, Adelaja ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody and their case file transferred to the DPP pending when it advises.

Court assumes jurisdiction in suit against Eko Atlantic Dredgers

By Innocent Anaba

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AGOS—A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, held that Mondivest Ltd had a locus standi to maintain an action against Eko Atlantic project dredgers, for damages caused to the Kuramo Waters.

Trial judge, Justice Jude Dagat in his ruling on a preliminary objection in challenging the suit, held that the plaintiff has the locus standi to bring the action.

The plaintiff in the suit is claiming the sum of N2 billion as general damages on its property due to the dredging.

It will be recalled that the plaintiff had filed the suit, claiming the sum as damages suffered as a result of the defendants activities on the Kuramo waters.

The defendants are M.V. Breughel (sister vessel to M.V. Congo River), the Master of the M.V. Breughel and Dredging Environmental and Marine Engineering NV. The defendants in a preliminary objection, urged the court to dismiss the suit seeking to stop it, on the grounds that the plaintiff lacked jurisdiction to institute same. But the court held that the plaintiff had a good cause of action.

Court dismisses ex-NIMASA boss' application challenging jurisdiction

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—JUSTICE Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere yesterday dismissed the preliminary objections filed by a former Director-General of Nigeria Maritime Administration Safety Agency, NIMASA Patrick Akpobolokemi and two others challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC over alleged stealing of N754,740,680.00 million belonging to NIMASA, for lack of merit.

The embattled former NIMASA, DG, was arraigned on January 25, before the Court alongside Captain Ezekiel Agaba, Ekene Nwakuche, Governor Amechee

Juan, Vincent Udoye, Captain Adegboyega Sahib Olopoenia and a company, Gama Marine Nigeria Limited on a 13-count charge bordering on stealing of N754, 740,680 million belonging to NIMASA. Akpobolokemi had through his counsel, Dr. Joseph Nwobike, SAN, filed a notice of preliminary objection dated February 12 challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.

He argued that by virtue of the provisions of Section 251 (1) (a) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution only the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over matters and cases arising from, pertaining to and or is connected with the revenue of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its agencies.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 7

Residents hail proposed Sango-Ijoko LCDA in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — RESIDENTS of Sango and Ijoko yesterday held a peaceful procession to commend Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun over the proposed Sango-Ijoko Local Government Council Development Area (LCDA) to be created soon.

The procession, which comprised market women, youths, traditional rulers and religious groups, said the LCDA when legislated into existence, would set them free from an alleged “longstanding political enslavement” by the OtaAwori-Yewa people.

They, however, said the creation of Sango-Ijoko LCDA by the Governor could only be made complete if the prolong boundary injustice against them by their neighbours , is resolved to redeem them from the shackles of domination.

Lagos community protests deplorable road

By Ediri Ejoh & Bartholomew Madukwe

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AGOS—RESIDENTS of Dillion Street, in the Kirikiri axis of Lagos yesterday protested the poor state of the road.

Protesters who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity, lamented the difficulties members of the community are facing due to the bad road.

Inscriptions on some the placards carried read; “Help our road; A cry for help; Give us good roads; Where is our tax going?; Is this still government for the People?”

Urging a sense of urgency on the roads, the residents noted that if action is delayed it would be disastrous during coming rainy season.

One of the residents, Chief Sunday Ifeayichukwu, a spare parts dealer, on his part said, “Since 10 years ago, this road has been bad. We have lost a lot to this road. When it rains, customers find it difficult to come to this area to trade with us. It is difficult for my family to attend church at St. Paul.”

...As LCDA assures of repairs soon

Meanwhile, an official at the LCDA maintained that work will commence soon, adding that instructions have been given in that regard.

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No to State of Emergency in Rivers, Ekiti states — FAYOSE

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA—GOVERNOR Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has said that the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers or his own State would not be acceptable.

The governor who spoke to State House Correspondents at the end of the opening ceremony of the National Economic Council Summit at the Old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja was reacting to the outcome of the National Assembly/State House rerun elections in the state.

Fayose condemned what he called the “militarization” of state during elections, saying that what happened in Rivers was a pointless display of ego.

“They have been insinuating that too in Ekiti. We have been waiting for them. Power has gone beyond the leaders, power has gone back to the people.

“There are certain things leaders will do today, you will eat it tomorrow.

“You want to declare state of emergency, declare it and we will tell you that the state of emergency will not work too. This country belongs to all of us.”

The governor also condemned the election in its entirety, calling for transparency.

He also expressed displeasure over the detention of Ekiti State Lawmaker by the Department of State Security, DSS. “I want to condemn the election in Rivers State. I want to condemn the militarization.

“Like I said to some people yesterday, if in Ekiti election nobody was slapped, nobody died, the person defeated congratulated the winner, do we now call this Rivers election Rivers of Blood?

“Because for a peaceful election in Ekiti and this in Rivers, the military has got no business in our election.

“Now, I want to say that if you watch the trend, PDP has always

PRESENTATION: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (2nd right); his Deputy, Mrs Titi LaoyeTomori (2nd left); Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye (left); Director General Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), office of the Governor, Femi Faturoti, during a recent presentation on Cocoa Development Plan for the State of Osun, at the Governor Office, Exco Lounge Abere, Osogbo. won all the elections after the annulment, which means what happened in Rivers is just a service of ego of some individuals who believe they have Nigeria in their pockets.

They can call the president at will to deploy the military and it’s unfortunate that somebody would allow the military to kill his own people.

“I strongly condemn the elections in Rivers and charge that we sustain the legacy of transparent elections.

“For me in Ekiti, we learned

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SOGBO—OSUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday urged federal government to speak up on the financial status of Osun state and why the state has been getting least allocation in the last six months.

In a statement issued yesterday by the PDP’s spokesperson in the state, Prince Diran Odeyemi, the Party said “Rather than keep on shielding Governor Aregbesola, The Ministry of Finance and Debt Management Office (DMO) and other relevant

Ekiti youths protest continued detention of lawmaker

Meantime, youths in Ekiti under the aegis of the National Youths Council (NYC), Ekiti State chapter, yesterday staged a peaceful protest against what they described as unlawful , continued detention of Honourable Afolabi Akanni, lawmaker representing Efon constituency at the Ekiti

State House of Assembly.

Many of the youths, who massed at the Fajuyi Park in AdoEkiti, the Ekiti State capital marched in peaceful protest to Oke-Isa, Ejigbo, and the Federal High Court, stopping at each vantage point to address the teeming crowd following them, arguing that the continued detention of Akanni since March 4, during the alleged invasion of Ekiti Assembly Complex by men of the Department of State Services, (DSS), is not only illegal but a deliberate slap on the constitution of Nigeria.

Tarfa asks court to quash EFCC charge against him

By Onozure Dania

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AGOS—THE embattled Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rickey Tarfa, yesterday asked a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere, to quash the criminal charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The defendant is facing a twocount charge bordering on

N6.2M ALLOCATION: FG, Min of Finance must speak up — OSUN PDP

By Gbenga Olarinoye

from that and we are prepared.

We prepare for elections everyday and we are fully prepared.

agencies of government must explain to Nigerians why Osun got a paltry N6.2 million out of N2.4 billion due to the state.

But the All Progressives Congress, APC, also called on all public-spirited men and women in the state to contribute ideas to solving the economic crisis ravaging the country and the state, rather than indulging in “self-defeatist criticism” of the Rauf Aregbesola-led APC government of the state.

This call was contained in a statement made available to the media by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi.

obstructing officers of law to carry out their official duty and attempt to pervert the course of justice.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, yesterday Tarfa through his counsel, Mr A. G Owonikoko (SAN), urged the court to quash the charge on the grounds that the EFCC had no right to prosecute any general criminal offences outside economic and financial crimes.

Owonikoko told the court said that the case Tarfa is being tried for was already before the Court of Appeal and therefore constitute an abuse of court processes and should be quashed.

He said that by the virtue of Section 286 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2004, the EFCC could not be a complainant, an investigator and at the same time a prosecutor.

He, however submitted that for EFCC to be the investigator and prosecuting the same case, “The filing of this charge is a clear case of abuse of court process, therefore the proper order is to dismiss the charge”.

Responding to the argument, the counsel to EFCC, Mr G. K. Latona, urged the court to disregard the submission of the defendant.

He said that an existence of a civil appeal does not have any

relation with this particular case, adding that the Federal Republic of Nigeria was not a party to the case before the appeal court.

Latona further argued that the EFCC did not abuse court processes.

However, Justice Ashiat Opesanwo adjourned the matter till April 20 for ruling on the application and for a possible trial.

Youths protest Osun new LCDA hqtr location

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—THE lawmaker representing Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin Federal Constituency of Osun state in the House of Representatives, Hon. Yinka Ajayi was weekend at the palace of Olona of Ada attacked by irate youths protesting the location of the headquarters of the new Boripe North Local Council Development Area in Iree.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola recently in a state broadcast announced the creation of new 31 LCDAs from the existing 30 local government areas in the state.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Voters waiting to cast their votes during the rerun elections, in Rivers State, Saturday.

No more elections in Rivers until peace returns —INEC Military plotting to declare state of emergency — Wike Wike is turning Rivers to another Somalia — APC Hold INEC, security agencies responsible —PDP

By Jimitota Onoyume, Kingsley Omonobi, Henry Umoru, Ben Agande & Omeiza Ajayi

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ORT HARCOURT— THE Independent National Electoral Commssion, INEC, has said that it will not return to Rivers until the state is conducive to conduct elections.

The INEC spoke as the heavy shootings that characterised weekend’s federal and some state legislative re-run elections in Rivers, yesterday, petered out and became a verbal warfare among stakeholders in the polls as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, traded blames over the issue.

We won’t return to Rivers until there is peace – INEC

Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, revealed that INEC had scheduled a meeting for tomorrow to review the situation in Rivers, adding: "I don’t want to pre-empt anything ahead of the Wednesday meeting."

Citing widespread irregularities, the commission annulled the election in eight local government areas and also suspended collation of results after declaring few results.

In an interview in Abuja with The Cable, yesterday, OsazeUzzi also said the commission would investigate the allegations levelled against it during the election. He said the decision on when the remaining results of the election would announced would be taken at the meeting.

Military plotting to declare state of C M Y K

emergency — Wike

Apart from attacking the APC, Governor Nyesom Wike accused the military of orchestrating violence in the elections as part of a plot to declare a state of emergency in the state.

The governor, who said no official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has power to cancel results already declared by the electoral umpire, stated that the government had video evidence of the ignoble role of soldiers during the elections.

Wike, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, said: “We have videos of the atrocities committed by the military across Rivers State. We shall release them at the appropriate time. There is an attempt to cause violence to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.”

He said the APC was not prepared for the elections, noting that it concentrated on propaganda instead of relating with the people for the elections.

This came as the Rivers APC called for the arrest of Wike over the alleged assassination attempt on Dr Dakuku Peterside and others and cancellations of the polls. just as the Rivers PDP attributed the cancellation of the election in parts of the state to use of fake electoral materials.

Hold INEC, security agencies responsible – PDP

The national leadership of the PDP said the INEC and security agencies should be held responsible, if there is a break down of law and order in Rivers State as a result of the failure of the commission

to declare the results of last Saturday’s election.

In a statement, yesterday, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the conduct of polls fell short of the standard expected in view of the preparations put into it.

Th position of the party came on the heels of a warning by the National Vice Chairman, South of the party, Dr Cairo Ojuogboh, that attempt by the APC to manipulate the outcome of elections would have dire consequences on the country.

Metuh noted that it was disappointing that since Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu’s appointment as chairman of the INEC, he had not been able to conduct any conclusive election in few constituencies and states so far and wondered what would be the case when the entire country is involved.

He said: “Also grossly unacceptable is the shoddy work by security operatives leading to escalation of violence, avoidable deaths and eventual cancellation of election results in eight local government areas of the state."

On his part, Ojuogboh called on the APC-led Federal Government to allow Wike run the state government, saying after four years, he will be accountable to the people of Rivers State.

He said: "The entire idea of trying to take over the Rivers State House of Assembly by force by rigging the elections so that the lawmakers can oppose Wike in governance is a badly thoughout idea. So we employ the Federal Government and the APC to advise the APC Rivers state to thread cautiously, because peace has no alternative. If you do not prepare for peace, what you prepare for is war."

Also, the Rivers PDP said it was unfortunate and shameful that despite all efforts and assurances from security agencies and all stakeholders prior to the polls, some APC desperate and agitated political office seekers still went on to connive with certain electoral officers and military personnel to smuggle in fake election materials with a view to rigging the election, leading to the cancellation of election in some parts of the state by the INEC. In a statement by Jerry Needam, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers State PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah, the party blamed the precarious situation on the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, whom he said had threatened to use any means possible to stop the ruling PDP government in the state from winning the election.

Wike turning Rivers to another Somalia – APC

Countering, the Rivers APC expressed outrage over the assassination attempt on the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the State APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, and the deputy governorship candidate of the party in the April 2015 elections, Asita O. Asita.

Describing as "outrageous, an affront and condemnable," the "brazen attempt to snuff out the lives of three key leaders of Rivers APC,“ the party in a statement held Governor Wike responsible for the assassination attempt.

It called on relevant security agencies to quickly arrest and interrogate him and to hasten to bring the full weight of the law on all those involved in the dastardly act.

The party, in the statement

by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, SSA Media and Public Affairs to the state Chairman, APC Rivers State, said: “We have often cried out about Wike’s bloodthirstiness but, unfortunately, nothing was done to keep him in check.

"Before last weekend’s state and National Assembly rerun elections in the state, we had openly cried out following Wike’s open threats on the lives of President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi. Those who thought we were shouting wolf where one does not exist now know better."

The Rivers APC lamented that Wike, in only 10 months in office, is fast turning Rivers State into another Somalia.

The party said: “He is attempting to dwarf other evil and satanic regimes such as those of Mobutu Sese Seko,

Emperor Jean Bedel Bokassa and Idi Amin Dada known for displaying optimum barbarism.

Wike now hunts his opponents like a game, with many beheaded, clubbed to death or buried alive like chicken."

Rivers APC call for cancellation of polls

This came as the Rivers APC called for outright cancellation of the rerun election in the 23 local government areas of the state, saying it was characterised by violence.

State chairman of the party, Dr Davies Ikanya, who spoke, yesterday, evening at the state secretariat of the party in Port Harcourt alleged that the Police connived with the PDP to manipulate the exercise.

Wike is wrong, we‘re out to ensure peace, order —Defence hqtrs

The Defence Headquarters, yesterday, debunked allegations

by Wike that the military orchestrated and supervised the violence that characterized the polls.

Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Rabe Abubakar, told Vanguard last night: “Our (military’s) presence in Niger Delta is not exclusively for election but to ensure peace and order in the region and to ensure protection of lives and property of Nigerians.

"We also have oversight functions of protecting pipelines and ensuring that illegal economic sabotage activities do not take place. Kidnapping, piracy are also challenges we are there to checkmate. So nobody can say we are tied down to any particular individual or certain group because of any election or interest.

Regarding the accusation of Governor Wike, Abubakar said: “We are not joining issues with any personality. We are extremely professional; we are trained to maintain peace and orderliness. We will never join issues with any Nigerian. We are for everybody. We will checkmate anybody or group that wants to perpetrate crime or violence because that is why we are there. We belong to all Nigerians and cannot belong to a selective few.”

NYSC loses corps member

Meantime, the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has announced the death of a corps member, Okonta Samuel, with call-up number RV/15B/5539, during the re-run elections.

Mr. Samuel, who served at GCSS Ukpeliede, was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

Vowing to assist in ensuring that the killers are fished out and brought to book, the NYSC prayed for the repose of his soul and for the family to have the fortitude to bear the loss.

NYSC also said two other corps members that were with the deceased at the time of the incident were rescued by security agents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—9

Nigeria spent N1.24trn on petrol imports in 2015 —NBS

By Michael Eboh

A

BUJA— NIGERIA spent N1.239 trillion on importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol in 2015, National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has revealed.

The NBS, in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the Fourth Quarter of 2015, stated that the amount spent on fuel import in 2015 represented an increase of 3.08 per cent or N37 billion when compared to the N1.202 trillion spent in the importation of fuel in 2014.

The 2015 figure also represented a 367.55 per cent increase or N974 billion higher than the 2013 fuel imports figure of N264.85 billion.

Giving a breakdown of the 2015 figures on a quarterly basis, the NBS disclosed that in the first quarter of 2015, the country spent N288.871 billion on the importation of petrol, while in the second quarter, the country spent N389.257 billion.

In the third quarter, the NBS said the country spent N250.329 billion; while in the fourth quarter, N310.866 billion was expended in the importation of petrol, which the NBS termed mineral fuel.

On a month-by-month basis, in the months of January to June, the country spent N49.2 billion; N105.973 billion; N133.697 billion; N139.237 billion; N133.793 billion and N116.227 billion respectively on the importation of petrol.

For the months of July to December 2015, N134.14 billion, N85.451 billion, N30.737 billion, N68.083 billion, N120.519 billion and N122.263 billion respectively were spent on the importation of petrol.

Furthermore, the report explained that the bulk of Nigeria’s PMS and other products imports were from Asia, as it spent N2.833 trillion on imports from the continent. Europe followed on the chart, as Nigeria imported goods valued at N2.502 trillion; while it spent N871.275 billion on imports from the Americas, and total imports from Africa stood at N420.379 billion, with ECOWAS countries accounting for N213.768 billion of trade in the continent.

Further breakdown of imports from Asia showed that Nigeria’s imports from Japan, India and China stood at N89.74 billion, N408.572 and N1.567 trillion respectively.

In the case of Europe, the NBS revealed that imports from Germany stood at N210.36 billion; United Kingdom (UK) accounted for N283.759 billion; Netherlands – N415.404 billion, while imports from Italy, France and Spain stood at N157.457 billion, N157.187 billion and N140.074 billion respectively.

In the Americas, Nigeria spent N581.996 billion, N49.725 billion and N171.462 billion on imports from United States of America (USA), Canada and Brazil respectively.

In addition, data from the report also pointed out that the country’s import from countries in Oceania stood at N71.133 billion in 2015.

However, the NBS stated: “The total value of Nigeria’s merchandise trade during the fourth quarter of 2015 stood at N3.653 trillion, 9.2 per cent lower than the value of N4.021 trillion recorded in the preceding quarter. For the 2015 calendar year, the country’s total

trade was recorded at N16.427 trillion, amounting to N7.252 trillion or 30.6 per cent less than the total trade value recorded for 2014.

“This development arose largely due to sharp decline in the value of exports; from N16.304 trillion in 2014 to N9.729 trillion in 2015, a decline of 40.3 per cent. A decrease of N676.4 billion or 9.2 per cent in the total imports in 2015 helped to mitigate the declining trade balance, which stood at N3.031 trillion, N5.899 trillion less than

the value in 2014.

“The crude oil component of total trade decreased by N4.946 trillion or 41.6 per cent as against the level recorded in 2014. The value of Nigeria’s imports stood at N1.576 trillion at the end of fourth quarter 2015. This was 6.6 per cent less than the value (N1.688 trillion) recorded in the preceding quarter. Comparison with the corresponding quarter of 2014, showed a decrease of N454.6 billion or 22.4 per cent.”

CONFERENCE: From left, Alhaji Maitama Sule; General Secretary, National Union of Textile Garment & Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, and former President, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, at the 11th national delegates conference of NUTGTWN, in Kano. Photo: Olu Ajayi.

NAF fighter jets pound terrorists’ base in Yobe Kill Boko Haram kingpin, 18 others As troops rescue 67 captives As Germany offers to help Nigeria tackle insurgency

By Kingsley Omonobi

A

BUJA— As part of the collective effort by the armed forces to expeditiously bring to an end the war against insurgency in the North-East, Nigerian Air Force Alpha jets last weekend successfully attacked suspected Boko Haram logistics base at Allagarno, killing one of the sect’s kingpins.

This came on a day German Deputy Defence Minister, Dr. Ralf Brauksiepe, during a visit to Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, in Abuja, said his country was on the side of Nigeria in its determination to curtail Boko Haram insurgents.

While congratulating the CDS for the tremendous success recorded in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East of Nigeria, Dr Brauksiepe also observed that the Nigerian Armed Forces had displayed exceptional competence and professionalism in the fight against insurgents and criminal elements in line with global best practices.

He said: “The German Defence budget in 2016 has increased and this is to ensure that Germany invests more in defence than it used to do in the past decades.

“As a result of this there is going to be growing engagements of German defence forces in Mali, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia and other countries.

“This is in realization of the fact Germany appreciates peace and abhors violent conflict that causes destruction and misery around the world, we as Germans have enjoyed the peace dividends since our unification hence our contribution to global peace.”

Director of Air Force Public Relations, Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa, who disclosed news of the rout of the insurgents, yesterday, in a statement said: “The target was selected after careful Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) by NAF Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle, UCAV. “The mission, that was carried out in support of surface forces to further degrade the fighting capacity of the remnants of the

insurgents, was successful.

The target was probably an ammunition depot, a fuel dump or a facility housing other combustible materials.

“This effort is likely to create certain logistics constraints for the terrorists along the Allagarno axis. This is a followup to other interdiction missions previously carried out in Sambisa forest, Kumshe, Iza and other suspected terrorists’ hide-outs.

Meanwhile, the army has said that elements of 22 Brigade Garrison carried out clearing operation at Dalore camp, Sunday, and killed19 Boko Haram terrorists, including Ameer of Dalore.

The army in a statement signed by Col. Sani Usman said: “The troops also captured two AK-47 rifles, one small machine gun and one hand grenade and recovered four pick-up vehicles.

“The troops also rescued 67 hostages from the terrorists.

The freed hostages are undergoing screening at Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Dikwa."

‘How W-African countries can tackle financial crimes’

By Grace Udofia

A

BUJA — INTERGOVERNMENT Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA, yesterday, called on Nigeria and other West African countries to adopt a risk-based approach in dealing with money laundering and terrorist financing.

Speaking at the preassessment training workshop organised for AML/CFT stakeholders in Abuja, Director General of GIABA, Mr. Adama Coulibally, also advised the countries to adopt appropriate measures to mitigate identified risks with another important aspect of the revised recommendations which relates to the emphasis on effectiveness.

Adama, who was represented by the Director of Administration and Finance, GIABA, Mr. Babacar Ndiaya, explained that combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and other related criminal activities was proving to be a challenge to governments around the world.

According to him, sophisticated methods are used to reintroduce the illegal proceeds of crimes into the formal economy as clean money, adding that these organised criminals avoid being caught by taking advantage of several vulnerabilities such as porous borders, ineffective judicial system and incapacities of law enforcements agencies to undertake transnational investigations and prosecutions.

In order to attain a high level of compliance, Adama said, "there is need for Nigeria to identify risks, develop policies with domestic coordination, have laws that criminalise money laundering and terrorist financing in accordance with relevant international conventions, enhance transparency and availability of beneficial ownership information of legal persons and arrangements and facilitate international cooperation among others.”

To this end, he announced GIABA's plans to train major stakeholders in ministries, law enforcement agencies and other regulatory authorities on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT).

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

ASSAULT ON JOURNALIST:

NUJ calls on IG to probe dubious officer

T

HE Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has decried attempts by some police officers to “pervert justice, distort facts and stand the truth on its head” in the ongoing matter of battered Badagrybased journalist, Otunba Yomi Olomofe.

In a statement in Ikeja yesterday by its Chairman, Deji Elumoye, Lagos NUJ drew the attention of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, “to the unwholesome and grossly unethical conduct of one inspector of the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti.

The said officer was the IPO in the matter of the criminal assault with intention to murder Olomofe on June 25, 2015

by Seme border hoodlums led by one Suleimon Momoh.

Elumoye said: “The inspector, who in spite of being availed of every fact in the matter, wilfully under-investigated the crime committed against Olomofe, chose to cooperate with the perpetrators of the criminal assault and their sponsors.”

The union, therefore, called on the Inspector General to probe the activities of the inspector over the said matter.

According to the release, NUJ was aware of efforts to twist the facts by the customs through attempts to compromise the police investigating Olomofe’s complaint.

He added: “We will explore every constitutional means to fight this particular grave injustice. We will, as we have consistently done since the murderous attempt on the life of Olomofe, avail the Nigerian Public of the facts in this matter till justice is served.”

Olomofe, it will be recalled, was beaten to coma at the behest and in the presence of senior Seme Customs officials, including Comptroller Ndalati, Deputy Comptroller Emmanuel Nkemdirim, armed junior officers of the customs, and scores of onlookers on June 25, 2015, by well known border hoodlums led by Suleimon Momoh.

2 dead, 100 shanties razed in Lagos fire

By Monsurudeen Olowoopejo

I could only rescue plasma TV—RESIDENT

L

AGOS—TWO persons were confirmed dead in an early morning fire incident, which razed over 100 shanties in Kuramo, near Lekki in Lagos yesterday.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the two victims were identified as Azeez, a 27-yearold trader and a lady, simply identified as Kemi.

Though there were conflicting reports as to what led to the fire disaster, which the Secretary of the Community, Mr. Michael Onuwaje, said destroyed property worth over N50 million as “it cost N500,000 to construct each of the burnt structures.”

