I was forced to fight for Boko Haram

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 62262

**

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

FG removes VAT on stock market transactions

9

I was forced to fight for Boko Haram

By Kingsley Omonobi & Ebele Orakpo, With Agency Report

— 19-YR-OLD WOMAN •I was given a knife to kill an abducted civilian, she says •Life inside Boko Haram camps, by abducted women •FG may be negotiating with a wrong group — Islamic Scholar How lack of amenities sabotages healthcare delivery in Lagos 36

What exactly is ‘clueless' about Goodluck Jonathan?

(3) •P.17

Shooting in U.S. schools 39 •P.

Mr & Mrs

14

Ins e Se

C M Y K

BUJA—WOMEN abducted by Boko Haram terrorists have recounted harrowing tales of their living conditions in militants' camps and how they were forced to fight by the sect.

This came as an Islamic scholar, Professor Dauda Mohammed Bello of Adamawa State University warned that the Federal Government may be dealing with a wrong group in the ceasefire agreement it purportedly had with Boko Haram.

Meanwhile, the nation Continues from page 5

COLUMNISTS:

RIVERS: Amaechi took on FG, not Jonathan, says Rivers govt

A month after cultists’ invasion, Ibba community remains deserted ide

A

NABBED—Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Umar Usman Shehu, inspecting weapons recovered from some robbery suspects (below right) at the Police Command, Kaduna, yesterday.

Photos:Olu Ajayi.

Nigeria needs $5bn to sustain economy, says Okonjo-Iweala 8

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—3

C M Y K

4 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—5

POCKET CARTOON

AGM—Ms Ayotola Jagun, Chief Compliance Officer and Company Secretary, Oando PLC; HRM Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake of Egbaland and Chairman, Oando Plc and Mr Wale Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer, Oando PLC at Oando's Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, yesterday.

I was forced to fight for Boko Haram — 19-YR-OLD WOMAN Continues from page 1 waited in vain, yesterday, for the expected release of 219 Chibok girls as promised by the selfacclaimed Director-General of Boko Haram, Mallam Danladi Ahmadu, who assured that the girls would be released yesterday to the Chadian President, Idris Deby for onward presentation to the Nigerian government.

The abducted schoolgirls were yet to be released at press time, yes-

terday.

In a report released, yesterday, by Human Rights Watch, it outlined testimonies from dozens of former hostages who documented physical and psychological abuse at the hands of the militants, noting that Boko Haram used kidnapped young women and girls on the frontline.

I was forced to hold bullets during attacks

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

You just need to decide what kind of life you want to live. It is not everything that you see that you need to have and you will find out that most of the things you have are exactly what you need.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

Appreciation of life itself is becoming intensely aware of the miracle of being alive; this can turn what we call ordinary life into a miracle. We come awake to such a realization when we recognize our connection to a spiritual dimension — Dan Wakefield

W

HENEVER you feel like you’re losing touch with who you really are (tension, anxiety, stress are a sign of disconnection from who you really are) and whenever life seems to get a bit out of balance, try and get in tune with your inner self, some do this through praying, meditation, contemplation, or simply listening to soothing music and observing the beauty in nature.

It could bring an awareness of the beauty of Soul that you exist because there is purpose and meaning for your life. Learn to see the beauty and miracles all around you and be grateful for your presence here on this planet. You matter and that is the ultimate truth.

In the report, one 19year-old woman, who was held in militants' camps for three months last year, said she was forced to participate in Boko Haram attacks.

She said: “I was told to hold the bullets and lie in the grass while they fought. They came to me for extra bullets as the fight continued during the day. When security forces arrived at the scene and began to shoot at us, I fell down in fright.

The insurgents dragged me along on the ground as they fled back to camp.”

In another operation, she said she was handed a knife to kill one of five captured civilian vigilantes brought to one of the camps and summarily executed. According to her, “I was shaking with horror and couldn’t do it.

The camp leader’s wife took the knife and killed him”.

A wave of attacks by female suicide bombers earlier this year prompted speculation that Boko Haram may have been using abducted women and young girls to carry out attacks.

But there has been no concrete evidence to prove whether the attackers were kidnap victims who were coerced or volunteers.

The Human Rights group interviewed 30 women and girls between April 2013 and

April this year, including 12 of the 57 who fled when the militants raided Chibok, in Borno State, abducting the girls. The women, who were held for between two days to three months, were seized from their homes and villages, while working on the land, fetching water or at school.

They described how they were held in eight different camps thought to be in the vast Sambisa Forest area of Borno and the Gwoza hills, which separate Nigeria from Cameroon.

In the camps, they claimed seeing other women and children, some of them infants and others as old as 65 years, but were unable to say whether all of them had also been kidnapped.

The abducted women also narrated how they were made to cook, clean and perform household chores as some were forced to carry stolen goods seized by the insurgents after attacks.

The report also gave an insight into living conditions of the kidnap victims, including those from Chibok, whose plight attracted worldwide attention.

One of the interviewees said she saw some of the Chibok girls forced to cook and clean for other women and girls who had been chosen for “special treatment because of their beauty”.

The women also talked

about rape as well as physical violence, including one who said she had a noose placed around her neck and was threatened with death until she converted to Islam.

One 15-year-old said she complained that she was too young to marry one of the militants but a Boko Haram commander dismissed her concerns, saying his five-year-old daughter got married the previous year.

Ceasefire: FG may be dealing with wrong group — Islamic scholar The Federal Government on October 17, 2014, announced a ceasefire agreement reached with the Boko Haram sect but a day after the agreement, there were reports of attacks carried out by the sect in Borno and Adamawa states, causing many to wonder whether the agreement was reached with the mainstream Boko Haram sect.

An Islamic scholar, Professor Dauda Mohammed Bello of Adamawa State University, however, argued that, “the true Boko Haram sect may not want the peace”.

Professor Bello, an Imam of Jama’atu Nasril Islam, Adamawa State headquarters and onetime secretary of the Adamawa State Muslim Council in an interview with Vanguard in Yola said: “When I listen to the representative of the Boko Haram group in the ceasefire deal, I doubt if he is a true Boko Haram member. From his words, one can guess that he is not actually a true Boko Haram member because the true Boko Haram will not call themselves Boko Haram; they have their own name which is Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’Awati Wal-Jihad (People committed to the Prophet’s teachings for propagation and Jihad).

And anytime they talk, they refer to Allah but that representative refers to the association as

Boko Haram; that word is enough to disqualify him from being the true Boko Haram member.

“Also, he called President Goodluck Jonathan ‘our President’ in his speech, but the real Boko Haram member would not recognise President Jonathan as their president."

Bello believes that the actual Boko Haram “may have actually finished by now and what we have are sponsored groups that no longer have religion as their aim and these are those opportunists who see that people are not living in peace so they want to cash in on that”.

Also speaking on the issue, Vice-Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and Chairman of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Professor Kyari Mohammed said the peace deal may work out but may not come as soon as expected. He then called for patience on both sides.

“I want to believe that the people who handled the negotiation on the side of government were sincere. I want to also believe that at least they talked to some sections of the Boko Haram but you know, there is bound to be problem. This problem is not peculiar to Boko Haram and Nigerian government. Governments all over the world that need to talk to groups such as Boko Haram, would have to contend with some sections of the group that are not going to be very happy with any form of settlement.

"So naturally, it may work but it will take a lot of patience on both sides. In all parts of the world, whenever you come into this kind of agreement, there would be sections both within the government and among the insurgents that will be very unhappy with a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

So for the truce to work, both government and the insurgents will have to be very patient".

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Flood wreaks havoc in Anambra West

Mayhem, as LASTMA van crushes bus conductor in Lagos

By Evelyn Usman

By Enyim Enyim

O

NITSHA—ABOUT 500 inhabitants in Anambra West Local Government Area have lost their homes to the recent flood that ravaged the area.

Also submerged by the flood, which resulted from the overflow of Omambala River, were more than 120 farmlands and buildings in 11 schools.

Speaking to reporters on the disaster, a stakeholder and an aspirant for Anambra East/ West federal constituency on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the 2015 elections, Mrs Edith Ejezie, decried what she described as dire neglect of the area by the Federal Government.

Ejezie called on the Federal Government to dredge the Omambala River that always overflowed its banks every rainy season.

She vowed to empower the people when elected in the 2015 general election.

60-yr-old accused of N8m fraud

By Bartholomew Madukwe

A

44-year-old bus conductor was allegedly crushed to death by a vehicle belonging to officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, yesterday, at Cele Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, while the bus driver was avoiding arrest.

The incident caused a riot as hoodlums attacked LASTMA officials and also invaded their office at Cele, destroying several vehicles' windscreens.

Vanguard gathered that trouble started for the deceased, identified as Ikeckukwu Abasirim, after the driver of the bus, with an unknown identity, was ordered to stop by LASTMA officials at Mile 2, over an unknown offence.

The driver of the bus was said to have ignored the order, an action that reportedly led to the LASTMA officials chasing the vehicle.

On arrival at Cele Bus Stop, passengers in the commercial bus disembarked, while the conductor was busy calling in passengers, unknown to them that they were still being trailed by the officials.

Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the LASTMA vehicle blocked the commercial bus, while one of the officials held Ikechukwu and attempted to force him into their operational

C M Y K

vehicle.

‘How he died’

One witness said: “In the ensuing struggle, one of the officials was said to have swept the conductor off his feet.

“He fell and at that moment, the LASTMA official at the wheel was said to have moved the vehicle. The tyres went over Ikechukwu’s skull, killing him on the spot.”

Others told Vanguard that

on-lookers raised an alarm which attracted hoodlums who pounced on the two LASTMA officials.

A trader who gave his name as Lawani said: “ The LASTMA official, who swept the conductor off his feet was the first person to alert his colleagues that their car had climbed the conductor’s head.

“There was no way we could save him as he died on the spot. A mob attacked the

Security guard docked over failed kidnap bid

A

60-year-old man, Alhaji Ambali Megidadio, has been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate's Court in Lagos for obtaining N8 million from one Goke Odunlami on the pretence that he had six plots of land for sale.

Megidadio is facing a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and issuing a dishonoured cheque.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Eranus Nnamonu, said the offence was punishable under Section 312 (i) (a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

However, when the charge was read to the accused before Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe, he pleaded not guilty.

The magistrate granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties that should be blood relations.

Magistrate Komolafe adjourned the matter to November 6.

Traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as hoodlums took over the road in the wake of Mr. Ikeckukwu Abasirim's death. INSET: Late Mr. Abasirim. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

By Onozure Dania & Hope Ofobike

L

AGOS—A prosecution witness and an Inspector of Police, Sunday Idowu, yesterday, told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere how a security guard, David Iremi, and others still at large, kidnapped one Ayodele Ahmed and demanded one million Naira ransom before he was apprehended.

Idowu, who was led in evidence by E. R. Agu, said the defendant and five others, some of who are still at large, while armed, successfully kidnapped and kept the complainant in his house for 18 days.

He said: “A case was reported by one Ayodele Ahmed through a written petition to the Commissioner of Police on February 5, 2013.

“I, as a detective, was given a ransom of N1 million and the phone number of the kidnappers. I was directed on phone by one Jonathan to bring the money to Nasco Field, Abule-Osun.

“On reaching there, one Abu

Danjuma was sent to collect the money from me. He was immediately arrested, while others ran away.

“During investigation, we got to the house of David Iremi, a security guard, where the victim was kept from January 13 to 31, 2013.

“David admitted that his house was used by the syndicate and was given N2,000 as his share.”

According to him, the

defendant also sold and reregistered the car of the complainant, as all effort by the police to trace the vehicle proved abortive.

The defendants had earlier been arraigned in court, and pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Adebiyi ordered that they be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to January for continuation of trial.

officials, but they were lucky to escape before the arrival of another batch of hoodlums.

“The hoodlums invaded LASTMA office around Cele and shattered windscreens of vehicles parked inside the premises.

“Owners of some of the seized vehicles used the opportunity to drive them away without paying the dues.

“My question is, why chase them all the way from Mile 2 to Cele, when there are other ways to apprehend a defaulter?”

The riot caused traffic gridlock.

It took the intervention of a combined team of policemen from Itire and Ijesha divisions to contain the situation.

... a family bereaved

When Vanguard visited the deceased's apartment around Ijesha area, his widow kept shaking her head, without uttering a word.

Sympathizers, who thronged the one-room apartment, tried to console her and her four children, aged 14, 11, seven and four, respectively.

Visa agent allegedly defrauds woman of N1.8 million

By Hope Ofobike

A

prosecution witness and n investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Oyayode Stephen, yesterday told a Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere how a visa agent, Kingsley Chinonso, defrauded one Bunmi Obakoya of N1.8 million, being money which she paid for the processing of her visa a

to Germany.

Oyayode, who was led in evidence by Udiri, said the complainant wrote a petition of visa racketeering and forgery by false pretence to the EFCC. He said: “Kingsley told Bunmi that he has connections on how to secure visa with German embassy and that she paid him N5,050,000 and thereafter N5,030,000 for subsequent visa.

“We took the visa, said to

have been procured by the defendant, to the German embassy. The reply we got from the embassy was that the visa was forged and that it was not from them.”

The defendant, who was first arraigned in January 2012, is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, theft and forgery.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail by Justice Adebiyi.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 7

27 illegal aliens arrested in Enugu

By Austin Ogwuda

E

NUGU State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service has arrested 27 illegal immigrants, but lamented lack of funds to repatriate them to their countries.

Deputy Comptroller in the command in charge of Intelligence, Investigations and Enforcement, Mr. Obetta Asogwa, while parading the illegal aliens mainly from Niger Republic, said they were arrested following massive raids carried out in Udenu and Nsukka local government areas of the state.

He said: “It has become imperative to carry out these raids following the security challenges we find ourselves in.

“One of the cardinal objectives of the Comptroller General of Immigration is to have a robust internal monitoring and control of foreigners living in our midst.

“Many of such people are in the state because our big men use them as cheap labour. But we were able to get these today.”

The immigration boss noted that the command was fully determined to rid the country of such people, adding that the strategy put in place by the Comptroller General was designed to help them work underground.

He said: “We have immigration attachés in all the 774 local government areas of the federation to maintain robust immigration presence in the rural areas so there is no hiding place.”

While lamenting that the command did not have the funds needed to repatriate all the illegal immigrants, Asogwa said only 16 of the 27 of the arrested irregular immigrants would immediately be sent back to their country.

He added: “The remaining 11 will be technically discharged as we do not have the capacity to send them back along with their brothers.

“They are all supposed to go back to their country or they will continue to cause problems.”

zNo fund to repatriate them— IMMIGRATION

By Wole Mosadomi

M

Some of the national of Niger Republic apprehended in Udenu and Nsukka local government areas of Enugu State.

A

BEOKUTA—TRAGEDY struck last weekend in Sagamu as gunmen, alleged to be kidnappers, reportedly shot dead a man suspected to be a German construction worker and abducted his colleague, while on their way to Ogbere in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the incident occurred when the two foreigners,

INNA—A 500 level Computer Science student of Federal University of Technology, FUT, Minna, and nine others have been arrested with pistols and dangerous weapons by police in Niger State for cultism.

After preliminary investigations by the Police, seven of the suspects were screened out, two of who are students of FUT, Minna.

They allegedly belong to Neo-Black Movement, NBM, a.k.a Black Axe. Addressing journalists in Minna yesterday, the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olusola Amore, said the 10 suspects were arrested at RafinYashi after a tip off by members of the public, while trying to initiate new members.

Wife arrested over husband's killing

By Peter Okutu

A

BAKALIKI—IT was a moment of sadness and confusion for the family of late Mr. Onwe Nwogbaga of Ojiegbe at Nkalika in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebony State as news of how their son was allegedly beheaded by his wife, Ijeoma Nwogbaga, with a machete reached them.

The suspect, who allegedly took to her heels after the act, was later apprehended by a

search party organized by friends and neighbours in the community.

In his account, a brother-inlaw to the victim, Mr. Simon Nwunna, who went to the home of the victim in the early hours of the morning, said he discovered the lifeless body of the victim lying in his sitting room in a pool of blood and covered with a wrapper.

He said: “When I went to visit Mr. Onwe on the fateful day, the door to his sitting room could not open. I knocked and

there was no response.

“When I forced the door open, I saw the lifeless body of my brother-in-law lying in his pool of blood.

“I shouted and called on neighbours.

Without hesitation, villagers gathered at the scene asking about his wife who was nowhere to be found.”

Vanguard learned that the victim’s head was almost severed by the cut he received and that his body was full of injuries, with blood still

Gunmen kill expatriate, abduct another in Ogun

By Daud Olatunji

500 level Minna varsity student, 9 others arrested for cult activities

believed to be workers with the German construction company, Julius Berger, were on their way to their quarry site.

It was further gathered that the expatriates were going to the site without their security escorts.

A source said the driver of the vehicle the Germans were travelling in was trying to make a U-turn when they were stopped by the abductors who opened fire on their car.

Confirming the incident, the

Deputy Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police were on the trail of the abductors.

Oyeyemi, however, said the identity of the expatriates could not be ascertained at press time.

He said: “The hoodlums ambushed the expatriates on the way to their quarry site. As soon as they saw their vehicle coming, they opened fire on them.

“One of the expatriates was hit and his colleague abducted.

The one that was hit by the bullet was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.”

A spokeswoman for Julius Berger said: “One expatriate, a sub-contractor to Julius Berger, was shot and is dead. The other expatriate, a staff of Julius Berger, has been abducted.”

“Julius Berger is currently working in close cooperation with the Nigerian authorities to make certain the safe and prompt release of the person abducted.”

gushing out of his lifeless body.

A source said whoever carried out the dastardly act must have done it at night when the victim was sound asleep or that must have invited criminals to assist.

The source revealed that when the villagers went to the back of the victim’s house, they saw the exact spot where he was murdered and dragged into the house.

The source said: “We began searching for his wife and went to her family's place.

“Suddenly, when she saw us, she took to heels and then everybody pursued her until she was apprehended.

“The case was quickly reported to the Criminal Investigation Department in Abakaliki for further investigation.”

A police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the woman had confessed to the crime and that investigation was ongoing to get to the root of the matter.

The corpse of the deceased has been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA, mortuary.

8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru &

Joseph Erunke

A

BUJA—MINISTER of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi OkonjoIweala, said yesterday that for Nigeria to sustain stability of its economy, it has to raise its excess crude account, which currently stands at $4.1 billion to $5 billion.

This came as indications emerged that the Senate may peg oil benchmark in the 2015 fiscal year at $78 per barrel as against $77.5 benchmark in the ongoing year.

Dr. OKonjo-Iweala, who spoke in Abuja, when she appeared before the Senate committees on Finance and National Planning, during consideration of the 20152017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, as a working document for the 2015 Budget, also dismissed claims that the country was financially bankrupt in spite of some cash fluctuations it was experiencing.

“Nigeria as a country has quite enough assets and I think anybody will agree to that. That is why when people say the country is broke, I say ‘absolutely not’ because if we wanted to mobilise any of our assets to cover, we could do that. Of course it could take a little bit of time.

“However, that does not mean that we cannot have some cash flow fluctuations, we just have to manage it because we have an economy that is reasonably self sufficient. We are able to manage ourselves well while everybody is willing to do a few things and we should be able to get there,” she said While answering a question on whether the 2015 budget would be a workable one or not, based on its proposed parameters in the MTEF document, the minister said irrespective of whatever oil price benchmark will be approved by the National Assembly, the most important thing was for the country to arrive at a price that will give leverage for enormous savings against times like this.

“My belief is no matter what is settled on at this point in time, what is pleasing and that brings us all together is the realisation that what we were trying to say a few years ago has happened and it is happening in front of us and all of us need to come together to find a solution.

“Whatever the decision will be, even if we agree on another benchmark, we still need measures to be in place because we have no idea on whether the oil price will continue to drop or go up.

“So I think we need to prepare ourselves in two or three scenarios and we can share some of the scenarios that we have been thinking about that will guide our development of those contingency measures.

“I think that the excess crude account was built to be able to cushion us at times like this, when

Nigeria needs $5bn to sustain economic stability, says Okonjo-Iweala ...As Senate considers $78 oil benchmark

JONATHAN RETURNS FROM JERUSALEM: President Goodluck Jonathan being received by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi while the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba watch when they received the President on his return from the Holy Pilgrimage to Jerusalem at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. we have some kind of difficulties and I think it played that role to perfection during the crises of 2008, when oil fell to 38 to 40 dollars per barrel, even worse than what we have now. At that time, we still saved up quite a lot of money, as such we were able to draw at least for a quite a few months to carry the economy.

She added: “We have

calculated that in order to help us regain this stability, we need a minimum of about five billion dollars and anything about that is good. The IMF actually calculated 6.3 billion to be maintained in that account.

“It helps to cushion our exchange rate so if we go and withdraw it abruptly beyond that amount it causes a problem

and you know we went down to two billion last year and then we built it up to nine billion and there was insistence that we must share which made it to come down to $2 billion but we later at least built it back to $5 billion. Right now we are at 4.1 billion”.

Although, none of the committee members at the

Tambuwal decamps to APC today ...To contest Sokoto governorship on APC ticket

By Emmanuel Aziken,

Political Editor

C

ITING the division of the Sokoto State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal is expected this morning to decamp to the All Progressives Congress, APC. It would be the first time since the advent of the Fourth Republic in 1999 that any of the two presiding officers of the National Assembly would belong to another party apart from the PDP. Today’s decamping will provide him the necessary party qualification to vie for the governorship ticket on the platform of the APC, which itself, is to amend its constitution tomorrow to allow Tambuwal and other last minute decampees from the PDP to vie for elective offices on the party’s platform.

Besides adopting a manifesto, the APC convention would scrap the

provision in its constitution stipulating a 30-day membership duration for anyone seeking to use the party’s platform to campaign for public office.

Tambuwal, who is expected to make his first public appearance at an APC gathering at tomorrow’s national convention, would remain in office till next June.

Associates of the speaker, who disclosed the plan ahead of today’s sitting of the House of Representatives affirmed that the speaker’s announcement would not in any way affect his continued stay as speaker or a member of the House.

“He is going to announce it in plenary and he will not resign as speaker and he will not resign as member,” a close associate of the speaker privy to the development confided in Vanguard last night.

Justifying the decision of the speaker to decamp, a reliable source in the know of the plans said on the basis of confidentiality: “Every politics is local and the

direction of Sokoto is towards the APC and because he is representing some people in Abuja, he has to move along with the dictates of the people and it cannot be said that the people in his constituency are in a particular party and he is in another party.”

Giving the constitutional justification, he said: “The justification is that there is a faction in Sokoto PDP and if there is no faction, Anenih would not have led a reconciliation meeting to Sokoto last week and secondly, Wamakko would not have decamped if it was a party that is in peace,” he added.

Tambuwal’s decampment to the APC is to pave way for his bid for the Sokoto State governorship. The speaker had earlier been speculated to be in the race for the 2015 presidential race but was prevailed upon to change direction towards the governorship in Sokoto, given

meeting could disclose the benchmark arrived at during the session, Vanguard gathered that members of the Red Chamber in the two committees opted for $78 oil price benchmark.

In the 2015-2017 MTEF, the executive had proposed the $78 oil price benchmark for the 2015 budget.

The minister told the committees that: “Every country faces a certain amount of risks and uncertainty at different times, so it is how you manage it that is a problem.”

“Are we prepared with a list of measures that can help us manage any of these outcomes? Have we thought through the various scenarios to say if anything happens?

Yes, at the present time, we are reasonably stable compared with other countries but if those risks materialize, we need to have action in order to keep the economy stable.

Asked by the committee whether the 2015 budget was workable, Okonjo-Iweala responded: “My belief is, no matter what is settled on at this point in time, what is pleasing and that brings us all together is the realisation that what we were trying to say a few years ago has happened and it is happening in front of us and all of us need to come together to find a solution.”

“Whatever the decision will be, even if we agree on another benchmark, we still need measures to be in place because we have no idea whether it is going to go.''

the circumstances that were made to favour him.

Tambuwal had last week been reported to have attended a meeting of the APC in Sokoto State. That meeting, which was convened by Governor Aliyu Wamakko, was among others, held to set a direction on the succession to the outgoing governor.

The meeting, it was learnt, resolved to zone the governorship to Sokoto South, which is Tambuwal’s constituency.

“Apart from zoning it to Tambuwal’s senatorial constituency, they also agreed that the right person to succeed Wamakko should be someone known locally, nationally and internationally and that the person must have a pedigree in terms of performance, all of which were meant to favour Tambuwal,” a source privy to the development said. Contacted on the development yesterday, Tambuwal’s spokesman, Mallam Imam Imam said Tambuwal would soon make known the outcome of his consultations on his political future.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 9

2015 PRESIDENCY: Nigerians divided over Muslim-Muslim ticket

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Charles Kumolu & Gbenga Oke

E

MINENT Nigerians were divided, yesterday, over a statement credited to former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) that he would not mind a Muslim running mate if he wins the All progressives Congress, APC presidential ticket for the 2015 election.

While some said it does not matter, some argued that it is unnecessary distraction and yet others said it is unacceptable.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, weekend, criticised the idea, saying that the era of Muslim-Muslim or ChristianChristian ticket had gone.

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: ‘’It is only in Nigeria that religion is made an issue. That should not be the case. Anyone that is competent and suitable for any office is entitled to vie for the position. Premium should be placed on competence and not religion. When we were growing up no one bothered about religion, all that mattered was competence.

So we should de-emphasize religion.”

or Christian-Christian ticket is not in the dictionary of Lagos State politics. It is what the party at the centre decides after careful consideration of the issue that we will support. We want a good pair that will give us victory whether Muslim-Muslim, ChristianChristian, Muslim-Christian or Christian-Muslim. I am indifferent to religion,” he said.

12 had not been annulled, then this could have happened. After the annulment, they annulled the possibility of a Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket. Everything must now be about balance. Anybody that is thinking of a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2015, perhaps can do that in Sambisa forest.”

It’s insensitive — Ayo It’s dead on arrival— Adebanjo On his part, Afenifere chieftain, Afenifere

Similarly, the Pan-Yoruba socio- Chief Ayo Adebanjo said “that is We ‘ll support party organisation, condemnable and insensitive to decision in Lagos –Basorun economic Also, a leader of the APC in Lagos, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, said as a leader, he wants a good pair that will give APC victory at the polls.

“The debate of Muslim-Muslim

Afenifere,described the proposal as dead on arrival.

Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It is a no deal. It is dead on arrival. This is not 1993. If June

public opinion in the country now”.

Chief Adebanjo added that such proposal “ won’t help anybody in the country because it is insensitive.”

It does not matter — Mohammed

Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed said religion has nothing to do with the development of the country, averring that Buhari and Obasanjo were not feeling the mood of the nation.

“I don’t think these two leaders can feel the mood of the nation and as far as I am concerned, the argument over Muslim-Muslim ticket is frivolous and uncalled for.

Nigerians can make their own choice either a Muslim-Muslim ticket or a Christian-Christian ticket, but they should not confuse Nigerians with this kind of argument. I believe very strongly that some of the people are hiding to smite former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu. They should allow the All Progressives Congress, APC, to decide what they want and let them live with the consequences, I believe this nation deserves the best,” he said.

GRADUATION: From left; Prof. Akin Osibogun, immediate past CMD, LUTH; Dr. Jemilade Longe, Director, Disease Control, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Mr. Dennis Okoro, Director, MTN Foundation, and Prof. Olu Akinyanju, Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria during the graduation ceremony of the 17th Genetic Counselling Training Course, sponsored by the MTN Foundation, in Idi-Araba, Mushin, Lagos State.

It’s a distraction — Utomi

On his part, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party, SDMP, in the 2011 elections, Professor Pat Utomi described the argument as a distraction from the real issues.

It calls for caution— Fasehun

Leader of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, Dr Fredrick Fasehun said: ‘’We are religiously conscious in this country. And if the Muslim-Muslim ticket issue was noted by a leader whose love for the country we cannot doubt, it would have been good. But if the statement was credited to a leader who says there will be trouble and blood-letting if he didn’t win elections, then it calls for caution.”

Emphasis should be placed on competence—Tsav

Also speaking, former Lagos State Commissioner of Police,

Discriminatory actions against Nigerians over Ebola must stop — JONATHAN

By Ben Agande

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan said yesterday in Abuja that he expects and hopes that Nigerians will no longer suffer discriminatory checks and stigmatization abroad now that the World Health Organisation, WHO has certified the country Ebola-free.

Speaking at an audience with the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France, who called on him at the Presidential Villa, President Jonathan restated the Federal Government’s displeasure over the stigmatization of Nigerians by some countries after the Ebola virus entered Nigeria in July

through a Liberian diplomat.

The President maintained that there was never any justifiable basis for the stigmatization of Nigerians since Ebola was rapidly contained in the country and never attained epidemic levels.

He told the French Foreign Minister, Mr. Laurent Fabius and the German Foreign Minister, Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier that Nigeria will remain fully vigilant to prevent the re-entry of the virus because the Federal Government recognizes that the country will remain at risk as long as Ebola is active in other West African countries or any other part of the world.

Jonathan assured that Nigeria

will cooperate fully with other concerned nations to stop the current outbreak of Ebola in West Africa as quickly as possible.

The Ministers told the President that they were in Nigeria to seek further cooperation with the Federal Government in the growing global effort to contain the current outbreak and continuing spread of the Ebola Virus Disease.

They praised Nigeria’s successful containment of the virus and expressed the desire of France, Germany and the European Union to collaborate more with Nigeria in helping other West African countries where the virus still remains active.

FG removes VAT on stock market transactions

By Peter Egwuatu

A

BUJA—THE F e d e r a l Government has removed Value Added Tax, VAT on transactions in the secondary segment of the stock market.

