Boko Haram agrees to cease fire

...towards a better life for the people

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VOL. 25: NO. 61806

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

N150

TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Man jailed 2 yrs for stealing N23bn •Pg.5

•Gets N750,000 option of fine

"I only stole N23bn, Govt has already seized my 32 property"

Boko Haram agrees to cease fire

BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, BEN AGANDE, NDAHI MARAMA & SUZAN EDEH (With agency report)

•Meets with Borno State Govt, wants compensation •It's a good development — Borno Govt •We 'll study their conditions — FG

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AGOS—AFTER 42 months of ceaseless attacks during which it killed about 3000 Nigerians, the Jama’atul Ahalis Sunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram Islamic sect, yesterday, agreed to lay down its arms for peace to prevail in the country.

The cease-fire was reached after a marathon

Continues on page 6

COLUMNISTS:

•P.19

•PG.17

Mr & Mrs

SUSPECTS—Suspects in the Police Pension fraud case at the Abuja High Court yesterday. See story on Page 5.

Oil revenue: I'm resolute — Ezekwesili •P.8 C M Y K

ETHOPIA: We 'll show Eagles how to play •P.55

2—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 3

C M Y K

4—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—5

BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

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BUJA — ONE of the eight civil servants accused of complicity in the illegal diversion of over N40 billion from the Nigeria Police Pension Funds, Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu, yesterday, confessed before an Abuja High Court that he connived with the others and stole only about N23 billion. He was, however, sentenced to two years imprisonment with an option of N750,000 fine.

Yusufu who pleaded guilty to a three-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, begged the court to temper justice with mercy, saying he had already forfeited 32 of his choice property to the Federal Government.

The accused person who was hitherto facing trial alongside a Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Atiku Abubakar Kigo and six others, made his confession shortly after the EFCC re-docked them on a 20-count amended charge.

Besides Kigo, the other accused persons who took turns and pleaded not guilty to the amended charge which was read to them, yesterday, were Esai Dangabar, Ahmed Inuwa Wada, Mrs. Veronica Ulonma Onyegbula, Sani Habila Zira and Christian Madubuke.

Though six of them were initially arraigned on March 29, 2012, and subsequently remanded in prison custody. However, the prosecuting agency, yesterday, joined the duo of Madubuke and one Mrs. Uzoma Cyril Attang, following fresh proof of evidence which allegedly established their culpability in the pension fraud.

Owing to the absence of Attang in court, yesterday, EFCC applied that her name be temporarily expunged from the charge to enable those that were in court take their plea. No reason was however given by the anti graft agency why she was not in court.

Mrs. Attang who is still in service as Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry of Communications had been on a hide and seek game with the Code of Conduct Bureau which dragged her before the Code of Conduct Tribunal on a five-count charge of having property which her salary could not have acquired.

She was a Director at the Police Pension Office between 2007 and 2008. Within this period, Attang who worked closely with Yusufu was discovered by the Bureau to have acquired choice property in Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi, all within Lagos metropolis as well as in Abuja.

One of her bank accounts, according to the charge slammed against her, had a credit of N500 million which source she could not explain. The charge was, however, later withdrawn by the Sam Saba-led board of the CCB. Meanwhile, trial Justice

Abubakar Thalba had on April 3, 2012, released the accused persons on bail after they deposited N10 million each, as well as produced two persons in Grade Level 14 in the civil service that stood as sureties for each of them, conditions upon which they were also allowed to go home yesterday.

How they diverted funds

Sequel to the admittance of guilt by the 8th accused person, yesterday, the trial court convicted him on counts 18, 19 and 20 in the charge wherein the EFCC revealed how he connived with the other accused persons between January 2008 and June 2011 at Abuja, and diverted funds belonging to Police Pension Office domiciled in its account with FirstBank of Nigeria Plc and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 532, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria 2007.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, had told the court that when the convict was posted to the police pensions office, “he met this unwholesome practice perpetrated by the other accused persons and continued in it.

“He even raised cheques on so many occasions which are all in the proof of evidence. Also, the property that were traced to him are all listed including N325 million that was found in his account. We urge your lordship to declare that the money and property be forfeited and remitted back to the Police pension fund.”

Counsel pleads for convict

Before Jacobs could regain his seat, counsel to the convict, Mr Maiyaki Theodore Bala, urged the court to note that his client did not only show remorse but never wasted the judicial time of the court.

Describing him as a first time offender with no previous record of convictions, Bala told the court that his client has a wife and three children, adding that he has aged parents that depend on him for their sustenance.

Claiming that the convict is suffering from a chronic heart condition that has aggravated to high blood pressure, Bala told the trial court that Yusufu is a community head who he said has many school children that depend on him for scholarship, “all these people depend on him for their survival and wellbeing including payment of school fees.

“It is our prayer that justice is tampered with mercy by sentencing him with the least possible terms or even exercise of discretion under section 309 of the Penal Code Act to fine him.

This will encourage the others to take courage to admit guilt where one exists.”

EFCC demands stiff sanction

Although EFCC counsel did not oppose his plea of allocutus, he, however, urged the court to

Mr. John Yakubu Yusufu (middle) being led out of the court after the case, yesterday.

POLICE PENSION FRAUD:

Man jailed 2 yrs for stealing N23bn zGets option of N750,000 fine zAs EFCC protests against sentence impose “such sanction that will send out a clear message that the era of impunity is gone. Having regard to the money involved and public trust reposed on the convict, which he breached, it may not be okay to just impose fine in this instance. We need to assuage the feeling of the Nigerian public especially the pensioners who have greatly suffered.”