While some report noted that the inferno was caused by a generating set, another report said that a young lady was cooking in one of the shanties with a fuel container nearby, which caught fire and spread to other parts.

The residents lamented that the fire spread so fast that many could not salvage their property as they explained that the fire was beyond their reach.

I lost N3m to the inferno—Trader

A trader, Jude Obi, who owns two of the affected structures, lamented that he lost N3 million including a cabin and the goods stocked in it.

RAZED:Firemen and residents going through the remains of the day.

According to him, “I was sleeping when I heard a bang on my door, with someone saying the entire community was on fire. I rushed out immediately and I could not take a pin from the shop.

“My shop is well stocked with cloths. This is where most of us manage to make a living and now it is gone. I just pray we will not be evicted by Lagos State Government. I could not salvage a cloth from my shop.

Orioye, told Vanguard in an emotional tone: “I have been living here for decades. This is where we live and sell to make a living. We are not selling illegal commodities.

“We need government to help us. We have children; we have wives. Everyone depends on us.

If only we can be given a permanent space. We are not saying we want permanent structures. If only we can be given allocation.”

I don’t know where to start—Resident

Fire extinguishers couldn’t save us—Secretary

Another resident, who gave his name as Mr. Michael

Secretary to the Community, Onuwaje, said: “I learnt

Girlfriend tussle lands man, 29, in court

A

29-year-old man, Omoregie David, yesterday, appeared in a Gudu Upper Area Court in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for allegedly threatening to kill one Azeta Friday over a girlfriend.

David of Waru village, Apo, pleaded not guilty to a threecount charge of criminal trespass, intimation and mischief contrary to Section 348,

397, 327 of the Penal Code.

Prosecutor Urom Inah said Friday of Waru village in Apo, FCT, had reported the matter at the police station on March 14.

Inah said the defendant had gone to Friday’s shop with a knife and threatened to kill him because they were both in a relationship with same girl.

He said that the defendant broke a clipper worth N10,000

and a N20,000 mirror in the complainant’s barbing salon.

The judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N30,000 with one reliable surety in like sum.

Kagarko said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, and adjourned the case till May 25 for hearing.

someone was refuelling a generator that was on when it exploded. Before the fire service officials came, some young men managed to put out the fire.

“Every shop here has a fivekilogramme fire extinguisher.

Unfortunately, they were meant for first aid. It is a pity we lost two lives.

“Late Azeez was a trader here, but I do not know the girl involved. I called Ilasan Police Station, who took the bodies away. It was a big loss. We cannot count our losses.

“I was able to salvage a plasma television from a cabin.”

Confirming the inferno, Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Mr. Rasak Fadipe, said that the fire destroyed over 100 shanty structures, killing a male and female adults who reside in the community.

He said the shanties were built on three acres of land, with the fire consuming houses on about four plots.

The fire service boss appealed to Lagosians to desist from storing fuel in their houses or cooking indoors apart from the kitchen.

18-yr-old boy in court over baby theft A

teenager, Balogun Segun, was yesterday charged before an Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun State, for allegedly stealing a baby, Aluko Faith.

Segun, 18, who lives at 7, Owolabi Street, Iyana-Ilogbo, Ota, is facing a one-count charge of stealing a baby.

The prosecutor, Itaita Ebibomino, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 25 at about 5p.m. at Oko-Agi Area, Ota. He said that the accused stole a baby, Aluko Faith, belonging to Aluko Kehinde.

The defendant, however,

pleaded not guilty to the onecount charge preferred against him.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Funke Odubanjo, granted N200,000 bail to the accused with responsible sureties in like sum.

She said that the sureties should be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed.

Odubanjo also directed that one of the sureties should be a guardian or parent of the accused, while others should produce one year tax clearance from Ogun State Government.

In addition, the sureties

should submit four recent passport photographs to the court and the addresses of the

sureties should be verified and the case adjourned till April 29 for hearing.

Police arrest land grabber

By Esther Onyegbula

F

OR obstructing construction work at a church in Itire area of Lagos, 38-year-old land grabber, popularly called Omo onile, has been arrested by operatives of Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of Lagos State Police Command.

The suspect, Jelil Bolaji, was arrested when he led a 6-man gang to disrupt the plastering

of an Apostolic Church on 12, Oladeinde Street, Aguda, Surulere.

The pastor of the church, who had paid the Omo onile huge sums about three years ago for the foundation and roofing of the church, put a call through to the police when the gang started beating the bricklayers and church workers over settlement for the plastering.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 11

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12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Edo 2016: Obaseki cautions PDP against hate campaigns C

HAIRMAN of Edo State Economic Team and All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship aspirant, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condemned what he called the negative dimension in which the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state was conducting its campaign.

Obaseki, who took a swipe at the PDP, accused the party of playing politics of sentiments, condemnation and violence by inciting youth and the general public against the governor and his party ahead of the forthcoming election.

He describe the hate campaigns as undesirable saying that they should be stopped, noting that hate campaigns had led to the death of many in the Rivers State rerun elections.

He said: “Hate speeches are a violation of human rights. It was unreasonable for PDP to expect Governor Adams Oshiomhole to do in eight years, what PDP in this democratic dispensation could not achieve in more than 15 years.”

Obaseki in a statement by his media aide, Mr Benjamin Atu, after a courtesy visit by Fugar Youths Forum, Abuja chapter, led by its President, Mr Oguma Clement, condemned the wave of hate campaign against the

governor.

He said: “It was reckless for the PDP to link the rowdy session in the state House of Assembly with mismanagement of the state resources and abandonment of governance by the governor.

The executive and the legislature are collaborating to move the state forward. No misunderstanding whatsoever

exists between both organs of government.

“As a state, we have a sacred duty to free our state from rivalry and division. Our collective effort for a better state will continue to bind us as one. Our democracy so far in Edo State has been one where every citizen has been given his pride of place. We must at this time avoid politics

of bitterness and hatred.

Politics should not be viewed as a personality struggle but a struggle for the overall development and betterment of our dear state.

“Political parties should campaign with their previous performance and those who have failed to perform during their tenure should come for a refresher course under Governor Oshiomhole.”

MOU SIGNING: Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State (middle), flanked by the Group President, SkipperSeil Ltd of Dubai, Jitender Sachdeva and Dr. Robert Afangide, at the signing of an MoU for the establishment of 100 megawatts solar farm in the state.

Emulate Ibru's humility, Ochulor tasks politicians My father will be remembered for his positive efforts towards nation building —Paul Ibru

By Emeka Mamah

F

ORMER Military Administrator of Delta State, Air Commodore Luke Ochulor, has asked politicians in the country to reduce tension by emulating the humility and sincerity of his successor in office, late Senator Felix Ibru.

Ibru died last week at the age of 80.

Also, Paul Ibru, eldest son of late Olorogun Felix Ibru, has told Delta All Progressives Congress, APC, delegation led

by Olorogun O'tega Emerhor, in Lagos, that his late father will be remembered for the positive efforts he made towards nation building and the advancement of constitutional democracy in Nigeria.

In his tribute, Ochulor, who handed over power to Ibru in 1992, as the candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP, noted that although the former governor hailed from a wealthy family, he was humble and sincere.

“He was very humble. He was governor between 1991 and 1993 after taking over from me. I don’t think he was a do-or-die politician, like those we have today in the country, who want to get into office by all means.

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This is the quality I would like politicians to copy from Olorogun Felix Ibru,” he said.

Ochulor noted that Ibru’s reaction when he was removed from office unceremoniously by the General Sani Abachaled military junta which dismantled all the democratic structures in the country then was mild as he was not the kind of person that agonized

or antagonized any one over such things.

According to Paul Ibru, “My dad was a unique father, leader and a progressive who strived hard, using political platforms to actualize his dream of changing lives and at the same time utilized the several opportunities he had to serve Deltans as governor and the good people of Delta

Central as senator of the federal republic of Nigeria.”

He expressed displeasure over the alarming rate of poverty, joblessness particularly the sorry state of insecurity and infrastructural decay in the state, pointing out that it was unacceptable for any right thinking Deltan to say that the state has fared well as a rich oil producing state in Nigeria.

Obasanjo blames African leaders for continent's conflicts

A

DDIS ABABA— SOME of Africa’s leaders are responsible for the instability on the continent because they failed to manage diversity in their societies, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said.

Similarly, he noted that outside interference in Africa had been responsible for conflicts, citing the NATO air strikes in Libya in 2011 that led to the removal from power of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

“The repercussions are now being felt in Mali, Nigeria

and the Sahel,” Obasanjo told a press conference on the upcoming Tana HighLevel forum on Security in Africa, in Ethiopia.

Asked whether African leaders were to blame for the conflicts on the continent, he said “ yes and no.”

He said leaders were failing their people because they had not been able to prevent marginalisation in their societies, prevent injustice, reduce unemployment, reduce poverty, adding that they had not embraced democracy and good

governance.

The theme of this year ’s Forum is Africa in the Global Security Agenda.

Oshiomhole approves 5% pay rise for health workers

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved a five percent pay rise for health workers in the state, emphasizing that the wage increment was for all health workers including laboratory technicians, nurses and midwives.

The state government had earlier in the month also raised doctors’ pay by five percent.

Governor Oshiomhole announced the pay rise for the state health workers when he received members of the Joint Health Sector Union, JOHESU, who paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Benin City.

He said, “I asked you to come over because I know that two years ago, we had a wage review based on certain criteria which you preferred to call 90 percent but for me, that was what we were willing and able to pay at that time."

Ayade moves to ensure 24-hr power supply in Calabar

D

ETERMINED to ensure a 24-hour power supply in the state, Cross State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with SkipperSeil Limited of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The signing of the MoU was the highlight of a three-day Middle East Electricity Exhibition which took place in Dubai, UAE. According to the MoU, SkipperSeil is to establish a solar farm to produce 100 megawatts of electricity for Cross River State.

Besides providing a bankable land as equity, the state is also expected to make available $1million to kick-start the pilot scheme, while SkipperSeil, on the other hand, is to invest $15 million in the project.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—13

Ese Oruru: Court grants Yunusa N9m bail

By Emem Idio

Y

ENAGOA—A Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, yesterday, granted bail in the sum of N3 million and two sureties in like sum to Daihiru Yunusa, aka “Yellow,” who is standing trial on a five-count charge of criminal abduction and sexual exploitation of a minor, Miss Ese Oruru.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice H. Nganjiwa, while ruling on the bail application, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody until the bail conditions are fulfilled and adjourned the case to April 19 for hearing on the motion for secret trial filed by Mr. Kenneth Dike, prosecuting counsel.

According to the bail conditions reeled out by the court, the defence counsel shall undertake that they will provide the accused person in court for trial, while one of the sureties must be a renowned title holder in the community and the other a public servant from level 12 and above.

Both sureties must be resident in Bayelsa State and must submit their three years tax

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clearance certificates, while the public servant must also

submit letter of appointment and

first last

promotion.

Reacting

to

the

bail

conditions, defence lead counsel, Mr. Kayode Olaosebekan, said they were grateful to the court for the ruling.

Contempt: Case against Edo Speaker adjourned to April 4

By Gabriel Enogholase

B

ENIN—THE Court of Appeal sitting in Benin, Edo State, yesterday, adjourned to April 4, 2016, hearing in the contempt proceedings initiated against the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Victor Edoror and the Clerk of the House, Mr. Lawson Ugiagbe, over their refusal to swear in the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Sylvanus Eruaga, as the representative of Etsako West constituency II, in the House to enable both parties to reconcile their internal differences on the matter.

Although Edoror and Ugiagbe were not present in court, they were represented by the Solicitor-General of the state, Mr. Oluwole Iyamu, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, its chairman, Anselm Ojezua, and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were represented by Ken Mozia, SAN, and Matthew Ugwuocha, respectively.

Iyamu told the court that his client had not breached any order of the court, as it had withdrawn the certificate of return from Yakubu and given it to Eruaga.

He added that what was left to do was administrative, which the appellant ought not to have brought before the court, in

order to avoid an abuse of court processes.

“There is no order of the Court of Appeal that has been breached,” Iyamu said.

However, the presiding judge, Justice Olukayode Bada, expressed displeasure that the matter had been allowed to deteriorate.

Justice Bada, who admonished counsel in the case, said, “If we continue like this, this country will crash.

“Nobody knows it all. Let everything settle down. It is in the best interest of all to allow peace to reign. Let us put in a second thought and look at it again,” he added.

DESOPADEC: Lori-Ogbebor wants Olu of Warri’s c'ttee to have input into Itsekiri budget

By Charles Kumolu

R

IGHTS activist, Chief Rita Lori-Ogbebor, has called on Delta State governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, not to honour any budget presented on behalf of Itsekiri ethnic group by those representing the zone on the board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, until the Olu of Warri’s administrative council committee makes its input.

Lori-Ogbebor, who is a member of the development subcommittee of the body of eminent Itsekiri, also said that any budget that lacks the input of the members of the council would not mean well for the development of the Itsekiri nation.

Disclosing this yesterday in Lagos, she lamented the failure to carry the people along in the past by those representing the Itsekiri on DESOPADEC board, which she said resulted in the

underdevelopment of the reverine areas.

She further noted that should the budget as proposed by the ethnic group’s representative be honoured, the Itsekiri oil producing communities would be short-changed.

Therefore, she wants the relevant authorities to stay action on the budget until the members of the Olu’s administrative council committee make their contributions in the interest of the Itsekiri nation.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Turn to China, former UN envoy urges Nigeria

By Dotun Ibiwoye

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AGOS—NIGERIA’S former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, UN, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has said China’s successes may present an alternative development path for the country, which is different from the Western neo -liberal system that had long been prescribed.

Gambari made this observation, weekend, as the country moves away from dependence on crude oil and seriously mooting diversification of its economy.

According to him, this will increase the opportunities for cooperation between Nigeria and China, especially in the key areas such as infrastructure development and agriculture.

Speaking at the Yale Africa-China Conference at the Lagos Business School, Lekki, on the theme, Africa-China Relations: Balance, Growth and Sustainable Future, Gambari stated that China’s companies were signing infrastructure deals worth more than $50 billion a year; and for investments in African farming, China has earmarked US$5 billion.”

The former Minister of External Affairs, however, stated that the Chinese had come to be viewed with some mixed feelings, particularly in smaller countries where China’s weight was felt more.

He pointed out that the quality of Chinese construction had increasingly been called to question, adding that the buildings erected by mainland firms had occasionally fallen apart.

ALTON AT NCC: From left—Publicity Secretary, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria, ALTON, Mr. Damian Udeh; Chairman, ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo; Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta; his Chief of Staff, Mr. Usman Malah, and NCC Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, during a courtesy visit to the commission by ALTON.

22.45m Nigerians unemployed, as job loss hits 710,693

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

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S economic downturn persists, the number of unemployed and underemployed persons in Nigeria surged to 22.45 million in the fourth quarter, Q4, 2015, about 9.1percent or 1.75 million, higher than 20.7 million recorded in the third quarter.

In addition, during the period a total number of persons in full time employment (that did any form of work for, at least, 40 hours) decreased by 710,693 when compared to the previous quarter.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, unemployment is the proportion of those in the labour force (not in the entire economic active population, nor the entire Nigerian population) who were actively looking for work but could not find work for at least 20 hours during the reference period, to the total current active labour force population.

Accordingly, you are unemployed if you did absolutely nothing at all or did something but not for up to 20 hours in a week.

Underemployment, according to NBS, occurs if you work less than full time

hours, which is 40 hours in a week, but work at least 20 hours on average a week and /or if you work full time but are engaged in an activity that underutilises your skills, time and educational qualifications.

The development in the labour sector reflects the landmark declines recorded in key economic indices since last year, with the gross domestic product, GDP, on steady decline hitting a three-year low of 2.1 percent in Q4,2015 while a steady inflationary pressure had pushed the headline rate to 11.4 percent in February.

In its employment report yesterday, NBS also stated that the economically-active population or working age population (persons within

I

N line with its commitment of creating liquidity in the fixed income market, FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange has announced the launch of its Dealing Member (Specialists), DMS, category of membership, with admission of 23 non-bank C M Y K

financial institutions, NBFIs, as market makers.

Participation of NBFIs, typically the investment banking firms and securities dealing firms, will generate additional liquidity in the Nigerian fixed income market and serve as an avenue for effective and efficient retail

highest quarterly jump in the labour force population in 2015.

According to the report, the number of underemployed in the labour force (those working but doing menial jobs not commensurate with their qualifications or those not engaged in full time work and merely working for few hours) increased by 1.21 million or 9.16 per cent, resulting in an increase in the underemployment rate to 18.7 percent or 14.42 million persons in Q4 2015, from 17.4 percent or 13.2 million in Q3 2015.

During the same period, the number of unemployed in the labour force, increased by 518,102 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 10.4 percent in Q4 2015 from 9.9 percent in Q3 2015.

RMAFC disagrees with AuGF over NNPC N4.9trn ‘unremitted revenue’

By Emma Ujah

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HE Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, yesterday, disagreed with the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, over the alleged N4.9 trillion which he claimed the Nigerian National Petroleum

FMDQ admits 23 institutions as specialists

By Nkiruka Nnorom

ages 15 and 64) has increased to 105.02 million in Q4 2015, from 104.3 million in Q3 2015, representing a 0.68 percent increase over the previous quarter and a 3.2 percent increase, when compared to Q4 2014.

The report also said that in Q4 2015, the labour force population (those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work) increased to 76.96 million from 75.94 million in Q3 2015, representing an increase of 1.34 percent in the labour force, during the period.

This means 1.02 million persons in the economicallyactive population entered the labour force, and NBS stated that this increase was the

participation in the market.

The initiative, where fixed income dealers of NBFIs can trade bonds, commercial papers and treasury bills in the FMDQ market, was birthed from the identification of an innovative opportunity for the much needed participation of NBFIs in fixed income market.

Corporation, NNPC, failed to remit to the Federation Account.

The commission said through its spokesman, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, in Abuja, that NNPC was owing only N1.9 trillion from the 2014 operations, going by its records.

The statement added that while the said report claimed that NNPC owed N3.2 trillion to the Federation Account in 2014 from domestic crude sale, the commission’s records revealed that the corporation owed the Federation Account N1.99 trillion only, in 2014.

“Therefore, the figure quoted by the AuditorGeneral of the Federation must have included revenues from other sources,” it said.

Concerning alleged payment of US$235 million realised from the sale of natural gas into an undisclosed Escrow Accounts by NNPC, the commission explained that the corporation, on behalf of NLNG, had entered into agreements with three international oil companies, including Nigeria Agip Oil Company, NAOC, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, SPDC, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, TEPNG, under a Modified Carry Agreement, MCA, proceeds from which funds are deposited in Escrow Accounts for funding the various gas projects under the LNNG. RMAFC said it had been working with NNPC to reconcile the figures, following a tripartite meeting held with NNPC and the Ministry of Finance.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—15

Biafra: IPOB asks Igbo to stop eating Fulani cows •My husband's incarceration, catalyst for new Biafra --Nnamdi Kanu's wife

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By Emeka Mamah & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

NUGU—THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has asked Igbo to boycott Fulani cattle to avoid cases whereby Fulani herdsmen would infiltrate their towns and villages to kill them and rape their women.

IPOB also asked Ndigbo to grow their own local cows which were in abundance at Abakaliki, in Ebonyi State, Nsukka in Enugu State and Obudu in Cross River State.

In a statement signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Emma Powerful, the organisation said, “After putting our acts together, IPOB discovered that the Fulani herdsmen are determined to exterminate the lives of Biafrans through their herdsmen.

“We in the IPOB worldwide are calling on all Biafrans to stop eating Fulani cows and stop patronizing them. They will leave our land and stop raping our women and girls and they will stop killing our men because of our wives and girls.

“We discovered that these Fulani herdsmen are not ordinary people but Boko Haram insurgents who were trained by their brothers. We are calling on Biafrans to start eating goat meat, chickens and fish.

“Again, all Biafrans should start rearing their local cows.

We have them at Abakiliki in

Ebonyi State, Nsukka in Enugu State and Obudu Ranch in Calaber, Cross River State in abundance.

“If we Biafrans implement this without patronizing them again, they will leave our land without molestations because they were equipped with guns and we Biafrans don’t have guns and ammunition. “We also know that Hausa/Fulani don’t eat much of cow meat but have you asked yourselves questions why they don’t eat red meat?

“IPOB reminds you about what the Hausa/Fulani did in Agatu, Benue State and in Delta State where they kidnapped a traditional ruler and killed him

and in Enugu and Ebonyi states where they ravaged, killed, maimed and raped our women and girls.”

Catalyst for new Biafra

Meantime, wife of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mrs. Uchechi Okwu-Kanu has said that the arrest and continued incarceration of her husband is a catalyst for new Biafra agitation.

In a statement from United Kingdom made available to Vanguard, Mrs. Kanu said: “The absence of my husband is mindbending, it is inexplicable. I am practically a zombie but I am

holding up, but it has not been easy since October 2015 when he was arrested in Lagos.

“The arrest of Nnamdi Kanu is the catalyst driving the new agitation. Hence, what could have taken years to achieve in terms of awareness and mobilization was achieved within a short frame of time. And this is testimony to the fact that IPOB through Radio Biafra did a lot of ground work prior to the arrest.

“If you recall, I mentioned in December that most people are awakened by the call of this cause but you will agree with me now that almost every being in the whole world has Biafra on their lips both ‘for’ and‘against.’”

VISIT: Delta State Commissioner of Information, Hon. Patrick Ukah (left) and Mr Charles Aniagwu, during the a visit visit to Vanguard Newspaers Corporate Headquarters in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Ebonyi orders relocation of abattoir over nearness to burial grounds

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By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—EBONYI State government yesterday ordered Abattoir Operators at the Abakaliki abattoir centre to relocate from the area with immediate effect.

The relocation order was consequent upon its nearness to burial grounds located in the environment and the unhygienic nature of the abattoir.

The abattoir has three cemeteries located in the area; one for Christians, the other for Muslims while the third is for pagans. Each of the cemeteries is close to each other.

Addressing newsmen in Abakaliki, the State Commissioner for Environment, Ogodoali Nome described the abattoir as unhygienic, adding that it was wrong for the dealers to be slaughtering meat where cemeteres are located.

He said by slaughtering meat in the area, the meat dealers desecrate the graves where people’s loved ones are being buried on a regular basis.

He stressed that the relocation was necessary for the avoidance of health hazards especially now that there are some epidemic in the state including Lassa

fever and cholera.

He directed the Director of Environment in the Ministry, Mr. Simon Arua to institute legal action against the abattoir dealers and

threatened to use Police and SSS to sack them if they refused to relocate from the area after the one month ultimatum given to them.

Imo govt gets 10-man c'ttee to tackle child trafficking

By Chidi Nkwopara

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WERRI—IMO State Government has inaugurated a special 10-man committee charged with the responsibility of tackling illegal child adoption and trafficking in the state.

Inaugurating the committee in Owerri, on behalf of Governor Rochas Okorocha, his Deputy, Prince Eze Madumere explained that “the committee is to ensure that there is absolute respect for the dignity of human life, but also promotion of a responsible society.”

While affirming that there had been series of petitions and complaints about irregularities in the process of child adoption in the state, the Deputy Governor equally said that the complaints became more worrisome, following the global trend of child trafficking and other related problems associated with human trafficking and slavery.

“The first reaction of government was the temporary suspension of child adoption in the state. The action was to ensure that unscrupulous elements involved in the trade were checked, apprehended and prosecuted”, the Deputy Governor said.

He urged the committee members to pay strict attention to their terms of reference, including ascertaining the root cause of the widespread anomalies associated with adoption of children and proffer solutions.

Group sets up c'ttee on erosion control, marginalization, others

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—NEWLY established Igbo sociopolitical and cultural organization, the Igbo Improvement Union, has set up various committees, including those of marginalization, erosion control and arts and culture in a bid to address problems confronting the Igbo nation.

Rising from its meeting in Awka, promoters of the new organization said their first major task is to reach out to all the governors and leaders of thought in all the Igbo-speaking states of Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Rivers states to work out ways of collaborating with them in solving identified problems confronting the area.

Among prominent Igbo behind the new organization are Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah

from Enugu State, Chief Edozie Njoku from Imo State, Senator Anthony Agbo from Ebonyi State, Eugene Odoh from Enugu State and Dr. Alex Obiogbolu from Anambra State.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting in Awka,

members of the organization said their driving force remained the social, political, economic and cultural mobilization of Ndi-Igbo at home and in the Diaspora through community efforts and projects geared towards addressing the problems

besetting the Igbo nation.

The communiqué read in part: “The organization is working towards identifying the missing links and gaps in the effort of the Igbo people to address the nagging Igbo question in order to fill the gaps."

S'East urged to back Buhari on anti-corruption war

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By Peter Okutu

BAKALIKI—A group, known as Buhari/ Osibanjo Initiative For Demonstrating Change in Nigeria weekend called on the people of South East geopolitical zone to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war which has already started yielding dividend across the country.

The group also dismissed the insinuations in some quarters

that the South East zone was being marginalized by the present administration.

