3 ministers escapedeath in foiled blasts

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61627

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

IGP threatens to sanction •P.8 policemen who harrass journalists

N150

15 killed as Fulani herdsmen invade Tiv community •P.16

3 ministers escape death in foiled blasts •Two suspected bombers arrested

KINGSLEY OMONOBI & FAVOUR NNABUGWU

•US congress wants Nigerian militants listed as terrorists B U J A — A S E P A R AT E •Bombings driving away investors from Nigeria — OBJ •P.14 attempts to bomb Police Headquarters in Abuja and Radio House, which houses Federal Government Radio stations, the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication among others were foiled, yesterday, as the two suspects who were armed with explosives were disarmed before

Continues on page 5

PINI JASON:

Buhari and 2015: The blood next time •P.17 Mr & Mrs

SUSPECTED BOMBER

—A suspected terrorist being taken away by security men shortly after he was caught with grenades and ammunition at Radio House, venue of Ministerial Platform in Abuja. INSET: The items recovered from the suspect. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Court refuses to sack Gov Chime •P.14

Ijesa monarch must answer rape charge, court rules —P.10 C M Y K

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POCKET CARTOON

3 ministers escape death in foiled blasts Continues from Page 1 they could wreak any havoc.

The suspect at the Force Headquarters, Abdusalaam Salihu, was said to have wired his body with some explosives and hand grenades carrying a bag alighted from a vehicle that brought him to the Total Filling Station road junction, which is very close to the Force headquarters, by 10:45am. and attempted to find his way into the police headquarters.

The security gadgets, including Police bomb detector-vehicle mounted at the entrance, however, detected the body explosives and alerted the security operatives when the gadgets beeped. The 42 year-old man who hails from Kaura Namoda Village in Zamfara State, and claims to be a farmer, walked briskly past security officials manning the gate to force headquarters; he was asked to stop but he refused.

The security personnel then pursued and wrestled him before he was overpowered and his

bag was subsequently collected from him while he was arrested and taken to the intelligence unit for questioning.

On opening the bag, Policemen on guard duty found some ingredients that are useful in making Improvised Explosive Devices like broken bottles, military type metal water cans, liquid content that is yet to be ascertained by forensics, a type of very hard drug in some quantity. Also found in the bag were various Identity Cards, various Vehicle Plate numbers and some other items.

Commenting on the development, a Senior Police officer who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that it is too early to conclude that the man was a bomber pointing out that investigation is already on.

At the Radio House, which was to play host to three federal ministers who were scheduled to present their achievements in office in preparation for the annual May 29th “Democracy Day ”, a middle-aged man who

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

T

HERE is a lot to say for common sense, but common sense is sometimes not common. Take your time, think and meditate on issues, so that you are able to do things that make sense.

Good sense will protect you, understanding will guard you, it will keep you from the wicked and from those whose words are bad. But wisdom will help you to be good and to do what is right. Even a fool when silent is thought to be wise.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency —Caroline Kennedy.

H

OLDING kindness and compassion in our hearts and integrating them into the complexity and stresses of daily life, we can resolve to be kinder, gentler beings. We can treat those closest to us with the same respect and politeness that we reserve for friends and colleagues. We can refuse to litter the lives of others with negative energy. If we do this, we will be doing our part to create a world in which kindness is never a random act, but rather a way of life.

If you desire to have a kinder, gentler, more compassionate soul when dealing with others or when dealing with life itself, we must be able to tell the difference between just being nice, which many people are at times, and being truly kind. Kindness is a way of life, a way of being. If you want to change yourself and change your world you can’t go wrong with starting to do one good deed a day without any thought of expectations but just for the love of being a much kinder and loving being.

Henry James sums it aptly: “Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”

simply identified himself as John Akpavun came to the venue with high grade explosives and 38 rounds of ammunition.

The Radio House houses various Federal Government Radio stations and the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication among others.

The man who claimed to have come from Nasarawa State, was well dressed, in a shirt and pair of trousers with black shoes. He was said to have concealed all the ammunition in a black Knapsack.

When intercepted and asked by security operatives at the gate to open his bag for checking, the man said he was carrying the ammunition inside to meet his brother who is a Policeman.

As news of his arrest filtered into the hall where the on-going Ministerial Platform was taking place, all those seated quickly rushed out as the Minister of Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi was giving account of his stewardship. He also became uncomfortable following the rowdiness that ensued. The two other ministers in the building were Labaran Maku, Information Minister and Stella Oduah, Aviation Minister.

The Chief Security Officer, CSO to the Radio House, James Akindele who spoke to journalists at the scene of the arrest advised staff of the various offices not to panic as there was adequate security for them. The man and the ammunition collected from him were later taken away in a white Antibomb squad van.

Contacted on the development the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Aderenle Shinaba confirmed the arrest of the suspected terrorist, adding that “he is in our custody, but we are not talking about it.

We are investigating”.

Also speaking on phone, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Frank Mba, said the Police had not yet ascertained the motive behind the suspected bombers’ action.

Mba confirmed that while suspected explosives were found with the Radio House

suspect, broken bottles, umbrella, sachet water and other items were only found with Salihu.

The police spokesperson promised to inform the public as investigation continues on the case.

I was involved in Bayero varsity attack, Effiong confesses In a related development, the Kano State police command yesterday paraded a suspected terrorist, Augustine Effiong, who confessed that he helped carry out deadly attacks on April 29 at a Church service at Bayero University Kano and admitted belonging to an Islamist militant group.

The suspect was arrested on Friday for attempted murder.

According to a police statement, the 25-yearold, also known as Abubakar Garba, said he was converted to Islam by founder of the Islamist militant group.

“He confessed to have participated in a series of attacks, killing of policemen and military personnel in the state (Kano), including the recent attack and killings in Bayero University Kano (BUK),” police said.

“I was involved in the attack at BUK,” he told reporters in Hausa, He further confessed to being part of a “20-man killer squad” charged with targeting the security services around Kano, I killed many people, including five soldiers at checkpoints, in Kano”, Effiong said.

US congress asks Obama to list Nigerian militants as terrorists Meanwhile, the United State Congress is stepping up pressure on the Obama administration to formally designate the Nigerian militant group which has alleged al Qaeda links, as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

Scott Brown, a Republican senator from Massachusetts, wrote Secretary of State Hillary Clinton late last week urging her to designate the group, an Islamist sect that has been linked to 700 killings in Nigeria over the last 18 months,

as a terrorist organization under U.S. law.

Then, on Sunday, U.S. Representatives Peter King and Patrick Meehan, chairmen of the House Homeland Security Committee and its counter-terrorism subcommittee, respectively, released a letter they sent to Clinton on Friday suggesting that the administration was moving too slowly on the issue.

King and Meehan cited a Reuters’ report last week about how the Justice Department earlier this year had urged the State Department to apply the “foreign terrorist” designation to the sect.

The congressmen suggested that by not doing so, the department was “denying the United States intelligence and law enforcement communities the tools they need to combat an al Qaeda-affiliated terrorist organization.

“Ten years after 9/11, we cannot allow bureaucratic stovepipes and interagency turf battles to prevent us from protecting the U.S. homeland and U.S. global interests,” the c o n g r e s s m e n complained.

The letters detail a litany of violence the sect has allegedly perpetrated in recent years, including a December 2010 bombing that killed 80 and an August 2011 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, in which 23 people died.

The Justice Department’s letter to Clinton warned that the United States should not “underestimate the potential threat Boko Haram poses to U.S. interests abroad and the homeland,” noting that it has “forged links” with other militant groups which have threatened Western interests.

A senior State Department official told Reuters last week the department was obliged to undertake extensive analysis before adding organizations to the list and said the department was “not stalling or dragging our feet” on the sect.

A U.S. national security official said yesterday that although most official reporting indicated that the sect was “focused inwardly ” in terms of their current attack targets, there was growing evidence that “they don’t like Kenya” and that their violent activities were growing.

Gunmen kill OC SARS in where he took his vehicle Onitsha for repairs.

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—THERE was confusion in the commercial city of Onitsha yesterday as unknown gunmen killed a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr. Emmanuel Ochiobi, attached to the Central Police Station, Onitsha.

The DSP,who is in charge of the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, was shot by two gunmen operating on a motorcycle along Okosi Road, Inland town of Onitsha.

According to the police, the late Ochiobi, reported in his office around 9am and left shortly for a mechanic workshop

The police added that “when Ochiobi got to the mechanic workshop, he was joined by another senior colleague, a Divisional Crime Officer (DCO) attached to the Inland police station, which is just a few poles away and while they were discussing, two unidentified gunmen pulled up their motorcycle and immediately opened fire on him as he was backing the road.”

However another version of the story said the DSP was going to Awka for an official duty when he met the DCO, and while they were having a chat, the hoodlums shot him from behind and escaped.

6—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

N894M CONTRACT SCAM:

Bankole begs court to reject fresh evidence

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

VISIT: From left: Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Deputy Inspector General of Police, G Department, incharge of Information and Technology, Mr Abdul Rahman Akano during the IG's visits to the governor, in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUND:

Govs ask S-Court to abort FG's plan to withdraw $2bn zAs FG challenges court’s jurisdiction to entertain suit

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA — LEGAL tus sle over the proposed creation of a “Sovereign Wealth Fund” assumed a fresh dimension, yesterday, as Governors of the 36 states of the federation approached the Supreme Court, asking it to abort plans by the Federal Government to withdraw $2 billion from the “Excess Crude Account.”

The governors made the request on a day they told a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, presided by Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, why they failed to reach agreement with the Federal Government, regarding its plans to transfer $1 billion from the “Excess Crude Account” to a new account to be known as the “Sovereign Wealth Fund.”

Alleging that the Federal Government has continued to deplete the funds in the “Excess Crude Account” despite the pendency of their legal action, the governors, through their lead counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, noted that whereas $20 billion was in the account as at 2008 when the case was entered, they maintained that only $3.1 billion is currently remaining in the account.

Consequently, they urged the apex court to go ahead and order the Federal Government to maintain statusquo by refraining from mak-

ing further withdrawals from the “Excess Crude Account” pending the determination of all the constitutional issues they have raised in their suit.

Undertaking

The Governors, said their fears that the remaining fund inside the account may be depleted before the conclusion of the suit, was further heightened by a recent advice by the Finance Minister that $2 billion be withdrawn from the “Excess Crude Account” to off-set the burden of debt on the shoulders of the Federal Government.

Therefore, they urged the adjudicating panel to compel the Federal Government to sign an undertaking that it would no longer touch funds in the account till the suit is determined.

While blaming the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello, SAN, for failure of the Federal Government to amicably resolve the contentious issues with them without recourse to the court, the governors, said they would still be open to talks whenever the central government showed genuine commitment towards embracing an out-of-court-settlement deal.

They told the court that since a draft of their terms of settlement was sent to the AGF, he refused to act upon it, thus leaving them with no choice than to seek full-

blown hearing into the matter.

FG challenges court’s jurisdiction

Meanwhile, the Federal Government, yesterday, challenged the jurisdiction of the apex court to hear the suit, arguing that the matter was not between states and the federation, but a dispute between the states and the Federal Government which it said ought to have been filed before a Federal High Court.

Counsel to the Federal Government, Mr. Austin Alegeh, SAN, urged the apex court to go ahead and hear preliminary objections challenging the legal competence of the suit, even as he refuted allegations that funds inside the account were being depleted by the Federal Government.

According to him, it would be wrong for the Supreme Court to compel the Federal Government to enter any undertaking since the said funds were withdrawn and handed over to the 36 states.

He contended that rather, the court should compel the state governments to undertake not to further disturb the Federal Government for funds pending when the controversy is resolved.

After listening to all the parties yesterday, the CJN, Justice Musdapher, adjourned the case till September 25 for definite hearing, even as he conceded

to request by the governors that their originating summons be heard alongside the preliminary objection that was filed by the Federal Government.

BUJA — Erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, has begged a Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a fresh set of incriminating evidence the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, sought to tender against him, yesterday.

The former Speaker, who is answering to a 16-count criminal charge preferred against him by the antigraft agency, challenged the admissibility of the proof of evidence which he insisted were irrelevant to the case against him.

In a bid to prove the allegations, EFCC, at the resumed hearing on the case, yesterday, sought to tender documents it said would prove the complicity of the accused person.

The said documents included receipts for the purchase of Samsung LCDs, desktops, photocopiers and Mercedes cars by the House of Representatives while Bankole was still in power, as well as minutes

of meetings where the alleged illegal deal was brokered.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, urged the court to consider the evidence with a view to ascertaining the culpability of the accused person to the 16-count charge against him.

Meanwhile, Bankole’s lawyer, Mr Samuel Ologunorisa, SAN, objected to the admissibility of the documents, saying they were offensive to the test of admissibility as enshrined in the Evidence Act. He urged the court to reject the minutes of meetings attached to the documents, even as he further contended that the documents EFCC sought to tender was to prove the competence of the charges, stressing that the minutes were useless as several paragraphs were missing.

However, Keyamo told the trial court that the documents were received in that manner from the Finance Director of the National Assembly, arguing that it duly satisfied the conditions of admissibility having been certified.

CONSTITUTION REVIEW:

State creation, devolution of powers, 8 others top requests

BY BEN AGANDE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE & INALEGWU SHAIBU

A

BUJA — THE issue of state creation, federalism and Nigeria’s political structure; devolution of powers; issues with respect to local government and six others were the main memoranda so far received by the House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution.

Chairman of the committee and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who disclosed this when he briefed House correspondents on the activities of the committee, yesterday, in Abuja, however, reiterated that the wishes of the Nigerian people would ultimately prevail on what would be included in the final version of the constitution.

Ihedioha, who was flanked by other members of the committee gave other issues that have attracted the attention of Nigerians as the issues of indigeneship and

citizenship; electoral reforms; excision of Land Use Act from the Constitution; Justiciability of Chapter 2 of the Constitution; Judicial reforms and National security and police reform.

According to him,”we have received close to 75 submissions since then and expect to receive more.

In addition, the House in plenary has referred about 10 bills to the committee after passing second reading.”

He said at the forthcoming public hearing of the committee holding in Port Harcourt on Thursday, eminent Nigerians including former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwais; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof.

Attahiru Jega and other eminent scholars and jurists would share their experience with members of the committee.

Ihedioha maintained that “the planned retreat will provide an opportu-

nity for the Committee to listen to experts from various fields, examine and analyse the various issues identified as requiring further amendment and review our strategies for achieving amendments.

“The various meetings and the retreat were aimed at building the capacity of members to understand the process and to achieve a consensus on the way forward in further amending the Constitution.

He promised that the committee will “carry out a participatory and all inclusive Constitution review process that will aim to address the concerns of all Nigerians.

“The Committee will hold further public hearings in the coming months. We intend to consult with all shades of opinions and interests. As the holders-intrust of the peoples’ mandate, we know that achieving Constitutional change requires peoples’ participation and we will not proceed to amend any section of the Constitution that does not meet the criteria of popular public support."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012— 7

Fashola raises alarm on oil spillage in Lagsos

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

AGM—From left: Mr. Ladi Balogun, MD/CEO, First City Monument Bank PLC; Mr. Jonathan Long, Chairman; Mrs Olajumoke Bakare, Company Secretary and Otunba Subomi Balogun, Founder, during the 29th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of the bank in Lagos on Monday. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Undergraduate hangs self in Abakaliki

BY PETER OKUTU

A

BAKALIKI—A 400level Medical Laboratory student of Ebonyi State University, EBSU, Abakaliki, has been found dead, after apparently hanging himself in his room.

The undergraduate, who was identified as Michel Onwe, was found dead in his room at No 16 Ibe Street, Abakaliki, on Sunday.

It was learnt that his neighbours became apprehensive of his whereabouts after they had not seen him for sometime.

They subsequently alerted the police, who came and forced his room open, only to discover his body dangling from the roof.

A neighbour said the late Onwe had spent over six years in the university.

“He was first offered admission as a medical student, but was offered an alternative course in medical laboratory in the same institution after he failed his medical examinations twice,’’ the neighbour said.

The witness described the late Onwe as a native of Umuogodoshe in Mgbo town, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, who had recently alleged a threat to his life by a cult group.

“The development made his parents and security agencies to investigate the threat to unravel the circumstance surrounding the situation,” the witness added.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi command, ASP John Eluu, confirmed the incident and said the

body had been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

The Police has commenced investigation into

the matter, with a view to unraveling the cause of his d e a t h .

“All evidence at the moment points to suicide as cause

of his death but the police is yet to ascertain the reasons he took his own life, after leaving no note behind,” the PPRO said.

Lifeless body of kidnapped pastor found in Imo zAfter family paid N500,000 to kidnappers

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE lifeless body of Pastor Anslem Iwuala has been picked up by members of his immediate family, seven days after he was kidnapped and a N500,000 paid to the hoodlums to secure his freedom.

Late Iwuala, who was on his way to his country home, Egberede Nguru, Aboh Mbaise local council area of Imo State, was abducted by gunmen along the ever busy OkpalaMbaise road.

Narrating the family’s ordeal to newsmen, the deceased’s cousin, Mr. Odinakachi Iwuala, confirmed that his uncle was kidnapped by the hoodlums while returning from Aba. Odinakachi disclosed that the family made frantic efforts to reach their bread winner, adding that his abductors finally got in contact with the family at about midnight of the illfated day and demanded N100 million.

Continuing, Odinakachi revealed that the hoodlums said they were sent to kill

the pastor/businessman, promising that they would spare his life if they paid the ransom.

“The family, however, paid the sum of N500,000 to the kidnappers. We all thought that our prayers had been answered until we received a telephone call from his abductors to rush

down to Okpala but what we saw was his corpse,” Odinakachukwu lamented.

Although no police officer at Uvuru Mbaise was ready to speak on the issue, Vanguard, however, gathered that the police was making frantic efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the sordid crime.

....F ....Frr acas as gambler gamblerss beat colleague to death

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—PALPABLE anxiety engulfed the rural community of Ibeafor Umunumo, Ehime Mbano local government area of Imo State, as some gamblers beat their colleague to death.

Vanguard investigations revealed that the deceased, Mr. Ifeanyi Obi, a commercial motorcycle operator, hailed from Alike Umunumo but was resident at Aforebu within the local council area.

It was further gathered that trouble started when Ifeanyi, who won virtually all the games, said he was retiring home after the day’s

gambling but was stopped by his colleagues.

A villager told Vanguard that Ifeanyi was intent on going home with his winnings and efforts to make him continue failed and a serious fracas ensued.

“Ifeanyi was mercilessly beaten up by his colleagues and he collapsed on the spot. A set of people who heard the noise came to his rescue and quickly moved him to a nearby hospital, where he was revived,” a villager recounted.

It was also gathered that on regaining his consciousness, Ifeanyi reeled out the names of his attackers before he went into coma and died.

KEJA—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, raised the alarm over oil spillage in the state. He said this has led to outbreak of skin and cancer diseases in the affected areas.

He has meanwhile signed into law, a bill that empowers the state Chief Judge to make necessary amendment to the rules of the state High Court.

Fashola, who spoke during a courtesy visit by members of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream Sector), said it was high time the Federal Government checked the activities of the downstream sector in that part of the state before Lagosians,who reside in those parts of the state, were wiped out.

He explained that although the Federal

Government had the constitutional rights to regulate activities in the sector, the government was empowered to decide on where petroleum assets were to be sited in the state, adding “such power is strictly municipal to avoid locating petroleum infrastructure in the wrong place.”

He listed some of the areas affected by the oil spillage to include Baruwa in Alimoso Local Government Area, Ilado axis and others.

Fashola urged the lawmakers to visit the places in the state that had been badly affected by oil spillage, saying “apart from denying the people the opportunity to engage in their daily business activities, the communities are now at the risk of deadly diseases such as cancer and skin diseases owing to their polluted water.

8 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

House c'ttee declares FG doctors' strike illegal, unconstitutional zLagos NMA to reconsider stand

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

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AGOS — THE House of Representatives Committee on Health, yesterday, declared that the solidarity strike by doctors under the employment of the Federal Government, in support of their Lagos counterparts, as illegal and unconstitutional even as the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, yielded to pressure CONSTITUTION REVIEW: Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives and Chairman, Constitution to reconsider its decision on Review Committe, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (middle); Chief Whip, Hon. Bawa Mohammed (right) and the strike.

Deputy Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, during a press briefing on proposed retreat for the committee, at A high-powered delegaNational Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. tion of the House Committee on Health led by its Chairman, Mr Ndudi Elumelu, who conveyed the message to the striking doctors in Lagos, said the House was worried about incessant strikes in the nation’s health sector.

Speaking at an emergency interactive session

BY EVELYN USMAN ant Inspectors- General of I expect from all officer is with the Chief Medical Di& OLASUNKANMI Police were already under- dedication and commit- 300 patrol vehicles rectors of the four Federal AKONI going a two-week course in ment.

“They are not doing any Government hospitals in "Also the era, of not see- good to this country, they Lagos and the leadership of Lagos.

AGOS — ACTING In Speaking seperately ing a rank and file in the are damaging the image the Association of Resident spector-General of Powhile briefing men and of- office for sometime and and reputation of this great Doctors in the four health lice, Mr Mohammed ficers of the Lagos State when he comes, the DPO country including the Po- institutions including the Abubakar, yesterday in LaPolice Command during or area commander dis- lice Force. So we decided President of the Lagos State gos, said that henceforth, his official tour, Abubakar misses him is over. You that road block must leave. Branch of the NMA, any policeman who harsaid the initiative was part should endeavour to know Thus, I have ordered 300 Elumelu urged the doctors asses journalists would be of his administration’s what is wrong before carry- patrol vehicles and very to go back to work. sanctioned, adding that the agenda aimed at galvaniz- ing out any disciplinary ac- soon we should expect Stressing the need to look era of business as usual in ing and preparing the force tion. This is because these them in the country. We will at the legality and constituthe force was over. to rank among the best and are the foot soldiers and use it to patrol all the major tionality of a solidarity He also said any policeshould therefore be giving most efficient of the 21st cenroads in the country. The strike, he said: “We are man from the rank of Conattention." tury. issue of policemen harass- getting too many strikes in stable to Assistant InspecThe new policies being ing Nigerians is over, ille- the health industry. It is tor-General of Police, AIG, 50,000 officers for implemented by his admingal detention is over and we important that for every acwho failed a promotion existration, he said, would training are checkmating this very tion that we take, there is amination three consecuHe further disclosed that also engender a paradigm need to look at the legality tive times would be disabout 50,000 senior police seriously.” shift and bequeath to the and constitutionality of such missed from the Force. officers would soon embark actions. You do not use conThe police boss has also Nigerian nation the police on various training courses Fashola lauds force of choice, which flict to resolve conflict. ConPolice leadership proposed a N50,000 as part of measures to boost Fashola in his response, tinuous dialogue is the best minimum wage for the police among other things, would response capacity to the inhave respect for human security challenges and cri- commended the leadership option.” force.

The House Committee He also said 50,000 sen- rights as well as be civil to sis management in the of the present police administration for its commitChairman who frowned at ior police officers would members of the public. country. soon embark on various He said all the four pre- ment to ensuring the secu- current situation queried: training courses as part of Warns DPOs mier police colleges in rity of lives and property of “The question now is that residents “in spite of your He, therefore, warned Enugu, Ikeja, Maiduguri difficult working environ- we have patients who have measures to check the inbeen left unattended to and security challenges in the that henceforth, any Divi- and Kaduna would soon be ment“. sional Policeman who al- rehabilitated and reposicountry.

He said: “Nothing will not being cared for and as The Acting IG also said lowed his station to be at- tioned to improve the qual- have meaning until we in- this strike is going on, following the dismantling of tacked by hoodlums would ity of training given to of- tensify law and order. My should we say that the salposition is that if more peo- ary should be stopped and road blocks, his administra- be sanctioned accordingly, ficers at these centres.

Abubakar said the police ple comply with the law, that if we resolve the issues, tion had ordered for 300 saying part of their responpatrol vehicles to be de- sibilities included safe- force was currently on a more people will benefit. If salary will start running?

“Or do we say salaries ployed to all the major roads guarding the stations and major transformation proc- fewer people comply, it is ess, saying it will soon only few people that will will be running on at the in the country for effective government property. gain.

Such individual, he metamorphose into a peopolicing and safety of Ni“Our police must pay detriment of the Federal ple-friendly, effective-crime stressed, should not be gerians on highways. more attention to everyday Government and also our Abubakar, who spoke spared, sounding a note of fighting establishment. crime like rape, assault on patients that are supposed On the patrol vans al- women, broken window to be cared for? These are when he led senior police warning that on no account officers on a courtesy visit should any DPO leave the ready ordered for delivery, crime and others. These questions that all of us into Governor Babatunde patrol of his jurisdiction to Abubakar explained: “The crimes threaten the fabric of cluding myself should look security personnel put up the society. We are losing at.”

Fashola of Lagos State at his subordinates.

He said: “The era of road blocks because of cer- our capacity to deal with his office, said 16,000 of the 50,000 would go for intelli- thinking that as a DPO or tain security issues and this everyday crime and it Emergency gence-based police train- Area Commander, you when the issue is over, the is the failure to deal with meeting this everyday crime that ing, 10,000 would go for have to sit in your office road block leaves. But we escalates to bigger crimes Elumelu, who spoke to detective course training, while the rank and file go have discovered that in Ni- like kidnapping, terrorism journalists shortly after a adding that the new Assist- out for patrol is over. What geria, road block have be- and others.” closed door meeting with come a permanent feature.

IG threatens to sanction policeman who harasses journalists

zProposes N50,000 minimum wage for Police Force

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the parties, hinted that already the doctors had agreed to call an emergency meeting.

“We are here in respect of the Federal Government agencies employees that embarked on solidarity strike. That informed our visit. During our deliberation, it was agreed that it was in their own meeting that they agreed for them to embark on this solidarity strike. And for them to call it off, they also need that emergency meeting to enable them discuss, review the reasons for embarking on strike and be able to come up with a quick solution. Now you will agree with me that they need that space before the close of business today and which they have agreed that they will do.

“They are telling us between now and peak time it could be 4.00 or 5.00 pm that they will meet. They will not abandon Federal Government patients that are in those four agencies.

That is their pledge. That all patients will be treated as if doctors are on duty, and having given us that commitment, we have no doubt they are gentlemen and will abide by such undertaking.”

“The CMDs are worried and disturbed. The doctors are also worried because they feel for the masses.

They are also responsible employees of the Federal Government who also feel that if the patients are not cared for, they will be losing income and because the essence of setting up those places is to provide healthcare services as well as generate income. They are also bothered that the sooner this thing is resolved, if possible today, will be better for them.”

Earlier, the State Chairman of the NMA, Dr Edamisan Temiye said following the meeting with the committee members that the doctors had agreed to call an emergency meeting of the association within the shortest possible time to review the situation on ground.

Temiye pledged that pending the emergency meeting of the association, the doctors would continue to take care of the patients already on admission.

He said: “NMA Lagos is also calling on the National Assembly to speedily intervene on the current issues in the health sector in Lagos State because NMA may not be able to control the situation if it gets out of hand.”

Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—9

THE RAINS ARE HERE...FLOOD IN LAGOS

SERAP urges CJN to probe abandoned FG projects

BY INNOCENT ANABA

L

FIGHTING IT OUT: Some motorists settling scores before wading through the flood at Fatgbems-Mile 2 area on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway after the early morning rain in Lagos, yesterday.

AGOS—SOCIOECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, to appoint an independent counsel to investigate allegations of corruption in the abandoned roads and other projects by the Federal Government nationwide.

SERAP, in a letter to the CJN by its Executive Director, Mr. Adetokunbo Mumuni, said: “Between 2010 and 2012, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, approved about 100 projects

Forensic lab for Lagos

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

I

ALONE,ALL ALONE: A motorist pushing his broken-down car through the flood at Fatgbems-Mile 2 area on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway after the rain, yesterday. Pix: Biodun Ogunleye.

ALLEGED N32M FRAUD:

Counsel's absence stalls trial of ex-Vanguard staff

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

L

AGOS—THE trial of Mr. Yhisa Badmus, former Chief Accountant to Vanguard Media Limited for conspiracy and fraud involving over N31.75

million, before a Lagos High Court, Igbosere, again could not go on, yesterday, due to the absence of his counsel.

Badmus is standing trial alongside Joseph Ezeobi, former Circulation

Supervisor in company in the first charge.

In another charge, involving Badmus, Ezeobi and Ogbole Samuel, same could also not go on due to the same reason.

When the first charge was

Adigwe: Court blasts EFCC over ‘wrong witness'

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH, ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

I

KEJA—AN Ikeja High Court, Lagos, yesterday, berated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for failing to produce its witness to open its case against former managing director of Afribank Plc, Sebastine Adigwe and six others.

Trial judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, who noted the failure of the prosecution team led by Mr.

Kola Awodehin, SAN, to bring its witness to court, said the action was a repeat of what happened at the last hearing in the matter, when she allowed trial to start only for the prosecution to stall proceedings because of its inability to produce its first witness.

Adigwe, Osa Osunde, Isa Zailani, Chinedu Onyia, Henry Arogundade, all directors of the bank and Peter Ololo (a stock broker) are standing trial over alleged conspiracy, stealing and receipt of stolen property.

Yesterday was for the prosecution to produce its first witness. However, the trial could not go on because the defence team opposed the witness from stepping into the witness box on the ground that the witness called by EFCC, Emmanuel Al-Hassan, an Investigative Police Officer with the agency, was not listed as a witness in the proof of evidence served on the defence. The defence argued that the development was to prevent them from seeking background information on the witness.

called, Badmus and Ezeobi were in court, but counsel to Ezeobi, Mr. Ajuweh Samuel, informed that counsel to the first defendant (Badmus) was not in court and sought for a short adjournment of the matter.

Trial judge, Justice Candide Johnson, consequently adjourned the matter till June 7 to give a reasonable time for the first defendant’s counsel to show up for the trial.

It could be recalled that at the last adjourned date, May 10, the first defendant’s counsel had told the court that a letter to consolidate the charges had been sent to the AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, and that he was asked to report to the office of the Chief Judge, on May 11 in respect of the letter. The court had also turned down argument in Ezeobi’s bail application, pending the consolidation of the charges.

KEJA—LAGOS State Government has said plans has been concluded to establish an international standard forensic science laboratory in the state to further enhance capacity in crime detection in the country.

Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Adebiyi Mabadeje, at a briefing in Lagos, said the project would assist the judiciary in the prosecution of criminal cases by authenticating evidence of prosecution to get conviction.

He noted that on completion, the laboratory, which is to be located in Badagry, will o help reduce cases of unresolved crimes in the country.

apparently to improve the development of the country and enhance the living conditions of its citizens.

However, virtually all the projects have either been abandoned or not completed on schedule, despite the huge money allocated for the projects.”

The group said it predicated its letter on “Section 52 of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Act 2000,” adding “We believe your urgent intervention will contribute to improving the integrity of government and public confidence and trust in the government.”

It noted that same will also serve as a vehicle to further public’s perception of fairness and thoroughness, and, avert even the most subtle of influences that may appear in an investigation of highlyplaced executive officials.”

The group said Section 52 of ICPC Act requires CJN to authorise an independent counsel to investigate any allegation of corruption against high level public officials, at the federal or state level and to report his findings to the National Assembly or appropriate House of Assembly.

Some of the contracts the group want investigated include “the Phase 1 Bwari-Kau Road on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, which was approved by FEC in December 2010 for N3.886 billion. Although the completion date for the project is December 2012, work has not started on the project several months after, and despite release of money to contractors.The road thus remains a deathtrap,''

Alleged N47bn fraud: Akingbola fails to open defence

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH,ONOZURE DANIA & MICHAEL OLADEPO

I

KEJA—DR. Erastus Akingbola, former managing director of Intercontinental Bank, acquired by Access Bank, Plc, yesterday, failed to open his defence in the N47.1 billion charge of fraud against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. An Ikeja High Court, Lagos, had adjourned till yesterday, for Akingbola and his associate, Mr. Bayo Dada, General Manager of

Tropics Securities Limited, to open their defence after the prosecution had closed its case.