The removal of VAT is expected to bring down the average cost of transactions on the stock market to about N24 .7 million on daily basis.

For instance, for five day trading ended last week 24, October, 2014, total volume of transactions exchanged on the exchange was 1,412,69,835 shares. So, averagely, on daily basis, NSE records 282,593,967 shares, indicating that investors pay about N24.726 million as VAT for selling their shares.

Details of VAT that investors pay in the secondary market show: Cost relating to ‘BUY’ Transactions are VAT on CSCS 0.003% (5% of CSCS Fee ) and 0.0675% (5% of Brokerage Commission). The cost relating to ‘SELL’ Transactions:b are VAT on CSCS 0.018% (5% of CSCS Fee); VAT on Brokerage 0.0675% (5% of Brokerage Commission) and VAT on NSE 0.02% (5% of NSE Fee) and VAT on Brokerage 0.0675% (5% of Brokerage Commission) Reacting to the removal of VAT, the NSE said “ Further to the measures announced by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Honourable Minister of Finance (CME) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, CFR on December 3, 2012, to resuscitate the Nigerian Capital Market, the exchange is pleased to learn that the VAT exemption is now effective on all commissions applicable to capital market transactions.

According to the NSE “These are commissions: earned on traded values of shares, and payable to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS). The exemption is effective for a period of five years according to the Federal Government gazette on the issue.”

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

AOCOED staff protest paralyzes activities at Alausa Secretariat zKick against ad-hoc ccommittee membership

By Monsur Olowoopejo

L

AGOS—AGGRIEVED staff of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, AOCOED, Ijanikin, yesterday, stor med Lagos House office of Governor Babatunde Fashola in Alausa, Ikeja, and paralyzed activities at the secretariat.

One of their reasons for staging the protest was that they could not trust the neutrality of the ad-hoc committee chairman set up by the governor to address the issues affecting the institution.

They cited the antecedents of the chairman on previous committees on the activities affecting the institution.

The state governor, had earlier set up an ad-hoc committee chaired by his Special Adviser on Education, Otunba Fatai Olukoga, to look into the demands of the aggrieved staff with a view to resolving it and

facilitating the quick reopening of the institution.

This came three weeks after the staff under the aegis of Representatives of AOCOED Joint Staff Union, RAJSU, shutdown the institution and embarked on an indefinite strike over several issues allegedly preventing the institution from competing favourably with its counterparts.

Some of the issues raised by the protesting workers were: unpaid 18 months salaries, non-payment of pensioners’ benefits for three years, non-remittance of 7.5 per cent deducted from worker’s salary for 17 months into the Retirement Savings Account, RSA under the new pension scheme, over N150 million unremitted fund deducted from the co-operative funds, poor funding of the

institution and others.

The protesters, who defied the scorching sun to register their grievances, chanted several antigovernment songs to explain their displeasure over the

DECLARATION: Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly and governorship aspirant in the state [middle], his wife, Mayowa (left), and Dr Olaomopo Ikuforiji, during his declaration to run for governorship seat of Lagos State, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

Customs impounds 19 trucks of smuggled rice, groundnut oil

L

AGOS—THE Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service, said yesterday that it has impounded 19 trucks laden with smuggled rice and groundnut oil with a duty paid value of N70.37 million.

The Acting Controller of the unit, Mr Usman Turaki, said the trucks were intercepted on October 24 in Saki, Oyo State by his men.

He said his officers and men, acting on a tipoff, swooped on two private warehouses in the town at about 6.00 a.m. where a large consignment of 50kg bags of rice and groundnut oil were stored.

“The Federal Government gave a directive on zero tolerance for importation of rice through land borders and other unapproved routes.

“The policy is meant to

protect organisations and individuals who have invested heavily in rice farming.

“Since my assumption of office on July 15, one of our strategies is intelligence gathering, which has paid off.

“It led to a massive seizure of over 11,264 bags of 50kg parboiled rice recently at Igbesa creeks in Ogun,” the controller said in a statement.

Lagos Assembly decribes firm's working environment as ‘hell'

By Ebun Sessou AGOA—LAGOS State House of Assembly has described the working environment in Linda Manufacturing Company, makers of hair weave-on situated at Iju road as “hell on earth.”

Speaking through its

L

chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, Bisi Yusuf, who led members of the Committee to the premises of the company where one of the workers, Atukpor Wisdom, died during the working hours on

Wednesday, September 24, 2014.

According to him, the working environment was not conducive for any reasonable person, adding that the management of the company should improve on the working condition.

EBOLA: Fashola presents new aide to cabinet The governor had earlier Ikeja, Fashola said the apBy Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, formally presented his Adviser on Scientific Matters, Dr. Adekemi Sekoni, to members of the State Executive Council.

announced the appointment of Sekoni to the public during the commemoration of his 2,700 days in office, in Alausa, Ikeja.

Presenting Sekoni at the Executive Council Chambers, Lagos House

state of activities in the institution.

When Vanguard visited the scene, the protesters barricaded the entrance with their vehicles and observed prayer session to seek God assistance in their battle to address their grievances.

Effort by the police officers attached to the Alausa Secretariat Police Station to persuade the protesters proved

abortive.

Addressing pressmen, Chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education, Nigeria, SSUCOEN and Non Academic Staff Union, NASU AOCOED, Mr. Michael Avosetinyen, Mrs. Wunmi Ombugadu and Mr. Femi Adebayo respectively, argued that the ad-hoc committee set-up by Governor Babatunde Fashola, was not genuine.

pointment became necessary in view of current realities in the health sector as well as the environment.

He linked the appointment to the lessons learned during the containment of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 —11

MIMIKO: Police seal off PDP secretariat in Ondo zParty leaders invited to another meeting in Abuja

A

By Dayo Johnson

KURE—POLICE authorities in Ondo State yesterday sealed off the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following the dissolution of the state working committee and their rejection of the national body’s decision.

Also, notable leaders of the party have been invited to a meeting in Abuja to find a lasting solution to the crisis by the National Working Committee of the party.

Governor Olusegun Mimiko will also attend the meeting.

At least 12 policemen were deployed to the party secretariat located at No 68 Oyemekun Road, Akure to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

The new caretaker committee members were yet to arrive the state yesterday.

”whose competence and leadership qualities has always been a point of reference as well as a source of envy to many.

“Let it be noted that the entire PDP members in Akure North local government will find comfort in associating with our leader in the state, Dr. Mimiko."

Alabi condemns action

Meantime, the former Ondo State Chairman of PDP, Ebenezer Alabi, while reacting to the sealing of the party secretariat in

a telephonr chat, condemned the action, saying; “It is very unfortunate that this is happening in our party.

“We have been using the secretariat since 1998 and nothing of such had ever happened. Since the governor joined our party things have not been right."

Alabi was, however, optimistic that the State Working Committee will get justice in the court as the matter is in court.

“Since we are already in court,

we hope to get justice at the end of the day,” he said.

Police deny action

Also, the Police image maker, Wole Ogodo, said he was not aware of the presence of policemen at the party secretariat.

Ogodo who did not sound convincing said: “I do not know anything about the deployment of policemen to the PDP secretariat, but I will find out and get back to you.

Secretariat staff turned back

All staff of the secretariat were turned back yesterday by the policemen.

However, reports across the state had it that the dissolution of the exco down to the ward level was received with shock.

While many of the leaders of the party have threatened to defect to another party, others are calling for caution.

APC moves

As expected, leaders of the opposition APC have been mounting pressure on leaders of the old PDP to cross over following the alleged injustice.

Also yesterday, leaders of the PDP in Akure North Local Government Area of the state where the former state Chairman, Hon. Ebenezer Alabi hailed from, dissociated themselves from his declaration that they will, within 24 hours, leave the party.

Led by the party chairman in the council, Chief Nathaniel Babalola, during a visit to the governor in Akure, the group said that it has confidence in the leadership of the governor

Fayose vows to halt falling education standard

By Gbenga Ariyibi DO EKITI—EKITI State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, has pledged to halt the falling standard of education in the state, saying the state government cannot afford to toy with education of its youths.

The governor further promised to take the issue of teachers' welfare seriouslyand provide public schools with physical infrastructure and teaching materials.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in AdoEkiti yesterday, the governor promised improvement in the performance of students in public examinations.

A

INEC to distribute N1.4m voters' cards in Ogun

A AWARD: Chief Olu Ajayi, Vanguard Photo Journalist in Kaduna (left), receiving the Award of Excellence from the Ologale of Ogaleland, Oba Michael Kolajo Otitoju, in Ogale Ijumu, Kogi State. Photo By Diran Oshe

Jonathan running govt of nepotism —Atiku

A

By Daud Olatunji

BEOKUTA—FORMER vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, yesterday, said President Goodluck Jonathan runs a government of ‘nepotism which benefits only his cronies and family members.

Atiku also said the presidential system of government under Jonathan has

been turned to presidentialism, in which the President wields enormous power, where he favours only his cronies.

The former vice-President stated this at a conference held at Olusegun Obasanjo President Library, Abeokuta, to herald a two-day Atiku Abubakar policy review summit.

Abubakar who spoke through the Director-General, Atiku Campaign Organisation, Prof.

Babalola Borishade, lamented that the country is being

misgoverned by the present administration.

According to him, presidentialism means the systematic concentration of political power in the hands of one individual or a cabal.

He said: “As a result, effective accountability and representation through popular democratic participation is giving way to personal rule and single party dictatorships rooted on politics of clientelism.

“Clientelism refers to the awarding of personal favours among patrimonial cronies.

These favours take the form of public sector jobs, appointments, distribution of resources through licences, contracts and tax wavers.

“C o r r u p t i o n , nepotism and official impunity have brought our country down to the bottom 3 per cent in the world in terms of political stability."

BEOKUTA—THE Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun, Mr. Sam Olumekun, on Monday said that about 1.4 million registered voters in the state would collect Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, from November 7 to 9.

Olumekun made the statement while addressing newsmen in Abeokuta on the distribution of PVCs and Continuous Voter Registration, CVR. He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, would issue PVCs to all voters who were properly captured in the biometric register of voters compiled in 2011.

Obanikoro gets award

E

X-MINISTER OF State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has been awarded the Texas Southern University Distinguished International Alumnus Award.

The award by Obanikoro’s alma mater, took place on October 24, 2014 in Houston, Texas.

12 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Edo PDP, APC leaders sign ‘cease fire' accord

By Simon Ebegbulem

on the table, tell each other the politics of the state and sued of security agencies on the ENIN—LEADERS of All whole truth on how to achieve for peace. For me, I think it was need to maintain peace. And Progressives Congress, lasting peace in the political a welcome development we are quite happy.”

On his part, APC chairman, APC, and their Peoples process of the state. The 2015 considering the fact that no Democratic Party, PDP, election is critical to the state can make progress Ojezua described the meeting counterparts, in Edo State met sustenance of democracy in the without peace. I believe, if we as a good development.

He said: "They provided a with the state police command, country.” are in politics for the sake of led by the Commissioner of The leaders agreed to Edo people we must be platform for dialogue and the Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, maintain peace after prepared to sink our political police assured us of a level yesterday, and agreed to exchanging pleasantries. differences in the interest of playing field, that they will not maintain peace.

Speaking after the meeting, our people. I welcome their be partisan. That is a very The meeting, held at the Chief Orbih said the police effort in this direction. A lot of reassuring development. Both commissioner’s office, had in “showed genuine concern issues were discussed and parties have committed to attendance the chairman of the over the rising tension in the there was sincerity in the part maintaining peace." state PDP, Chief Dan Orbih and his counterpart in the APC, Mr. Anslem Ojezua.

Others at the peace meeting were Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Mr. Frank Erewele, APC Woman Leader, Mrs. Amasadun and other members of the state executive of both parties.

Adebanjo, who declared the meeting open, expressed concern over increasing political violence in the state ahead of the 2015 general elections and stressed the need for the party leaders to allow peace to reign.

He said: “As leaders, this is why you were invited to this INAUGURATION: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (2nd left); Chairman, meeting. God willing, you Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Iselegu and Ibabu communities, Justice Barbara Molokwu shall be called upon from time (2nd right), Mr. Dickson Akpoghene , to time in the run up to the member, (left) and Enie Otrofanowei, member, general elections. This during the inauguration of the chairman and meeting is intended to bring members of the commission by the governor you together, as political in Asaba, yesterday. leaders to place all your cards

B

Police abort planned APC protest in Delta three days ago and to let both the federal

By Gabriel Enogholase

W

ARRI—THE planned protest by members of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, at Ozoro, the administrative headquarters of the council, over the outcome of last Saturday’s council polls, was aborted by the police.

The police cited security reasons for aborting the protest.

The aggrieved APC members, however, called on Delta State Independent Electoral Commission, DESIEC, to cancel the election results especially in the local government area, claiming that the elections did not hold in the area.

As early as 7.00 a.m yesterday, the APC faithful had gathered at the party’s secretariat on the ever busy UghelliOzoro road, with placards denouncing the conduct of the election which they described as a mere charade and monumental failure.

Speaking with journalists before the aborted protest, Chairman of the APC, Isoko North local government area, Sir Godwin Diwanbor, disclosed that a woman lost her pregnancy when some of his party members were beaten up by thugs said to be loyal to a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain (name withheld).

He said: “The planned protest around Ozoro is a reaction over the local government election that took place

and state governments and the general public know that we are not happy and that we reject the election results because of thuggery and the use of arms, the use of police and the army to beat up people and even to abduct some peersons.

“In some areas, there were no result sheets. In Okpe-Isoko, it was overwhelming that the APC was going to win the place, but the Returning Officer ran away with the results sheets.

All that happened apart from the planned abduction had been reported at every stage to DESIEC and by yesterday, we had compiled all the reports and handed them over to the chairman of DESIEC”.

CORRIGENDUM

I

N the paid congratulatory advertisement titled ESAMA GBURUGBURU @ 53.com and published on page A1, Monday, October 27, 2014 in Vanguard, the names of the following persons below were inadvertently omitted.

We apologize to them for the inconveniences the error may have caused them: Hon. Rasak Momoh, Hon K. Ehigiamusoe Hon. Monday Ehighalua, Hon. Patrick Iluobe, Hon. Jude Ise Idehen Hon Patrick Osayinmwen Hon. Friday Oghieriakhi, Hon. Dan Asekhame and Hon. Paschal Ugbome (Ominimini).

Daughters of Ogbemudia, Igbinedion gun for state Assembly, House of Reps seats

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—AHEAD of the 2015 general elections in Edo State, the daughters of two prominent Edo citizens, two-time former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia and the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, have declared their intentions to run for the state House of Assembly and House of Representatives seats respectively.

While Uyi Ogbemudia is gunning for the House of Assembly seat for Oredo East constituency, Omosede Igbinedion is eyeing the House of Representatives seat for Ovia Federal Constituency of Edo State.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—13

42 vie for A-Ibom Govt House

By Tom Moses

U

YO—AT least 42 persons including Bishop Samuel Akpan, believed to be the man behind the emergence of Chief Godswill Akpabio as governor in 2007, have indicated interest to contest the governorship of Akwa Ibom State in 2015 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Others are the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, former SSG, Obong Umanah Okon Umanah, former Commissioner for Finanace, Obong Bassey Albert, former Deputy Governor of the state, Obong Nsima Ekere, former Ambassader to Russia, Asam Asam,SAN, a former Senior Personal Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Professor Richard King, former

APOLOGY

O

N the cover page of the Vanguard’s Brandish column of Thursday, September 4 Thursday, September 18, 2014, we published an article entitled, ‘TECNO Mobile; Can a former “Counterfeit” Brand lead anti-counterfeit warriors?’ which was continued on pages 10 and 11.

We, hereby, retract the said publication in its entirety and apologize to TECNO Mobile for any inconvenience or embarrassment the publication may have caused it.

Minister of Women Affairs and serving senator, Senator Helen Esuene, former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of the state, Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Effiong Abia, among others.

Bishop Akpan, who declared intention to contest the governorship election, yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, said he was in the race to enable him wipe out poverty from the state

through employment generation and industrialization, bringing new development and creation of new cities and improving on the economic and financial profile and total transformation of the state.

He said: “We will have no business again with poverty. Poverty must be wiped out while unemployment will be a thing of the past and no longer the portion of the people of Akwa-Ibom State.”

Utuama bemoans absence of constitutional roles for monarchs

By Charles Kumolu

D

ELTA State Deputy G o v e r n o r, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, has decried the absence of a constitutional role for traditional rulers at the just concluded National Conference, noting that the monarchs are important players in nation building.

Utuama, who made the call in Enugu at the South-South/South-East Traditional Rulers forum, urged the monarchs to key into the various programmes of government at all levels.

His words: ‘’We thought that the traditional institution would be given a specific constitutional role, but it was not done.

"In Delta State, and I believe in other states,

we will try as much as possible within the limit of resources available, to make their responsibilities more robust so that government can connect more through them to the people and the people can connect to government, because that is the very essence of government.”

The National Chairman, Traditional Council of Nigeria, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, advised traditional rulers to respect their stools and avoid begging for favours.

He noted that the traditional institution is the only institution that embodies various professionals such as the military, doctors, professors among others.

C-River signs contract for 42-yr-old water scheme

C

ONTRACT for the Itigidi, Adadama and Igbo Ekureku water scheme in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, initiated by erstwhile South Eastern State Government 42 years ago, has been signed between the state government and Lilleker Brothers Nigeria Limited.

Valued at N1.3 billion and funded by the World Bank, the project is expected to be completed within 12 months and will serve more than 14 communities with 5,500 households in the locality.

Speaking after signing the C M Y K

contract, Governor Liyel Imoke reiterated the state g o v e r n m e n t ' s determination and commitment to reinforce its vision of providing potable water and other essential amenities for the betterment of its citizenry.

According to Imoke, who was represented by his deputy, Mr. Efiok Cobham, “lack of potable water is responsible for poverty and other diseases and, I hope this project will be pursued effectively and delivered on time.”

Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr. Elemi Etowa, explained that the

contract included the extension and rehabilitation of Itigidi Phase II water scheme which was initiated in 1972 and started appearing in the state‘s rolling plan in 1983 but never materialized.

Managing Director, Lilleker Brothers Nigeria Limited, Trevor Palton, who said the project was the fifth water project to be handled by his company in the state, adding that it was a privilege to be part of government's vision to provide potable water to its citizenry.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Murray-Bruce submits Senate nomination form with promises

By Samuel Oyadongha

Y

ENAGOA — FORMER DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce, yesterday, submitted his Senate nomination form for the Bayelsa East senatorial district, assuring that if elected, his representation would be people oriented.

Speaking to newsmen after submitting his form to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Organising Secretary, Chief Alfred Imabsi, Ben MurrayBruce, who was accompanied to the party secretariat by political leaders from the area and hundreds of supporters, said “I am excited to run for senate. I have submitted my form to run for Bayelsa East which is the President's senatorial district.

“I am excited about the process and opportunity to serve. The new Senate, if we win, will be different because we will deal with issues that concern the public.

“It will be a people oriented Senate and we will care about the people, we will care about development and we will protect the President. We cannot produce about 40 per cent of the oil and live in abject poverty. That must change. I am concerned about the welfare of our people.”

Amaechi took on FG, not Jonathan, says Rivers govt •Adds Presidency is dodging the issues

By Jimitota Onoyume

P

ORT HARCOURT— The Rivers State Government, yesterday, urged the Presidency to address the issues raised by Governor Rotimi Amaechi at the mega rally to mark the seventh anniversary of his Supreme Court governorship, instead of calling him names.

Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Sunday, described Amaechi as a rascal and warned him to stop insulting President Jonathan and the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan or be ready to face the consequences of his utterances, including legal actions.

Responding to Abati’s statement, yesterday, Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, urged the Presidency to address the issue of its marginalization of Rivers as Governor Amaechi itemised.

Wondering where Abati’s statement came from, Semenitari said there was no time the governor in his speech made reference to the wife of President Jonathan.

“The first thing to say is that clearly that statement must have been written before the rally. If it wasn’t written before the rally, then I am at a loss at where Dr. Abati saw the so-called statement against the President, his wife and the Federal Government.

There was no point during the rally where the wife of the President was mentioned and that was because issues being discussed were not issues about persons but about governance.

"The issues were in no way related to her as she does not hold any official position in government. Therefore, there is no need referring to her where governance issues are being discussed,” she said.

Continuing, the commissioner said Governor Amaechi only raised issues bordering on governance, stressing that there

was no time he attacked the person of Dr. Jonathan.

“Governor Amaechi did not refer to the President in any personal capacity. He did refer to the activities of the Federal Government; he did refer to the fact that the Federal Government’s Ministry of Aviation has not completed the remodelling of the Port Harcourt International Airport, which was started at the same time as Enugu, as Lagos, as Kano, as Calabar.

"He did refer to the fact the Rivers people were being treated like refugees and we have become internally-displaced persons in our own state and our only offence was that we gave the President two million votes in 2011. He did complain that Rivers people only feel marginalized, but are poor cousins to the Federal Government.

“He did complain as to why Rivers people continue not to have the funds that come from their oil wells and the fact that

CEREMONY: Immediate past Minister for Niger Delta Development, Elder Godsday Orubebe, receiving his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to run for the office of the Delta State Governor in 2015 from the PDP National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; PDP Director of Mobilization, Mr. Adewale Fatona (2nd right); wife of the aspirant, Mrs. Orubebe (left), and other supporters of the ambition, during a brief ceremony, at the PDP National Headquarters, Wadata House, Abuja. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida

No summons on us over half-empty cans — NBC, COCA-COLA

By Princewill Ekwujuru

N

IGERIAN BOTTLING Company, NBC and Coca Cola Nigeria Limited said, yesterday, they had not been served with any court summons as a result of the suit filed against them by the Consumer Protection Council, CPC, over half-empty Sprite cans.

The companies, in a co- signed statement by the Head, Public Affairs & Communications of NBC, Uzo Odenigbo and Head, Public Affairs & Communications of CCNL, Clem Ugorji, said they had only noted from media reports that criminal charges had been instituted against both companies as a result of the Consumer Protection Council’s CPC’s C M Y K

reaction to February 2014 complaint by a consumer involving two short–filled cans of Sprite. “To date we have not been served with any criminal charges,” the statement said.

Continuing, the statement said NBC and CCNL had the utmost respect for the CPC as a regulator and an agency of government and would continue to co-operate with the council on the matter.

According to the statement, “we filed applications for a judicial review of these orders in February 2014, which review is pending in the courts. We do not believe that our submission to judicial review is in violation of the council’s orders. We have full trust in the Nigerian judicial system.

“Our consumers and customers

are our highest priority. NBC and CCNL take all matters relating to our products very seriously and remain committed to maintaining the highest international quality and food safety standards.”

It added, “out of respect for the ongoing court processes, we do not wish to comment further in public on this issue.”

It could be recalled that in February CPC warned Coca-Cola that Nigeria was not a “dumping ground for substandard products” and that it had also been inundated with complaints about rusty cans, rusty bottle tops and foreign particles in beverages.

It said the half-filled cans continued to evaporate during its investigation.

Attorney General Mohammed

Bello Adoke, who is also the justice minister, filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Coca-Cola Nigeria and its chief executive, and the NBC and its managing director for criminal breach of the Consumer Protection Act. He accused both companies of “deliberately failing, refusing and/or neglecting to comply” with orders to subject their manufacturing processes to its inspection, and filed an additional charge against Coca-Cola for refusing to appear before the council. Nigerian Bottling manufactures the products under the license and authority of CocaCola Nigeria.

the oil wells that belong to Rivers State were taken to Bayelsa and Abia states.

"He wondered if it was an offence to be cousins to rich brothers. He asked if the Ijaw people in Rivers State were any less Ijaw than their cousins across the river in Bayelsa, in Delta and in Ondo states. He thought that if it was a matter of Ijaw ethnicity, which he ascribed to because he felt that first and foremost, Nigeria is a federation comprising of every ethnic colouration and therefore, every ethnicity should feel entitled to the common wealth.

“However, he said that if it happens to be a matter of ethnicity, then, certainly, the Ijaw in Rivers State deserve to also benefit from their Ijaw brother.

"He said that brotherhood means that you will take care of my needs as your brother and therefore, the Bonny-Bodo Road would have been completed by now. He did ask if it was not true that the first Port Harcourt Refinery was built by Tafawa Balewa... He also did say that the Eleme Petrochemical was built by Ibrahim Babangida.

"Again, may be, Dr. Abati has a fact that is contrary to that.

Perhaps, Dr. Abati is unaware because he has not been following the releases of the federal allocation that states are receiving 50 per cent of what they were all receiving before...

What he issued yesterday (Sunday) was his opinion, which is really different from presenting the facts as they occurred, and therefore, it will be difficult for me being a news person to join issues with him.

“I will, therefore, just refer him back to the table and ask him to address the facts that have been raised by His Excellency, the Governor of Rivers State.

"The facts are clear that as at today, there is no significant federal presence in Rivers State.

That as today, the Port Harcourt International Airport remains abandoned. That as today, the Ministry of Niger Delta, created

by His Excellency, the late President Yar’Adua and have had a whole cake as an assignment; yet, the only thing that recurs on the agenda of the Niger Delta Ministry is the EastWest Road.

"Perhaps, Dr. Abati will want to controvert that by showing us other issues that are on the agenda of the Ministry of Niger Delta.

Those are the facts that Governor Amaechi raised and to my mind, what Dr. Abati needs to do is to address the facts, then, keep aside his opinions. I think when he answers those questions, then, there will be reasons to have a conversation,” she said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—15

Uduaghan swears-in 23 new LG chairmen

By Festus Ahon

A

SABA — THE newly elected 23 Local Government Council Chairmen in the last Saturday Delta State Local Government council polls, were, yesterday, sworn-in

by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He tasked them to judiciously use public funds Former director general of the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and Chairman, to improve the living conSilverbird Group, yesterday, submitted his Senate nomination form for Bayelsa East dition of the people. senatorial district, to the Bayelsa State PDP office. Mr. Bruce during his submission of Those sworn-in by the the Senate nomination form governor were Baro Henry, Uvwie; Kenneth Ibru, Ughelli North; Paul Etaiga, Ughelli South; Mr. Mofe Edema, Warri South; Chucks Obusom, Oshimili South; Benedicta Osakwuni, Ukwuani, George Ekpemukpolo Warri South-West, and Louise Ndukwe. Oshimili North Also sworn-in were Isaac Anwuzia, Aniocha South; Ifeanyi Osakwe, Ndokwa West; Solomon Kpomah, Udu; Godwin Ejeyere, Okpe; Fredrick Ofunne, Ika South; Oluwole Karitimi, Bomadi; Francis Mr. Ben Murray Bruce with the Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson

C M Y K

Maku, Warri North; Ebikeme Clark, Burutu; Francis Ebonka, Ika NorthEast; Chucks Oseme, Aniocha North; Odebala Ejaife, Sapele; Emmanuel Egbabor, Isoko North; Malik Itiako Ikpokpo, Isoko South; Mrs. Josephine Abeki, Patani, and Solomon Golly Ethiope West.

Speaking during the ceremony at the Cenotaph, Asaba, Uduaghan said the ceremony was the flag-off of democracy at the grassroots, lamenting that the election was delayed for three years due to legal issues over the constitution of the State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC. While commending DSIEC and security agents for the conduct of the election as well as congratulating the newly elected council chairmen, he expressed hope that DSIEC would soon conduct the election in Ndokwa East and the run up election in Ethiope East.

The governor however

decried the delay in the distribution of election materials in some areas and appealed to the people to wait for election materials at the polling units rather than go to DSIEC office or police station.

Uduaghan warned the new council chairmen against abandoning projects initiated by their predecessors, urging them to fast track development in the communities and make their elections blessings to the people.

He also told them to key into the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of the state government and enjoined the council chairmen to reside in their local government headquarters to make themselves accessible to their people and ensure peace and security in their respective council areas.

While appealing to the council chairmen not to discriminate against anybody, he insisted that they were elected to serve the entire council area.

16 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 17

B

Y the time you are reading this, by the grace of God, the 218 kidnapped Chibok school-girls may have been released. If not, their release is imminent. A ceasefire with the Boko Haram has been negotiated. Never mind that there are still skirmishes here and there. “Clueless” Goodluck Jonathan has forced the insurgents to consider seriously putting down their arms.

He has done this in spite of the nagging of the opposition about his “cluelessness.” He has done this through the much-maligned Nigerian military; and without mortgaging the nation’s security to foreign troops. Now is the time to give the microphone to Lai Mohammed, who talks about Nigeria’s security as if he were a Chadian. Now is the time to hear from Muhammadu Buhari, who claimed in the past that Boko Haram is a malevolent Southern conspiracy against the North.

What would these implacable critics of Goodluck Jonathan say if the girls were released now?

Would they be gracious and eat their words? Don’t bet on it.

Don’t expect them to commend the purposeful tactical manner by which the Jonathan administration has forced the Boko Haram, at the very least, to the negotiating table. It is increasingly apparent that if Jonathan is “clueless,” his “cluelessness” is the magic that Nigeria needs at this very moment in time.

On hearing that a ceasefire had been negotiated and that the girls might be released, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso still had this to say: “What we need to do is to take appropriate military step to stop insurgents and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria or we sit down and negotiate with the insurgents.” Now that is what is called new original thinking. Clearly, Kwankwaso has nothing worthwhile to contribute to this matter but hot air.

Politicising Chibok Only in Nigeria does a national tragedy get so mischievously politicized, just because of the rampaging ambitions of a powerhungry cabal. In the face of insurgencies, nations close ranks. No British government was ever pilloried for the terrorist activities of the IRA. However, in Nigeria, the leaders of a roguish opposition party accuse the government of complicity in the insurgency.