In a chat with news men in Abakaliki, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ogah urged the people to exercise patience with the Buhari led administration as it provides lasting solution to the country’s economy.

According to him, the emergence of President Buhari and his Vice, Yemi Osibanjo was

a divine arrangement targeted at revamping the economy, which was hitherto weakened by the activities of corrupt individuals.

He said: “We commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his anticorruption fight which he has used to recover our looted funds. He is making a very good headway; imagine a situation where the revenue and economy of Nigeria dropped drastically. Many states are crying and are unable to pay salaries."

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22 , 2016

PIB to be presented to Senate, Reps next week —Saraki •Says both chambers collaborating on harmonized version

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

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BUJA—THE Petroleum Industry Bill,PIB, would be represented in the National Assembly next week for subsequent consideration.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who disclosed this,yesterday, in Abuja,while declaring open the ongoing National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable, said already, the current 8th National Assembly,

after consideration of the harmonized version of the bill , has slated next week to lay it in both chambers.

He added that the Senate and House of Representatives had resolved to do a joint work on the Bill.

The development is coming after many years of non passage of the bill by both chambers of the National Assembly.

Saraki said: “The National Assembly, comprising the Senate

and the House of Representatives, is working very closely together. ‘’As part of this commitment, we would all see next week when we lay down the Petroleum Industry Bill; you will see that the bill we are going to lay in each House is the same.

“We are going to lay the same version in the Senate and the House of Representatives because that is going to be the first time we are open to our words,”he said.

The new version of the PIB, according to sources, is being sponsored by the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Saraki lamented the harsh economic environment in the country, pointing out that most of the laws regulating the business environment were obsolete.

While contributing to discussions at the event, head of Economic Growth, DFID, Nigeria, Simon Kenny, declared that a

major economic problem facing the country was its over-reliance on the already dwindling oil revenue.

According to him, the fall in oil price provided a good opportunity to diversify its economy resources.

Kenny said: “ If you look at the demands of oil produced in Nigeria and the low price of oil, and if you divide that by the vast numbers of people and population of Nigeria, there is only around $200

of oil per capital per year in the country. ‘’There is no way even the rising price of oil can raise Nigeria to anything above a middle income country. And I know that the aspirations of Nigeria have gone beyond that to become a high level income country."

EEDC rolls out metering programme

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By Ediri Ejoh

NUGU—IN response to overwhelming customers’ demand for prepayment meters, the management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, said it has rolled out the Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation, CAPMI scheme.

The initiative, according to the company, is in line with the directives of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to enable customers obtain smart meters.

In a statement made available to Vanguard, EEDC spokesman, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, said the scheme provides customers the option of advancing funds to the company to accelerate the purchase and installation of their meters within 45 days.

ABIA RE-RUN: VC dismisses alleged gagging of Returning Officer

By Anayo Okoli & Charles Kumolu

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MUAHIA—THE Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Prof. Francis Otunta has said that the University authority did not summon one of its staff, Dr. Bertrand Nduka Nwankwojike who was the returning officer in the recent Abia North Senatorial re-run election to restrain him from talking about the election.

A national daily [not Vanguard] reported that the Vice Chancellor conveyed a management meting of the University where Dr. Nwankwojike was allegedly summoned and cautioned against making any comment on the Abia North Senatorial election.

Dr. Nwankwojike, himself has also denied that he was summoned in a meeting, saying that he has never met the vice chancellor one-on-one since he assumed office less than one month ago.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22 22, 2016—17

Equality bill and Nigeria's clash of civilisations

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UR fathers from the depth of their wisdom say that if you grind pepper with a mortar or pound it with a mortar it would never lose its taste. It is from the same fountain they came up with the truism that if you throw a machete in the air 100 times, it would always hit the earth on its flat side.

So it was with the Nigerian Senate when Senator Abiodun Olujimi from Ekiti last week introduced a bill titled "Gender Parity And Prohibition of Violence Against Women" in the red chambers.

Among the supporters of the bill was deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu who argued that Nigeria would develop if women were given equal opportunities with men.

But the bill met stiff opposition from male Senators from Muslim-North.

Leading the pack was Senate Leader,Senator Ali Ndume who criticised the bill, and urged Nigerians to stick with either religious or traditional marriage.

The poster boy of child marriage in Northern Nigeria, Sani Yerima, a senator from Zamfara state, condemned the bill, arguing that it was in conflict with the Nigerian Constitution.

He said the bill negates the principles of the Sharia law, which the Constitution recognises.

The face of 'freedom' saying it goes against Islamic law.

"By Islamic law any woman that is married, she is of age, so if you now say she is not of age then it means that you are going against Islamic law," declared Yerima.

In the second vote forced by Yerima, several Muslim senators who had voted "yes" to set the age at 18, changed their minds, and the amendment did not get the two-thirds majority needed to pass.

The use of Sharia to filibuster an amendment to protect the girl-child caused an outrage for sometime but the Paedophile

Values not shared

Secular and Islamic laws By the time Senate President Bukola Saraki put the issue to vote, it was roundly defeated and thrown into the trash can.

It was not the first victory Yerima and brothers would score in their parallel ideology against the purported secular spirit of the Nigerian constitution. Recall the day the 7th Senate took a vote on the age of consent in July 2013. A decision was taken that the age of consent across Nigeria should be 18.

That lasted momentarily until Sani Yerima rose up on the floor to invoke the clash between the country's secular and Islamic laws.

Against Senate rules and procedures, Sen. Sani Ahmed Yerima opposed the age limit, C M Y K

had their way. Now we have seen the fate of the Ese Orurus being forced into unwanted pregnancy by those who hide under religion to ruin the future of young girls.

I do not know whether Senator Olujimi thought that these fellows have departed the chambers when she brought her bill or maybe she was driven by a "leap of faith"(apology to Prof. Wole Soyinka).

Whichever it was,the Mujahideen have shown once again that the clash of civilisations in Nigeria runs so deep and unbridled optimists who think they can push for reforms within a polity where there is no shared value will only knock their heads against the wall.

The kind of society we should aspire to be is where different cultures exist separately and maintain their practices and institutions. We would remain locked in this lovehate relationship until we accept that a country like Nigeria can only run along federal lines

So many social reformers have walked this pace pushing for values that are not shared across board and have died either in frustration or nonfulfillment because they devoted their lives to fighting the right battles in a wrong country.

I saw Mr. Alao AkaBashorun at a detention facility in Lagos towards the end of the Abacha regime and I would not write here what I saw in deference to his dignity. A brilliant lawyer who devoted most of his active years to the struggle to make Nigeria better caught a pathetic image towards the end of his life due to the strains of the maltreatment he received towards the end of his life.

Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was a

world-class musician whose brilliance was unparalleled. He had global recognition to the point that a Nigerian military Head of State was once introduced as the president of Fela's country when he visited a Caribbean country. But because he confronted the issues of Nigeria, he was flogged, detained and jailed until he became a recluse.

There was Mr. Kanmi-Isola Osobu, another brilliant lawyer who devoted his life to radical causes. He never had time for worldly possessions and was fond of boasting that he never purchased cement in his life. The last days of Osobu were spent in agony arising from the strains of suffering the pangs of the system.

Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti and Chief Gani Fawehinmi bestrode social activism of the 80s and 90s like colossus and spent the better part of the two decades in one confinement or the other.

They both died a few years apart from cancer which inquiring minds still wonder till date if it was not induced.

There are many other more who have knocked their heads against the Nigerian brick walls without achieving much because they fought the wrong battles.

Fighting the wrong battles In case Mrs. Olujimi does not know what Mallam Yerima was communicating to her about Sharia being part of the 1999 constitution. Let me help her with how women are viewed under Sharia with the following standards ; 1. There is no age limit for marriage for girls.The marriage contract can take place any time after birth and can be consummated at 8 or 9.

2. Rebelliousness on the part of the wife nullifies the husband's obligation to support her, gives him permission to beat her and keep her from leaving the home.

3. Women who live under Shariah are no more than a possession bound and hidden behind a head to toe mask.

4. Divorce is in the hands of the husband and is as easy as saying "I divorce you" and becomes effective even if the husband did not intend it.

5. There is no community property between husband and wife and the husband's property does not automatically go to the wife upon his death .

6 .A woman inherits half of what the man inherits.

7. A man has the right to four wives and none of them have the right to divorce him.

8. The dowry is given in exchange for the woman's sexual organs.

9. A man is allowed to have sex with slave women and women captured in battle and if the enslaved woman is

married, her marriage is annulled.

10.The testimony of a woman is half the value of that of a man in court.

11.A woman loses inheritance if she remarries.

12. To prove rape in court,a woman needs four male witnesses.

I have heard Mrs. Olujimi say she is going to represent her bill. Let me assure her that if she presents the bill at every legislative day for the rest of her tenure she would meet the same response as she would be fighting against 1-12 above.

This is a teachable moment for all those who are carrying all kinds of software about when there is no hardware to put them inside. Such misguided adventures seek to want to make others to live in their own image.

Where do I stand? Women who are not complaining living under 1-12 above should be allowed to live under the civilisation they have accepted while those who seek to be under the civilisation Senator Olujimi espouses should not be encumbered in any way.

Secular but sharia binds The reason why this cannot work Nigeria is due greatly to our dual ideology.We say we are secular state but Sharia is part of our constitution.We are a Federal Republic in name but a unitary state in deed.We are Republic where the Emir issues order to the Assistant Inspector General of police.

With our multi-ethnicity and different religious outlooks, the only way we can live in harmony in Nigeria is to be a salad bowl society. To get a mix of salad you need different ingredients-lettuce, tomato, carrot,egg et al.When you mix these ingredients to have salad you can still identify them in their uniqueness. All we will need the centre to be would be no more than dressing!

The idea of a melting pot nation has been proved to be false as one culture will still predominates the way those whose culture permits minor being made mothers now invade the south to prey on child-girls.

The kind of society we should aspire to be is where different cultures exist separately and maintain their practices and institutions. Our unity should not be about uniformity but diversity. Let each group live according to its cultural ethos and let us run limited common services together at the centre without any cultural conflict.

We would remain locked in this love-hate relationship until we accept that a country like Nigeria can only run along federal lines. Every day we delay to toe that path is a continuation on the journey to perdition.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 IN every constitutional democracy, adherence to the rule of law is the fulcrum on which the principle and tenets of democracy stand. The rule of law demands obedience of the law (including court orders) as it is and not as it ought to be. Anything short of this is a recipe for anarchy. Therefore, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA’s) recent caution to this effect is timely and should not be ignored.

The NBA intervention came against the backdrop of the manner in which the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government is being handled by its agencies. At its just concluded quarterly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Jos, Plateau State, NBA President, Augustine Alegeh (SAN), expressed the Association‘s zero-tolerance for graft and its readiness to work

Stop demonising defence lawyers with government agencies in this direction. He, however, added a necessary clincher: the war must be executed in deference to due process of the law.

As desirable as the quest to recover our alleged looted funds from past public officeholders is, the NBA insists on the primacy of the rule of law. The legal requirements are that anyone accused of economic or financial crimes must undergo proper trial by the state but with their right to defence by lawyer(s) fully guaranteed. There is no fair trial where either of the

two is absent.

As a minister in the hallowed temple of justice, the duty of the prosecution is to prosecute and not to persecute, no matter the gravity of the allegations and weight of the evidence against the accused person. The prosecution also owes the court the responsibility of making all facts available even if such disclosure may aid the defence.

Conversely, it is incumbent on the defence counsel to present the defendant’s case diligently before the trial court and not resort to un-

ethical tricks to protect his client.

A lawyer who indulges in unprofessional conduct must be adequately sanctioned. It is important to point this out because of the festering erroneous impression that lawyers defending accused persons are aiding corruption. Whichever side they represent in a criminal trial, lawyers are merely performing their legitimate professional duties as constitutionally guaranteed.

The constitutional provision of presumption of innocence of an accused until proven guilty before a court of competent jurisdiction must be upheld. Such a person should not be deemed convicted on the basis of mere allegations.

The war against corruption can and must be won within the ambit of the law and not by extra-legal means.

OPINION Edo 2016: APC and danger of (2) political godfatherism Continued from yesterday

By Samuel Adiga

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T was the State's notorious, now demystified godfather that manipulated the PDP primaries in favour of Airhiavbere. Since then till date, PDP in the State has never known peace and may not know peace in the nearest future, especially now that the party is not in control at the centre.

Having murdered sleep by political godfatherism and imposition of candidates during elections, PDP lost not only followership but leadership in the State.

It is a hard lesson the ruling APC in the State must learnt from, and a trap the party must avoid like a plague.

But it seems obvious that ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the State if the APC fails to manage the primaries well, the party will go the way of the PDP in the election. There is already growing apprehensions and concerns among the people of the State over the growing political godfather activities of Governor Oshiomhole. The situation is becoming dictatorial and C M Y K

tyrannical and deserves quick intervention of the Presidency and the party’s national leadership.

It is public knowledge in the state today that Oshiomhole who was severely critical of Anenih’s godfatherism posture is doing everything possible to muscle the party’s hierarchy and impose his godson, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as his successor. Oshiomhole has told everyone who cares to listen that he will dictate who succeeds him. He has been going round the State picking political fights with the people, while trying to sell the candidacy of his

It is not out of place that the governor’s choice of possible successor may be at variance with majority of party faithfuls, but the beauty of democracy is that the minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way

preferred successor.

The governor and his foot soldiers have in a recent meeting tried to cow some of the party governorship aspirants to drop their ambitions and support that of his godson. But they have vehemently opposed him, asking him and the party leadership to create a level playing ground for transparent primaries. That were enough signs of what will befall the party in the election, if Oshiomhole and his allies are allowed to impose an unpopular candidate on the party. From the governor’s actions and inactions ahead of his exit from office, it seems he is working for the success of the opposition PDP in the election.

It was recently alleged that passport photographs and signatures of some delegates are being obtained by the State government under the guise of emergency employment to cow and hoodwink them into a compulsory endorsement of the governor’s preferred aspirant. Delegates to the primaries have been allegedly placed on a monthly salary of N20,000 by the State government effective from December 2015 including a fertilizer scheme for Edo North delegates. There is urgent need to call Governor Oshiomhole to order before absolute power takes hold of him to the detriment of the people of Edo State

and the APC. A party that won election on the platform of the change mantra cannot afford to support political godfatherism and other undemocratic tendencies that destroyed the PDP and the political space in the last 16 years.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other elected APC members in the last general elections were not products of political godfatherism and Edo State should not be different. If Oshiomhole feels that his preferred aspirant is popular and acceptable, he should not be afraid of presenting him for a free and fair party’s primaries.

Nobody is against Oshiomhole for having an interest on who succeeds him because it is his personal and legitimate right. But such selfish interest should not override the general interest of the party faithfuls and general public. It is not out of place that the governor’s choice of possible successor may be at variance with majority of party faithfuls and the people, but such is not unusual in a democratic practice. After all the beauty of democracy is that the minority will have their say, while the majority will have their way.

Concluded

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

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016— —19

For Rivers State, it is win-win situation

By Sunny Ikhioya

I

RRESPECTIVE of the outcome of the re-run elections that took place in Rivers State this past weekend, it is going to be a win win situation for the people. That is, if they all agree to accept whatever happens in good faith and decide to put the overall interest of the state above personal and petty sentiments.

They have fought themselves to standstill, in the manner of mutually assured destruction (MAD), the Nyesom Wike versus Rotimi Amaechi’s camp, no side was ready to lose an inch of space and at the end each side got rewarded one way or the other.

The Wike camp got the state and the Amaechi side got the federal government, stalemate. For those who have continued to find fault with the supreme court judgment in favour of Wike, I would want them imagine what the political structure of the country today will look like with Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Abia and Taraba states in the hands of the APC ruling party. We will simply be running a one party state federation with all of its attendant consequences.

Instead, we should commend the

supreme court judges for their courage, forthrightness, and commitment to justice in the land. I have always maintained that if you are effectively on ground you cannot be rigged outsee Lagos and Abia state in 2007 elections. Whether the decision was reached through real jurisprudencial reasoning or logic or whether through the doctrine of necessity, it was a good one for the nation and helped to bring the necessary balance to the present political dispensation.

Having said that, the question then is; what is in it for the people of Rivers state? The role of a vibrant opposition in the success of any political administration cannot be over emphasised. It is the watchdog, the monitor and the alternate in waiting should the incumbent falter. It keeps the incumbent in check and enhances transparency. If the right check and balance are properly applied, the monstrosity of corruption will be put in check and we will be close to an ideal democratic situation.

That is the advantage that the present situation in River state confer on the people, but, the question remains; will the warring parties sheath their sword and work for the overall

interest of the River state people irrespective of tribe or party? Or, will they choose to dig deeper into their trenches and continue the battle since both sides are adequately funded? It will be to the overall interest of the people of Rivers state to pursue the option of peace for the state and by extension, peace in the Niger Delta region as Rivers state is a key link. If there is peace in Rivers state, it will extend to other parts of the region.

Amaechi is today the Minister in charge of transport in the federal republic of Nigeria, Dakuku Peterside is now the helmsman at NIMASA, while Ibim Semenitari holds sway at the NDDC. These three can use their influence positively for the development of Rivers state.

Nyesom Wike is governor of the

On the whole, it is a winwin situation for the Rivers people and it is important for the contending parties to realise this

Helping the CBN to help the economy

By Ismail Sirajo

A

S Nigerians across different cities of the country eagerly look up to the APC-led federal government of President Muhammad Buhari to revamp the country’s economy and stimulate growth, there is no doubt that the government would require more time if we will tell ourselves the honest truth. But more importantly, a number of efforts would also have to be put in place in bringing about the much-needed turn-aroundwe all hope to see in the dwindling economy.

But the current state of the economy is not helped by the fact that oil prices crumbled and forex inflow went south as a result. Indeed, while monthly forex inflow into the country hovers around $1 billion, the monthly forex demand by Nigerians and businesses in the country, according to figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is around $3.6 bn.

This puts enormous pressure on Nigeria’s foreign reserves, which have depleted by 25% in the last 18 months.

Of course, the gravity of the situation we have in our hands is illustrated by the fact that we risk complete depletion and total disappearance of the country’s Forex reserves if things are not well-managed.

That we have for long been an importdependent country only made the situation further complicated. Here in lies the sense in the CBN’s decision to stop forex supply for the importation of some items, 41 of them, which it believes can be locally produced by Nigerian companies. Some of these items include soap and cosmetics, rice, Indian incense and toothpicks, tomatoes/tomato pastes, wheelbarrows, head pans, and roofing sheets, among others.

Although the apex bank did not create the present Forex challenge since the factors driving the crunch are outside of the it remit and control, however, it has, in line with its statutory responsibilities, been battling to stabilise the Naira and Nigeria’s foreign reserves. It is a difficult battle and there are no easy or painless C M Y K

ways out. Like some other public analysts have said, this really is not the best of time to be a CBN Governor. And that is why I seriously pity the Governor, Godwin Emefiele. If you ask me, I think he is a very strong man to have absolved some of the insults that have been hauled at him by angry Nigerians.

But quite frankly, some of the measures put in place by CBN have also come at some costs to some stakeholders, a number of whom have complained that their business operations are being hurt. But I believe doing nothing couldn’t have been an option. At the same time, some of the alternative policy options being prescribed by critics of the bank, such as devaluation, are not cost-free and do not necessarily address what is essentially a supply problem.

Meanwhile, for those who may not understand, the CBN couldn’t have waited until the cabinet was sworn in last October by President Buhari before doing what it ought to do in the best interest of the country. The apex bank, with the statutory responsibility of managing the key rates - forex, inflation, and interest had to act fast especially in the absence of fiscal policy support to address the imbalance in the country’s international trade. And this was even aside its efforts at providing forex to Nigerian manufacturers who need to import machinery and intermediate goods to remain in business. This was basically to encourage “Made-in-Nigeria” products and services, a campaign which is already

A situation where the average import bill of the country skyrocketed from N148.3 billion in 2005 to N917.6 billion in 2015, cannot be allowed to continue

state that is one of the highest revenue earning. It takes a lot of resources to effect the kind of battle that the two camps are engaged in, if they truly have the people and value of the over all interest of Rivers state, they should sheath their sword and use the resources for the benefit of the people. If they truly love the people, it is time to show it.

As DG NIMASA, Dakuku must ensure that the benefits that has accrued to the Niger Delta people from the previous government are sustained; in the areas of employment generation for youths and infrastructure already in place. For example, the Maritime university project in Delta state that has reached advance stage of take off. He should immediately set up a working committee to fashion out a viable option out for the project. It must not be allowed to die as it will benefit the people of the whole Niger Delta and beyond. We cannot over emphasise the numerous benefits that the people of the region and beyond will enjoy if the project is sustained. If the federal government is showing reluctance in moving ahead, Dakuku can work in conjunction with the state governments in the region like, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and others. The benefits go beyond politics and the legacies will spotlight his role in the whole set up. That is how politics is played. Once elections are over, everyone goes out to

catching on well among the populace and gaining traction.

However, despite the CBN’s seeming good intentions to revamp the economy, I doubt if this can achieve the desired result for the economy if not complemented by other initiatives. Frankly, I think what we currently have on our hands can be likened to the case of a student who has an examination to write before he graduates but chooses to focus all his attention and energies on one particular course only while neglecting the others. Even if he scores an ‘A’ in it, he will still most likely come out a failure since he had a poor preparation for the other courses. That is why I think we are not realistic if we assume that it is only the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and his team who will successfully fix the challenges confronting our economy. That would be wishful thinking. It’s a dream that will not come true. That is the truth. I’m not a pessimist.

I’m only being realistic.

We all need to help the CBN help the economy. This is because all that needs to be done are clearly beyond the scope of the mandate of the apex bank. If we will be realistic, ministries, departments and other agencies of government also have critical roles to play. And one of these roles, for me, is using tariffs to discourage the importation of foreign products Nigerian businesses can produce at home. This must be done to protect our local manufacturing industries. And this is where the Ministry of Finance comes in.

As a matter of urgency, I think the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, must put in place proactive fiscal policies that will go a long way in encouraging the local industry and discouraging importation through the appropriate tariffs.

Another is the need to enforce industrial policies that will help complement the CBN’s efforts; and this is where the Ministry of Trade and Investment also comes in. Even the Ministry of Power, Work and Housing, under the leadership Mr.Babatunde Fashola, must work tirelessly to improve power, expand road and other critical infrastructure in the country towards boosting local productivity and helping Nigerian industries to grow. This would be a major step forward for Nigeria. Moreover, the billions of naira Nigerian companies and

rebuild and help the system to move forward. That way, you will have real messages for your people when you are campaigning for election next time. The same thing applies to Ibim Semenitari of the NDDC, it is time to put politics aside and focus on the job. It is only the impact on the job that can guarantee future success in politics.

For Amaechi, several federal government projects are crying for attention like the railway and waterways.

If Amaechi concentrates on his job, he will perform, the problem is the politics. The acrimonies must stop for the sake of the innocent and free spirited people of Rivers state.

Wike is the governor and magnanimity in victory is a virtue in leadership. Lives have been lost needlessly because of the unending battles with the opposition, he should ensure that peace reigns in the land by dousing unnecessary political tensions.

The elections are over, it is time to work for the people and allow them to enjoy the benefits of democracy, let all parties work now and leave politics for later.

On the whole, it is a win-win situation for the Rivers people and it is important for the contending parties to realise this. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

private businesses spend on diesel and running their generators are funds which could have been put into better use. If these are sorted out, Nigerian companies would be able to compete at a higher level with their foreign counterparts. But when imported goods appear to be cheaper than local-manufactured products, we’re not helping our case but only worsening the situation.

Also helpful to Nigeria’s economy is the need for the Customs Service to tighten the country’s porous borders so that banned goods are no longer smuggled into the country thereby defeating the BuyMade-in-Nigeria campaign and losing the gains being made on the monetary side.

The reforms being carried out by Col. Hammed Ali (rtd), Comptroller-General of Customs, need to be stepped up. Such types of good works are needed so that the Customs can perform its job more effectively at our borders.

Overall, the federal government must urgently roll out incentives to encourage local manufacturing, not just for Nigerian companies but even foreign investors who want to set up their factories and production plants in the country. This would boost local manufacturing and so must not be delayed. As a country, this is also the right time for us to engage ourselves in serious introspection and take concrete steps at finally diversifying Nigeria’s economy through agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and entertainment among others. We have mouthed this for too long. Now is the time to take action. Further procrastination would spell doom for us.

However, doing these do not in any way mean, as Nigerians, we ourselves don’t have some roles to play. As citizens, I frankly think we need to curb our appetite for everything foreign and wean ourselves of imported products, whatever they are. A situation where the average import bill of the country skyrocketed from N148.3 billion in 2005 to N917.6 billion in 2015, a whopping increase of over 500 per cent, all within just 10 years going by available statistics from the CBN, cannot be allowed to continue because this can’t help us.

*Mr.Sirajo, an agricultural expert, wrote from Lagos.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

V

ICE-PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo said that the federal government had set a target of providing 3.5million jobs for Nigerian youths within the next three years.

This is as the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir ElRufai said it could be a monumental disaster for the country if the federal and state governments failed to educate and empower the youth of this nation.