At the resumed hearing in the case, the defence, in a letter, pleaded with the court to adjourn the matter because they were involved in a civil suit in another court.

The prosecution, Mr. Ayodeji Arowolo, told the court that a letter was received from the lead counsel, Chief Felix Fagboungbe, SAN, asking for a vacation date for commencement of their defence. The court, meanwhile, adjourned the matter till May 28.

10—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Court rules Ijesa monarch must answer Acquited on 3 other charges rape charge

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

SOGBO—THE embattled Alowa of Ilowa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adebukola Alli, standing trial before an Osogbo High Court for alleged rape of an excorps member, yesterday, got off the hook on three of the four charges against him Justice Oyejide Falola dismissed three charges out of the four counts preferred against the monarch for the failure of the prosecutor to substantiate the allegation before the court.

Alli, who was accompanied to court by his wife, had, since 2010, been facing four counts charge of rape, kidnap, assault and deprivation of the liberty of the ex-corps member and had filed a no case submission before the court on the last trial of the case.

The court, however, ruled that the monarch has no case to answer as regards the allegations of kidnap, assault and deprivation of liberty, stating that the prosecution had not tendered any proof to support their allegations.

Justice Oyejide Falola, however, overruled the monarch’s application of a no-case submission on

count one of the rape case and ordered the accused traditional ruler to appear before the court to defend himself on how he got the consent of the victim before making love to her as he had confessed to the court that he made love to her and that both of them enjoyed it.

“The accused person has set up a defence of justification by confessing to have made love to the

victim. On count one, I overruled the no-case submission, but sustained the no-case submission on count two, three and four,” Falola ruled Meantime, Alli has condemned the suspension of 35 students of Ifelodun Grammar School, Kiloru, who were on the court premises to protest against his continuous trial penultimate week.

KURE—THE Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, said in Ondo State that it had yet to adopt its governorship candidate for the forthcoming poll in the state.

In a statement its publicity secretary, Mr Rotimi Agbede, said a report that it had done so was meant to cause disaffection among the aspirants and to create confusion in the party.

Sources hinted that there was jubilation in an Akoko community, weekend, on the speculation that one of their kinsmen had been adopted as the party’s candidate.

According to Agbede, the “rumour mongers” are determined to portray ACN in bad light in the eyes of the anxious public that expected the party to form the next government

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

S O G B O — CHAIRMAN of Northern States Governors'

Forum and Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday, declared that the North did not require any special ministry to take care

NURTW stays banned in Oyo, by Ajimobi

BY OLA AJAYI

I

B A D A N — GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo

State has said the ban on the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state

in the state.

He said the claim of adoption of candidate by ACN which started as “a mere rumour” had since become the main political topic across the state

where several names of gubernatorial aspirants were dropped on daily basis in an attempt to confuse the general public.

Aregbesola in Germany for agric talks

BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

O

S O G B O — GOVERNOR Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday, opened discussions with German state of Saxony Anhalt as part of the state’s determination to boost its comprehensive agricultural programme.

Aregbesola, who led top government functionaries saddled with the massive food production project of his administration to the talks in Germany, has

banishment of hunger as one of the six integral plans of his government.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the delegation left Nigeria Saturday and arrived in Germany Sunday for the talks.

It quoted the governor as reassuring the people of the state of determination of his administration to turn the state to the food basket of the country.

week through the Ministry of Women Affairs suspended 35 students of the school owned by Ilowa community and five other towns in the area for staging a protest on the court premises while they were supposed to be in their classrooms.

Insecurity: We don't need Ministry of Northern Affairs — Aliyu

Wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, administering oral polio vaccine to baby Rokibat Ibiyemi. With her is the Commissioner for Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori (right) and Osun State House of Assembly Chairman, Committee on Health, Leke Ogunsola (left) at the flag-off of Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health week at Ile-Ogbo, yesterday.

Ondo ACN yet to pick guber flagbearer —Scribe

A

At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Falola, Alli, who spoke through his counsel,

Taofeek Tewogbola, lashed out at the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, and the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr. Dapo Adeniji, for their alleged role in the suspension of the students.

The government had last

would not be lifted for now.

He also warned the union that since the ban had not been lifted, all the activities of members of the union were illegal.

Speaking through the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Yunus Akintunde, he said the government would soon release a white paper that would determine the fate of the union.

This came as the Oyo State Police Command cautioned the union members against causing anything that would rupture the peace in the state.

The command, through its Public Relations Officer, Olabisi CletIlobanafor, warned all factions in the union to take caution as it would deal decisively with anybody who causes breakdown of law and order in the state.

Meanwhile, the government also warned residents of Government Reserved Areas,GRAs, and estates to stop closing gates that serve as link roads.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Bosun Oladele, said government had observed that gates to link roads in most GRAs and residential estates in the state capital were usually closed during day time, thus halting necessary access to those areas.

He said most of the link roads also serve as alternative routes to motorists due to the ongoing construction of roads and bridges in some parts of Ibadan metropolis.

of insecurity in the North.

Fielding questions after delivering the fifth Alhaji Abdullateef Olufemi Okunnu annual lecture, entitled, “Breaking the Myth of Peace in Nigeria: What Next” organised by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Gov. Aliyu said creating Ministry of Northern Affairs would not solve the problem of the North.

He said: ''If the government was to create special ministry each time there was problem in any part of the regions in the country, at the long run it would not achieve any desired results.

“If people are making a point because Ministry of Niger Delta was created because of the militancy in the Niger-Delta region, I don’t think we need any special ministry for the North. All we need do is that we should articulate our position so that each government should know what to do to alleviate poverty of their people.”

Aliyu, who described insecurity in the country as terrible, noted that economic deprivation had made some Nigerians to be terrorising the country.

The governor said: “Where there is good government, there will be fewer problems and where there is bad government there will be many problems. Our leaders in Nigeria have a role to play in fighting corruption if truly we want to fight against terrorism and insecurity in the country.”

Non-payment of new minimum wage tops perm secs' confab

BY DAYO JOHNSON

A

KURE—TOP on the agenda of the conference of the National Council on Establishments in Akure, the Ondo State capital is the non-implementation of the new minimum wage recently approved by the Federal Government by governors across the country.

Permanent secretaries in

charge of establishments in the 36 states and Abuja, who formed the technical committee for the council arrived Akure, weekend, to prepare a comprehensive agenda for the conference.

Speaking after declaring open technical committee session, Ondo State Head of Service, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, said some states were still finding it difficult to pay the new minimum wage.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—11

Delta rainstorm victims cry out for relief

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

A

SABA—A FRONT LINE leadership group in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Azungwu Elite Forum, has expressed regret that many victims of the rainstorm, which occurred on April 11, this year, were still homeless.

The group praised the prompt intervention of the state government, which sent relief materials, adding that the materials brought were not very relevant to the needs of the victims.

EDO PDP MEET IN PRESIDENTIAL VILLA: From right: Vice President Namadi Sambo; Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion and Edo State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate for the July 14, election, Major-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), after the closed-door meeting between the Presidency and leadership of PDP in Edo State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Sunday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida.

Another bank robbery in Delta, Police quiz two security guards

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA

JTF raids illegal fuel depot in Delta A ...Over 3,000 drums of diesel set ablaze

BY FESTUS AHON

U

GHELLI—NO fewer than 3,000 plastic drums, containing diesel and three locally constructed warehouses were Sunday night, set ablaze by men of the Joint Military Task Force, JTF, at a camp for sale of illegally refined petroleum products in Owhawha community, Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State.

The military personnel stormed the camp in three Hilux pick-ups vehicles at about 9.30 pm.

The camp was already deserted as the operators of the illegal market fled the area when they got information on moves by the soldiers to invade the area. Two motorcycles were found in the camp when the JTF arrived.

Commanding Officer, 222 Battalion, Lt. Col. A. H. Rasheed, who addressed newsmen moments after, said the JTF

swung into action after it got a tip-off from some members of the community.

Commending the community for giving JTF the information, Rasheed said the country was losing over N7 billion daily to the activities of illegal

bunkerers.

He said they proceeded to destroy the camp as soon as they got the information, adding, “if we had waited a little longer, they would have removed the products before dawn.”

Noting that JTF was

Ikimi to Anenih: I challenge you to a debate

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

B

ENIN—FORMER Foreign Affairs Minister and national leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Chief Tom Ikimi, yesterday, in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area, Edo State, challenged the former Chairman, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, to a debate on issues bordering on the governance of the state

since 1999.

He also challenged the governorship candidate of PDP, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, to face Governor Adams Oshiomhole in a debate, saying it was only in doing so that the people of the state would know the true pedigree of the “PDP messenger and their message” to the people of the state.

Ikimi lamented that Esan people were in bondage during the PDP administration in the state and urged them to

Gunmen kill two policemen, injure one in Rivers Vanguard gathered

BY JIMITOTA ONOYUME

P

ORT HAR COURT— TWO policemen were shot dead and one injured at Ahoada end of the EastWest Road, Rivers State, by unknown gunmen on Sunday.

According to sources, the gunmen drove close to the policemen at their

leaving no stone unturned in keeping vigilance in the area, he said that the JTF had also discovered a location at a neighbouring community in the area where illegal refining of petroleum products was being carried out.

post and opened fire on them, killing two on the spot while the third sustained severe gunshot wounds.

The intention of the assailants was not clear at press time, but sources said they probably shot the policemen to collect their riffles. It could not be confirmed if the gunmen went away with the police guns.

that one of the policemen had just resumed at the post on the ill-fated day when the gunmen struck.

He was simply identified as Abubaker. The source said he died on the spot When contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Mohammed Indabawa, confirmed the development, but said he had not been properly briefed on the incident.

appreciate the developmental projects being executed in their domain by the ACN-led government by voting Oshiomhole for a second term.

He said: “I have gone round with Governor Oshiomhole to campaign in Benin, Edo North and Esanland. If the PDP truly has a leader, let their leader come out to campaign. Let that leader come out and campaign with its candidate. This is an election year, campaign is talk to your people. Let us talk, it is a dialogue, that is what election is all about.

“I challenge their candidate to talk to our candidate in public. I also challenge the PDP leader to discuss with me in public. I am prepared to face the issues, this is a matter of issues.

"That is why our candidate is telling people what he has done in three and a half years.

While Oshiomhole is talking about what he has done, another man is talking about what he has stolen.”

Spokesman of the forum, Mr. E. Okoh, in a statement in Asaba, yesterday, said: “More than one month after the devastating rainstorm, many victims still live without roofs over their heads.

“The forum is of the view that government's reaction to this peculiar situation should rather have been the provision of building materials, such as cement, timber, nails, roofing sheets or in the alternative, grants of reasonable cash to help seriously affected victims."

S A B A — B A R E LY one week, after a bloody attack on two banks in Delta State by a gang of robbers, in which over 10 people were killed, including a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, another bank robbery has taken place in the state.

The robbery gang, weekend, stormed a new generation bank in Asaba, Delta State capital and blew up the vault before they were chased away by policemen.

Although no member of the gang had been arrested at press time, the

state Police command’s spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, said two security guards on duty were being questioned by the police.

Muka, in a terse statement, said: “On Friday night, armed men broke into the bank in Asaba.

The robbers scaled into the bank premises through the back fence, using two ladders. They tied the security guards before information got to us. We confronted them and foiled the robbery operation. Items recovered included four big gas cylinders, two diggers, two torch lights and two ladders.”

Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo youths urged to give peace a chance

F

OLLOWING the re cent face off between Ijaw and Itsekiri over the regatta in Warri, Delta State, that was resolved by well meaning individuals in the state, a group, Movement for the Actualisation of the Dreams of Niger Deltans, MADND, has urged youths in the region to avoid being used as agents of destruction.

In a statement by its

National President, Mr. Josiah Oyakongha, the group said that some retrogressive agents in the state were at work.

He said: “They were fanning the embers of war, but we thank God that their plans to cause disharmony between the ethnic nationalities were cleverly nipped in the bud. They are disgruntled elements bent on destabilizing the peace we have enjoyed so far.”

FG knows those behind insecurity—NAS

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

C

ALABAR—PRESI DENT of National Association of Seadogs, Calabar chapter, Cross River State, Dr. Ofem Enang, weekend, accused the Federal Government of knowing those behind the insecu-

rity in the country but lacked the political will to prosecute them.

Dr. Enang, who spoke in Calabar, said there was no way the security apparatus in the country could not have given intelligence reports to the Federal Government, but the government might not have been ready to act on same.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

S-Africa lauds Bayelsa’s investment drive

S

THANKSGIVING SERVICE: From right: Prof. Amos Utuama, Delta State Deputy Governor; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Emetulu and Justice James Abadike Obi (rtd), during a thanksgiving service by Mr. Charles Emetulu, Commissioner for Energy, Delta State. Photo: Nath Onojake.

OUTH African Pres ident, Mr. Jacob Zuma, has commended the investment initiatives and drive of Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Henry Dickson, when he led a high powered delegation on a courtesy visit to South Africa.

Senior Special Assistant, Media and Public Affairs, to Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement, said Governor Dickson and his entourage were received by President Zuma at the headquarters of African National Congress, ANC, in Johannesburg, where frank talks were held to deepen bilateral relations as well as the need to further explore the var-

Oil community gives Shell 48hrs ultimatum

Make Edo case study for one-man one-vote, Jonathan tells PDP leaders W

BY EMMA ARUBI

....As Anenih, Ogbemudia, Abbe, Orbih, others reconcile

BY BEN AGANDE & HENRY UMORU

A

BUJA—AHEAD of the July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Edo chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to work hard to ensure that the state becomes a case study for one-man, onevote.

President Jonathan, who spoke at a meeting with leaders and chieftains of the party from the state at the Presidential Villa, Sunday, also advised them to play politics according to the rule.

The meeting, Vanguard learnt, was to reconcile feuding chieftains of PDP in Edo State. It was gathered that the elders had resolved their differences before going to the Presidential Villa.

A source at the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, said the fueding elders, former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Tony Anenih, former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia and Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin, have also undertaken to work together to ensure the success of PDP in the forthcoming governorship election.

The source who spoke

on condition of anonymity, said the three members of the party in the state decided to put their differences behind them and work together in view of the perceived wrongdoings of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, especially his alleged lack of respect for elders of the state.

He added that the perceived disrespect from Oshiomhole was the glue that is cementing the trio in order to unseat the governor.

A rather relieved Pres-

ident Jonathan, was, however, said to have expressed his concern over the growing insecurity in Edo State and stressed the need to tackle the problem.

The source of disagreement in the PDP in the state is said to be traceable to former Governor Osarhiemen Osunbor, who, it said, was unwilling to work with the party men, causing them to throw their support behind Oshiomhole.

The source said: “But they have now realised

that backing Oshiomhole is like riding on the back of a tiger. So, it can never be safe. Everybody has come to realise who Oshiomhole is. Somebody who has said he was going to ensure that his work would speak for him; today he is the one whose talk has filled up everywhere.”

The party elders reportedly later met at the residence of Chief Anenih at the end of the Villa meeting, where they worked on strategies for the way forward.

Why journalists are targets of attack in Edo—SSS Director

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM & GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

B

ENIN—EDO State Director of State Security Service, SSS, Mr. Bello Bakori, yesterday, expressed concern that journalists were gradually becoming targets of attack by persons who are highly intolerant of the media.

The SSS Director, who briefed newsmen, expressed regret over the recent death of journalists in the state. He urged media practitioners to understand the delicate work they do, particularly now that the

state was on the verge of a governorship election.

Condoling with families and colleagues, who lost their dear ones last month, Bakori noted that journalists may be target of some politicians, who may not be happy with their reports.

He said following the risks posed by extremist groups, including the ‘Boko Haram’ sect and the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, media houses in Edo were on a 24-hour watch by operatives of the Service.

He called for caution, adding that each individual remained his own

chief security officer.

He said: “All of us will go one way or the other, but it is such a sad thing that journalists have to die in the cause of their duty. I know some of you must have been thinking there is element of insecurity targeted at your colleagues, and what the SSS is doing about it.

The other issue is the problem of insecurity connected to the upcoming election in the state.

“It is obvious that media houses are now part of the targets of terrorist groups and it is important we identify our security needs in parts of the state."

ious investment opportunities between the state and South Africa.

Stressing on the existing cordial relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, the governor expressed Bayelsa State Government’s intention to establish business contacts towards investing in the areas of education, security, healthcare delivery, power, infrastructure and agriculture.

South African President, Mr. Zuma, on his part, said he was pleased with the governor ’s vision, drive and investment pursuits, particularly given the very special relationship he has with President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria.

ARRI—KOKODI AGBENE community contractors, executing the multi-million naira cottage hospital for the oil– rich people of Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, have given Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, a 48-hour ultimatum to pay them for work done or face their wrath.

The community’s Financial Secretary, Mr. Jackson

BBDO opens shop in Nigeria

B

BDO West Africa, an affiliate of BBDO Worldwide, will host a dinner today at the Wheatbaker Hotel on Onitolo Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, to formally launch itself into the West African market.

BBDO is widely acclaimed as the most awarded agency in the world.

Timiyan, in a joint statement with Capt. Jonathan Uti and Godfrey Ike, on behalf of the other contractors, said the ultimatum had become imperative as various banks from where loans were obtained for the execution of the project, were now set to confisticate their property used as collateral due to default in re-payment of the loans.

They claimed that they had executed the hospital project to Shell’s specification and expressed worry that the company was not living up to its pledge of paying up for them to meet the completion time frame.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 13

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Kidnapped 6yr-old girl yet to be released zAs family expresses wor ry, appeals to police

E

NUGU—EIGHT days after six-year-old Miss Kosisochukwu Akilo was kidnapped from her home in Enugu, the abductors had yet to contact the family.

A close family source who preferred anonymity told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN yesterday that the family had remained in the dark about the whereabouts of the girl.

The source said the kidnappers made away with two mobile telephones belonging to the girl’s mother and wondered why they had not called.

“We are all worried about the development because it is more than a week since Kosi was kidnapped. Why are they doing this to the little girl,” it said.

The source appealed to the police to intensify efforts in rescuing the girl.

Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Enugu police command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, told NAN that they were still working to rescue the baby.

Kosisochukwu was kidnapped two Sundays ago in their family house at No. 56, River Lane, GRA, Enugu.

Fed Poly Nekede gets books, journals from Israel

BY CHIDI NKWOPARA

O

WERRI—THE Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, has taken delivery of 445 cartons of books and journals donated to the institution by the State of Israel and Ben-Gurion University.

Receiving the items, the Rector, Dr. (Mrs.) Celestina Ugochi Njoku, expressed happiness that the academic journals covered the fields of science, social sciences, as well as engineering and technology.

“By this donation, the institution now has one of the best libraries in terms of quality relevance and depth of coverage of core courses,” Mrs. Njoku reasoned.

Court refuses to sack Chime zSays PDP has power to chose flagbearer

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

A

BUJA—RESPITE came the way of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, yesterday, as the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, declined to sack him from office, citing lack of jurisdiction to nullify his candidacy in the last general elections.

Justice Adamu Bello, who delivered judgment in a suit filed before him by an aggrieved governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Chief Alexander Chukwuemeka Obiechina, maintained that the nomination and sponsorship of a candidate for any given election was within the realm of the domestic affairs of a political party.

Dismissing the case on grounds that the court could not meddle into issues bordering on party nominations, Justice Bello stressed that the plaintiff, having failed to participate in any of the primary elections conducted in Enugu State by the PDP, lacked the locus-standi to seek the nullification of the said electoral processes.

Though the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in a written address it tendered before the court, queried the legal propriety of the January 12, 2011, primary election that produced Governor Chime as the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Enugu State, the Court, yesterday, maintained that “any aspirant who did not participate in the primaries of a political party, does not have the right to challenge the outcome of such primaries.”

The Court further relied on the case of the former Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, and held that PDP had the right to bar the plaintiff or any other aspirant from participating in its primary election.

Meanwhile, the plaintiff had pleaded the High Court to determine whether there was a valid special congress or primary election held in Enugu State on January 12, 2011, in which Chime was nominated as the PDP candidate.

He contended that the laid down condition precedent for nominating a candidate for the

governorship position, as enshrined in sections 85(1) and 87(1)(4)(b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) was not fulfilled in the case of governor Chime.

Insisting that Chime was handpicked through a kangaroo process, the

litigant, who argued through his lawyer, Mr Oba Maduabuchi, urged the trial court to nullify the said illegal primary election and order the sitting Governor to vacate the office, stressing that January 9, 2011, was the validly set date for the

gubernatorial primaries in Enugu State.

Obiechina told the court that as a governorship aspirant in the state, he had met the requirements and was duly cleared to contest the primaries alongside the governor and other aspirants.

SEMINAR—From left: Mr. Andrew Ejoh, Executive Director, Resourcery, Mr. Olugbenga Ajuwon, Business Development, Assoli Software Services and Willem Van Der Fagt, C.E.O, Assoli Software Services, Holand, during a seminar in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo editor.

....PDP, Enugu residents laud victory

BY TONY EDIKE

E

NUGU—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, yesterday, congratulated Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime on his victory over his eligibility to contest the 2011 governorship election on the platform of the party.

The party’s reaction came as some residents of Enugu went into jubilation on hearing the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which declined

jurisdiction to entertain the pre-election matter brought by one of the governorship aspirants of the PDP in the state, Chief Alex Obiechina.

According to Chief Vita Abba, Enugu PDP Chairman, “We view today ’s landmark judgment as a victory for democracy and all those who believe strongly in the good work of our Governor, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime in Enugu State.

Mr. Godfrey Okeke, a

trader along Obiagu road, expressed gratitude to God for hearing the prayers of many Enugu residents to spare Governor Chime in order to continue with his good works for the people.

In another brief reaction conveyed to correspondents through a text message yesterday, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Chime, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, described the victory of his boss as “triumph of truth, justice and democracy.”

Bombings driving away investors from Nigeria — Obasanjo

BY CHARLES KUMOLU

D

UTSE—FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday described the current spate of bombing in the country as a direct and indirect consequence of governance, lamenting that such situation is driving away investors from Nigeria.

He also regretted that Nigerians have placed the need for personal security beyond the desire for general security, describing the development as one of

the reasons for the rising insecurity.

Obasanjo said this while speaking on the topic, "Security, Governance and Leadership" at a one day symposium on this year’s democracy day celebration, convened by Jigawa State government.

According to him, "Nigerians are more concerned and agitated for the need for personal security, for many people the greatest source of anxiety is violent crime, but now bombing of public places and where people

congregate has become the source of anxiety in the country for Nigerians. This is already giving us a very bad image. It is adversely affecting investment in Nigeria.

“A lot of us see personal insecurity, economic insecurity and all forms of insecurity as a direct and indirect consequences of governance. Governance and security go hand in hand. The welfare and well being of the people, starting with their personal security is the direct responsibility of the government.

FG committed to address medical emergency — Minister

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—MINISTER of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, said yesterday that the current security challenges in parts of the country have strengthened the resolve of the Federal Government to put in place structures, processes and procedures that would address medical emergency from the household, community, institutions, local governments and states to the national level.

The minister, who spoke through a director in the ministry at a workshop on ‘Enhancing emergency medical preparation and response in an academic community’ at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, explained that one of the measures was the Integrated National Emergency Ambulance Services, INEAS, where all ambulance services in the country were brought under one roof for coordination and improved effectiveness and efficiency.

N-Delta: Group decries slow pace of devt

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

A

group, under the aegis of the Movement for the Actualization of the Dreams of Niger Deltans, MADND, has expressed fears over slow pace of development in the Niger Delta, calling on President Goodluck Jonathan to expedite action.

In a statement by its leader, Josiah Oyakongha, the group urged Niger Delta State governors and people from the region in government to join hands with the President to bring development to the region.

CHANGE OF NAME EDUN - I formally known and addressed as Miss Edun Okeremute Shilla, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Abeke Okeremute Shilla.All former documents remain valid. General public should pleasetake

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—15

Work for victory, Jonathan tells Edo PDP chieftains

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—AHEAD of July 14 gubernatorial election in Edo State, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to work hard for victory and ensure that the state became a case study for one man, one vote.

President Jonathan, who spoke at a meeting with leaders and chieftains of the party from Edo State at the Presidential Villa, Sunday night, also advised them to play politics according to the rules.

Though the meeting was

held behind closed doors, Vanguard gathered that the meeting was to intimate the President on the preparedness of the party ahead of the governorship polls.According to a source, former Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the party, Chief Tony Anenih, led the party chieftains to the meeting.

Also present at the meeting, which had in attendance, Vice President Namadi Sambo, were PDP National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Sam Sam Jaja, other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, former gov-

ernor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia; Prof.

Oserheimen Osunbor; Edo PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih.

Others are; PDP governorship candidate, Charles Arhiavbere; his deputy, Johnson Abulagba; Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolenmenmen; Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Senator Odion Ugbesia; Senator Yisa Braimoh; Pascal Ugbome; former Minister of Defence, General Godwin Abbe; Mathew Iduoriyekenwen, among others.

Vanguard also gathered

that the meeting, which came two days after the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, held a meeting with stakeholders of political parties in Edo State, was designed to let the Presi-

dent know that the PDP in Edo state was now united than ever before.

The source said: “The meeting was held to let President Goodluck Jonathan know the level of preparedness for the July 14 election and to tell him

that we are ready for the election.

“The President told us that there must be one man, one vote and that PDP believes in one man, one vote. He said Edo State governorship election must be a case study.”

Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport to get 2nd Abuja, NAIA, the Federal Democracy Day 2012 and runway Government is set to con- first anniversary of PresiBY LAIDE AKINBOADE

A

BUJA—TO ex pand international air traffic at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in

struct a second runway.

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, stated this, yesterday, at the ministerial platform in commemoration of National

dent Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

She said it was imperative for nation to construct a second runway in order to redefine aviation experience in Nigeria.

She said: “There is no going back on the contraction of a second runway for NAIA and aprons, taxi ways and airfield lighting for other airports. And independent power projects, IPP, for designated airports.

“The last one year has, therefore, ushered in tremendous achievements in the aviation sector. We have brought innovations that have redefined aviation experience in Nigeria.”

She noted that aviation was a platform for other sectors in the country, stressing there was no way any nation could develop without the development of the aviation sector. She said the remodeling and reconstruction of airport terminals would ensure the expansion of their capacities to meet passengers’ traffic.

Oduah said: “Under phase one, 11 airports have been remodeled and reconstructed. They are Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Enugu, Owerri, Benin, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja airports.

“Phase two of the remodeling projects in the remaining airports has commenced. The airports are Maiduguri, Katsina, Sokoto, Akure, Ibadan, Bauchi, Ilorin, Lagos and Jalingo.”

Oduah, who noted that the ministry had commenced the process for development of four new international airports terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano, said the ministry had enhanced internally generated revenue through automation of revenue collection processes.

She said the ministry had a projected revenue target of between N70 billion and N120 billion and a contribution of three per cent to the national GDP by the end of 2013.

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Facebook founder weds

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU, with Agency Report

F

EMPOWERMENT: Alhaji Zakari Mohammed, Chairman, House of Representatives Media Committee (right), presenting fertilizers to his constituents as part of his empowerment programme in Baruten Local Government Area, Kwara State.

Bee Gees' Robin Gibb dies at 62

BY BENJAMIN NJOKU

J

UST as the world is still grieving over the death of one of its finest songstresses, Donna Summer, death struck again last Sunday and snatched away Robin Gibb, one the three brothers who made up the disco group, Bee Gees behind “Saturday Night Fever ” and other iconic sounds from the 1970s.

He died on Sunday, at the age of 62. According to a statement on his website attributed to his family, Gibb “passed away today following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery.”

He died in England, going by a post on his official Twitter feed.

Bryan Adams lamented “another great singer dying too young” on Twitter, while fellow British band Duran Duran and current pop sensation Bruno Mars, were among many who posted their condolences.

“The Bee Gees were/are the gold standard when it

comes to pop/R&B melody, harmony and vocal arrangement. Massive loss,” wrote prolific pop songwriter Claude Kelly on his Twitter feed.

Diagnosed with colon and liver cancer, Gibb had been in a coma as he battled pneumonia earlier this spring, representative Doug Wright said.

Gibb had emergency surgery in 2010 for a blocked bowel and then had more surgery for a twisted bowel, Wright confirmed.

According to reports, the singer has had a history of health problems stemming from a 2010 liver and colon cancer diagnosis. Though Gibb had recovered from his first bout with the disease, another tumor recently surfaced in conjunction with pneumonia, leaving him in a coma at a London hospital in mid-April.

Gibb’s wife Dwina and brother Barry stayed by his side, singing to the ailing star in an effort to make him regain consciousness.

ACEBOOK founder, Mark Zuckerberg, last Saturday got married to his longtime girlfriend, Priscilla Chan but surprisingly, he didn’t add a Relationship Status to his Facebook page.

Zuckerberg and 27year-old Priscilla Chan tied the knot at a small ceremony at his Palo Alto, California home, capping a busy week for the couple, according to a guest authorised to speak for the couple.

Chan graduated from

medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she studied pediatrics on Monday, the same day Zuckerberg turned 28, the person said.

A day after taking his company public, Zuckerberg added a Life Event on Facebook, posting a photo that shows him wearing a suit and tie with the knot loosened rather than his trademark hoodie.

The couple met at Harvard and have been together for more than nine years, the person added.

15 killed as Fulani herdsmen invade Tiv community

BY PETER DURU

M

AKURDI—NO fewer than 15 persons were feared dead, yesterday, in a clash between Fulani herdsmen and natives of Tiv community in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.

Sources told Vanguard that the invading herdsmen stormed the Tyoughatee and Gbaange-Tongov districts of Gwer West weekend, killing, maiming and burning down houses, farmlands and huts.

Earlier in the year, a similar clash left over 45 dead.

According to sources, the invasion has left women and children taking shelter in nearby bushes and forests in neighbouring communities of Gwer West.

The Ter Nagi and paramount ruler of the community, Chief Daniel Abomtse, frowned at the continuous attack on his domain by Fulani herdsmen as well as

the nonchalant attitude of both the state and Federal governments.

Chief Abomtse said he had earlier informed the state government as well as other relevant agencies about plans over the latest invasion.

The letter entitled, Grand Plan to Annihilate Gwer West People by Fulani Herdsmen and their Mercenaries, read in part: “Information had it that the

Fulani herdsmen intend to invade Gwer West, crossing from the Obendo, Ijiwo axis from Akpanaja in Nasarawa State into Tyoughatee and Gbaange/Tongov district of Gwer West at a location between Mbaku communities of Makurdi and invade the whole of the district which stretches 16 kilometres of Makurdi-Naka road and then advance to Naka town, headquarters of Gwer West.

”They also plan to attack and burn down my palace with explosives and sophisticated automatic fire arms.”

He said the attack took place late Saturday night, when the herdsmen invaded Tyoughatee village, an attack that lasted till dawn and left 10 persons dead with some still on accounted for, while many unidentified corpses littered around the affected communities.

... gunmen raid Borno police station, kill one

BY NDAHI MARAMA

M

AIDUGURI—ONE person was, yesterday, killed when unknown gunmen attacked the only police station in Benesheikh, headquarters of Kaga Local Government Area of Borno State, 75 kilometres away from Maiduguri, the state capital.

Confirming the incident, state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Bala Hassan, said there was an attack on the police station in Benisheik on Sunday at about 9pm, adding that the police station was equally destroyed, but no casualty was recorded on the side of the police as only a civilian was killed.