In his ruling, Justice Thalba who maintained that the court has the absolute discretion to determine what should be regarded as the appropriate sanction for the offence, said he considered the plea made by the convict and the fact that he has already forfeited his assets.

Consequently, he sentenced the convict to two years imprisonment on each of the three-count charge which he said was equivalent to

N250,000 fine each, adding that the sentence would run concurrently.

He said: “The court has a duty to do justice for not just the convict, but for the society al large.

Today Nigeria is bedevilled with the cankerworm of white-collar crime which has subjected the citizens to abject poverty. It is not in doubt that the standard of living of an average Nigerian is declining day by day.

“Consequently, on count-18, I hereby sentence the convict to two years imprisonment or fine of N250,000, on count-19; I sentence him to two years imprisonment or fine of N250,000, likewise, on court-20 I also sentence him to two years imprisonment or fine of N250,000.

The sentence will run concurrently and I further make and order for final forfeiture of his assets to the Federal

Government.”

However, the court adjourned hearing on the case against the other accused persons till February 25, March 25 and 26.

EFCC protests against sentence

Meantime, immediately the sentence was handed by the trial judge, EFCC, through its counsel, lodged a formal complaint before the court, saying it was not pleased with the option of fine that was given to the convict.

Although its counsel, Jacobs, declined to disclose whether the agency will proceed on appeal, he however expressed his displeasure, fuming that it was not part of the agreement the commission had with the convict when he conceded to plead guilty to the charge against him.

FIRS nets N5.007trn in 2012 zAs non-oil tax hits N1.8trn

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BUJA — THE Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has continued to record steady increases in the collection of all the taxes under its remit.

The service closed the 2012 financial year with a total collection of N5.007 trillion; N1.806 trillion (36.07 per cent) of which came from non-oil taxes.

Oil taxes contributed N3.201 trillion (63.93 per cent and was N3.070 trillion in 2011.

These sums are significantly over the budget of N3.635 trillion for all its taxes. Compared with 2011, the all-taxes figure grew by

N379.4 billion or 8.20 per cent on.

FIRS collected N4.628 trillion in 2011. The contribution of non-oil taxes increased from N1.557 trillion or 33.65 in 2011 to N1.806 trillion or 36.07 per cent in 2012.

The N5.007 trillion is the highest cumulative tax collected in the history of the FIRS. This performance reflects the Service’s unwavering commitment to its vision of making taxation the pivot of national development. It is noteworthy in this regard, that all the non-oil components of the taxes collected by the Service

maintained the rising trend seen in previous years.

Compared with the N715.4billion seen in 2011, Companies Income Tax (CIT) returned N847.5 billion in 2012.

Value Added Tax (VAT) was N710.5billion against N659.15billion in 2011, while Education tax (EDT) recorded N188.43 billion against the N130.74 billion in 2011. National Information Technology Development Fund (NITDF) accounted for N9.13 billion against the N8.67 billion it returned in 2011.

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

POCKET CARTOON

File photo of the Police Headquarters bomb attack in Abuja.

Boko Haram agrees to cease fire Continues from page 1 meeting between some leaders of the group, which has been terrorizing some states in the North, particularly Borno since July 2009, and the Borno State Government.

The peace deal came after unknown gunmen killed 13 people in Gajigana town, a remote part of Borno State.Those killed included three JTF operatives at the weekend.

Also, a security man at-

tached to AIT/Raypower in Bauchi State was shot dead Sunday night by a gang of suspected armed robbers.

The agreement between the Borno State government and the sect was reached after a closeddoor meeting between suspected members of Boko Haram and Governor Kashim Shettima with other top government officials and religious leaders from the state in attendance.

Spokesman for the Joint Military and Police

LIFEWORDS

BY PASTOR ITUAH

Life is about sacrifice.

The only way to live long is to give up all the things that makes you think you want to live long.

TAKE HEART

BY ELLA RANDLE

We can choose to be miserable, we can choose to allow worry and fear to dominate our lives, or we can make a deliberate choice for joy and happiness. Learn to count your blessings and not your burden —Paul Meyer Meyer has this to say about moving from the next to maturity, there is no mistake as great as the mistake of not going on. It is always too soon to quit. I don’t know what mountain you have to climb, what burden you have had to bare but success consists of getting up just one more time than you fall.

On his voyage to discover America, as day after day no land appeared and again and again his sailors threatened mutiny and tried to persuade him to turn back. Columbus refused to listen to their entreaties and entered each day in the ship’s logbook the two words, “Sailed on.”

What is life? Amongst other things. Life is a challenge- meets it. Life is a gift- accepts it. Life is an adventure - dare it. Life is a song- sings it. Life is an opportunity – take it. Life is a journey complete it.

Forces in Maiduguri, which is the epicentre of Boko Haram’s campaign, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the attack on Gajigana town but did not give further details.

Meanwhile, an official of the Federal Government said last night that the government would critically study the group’s cease-fire terms before responding.

times kill dozens in overnight attacks.