They undermine the resolve of the military. Then they maintain that the government is incapable of dealing with the situation.

The fact is that in Nigeria, the APC opposition is fundamentally unpatriotic. It is not averse to play political football with Nigeria’s security. It has yet been able to tell Nigerians what it would do differently from the government to achieve more immediate results. Would it C M Y K

on the ground.

As a matter of fact, it is on record that opposition parties have won more elections under Jonathan than under all previous dispensations put together. This can be attributed to the democratic inclination of the President, and he has erased the door-die politics of the past.

From Edo, to Ondo, to Anambra, to Ekiti, to Osun, the Jonathan administration has overseen free and fair democratic elections, devoid of acrimony and violence. In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, Jonathan declared a state of emergency to quell the Boko Haram insurgency. Nevertheless, unlike Obasanjo, he was mindful of the prevailing democratic structures and did not tamper with them.

What exactly is ‘clueless' about Goodluck Jonathan? (3) By the time some offending journalists disappear, nobody would have dared any longer.

Have we forgotten the rash of political assassinations under Obasanjo? Even the country’s Attorney General was not spared.

But now we have the government of Goodluck Jonathan. The opposition is calling him “clueless” and no one gets arrested. No one gets shot. Jonathan continues to smile. Under him, the press is free and unfettered. Finally, Jonathan has signed a Freedom of Information bill into law. This has made the Nigerian press one of the freest in the world.

It validates the right of Nigerians to information about how they are being governed and safeguards our freedom of expression. Why was this legislation not passed until Jonathan came into power? The answer is simple. Jonathan is the first real democrat to rule Nigeria.

Nigerians need to remember this before we surrender our freedoms to another military t u r n c o a t masquerading as a democrat in the person of Muhammadu Buhari. Nobody who knows Buhari would accuse him of being a democrat; no matter the convenient noises he is making now.

Lest we forget: Buhari overthrew a d e m o c r a t i c government; jailed ministers without trial; muzzled the press; killed innocent Nigerians under It is retroactive decrees. increasingly Surely we cannot allow this military apparent man in civilian that if clothing to violate our Jonathan is freedoms yet again.

“Clueless” Jonathan “clueless,” has supervised truly democratic elections. his Despite the noises “cluelessness” made by people like is the magic Lai Mohammed, who paid to make that Nigeria are negative noises, needs at this Jonathan has not rigged any polls to very prevent the moment in opposition from prevailing where they time have genuine support

carpet-bomb Sambisa forest and bring home the dead bodies of the girls? Would it use black magic to pinpoint their precise locations? Or would it send the loquacious Lai Mohammed into the hideouts of the Boko Haram as Nigeria’s distinguished Ambassador?

All the opposition has offered to date is a load of sound and fury designed to divide the North from the government. Now that this is backfiring, let us hear what the acerbic Northern Elders Forum and the wolf-crying Arewa Consultative Forum have to say.

They said they would not accept the re-election of Goodluck Jonathan unless the girls were released. Would they campaign for the president if the girls were now to be released?

There was never a magic wand to the release of the girls. But you would not think so if you were to listen to these ethnic jingoists.

These people forget that it was the same “clueless” Goodluck Jonathan who midwifed a durable peace with the militants of the Niger Delta. They were hoping to seize power by cloak-anddagger means under a democratic dispensation, threatening to soak the dogs and the baboons in blood unless they have their way.

Promoting democracy There is something anomalous about having military dictators take off their uniforms and then masquerade as democrats. We had this charade with Obasanjo. Whatever anybody might call our dear former president, he was anything but a democrat. Every election conducted under his watch was massively rigged and highly disputed.

Can anybody imagine what would have happened if Obasanjo was labeled as “clueless” during his presidency? How quickly they forget.

Ebola-free Nigeria

While the power-hungry opposition is determined to blame Jonathan for every negative national happenstance, even including car accidents on federal roads, it is equally determined to deny him of plaudits for successes under his watch. The deadly and highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, came into Nigeria by way of Liberia, claiming precious lives. The government swung into action, mobilized resources and organised a resistance that contained the epidemic in record time.

Thanks to this forthrightness, the whole country now breathes a sigh of relief.

Three months down the road, the World Health Organisation has now declared Nigeria Ebolafree. It did not declare Lagos State Ebola-free. It did not declare Rivers State Ebola-free.

It declared Nigeria Ebola-free.

The president of Nigeria is Goodluck Jonathan. It is not Babatunde Fashola. It is not Rotimi Amaechi. And yet these two APC state governors are claiming that Nigeria’s victory over Ebola is due to them. This is poppycock! The victory belongs to Goodluck Jonathan who is the only man charged with the responsibility for what happens in Nigeria. The buck starts and ends with our president.

Even former president Olusegun Obasanjo, an implacable opponent of Goodluck Jonathan, could not help but commend the Jonathan administration for the way and manner it moved with speed and determination, and kept the Ebola virus at bay. Should the epidemic return to ravage Nigeria (God forbid), Jonathan would be held responsible.

Now that we have prevailed over the scourge, Jonathan deserves

all the praise. Indeed, Western governments are now sending people to Nigeria to study how we dealt with Ebola.

Goodluck factor The truth of the matter is that there is something compelling about this South-South man from Otuoke in Bayelsa State.

This accounts for his very mysterious rise to the presidency.

Under his stewardship, Nigeria has attained milestones that have eluded us in the past. With four more years of Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential saddle, we are bound to achieve even more. Without wanting to sound too fatalistic, it is undeniable that Goodluck Jonathan brings good fortune to Nigeria.

Under Jonathan’s presidency, Nigeria’s Under-17 football team won an unprecedented fourth World Cup title in 2013, making Nigeria the most successful country in the tournament’s history. We also won the African Cup of Nations football tournament in 2013; the first time since 1994. No government in the history of Nigeria has ever had this combination of accolades.

At the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, we won 11 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals, to place eighth overall.

That is something of a record.

We also won four medals at the World Athletic Championship; the last time we won a medal there was in 2000.

This Goodluck factor also extends to international relations. In 2010, Nigeria was elected into the United Nations Security Council as a nonpermanent, non-veto member for the 2011-2012 sessions. In a most amazing manner, we were re-elected again in 2013 for the 2014-15 sessions. This is unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria. The UNSC is the most important and prestigious organ of the U.N. Nigeria has only served on the UNSC on three previous occasions.

Four more years I am not from the SouthSouth. I don’t know Goodluck Jonathan from Adam, and I don’t want to know him. I will never accept a government job. But I am a Nigerian, and I feel affronted when I see all these power-mongers bad-mouthing our president, simply because he is from the minority SouthSouth and they want power at all cost.

There can be no question that Goodluck Jonathan has been an effective president, and he should be allowed to continue for another four years. Two terms of South-South presidency is surely not excessive appreciation for our chronic reliance on South-South oil.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 IT is time politicians told us their plans for the Nigerian child. Politicians speak mostly about the future on realising that they have ignored Nigeria’s present in their sustained search for personal interests. The rights of the Nigerian child, which Child Rights Act 2003, CRA, broadly covers are observed mostly with breaches. Will Nigeria’s future be built without children?

After CRA’s passage 11 years ago, States refused to implement it. It was the first time States rejected a federal law, claiming State Assemblies needed to domesticate it. The Freedom of Information Act 2010, FoIA, is undergoing the same rigmarole, even with court rulings that a federal law applies to all parts of Nigeria. These laws are fundamental to Nigeria’s future, one provides for our children; the other holds politicians accountable.

The National Assembly makes laws for the entire federation. State Assemblies make laws for their States. Section 4 (5) states, “If any law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National Assembly shall prevail, and that other

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

F

ORMER military dictator and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, is continuing his trademark politics of bitterness, blackmail and fear mongering. At a Northern stakeholders’ meeting of the APC, held on Saturday, October 18, 2014, in Kaduna, Buhari once again threw caution, which is expected of an elder, to the winds and launched a subtle jibe at the judges of the country’s apex court. He said: “I tried to be a President three times; three times I failed. I challenged the election up to the Supreme Court. Who were the judges of the Supreme Court? What were their decisions? The most interesting one was in 2007 where three of the seven-man panel of judges said the election was not done according to the law...”.

It is worrisome that an elder of Buhari’s standing will make utterances which insinuate that judges of the Supreme Court were compromised or suborned to arrive at a verdict not favourable to him, an indication that he has no respect for the judiciary. If, as Buhari said, “three of the seven-man panel of judges said the election was not done according to the law” in 2007, does it not follow that the remaining four judges were of the legal opinion that the election satisfied the requirements of the law? Or, would Buhari have preferred to be handed a victory on the basis of the

C M Y K

A Future Without Nigerian Child law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”.

States have no laws on the child rights and the freedom of information. These are not cases of conflicts between state and federal laws, which the Constitution still resolves in favour of federal laws. States are un-making federal laws to avoid accountability.

Domestication, according to Section 12 (1) of the Constitution, applies to treaties between Nigeria and other countries. States have appropriated domestication to desecrate the Constitution.

Child’s rights are so important to our

future.We expected States would be enthusiastic about implementing them. The FoIA expands liberties the Constitution awards the public. Section 22 of the Constitution which states, “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the government to the people,” though stronger than the FoIA is limited. FoIA extends these roles to the public.

State Assemblies have assumed the National Assembly’s constitutional roles by un-making these laws the National Assembly validly made.

The illegalities breach the Constitution but serve the interests of politicians who abhor accountability. They neither care for Nigeria’s present, nor its children, its future.

Domestication is illegal.States can contest the laws in court, not resort to the illegality of tampering with them. The National Assembly has a major responsibility to protect the Constitution from desecration. The public has a collective role to hold politicians accountable for building a fantastic future for Nigeria, without the children.

OPINION Buhari and the politics of fear mongering three judges who were ostensibly in support of his case against the four judges who were not?

Moreover, that Buhari, in 2014, is still talking about his 2007 loss at the Supreme Court is a pointer to just how unsportsmanlike he can be and how long his bitterness can last. It also brings to the fore the fear mongering with which Buhari has often laced his public statements, some of which, if one is to be kind, can only, at best, be described as not statesmanlike.

Lest Nigerians forget, it was Buhari who once told the world during a BBC Hausa Service interview that, “If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.”

And if we are to follow Buhari’s example and go back to the past, let every wellmeaning Nigerian challenge Buhari to search his conscience whether his utterances before and after the 2011 Presidential Election did not stoke and encourage the violence in some parts of the North that led to the loss of many Nigerians after the election.

Coming back to the Saturday, October 18, 2014 event in Kaduna, Buhari further scored a new low in fear mongering while reinforcing the APC policy of demonising the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He said: “Another four years of PDP will send this country

down the drain.” This is a classic example of Buhari’s brand of politicking, which is to mix fear with blackmail and intimidation in the hope that voters will be cowed into supporting him. It is simply incredible that after three failed attempts at winning the presidency through the ballot box, instead of the military coup that he once used, Buhari’s handlers cannot advise him to change his flawed tactics.

In reality, what does Buhari’s “another four years of PDP will send this country down the drain” mean? Nigerians are intelligent beings and can fact-check things for themselves. Yes, the PDP has been in power for 15 years, in which time the country has witnessed many positive changes. To be clear, nobody is saying Nigeria has reached the state of Utopia; but then, again, which country can be said to have reached Utopia? However, the many positive changes that Nigeria has witnessed under the PDP include tremendous growth in the areas of telecommunications, agriculture, women empowerment and, perhaps, most importantly, freedom of democratic expression.

It is this freedom of democratic expression that allows Buhari to go around making unguarded statements aimed at stoking anger against the government of the day, something which Buhari, the military dictator, would

never have tolerated.

For those who may have short memories, let us recall that Buhari is one of the very few Nigerians who have had the privilege of ruling Nigeria in the past. Let us recall specifically that Buhari is, indeed, a former military dictator who truncated the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari in 1983. Let us remember that Buhari’s Decree No.4 remains one of the most draconian laws against press freedom that the entire world has ever seen. And let us never forget that Buhari’s regime incarcerated many Nigerians, including former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, for long periods of time without trial.

So if today, as is the case, retired General Buhari, a man who appears negatively rigid and incapable of putting on a democratic temperament, offers himself for service as Nigeria’s democratically elected president, and he seeks to achieve this feat through the misguided politics of fear mongering, intimidation and outright blackmail, Nigerians have the right to look him in the face and say, “Thanks, but no thanks, General! We’ve seen your style before. It did us no good then and it would do us no good now.”

*Mr . Ojeifo, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—19

THE All Progressives Congress, APC, right from inception, has always battled to shed the toga of a party whose interest is mainly skewed in favour of the North and Muslim interests. Until the appointment- not election- of Odigie Oyegun to the position of Chairman, all of the principal officers were mainly Muslims. So, when a few weeks ago, we read from the camp of the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, that he is throwing his cap into the ring for the presidential ticket of the APC, not a few of us were very delighted.

At last, a man with true panNigerian vision, an achiever with international pedigree is joining the race. We warmed our hearts towards towards the perceived democratic credentials of the APC, our hope was further kindled by Oyegun’s press release - as if choreographed that the APC is going to throw the presidential race open to all, irrespective of geographical or ethnic factors.

But we were shocked we later received the announcement from Oshiomhole that he is no longer in the race, that he never considered himself in the race in the first instance; this is coming two weeks after his supposed declaration of intent. It is further compounded by the fact that on the day Oshiomhole was announcing his recant, his

information commissioner was quoted in a newspaper as highlighting the advantages Oshiomhole has over all the other contestants and that his interest is for real. What would have made Oshiomhole to do a recant? Was it just a ‘demo’ to shore up his political status for a future appointment in the party, maybe vice president position? Is it a fear of failure? Or a lack of confidence?

Or was it a result of intimidation from the party hegemony? Or the inability to fork out the huge sum of N27 million required? We will never know, but it sure leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

As if on cue, in the Premium Times, an online publication, of October 17, 2014, Oyegun was quoted as saying that “we will welcome consensus candidate” when General Buhari visited the APC headquarters in Abuja.

Our politicians are the most unpatriotic elements in this country, especially with their penchant to manipulate everything. Why is it so difficult for us to present our best in the affairs of this country? Without our best at the top, we will never get the best from governance in this country. A party that prides itself of change must be radically different, not aping the one it is trying to take over from; there must be clear lines of demarcation and this, we have not seen.

As it is now, with the exit of Oshiomhole, we are back to the

,

beginning.The remaining contestants of note are all from the North and they are all Muslims, which fits perfectly into the vision of the reactionary Northern Elders Forum and their likes, the Boko Haram obviously fighting for a Muslim to be in charge of the affairs of the country in line with the wishes of those who have sworn to make this country ungovernable unless the presidency moves to the North.

What is APC trying to tell us?

The beauty of democracy is in the participation; there is a sense of inclusiveness if you throw the contest open; everyone is a winner when the process is transparent and free from all forms of manipulation. As it is now, the APC has become known for imposition and manipulation of candidates into positions. This is what those who have left the party are complaining about.

Now, this is about to be displayed at the highest level; we will see how it pans out.

Oshiomhole on his part has done this country a great

30,000 polling units: JEGA’s contradictions and defiance

By Tunji Ademola

I

N his recent contradictory statements in the Guardian newspaper ofTuesday October 23, 2014, Professor Attahiru Jega appears intent upon fomenting conflict with his new polling unit allocations, which he appears besotted with irrespective of informed advice to the contrary from the Senate, security agencies, INEC Commissioners, and the political parties’ chairmen he sought their views at a meeting he convened. This is in addition to his defiance of an on-going matter in court instituted by a political party.

To understand conflict and how conflicts in societies should be viewed, there are disagreements about whether conflict is constructive or destructive and whether they should be prescribed or proscribed.For the aforestated reasons, the understanding of conflict may be viewed from four schools of thinking, namely: the functionalist who argue that conflicts are bad and destructive and should be proscribed as much as possible; then there are the humanists who aver that conflict is part of human behaviour and are necessary for human relations because it may have transformative impact where it can be used to overcome repression and hegemonic domination. A third school, the interactionist view conflict as absolutely necessary for functioning, survival and healthy group activities, while a fourth school of thought, the structuralist, believes that conflict is a dynamic force rooted in social structures of domination due to incompatible goals, values and interests.

While there are disagreements about how conflict should be viewed, there is wide agreement that conflicts arising from plural and heterogeneous societies where diC M Y K

versity is an issue, often stem from the intention of one group to dominate others, or attempt to change the rules guiding expected behaviour to favour specific groups. In Nigeria the perceptions of ethno-religious and political domination is real across the North/South divide and in many cases also misperceived.

Such perceptions of domination may be actual or misconceived, but for an electoral umpire, such trust deficit is absolutely devastating to public institution building. This is why, even though Jega may have noble or dishonorable intentions, any act capable of fomenting mistrust among the political public for INEC should be kept at armslength.

Even the early philosophers such as Plato and his student, Aristotle, agree that factionalism of society arises often from the perpetuation of inequality in society fuelled by leadership incompetence and the zeal for political wealth and privilege, such assertion was also supported by Cicero who urged that the inequity of a master-slave relationship between groups of elites and others in society should be rejected.

It is, however, clear from the words and acts of Professor Jega in recent months that, rather than create harmonious alliances between ruling elites and fraternal respect for citizens, he is bent on deepening the perceptions of inequity and dominium which has widened the divides of social exclusion in the Nigerian polity.

When INEC announced the creation of over 21,000 new polling units for states in the North and 8, 000 new polling units for states in the South, many reflexively rejected such disparities, knowing that the utility of polling units serves equal purposes for all geopolitical zones of the country, and

disservice by his action. I have never known him to be one that will ‘chicken out’ of a cause he believes in, but it is said that with politicians you can never tell.

Now that he is in politics, he has allowed the culture to permeate through him. It took all of two weeks to recant after the news of his declaration broke out; definitely, it was in his heart to contest.

When you know that you are a better candidate, you go for it. A party that has Fashola, Amaechi and Oshiomhole should not be struggling to present a credible presidential candidate.

Impositions and manipulation of candidates into positions, if not handled properly, will hurt the party in the 2015 elections.

As I am writing this piece, news just filtered in that the Boko Haram group has reached a cease-fire agreement with the Federal Government. If this is true, it is a good development and must not be isolated from the happenings in the APC camp, with the declaration of Buhari for the presidential contest.

I have always held the position that there is no way a true and transparent election will take place in the North East, with the level of insurgency going on there and that the opposition will be defeated under such conditions.

I have also held that, it is in the hands of the Northern elites to determine whether the Boko Haram insurgency will end or not; not Jonathan as the effective APC propaganda will have us believe.

You cannot sit and watch your house being destroyed because

,

By Sunny Ikhioya

,

Oshiomhole's recant leaves a sour taste

The beauty of democracy is in the participation; there is a sense of inclusiveness if you throw the contest open; everyone is a winner when the process is transparent

There is no plausible explanation why the entire Southern Nigeria should be allocated 8,000 polling units equivalent to the allocation to the North West zone alone

,

that regarding the population of eligible voters such disparity was not justifiable by any criteria.

However, some people were ready to hear from the erudite professor who had surmounted some very huge national electoral challenges previously with admirable calm and candour. But as INEC and its officials continued to give fatuous explanations for the disparities, the perceptions of inequities grew stronger and have grown even stronger with many contradictions in Professor Jega’s recent defense in the Guardian newspaper interview.

For example, the INEC chairman claimed that the new polling units have not been created, yet he did not refute claims that within his Commission memos and circulars to effect the new polling units allocations have been issued, and his personnel even given deadlines to execute such orders.

He then claimed that the polling units were meant to meet the aspirations of Nigerians to decongest polling units on election days.

This may be a good reason but is it the actual reason? By the policy process when a policy kite is flown to acquaint citizens of the identification of a problem or opportunity,

you are not happy with the man at the top, there are so many roles the people can play to put the activities of the insurgents in check. The leaders of the North have failed and not doing anything to remedy the situation.

Presently in Iraq, the Kurds are fighting the battle of their lives against ISIS. They know that if they leave the situation to the Iraqi government, it will lead to their doom; so, they have formed various resistance groups and with the support of allied forces, they are succeeding in holding off the ISIS. What has the North as a group done to fight the Boko Haram, even though they are killing their emirs and leaders, raping their wives and children, burning down schools? Nothing!

In recent times, the Boko Haram are on the defensive, with the decision of our neighbours to cooperate. I am sure the sponsors are beginning to feel the heat; it is in their own interest, therefore, to make peace. If there is peace and free and fair elections, the people of the troubled North East will likely vote for Buhari because of their well known sentiments against Christians and the South.

It is also noted here that the Northern elders have been claiming with confidence that elections will take place in the region no matter the situation. Is the new turn around of the Boko Haram linked to the election of 2015? Time will tell. * A good democracy is the one that opens the space to everyone concerned and that is what all of the parties should do.

this is often done to test its acceptability; the consultations with all sectors of stakeholders both from within and outside INEC so far on the issue of 30,000 polling units show that it is a very bad idea not on account of decongestion and emergence of new settlement but principally because of the inequity which attends Jega’s approach to the matter. For instance, there is no plausible explanation why the entire Southern Nigeria should be allocated 8,000 polling units equivalent to the allocation to the North West zone alone, nor can it be explained how the entire South Eastern zone was allocated less new polling units, than Niger State, or any of the 11 other states in the North which all got over 1000 new polling units allocated to them, while only Lagos, the most populated state in Nigeria was seen as the only area in the entire South that needs as many new polling units.

In his entire explanation, Jega who is a Professor of Political Science did not give any scientific explanation to justify an exercise that the rest of the world conducts using GIS scanning, cadastral mapping and census data. Even the internal data which INEC has expended huge public funds to acquire are now being repudiated by Jega, albeit, unsuccessfully, hiding under cover of a purported Post-AFIS register, which many have described as a faulty register containing biometric data which is distorted by incomplete data capture.

For reasons best known to Jega, he has tried to refute the existence of a Post-Business-Rule voters register, the same register vaunted by his Commission as the cleanest copy of the voter roll which helped to remove many double registrations and which was used to produce the Permanent Voters card that his Commission is distributing, and the same register used in Anambra, Ekiti, Osun and several by-elections by this same INEC.

20 — Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Double jeopardy for security guard who duped a blind teacher •To spend 10 yrs in jail

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA, Enugu

T

HE common saying, “every day is for the thief, one day is for the owner ”, aptly captures the pathetic story of how a blind female teacher in Enugu State was swindled of her life savings while trying to secure her son a plum job at Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. It all began sometime in 2012, when a 33-year-old security guard attached to a privately-owned security outfit in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Gift Onyegam, in connivance with three others, decided, ‘419’ style, to dupe the blind woman.

The result? Nemesis finally caught up with him, although his comrades-in-crime escaped and are presently at large.

Not only did the court of law convict Gift, sentencing him to 10 years imprisonment without an option of fine, he was also compelled to cough out the money he collected from the woman. …. Genesis of the crime The victim, Mrs. Rose Ihekanacho, had a chance to narrate her ordeal last week at the Enugu zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, when she came to collect part of the money to be refunded to her. She was assisted to the office by her son.

According to her: “It was a painful incident. I had never thought in my life that somebody will, without conscience, dupe a physicallychallenged person in this my condition.

But I thank God and also thank this

C M Y K

Commission for the way they handled the matter. I almost gave up interest in the matter initially when it was ‘come today, come tomorrow’. It was stressful and I almost gave up because it was becoming a threat to my life. To God be the glory that I have now collected back my hard earned money which was taken from me through dubious means. Oh, may God elevate you the zonal head and all your staff to greater heights. You are wonderful”. …..EFCC South-East zonal head speaks

Presenting a First Bank draft of N550,000 made payable to the fraud victim, Mrs. Ihekanacho in his office, EFCC’s Head of Operations, South-East zone, Mr. David Iloyanomo said: “I am happy we in this Commission have painstakingly pursued this matter to its logical conclusion, through prosecution, the conviction and in recovery. That is what EFCC stands for, justice no matter who is i n v o l v e d , whether poor or rich. All we need is information and cooperation.

If she did not come to give evidence in court, he (Gift) couldn’t have been convicted.

So we are calling on members of the public to give us useful I had never information and thought in my to also come forth to give life that e v i d e n c e d u r i n g somebody prosecution”.

will dupe a physically. . . T h e charge that challenged person in this nailed him condition Gift Onyegam,

*Mrs. Rose Ihekanacho receiving the bank draft from EFCC Head of Operations, South East was arraigned before the Hon. Justice M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court 1 Enugu, Enugu State on a four-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence on the 17th of June 2013 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC. Gift, 33, who hails from Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, was working as security guard with Anti Risk Security Company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when he and three other men defrauded Mary Rose Ihekanacho of the sum of N830,000,00, according to the EFCC. “Gift Onyegam during interrogation had admitted that he introduced himself as Patrick Abah to Mary Rose Ihekanacho, a blind woman, through a telephone conversation with MTN numbers 08165495063 and 0816549506, and that he had promised to help her secure a job for her son with Shell Petroleum Development Company.

“After thorough investigations, the EFCC had charged Gift to court on four counts of obtaining money under false pretences.

Some of the charges read: That you Gift Onyegam, Sunday Promise (at large), Okon Ayebaye (at large), and Opurum Emeka (at large), sometime in August 2012, in Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Five

hundred and forty one thousand naira from Rosemary Ihekanacho through a first bank account number 3050676816 belonging to Okon Ayebaye Susan by false pretence that the said money is meant for securing a job for her son at Shell Petroleum Development Company, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Related offences “That you Gift Onyegam, Sunday Promise (at large), Okon Ayebaye (at large), and Opurum Emeka (at large), sometimes in August 2012, in Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Seventy thousand naira from Rosemary Ihekanacho through a first bank account number 3048914832 belonging to Okon Ayebaye Susan by false pretence that the said money is meant for securing a job for her son at Shell Petroleum Development Company, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

That you Gift Onyegam, Sunday Promise (at large), Okon Ayebaye (at large), and Opurum Emeka (at large), sometimes in August 2012, in Enugu within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of one hundred thousand naira from Rosemary Ihekanacho through a Diamond bank account number 0016766663 belonging to Alamabo Teneilabe by false pretence that the said money is meant for securing a job for her son at Shell Petroleum Development Company, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.” Upon conviction, prosecution counsel, Mainforce Ekwu, had moved an oral application before the court praying the court to prevail on the convict to pay the victim her money, citing section 11 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

It was upon that order of the court that compelled the convict to cough out the sum of N550,000 out of the N830,000, while still serving his jail term; the balance was still being expected to be paid back to the woman.

What a double tragedy for a con-man.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 21

By PETER EGWUATU

From left: Winner of the Business Leader of the Year/Chairman of Stanbic-IBTC Plc, Mr. Atedo Nari Atowari Peterside, Chairman, CMA Investment Holding, Rakesh Wahi , the 2014 winner, CNBC Africa AABLA Business Woman of the Year, Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Arunma Oteh and Bolaji Balogun, son of Subomi Balogun who represented his father and Winner of Lifetime Achievement Award during the awards ceremony in Lagos.

F

INANCIAL consultants and investments experts have advised workers in Nigeria to learn about the rudiments of financial and investment management in order to ensure sustainable living standards after retiring from active service.

Experts who spoke at a oneday financial workshop organised by Klass and Korporate Consultants International for staff of Chevron Nigeria advised workers to cultivate the habit of savings and investments.

The guest speaker at the workshop and regional head, public sector, South-South and South-East, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Abayomi Adeyeri, said people with adequate financial and investment knowledge would be able to make sound decisions that would ensure that they are able to live sustainable and wealthy life.

According to him, the purpose of the workshop was to activate staff potentials in order to expand their overall total income.

“Your money should work for you rather than you work for your money. The participants should be able to make sound financial decisions at the end of the class, convert

Retirement: Financial consultants task workers on planning, investment debts to savings, savings to investments and in the long run, retire strong, early and wealthy,” Adeyeri said.

Chief executive officer, Klass and Korporate Consult-

ants International, Omoefe Siakpere, pointed out that the main reason why most big earners find themselves broke later in life is because of lack of financial planning.

According to her, planning for the future entails an extensive process of the various elements of a financial plan that should be integrated into overall lifestyle which out-

UBA records N210bn third quarter earnings U

NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, released its financial results for the third quarter, showing a 12 per cent growth in gross

earnings over same period of last year. Gross earnings grew from N188billion in 2013 to N210 billion for the nine month period ended September 30, 2014.

The bank’s gross earnings received a boost from in-

FCMB secures $300m term loan facility from DFI, others

F

lion medium and long term funding from Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and international commercial Banks in four different transactions. This follows an up198.6 -0.8 grade in the rating of the Bank by Global Credit 3,119.00 -1.00 Rating (GCR) to A- (that is, stable outlook).

16.41 -0.27 The $300 million secured by FCMB from the DFIs demonstrates the confidence the lenders USD 86.16 USD +0.76 and the international financial market have in USD 83.25 USD +0.10 the management capabilities of the Bank. Proceeds of the facility will be used DOLLAR 154.76 155.26 155.76 for general lending purSTERLING 249.6279 250.4344 251.2409 pose to key sectors of the EURO 197.6595 198.2981 198.9367 Nigerian economy, FRANC 163.8365 164.3659 164.8952 YEN 1.4481 1.4528 1.4575 branch development as CFA 0.2835 0.2935 0.3035 well as channel enhanceWAUA 230.5372 231.282 232.0268 ment.