He said the attackers

PEOPLE SPEAK

08081686931

Zuckerberg gave his new bride a ring he had designed with a “very simple ruby” to end an incredibly eventful week, according to the guest.

The ceremony took place in Zuckerberg’s backyard before fewer than 100 guests, who all thought they were there to celebrate Chan’s graduation.

The seemingly well-coordinated timing was largely a coincidence, the guest said. The wedding had been planned for months and the couple was waiting for Chan to finish medical school.

were suspected to have come from Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, pointing out that security had been beefed up in the area even as normalcy had since been restored.

Hassan further stated that no arrests have been made, but said investigation was going on with a view to arresting those behind the attack.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

What's your reaction to Rashidi Yekini's death?

Y

EKINI is Nigeria’s greatest scorer! He was Nigeria’s all-time leading goal scorer. His celebration of the historic strike against Bulgaria at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas in USA 1994 became an iconic image worldwide.

May his soul rest in peace.—Ms Amanchinefe Okoji, Student.

R

ASHIDI Yekini was a good player.

But he was abandoned by the country he dedicated his time playing for. Now that he is dead, they are beginning to recognise his legacies. He should not have been allowed to go through what he went through.—Mr. Raji Oniyi, Islamic Scholar.

H

E is a legend. Most footballers emu lated him very well.

He was very straight forward and down to earth. He actually was one of those that have lifted Nigeria in football and he was the first Nigerian to score in a World Cup. Too bad he died the way he did.—Mr. Chris Nduba, Salesperson.

H

IS death is unforgivable. Govern ment should hide its face in shame.Itisjustlike the doctors’ strike. Services of doctorsareservicestohumanity and not for money. They shouldneitherleavetheirduty post nor abandon patients for financial reasons.”— Mr. Adeboye Adesanwo, Legal Practitioner.

R

ASHIDI Yekini was a good player.

A dedicated one.

A legend. We have not got another Rashidi Yekini. He played for the love of the country. Too bad he met with a really painful death. May his soul rest in peace.—Mr. Ezeugo Nwanchile, Trader

W

HEN I heard he was dead, I felt bad because he was one of Nigeria’s heroes. I think Nigerian government neglected him and did not bother about his health. Yekini served Nigeria and for that singular reason, government should have cared for him.—Miss Akpogbuwe Mela, Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—17

A

Straight into the hands of detractors

L

ast week he seemed to have played into the hands of his detractors and caused his admirers some consternation with his outburst. He had warned that should what happened in 2011 elections repeat itself in 2015 there would be blood. “The dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood”, he warned.

This, not long after he said the Peoples Democratic Party would be consumed by a revolution. Before the 2011 general elections, Gen Buhari was accused of urging his supporters to lynch anybody who would steal their votes. His opponents therefore accused him of setting off the bloody violence that followed the 2011 presidential election.

That violence seamlessly transmogrified into the Islamic terrorism in the North that has continued to soak the nation in blood.

The horror and umbrage that followed Gen Buhari’s outburst was therefore understandable. While the rival PDP responded as a political party intent on defending its political fortune, other Nigerians who placed their hope for the nation’s redemption on Buhari were alarmed. They wonder if Buhari is really in the hands of good managers. Buhari is perceived as unmarketable in some parts of the country. One would expect his handlers to try to reduce the baggage of mistrust that weighs his political fortune down, instead of adding more to it.

If he said what he said in a fit of anger, it does not do him any good because a president needs level headedness and

David Mark and Nigerians jailed abroad

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Buhari and 2015: The blood next time

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari: There would be blood....

,

FEW years ago when I interviewed Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari for the Chinua Achebe Foundation dialogue series, I discovered a man millions of Nigerians never knew.

General Buhari could be funny, swap jokes and laugh heartily, but millions of Nigerians did not know. All that many Nigerians know of him is the nononsense military dictator who, with his frowning alter ego, Brigadier Tunde Idiagbo, drove the fear of God into Nigerians. When we discussed his era as a military dictator vis-à-vis his quest for the presidency of Nigeria in a democracy, I came away with the impression that Buhari is a man grossly misunderstood, even more by his own people in the North! In fact, in one instance, he told me that the Emirs were afraid that he would jail all of them!

The Buhari many Nigerians know is the man behind the War Against Indiscipline and who used a retrogressive decree to execute a young drug pusher, Bartholomew Owoh, and used Justice Orojoh to send foreign exchange dupes to flight. For others, Buhari is simply the man who ran Abacha’s Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF. Although some accuse him of favouring the North in the distribution of the PTF projects, he remains the only Nigerian who ran a multi-billion Naira organisation without leaving a trail of sleaze and scandal. Many may have forgotten that he was once the Minister of the now hopelessly corrupt petroleum industry, again without scandal!

There are many Nigerians who today believe that whenever Nigerians get tired of the mess we are in, and decide to get out of it, Buhari would be the answer. But Buhari’s attempt to be elected has not yielded fruit. Even the party on whose platform he contested elections disowned him as he contested the result of the election at the Supreme Court. As a result he founded his own party the last time around, but his fortune did not improve. One would not know whether Buhari is a victim of the whirligig of Nigerian politics or of the baggage of mistrust he carries. Some fear his stern mien, others say he is sectional and many accuse him of religious extremism.

2015, only to turn round and blame it on the rival PDP. The 2011 election has been contested up to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court has ruled.

As an apostle of discipline, he should let the matter rest. To continue to question the integrity of that election casts a slur on the Supreme Court and smacks of desperation.

My question is, with the peregrination of the socalled Nigerian politicians

The 2011 election has been contested up to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court has ruled. As an apostle of discipline, he should let the matter rest. To continue to question the integrity of that election casts a slur on the Supreme Court and smacks of desperation

composure even in the face of provocation. After all, he was once a Head of State! What would he do if someone threw a shoe at him in a press conference? If it is frustration with the way things are in our country, we are all frustrated too. But he has allowed his opponents to interpret his frustration as desperation! Buhari should not scar people away from voting for him in

,

from a losing party to a party in power, can we really blame our nation’s calamity squarely on a particular political party or on the entire class of national pestilence called politicians?

Is there really any difference among these parties? It is not in our interest to help the PDP to use 2015 to distract us from the more important issue of the performance of the government.

SON, China and sub-standard products

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AST week, it was reported that China refused to sign a draft agreement on inferior products which the Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Mr. Joseph Odumodu, went all the way to China to make them sign. In dealing with our problems, we must realise that the world does not owe us a living! In many instances, it is Nigerian businessmen who go out there to give manufacturers specifications for inferior products, so as to make quick profits.

They should be made to bear the cost/loss. Therefore, SON should concentrate on raids in warehouses and markets and leave China out of it. It is our responsibility to protect our borders against unwanted goods. Nobody can force into our country goods we do not allow in.

From My Mail bag

M

R. Jason, I have always read your articles pre- Vanguard, and have always felt you were a bit more balanced in your opinion concerning issues, a kind of a liberal, though when it comes to my region, the North, you some times wear the garb of a Conservative(KKK, lol). However, this is not my reason of writing.

The article on the subject matter, Port Reforms and Superfluous Agencies is one of the most balanced I have read on the issue. You brought out the salient facts, and hit the nail on the head.

Your presentation of the facts from the Customs perspective is spot on. The observation made is verifiable, and as a Customs Officer I am encouraged that senior and very experienced columnist/ opinion moulder that you are understood

the issue, and has brought it out to the fore.

The necessary professionalism and expertise the Nigerian Customs is supposed to acquire vis-a-vis other Customs of more developed nations, and those at par with us, is being lost by the out source. I hope the right people get your message, and Nigerians, the truth. For once, we are not the butt of some “Corruption” story. I am encouraged, and shall continue to put in my best to the Service and the Nation, more so with the current efforts of my able CGC to bequeath a Customs Service that is very professional, and operates in line with International best standards and practices.

You have made my day Sir, good morning.

Umar M Alkali.

AST week, I read with sadness the report credited to Senate President, David Mark that the Senate would not help Nigerians in death row and in jails in Indonesia.

His reason was that the Nigerians were drug traffickers. “If they are still alive, they should thank their God. People who go and break laws in other countries should not expect us to protect them” Jeeez! This is a terrible position to take about your citizens.

All the other syrupy effusions about going to war in defence of Nigerians sounded hypocritical in the face of this abandonment of citizens in need of help.

Perhaps, the distinguished senator did not understand what Nigerian citizens abroad, whether criminals or angels, need. One of the biggest problems of Nigerians abroad is lack of consular representation. How do we know that Nigerians accused abroad got proper legal representation before sentencing?

What does the Senate know about the legal systems in those countries? Do they know if the Nigerians were tortured into confession? Do they know that in some of these countries, just finding money on a Nigerian can turn him into a drug dealer? So how do we really know the “honest Nigerian”? A Nigerian does not need to be “honest” to be entitled to his country’s consular representation! It is his right for Nigeria to ensure that he gets justice, no matter what he is accused of, especially when they face death sentence, and treated well even when jailed!

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any foreigners have committed crimes here and foreign construction workers have raped and abused our women only for their embassies to spirit them out of the country. Did the United States abandon their citizens who committed heinous human rights crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan? There is the case of the British Indian who was accused of plotting the killing of his wife in South Africa in 2010. His extradition to South Africa to face justice is still being contested in a British court. His right as a Briton was not denied him because of the crime he was accused of!

In any case, why did these Nigerian leave the country to life of uncertainty abroad? Is it not the failure of leadership that our country offers no hope to our youths? Are we assuming that these guys would choose a life of hell abroad if Nigeria offered them any hope? During the Libyan crisis, one of the Nigerian returnees from Libya was asked why he chose to go to Libya. He told the press that Libya at war was better than Nigeria at peace! This is something for Nigerian leaders to chew! How do we stem the exodus of our youths to life of crime and death abroad? “Leave them there!” is not the answer. The extent of smear on Nigeria’s image caused

by Nigerians in jail abroad is nothing compared to the grime corrupt public officers here smear on the image of Nigeria! The Senate President was off the mark here!

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 THE State Peer Review Mechanism, modelled after the African Peer Review Mechanism that rates countries against each other in terms of efficiencies in governance, is an important study in how governments should work.

Its application Africa wide, has not elicited the type of changes intended, particularly in governments opening themselves up for scrutiny by the people. Yet, it remains an important step in African governments assessing each other and learning from each other.

Countries with favourable peer reviews have better opportunities of attracting investors, since the review encompasses key components that address transparency in the administration of a country’s resources.

The Mo Foundation, which sponsors the review in Africa and awards an annual leadership prize to past African leaders, whose administrations laid foundations that sustain the ideals of the review, has gone for two years without finding a leader to reward. It says a lot about the quality of African leadership, though some argue that the Mo standards are too high.

Either way, the extension of the review to Nigerian States has met the same setbacks that

Anambra’s Peer Revie w view Mo faces. State governments were meant to submit their administrations to a review by other States for a comparison of their performance along agreed indices. With the great achievements of governors all over the country, they are unwilling to submit themselves to peer review and benefit from it. What are they hiding?

There seems to be a general misunderstanding of what the review could do for States. Better still, States are unwilling to open their affairs to the interrogation of bodies that could detect the decay the administration of many States represent.

Donald Duke, former Governor of Cross River State, Chairman of the National Steering

Committee of the State Peer Review Mechanism, was full of praises for Anambra, the only State that availed its self-assessment to the Committee. Professor Oladipupo Ademolekun was effusive with his applause too for Governor Peter Obi’s development of Anambra.

Without another State to compare with Anambra, its assessment should at best be interim. Moreover, Anambra remains the only State that has never conducted local government elections in the past 13 years.

Obi inherited the system and has shown no inclinations, after six years in office, to stop administering the local governments through illegal contraptions called caretaker committees. Section 7 of the Constitution states, “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed; and accordingly, the Government of every State shall... ensure their existence under a Law which provides for the establishment, structure, composition, finance and functions of such councils.”

Important as infrastructural development is, it is no substitute for constitutional governance, which Obi largely ignores.

OPINION

BY GODWIN SOGOLO

T

HE tragedy of Nigeria is that many of those who pollute the nation’s environment with their writings do not have the tools of their trade. One of the most important tools is logic. Louis Odion, in his article, “Death and the Old Witch’s Cr y”, (published in ThisDay of May 17th, 2012, page 21) shows clearly that, in spite of his editorial experience and current position as an Information Commissioner, he still needs to go back to school.

If Odion were to be well-schooled in logic, he would have known that it is poor logic, even though part of folklore, to assume that the death of a child in the morning is necessarily caused by the cry of the witch the previous night. Odion, obviously, does not know the difference between necessity and contingency.

The distinction between necessity and contingency is the foundation of the criminal justice system and the practice of medicine everywhere in the world.

Were it not so, millions of people would have been in jail for crimes they did not commit, and millions would have died because of wrong diagnoses. A witch’s cry may not necessarily be the cause of the death of a child. It might just be a contingent relationship, that is, a mere coincidence. Fortunately, for all of us, the police would not indict anyone on a murder charge for crying out in the night. Nor, would a sane doctor attribute the death of any person to a strange cry in the night.

The frivolity of Odion’s article derives, substantial Anenih threatened him in the courtyard of the Oba of Benin palace and that, subsequently, (1) he was

Flight of logic and decency in Edo State trailed by a black jeep (2) armed men visited his residence in the middle of the night, ostensibly to kill him. It is amazing that a man holding the position of Commissioner in a state government could be so flippant in making such grievous allegations of criminal intent against an elderly and eminent statesman. dion wants to seduce all of us into believing that he was threatened by Chief Anenih and following that threat, the Chief had sent people to kill him. The point, likely to stare all reasonable people in the face, is the enormous gap in age, status and accomplishment between Chief Anenih and Odion. Whereas Odion is a small fry, a little Commissioner in a provincial Government, Chief To ny Anenih has attained some of the greatest heights possible in Nigeria’s socio-political life.

What seems to be happening is that Odion is attempting to use the odious strategy of stamping on the name and reputation of a great person to attract attention to himself. Many had used this strategy before against great men like the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Significantly, history has shown that those who used this strategy in the past, almost invariably, ended up in perfidy.

It is this perfidious approach which has allowed Odion the freedom to bare-facedly link Chief Tony

O

Anenih’s name to the incident in which a lorry ran into the convoy of Oshiomhole and the killing of the Principal Private Secretary to Oshiomhole. None of these claims derives from any investigation to which Odion is privy. Interestingly, the evidence coming out of the convoy accident is that the lorry which rammed into the Governor’s convoy is owned by an ACN man and was driven by a card-carrying member of the ACN. Odion’s desperation to be noticed explains the vulgarity, indecency and lack of decorum in his depiction of Chief Anenih, who, until he (Odion) joined Oshiomhole, was his benefactor. Is it possible for anyone with basic home training and decent education to say the things that Odion said in his article? Is it possible for such a person to describe Chief Tony Anenih as “a pitiable bully at his wit’s end”, “the godfather with long teeth” and “the evil doer ”? And all this, because of a threat concocted in his fertile imagination! More importantly, it is hard to imagine how the killing of Odion would affect the political equation in Edo State. Beyond Odion’s inflated perception of himself, he is massively insignificant.

If people like Odion are the advisers to the Governor of Edo State, it is not surprising that the State is, currently, in a moral and intellectual turmoil. One can only pray that, sooner than later, the people of Edo State will be rescued from the grip of people whose power of imagination has alienated them from the realities and responsibilities of governance. *Prof. Sogolo wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012— 19

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ENERAL Danjuma’s view made on the current security situation in Nigeria on the occasion of the 50th birthday celebration of the publisher of The Leadership, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah in Abuja, is a summary description. He said: “I used to tell myself that we shall muddle through but believe me, in the last two months, I began to wonder …our house is on fire. Nigeria is becoming like Somalia.

The Somalization of our country is going on now. We had to sit down and tell ourselves the truth.

Our house is on fire, let us not deceive ourselves. We must tell ourselves the truth”. (Vanguard, Wednesday May 2, 2012). Four points are made by the General in the quoted passage, namely: *Nigeria is becoming like Somalia; *The Somalization of our country is going on now; *Our house is on fire; *We must tell ourselves the truth.

Our house is on fire explains the Somalization of our country.

By the above, General Danjuma raises the alarm- our country is becoming like Somalia. This is the truth about the current insecurity of Nigeria. Many lamentations about and explanations of Nigeria’s current insecurity expressed in May 1 Labour Day are reported in the May 2 issue of the Vanguard. My purpose for this Tuesday is to critique explanation on how Nigeria’s Somalization has come about. For if we can provide relevant explanation on the process of the country’s Somalization, that process can be halted and a de-Somalization policy instituted.

-The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, explained the centrality of events of national insecurity in the choice of the theme for the May 1 Labour Day. He said: “Since the last May Day, the escalation of the Boko Haram threat has manifested in several bombings and attacks across the country resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. But while we have unequivocally

,

condemned these senseless violence and destruction we are nevertheless convinced that the ease with which terrorist ideologues are able to recruit foot-soldiers to carry out their nefarious acts must be seriously addressed if terrorism is to be a thing of the past. That the terrorist ideologues are able to recruit willing and daring soldiers with ease lies deeply rooted in the decaying social condition in our nation: joblessness, hunger, poverty, lack of electricity, illiteracy and lack of access to education”. Observations, judgements and causal explanation are provided in the above. Comrade Omar describes the violence of the Boko Haram as senseless and yet affirms that the Boko Haram are foot-soldiers of terrorists ideologues.

Precisely because the Boko Haram are foot-soldiers of ideologues the violent course of the terrorist warfare cannot be described as senseless; the warfare has its war aims.

T

he current insecurity de scribed by Danjuma in the metaphor of Somalia is a means

Socialist victory in France and lessons for Africa

BY CHARLES ONUNAIJU N the runner-up to Nigeria’s government announcement of the controversial removal of subsidy on petroleum products on the New Year day, the former French finance minister and head of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Mrs Christine Largarde flew into Abuja. Her mission was ostensibly to shore up the sagging morale of the government officials whose argument for the removal of the subsidy was overwhelmed by the superior arguments that the subsidy it sought to remove is phantom and non-existent. The argument, later to be justified by the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee that investigated the subsidy payment, was that the problem with the sector is massive corruption perpetrated by highly placed government officials and their cronies. Mrs Largarde visit did bolster the government in its determined folly and it went out and announced a more than hundred per cent rise in the price of petroleum product. The popular outrage that ensued in the streets forced a modest rethink in government. For more than a decade since the return of civil rule in Nigeria, the Bretton Wood inspired economic policy has held sway. Imposition of harsh austerity measures, currency devaluation, lay-offs of workers, wage freeze or actual collapse of wages as what is left as wages are eaten up by inflationary pressure and massive capital flights, especially the $12 billion fretted away in a dubious debt repayments. While these punitive measures are harshly imposed on Nigerians, the government claims there is no other alternative economic measures.

But the victory of the socialist party in France, where its candidate and the president-elect, Mr. François Hollande, made clear that it would abandon orthodox neo-liberal policies and follow more socially- sensitive policies to restore a

I

sense of community wrecked by years of mindless neo-liberalism puts a lie to it. As a first measure, the socialist party promised that it would increase wages and raise corporate tax. One universal folly of neoliberalism is, while, company bosses pad their emoluments, including bonuses and other fringe benefits, the workers are laid off and wages are slashed, longer working hours are imposed with more flexible rules that make workers more vulnerable. This elaborate anti-worker platform is routinely described as the necessary structural reforms to stimulate the economy and promote sustainable growth.

It is this fashionable orthodoxy that the French socialist party stood up against and with a resounding endorsement, the French people threw in their support. The president-elect, Mr Hollande, while favourably disposed to the European Union, made clear from the beginning that he is going insist on re-negotiating the fiscal pact which was the sign post of neoliberal austerity in Europe. The Germans who almost imposed the pact and held it as an article of faith will have to swallow hard and also do the necessary pruning, if the Franco-German motor that drives the European Union would not get knocked.

Germany and France are both first and second largest economy in Europe and fourth and fifth largest in the world, after the United States, China and Japan. And for effect, Mr Hollande, the French presidentelect is a core believer in Europe. He cut his political teeth under the tutelage of Mr Jacques Delors, the strategic driver of the European Union as it is, in contemporary times. Mr Hollande whose core economic programme is to focus on growth, in spite of overwhelming obsession of the governments in the Eurozone with austerity, a measure foisted by outgoing president Nicholas Sarkozy and her ideological soul-mate in Berlin, chancellor Angela

,

May 1st lamentations and explanations of current insecurity

Precisely because the Boko Haram are footsoldiers of ideologues the violent course of the terrorist warfare cannot be described as senseless

to an end. Omar describes the Boko Haram as willing and daring foot-soldiers. He calls attention to conditions that predispose the Boko Haram towards insurgency, conditions that make them fanatical adherents of the recruiters of the Boko Haram. The fanaticism of the Boko Haram suggests that these so-called foot-soldiers may themselves be the captain of their own decisions to take up arms against the Nigerian Federal and state governments and the international community in Nigeria.

The one hundred buy-in of the insurgent policy of the recruiters of the Boko Haram suggests that we should take a second look at the Boko Haram. From their conduct they could be a local insurgent group with external support and allies. It becomes important therefore to address the politics of the Boko Haram leadership to explain how they have organised the insurgent army with help of external allies. It is therefore important to develop a comprehensive response that separates the internal from the external phases of the Boko Haram intra-national insurgency. It is in consideration of this approach to the present insurgency that the appreciation of the cause of support for insurgent courses and armies should be made. Comrade Omar explains support for insurgency in Nigeria in terms of social conditions of incidences of joblessness, hunger, poverty, etc. These conditions of joblessness, hunger, poverty, etc, are by themselves are neither necessary nor sufficient to explain the policy of insurgency and the various forms of insurgencies in Nigeria. The Omar’s thesis should be able to explain

One universal folly of neo-liberalism is, while company bosses pad their emoluments, including bonuses and other fringe benefits, the workers are laid off and wages are slashed

Merkel.

T

,

he French socialist party unlike the labour party in Britain or the social democratic party in Germany or the Spanish socialist embraces the core value of socialism with elaborate protection for workers and the middle class. While British Labour Party and the German social democratic move to the centre and redesigned themselves as seeking the third way, the French socialist party remain ideological discernible and did not seek re-invention as middle of the ground party.

Its grounds of difference on domestic and foreign policy issue with the defeated right wing UMP party of Mr. Sarkozy is as ideologically discernible as the strategy.

In the rest of continental Europe, including Italy with a formerly ideological left party, the socialist parting or parties of the left are dissolved in the neo-liberal world outlook with only a putative difference with the conservative parties on strategies alone. The socialist party in France was clearly an exception to the trend of new neo-liberal convergence, commonly referred to as centrism. The point being made is that French socialist party won the election on a clear alternative policy and programme, which also offers chances, lessons and opportunities for Africa to re-think the neo-liberal consensus which in the past two decades have left the continent at the miserable bottom of all human index

the Niger Delta insurgency as well as the Boko Haram insurgency. Yet it cannot.

That these insurgencies are purposeful and programmatic shows the role of insurgent leaderships in the mounting of wars of insurgencies. Hunger does not explain the emergence of insurgent leaderships, it may explain the skillfulness with which insurgent leaderships develop their strategy and enlist support, internal and external. These insurgent leaderships are the agencies that have to be addressed. For it is not true that if the government were to create jobs, eliminate hunger, etc, that these insurgent leaderships will be made irrelevant and ineffective. It is not the conditions of social deprivations that keep the Afghanistan Talibans in business, it is interest in power that fuels their ambitions and sustains them in decades of regime imposition warfare.

Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of Ahamdu Bello University, in his paper at The Leadership birthday celebration explained Nigeria’s insecurity situation as a function of bad governance and corrupt governments. He asks: “Have we done enough to resist bad governance? We have been held hostage by corrupt governments, especially since the demise of the First Republic”. He drew attention to the following events, noting that “the agitation for secession of Scotland and Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom, the world’s oldest democracy, should be a reason for Nigerians not to take for granted current agitations for the breakup of Nigeria.

Continues next week

assessment.

In spite of France competitiveness in the neo-liberal economic order, the simple message of the socialist party, which resonated among the French people, is that a sizeable majority are left behind and that undermines the lofty value of fraternity and equality. While the hate-mongering party, the National Front, founded by former paratrooper, Mr Jean Marie Le-pen and now led by his daughter, acknowledges the dire conditions of most French people in the current economic situation, the party’s paranoid leads it to blame immigration and minorities. The socialist party on the hand sees the hard life of the working people in the free roam of capital and the market it manipulates. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody wants a restoration of soviet model of central planning, but it does not take any economic special insight to see that the neoliberal bull has run its course.

Africa caught largely unprepared in the global transformation of the nearly past two decades have seemed to reincarnate the wretched fate of a salt vendor, whose patrons quickly called in the rain water, soon after he was dispatched. Standing in the angry rain water with a bag of salt, Africa must seek new and imaginative initiatives to move beyond the neo-liberal economic architecture it has no input in designing or seek accommodation in it, through active participation in redesigning it. The French socialist party in political wilderness for nearly two decades, has had its message cut out, that the existing economic order do not work for the majority of French people.

For the second time, the socialists are coming to power in France since after the founding of the fifth republic by the ebullient Charles De-Gaulle, the first being the tenure of Francois Mitterrand, France is set for a unique and interesting time, that will reverberate throughout Europe and even raise a modest re-think, in Africa, the hapless trash-can of the current vicious neo-liberal economic order. *Mr. Onunaiju, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22,

2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 21

American investors to set up tractor factory in Nigeria

By EMMA UJAH

A

S the Nigerian economy continues to attract foreign investors, a group of Americans have concluded plans to establish a tractor manufacturing firm in Nigeria. This is in line with the vision of the federal government to diversify the nation’s economic base from oil to other sectors such as agriculture where the country has comparative advantages, Nigeria’s Consul General in Atlanta Georgia, USA, Ambassador Geoffrey Teneilabe, disclosed in Abuja.

Amb. Teneilabe said during a chat with journalists on preparations for the 9 th International Kaleidoscope Business Forum and Expo scheduled to take place in June this year in the USA, that the Nigeria agricultural sector has become especially attractive to American investors. Kaduna and Port-Harcourt have been identified by the investors as locations for the factories with the expectations of providing Nigerian farmers the muchneeded machinery for mechanized agriculture.

According to him, now the understanding is on that there are vast opportunities in Nigeria and if the US private sector does not go, others will take advantage and by the time they come, it may be too late just like it happened in the telecommunication industry. He noted that there was initial reticence on the part of US private sectors business men coming to Nigeria “but the reticence is in other sectors not in the oil and gas sector, US companies are there in full force in the oil and gas sector.

He said their interest has shifted to agriculture as a way of diversifying the

economy; Power, infrastructure, and other sectors, and because they are aware of this “GE has already signed a partnership agreement with the Nigerian government; they are taking over 15 per cent of 10, 000 megawatts of electricity, the Exim bank has come into Nigeria and invested over a billion US dollars.”

The diplomat stated that the Nigerian missions abroad are pursuing government economic diplomatic policy, with a view to bringing foreign investors into the country, adding that whatever is required to encourage investors into

the country will be done.

The foreign missions, he explained, are able to guide these investors through “quick issuance of Visas, passports and general encouragement about general information and potentials we have, the opportunities that are available in Nigeria and anything that could promote commerce and investment between US and Nigeria.”

However he cautioned that it is not enough for the federal government alone to do all these, while he imploring the state government to be involved.

CIBN 17th President unveils 9-point agenda

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RESIDENT of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr Segun Aina, says his administration will evolve a nine-point agenda to uplift the status of the institute. Aina, who spoke at his investiture as the 17th President and Chairman of Council of CIBN in Lagos on Saturday said the agenda include best practice, alliance relevance and opportunities.

According to him, the institute during his tenure will also focus on membership, education, technology, ethics and research. Aina said that the tenure would be measured and reviewed regularly to ensure sustained focus on the agenda. He added that the institute would continue to foster and nurture world-class banking education and practices within the Nigerian environment.

Aina added that CIBN would also play a leading ‘founder-member’ role in the evolving Global Banking Education Standards Board due for launch during the World Bank Congress of Banking Institutes in 2013. He said that the CIBN represents African Banking Institutes on the taskforce set up to actulise the evolution of the organisation.

The CIBN president said that the institute’s banking school would commence before the end of the year at the Bankers House in Lagos. Aina added that the examination curriculum would also be reviewed, while a new examination structure would start in April.

From left: Mr Adeyinka Hassan, Chairman, Lagos Chapter, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria; Guest speaker, Mr Nat Ofo and immediate past Chairman of the Lagos Chapter, Mrs Jacqueline Odiadi at the business meeting of the Lagos Chapter.

Mortgage bank disburses N1.36bn housing loan in Kano A

Kano State-owned mortgage bank, the Dala Building Society, says it has disbursed N1.36 billion housing loans to no fewer than 2, 400 civil servants in the state. The Acting Managing Director of the bank, Alhaji Abdulnasser Abdu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday that N480 million were disbursed 2,000 workers from May 2011 to date.

Abdu said it also gave N983 million were disbursed to 400 indigenes, who were Federal civil servants in Abuja to enable them to build their own houses. “This loan was disbursed during the administration of former Gov. Ibrahim Shekarau to the federal civil servants in Abuja. This is to assist Kano State indigenes working with the Federal Government and residing in Abuja, who want to acquire their personal houses in the Federal Capital Territory.

“What we are doing now is to recover the loans for onward disbursement to other beneficiaries that is why we have debt recovery unit in the bank,” he said. The managing director commended the State Government for issuing certificate of occupancy on time to facilitate loans from the bank and other financial institutions without stress. He expressed the readiness of the bank to assist civil servants in the state to own their personal houses before they retired from service.

Abdu urged the people to make use of the opportunity provided by the government to build their own houses. He said that they should not to be afraid of the feasibility studies on individuals by the bank before giving out the loans. “The company has a large number of layouts in Kano for those who want to acquire land or build their own houses.”

178.85

-1.25

2,260.00

+36.00

20.49

-0.37

107.36

-0.13

92.15

-0.41

CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL SELLING CFA 0.2801 KRONER 26.4408 EURO 196.6237 POUNDS 244.6426 RIYAL 41.2489 SDR 235.8402 FRANC 163.5825 DOLLAR 154.7 WAUA 234.9579 YEN 1.9496 RENMINBI 24.4441

0.2901 26.5263 197.2592 245.4333 41.3823 236.6025 164.1112 155.2 235.7173 1.9559 24.5236

0.3001 26.6117 197.8947 246.224 41.5156 237.3647 164.6399 155.7 236.4767 1.9622 24.603

CBN Exchange rate as at 21/05/2012

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

NSE moves to bar retail investors from direct investment

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

R

ETAIL investors may henceforth b e barred from investing directly in the stock market, as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, is seeking to place a limit on the volume of shares available for purchase by investors.

To this effect, the NSE’ Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Oscar Onyema, has called for increase in the minimum subscriptions

amount for both debt (non-sovereign) and equity allowed on the floor of the NSE. Making the recommendation in his presentation to the AdHoc Committee on the near collapse of the Nigerian capital market, Onyema said that this formed part of efforts to discourage uninformed investments by investors.

This, according to him will improve the capacity of local institutional investors as

well as shield retail investors from risks arising from u n d e r t a k i n g investments in the capital market without recourse to professional advice.

He remarked that with the initiative, only qualified institutional investors and market makers among others could directly access the market.

He said, “This would prevent vulnerable retail investors lacking indepth understanding of

the risks associated with the market from directly exposing themselves without the guidance of licensed Asset Managers.

The investment strategy for such investors should be through managed funds, whereby individual stock selection is done by professionals who understand the risks inherent to the capital market.”