Why we’re sheathing our sword – Boko Haram commander Briefing newsmen after the marathon meeting in Maiduguri, Sheikh Abu Mohammad Abdulazeez Ibn Idris a

A Suicide bomber in Bauchi. should immediately reCouncil of Borno State lease all their members on Sunday and burning from custody uncondiof public buildings, he tionally, re-build their disassociated Boko places of worship and Haram from the acts, incompensate them sisting that the atrocities among other demands. were committed by Sheikh Abdulazeez criminals hiding under said that, the sect obthe guise of Boko served that during the Haram. lingering insurgency, a Abdulazeez’s comlot of Muslim women ments read in part: “I am and children had sufSheikh Muhammed fered untold hardship, Abdulazeez Ibn Idris,

I saw eight bodies –Eye witness Modu Bukar, a trader in the town, saw the bodies after the attack, which sent panicky residents fleeing, adding that he had heard gunshots during the attack.

“I saw eight bodies afterwards - three of them young men, and another five who were heads of households,” he said, adding that he did not know who was behind it.

Borno State, which shares porous borders with Cameroon, Niger and Chad, on the threshold of the Sahara, has suffered increasing lawlessness since Boko Haram launched an uprising against the government in 2009.

A general breakdown of law and order in the areas where the sect operates has also created space for armed criminal networks and ethnic militias with scores to settle, both of which some-

Another scene of bomb attack. commander of Boko Haram in-charge of North and Central Borno, said after due consultation with the leader of the sect, Shiekh Abubakar Shekau, as well as intervention and pleadings from respected individuals and groups in the state, we "have all come to terms and agreed to lay down our arms."

The Boko Haram Commander, however, insisted that government

adding that, they also decided to lay down their arms for peace to reign in Borno and the country at large.

“I am appealing and calling on all our members through this medium to lay down their arms henceforth, till further notice,” Abdulazeez stated.

On the wanton killings, especially the slaughtering of eight people in Gajigana town of Magumeri Local

the second Commander in-charge of Southern and Northern Borno after Imam Abubakar Shekau of Jamaatul Ahjlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad, otherwise known as Boko Haram.

We the members of Jamaatul ahlil sunna lidawati wal jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram recently had a meeting and dialogue with the government of

Continues on page 7

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—7

A victim of the Maddala bombings.

Boko Haram agrees to cease fire Continues from page 6 Borno State where we resolved that giving the prevailing situation, there is the need for us to cease fire. We, on our own, in the top hierarchy of our movement under the leadership of Imam Abubakar Shekau, as well as some of our notable followers agreed that our brethren in Islam, both women and children are suffering unnecessarily; hence we resolved that we should bring this crisis to an end.

“We therefore call on all those that identify themselves with us and our cause, to from today lay down their arms. Let every member who hears this announcement relay it to the next member who hasn’t heard.

"We have met with the Borno State Government on two occasions and the fallout of the meeting is to cease-fire. Presently, we are going to comply with the cease-fire order and by the time we are done with that, then government security agencies can go ahead to arrest whoever they find carrying arms or killing under our names. We are very much aware of the fact that some criminals have infiltrated our movement and continued attacking and killing people using our names.

“We have also told the government to try to live up to our demands that our members in deten-

tion should be released.

We hope the government will not betray us this time around because we all know that it was because of the continued detention of our members that this crisis continued for this long. And if government fails to do as it has promised, then this conflict will never have an end.

“Of course there is a faction within us, but the larger faction of our movement is the one in support of this cease-fire moves. Moreover, once top members of our group including Imam Abubakar Shekau are in support of the need for ceasing fire, other smaller factions can be dealt with easily.

This message, by the Grace of Allah, comes directly from the office of Imam Abubakar Shekau, the supreme leader of Jamaatul ahlil Sunna lidawati wal Jihad.”

It’s a welcome devt – Borno State govt Reacting to the development, Special Adviser to Governor Kashim Shettima on Communication, Alhaji Isa Umar Gusau, said it was a welcome development, noting that the state government under the leadership of Shettima, since inception, had opened its doors for dialogue to end the hostilities which had disrupted economic

activities and peaceful co-existence in the state.

Contacted, Borno State Commissioner for Information, Inuwa Bwala, said he was just arriving from the burial of his first cousin who was killed last Thursday and did not have details of the meeting.

FG to study their

not taken a formal position on the matter noted that “from our experience, the sect is not reliable and their words cannot be taken at face value. All facets of governmental apparatus would be consulted before a final decision would be taken on the matter. We are not in a

Raypower security man identified as Malam Idris Yusuf was reportedly killed sometime between 10 and 11pm when he had closed from duty and was going home.

The robbers who were said to have stolen a car asked him to help them with petrol as their tank was empty and they were without money.

It was learnt that when the owners of the stolen car who were trailing the robbers sighted them and raised an alarm, late Idris held the arms of one of the suspects as he was about to escape with his colleagues not knowing that the suspect had a gun. He was said to have been shot in the abdomen by the robber in the ensuing scuffle but he died on the way to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, ATBTH, where he was being rushed to by good Samaritans around 4am.

The Head of station of the AIT/Raypower Mr. Terver Tsav who was at the hospital described the deceased as "a good Samaritan who wanted to use his money to buy the fuel for the stranded men not knowing that they had stolen the car."

Deputy Police Public Re-

Wreaths for victims of UN House bomb attack

conditions The Federal Government is to critically study the conditions given by the Boko Haram sect while announcing its unilateral cease-fire before making a pronouncement.

A highly placed government official told Vanguard in Abuja, yesterday, that government was not in a hurry to jump at the offer being made by the sect.

The official who pleaded anonymity because government has

hurry to jump at their offer.”