RENMINBI 25.271 25.3531 25.4352 RIYAL 41.255 41.3883 41.5216 The International FiKRONA 26.5386 26.6244 26.7101 nance Corporation (IFC), SDR 230.9483 231.6945 232.4406 a member of the World Bank Group and the largCBN Exchange Rate as 27 /10 /2014

irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited has successfully secured over $300 mil-

est global development institution; Citibank and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), a multilateral finance institution owned by the U.S government, provided the loan. Other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) include Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO) – the Dutch Development Bank; Société De Promotion Et De Participation Pour La Coopération Economique S.A (PROPARCO), a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), a multilateral finance institution owned by the European Union.

terest income which rose 12.5 per cent to N149 billion in the same period.

Reacting to the results Mr. Philips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/ CEO, UBA Group said “The rise in gross earnings reflects the increasing business activity across the bank’s operations, as its support businesses and institutions with the finance they need to exploit emerging opportunities on the continent” The operating income of N138 billion for the nine-month period to 30 September, 2014, representing a 6.6 per cent increase over the corresponding period of last year, shows the strong underlying operating efficiency of UBA business globally, and the capacity of the business to remain profitable. The bank made a profit before tax of N42.54 billion and a profit after tax of N33.6 billion for the period.

“We are confident that our performance will continue to improve in the last quarter 2014, with increased contribution to Group Balance sheet from the African subsidiaries,” Oduoza said.

United Bank for Africa Plc is one of Africa’s financial institutions offering banking services to more than 7 million customers across over 700 business offices in 19 African countries. With presence in New York, London and Paris, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross border payments, and trade finance.

lives physical existence to include a person’s estate.

She identified personal income management as one of the fundamental elements for a secure future and rejected insinuations that Chevron staff are too rich to get broke.

“The truth is, money is never enough. What you know comes to play, and even if you earn ten million naira a month, and you do not have enough knowledge to sustain that money, at the end of the day, it all goes down the drain,” Siakpere said.

She pointed out that many staff of Chevron and other oil companies still have challenges after retirement noting that the workshop was aimed at correcting that.

She said the training would possibly become regional as Chevron staff in Warri had already undergone a similar training.

“I think it’s going to be a regional training. We were in Warri the other day and we are in Lagos today and we are going to be in Port Harcourt and Escravos just to enlighten them because this is important,” Siakpere said.

The workshop had eight modules including goal setting, budgeting, savings and investments, planning for a secure retirement, insurance, stress management among others. The workshop also dwelt on personal income basics, roadmap and personal income management as well as how to manage debt and balance assets and liabilities.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

In the past Savings Accounts did not attract Commission on Turnover (CoT) and other fees.

Now, some banks have imposed charges on such accounts, without informing their customers

INVESTORS ,

,

TOP 10 PERFORMING STOCKS

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

C

ostain (WA) Plc, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Plc, Learn Africa Plc, National s a l t Company plc, N.E.M Insurance Co. Plc and Oando Plc were some of the stocks that enjoyed enough investors’ patronage within the previous week to emerge top on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, gainers’ list.

Others were Livestock Feeds Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery, DSF Plc, A.G Leventis (Nig.) Plc and Ikeja Hotels Plc. Costain, which led the pack appreciated by 16.25 percent or N0.13 to close at N0.93 from N0.80 it started with. Of the six companies listed in the building construction sector, Costain’s shares are abysmally low priced, giving vent to investors apathy towards the stock and the belief that recent interest in the shares was just a result of investors’ appetite to invest in stocks with low valuation. So far, the share price has recorded 61 percent 52 week high. Only last year, the company escaped receivership by First Bank of Nigeria after liquidating its debt with the bank over which it was earlier appointed a receiver manager. Costain has constantly failed to live up to its bidding by not updating the investing public with information on its financial position, following which the Exchange had at various times imposed different financial sanctions on the company. It was fined N2.85 million for failure to submit its 2011 audited report within the stipulated timeline, a N3.6 million fines was imposed on it for similar offence regarding its 2012 audited report. It was also fined N575, 505 for failure to obtain the necessary approval from the NSE before announcing the appointment of an external auditor.

Following the financial misfortune, the directors had last year indicated interest to map out measures for possible restructuring strategies, the wobbling financial position and its consistent failure to meet prerequisite post-listing and disclosure requirements. Available financial statement of the company for Neimeth Pharmaceutical, which manufactures over one hundred types of pharmaceutical and veterinary products which carefully target various diseases that affect Nigerians, followed with 13.27 percent or N0.13 gains to close at N1.11 from N0.98. Early in the year, the company kicked off the construction of N5 billion pharmaceutical complex in Anambra State. Neimeth recorded 40 percent growth in turnover to N468.53 million in the first quarter ended March

31, 2014 compared to N335.60 million in same period in 2013. The gross profit was up 23.37 percent to N257.47 million as against N208.69 million. The gross profit margin slid to 54.95 percent from 62.23 percent in 2013 on the back of increase in cost of sales by 67 percent, which grew to N211.06 million from N126.61 million in the same period in 2013.

Also, the earnings per share EPS soared by 200 percent to 6k from 2k in Q3:13. Year-to-date, the share price has risen by 60.3 percent from N0.79 to N1.99, its year high.

Learn Africa’s shares appreciated by 10.69 percent or N0.14 to close at N1.45 from N1.31. Two years ago, the two majority shareholders – Pearson Education Limited and Longman G r o u p (Overseas Holdings) Limited divested t h e i r combined 51 percent holdings in L e a r n Africa Plc. (formally Longman Nigeria Plc by way of gift to the minority shareholders. According to the deal, which was executed on a pro-rata basis, the donees were not required to take any action to be entitled to receive the shares. However, only shareholders of the company other than the Donors as of the close of business on March 8, 2012 benefited from the gift. However, the management of Learn Africa has taken various steps to reposition and increase the value of the company. For the third quarter ended September 30, 2014, the company posted a net profit of N10.1million, representing an increase of 107 per cent over the N132.3 million losses recorded in the corresponding period of 2013. The gross profit margin rose from 50.85 per cent in Q3 of 2013 to 62 per cent in Q3 of 2014 representing more than 10 per cent growth. It turnover rose N1.4 billion as against N1 billion achieved in the corresponding period in 2013. Year-to-date, the share price of Learn Africa Plc has risen by 42. 9 percent.

NASCON’s shares rose by 10.43 percent or N0.85 to close at N9.00 from N8.15; NEM Insurance advanced by 10.14 percent or N0.07 to close at N0.76 from N0.69; Oando followed with 10.09 per cent increase or N2.16 to close at N23.56 from N21.40; Livestocks Feeds went up by 9.26 percent or N0.25 to close at N2.95 from N2.70; DSF appreciated by 9.22 percent or N0.65 to close at N7.70 from N7.05; A.G Leventis went up by 9.02 percent or N0.12 to close at N1.54 from N1.33, while Ikeja Hotels Plc advanced by 7.96 percent or N0.23 to close at N3.12 from N2.89 per share.

Before you choose a bank (2)

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

S

ervice should be the first factor to be considered before choosing a bank. It should start with the banking services your need. You have to be clear about what you need. The banking needs of a student are different from that of a petty trader, or that of a manufacturing company.

Now, while most of the banks offer basic banking services, some are good at the delivery than others.

Consequently, you need to find out the bank that offers your banking needs efficiently more than others. How? Relate with and inquire from friends and colleagues, and even from your neighbours.

Many people have made the mistake of being influenced by the attractive advertisement of banks on television and radio, only to realize that the experience at the branches is not some banks, the value will reduce over time, attractive at all. So, you need to hear even without withdrawing from the account. from people who have had several I remember the case of a close acquaintance, dealings with a bank before you choose whose wife was then a staff in one of the the bank. top banks. They opened a savings account When it comes to the services offered for their twins, and kept money received by a bank, you need to clarify the cost during the naming of the children in the of the services i.e. fees, charges etc. For account. To the dismay of the man, he example, in the past Savings Accounts started getting text alert for charges at the did not attract Commission on end of each month. That is why you must Turnover (CoT) and other fees. Now, be clear about the charges and fees of any some banks have imposed charges on bank before you enter into relationship with such accounts, without informing their it. I also remember a friend who took a loan customers. Also, some banks have an to complete construction of a school array of charges and fees which are not building. He had taken and used the loan always apparent to the customers, and before realizing sundry charges attached to are not explicitly disclosed when the the loan in addition to the interest rate. customer is opening the account. As a There are banks that limit their charges to result, if you keep your money with what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

MARKET NEWS

Otti tasks banks on support for manufacturing sector

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

T

he former Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Alex Otti, has charged financial institutions in the country to show more support to the manufacturing sector by developing more products that will adequately provide capital to the entrepreneurs.

He spoke at the 47th Annual General Meeting, AGM, of Ikeja branch of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria in Lagos.

He emphasised that the banking sector has a critical role to play in sustaining the tempo of entrepreneurship growth in the country through SME Banking.

He however, advised potential entrepreneurs to be observant and take advantage of various government initiatives targeted at developing entrepreneurship in Nigeria, saying “The apex bank has instituted some intervention funds which

entrepreneurs can access through their banks. An example is the N220billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) which the apex bank lunched on August 15, 2013”.

Speaking on the theme of the programme, ‘Creating a Vibrant Economy through Sustainable Entrepreneurial Development’, Otti said that achieving the objective requires collaborative efforts of various institutions, including educational institutions, the government, business organizations and the relevant social institutions.

According to him, academic curriculum could be adjusted to accommodate skills acquisition on entrepreneurship, saying that it would boost the productive base of the Nigerian economy particularly in terms of human capital and output.

He said, “The lesson that Nigeria has learnt from the Asian Tigers is that effective entrepreneurship is the

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 23

,

FORUM

There are banks that limit their charges to what the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stipulates in the Revised Guide to Bank Charges. However many of the banks do not, they explore avenues, including the ignorance of the average person, to circumvent this Guide, by subjecting customers to illegal charges

,

From left: M r. Patrick Akinwuntan, Group Executive, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI); Mr. Ben Akabueze, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Lagos State and Mr. Jibril Aku, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, at the investiture of Akinwuntan as Honorary Senior member of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos. stipulates in the Revised Guide to Bank Charges. However many of the banks do not, they explore avenues, including the ignorance of the average person, to circumvent this Guide, by subjecting customers to illegal charges. But you can avoid being a victim, by doing your homework before deciding on the bank to do business with.

Another factor to be considered is location. You need a bank that you can easily access from where you reside, work, do business, or along your regular route. It is not expedient to spend considerable time and resources before you can access a branch of your bank.

Now, while most of the top banks have expansive branch network, they do not have branches in every street, village,

town or city. Yes. I remember the case of a friend who agreed to open account with a bank with the nearest branch located in Apapa, while he lived at Okota, in Lagos State. He told me the stress he usually went through to access this branch, until he decided to abandon the account, and changed to a bank that opened a branch close to where he resides.

Of course, the reason why he opened the account with the first bank was because his friend was a staff, and persuaded him to open the account so that he (the bank staff) can meet his target. Many people have made this mistake, but you don’t need to be one of them. (to be continued)

strategic path to sustainable economic development. The country can tread this path through collaborative efforts of educational institutions, the government, business organizations and even the relevant social institutions.

“The recent policy initiatives of the Nigerian monetary and fiscal authorities have been very instrumental to building the foundation we have attained over the last decade. The future however is hinged on how much we can develop the “human capital” that originates and nurtures bankable business ideas.”

In the light of the afore-said, conscious efforts aimed at developing and sustaining entrepreneurial competence obviously offers renewed comfort in the nation’s quest to attain a vibrant economy that is self-sustaining.

We have to inculcate entrepreneurial skills in our educational system; we must develop an easier business registration process; we must fix basic infrastructure, particularly electricity; we must finance bright bankable business ideas and we must ultimately provide mentorship to emerging entrepreneurs,” Otti added.

In his welcome remark, chairman of Ikeja MAN, Prince Oba Okojie, called on the federal Government to put a framework in place that will stipulate that once a company has paid a particular

levy, it will not be required to pay same in another local government for a specific period, say one year.

He also appealed to the government to endeavour to maintain stability in its policies to ensure credibility and reduce uncertainties, saying that implementing the policy would aid in reducing the cost of doing business, as well as enhance competitiveness.

Okojie also called on the three tiers of government to formulate policies and programmes to create employment for the teeming youths.

Lamenting the numerous problems facing manufacturers, he said, “I re-emphasized that the manufacturing sector did not fair very well in 2013 as a result of unfriendly business environment and the perennial problems associated with the real sector. In the last few years, a large number of manufacturing companies closed shops nationwide. The ever busy industrial estates are now shadows of their past glory.”

Why investors should have diversified investment (2)

By PETER EGWUATU

I

nvestment diversification is a good strategy for investors who want to make steady returns in the financial markets.

In the financial markets, we have stocks/equity, bonds, real estate and international investment. Like as stated last week, diversification of investment comes with a lot of advantages and must not be ignored.

Stocks help both retail and non retail investors to grow their portfolios, while bonds bring in steady income. Real estate provides both a hedge against inflation and low correlation to stocks, in other words, it may rise when stocks fall.

International investments provide growth and help maintain buying power in an increasing globalized world.

On how investors can allocate their money for investment, there are several factors that needed to be considered. The first thing an investor needs to consider is age. The younger investors can take high risk than the older category of investors. After the age consideration, the amount available for investment would follow.

For people that have small amount of money, they can diversify their investment through investment in mutual funds.

Mutual funds are investment pools that combine the money of many individuals to buy stocks, bonds, real estate, international securities, and the like. In international markets, we have several index funds. To make things really simple, an investor can buy socalled “index” funds, which purchase all the shares of a particular index, such as the stock market’s Standard & Poor ’s 500 Index of big company stocks. There are also bond index funds, international indexes.

In Nigeria, we have the real estate fund, money market funds, and stock market funds that investment managers do manage for investors.

To determine how much money needed to put into each investment category, first an investor can set aside cash that could be kept in banks in form of savings or fixed deposit.

The other money with an investor can then be put into income investments to handle emergencies and near-term goals.

For big and middle income earners, they can invest some percentage in stocks, bonds, real estate and international market.

But, the age factor must be considered. For older or age people, what they required is fixed income investment like bonds, treasury bills, fixed deposit with banks.

So for the age ones they can invest 80 per cent in bonds, 10 per cent in shares and 10 per cent in real estate trust fund.

Once a young investor, for example diversified its investment by putting its assets into different categories. It’s not enough to buy one stock, for instance, you need to have a lot of different types of stocks in that portion of your portfolio. That protects you from being ravaged when a single industry, say, financial services or health care begins to drop.

Though diversification protects investors from devastating losses, it also costs them in average annual returns. That is because risk and reward go hand-in-hand in the financial markets. So, anything that reduces ones risk k will also reduce its return.

But an investor can take a little risk, unless he is close enough to retirement that the additional security is particularly valuable. This is the reason why age is very important when determining investment choice.

24 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

FG grants energy firms N20bn waivers … Metering companies get N326m

By Michael Eboh

T

The Government also reiterated its commitment to tackling the epileptic power situation in the country, and addressing the issue of estimated billing. To this end, it granted N326.174 million in exemptions to two prepaid electricity meter companies,

Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company Limited, and Mojec International Limited, for the importation of metering facilities.

Specifically, Momas got two exemptions: the first worth N32.272 million for the importation of semi-

HE Federal Government granted about N19.662 billion in waivers and exemption to energy firms in the country in five months, between January and May 2014.

The amount is 51.23 per cent of the N38.381 billion allocated to water resources in the 2014 budget; 31.48 per cent of the N62.45 billion allocated to Power; 31.75 per cent of N61.928 billion allocated to Pe t r o l e u m Resources; and 29.5 per cent of the N66.645 billion allocated to agriculture.

Data from the Budget Office of the Federation, in the Ministry of Finance, indicated that oil and gas firms enjoyed about N18.881 Conference: From left: Mr Olajuwon Olaleye, SA to the Minister of Power on Investment, Finace and Donor Relations, representing the Minister, Prof Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo; Mr Segun Adebillion in waiver leye, President/CEO, World Stage Limited; Engr Hamisu Abubakar, SA on Energy to Kano State and exemption, Governor, representing Governor Mohammed Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Alhaji Aderemi Ismaila while power Bello, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, chairman of the event; and Dr c o m p a n i e s Joseph Ayoola Omojolaibi, representing Professor Adeola Adenikinju, University of Ibadan, enjoyed N780 Nigeria at the 4h WorldStage National Electricity Power Conference 2014 in Lagos. million.

Oil prices: Save for rainy days, expert tells govt ...‘No need to panic’

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE impact of the falling oil prices may not be felt much on the Nigeria economy, if the government imbibed saving culture, said Mr. Bekuochi Nwawudu, the Director of CBO Capital, a Lagos-based investment advisory and project development.

Nwawudu, while reacting to worries being expressed by some Nigerians about the continued downward trend of global oil price, told Vanguard that Nigeria should save more now for the rainy days.

“We should save more now. The federal government should save more with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, NSIA, while at the state government level, there should be matching funds as well as tax breaks,” he said.

This came as the Managing Director of Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Mr. Austin Avuru, said there is no need to panic as oil prices will still go up, “but when? I do not know.”

Geographies are shifting, but the energy mix as well as the demand and

supply equilibrium has not changed much,” he said.

Avuru explained that technology has made it possible to discover more oil in the world to satisfy the global growing demand. According to him, ‘thanks to technology and pricing; there is still enough oil and gas to satisfy the growing demand through 2040. Wind and renewables have failed to be the solution.”

However, Nwawudu cautioned that given the country’s dependence on oil, the fall in prices will affect the foreign exchange and interest rates. ‘’Given oil’s current share, a significant fall in the price will have an immediate impact.

This would be felt through foreign exchange rates and interest rates, then falling budgets and government spending,’’ he said.

Speaking on the impact of the price fall on the budget which benchmark is $78, he noted that although the price is still above the benchmark it is not going to harm funding; only that less ‘excess’ will go into the excess crude account or the NSIA. He argued that the market view is that the price fall is likely to be short-lived, “so possibly, no cause for alarm.”

“There could be risks to the budget, but at this level, it is more likely that increased borrowing could fill the gap; we have low debt to GDP ratios. We also have solid reserves and these can be used to defend the currency in the near term.

“The question for us though is – why are we worrying? Why is the whole country watching the oil price? Is this how we should be thinking in 2014 and what Nigerian livelihoods and welfare should be exposed to? Is the hedging model (known/fixed/international credit risk) vs. the self-insurance (exposed/local credit risk) model best suited to Nigeria?

“If we hedged or forward sold a portion of our production say 50 percent for 10 years, then we would simply know that for X period Y price and Z revenue is coming in and get on with it. That the price has gone up or down is an issue for future years and something we can prepare for,” he said.

For government to cushion the effect of the falling oil prices, Nwawudu suggested borrowing to maintain the budget in the short term, while adjustments should be made in the long term.

knock down meters, one and three phase normal credit meters, one and three phase standard prepayment meters and all other related equipment.

The second exemption was N163.69 million for the importation of meter plastic machines and accessories, compression mould machine and all other meter related equipment.

On the other hand, Mojec International got N130.213 million in exemption for the importation of machinery, equipment and components for single and three phase pre-paid meters.

Indorama Eleme Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited accounted for 53.4 per cent of the total waivers and exemption granted to energy firms in the period under review, with a total of N10.5 billion.

Specifically, Indorama enjoyed a N6.96 billion waiver for the importation of the machinery, equipment and spare parts for the utilisation of Nigeria natural gas to bring about an increase in power generation.

The company was also granted a N3.54 billion waiver for the importation of fertiliser equipment, catalysts and chemicals, pile and spare parts among others.

Chevron Nigeria Limited followed, enjoying a waiver of N4.88 billion for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts for Escravos Gas to Liquids (EGTL) and a host of other pipelines.

United Cement Company of Nigeria got N1.969 billion in exemption for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts aimed at boosting natural gas utilisation and power supply. NIPCO Plc got N1.087 billion in exemption for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts.

Other energy firms that got waivers and exemptions in the period are: Green Fuels Limited — N14.37 million for the importation of machinery, equipment and spare parts for compressed natural gas to Independent Power Plants (IPPs), and Edo Cement Company Limited — N240 million for the importation of gas generators, plants, machinery, equipment and spare parts.

Accugas Limited got N30.87 million in exemption for machinery, equipment and spare parts for pipeline; Exterran Nigeria Limited got N66.09 million in exemption for the acquisition of natural gas powered compressors and spare parts, while Procter and Gamble got N29.754 million in exemption for machinery, equipment and spare parts.

Others are Sumal Foods Limited — N42.878 million; Federal Ministry of Power/Marubeni Engineering Corporation — N454.185 million and De United Foods Industries Limited — N19.978 million.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 25

Power supply: Instability suffocates polymer industries

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE incessant poor electricity supply experienced over time in Nigeria has left polymer industries in comatose, Mr. Joseph Imanah, National President of Polymer Institute of Nigeria, PIN, said.

Imanah, in a chat with Vanguard, lamented the high cost of production being experienced in the sector, attributed it to the country’s poor power supply.

“The energy supply in this country is not stable. It is epileptic. Most industries that are producing depend on generating sets. That makes the cost of production to be high. Added to it is the issue of raw materials which are imported. Michelin left Nigeria about eight years ago, followed by Dunlop, five years.

As big as this country is, we do not have a company that manufactures tyre. All the tyres of the cars used in this country are imported,” he said According to him, “Dunlop tried to sustain itself but it could not because the year it folded up, the import duty on tyre was 10 percent and the import duty on raw materials was five percent. If you add the energy cost, you find that the import duty for importing raw materials is higher than buying tyre. Given that scenario, the company preferred buying tyre to importing raw materials for production.”

I

Conference: From left: President- Elect, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Chikwendu Edoziem; President, Adedoja Ojelabi; Publicity Secretary, Irewole Ayodele, at a press briefing in Lagos, on the forthcoming NAPE’s Annual International Conference & Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Lagos.

He explained that for government to encourage production of goods and services in the country, zero import duty on raw materials should be allowed while constant electricity supply must be put in place.

“The government that wants the industry to be sustained and be alive should weigh this type of situation and encourage production in the country by giving zero import duty on raw materials. Duty on imported tyre for example should not be less than 20 percent. That will encourage production of tyres in the

country.

“Energy stability is key to encouraging production.

Every year we keep on talking about electricity generation.

How long will a company sustain itself on generating sets? If we tackle these two things; energy and raw materials, moribund industries will be back to production.”

According to Imanah, while India has more than half a million plastic industries, Nigeria has less than 500, a situation that has made the country dependent on imported products. He

therefore called for the implementation of the local content policy to encourage production.

“In India, there are more than 500,000 plastic industries.

They do not just have plastic industries, they have industries that produce the raw materials; the resins. In Nigeria, we have less than 500.

How many industries in Nigeria produce resins? It is only Indorama, in Eleme, Rivers State.

“The ones in Kaduna and Warri are not working. The only hope we have is the implementation of the local content policy,” he said.

FG inaugurates committee on Ogoniland

By Chris Ochayi

T

HE Federal Government has established a Multistakeholder Consultative Committee aimed at fast tracking the environmental restoration of Ogoni land, as proposed in the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP Report.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, who inaugurated the Committee, last week in Abuja, said the move is part of government’s efforts to seek an enduring solution to the issue.

The 14-member Committee is saddled with the responsibility of proposing a focused engagement and implementation plan with clearly defined steps.

The group is also mandated to advise the Hydrocarbon

‘Power sector goals are achievable with increased investment’

Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP Advisory Council on the manner in which assets and funds of the project may be held and utilised.

Alison-Madueke explained further that the Committee is a direct response to the yearnings of the Ogoni people and other stakeholders for inclusion in achieving an enduring and robust environmental restoration of Ogoni land.

According to her, “It is based upon the further recommendations of the HYPREP Advisory Council that I have reached out to patriotic Nigerians from within and outside the Ogoni community to constitute this Multi-stakeholder Consultative Committee.”

She also charged the Committee to brainstorm and develop suggestions for a

clear and actionable roadmap for the restitution of the Ogoni people and restoration of the environment for healthy living conditions.

“I am expecting that in due course, learning from the Ogoni restoration work can, and will be applied in other parts of Nigeria, facing similar environmental degradation problems,’’ she said.

The Committee has as its chairman, Dr. Jamila Shu’ara, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Other members include: His Majesty, King Godwin N.K. Gininwa, Chairman, Rivers State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers.

Also included are Gbenemene of Tai Kingdom, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara; President, MOSOP, Prof. Ben Naane; Prof. Rosaline

Konyan; Dr. Abraham Olungwe; Mr. Friday Kpelo; all representatives of the Ogoni community.

Others are: Ambassador Daouda Toure, UN Resident Coordinator; Shuaibu Otori, Representative of the Office of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources; Mr. John Lahu, Representative of the Ministry of Environment; Jube Jemide, Representative of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

Also on the committee are Mr Jonathan Okehs, representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Mr. Austin Igboko, Representative of Shell Petroleum Development Company; Mr. George Oguachuba, Representative of Total; and Mr. Angelo Madera, Representative of Nigeria Agip Oil Company.

NCREASED investment in the power sector will ensure that the sector achieved its targets in 2020, the Director, Informa Energy Group, organisers of Power Nigeria, Ms Anita Mathews, has stated.

Mathews said in a statement announcing the forthcoming Power Nigeria Exhibition that the Nigerian power sector has a clear vision of where it wants to be by 2020, adding investment plays a key factor in reaching these goals.

She maintained that the freeto-attend conference, scheduled to hold between October 28 and 30, 2014, in Lagos, is a vital platform for the industry to deliberate, discuss and eventually achieve their goals moving in to the next half decade.

She said, “The conference provides the perfect platform for visitors to hear first-hand, not only what the industry has planned in the coming years, but what possible obstacles could stand in the way, and talk about solutions to overcome them.”

The Public Relations Manager, Informa Exhibitions, Mr. Josse Dulka, said the event became necessary following the Federal Government’s announcement that Nigeria required consistent investment in the power sector to ensure generation capacity of 135,000 megawatts (mw) by 2030.

Dulka said an increase in power generation will bolster Nigeria’s vast economic potential, and move it further in line with its economic Vision 2020, as well as attain the level of economic height and prosperity similar to countries like Brazil.

Dulka maintained that Power Nigeria will serve as a comprehensive platform for international exhibitors to showcase their latest technological developments in the power generation, transmission and distribution, lighting, renewable, nuclear and water sectors.

The Joint Group President/ Group Director, Skipper Transmission and Distribution, Mr. Pankaj Sachdeva, said; “Power Nigeria is sure to provide a healthy and professional platform for us to interact with our end users and decision makers and offer them differentiated solutions to improve their operational efficiencies.”

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Ghana to cut gas import from Nigeria

By Michael Eboh, with Agency Report

G

HANA has announced plans to significantly reduce the quantity of gas it

purchases from Nigeria in the next couple of months through increased local gas production.

President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama, who was responding to questions on the economy at

the Global African Investment Summit in London, said the country is working hard to court more private investors to shore up local production of gas to solve the country ’s power

NCDMB, NNPC, others collaborate on manufacture of gas cylinders

T

HE Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) have begun working with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oando Group, Sahara Energy and other key players in the gas industry to promote local manufacture of gas cylinders.

Rising from a meeting called by the NCDMB at its headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State recently, stakeholders in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas(cooking gas) downstream sector set up a committee that will develop a strategy that will drive the manufacturing of cylinders, deepen utilization of gas and address challenges that might hinder the plans.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Ernest Nwaparemarked that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration waspromoting manufacturing in all sectors of the economy, particularly in the oil and gas industry because of the potentialities of creating thousands of jobs, retaining spend in-country and developing technology.

He described gas cylinder manufacturing as a quick win,noting that local service companies now fabricate complex structures for the oil and gas industry and several companies were investing millions of dollars in setting up facilities and acquiring assets even before securing contracts.

According to him, “once key persons in leadership on the government and industry side agree on the framework, it will work. Today, investors have put down their funds on assets that depend on long term contracts. Gas cylinders are tied directly to a huge market; the opportunities are there, even across the Gulf of Guinea.”

Nwapa confirmed that once local manufacturing of gas cylinders begin, the government would ban the importation of gas cylinders and insist that LPG producers like NLNG and Exxon Mobil deliver gas only to facilities that comply with extant policies.

He clarified that the push for local manufacturing of gas cylinder would be integrated into President Jonathan’s Gas

Revolution agenda and complement government’s drive to get all Nigerians to adopt gas as the preferred fuel for cooking.

Nwapa suggested thatNCDMB could use a part of the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) to support companiesthat are committed to go into gas cylinder manufacturing.

He expressed hope that the Federal Government through

the Bank of Industry, Ministry of Petroleum, Central Bank of Nigeria and the Board would work togetherto provide enablers for the scheme.

In his presentation, the Managing Consultant of PEJAD Nigeria Limited, Engr.

Tony Ogbuigwe stated that NCDMB’s gas cylinder manufacturing scheme was supported by Section 53 of the Nigerian Content Act which prohibits the importation of welded steel products.

crisis.

He said this will end the country’s over-reliance on the West African gas pipeline which has been inconsistent with supplying gas to the country.

He said, “We had a lot of excitement when the gas pipeline was built hoping that the abundance of Nigerian gas will flow through the pipeline to help all the four countries signed onto the pipeline, but the volume has been very disappointing.”

He, however, expressed the hope that the country’s current energy crisis will stabilise when works on the Atuabo gas processing plant is completed, adding that the plant should start producing gas for power generation by the end of November.

Mahama said the facility, which has the capacity to

Gas vessel and export facility

generate about 140 million standard cubic feet of natural gas a day, is estimated to save the country more than $500 million annually when it is substituted for light crude oil in the generation of power.