“The NSE currently has 26 managed funds

listed on the Daily Official List. These funds provide exposure to various asset classes and investment strategies that meet investors’ different needs,” he added.

For the initiative to record success, he reckoned that the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, would have to further develop the asset management industry, beginning with the strengthening of licensing requirements for asset managers.

He stated that the NSE has introduced the ETF asset class (which provides exposure to a basket of underlying securities or

commodities while been traded like a stock) as a cost-effective way of p r o v i d i n g diversification.

Vanguard recalls that there has been barrage of accusations on stockbrokers following the 2008 crash of the \ capital market over failure to provide enough professional guidance to retail investors, which some believed caused the heavy loses incurred by these category of investors.

Stockbrokers on their own had always argued that prior to the crash; investors seldom heed advice on stocks to invest in, saying that they prefer to stick with what other are doing.

First Bank partners Ria to enhance money transfer services

BY PETER EGWUATU

F

From left: Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka; Governor Kayode Fayemi; and Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Mr. Jubril Aku, during a courtesy visit to the governor, in Ado-Ekiti.

Diamond Bank records N5.1bn first quarter profit

BY MICHAEL EBOH

D

IAMOND Bank Plc has announced a profit after tax of N5.097 billion for its first quarter performance for the period ended March 31, 2012.

In a statement on its reissued first quarter 2012 results in line with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), signed Mr. Olufemi Adekola, Media Relations Officer, Diamond Bank, its aftertax profit grew by 1,127 per cent from N415.387 million recorded in the same period in 2011.

The bank’s gross earnings appreciated by 48.5 per cent to N30.732

billion from N20.696 billion recorded in 2011; while profit before tax grew by 262.4 per cent from N2.164 billion to N7.842 billion in the period under review.

Group Managing Director/CEO of the Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, declared that the first quarter results prepared according to IFRS shows a consistent improvement in pre-tax profit growth, signalling that the bank is on track towards delivering significant return on equity in 2012.

According to him, while the bank recorded a net interest income of N20.2 billion, operating expenses stood at N13.5 billion.

He said, “These

figures are consistent with the results prepared based on Nigerian General Accepted Accounting Practice (NG AAP) where the bank recorded N18.1 billion, N13.4 billion and N7.5billion for net interest income, operating expenses and profit before tax respectively.

“Our customer base is growing with recurring monthly fee income improving, and our growing retail liabilities have continued to sustain our low cost of funds. We have shown that we have a leading position in net interest margin which is sustainable. In addition, our operating efficiency is robust and yielding

strong operating performance.”

Otti said the bank’s cash balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, is N61.8 billion, loans and advances to customers are N433.5 billion, total assets are N855.3 billion and deposits from customers are N641.1 billion.

These he said is similar to the previous figures where the bank recorded N61.7billion, N440.3billion, N858.3billion and N640.1billion respectively.

The bank’s loans and advances to banks, and deposits from banks were uniform at N92.7 billion and N7.1 billion respectively for both standards.

IRST Bank of Nigeria Plc has created a platform where both investors and other Nigerians in the diaspora have opportunity to carry out cashless transactions via FirstBank’s alternative channels.

First Bank is partnering with Ria International Money Transfer Services (Ria) to provide convenient and reliable money transfer transactions.

According to a statement by the bank, “ FirstBank, through its network of over 600 branches will act as Receiver Agent to Ria, a subsidiary of Euronet Worldwide, Inc., and the 3 rd largest global remittance company and leading specialist in international money transfers.” Established in 1987, the company provides fast, reliable and secure money transfer services using state-of-the-art technology. Ria is widely acclaimed for its strength in terms having a network of 150,000 send agents and over 156 company-owned outlets located in over 120 countries spread across North America, the Carribean, Europe and Asia.

According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the partnership, in addition

to the bank’s Moneygram and Western Union platforms, is another innovative offering from FirstBank that gives Nigerians in the diaspora 24/7 access to convenient, secure, and reliable international money transfer services.

Ani-Mumuney said besides receiving cash (USDollar/Naira) over the counter, Ria customers have the option of having their remittances credited directly into their accounts with the Bank, providing flexibility and support for the cashless society initiative of the CBN. “FirstBank’s existing and prospective customers all over the world now have another platform for remitting money to their loved ones with the peace of mind, expertise, and convenience that FirstBank offers. Ria is a top brand in money transfer business, and we are delighted at having another opportunity to serve the Diaspora market with seamless money transfer services,” she said.

It will be recalled that FirstBank was the first to introduce International Money Transfer services to the Nigerian market and has over the decades remained a foremost provider of sundry financial services to Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 23

Ports: Labour kicks against planned privatisation of pilotage section

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

M

ARITIME Wo r k e r s Union of Nigeria, MWUN, has kicked against plans by the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, to concession or privatise the Pilotage section of the Ports and throw the workers there especially the tally clerks and onboard security into the labour market.

The Union also advised management to jettison the idea in the interest of industrial peace.

President-General of MWUN, Comrade Anthony Nted who gave the warning in Lagos, further disclosed that the union had written the Presidency to ensure that the Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar ports are dredged to allow bigger vessels berth.

Comrade Nted who spoke while addressing ports workers in Lagos as

part of the tour of ports formations in the country, said “We have a lot of issues with Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, that we

took note of when we visited NPA. If you go to your sister ports in Warri, Ports Harcourt and Calabar, you will find

out that some people there are losing their lives on a daily basis as result of poverty and joblessness. The reason is

Marketing Manager, Honeywell Superfine Foods Ltd, Mr. Sola Abati (left) and representative of the Chairman of Punch Newspapers, Mr. Segun Adediran, at the awards ceremony by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone 2 Command where HSFL was awarded the "Best collaborating organisation"

that the channels in Calabar and Warri ports are yet to be dredged. A vessel carrying 70,000 metric tons can not pass through the channel and enter Warri or Calabar.

The people there, especially the dockworkers are suffering. We have talked to the authorities, we talked to the Minister and we also sent a letter to the Presidency and we believe that by the grace of God, sooner or later, they would make sure that those channels are dredged so that our brothers who live in those parts of the country will benefit from the industry. ” “Every day, the NPA will talk about concessioning. During the visit, the MD was telling us that they want to concession the pilotage district in Warri Ports. This is one of the issues they raised in Warri and he made us to understand that some-

times, they do not have tuck boats, this and that.

All he has said, we need to investigate all to know whether concsessioning of the pilotage district will be beneficial to the maritime workers, if it is going to be beneficial, we are going to support it, but if it is going to be beneficial, we are going to resist it as a union. They also talk about privatization of Tally clerks and security units, or consessioning because they are planning to give it out to private company, they called cargo surveyor. We have told them that this cannot work because cargo surveyor has no business in the ports.

"Before now, cargo surveyor did measurement of damage cargo onboard the vessel. It was AGS that was doing that job.

But today, they want to eradicate Tally clerks and replace them with cargo surveyor.

Cashlite: E-payment instruments are scam free — Adedeji

BY CHINEDU IBEABUCHI

D

IRECTOR, Elec tronic Banking, United Bank of Africa, UBA, Dr. Yinka Adedeji has allayed fears over safety of the e-payment system in the cashless policy regime, saying that customers’ exposure to financial scam has been tackled with the introduction of ATM cards embedded with micro chips.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of Jericho Businessmen Club, in Lagos, Yinka said banks have put in place a number of measures to check scams, especially with measures which allow customers to directly monitor their accounts.

He said, “Previously, the information on cards used to be on the back stripe of the card called magnetic stripe. The magnetic stripe is easy to copy. What hackers do is that they copy the information on the stripe. And they know people frequently use less complicated password. This made it possible for the hackers to guess password and defraud customers. Due to these and a number of others,

banks have disabled such things and brought about a innovative ways to protect their customers.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has championed the use of EMB cards which contain micro chips. Also, ATM does not accept stripe any more. We now send SMS and e-mail to depositors so that if any transaction is done, they

can monitor it instantly.

So therefore, customers are now protected now than ever.”

“For mobile banking, you have to provide certain information like your mobile number which must be registered with NCC and a pin known to you alone.

The more we are getting better in technology, the better our customers are secured.”

Polo: Access Bank partner UNICEF to fight HIV/AIDS

A

CCESS Bank Plc, yesterday, said its polo tournament scheduled to commence, Wednesday, will afford it the opportunity to contribute its quota to the fight against the HIV/ AIDS pandemic.

The bank in a statement in Lagos, said the annual tournament tagged Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament will kick off at the Fifth Chukker lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna.

Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Obeahon Ohiwerei disclosed that proceed from sale of

memorabilia at the annual tournament in addition to the N5 million donations from the bank would be used to support UNICEF in its campaign against HIV AIDS. The two-week long tournament is in its 5th year running and 21 teams from around the world are expected to vie for honours, while the winner will cart away a prize $20,000, in addition to other consolation prizes for runners u p .

The bank had renewed its sponsorship of the tournament for another four years after the expiration of the initial contract in 2011.

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

are taken at the right time so we get to the bottom of this and get these criminals who have been a menace in the oil industry. So, it is not like we are setting up another task force. This is a committee so to say, of very senior personnel both in the oil industry, military and other security services to monitor all the decisions we have made and decisions we have reached, and to make sure we are following them to a logical conclusion and that things are done properly.”

BRIEF SPDC JV laments crude theft in N’Delta

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ventually, the NCTL was shut down on May 2, 2012, to allow for the removal of more than 50 illegal bunkering points. The latest illegal bunkering activities on the TNP happened on May 5, resulting in fires. The line was repaired and reopened the following day. Sunmonu said, “The great majority of spills in the Niger Delta are the result of third party interference, mainly sabotage, theft of equipment or leaks caused by crude oil thieves drilling into pipelines or opening up wellheads to steal oil.

H

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke with the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Oluseyi Petirin, at the roundtable on Nigerian oil and gas industry, in Lagos, weekend.

Operators laud collaboration on oil theft

By CLARA NWAACHUKWU

O

PERATORS in the oil and gas industry have commended the invitation of the armed forces and the police by the Federal Government to collaborate on stemming the rising incidence of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria.

Industry operators who spoke with Vanguard on the sidelines of the announcement by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, of a new Joint Task Force, JTF, to tackle the menace, weekend.

The operators said such industry collaboration was the only way to salvage the situation and protect the nation’s oil assets.

The minister told journalists that government was worried over the spate of crude oil and petroleum products, which now results in an annual loss of about $7billion, which called for expedite actions in view of the huge economic wastes. The task force comprises the Police and the Armed Forces, in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as well s multinational and indigenous operators.

The new JTF was set up after a meeting of stakeholders in Lagos, to deliberate on these issues in order to take a common stance in dealing with the menace.

The minister argued that this was the first time the country was dealing with the issue of crude oil and petroleum products theft holistically, saying, “For the first time, along the multinationals and the indigenous Nigerian operators.

Industry solution “We have discussed the extent of impact of crude theft; first, in terms of the economic losses and the entire loss to the nation. We have spoken very openly about the issue and what can be done about it, and we had a very fruitful meeting along with the Chief

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HE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC Joint Venture suffers a daily loss of at least 43,000 barrels to crude theft and illegal bunkering, in a trend that negatively impacts the environment, robs the country of badly-needed revenue and fuels criminality in communities.

Last year, sabotage and crude oil theft was also the cause of 11,806 barrels spilled from SPDC facilities in 118 incidents. This meant an average of one spill every three days, accounting for 77 percent of the total spilled volume during the period.

“This is a serious attack on the state – the people, the economy, and the environment,” said Managing Director, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, while commenting on the effects of crude theft in the Niger Delta. “Since we calculate crude theft quantities based on volumes produced from flow stations and what is received at terminals, it is true that additional oil is stolen between wellheads and flow stations.”

Most of the crude theft activities have been targeted at SPDC JV’s two major pipelines in the Eastern Niger Delta – Nembe Creek Trunkline, NCTL, and Trans Niger Pipeline, TNP. The NCTL was replaced in 2010 at a cost of $1.1billion, but the new line is still a favourite target of crude thieves. It was shut down for one month in December last year following a spill caused by two failed bunkering connections.

The thieves used the onemonth pipeline depressurisation as a window to install even more bunkering points. Since the restart of production in January 2012, there have been multiple trips caused by pressure drops resulting from illegal off-take.

more than ever before, in view of foreign crude thieves who have cashed in on the situation in the last six months to steal Nigeria’s crude. “So we felt it was critical that we stem these abuses at this time with the involvement of all stakeholders and these are all the issues that the task force will be employing and looking into with immediate effect,” she added.

Dealing with oil thieves With regard to delays in the prosecution of oil thieves caught in the act, previously, the minister said that the new JTF is being set up “to ensure

We felt it was critical that we stem these abuses at this time with the involvement of all stakeholders and these are all the issues that the task force will be employing and looking into with immediate effect

of Defence Staff and his service chiefs particularly this segment concerning security in terms of our critical assets in the oil and gas sector, especially crude oil and other products as well.”

Consequently, she said that one of the immediate and major outcomes of the meeting is the setting up of the Joint Task Force, “to begin to address these problems in a very robust and intense manner.”

Alison-Madueke further argued that the taskforce was particularly expedient now,

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that the arraignment and prosecution are done promptly and properly documented.”

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he Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Oluseye Petirin, defending that the new JTF is not a parallel one that could cause possible conflicts with the existing JTF in the Niger Delta We are not setting up a parallel task force.

He explained, “The task force we are talking about now is to monitor all the actions we have decided to take, and to make sure that all the actions

e denied the allegations of collusion by the military and other armed forces, who are constantly accused of providing security to the oil thieves. He challenged the accusers to produce evidence of their claims, saying, “Don’t listen to people who talk without any fact. If you say people are colluding with the thieves, bring them forward, point at them; let them be investigated, but nobody has pointed any finger any anyone.”

Operators’ views The Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, not minding what had gone on in the past, expressed optimism that something good will come out of the new cooperation.

Seeing that Shell has been the major target of these crude oil thefts and pipelines vandalism, an excited Sunmonu said, “For the first time in the industry, we are coming out with a list of smart actions; we are coming out with a framework that will allow us monitor and track how this actions are being undertaken.

That, for me, is a clear departure from what we have seen in the past and am really pleased about what we have done today and of course we have to follow through. We have to make sure that every action we agreed upon is actually been followed up and that for me is the next challenge we are going to have.”

Although ExxonMobil has not suffered much from crude theft, its Chief Executive Chair in Nigeria, Mr. Mark Ward, told Vanguard that with this initiative, the piracy and a criminality issues will be significantly reduced.

According to him, “the presence of the chief of the defence staff and the service chiefs give a significant amount of support to the initiative, obviously a major problem in Nigeria. I think we came up with some good ideas today that can be followed up, and make a difference, so I’m encouraged and cautiously optimistic that we will see an improvement.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—25

BRIEF Solar power bugged by inferior materials, high cost

BY NNENNA EZEAH

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•Meters

PHCN gets 21-day ultimatum to refund N378bn

By KUNLE KALEJAYE

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OWER Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, has been given a 21 day ultimatum to refund the sum of N378billion allegedly collected from electricity consumers in the country for the purpose of meter maintenance.

In a three page petition to the PHCN dated 24th April, 2012 made available to

Vanguard, Solicitor to the Coalition for Social Equity, CSE, Ossai & Co Legal Practitioners, said its client and Nigerians at large, paid the illegal fee of N378billion for meter maintenance to PHCN over a period of 12 years.

According to the petition signed by Judith Somuyiwa, “If we do not receive in our offices your detailed proposal on how to meet our clients

demand within 21 day of your receipt of this letter, we shall put all necessary requirements and conditionalities in motion, to enforce the rights our clients and that of other Nigerians in the appropriate court of Law.” The meter maintenance charge was introduced in the late 1990s by the PHCN but was abolished in December 2011 by the Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, who

Alison-Madueke deploys experts on gas to power

By NNENNA EZEAH

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HE Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has directed a team of gas experts to commence a weeklong tour of all gas installations and projects listed for the production of additional gas under the Gas Supply Emergency Programme.

This is in furtherance of her 12-month Gas Emergency timeline for the effective activation and correction of any misalignment in the nation’s gas to power aspirations.

According to a statement by the Group General Manager,

Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, the tour which tees-off with the visit of the Minister to the Utorogu Gas Plant in Delta State on Thursday, is geared towards eliminating bottlenecks in the drive to ensure adequate gas supply for power needs.

“This is a very crucial task that’s why the Minister has directed the Group Executive Director in charge of Exploration and Production at the NNPC, Mr. Andy Yakubu, to lead the inspection.”

“The team is expected to report back to the Minister on

a project-by-project basis. The projects will include new gas plants, as well as expansion of existing plants and new pipeline infrastructure projects,” Ajuonuma stated.

Other members of the team include; Dr. David Ige, GED, Gas & Power, Engr. Kunle Allen, Managing Director, Gas Aggregator Company of Nigeria, Engr.

Saidu Mohammed , Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Company, NGC, and Morrison Fiddi, Mr. Paul Ajishafe, General Manager Gas, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, NAPIMS.

referred to such charges as illegal.

The head of the Coalition, Mr. Frank Oluku, confirmed to Vanguard that the letter had since been dispatched to PHCN, which acknowledged the receipt on the 30th of April 2012.

Vanguard gathered that the group had earlier sent a petition to the Senate President and the Minister of Power on this issue.

The solicitor further noted in the petition that the Chairman of the Nigeria Electric Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, in a communiqué issued at the end of a two day workshop with distribution companies admitted that maintenance charge was illegal.

The solicitor said, “The height of the illegality perpetrated on consumers and our client in particular, is the fact that consumers with no meter at all i.e. (earmarked for meter installation but yet to be installed) were made to pay a maintenance charge for a non-existent meter.

“Worse still, in our personal experiences and we believe, including that of all electricity consuming customers of PHCN, you have never maintained meters.”

ISTRIBUTORS of solar panels have called for government’s intervention on the prevalence of inferior materials used to build the panels and the high cost of acquiring it in Nigeria.

Currently, solar panels used for alternative energy are not really cost effective, and as such, not everyone can afford it. Distributors said the inferior materials come from the substandard china solar panels imported into the Nigerian market without approval from the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON. One of the distributors of solar panels, who spoke to Vanguard, the Chief Executive Officer of Maxirock International Limited, Mr. Peter Agu, said some of the suppliers don’t know much about the solar panels, and therefore, cannot differentiate between the inferior and the original panels.

He argued that through intervention, government can give incentives to distributors to make it more affordable, such that every Nigerian can have it as an alternative electricity source.

He added that many people are discouraged from solar energy because they acquired the inferior panels at very high costs, saying, “The government awards contracts to novice who knows nothing about the solar panels, and then purchases the inferior panels, and after two to three months they pack up.”

He, however, explained that solar panels of good quality could last up to 20-25 years while the battery life span 10 years, with at least five years guarantee, which account for the high cost of the panel.

Solar panels are cost according to the capacities.

For instance, a 2.5 kilowatts panel costs an average of N2million, so the higher the capacity, the higher the cost.

Nonetheless, Agu argued that the panels are more cost effective in the long run, saying, “I can comfortably say solar panels are more economically wise in the long term. In about five years’ time, you will see it is when you calculate and compare with the cost of acquiring, servicing and fueling a generator, which is more expensive.” In addition, he noted that the maintenance cost is equally low, as all that it required is to clean out the panels during the dry season to remove dust that prevents generation of energy through the panels.

26—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Electricity hike: FG pays N100bn in subsidy

… To issue free meters, bulbs

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU

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O cushion the effects of the impending hike in electricity tariff, the Federal Government has agreed to pay about N100 billion in subsidy over the next two years under the second phase of the Multi Year tariff Order, MYTO 2.

The subsidy will be paid at the rate of N50billion in the 2012 financial year, and another N50billion in 2013, and thereafter cease to pay anymore electricity subsidy, as it is anticipated that as time goes by, more power will be available, and less need for subsidy.

Parts of the mitigating measures also include the distribution of meters and electricity bulbs for free to consumers.

The Chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, disclosed this to journalists at the weekend in Lagos, while explaining some facts about the new tariff, which becomes effective from June 1.

He said that the subsidy for 2012 is only applicable to specific consumers categorised as R1, R2 and C1, which include the lifeline consumers, the majority of other consumers and the small and medium enterprises, SMEs respectively.

New tariff Amadi argued that the tariff is structured to attain cost reflective pricing that will ensure private sector investment in the generation, distribution and transmission of electric power in Nigeria.

He clarified further, “Under the new tariff regime, different classes of consumers will pay different rates applicable to their classes for their electricity supply. Low income earners who use less electricity will pay less than high income earners who consume more electricity.”

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ccordingly, the R1 consumers will pay N4 per kilowatt hour, Kwh; while R2 and C1 will pay between N11 and N12/Kwh, instead of an average of about N24/ Kwh.

Amadi further explained that the R1 customers are paying much less because they “ will enjoy the special benefit of not paying a fixed charge for their electricity,” as well as the removal of maintenance charge for ll classes of consumers.

In spite of the slight increases, the NERC boss argued that electricity tariff in Nigeria remains one of the lowest in the African continent compared with other countries such as Ghana N24/Kwh; Benin N24; and Chad N27.

Free meters, bulbs Under the new structure, consumers are not expected to pay for meters, be it the analog or pre-payment meters because “this cost has been included in their tariff,” Amadi stressed, adding that “they only have to pay a minimal fee for connection which is approved by NERC.” He said that all the distribution companies, DISCos, within the next 12 to 18 months are expected to distribute meters to all classes of

customers to reduce the incidence of estimated billings and resultant crazy bills.

“Before the commencement of the new tariff, all distribution companies will submit their meter installation plan to NERC in order to receive the meter component of the tariff.

This will address the perennial billing fraud suffered by many consumers through estimated billing,” he said.

Furthermore, he said that a methodology to ensure accuracy of estimated billing is being designed by NERC to further protect the rights of customers and prevent overbilling while estimated billing is being phased out.

For decades, many electricity consumers have been without meters either analog or prepaid, and even where meters exist, the DISCOs prefer to estimated billings rather than reading the accurate consumption level from the meters, such that consumers have had to pay for energy not consumed or utilised.

NLNG rakes in $10bn in 2011

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HE Nigeria LNG Limited, NLNG, Nigeria’s major producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas, last year realised over $10billion despite the continued global recession.

Speaking during his visit to the NLNG plant in Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State recently, a former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, noted that despite the radical changes experienced in the Liquefied Natural Gas, LNG market, the NLNG was able to realise revenues in excess of $10billion last year alone.

According to him, “The LNG market has undergone some diversification but we were able to derive huge revenues for 2011.

“NLNG opened up by initially concentrating most of its exports to Europe with buyers in France, Portugal, Spain, Italy and Turkey. Later, it

broadened its scope to deliver long-term sales to North America, which in the past was primarily a destination for only spot cargoes.”

Addressing the issue of gas flare, the statesman stressed that it is unacceptable in today’s world to flare gas.

He said, “Not only from a health and environmental perspective that flaring of gas is wrong but also for the basic fact that the perpetrators are burning cash.

“Again, as a former captain of industry and a statesman, I find it detestable that our country not only still leaves value on the table and walks away year after year, but also continues to literally pour money into flames by flaring gas.” He decried the fact that Nigeria consistently failed to heed author, Lewis Carroll’s advice to run much faster if it seriously wants to get anywhere.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—27

BRIEF Ibom power records significant generation progress

By KUNLE KALEJAYE

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HE management of Ibom Power Station said the plant has made significant progress in power generation since it began operations in December 2009, which peaked at 68 megawatts, MW in December 2011.

The Managing Director of Ibom Power Company, Mr. Gareth Wilcox, who disclosed this in a statement made available to Vanguard, said, “Indeed, since we began generating power commercially in December 2009, our plant has remained active, generating on the average, 60MW of power to the national grid,” he said.

He, however, pointed out that the plant’s major constraint is the transmission system, which can only allow the plant to evacuate a maximum of 70MW when it is meant to evacuate an optimum average of 173MW. “Due to the transmission constraint, and to avoid penalties, we have only signed a gas agreement for the gas required for 70MW. When the transmission line constraint is removed further gas will be required,” he said.

Wilcox explained that the Phase 1 power is evacuated the through the 132kV substations at Eket, Uto and Itu, and thereafter to either Calabar or Aba, in Cross River and Abia states respectively.

According to him, the line from Eket through Uyo to Itu can only carry between 50MW and 60MW, while that from Ikot Abasi to Eket, which was constructed by Ibom Power Company can carry 200MW. “The upgrade of the line from Eket through Uyo to Itu has been under development since 2004. It was taken over by the NIPP projects and it is expected that this work will be completed this year. Ibom Power will then be able to evacuate most of its available power,” he said On distribution, Wilcox lamented that the distribution system was in a very poor state, adding that faults in the distribution system cause continuous trips to the plant’s generators, which increases maintenance costs and reduces operational efficiency.

“Our company is licensed to generate electricity. It is not licensed to transmit, or distribute electricity.

Furthermore, it is forbidden, with the exception of a possible minor investment to have any involvement with transmission or distribution companies.

Lawmaker lauds PPPRA over Swiss firm suspension T

HE former President of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Comrade Peter Akpatason, has commended the Reginald Stanley-led management of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, for instituting transparency and sanity in the operations of the agency.

Akpatason who is now a

member of the House of Representatives, gave the commendation last week in Abuja, while reacting to the recent suspension of a Swiss oil trading company, NIMEX Petroleum Ltd by the PPPRA. He said that Stanley had shown the resolve and firmness necessary to realise the transformation agenda of the Federal Government in the downstream sector since

he assumed office, and had demonstrated strong ability to carry oil and gas unions along in achieving the set goals in the oil industry.

Akpatason, who is the SubCommittee Chairman on the PPPRA in the House, recalled that Stanley had demonstrated similar character during his tenure as the Managing Director of the Pipelines and Products

Marketing Company, PPMC. He also lauded Stanley’s friendly disposition towards workers and unions, including NUPENG and PENGASSAN during his tenure as the chief executive officer of the PPMC, saying, “Anyone who describes Mr. Stanley as anti-labour is obviously misfiring and crying wolf where there is none.”

“In my understanding of the attitude of Mr Stanley during my interactions with him, I can say it anywhere without mincing words that Stanley is a gentleman. He is not antiunion,” Akpatason stated.

The lawmaker noted that it was dangerous for some unscrupulous people and mischief makers to embark on a campaign of calumny in a bid to distract the new PPPRA helmsman from his determination to achieve set goals.

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n May 6, the PPPRA announced the suspension of a Swiss firm NIMEX, for failing to provide detailed documentation on its oil trading activities in Nigeria.

Announcing the suspension, Stanley said that the action was a clear warning to all marketers that a new regime of transparency and due process in the oil and gas industry had come to stay.

The downstream sector has been undergoing tremendous reforms in recent months, following the directive issued to government ministries and agencies by President Goodluck Jonathan in pursuit of the transformation agenda of his administration.

•LNG vessel

Shell commences repair of Nembe Creek Trunkline

By KUNLE KALEJAYE

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HE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd, SPDC Joint Venture has commenced repair of the Nembe Creek Trunkline, NCTL, after shutting it down on May 2nd because of incessant crude theft activities.

Vice President, Health, Safety and Environment, Shell Sub-Saharan Africa, Mr Tony Attah, said SPDC’s pipeline repair team disconnected two six-inch lines through which thieves were stealing crude from the 97-kilometre line.

“The team will tackle eight other illegal bunkering points as it continues to re-assert the integrity of the facility, which was commissioned in 2010 at a cost of $1.1 billion to replace

an older pipeline.

“This is a difficult work requiring careful planning and digging up several sections of the line in swamp and land, investigating illegal bunkering points and deciding whether to clamp them or do sectional replacement,” he said.

“When you add the cost of repairs to the facility downtime and loss of revenue, it becomes clear how crude theft has denied Nigeria of badly-needed revenue,” he added. In December last year, the NCTL was shut down for one month to repair leaks caused by crude thieves. The latest shutdown has led to the declaration of force majeure on the export of Bonny Light.

Attah added, “The Trans Niger Pipeline has also been

suffering from crude theft leading to frequent shutdowns for repairs and integrity checks. Clearly, we are concerned by these increasing cases and appeal for concerted efforts to stop the crime for the sake of the environment, the Nigerian state and the communities themselves.”

Recently, the spokesman for the Joint Task Force, JTF, in the Niger Delta region, Lt. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, Rivers State, disclosed that the JTF arrested 21 international oil thieves and five Nigerians on board vessels, MT Ani and MT Oso with 650,000 metric tonnes of crude oil.

A few weeks ago, the international media reported that crude oil and refined

petroleum products smuggling was on the rise in the Gulf of Guinea especially on the West African coast between Nigeria and Ghana.

However, the Chief Executive of Shell, Peter Voser, had earlier complained about the increase in oil theft in Nigeria, pointing out that over 150,000 barrels of oil was being stolen in the country every day from his company’s facilities.

It has been estimated that on the average about 450,000 barrels of crude oil is stolen from Nigeria every day, the equivalent of about $19.74billion using a conservative spot market average price of $120 per barrel for the nation’s premium crude grade- Bonny Light.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 28

Drama as gunmen invade royal father’s palace

BY PETER OKUTU, Abakaliki

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*Eze Moses Ngele Meanwhile, recounting his ordeal, the royal father said: “Five boys came to my compound at about 12 noon today.

One of them pulled a gun at the people down stairs and succeeded in carting away the

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VO local government area unlike Afikpo, Izzi, Ikwo, Ezza North, Ezza South, Ishielu and Ohaozara council areas of Ebonyi State has in recent past been prone to violence, especially during elections or whenever there was need to pick a candidate for an elective position.

This is particularly so because Ivo is the council area of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who has since the return of civil rule in 1999 been in the vortex of the crises and unresolved differences among stakeholders because of the presumed existence of two political power blocks in the area.

Consequently, based on the unfolding events involving political heavy weights in the state, it is now generally presumed that the SGF controls or influences a faction on one side, while the Commissioner for Poverty and Economic Empowerment, Chief James AroNweke and Ivo Council Chairman, Celestine Eze on another side.

This divide had always permeated into varying political interests which had often time necessitated violence and counter-violence as one group tries to assert itself over the other.

The attack on the traditional ruler in Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of the state, Eze Moses Ngele by five suspected gunmen on Monday 14, May at his palace had reaffirmed the existence of this power blocks in the area, though none has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The five suspected gunmen on the fateful day disrupted activities at the palace of traditional ruler of Ishiagu, Eze Moses Ngele, the Agu III of Ishiagu kingdom, though nobody was reported to have sustained any injury as a result of the ugly incident.

Vanguard Metro, VM, learnt that when the gang of unidentified gunmen invaded the palace of the traditional ruler with AK 47 assault rifles, there was total confusion as several persons scampered for safety. Eye witnesses told VM that the gunmen forced their way into the palace, shooting sporadically. They added that it was not clear whether the hoodlums came to kidnap the traditional ruler whose coronation has been a subject of litigation.

One of them climbed through the window and pointed a gun at me; he said that they were sent to kidnap me, and that I should give them N150 million in order to spare my life

commissioner in Elechi’s government and a certain local government chairman sent them to kidnap me in my palace. Then the boy said I should give them N150 million in order to spare my life.

“But as I stood there shivering in fear, the police arrived as those down stairs had alerted them to my

predicament. So when the police came, they apprehended one of them who was still holding the gun. Then the one still in the room tried to jump the fence in order to run away, but he was caught by the police as well.

“The boys confessed that their principal told them to kill me and that if I resist being kidnapped I should be killed immediately. When the police came, the three boys that were arrested started begging. They passionately pleaded with the police have mercy on them; that they were sent to come and kill me in my palace.