Osinbajo at the official launch of Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) programme, an initiative of the Bank of Industry (BoI) in Abuja, said the federal government solemnly support the brainchild of the bank, adding that it was in tandem with the President Buhari- led administration’s target to provide youths with 3.5 million jobs within three years.

“This administration has a target to provide 3.5million jobs within three years and we are taking records to achieve that target.”

Represented by Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, the Vice President told the youths not to treat the YES loan as a share of national cake by not repaying the loans to the bank.

“The Yes loan is not a national cake to share therefore we encourage you to repay your loan in order for the bank to accommodate more youths on this initiative,” he said.

Also speaking, Kaduna State Governor said that six million babies were born in the country every year out of which 1million of them die annually while three million youths were expected to join the country’s workforce.

But for the country to adequately deal with the

Lafarge’s integration to generate synergy savings of N9bn mid 2018

By Peter Egwuatu

L

FORUM: From left, Uyi Akpata, Country and Regional Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria and West Africa; Mr. Timothy Oguntayo, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Skye Bank Plc and Taiwo Oyedele, Partner and Head of Tax & Regulatory Services, PwC Nigeria, at an Economic Forum, in Lagos.

FG targets 3.5m jobs in 3 years Stories by Favour Nnabugwu menace of youth unemployment to ameliorate youth restiveness, El-Rufai stated that the country needs to provide at least three million to four million jobs on a yearly basis.

He said: “For us to treat the present level of unemployment situation in the country, we need at least three million to four million jobs every year.”

Giving a coinsise picture of the situation in his State, The Governors said, in Kaduna State, 88 percent of the population there are youths below

35 years with 60 percent unemployment rate, adding that, “It is a major challenge training and empowering the

For us to treat the present level of unemployment situation in the country, we need at least three million to four million jobs every year

youths but it could be a national disaster if we do not educate and support them.”

On his part, the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi encouraged corp members to take opportunity provided by BoI to establish themselves.

“I urge corp members to take advantage of the YES initiative to start your own business because the jobs are not just there.”

Olawunmi however guaranteed BoI of a 100 percent repayment plan by corp members.

BOI earmarks N10bn for YES scheme $132. 75

-1.55

$3,114.00 -4.00 $15. 83

CURRENCY US DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYAL KRONA SDR

-0.14

$41.21

0.01

$38. 91

-0.53

BUYING 196 284. 0236 221. 3624 202. 584 1.7571 0.3188 275.2285 30.2483 52. 2569 29. 6848 275. 5956

196.5 284 . 7482 221. 9271 203. 1008 1.7615 0.3288 275.9306 30.326 52. 3902 29.7606 276. 2987

SELLING 197 285. 4727 222. 4918 203. 6176 1.766 0. 3388 276.6327 30.4036 52.5235 29.8363 277. 0017

CBN Exchange rate as at 21/03/2016

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— 21

M

INISTER of Trade, Industry and In vestment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, unveiled the Bank of Industry’s (BoI) N10 billionYouth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) programme.

According to him, the YES programme is aimed at developing the entrepreneurial capacity and empowerment for youths from age 18 to 35 years. “Under the scheme, each beneficiary is eligible to access a loan up to a maximum of N5 million for the procurement of machinery, equipment and working capital at a single digit interest rate of nine percent with a loan tenure of three to five years inclusive of six months moratorium.

“It is expected that the programme would lead to the establishment and the expansion of an estimated 1,200 enterprises promoted

by Nigerian youths across the country,” he said. Further, Enelamah underlined the significance of developing entrepreneurial spirit among the Nigerian youths in line with the President Buhari administration’s determination to diversify the nation’s economy base.

The minister regretted that 1.8m youth of this country belaboured the already saturated labour market yearly while he lamented that job creation efforts in the country had failed to match up with the pace of the expanding working population.

Speaking earlier, the Acting Managing Director, Mr. Rasheed Olagunju, stated that the key objectives of the initiative, were to among others, create an interactive learning platform to train young aspiring entrepreneurs in Entrepreneurship, Business Management and Technical Skills that will ultimately translate into improved efficiency and productivity as well as kindle the entrepreneurial spirit of the youths and act as an incubation centre where business ideas are nurtured to their full potential.

Enelamah who expressed the confidence that the BoI initiative would complement the effort of government to significantly address unemployment situation among the Nigerian youths in particular, stated that it will get the youth busy and take the minds off the

ARFARGE Africa Plc merger is expected to generate synergy savings of N9 billion by mid 2018 as the Nigerian cement market has been predicted to grow robustly in 2016.

Also, the Federal Government has given its backing to support the cement market by providing infrastructure that will minimise cost of production and make companies post positive returns.

Commenting on Lafarge Africa’s full year 2015 financial results, Managing Director/ CEO, of the company, Mr. Peter Hoddinott, who disclosed this said:“ The unified management team of Lafarge promises to drive efficiencies and ultimately generate synergy savings of N9 billion for the group by mid2018.”

According to him “our company continues to deliver good performance with significant upsides to come as new cement and power generation capacities come on stream and synergy benefits from the merger in Nigeria flow through. Our business integration process has been successful and as a Company we are optimistic to deliver improving performances in 2016 and beyond, improving value to our shareholders.”

Transitional market The results show that revenue went up 2 per cent against preceding year, reaching N267 billion, in a challenging transitional market. The company’s South West operations grew by 8 per cent driven by a number of initiatives such as the Key Distribution Scheme, a strong route to market and solid capacity utilisation. ReadyMix Nigeria continued its strong growth with a 29 per cent increase over prior year. South African revenues grew by 7 per cent in the last quarter. Ashaka operations are normalized, following the security challenges in the region which affected demand for cement in the North.

Management remains very optimistic about the long term outlook for Ashaka, which is foreseen to return to strong growth in 2016.

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

From a dividend of N2.1billion in 2004, the bank has grown its dividend payment to N50 billion as at last year

INVESTOR' INVESTOR'S

,

,

GTB: Moderate growth in the season of profit warnings •What the future holds for investors

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

I

N the wake of the first profit warning issued this year coming from First City Monument Bank Plc in January, Vanguard Investor’s Forum had indicated that many more quoted companies would issue profit warnings due to the macroeconomic headwind of the financial year 2015. And within six weeks about six more came in with three leading banks involved.

However, last week we warned that investors should not be fooled into believing that macroeconomic headwind tell all the story behind poor results as we expect to see some exceptions proving that even with the adverse economic environment corporate performance could be resilient.

Barely 24 hours after results rolled out by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bank for Africa Plc all proved that much as the environment was difficult corporate actions should demonstrated creative navigation for good results.

Last week GTB announced its audited full year 2015 result delivering moderate growth in both top and bottom lines despite the numerous headwinds.

It is also remarkable to note that the bank reasserted its banking industry headship in the discipline of being the first to publish full year audited result every year for many years now.

Mixed full year, weak 4th quarter: The bank’s gross earnings improved 8.3% year-

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on-year (Y-o-Y) to N301.8 billion from N278.6 billion in 2014.

Topline growth was buoyed by 14.3% Y-o-Y rise in interest income while non-interest income dipped by 8.2%. Major drag in non-interest income was a slump in foreign exchange revaluation gains to N5.2 billion from an exceptional income of N16.2 billion in 2014. Otherincome line declined massively by 52.4% eroding the modest rise of 8.1% in fee and commission income.

Quarterly analysis shows that fourth quarter (Q4), 2015 gross earnings came in weaker by 5.2% decline quarter-on-quarter (Q-o-

With the increased credit risk fuelled by macroeconomic headwinds accentuated by lower oil prices, general elections and forex restrictions in 2015, impairment charges surged 74.8% Y-o-Y to N12.4 billion in 2015 from N7.1 billion in 2014, resulting to a Cost of Risk of 0.9%, 0.3% above previous year

Q) and 8.7% drop Y-oY. Industry analysts attributed this to crystalisation of both the macroeconomic headwind and the accompanying monetary policy crises in response to it.

Consequently, the lower yield environment due to higher liquidity level in the financial system and subsequent reduction in the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 11% from 13% in November •Segun Agbaje, GTBank MD 2015 resulted in lower income to advances (N1.4 trillion in 2015 the bank. as against N1.3 trillion in 2014) 2015 full year Profit Before Tax slowing to 7.7% in 2015 as against (PBT) grew to N120.7 billion, 27.1% in 2014. Growth in risk 3.7% or N4.3billion higher than assets was 28.6% in 2013. the N116.4 billion reported in Also with the increased credit 2014. Again, Q-o-Q, the bank’s risk fuelled by macroeconomic Q4 2015 PBT of N28.6 billion headwinds accentuated by lower was down 20.1% Y-o-Y while oil prices, general elections and Profit After Tax (PAT) narrowed forex restrictions in 2015, by 15.2% Y-o-Y to N22.7 billion, impairment charges surged due to a lesser tax rate of 15.2% 74.8% Y-o-Y to N12.4 billion in in Q4 2015 as against 22.4% a 2015 from N7.1 billion in 2014, year earlier. resulting to a Cost of Risk of Expectedly, Return on Asset 0.9%, 0.3% above previous year.

Employed (ROAE) and Return Further review shows that GTB on Average Assets (ROAA) recorded its highest loan loss deteriorated to 25.6% and 4.1% provision in Q4:2015, a 51.8% Qin 2015 from 28.4% and 4.4% in o-Q jump and significant 298.0% 2014. However, the bank’s Cost Y-o-Y surge. to Income Ratio (CIR) improved to 42.0% in 2015 from 43.4% in Consistent 2014 to maintain its cost positive growth leadership position. Net Interest Margin (NIM) rose slightly to Worthy of note is the marginal 8.7% in 2015 from 8.4% in 2014 drop (0.8% Y-o-Y) in total on improved earnings assets. deposits to reverse its consistent At the backdrop of the positive growth in deposits in the implementation of the Treasury last 4 years with the Compound Single Account (TSA) in the Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) second half of the year coupled between 2011 and 2014 at15.8%. with stiffened competition for A further breakdown on a Q-odeposits, the bank’s Q basis shows a major drop in Cost of Funds remained Q3:2015 (5.3% Q-o-Q) relative to relatively flat at 3.5% in 2.3%, 2.2% and 0.1% Q-o-Q 2015 relative to 3.7% in growth recorded in Q1, Q2 and 2014. The bank’s Q4:2015 respectively.

The statement of account decline in Q3:2015 is probably shows a mobilization of cheaper deposits as due to the implementation of the retail savings deposits TSA. Sustained dividend strength: increased 19.0% Y-o-Y GTB proposed a final dividend but with a 7.7% Y-o-Y per share of N1.52, representing decline in total current a dividend yield of 9.2% at a deposits. market price of N16.20 (15/03/ Cautious risk regime, 2016).

This is in addition to the dwarfed deposit N0.25 interim dividend per share growth: Against the paid in the first half 2015, backdrop of hardships cumulating to N1.77 per share, in the business a 2.9% increase against N1.72 environment GTB softpedaled in creation of paid in 2014. GTB has over the risk assets relative to years been a favourite for previous periods with investors in the banking growth in net loans & industry. Available records from the bank’s dividend history in the

last 10 years (2004 – 2014) reveals that it had paid out a whopping N218 billion in dividends over the last 10 years.

From a dividend of N2.1billion in 2004, the bank has grown its dividend payment to N50 billion as at last year.

Investors have also rewarded the bank with its valuation increasing market valuation from N60 billion to about N721 billion.

Looking ahead, analysts’ comments: Despite the moderate performance, financial analysts are uptick with GTB. Analysts at Greenwich Trust Limited had this to say: “We are of the opinion that the bank has a robust risk management framework to guard against the accumulation of toxic assets, hence it was no surprise that total loans and advances increased modestly by 7.1% in view of the weakened macro-economic environment in 2015.

Nonetheless, impairment charges surged spurring a Cost of Risk above previous year”.

GT Bank currently trades at a P/E ratio of 4.8x and a P/Bv of 1.2x compared with the 0.7x average multiple for tier-1 banks.

Non-interest income Greenwich analysts stated, “our revised 12 month price target for the lender is N22.85 implying a 39.3% premium to its share price of N16.40 as at March 16, 2016”.

They expect non-interest income to drive earnings in 2016.

Greenwich further stated “GTB appears determined to maintain its position as one of the most profitable banks in Nigeria; in Q1 2016 it has shown considerable aggression in garnering noninterest income by leading other banks in forex utilization at the Inter-bank market, by as much as 29.5%, according to CBN data”.

In its position following the announcement of the bank’s result last week, analysts at Afrinvest West Africa stated: “We maintain our conservative outlook for 2016, hence forecast 9.9% and 3.7% Y-o-Y growth in gross earnings and net income for 2016 as we anticipate loan growth to remain constrained (8.3%) as well as a higher cost of risk (1.3%).

“Consequently, we expect Earnings Per Share (EPS) to settle at N3.50 and Dividend Per Share (DPS) at N1.84 in at end 2016. The bank is currently trading at a trailing P/E and P/ BV of 4.8x and 1.2x and a forward P/E and P/BV of 5.5x and 1.1x.

“Consequently, we maintain our “Accumulate” rating based on 12-month target price of N19.12, presenting 19.0% upside potential based on current share price of N16.20”.

5000 benefit from free surgical outreach programme in Akwa Ibom

Corps member donates desks, chair o Ba chairss tto Bayyelsa community school

PAGE 24

PAGE 25 position but we did the right thing, I instantly upgraded the teacher.”

Odey however explained that if any teacher’s certificate is suspected to be fake or forged it was his responsibility and that of the board to do something about it stressing that some of their, NUT, branch leaders were with them during the exercise in the Northern Senatorial district.

VOL. 1: No. 85

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

PROTEST: Chairman, Cross River State NUT, Mr. Eyo-Nsa Itam and others, at the House of Assembly premises.

CROSS-RIVER… THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE

By Ike Uchechukwu

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ALABAR—THE Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in Cross Rivers State and the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, are at daggers drawn over the latter ’s conduct of personnel audit of teachers in the state.

The bickering reached a climax penultimate week when hundreds of NUT members marched through the major streets of Calabar with placards calling for a halt to the exercise citing alleged humiliation and seizure of their certificates by the SUBEB. Some of the placards read: “NUT rejects the seizure of original certificates of teachers” and “NUT will never defend fake certificates nor ghost workers”, among others.

The state NUT Chairman, Mr. Eyo-Nsa Itam had stated during the protest that it was wrong for SUBEB to confiscate the certificates of teachers on the claim that they were not genuine.

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NUT, SUBEB at daggers drawn over audit of teachers in Cross River NUT decries alleged disgrace meted to members

Itam, who presented their grievances to the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. John Lebo, decried the alleged humiliation of teachers by the SUBEB screening team in virtually all the local government areas visited and called for the immediate sack of the board and return of the confiscated certificates.

He said: “We are here at the state Assembly because we know that the laws emanate from the House. We also know that every political appointee is screened by the House. We want to find out if the SUBEB chairman was asked to seize the original certificates of teachers.

“If we have teachers with fake certificates, they are on their own, we will not support them. Our grievance is with the humiliation

where so many teachers were not screened for flimsy excuses while certificates were seized. NUT as a body has rejected the so-called screening. For there to be screening, all the stakeholders must be carried along.”

Dead teacher allegedly draws salary

But the SUBEB chairman, Dr Stephen Odey, while defending the screening exercise said it was to correct obvious anomalies in the system.

He said there had been allegations of ghost teachers and dead persons still drawing salaries, citing the case of a teacher, who died in 2014 but collected salary up till January 2016.

He said: “They never gave me any opportunity neither did they hear from me, I was shocked to see and read in the media allegations from the NUT of how

I collected, seized and confiscated certificates.”

“I can confidently tell you that no teacher or any non-teaching staff has been sacked or indicted, I believe I should put the records straight so that Nigerians will know; those allegations are malicious and baseless I could not have stooped so low to pour water on my fellow colleagues (teachers). It is ridiculous that a man of my calibre could be accused for such, I will resign if anyone can come out to prove it,” he said.

He further told Niger Delta Voice that his report would shock Cross River people when it is made public. “The personnel audit is not to witch-hunt any teacher or identify ghost teachers but to also redeploy teachers who have been wrongly placed. There was a teacher who was employed as a nanny after obtaining her NCE she is still in the same

House of Assembly intervenes, backs screening exercise

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly has waded into the matter and directed that the screening exercise be put on hold pending the conclusion of investigations into the rift between the NUT and SUBEB. The House of Assembly made its position known when the SUBEB chairman, Dr Stephen Odey appeared before a special committee set up by the Speaker, Hon John Lebo after the NUT took their protest to the House of Assembly over the “way and manner “ the screening exercise was being conducted.

The Special committee Chairman, Hon Friday Okpeche lauded the effort of SUBEB in trying to rid the system of ghost teachers and other forms of irregularities within the primary school system.

“There is no way the Cross River State House of Assembly will allow this kind of rot in the system to continue, we will give you the needed support to succeed in your mandate,” Okpeche stated.

According to him, SUBEB is a creation of the law of the House of Assembly and as such there was no way they would not give their own the needed support.

While calling on the SUBEB boss to carry out his duty diligently within the provisions of the law, the chairman of the special committee however disclosed that the screening exercise has been put on hold pending the conclusion of investigations into the “rift” between the two bodies.

More revelations

The SUBEB boss, Dr. Odey made further startling revelations before the committee that over 200 teachers had been identified as using forged certificate in the system with only nine local government out of the 18 covered in the exercise while some institutions were yet to reply the letters written by SUBEB. “We have written to several institutions including Colleges of Education in Akampka and Obudu. For instance, in the Ministry of Education, we forwarded 82 names for the verification of their certificates, 60 of such teachers forged their certificates,” Odey disclosed.

24 —

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

5000 benef it fr om benefit from free surgical outreach pr ogramme programme in Akwa Ibom I

By Tom Moses

KOT—ABASI- NO fewer than 5,000 indigenes of Ikot-Abasi Local Government Area, AkwaIbom State and its environs benefitted from the free surgical outreach programme organized by the Family Empowerment and Youths Reorientation Programme (FEYReP) in conjunction with the Pro-Health International and the Akwa-Ibom State Association of Nigeria (AKISAN USA incorporated).

The medical outreach, which attracted a large turnout of elderly men, women, youths and children, was held at the Ikot Abasi General Hospital.

Speaking at the event, the wife of the state governor, and initiator of the surgical outreach, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel said she decided to collaborate with the ProHealth International, Akwa Ibom State Association, AKISAN, and Mkpat Abasi Medical group to provide free health services to the people, especially the poor.

According to her, quality health service delivery was one of her chief concerns adding that the industrialization drive of the state government could only be realized when the health of a good percentage of the productive labour was sound for them to actually rise to take up appointments and contribute their quota to the social, political and economic growth off the society.

She, however, called on other good spirited individuals to contribute their quota towards the well-being of the society, promising to continue

partnering with relevant bodies not only to cater for the health needs but also ameliorate the suffering of people.

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Superintendent of the Ikot Abasi General Hospital, Dr. Richard Akpabio thanked the First Lady for join forces with Pro-Health International and AKISAN to initiate the health intervention exercise adding, “the free medical care has addressed the health challenges of over 5,000 people.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Pro-Health International, Dr. Iko Ibanga said the partnership with FEYReP, AKISAN and Mkpat Abasi Medical groups was to give back to the society and thanked the governor ’s wife for the laudable vision of empowering Akwa-Ibom people health-wise as well as her selfless support for the less-privileged ones.

The leaders of Mkpat Abasi

Mrs. Martha Emmanuel (right), attending to a child during the free surgical outreach, while members of the Pro-Health team watch.

Medical Group, Dr. Anthony Udo Inyang, Miss Akwa Ibom, USA, Miss Samanta Nkanta and Dr. Joe Akpan all thanked the governor ’s wife for her motherly love for Akwa Ibom children, noting that FEYReP

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A cross section of beneficiaries who spoke with the Niger Delta Voice lauded Mrs. Emmanuel for the free surgical care and prayed God to reward her labour of love.

Ughie vw en monar ch sues ffor or unity as Sajini becomes Ot ota of Ukpedi Ughievw vwen monarch Oto

U

By Egufe Yafugborhi

KPEDI—IN furtherance of his campaign to renew the bond of unity among his subjects, His Royal Majesty,

Matthew Ediri Egbi, Ohwahwa II, the Okobaro of Ughievwen has installed Chief Eric Sajini as Otota (spokesman) of Ukpedi subclan of his kingdom.

THE TEAM Emma Amaize, Editor Jimitota Onoyume Samuel Oyadongha Simon Ebegbulem Gabriel Enogholase Festus Ahon Egufe Yafugborhi Emmanuel Una Akpokona Omafuaire Godwin Oghre Tom Moses Chioma Onuegbu Ike Uche Davies Iheamnachor Emem Idio Brisibe Perez Theresa Ugbobu Ochuko Akuopha Barnabas Uzosike Nath Onajoke Chijioke Nwankpa

within just a few months, has added value to lives across the state and promised to always continue to partner with government to add value to lives.

HRM, Matthew Ediri Egbi, Ohwahwa II, Okobaro of Ughievwen, consecrating Chief Eric Sajini who he installed as Otota of Ukpedi sub-clan at his Palace in Otughievwen, Ughelli South LGA, Delta State.

The Ughievwen monarch consecrated the new Otota Ukpedi in his Palace at Otughievwen, Ughelli South local government area, Delta state, following his selection by stakeholders in Ukpedi for the office which has been vacant for some time.

Second Republic House of Representatives Member, Elder P.E.S Ideh while introducing Sajini to the Okobaro had told the monarch that his choice was unanimous to pick a deserving Ukpedi son to fill the vacuum which has been a source of worry to the Ukpedi people.

Ohwahwa II told Sajini, “By the powers conferred on me by God, the Ughievwen people and the government of Delta state, I hereby install and

anoint you as Otota Ukpedi as elected by the people. Ukpedi Union will now function in consultation with you.

“I solicit the support of all for you. There cannot be two leaders.

"Anywhere you find a parallel authority in the kingdom, you are charged to move against it. I charge you to be tolerant and liberal in the discharge of the duties of the office and today marks a big leap in renewing unity among all in this kingdom.”

The new Otota, Chief Sajini who also doubles as Otughievwen executive chairman expressed joy on the occasion, pledging to offer transparent and progressive leadership in the best interest of the people.

Wh e —Security expert Whyy attacks on oil installations thriv thrive

By Egufe Yafugborhi

W

ARRI—A security expert, Shola Mese has said only a sustained orientation of oil host communities on implications of the criminal activities of vandals in their domain will avert the unending attack and theft on oil and gas facilities as opposed to a military invasion and use of force of arms.

Mese, Managing Director, Focus Guard Security who

described the recent attacks on pipelines in Delta state as a national embarrassment also blamed the impunity with which criminals break into pipelines on “misplaced engagement of incompetent persons or groups” in the water ways security.

“Security experts should handle security or surveillance of oil facilities, instead of the cosmetic appointment of people

who know nothing about security and intelligence gathering.

“Dialogue and proper investigation is what is required to bring the perpetrators to book. The lost of mega watts and sundry collateral damaged within the few days of the attack cannot be measured with military pursuit of a wanted person that triggered it.

Mese further appealed for

proper funding of the Nigerian security agencies to work hand in hand with the communities for meaningful policing of the oil producing environment.

On the feared invasion of community leaders by the government, the security expert called for restraint, saying “force of arms can only be temporal.

It has proven to be a failure in the long term. Proper orientation is what communities need.”

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 25

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

Corps member donat es desks, donates chair o Ba chairss tto Bayyelsa community school

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA—STAFF and students of Community Secondary School, Opolo in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State were thrilled by the gesture of Dr Olivia Ayozie, a youth corps member, who donated 20 units of three seater desks to their institution as part of her community development efforts.

Academic activities were temporarily halted for about one hour for the brief presentation ceremony, which attracted officials of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, in the state.

Speaking at the ceremony, the state Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. Ekeocha Anthony noted that community development service was part of the duties expected of corps members in their areas of assignment.

Represented by Mrs Christy Harry, Deputy Director, NYSC in charge of Community Development , the State Coordinator praised the corps member for her selfless service.

AKWA IBOM… LAND OF PROMISE

By Chioma Onuegbu

I

BENO— AS Akwa Ibom Government move to improve its revenue base, the paramount ruler of Ibeno local government area His Royal Majesty Owong Effiong Archianga has appealed to the state government to ensure proper sensitization and enlightenment of rural people on the issue of e-receipt recently introduced in the state for the payment of tax.

Archiangha, who spoke through the paramount ruler of Ikot Abasi, Edidem Joseph Ntukubom at the official flag off ceremony of the implementation of the ereceipt for revenue collection in Akwa Ibom said a sustained enlightenment campaign would make people in the rural communities have adequate knowledge about the initiative.

The royal father, who is also the Chairman, Akwa Ibom Council of Chiefs, said it was imperative to sensitize the C M Y K

According to him, the youth corper, Ayozie, had embarked on five different community development projects within her service year in the state.