The official noted that while government was committed to dialogue, it was not going to negotiate with any group on a position of weakness and proactive security measures would continue to be taken to safe-guard the lives and properties of Nigerians.

How AIT man was killed Meanwhile, Vanguard gathered that the AIT/

lation Officer, Muhammad Auyo denied any knowledge of the incident, pointing out that the state Police Commissioner, Mohammed Ladan, was in the best position to speak on it.

Origin of Boko Haram Boko Haram, which figuratively means ‘Western education is sin’ was founded in 2002 in Maiduguri by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf. The

sect opposes not only Western education, but Western culture and modern science as well.

In a 2009 BBC interview, Yusuf stated that the belief that the world is a sphere is contrary to Islam and should be rejected, along with Darwinism and the theory that rain comes from water evaporated through the atmosphere.

In 2004, it moved to Kanamma, Yobe State, where it set up a base called “Afghanistan”, used to attack nearby police outposts, killing police officers. Yusuf was hostile to democracy and the secular education system, vowing that “this war that is yet to start would continue for long” if the political and educational system was not changed.

In Bauchi, the group, which includes members who come from neighbouring Chad and speak only in Arabic was reported as refusing to mix with local people.

Clash with the state In July 2009 the Nigerian police started investigating Boko Haram, following reports that the group was arming itself.

Yusuf, the leader and others were arrested and on July 30, 2009 allegations were made that Yusuf himself was killed

by Nigerian security forces after being taken into custody. The development invigorated deadly clashes with Nigerian security forces and attacks on churches, public institutions and military facilities among others which led to the deaths of an estimated 3000 people, according to Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika.

The Attacks Prior to the clashes, many Muslim leaders and at least one military official had warned the authorities about Boko Haram. Those warnings were reportedly ignored.

According to Human Rights Watch, between July and December 2010, at least 85 people were killed in some 35 separate attacks in four states in northern and central Nigeria.

8—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Merger: Aggrieved PDP members set to join Mega Party zBuhari, Tinubu to make sacrifices

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

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BUJA—AGGRIEVED members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are reportedly making frantic efforts to join the mega party that will be the offshoot of the merger arrangement between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, so as to wrestle power from the PDP. Secretary of the merger committee for the CPC, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla who disclosed this to Vanguard, yesterday, said the essence of the merger plan was to recue the country from the pit of the ruling PDP. Obono-Obla also allayed fears of those who had the belief that the merger arrangement was centered on the former CPC presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari and the ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinunbu, saying that with the new development, Buhari and Tinunbu will make sacrifices for the interest of the country.

He said that from the stories in the media, the PDP had been jittery and planting stories in some national newspapers since the merger talk started with a lot of propaganda that the merger would not work out, adding that the two political parties and some other opposition parties had agreed in principle that merger was the only way to give the PDP a run for its money.

He said, “what CPC and ACN were trying to do in 2011 which did not materialize was an alliance. Merger is a new concept in Nigeria political history. It has never taken place before.

The parties are collapsing their structures into one party.

“So all these people who are cynical about the merger arrangement do not know what they are talking about.

I am very optimistic because we agree in principle that it is the only way to give the PDP a run for its money, enthrone democracy, eliminate corruption, restructure the country and rescue Nigerians from the pit,” he said.

Oil revenue: I'm resolute—Ezekwesili zAs Cameron asks Jonathan to account for N15.7trn oil revenue in 2012

BY EMMA UJAH, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF, UDUMA KALU, AGENCY REPORT

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BUJA—FORMER Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, said yesterday, that she was resolute in her demand for a full disclosure of oil revenues earned under the administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan even as British Prime Minister, David Cameron asked President Goodluck Jonathan to account for $100 billion (N15.7 trillion) oil revenue which accrued to Nigeria last year.

Ezekwesili who was a cabinet member of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government challenged the current administration to account for accruals into the Excess Crude Oil Account and the Foreign Reserve Account.

In a statement in Abuja, she repeated her earlier allegations that the $67 billion which the Obasanjo government left in the Foreign Reserve and the Excess Crude account was brazenly misappropriated by those who succeeded him.

Ezekwesili, also a former Vice President of the World Bank urged the Federal Government to accept her challenge to a public debate, as according to her, it would demonstrate a healthy democratic culture of responding to citizens.

Describing allegations of misappropriations against her by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, on Sunday, as “careless” the ex-minister said the N458.1 billion in reference was the entire budget of the education sector, including statutory bodies which funds sitting ministers had no access.

The statement reads in full: “I remain resolute in demanding full disclosure and accountability by the Federal Government on the poor management of oil revenues, especially the Excess Crude Account and the Foreign Reserve Account. The recent reaction by the spokesperson of the administration failed to respond responsibly to my demand for accountability.

In my convocation lecture at the University of Nigeria, I had stated concerning the poor management of oil revenues as follows : “While these countries moved up the manufacturing and economic development ladder in my 50 years of existence all I can say for Nigeria is that during the same period I have known at least five cycles of commodity booms that offered us rare opportunities to use revenues generated from oil to transform our economy. Sadly, each cycle ended up sliding us

From left: Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu; President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Hu Jintao; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Minister of National Planning Commission, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman during the commissioning of Federal Staff Hospital, Jabi Abuja, yesterday.

farther down the productivity ladder.

The present cycle of boom of the 2010s is however much more vexing than the other four that happened in the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. This is because we are still caught up in it even as I speak today and it is more egregious than the other periods in revealing that we learned absolutely nothing from the previous massive failures.