“That was what provoked and the whole of Ishiagu and the people were ready to kill the kidnappers. The people were asking why did they come to kill our King, what did the King do? They could not say anything”.

But in a quick reaction, the Chairman of Ivo LGA, Celestine Eze, denied the allegation that he organised a group of men to kidnap the said king of Ishiagu kingdom, adding thus: “It is not true. Somebody will just wake up and start alleging something against me. Why should I do such a thing? I don’t have anything to do with such an incident”.

However, an earlier statement by the Divisional Police Officer of Ishiagu, Mr. Okey Bieke, revealed that the men who came to the traditional ruler’s palace were simply there to disrupt the meeting holding at the palace.

According to him, three of the youths were arrested but none of them was seen with guns.

But in a counter report, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebonyi State Police Command, ASP John Eluu, stated that the hoodlums who attacked the traditional ruler in Ishiagu were not kidnappers but a group of youths who because they were not happy with the proceedings in the community decided to invade the palace as a way of expressing their displeasure.

According to him, only a pistol was recovered from the youths as he denied knowledge of the use of AK 47 rifles by the hoodlums. Eluu also noted that the Command was yet to ascertain whether money was stolen from the traditional ruler during the invasion, adding that no confessional statements by the assailants had proven that they were sent by any stakeholder in Ishiagu community. He called on leaders of thought to take the welfare of their people seriously, even as he charged the youths not to allow themselves to be used as objects of mayhem in the community.

A stakeholder in the area and former Chief Whip of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Uchenna Orji, called on security agents in the state to be vigilant in their areas of coverage so as to forestall similar episodes from occurring in Ishiagu and other parts of the state.

LAWMA commences waste recycling at landfill site

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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N10 million I brought to do projects for the people of my area. Then he threw the big parcel to one of his gang members who jumped down from the fence and ran away.

“Then one of them climbed another fence through the window and met me in my room and pointed a gun at me. He said that they were sent to kidnap me, and that a

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HE Lagos State government-owned recycling plant situated at the Olusosun Landfill site at the Ojota area of the state has commenced full capacity operation with several installed odour neutralizers and mobile atomizers to douse the erstwhile poignant odour oozing from the site, especially when it rains.

Relatedly, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has moved to create an enabling environment/ platform for waste recycling with the commencement of the reclamation of land at the same Olusosun landfill site for inter-

ested investors.

“It has also commenced a pilot scheme in Ketu Fruit Market on conversion of organic waste generated in the Market to electricity through a 1.5 KVA generating set that supplies energy needs within the market,” LAWMA boss, Ola Oresanya, announced while conducting the media on a facility tour of the recycling plant and other projects at Ojota area of the state.

According to LAWMA boss: “The landfill was first identified and used by the Nigeria Military in the 1960/70s as a shooting range for condemned armed robbers. The site was later excavated and turned into

a soil mining site to provide filling material for roads and foundations of new building projects.

The landfill is traversed by a large burrowed pit which resulted from the long uncontrolled excavation/sand mining by most developers from all parts of the state.

It was in 1992 that it was selected by LAWMA as landfill site and for refuse dumping.

In February 2008, during the visit of Governor Babatunde Fashola to the landfill, he directed the provision of access road to augment the ones serving the landfill to ease operations for proper waste management.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—29

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IVEN the hitherto dominance of the North in the nation’s polity it was not surprising that the region’s 19 northern governors would seek a reawakening of that culture of northern political superiority when they met last week. At the end of the meeting, the governors pledged to unify behind a northern presidential candidate in the 2015 elections.

Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, said the northern governors, this time around, would not allow what happened in 2011 to repeat itself in 2015 as they would unite against candidates from the south.

“We must be united more than ever to go into the 2015 elections as one entity with the aim of producing the president”.He said.

However, controversy immediately blighted that resolution following allegations that a number of the governors from the meeting rushed to the Presidential Villa to explain themselves or detach themselves from the resolution.

Remarkably, some of those mentioned included the more vocal governors, who were at the press briefing where the communique was read in Kaduna last thursday.

Indeed, the controversy on the unanimity of the Northern governors was further raised at the weekend when one of the prominent governors, Sule Lamido of Jigawa State almost vitiated the resolve of his colleagues when he blasted erstwhile Head of State and Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) leader, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, over the latter’s insistence on a free and fair election in 2015.

“Buhari has no moral right to accuse anybody of rigging because his party CPC also rigged election in the last general elections in areas it was strong enough to do so,” Laimido said at the weekend when he accompanied his Katsina State counterpart, Ibrahim Shema on a courtesy call on the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Mahammadu Sanusi.

It would be recalled that Buhari had last week warned of dire consequences, if the 2015 elections were rigged as according to him, were done in 2011.

Given the seeming backtrack it is not surprising that the prediction of some political observers that the percived resolve of the Northern governors in Kaduna could only have been a sham.

Beneath the resolve of the Northern governors for unity in projecting a regional presidential candidate in 2015 is a personal battle by some for superiority. How long will the resolve hold?

*Babangida: The AYF want him out

*Sambo: Will his place be traded in 2015?

2015:Northern governors: Hot and cold Many of the governors including the second term governors, who ordinarily should be positioning themselves for the presidency, it was learnt are now fighting among themselves for a position in the 2015 ticket of President Goodluck Jonathan.

One of those allegedly being considered to soothe the angst of the North is incidentally Dr. Aliyu, the incumbent governor of Niger State It is thus not surprising that Aliyu himself was the subject of some vicious attacks from within the North.

One of the bodies to have recently attacked him is Arewa Youth Forum,(AYF) led

by Alhaji Ibrahim Gambo Gujungu.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the recent Kaduna meeting of the governors, Gunjungu charged the governors to bury their heads in shame saying that the governors had allowed the region to deteriorate without as much as showing any resolve to check the malaise.

He followed up with a personal attack on the

leadership of the Northern Governors Forum saying that Governor Aliyu should resign immediately.

“The best thing is for Governor Aliyu to give way to a much more robust and proactive person, who can pave the way for a genuine dialogue so that peace may reign in the region.”

It is as such not surprising

of the presidential ticket.

Some in the Aliyu camp allege that the AYF leader is a political associate of the Vice-President.

Gujungu, however, denied the claims as he told Vanguard in a telephone interview that he is neither a friend nor associate of the VicePresident. Rather he said that his attack against Dr. Aliyu

,

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

Many of the governors including the second term governors, who ordinarily should be positioning themselves for the presidency, it was learnt ,are now fighting among themselves for a position in the 2015 ticket of President Goodluck Jonathan

that some associates of Governor Aliyu would trace the attack against their principal to the camp of Vice President Namadi Sambo, who would be the immediate casualty in the rearrangement

,

and the NGF were wholly based on the critical situation in the North.

“I dont know the VicePresident personally and it was only when he was governor in Kaduna State that

we once organised a public lecture which he attended.”

“There are a lot of people who feel that they can blackmail somebody. We are discussing the issue of Northern Nigeria and it is not wrong for us to awaken our Northern governors which. We are very happy that after our call that they came and held a meeting in which they now discussed the New Nigerian Newspapers and other issues.

That is our main issue.”

Gujungu, also dismissed insinuations that his group was being projected to defend one of the northern interest groups in the 2015 presidential contest.

“2015 is not our mind and that is why we called on them to forget about 2015 and concentrate on Northern transformation. It is too early to discuss 2015,” he said.

Remarkably, President Goodluck Jonathan has himself said that 2015 is not on his mind. But beneath the veneer of the politicking all around him and his perceived political rivals is the jostling for 2015.

30—Vanguard,

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

How 4th tier 'll boost devt in Imo —Duruji

BY FINTAN IBEGWAM

G

OVERNOR Rochas Okorocha of Imo State recently announced his plan to establish a fourth -tier government. According to him, the government will be made up of traditional rulers, town union executives, government appointed speaker and civil servants. These people will oversee the development of the local communities.

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Imo State chapter is, however, leading opposition to the proposal.

One of the points raised by NLC is that the government wants to use the scheme to downsize the work force despite the abundance of many unemployed graduates looking for job. The union has thus charged the government to employ them and use them for the system. The NLC has also said that another administration after Okorocha's government could also dispense with the new system in the same way that Okorocha’s government treated the 10,000 persons engaged at the twilight of the Ikedi Ohakim administration.

It is as such not surprising that the labour leaders are now threatening to go on strike over the issue.

Imo State Commission for Information and Strategy, Dr Obinna Duruji who spoke to Vanguard on the issue, however, gave government's perspective that the administration is unwiling to use new civil servants to establish the new project.

According to him, the administration is bent on using experienced hands, who can manage the finances according to laid down government regulations. He added that the civil servants have been sensitized since Governor Okorocha promised to establish the fourth system of government. The populace he added were also sensitized through radio and television.

Dr. Duruji was to opine that the people are finding it difficult to accept change as all natural human beings noting that Okorocha showed his sincerity to the people when he sacrificed a large chunk of his security vote.

In his own perception, Okorocha's present action would be copied by other governors tomorrow. The constitution does not prohibit the state government through the House of Assembly from establishing the fourth tier government or laying out a structure or system for the local government or town union

administration.

He said that the town unions as they were formerly known would be known as Community Government Councils with the inclusion of government activity. He further noted that town unions have until now been unaccountable with the money realised from their activities.

The government he added wants to get a better result and hence the change in the approach and methodology.

"It is a carefully mapped out programme and not a ploy to sack the civil servants as they are thinking. They know that the governor has the power to hire and fire, he does not need to go too far to do that, there are many ways to do that, they want the communities to develop," Duruji said.

The Commissioner said that the community will chose the projects they want and it will be done for them. Noting that when the governor declared free education for primary and secondary schools in the state, that some people claimed it would not be possible, but he observed that the policy has now been taken to the university level. “What the government is saying is that the workers posted to the communities are going there on secondment. How long they

Governor Dickson: Far from the maddening crowd

BY FRANCIS AGBO

H

OW time flies. On May 25, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson will be 100 days old at the Creek Haven as governor of Bayelsa State. Since the former police officer and lawmaker representing Sagbama/ Ekeremor Federal Constituency at the National Assembly has achieved so much within this short period, the expectation of many analysts is that he should celebrate it with pomp and pageantry. Interestingly, he is as usual, averse to such celebration or making publicity stunt from what has become a ritual among our political office holders. The tradition in Nigeria is for governors to roll out the drums to mark this time line which was popularised by the 32nd president of the United States of America, Franklin Delano Roosevelt who accomplished so much within his first 100 days in office.

Whichever way it is perceived, Dickson shares similar history with these world

leaders except that unlike Bonaparte, he never lost any political battle including the one that produced him as fourth executive governor of the oilrich state.

Like Roosevelt who inherited an ailing economy, Dickson became governor at one of the most difficult periods of Bayelsans.The health and educational sectors were comatose. The story was not different with the entire real sector. To say the least, the state was on motion without movement. By February 14 when Dickson took over power, he inherited an empty treasury to the chagrin of the founding fathers of the state.

The immediate past administration oiled so many Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO), running into N50billion and still counting.

Sylva, used the whooping sum of N1,685 billion monthly to run government house. One of the first progressive decisions the Countrymangovernor took with in 24 hours of taking over was to reverse it to N657,460,000 million,

*Dickson thereby saving over N1 billion for the hugely indebted state.

If the governor were to be the usual Nigerian politician, all he needed to do was to quietly convert it to his, change as many as possible Nigerian money into dollar and launder it abroad. Dickson also opened two strategic accounts: Bayelsa State Strategic Development Funds Account and Bayelsa State Strategic Savings Funds Account.

*Okorocha: Introducing new tier stay there depends on the rate of the progress made in the community, it may be one year or two years. What is important is that they will not lose their remuneration or any benefit due to them as civil servants.

He was quick to distinguish the scheme from the 10,000 jobs created by Ohakim which according to him were not backed by law. "There was no vacancy when those people were employed that was why they did not have offices or chairs where they were posted.

That one was political not well

planned. The community government structure law of 2006, Autonomous Community law is being amended to accommodate the community government council. It cannot be repealed by any person if it works. The civil servants have no problem going to the rural areas, there is misinformation on the part of the labour, they are thinking that the civil servants are going to do minor jobs, but that is not true, they are only going to do administrative jobs,” Dr Duruji said.

Monies in this account will be used to fund key development projects and policies of government and stabilize the economy on rainy days.

Withdrawal of cash from these accounts is possible only if twothird majority of the legislature approves of it. Already over N23billion has been saved in these accounts within 60 days.

Equally, within the same period, the governor sponsored five executive bills at the Bayelsa State House of Assembly which he had already signed into law by the governor. Prominent among them are the Transparency Bill, Compulsory Savings Bill, and Cultism/ Kidnapping Bill.

These laws have laid a solid legal foundation for the transformation of the state as encapsulated in the restoration agenda of the country-man governor. Today, the electorate on whose shoulders sovereignty lies have the rare opportunity to know the accruals to the state and how their funds are appropriated and expended in line with the Transparency Law. So far, the governor and his cabinet members have as a policy rendered account on a monthly basis to Bayelsans through Town Hall Meetings in the full glare of the cameras. This is the

first of its kind in Nigeria, I believe. This singular policy of government has further drawn government closer to the people in the state and hence deepening probity and accountability in government.

Interestingly, government’s actions in the last 90 days have won the confidence of Ijaw people, the international community, foreign and local investors. Over 100 investors and still counting are reported to be falling over one another to invest in the state. In the same vein, government agencies and the organized private sectorare partnering with the Dickson administration to restore the state to its pride of place as glory of all lands.

The Nigerian Bank of Industry led by Ms Evelyn Oputu recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with government to provide 50 percent counterpart funds for the industrialization of the state.

For the first time in the history of the state, banks are voluntarily partnering with government to power populist projects in the state.

Agbo, a journalist and socio-political commentator based in Yenagoa wrote via (francisagbo38@yahoo.com)

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—31

Experts canvass upgrade of city slums

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

T

HE growth of slums has become a recurring decimal in virtually all parts of the country. The scenario is aggravated by the high rental charges and the desire by most Nigerians to live in their own property.

In Lagos State for instance, the growth of over 200 slum settlements has been a major challenge to successive governments since 1999. From Badiya to Makoko, Ije Barracks to Iwaya, Amukoko to Ajegunle, the growth of slums and its attendant impacts have continued to threaten Lagos’ vision of becoming Africa’s model mega-city as enunciated in the 10-point agenda of Governor Babatunde Fashola.

Instance of infrastructure decay, unhealthy living conditions, sub-standard buildings, criminal activities and the spread of infectious diseases in this slummy settlements are common place.

Experts describe these manifestations as the “push and pull factors of migration from rural communities and small towns from other states of the federation.”

At a recent seminar to sensitise chairmen of Local Government Councils and Local Council Development Areas LCDAs, stakeholders highlighted the issues of poor planning, failed policies and lack of credible data as factors responsible for the

indiscriminate growth of slums in different parts of the state.

The Lagos state government has stressed again and again that the task of slum improvement requires the concerted inputs of all stakeholders from the central government to the local authorities. It has therefore mapped out strategies to effectively monitor and evaluate slum upgrading programmes.

Slum upgrading or slum improvement in low income urban communities simply means a delivery of basic services such as potable water supply and adequate sewage disposal to improve the wellbeing of the community. It also involves legalising and regularising the properties in situations of insecure or unclear tenure.

Mr. Femi Shodunke, an architect and vice chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects NIA, said upgrading customarily provides a package of improvements in streets, footpaths and drainage in a community being upgraded with solid waste collection frequently included with its positive impact on health. It also includes the provision of street lights for security and night activity.

He however noted that this physical improvement is only the beginning, as health issues need to be addressed by providing clinics and health education programmes, school facilities and teachers needed

Slum upgrading in Bariga, Lagos to attack the lack of basic education. According to him, upgrading programmes are offered to increase income earning opportunities and the general economic health of a community. “Upgrading is the start to becoming a recognised citizen”, he said.

Issues to consider

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former chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners NITP Lagos Branch, Mr. Moses Ogunleye posited that there are several issues to take into consideration when upgrading a slum.

One of such critical issues to consider is the population of the community. He asked: “What percentage of the population will be affected by the upgrading exercise in terms

Do It Yourself Clean your oven without chemicals

A

FTER years and years of using toxic chemicals and being forced to inhale noxious fumes, a lot of people are using safe, natural oven cleaners for a green cleaning solution.

These natural solvents are inexpensive, and are usually just as effective and powerful as their chemical counterparts.

There are quite a few natural

Oven cleaning

products you can use in place of poisonous, expensive commercial oven cleaners, and we’ll discuss them here.

Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) is a common ingredient in natural cleaners. Being slightly alkaline, it can neutralize acids and begin to break down proteins. Of course, it can clean, deodorise and remove caked-on food and grease, too.

Baking soda can also absorb spills in the oven- once it has cooled off, you should be able to scoop up the baking soda and take the spilled substance right along with it.

If you have an oven cleaning job that’s a bit tougher but you still want to keep it natural, you should mix equal parts water, salt and baking soda to form a thick paste. Spread the paste

all over the inside of your oven, close the door and heat the oven to 500° for an hour. After that, use a moist sponge or cloth to wipe away the grease and grime and rinse with water.

You can also use vinegar to clean your oven- it’s a mild acid, so it’s a good grease remover. Vinegar is non-toxic and won’t leave a residue. Use it by either pouring it on the oven floor or by leaving an open container of vinegar in your oven for a few hours.

The best and most natural way to keep your oven clean is to keep it from getting so dirty to begin with. However, if you find yourself with a greasy oven, you can use these natural cleaners to get it clean without harming the environment.

Source http:// www.gogreenstreet.com

HIGH POINTS *Upgrade must meet the real needs of the people

people to be affected by the improvement.

*The slum dwellers *The scope of the should be car ried upgrade must be along to avoid properly spelt out resistance . before commencement. *Funding is a critical factor that must not be *Determine the neglected percentage of the of relocation? Is there a prepared place for them to move to?”

Ogunleye said it is important to know the population of the community in terms of their age,income capacity and distribution in order to adequately address their needs.

“The second issue that needs to be considered is to properly define the scope of the upgrading. For instance, is the upgrading basically to improve on the infrastructure in the area or to create some economic activities in the area?This is because some slum communities are basically inhabited by groups of people with different economic activities. Some of them are surrounded by one form of employment source or the other.

“If a slum community around the lagoon is to be upgraded for instance, it is obvious that the economic activities of the community will water -based such as fishing, lumbering and others. The scope of the project if properly defined right from the beginning, will enable the

handlers to know what is needed in the community to be upgraded. In other words, are you going to do economic enhancement projects in the community or infrastructure improvement in the area? So, the scope of slum upgrading programme is a key factor to be considered.

“Another factor to consider in slum upgrading is funding of the project. In other words, how much is government committing into the project, and is the project going to be done in phases like phase 1 and 2?

Are you going to start with roads and construction of drainage channels, or are you starting with creation of amenities or facilities such as health centre, school, water and others? If the budget for the programme is limited, you then need to prioritise the needs of the people with the limited available funds. So, funding is also a key factor to be considered in slum upgrading programme.

“One other issue worth considering in a slum upgrading is that of the residents of the community to be upgraded.

•Continues on Page 32

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Architects root for urban mass housing to reduce shortfall STORIES BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

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ORRIED by Nigeria’s huge housing deficit, which UN statistics put at between 16 -17 million units, Lagos-based Architects have called for the construction of mass housing in the urban centres to bridge the huge gap which requires the construction of 720,000 housing units per annum in the next 10 years.

Leading the call at the just Lagos concluded 4 th Architects Forum, a former President of the African Union of Architects AUA, Ovuo Charles Majoroh stated that the development of mass housing particularly in Lagos is the most sensible project for the government, professionals and stakeholders in housing to embark on, in view of the influx of migrants into the sprawling city from across the nation and outside Nigeria.

Majoroh who is also a past President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects posited that the mass housing development should specifically address low income and medium income earners in the society. He noted that if the project is pursued with transparency, housing shortfall in Lagos may become a thing of the past in short time to come.

Calling for partnership between government and private investors in real estate development, Majoroh said all over the world, it is private developers that take the lead in housing provision. The government’s responsibility, he said, is to create the framework and enabling environment for private developers to thrive.

The NIA President, Mr. Ibrahim Haruna stated that shelter being one of man’s basic needs in life, should be accorded priority. Pointing out that the daily influx of migrants into Lagos is piling much pressure on housing need in the city, he called on planners in the city to come up with plans on how to accommodate the rising Lagos population.

Welcoming the participants to the Forum,. the Chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Institute, Ms Abimbola Ajayi said the 2012 edition of the forum was put together to focus on housing development in view of the need to make Lagos a vibrant and sustainable friendly and harmonious city.

“We hope to address government initiative for mass housing and the public desire for personal homes, single

• A private sector housing scheme in Lagos. family and multi-family residential development, high rise, high density house development, affordable housing, low income housing,

self-build housing, approval and development processes, real estate, mortgage finance and loans, urban transportation and secure

transit, design technology, construction technology and green architecture”, she explained.

APBN president renews call for construction industry board •Lauds formation of BCPG

•Mr. Ajanlekoko

C

ONCERNED about spate of collapsed buildings, abandoned projects and proliferation of substandard materials in the construction industry, the President of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria APBN, Mr. Segun Ajanlekoko, has called members of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild BCPG, to take a major step towards resolving challenges with relevant regulatory agencies for more proactive actions in the industry.

Ajanlekoko made the call while receiving members of the Guild who paid him a courtesy visit at the weekend. He enjoined them to continue the struggle started by some himself and senior

professionals to compel the government to establish ta National Construction Industry Board. The board, he said should have the mandate to manage the construction industry and effectively coordinate the built environment professional activities and programmes.

Some members of the Guild at the meeting were the Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Mr. Afolabi Solesi; Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Mr. Olufemi Shodunke; Chairman of Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Mr. Sola Fatoki; Chairman of

Lagos State Chapter Nigerian Institute of Building NIOB, Mr. Jelili Akinpelu and the Executive Director of Shelter Watch, Mr. Segun Olutade.

Ajanlekoko said the BCPG platform could complement government efforts with adequate professional inputs towards providing lasting solutions to the problems of building collapse the fight against quackery in the built environment. The APBN president advised the Guild to ensure that its composition is made up of major stakeholders who are highly competent professionals of like minds in order to strengthen the passion for service that is being developed presently.

SLUMS: Experts canvass upgrade Continues from page 31 In other words, are the residents receptive? Will they welcome the project? Have you consulted with them enough, and are they ready to accept the programme? This is because some communities will see slum upgrading projects as an attempt by government to evict them from their ancestral lands, thus, will not embrace the projects.

This is why it is important to discuss with them extensively on the usefulness of the projects in their communities so that they will accept it before commencement”, Ogunleye stated Another Architect, Ms. Jemi

Ogisi explained that what is needed to make slum upgrading work is the commitment of everybody in the community. The families and all stakeholders, she said, should be actively involved in the process of slum upgrading.

According to her, a sense of partnership must be developed.

“Upgrading must meet a real need. That is, people must want it and understand the value. To implement, you must get the institutional arrangements right.

Give incentives for agencies to work with the poor, keep everyone informed and coordinated, and define clearly the roles of the various agencies,” she noted.

Building materials watch Cement Dangote cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,900.00 Burham Cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,900.00 Elephant cement per bag of 50kg ---N1,850.00 Sandcrete Blocks 6 inches vibrated per block--N120 9 inches vibrated per block--N140 6 inches hand mould per block---N80 9 inches hand mould per block---N90 Sand Soft per tipper load ---N12,000 Sharp double tipper load--N22,000 Gravel double tipper load--N25,000 Gravel single tipper load--N18,000 Granite per tipper load---N165,000 Reinforcement 8 mm (153) pieces per ton --N125,000 10 mm (153) pieces per ton--N136,000 12 mm (93) pieces per ton--N161,000 16 mm (93) pieces per ton--N172,000 20 mm (53) pieces per ton--N122,000 Woods Timber (hard) 1x1x12--N1,000 Timber (hard) 2x2x12--N800750 Timber (hard) 2x4x12---N700 Softwood 2x2x12---N260 2x3x12---N300 Plywood 3x3x8---N3,500 2x4x8---N2,400 Roofing Sheets Corrugated iron sheets per bundle---N10,000 Asbestos (Super) 4x8 per piece--N1,600 Asbestos (Solo) 4x6 per piece--N1,500 Building materials watch Wall tiles (ceramic) 6 x 6 per square metre-------------------------------------N1,200 20 x 20 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,100 20 x 25 (China) per square metre-------------------------N1,400 Floor tiles (ceramic) 14 x 14 (Spain) per square metre-------------------------N1,800 14 x 14 (Brazil) per square metre------------------------N1,420 13 x 13 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1, 550 45 x 45 (Spain) per square metre------------------------N1,900 40 x 40 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N3,800 30 x 30 (Marble Spain) per square metre--------------N2,000 Plumbing Materials Galvanised conduit pipes per length 20 mm diameter -----------------------------------------N170 25 mm diameter------------------------------------------N170 PVC conduit pipes 20 mm diameter per length ----------------------------N120 25 mm diameter per length-----------------------------N130 Source-----------Cement tiles and building materials market along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—33

Role of civil society in pushing climate change policies

A

A pedestrian bridge.

FCT, World Bank to build six pedestrian bridges in Abuja

BY FAVOUR NNABUGWU

D

ISTURBED by the increasing number of lives being lost while crossing major roads in the Federal Capital City Abuja, the FCT Administration has concluded plans to construct six pedestrian bridges at critical locations.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed made this disclosure at the

weekend, in Abuja while reviewing some of the challenges in the transportation sub-sector of the Federal Capital Territory.

The Minister who revealed that the FCT Administration is undertaking the construction of the pedestrian bridges in collaboration with the World Bank, said the FCT felt pained each time a life was lost as a result of crossing the expressway because of lack of pedestrian bridge.

According to him, the critical locations where the pedestrian bridges will be constructed include the Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway by Tafawa Balewa (Old Secretariat); Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway by Olusegun Obasanjo (Wuye Junction); Shehu Yar’Adua Way by Okonja Iweala Way (V.I.O Mabushi); Shehu Yar ’Adua Way by Ladi Kwali Street (Sheraton Junction); Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway by Ahmadu Bello Way (Banex Junction) and

Nnamdi Azikwe Expressway by Shehu Shagari Way (Nicon Junction).

The Minister who expressed displeasure at the daily loss of lives while crossing major roads in the Abuja metropolis, described the trend as unacceptable.

He remarked that the ugly development is of great concern to his administration and that he is personally committed to proffering lasting solution to the menace.

SRADev raises fresh concerns over Zamfara lead poisoning

BY JUDE NJOKU

T

HREE years after the Zamfara Lead poisoning disaster, a nongovernmental group NGO – Sustainable Research Action for Environmental Development SRADev has raised fresh concerns over the harmful effects of the disaster on the environment and lives of the people of Zamfara State.

The disaster which was documented as the most serious Lead poisoning case ever experienced, occurred in two local government areas of Zamfara state - Anka and Bukkuyum in March 2009 apparently due to artisanal and small-scale gold mining ASGM.

C M Y K

Although mining has been going on since the 1940s in the areas, the matter allegedly got out of hand when the miners introduced domestic grinding machines in their respective dwellings rather than using the general processing centre.

The fresh alarm followed what the NGO called the failure of the government to protect its citizens from the menace.

In a position paper signed by SRADev ’s Executive Director, Mr. Leslie Adogame, the group regretted that “the government which should protect her citizens from this menace that is detrimental to their lives and harmful to the environment, has failed to

do so. Majority of children are still un-treated while many others remain exposed to Lead due to incomplete remediation by government and recontamination”.

“The symptoms of lead on children include blindness, hearing impairment. Some of the damages are irreversible.

“Hearing impairment for example, is irreversible.

Those children that cannot talk in places like Yalgama community are deaf for life. You have some of them very active children, some with seizure. Lead can retard the growth of the children”. Adults are not totally immune to lead poisoning. Frequent headache, abdominal pains, kidney failure are

among their symptoms,” the NGO explained.

Arising from these, the group called on the Federal government to establish a program aimed at cleaning up areas known to be contaminated with Lead and Mercury in Nigeria.

SRADev also called for immediate budgetary allocation towards the plight of children contaminated in the community through disbursing the Ecological Fund appropriately.

The group also campaigned for immediate formalization and legislation of the ASGM sector in Nigeria in view of its value and positive contribution to families, communities and the nation.

S the international climate negotiations are moving at a slow pace, developing countries are creating new policies to deal with climate change; a new report by a coalition of NGOs demonstrates that civil society is critical to policy processes that aim to tackle climate change and protect the poorest and most vulnerable communities from its impacts.

Civil society plays key roles in pushing for new laws, programmes, policies or strategies on climate change, in holding governments to account on their commitments; in identifying the lack of joined-up government responses to climate change; and in ensuring that national policy making does not forget the poor and vulnerable.

These are the findings of a report launched today at the UN climate talks in Bonn by a coalition of more than 20 civil society networks in developing countries, with support from the International Institute for Environment and Development IIED and CARE through the Climate Capacity Consortium.

The report — Southern voices on climate policy choices: civil society advocacy on climate change — provides an analysis of the tools and tactics advocacy groups use to influence policy responses to climate change.

The report highlights the importance to civil society networks of engaging with the media to reach the general public and key decision-makers, and of having good relations with governments to influence policy making and planning.

In Zimbabwe, for example, the Climate Change Working Group has successfully advocated for a new national climate change strategy. And as a result of advocacy activities by the Cook Islands Climate Action Network, a climate change unit has been established within the office of the Prime Minister to ensure that the issue falls within the portfolio of the highest government officials. The report also describes how civil society advocacy efforts have influenced international processes, donors and multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, and in some cases the private sector.

“Many of even the world’s poorest countries now have active civil society coalitions that work on climate change, and they are increasingly influential,” says the report’s editor Dr Hannah Reid of IIED. “These coalitions can play an important role as bridges between vulnerable communities and those with the power to enact policies that can protect people from the impacts of climate change. This report will help these coalitions learn from each other as many operate in isolation.” William Chadza from the Civil Society Network on Climate Change in Malawi says: “It is interesting for us to see how colleagues in countries as distant as Vietnam work with vulnerable communities as they adapt to climate change and strive to ensure their government can address these people’s concerns.”

“While some governments in industrialised nations seem to ignore climate change, this report shows how in the global Southern civil society organisations are working hard to promote solutions and climate justice for those affected.”

The report also describes some of the challenges experienced by these coalitions. Many acknowledge that they lack the skills and resources they need to meet their advocacy objectives. And where relations between government and civil society are weak, civil society involvement in key policy making arenas has not been adequate.

The report includes contributions from more than 20 climate networks and their member organisations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. The networks work together in the Southern Voices on Climate Change programme, which is funded by the Government of Denmark through the Climate Capacity Consortium, comprised of four Danish NGOs, Climate Action Network International and IIED, with CARE Danmark as the lead agency.

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

UK property: End of stamp duty holiday weakens house sales T

HE surge of house sales in the first few months of the year has slowed following the end of the stamp duty holiday for first-time buyers, research has found.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors RICS, the number of newly agreed property sales has weakened and the housing market has ‘run out of steam.’

A balance of six per cent of chartered surveyors across Britain reported decreases rather than increases in sales in April - this is the first time transaction levels have entered negative figures since last September.

It comes as first-time buyers rushed through house sales before the mid-March stamp duty holiday end. Property bought before March 24 for under £250,000 was exempt from the one per cent tax.

And house prices have fallen as well, according to the RICS data. Some

A

MAJOR player in the building materials sector, Messrs Nigerite Ltd, has joined the campaign for the introduction of renewable energy to reduce the worrisome effects of climate change and global warming being experienced across Nigeria.