In addition, he stated that the facility will produce more than 70 per cent of the estimated 240,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) required annually for domestic use in the country.

A Ghanaian news website, Ghanaweb, said at least three power plants in the country were taken offline in September, after Nigeria stopped supplying gas to Ghana over a strike by oil workers.

The news website said this has been a regular tale which plunges the country into blackouts almost instantly.

According to the news website, the Electricity Corporation of Ghana (ECG) had a couple of days ago, announced a 48-hour-on; 24hour-off load shedding regime after it was forced to shed over 500 megawatts of power.

It said, “That led to an emergency meeting by stakeholders with a plan to purchase crude oil at a cost of $120 million to power the thermal plants.

“The ongoing load shedding programme across the country may soon improve considerably following measures taken by power producers to increase generation capacity. The Bui Dam is now operating at full capacity following a slight improvement in the water level.”

NERC gives Discos ultimatum to meter customers

By Chris Ochayi

N

IGERIAN Electricity R e g u l a t o r y Commission, NERC, has given the distribution companies, Discos, two weeks within which to provide electricity consumers whose meters are yet to be delivered months after payment with the products.

The Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, gave the ultimatum during a meeting with electricity distribution companies and stakeholders on Aggregate Technical Commercial and Collection loss studies, last week in Abuja.

He said the Commission will view very seriously failure to meter these consumers.

According to him, “By this week, we are sending letters to all the Discos.

The Commissioner for Consumer Affairs is already preparing the letters. We will give Discos two

weeks to make sure they fully meter all those who have paid because the order of the commission is 45 days. After that two weeks, we will be conducting public hearings to ascertain whether all those who have paid for CAPMI meters have been metered.

“And the Commission will view very seriously failure to meter these consumers. So I want to assure those of you writing to us with complaints that they have paid for CAPMI meters in the last three, four months that we will ensure in the coming weeks that those who have not been metered are properly metered. And Discos that have not metered their consumers who paid for those meters themselves will be sanctioned,” he said.

He assured all customers who have written complaints to the Commission regarding the issue of metering that their case

would be pursued to logical conclusion.

At an earlier occasion, NERC had explained that it was working hard to make sure that Discos provided meters for their customers, as the metering gap in the country was huge.

Amadi, was speaking on the sidelines of an event in Abuja when he said, “Our expectation is that metering will increase, but let us be very careful. The metering gap in Nigeria is about 50 per cent and we don’t expect that gap to be closed in a short while. What we expect to see is significant and consistent effort by the distribution companies to keep metering their customers.

“Of course the gap can close quickly if increase in capacity results in increase in revenue, and the regulator will benchmark that increase in revenue. But we expect to see

continuous and good effort by the Discos to meter their consumers and quickly close down the gap. But the gap will still be there for some time because it is a huge gap.”

On the methodology employed by the Discos in billing non-metered consumers, Amadi said the commission had educated the power firms on how to go about it properly.

He said, “We worked them through the methodology and this is because some of them are new in the sector. By this methodology, before the Discos estimate your bill, they would have looked at the energy supply in that cluster.

“They would have looked at the metered customers in that cluster and be able to have a much more accurate estimation.

What is going on now in some cases is not estimation, it is just arbitrary way of tariff and we have expressed a very strong disapproval on that.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 27

BRIEF Techno Oil partners automobile technicians to relaunch lubricants

By Jonah Nwokpoku

T

ECHNO Oil Limited has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) to give optimum value to users of the company’s re-formulated multigrade Ultra 20W 50 Lubricant.

Announcing the development in Lagos, the Head of Strategy, Techno Oil, Mr. Ken Abazie, said the partnership would provide a platform to ensure that Nigerians got maximum benefit from the re-packaged product.

Abazie disclosed that Techno Oil’s range of lubricants had been undergoing continuous upgrade in conformity with global standards, aimed at meeting customers’ expectations.

The Techno Oil spokesman explained that the range of lubricants had often been reformulated to make them marketfriendly in quality and pricing.

He noted that the Ultra 20W 50 Lubricant had specifically, undergone strenuous screening and testing locally and internationally in the past twenty-four months to make it to attain its current high standard. ``Ultra 20W 50 had gone through strenuous screening and testing programming to bring it to this improved grade with innovative features like anti-wear agents and extreme pressure additives. ``It also has other features, including oxidation inhibitors and anti-foaming agents to ensure that users get value for their money in line with Techno Oil’s core values.

The company chief said that the relationship with NATA also entailed series of sponsored workshops, conferences and training of automobile technicians and NATA members to enable them make informed decisions on choice and use of lubricants.

He argued that the partnership was necessary, especially now that the Nigerian market had virtually been turned into a dumping ground for all manners of lowquality engine oils coming in from different parts of the globe.

The Chairman of the Lagos state Chapter of NATA, Asiwaju Jacob Fayeun, expressed regrets that government was not doing enough to save indigenous lubricant manufacturers from challenges arising from the importation of low quality engine oils from Asian countries.

Rights group condemns neglect of host communities …It’s not true — Govt

By Gabriel Ewepu

A

N international organisation, Global Rights, has slammed the Federal Government over the Mineral and Mining Act by not protecting and providing basic amenities for host communities.

This was stated by the Country Director, Global Rights, Mrs. Abiodun Baiyewu, while presenting an assessment report on extractive host communities at a conference of stakeholders in the mining sector.

Baiyewu said host communities were being neglected and their rights abused by operators in the sector. She also raised alarm over the plight of host

communities as they will soon experience what happened in Zamfara mining communities.

Baiyewa said: “There is a very slack government policy on the protective rights of the host communities in Nigeria, because of these gaps, mining companies are not living up to their obligations.

“The Mining Act does not make adequate provision for the supervision of artisanal mining activities and also the Ministry of Mining and Steel Development is grossly underfunded to carry out their activities.

“Mining in Nigeria still has a long way to go when you compare to mining in South Africa, Ghana and Australia.

If the issues of violation of host communities’ rights are not

tackled we will have a repeat of what happened in the Niger Delta and lead poisoning we had in Zamfara State.”

However, the report indicted the government and mining companies, alleging the government and operators were only interested in generating revenue from host communities.

The report also indicated that host communities were being denied of basic amenities and poor government presence, adding that there is no documentation of agreement between host communities and mining companies.

It also alluded to exploitation, lack of health care facilities in host

Oil pollution in a Niger Delta community

communities, menace of open mining pits, contaminated water sources. Others are teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, premature death, poor agricultural yields, and a host of other environmental issues unaddressed.

The organisation therefore urged government and companies to apply international best practices, to address the existing problems and bridge the infrastructure gaps in host communities.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Musa Sada, represented by Director, Mines Environmental Compliance Department, Mr. Sallin Salaam, however debunked the claims in the Global Rights report.

Sada insisted that government was doing everything to revamp the sector, and deal with mining companies according to the Mining Act. The Minister also said that field officers of the Ministry in the states have been monitoring activities of operators, and sanctioning erring companies who failed to keep to the regulations contained in the act.

He further stated that most of the companies were carrying out their corporate social responsibilities.

“I disagree entirely with the report being presented by Global Rights. They raised issues of infrastructure, compensation, and environment. All of these are covered in the Mining Act.

Vandalism can increase risk in oil price instability — NAPE ...Urges FG to diversify economy

By Ediri Ejoh

T

HE Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, NAPE, has called for stricter sanctions on oil vandals, if the target in production of crude in the country has to be met.

President of NAPE, Mrs. Adedoja Ojelabi, said the challenges in the industry would be worse if sanctions are not put in place to discourage theft and pipeline vandalism, as a larger percentage of the economy revenue is tied to oil production.

In a chat with journalists where she announced NAPE’s forthcoming International Conference and Exhibition,

she said that though divestments would not discourage vandalism, restrategising to diversify the economy from oil dependence, would boost investors’ confidence.

According to her, “in developed societies industrialisation is the key leader that drives the economy, and how can we achieved this?

The government should look outside crude and invest in other sectors of the country like power that could encourage investors and industries.”

She however, dismissed the notion that diversifying would affect oil exploration. “Let us not picture crude as only a product of fuel, diesel or gas

usage. Oil is everything and a byproduct of most of the commodities and materials that are being used. As a country with more technologies, there are alternative uses sought out by the Nigerian people and other developed country.

Also speaking, the President-elect of NAPE, Mr. Chikwendu Edoziem, said that the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, is a necessity that has to be taken to ensure a sustainable industry.

According to him, “the challenges of the PIB are the slow pace in trying to put things together. If you look over at 2002, we had some issues regarding exploration

and incentives were put in place to improve discovery of hydrocarbon. And now, the government saw it necessary to create the PIB to redeem exploration activities in the country.

However, he noted that the international oil companies, IOCs, should not be blamed for the delay in its passage of the bill, as all parties are striving to see that the PIB helped the industry to grow.

“The IOCs and the independent bodies in the industry have been trying hard to come up with a better and profitable industry bill that will amount to a boom. As such, a lot of delegations and considerations have to be dialogued concisely,” he added.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

FG upgrades GGW/PIU to an agency

BY FUNMI OLASUPO

I

•The model of four bedroom semi-detached house at Lekki Pearl Estate

Lekki Pearl Estate woos middle income earners with new product M

ESSRS Alpha Mead Development Company, AMDC, has launched a scheme to help young Nigerians with regular income realise their home ownership dreams in a space of 24 months. The company is developing a 122- unit Lekki Pearl Estate in the Lekki axis of Lagos to cater for this segment.

The scheme, tagged Alpha Mead Property Ownership Investment Scheme AMPOISE, is a ready-made opportunity for prospective land and home owners, to acquire their preferred assets in strategic locations through a flexible and well structured installment payment plan, that meets the entry requirements of the target market.

Target market Speaking at Lekki Pearl Estate Open House in Lagos at the weekend, the General Manager in charge of Real Estate in the company, Mr. Damola Akindolire said the AMPOISE scheme is a development solution designed to shrink home ownership age in Nigeria to between 30 and 40 years. The Open House event organised

by AMDC, was a forum to unveil Lekki Pearl Estate to its

subscribers and other the Nigerian middle-income stakeholders. class, with flexible and “There is a large population convenient payment in the middle class seeking to structure”, he said. own their first home. They Also speaking, the earn good incomes, but not Managing Director/CEO of enough to pay cash for their AM Facilities, AMDC’s desired homes. They have parent company, Mr. Femi difficulty obtaining Akintunde, an engineer, noted mortgages. So, we believe that what the company has that by helping them start done is to tie the profile of lower on the ladder, middle income earners into purchasing smaller and lower the project. cost homes, they can steadily Explaining further, he said, build equity and move up into “Let’s say you want to buy a larger homes, as it is done in home of N30 million, and the many advanced societies. This bank gives you a mortgage is the solution Lekki that requires you to Pearl is bringing to put 30 percent the market. down, which is N9 “Our commitment is million, how many simple and our goal middle income in this market is very earners can save clear. We want to N9 million from the through AMPOISE, salaries that they drop home ownership earn? That is pretty investment from the difficult. So, what current N6 to N9 we have done is to million deposit to as tie that income low as N250, 000 profile into this monthly. And we There is a project. have entered into “We own the strategic alliances large land. We have with other reputable population invested on it on partners such as your behalf. So, Plooral Designs, Wall in the when you come on Tiles, TrustBond middle board, we partner Mortgage Bank Plc, with you and we class Stanbic IBTC Plc and build whatever you a host of others, to seeking to have to spend into help us deliver own their your income quality and profile. As long as affordable homes to first home you can meet the

minimum monthly contribution for a period of time, till we finish the house and hand it over to you in 24 months, you can be part of Lekki Pearl project”, Akintunde said.

According to him, “the mortgage banks have already partnered with us in this light, and we are confident that we can through this scheme, help a lot of middle income earners own their first homes. So, that is what Lekki Pearl is all about; to solve the problems of the middle income earners, who are bankable but do not have the high-level contribution to buy a home off the shelve”.

He further affirmed that the company is still committed to its initial promise to deliver the first set of housing units by the end of 2015 for those who entered into the scheme a year ago.

Akintunde noted that Alpha Mead Facilities & Management Services Ltd, AMFacilities decided to go into real estate development due to its experience in managing highend facilities around the continent of Africa. He said AMFacilities operates in the high-end of the market, stressing however, that the challenges his company encounters is the poor standard of delivery of some of the facilities.

N order to urgently and holistically address the challenges of desertification in the northern parts of the country, the Federal Government has upgraded the Great Green Wall Program Implementation Unit GGW/PIU to an Agency.

The Agency which is now called National Agency on Great Green Wall, NAGGW was recently approved by President GoodLuck Ebele Jonathan.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Agency, Alhaji.

Goni Ahmed who took over from Dr. Bukar Hassan, said the President saw the need to upgrade the unit because he is passionate about environmental issues.

Ahmed described his appointment as a challenge to work harder to address issues of desertification in the North and urged the staff of the agency to be dedicated and work passionately to achieve the core mandate of the agency.

Environmental issues “Environmental issues are major issues in the Northern part of Nigeria that affects both economic and social activities of the people leading to abject poverty,” he said.

Alhaji Ahmed emphasized the importance of the agency describing it as a regional assignment with lots of opportunities to the people, especially the local communities where the project is being implemented.

In his remarks, the Director, Drought and Desertification Amelioration, DDA, Dr. Bukar Hassan, who was the immediate Head of the GGW/ PIU, thanked the Federal government for upgrading the unit to a full-fledged agency.

He said the PIU which operated under the Federal Ministry of Environment was managed by the Drought and Desertification Amelioration Department, DDA to curb the menace of desertification.

29—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Osun redefines housing delivery with Oranmiyan New Town

BY JUDE NJOKU

O

SUN State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola last week, flagged off the construction of Oranmiyan New Town which on completion, will comprise seven neighbourhoods. The new development which covers about1,200 hectares of land, according to a press statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy in the Governor ’s office, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, will have 42 main entrance boulevards, iconic street scape beautification and landscaping, bicycle path, walkway and a good drainage system.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony at Abeere, Osogbo, Governor Aregbesola said it (new town) was borne out of the need to renew the towns in the state. According to him, it was this quest for urban renewal that led to the invitation his government extended to the UN Habitat.

The UN agency was said to have recommended the idea so as to accommodate more people in the state.

The governor explained that the Oranmiyan New Town which is designed to house over 3,000 residential plots was also necessitated by an

•Governor Aregbesola discussing with Gen. Alani Akinrinade (retd) and Arc. Muyiwa Ige at the flag-off overriding public need to ease the pressure of accommodation brought about by the development of Osogbo as the state capital and a rapidly developing urban centre.

“It is a fact well known that capital cities all over the world are always centres of massive influx of people from other parts. It is part of government’s

responsibility to ensure that such influx does not snowball into perilous situation for human habitation,” the governor said.

According to him, the new town will fittingly have basic infrastructural facilities such as well-paved streets, good road network, integrated drainage and sewage system, as well as

electricity supply facilities among others.

Explaining the choice of the new town’s name, Aregbesola said it was chosen to preserve the cultural heritage of the Yoruba race and the founding fathers of Yorubas as a people.

“We have decided to christen it Oranmiyan New Town. This is by no means an accident. It

is part of our administration’s policy to revive and preserve our common historical heritage as Yoruba people. It is also a way of celebrating our heroes and legends, which is also one effective means of our cultural preservation”. He explained.

The Governor enjoined prospective land owners in the town to ensure that they complete the building of the houses according to specification within one year.

He promised that their certificates of occupancy will be ready within 30 days of payment.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade who was the special guest of honour at the flag-off, called on other state Governors to follow the footsteps line of Osun in the area of affordable housing delivery. He lauded the governor for embarking upon the project and construction of c roads in the state.

The State Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Muyiwa Ige , an architect, said the “a project like this is highly needed in this state as the state has continued to witness the influx of people in recent years”.

FG inaugurates inter-ministerial committee to midwife land policy

By CALEB AYANSINA

T

HE Federal Government has stressed the need for stakeholders’ partnership in the countr y ’s settlement sector. The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi made the call in Abuja at the inauguration of an inter-ministerial committee to produce a comprehensive policy on land use.

The committee is expected to pool resources together to evolve a national land policy using the zero draft land policy produced by the ministerial committee of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Eyakenyi noted that this arrangement is to ensure a comprehensive land policy that would be accepted nationally.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, the Minister noted that it is long overdue for land to be backed by a regulatory policy, just like C M Y K

housing and urban development which have regulatory policies guiding their activities.

“Producing a nationally acceptable land policy calls for collective efforts of all stakeholders with my Ministry providing a guide.

It is in this regard, that you have all been assembled to pool and harness resources aimed at evolving a National Land Policy,” she said.

A

She described land as the most important of the tripod establishments under her watch hence it is a disservice that the national land policy was not considered until now.

She therefore advised the committee members drawn from different ministries, to wave sentiments aside and work assiduously towards presenting a policy that would boost land regulation in the country, and serve as

NEW phase of the Al Reef villas development close to Abu Dhabi International Airport has been announced, featuring 860 new homes.

The scheme will include two and three bedroom detached villas with “large gardens”, according to the developer Manazel Real Estate. The properties will be available for sale from Dh1.7 million. Manazel has received approval from the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council to start work on the project, with the development cost exceeding Dh1 billion.

Hassan Fahmi, chief executive of Manazel Real Estate, said in a

useful guide to other African nations.

“It is therefore imperative that you all put concerted efforts into research, consultation and preparation of a policy document that will not only find usefulness across our nation, but will serve as a reference to other African countries,” Eyakenyi said.

When finalised, the Minister said the policy would be exposed to all stakeholders

and subjected to a national validation workshop to be held in the first quarter of 2015.

Responding, the Chairman of the Committee and Director of Compensation and Acquisition in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Geoffrey Tabansi sued for the Ministry’s maximum support to enable the Committee produce a good policy.

Developer targets 860 new homes in Abu Dhabi statement that “Al Reef 2 is merely a continuation of the success of the first Al Reef project, which is considered one of the best residential complexes and the largest in Abu Dhabi”. Rental rates at Al Reef villas, which consists of 2,376 homes, have risen 11 per cent year on year, according to a report released today by the property company Asteco. However, data

shows that there has been no change to rents at the development during the third quarter. There are also 1,818 apartments at the Al Reef Downtown development.

Current rates show a two-bedroom villa costing between Dh110120,000 annually, three bedrooms Dh130-140,000, four bedrooms Dh150-165,000 and five bedrooms Dh180-190,000.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 30

clear that the strength of concrete depends majorly on cement and granite. The knowledge of cement having different strengths according to their grades is just being known to many only recently. ‘’The built environment comprises three main actors which is the client/financier, the designer and the contractor. Out of these actors, the designer is usually the professional who dictates the specifications which may be jeopardised in favour of economy, especially when the client is not a corporate entity.

In situations where the designer is the only technical person, it is incumbent on the designer to educate the client and the contractor”.

Important input

•Scene of a recent collapsed building in Lagos

Stakeholders seek preventive measures to stem building collapse

By Ikenna Asomba

A

GAINST the backdrop of recent incidents of collapsed buildings in the country, stakeholders who brainstormed last week at the th 27 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers, NISE have called for preventive measures to stem what is gradually becoming a recurring decimal in the country.

The experts are pissed that over 200 lives and property worth several millions of naira, have been lost in these incidents. They unanimously affirmed the need to engage professionals like structural engineers in building projects.

than cure. But today, why are we applying fire-brigade approach. What is happening in this system? We wait, watch and allow it to happen, then, the Federal, State and Local government, virtually everybody will now put machinery in motion to go and rescue or arrest. ‘’Have you ever watched a rescue operation in a

Prescribed quality They also called for standardization and the use of the right type of building materials in their prescribed quality and application.

In his opening remarks at the conference which had the Effect of Cement Strength On Concrete Performance as its theme, the President of NISE, Mr Samuel Ilugbekhai said structural engineers “believe very strongly that the solution of the collapse of building in Nigeria is in prevention.

When we were growing up, there is a popular aphorism that says prevention is better

A mother and child is seen wailing for help under the rubbles

collapsed building before? A mother and child is seen wailing for help under the rubbles. The bulldozer who is coming to save them will at first remove the rubbles, and unfortunately in the process, the mother ’s head is chopped-off.

Also, in the process of saving the child, the crawler crawls and on the rubble and the child loses his life. After all these, we say we want to arrest the defaulter and send him to jail.

When lives are lost in a collapse incident, will sending a defaulter to jail bring back the lives? When lives are lost in a collapse incident and you confiscate the property of the defaulter, will the lives come back? Will the resources wasted in that development come back?” he queried.

In her goodwill message, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Eyakeny stated that the incessant collapse of buildings and other infrastructures in the country are indications that engineers need to fashion out new strategies in the execution of projects.

Eyakeny, who was represented by a Deputy Director the Ministry, Mrs. Omolara Jimoh said: ‘’The theme of this conference is apt to the situation of this country.

Many of us believed that concrete structure would stand no matter how bad the concrete is, because iron reinforcement had been used to strengthen it until the recent collapses here and there. The little interaction with some engineers has made it crystal

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, SON, Joseph Odumodu, who was represented by Onipede Adeoye, an engineer said: ‘’Cement is an important input in concrete. Low cement quality or misapplication of cement can enhance the chances of construction failure.

Reviewing the standards for cement was premised on this.

Structural engineers have very strategic roles to play in the building and construction industry.

We must continue to respond pro-actively and insist on the best standards and quality practice in all areas, if we must overcome the challenges in the nation’s building industry.’’

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 31

32 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

By Theodore Opara

GAC GS5 crossover on the prowl I

T was perhaps an unusual test drive.

Unlike most representatives of other Motor companies in the country who would not like their new cars subjected to rigorous test on long journey, CIG Motors Company Limited, decided to put eight units of its brand new GAC crossover to test in the hands of motoring journalists from Oriental hotel, Lekki Lagos to International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan.

Knowing how challenging, the Lagos-Ibadan expressway could be, the company decided that only the tough condition would prove their claim on the quality of vehicle they produce which are of world class. Apart form the fact that the LagosIbadan Expressway was undergoing reconstruction, most parts of the road surface have been washed off by the long rainy season this year. So, it was unthinkable for a Nigerian company which is usually out to maximise profit, to put its new cars on a road of this nature.

Initially, I thought the itinerary would have changed on arrival at the take off point that morning but I was wrong as CIG officials led by Mr. Kayode Adejumo, Sales and Marketing Director, and Mr. Felix Lee, administrative Director lined up eight new GAC GS5 Crossover vehicles for the unprecedented test drive. With some stopovers made along the expressway for change of driver and light refreshment, coupled with the bad road, the journey lasted for few hours. And when we

•GAC GS5 crossover

arrived in IITA premises, in Ibadan, there were smiles on the faces of the journalists indicating that the car delivered beyond expectations.

The GS5 took the road like a wounded lion to the admiration of the journalists and other motorists who watch as we zoomed pass them.

Powered by a 2.0 litre engine with automatic transmission GAC adopted array of premium features in building the GS5..

With more than ten

international renowned suppliers as partners, including Bosch, continental, Magna, Vistoeon, TRW, Delphi, Johnson controls, Denso, Aisin to mention but a few, GAC produced the GS5 to rival most Japanese and European models.

The GS5 comes in either 2.0 litre or 1.8 litre turbo petrol engine. Four wheel drive is optional and the suspension system is double fork arm type in front and multi-link beam independent suspension at the

rear. This is designed by Porsch.

Chassis turning with international companies like Pro-drive, Mira and Magna Steyr, puts the GS5 above its peers. Having earned C-NCAP 5 star safety rating, the GS5 is equipped with anti-lock brake system, Electronic Brake force, Traction control system, Hydralic Brake Assist, Electronic stability programme, Hill control, tyre pressure monitoring system and six airbags as standard features.

Comfort has been raise to the

Trailblazer leads Chevrolet to Abuja Motor show P OPULAR American auto brand, Cherolet is on parade at the on-going Abuja International Motor Fair with special fair price for customers.

CFAO Motors, representatives of Chevrolet in Nigeria is displaying a full range of the Chevrolet models at the fair led by the all new Trailblazer Sport Utility Vehicle.

Other Chevrolet models on display at the fair ground include the all new Chevrolet Cruze, Spark, Trax (compact crossover), Aveo and Captiva.

The Trailblazer is making its first appearance at the Abuja fair where exotic car like it are most

•Chevrolet Trailblazer sought for in Nigeria. It is powered by a 3.6 litre petrol engine with six-speed automatic transmission.

The all new Chevrolet Trailblazer is loaded with array of features including air

conditioning system, chimatie control, cruise control, high level brake light, power steering, leather seats, on board computer, steering wheel controls, alarm, immobilizer, radio, CD player, MP3 and wireless interface.

Other features include foglamps, rear view camera, headlamp control on-off, rear park assist, among others.

For its high safety, the Trailblazer is equipped with ABS, multiple air bags, Hill Control Decent etc.

next level in the car with quality leather seats, climate control with dual-zone and rear air outl5et, cruise control, passive entry passive start, among others. Most of these features standard in GS5, come optional in GS5 competing models.

Highlighting the qualities of the car at the IITA conference centre in Ibadan, Sales and Marketing Director of CIG Motors, Mr. Kayode Adejumo disclosed that the test drive was the first major attempt by his company to formally unveil the GAC brands to newsmen in grand style as a way of getting Nigerians and prospective customers gain insight into the unique selling points of the brand.

He stated that the launch of GAC brand of vehicles into the country was informed by the need to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standard applied in vehicle manufacturing, giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed.

“We are here to offer Nigerians the best from China with the highest standard applied in vehicle manufacturing giving value for money with the most advanced technologies imputed”.

He said the first set of models to be launched into the market which were used during the test drive exercise are GS5 2.0L engine, the mid luxury SUV, currently the flagship.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 33

By Theodore Opara

I

T was all praises for the newly introduced Toyota Land Cruiser LC70 double cabin pickup at the Old Parade Ground Abuja recently when Toyota Nigeria Limited, TNL, presented the truck to its Abuja customers for a two-day test drive at the venue.

Having unveiled the LC 70 to the motoring press in Lagos to quite long ago, Toyota Nigeria deemed it wise to equally take the tough pickup not its Abuja customers, especially the military and para-military who will find the LC 70 very useful in the execution of their duties.

Speaking to Vanguard Motoring at the test drive venue, the Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kunle Ade Ojo disclosed that the Toyota LC 70 has no rival in the Nigerian market, as no other automaker offers anything like the LC70 in Nigeria presently.

“With its best in class ground clearance, towing strength, power an all-terrain prowess, the LC 70 stands out among its peers”, he said. Continuing he said, apart form the fact that it is the only 4.0 litre engine pickup in its class, its ground clearance is twice of any other pick-up in the market. The LC 70 is far more spacious and works harder than any pick-up in its segment. In addition to this, the LC 70 is a Toyota which means it is easy to maintain.

The Toyota Nigeria boss commended Toyota customers for the pressure pasuading them to introduce the LC 70 into the Nigeria market.

“The LC 70 has been requested by our customers who wanted a vehicle that is

Toyota LC 70, pickup with uncommon strength

tougher, stronger and more powerful than the Hilux, and this is what the Toyota LC 70 offer without compromise, he said.

According to him, they were not able to introduce it initially but when the demand became very strong, the decided to give it to Nigerians and the performance has remained quite encouraging ever since.

Like other Toyota models, Mr. Ade Ojo said that he LC 70 has been tropicalised to the Nigerian environment and road

conditions.

“Since the introduction, we have discovered that it was a missing link in the Toyota lineup in Nigeria. We can proudly say we are giving the customers what they want and that is suitable for our market”.

Going by the way customers received the new LC70, Mr. Ade Ojo said that they are projecting to sell between 500 to 1000 units of the pick in one year.

Said he: “We didn’t expect the high volume of sales we are

making on the vehicle, as we have run out of stock with several orders yet to meet”.

Continuing, he said, “as I speak with you, we have only one unit left which we are using for the test drive and the ongoing Abuja Motor show.

The Toyota LC70 is powered by a six-cylinder 4.0 litre 24 valve DOHC engine with VVT4. It comes standard with five-speed manual transmission and electronic fuel injection. They LC70 is equipped with rigid axle (coil)

suspension in front and rigid axle (leaf) suspension at the rear.

Comfort and convenience features in the LC70 include electric power steering, central locking, radio/CD player, airconditioning system, USB/ AUX, high grade seat material.

Its safety features include driver/passenger air bags, front seat best pretensioner and force limiter, ABS, immobiliser, fog lamp etc.

Made-in-Nigeria Kia models thrills Minister K

IA Motors Nigeria has unveiled three Made-in-Nigeria models at

the on-going Abuja International Auto Fair, holding at Eagle Square,

Abuja.

Fulfilling the promise made to the Nigerian car

LEFT: The Chief Commercial Officer of Kia Motors Nigeria, Mr Sandeep Malhotra, (Right)The Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr Ifeanyi Agu, and The Minister of State, FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide at the unveiling of the Made-in-Nigeria Kia cars, Eagle Square, Abuja

enthusiasts and patrons that Made-in-Nigeria KIA will be available before the end of the year, the car maker with the slogan, “the power to surprise presented the three models to the visitors. The made in Nigeria Rio is expected to cost less than N2m.

The Made-in-Nigeria KIA cars, which included the Rio, Cerato and Optima were unveiled by the Honorable Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, who represented the Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo. The minister also had a test drive of the Made-in-Nigeria OPTIMA at the venue.

Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide stepped into the red Madein-Nigeria KIA Optima and took a test drive within the Eagle Square in the company of the Chief Commercial Officer of KIA Motors Nigeria, Mr. Sandeep

Malhotra and the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions, Mr. Ifeanyi Agwu and the Deputy Director of the National Automotive Council, Mr. P. B. Salau (who represented the Director-General, National Automotive council.