Furthermore, it is happening back-to-back with the squandering of a significant sum of $45 billion in foreign reserve account and another $22billion in the Excess Crude Account being direct savings from increased earnings from oil that the Obasanjo administration handed over to the successor government in 2007.

Six years after the administration I served handed over such humongous national wealth to another one; most Nigerians but especially the poor continue to suffer the effects of failing public health and education systems as well as decrepit infrastructure and battered institutions.

Where did all that money go?

One cannot but ask, what exactly does Nigeria convey with this level of brazen misappropriation of public resources? Where did all that money go? Where is the accountability for the use of both these resources plus the additional several hundred billions of dollars realized from oil sale by the two administrations that have governed our nation in the last six years? How were these resources applied or more appropriately, misapplied? Tragic choices! Yes. Our national dignity continues to be degraded by cycles of stag-

nation because of the terrible choices my generation and those before repeatedly make as a result of free oil money. The wealth and poverty of a nation never found a better Symbol!”

Public debate “I have already asked the Federal Government to a public debate of the facts raised in my speech. Such an open debate of facts and figures of oil revenue since 2007 would help situate public accountability as the center-point of our democracy. In accepting to publicly debate the questions raised in my speech, the Federal Government would model the democratic culture of responding to citizens’ demands for accountability, especially at a time when the general public is eager for improvements in the good governance records of the administration.

Maku cannot tarnish my image I wish to reassure Nigerians that my integrity and transparent record in public office can never be tarnished by baseless allegations regarding my 10 months as Minister of Education. Citizens who follow education sector closely will know that the education sector budget which the government's spokesperson carelessly referred to represents the consolidated direct budgetary allocation by the National Assembly to the 22 parastatals plus all the Federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

At no time does a sitting Minister of Education have access to the budgets of statutory bodies under her ministry. The records are at the ministry for the rele-

vant National Assembly committees and the general public to scrutinize.

British PM, David Cameron on oil dealings in Nigeria Meanwhile, British Prime Minister, in his address at the G8 Economic Summit in Davos said, “last year Nigerian oil exports were worth almost $100 billion, more than total net aid to the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. Put simply, unleashing the natural resources in these countries dwarfs anything aid can achieve and transparency is critical to that.

“I want this G8 to lead a big push for transparency across the developing world. To illustrate why, let me give you one example. A few years back a Transparency Initiative exposed a huge black hole in Nigeria’s finances, an $800 million discrepancy between companies’ payments and government’s receipts for oil.

“So we’re going to push for more transparency on who owns companies, on who’s buying up land and for what purpose, on how governments spend their money, on how gas, oil and mining companies operate, on who is hiding stolen assets and how we recover and return them.

“Like everything else in this G8, the ambitions are big – and I make no apology for that. 30 years ago more than half the planet lived on the equivalent of $1.25 a day or less. Today it is around a fifth.

This amazing story of human progress shows what’s possible.

We can be the generation that eradicates absolute poverty in our world. But we’ll only achieve that if we break the vicious cycle and treat the causes of poverty, not just its symptoms. Let me end today by saying this.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—9

When will Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) repair this bad portion of Oshodi/Apapa Expressway, near Berger Under Bridge Bus-stop? The road needs urgent attention as the rain is here again! Photo: Joe Akintola (Photo Editor)

From left: Mr. Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Dr. Enase Okonedo, Dean, Lagos Business School and Mrs. Olusola Oworu, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, during the Lagos State Government signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lagos Business School, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. Photo: Bunmi Azeez

Lagos Police to prosecute military traffic offenders

BY EVELYN USMAN

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AGOS—LAGOS State Police Command, yesterday, said the clash between its men and those of the Nigerian Navy last Friday, in Apapa area of Lagos, over the enforcement of the new traffic law, would not deter it from carrying out its constitutional responsibility.

It also vowed to bring to book any security personnel who took laws into his/her hand.

Trebor Round-about in Apapa, was last Friday, thrown into pandemonium

following a violent clash between Naval Ratings and Policemen attached to the Lagos State TaskForce on Environmental and Special Offences, during which some policemen reportedly sustained injuries.

Briefing on the development, the Lagos State Police Command boss, Mr. Umar Manko, said the situation wound have been more violent but for the proactive steps taken, saying “on the part of the Police, I took charge of the operation and ensured that our men did not respond because of the

Lagos tackles Land Use bills complaints

BY UDUMA KALU

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AGOS—LAGOS State government has said it is set to tackle complaints on Land Use Charge bills.

Head of Land Use Charge Team, Omodele Ibrahim, said the new approach was to make the property owner or occupant acknowledge the receipt of the bill by filling a

delivery form.

According to him: “The owner or occupant is to demand notice of delivery handbill later, showing that proper delivery of the bill is pasted on the wall of the property and photographed by the delivery service official of the team. The bill will then be stored in the data bank for future reference and retrieval.

synergy we have with Navy authorities. But I must warn that nobody has a monopoly of violence. We also have armories and “I have sent my report to the Inspector-General of Police. I know that personnel in a democratic environment who

decide to take laws into their hands will be brought to book. There is nobody in this state that is above the law. I think all of us have a responsibility to play; The Army, Navy, Police and residents of Lagos have a duty to ensure that this new traffic law works.

Court permits Atuche to recall witnesses

BY ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & ONOZURE DANIA

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AGOS— AN Ikeja High court, yesterday, granted permission to former Managing Director of Bank PHB (Now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, to recall two EFCC’s witnesses for further cross-examinations in their earlier evidences before the court.