Speaking last week at the presentation of

Impacts of climate change on water supply

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Social housing units in UK. 19 per cent more surveyors reported house price falls rather than rises last month while 17 per cent believe that prices are set to drop further London, which has had strong demand from overseas buyers, was the only region to report a general rise in prices.

A report last week also found that the capital was propping up national housing price figures.

Rightmove data found that since the last house

price peak in 2008, London prices are 14.9 per cent higher, compared with a 4.3 per cent fall in that time for the rest of the country excluding the capital The West Midlands and Wales experienced the worst price drops in April according to Rics.

Scotland remained largely unchanged, while Northern Ireland continued to see price falls.

Halifax house price figures last week also

Nigerite takes renewable energy campaign to schools

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

PROPERTY BRIEFS

awards to winners of the 1st Lagos Green Schools Essay Competition organized by Nigerite, its managing director Mr. Jean-Luc Viatour said the company is supporting the the Lagos State government in raising awareness on the importance of sustainable living. According to him, the competition which has “Embracing renewable energy for all” was organised to complement the massive

Marketing Director, Nigerite Ltd, Arc. Toyin Gbege, Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State Governor on Power Dr. Fouad Animashaun and Managing Director Nigerite Limited, Engr. Jean - Luc Viatour at the presentation of awards to winners of the 1st Lagos Green Schools Essay Competition organized

by Nigerite Ltd.

strides the State government has taken towards the achievement of its mega-city project.

Viatour explained that the competition is to engage the youth and generate awareness on the need to protect the earth.

“Our contribution to the three Rs of sustainability Reduction, Recycling and Reuse include recycling 100 percent of the dry waste from our production processes, sorting all the waste from our offices using labeled bins: blue bins for paper and carton waste; orange bins for plastic and red bins for other waste. The waste paper and cartons generated in our offices are reused in the factory as Waste Paper Kraft WPK and the plastic waste is marked for recycling through private initiatives”, he said.

The Nigerite boss who was elated at the turnout of the schools, said the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and must understand at an early age the giant strides being taken to combat the effects of global warming in order to protect the future.

found that property prices fell nationwide in April, by 2.4 per cent.

The fall leaves the average house price at £159,883 - the same level as in August 2004.

Lenders and estate agents previously reported a rush to complete deals ahead of the stamp duty concession deadline and warned that this could result in sales which would have otherwise taken place later this year being bunched up.

It is estimated that around four in 10 first-time buyers who bought homes during the two-year stamp duty holiday period benefited from the exemption.

RICS’ housing spokesman, Peter Bolton King said: ‘With the recent surge in activity brought on by March’s stamp duty holiday coming to an end, it is unsurprising to see that prices across much of the country are continuing to fall.

‘Renewed concerns over the economy and talk of a double-dip recession dominating the headlines in recent weeks may well have served to undermine consumer confidence.

"What’s more, the continuing lack of affordable mortgage finance is still hindering many first-time buyers who cannot afford to get a foot on the property ladder.’

Buyer demand was described as ‘flat’ in April, with 5 per cent more surveyors reporting increases rather than decreases in new buyer inquiries, down from 10 per cent more in March.

Meanwhile, the number of homes being put on the market remained ‘stable’, with a balance of 1 per cent more surveyors reporting falls rather than rises in new homes going up for sale.

ESSRS Bread of life Development Foundation with the support of Department of Climate Change of the Federal Ministry of Environment, United Nations Development Programme UNDP, and Government of Japan last week organised a discourse on climate change, and water supply and sanitation in Lagos. The forum which was attended by 21 representatives of stakeholders institutions, stressed the need to increase stakeholder ’s education and create awareness on the potential impacts of climate change on service providers and users in the water supply and sanitation sector in Lagos state.

“There is a need to conduct baseline studies to generate data and information on status of water supply and sanitation sector; and this should be updated regularly. This will serve as a basis for measuring/determining climate change impacts,” they canvassed.

The participants enjoined households and commercial offices to promote environmental greening and reduce pavement of the neighbourhood in order to encourage natural groundwater recharge.

Noting that the high rate of salinisation of groundwater in Lagos has adverse effect on access to water and increases the cost of access, the forum stressed the need to investigate it further

Completion of YenegweNembe-Brass road

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HE Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, an Architect, said last week that the Federal Government has allocated N1 billion for the rehabilitation of the Yenegwe - Okarki - Kolo - Nembe - Brass Road which is billed for completion in 2013.

The Yenegwe-Okarki-Kolo-Nembe-Brass road in Bayelsa State is a 101.8 km road that leads to the first Nigerian Oil Wells in Oloibiri, Shell Petroleum Nembe Creek Oil Fields and the Nigerian Agip Oil Company Terminal at Brass. The road was procured by the Federal Government in 1975 but was abandoned for decades and has since degenerated and become almost impassable. Onolememen announced the completion the 2013 completion deadline to a delegation from Nembe Se Congress led Chief Ebiegberi Alagoa which visited him in Abuja.He stated that the contractor handling the project, Messrs Enerco Nigeria Limited has been asked to mobilize to site The Minister told the delegation that the the Otuegila - Amurekeni - Akani - Oluasiri - Okoroba Nembe road was not captured as Federal Road but promised to seek the assistance of Shell Petroleum Development Company to consider picking the project as part of their social responsibility to the communities.

Firm introduces new center rug designs

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ESSRS Lucky Fibres Plc, makers of Nobel premium brand of carpets and rugs has introduced its new designs for centre rugs into the market.

The new center rugs designs which offers new attractive options in both colours and sizes, makes it a lot more possible for Nobel Carpets customers to select freely with ease and get the wow effect of Nobel Carpets.

Branch Coordinator, Nobel Carpets & Rugs Mr. Tanuj Malkani said the introduction of the new center rug designs is in line with company’s commitment to continue to endear the brand to the teeming customers as their preferred choice of carpets and rugs. Mr. Malkani explained that the 10 newly introduced designs has increased the brand designs portfolio to 40 with the existing 30 designs currently available at Nobel Carpets Offices and Trade Partners outlets nationwide.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 35

Love is a bitch! (4)

“The road which leads to happiness varies, it depends on the path”. – My Love We became close easily, but I noticed his drive for work and I knew his kind

of person, one who saw career as key and didn’t want any distractions, but in my terms, he was a workaholic.

Could I have coped with that? I don’t know but I went on, letting his attraction to me get to me, nothing was going to spoil that, not even my emotions, because this made me happy and I needed to be.

,

HI One of the most painful experiences a spouse can go through is discovering suddenly that what he/she shares with the other is a ruse. That he/she is only being stringed along.

That time, emotions and hope have all gone to waste.

What does one do when you discover that the whole relationship has been a lie? You may think that the right answer will be to walk away.

However, as they say, the heart is not so smart. The heart wants only what it wants, so it keeps falling again and again.

Today, we will be reading an expose from a young lady on her quest to finding love. Though she makes no attempt to hide her shortcomings, she is bold to state that her heart remained with the guy who could not love her the way she ought to be loved.

I do not intend to pass any comments here. I want to leave that to you, our readers. Please, Amy as she identified herself will be happy to read your views and advice for her.

Our address remains: the Human Angle, Vanguard Media Limited, 1007, Apapa, Lagos. Or e-mail a d d r e s s : humananglepage@yahoo.com We look forward to your contributions.

have loved to be with him.

He became my “third” but since there was no chance between us, there still remained one “only”. By the way, Tolulope is his name.

September, 2011 The last risk I took was with an old school mate and friend, one I hooked up with through social media, who started to grow feelings

To be truthful, I missed him, but like it is with me, I love to be with him, not just to have sex

He was attracted to me, he liked me as a woman, anything could happen, he wasn’t ruling out anything, but the thing was his career, he wasn’t ready for distractions and he liked to be in control of things that concerned him and if he wasn’t in control of his woman because he had faults, then he would not be happy.

These and many more he said to convince me that for now, nothing could work out between us.

Now that I was growing up, this looked real, and he could help me heal, because unlike the rest, he was real and if there was going to be someone apart from my love, I liked him enough to be that person. I tell you, this decision was not made in a hurry because after many rush hours (including the night I spent at his house, alone and happy), time proved that I really liked him and would

,

for me, but I denied because of my quest for living right.

He’s not one I like to talk about because we didn’t last and though I let go of all sense of reasoning in me at that time and wanted to test myself, he was a mistake.

We had casual intimacy; I vowed never to play with my emotions, least of all, with my being ever again.

Right at his face, I told him we would not see each other again and I was sure of that because I was still hooked emotionally with someone else. I was not the type to play around and even though I just proved otherwise, guilt was about to destroy me.

Apart from Tolulope, who I see every now and then, no strings attached, I never had a second meeting with my rebounds, because all the way, I thought of my love more than I had time to think of myself.

December, 2011 One year of hurt and loneliness, so bad I did so much wrong; yet so fulfilling, I learnt lots of lessons. “I don’t want you to think everything about us revolves around sex. You mean a lot to me and I’m sorry I’m not all you want me to be. I know I made mistakes, maybe I should have added a little care to the intimacy, a little attention, I’m sorry, give me another chance, I promise to be a better man.”

Those were the words that changed my decision about breaking up with my love in December, 2011 when we saw again for the supposed last time. I noticed that he was different, don’t know if to use the term “more matured” but he talked better, or maybe he just said what I needed to hear and in a more sensitive manner.

Whatever it was his tactics were, he hit the spot and we sealed it with more than a kiss, as usual.

All the way, I didn’t forget to mention “Francesca and the child”, because they still existed, but as was the usual statement, “there was nothing between him and his baby’s mama”.

25th February, 2012 With a new drive and new policies to guide me through the year where I would experience extraordinary change, I broke my love’s heart when I would not succumb to the passes he made at me when I visited him.

To be truthful, I missed him, but like it is with me, I love to be with him, not just to have sex.

Guess that’s why we are different somehow. We talked and he convinced me more, because he talked better, like the last time.

I allowed him the pleasure of just a kiss and would not succumb to anything further, because if he was as serious with me as he claimed, then we needed to start doing things right.

Friends Searching Males

•Chris, 30, resides in Lagos, needs a lady, aged 1827, for a serious relationship.

0 8 0 5 1 7 7 8 2 9 9 , 0 8 0 3 7 9 6 6 8 4 2 •Uche,30,slim,fair in complexion, a student, needs a God fearing, serious minded and caring man, who is ready to settle down, for courtship and marriage.08052924500 •A guy, 33, needs a matured, beautiful and sexy lady, aged 35-65,who is rich and financially balanced, for a relationship in Benin.08037366548 •Oe, 30, employed, needs a born again Christian lady, who is employed, aged 22-27, for marriage.08086786098,08098219689 •Good, 43, handsome, sexy and resides in Enugu, needs a lonely, sexy and generous lady, aged 35 and above, for romantic affair.08168440700 •Ben, 48, needs a lady, from Delta state, aged 3035, who is caring for a relationship.

0 8 0 3 7 8 5 9 2 2 4 , 0 7 0 5 6 1 3 3 4 8 4 •Ken, 27, slim tall and a lawyer, from Delta state, needs a sexy, busty, slim and tall girl, aged 182 5 . 0 7 0 3 2 0 6 8 4 4 0

•Jeff, 25, responsible, from Benin, needs a decent and nice girl, for a cool relationship.

08077556086,08189577333,08065704376 •Paul, 25, 6ft tall, handsome and resides in Lagos, needs a nice lady, aged 27. 08081159176 •Labista, 24, needs a sexy and wealthy girl, for a strong relationship, aged 18-22.

•Dear readers, please note that neither Vanguard, nor Yetunde Arebi will be liable for any error in the publication of requests on the Lovezone that may result in any form of embarrassment to any member of the public.

Also note that we do not run any match-making agency in or outside the country. Any reader who transacts business with anyone claiming to be our agent does so at his/her own risk.

Henceforth, only messages sent through the numbers readers want to be contacted on will be published.

This notice is necessary in order to serve you better in our refreshingly different style. To get your requests published, just text it to the code number 33055. For further enquiries, call 08056180122. Cheers!

BY ONOZURE DANIA

Being Irresistible to Men

BY ONOZURE DANIA

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HERE Is no one way on how to be irresistible to men but there are a variety of steps a lady can take that will make her attractive and interesting to a lot of men which raises the odds of finding a nice guy to date or who knows, maybe even marry.

Men respond to a woman’s appearance by being turned off or turned on. However, that does not mean you have to look like a celebrity, in order to attract or keep a man.

The truth is that there are wide range of women, men consider attractive and it’s all about personal preferences. Some guys go for the tall girls with legs up to their armpits while other guys are wild about petite women who they can pick up with ease.

Some men like their lady to have meat on her bones while others are turned off by body fat and go for the woman with a trim, athletic build. One universal thing men want is a woman who takes care of herself a woman who fixes her hair, flosses her teeth, dresses neatly and it depends on the guy, uses a little make up to accentuate her beauty.

This shows the man that she values herself and has self confidence.

So, what is the key to being irresistible to men?

I recently spoke with a male friend about his courtship with a lady he absolutely adored.

I asked him what was it about her and his reply was that “I could not resist her resistance”. Men want to win.

They want to win the heart of the woman. If it comes too easily, this is when he loses interest

and often pulls away.

There isn’t much fun in that at all. This is why it’s so important to resist him. It makes you hard to get.

This is not a game.

Your heart shouldn’t be easy to get in the first place.

It’s valuable and you shouldn’t just give it away to a man who hasn’t put in the effort.

You are the prize remember. Resistance means not jumping through hoops every time he calls. It means if you have plans with the girls, you keep them and don’t ditch them because you want to see him.

Resistance means if he invites you to go somewhere that you aren’t that crazy about, you aren’t going simply to please him.

You decline offers if they don’t really suit you.

The fact of the matter is, men fall in love in your absence, not your presence. This is when they think about you.

When they think about you, their imaginations fill in the gaps.

Usually with positive things. If you are always there jumping to be with him when ever humanly possible, he doesn’t have time to think about you.

If you offer no resistance, you offer no challenge. Men love a challenge, they simply can’t resist it. Men also like mystery.

A woman that jumps right into a relationship with her heart is no mystery. She is an open book.

Resistance actually builds up attraction in a man. It is the key to being irresistible to men. Resistance also show self control.

A woman with control of herself and her life is very, very attractive to men and is hard to resist. He will put in effort to be a part of her world. He becomes a challenge to get her attention.

0 8 1 5 3 2 7 0 7 7 3 , 0 8 0 6 8 3 4 1 8 9 0 •Ken, from Niger Delta, needs lady, who is ready to settle down, aged 34 and above . 07089452I25 •George, 40, handsome, resides in Lagos, needs a God fearing, christian, lady, who is dedicated and a graduate, aged 35-38, to be his wife. 08076789338 •A guy, needs a caring and loving lady, who can take care of him financially, for a relationship, that can lead to marriage.07068954731 •Philip, 28, from Delta state, needs a God fearing lady, of any age that will take care of him, for a relationship full of love.08061126873 •Ogaga, 25, resides in Delta state, needs a girl, who is caring and God fearing, for a serious relationship, aged 18-23. 08109404881 •White, 50, a businessman and resides in Lagos, needs a beautiful, romantic, sexy and self employed lady, for a confidential and mutual relationship, aged 40-60, in either Delta or Lagos.08109541440 •Johnson, 26, a student, needs a matured, pretty, dark in complexion lady, aged 25-26, for a relationship.08126044302,08164627192 •Joe, 40, needs a fat and busty lady, for a serious relationhip.08123149953

36 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22,

2012

The on-going projects aimed at the Transformation of Obalende, Lagos during Governor Babatunde Fashola’s inspection tour on Thursday, April 5, 2012. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd left) fielding questions from journalists after the inspection. With him are: Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr Obafemi Hamzat (right), Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello (2nd right) and the Permanent Secretary (Office of Drainage), Ministry of Environment, Engineer Muyideen Akinsanya (left).

De-flooding: Over 200 drainages rehabilitated in Lagos in one year

By OLSUNKANMI AKONI

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HE deflooding programme of the Lagos State Government which is primarily aimed at ensuring free flow of storm water and reducing the incidence of flood has being intensified and at various advance stage in the state.

However, the state government had within the last one year rehabilitated and constructed over 200 drainages in the state as part of its concerted efforts aimed at reducing the incidence of flooding in the state to the barest minimum during the current rainy season. To ensure a proper maintenance of water channels, the state government had threatened to henceforth, prosecute anyone found to have built directly on top of drainage channels.

Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this during an

inspection tour to some project sites as well as media briefing on the activities of the ministry in the last one year.

On rehabilitation of drainages, Bello said the measure was to ensure that effective storm water management is put in place, adding that his ministry had earlier in the year embarked on the clearing of secondary road collector drains.

To ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the drainages, the state government had also

directed all the Chairmen of the 52 Local Government Areas, Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs to sustain the state programme by de-silting street drains within their specific areas so as to ensure the reduction in the incidence of flooding this year.

Bello, stated that the present efforts at combating flood had been designed towards consolidating the efforts of the past year, stressing that drainage constructions were

still ongoing in several parts of the state while 11 channels are expected to be completed before the end of this year.

Bello emphasised that it became necessary to prosecute offenders inorder to stop the usual habit of land owners, shop owners and traders who often build on water channels, which obstructs free flow of storm water whenever there is heavy rains.

He stressed that, apart from having such structures demolished, the state

Fashola seeks FG’s devt agenda in Lagos A FTER several years of federal neglect as well as part of measure to accelerate the on-going infrastructural regeneration, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has expressed support for Federal Government’s plan to reactivate the existing rail

transportation system in Nigeria, describing it as a critical step in the nation development agenda.

Fashola, stated this at the 19th National Council on Works meeting at the Federal Palace Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos with the theme “Reforming the

Road Sector for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.”

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, noted that the Federal government’s plan to reactivate the railways should be hastened as prelude

BRIEFS Lagos targets 25 percent local food production

Lagos lawmakers seek more protection for women and children

Eko Atlantic City project, biggest in the world: Commissioner

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AGOS State Com missioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru has described the Eko Atlantic City as the biggest project not only in Africa, but in the world, adding that the reclaimed land had expanded the City to about three million square metres of land.v Oniru, made the disclosure at a recent the annual ministerial press briefing.

N line with the deter mination of the Lagos State Government to boost food production in the State as well as bring service closer to farmers and stakeholders, Governor Babatunde Fashola commissioned the Farm Service Centre in Oko Oba, Agege with assurance that by year 2025, the state would produce at least 20 to 25 percent of its food needs and 60 percent target by 2050.

government henceforth, would arrest and charge such suspect(s) to court for violating the environmental laws of the state and faces appropriate sanctions.

The commissioner, while decrying the indiscriminate construction of buildings on water channels, urged prospective landlords to verify the status of the land they wish to purchase from the Lands Bureau and the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning before making any payment for the Land, emphasizing that this to ascertain if the Land is not under government acquisition or within the boundary of a channel or drainage in the area.

Some of the drainage projects inspected included: Elere Drain in Agege running through Odejobi (350.00m long), Agunbiade/Alfa Nla (1650.00m long) which will deflood Iju road, Elere Street, Alfa Nla Road, Agunbiade Road, Odejobi Street, Old Abeokuta Expressway.

Others in the area are AworiMoricas Drain (2000.00m long), Adealu Drain (650.00m), Papa Ashafa (1000.00m) which will deflood Moricas, Awori, Adenle, Alfa Nla, Ipaja streets, Roche, Ifelodun streets, Adealu and Papa Ashafa streets and environs.

While stating that the effort to contain flood was the responsibility of all, Bello enjoined residents to collaborate with the government by cleaning the drainages in their frontages and desisting from Indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorized places as well as desist from carrying out commercial activities on drainage alignments.

HAIRMAN House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon Omotayo Oduntan has emphasized the importance of the protection rights for women and children in Africa.

Speaking during a visit by Namibian delegates to the house, Oduntan, expressed concern over the growing menace of rape and violence against women which has become a dangerous trend.

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Lagos inaugurates new water board

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HE Lagos State Government in its commitment to fully exploit the potentials of the waterways in the State and realised its intermodel transport policy, has re inaugurated a six man board of Directors for the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).

The Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, during the reinauguration of the Board.

to compelling all movement of heavy duty goods to use rail rather than roads adding that the use of rail is an internationally acceptable standard observed by industrialized nations which is also critical to Nigeria’s plan to industrialize.

Fashola who attributed the rapid growth of Nigeria in the early 60s and 70s to the existence of a functional rail system noted that the present slow down was as a result of financial and technical shortcomings, inefficiency, nonpayment of worker’s salaries, low work morale, neglect and sabotage.

He therefore, called on the Federal and state governments as policy drivers to co-operate in order to make the reactivation of the sector a reality by using the avenue of this year’s National Council on Work’s deliberation as a platform for action.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22,

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN (3rd left), inspecting various on-going projects aimed at the Transformation of Obalende, Lagos during his inspection tour on Thursday, April 5, 2012. With him are: Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello (left), Permanent Secretary (Office of Drainage), Ministry of Environment, Engineer Muyideen Akinsanya (2nd left) and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson (4th left).

Socio-economic consequences of predicted 263 rainfall in Lagos

By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

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AST year, before the commencement of rainy season, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment announced weather predictions and expectation for the year, with warning to residents about the intensity of the expected rainfall.

Rightly as predicted, the rains came in torrents and the experience of July 19, 2011 can not be forgotten in a hurry. Since then, the Ministry of the Environment and similar ministries have been putting structures to contain and control flooding as well as other environmental disasters. The Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET, recently predicted a cumulative 236 days of heavy rainfall for Lagos State in 2012 with attendant risks.

To this effect, the state government, appealed to residents, especially those living in flood-prone areas to co-operate with government in its efforts at preventing flooding in the state by ensuring compliance to all environmental laws. Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello, speaking recently at the presentation of year 2012 seasonal rainfall prediction by NIMET and its socio-economic implication for Lagos state in

particular and Nigeria in general, noted that global climatic occurrences point to one undisputable fact, which is climate has changed, “and we are all living witnesses to disasters that occurred through flooding, tsunamis, cyclone, windstorm among others.”

Bello explained:” The peculiarity of Lagos as a coastal state is flooding and as we

predicted last year using the “Seasonal Rainfall Predictions , SRP it can be said that the pattern of year 2012 rainfall in South West with little or no deviation will have similar pattern with that of year 2011 rainfall.

“This is because some natural phenomena that controlled the year 2011 rainfall are still in force.”

Socio-economic SRP, is a vital weather advisory and early warning tool to planners, decision makers and operators of the various rainfalls-sensitive socio-economic sectors. It enhances preparedness against climate risk and associated hazards. It is an instrument that can be used for predictions of over 50 years.

2012—37

It has been predicted that in the fourth week of March, rain will increase gradually till late July or early August 2012. A break is expected in between, while the rains will start again in late August or early September, before the rainy season finally ends in November 2012.

The end of season for year 2012 rainfall, it has been predicted that November 12th, 2012, with a margin of error of two days, between 10th and 14th November 2012 as probable days.

While the total length of rainy season from January to December, 2012, cumulatively put at 236 days with a margin of error of two days between November 10th and 14th, 2012 as probable days.

Implications One of the implications is that of all the predictions, Lagos state shall experience a rainy season of about 234-238 days, with intermittent stoppage between March and August before restarting and ending in November 2012.

The magnitude of Lagos seasonal rainfall prediction for this year is that Lagos will experience heavy rainfall with serious intensity just like last year. Lagos is expected to record 1279mm of rainfall with marginal error of 50mm. One of such occurrences expected this year was the February 13 rainstorm in which over 15 people died including 10 school children and several properties destroyed.

Strategy adopted The ministry has been proactive since last year by coming up with forward-looking strategy and work programme, which had recognised a prerain, mid-rain and post-rain plan.

The programme, which was

BRIEFS Rainstorm: Lagos compensate families of drowned school children

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AGOS State Gov ernment at the weekend gave cash as compensation to the families of school children who lost their lives in a boat mishap of Feb 13th, 2012, when 10 children and two adults on their way to school in Igbede in Ojo Local Government Area due to heavy rainstorm.

The state government also distributed three tricycles to Ojota riverine community of Oto Awori Local Council Development Area, LCDA as palliative measure promised the community for the children to get to school instead of the usual crossing of the bridge through canoes to Igbede.

Flood: Lagos relocates federal medical centre, police station

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HE Federal medical Centre and police station both at about 80 percent completion stage situated in Yewa Road in Igbogbo Bayeku Local Government Area, Ikorodu area which had been identified to be obstructing free flow of storm water have been slated for demolition and eventual relocation by the Lagos State Government.

Therefore, to ensure effective and efficient discharge of storm water during the rains as well as allow the state government tackle the problem of flooding ravaging the area, the buildings would have to give way.

Germany opens fresh partnership with Lagos on waste conversion

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AGOS State Gov ernment and the Federal Republic of Germany are collaborating in developing institution on waste management aimed at achieving a sustainable mutual development. The state Commissioner for the Environment Mr. Tunji Bello, disclosed this at a four Day workshop on the Theory of Constraints, TOC for Lagos State characterization study, at Ikeja, being sponsored by the state government in conjunction with Messrs AT Association, a consultant to German Federal Ministry of Education.

8,000 Lagosians benefit from Lagos free health mission Over 8, 000 residents of Lagos state recently trooped into the Kosofe Local Government Area complex to take advantage of the free medical mission organised by the Lagos State Government.

Governor Babatunde Fashola while addressing the beneficiaries said the initiative was part of the state government’s effort to keep its citizens healthy of common ailments.

The two-day medical initiative afforded residents to take advantage of free tests and drugs while a few also underwent successful eye surgery free of charge.

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38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Waje finally drops an album

T imaya becomes a father

...acquires Honda SUV

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BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

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BY OPEOLUWANI AKINTAYO

trong-voiced songstress, Waje has concluded recording of her debut album, W.A.J.E.,”What Aren’t •Laide Just Enough” and she is ready to hit the market with the new album any moment from now.

Waje confirmed that the album is due for release soon.

Describing her experience while working on the much awaited album, Waje said it’s like passing through seven seas and seven oceans. She however expressed joy as she finally drops her maiden album.

According to her, the album contains many songs, majority of which are love songs. Waje said these songs were inspired by her personal experiences.

To bring the album to this point, the rising singer said she worked with the likes of great producers like Cobhams on three songs, eLDee on two songs and with M.I and TeeY Mix. In all, W.A.J.E contains

*Waje

12 songs and 2 bonus tracks.

And when asked where she draws her strength from, the singer replied that ‘it’s from God.’ Interestingly, the singer has also acquired a brand new (Navy Blue) Honda CRV, SUV .

The car, E-Daily gathered, worths over N5m. She perhaps, has joined her colleague and fellow singer, Omawunmi, who recently acquired a brand new (Gold Mercedes) Benz 450GL worth over N10m.

Ibadan hosts Harp Rhythm Unplugged

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avin records crew of Dr. Sid, D’Prince and Tiwa Savage leads the way, as Ibadan the ancient city finally gets a taste of a first class entertainment, when Cecil Hammond’s Flytime Entertainment and Promotions in conjunction with Harp lager, the premium beer brand, from Guinness Nigeria Plc, bring’ Rhythm Unplugged’ for the fun loving fans in the Oyo State capital.

This is the first time the nation’s most successful concert series is holding in Ibadan.

The event, a music, comedy concert, ‘The biggest show ever ” to be hosted in Ibadan this year, is coming at the heels of an equally successful show, earlier staged in Port Harcourt, River State this

year.

Billed to hold on June 2, 2012 at the Jorgor centre, Liberty Bus stop, Ring road Ibadan, the concert will also feature prominent names like W4, Chuddy K, Samclef, Rayce, Reminesse, Classico, Orexzi and Dpzle.

Comedians are not left out in the scheme of event, as they will be fully represented by Apororo, Ebohmbom, Pencil, Ajebaba and Memorycard.

“It promises to be a real night of premium fun with Harp and the Flytime Entertainment team, Cecil Hammond, CEO of the events promotion company, assured.

The Harp Rhythm Unplugged concert in Ibadan concert is the fourth in the series of Harp sponsored concerts.

Port-Harcourt, River State anchored the January edition.

ontroversial R&B singer, Timaya who is also known as Egberi Papa 1 of Balyelsa is presently in a happy mood as he welcomes his first baby girl into the world.

Timaya broke the cheering news about the birth of his baby girl to the world when he tweeted this, yesterday via social network, Twitter.

Obviously, the singer is overwhelmed as this boundle of joy is his first child.

‘Wow am now a father, thank u jehova for d birth of my cute daughter…‘, @timayatimaya happily tweeted.

Aside the picture of his cute baby girl which he also posted online , Timaya did not make any effort to disclose the identity of the mother of his baby.

Till date, no one knows who the mother of his baby is.

South Africa’s Umoja in music rights war

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outh African-based dance troupe, acclaimed across the world for its energetic and exciting dance routines,Umoja, has taken Joseph Shabalala, the late Bertha Egnos and Ian von Memerty to court in a bit to protect the country’s music heritage from being privatised.

And musician and cultural activist Mzwakhe Mbuli has joined the legal fight on the side of Umoja.

The Umoja team, led by

producer Joe Theron, playwrights Thembi Nyandeni and Todd Twala, initiated legal action in 2007.

In court papers, Umoja argue against the “privatisation of South African music of unknown origins by musicians and publishers that now claim to have originated or own the songs”.

The three songs at the centre of the row are Nomathemba, Thula ThulaBaba and Bawelile.

Shabalala claims to have written Nomathemba, Egnos

*Timaya

claims to have written Thula Baba and Lindelani Mkhize, Mthunzi Namba and Jabu Hlongwane claim to have written Bawelile or its version Siwelile.

Gallo Publishing, a subsidiary of Gallo Records, representing Shabalala, the late Egnos and Von Memerty, with two other publishers representing the other defendants, are said to have been privately pursuing Umoja since 2005 with legal threats, demanding royalties.

This has forced Umoja: The Spirit of Togetherness not to be performed at numerous venues.

Vanguard Vanguard,,

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER; You’ve had enough of fun in the recent times and it’s now time you settle down for hard work in order to prevent avoidable trouble. Be patient please.

LEO; Your concentration level and determination are the pillars of your success today. Yet you’ll need to respect your senior colleagues and protect your image VIRGO; It’s true you’re willing to work harder but you just have to drop both aggression and mental arrogance to allow things to roll accordingly. Then, you’re accident prone within your working arena. Respect the law and its agents today.

LIBRA; Serious thought may be giving to matters of the heart but it’s better you tarry a while. Joint ventures of short duration today may be an invitation to avoidable trouble SCORPIO; If you back your financial plans with concrete and positive actions things’ll go according to your desire. If you fail to realise importance of your spouse you would work your way into avoidable trouble; aren’t you tired of crisis? A

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MAY 22, 2012

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

— 39

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

GUESS the vast a jority of the people will chorus the university is the best school in the world.

This is not necessarily so.

Experience has shown that the best

The Best Education education has nothing to do with formal education. If you think that the university alone has a monopoly of quality education, I want to ask you, which

TERROR MUDA

university did Bill Gates, the computer wizard who established Microsoft computer graduated from? It is a well-known fact that he is school

in “Never say goodbye”

drop-out.

The best form of education is that which you gave yourself because you want it. This can only happen through commitment, dedication and discipline...

By Kola Fayemi

SAGITTARIUS; Your intelligence, competence and level of concentration may today bring you envy, which you don’t deserve within your working arena in a negative form but.

CAPRICORN; The Moon highlights your Solar second house of money which is good but, if you try to buy true love with money, you’ll be disappointed AQUARIUS; The Moon in your Star sign’ll gives you new confidence and with new supports from the powersthat-be, it’s like you are now un-stop-able. But be cautious, especially with the veterans within your base of operation PISCES; Better days are ahead of you but, you will today need to do away with non-productive argument and/or agreement. Try to be more diplomatic now.