He explained that Ayozie had earlier donated drugs to the NYSC camp, conducted free medical service to a community in Yenagoa, free HIV/AIDS screening and empowerment schemes for widows and the aged.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Mathias Banigo, Principal of the School expressed appreciation to the corps member.

“What is outstanding about this youth corper is that she is not even serving with us, she is a medical doctor serving with the Joint Task Force Clinic, but she came to me and told me of her intentions to donate the chairs, I was very happy.

“She is a blessing to us in this school, and to Bayelsa as a whole, what she did will outlive her service year and will be remembered for years to come, others should emulate her,” he said.

Some students who spoke

rd Mrs Christ Harry (3 right ) cutting the tape to inaugurate the school desks and nd chairs donated to Community Secondary School, Opolo, Yenagoa, by Dr. Olivia Ayozie (2 right), while Chief Mathias Banogo, 4th right, School Principal looks on.

on the schools desk donation said they were pleased as the donation was a relief to them.

Master Weyinmiebi Eli, a Junior Secondary School, JSS, student said they do not have enough seats and hoped that the desks will be sufficient to meet the shortfall.

Also, Master Walso Napoleon in JSS 1 lauded the corps member for the donation saying it would improve their sitting arrangement.

“What happens is that late comers don’t have seat, so we usually come to school early in order to get a seat, like me I usually come early every day, so we are happy to see the donation of chairs,” he said.

Addressing the students Ayozie urged them to take their studies seriously as the

Dr Olivia Ayozie who donated thec hairs and desks addressing the students. donation was meant to make the study environment conducive.

“This donation is meant to encourage you to work harder,

I became a medical doctor because I took my studies seriously at your stage, if you study, you will achieve your career dreams,” Ayozie admonished the students.

Monar ch demands sensitization of rural Monarch communities o or tax pa yment ovver e-receipt ffor payment

Achianga, Paramount ruler of Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom. villagers, especially as they have not been paying taxes before now.

This, according to him, was because the government did

not care much about collection of tax due to the huge funds coming into the state coffers during the oil boom days.

His words, “The state did not look inwards before now and was not taking the issue of tax payment seriously because Akwa Ibom State was very buoyant. But now that government is looking inwards to see how it can generate money from tax due to the dwindling revenue from federation account there is the need for government to embark on enlightenment campaigns of our communities on the ereceipt initiative”.

The royal father also stressed the need for measures to be put in place to check excesses of those that would be assigned as tax agents in the communities.

“The traditional institutions will also support government to see that this laudable programme succeeds,” he said.

Also, a former Chairman of Afaha Attai Village Council in

Eket LGA, Chief Samuel Etti, in an interview with Niger Delta Voice, lauded the initiative saying, it would eliminate fraud in the system and boost the government's revenue drive.

“There is no problem with the new system of tax collection but we are saying that there should be serious enlightenment of members of the public about what it is all about because majority of the villagers do not have knowledge of the internet.

“Again in the 70s and 80s people were used to the system of paying tax through village heads, who will now give it to the tax messengers who will issue the village head receipts for the taxes collected. But with the electronic system we are stressing the need for government to go into the communities, it could be in form of town hall meetings to educate the people so that they can understand what it is all about and how it operates,” he said.

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

BAYELSA… GLORY OF ALL LANDS

Work on Yenagoa-Oporoma road project stalled

•Yenagoa-Oproroma Road.

By Tom Moses BOGORO—THE excitement that greeted the resumption of work on the Yenagoa-Obogoro-Oporoma Road three years ago has given way to despair following the suspension of work on the project in the wake of the fall in the state allocation from the federation account.

The road project, which passes through the vast mangrove

O

stretch of Southern Ijaw council area when completed, is expected to transform the fortunes of the oil and gas rich but neglected communities in the central senatorial district of the state, which can only be accessed by water. But the speed that characterised the project when it was flagged off and the belief that it would hit Oporoma, headquarters of the council area in record time to enable the

natives’ access their ancestral land through land for the first time has again been stalled.

The project had been on the federal government drawing board since the sixties and had suffered several setbacks until Governor Seriake Dickson ignited the hope of the people by awarding the job to a Chinese firm, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation,

INAUGURATION: Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) congratulating Mr. Victor Okubonanabo (right), shortly after his inauguration as the Director General of the Bayelsa State Centre for Youth Development at Government House, Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) congratulating Mr. Ebarakumo Otobo (right) shortly after being inaugurated as the Coordinator of the Bayelsa State Volunteers at Government House, Yenagoa.

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CCECC, at the cost of N31 billion.

However, indications that the project was heading for fresh trouble emerged in the third quarter of last year when the state started experiencing financial hiccups in the wake of the plummeting crude oil price, a development that caused the government to prioritise its spending. Niger Delta Voice findings revealed that capital

Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson (left) congratulating Mr. Okosikeme Emmanuel (right), shortly after his inauguration as Chairman of the Bayelsa State Petroleum Task Force at Government House, Yenagoa.

Security expert and philanthropist, Shola Mese, (in front) joined colleagues and well wishers sharing the joy of the occasion when he was invested as Chartered President of Sapphire Lions Club under Region 9, Warri, Delta state.

projects have been temporarily halted in the predominantly riverine state due to dwindling resources. When Niger Delta Voice weekend visited the road project site, the once busy area was a shadow of its self. The usual large presence of heavy duty equipment and personnel seen going about their work on the route was missing. Also the premises of the construction firm was quiet but for the soldiers sighted on guard duty.

The Obogoro-Yenagoa end to the Igebiri flank in Southern Ijaw council had been completed and covered with asphalt while bridge construction was ongoing at the later end before the cash crunch.

It was also discovered that the many small retail outlets and relaxation spots that sprang up along the once busy route have since closed shop following the suspension of work on the road.

Some Bayelsans who spoke to Niger Delta Voice expressed sadness over the turn of events and urged the government to diversify the state economy base by harnessing its rich agricultural and marine potentials so as to boost its revenue base and make available the needed cash to enable it execute its development projects. “We had thought by now, the road would have reached Oporoma and save us the pain of travelling home through the pirate infested river. Well, it is still better because you can get to Igeibiri on a good road and the board commercial motorcycle otherwise known as Okada to get to Ayama and board speedboats which is less than fifteen minutes to Oporoma,” said Timi, an indigene of Oporoma. Another indigene of the area, Tonpre Jones said, “We have waited to be linked to our ancestral homes for over five decades and are convinced that stoppage of work is temporary due to the zeal of the present administration to link the hinterland to Yenagoa. It is our prayer that the state revenue will improve to enable government complete this road for us.

“This is a project that is very dear to us and we are praying that work on the project would continue with the gradual rise in crude oil price,” Larry Ayebaemi told Niger Delta Voice.

Governor Seriake Dickson had even in the face of dwindling allocation from the federation account to the state reiterated the determination of his administration to leave behind a legacy every Bayelsan and the entire Ijaw nation would be proud of assuring that greaterattentionwouldbeaccordedroad

A typical scene at the Bayelsa NUJ premises in Yenagoa after a heavy down pour.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 27

,

S FORUM

Technically, market sentiments during the bearish week favoured liquid and active stocks of Medium Cap categories

,

Market sentiment bearish despite resilient corporate earnings

By Emeka Anaeto, Economy Editor

D

ESPITE positive corporate results announced in the stock exchange early in the week the market ended the week negative. Proshare analysts gave insight of what happened.

Analysis of the market activity in the week ended March 18, 2016 technically revealed a speculative trading pattern amid increased price volatility as investors raised profiteering activities.

Also, an extensive analysis revealed a significant surge in supply level as market experienced growing speculative postures across board, particularly in Consumer Goods, Oil and Gas, Conglomerates and Financial Services sectors.

Also, volume analysis revealed active sell tendency towards Access Bank, Oando and FCMB while investors displayed moderate bargain sentiments towards UBA, Sterling Bank and Unity Bank.

In addition, investors displayed fresh and sustained sell tendency

in some active sectors, particularly in Financial

In the week just ended, market breadth closed negative at 0.4x against 1.29x recorded in the previous week on the back of profittaking propensity

Services, Oil and Gas and Consumer Goods sectors.

Meanwhile, there was an observed waning sell tendency in Industrial Goods sector. The bears ruled the week, depressing the key benchmark index by 293.61 points against 168.30 gain recorded in the previous week to close at 25,694.79. All Shares Index, ASI, remains depressed and battered below its key resistance level at 41,957.50 In addition, the All Share Index traded within the range of 25,853.58 (week-high) and

25,657.48 (week-low) to settle at 25,694.79 below previous week’s low (25,755.01) by 60.22points. This, according to Proshare analysts, indicates growing sell tendency when compared with previous posture. The outlook reveals weak bargain tendency.

In the week just ended, market breadth closed negative at 0.4x against 1.29x recorded in the previous week on the back of profit-taking propensity.

Technically, market sentiments during the bearish

week favoured liquid and active stocks of Medium Cap categories in the sector(s) but with stronger positive sentiments in Construction/Real Estate and Natural Resources which further revealed the sector(s) investors patronised in the week.

On the other hand, it was observed that negative sentiments appeared stronger in Healthcare, Industrial Goods, Services, Agriculture, Consumer Goods, Financial Services, Conglomerates, Oil & Gas and ICT sector(s).

Investment Benefits Declared (Update)

ZENITH BANK Plc FY: 2015 Result - Financial Highlights ( NGN Billion)

Stock Market Outlook (March 22- 29, 2016)

A

FTER its analysis of last week’s trend, Proshare analysts advised value and cautious investing approach due to weak macro economic fundamentals, which had negative impacts on quoted companies accross board.

Earning releases, corporate actions and other announcements would continue to drive market performance this week and results from Tier-2 Banks would begin to filter in. Also, profit taking activities on specific stocks that appreciated in the previous week may weaken performance this week.

Analysts at Afrinvest Group believe marginal up-trend observed in the last two trading days of the previous week may not be sustained as fundamentals remain weak.

On a balance of factors, analysts believe that a combination of further unimpressive earning releases/ profit warnings, profit taking as well as likely outcome of the MPC meeting scheduled may depress the market in the week ahead.

COMPLAINTS & INVESTIGATIONS

Send complaints or enquiries about any quoted company, issues, products and services of any capital market operator or agency to vanguardinvestorsforum@gmail.com. We investigate and publish with feedback C M Y K

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH

22, 2016

NiMeT: Giving Nigeria political mileage in the sub region

By Lawani Mikairu

N

IGERIAN Meteorological Agency, NiMet, under its DirectorGeneral/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Anthony Anuforom, has been giving Nigeria political mileage in the West Africa sub region through rendering services to Nigeria’s sister west Africa countries and this was, last week, publicly acknowledged during this year ’s Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP, event at Abuja.

The Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, SRP, is part of the agency’s yearly meteorological early warning system, which contains rainfall and temperature outlook for the year as well as the possible socio-economic implications of the projected weather patterns. This year’s SRP presentation focused on the impact of weather variability and climate change on transportation infrastructure and agriculture in the country.

According to Dr Anuforom this year’s theme was chosen because of the pivotal role transportation and agriculture play in the implementation of government’s economic reform programme and the possible impact of rainfall variability on achieving the set goals.

“SRP is designed to provide relevant information for planning and execution of projects and programmes in various sectors of the economy, especially those that are sensitive to weather.

Weather variability Agriculture, air transportation, infrastructure construction, telecommunication, water resources are particularly sensitive to weather variability.”

Nigeria has been providing free weather forecast services to countries that were hit by the deadly Ebola virus in the West African sub-region. Sierra-Leone and Liberia have been major beneficiaries of this free weather forecast services.

There is indication that some other countries that lack the capacity to forecast weather have indicated interest for similar support from Nigeria.

The NiMet DG said: “Our weather studio has been active in producing daily public weather services, not only for Nigeria but also for some neighbouring countries. I think I need to inform you here that for the past months , from here we produce the TV weather forecast for Sierra Leone and we stream it to them online.

“The genesis is that at the peak of the Ebola challenge in the subregion, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) approached us that those that are C M Y K

rendering assistance needed weather forecast.

“The doctors and other UN officials who were in Sierra Leone needed to know weather forecast on daily basis. Sierra Leone did not have the capacity and it approached us if we could support from here and we started,” he said.

The DG added that Liberia and the Gambia indicated interest for similar support from NiMet, adding that NiMet’s laboratory recently carried out a calibration of meteorological instruments for Ghana Meteorological Agency.

Instrument calibration The instrument calibration facility is available in only four countries in Africa: Egypt, South Africa, Kenya and now Nigeria.

By offering this service, Nigeria becomes the first country in West Africa and a first class destination for instrument calibration.

WMO representative for North and West Africa, Mr Benard Gomez, at this year’s SRP event commended Nigeria for rendering continuous assistance to neighbouring countries. He also said that NiMet is now a global trail blazer. One of its products, the Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), which provides the annual weather and climate outlook for the country, was being adopted by other countries in their own meteorological operations.

This assistance to neighbouring countries has given Nigeria some political mileage and made it a force to be reckon with in international fora. This was demonstrated recently when the Dr. Anthony Anuforom, was reelected as member of the executive council of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) for another four-year mandate starting January 1, 2016.

The election took place in June last year at the quadrennial congress of WMO held in Geneva, Switzerland.

This re-election is significant to Nigeria’s aviation industry in particular and Nigeria in general.

It, among other things, shows that the global meteorology body recognizes Nigeria’s modest

The doctors and other UN officials who were in Sierra Leone needed to know weather forecast on daily basis. Sierra Leone did not have the capacity and it approached us if we could support from here and we started

•Dr. Anthony Anuforom effort in recent times in upgrading the quality of its meteorological services and assistance to neighbouring countries. And this has been made possible because of the current state-of-the art facility of the agency.

Last year, the then Minister of Av i a t i o n , Chief Osita Chidoka commissioned t h e Information a n d Communications Technology Centre and Scientific & Te c h n i c a l Information Library of the agency in Abuja. The centre is “ designed to enhance data collection, processing, storage and application for product generation in the different areas of meteorology such as aeronautical, h y d r o meteorology, a g r o meteorology, marine and c l i m a t e services.”

“The centre receives real t i m e numerical and satellite data for processing, archiving and dissemination to various end u s e r s

including the international community. It hosts the Numerical Weather Prediction clusters, e-Met server, Clidata (Data Management System), Meteorological Cluster Integrating all automatic weather observing system across the country, receiving,

archiving and re-distributing satellite imageries from RETIM, Meteosat Second Generation, Receiving Satellite Distribution System for aeronautical services and Video Conferencing Facility. “ “Nigeria is one of the top five countries in Africa to simulate its local weather in diagnostic and prognostic mode using similar infrastructure.

At this year’s SRP event, the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika acknowledged the role NiMet will play in the federal government plan to develope an integrated inter-modal transport system that includes air, land and water that would maximise the transportation of goods, raw materials and people.

“This involves construction of aviation, rail and highway infrastructure that link major cities and centres of economic activities.

All these activities and programmes are sensitive to weather and climate variability.

In this age of frequent and intense weather extremes, occasioned by global warming and climate change, NIMET’s weather and climate predictions provide useful information for reducing losses, and taking advantage of favourable weather conditions to achieve more efficient and effective implementation of such programmes and projects.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 29

Privatisation: We’re not afraid of probe — Indorama Invests $1.5bn in fertiliser, urea plants

By Clara Nwachukwu

T

HE management of Indorama Eleme Fertiliser & Chemicals Ltd., IEPL, has said it is not afraid of threats by the Federal Government to look into the sale of the petrochemical company, which it acquired in 2006 under the privatisation exercise.

The assertion follows calls by various groups for government to review the entire process of the sale of its shares in some public companies already sold to private investors with a view to determining if government got a good deal from the divestments.

Speaking on the issue at the company’s headquarters in Eleme, Rivers State last week, the IEPL Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr Manish Mundra, told journalists, “We have nothing to hide.”

Mundra, who spoke after a facility tour of the soon to be commissioned $1.5 billion fertiliser and urea plants and port terminal, revealed that the House of Representatives Committee had already visited the petrochemical complex on a fact finding mission.

He said: “No matter the probe, we are not afraid because the process was very transparent.

The House Committee had already visited us; gave us questionnaires to fill, which we did. So we are waiting for the outcome.”

Post privatisation monitoring He disclosed that the IEPL management was also given a clean bill by the post privatisation monitoring team after a period of five years.

He added that in the event government takes back the company, it would have to return the total amount of investments made in the complex since its takeover.

Fertilizer & chemical complex The Indorama brand new fertilizer plant, which Mundra said will put Nigeria on the global fertilizer map, is billed to be st commissioned on April 1 and comprises: *$1.5 billion foreign direct investment, FDI; *1.4 million metric tonnes, MT, fertilizers capacity per annum *World-class facilities & technology *Gas pipeline & port terminal projects The Indorama Eleme Fertilizer & Chemicals Limited, IEFCL, is being competed in record 36 months, while many critical

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sections of the plant have gone through various stages of precommissioning, commissioning and test-run, leading to plant inauguration.

An 83-kilometre gas pipeline will supply natural gas liquid, NGL feedstock to the plant, while a Port terminal at Onne Port Complex have also been completed to compliment the fertilizer project.

The fertilizer plant has world scale capacity of Urea 4,000MT/ day or 1.4 million MT yearly.

Other components of the project include, a 2,300 MT/D Ammonia

Plant, 4,000 MT/D Urea granulation plant with associated offsite and utilities.

No matter the probe, we are not afraid because the process was very transparent

According to the Project Director, Mr. Uptal Chatterjee, “For the Ammonia, KBR’s purifier Ammonia process technology is used. KBR is the leading global engineering, construction and technology service provider.”

He added: “For the Urea plant, Toyo’s Urea synthesis process technology, i.e. ACES 21 Technology” is used. For Urea Granulation, spout bed fluidising technology is used. The introduction of these technologies makes the Indorama’s Fertilizer project a world class plant.”

EXHIBITION: From left, Chairman/Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, Mr. Clay Neff; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; and Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, at the sixth edition of the African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE), in Abuja.

Banks risk bankrupcy over exposure to oil — Expert

By Michael Eboh & Grace Udofia

A

N academic has warned that unless something urgent is done, there is the possibility of a number of Nigerian banks going bankrupt due to their exposure to the energy sector.

Speaking at the just concluded Sixth African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VI) in Abuja, a Professor of Economics from the University of Ibadan, Adeola Adenikinju, disclosed that many energy companies are presently not producing.

This, he said, had hampered their ability to service their loans from banks, and warned: “If nothing is done there is that possibility of banks going bankrupt. Some of the banks are exposed to the energy sector, oil sector

and electricity sector. Now, some of those companies are not producing and the interests on the loans are increasing, making it more difficult for them to service those debts. These would put those banks in deep problem.”

Adenikinju, who is also the Director, Centre for Petroleum, Energy Economics and Law, CPEEL, at the University of Ibadan, also called for “a proper study to see how deep the problem had become before it becomes a systemic problem or crisis.”

He, however, urged the Federal Government to consider setting up an intervention fund that would assist energy companies in repaying their debts to the banks.

“Maybe the Federal Government has to step in to help them out, like what it did to the electricity sector. The

sector was given money, which did not directly go to the electricity companies. It was partly to clear the loan that they borrowed from the banks, so that the banks will not collapse.”

In addition to the huge indebtedness, Adenikinju also noted that the decline in oil prices would lead to a slowdown in the developments of new oil and gas projects, causing a sharp decline in investments in the energy industry and massive lay-off of workers.

According to him, many assets acquired during the asset divestiture by the International Oil Companies, IOCs, are not producing due to oil price volatility, and in turn also led to the growing inability of the National Oil Company, NOC, to meet cash calls commitments.

OPEC sees lower demand for oil in 2016

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, weekend, predicted global demand for its crude oil will be less than previously thought in 2016, as supply from rivals proves more resilient to low prices, increasing the excess supply on the market this year.

The monthly report from OPEC contrasts with that of the International Energy Agency, IEA, which last Friday, said producers outside OPEC were cutting production by more than it had expected.

Saudi Arabia in 2014, led a change in OPEC strategy to defend market share instead of cutting output to support prices, hoping to slow growth in rival supplies such as U.S. shale oil. The move accelerated a collapse in prices, which hit a 12-year low of $27.10 in January. The price drop has started to slow the development of relatively expensive supply sources such as shale and forced companies to delay or cancel billions of dollars-worth of projects, putting some future supplies at risk.

In the report, OPEC said it still expected supply from outside the group to fall by 700,000 barrels per day, bpd, this year.

But it revised up the absolute level of non-OPEC supply in 2015 and 2016, and said producer efforts to maintain output made its 2016 forecast more uncertain.

“There has been a reduction in production costs, mainly in the U.S., as well as increased hedging, with producers choosing to produce with losses rather than stopping production,” OPEC said. “This has caused the non-OPEC supply forecast in 2016 to become more uncertain.”

As a result, OPEC now expects the global demand for its crude to average 31.52 million bpd in 2016, down 90,000 bpd from last month’s forecast.

The group pumped 32.28 million bpd in February the report said, citing secondary sources down about 175,000 bpd from January, mainly due to outages in Iraq and Nigeria.

Saudi Arabia told OPEC it kept output in February steady at 10.22 million bpd, after the top oil exporter struck a preliminary deal with fellow OPEC members Venezuela and Qatar, plus non-OPEC Russia, to freeze output.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

DPR blames IOCs’ for pipeline crisis in Nigeria

By Ediri Ejoh

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HE Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, has blamed the International Oil Companies, IOCs in Nigeria, for failing to adequately maintain the various pipelines they operate in transporting crude oil and natural gas products across the country.

This, according to the industry regulator has contributed to the frequent crisis Nigeria is currently suffering in the petroleum and energy sector of the economy.

Deputy Director, Engineering and Standards Division, DPR, Dr. Olumide Aladeke, made this disclosure while representing Director General, DPR, Mr. Mordecai Ladan, at a forum organised by the Pipeline Professionals Association of Nigeria, PPAN, in Lagos.

He noted that most of the pipelines currently being used in the country have been in existence for over 30 years without replacement, adding that this gave room for natural eruptions of the pipelines.

Although, he could not confirm what percentage of pipelines affected by natural acts, Adeleke said most of the cases attributed to pipeline vandalism may not be true, but can be attributed to the rusting of pipelines due to ageing.

He maintained that most of the IOCs’ operating in Nigeria are not imbibing the correct and globally accepted standard for pipeline operations.

His words: “Most of the

VISIT: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (left), and Senior Vice President/Managing Director, Addax Petroleum, Mr. Cornelis Zegelaar, during Osinbajo’s visit to the company’s pavillion at the just concluded 6th African Petroleum Congress & Exhibition, in Abuja. operators are not in tune with correct maintenance cycle. In fact, as we speak right now, we are engaging some of the IOCs who have failed in the maintenance of their pipeline system, some of the pipelines they own have been overdue for up to 10 to 20 years and they are still operating them.

“Most of the pipelines installed are not just available, when I say not available I didn’t meant they are not constructed, they were constructed but not effectively maintained. To keep them ready for the service they need to make our lives much easier.”

Speaking on the topic, “The DPR Vision: Effective pipeline

systems for rapid growth in Nigeria economy,” Adeleke lamented that although Nigeria is a crude oil producing country, the finished product is not readily available because of the poor pipeline infrastructure

It is paramount for us to look at how the pipeline system and activities affect the Nigerian economy

in place. “It is paramount for us to look at how the pipeline system and activities affect the Nigerian economy. If we look around us, we will see that in a society where we produce crude oil, it is so difficult for us to buy the product at the filling stations. Why? Because even though we are not producing as we should, even the imported product cannot get to the stations or terminals due to lack of pipeline network which should have facilitated easy transportation.

“It is cheaper, faster and better to transport crude or petroleum products from one location to the other through

pipelines, which is what we have tried to do. We cannot continue to overemphasis that fact,” he said.

Explaining the role pipeline vandalism plays in creating the energy crisis the country is currently experiencing, Adeleke said: “As a regulator, we have firsthand experience of what those people go through which include issues of losses due to vandalism. It is something that has to do with our social political environment, because if people are actually adequately satisfied, they don’t have any business to destroy something that is going to make life easy in order to benefit their personal interest.”

To address the challenges, the DPR proposed that “We take the social vices very important and make the people feel satisfied.” He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has gone into discussions with the communities, even proposing and providing social amenities and empowering them, adding that such engagements have reduced the level of pipeline vandalism in such areas.

“We can then begin to look at the laws, so we can say if you want to build pipelines, you must have some social economic programmes that will build security around what you are trying to do. That will also guarantee the availability of your pipelines and the value that you are looking for can be achieved.

SPDC boosts petroleum subsurface studies

Chevron Nigeria invests N17bn in community projects

By Michael Eboh

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HEVRON Nigeria Limited, CNL, said it had invested about N17 billion over the last 10 years to provide about 580 projects, benefitting about half a million people across the country.

In his presentation at the just concluded Sixth African Petroleum Congress and Exhibition (CAPE VI) in Abuja, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, CNL, Mr. Deji Haastrup, said the investments were made possible through the Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU model.

He said the GMoU is a community driven sustainable development model that involves the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC and Chevron, state governments and communities. The governance structure ensures that resources accruable from the oil and gas business through social investments directly benefit the people in the local communities.