Atuche is answering charges of stealing the bank’s money alongside his wife, Elizabeth and two other former senior officials of the bank.

Mr. Diamond Uju and Mrs.

Elizabeth Ebi were the third and fourth prosecution witnesses.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Justice Lateefa Okunnu, ordered the recall of Diamond Uju to be crossexamined on particular exhibited document, while acceding to the request to recall Mrs. Elizabeth Ebi for further cross-examination with a condition that the EFCC would be granted permission to re-examine the witnesses.

Justice Okunnu, however, rejected the request by the defendants to further crossexamine the witnesses on their statements on oath given at the EFCC.

PDP accuses Lagos ACN of LG election outcome manipulation

BY DAPO AKINREFON

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AGOS — LAGOS State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, of alleged manipulation of the Local Government Election Petition process in the state.

State Chairman of the party, Captian Tunji Shelle (rtd), at a briefing in Lagos, claimed the results of the polls were deliberately tilted towards the ACN. According to him: “On the 22nd of October, 2011, our party, PDP, decided to eventually participate in the ACN supervised LASIEC elections into the contraptions called Local Council

Development Areas, LCDAs. Our participation was not borne out of conviction that the process would be near free and fair, but because we just must oblige the good people of Lagos State our platform to effect the needed change in governance, especially at the

grassroots level.”

He alleged that the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, had been infiltrated, claiming “everywhere the PDP won the chairmanship poll and even announced by the empowered LASIEC returning officer, the

LASIEC chairman, a retired Chief judge of the state, apparently induced by the ACN leadership, announced corresponding victories for ACN, even without any figure to justify same.

Lagos Assembly joins FG's war against fake drugs

BY EBUN SESSOU

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AGOS—House Committee on Health, Lagos House of Assembly, has expressed its readiness to work with the Federal Government in eradicating fake and counterfeit drugs in the state.

Chairman of the committee, Suuru Avoseh, spoke during a meeting with the members of the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association at the State Assembly.

While receiving the petitions and complaints from members of the association on fake and unwholesome drugs, he said the State Government would deal with any association, person or group involved in the sale of fake drugs.

Contributing, member of the Committee Yinka Ogundimu, said all hands must be on deck to check the activities of fake drug dealers in the state, saying anyone without genuine permit would not be allowed to operate.

Ogundimu who represents Agege Constituency I, appealed to the association to work closely with the committee in realising its objectives.

Court restrains Access Bank, Coscharis over Capital Oil's assets

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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AGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, berated Access Bank and Coscharis Motors Limited for securing an order from a London Court despite an existing order of the court, which barred them from interfering with the property

and business interests of Capital Oil and Gas Limited.

Trial judge, Justice Okon Abang in his ruling, described the action of the bank and Coscharis as one that had “ridiculed the Judiciary.”

The court also gave the Access Bank and Coscharis 48 hours within which to file a notice of discontinuance of all

processes before the London Court, while they were also restrained from enforcing the London Court order against the assets and business interests of Capital Oil and Gas Limited.

The court also noted that Capital Oil and Gas and Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah were at liberty to seek the leave of court to

commence civil contempt proceedings against the bank and its principal officers.

It will be recalled that the court had restrained Access Bank and Cosharis from tampering with the assets of the oil company pending the conclusion of a case by Managing Director of Capital Oil, Mr. Uba, against them.

10—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29,

2013

ACN flays PDP over fly-over cost comment —ACN

Lagos Police smash currencies syndicate

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BY OLA AJAYI

BADAN— OYO State Chapter of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, yesterday, said allegations of inflation of contract leveled against AGOS — OPERAGovernor Abiola Ajimobi by tives of the Special the Peoples Democratic Party, Anti-Robbery Squad, PDP, had exposed the PDP’s SARS, have smashed a jaundiced knowledge about syndicate which road construction. specialised in printing The party said through its fake local and foreign From right; Ondo State Head of Service, Mrs Kosemani Kolawole, Governor Olusegun Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Mimiko, Presiding Bishop, Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, currencies of different Kolawole, the defective denominations and knowledge the PDP had transporting same to about quality road other African countries. construction had Five suspected explained why they members of the constructed poor quality syndicate who were roads and drainages in paraded before some parts of the state in newsmen, yesterday, at the last administration. the Lagos State Police PDP had earlier C o m m a n d compared the cost of the headquarters, Ikeja, It was gathered

BY DAUD OLATUNJU Olabintan (40), Shittu fly-over at Mokola with confessed that their that the masquerade Adeyemi, Wahed Babalola and what Governor Ibikunle customers came all the popularly called “lehin the masquerade.”

ABEOKUTA—HELL was let Amosun constructed in way from Togo, Ghana, Aponle” was allegedly armed Also speaking over the matter, Ogun State at the cost of loose yesterday in Abeokuta, the Liberia, Sierra-Leone with guns and other dangerous one of the community leaders, N1.5billion.

Ogun State capital after a and Benin Republic to weapons. the Balogun of Ijaye and Aare masquerade allegedly shot According to the ACN, purchase the fake Confirming the incident of Egbaland, Chief Ganiyu “the PDP should be dead an Islamic cleric identified currencies.