At the unveiling, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide expressed her delight and commended KIA Motors for the made-in-Nigeria cars and described the Kia Rio as “the People’s Car”.

The Minister also took a look at other KIA models on display at the fair ground and was thrilled by the KIA SOUL, describing it as “incredibly built to compliment the youth and the women”. The flagship model of Kia, The Quoris also caught the fancy of the minister when she was shown around the luxury sedan by Mr. Sandeep Malhotra.

34 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

By Theodore Opara

Why we want to invest in Nigeria auto sector — Saipa S

HAHRAM Rezapour is

the Marketing Manager — Africa Region, Saipa Corporation, makers of Saipa auto brand, Iran. In a chat with Vanguard Motoring, he revealed, their plans to make Saipa a household name in Nigeria and transfer technology to Nigerians.

According to him, the company has Seen great potentials in Nigeria, hence the decision to invest in the country’s auto sector.

Why do you want to do business in Nigeria?

We came to Nigeria because of the potentials we have seen in the country. The huge population, GDP, availability of manpower and other resources are not comparable to other countries in Africa. We would like to transfer technology. We think the best way for your products to survive is to transfer technology which will be of mutual benefit to my company and Nigeria. The margin could be lower but rewarding at the

long run.

Do you think you have the right product to compete in Nigeria?

We have the right products that are rugged, durable and affordable. Though the range is not much when you compare us with the ones from Europe, America, Japan and Korea but we have the advantage of price and durability. For entry level cars,no one can beat us.

We offer excellent after sales package with affordable replacement parts.We sell and

support the customers. We believe, you should not enter the market if you are not ready to support the brand. When you sell without support, you kill the brand.

Where do you sell your products?

We have plants in Venezuela, Syria, Iraqi, Sudan, and Senegal,while plans are on to be present in Russia, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa. For now, Nigeria is our next priority.

In the African continent, there are about four or five countries that have i n d u s t r i a l infrastructure to produce cars and

Nigeria is one of them. The auto industry needs high level of trained technicians and infrastructure. We believe that if we produce here, everyone will benefit-the customers, suppliers and manufacturers.

What stands your products out?

Our car has low ownership cost, The are cheaper to maintain, affordable, the parts are available and cheap, the technology is simple,, the cars are very rugged with good design. They will surely deliver and gives you value for your money.

Are you introducing more models?

We have plans to introduce more new models next year such as the new Tiba saloon model. It is a beautiful car.

Saipa, revelation of 2014 Abuja Motor Show

S

AIPA, the Iranian automobile brand is one of the revelations of this year’s on-going Abuja International Motor show. The Iranian auto brand which boasts only four models including pickup, sedan and hatchbacks, according to its officials,is in Nigeria to offer affordable but durable cars to the low and middle class.

In a chat with Mr. George Ejike Francis, Managing Director Sparkling Energy Resources Ltd, whose company represents Saipa in Nigeria, hinted Vanguard of their plans make the cars affordable and available to Nigerians under the new Federal Government auto policy.

Mr. Francis explained that he came across the company, Saipa in his quest for affordable but durable cars for the Nigerian masses.

Hear him: “As a businessman, some of us are daring. In one of my trips to Iran, I visited a place called industrial city in Iran where every car part is produced. In

this city, nobody will say, he is unemployed. The sanctions on the country has made them to do things for themselves. I admired this city and knew that Nigerians can replicate what I saw there. Early this year when the new auto policy was announced, a friend called to inform me of the opportunity in the auto sector.

I saw that it was possible to produce a brand new car at affordable price that even a messenger can buy.

Cars built strong with affordable price and available parts. That was why I went for Saipa, a car that will be priced far less than N1.5 million.

The Sparkling Energy Resources boss disclosed that plans are on to set up the plant in any location in the country as his partners were in the country to finalise decision on the new plant which is expected to roll out cars in less than a year time.

Saipa models include: Tiba 2, Saipa 111 (hatchbacks), Tiba Saloon, and Rich (pickup with double cabin).

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 35

C M Y K

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

How lack of amenities sabotages healthcare delivery in Lagos • Kerosene, petrol, box of matches top of expectant mothers’ list • PHCs congested, lack power supply, personnel, space

By Chioma Obinna

I

NCREDIBLE, you would say!

But it is an unquestionable fact. Kerosene, petrol,matches and nylon bags have become major requirements for expectant mothers before delivery in Lagos.

Ordinarily, demand for these items, particularly kerosene is quite odd. But given the poor power supply in the country, what alternative does a health centre in a rural community have to keep delivered mothers warm before they are discharged?

This explains why health centres in Alimosho Local Government, a suburb of Lagos are now adding half gallon of kerosene to the list of requirements expectant mothers must submit before delivery.

A visit to some other health centres revealed that in addition to the power problem, chronic shortage of medical personnel is another challenge. These inadequacies continue to affect effective delivery of healthcare services.

The LGA, home to about two million people and one of the largest local governments in Lagos State, can only boast of two PHCs. Worse still, Alimosho has one of highest maternal mortality rates in the state. A 2008 NDHS Report shows that it had about 900 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Mobilising the women One of the centres visited include Orisunbare Primary Healthcare Centre where LACSOP, PATHS 2 and other Civil Society Organisations have taken pains of training what they described as “Ward Health Committee”’ to strengthen the centres as well as mobilse the women.

The Ward Health Committee members which comprise community leaders and non indigenes were trained by PATHS2 to support the effort of the LGA in ensuring adequate health service delivery especially services aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality through community efforts. They advocate to the LGA on behalf of the community people and hold quarterly community forums to address health issues experienced at the PHC. The Chairman of the Ward Health Committee, Orisunbare C M Y K

nurses and laboratory technicians and since then we have been having 24 hours. We started with three antenatal cases as at last report in September we have 68.

Today, we have 40 antenatal cases. Ante natal registration and delivery are free. Initially we did not have delivery couch but with the help of PATHS 2, we have a delivery couch and some little instruments that we are using now. They only pay for their drugs and laboratory tests. But today, we just got a letter that they will be paying N2, 000 after delivery. We only refer operation cases and have referred two cases since we started.”

At Alabata PHC, Akowonjo, in Alimosho Local Government Area, the situation was not different as patients lamented the congestion.

Complaints

• Cross section of pregnant women at Akonwojo Primary Health Centre in Alimosho local government area of Lagos.

AKOWONJO PRIMARY HEALTHCARE MATERNITY LIST 1 Roll of cotton wool (Dele Absorbent) 4 Sanitary Pads (Ladysept) 2 bottles of methylated sprit (Mako) 2 bottles of Dettol, 1 small bottle of Jik 1 tablet of Premier Soap, 1 Pkt of Omo 1 bottle of Olive oil (for cleaning baby) 1 baby oil, 1 baby soap, native sponge 1big towel, 1big shawl for wrapping baby, 1 baby dress, mother’s dresses 1 tin of Milo or Bournvita, 1 tin of Glucose, 1 tin of milk 1 pkt of blades, 1 pkt of candles, 1 pkt of matches, 1 big can of Raid mosquito repellent, ½ gallon of kerosene 3 polybags, 6 nylon bags, 2 toilet rolls, 1 elbow length glove, 1 wrapper for mother, 2 ampoules of vitamin K, 1.m oxytocin 2 ampoules, Chrome catgut, needle and syringes, 5ml Nightingle 3x, Hydrocot by 2, Buscopan by 2, Metsopostol tablet 600mg Health Centre, Alhaja Hafsat Adebisi confirmed to Good Health Weekly that before they were trained the health centre was not rendering antenatal and immunisation services due to the state of the health centre. She said since the establishment of the Committee, there has been improvement.

“Through this Committee, we have raised money to install ceiling fans in the centre.

Mothers used to feel uncomfortable bringing their babies because of the heat. We want residents to know that there is a functional health centre in the area.

Training

“We were trained in March this year on how to mobilse people to our PHC and to make sure it

is functioning. We used to go to our CDA meetings to talk to them. We involve the traditional birth attendants and meet Baales to advise them on the need to encourage the women to visit the centre.”

Orisunbare PHC was established in 2008 to serve about 50,000 people. The health centre which initially was running an 8-hour healthcare delivery services was upgraded to a 24-hour service in June, 2014. Since then, the number of patients at the centre has increased, yet just one medical doctor, Youth Corps member, is serving about 250 patients daily at the Centre.

A Local Technical Assistant, with PATHS2 and, Member, Lagos State Civil Society Partnership, Chinyere Nkire HEAL

Most of the women complained that each time they visit the centre; they spend the whole day waiting to be attended to. When asked why they cannot leave or go to other centres, they said, the only alternative which is Alimosho General Hospital is no better as congestion remains the order of the day.

In a chat, the Chief Matron, Alabata PHC, Mrs. Grace Okpadotun said no fewer than 250 patients are seen daily and the Centre extended its services to Isheri due to lack of space.

Okpadotun, who identified lack of space for operations in the health centre as a major problem affecting effective services, said: “The number of patients that come here daily is overwhelming but we are managing to attend to them the best way we can.” Asked why the centre includes kerosene to its list even when the Lagos State Government has made available free Mama’s kit for delivery, she said: “We only do that due to epileptic power supply.

The kerosene is used to boil water for their bath until they are discharged.”

said they mobilise community members to make use of the health centre and also work with community leaders to simplify concept that may seem worrisome to residents.

It was gathered that the kerosene is for boiling hot water when they need it in preparing tea or bathing their babies.

One Mrs. Oladimeji who delivered a year ago at Merian Health Centre, recounted her experience.

“It is common practice in Lagos PHCs, not just Alimosho. I delivered last year at Merian health centre, I was asked to bring five litres of fuel and kerosene.

My husband paid about N1, 500 for the two items,” Oladimeji stated.

The Officer in – charge, Orisubanre, The PHC, Mrs. Giwa Folake noted that the number of centre began 24 hour patients that services in July this year and diversified come here into ante natal care, daily is child delivery, immunisation, out overwhelming patients and family but we are planning cares.

“I was posted here managing in May 2014 and I to attend to noticed that the place them the was not in good condition. Now they best way we have employed about can six non pensionable

M e d i c a l Officer’s response

Responding to state of health centres under his care, the Medical Officer for Health, Alimosho LGA, Dr. Kayode Odufunwa, denied knowledge of the mandatory kerosene requirement, saying government was not aware either, however lamented poor funding, epileptic power supply and lack of space among the key challenges facing effective delivery of healthcare services.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 37

Experts recommend lifestlye modifications to tackle NCDs

By Sola Ogundipe

A

NUTRITIONIST and dietician, Dr, Chika Ndiokwelu, has raised concerns over the need to address the impact of nutrition in the campaign against non-communicable disorders in the country.

Ndiokwelu, who is Consultant Nutritionist and Dietician, Galaxy Urology Hospital, in a lecture entitled “Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases: The Pathway to a Sustainable and Guaranteed Health Security”, presented at the Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, NIFST, said it was hightime Nigeria began to address the risk factors of NCDs. “These risk factors, such as tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity that often lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity among others, she noted, saying risk-factor behaviours can be modified in the age groups and benefits becoming visible within 3-5 years, with enormous potential cost savings.

She argued that ways to reduce the intake of sweetened drinks (particularly by children) and of foods that are micronutrient poor but of high-energy density, as well as efforts to curb cigarette smoking and to increase physical activity will have an impact throughout the society.

“Such changes need the active participation of communities, politicians, health systems, town planners and municipalities, as well as the food and leisure industries.

Calling for change in the health environment in which those who are most at risk grow up, she noted that it is a more targeted and potentially costly approach, but one that has the potential for cost.

• Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clem Ugorji (right), receiving the Recognition Award for Communicating Sciencerelated Knowledge to Consumers from President of the Nigerian Institute of Food, Science and Technology, NIFST, Professor Lateef Sanni, at the NIFST 38th Conference and AGM held recently in Lagos.

On interventions against NCDs, she put forward population-wide interventions or individual health-care interventions, but said there are interventions that are regarded as Best buys.

“Among these are reduction of salt intake and salt content of foods, replacing transfat in food with polyunsaturated fat and promoting public awareness about diet and physical activity, including through mass media.

“Other cost effective interventions include promoting adequate breastfeeding and complementary food, restriction on marketing of foods and beverages high in salt, fats, and sugar, especially to children, and food taxes and subsidies to promote healthy diets,” she noted.

In the view of a professor of Nutrition at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Prof.

Ignatius Onimawo, the problem of nutrition depends on the setting in Nigeria.

Onimawo who also spoke at the event said it was time to adress the issue of malnutition as well as over nutrition in the country observed: “For those in the northern part of the country, it is not yet late to address the problem of malnutrition.

This is the time to let them know, because the issue of overweight and obesity is minimal over there where the major problem is acute malnutrition. There, they do not have enough to eat, or what to eat or how to go about it. “Down south, it is also not too late to start even though the

problem for those overweight should begin to change their lifestyle, do minimal exercise that you can right there in your room. Sweat it out before you take your bath. That is what I do personally every morning and the impact is so much. You will find that you do not need to take taxi; trek and burn energy.

“Energy balance has to do with energy intake and energy expenditure. When the intake is consistently higher than expenditure, then the excess will be deposited as fat.

“On the other hand when the expenditure is higher than the intake, you utilise the energy inside and reduce your weight.

This equation is incontrovertible. So work on your energy expenditure and watch your energy intake.”

For optimal health, Onimawo noted: “Take adequate diet and hydrate adequately. Water does not add weight and contains no energy. If you can take as much as 10 litres per day, go ahead.

Reduce energy if we are talking about NCDs, avoid fried foods, carbohydrates,and the type of meat you eat matters.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Public Affairs and Communications, CocaCola Nigeria Limited, Mr. Clem Ugorji, said consumer education is vital in ensuring reduction of NCDs. Ugorji, who received the Recognition Award for Communicating Science-related Knowledge tnoted that the need to have a channel for balanced consumer information for the public is crucial.

“At Coca Cola we are interested in working on that kind of thing, We need to create the industry platform with credible organisations such as NIFTS working together with relevant government and regulatory departments to say, how do we create this kind of impactful programme that can give credible and reliable sustained information to consumers so that people get to become empowered with knowledge to make wise decisions about what they eat and what they should not eat, depending on prevailing factors.”

HIV: Fashola calls for action on elimination of mother-to-child transmission

‘I

By Chioma Obinna

F anyone had told me that I will one day become a mother of three children. I wouldn't have believed it."

These were the kind words of Alice, a 33 year old single mother. Her dream to become a mother was almost dashed when she tested positive to HIV 10 years ago.

Life became meaningless to her then. Two years later, she decided to give her dream a trial but her concern was to ensure that her unborn baby should not suffer the same fate as hers.

Through her support group, Alice, (not real name) was encouraged. As a HIV positive mother, immediately, she took in, she enrolled in one of the state's free Preventive Mother-to-child Transmission, PMTCT. Today, Alice is a happy mother of three HIV negative children.

Alice and many other HIV mothers who desire to have HIV negative babies as well as the need to reduce the spread of HIV through mother-to- child- transmission informed the renewed efforts of the Lagos State Government in collaboration with partners such as the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/Aids, UNAIDS, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, and United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, to tackle low patronage of pregnant women to the state's functional PMTCT centres. Apparently to stimulate commitment of critical stakeholders and

provide vital information on PMTCT, the Lagos State unveiled the Wife of the Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola as the face of PMTCT in the state. With a HIV prevalence of 5.1, Lagos is one of the 12+1 States that account for 70 percent of the burden of HIV in the country.

According to the Director of Disease Control in the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Jemilade Longe, a total of 57, 587 pregnant women living in Lagos tested positive to HIV. Longe who disclosed this in a presentation entitled: Update on Prevention -Mother -to- child transmission of HIV/AIDS/Family Planning Status in Lagos State said there are 4.96 million women of reproductive age in Lagos adding that 1.129 women get pregnant yearly. However, despite availability of 312 PMTCT centres in the state, access to the sites remain poor. The situation aptly explained why the wife of the governor at the event called for accelerated action and sustained commitment on the part of all stakeholders especially vast majority of grassroots women in the drive to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Fashola noted that the gathering of stakeholders to discuss issues affecting women and children particularly motherto-child transmission of HIV is a demonstration of renewed commitment of the State government and other stakeholders to address the issue.

•L-R: Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Madam Rati Ndlovu, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola and Special Adviser to Gov. Fashola on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina during the unveiling of Mrs. Fashol a as face of PMTCT in Lagos last week.

"Today, we call for action on the part of all including women leaders to stop this trend and join the global drive to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and also encourage healthy spacing of pregnancies. We need to coordinate our efforts in order to effectively mobilize, enlighten and educate women on the availability of PMTCT and family planning services in their communities." The high point of the event was the unveiling of the

Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola as the State Ambassador for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Family planning services by the Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris. Speaking, the Country Representative, United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, Madam Rati Ndlovu stressed the need for mothers to become pregnant by choice not by accident and deliver in health facilities.

38—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

FG, Church partner to improve healthcare

By Sola Ogundipe

F

AITH based organisations and other religious groups in the country that venture into health issues aimed at improving access to qualitative healthcare services in the country, will obtain Federal government support and collaboration henceforth.

Disclosing this in Sokoto weekend, Acting Minister for Health, Dr Khaliru Alhassan, observed that such interfaith collaboration was necessary to enable government and other stakeholders sustain the burden of health care delivery.

“Government would continue to support religious organisations wishing to provide healthcare to the people,” Alhassan remarked at the commissioning of the Holy Family Mother Care Clinic, a hospital built by the Sokoto Catholic Archdiocese.

Further, Alhassan said: “In the country, the collaboration has helped address some key challenges facing health adding that such collaboration can even help improve the health indices”.

He added the hospital project was “a lot relevant to the aims and objectives of the federal government to ensure safety and medical health of all and sundry.”

Commissioning the health facility, which is aimed towards reducing maternal and child death, the Sultan of Sokoto, HRH Sa’ad Abubakar III, described it as a demonstration of what Christians and Muslims coming together could achieve.

The Sultan observed that provision of healthcare was not a prerogative of government but a “collective responsibility,” urging religious leaders to assist in changing the orientation of their followers so that they can become more conscious of their health. “We all need to

take care of our health and we can only do that when we regularly visit clinics,” he said.

Archbishop of the Sokoto Catholic Archdiocese, Most Revered Martin Kukah, said the hospital was open to all women and children of Sokoto irrespective of religious background.

He argued that presence and accessibility of clinics is crucial to encouraging more women to give birth in hospitals.

Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who was present at the inauguration, donated an ambulance to assist the clinic, urging families to insist on antenatal care for pregnant women and postnatal care after childbirth.

MDCAN sets credentials for new Health Minister

By Victoria Ojeme

T

HE Medical and Dental Consultant Association of Nigeria, MDCAN, has drawn out the criteria that the next Minister of Health must possess if he is to succeed in confronting the myriad challenges in the Nigeria's health sector.

The group urges President Goodluck Jonathan to "ignore the self-serving calls to make political rather professional judgement in the appointment of the next Minister of Health."

In a statement,MDCAN President, Dr Steven Oluwole, said "For now the next Minister should possess the requisite skills to perform the combined roles, as Professor Chukwu did, until such a time that the understanding of the need to split roles extend beyond the medical profession.

• L-R :Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III during the inauguration of the Holo Mother and Child Catholic Hospital, Sokoto, recently.

"But should the Minister of Health be merely a medical doctor? No! He must minimally possess basic degree in medicine and surgery; Postgraduate qualification, not necessarily in public health; skills in public and international health; evidence of administration and leadership skills and at the personal level, he must not be ethnocentric towards the medical profession, but able to lead the health team dispassionately."

Oluwole who linked the lack of rapid development of the Nigeria's health sector to the unhealthy rivalry among practitioners in the health sector, said the practice has eroded and fractionated a system that should work in harmony.

“The primary functions of the health team is now secondary to who controls or head departments, who takes custody of equipments and other needless ventures.

Reiterating the need for a Surgeon General the said the position of the MDCAN is that appointments to leadership positions in the health team should not be politicised to please any group, but based on competence to achieve clearly stated objectives.

"Had the Minister of Health been incompetent to understand basic public health processess, the situation would have been different. The country was saved enormous resources that would have been wasted on committees, monitoring groups, and other irrelevant agencies that were not needed to control the Ebola disease epidemic."

Commenting on Ebola , he said it was currently the benchmark for control of Ebola virus disease. “What we should focus on is prevent new cases coming into Nigeria.

The probability of new cases within the country is low."

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

H

ELLO everybody and welcome. Today we will like to introduce to you new products that can also help with some of your sexual challenges.

In the area of erectile dysfunction we have Magic Mike.

It is a powerful erection enhancer that makes weak erections strong and if you cannot get an erection at all, it will enable you get one. It is also very effective in giving men the stamina to perform and the ability to have several rounds of intercourse. Magic Mike is a natural supplement and can be taken by adult men of all ages.

One capsule of it works for up to 72 hours and when taken, it starts working in less than one hour.

There is also the Baxter Vibrating Cockring. It is a rubberlike device worn at the base of an erect penis during intercourse to prevent sudden erection loss.

Cockrings also help men with premature ejaculation problems to maintain their erections after ejaculation for up to twenty minutes, to encourage prolonged and meaningful intercourse. It vibrates as well to give females pleasure.

In the area of organ enlargement, adult men we have Mr Thick Penis Enlarger. When applied generously all over the penis, Mr. Thick facilitates instant penis enlargement that can last for hours and delight the user during intercourse.

Guarding against infidelity and adultery is quite difficult especially as many men complain of inadequate sex from their partners. But thanks to the new masturbators Sex Please Mouth Stroker and Sex Please Vagina Stroker, adult men are able to get some satisfaction to help them remain faithful to their partners. These toys feel like the real thing and are easy to use and maintain.

For women, we have the Doki Breast Massager, a vibrating pair of devices designed to help females with low sexual arousal get in the mood for intimacy. The Doki breast Massager fits nicely within the female bra when worn and can also be used for clitoral stimulation if desired. There is also the new vibrating underwear for women called the Bound by Diamonds Vibrating Panties

and it can be combined with the DokiBreast Massager above for simultaneous breast and genital stimulation.

These are all unique adult toys to enable females get the best out of their love lives. A third vibrator in this category which can be used by both women and men is the Flex waterproof Anal Beads for prostate massage.

Anal toys are growing in popularity among adults and users are advised to take proper care of them after use by disinfecting them during cleaning.

Last for today are three new books for adults. Married men and women often complain about inadequate intercourse in their sex lives especially after child birth.

If you are facing similar challenges in your own life, then you need to read the The Sex Starved Marriage.

This book contains helpful tips that couples in turmoil can benefit from.

If you are a female who was circumcised or for some reason is unable to enjoy intercourse, then you will like the Smart Girl’s Guide to the G Spot. Many women don’t know where the G spot is located and if they did, they will be thrilled by the amount of pleasure they can get from skillful massaging it.

For couples who complain that their sex lives have become boring, predictable and unexciting, comes the book Kamasutra of Sexual Positions. With over a hundred sex positions discussed in this book, the reader will never complain of boredom or a lack of ideas ever again.

Life is hard. Men and women in relationships can certainly do more to help each other alleviate the day to day grind of modern life. So we hope the above new products can help you help yourselves.

That is all for today. Adults in need of these treatments/ novelties can call 07086754515 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, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—39

Shootings in U.S. schools L

AST week, 14-year-old Jaylen Fryberg calmly walked to his school, Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington State, and took out his anger on his fellow students. He was armed with a .40 caliber handgun. So far, three people died in the incident (including the shooter) and at least three others are still battling with their lives. The fatalities could have been worse but for the timely intervention of a school teacher who prevented the young, angry teenager from quickly reloading his gun when he ran out of bullets.

As usual, the country is in mourning that another shooting incident and resulting deaths have taken place. People are outraged. Media talk-shows are swarmed with discussions about the increasing incidents of school shootings in the land of freedom. Sooner than later, the anger will die down and life will go on as usual, until

another deranged student picks up a gun to commit another round of mayhem.

And, I am referring to school shootings, not the issue of shootings in U.S. society as a whole.

Just to show how school shootings are gradually becoming the new normal in U.S., there have been about 82 of such incidents since the country witnessed one of its worst school shooting disasters in December 2012 when 20year-old Adam Lanzer massacred 20 kids and 6 adults at the Sandi Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. The tragedy is that nothing substantial has taken place since the 2012 killings, to seriously address and curb these wanton shootings, killing and wounding of innocent people.

After a shooting incident at a school in Oregon in June this year, an angry but powerless

Map of the United States of America

President Obama said: “We’re mood to even discuss any law the only developed country on that would deal with gun earth where this violence. The National Rifle happens….Our levels of gun Association (NRA) is always violence are off the charts. there to fight such laws under There’s no advanced, the guise that they will infringe developed country on earth that the second amendment of the c o u n t r y ’ s would put up with constitution. The t h i s . ” NRA and its allies Unfortunately, the in Congress will president could not even discuss only vent his anger the idea of about the incident introducing because all efforts meaningful to get the U.S. background Congress enact a checks on anyone law to check gun who applies for a availability and permit to own a gun violence have gun. The NRA been met with a Congress is and its lobbyists wall of reinforced in no mood to are quite adroit at concrete. Despite playing on some the tears and even discuss people’s fears that anguish of families any law that such checks are and friends who part of President have lost their would deal Obama’s plans to loved ones in these with gun take their guns d a s t a r d l y away. incidents, violence Fact is, gun Congress is in no ownership is tied to the constitutional freedoms enjoyed

by Americans. The s o - c a l l e d protection of this freedom appears to ignore the fact that victims of gun violence also have a constitutional right to life. The NRA mantra is that guns don’t kill; people do. On its surface, this is s e n s i b l e argument. But, the gun advocates are silent on the fact people do kill with guns; that guns in the hands of people with mental problems do not make society safe. And, you cannot imagine how easy it is to obtain such guns. You can go to one of the huge supermarket chains or gun shops and legitimately buy one. The problem however, is the inadequacy or absence of t h o r o u g h background checks to determine your suitability to own a

gun. The second problem is that you can buy the gun and resell it the way you can sell your pair of shoes. No questions asked.

Then, the biggest problem is that you can go to a gun show and buy a gun of your choice without any form of background check; you just pay and walk away with it.

Another issue that hardly receives the attention it deserves is the idea of guns in the hands of teenagers and school kids. Take the case of the latest killer, Jaylen Fryberg.

For his fourteenth birthday, his parents bought him a gun as a present. Adam Lanza who massacred the Sandyhook kids had unlimited access to the guns in his mother’s house, and it was said that she had taken him for guns lessons and gun shows several times in the past.

Unlimited access to guns When the time was ripe for Lanza to kill people, his first victim was of course his mother.

Perhaps the most bizarre case was that of a 9-year-old girl who killed a man in August this year in Arizona. Her victim was Charles Vacca. Charles, a guntrainer, was teaching this young girl how to operate the powerful Uzzi rifle at a shooting range when she accidentally shot him in the head, having lost her balance during practice.

Why are these kids being introduced to guns? No one can tell beyond the constitutional freedom to do so being exercized by their parents. One thing to note is the state of mind of some of these kids who shoot their schoolmates and then kill themselves. When security agents visit their facebook pages and read the tweets they had sent the days or weeks preceding their decision to shoot and kill their colleagues, it is usually the case that a lot of hate messages and bitterness indicating troubled minds are found. When a kid in such frame of mind has unlimited access to guns owned by his/ her parents or the ones that were bought by the same parents and given to him or her as a birthday gift, society should indeed not be shocked at what would happen next.

These incidents of school shooting are gradually making Americans “unshockable,” if I may borrow this word from one of Nigeria’s foremost journalists, Dele Giwa.

40 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

By IKENNA ASOMBA

I

N four days precisely on November 1, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (SURE-P / FERMA) task force will again be deployed to 117 federal roads in Lagos.

This action, Vanguard gathered, will spur another showdown between the Lagos State government agents like Lagos State Transport Management Authourity, LASTMA, men Of the Vehicle Inspection Services, VIS, Lagos state Special Task Force on the Environment and the Federal task force men The deployment of the federal task officers is as a result of plans to ensure massive support for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election by one Alhaji Abdul Razak Otto, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State.

Origin of crisis

*SURE-P/FERMA taskforce officials

LOOMING CRISIS WITH LASG AGENTS:

It was on May 20, that residents of Lagos woke-up to witness the presence of a group of people dressed in grey and black uniform, controlling traffic on major highways in the state, particularly Old Toll Gate end, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to reports at that time, the taskforce was a new traffic management outfit created as a support team for men of the Federal Roads Maintenance Commissioner for Finance, Ayo Agency, FERMA, to aid in the Gbeleyi, Attorney–General and maintenance of road Commissioner for Justice, Ade infrastructure across the states of Ipaye on the non-payment of the federation, with s e v e r a n c e Lagos hosting the emoluments to past pilot scheme. political office On that fateful day, holders in the state, following several pointed that the calls by motorists and development could pedestrians to lead to security relevant state threat. government Ikuforiji,who ministries and expressed fear at agencies, demanding the development to know whether the said: “These people strange uniformed in strange uniforms men were deployed were seen at the toll by the state gate controlling government as a new traffic. We may find outfit to manage traffic them all over Lagos in the state, the Lagos very soon. This can These State House of also lead to Assembly, LAHA, people in problem. We should call on relevant swiftly called the attention of the state’s strange authorities to Attorney General and uniform caution them.”