ARIES; If what you’re doing today ’ll depend on tomorrow’s event it’s better you’re more careful now. Even things may not go according to your personal plans today.

Yet it’s important you plan both your immediate and far future carefully now.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

TAURUS; If you take to aggression, your ego would be deflated by your superior colleagues, but your being co-operative in a civilised way’ll prevent trouble GEMINI; Those willing to put you to shame one way or the other ’ll be disappointed with the turn of things today.

It’s good to secure support of your spouse.

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,

About my Success?

Dear Joshua, I am interested in your Astrological counselling. Kindly tell me everything about myself, especially my finance and career; would I be rich eventually, if yes what should I do to make it happen quickly.

Charles, Oyo.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Dear Charles, There are indications of financial success for you but you can not change what Almighty God Has designed for you talking about the timing (the quickness you talked in your letter) Certainly however no failure for you YOUR CAREER LINE Mercury –the planet of education and Accountancy, together with mighty Sun at positive angle to planets in Virgo (another Accounting Star sign) attracted you to both Accountancy profession and the academic world.

Truly you did not make wrong choice of career.

Money will eventually come along this line but it’ll not be as faster as if you take to OIL RELATED BUSINESS. Because Neptune (the planet of OIL) was very comfortable when you were born. It will not be out of place if you have filling stations as time goes by, because you are basically a GAS PERSON. Another money spinning vocation for you include writing either along your line or for film making industry; it is important you exhibit the higher quotient of creativity in your innerself.

Yes your dream of becoming A Professor will come to reality. Politics is another area you are not looking at now but will surely come. Do you say why? Because Aquarius is equally political. Venus that was powerfully placed when you were born is all about MONEY. Thus you have special ability to make money. And as it was at positive angle to disciplined Saturn, you are not giving to serious frivolity. One major challenge here is envy by others but you will eventually overcome. Another source of challenges is your love life which looks not totally balanced.

Basically you are a family minded person. You are equally loving and caring. But sometimes your love of freedom get better off you to the resentment of your closer partner(s).Then some other times it is other party’s fault making love-business very interesting. And unless you are more careful and determined you may marry more than once.

Commen3

by Lawrence Akapa

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Delta tasks youths on vocational skills

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

A

SABA—DELTA State government has advised Nigerian youths to embrace entrepreneurial and vocational skills that could guarantee better future for them rather than indulge in activities that will disrupt peace and unity of the country, as well as mar their future and that of their generation.

Commissioner for Youth Development, Ebifa Ijomah, said this while speaking at a town-hall meeting with youths at Idumuje-Ugboko, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state.

Ijomah, while stressing that violence, armed robbery, kidnapping and other social vices should not be used by youths in the country to press home their demand or register their grievances, enjoined them to fashion out more civil ways to dialogue with government.

He said: “Government is always ready to partner with youths positively. It is important we get this issue clearer. Government cannot do everything for us. Government establishments are already saturated and government cannot employ everybody. So, you should begin to embrace entrepreneurial skills to develop yourself. Our destinies lie in our hands.”

Huawei sponsors ICT confab

H

UAWEI technologies company Nigeria Limited is among leading telecommunications companies sponsoring the first national conference on information and communication technology, ICT, in education holding in Abuja today.

It is part of the collaborations between the Federal Ministry of Education and Huawei which began in March with the unveiling of a scholarship scheme at the University of Lagos.

At the end of this conference, three students selected from the project papers will receive one year free tuition, while selected students will have the opportunity of a free half day training at the company’s Abuja Training Centre.

FRSC records 162 deaths in Kaduna

BY BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO, with Agency Report

L

OKOJA—FEDERAL Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has said 162 persons died in various accidents in the first quarter of the year in Kaduna State.

The Zonal Commanding Officer, Mr. Samuel Obayemi, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna, weekend, after decorating four officers who were promoted.

This is even as the commission has deployed 100

of its personnel to patrol the Lokoja-Abuja Road in view of the high rate of accidents recorded along the route.

Kogi State Sector Commander, Michael Olapade, made this known in Lokoja, yesterday, while flagging off Operation Stop the Killings crusade, adding that this became necessary due to increasing rate of auto accidents along the road.

Meanwhile, Obayemi said the analysis of accident statistics in the first quarter of the year, showed that 119 cases were recorded as against 281during the

same period last year. He said the positive result was realised in spite of the various challenges of logistics and inadequate public awareness faced by the zonal command.

Obayemi said the number of persons involved in road accidents dropped from 2,403 persons in 2011 to 1,027 in the first quarter of this year, showing a drop by 52.7 per cent.

He said: “The number of persons injured dropped from 1,996 in the first quarter of 2011 to 975 the same period this year, showing a

decrease of 1,021 or 51.2 per cent, while the number of vehicles involved in accident dropped reasonably within the period.’’

He listed other challenges facing the zone as the inability of the command to fully enforce the use of crash helmets by motorcyclists and over-speeding by some segment of unregistered road transport workers.

The promoted officers are: Deputy Corps Commander, DCC, Mr. Shehu Usman, promoted to Corps Commander (CC) and posted to

Yobe as Sector Commander; David Sayi, who was a Deputy Corps Commander, now Corps Commander and posted to Kebbi as a Sector Commander.

Similarly, Deputy Corps Commander Aliyu Umar, now Corps Commander, posted to Jigawa as a Sector Commander; and Mr. Macharch Jatau, who was Assistant Corps Commander, elevated to Deputy Corps Commander and RS1 Kaduna Sector Head of Administration and Human Resources.

CONDOLENCE: From left— Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), NIM; Mrs. Funmi Sofoluwe, widow of late Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe, and Prof.

Rahman Bello, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), during a condolence visit by NIM. PHOTO: Oscar Ochiogu.

Activist wants Itsekiri's claim on amnesty programme ignored

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE

D

ELTA—A Niger Delta activist, Mr. Frank Akiefa, has called on the Federal Government and the House of Representatives to ignore the agitation by the Itsekiri ethnic group under the auspices of the Itsekiri National Youth Council, INYC, for inclusion into the amnesty programme, arguing that they were not former militants.

Akiefa, who spoke in Warri, Delta State, said: “In 2009, General Ayon, an Itsekiri, led some youths to surrender arms in Koko headquarters of Warri North Local Government Area to Navy Commodore Yaya, where they clearly said that they were not militants neither were they criminals but acquired the

arms to protect the Itsekiri from attacks from neighbouring communities and should not be regarded as militants in any way.”

He added that the ceremony had in attendance,

Gen. Bonny Gawei and other Ijaws as well as some Itsekiri youth leaders, including Omolubi, Ejele and David Tonwe and the then chairman of the council, Mr. Ebosa, stressing that

their claim of non-inclusion in the amnesty was false and misleading.

Akiefa advised them against giving the Federal Government’s amnesty programme for ex-

militants an ethnic colouration and wondered “ why they waited for over three years before remembering that they were excluded.

Where have they been?”

Ondo to commission model schools, 21 others

A

RRANGEMENTS have been concluded

by Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to commission Caring Heart Mega Primary Schools initiated by his administration in Okitipupa and OkeIjebu in Akure, even as work is expected to be completed on 21 others scattered around the state soon.

Commissioner for Education, Mr. Remi Olatubora, said teachers have already been recruited for the schools, adding that arrangements have also been concluded for the return of the evacuated pupils of the

former Oke-Ijebu primary school to the new school.

He said: “Teachers have been recruited for the new schools and the original pupils that were evacu-

ated from the schools before the government’s intervention are the ones that would be moved in for now.

“Fresh intakes into the schools would be made by

next session but for now every pupil that used to be there before the transformation would come in first as the government promised.”

Customs impound containers over false declaration

BY GODFREY BIVBERE

L

AGOS—APAPA Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has impounded five containers with Duty Paid Value, DPV of N101,151,447 million for false declaration.

The seizure is a fallout of the suspension of the benchmark policy of the Service which led to the enforcement of sections 46 and 47 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, CEMA, which empowers the Service to seize

goods whose owners doctored documents with the intention of short-paying the accruable duty.

The containers, which include two 20-footers and three 40-footers, are at the APM terminal, Apapa.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 41

American brands take the market by storm

BY THEODORE OPARA

T

HE American auto brands are gradually bouncing back into the Nigerian market, having lost their leading position to the European and Japanese brands many years ago. There was a time when the American brands were the most sought after in the country with their bulky models from makers like Ford, Chevrolet, Cadilac, Mercury Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge etc before their popularity went down for some reasons which included; high fuel consumption, poor designs, high pricing etc.

But today, the American auto brands are beginning to recover their lost glory in the Nigerian market with their latest models, which apart from being economical with fuel, are quite trendy with advanced technology.

The American automakers seem to have learnt from their past mistakes of making bogus and fuel guzzling machines and have come up with portable cars with high fuel economy, while at the same time reflecting the typical American high taste. This development is beginning to win as many as possible converts to the American brand going by the Nigerian vehicle import statistics in 2011.

The Ford brand has consistently shown very great improvement in the Nigerian market in the last three years with import figures on the rise on yearly basis. From

These are qualities that most Nigerians have not discovered about the new generation American models.

Perhaps, it will be a matter of time for Nigerians to discover the hidden qualities of the new generation American models just like it took them time to realise the qualities of Japanese brands like Toyota, Nissan, Honda,

mere 900 units imported in 2009, Ford ended the year 2010 and 2011 with 1730 and 2653 imports respectively. It’s Ranger pickup has remained a big threat to the Toyota Hilux dominated1 ton pickup truck market segment. The Ranger, apart from having a good design, delivers good performance on and off road. Though Ford has not been able to replicate this performance in the sedan segment in Nigeria, its Sports Utility Vehicles like the Escape, Explorer, and Everest have the potentials to corner good chunk of the

SUV market segment in Nigeria.

Apart from Ford, the Isuzu and Chevrolet models seem to have woken up from slumber.

Isuzu, having ended the year 2010 with the import of only four vehicles, bounced back in 2011 with 226 vehicles import.

The same goes for Chevrolet, which ended the year 2011 with almost 1000 vehicle when compared to about 520 vehicles imported in 2010. Though Chevrolet is not into commercial vehicle segment, its sedans like the Aveo, Spark, Optra, Epica and

Cruze are gradually finding their way into the hearts of many Nigerians.

With these American models stamping their feet on the Nigerian market, the Chrysler led brand like Jeep and Dodge have decided to take the market by storm, churning out world class models. The Jeep models which are already making waves in the market include the Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Compass and Patriot, which were introduced into the market alongside the Dodge Durango by Weststar Associates Limited.

These vehicles come with whole lot of improvements which have brought them at per with the Japanese and top European models but with a price advantage.

Apart from this, the Jeep and Durango models are finished in typical America standard with quality leather interior, premium music sets, safety features, and high comfort amenities. With beautiful designs and well finished interiors, these American brands boast very powerful engine and fuel economy.

Mitsubishi etc in the ’70s when the European models like Peugeot, Renault, Opel, Mercedes-Benz, Volkwagen etc ruled the market.

From all indications, the strong showing by the American brands in the country coupled with the improved quality of the Korean brand will make the market more.

FRSC elevates Aipoh, Olaniran to Asst. Corps Marshals

T

HE Federal Road Safety Corps has promoted the Zonal Commanding Officer of Abuja Zonal Command Headquarters, Austin Aipoh and the Principal Staff Officer to the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Wole Olaniran, to the rank Assistant Corps Marshals.

Their promotion forms part of the recent elevation of seven Corps Commanders to Assistant Corps Marshals, 15 Deputy Corps Commanders to Corps Commanders and 13 Assistant Corps Commanders to the rank of Deputy Corps Commanders.

Details of the promotions indicate that the Head, Manpower Development Section; under the Training, Standards and Certification Department, Kehinde Adeleye, was promoted alongside the Adamawa State Sector Commander, Luka Kinya as Assistant Corps Marshals.

Similarly, Osun State Sector Commander, Alfred Adeboye, has joined the league of

Assistant Corps Marshals alongside the Ag. Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 3 Yola, Ahmad Hassan and his Zonal Head of Operations, Comfort Uwadoka, who were also promoted as Assistant Corps Marshals.

For Corps Commanders, the Ag.Sector Commanders of Anambra State; Hygenius Omeje, Bayelsa; Vincent Jack; Niger; David Usman and Gombe State; Kuteb Galadima, were also promoted as Corps Commanders while the Head, Planning and Advisory Unit at the FRSC National Headquarters, Clement Oladele, the Head, Project Implementation Office, Chidi Nkwonta and the Secretary, FRSC Staff Cooperative Scheme, Godwin Omiko, were also elevated as Corps Commanders.

Other Corps Commanders include Imoh Etuk, Shehu Mohammed, Daniel Sayi, Shehu Umar, Aminu Umaru, Ibrahim Abubakar and Jide Fehintola.

42—V anguard , TUESD AY, MA Y 22, 2012 42—Vanguard TUESDA MAY

Sun Motors re-introduces zero interest finance for Nissan O

NE of Nissan dealers in Nigeria, Sun Motors Limited has reintroduced her award winning ‘Zero interest sales incentive for desiring automobile patrons seeking to own delectable Nissan vehicles.

The company made this known in Lagos last week when it reinaugurated her retail shop and also acquainted local motoring journalists of fresh plans to raise the ante for Nissan by positioning the brand among top three leading marquees in Nigerian automobile market.

Sun Motors’ explained that Zero interest financing allows desiring Nissan patrons to finance their purchases through banks or any other lending institutions without interest.

Adding that the initiative was fundamental to the ongoing turnaround in the company, Mrs. Olufunke Ayodele, marketing and communications manager, Sun Motors Limited recalled that Sun Motors was in 2006 appointed one of Nigeria’s Nissan retailers and in no mean time, became a force to reckon with in the country ’s automobile market.

She said two years later, “precisely in 2008, Sun Motors earned reputation for excellence, increasing Nissan market share through her charming sales ingenuity which earned her ‘Zero interest financing scheme’ and the ‘buy now, pay later’ roll-over prize campaigns outstanding awards.”

And by 2010, Sun Motors had become the cynosure of all eyes, endearing patrons from all walks of life through her extraordinary rollover price offer of up to N1m savings on select Nissan models that suddenly upped the ante for Nissan.

Mrs Ayodele said the company is leveraging on her past achievements to reposition the brand among first three leading brands on the local sales chart. She however added that “a quickwitted marketing team has been saddled with the responsibility of delivering on the company ’s mid-term goals.”

The team, according to her comprises of tested marketing experts who would explore several contemporary marketing adjuncts to enable it position Nissan among the first three automobiles, she assured.

Also waxing rhetorically, Mrs. Ayodele said: “No one ever lights a candle and keeps it under the table”, stressing that Nissan is incomparable and has remained one of the prime vehicles ever designed to add value and cater for desiring needs.”

She said contemporary Nissan range incorporates elegance, functionality, agility and class – some criteria that are yet unmatched, he boasted.

Some of Nissan familiar models include Nissan Sunny, Sentra,

Tiida, Qashqai and Teana passenger cars. In the 4x4 category, Nissan Amarda, Patrol, Pathfinder, Murano and X-Trail Executive currently hold sway, while Nissan Civilian, Urvan mini bus, Nissan Hard-body and Navara Pick-ups are ranked among the leading utility and commercial vehicles.

Meanwhile Sun Motors has reassured customers of attractive and high quality products with excellent after sales service and support facilities at her outlets in Ijora Causeway and Victoria Island Lagos and Abuja.

Mrs. Ayodele said: “Our objective is to develop a unique brand personality for Nissan through distinctive marketing initiatives, design, precision engineering and advanced technology.

ABC Transport unveils Smart Coach

A

BC Transport Plc has introduced a new coach operation known as Smart Coach, aimed at meeting the increasing demands of its cusomers in the medium size bus segment. The Smart Coach, a Navigomodel 27-seater luxury coach, is designed to offer passengers an alternative between a coach and a mini bus.

ABC Transport introduced this new segment as a result of its findings that fatality rate of passengers in mini buses operating long hauls is usually very high, so as a matter of safety policy, the management of ABC Transport Plc has never favoured the use of mini buses for long distance travels.

According to a

United Nation admits FRSC

T

HE World Health Organization has admitted the Federal Road Safety Corps as a member of the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC).

According to a letter endorsed by the Director and the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration Chair, Dr. Etienne Krug, the FRSC admittance is a fallout from the 15th meeting of the UNRSC in Washington DC, United States of America on 1617 April, 2012, in

recognition of the Corps’ role in driving road safety ideals in Nigeria and within the African sub-region, which has added tremendous value towards achieving the goals of the decade of action on road safety.

The United Nations Road Safety Collaboration is an informal consultative mechanism whose members are committed to road safety efforts and in particular, to the implementation of the recommendations of the

World report on road traffic injury prevention.

The goal of the UNRSC is to facilitate international co-operation and to strengthen global and regional coordination among United Nations agencies and other international partners to implement the United Nations General Assembly resolutions and the recommendations of the World report thereby supporting country programmes bordering on road safety.

statement made available by the company, the Smart Coach combines the advantages of a coach and mini bus to deliver excellent service. Coach features and the sleekness of a small bus, which imbue it with easy maneuverability on difficult roads. Thus, ABC Smart Coach will meet the needs of customers who do not want to travel in a luxury bus because of the road condition in some parts of the country, which turns a simple trip to a tiring experience, and also the needs of customers, who want to enjoy coach comfort but are rather too skeptical about travelling in a small bus because of its safety implications.

According to Mr. Jude Nneji, Deputy Managing Director, ABC Transport Plc, the Smart Coach will add value to “customers of ABC Transport Plc, particularly those who have kept faith with the company over the years.

Its distinctive styling, aesthetic design and enhanced ergonomics will provide the same quality of ride and passenger comfort that is the hallmark of coach.”

The Smart Coach will be operating in Nigeria for the first time and will be deployed on the

Lagos-Port Harcourt and Abuja-Port Harcourt routes for now.

Already, technical staff of ABC Transport had been trained in Turkey in readiness for the Smart Coach operation in Nigeria. The training was organised by Otokar Otomotive, a major a u t o m o t i v e manufacturer in Europe, and was aimed at equipping ABC Transport engineers with firsthand knowledge and special competence in maintenance and repair of the Smart Coach.

The ABC Smart Coach is medium size, with roomy interior and lush upholstery. It is very ideal for intercity travels and provides a high level of comfort for passengers. It has been meticulously designed to give every passenger that all-important feelgood factor. It has onboard entertainment facilities, genuine leather passenger seats with adjustable foot rests, fold-down armrests, and two-point seat belt. The air-conditioning system and air channels from the heat exchanges guarantee a comfortable interior climate. It also has a spacious luggage compartment, which can be loaded and unloaded easily, and overhead luggage racks.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 43

Lagos doctors’ strike: Patients lament as death toll rises P

ATIENTS seeking health care services in Federal and state hospitals in Lagos have continued to bear the brunt of the indefinite doctors’ strike even as the death toll from the indefinite strike called by Lagos doctors has continued to rise as access to medical services continue to be inadequate or unavailable.

Investigations by Good Health Weekly showed that on daily basis, at least one death is recorded among patients trying to access medical treatment at any of the government hospitals in Lagos.

A visit to some of the deserted hospitals yesterday showed that the few critically ill patients still on admission in the wards were left on their own. Several who confessed inability to afford medical care elsewhere, gave contrary views to the impression that the State government had deployed doctors to most of its facilities.

At the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, relatives of patients who spoke to Good Health Weekly said no doctors were on ground to attend to the patients.

In her narration, the mother of a motorbike accident victim stated: “My eyes cannot say what I have seen so far since my daughter was admitted here. If I were to give an account of the number of people who have died in this ward alone since April 14, I would say well over 50. I do not want my daughter to die here as I have seen others die since my daughter has been admitted. Between last Satur-

day and today, (Monday) at least seven people have died just in this ward.”

Recounting her ordeal to Good Health Weekly, the woman who explained that her daughter had been on admission since April 14, insisted that not one doctor had attended to the girl since April 24, 2012 when the doctors embarked on indefinite strike.

“It is sad that things have degenerated to this level.

The number of dead patients that have been wheeled out of the ward is shocking and alarming.

Not too long after one body is wheeled out, another is taken out shortly afterward.”

She hinted that her daughter was involved in a motorcycle accident and had a fracture and was admitted into the surgical ward where doctors reviewed her condition and commenced treatment.

However, no review the treatment had followed since, she alleged.

Asked how the patients have been coping without a doctor, she said the prescription written by the doctors that treated her the first

time she was admitted is what is still being used by nurses on duty.

“The daily injection the doctors prescribed is N1, 200. We still buy the injection everyday, which the nurses administer on her.

Sadly, the Fee-Paying Pharmacy in LASUTH where we buy drugs that is highly subsidised has not functioned for two days running. We do not know whether the closure is as a result of the strike,” said the younger sister to the patient on admission.

She said at the moment without treatment, they were still being charged N1, 200 daily for the bed.

“We had to make our own food as we are not being provided with food as well as buy our own injections at the rate of N1,250 each.

“We pay between N200 and N300 every day to dress my daughter ’s wound as the accident had affected her two legs and they were both put in casts.

Asked why they have remained at LASUTH, she said: “We want to take her out of here to a private hospital where doctors would attend to her.”

• President Goodluck Jonathan (right)with Dr. Kin J-Egwuonwu National Coordinator of National Cancer Prevention Programme (mass medical mission) (left) and Professor F.A. Durosinmi-Etti, Chairman, National Consultative Committee for Cancer Control in Nigeria (middle) during a deliberation in Abuja recently, on the proposed Port Hacourt Comprehensive Centre Center project.

Cassava flour in bread will save Nigeria N300 bn annually — ORHII BYCHIOMA OBINNA

W

ITH the introduction of cassava bread, Nigeria stands to save over N300 billion from importation of wheat annually, stakeholders have disclosed.

Director - General of the

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii who disclosed this in Lagos during the formal launch of UTC, Plc High Quality Cassava based bread posited that 20 per cent high quality cassava flour

in bread will drastically reduce over dependence on wheat importation.

Orhii who lamented staggering statistics of high costs incurred by the country on importation, noted that: “In 2010 alone, Nigeria imported wheat

KWSG budgets N200m for General Hospitals

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

A

S part of its strategic infrastructure objective of strengthening healthcare delivery in the state through 500 metres access to quality primary healthcare centres, the Kwara State Government has earmarked N200 million for the rehabilitation of five general hospitals across the state.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, who disclosed this during the 2012 Omu Aran day

and N2 billion Development Fund launch by the Omu Aran community, said it was in line with his administration's shared prosperity agenda.

The Governor, advocated for a greater involvement of communities in self help projects for the acceleration of developmental efforts of government for speedy development of the state and described the people of the state as veritable stakeholders in the realization of his administration's Shared Prosperity programme designed to boost

the provision of infrastructure and human capital for economic growth.

Ahmed, who said the challenges of governance had made it expedient for greater partnership between the various communities and the state government calls "for greater participation in the development of our state not only through a positive engagement with government policies, but also through communal self- help projects".

The Governor also disclosed that 244 classrooms

in the state owned schools were undergoing renovation in order to create a conducive atmosphere for learning using enhanced education infrastructure.

In his address, the President, Omu Aran Development Association, Chief Peter Oyinloye said the funds realized would be used for the rehabilitation of Omu Aran Township roads, upgrading of facilities at Omu Aran High School and the construction of a modern palace for the traditional ruler of the town.

worth more than N636 billion, rice worth more than N356 billion and refined sugar worth more than N217 billion.

“To decrease our over dependence on wheat imports, which leading companies like UTC has come up with cassava bread, there is need for other companies to comply with the Cassava Revolution initiative.

Continuing, the NAFDAC boss pledged that NAFDAC would ensure that the flour is well fortified with appropriate micronutrients that are good for health especially, lactating mothers, pregnant women and children.

On the benefits, he said compliant would also create job opportunities in all value chains. “Apart from saving the Federal Government N300 billion, if we comply and begin to eat bread made of cassava floor, it will create more

jobs not only for processors but transporters and the whole value chain.”

Commending UTC Nigeria Plc, he said: “We will ensure that this bread is very healthy and has all the micronutrients appropriately fortified with the necessary micronutrients and make sure is NAFDAC complaints and completely Nigerian” Earlier at the launch, the Managing Director of UTC Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Folunsho Olaniyan who explained that the organisation encountered several setbacks but after 92 trials and other challenges finally in February, 2012 was able to achieve 20 per cent high quality cassava flour in the bread.

Olaniyan pointed out that UTC has successfully replaced wheat flour not just in bread but in doughnuts, cakes and other pasteries.

44 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Prioritise proven solutions to fight malnutrition, FG told

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

W

ITH the 2012 State of the World’s Mothers report ranking Nigeria among the worst countries in the world to be a woman, child and access good health, Nigerian government at all levels have been urged to pay adequate attention to maternal and child health issues.

Among issues raised were the need for government to increase support for proven solutions to fight malnutrition which the same report revealed that malnutrition contributes over 2.6 million deaths annually.

Making the call at a 4- day media workshop in Ilorin, Kwara State, the participants which were mainly medical and media practitioners who decried the plight of mothers, newborns and their children regretted that the burden of maternal, newborn and child mortality were not adequately reported to create necessary awareness for possible actions.

Presenting the report to the participants at the workshop on

•Branch Chairman, Lagos State Association, of General Private Medical Practitioners, AGPMPN, Dr. Olayinka Oladosu, Regional President of WONCA, Dr. Sylvester Osinowo and National President , AGPMPN at a world press conference to celebrate this year’s World Family Day in Lagos weekend

Health experts want smoking cessation at all levels

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

I

RKED by rising number of deaths and diseases associated with smoking, health experts have stressed the need for government at all levels to adopt preventive comprehensive health education programmes on smoking cessation and control.

The experts under the auspices of the World Association of Family Doctors, WONCA, noted that the estimated death rate of 4.9m people in 1999 was expected to rise to 10m by 2020, out of which would affect 7m

people in developing countries including Nigeria.

In his submission at a lecture to commemorate this year’s World Family Day with the theme: "Healthy Living: The Role of the Family Doctor, Smoking Cessation Among Doctors and in the Community", the Africa Regional President of WONCA, Dr. Sylvester Osinowo pointed out that smoking had been identified to cause the heaviest burden of morbidity and mortality on Nigerians compared to any other risk factor

Hospital pharmacists advance practice B

EDAZZLE Innovations, a frontline event management orga nisation based in Lagos launches her Hospital Pharmacists meeting titled “Excellence in Hospital Pharmacy Practice Conference’, tomorrow May 23, 2012 under the auspices of National Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists, NAHAP, Lagos branch.

Issues affecting the hospital sector of the pharmaceutical industry will be discussed.

Dr Dere Awosika, a distinguished pharmacist and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power would deliver the key note address. Other speakers include Mr Lere Baale, a consummate pharmacist and CEO of Business School Netherlands, Prof. Wale Oke, Chief Medical Director of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Pharm Oluranti Adedeji, Deputy Director, Pharmaceutical Services, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Pharm Anthony Akhimien, immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.

According to CEO Bedazzle Innovations, Mrs Oreoluwa Solana, a unique feature of this conference is the best practice sharing session. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital would showcase their electronic pharmacy; the University College Hospital, Ibadan, would showcase their unit dose dispensing system; Federal Medical Center, Owo would showcase their drug revolving fund while the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi would be sharing their clinical ward round experience.

Chairperson, NAHAP, Lagos State Branch, Pharm Adefolake Adeniyi noted: “The role of a pharmacist in the healthcare team cannot be overemphasized. Our plan is to come together annually to share ideas and best practices that would move the profession forward.”

Osinowo stated that smoking caused coronary heart diseases, cancer and reduction in fertility for women added that it also posed adverse social, economic and developmental effects on the lives of individuals, their families and the community at large.

His words, "Tobacco consumption causes multiple health risks as cigarette smokers are 2.4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than non-smokers."

"The economic burden includes direct medical care cost for tobacco-induced illnesses, absence from work, reduction in productivity and death."he said.

Advocating that a preventive comprehensive health education programme on smoking cessation and control should be adopted, he said "the primary health care centers being the nearest to the people should be empowered to do push programmes with vigour to catch the youths before they adopt the serious health hazard habit.

The President recommended that anti-smoking clinics be established in the PHCs and sickbay of colleges and tertiary institutions to rehabilitate those who were enmeshed already in the habit.

He also appealed to family physicians and general medical practitioners disengage themselves from habits such as smoking so as to be good role models for the society to follow.

Speaking, the National President of the Association of General Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPMPN, Dr Anthony Omolola said that preventive healthcare through annual check up by a doctor was the best healthy living strategy. On the importance of family doctor, Omolola notes that their roles could not be over emphasized in the medical treatment as family doctors are the ones closer to the patient, have a personal relationship with him thereby making it easier to treat him or her.

Pfizer Nutrition enhances child nutrition

N

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

UTRITION experts last week in Lagos rechoed the impact of nutrition deficiencies on long term growth and development of growing children in the country.

At the formal launch of Promise PE Gold, a Nutrition expert, Prof.

Emmanuel Ekanem, Head of the Peadiatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, who spoke on the key “at risk” nutrients such as Iron, Zinc, Vitamin A and D , Iodine said the se nutrients are identified by the World Health Organization, WHO, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization , FAO, and by the American Academy of Paediatrics, AAP, who indicate that children are most at risk for consuming less than the recommended micronutrients amounts per day.

In his presentation, Prof. Abiodun, a Professor of Pediatrics & Child Health, University of Benin, Nigeria, who addressed early nutri-

Continues on Page 46

“Current Maternal Newborn and Child Health Issues in Nigeria organised by Save the Children”, Senior Advisor Communications and Advocacy, Save the Children, Nigeria, Dr. David Olayemi, said the rate at which Nigerian women and their children are dying was unacceptable.

The newly released 2012 Save the Children report tagged; “Nutrition in the First 1, 000 Days: State of the World Mothers”, ranked Nigeria 80th out of the 80 less developed countries assessed and 123rd out of the 165 countries assessed when tiers are combined.

The report also show that no fewer than 52, 000 women die annually due to pregnancy and childbirth related cases; that is, six women die every 10 minutes.

One in every seven children also dies before age five, while no fewer than 284, 000 babies die annually within 28 days after birth.

Stating that one death in a decade in Norway would be a national disaster, he regretted that one woman in 23 in Nigeria will die from a pregnancy – related cause.

His words, “Though the gory statistics is not exclusive to Nigeria, but to emerge 123 out of 165 was not satisfactory. Apart from the United States of America, USA, no other country in the world has abundant resources as Nigeria, yet we are going backwards while other countries are catching up with us.”

Olayemi further identified dearth of health workers as serious challenge to healthcare delivery. According to him, there is the need to strengthen the healthcare system by investing in frontline health workers to reach the most vulnerable women and children.

“There is a critical shortage of at least 1 million frontline health workers who are key to delivering the nutrition solutions that can save lives and prevent stunting” The Senior Advisor, also identified, attitude, lack of monitoring system as major factors affecting proper planning in healthcare.

Stating that Nigeria plan without evidence he said: “There is need for Nigeria government to identify what he described as “trainable’ Traditional Birth Attendants to fill in the gaps created by shortage of Skilled Births Attendants, SBAs. He however, explained that in recognising the TBAs, there is also the need to educate them on their competence to prevent them from going beyond their competence.

“The training of TBAs is an emergency but unfortunately, Nigeria has not started. We need to recognise and train TBAs that are trainable and convey to them Continues on Page 46

45 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

My test result shows E.coli Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am 34. I did urine test and the result shows that I have e.coli. What does it mean and what can I do?