Police Public Relations Officer, Babayeju-Alemo, said the crisis ashamed of itself for as Lateef Sabiu during A bundle of 100 dollars, PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, has forced the Egba Traditional having imposed its Egungun festival. according to them, was told newsmen in Council to suspend other naivety about road/ This simultaneously led to a sold for N3,000 while Abeokuta that the Command activities for the 2013 Egungun bridge construction on reprisal attack as youths pounds was sold for had arrested three persons festival in Abeokuta. allegedly razed down a the generality of the N4,000 per bundle. along with the masquerade In another development, people. We are awebuilding belonging to The Lagos State over the murder of the late gunmen on Sunday night struck that a political traditional worshippers in Commissioner of Police, Cleric. brutally killed a 60- year old party could advertise its protest against the murder of Umar Manko, said Adejobi noted that woman, Amoke Musuru, and naivety this shamelessly. one of their members. during the parade, that the Command had suspended her grand-son, 2, Balqis, in Vanguard gathered that the What the PDP ought to a total of 25 printing further activities of the year Ago-Oba area of Abeokuta.

22-year Islamic Cleric was have done was to machines, one cutting 2013 edition of masquerade Vanguard gathered that, the demand the details of the allegedly shot dead Sunday machine and over festival in the state. killers broke into the one room two bridge constructions evening while he was on a N1million fake According to Adejobi, “those apartment of the woman in the in both states and the motorcycle popularly called currencies of Naira, we arrested in connection with family storey building located details would have Okada during a ‘stop and Dollars, Pounds , Euros the murder are one Ajayi within Ajiko compound. search’ in Ijaye. shocked it and it would and cedis, in different averted this shameless The assassins according denominations, were plunge that it has made. to the finding, smashed recovered from the the head of the duo with suspect’s three bedroom iron rod without the apartment . knowledge of other He explained that one of the suspects, Jacob 66th Executive Council meeting, residents of the building.

BY GNENGA OLARINOYE When vanguard visited Femi, was arrested on a Commissioner for Information and the scene, blood of the SOGBO —OSUN State tip-off and during a Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, said Government has paid N340 search in his apartment the payment involved examination deceased littered the million as West Africa Examination on Ogulana Street, fees, registration for laboratories room, where the late Baliqs and her Council, WAEC, fees for 33,000 final Alagbado, eight printing and other charges.

DO EKITI — grandmother popularly year students in all the public machines and a large Meanwhile, the Osun State E M I N E N T secondary schools in the state. quantity of fake naira Executive Council has approved called Iya Saubana were traditional rulers The fees were paid for all the SS3 notes in different the award of a N91,616,681 murdered. nationwide will, Vanguard learnt that tomorrow, be in Adostudents, without subjecting them denominations were contract for the supply of medical to another qualifying examination recovered. consumables to all the health the police had taken away Ekiti, capital of Ekiti the corpses for autopsy, State, at the instance of which used to be the practice. facilities in the state.

Addressing journalists after the It equally awarded a which were said to have the National Orientation N 1 , 0 5 9 , 4 2 7 , 8 6 1 handed over to the family Agency, NOA, to proffer contracts for the for burial. solutions to the security It was gathered that challenges confronting electrification projects of 24 rural and sub- those arrested and the nation.

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI appropriate in scaling up sanitation rural communities interrogated by the police The Director General of over the killing had been NOA, Mr. Mike Omeri, with contributions of all across the state.

Three of the also released.

AGOS — LAGOS State Government s t a k e h o l d e r s . who made this known in Confirming the Abuja, said the objective has embarked on measures to Commissioner for Rural electrification projects, eradicate defaecation in public places by Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, said costing N83,669,378 incident, the Police Public of the zonal peace forum adopting the Community Led Total yesterday, at a six-day Train the would be handled Relations Officer, Muyiwa in the South-West, was Sanitation, CLTS, model.

Trainers’ Workshop on CLTS held in through direct labour, Adejobi, said two persons among other things, to CLTS model seeks to eradicate open Lekki, Lagos, saying government was while the remaining had been interrogated integrate traditional costing over the dastardly institutions, which he defaecation and promote household adopting the model to eradicate open 21, N975,758,482 would killings. latrine construction. defaecation in the state, while said, are the closest to the According to him, “they people, in the efforts at The CLTS approach is used globally government would concentrate on be handled by different (the deceased) were resolving the security for scaling up sanitation and has been providing sanitation facilities in contractors. piloted in Nigeria and found to be public places. issues in the country.

BY EVELYN USMAN, IFEANYI OKOLIE & UJU MBABUSI

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Pandemonium in Abeokuta as masquerade kills one .60-yr-old woman, grand-son gunned down

Osun pays N340m WAEC bill for 33, 000 students ...N91m for medical consumables

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Monarchs parley in Ekiti for peace

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Lagos to eradicate public defaecation

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—11

Delta Poly Governing Council Chair kidnapped

BY FESTUS AHON

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GHELLI—THE fragile peace in Uzere community, Isoko South Local Government Area, Delta State, was, Sunday, shattered, following the kidnap of the Chairman, Governing Council, of the state Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, Professor Abednego Ekoko, by gunmen.

Ekoko, it was gathered, was driving into his country home on his way from Oleh, where he attended a church service, when he was abducted at the gate and whisked away in a Toyota Sienna car to an unknown destination by the heavily armed kidnappers numbering four.

A source who craved anonymity, said the renowned educationist was with his daughter and driver in his car when the kidnappers swooped on him, adding that the hoodlums shot sporadically into the air before they bundled their victim into the waiting car and sped off.