According to him, the GMoU had built

community capacity to plan for, design and implement development projects by themselves, and had also provided a platform for communities in remote areas to leverage funds from other donors while providing for their needs in an inclusive manner.

Haastrup noted that aside from its businesses in the oil and gas sector, Chevron and its partners had over the years, continued to make social investments for human capacity development. In the area of creating skilled employees from local communities, they had also ensured improved access to education and healthcare and boosted local and regional economies.

He further said the company’s Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND, had been able to work with its partners to improve the productivity and income of farmers and businesses through better farming practices and use of technologies.

This, he noted, is in fulfilling its commitment to improving the standard of living for people in the Niger Delta region, adding that PIND was launched in 2010 with an initial funding of $50 million.

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HE University of Ibadan now has an ultra-modern subsurface research centre that will boost the development of top rate manpower for the nation’s oil and gas industry. The centre was made possible through the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, operated Joint Venture.

The centre has 15 fully-networked workstations, a high-end server complete with internet facilities and a standby 45-Kva generator among other facilities, Shell said in a statement on Sunday.

“The SPDC JV’s intervention to turn around the subsurface centre of the university is a careful choice to support the institution to deliver the next generation of technologies and skills that will help Nigeria to unlock more oil reserves.” SPDC’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr. Igo Weli, was quoted as saying at the handover ceremony in Ibadan on March 14th.

He added: “With all the modern facilities and promise of uninterrupted power supply, the centre has the capacity to showcase the potentials of oil and gas sector while attracting bright minds and our hope is that students will make the

best use of it.”

Also commenting, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Olayinka, said: “We appreciate the contributions of the SPDC JV to education, to the geosciences and to University of Ibadan in particular. The facility will help the efforts of the university to recreate itself as a entre of excellence in geosciences training.”

According to Shell, the subsurface centre is expected to usher in new levels of learning at the University of Ibadan and other institutions in southwestern Nigeria. It added that students and researchers can access real-time information and connect with other learning centres anywhere in the world from their keyboards.

It noted that a dearth of world class research institutions and limited access to technology is a key challenge in enabling Nigerians and Nigerian companies to play a greater role in the oil and gas value chain.

“SPDC JV therefore focuses on building capacity in key technical skills, for example donating equipment to universities to develop capability in the production of drilling mud,” the statement said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016— —31

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32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 TAURUS: Whatever happens success will crown your efforts today. Yet you will need to keep both yours and other people secrets because of another day. Utilize your new ideas and take good advice.

GEMINI: Your close friends and other influential personalities are willing to assist you to make it a successful day. You are becoming more irresistible to the members of your opposite sex. Be more loving.

CANCER: Conjunction between the Sun and Mercury in your Star Sign will enhance your brilliance to the betterment of your cause. Back your hopes and wishes along your career line with practical approach.

LEO: This is a good day to seek good advice from professionals, especially if what at hand is legal related. Both your present and immediate future should be taken more seriously.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

God is watching

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IGHT from ages man has continued to look for ways of clothing his nakedness. Nakedness does not just mean not wearing clothes alone. It includes covering our evil deeds, wicked acts, ways and

sins etc.

As it was the days of the biblical Adam and Eve, so it is today.

When we commit heinous crime, we run for cover under the stone,

TERROR MUDA

under the water and under the dark, hoping and praying that we will not be caught.

We live a lie. We forget that air bear witness to our cruel act;

in “Scavenger Elite”

the sun by our shadow takes our photograph, and our conscience convicts us daily.

Beware, God is watching. Your sins will find you out.

Think about it!

By Lanre Kehinde

VIRGO: Romantic attractions through your career/business lines may become a little stronger than before. But your best bet now is to utilize your closeness to influential people to better your career line.

LIBRA: Although others may try to oppose your brilliant ideas it indicated that you will laugh last today, especially if you refuse to be intimidated. Love and listen to your spouse.

SCORPIO: The language that will appeal to you more today is hard work, and whoever is coming with idea of joining the band wagon of merry making may be talking to the wrong channel. Watch your health.

SAGITTARIUS: Young-at-heart among you are in for an exciting day when both excitement and satisfaction can go together. Enterprising business personalities among you will smile. Take your health seriously.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in “HEY’

By Andy Akman

CAPRICORN: Naturally you are the ambitious type and good opportunity to exhibit your innate ability will come your way. Please try not to neglect your domestic responsibilities; be more family minded.

AQUARIUS: Opportunity to consolidate on progress made yesterday will come. This is a good day to make practical your new ideas at work. Lovers will smile. New attractions while on the move indicated.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Basic characteristics of Capricorn RULER = AMBITIOUS SATURN-THE LAW. QUALITY = CARDINAL. ELEMENT = EARTH. SYMBOL = THE GLORIOUS MONTAIN GOAT. GROUP = FEMININE. ZODIACAL POSITION = THE 10TH. Because they rarely day dream, Capricorns are set of practical people. This is because Capricorn is ruled by Saturn - the planet of Career, material things and sceptics. Although, the spirit of pessimism often times tempt the Capricorns, to succeed they will need to develop strong will that is indispensable to achievements of higher order because, series of challenges will come his/her way before he/she finally makes it to the top. Most Capricorns are forced to shoulder many responsibilities early in life.

Career building comes first in Capricorn’s priority lists which often leads to enviable Career achievements that guarantee recognition. And another name for Capricorn is PATIENCE. Yet, Capricorn can appear mean in the business circle. And He/She will tell you that seriousness and business are synonymous. Above all, Capricorn is endowed with leadership capacity.

Capricorn ‘s quality is Cardinal, element is the Earth.

The Cardinal aspect makes a natural leader with strong ability for hard work. Natives of Cardinal signs crave for action and strongly desire prominence and often times make success of their love of action and desire for importance through relentless efforts.

The earthly connection with Capricorn further confirms innate ability for hard work and practicality in your nature. Saturn is the planet of hard task, delay, depression, frustration but reward after so much struggles.

Being a difficult teacher, Saturn usually takes its natives through many different tasks, challenges and delay.

All these are meant to teach Capricorn born person the virtues of patience and hard work. However, Saturn usually brings its natives recognition and reward. However, the cautious side of Saturn always manifest in all Capricorns and it is needless to say that they are usually cautious type of people but it is necessary for them to watch that side of their characteristics as they often push their cautious side too far and most of the time it results to black mood.

VIRGINIA

HOME & ABROAD

dadadekola@yahoo.com

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—33

A-Ibom govt orders demolition of shrines, tombs along highways

By Tom Moses

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KONO—AKWA Ibom State Government has ordered the demolition of shrines, graveyards and other structures which have suddenly sprung up on roads undergoing construction in Ikono Local Government Area of the state.

The directive, issued during an inspection of the 4.6km Mbiafun Nkwongo-Nung Ukim Road, by the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang, was sequel to the emergence of shrines, graveyards and emergency buildings on the road soon after the commencement of construction work with alleged dubious plans to extort or force the government to pay compensation on the land where those structures are erected.

Inyang warned that what the government required from the people at this austere period was cooperation and not arm-twisting to enable government to provide the people with developmental infrastructure and dividends of democracy.

It will be recalled that at least, 1,417 illegal structures including those whose owners had received

compensation but refused to relocate to allow contractors handling the dualization of the 91. 7 kilometres Uyo-Etinan

Road and the 39.4 Etinan-Ndon Eyo Road, Etinan Local Government Area stretching to Awa-Iman in Onna Local

CONVENTION: From left: Wife of General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Folu Adeboye, wife of President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Helen Oritsejafor, General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, during a surprise visit to the Word of Life Bible Church, Warri, last Sunday for the concluding service of Daughters of Sarah annual convention.

Senator Uzamere resigns from PDP

By Emmanuel Aziken & Simon Ebegbulem

T

HE contention for the governorship ticket of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State narrowed, yesterday, after Senator Ehigie Uzamere announced his resignation from the party.

Senator Uzamere, the only person to have won re-election to the Senate from Edo South senatorial zone, was until recently, speculated to be a leading contender for the party ’s governorship ticket, though he never formally made his declaration.

No reason was given for his resignation from the party and the senator did not give any indication as to his next political moves.

Senator Uzamere first won election to the Senate in 2007 on the platform of the PDP and made history when he won reelection in 2011 on the platform of the defunct Action Congress

of Nigeria, ACN. He, however, did not follow through with other members of that party to join the All Progressives Congress, APC, as he returned to the PDP, a party whose ticket he

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famously denounced as having lost value like the then Zimbabwean dollar.

In his letter withdrawing his membership of the PDP, Uzamere said: “I wish to thank the leaders of the PDP

at the national, state, local government and ward levels for their unflinching support and provision of platform for my first term as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Edo South Senatorial District (2007— 2011).

Edo 2016: Don’t sell your votes, Ogiemwonyi tells APC delegates

By Charles Kumolu

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ITH campaigns by politicians jostling to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State getting more frenzied by the day, delegates to elect the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the September 10 governorship race in the state, have been advised to critically scrutinise the credentials of those who have indicated their intentions to govern the state.

A governorship aspirant in the state on the platform of the APC, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, gave

Easter: DBS Warri holds resurrection dinner ARRI—IN the spirit of Easter, Delta Broadcasting Service, DBS, Warri, will tomorrow host an array of dignitaries to its 2016 Annual Resurrection Dinner with the theme, Therefore Let Us Keep The Feast.

The event intended to showcase the state broadcast outfit as a "House of God" will be chaired by Elegbete Moses Odibo, Chairman, Delta State Committee on DSC Affairs.

Government Area of the state to do their work, were demolished penultimate week by the state government.

Malcolm Oteri, Coordinator of the event, said the occasion, holding at DBS Edjeba office, will feature Rt. Rev. Cyril Odutemu, Anglican Bishop of Ughelli Diocese, as guest speaker and music performance by four renowned choirs.

Other guests expected at the event include the Chairman, Board of Directors of DBS, Mrs. Felicia Ajagu, traditional rulers and local government council chairmen.

the advice while addressing delegates in Owan West Local Government Area, SabongidaOra; Owan East Local Government Area and at Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.

He said: “I am here to solicit your votes as a brother, friend and political party advocate, who believes in due process. I am aware that many of my fellow contenders in the race have visited you almost twice. It is not

out of hatred that I am visiting late. I was only obeying the governor’s directives to wait till the ban on campaign was lifted.

“I want to tell you that I am a different kind of politician because of my background as a technocrat. When I left school years back, I had three jobs. Now, thousands of our youths are being turned out of schools on a yearly bases without jobs and it aches my heart."

Isoko union decries marginalization of indigenes in Ndokwa East

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By Festus Ahon

SABA—THE Isoko Development Union, IDU, has decried what it described as neglect and marginalization of Isoko communities in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking when he led Isoko people on a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, President General of IDU, Chief Iduh Amadhe, appealed to the governor to prevail on political

representatives from the area, especially the Deputy Speaker, Mr Friday Osanebi, to ensure that something urgent was done to address the poor living conditions of the people.

Amadhe said that political representatives were not doing much to uplift the living conditions of the people, adding, “The Isokos in Ndokwa are being used as political tools by politicians during elections and are immediately abandoned when elections are over.”

NAPIMS gets backing over alleged marginalisation

By Tare Youdeowei

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IGER Delta I n d i g e n o u s Movement for Radical Change, NDIMRC, has defended the National Petroleum Investment Management Service, NAPIMS, over allegation of marginalisation of the Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje coastal communities.

The Concerned Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje coastal communities, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, had accused NAPIMS and Chevron Nigeria Limited of marginalisation and urged the President to intervene to avoid chaos in the riverine communities.

But NDIMRC, in a statement by it’s President, Nelly Emma, in defence of NAPIMS, said that the accusation should be directed only at Chevron.

The oil monitoring group said, “Our attention has been drawn to an open letter to President Buhari by Concerned Itsekiri, Ijaw and Ilaje Coastal Communities on alleged marginalisation by NAPIMS and Chevron and we hereby exonerate NAPIMS from the accusation."

Customs impounds vessel over use of expired permit

By Godfrey Bivbere

T

HE Eastern Marine Command, EMC, of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Port Harcourt has impounded a vessel, MT African Beauty, for operating with expired documents (Temporary Importation, TI, permit) in Warri, Delta State.

The EMC has been beaming its search light on operations of ship owners because most of them are believed to be operating with either expired TI permit or without any at all.

Comptroller Usman Bello, Customs Area Controller, CAC, of the Command, who ordered the detention of the vessel, directed the owners of the vessel MT African Beauty to immediately obtain a fresh Temporary Import permit from customs headquarters to enable them continue with their business.

Bello noted that TI permit was given to ship-owners by the NCS to operate their vessels for a specified period of time under bond granted by banks on Nigerian waters.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Police arrest 3 teenage robbery suspects in Enugu

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By Emeka Mamah

NUGU—THREE teenage armed robbers were yesterday arrested after robbing a man of his Toyota Venza number plate APP 7080 W at Umuopu Agu in Enugu Ezike, Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The leader of the gang, Arinze Eya, said that he brought the other two suspects to help him rob the vehicle from the owner so that he could use the proceeds to travel to Indonesia.

Eya, who said that his father was a police officer, said that he asked the vehicle owner to

support him with money so that he could travel about two years ago but stressed that the victim failed to do so.

According to him, one of the suspects was his first cousin while the third, who had tattoos of arobaga on his back was not related to him.

Police sources said that the suspects robbed the vehicle from their victim and were traveling to a place where a buyer had promised to pay N2.5 million when the vehicle was involved in an accident at Alor-Agu, before they were arrestedwiththeaidofthelocalvigilante group in Enugu-Ezike.

90 DAYS: INEC runs out of time for Imo re-run polls O

By Chidi Nkwopara

WERRI—SOME constituencies in Imo State, may remain without representatives in the State and National Assemblies, since the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, failed or neglected to implement the rerun polls ordered by the court within 90 days.

Hope for re-run elections in Owerri West and Oru East state constituencies, as well as the Okigwe senatorial seat remained very dim, as no dates had been fixed for the exercise, as at press time yesterday.

Reacting to this development, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate for Owerri West state constituency, Sir Chidi J. Ihemedu, a lawyer, lamented that since INEC failed to comply with the 90-day limit ordered by the court, the electoral umpire would need the approval of the court to carry out the exercise outside the specified period.

“It is indeed very sad that INEC has failed to implement the order of court. It is also clear, legally speaking, that INEC cannot call for or carry out the re-run elections, without seeking court approval to extend the time limit earlier ordered by a competent court of the land”, Ihemedu said.

While recalling that the Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner recently invited contestants to his office and announced that INEC would still

carry out the court order, Sir Ihemedu however wondered where he drew the authority from, in making such a sweeping statement.

“The re-run elections were ordered by the court and since

INEC failed or neglected to carry out the order within the time frame given by the court, the implication is that the affected constituencies would remain without representatives for now,” Ihemedu said.

Spirited efforts made by Vanguard to get the INEC Office, Owerri, to speak on the issue failed, as the Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Emmanuella Ben Opara, neither picked nor returned the calls.

Don laments rising cases of fake products, threatened in the course of drugs in S-East transparency in the activities of been carrying out monitoring

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By Francis Igata

NUGU—A University don, Prof. Mrs. Justitia Nnabuko, weekend, lamented that substandard products, as well as non-registered pharmaceutical drugs and products were still rife in the South-East geopolitical of Nigeria.

Nnabuko, who is the Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, stated this while delivering the 104th inaugural lecture of the University.

The professor of marketing regretted that despite committed efforts by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and other regulatory agencies, some desperate businessmen were still flooding the country with unwholesome products.

According to her, “NAFDAC is rated as one of the top eighteen medical regulatory agencies in the world and the fourth on the African continent.

“However, monitoring of pharmaceutical activities has not yielded the much-desired

drug firms as drug products assessment and registrations have not been effectively achieved in the South-East states of Nigeria.

“Many pharmaceutical facilities and drug products were yet to receive authentic registrations.

The lives of the regulators had

operations”.

While also lamenting the existence of, “so many quacks in the marketing profession”, she observed that such persons were aiding fake drug dealers by marketing same to the unsuspecting members of the public.

Gov Obiano's kinsmen dump APGA, PDP at Umueri Recreation Club and

By Vincent Ujumadu

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NEWI—MORE than five hundred aggrieved members of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from Anambra East Council Area, kinsmen of Governor Willie Obiano, of Anambra State, have dumped their respective parties to join Equity Forum, EF, a political pressure group that agitates for equity, fairness, and good governance, formed by a former PDP Chairman and member, House of Representatives Prince Tony Nwoye.

Addressing newsmen yesterday

Events Center, EF, Chairman for Anambra East, Mr. Thompson Chikezie, said the group was formed and inaugurated in Anambra State in August 2015 by Prince Nwoye, who is the sole financier, with the State Chairman being a former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Ossy Ezenwa, and the Secretary, a former Onitsha South L.G.A Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike.

He said that they are yet to decide the political party they will join to wrestle power from the hand of the ruling APGA government of Chief Obiano, but maintained that they will not go back to APGA and PDP respectively.

Use science, technology to diversify economy— Ogbonnaya Onu

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BUJA—WORRIED by the undue pressure being brought on the nation’s currency by the fragility of the economy, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has charged the country to rise up and employ science and technology as the suitable instrument to help to diversify and strengthen the economy.

The minister stated this yesterday, while commissioning the Abuja Office of the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology, NILEST, at Jabi, Abuja.

This is even as the minister disclosed that the Federal Government will organise the first national science and technology competition for the 774 local government areas in the country.

The minister said the competition would be organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and is aimed at identifying and celebrating the best among the young Nigerian scientists, to be selected from all the local government councils in the country.

He said: “By organizing scientific competitions, here in the NILEST office, our young people will benefit tremendously from a new scientific thinking that is needed to increase the awareness of our people to the role of scientific thinking that is needed to increase the awareness of our people for the role of science and technology in nation building.”

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Wike, Amaechi's clash over Ward 10 LG results in PH

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wise saying teaches us that, “Ego has a voracious appetite, the more you feed it the hungerier it gets.” Let both of them bury their respective egos and stop playing primitive politics with the blood of their people. Mr Alaba Salaudeen, Engineer

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efore Amaechi came last Friday, everywhere was calm and peaceful. As soon as he came from Abuja with battalion of soldiers and started making stupid utterances, everything changed.

Mr Ukandi Mathias, Graduate

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maechi has failed anyway, his plan to put an APC candidate while he will be the one controlling will not work.

He wants to continue looting money because being with Buhari will not fetch him the money he needs. Miss Grace Edet, Self Employed

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hat I have to say on Wike, Amaechi clash over Port Harcourt LG results is that Amaechi should face his ministerial office. He is supposed to be a mentor to Wike and not all this rivalry. Mrs Chukwudumebi D i a b u a h , Businesswoman

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really do not understand Amaechi’s issue in the Port Harcourt LG results. Amaechi that cannot even win in his unit, ward, let alone his LGA has the audacity to cause trouble in another LGA. Shame on him! Mr Nsemeke Matthew, Accountant

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n all of these and their likes what became of those whose lives were cut short in the crossfire?

If only the commoners can think deeply, politicians won’t have anyone to sacrifice to further their selfish interests. Miss Ugama Che Che, Worker

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 35

Labour accuses Bello of plan to sack 16, 000 workers ...Wait till end of verification exercise, says gov

By Boluwaji Obahopo

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OKOJA—TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, yesterday accused Kogi State government of planning to sack no fewer than 16,000 of the state public workers.

The union claimed government had set up a parallel six-man committee aside the committee handling the ongoing screening exercise, with a mandate of reducing the workforce at all cost.

Chairman of TUC, in the state, Ranti Ojo, who spoke at a briefing in Lokoja, demanded for the disbandment of the alleged parallel committee, or labour would withdraw members serving on the screening/ verification committee.

He equally accused the government of witch-hunting Permanent Secretaries and other top government functionaries placed on 30-day compulsory leave without making public their alleged crimes.

According to him, “The union kept quiet while the first 30 days compulsory leave was given to the people by government, thinking that their offences would be made public before the expiration of the 30 days. But we are surprised by another circular dated 15th March, 2016 titled: “Re: Urgent Directives from the Executive Governor”; extending for another 30 days the compulsory leave granted to our members in the service of Kogi State even when none of them has actually been accused of and found guilty of any gross misconduct. ''This current action is tantamount to a witch-hunt and a negation of the civil service rules and regulations governing the conditions of service of our members in the state.”

The TUC chairman said although the union supported the

on-going staff verification exercise, it would however not condone unwarranted punitive measures aimed at subjecting its members to ridicule and psychological torture.

Ojo, who also demanded the payment of the four months’ salary arrears of members of the union, lamented that members were dying of hunger and avoidable sicknesses daily, and threatened that Labour might be forced to

resume the industrial action recently suspended.

“Our members cannot be borrowing money to transport themselves to the offices on empty stomach”, he stressed.

But in its reaction to the allegations, the state government through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Abdulmalik Abdulkarim, said: “When they were sent on leave initially,

MEETING: Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema (left) and MD/CEO, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya during a meeting on areas of mutual benefit and collaboration at the Banana Island Head Office of Airtel in Lagos, yesterday.

NASU demands state of emergency in educational sector

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

J

OS—NON-ACADEMIC Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, has decried the falling standard of education and the appalling state of schools across the country, blaming it on the low budgetary allocation by the government.

Members of NASU in the West African Examination Council, WAEC, in a 9 point communiqué at the end of their 36th annual National Congress, in Jos, Plateau State, called on the government to declare a state of emergency in the educational sector as a way of raising the standard, quality of teaching and learning in the nation’s institutions of learning.

IMN drags Nigeria Army to ICC for genocide

By Luka Binniyat

K

ADUNA—THE Islamic Movement of Nigeria,

IMN, (Nigerian Shiite) has dragged the Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court of justice, ICC, over

TUNS FARMS: Appeal Court strikes out Skye Bank’s case

By Rosemary Onuoha & Bartholomew Madukwe

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HE Court of Appeal sitting at Akure, Ondo State, has struck out the suit filed

by Skye Bank Plc against Tuns Farms Limited following an appeal filed by the bank challenging its ruling on the substantive case at the Supreme Court.

In the same ruling, the court also struck out all other motions sought by the bank.

According to the presiding C M Y K

government explained that they were to go on the leave to enable it look into staff and financial records of the state uninterrupted, the exercise is yet to be completed.”

On the alleged plan to reduce the workforce, Abdulkarim said the union was only jumping into unnecessary conclusion as the committee in question was set up to ascertain the exact number of bonafide workers of the state.

judge, Justice Sotonye DentonWest, the court was in agreement with the counsel to Tuns Farms Limited, Mr. Duro Adeyele (SAN), that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain a case that had already been entered at the Supreme Court.

The judge stated that any deliberation of the matter was “an exercise in futility” and “amounts to a waste of the court’s time”.

She pointed out that the records of the case were already at the Supreme Court.

allegation of genocide.

The Spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa made this known at a briefing to mark the 100th day of the clash between the Islamic sect and the Nigeria Army in Zaria last year.

Spokesman of the IMN, Ibrahim Musa said the case was filed on behalf of the IMN by the Islamic Human Right Commission, IHRC, Commission based in London.

He quoted the IHRC as writing the ICC as thus: “The crimes committed between December 12th and 14th, 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity. The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor.”

In a communiqué issued by Mr. O. S. Obabunmi and Mrs. O. I. Aje, Chairman and Secretary, respectively, at the end of the conference, NASU lamented the consequences of low budgetary allocation to the sector were being manifested “in falling standard of education and the appalling state of our schools across the country.

Therefore, the Congress-InSession urges the government to declare a state of emergency in the educational sector as a way of raising the standard and quality of teaching and learning in our institutions.”

While equally lamenting the alarming rate of examination malpractices in the nation’s schools, the Congress-In-Session called “on the federal, state and other stakeholders to collaborate with WAEC and other examination bodies in fighting examination fraud in our country. The legislators are hereby called upon to enact enabling laws that would be strong enough to check the activities of those who use modern technology to perpetrate examination injustice and fraud in the country.”

NASU members while appreciating government efforts at addressing the epileptic power supply in the country vehemently opposed the increase in electricity tariff without a corresponding improvement in the power supply.

Ex-NHIS chief denies buying land for scheme without due process

By Bartholomew Madukwe

F

ORMER Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, has denied buying land for the scheme without due process.

He also denied involvement in enrolling ghost subscribers in the scheme leading to a fraud of N327 million.

His denial came against the backdrop of his investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, ICPC. Thomas said the purchase of the land was approved by the Federal Ministry of Health Tenders Board.

The former NHIS boss, who disclosed these while addressing journalists in Lagos yesterday, said: “The ICPC accused me of buying a land for the NHIS valued at N990m and that I pocketed 10 per cent of the money. That was a lie.

‘Actually, the property was approved by the Federal Ministry of Health Tenders Board. It was not approved by NHIS. Also, there was an evaluation by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing before the land was paid for.

The ministry did its evaluation and said it was worth N1.5billion yet we were able to negotiate to N990 million.’’

On the alleged enrolment of ghost enrollees which allegedly led to a fraud of N327 million, Thomas said it happened before he assumed office.