Dapo, Abuja

I urinate frequently each time I take alcohol Dear doctor, OCTOR, I am 35 years old. I drink alco

D

hol and spirit. I realise that each time I take it I urinate frequently. When I sleep at night, my breath ceases, and I will be gasping for breath. Once, I fainted and woke up. What is happening to me?

Godwin, Abeokuta

Worry over complex ovarian cyst Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I have a swelling in the abdomen for years. I did a scan that shows a huge complex ovarian cyst with multiple septations. What does that mean?

Rose, Delta Answer THIS description might be that of a malignant ovarian cyst. See a gynaecologist.

Suffering from 2 years old toilet infection

D

OCTOR, I have been suffering from toilet infection now for the past two years. I have tried some tubes but not working. Is even itching and getting worse now to my buttocks.

What else can I do?

Jane, Lagos Answer YOU are likely to be suffering from thrush, otherwise known as candidiasis. It is good to make correct diagnosis. Use carnesten cream for two weeks and fluconazole capsule, 3 caps every week for four weeks.

Answer, I THINK you should stop taking alcohol before you permanently develop heart disease. As regards the frequent urination, it is expected because of the effect of alcohol on what we call antidiuretic hormone. It suppresses it. I am more concerned about the chest experience.

What will I use to prevent pregnancy?

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am 24, had an unprotected sex on second, third, 13th and 14th of this month. What can I use to prevent pregnancy; postinor 2 doesn’t work for me?

Providence, Sokoto Answer

UNPROTECTED sex for a single girl like you is dangerous.

AIDS is real. Having said this, I advise you wait and see if your menses will come. Otherwise you take a decision.

I want to get pregnant but my husband is rough in sex Dear doctor, OCTOR, I want to get pregnant, but my husband is rough in sex. Each time he does it with me, my menses will start flowing. How can I get pregnant?

Nkiruka, Aba

D

Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am pregnant and already term. My doctor advised Ceasarian Section because of breech presentation as a first timer. Is that okay.

Joyce, Ondo Answer THE doctor is absolutely right I beg you, ceasarian section is a must in an untested pelvis with breech presentation. Just pray and go ahead.

Bleeding in 3-month pregnancy Dear doctor,

D

OCTOR, I am three months pregnant and I am bleeding. I have been given some drugs but it is not abating. What should I do?

Justina, Owerri Answer,

YOU should go for pelvic scan to ascertain fetal viability.

If viable go on absolute bed rest and other treatments. Otherwise you will be advised further.

Whether rough sex or gentle sex, as long as good erection is achieved, it doesn’t matter anymore how is being done. What matters is the end result, which is pregnancy.

Answer

WHETHER rough sex or gentle sex, as long as good erection is achieved, it doesn’t matter anymore how is being done. What matters is the end result, which is pregnancy.

To get pregnant, see your doctor for some tests.

He only has to take it easy whenever you get pregnant.

Is IVF always successful?

Dear Doctor,

D

Concern over diagnosis of fibroid

OCTOR, I want to get pregnant but it has refused to happen naturally. Is In-vitro Fertilisation IVF always successful?

Njideka, Enugu State

Dear doctor, OCTOR, I have been diagnosed to have huge fibroid with hydronephro sis. Am I still alive? Kikelomo, Lagos

D

Answer

Is Ceasarean Section okay?

Answer, IT only means that you have urinary tract infection. What to do is simple.

Just use the most sensitive drug of choice as it is written in the result. Use it for 10 days please.

YOU are very much alive.

The hydronephrosis is as a result of pressure effect from the fibroid.

Just go ahead and remove the fibroid immediately, and every other thing will fall in place.

Answer NO, it is not 100 percent. Even the Gyneacologist will tell you that during the counselling session.

Doctor almost perforated my womb Dear Doctor,

D

OCTOR, Doctor, I have had abortions up to five times. I mean D and C. The last one I went for became an issue.

The doctor almost perforated my womb. I suffered severe pain and was admitted for three days. Am I okay to get pregnant again?

Ekaette, Akwa Ibom State Answer IS ONLY the doctor that can explain that. He only understood what happened. I think you are free to know.

46 — Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 22, 2012

Prioritise proven solutions Continues from page 44

•From left, Director Food Security, Vestergaard Frandsen, Mr. Thomas Hansen; Regional Manager, Mr. Ola Isaac and Area Manager Food Security, Mr. Tunde Raji during the official launching of Zero Fly Livestock Insecticide-Treated Net at the Tanscorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

their limits and why they should not do things that are outside their competence.”

Speaking on the importance of nutrition which was part of the main focus of the report, he called for the promotion of exclusive breast feeding for at least for the first six months of life.

According to the report, one out of every three Nigerian children is malnourished, the report shows.

Quoting from the report, he said: “There is recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding at least for the first six months of life. This boosts chances of survival by at least six times.

Good nutrition for the child and mother from conception and for at least two years after delivery to help the child. The right diet

supplement that is rich in iron, vitamin A and Zinc.”

He however urged the Nigerian media to set agenda on how best to collectively tackle them as well as educate the public about their rights by bringing the ugly issues to public glare.

In what he tagged as “Iceberg”, Programme Manager of Devcoms, Mr. Akin Jimoh, who frowned at the current health situation in the country, called on the media to dwell more on articles that could invoke positive policies that would improve healthcare in the country.

Jimoh, said: “The media is known to set agenda for people on what to think and exposure to media messages, disseminated through a variety of channels is one of the most effective way to change attitude and behaviour.”

Pfizer enhances child nutrition with Promise PE Gold Continues from Page 44 tional programming and the importance of early nutrition , cautioned against excessive protein intake in the first two years of life, adding that it could lead to accelerated weight gain and risk of adult obesity and its complications such as Diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Abiodun further highlighted the benefits of breastfeeding for long term health.

Prof. Emily Flores, Professor of Nutrition from the University of

Manila said noted that 25 to 35 percent of growing children develop feeding challenges at some point during their early years.

Flores argued that children who are picky eaters should be recognised and addressed immediately, because inadequate nutrients consumed in the early stages of childhood will have a long lasting effect.

Also speaking, Dr. Mohamed Salah, Medical Director – Compliance and R&D, Pfizer Nutrition, Africa & Middle East, said,

“Constant improvement and meeting with the changing nutritional needs of growing children is our hallmark.

The new reformulated range provides the right balance and amount of nutrients according to the recent international recommendations and contains 100 per cent of the five key at risk nutrients. These high-quality nutrients are needed to support ideal health, growth and development for growing children”. ”We are also launching, the new

Promise PE GOLD which is the result of our commitment to see the healthy advancement of the Nigerian child.” Dr. Salah said.

“Promise PE GOLD is a high quality nutritious milk supplement, specifically formulated to supplement the nutrients that picky eating children aged 3-10 years maybe lacking”.

The newly launched advanced formula range and Promise PE GOLD brand into the Nigerian market has been launched in the in three Nigerian cities; Lagos,

Abuja and Port Harcourt.

The launch was part of Pfizer Nutrition’s top priority to ensure that growing children have the right amount and balance of nutrients to help promote proper growth and development. The new Promise PE GOLD is a nutritious milk supplement developed to help build a strong nutrition foundation for children who are picky eaters.

It has more than 40 ingredients, including 25 essential nutrients for picky eaters.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

I

AM 45years old and I have been on hypertensive medication for 5 years now. The medication has affected my libido so much that I am unable to have an erection when I need to.

Please which drug is safe for a hypertensive like me that will not give any negative effect? Also, my wife and I have not had a great sex life although we have been married for fifteen years. I am interested in adult movies both of us can buy to learn how to have fulfilling sex lives as faithful couples-Paul Dear Paul, most supplements for erectile dysfunction are not ideal for hypertensive people and it is not because they are not good. It is because supplements work by getting your heart to pump more blood to your penis to give you an erection (lack of inadequate supply of blood to the penis is what causes erectile dysfunction).

Given that your blood pressure is already high, taking an erection enhancing supplement will make your heart to pump it even higher, which brings about side effects sometimes. But when healthy people take these same supplements, it works well for them without side effects.

Sex Volts is an erection enhancing supplement suitable for hypertensive patients and many of our hypertensive clients use and like it. That is one option for you. The other option is using a Penis Pump.

With a combination of a Penis Pump and a Cockring, you can get and maintain an erection for sex and it wouldn’t trouble your heart or interfere with your medication. Get the Precision Calibrated Penis Pump. It comes with a Cockring as well. First you pump to get the required erection and then wear a Cockring to maintain the erection. Regarding your relationship with your wife, you will both learn new ways to improve your sex life and be satisfied from the following films: 101 Advanced Sex Positions and The Ultimate Sex Guide for Lovers. The two books The Best Sex Ever and Explosive Sex will teach you a lot too – Uche Dear Uche, I am 30years old and I have never had sex. Are there any side effects to not having sex? Obi

Obi there are no side effects to not having sex at your age. But studies show that men who have active sex lives have a lower risk of developing prostate cancer later in life. An active sex life also helps relieve stress and frustration and makes you happier too – Uche I am in a relationship with a man I really love and I want to keep him. I have had several boy friends in the past but I want to settle down now. I hear that pheromones are great sexual attractants for keeping one’s lover. What pheromone will you recommend?

Alice Try Lure for Her Pheromone cologne. X3 Pheromone Cologne is very good too – Uche I have a really small penis and it affects me. What is the fastest penis enlargement option out there?

You can use an instant enlargement cream such as Size Rx or Max Width Cream to get immediate results. Penis pumps are very good for instant enlargement as well Uche Please where can I get Liquid Sex Orgasm Gel? I also need a good rabbit vibrator – Ifeoma You can call the numbers here to order Liquid Sex orgasm gel. As for the vibrator, go for the Thrusting Butterfly Stroker. The head thrusts up and down and spins for G spot stimulation. It is in the category of best vibrators – Uche Please I am a virgin and about to get married. Do you have drugs that will help me not feel pain during sex?

Gloria Dear Gloria, you do not need drugs. Just use lots of lubricant during intercourse and tell your husband to be gentle. You will be fine – Uche That’s it for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 08027901621 or 08051924159 or any other number here to order or they can order online at www.zeevirtualmedia.com. Zee Virtual Media delivers to you wherever you are in Nigeria. For enquiries, send your emails to custserv@zeevirtualmedia.com - Uche Edochie, MD, Zee Virtual Media.

Vanguard,

TUESD AY , TUESDA

MA Y 22, 2012—47 MAY

NATO starts ‘irreversible transition’ in Afghanistan P

RESIDENT Barack Obama and fellow NATO leaders solidified plans Monday for an “irreversible transition” in Afghanistan, affirming their commitment to ending the deeply unpopular war in 2014 and voicing confidence in the ability of Afghan forces to take the lead for securing their country even sooner.

The alliance leaders, meeting for a second day of talks in Obama’s hometown, declared in a summit communique that while NATO will maintain a significant presence in Afghanistan after 2014, “this will not be a combat mission.”

NATO and its partner nations formally agreed that Afghan security forces would take control of any combat next summer with NATO sliding into a support role.

Obama called the transition “the next milestone” in bringing the

nearly 11-year long war to a close. “This will be another step toward Afghans taking full lead for their security as agreed to by 2014,” Obama said as he opened a meeting of NATO leaders and other countries that have participated in the war.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Afghans were already leading security operations in

half the country and were on pace to meet next year ’s targets.

“Transition means the people of Afghanistan increasingly see their own army and police in their towns and villages providing their security,” Rasmussen said.

“This is an important sign of progress toward our shared goal: an Afghanistan governed and secured by Afghans for Afghans.”

DSK faces fresh rape charges

D

OMINIQUE Strauss-Kahn is facing a new rape allegation stemming from a 2010 “sex party” in a Washington, D.C., hotel—part of a widening probe into the former International Monetary Fund chief ’s alleged role in a prostitution ring, French prosecutors said yesterday. Police are opening a preliminary inquiry into a suspected “gang rape” that

took place in Washington in December 2010. Investigators “have reason to believe ... that there is suspicion of gang rape,” the prosecutor ’s office said in a statement. According to France’s Liberation newspaper, two female “escorts” interviewed by Belgian police in Lille say they accompanied two of StraussKahn’s associates on a trip to Washington.

Malian Coup leader suffers mob attack

D

I O N C O U N DA Traore, Mali’s interim president, has been taken to hospital with a head wound after being attacked by demonstrators, medical sources say. Demonstrators attacked him at his office yesterday, knocking him unconscious.

Thousands of supporters of March’s coup marched in protest at a deal for Traore to remain in office for a year, Traore’s mandate was due to expire yesterday.

But West African leaders reached a deal with coup leader Ca ptain

HE Libyan convicted of the 1988 bombing of a PanAm flight over Lockerbie was buried on Monday in a quiet family ceremony, ignored by most Libyans keen to forget the international controversy that surrounded Abdel Basset al-Megrahi in life.

Megrahi, who always said he was not responsible for bringing down the jumbo jet on the Scottish town and killing 270 people, died in his bed in Tripoli on Sunday surrounded by family. His

G8 endorse Annan peace mission in Syria

F

RENCH President Francois Hollande said on Saturday that G8 countries had agreed to continue supporting U.N. and Arab League

special envoy Kofi Annan’s Syrian peace efforts. “I insisted that all the participants support Kofi Anan’s mission so that observers can pro-

vide protection of the Syrian people from their leaders,” Hollande said referring to U.N. personnel operating in the country.

Yemeni soldier kills 96 colleagues in suicide attack

A

Thousands of Malians protests Amadou Sanogo for Traore to stay on to organise elections and end the Tuareg northern re-

bellion. Traore was brought to the Point G Hospital, said Sekou Yattara, a medical student there.

Lockerbie bomber gets low profile burial

T

US President Barack Obama and NANTO Commanders in Chicago

release from jail in 2009 caused controversy in Britain and the United States, where most victims were from. But neither his death at 60 from cancer nor his funeral even made the news on

the three main television stations in Libya, where people are focused on the upcoming elections after overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed war last year.

HEAD of today ’s national day parade an Al-Qaeda agent in Yemeni army caused a major casualty yeasterday when he detonated a bomb which killed 86 soldier and left the defence minister and chief of staff bewildered. AlQaeda has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in the centre of the Yemeni capital that has left nearly 100 people dead. Officials have said a bomber dressed in military uniform targeted soldiers rehearsing for a parade

Benjamin Netanyahu has stoked a volatile debate about refugees and migrant workers from Africa, warning that “illegal infiltrators flooding the country” were threatening the security and identity

in Sanaa to mark Yemen’s National D a y . Y e m e n i President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi is sched-

uled to attend today’s parade marking the 22nd anniversary of the unification of north and south Yemen.

Iranian, UN nuclear talk ends in deadlock

T

HE U.N. nuclear watchdog chief held extensive and useful talks in Iran on Monday and

Netanyahu allays fears on African refugees “Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked furious debate over refugees and migrant workers from Africa, claiming they threaten the nation’s security.”

Israeli Prime Minister

Yemini soldiers pick the pieces of the bomb

of the Jewish state.

“If we don’t stop their entry, the problem that currently stands at 60 000 could grow to 600 000, and that threatens our existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

expects them to have a positive impact on a sixpower meeting with Tehran later this week, Iranian media said, but there was no sign of a breakthrough deal. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano paid a rare visit to Tehran after voicing hope for Iranian agreement to cooperate with an IAEA investigation into suspected atomic

bomb research - a possible gesture from Tehran to try to get international sanctions relaxed and deflect threats of war.

Amano met the head of Iran’s nuclear energy agency, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, and its top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, who will sit down in Baghdad on Wednesday with world powers seeking overall curbs on Iran’s disputed atomic activity.

48

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Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MAY 22, 2012

Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MAY 22, 2012 — 49

50

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Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, MAY 22, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012—51

Sacked Lagos doctors decry N33.4m financial shortfall from CONMESS

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE & CHIOMA OBINNA

We were tricked into signing agreement —Medical Guild

A

•Empty medical emergency at LASUTH.

•Dr. Idris Durojaiye

•Gov Fashola ed to the Governor and was approved. But the government never paid up as agreed.”

Further, he stated: “When there is a new salary scale, the principle of unilateral conversion takes place. If you are on a certain step on one level in one salary scale, you are expected to transit to the same step and level in the new salary scale, but the state government has not done that. They did not follow the agreement but have dropped people in steps.

“Apart from the matter of Teaching Allowances and entry points, the issue of demotion of doctors through the dropping of steps is a major issue. When the agreement was signed, it was agreed we wouldn’t be at comparative disadvantage. We talked about no compression, but they did not do that. They tricked us.”

The Medical Guild Secretary said the CONMESS was de-

,

S health services remain grounded in Federal and state hospitals in Lagos in the wake of an indefinite strike by doctors, doctors under the auspices of the Medical Guild have decried a monthly financial shortfall of N33, 477, 508.00 in the implementation of the full Consolidated Medical Salary Structure, CONMESS, in Lagos state even as they are alleging they were tricked into entering agreement with the state government.

Findings by Vanguard showed that the sum in question includes the total financial shortfall from the monthly wage package of the 1,282 doctors under the Lagos state Health Service Commission and the 98 honorary consultants at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH. It was gathered that the shortfall, which the doctors are claiming was part of the initial calculation of the CONMESS as approved by the state government, is currently the bone of contention in the ongoing industrial dispute in the State’s health sector which culminated in the sacking of 788 doctors on May 4.

The doctors are alleging that the Lagos state government reneged in an agreement in which it committed to implement the full payment of the CONMESS as calculated and presented to Governor Babatunde Fashola who approved its implementation. It would be recalled that the Lagos state government through the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris and the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe, had repeatedly insisted that the state was already paying the full CONMESS, level-for-level, and challenged the Medical Guild to prove otherwise.

Commenting on the development, Secretary of the Medical Guild, Dr. Idris Durojaiye said the monthly financial shortfall per doctor ranged from N9, 371.20 for the lowest ranked House Officer on Level 10, to N70, 950.00 for the highest ranked honorary Chief Consultant on Level 17.

In an exclusive interview, Durojaiye told Vanguard that the shortfall was part of the original amount approved for the doctors but was never paid as stated in the said agreement.

His words: “It was full CONMESS that was approved, but it is not being paid now. The shortfall is the amount that was cut off. Our initial calculation contained this shortfall and was part of the agreement present-

Lagos State Government failed to honour the agreement and chose to implement the s a l a r y structure the way it wanted

,

signed to achieve was to set a minimum benchmark across the Federation and to prevent internal and external brain drain within the medical profession.

“It would keep everyone on the same baseline and at their jobs wherever they are in the coun-

try. It would also prevent external brain drain as any improvement in wages would keep people in their countries.”

Giving a rundown of the genesis of the dispute, Durojaiye recalled that the Medical Guild had been agitating for full implementation of the CONMESS since 2009 and had made several representations to the state government on the matter.

“In November 2011, the Lagos State Government agreed to pay CONMESS as approved in the Federal Government Circular SWC/S/04/S.410/220 released by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. This document specifically indicated government’s acceptance to pay and also not to place Lagos State doctors at any disadvantage whatsoever relative to their colleagues anywhere else in the country.”

According to Durojaiye, the

government later rescinded on the agreement but an agreement was finally signed in March 2011 between the Lagos State Government and the Medical Guild to implement CONMESS in full.

With reference to a letter, LGS/HOS/06/Vol.VI/30 dated November 19,2010 from the Head of Service, Mr. Adesegun Ogunlewe to the Chairman of the Medical Guild, Durojaiye argued that government committed to full implementation of the CONMESS. He pointed out a section of the letter entitled: “Re: Medical/Dental Officers Salary Review” which read as follows….”that with effect from January 2011, government will implement a mutually agreeable wage review which will not put doctors in Lagos state hospitals at a comparative disadvantage to their counterparts in other health institutions.”

A copy of the second agreement dated March 24, 2011, entitled: “Re: Agreement With The Medical Guild”, which was made available to Vanguard reads as follows: “On March 24, 2011, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the doctors regarding the ongoing strike and an agreement had been reached. During the meeting the following points were agreed by both parties: (i) payment of CONMESS salary in full (no compression) to all doctors; (ii) one month salary bonus; (iii) allowances will be classified as non-taxable. i.e., no taxes will be deducted on these allowances (iv) Further welfare packages will be developed to improve working conditions for all healthcare providers within the state.”

The agreement which was signed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chairman Henry Ajomale and Dr. Jide Idris, further noted that: “Based on their dialogue and agreement, it is expected that the Medical Guild will meet with their Congress and call off the strike soonest.”

According to Durojaiye, the agreement included the cost of implementing CONMESS in full. “The Medical Guild suspended its strike action in good faith, despite the earlier reneging of the Lagos State government, in order to allow implementation of the agreement.

“However, the Lagos State Government failed to honour the agreement and chose to implement the salary structure the way it wanted. For the past one year, the Medical Guild has been writing, meeting and pleading with government to correct the shortfall in implementation of CONMESS, but government chose to shift and default on its promises,” he stressed.

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 53

54 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012 — 55

Argentines hit Nigeria for Access Bank Polo

Utaka is French hero

N

IGERIA international John Utaka scored twice to become a first time league winner on Sunday night as his French side Montpellier defeated Auxerre 2-1 at the Abbe Deschamps Stadium in Burgundy.

The game started with the visitors determined to take a point that would all but ensure they win the title ahead of Paris Saint Germain who were away to Lorient.

But it was the home team that took the lead through Olivier Kapo’s header from a corner kick on 20 minutes against the run of play.

Utaka restored parity for Montpellier with his goal on 32 mins from a defence splitting pass by Souleymane Camara for an easy tap in.

The home supporters then caused stoppage of the game after throwing tennis balls and toilet paper on to the pitch as the game was held up at the restart.

Keshi Continues from BP tricky and complex encounter.

While ruing the absence of captain, Joseph Yobo, who is out of the game because of injury, Keshi said that he was confident that his players can cope with the pressure that comes with playing away from home.

“We are going to face a very tough opposition. It is not easy when you play against teams from south America. Peru are a good team with talented players and I expect a very difficult match. The aim is to play well and get in the best shape for the matches coming up in June.

“I feel sad that my captain (Yobo) is injured. It pains me so much but what can I do but to make use of the

ones which we have. Nigeria is supposed to have at least four players who can fill a particular position in the national team at any given time but we are not yet there. We would try to make use of the ones available”, added Keshi.

Tomorrow’s match is part of the country’s preparations for next month’s 2014 World Cup and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Super Eagles host Namibia in a World Cup qualifier on June 3 in the southern coastal city of Calabar, before they travel to Malawi the following week.

They will also welcome Rwanda to a second leg qualifier for the 2013 Nations Cup on June 17.

Drogba Continues from BP The 34-year-old, who scored the late equaliser and then the decisive penalty in the shootout win over German side Bayern Munich on Saturday, is quoted by the magazine as saying he burst into tears when he told the rest of the squad during their open top bus parade with the trophy on S u n d a y. ”We (he and his teammates) will not be together next season,” the magazine cited Drogba as saying. ”As I have decided to leave, I wanted to tell them to their faces. ”Only that I couldn’t do it. They made me break down. Even if it has been three years that I have said I wanted to leave, I found it hard to admit that it

was finished with me and the club. ”Especially that I had no great desire for this end. when the club is looking at putting together a new team. ”So there we go, I am readying myself for a great leap into the unknown. ”It will be another adventure,” added Drogba, who is out of contract having been at the club since 2004 after joining from Marseille.

English media have linked the Ivorian target man - scorer of 55 goals in his 84 international appearances , with Chinese side Shanghai Shenhuan, where his former Chelsea team-mate Nicolas Anelka is player-coach.

BY SOLOMON NWOKE

J

•Utaka

Fan stabbed to death

Continues from BP

his son in a desperate bid to shield him from a knife-wielding gang who stabbed him to death in the street.

Luke Fitzpatrick, 25, was murdered after a group of men armed with bats and knives dragged him out of a north London pub on Saturday night.

Friends and relatives of the roofer told how his father, Bernard, was stabbed several times while trying to protect him from his attackers.

Mr Fitzpatrick’s at-

tackers were described as acting like “a pack of wolves” by storming into the pub near his home in Dollis Hill.

Police said the killing followed an argument in the pub though some witnesses said it ocurred after a dispute in a shop opposite.

Three people were arrested, including two 17-year-old men who are still being questioned in custody.

The victim’s best friend, Ricci Whiteside, 25, who was with him all evening said:

Mikel Continues from BP opportunity to win Saturday’s Champions League final when Bayern Munich were awarded an extratime penalty in the Allianz Arena.

But the flaky Dutchman saw his spot-kick brilliantly saved by Petr Cech and did not even step forward for the penalty shootout half an hour later.

Nigerian midfielder Mikel said: “I told Robben he was going to miss. I went up to him and said it in his ear.

“I told him Petr knew where he was going to kick it and so he would miss.

“And then Petr went the right way and he made the save.

“It’s fair enough. It’s just something you try to do from time to time. And this time it worked.

“When the penalty was missed, we kind of believed this trophy was going to be ours. We knew that luck was on our side.”

Now Mikel is leading the calls for manager Roberto Di Matteo to be given the job on a permanent basis.

He said: “He’s done fantastically well and all the players are very happy with what he has done.

“Personally, I would like him to get the job because he has shown a lot of faith in me and told me how

good I was when I had lost a bit of confidence.

“The owner made it clear that this was the trophy he wanted to win. He was a very happy man on Saturday night and now the club must take the right decision.”

Robben’s penalty miss was the SECOND time his spot-kick blunders have cost Bayern Munich this season.

The Dutch winger also missed against Borussia Dortmund last month — which dented their Bundesliga hopes.

Didier Drogba and UEFA chief Michel Platini tried to console the 28-year-old.

Robben said: “The fact that Drogba and Platini tried to cheer me up was nice but it’s worth nothing.

I wanted that cup but it didn’t happen.”

Thomas Muller, who had put Bayern ahead before Drogba levelled, reckons Chelsea did not deserve to win.

The midfield ace said: “That’s football, we have seen it in the past. It is not always the better team that has the cup in the end.”

Bayern sports director Christian Nerlinger said: “What happened to us is an absolute nightmare. The disappointment has gone very deep. It’s like a bad movie and it’ll be difficult to digest this defeat.”

ULIO Novillo Astra da, a plus Eight Handicap from Argentina leads his two other top compatriots, Diego White, +7 Handicap and Diego Araya, +7 Handicap and top Polo players from all over African to the continent’s premium polo extravaganza as the annual Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament gallops off at the Fifth Chukker lawns of Kangimi Resort in Kaduna from May 23 to June 3, 2012. The two-week long tournament sponsored by Access Bank Plc is in its 5th year running Addressing the media yesterday in Lagos in respect of the tournament, the Executive Director, Commercial and Consumer Banking, Access Bank Plc, Obeahon Ohiwerei who was representated by the firm’s Head of Corporate

Communications, Omobolanle Babatunde said the that proceed from sale of memorabilia at the annual tournament in addition to the N5million donation from Access Bank Plc, would be used to support UNICEF in its campaign against HIV AIDS pandemic.

Ohiwerei said sponsorship of the multi-million naira charity shield was renewed for another four years after the expiration of the initial contract in 2011; with a handsome offer of Twenty Thousand Dollars as prize money for the overall champions and lots of consolation prizes for runners up.

“Our renewal of this sponsorship deal is a reflection of our commitment to socioeconomic wellbeing of mankind and acknowledgement of the impact the initiative has had on the lives of the orphaned and vulnerable children in Kaduna State and its environ.”

70 Nigerians qualify Continues from BP lympics games scheduled to begin next July and August respectively.

This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by the Supervising Minister for Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi while presenting the achievements of the ministry during Ministerial Platform organised by the Minister of Information Mr Labaran Maku and held yesterday at the Radio House Abuja.

According to Abdullahi, a break down of sportsmen and women who have qualified for the forth-coming global games include 13 males and 13 females for athletics; two males and one female for boxing; one male for canoeing; two males and two females for table tennis and two males for taekwondo; one female and one male for weightlifting and two males and two females for wrestling.

Said he: “For the Paralympic Games, five males and four females have qualified for the athletics; three males for the table tennis and eight males and eight females for power-lifting.”

He further explained that in order to expose Nigeria’s athletes ade-

quately to the highest training and facilities available, the National Sports Commission had established four offshore camps in Germany, United States and England. The camp in South Korea will be used by athletes preparing for Taekwondo and the Paralympic sports.

“Already Nigerian sportsmen and women preparing for participation in the track and field events at London Games have been in camp since March and have competed in international events at Mount Sac, Pensylvannia and Atlanta.

He further stated that after the qualifiers, those who sailed through in wrestling, boxing and weight-lifting have been camping in Yenagoa, Benin and Owerri after which they would leave for intensive off-shore training in Germany.

The Sports Minister further stated that pregames training camp in Surrey England shall serve as a collection point for all Team Nigeria athletes and technical officers between 3rd and 18 th July 2012 while the Paralympians shall move into the same camp on August 18th.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Drogba tells Blues he's off I

VORY Coast great Didier Drogba has told his Chelsea teammates he is leaving the newly-crowned Champions League winners because he doesn’t fancy spending time on the substitutes bench, France Football said yesterday.

Continues on page 55

Peru Vs Nigeria:

Keshi wary of altitude

London 2012: 70 Nigerians qualify

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

S

UPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has said that his team were going to face a very tough Peruvian side in tomorrow’s international friendly at the Lima National Stadium.

Keshi, who led his team out of Nigeria weekend for the trip to the South American country, said the weather in Lima coupled with the passion of the Peruvians were enough to make the game a very Continues on page 55

BY OKEY NDIRIBE, Abuja

A

total of 70 Ni gerian sportsmen have qualified for the London 2012 Olympics and Para

Continues on page 55

Gang stabs fan to death after Chelsea win

PRESSURE ... John Obi Mikel has a word with Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben

Mikel taunted Robben before penalty

J

OHN OBI MIKEL has confessed to being the man behind TODAY'S

the mind games which tipped former Chelsea team-mate Arjen Robben

PUZZLES

over the edge.

Robben had a glorious Continues on page 55 YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

A

father threw himself on top of

BYE-BYE — Drogba

Continues on page 55 ACROSS 1 Handle (5) 5 Strict (6) 8 Stone worker (5) 10 Babe (6) 11 Employed (4) 14 Scold (6) 15 Respected (7) 18 Dump (3) 19 Through (3) 21 Deceased (4) 23 Revolt (5) 24 Thoroughfare (4) 27 Performed (3) 29 Encountered (3) 31 Teaching (7) 32 Valued (6) 34 Eat (4) 35 Evoke (6) 38 Loaded (5) 39 Rescind (6) 40 Tally (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD DOWN 2 Manage (3) 3 Astounded (6) 4 Brown (3) 5 Rebuff (4) 6 Swerved (6) 7 Stretch (6) 9 Soaked (7) 12 Stitch (3) 13 Fruit (4) 16 Resound (4) 17 Liability (5) 20 Diminished (7) 22 Too (4) 24 Sword (6) 25 Between (4) 26 Determine (6) 28 Cord (6) 30 Number (3) 33 Dale (4) 36 Meadow (3) 37 Freeze (3)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS : 1, Endure 5, Iron 8, Crime 9, Pall 10, Shoe 11, Pant 12, Steep 13, Second 16, Tern 18, Emit 20, Ate 22, Sad 23, Dad 24, Fled 25, Item 28, Donate 30, Stunt 32, Etui 33, Aide 34, Ire 35, Route 36, Seen 37, Staged.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Expose 2, Delicate 3, Resent 4, Pretended 5, Impeded 6, Reap 7, Note 8, Cos 14, Designate 15, Lid 17, Rat 19, Managing 20, Ale 21, Edition 26, Modest 27, Defend 29, Mess 30, Sure 31, Tie.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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