Commissioner for On his part, the Attorney-General, Justice, Ade Ipaye, to were seen at the activity of the the toll gate who also confirmed federal taskforce the statement, said controlling officials. he saw them The Speaker of traffic. We controlling traffic but LAHA, Adeyemi maintained that may find Ikuforiji, who gave “there is the need to the alert at a plenary them all over investigate and session, when the Lagos very know those who House was employed them, q u e s t i o n i n g soon there should be a

As FERMA releases its taskforce officials again legal backing for their operation.”

According to Ipaye, the Minister of State for Defense, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, who was earlier alerted denied any knowledge of the people.

Similarly, Commissioner in the Ministry of Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, confirmed the development saying “An unknown group dressed in grey and black uniforms have invaded the highways in Lagos. The illegal traffic officers currently operating from the old toll gate area with unknown origin and unknown to the Lagos State Government have invaded the roadways with a view to causing public disturbance as they do not have the backing nor the support of the state government and will therefore disturb the operations of the state traffic management personnel already positioned at various traffic points across the state.

“The Lagos State government is therefore using this medium to call on the handlers of this faceless group to withdraw them immediately, so as not to breach the peace and tranquillity the state currently enjoys,”Opeifa said.

Clash of interest However, as the taskforce officials were alleged to have told

LASTMA men to stay off federal highways as they had been trained and mandated to take over traffic management on them, the tension created by the incident was said to had compounded traffic situation on the Ikorodu road axis, as LASTMA men reportedly left the roads to avoid possible confrontation with the taskforce officials.

Confrontation with task force As the ensuing clash of interest between the federal SURE-P / FERMA task force and the Lagos state-owned LASTMA continued, the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, barely a week after the emergence of the black-uniformed taskforce officials, stormed their training ground at the old Lagos toll gate.

During the operation led by Chief Superintendent of Police Bayo Sulaiman, no fewer than 200 officials of the Sure-P Federal Task Force were arrested and taken to the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja.

According to reports, trouble however started when officials of the Lagos Task Force tried to arrest a vehicle plying the BRT

lane at Ketu area, but the driver diverted the vehicle into the premises of the Federal Task Force on the way to Alausa.

In the process of trying to get the vehicle back, officials of the Federal Task Force allegedly mobilised and attacked the policemen with planks, bottles and beat up some officers, inflicting injuries on them.

It was said that the Lagos State Task Force, led by Sulaiman, went for a reinforcement and stormed the area with armed policemen, leading to the arrest of over 200 of them.

Dangerous weapon Speaking to newsmen, Sulaiman said the Federal Task Force attacked his men with dangerous weapons, stressing that there was no way a taskforce could take over the function of the Police.

He said: “They beat up our men and held them hostage. We will not allow them to take over our function. We arrested close to 100 of them. If we allow this to go unchecked, it will be worse next time.”

However, with the return of the federal taskforce men to Lagos roads, the face-off should be expected in the next few days.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

by the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Mr. Oyinlomo Danmole, for a closed door meeting with an 8-man delegation from them.

At the end of the meeting which lasted for over an hour, Danmole, assured the protesters that the government understood their plight and was already taking appropriate steps to ensure that such act did not occur again in the state.

Battle over use of Hijab in Lagos public schools rages

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

F

EW days after the Ikeja High Court ruled against the use of hijab in public schools in Lagos State, recent protests and judicial suits have proved that the battle over use of the headscarf worn by female Muslims to conceal their hair and neck, is far from over.

On October 17, 2014, after a year and five months legal battle, Justice Modupe Onyeabor of the Ikeja High Court ruled that it was the responsibility of the state government to issue appropriate guidelines on dress codes for pupils in public schools since they were owned and funded by the government.

This judgement was however greeted with harsh reactions from the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria, MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit and other Islamic organisations in the state, who vowed to embark on rigorous sensitization of Muslims especially their members to vote for the governorship candidate of any party that could promise to allow the use of hijab in public schools after the 2015 elections.

The genesis On February 5, 2013, the Principal of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Meta, Lagos, E.C Ukpaka flogged a 16year-old student, Miss Aisha Alabi, a Junior Secondary School

— 41

Another law suit

*Muslim female students protesting the ban of Hijab in Lagos public schools 1 pupil, 43 times because she wore hijab on the school premises.

This action angered several Islamic organizations in the state, especially the father of the girl, Mr. Rasak Alabi.

Alabi insisted that there was no basis for the beating because her daughter did not flout any law, adding that there is freedom of religion anywhere in the world, and that her daughter, was been denied her right to practice her religion.

Also, Miss Barirat Tajudeen of Mafoluku Senior Grammar school, Mushin, was allegedly victimised by her principal, Mrs. Elizabeth Omidele, on February 20, 2013, for using the scarf outside the school premises.

The Public Relations Officer of the group, at that time, Sulaimon Alamutu, argued that the principal has defied the 1999

constitution which secures the right to religion, pointing that the use of hijab by Muslims anywhere in the country, especially in public institutions, is a fundamental right issue.

Series of protest Few weeks after, Islamic organizations embarked on protests across the state and to the seat of power, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, to express their grievances over the issue. While at the office of the state governor, Babatunde Fashola, they paralysed vehicular and commercial activities.

At the secretariat, hundreds of hijab (Muslim veil for women) wearing school pupils under the aegis of the MSSN stormed the office of the Governor at about 10:00 a.m. barricaded the entire

entrance to the Governor’s Office, obstructing free flow of traffic in the state seat of power saying, “we will not leave the entrance of the Governor’s office until we see the Governor, whom we voted for at the last general election.”

They displayed several placards with inscriptions like “Hijab is my identity, don’t take it away from me; Our Hijab is our freedom; Hijab should be part of our uniforms; Dressing without Hijab is incomplete; Hijab is a symbol of pride and honour, among others.

“All we want is that Hijab should be legalized as part of the school uniforms for Muslim students in the entire public school in the state.

Meanwhile, at about 4:00pm that fateful day, the protesters yielded to the plea of government representatives led

Despite the negotiations between MSSN and the state government, both parties failed to reach conclusion over the use of hijab in public schools. This led to another legal suit on May 27, 2013, when the Muslim organization dragged the state government to court over the legality of hijab in public schools.

Meantime, ahead of the 2015 governorship election in Lagos, Muslim groups have vowed not to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the upcoming election, if the party led government refuse to allow Muslim female students to wear hijab in public schools.

The groups, under the aegis of Joint Muslim Forum, JMF, at a press briefing in Ikeja, yesterday argued that Muslims had suffered a lot under Governor Babatunde Fashola led administration.

Spokesperson of JMF, Alh. Adewale Shonaike said having been pushed to the wall, Muslims in Lagos have alternative but not to vote for the APC candidate if the party refused to allow Muslims wear hijab in Lagos.

Yuletide: Residents decry resurgence of armed banditry in traffic

By Olasunkanmi Akoni OUNTDOWN to another yuletide, residents in Lagos State have continued to raise alarm over the increasing presence of armed men, who engage in dispossessing them of their valuables at gun point, early in the morning and in the night, in traffic spots.

According to residents who spoke to Vanguard, they identified some of the flashpoints as Mile 2 area, Ikorodu Road, Oworonsoki, Volks-Barracks Bustop, along Lagos-Badagry-Expressway, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway among others.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has always assured residents of adequate protection of their lives and properties, hence, the huge investment of his administration in security matters of the state.

The former Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, according to the state government, was able to bring crime rate to barest minimum while in charge of the state command before his recent elevation and transfer to another zone.

A resident in Gbagada-Oworosonki area of the state, Bolaji Ayinde, narrated that: “The bandits move in between vehicles in the traffic

C

and pounce on their victim by knocking the side mirror of the driver and ordering the driver to wind down or be shot if he tries to resist the order. They ask you to surrender your valuables and cash on you and before you know it, they disappear into thin air.

“Most of the bandits keep their weapons with the boys who hawk in traffic. The security agencies should step up their crimefighting strategies to arrest this trend especially as we move close to Christmas and New Year celebrations.”

Another resident, Mrs. Felicia Agha, narrated that “The crime rate in Lagos is on the increase. On my way to work last Wednesday, a man was being robbed of his Jeep, Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV, at gun point in Yaba area of the state and all we could do was watch.”

Mr. Joel Abraham, a gas cooker dealer narrated; “Armed robbers were at my home and ended up killing an innocent young man.

Two weeks ago, the man standing next to me at a bus stop was held at gun-point and his laptop was dispossessed from him.”

Mr. Abioudun Agboola, a businessman said “Within the past year, I’ve lost numerous handsets, Laptops and my car was even stolen

at gunpoint. Something needs to be done urgently in Lagos. I think they should allow individuals like me to carry guns in order to protect ourselves.”

However, the Lagos State Police Command, recently, assured residents of adequate security during the last quarter of this year, saying security measures have been put in place to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum during this year’s yuletide.

Speaking after the weekly State Security Council Meeting presided over

by Governor Fashola, at the Lagos

House, Ikeja, the new state Police Commissioner, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, said the Police and other security agencies were ready to make sure that every where is secure in the state.

The commissioner said the state command and other security agencies would be proactive in putting in place all the security measures to ensure that every resident is safe, adding, “So far the state is relatively peaceful and we hope and believe that we can sustain it in these coming days”.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Amaechi shows strength

By Dapo Akinrefon & Charles Kumolu

I

T was the seventh anniversary of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s extraordinary inauguration as governor of River State last Saturday. The opportunity turned out to be an opportunity for the governor to make a bold statement on the political morphology of the state.

The 40,000 seating capacity stadium in Port-Harcourt, the state capital was fully occupied forcing many late comers to the celebration to make do on the playing pitch.

It was an opportunity for several stakeholders to give assessment of the Amaechi administration and among them were Non-Indigenes who speaking through a representative, just identified as Obinna praised Amaechi for integrating non-indigenes into the politics of the state.

We can’t be bribed—Rivers Assembly Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Dan Amacheree who has 25 of the 32 members of the House on his side equally affirmed the determination of the House not to be cowed by money or might into fighting the governor.

“Governor Amaechi has brought change and transformation to Rivers state.

He has made been made the face if transparency in Rivers state. We want to assure you that the 25 members of the house are behind you and we pledge our commitment to you because no form of opposition, intimidation or bribery will deter us from supporting you.

Opposition and intimidation We will make sure we change Nigeria and Rivers state. They even bribed some of us with oil blocs but we resisted it. Go home and spread the message that we do not exist on billboards.”

Rivers will vote the APC way — Reps members Members of the House of Representatives caucus from the state were not left out.

Chairman, House Committee in the Downstream sector, Mr Dakuku Peterside, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said: “We have taken note that you are a man of principle, character and integrity and you have shown that you can stand up for Rivers state. We also want to assure you that the people of Rivers state will vote APC all the way from the president down to the councilors.”

Change is coming to Nigeria—Sen Abe Also, the Senators from the

•Amaechi addressing supporters during the rally govern Rivers—— Amaechi When it was time for governor Amaechi to deliver his speech, Chief John Oyegun he went spiritual as he led the General Muhammadu people into a spiritual realm of Buhari (rtd) singing and dancing to God Former Vice President, the victory he got at the apex Atiku Abubakar court seven years ago.

Kano State governor, Amaechi, who interrupted his Rabiu Kwakwanso speech with repeated Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah jubilation, was in high spirit at the rally. He, however, took a state predicted victory for the swipe at one of his arch party ahead of next year’s polls opponents, who was aspiring just as they appealed to Rivers to govern the state.

Amaechi said “one of them people to vote out PDP at the campaigning for governorship centre.

Senator Magnus Abe, who was the contractor that was led seven other senators on supposed to do the roads. He solidarity said “from the collected N3 billion and left, now he wants to N a t i o n a l b e c o m e Assembly, we governor, a thief have seven will not become senators present governor.

I here, we are challenge them celebrating the from Rivers State seventh year to Abuja, to an anniversary of The day I was integrity test. I the governor have worked with and seven told that the them, I have represents victory.

Our President and his their records, message for people were trying their records are in the office of the Nigerians is that to remove me as governor. So go they should get ready with their governor, I called and rest.”

He also took voters card for prayer session time to fault the because by anti- graft fight February 2015, in Government saying “the there will be House and I said problem we have change in to them, ‘God told is that the Nigeria”.

Economic and me that I would Financial Crimes A thief ‘ll not finish my tenure C o m m i s s i o n ROLL CALL

ROLL CALL

Owelle Rochas Okorocha Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed Senator Bukola Saraki Engineer Segun Oni Dr Kayode Fayemi Senator Chris Ngige Senator Magnus Abe Senator Wilson Ake Senator Osita Izunaso Alhaji Kawu Baraje Chief Sam Jaja (EFCC) is no longer working, corruption is at its industrial peak. Thieves are thieves because we now have an industry called corruption”.

My victory is divine While he appreciated God for his Supreme Court victory, he said “the day I was told that the President and his people were trying to remove me as governor, I called for prayer session in Government House and I said to them, ‘God told me that I would finish my tenure’. When we finished praying, I said the fight has started and believe me, this fight will continue but we are going nowhere.”

“There was a case in the Supreme Court and everybody was worried but I told you we would win it, that the God I worship told me we would win it. I thank God for keeping us and I want to tell them, we are going nowhere. There is a punishment for people who betray others, God is very clear about thieves and those who betray others. After stealing

government money, you betray people because you want to become governor, they will get nowhere.

Before I became governor, I went to God for more than 10 months. They have the president, the army and the police but they do not have God. They can go to Jerusalem 50 times, God has decided what will happen in Nigeria in 2015.

Take it for free, there will be change in Nigeria”, he said.

He also commended the Senate President, Senator David Mark and the leadership,of the Senate for wading into the planned hijack of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

According to him, “in thanking members if the Senate, let me also thank the President of the Senate because when they tried to hijack the house, the a Senate President and all the members of the Senate, rose up to the task and stood by us. Rivers people stood by me as governor and are still standing by me, I have no choice but to deliver on my service. I have to deliver on my promise because that is the task I have.”

Achievements In seven years. I have built 20 classroom blocks and 500 of them are ready. We have built over 140 health centres, we employed over 13000 teachers, we have employed over 400 Continues on page 43

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2014—43

one who could continue the work who will bring Akwa-Ibom State of uncommon transformation he to a higher level”, Nkanga said had been conceived by the remarked. outgoing governor.

Mounting the podium at 2.54 The Chairman of the occasion pm, Emmanuel praised the and former military governor of outgoing governor for laying a the state, Otu-Ekong Idongesit solid foundation for the state.

Nkanga, praised the choice of While pledging to be respectful Emmanuel as the next governor to the elders and all manner of saying that it was fitting in the people in the state, he said he context of zoning. He also would uphold the tenets of the affirmed his qualification and PDP, respect the party ’s capacity to move the state structures, hierarchy and adhere forward. to the principles of justice, equity “In the past, what we used to and fairness to all at all times. see is politics of ethnicity but “Governor Akpabio has provided ethnicity cannot solve today’s excellent leadership in the state. problems. For justice, Eket What is required now is that Senatorial District must produce manager with proven the next governor and the only managerial skills to move the way Udom can succeed is to work state forward. I am passionate with the generality of Akwa-Ibom about wealth creation and the people. well being of our people.

“I want the youths to take “I am passionate about the responsibility well-being of Akwabecause the Ibom people. I am time has come. I passionate about the want them to economic development know that every of the Akwa-Ibom •Emmanuel addressing supporters last Tuesday generation has a people and Akwa-Ibom last year to become the SSG had history and State. I am passionate The direction of the mainstream on the the day before left his position as nobody will about rural the government’s chief scribe. write gubernatorial succession in Akwa Ibom was your transformation and this Before he arrived at precisely history for you. expressed last Tuesday when the just retired is the time to move Akwa-Ibom forward. It is Secretary to the State Government, Udom Emmanuel 1.25 p.m. the seats in the This is a digital stadium had almost completely world. We are time to raise the bars of declared for the governorship. How far he can go is been taken up with supporters moving from economic development another thing. dressed in the attire of the various analogue to in the state. support groups canvassing his digital.

By Emmanuel Aziken& Tom The declaration ceremony was election.

We want “The PDP Moses Economic organised by the Akwa Ibom His arrival was followed by that doesn’t mince somebody development HE mass of men and Consolidation Actualisation, ACA of the speaker of the House of words with that can women that thronged a political machine largely Assembly, Mr. Sam Ikon and zoning and I humbly present the Uyo Township stadium last reported to have been conceived then by the first lady, Mrs. rotation. With reach out to myself as a humble by Governor Akpabio.

Given the Tuesday was by several accounts Akpabio who arrived with several Udom coming servant before you”, recent directive by the national investors.

Of a gathering that had not been women leaders from the state. from Eket Emmanuel stated. seen in the Akwa Ibom capital secretariat of the Peoples all the Senatorial He also promised to Democratic Party, PDP that state for a long time.

Women District, you are explore his background party officials should not endorse aspirants, From various sections of the leaders eminently as a banker and a state they poured into Uyo to aspirants, it was not surprising Udom qualified.

If chartered accountant to witness what obviously was the that the state officials of the PDP Following prayers opinion a n y b o d y provide the state good Emmanuel is were absent at the occasion. beginning of a new era in the leaders in the state among them coming from governance and Though Governor Akpabio was politics of the state as the just the only Senator Aniete Okon, a member another district leadership just as he said also absent, his footprints were retired Secretary to the State of the Third Republic Senate and is also aspirant that he was fully prepared for Government, Mr. Udom all over the place. Even his better Senator Essien Ibok who served contesting, that the task ahead of him. half, Mrs. Ekaette Akpabio who Emmanuel declared for the 2015 can do this in the Senate between 1999 and means the Also speaking, the gubernatorial election. The men was popularly hailed as Mama 2003 were called upon to speak. person is not International President ACA was there to tell any and women in different shapes Noting the qualification of respecting the of the Akwa-Ibom were united by the various T- doubting Thomas where the eyes Emmanuel, Ibok, he said the party.

Consolidation Alliance shirts they wore with messages of her husband were directed on leaders of the state appealed to “We want somebody that can the issue of the succession.

(ACA), Pastor Andrew Uwanta, pointing to their endorsement of Governor Akpabio to release his reach out to investors. Of all the To give readiness to his effort, promised that the group would their man as the successor to the SSG not because he was no aspirants, Udom Emmanuel is outgoing governor, Mr. Godswill Emmanuel who left his job as an longer useful in his duties, but the only aspirant that can do this. stop at nothing to win the 2015 executive director at Zenith Bank governorship battle for former Akpabio. because they had found in him As we work, we must see those Udom Emmanuel.

“We have found another 5Star leader to assume the position of leadership in Akwa-Ibom State. We shall stop at nothing to win this battle. We shall deliver Continues from page 42 Udom to the Hilltop Mansion Solidarity messages quarrel? When the president spoke in come May 29,2015”, he Solidarity messages were received from Benin, he spoke in a stadium that was doctors and we have created farms so stressed. the party’s presidential aspirants who less than 20000, when TAN held their that our children can go there to seek In her remarks, wife of the were present at the occasion who used the rally in Port-Harcourt, it was held in a employment. The federal government outgoing governor said that occasion to sell themselves.

Those present 15000 capacity stadium.” does not care for you, they want you though Emmanuel was not the were Leadership publisher Sam NdaCommenting on his move from the to die of water borne diseases, punish only son of the administration who Isaiah, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku PDP to the APC. Amaechi said “We had them with your votes.” was aspiring to become governor, Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwanso. to leave the PDP because they were He lampooned the presidency for he was likely to receive the For APC national chairman, Odigieagainst a Rivers people and we moved failing to embark on developmental blessings of their parents because Oyegun, the outpouring of affection for to the APC. APC is the solution, it will projects in Rivers State. He said “punish he was the most promising of the Amaechi that day was enough to rubbish protect our interest, we must vote out PDP with your votes. They said the children. She also seized the the claim made by the President at the the PDP. He (Jonathan) is not my reason the President is not performing opportunity to thank the political Benin PDP rally that the PDP was in full brother, my brother is the one who in Rivers State is because he is leaders of Ikot Ekpene who days control of Rivers.

“The entire leadership delivers on the service for me. So, if the quarrelling with the governor of Rivers before endorsed her husband and of APC has come, we have seen and we president says he is our brother, let him State that is what they said. It is more President Goodluck Jonathan for are convinced that Amaechi controls the call one project he has done for Rivers of lack of performance. What is the the Senate and the presidency. crowd in Rivers state.” state”.

Akwa Ibom 2015: For Akpabio’s disciples Udom is right

T

Amaechi’s

show

of

strength

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—45

NICE lists solution to buildings collapse

C'River professionals endorse Idagbo for governorship

W

ARRI—NIGERIAN Institution of Civil Engineers, NICE, has identified localisation of design, reduction in dependence on government fund, developing technologies that rely on locally-sourced materials and the extension of local content policy to construction as solutions to building collapse and sustainable infrastructure development.

Speaking during the 2014 Warri NICE chapter’s annual seminar, National Vice Chairman of NICE and Ex-Project Engineer for the upgrading of Osogbo Railway Station, Olalekan Salami, advised against importation of technologies that could not be domesticated, explaining that it was very vital to ensure that imported technologies were designed for easy local adaptability.

Salami, who spoke on Development and deployment of sustainable construction materials in Nigeria, urged the Federal Government to extend the local content policy to the construction industry and canvassed reduction in dependence on public fund in the execution of structures.

A university don, John Agori, Benin-based Consultant Optometrist, Dr. Constant-Noble Omamogho, Lawrence Ajuyah, the Chairman of NICE, Warri Chapter, Engr. Donald Okeke, were among those who spoke at the event.

By Chris Ochayi

A APC RALLY: From left— Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC; Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State and General Muhammadu Buhari, APC presidential aspirant, at APC's mega rally in Port Harcourt.

Jonathan 'll win in Edo State, says aide

By Simon Ebegbulem

B

ENIN—SENIOR Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, and former President of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, Mr. Jude Imagwe, yesterday, said the President would win in Edo State, in spite of the fact that it was an All Progressives Congress, APC, state.

He added that Nigerian youths believe in President Jonathan.

He said millions of youths

across ethnic, religious and regional divide had indicated their resolve to ensure Jonathan was re-elected in 2015.

Imagwe said: “The people will not want to be left behind in the transformation agenda that is changing the face of infrastructure development across the country. Edo people voted for Jonathan in 2011 so they will still vote for him again in 2015 because he has done well for Edo State.”

Noting that President Jonathan had put in place structures that would help accelerate development in the country, the President’s aide

Uduehi's one of us— OMENE

T

HE Acting President General of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Chief J. O. Omene, has said that Dr. Esther Uduehi’s governorship ambition deserves support and that she is a daughter to them.

He spoke while receiving

Dr. Esther Uduehi, a governorship aspirant on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at his country home at Mosogar, Ethiope West Local Government Area.

According to him, “UPU cannot anoint or endorse any candidate. However, we know

My agenda for Delta State, by Okocha

By Gbenga Oke

D

ELTA State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Peter Okocha, yesterday said employment, education, security and war against corruption would be his priorities, if given the opportunity to govern the state.

Okocha said: “It is a good government that can ensure that the robust political economy of Delta State and its society and varied alluring cultures can be held together and such desired unity can only be guaranteed in the foundations of social and economic justice, peace and

said: “There are young Nigerians from different groups and associations that are committed to the vision of Mr. President and they have seen that with the present administration, the country is on the right path to greatness.

“On the strength of that they are committed to ensuring that there is continuity in government.

“Their support is motivated from the fact that the government is committed to peace and continuity of a united Nigeria; a country where our core value is always preached and protected.”

stability.

“My mission is to create the values that would make for resource development, accelerated industrialization and mechanized agriculture, thereby making the state a major player in the development aspirations of Nigeria.

“There shall be minimum goals and target under my leadership and the government shall consist of men and women who have talent, knowledge, skills and flair for management and team spirit.

“If given the opportunity to serve, my cabinet shall be

balanced, talent driven, qualitative, knowledge driven, motivated and equitable and I will ensure that the resource and revenue accrued to the state are well managed.”

those we can accept and those we cannot accept. We can accept our own children and you are one of our own children.

“If UPU is insisting that the next governor of Delta State must come from Delta Central, are you not from Delta Central? Is your mother not from Orogun? Can we now say she is no more our daughter because she got married to a man from Ukwuani Local Government Area? No.” Earlier in her address, Mrs Uduehi described her consultation visit as homecoming.

BUJA—CROSS River State Professionals in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have endorsed the governorship ambition of the former Commissioner of Works in the state, Mr. Ochiglegor Idagbo, declaring that he was well experienced to continue with the development programmes of Governor Liyel Imoke in 2015.

Speaking on the platform of Cross River State 2015 Think Tanks, the professionals hinged their supports for Idagbo on record of his performance during his sojourn at the Ministry of Works.

Describing Idagbo as a preferred Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, the group said his emergence as an aspirant was an act of providence, stating that his brilliant pedigree, age and the gallantry in the ministry singled him out as the beautiful bride in the race.

Responding, Idagbo said if elected, his administration would place more emphasis on building strong institutions and sustaining the achievements recorded by both the Donald Duke and Governor Liyel Imoke’s administrations.

He said his main trust would be to work towards moving the state from a plantation economy to an industrialized one.

Other areas include creating an all-embracing tourism development stakeholders’ platform to chart a development of tourism for all stakeholders’ benefits, and investment promotion bureau, a semi-autonomous institution, among others.

Bomadi Chairman-elect commends stakeholders

B

OMADI— CHIEF Oluwole Karetimi, who emerged winner at the local government chairmanship election in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, has commended the people of the local government for the success of the election.

Karetimi defeated the candidates of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Sunday Zifere, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, candidate Sunday Egbaseimokumo.

The chairman-elect thanked God and lauded Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta

State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC, team for fulfilling their promise to the state to conduct free, fair and credible polls.

He promised to use his three years in office to impact lives and run an inclusive government that will promote good governance.

46 — Vanguard, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Navy warns against illegal minning, dredging on River Niger waterways

Thugs disrupt APC's congress in Umuahia

By Anayo Okoli M UA H I A — T H U G S yesterday invaded and disrupted the state congress of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, forcing delegates to scamper for their lives.

The thugs, who stormed the venue beat up delegates and observers, destroying property worth millions of naira.

A newly elected deputy chairman of the party, said to be loyal to one of the contending leaders of the party in the state, was said to have been abducted by the thugs.

Journalists were not spared as the thugs chased them out with dangerous weapons.

Many of the journalists’ lost valuables, while running for their lives.

Trouble started after national delegation from the Party for the congress had ended the election of the 26member state executive committee through consensus voting.

Newly elected consensus

U

By Nwabueze Okonkwo

O

NITSHA— THE Nigerian Navy has warned those without operational license to steer clear of any form of mining or dredging activities along the River Niger waterways, even as it impounded some boats and dredging equipment belonging to some members of Dredger Owners Association of Anambra State, DOAAS, for alleged unapproved activities.

The commander of Onitsha Naval Outpost, in Anambra State, Navy Captain MikeOamen,gavethewarning in his office while speaking to newsmen.

According to him, only those withoperationallicensefromthe regulatory authorities such as the Federal Ministry of Mines andSteelDevelopmentandthe National Inland Waterways Authority,NIWAwerepermitted to dredge sands at the bank of the River Niger.

NASS: Idisi's declaration receives boost House of Representatives to

T

HE ASPIRATION of Chief Lovette Idisi to represent the Ethiope Federal Constituency at the federal House of Representatives received a major boost as members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, commended him for coming out at the right time.

Idisi who spoke during the fund raising ceremony said he has come to intimate the party of his ambition to run for the federal

represent Ethiope Federal Constituency, promising to deliver if he is sent to the National Assembly.

While urging for their support, he said he has come to make some difference in his representation as a lawyer and a business man who has touched several lives and promised to do more if he is given the opportunity to represent the constituency at the National Assembly.

state Chairman, Donates Nwankpa, said his emergence was based on acceptability by all the party stakeholders in the state.

“The deputy chairman was from the other side of the faction where he was the welfare officer , we have done what we have to do in

politics and that is why we are not interested in faction, we are interested in taking over the government of Abia State come 2015,” he said.

DASESS 2035 roadmap implementation commences Jan 1

E

By Austin Ogwuda

N U G U— B A R R I N G any unforeseen circumstances, the implementation of a 20-year Draft Development Roadmap for the South-East and SouthSouth, otherwise known as ‘DASESS 2035’, will commence on January 1 next year, President, South East/SouthSouth Professionals of Nigeria, SESSPN, Mr. Emeka UgwuOju, has said.

Briefing newsmen in Enugu, Ugwu-Oju said already “the final roadmap should be ready

by December 2014 after additional consultation with

stakeholders and implementation will commence January 1, 2015.

Our vision statement is SouthEast/South-South to be the most prosperous and globally competitive region within the emerging MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey) economies by the year 2035.

“To us in the South-East/ South-South Professionals, grassroots is just another level of development conceptualized as the beginning of an idea. We must always go back to the base.

“In a development economy like Nigeria aspiring to do great things by the year 2035”,

he went on, “we recognize that our development has to be culture based, traditional value driven and people friendly. There will be establishment of a South East-South South Development Agency SESSDA, to monitor the progress of the Development Agenda South East/South-South, DASESS, 2035 Roadmap and to coordinate BRACED Commission, South East Nigeria Economic Commission, SENEC, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, activities to create synergy.”

BRACED Commission comprises six states, namely Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Edo.

Police to arraign BZF leader, 11 others Thursday DETENTION:

E

By Austin Ogwuda

NUGU—LEADER of Biafra Zionist Federation, BZF, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, and eleven other members of the group, who have been in detention at the police headquarters, Abuja, over four months ago, will be formally arraigned before the Federal High Court, Enugu, this Thursday.