Thomas said the fresh allegation was a clear evidence of the desperation of his enemies to pull him down.

“This fresh allegation is a clear evidence of the desperation of my enemies to nail me and pull me down at all costs. I resumed as the Executive Secretary of the NHIS in November 2013, long after the purported ghost enrollees scheme was conceived and or executed, if indeed it was. So how can I be held responsible for a crime committed when I was not yet in office?

“On the contrary, I was the one who asked for the repatriation of overpayment to HMOs when I resumed office. ‘’I also carried out an integrity check probe of HMOs which resulted in the sacking of some HMOs in 2014. How can I scale through the hurdle if I had compromised by collaborating with HMOs on a fraudulent matter?''

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

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DR. MARK: Former Senate President, Dr. David Mark (middle), being decorated by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Chuks Ochonogor (left) and the Registrar, Rev. Ilogho Linus, both of Novena University, during the conferment of Honoris Doctor of Science in Intelligence and Security Studies on Mark at the university's 3rd combined convocation in Ogume, Delta State.

MEETING: From left— Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State (left) and Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, HRH G. O. Egabor, during the 32nd, 33rd and 34th convocation and 40th anniversary of the university.

NORTHERN EDUCATION REPORT: From left— Former Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, during Professor Jega's presentation of the report of the advisory committee set up to revive education in the three northern states.

FUTA'S CONFAB: From left— Professor Charles Egbu of the London South Bank University; Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, and Professor Obas Ebohon of De Montfort University, Leicester, after the opening ceremony of the three-day international conference on 21st Century Human Habitat, organised by the three universities and hosted by FUTA in Akure, yesterday.

FACTORY TOUR: From left— GMD/CEO, Sonia Foods Industries Ltd., Mr. Nnamdi Nnodebe; Otunba Bimbola Ashiru, Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Ogun State, and Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, Ogun State chapter, Mr. Wale Adegbite, after a factory tour of Sonia Foods by the Commissioner in Sagamu, Ogun State. PHOTO: Akeem Salau.

ETISALAT'S LITERATURE PRIZE: From left— Winner, 2015 Etisalat Prize for Literature, Fiston Mujila; patrons of the prize, Kole Omotoso; Margaret Busby; Etisalat Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Willsher, and judge, Professor Ato Quayson, during the presentation of £15,000 to Mujila in Lagos. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

ACCENTURE: From left— Managing Director, Financial Services, Accenture Nigeria, Mrs Toluleke Adenmosun; Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Mrs Yewande Sadiku; Managing Director, SecureID Group, Mrs Kofo Akinkugbe; Chief Executive Officer, Imagepro Consulting, Mrs Evelyn FemiPaul, and Managing Director, Natural Resources Accenture, Mrs Abayomi Olarinmoye, at the 2016 Accenture International Women's Day in Lagos.

IGNITE AFRICA LIBRARY: From left— Sales and Distribution Executive, MTN Nigeria, Tsola Barrow; Founder, Ignite Africa Leadership Foundation, Kola Oyeyemi, and CEO, Tamy Consulting, Tolu Ojo, at the formal opening of Ignite Africa Library in Oregun, Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—37

Lekki Gardens: Many posers begging for answers Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

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AGOS, which the state government considers a work in progress mega-city, is not new to buildings collapse having recorded several tragedies in that regard in the past several years.

Indeed Lagos was once again in the news over another tragedy following last week Tuesday collapse of a five-storey building in Lekki Gardens in Lekki area at the state that the over 30 lives. As with past building collapse tragedies, this recent incident has continued to elicit reactions bordering on grief, outrage and condemnations by members of the public, while the state government had responded with punitive action by sanctioning the contractor which handled the building construction on behalf of Lekki Gardens, the property owners, as well as the chief executive officer of Lekki Gardens, Mr. Richard Nyong.

Obviously outraged at the high toll in lives lost, the Lagos state government had vowed to bring all those responsible for the tragedy to book.

Monitoring of buildings And in fulfillment of its vow, the state government last week sacked the General Manager and another staff of Lagos state Building Control Agency, an agency responsible for monitoring of buildings whether old, new or under construction in the state to ascertain their fitness, for their alleged compromise in the Lekki Gardens building collapse while the CEO of Lekki Gardens and the contractor that handled the collapsed building are in the police custody till the completion of investigations into the collapse which are expected to last for 30 days.

But the sentiment in many informed circles is that though Governor Akinwumi Ambode has done well and in a very courageous way by wielding the big stick on these government officials, nothing short of prosecution of those found culpable would suffice as a deterrence now and in the future. Meanwhile, questions are being asked why these individuals have only been given official reprimands instead of being arrested by the police and taken to court as was the case with Mr. Richard and one of the contractors handling the project. The two young men are to remain in police custody on the order of an Ebute-

•The collapsed building at Lekki Gardens Metta Chief Magistrate Court for the next 30 days pending the completion of investigations by the police.

The duo are being punished ahead of their trial based on claim by the Lagos State government that the company illegally added two additional floors to the building in defiance to approved plan by regulators and for which the site was sealed.

The state government went further to claim that: “ In a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors”. This explains why police prosecutor, Godwin Osuji, informed the magistrate court that an ex-parte

It may be interesting to know at what point Lekki Gardens, which is reputed to have delivered 6,000 affordable housing units in four years of its operations with an additional 10,000 units in the pipeline in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos became such an irresponsible corporate citizen

application had sought to remand the defendants beyond the constitutionally prescribed period in the interest of justice, public safety, public order and morality.

But questions are still being asked why the government officials are not detained by the police.

It may be interesting to know at what point Lekki Gardens, which is reputed to have delivered 6,000

affordable housing units in four years of its operations with an additional 10,000 units in the pipeline in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, became such an irresponsible corporate citizen.

This organisation is also said to have about 250 people in direct employment and another 10,000 indirectly employed. What kind of signals does this send to other

investors in the industry? Lekki Gardens has been in existence for just four years. The company has, within this short period, impacted heavily on the housing sector in the country, building and managing 57 estates in different parts of the country, with no single case of building collapse in any of the estates. It is therefore difficult to understand why a company with such impressive record would decide to cut corners on just one out of the many structures it has handled. It just doesn’t add up.

The tragedy of Lekki Gardens, like others before it, occurred because relevant government agencies failed to do what they are statutorily set up to do. The claim that the company ignored the original approval for three-storey structure and decided to raise the building to five floors suggests that construction of the building was supposed to be done under the supervision of a regulatory agency. If that is the case, at what stage was it discovered that the company had acted outside the approval it was given? For the government to claim that the developer exceeded the approved number of floors, it means that it was aware that the building had risen above the approved level.

This is because it is not possible to determine from the rubble the height of a building when it was under construction.

The government also claimed that the building had actually been marked for demolition, but that its owners allegedly cleaned off the demolition sign and continued with the building. The question now, is why didn’t the relevant agency move in to stop work on

Continues on page 38

Firm launches Nigeria’s premier online land listings

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O make acquisition of land easy and devoid of activities of fraudsters in Nigeria, Lands.ng, Nigeria’s premier online land listings has officially launched its operations to stakeholders in the housing industry. The online platform is a marketplace that is meant solely for land listings and its associated services in Nigeria.

Speaking at the formal launch of the initiative last week, the founder and chief executive officer of the Lagos-based company, Mr. Godwin Ani, a former staff of Schlumberger, said the objective of the platform is to unlock access to lands across the country, adding that “With over 1.4 million plots of land, more than 250 registered and certified estate agents, multiple enquiries from over 12 states in Nigeria, rich information, dynamic listings, access to credible data and much more which the platform had already uploaded before its formal launch, Lands.ng has created a secure and conducive online destination and ecosystem for buyers, sellers, land owners and realtors to connect with ease and make informed decisions”, he noted.

Ani who noted that after an extensive career spanning 15 years across three different continents in the oil and gas industry as a manager in Schlumberger, said he ventured into real estate industry after leaving

Schlumberger. He said “I believe that removing the barriers to land ownership starts with providing Nigerians the right information and a secured platform for interactions among land owners, agents and buyers.

“Lands.ng is leading the full impact of digital revolution on the real estate industry in Nigeria.

At Lands.ng, we are using technology to revolutionise the way Nigerians think about real estate in terms of land value chain in particular, and thus providing a long term solution to the home ownership challenges and the living standard of our society”,Lands.ng boss stated.

Also speaking, Mr. Michael Ebia, Co-founder and chief executive officer, ADE Digital Media, said “With the penetration into the Nigerian land market, there is now more than ever a need for a more robust offering for connecting investors, buyers and sellers, which is what Lands.ng has addressed with its introduction of advanced technology and security features, a product of its strategic involvement with ADE Digital Media, a leading Digital Marketing Agency in Lagos.

“The penetration of technology is far reaching and with the land market, we recognise the huge impact top notch technology integration will yield for the industry. Through forward thinking and a highly responsive and secure platform, Lands."

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Lekki Gardens: Many posers begging for answers Continues from page 37 the building and possibly arrest the developers of Lekki Gardens and prosecuted them. This could have averted the tragedy.

Speaking at a press briefing last week in Lagos, National Chairman, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Robbie James Owivry lamented that It was a rather disappointing and embarrassing experience that this sort of incident could occur in a country that boasts of seasoned civil engineers that can hold their own with any civil engineer anywhere across the world.

Owivry added that it is unfortunate that

The designs for 2016

Nigeria is still grappling with man–made problems of this nature at this age, whereas other nations of the world are battling with the challenges of natural disasters like flooding , landslides and earthquakes.

According to him, infiltration of the construction industry by non-professionals at the expense of trained professionals is a major cause for concern and “l think the time has come for us to have a considerable thought for this menacing situation. The negligent attitudes of members of the public that patronize developers indiscriminately calls for caution.

Developer delivers home designs for 2016 Stories by Kingsley Adegboye

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IFESTYLE living connoisseur, Haven Homes, a Lagos-based real estate development firm, has delivered its 2016 home designs much to the expectations of its teeming subscribers, according to the company’s Assistant General Manager, Ms Ufuoma Ukueku.

The 2016is an improvement on the exterior and interior of the sensational 2015 design which is already being handed over to subscribers to the firm’s current efforts at Richmond Gate Estate in Lekki.

The AGM said more celebrities

have continued to embrace the Haven Homes’ flagship project at Richmond Gate Estate, pointing out that MTN brand ambassadors recently gathered at the highbrow estate for video shooting after the video director, Mr Sesan Ogunro came to Haven Homes and was pleased to discover an alternative serene location that is comparable to the exotic scenes in South Africa hitherto patronized for such video shootings.

She noted that a scene on the shooting had ace artiste, Sound Sultan driving a truck within the premises of Richmond Gate Estate. “He was working alongside a host of other

superstars on music videos which are set to debut soon”.

According to Ms Ukueku, there are several notable features in the latest model, adding that it differs from the 2015 design in that a special element known as “curve architecture” has been taken to a much higher level by the creation of a unique roof design that curves from the first deck to the upper roof, a curve spanning over two floors.

“This civil engineering feat is unique on the residential landscape in Nigeria and is the first of such known. Our structural engineers, Abisoye & Co. faced a huge challenge as the massive

curve could have placed undue stress over the first deck cantilever but with careful weight balancing, structural strength was achieved through the use of carefully designed clay pots to keep the structure standing.

Internal fittings “One major advantage with this design is that it is difficult to copy by design pirates, a habit that Haven Homes has often decried over the past few years.

The internal fittings of the 2016 design also enjoyed some enhancements. The new designs

are fitted with wall switches that emit pilot LED light in the dark so that their locations can be seen even in the dark, eliminating groping for switch locations, in addition to having the walls being kept clean. “Furthermore, a significant 90 percent cut in energy load has been achieved because all spot lights installed are now energy saving units that reduce each spotlight from 50 watts to five watts per bulb.

In the last ten years, Haven Homes has consistently come up with fascinating and innovative new home designs for each year, with the 2017 model due to be delivered over the next ten months”, Ms Ukueku stated.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 — 39

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40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

By Theodore Opara

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IGERIANS craze for Sport Utility vehicles, SUVs, has no comparison. There is hardly any auto brand of Sports Utility Vehicle that you can’t find in the country. Some of these SUVs come into the country as brand new vehicles or used ones.

But no matter how they come, there is always a huge demand for Sport Utility Vehicles for some reasons.

These include poor state of our roads which makes it almost impossible for most Sedan to navigate through. The other reason for high demand for SUV is our people's way of life as most people would like to show off with large SUVs and oppress users of smaller cars on the road.

However, some people would also tell you that they prefer. SUV because of the raised platform and spacious interior. They would even claim that it is cheaper to maintain SUVs.

Admirer of the model Their reason being that the higher road clearance of SUVs give them an edge as the underneath hardly touches the road in rough terrain. In as much as these reasons could be said to be genuine, there are other side of Sport Utility Vehicles that most admirer of the model have not considered.

Apart from the fact the most Sports Utility Vehicles consume more fuel than the ordinary Sedan, it has been argued that SUVs do not have as much balance as the saloon cars and more caution must be applied when driving the them.

The invention of SUV dates back to over 70 year ago by Jeep.

Then the SUVs were created for rough terrains where Sedans dare not tread.

The beautiful and other sides of SUVs The military found it handy for their tough tasks in unpaved terrains, and later SUVs were considered as passenger vehicle and luxury features were introduced into it.

In Europe and most developed parts of the world, the SUV were then, usually used in the farm and they were not as fast as Sedans but today, SUVs compete favourably with ordinary Sedans in terms of speed, luxury and safety to some extent.

But it has been found that most people usually abuse the use of SUVs by over speeding and manuevering with the car, not minding that no matter how good an SUV could be, it can never have the same centre of gravity and stability like sport cars and saloon Knowing that the SUVs do not share the same level of handling with the ordinary saloon cars and sport cars, most manufacturers have introduced so many features to

it, to raise their performance and safety standard.

For instance, electronically controlled Kinetic Dynamic suspension system for outstanding drivability off-road and comfortable ride on-road like in the Toyota Land Cruiser, keeps all the tyres firmly in contact with the ground even when travelling over rocks and other demanding surfaces so as to deliver a safe, stable ride with excellent traction for superior rough terrain drivability and control.

Also vehicle stability control VSC is one vital feature that keeps the SUV stable in slippery road surfaces. VSC enhances vehicle stability by controlling engine output and braking at each wheel if sensors detect an abrupt steering operation or lateral slipping of the vehicle.

There are other features like variable flow control power steering which responds to vehicle speed. So steering is light and nimble at low speed for

Grills2Grills showcases iconic cars at motor show

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ETERMINED to show case the maintenance culture of Nigerians, Tophorn Nigeria Limited, owners of Grills2Grills Restaurant is putting together a two-day unique motor show for Classic cars, muscle cars, super cars and a variety of motorbikes at the Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos.

The two day event which kicks off on the April, 2nd, 2016 has been design to put Lagos on the world map and showcase the maintenance culture of Nigerian who prize and cherished their classic cars.

Briefing newsmen on the median edition of the rare Motor Show, the Chief Executive Officer of Tophorn, Mr. Dapo Otunla said, away from celebrating new models and latest technologies in the automotive industry, the show will connect culture with automotive, while revealing

classic cars, super cars, muscle cars and motorbikes which are iconic and extra-ordinary.

He explained that some people believed that Nigerians don’t have maintenance culture, yet people keep these classic cars over many decade and this is what we intend to showcase the world. According to him the event is about creating a platform where unique car and bike owners in Nigeria and Lagos in particular can come and exhibit their prized possession and share them with members of the public.

The organsiers who gave the press a glimps of what to expect at the show had on display at the press briefing some iconic models like the MG Midget, built in 1977, Lotus Elise of 1994 and 1965. Mercedes 220 SE Coupe convertible, while promising that visitor would see cars made even before the Nigeria independent

at the show.

“You will see real classic. There are others from the 1960s. A few Rolls Royce built many decades ago will also make it to the show that has been billed to display over 70 iconic cars and 30 bikes.

Mr Otunla, a lawyer and political scientist by training also hinted that thousands of visitors will be visiting the show which has been scheduled to hold every year. He further explained that there had never been a car show around like this as visitors will have on display iconic models built several decades ago in good shape “People feel Nigeria has been written in the world map in terms automobile, but that the sector has always of being very vibrant in the country such that we have cars which are over 40 years old in perfect shape speaks volume of our maintenance culture.

easy manueverability and packing and firm and responsive at high speed for enhanced control and stability.

Without going into details, features like Hill Descent Control, Electronic modulated air suspension plus adaptive variable suspension system, full-time four wheel drive with torsen limited slip differential etc have been built into modern SUV to

raise the safety standard.

In some advance SUVs, the suspensions can adjust lower or higher depending on the speed of the car for safety reasons.

But the fact remains that the few drawbacks of SUV have been observed by the auto makers and they have warned against overspeeding and manoeuvring with SUV. Apart from the lower speedometers, this warning by the manufacturers should have restrain SUV drivers from abusing the speed limit of this cars especially in convoys but the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

It is a known fact that there is no car that cannot get involved in accident.

Even Princess Diana was killed in one of world safest cars but the fact remain that some car are more balanced than the others when it comes to speeding and caution must be applied when driving an SUV given the fact that the turning radius, centre of gravity and balance cannot be compared to Sedans.

One cannot say that a particular SUV brand has been more involved in accidents than the other but one should also consider the number of such brands and models on the road with other brands.

Luxury bus operators warn against carrying cash

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OLLOWING increased attacks by robbers on various routes across the country, long distance luxury bus operators have advised their passengers to always avoid boarding the vehicles with huge cash in order not to tempt the criminals.

Rather than carry large sums of money on them, especially during night journeys, intending passengers should take advantage of the various means of transferring money electronically and keep just enough to take care of their travel expenses.

The luxury bus operators who spoke through the managers of some leading luxury bus transport firms at the popular Upper Iweka in Onitsha, Anambra state, enjoined the travelers to embrace the use of drafts and various e-banking innovations, including automated teller machine (ATM), point of sale (POS) and other internet-enabled platforms in their transactions.

According to the spokesman of the managers’ forum, Tony Ogbonna, the enlightenment campaign became necessary due to the frequent cases of armed robbery involving luxury buses lately, especially at night, which result in human and material losses to both the passengers and the transporters.

“This is not restricted to any particular route. Our buses plying Abuja-Lagos or going to the east from Abuja; those playing Lagos-Shagamu-Ore-BeninOnitsha-Port Harcourt; and those on Aba-Onitsha-Lagos route, are all targeted by the robbers who are usually merciless in their attacks”, Ogbonna said.

Preventive measures Last year, the umbrella union of long distance bus transporters, Association of Luxury Bus Owners of Nigeria (ALBON) counselled the public on the need to always travel cashless, enjoining them to avail themselves of new methods in modern banking in their transactions to avoid being easy preys to the robbers.

The association had lamented that regardless of its preventive measures, like discouraging passengers from boarding with excess cash, the criminals had continued to lay siege on members’ vehicles on the erroneous assumption that passengers, particularly traders, were still in the habit of travelling with a lot of money in their possession.

Interestingly, the association’s statement clearly informed the gangsters of the transporters’ nocash policy.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016—41

•Placard carrying Ekiti State House of Assembly members

Our fight for Fayose — EKITI LEGISLATORS THE about a dozen legislators of the Ekiti State House of Assembly were escorted into the Vanguard corporate headquarters last Wednesday by four heavily armed mobile policemen, reflective of the troubled times that have recently befallen them.

By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor, Charles Kumolu and Gbenga Oke

U

NLIKE many other Nigerians in precarious conflict situations, the Ekiti lawmakers were not in conflict with armed robbers, insurgents, ethnic militias or sorts. They were rather in battle with the instruments of state in the form of the Department of State Services, DSS. Believing that the pen might be mightier than the swords of coercion being marshalled by the DSS, the legislators were in Vanguard to protest what they claimed as the abduction of four of their colleagues by the agents of the DSS on Friday, March, 4, 2016.

Running helter-skelter Those held according to the legislators were Sina Animasaun- Ekiti West Constituency 11; Musa Arogundade-Constituency Ado 1; Badejo AnifowoseConstituency Moba 11 and Akanni Afolabi However, surprisingly, the DSS has acknowledged the presence of only Afolabi, around whom death speculations revolved last Thursday. Expressing their reservations over the way and manner the House was supposedly violated, the chairman of the House committee

on information, Mr. Gboyega Aribisogun said: “We are here because of the very serious crisis going on in Ekit State. On March 4, 2016 which was a Friday around 11 am in the morning we were at committee meetings in various offices. Suddenly, we heard noise outside, while people were running helter-skelter, vehicles were also driving recklessly. At a point, they started shooting. It lasted for about 20 minutes. At the end of the confusion, we did a head count and realised that four of our members were missing.”

This thing is being orchestrated by the APC led government so they can either silence Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has been the only one speaking out against any policy that is not in tandem with what is expected in a democracy

•Deputy Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Segun Adewumi, Chairman, House Committee on Health, HIV and AIDS, Hon S.I.B Omotoso, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth and Development, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan and Chairman, House committee on Public Petition, Hon. Titilayo Akerele, during a courtesy visit to Vanguard Headquarters in Apapa, Lagos. Photos: Bunmi Azeez Voice of opposition: Affirming that the operation against the Ekiti legislature was a direct assault to quash the voice of opposition to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led federal administration as represented by Governor Ayodele Fayose, he said: “This thing is being orchestrated by the APC led government so they can either silence Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has been the only one speaking out against any policy that is not in tandem with what is expected in a democracy.”

Recalling how he claimed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was used in the past to suppress and supposedly hound Fayose from office in 2006, he said: “That was when they used the EFCC against him. The second in command to the EFCC Chairman, Mr Lamorde was actually the one, who placed the

impeachment notice on his table and asked the lawmakers to come in and sign and collect money in 2006. Now they are using another agent of the state which is the DSS. We don’t assume that these things can occur in a democracy.

“How can four people be taken away like that and nobody will talk? We hired a SAN in Abuja for them to tell us the offense or offenses they committed but they have not told us.”

APC script: Alleging that the actions against the legislators was a script by the APC in the state to upturn the supposed popularity and mandate of Fayose, he repeatedly pointed at actions and inactions of the APC spokesman in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun.

“What we have noticed is that from the beginning of this crisis till this moment, the Spokesperson of the APC in Ekiti State, Taiwo Olatunbosun, is always telling the next line of action on the social media. At the

beginning of this crisis he said that the next thing was that they will start arresting PDP members, the following week they started arresting the State House of Assembly members. He later updated a post that the next to be arrested would be the Special Adviser on Internally Generated Revenue. The next morning, the man was arrested.

“The next day, he said they will come and pick the Commissioner for Finance, the next day, the man was arrested and later released after three days.”

Pushed to the wall, the legislators said that they are now seeking for help given what they claimed is the failure of the judicial process to extricate their colleagues from the hands of the security agents.

Not too cordial relationship It is a strange call some critics of the administration in Ekiti would say given what is claimed as the not too cordial relationship between the administration in Ekiti and the media.

Even more, the legislators were pushed in their interactions with Vanguard editors to explain why as an independent arm of government they would take up the issues and causes of Governor Fayose as their own agenda.

Their answer inevitably went home to drive what they termed as the political consensus on the leadership of Fayose in the state.

“We are completely behind Governor Ayodele Fayose who they are running after. Initially, they wanted to use fear to break our ranks but it never worked. In the middle of the whole thing they introduced financial inducement but it never worked.

This time, it is now threats to our lives and our family members. We Continues on page 42

42—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Why Tompolo should come out of hiding — KOKORI FORMER SecretaryGeneral of the Petroleum Energy and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASAN, Chief Frank Kokori, is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State. In this interview with Vanguard, he spoke on sundry national issues bothering Nigerians. Excerpts:

By Godwin Oghre

H

OW will you react to the ongoing agitation in parts of eastern Nigeria calling for the secession of Biafra?

Biafra is a belated issue and it should not come into public discourse. Those agitating for it are merely seeking attention and self aggrandizement, there is no ideological backing for it.

They are just trying to trivialise Ojukwu’s interest. There was purpose and reason why Ojukwu fought to actualise Biafra and some us then sympathise with him. That purpose and reason has since been overtaken by events and the passage of

•Kokori: Tompolo should come out to face the government time.

The Igbo have benefited economically and politically.

Kanu and Nwazuruike are pretenders. I will join others to call on the Federal government to release him on political reasons, even though he could be charged for treason.

Thereafter the Igbo should warm him not to distract this government anymore and he should be allowed to go.

The case is the same with Ogoni people. They cannot secede with 3 or 4 local governments, even though Ken Sarowiwa had made

their agitation an international issue. Igbo have gotten everything and every position in this country since independence.

They are in control of all merchandize and all sensitive positions in the nation’s economy.

Do you think the Urhobo people are in a position to get their own state in Delta?

With the Irikefe commission in the 1970s, the Urhobo should have gotten their state when the country was operating 12 states.

Again in 1990, Urhobo should have gotten it but the rivalry

between Urhobo and Itsekiri necessitated Babangida to put the capital in Asaba to please his wife. Now the issue of an Urhobo State is belated.

Nigeria does not need more states. I will even urge Nigeria to go back to Gowon’s time of 12 states. What we have now are banana states. It costs huge sums of money to run these banana states. The country now has over blotted budget annually.

The country should concentrate on how it will satisfy the yearnings of its citizenry than running huge and bureaucratic government expenditure. Even the thirty six ministers are too many. It is only good to the extent that it satisfies the federal character and for the sake of the geopolitical zones. Also at the state levels, the ministries are too many. They should be reduced so that government can plough more money into infrastructure and welfare of her citizenry.

The 36 state structure is superfluous, too big and the burden of running them is too much. The bicameral legislature is also superfluous. We need a unicameral legislature in

Tompolo should come out to face the government eye ball to eye ball. Nobody should loot the economy

Our fight for Fayose — EKITI LEGISLATORS Continues from page 41 beg the media to actually help us. Let them know that this democracy must be preserved, this democracy must be sustained, and this democracy must be prolonged. It is because of the sweat of most journalists that we have this democracy.”

Errors APC administration The legislators were quick to affirm Governor Fayose’s primacy in the opposition to what they claimed as the errors of the APC administration. Indeed when challenged that they should encourage the governor to face governance rather than stirring up himself as an opposition leader, the legislators said: “There was no time the Governor has deviated from his work, he has been working tirelessly. And let me remind you that when PDP was in power, it

was not only Lai Mohammed that was engaging the government of President Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi was more even vociferous against Jonathan but the fact that he is now in APC does not mean he did not play the role of Lai Mohammed at that time. When Tinubu was Governor of Lagos state, APC had a spokesperson but Tinubu was seen lambasting Obasanjo over the seizure of local

government funds then. So Fayose coming in to stand in for Amaechi this time should not be seen not doing his job.

“This is democracy and all over the world, people speak out. It is actually good for you to speak out and be punished than for you to keep quiet. In Ekiti State, we have a strong culture which is fighting for the helpless, speaking out against cheating.

It will be difficult to convince or ask the Governor not to talk, it is not to his own advantage. In fact it is even taking him extra time to do the talk but the end result is for the benefit of all of us because monsters in government are created when nobody is calling them to order.

The dictators of •Fayose: Backed by lawmakers old did not start

as dictators, it is stylishly. In human nature, you might want to expand in a little time. The Governor will continue to talk and we the assembly, they should take all of us. We are not afraid of the DSS, we are so resolute and decided they should take us all and keep us till 2019 when our tenure ends, nothing will happen to Fayose.”

Loyalty to Fayose: Given the loyalty of the legislators to the governor, they were asked to confirm or deny allegations of a secret oath between them and the governor. The answer was straight to the point.

“Governor Fayose is a Christian and you never can ask him to go on oath. In fact he detests anybody that brings such thing to him. Many people see him from afar but if you move close to him, you will realize he is not a fetish person. If people believe it, it is fine and if they don’t, it is also fine but God is there watching us all.”

Nigeria.

The Urhobos are crying of been marginalized in the scheme of things in this country, is that true?

The Urhobo have been in opposition since 1999. They have been marginalised because they have always miscalculated.

Again, greed and selfishness by their leaders in the course of time have caused serious problems for the Urhobo.

This is just as ‘The one man one vote’ mantra has never taken root in Delta State. Rigging is on the rise in Delta. In the West and North elections have reached 85 per cent credibility, and 70 per cent in the East. But in the South South, elections have generally been marred by INEC, judiciary and armed forces in favour of the ruling party.

What is your comment on renewed militancy in the Niger Delta?

Originally, militants were not criminals. They were actually freedom fighters. These days hoodlums have come into it. The present day militants are criminal because they blow up pipelines, rob and maim.

Scooping petroleum products and vandalizing pipelines and sabotaging the economy are treasonable offences and anybody found guilty of them, is on his own.

Stamping out criminal militancy Tompolo should come out to face the government eye ball to eye ball. Nobody should loot the economy. PDP was careless for 16 years in power. It could not stamp out criminal militancy or Boko Haram - who are beasts of no gender. They are evil. The Talibans and Al-Qaeda are better than them. Jonathan could not drive them away in his time.

What is your reaction to the scarcity of petrol even with the increase in price?

Petroleum products’ scarcity is a recurring decimal. Some crooks in the downstream of the sector are conniving with some government parastatals to sabotage government efforts in making them available. Again, the marketers are hoarding them.

I know that after some time it will stabilize and we shall overcome it. Honestly I will not blame the present government for that. The nation was in abysmal state for 16 years and that could not be solved in 7 months of this government.

Corrupt leaders should be jailed.

The people now being arrested over corruption are the same people in power for 16 years. The Judiciary and senior lawyers are also sabotaging the efforts of this government and the anticorruption agencies across the country.

Here in my Ovu community, Ethiope East Local Government Area, we have no light for about two years now, yet DISCO is tasking this community.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 —43

Pepsodent, NDA walk against cavity

By Chioma Obinna

T

O increase awareness on oral health care in Nigeria, members of the dental community, employees of Unilever Nigeria Plc, dental students, dental practitioners and dental therapists took to major streets of Lagos to sensitise Nigerians on the need to brush their teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste.

The 10-kilometre Walk against cavity, organised by Pepsodent in collaboration with the Nigerian Dental Association, NDA, in line with the theme of the 2016 Oral Health Day – “Brush Day and Night… Healthy Mouth, Healthy Body” was also to drive positive habit change as well as put Nigerians on the alert as it concerns cavity.

The walk kicked-off from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, through Ojuelegba to Jibowu and back to LUTH. Educational materials, Pepsodent toothpaste and toothbrushes were handed over to commuters and residents within the neighbourhood of Surulere and Mushin local government areas of the city.

Addressing journalists during the walk, Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria PLC, Bunmi Adeniba said that the oral health awareness walk was part of the Campaign of Unilever Nigeria to get people to brush day and night.

“The health awareness walk is to inform Nigerians that prevention is better than cure and as such we should take our oral health seriously. The brush day and night campaign is part of Unilever’s vision to improve lives of Nigerians and by 2020 we have a commitment to have impacted the life of 10 million children across the country.

Also speaking, the President, Nigerian

Dental Association, Dr. Olabode Ijarogbe said Nigerians should see their oral health as closely integrated with their general health system as the mouth is the gate way to the body and several oral diseases are related to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

The walk is about trying to emphasise the significance of taking good care of your mouth as the mouth is an integral part of the body. For the body to be healthy the mouth has to be healthy.

Commenting on Pepsodent, Brand Manager Pepsodent, George Umoh said “We are driving positive habit change and promoting the culture of brushing twice daily – day and night- which is a global best practice to healthy living.

PHN, HSDF drive quality improvement, patient safety in hospitals

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HE quality of healthcare services and patient safety in Nigeria, Africa’s economic powerhouse, has continued to attract public discourse largely due to the occurrence of highprofile sentinel events reported in national media on a periodic basis.

For example, in 2011, a woman who had been booked for an elective caesarian section, fell off the operating theatre table, sustaining blunt head injury. A few days later, the woman died. She died in a tertiary health facility. Access was not the issue. Quality was the issue, and the system collectively failed her in that regards.

The impact of these challenges has been a widespread erosion of confidence by patients in the quality of domestic health

WALK :Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Unilever Nig Plc, George Umoh; Customer Marketing Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Plc Nig, Bimpe Adio; President, Nigerian Dental Association, Dr Bode Ijarogbe; Brand Building Director, Unilever Nig Plc, Nsima Ogedi-Alakwe and Category Manager, Oral Care, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Bunmi Adeniba taking the Smile Pledge at the Oral Health Awareness Walk in Lagos, recently.

care, resulting in an increase in selfmedication and a significant increase in outbound medical tourism, which is now estimated at about one billion dollars in healthcare expenditure abroad.

Given these worrisome trends, empowering front-line health providers in private and public sector to improve the quality of health care in facilities, patient safety, clinical outcomes, and client satisfaction became the focal point at the recently concluded Quality Improvement Learning Sessions for 40 hospital facilities across the three senatorial zones in Lagos, Nigeria.

An initiative of Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PHN) and Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF), the learning sessions provided an avenue to engage frontline health-care providers in prototype quality improvement collaborative networks using evidence based quality improvement (QI) and quality assurance (QA) approaches to improve facility-based health outcomes and enhance Patient-Family Centered Care (PFCC).

Quality Improvement Team Lead, PHN, Dr. Zel. Makori revealed that the Learning Sessions afforded multidisciplinary teams from participating hospitals shared learning from experts on best clinical practice, improvement methodologies, and evidence for improvement in hospital facilities.

With focus on maternal, neonatal health and Patient-Family Centered Care, Dr. Zel highlighted the need to develop a change package of evidenced based ideas, determine ways to implement plans, and evaluate small changes with quick feedback mechanisms, set measureable targets and collect relevant data and implementation between learning sessions with the overall aim of aim of improving health outcomes.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

G

OOD day sir. I appreciate your efforts at educating people about sex. I am hoping that you will also find a way to help our society get rid of the ill that is prostitution. They are everywhere. It is disgusting – Mrs Nweke Prostitutes are entrepreneurs who embrace free trade like all of us. Fighting them is just another effort by a malerun society to further oppress and control women. What is it exactly that the authorities have against prostitution?

What? Is it the Sex? No. Everybody has sex. Authorities don’t care who we sleep with. So morality is not the issue.

Money is the issue. According to them, paying for sex is what makes it prostitution. This is where I am confused because nothing valuable in this world is free. Sex is valuable so how can it be free? We all pay for sex and everything else. I cannot walk into a restaurant and eat for free. I would like to walk into a shop and take whatever I want but I have to pay for it. Nothing in life is free. Governments should invest that energy fighting sexual slavery of adults and children. That is the real crime and not consensual adults having sex.

Sex will cost you. Even the sex we get from our wives and girlfriends is paid for one way or another. All men accept that and pay in different ways. We buy gifts and take care of our girlfriend’s expenses. That is payment.

Physical cash exchange is not the only form of payment.

When you marry a woman, apart from her bride price and wedding expenses, you take care of her, the kids and her relatives. That is payment for her company - sex includedand even at that, you don’t always get sex when you want it. Prostitutes on the other hand give you what you pay for.

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C M Y K

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44—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MARCH 22, 2 016

Afcon qualifiers: Toro raises alarm over Egypt trip

A

FORMER Secretary

General of the Nigeria Football Association,Sani AhmedTorohas expressed reser-vations over the decision by the Nigeria Football Federation to go to Egypt for the return leg of the 2017Afconqualifierbetween the Eagles and the Pharaohs on an Egypt Air flight.

Reacting to newspaper reports on the travelling arrangements put together for the return match credited to the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, Toro said the football house should reconsider chattered flight for the return leg.

“It is imperative for the NFF, in conjunction with the Sports Minister to reconsider this position in the interest of Nigeria and millions of soccer-loving Nigerians so that we do not gamble with our chances of qualifying for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.”

Toro observed that it would be suicidal for the Nigerian contingent to go to Egypt in batches given the hostile nature of Egyptian fans and the security situation in that country.

“I say no to Egypt Air. A chattered flight that can accommodateboththeteam, officials and the supporters wouldbebestforournational

interest.”

The former NFA scribe posited that the Egyptians who do not disguise their passion for their national team and sense of patriotism would employ every imaginable trick to ensure whatever gains the Eagles can attain in Kaduna were

cancelled in the return leg.

He acknowledged that although the NFF said it would save money if it travels on a commercial flight, he insisted, “I can neverbe uncomfortablewith that arrangement because it is fraught with danger and potentially unprofitable.”

C

USTOMS, IGP Queens recorded victories yesterday at the ongoing Zenith Bank Women Basketball League as favorites, Dolphins and First Bank Basketball Clubs won their first games.

Customs defeated Zamfara Babes 94-58, IGP Queens defeated FCT Angels 65-32, while First Deepwater defeated Immigration 43-32. In other games, Benue Princess beat Coal City Queens 7339, while Oluyole Babes lost to Delta Queens 28-37 in a low scoring game.

The League director,

Ahmed Musa wins Russian League MVP P

FCCSKAstrikerAhmed Musa, who scored a winner in the match against Spartak, was named Russian PremierLeagueMatchday19 MVP. This award is presented by RFPL and one of the leading sportswebsitesChampionat.

A goal in each half by Ahmed Musa ensured that CSKA Moscow defeated Kuban Krasnodar two-nil in Saturday’s Russian Premier League game at the Arena Khimki.

Despitethepoorstateofthe pitch,Musagothisfirstchance of scoring on 19 minutes but firedofftargetfromcloserange.

Two minutes later, the Nigeria captain opened scoring.Hesmashedinaleftfootedeffortfromacornerkick past Kuban goalkeeper Aleksandr Belenov.

•Ahmed Musa

Ilaboya: Edo FA boss

Mikel, Umar

Continued from B/P Egypt.

The match first leg is scheduled to take place in Kaduna on Friday will be followed by the second leg in Alexandria, Egypt, four days later.

Spokesperson for the team Toyin Ibitoye told reporters in Lagos, the country’s economic hub that midfielder, Mikel Obi arrived Monday morning to raise the number of foreign players in camp to four.

The other players are Aminu Umar, Shehu Abdullahi and Alex Iwobi who arrived on Sunday.

Iwobi had scored a goal

ORMER champions Insurance began the 2016 on a superb note, when they defeated Sir Wota 5-0 in the opening game of the 2016 Edo FA/FROT Group Federation Cup played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, on Monday. Twentyfour teams are vying for honours in the competition.

In other first round games, DeLeoFCdefeatedDynamo Academicals5-3onpenalties in an explosive tie while Oleghecy hammered Kings 6-2. Also, Morning Dews overcame Okosieme FC 30.

Four matches will be for Arsenal in the team’s 2-0 win over Everton in English Premier League on Saturday.

Ibitoye said goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa and forward Oghenekaro Etebo were the only home-based players in camp out of the six left in coach Samson Siasia’s list.

He said full training in preparation for the encounter would commence this morning, at the National Stadium, Abuja.

Nineteen other invited foreign-based players were expected to come in later yesterday.

played on Tuesday (today) with Royal FC battling Paulson while Phase FC and Impact will slug it out for a place in the next round of the competition. The other games are Okpella United versus Buffalo FC and EspanyolversusSaviourFC. Champions BJ Foundation and the 2015 third-place team Crown FC are the seeded teams for the competition while last year’s runners-up Kukuruku Dragons didn’t register for

– Pinnick

Continued from B/P and Obi Mikel to lead the Super Eagles to victory in Kaduna March 26 against the Pharaohs.

The NFF boss expressed his appreciation over what 19-year-old Alex Iwobi produced in his last 2 showings against Barcelona and Everton where he managed to score his first goal in the Premier League.

“Our boys are in the best form for the Egypt game, and if they reproduce such form in Kaduna on Friday, goals will rain against the visitors,” Pinnick expressed.

“With the form of Iwobi , Mikel, Odion and other players in England and

Agboola Pinhero commended the players for their performance so far and urged them to do better, urging them to improve as the league continues. He also assured fans that they would experience the best of basketball any time they visit the sports hall to watch

games.

“I must commend the teams for their performance and I am sure that they would improve as the league continues. We have seen good display of talents and I am sure the coaches will also work on the lapses of their team to improve their game,” Pinhero added.

Salah

Continued from B/P started their final trainings for the anticipated away clash on Monday afternoon. The second leg will be held in Egypt on Tuesday March 29.

The rising Roma and Egyptian star Salah, who was acknowledged for his performance against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League two weeks ago, joined the Italian giants last summer after an eye-catching performance in his loan to Fiorentina from Chelsea.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny, who began to book a regular place in the starting line ups, became the first Egyptian ever to score against Barcelona in an official match last week during the Gunners’ 3-1

away defeat in the UEFA Champions League.

The 23-year-old star Elneny joined the Premier League club in January from Swiss side FC Basel.

The seven-time African champions Egypt won the tournament in their last three participations (2006, 2008 and 2010) but failed to qualify for the next three tournament under helms of various managers including Hassan Shehata, the three-time champions, his assistant Shawky Gharib and American Bob Bradley.

The current Argentinian manager Hector Cuper, 59, promised to make Egypt return to their glory days insisting he is “confident that the team is capable of overcoming Nigeria.”

Iwobi

Insurance thrash Sir Wota in Edo FA/FROT Group Cup

F

Zenith Bank WBL: IGP Queens, Custom shine

the 2016 edition.

The second round of matches begins on Saturday.

Edo FA Chairman, Frank Ilaboya, said the footbvall body had put everything place to ensure a hitch-free competition.

He stated, “We’ve made necessary preparations for a successful tournament. In terms of security, we have increased the number of policemen at the match venue to curb any act of hooliganism. other leagues of Europe, Egypt know they are in real trouble and will not escape defeat in Kaduna.

What we are praying for is that our foreign based players give the game their best and win the first leg before going for the final kill in the second leg duel,” Pinnick pointed out.

“Already, some of the players have called to reassure us that they would show no mercy against Egypt and I believe them. We are not taking any chances against the Pharaohs.

Egypt sit top of the AFCON 2017 qualifying group with six points, while Nigeria sit second with four points.

Continued from B/P English FA tried to convince the 19-year-old not to board a flight to Abuja, where he play against Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on March 25.

Iwobi who has been impressive with the Gunners received an email from the FA letting him know that it was not too late to turn his back on the Super Eagles.

However, the midfielder, who scored for the Gunners on his Premier League debut in the 2-0 win over Everton this weekend, has made up his mind to represent

the Super Eagles.

“Alex is committed to Nigeria,” the source told ESPN FC. “It’s taken over nine months of hard work to complete the paperwork on his switch and he will not throw all that away now.”

Iwobi, who played for England at under-16, U17 and U-18 levels, has featured in two friendly games for Nigeria, and as an unused substitute in the competitive fixture against Swaziland, and told the FA of his intentions before boarding the flight to Abuja.

Arsenal stars Continued from B/P has two caps for the Super Eagles in international friendly matches.

Elneny revealed in his brief discussion with Iwobi over the matches by warning his Gunners’ teammates that it will be difficult for Nigeria to defeat Egypt.

“I told him that it will be hard for Nigeria to beat Egypt,” Elneny said.

The former FC Basel man also has the hunch that the Pharaohs can

beat Nigeria on Friday despite acknowledging that their opponents will be tough.

“I have a good feeling that we will be able to win the match. Nigeria is a good tough team but we’re good too. I also feel that I am surrounded by support from everyone encouraging us to get back to winning,” said Elneny.

Egypt, who currently top Group G of the Africa Cup of Nations qualification, will play hosts to Nigeria in Alexandria on March 29.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2 016 — 45

Siasia: We’ll take our chances

By John Egbokhan

A

S the zero hour to the make or break AFCON 2017 qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt on March 25 approaches swiftly, standin coach, Samson Siasia is confident that his Eagles will convert the chances that come their way at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna.

With fans anxiety reaching feverish height, the Eagles come up against an Egyptian side who are desperate to book a ticket to Gabon

2017 after their last AFCON tournament in Angola in 2010.

The north Africans, who are record winners of Africa’s flagship soccer tournament head into Friday’s crunchy tie with a two-point lead over their hosts, who need to win to top the table, heading into the reverse fixture in Alexandria on March 29.

And speaking last night on television, Siasia said his charges were going to take their chances even as he expressed concerns over

Ndanusa hails Oshewa for winning silver ITF Championship:

By John Egbokhan

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HE President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (TF), Sani Ndanusa has hailed junior tennis sensation, Michael Oshewa for winning a silver medal in the boys U-14 category at the 39th International Tennis Federation and Confederation of Africa Tennis Junior Championship in South Africa.

Osewa was beaten to the gold medal by Damien Laporte of the Seychelles, who triumphed in straight sets 7-5, 6-4.

Speaking from the court side in Pretoria, Ndanusa said he was hopeful that the rising form of Nigerian juniors signalled a positive direction of Nigeria tennis, noting that the fruits of the progress would soon cascade into the senior players.

“We are making progress at the junior level and hopefully the seniors would soon catch the bug. I am confident

Team Dangote clinches MTN President's Polo Cup

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Ndanusa

that our tennis players will soon take the shine off their football counterparts because there was a time in this country when our tennis players earned more and lived better than footballers “The fear of the north Africans is now a thing of the past for us. Our immediate task is to complement our performance here which is the best in Nigeria’s history with a bigger support for our junior players especially now that we are back in the Davis Cup after missing for about three years.”

Serena slams Moore over sexist comments

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ENNIS champion Serena Williams has dismissed comments from a tournament official who said female athletes should count their lucky stars that men are around to carry the sport.

Indian Wells CEO Raymond Moore drew wide scorn when he said the Women’s Tennis Association rides on the “coattails of men.”

After falling in the finals at Indian Wells 63, 6-4 to Belarusian player Victoria Azarenka, Ms. Williams said women should not be “down on their knees thanking anybody like that.”

“I think Venus [Williams], myself, a number of players — if I could

his defence following injuries to Kenneth Omeruo and Leon Balogun.

“I am concerned about our defence because no coach is happy when his players are injured heading into a important match. But there is nothing we can do about that again than to make do with what we have.

“We do not have much time again to do most of the things we would have loved to do in training but I am sure that we will take our chances against Egypt. I have seen a lot of tapes on the Egyptians and would share them with the players so that they can know what to expect on Friday and next week Tuesday”, added Siasia on Super Sport.

tell you every day how many people say they don’t watch tennis unless they’re watching myself or my sister — I couldn’t even bring up that number,” she said, referring to her sister and fellow tennis champion.

“So I don’t think that is a very accurate statement,” she said. “I think there are a lot of women out there who are very exciting to watch. I think there are a lot of men out there who are exciting to watch. I think it definitely goes both ways.”

The 21-time Grand Slam champion also pointed to last year ’s U.S. Open, when the women’s final sold out before the men’s.

EAM Dangote has emerged champions of the MTN sponsored 2016 Presidents’ cup tournament of the Lagos Polo Club. The final game of the 3-day tournament was held at the weekend with team Dangote defeating team Shinkafi 6-4.

Speaking on the tournament, Sani Dangote, Group Vice President, Dangote Group of Companies and a former president of the Club, commended MTN Nigeria for sponsoring the tournament. He described the relationship between MTN and the tournament as a special one that has improved the development of the game of polo in Nigeria.

Dangote’s nephews, Bashir, Usman and Sadiq who participated in the tournament, added that the special relationship between MTN and Nigerian polo, and particularly the Lagos Polo Club, remains one of the major high points in the development of the noble game of kings in Nigeria.

“We are happy with MTN for consistently supporting the Lagos Polo Club in organizing this tourney. The competition has grown to become one of Nigeria’s foremost polo tourneys and this is largely due to MTN’s support.

We are grateful for this and we look forward to keeping them as our partners to develop the game to enviable heights beyond the shores of Nigeria and Africa.” Dangote stated.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2 016 — 47

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Salah, Elneny dazzle in training T HE Egyptian duo staring in European leagues, Roma winger Mohamed Salah and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny,

Egypt won’t escape defeat in Kaduna – Pinnick A

Iwobi shuns England

A

RSENAL striker Alex Iwobi was the first oversea-based player to arrive the Abuja camp of the Super Eagles. In so doing, he resisted attempts by England to block his wish to play for Nigeria.

It was reported that the Continues on page 44

HEAD of the 2017 AFCON qualifier between Nigeria and Egypt, the air of optimism in the Super Eagles camp has been overwhelming and this was aptly expressed by the NFF President Amaju Pinnick when he said visiting Pharaohs can’t escape defeat in Kaduna.

Pinnick tipped English Premier League trio Odion Ighalo, Alex Iwobi Continues on page 44

•Salah

Nations Cup: Arsenal stars at war E

Mikel, Umar swell Eagles camp

F

OREIGN-based Super Eagles players are beginning to arrive at the team’s camp ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Continues on page 44

kicked-off their national duty training ahead of Friday’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria.

The two Pharaohs stars Continues on page 44

•Ighalo

•Iheanacho

•Iwobi

•Mikel

Siasia: We’ll take our chances – Page 45

GYPT international m i d f i e l d e r, Mohamed Elneny, has taken a shot at his Nigerian Arsenal teammate, Alex Iwobi, ahead of Friday’s 2017 Afcon qualifying match in Kaduna.

The 23-year-old told popular Arab satellite television, MBC, that he has been discussing the crucial match between his country, Egypt and Nigeria with Iwobi, who Continues on page 44

•Elneny

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

FRI DAY'S ANS WERS FRID ANSWERS

ACROSS 5 Period of respite (4) 6 Egg-shapped (4) 7 Boat driven onto rocks (9) 8 Summit of a hill (4) 10 Gape open (4) 12 Rapid upper-atmosphere air current (3,6) 15 Male admirer (4) 16 Minim or quaver, eg (4) DOWN 1 Writer (6) 2 Applaud (4) 3 Unwell (6) 4 Fine scented powder (4) 9 Clean dishes after a meal (4,2) 11 Riches (6) 13 Visual organs (4) 14 Place for skating (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 5, Whitener 6, Opal 7, Idea 8, Egg 9, Emit 11, Neck 13, Coconuts

DOWN: Whip 2, Athletics 3, Indignant 4, Free 10, Mice 12, Cuts.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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