The detained members of the Biafra Zionist Federation had yesterday approached

Federal High Court 2, Enugu, presided over by Justice D.V. Agishi, for enforcement of their fundamental human rights, having been detained since they were arrested four months ago without trial.

In the suit numbered FHC/EN//157/2014, BENJAMIN ONWUKA (Leader of the Movement) & 11 others, versus The Inspector General of Police & Another, the applicants

maintained that members of Biafra Zionist Federation, BZF, which “is a peaceful movement for the liberation of Biafrans, are all presently detained at Police Force Headquarters, Abuja."

Lead counsel, Mr. Olu Omotayo, who appeared for the applicants, informed the court of the urgent need to either release the applicants or charge them to court forthwith as they had been in incarceration in an isolated cell at the Police headquarters, Abuja, for over four months.

What is your view on Keshi’s sack?

T

he “Big Boss” always had a selection deficiency but got lucky at the nations cup.The best players were there, so did he ignore them? That sack is long overdue. Mr Omo JoelBusinessman C M Y K

E

veryday, new reasons for sacking Keshi come on, NFF give me a break. We are waiting for your redeemer for the team. No one gave him chance to succeed when he selected his unknown players. Mr Jerome Samson- Worke

T

he most annoying thing about Keshi is his penchant for quarrelling, fighting and trading words with players. There is no player Keshi did not have a spat with. Miss Ogbue ImmaculateCommunicator

K

eshi owes Nigerians an apology for all the insults and failures.

He looked and talked down on Nigerians. His counterparts in other climes would usually apologize and resign when they fail. Miss Sophia Osuji- Graduate

K

eshi is the reason there is no team harmony among the players. Keshi divided the team by liking some and hating some, and believed he can get away with it. Mrs Ifeoma AyambubaTrade

K

eshi obviously missed the point.

He forgot that the Eagles is a national team and not a private enterprise.

Every footballer of Nigeria descent has a stake. Good decision to let him go. Miss Esther Adichie- Student

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 47

Governorship aspirant kidnapped by unknown persons in Nasarawa

By Abel Daniel

L

AFIA—PEOPLES Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant Mr. Chris Mamman was kidnapped by unknown persons who allegedly attacked him at the palace of the Aren Eggon, headquarter of Nasarawa Eggon local government area, yesterday.

Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Mr. Nawani Aboki Ezekiel, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, the state capital.

According to Aboki, “ the governorship aspirant was attacked by a mob, on arrival at the palace. He was rescued and brought home by his supporters

Plateau guber: Deputy gov joins race to succeed Jang

J

OS—THE Deputy Governor of Plateau, Mr Ignatius Longjan, on Monday joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial race for a successor to Gov. Jonah Jang in 2015.

The dep. governor indicated his interest at a ceremony in Jos where representatives of the three senatorial zones presented him with a nomination ticket for the office.

Longjan, who accepted the offer, said it was a clarion call by the people to serve them in the capacity of governor.

In separate speeches at the occasion, Retired Col. Fidelis Atahiru, who represented the Southern Senatorial Zone, said it was the turn of the zone to produce the next governor.

He said that the deputy governor had the right qualities for the job, having served the nation as an ambassador and now in Government House.

Mr Bulus Dareng, representing Plateau North Senatorial Zone, said Longjan was the most loyal deputy governor that the state had produced.

“Longjan has served Gov. Jang loyally and patiently; he is a man of integrity if given the opportunity, will take this state to a higher level, to Eldorado, “ he said.

Emmanuel Manasseh, for the Central Senatorial Zone, endorsed the aspiration of the deputy governor.

but some unknown persons came in and abducted him again at about 9pm.

“The last time we spoke with him was on Sunday night at about 8 pm. Shortly after that conversation his line stopped

going through. As we speak now, we don’t know where he is.”

The DG alleged that some gubernatorial aspirants who were expected to meet with him at the Aren Eggon’s palace to settle their political differences

were behind the wicked act.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PRO, for the Nasarawa State police command, ASP Ismaila Numan, confirmed the attack and said investigation was ongoing.

LAUNCH: From left: Yasser Hassan, Director, Business Development, Microsoft Middle East and Africa; Kabelo Makwane, Country Managing Director, Microsoft Nigeria; Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Information & Communication Technology and James F. Entwistle, United States Ambassador to Nigeria during Microsoft CityNext Launch in Abuja.

Northern Elders Council raps Jokolo for calling Sambo political liability

By Ikenna Asomba

T

HE Northern Elders Council, NEC, has faulted the claims by the former ADC to General Muhammadu Buhari.

Major Mustapha Jokolo, rtd, that the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, saying that as a failed soldier, Jokolo’s pastime was now to run people down.

Wondering how, Jokolo could describe Sambo as an electoral liability, NEC said that the Vice President had served Kaduna State as commissioner a number of times before he won election as governor of the state with ‘’an overwhelming majority,’’ hence he ‘’cannot be said to be an electoral liability except by people like Jokolo for reasons of pecuniary grudge.''

A statement signed by the Chairman of NEC, Malam Tanko Yakasai on the issue read in part, ‘’Given my age, pedigree and political experience, it will be out of place for me to trade words with Mustapha Jokolo', whose truncated career as a soldier and deposed traditional ruler render him irrelevant, misguided and frustrated even as he struggles to remain in the limelight. ‘’His chosen medium to proffer

advice on sensitive national issues to President Goodluck Jonathan is most inappropriate and indicative of the mischief that motivated him. ‘’By the same token, his advisory role should have been made available to his former military master who has thrown his hat into the ring of politics without the required sincere counselling hence his record of failure in each attempt to gain high office. It is

quite obvious that Jokolo can only add nuisance value to national discourse since he has chosen the easier road to cheap popularity by rumbling incoherently to the press. ‘’In fact, Namadi Sambo is a political asset by any standard. As an ex-soldier, Jokolo wore the military uniform which symbolizes national unity and integration. The uniform gives every soldier a unique identity of being a Nigerian and not an ethnic militia.''

Women living with HIV/AIDS seek speedy passage of anti-iscrimination Bill

A

BUJA—THE Association of Women Living with HIV/ AIDS in Nigeria, ASWHAN, has appealed to the National Assembly to urgently pass the Antidiscrimination and Stigmatisation Bill.

Mrs Esther James, the ASWHAN Advocacy Officer, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. James, who described the bill as anti-discrimination, denial and stigma against people living with HIV/AIDs, said the passage of the

bill would protect the victims from been stigmatised in their neighbourhood and work places, among others.

She decried the way several women and children have been abandoned by their husbands, fathers and relatives, among others, because of their status.

She, however, attributed victims’ lack of free access to preventive antiretroviral drugs on shame, stigma, discrimination and denial, adding that some victims preferred dying in their hideout.

INEC to remove polling units from residential buildings in Katsina

K

ATSINA —THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC said yesterday in Katsina that it had concluded arrangements to remove polling units from private establishments and residential buildings in Katsina State.

Alhaji Abubakar Wara, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, said this at a special stakeholders meeting. ‘’The commission decided to take the decision in line with the best international practice that private buildings or residents should not be used for the conduct of election,” he said.

He decried the current situation whereby elections were conducted in both public and private buildings, residence and open spaces.

2015: Group drums support for Yingi

A

HEAD of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Rural Empowerment Advocacy Programme, REAP, Burutu local government chapter have appealed to the people of the area to vote massively to re-elect Hon. Daniel Yingi.

The organsation gave their full support to Yingi in a communiqué issued at the end of their general meeting in Warri, Delta State.

The group, led by Afore Theodore urged the people to support Yingi to return to the Delta State House of Assembly in 2015.

He said Yingi has lifted Burutu local government in terms of provision of social amenities in all the six wards in the constituency.

According to him “Yingi has embarked on empowerment of youths and women, scholarship schemes for students, and assistance to the less privileged and pay medical bills for poor people”.

48—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

ENCOUNTER: Dr. Mike Okonkwo, Presiding Bishop, The Redeemed Evangelical Mission, TREM (middle); Dr. Morris Cerullo, International Evangelist & Founder, Morris Cerullo World Evangelism (right), and Bishop Peace Okonkwo, wife of the Presiding Bishop, during a ministration with Dr. Morris Cerullo, at the church headquarters, Gbagada, Lagos, weekend.

LAUNCH: From left, Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Emmanouil Revmatas; Marketing Manager, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms. Olajumoke Okikiolu, and Business Development Director, iInformation Technology and Mobile, Mr. Daesung Ra, all of Samsung Electronics West Africa, during the launch of Samsung Galaxy Note, in Lagos. Photo: Joe Akintola, photo editor

LAUNCH: From left, Supreme Treasurer, Knights of St. Mulumba, KSM, Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Okonofua; Catholic Archbishop of Lagos; Most Reverend Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins; Parish Priest, Catholic Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Reverend Father Paul Ijasan; Metropolitan Grand Knight, Lagos Metropolitan Council, Dr. Charles Mbelede, and Chairman, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, Dr. Ambrose Orjiakor, at the formal launch of the DVD on (commentary on the Holy Mass), at Catholic Church of the Assumption, Falomo, Lagos, weekend.

ELECTION: Delta State Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, SAN, casting his vote at Otu Jeremi, during the local government election in the state, with his wife, Nelly, waiting behind him to cast hers.

ENDORSEMENT: Former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere (right), receiving endorsement communique from National Coordinator of Association of Bakassi Returnees, Prince Aston-Joseph Inyang, in Uyo, weekend.

SEND-FORTH: Former technical officer, Chrome Oil & Gas, Engr.

Adebanji Babarinde (centre), with the assisstance of Chrome Group Chief Communication Officer, Dr. Edwin Ndukwe (left), cutting the cake, while Mrs. Babarinde watch, during a sendforth ceremony CONFERENCE: From left, Monday Anih, Regional in honour of Sales Manager, North-West, Promasidor Nigeria Limited; Christian Okoye, the company’s second best na- Engr. Babarinde, organised by tional distributor; Kachi Onubogu, Commercial DirecChrome group, tor, and Okoye’s wife, at the Promasidor's 2014 Distribin Abuja. utors’ Conference, in London.

OPENING: From left, Mr. Azu Nwabogu, Director, Lagos Photo Foundation; Modupe Thani, Head, Event and Sponsorship, Etisalat, and Mr. Ken Ogujiofor, Channel Sales Director, Etisalat, at the 5th edition of Lagos Photo Festival grand opening reception, in Lagos, weekend. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele C M Y K

VISIT: From left, John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria; Lilian Afegbai, Nigeria's representative in Big Brother Africa Season 9, tagged "Hotshot," and Martin Mabutho, General Manager, Marketing, MultiChoice Nigeria, during Lilian's visit to MultiChoice office, weekend.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 49

Egypt moves against terror, dissent

I

Security scare in Britain as intruder bumps into Cameron

B

RITISH prime Minister, David Cameron was given a scare yesterday when a man ran into him as he was leaving Leeds Civic Hall, yesterday, sparking a nation wide security concern.

A concerned-looking Cameron took a stepback before his security team jumped in and took the man away. Cameron

iwas then bundled into his car.

Initial reports suggested the man could have been a protester who angrily confronted the PM. However, West Yorkshire Police later confirmed ‘nothing sinister’ had taken place and the 28-year-old had been released.

It is believed the man was running towards a

local gym when he bumped into the PM. Despite the incident being harmless, questions will now be asked how the man managed to bump into the Prime Minister without being stopped first by his security detail.

It comes just days after a gunman shot dead a Canadian soldier before rampaging through the

•British PM, Cameron country’s parliament.

And security officials in this country are already on guard, with the threat of a terrorist attack seen as being “highly likely”.

N its latest move against terror and dissent, Egypt on Monday declared all key government facilities, military establishments protected by troops for the next two years and detained a prominent pro-democracy activist on trial for organizing an unauthorized protest.

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, a generalturned-politician who last year ousted the country ’s first freely elected leader, issued a decree ordering the military to join police forces in guarding vital state facilities against terror attacks. The move

would expand the military ’s already dominant public presence and increase its vulnerability to attack.

The decree stipulated that the perpetrators of any attacks against state facilities will be tried before military tribunals.

Also on Monday, an Egyptian court ordered the detention of an activist and blogger Alaa AbdelFattah at the start of his retrial along with 24 others for breaking a draconian law on demonstrations. The law requires that all protests receive a police permit in advance.

Abdel-Fattah was convicted in June for organizing an u n a u t h o r i z e d demonstration soon after the law came in force and of assaulting a police officer. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, but was granted a retrial in August and freed on bail the following month.

His detention comes one day after his younger sister Sanaa Seif and 22 other activists were imprisoned for three years, also for breaking the demonstrations law.

Fresh fighting erupts in South Sudan

S

OUTH Sudan government forces and rebel troops clashed in oil-rich Unity State yesterday, President Salva Kiir said, days before the two sides are to hold talks to end a 10-month conflict that has ravaged the world’s youngest nation.

Kiir accused the rebels on Monday of violating a ceasefire agreed in May and warned of more attacks by forces loyal to former Vice President Riek Machar. Rebel spokesman Lul Ruai Koang confirmed fighting occurred near the Unity State capital, Bentiu, but denied it was instigated

by Machar’s troops.

More than 1 million people in South Sudan have fled their homes since December, when fighting erupted between troops backing Kiir and soldiers loyal to Machar. The European Union and the United States have sanctioned commanders from both sides for violating a ceasefire that was signed in January but swiftly crumbled.

“There is fighting in Bentiu and we also expect such action to erupt in different parts of Malakal,” Kiir told governors in the capital Juba.

C M Y K

50 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Leading jihadi ideologue arrested in Jordan

A

Rousseff wins Brazil’s presidential run off P RESIDENT Dilma Rousseff ’s narrow re-election victory met with cold reality yesterday as Brazil’s financial markets tumbled on doubts that she can restore confidence in the economy and maintain political support in a sharply divided nation.

Rousseff overcame dissatisfaction with a sluggish economy and poor public services to

clinch a second term on Sunday by a slim margin, dashing the hopes of investors and nearly half the electorate who bet on her pro-business challenger.

Finance Minister Guido Mantega, whose replacement is the focus of intense speculation, tried to beat back the pessimism with promises to control inflation and close a budget deficit in the four years ahead,

although he added that the election showed popular approval for Rousseff ’s economic policies.

Brazil’s currency, the real, extended losses after Mantega’s comments, dropping to a nearly six-year low.

Rousseff said last month that Mantega would step down at the end of the year, and government sources say her short list of potential replacements

includes a businessman, a former finance ministry official and her current chief of staff.

Whoever takes the reins at the finance ministry, investors are skeptical that Rousseff can pull off a swift recovery after four years of ineffective industrial policies. She now faces the challenge of delivering on campaign promises to expand social benefits for the poor while balancing a strained federal budget.

defense lawyer says Jordanian security forces have arrested a renowned jihadi ideologue on charges that he violated the country ’s antiterrorism law.

Lawyer Moussa alAbdallat says Abu Mohammed al-Maqdesi was detained Monday after urging rival militant groups to unite against the international coalition that has been carrying out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq. Jordan is part of that coalition.

A government official confirmed al-Maqdesi’s

arrest, just four months after he completed a fiveyear prison stint.

Jordan’s Islamic militants are split between supporters of the Islamic State group and of al-Qaida.

Al-Maqdesi has criticized Islamic State militants for attacking fellow Muslims.

However, he recently called on his website for Muslim unity against a “crusader war,” a reference to coalition airstrikes.

Ebola: EU wants massive increase in staff

T

HE European Union’s newly appointed Ebola coordinator yesterday said fresh EU funds should be used to finance a vast increase in health staff and hospital beds to treat patients in West Africa.

The EU’s “Ebola Czar” Christos Stylianides insisted that the number of overall beds in the region needed to increase “from 1,000 at present to 5,000 as soon as possible” while some 40,000 staffers needed to be mobilized to set up and keep field hospitals working.

Stylianides said that overall so far 244 health workers had died from a pool of 443 that had been infected by the disease as they sought to treat patients. He said that health workers “deserve all our respect and support. Their ranks need to be strengthened and protected.”

The numbers he called for were largely in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Lacking an Ebola vaccine, separating the sick from the healthy is the only way to stop transmission. But that job has been made difficult because there aren’t enough beds in treatment centers or knowledgeable staff to treat everyone.

The outbreak has killed nearly 5,000 people, the vast majority of them in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and is still running amok.

Stylianides acknowledged the response was too late.

“We must be ready to admit possible mistakes,” he said.“All of us underestimated the danger and the extent of the threat,” he said.

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—51

C M Y K

52 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—53

C M Y K

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—55

C M Y K

56 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—57

C M Y K

58 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—59

C M Y K

60 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

Murder of S/African goalkeeper

Meyiwa died trying to protect girlfriend — Official B

AFANA Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot dead by intruders while trying to protect his girlfriend during a robbery at her home, officials said.

“Two guys entered the house and demanded mobile phones, money and other valuables,” provincial community safety official Sizakele Nkosi-Malubane said yesterday.

“Senzo tried to protect Kelly because one of the men had a gun pointed towards her.”

Police said two men entered Khumalo’s house at about 8pm. A third waited outside the house and all three fled immediately after the shooting.

Meyiwa was not protecting anyone — Police

T

HE police have re vealed that Senzo Meyiwa was not protecting anyone when he was shot dead on Sunday night.

Rumours circled the media suggesting that the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper was shot protecting his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo after the gunmen pointed a gun at her.

The police have poured water on this saying that Meyiwa was not protecting anyone and that he was shot as he was making his way to the door.

S

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

N

EWLY appointed coach of the National U-23 team, Samson Siasia says he will be building his Olympic team around most of the players of victorious Golden Eaglets who won the last FIFA cadet championship in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, including Kelechi Iheanacho.

“The team will certainty be built around most of the U-17 players that won the last World Cup especially somebody like Kelechi Iheancho. The truth is that the boy is good and has a the heart of a great

player, so all we need do is to encourage him to excel.

“Also there will be a good representation of those playing their football here in Nigeria because those ones will be ready at all times to report for national duty but they must have to be quality players who can hold their own against any player from abroad.

“One good thing today is that our league is beginning to attract some quality players who are doing well in their various clubs. Even though such players are at home they are equally good and so must be encouraged by giving them the confidence they need to be at their best,” added Siasia.

Idoko wins Chevron Junior Tennis Masters

BY JOHN EGBOKHAN

J

•Farewell: The late Meyiwa bids bye

Meyiwa’s father seeks justice S AMUEL Meyiwa says a life sentence is the only punishment he will accept for his son’s death.

Speaking to DRUM Meywa said the police should make arrests soon.

When questioned about his son’s girlfriend Kelly Khumalo he said: “I don’t know at the moment, I can’t say she did it or not, I don’t know, I can’t speak on rumours.”

A visibly upset Sam

Meyiwa told reporters outside his house in Umlazi, Durban, that he wanted the men who killed his son arrested as soon as possible.

“They [the police] must make sure they get these

“Words cannot express the nation’s shock at this loss,” said Zuma, amid a national outpouring of grief.

Zuma said police must “leave no stone unturned in finding his killers” and bringing them to justice.

people who killed my son. I want them in jail.

I want them in custody.

I want to talk to them and ask them why they killed my son. It’s like they killed myself.”

UNIOR tennis star Emmanuel Idoko has won the 2014 NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis Masters.

In a thrilling and interesting final match played on the Lord Rumens Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, the 17 year-old Lagos-based Idoko, defeated Niyi Olatunji in straight sets of 6-0, 6-4 to walk away with the giant trophy, tennis shoes, rackets, bags and additional freebies.

Playing before an al-

most packed crowd, comprising mostly of Secondary School pupils and top officials of the Chevron, Idoko, who turns 18 later in the year, did not drop a game in the first set, which he won 6-0.

Speaking to reporters later, Idoko said that he was excited he won the title “I am really on top now and happy that today was my victorious day. The second set was tough because my opponent gave me a good fight but I am happy that I was able to withstand his fightback.

Lucozade Sport Lagos Marathon holds November 15

N

President Zuma outraged OUTH Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Monday led a shocked nation in voicing outrage at the killing of national football captain Senzo Meyiwa after the talismanic goalkeeper was shot dead outside Johannesburg.

Iheanacho 'll be pivotal in my team — Siasia

•President Zuma weeps.

OVEMBER 15th 2014 has been announced as the date for the Lucozade Sport 10 Kilometer Fun Run Reloaded, an event that provides a platform for Lagosians to enjoy running in a bid to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It is the second edition of the event sponsored by Lucozade Sport, an Isotonic Sports drink. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer PLC,

makers of Lucozade Sport isotonic drink and the Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sport and Social Development are collaborating to organize the 10 kilometer Fun Run to provide an avenue for health conscious Lagosians and fitness lovers to live out their passion in a secure and friendly event. The Memorandum of Understanding for the partnership was signed last year.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014 — 61

Eagles to train in Warri for Congo T

HE Nigeria Foot ball Federation have announced that the Super Eagles will train in Warri, Delta State, ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo in Pointe-noire.

General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation Musa Amadu dropped this hint while meeting with the Super Eagles technical crew and support staff inside his office in Abuja yesterday.

Nigeria is billed to confront the Red Devils of Congo on the 15th of November in PointeNoire in a must win game that will be played on an artificial pitch.

“The pitch in Warri where the Super Eagles will train is an artificial pitch and should provide the required feel and match conditions as the pitch where the game will be played in Congo,” Amadu revealed.

“This is a very crucial game and we cannot afford to take anything for granted.

“After the game in Congo, the team will then proceed to Uyo to prepare for the last qualifier against South Africa.

“The Nigeria Football Federation is working round the clock to ensuring that all the team needs to make a success of the November assignments are provided so that the Super Eagles are able to defend their title in Morocco.

“For us, the real challenge is to go to Congo and get the desired result that will put our qualification aspirations back on the right track,” Amadu added.

The Super Eagles will need to beat Congo with a clear 2 goal margin or get a higher scoreline of victory than Congo got in Calabar to be ahead of the Red Devils in Group A after the November 15 clash.

NFF

CHAMPIONS: Minister of Sports and Chairman NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo (m) poses with African Champions, Super Falcons at a reception organised for them in Lagos yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salawu.

Danagogo canvasses support for Falcons HE Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Dr Tammy Danagogo has predicted that Nigeria will win the FIFA World Cup soon.

But that will come through the women team, the Super Falcons.

Encouraged by the

excellent football exhibited by the women national team at the justconcluded Africa Women’s Championship in Namibia, Danagogo, who spoke at a reception for the players in Lagos, maintained that “female football will soon become the easiest way for Nigeria to win a major international title in football.

see him on his return to Nigeria.

“Somebody told Mr. President in Israel and the President frowned at the development. He has asked Amaju to come to Abuja to see him,” a source said Sunday night.

The BFF President may meet with President Jonathan between today and tomorrow, we gathered.

Meanwhile, the case will come up in Jos tomorrow. NFF had appealed against the ruling and the matter will be heard tomorrow.

Fifa may descend heavily on Nigeria with a ban if the court does not vacate the ruling.

Amaju is expected to send a letter to Fifa today appealing for a 24 hour grace for the matter to be settled. And if by Wednesday morning the court does not vacate the order Nigeria will face sanctions which is exactly those perpetuating the crisis

appear to be courting.

Ex international Victor Ikpeba yesterday appealed to sports minister, Danagogo to be firm and save Nigeria’s football. He said that Chris Giwa, the man who took football matter to court did not care about Nigeria’s football otherwise he would have respected the full congress that elected the Amaju Pinnick board. In the congress that the minister once initiated delegates walked out and a kangaroo election was said to have elected him. Fifa did not recognise the election.

But Giwa has not given up, disturbing the peace of Nigerian football and now attracting the attention of President Jonathan who will likely be decisive on these matters.

Issa Hayatou, the Caf President said Sunday that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s shameful actions in football.

By JACOB AJOM

T

Continues from BP

enthusiasts thought that it marked the end of the crisis that started when the new sports minister, Tammy Danagogo appointed a new secretary to run the affairs of the federation immediately after the Brazil World Cup. The minister said that he did so following a court ruling declaring the former board of Aminu Maigari illegal. He was new in sports and apparently did not know that world football governing body, Fifa, abhors taking football matters to ordinary law courts. The Court Of Arbitration handles disputes in football. All affiliates of fifa abide by their rules and regulations otherwise the offending country faces sanction. And Nigeria has repeatedly flouted fifa rules. Last week’s court ruling so infuriated top executives of Confederation of African Football, Caf C M Y K

and Fifa that they were going to ban Nigeria just before Falcons won the African title in Namibia on Saturday.

The minister who was in Namibia prevailed on them to give Nigeria another chance to resolve the problem.

Nigeria’s case became more disturbing to Fifa and Caf when they gathered that security men stopped Pinnick from traveling to Namibia for the final of Africa’s Women Football Championship which Nigeria won, beating Cameroun 2-0 The security men, we gathered, said that they were simply following instructions from above.

A football loving friend of President Jonathan who accompanied the President on pilgrimage to Israel and who was monitoring the goings on in Nigeria informed the President and he quickly directed that Amaju Pinnick should

“I see in these girls the talent, the passion and the patriotic zeal to achieve this; they will go places.”

He recalled that the Falcons exhibited patriotism, discipline and a sense of purpose the way they went about the AWC in Namibia.

“This is a country where only those who complain get attention. These girls put the country first before personal gains. If we had this crop of athletes who are so passionate and patriotic,

our sports will go places.” Dangogo said, adding, “I am calling on every sports loving Nigerian to do everything possible to appreciate them because they went through very tough times to bring this trophy home.”

He was particularly happy that the Falcons had returned Nigeria to the pinnacle of women football in Africa. “They have proved to the world that we remain the undisputed champions of Africa.”

Manhunt for killers of Bafana Bafana captain

S

OUTH Africa launched a manhunt Monday to catch the killers of South Africa’s national football captain Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead during a robbery at his girlfriend’s home.

Police said the 27-year-old goalkeeper was killed late Sunday after burglars broke into the house of his pop-star girlfriend Kelly Khumalo, making off with a cell phone.

South Africa’s president led a shocked nation in voicing outrage at the attack.

More than 17,000 people were killed in South Africa last year, but the slaying of a popular sporting hero has stunned even this crime-weary nation.

Giwa Continues from BP was not a personal fight between him and Pinnick but a way of strengthening the system.

The proprietor of Giwa FC of Jos also said he and his members were

not hell-bent on occupying the seat saying they were ready for a fresh election.

“We are not holding on to our mandate of August 26. It is not a do or die for us. We have requested for reconciliation’’.

62 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014—63

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2014

NFF staff lock Giwa out

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

A

MB. Chris Giwa and his board members were yesterday locked out of

the boardroom of the Nigeria Football Federation by the staff.

Sports Vanguard can report that most of the staff who had earlier reported to duty sneaked

NFF: President Jonathan shocked, invites Pinnick •FIFA ban imminent unless court vacates order nullifying election

BY ONOCHIE ANIBEZE

P

RESIDENT G o o d l u c k Jonathan is scandalised by those who are perpetuating crisis in Nigeria’s football and has invited President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick to know the cause of the latest problem.

A Jos High Court last week nullified the election that ushered in a new board for Nigerian football September 30.

With the transparent election, football Continues on Page 61

ALL FOR FALCONS: NFF President Amaju Pinnick (r) explains a point at the reception for Super Falcons yesterday at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. Sports Minister and Chairman NSC, Dr. Tammy Danagogo (m) and NFF Vice President Seyi Akinwumi look on. Photo: Akeem Salawu.

out of the office on sighting Giwa and his group who were at the secretariat to inaugurate some of the committees they created last week.

After trying unsuccessfully to gain entrance to the board room, Giwa decided to address the press in front of the Secretariat before leaving the premises.

Giwa who is acting on the strength of a court ruling which nullified the election of the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick said that the current crisis rocking football in the country Continues on Page 61

Manhunt for killers of Bafana Bafana captain — Pg.61

QUICK CROSSWORD

TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

ACROSS 2 Malice (5) 7 Time (5) 8 Change (5) 10 Waken (5) 12 Tune (3) 13 Satan (5) 15 Snared (7) 17 Wild ass (6) 19 Tear (3) 20 Slandered (7) 23 Grating (4) 25 Adroit (4) 26 Fiendish (7) 30 Vehicle (3) 31 Cows (6) 34 Varied (7) 37 Seam (5) 38 Brown (3) 39 Triumph (5) 40 Capture (5) 41 Anaesthetic (5) 42 Den (5)

DOWN 1 Number (5) 2 Shoot (5) 3 Combined (6) 4 Trial (4) 5 Applauded (7) 6 Cap (5) 9 Gratuity (3) 11 Wandering (7) 13 Evade (5) 14 Sound (5) 16 Point (3) 18 Contrition (7) 21 God (5) 22 Guide (5) 24 Propriety (7) 27 Spoil (3) 28 Named (6) 29 Essential (5) 32 Shabby (5) 33 Bar (5) 35 Tank (3) 36 Leave (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Aisle 7, Alas 8, Little 9, Staff 11, Tor 13, Pad 15, Eden 16, Hod 18, Mere 19, Regular 20, Pale 22, Pull 23, Alarmed 25, Sack 27, Dud 28, Tern 30, Tie 31, Die 33, Revel 36, Revise 37, Away 38, Pansy.

DOWN: 1, Flood 2, Ass 3, Sea 4, Elf 5, Ate 6, Clear 10, Flog 11, Tempest 12, Replace 13, Peruse 14, Decline 16, Heard 17, Duped 18, Map 21, Elk 24, Mute 26, Aimed 29, Rival 32, Win 33, Rep 34, Van 35, Lay.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 014544821; Abuja: 09-2341102, 09-2342704. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.