When our correspondent visited the community,

Edo LG poll: Two journalists join chairmanship race

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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ENIN—AHEAD of the April 20, 2013 local government elections in Edo State, two journalists, Mr. Isaac Omoaka (AIT) and Ralph Okhiria, have indicated interest to run for the elections.

This came as the leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, in the state tasked the leadership of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to conduct free and fair primaries for the aspirants.

Okhiria, who was a former chairman of NUJ in the state and Omoaka, submitted their forms of interest at the secretariat of ACN, expressing confidence that the leadership of the party would play according to the rules by allowing free and fair primaries.

Omoaka, who is aspiring for the chairmanship of Etsako Central Local Government Area, told journalists after he submitted his form of interest, that, “I expect our party, the ACN to follow its rules and regulations and I trust the leadership of the party to do that which is right.”

which had been embroiled in kingship tussle, yesterday, residents were still wearing mournful looks. A few of them who spoke with Vanguard, described Professor Ekoko as a man who has the interest of his community at heart.

The people, who do not want their names in print, appealed to the kidnappers to release Professor Ekoko unhurt. The source said the kidnappers were yet to establish contact with the Ekoko family.

Confirming the incident, a senior police officer attached to

Oleh Police Division, who pleaded anonymity, said no arrest had been made. He said the police had commenced investigation into the matter, expressing optimism that the suspected kidnappers would be apprehended and brought to book.

THANKSGIVING: From left: Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor, Edo State; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Maj. Gen. Obi Umahi and his wife Chiyere, during a thanksgiving service in honour of Maj. Gen Umahi on his recent promotion to the rank of Major General, at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Benin City, Edo State. Photo: Henry Unini.

Widow petitions Rivers, Police over husband’s alleged killing

BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI

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ORT HARCOURT—A WIDOW, Mrs. Nkechi Obisike, whose husband was allegedly stabbed to death by a police officer last year, has restated her call for justice over the killing.

The deceased, Mr. Anthony Obisike, a Coastal bus driver, was plying his trade as a conductor on January 25, 2012, at Igbo-Etche Junction

by Eleme Flyover, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when a police officer allegedly alighted from a Toyota Hummer Hiase official bus and stabbed him on the chest.

Narrating the incident, Mr. Friday Okere, who was the driver of the Coastal bus that fateful day, told Vanguard that the said assailant police officer whom he identified as Corporal Victor George, disappeared with his team immediately after the act while the victim died three days later at Teme Hospital, Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Obisike said that the untimely death of her husband had left her and their nine children in untold hardship as the responsibility of raising the family alone had become unbearable.

Addressing newsmen on the plight of the family, counsel to

the widow, Higher King, said it was strange that the police authorities were seemingly acting to bury all petitions and legal moves to bring the police officer to book.

He said: “We had been to the State Criminal Investigation Bureau, SCIB and Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP several times on the matter. Mr. Okere who witnessed the incident directly among others had identified Victor George as the killer.

Initially, the police arrested the team on duty that fateful day including Victor. Suddenly, they released everyone and said Victor was investigated and found not to be on duty that day.”

Redeploy Delta Police boss, EYC urges IG

BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE

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ENIN—EDO Youth Congress, EYC, has called on the Inspector-General of Police to, as a matter of urgency, redeploy the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, for allegedly disobeying his order that the case involving a Warri-based lawyer, Mr. Casley Omon-Irabor be with-

drawn from court for proper investigation.

The group also called on Delta Sate Judicial Commission to redeploy Chief Magistrate Ena Ojugo from Warri Judicial Division for trying to make himself a party in the case, in the interest of justice.

The group, in a statement in Benin by Mr. Kola Edokpayi, State Coordinator, yesterday, alleged that contrary to the directive of the Inspector-General,

the Delta State Police Commissioner arraigned Omon-Irabor before a Warri Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Ena Ojugo, without waiting for further directive from the Inspector-General, IG. He said: “It should be noted that the instruction of the IG in a letter asking the police to withdraw the case from the court for further and thorough investigation was obviously jettisoned by the Magistrate, who insisted on continuing with the trial.”

It’s unlawful to pay JVCs before 13% derivation –Odje

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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ARRI—A WARRI-BASED lawyer, Dr. Akpo Odje, has faulted the first payment of Joint Venture Calls, JVCs by the Federal Government to its International Oil Companies, IOCs’ partners before disbursing of 13 per cent oil derivation to oil -producing states, describing same as unconstitutional and illegal.

Odje, in a lecture entitled, Divestments in the oil and gas fields: The implications and responsibilities of the oil and gas companies to host communities, at the first Delta State oil and gas stakeholders conference in Effurun, weekend, said the presumption that Nigerian government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, “acts on behalf of and in the interest of the host communities in the said contracts is highly rebuttable, if not false.”

Probation for suicide bomber should be reduced —Sagay

BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE & OLUBUNMI BALOGUN

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ROFESSOR Itse Sagay, SAN, has welcomed the sentencing of Edmund Ebiware, an accomplice to Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND’s leader, Henry Okah, in the 2010 Independence Day Bombing in Abuja, but noted that the period for which the convict could be considered for probation can be reduced.

Speaking with Vanguard on the judgment

by Justice Gabriel Kolawole on Friday, he expressed satisfaction with the life imprisonment given to Okah’s accomplice, Ebiware, but stressed that the period for which he could be considered for probation can be reduced to 15-20 years.

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

I want my wife's killers arrested, Edokpayi cries out

Gunmen abduct Bayelsa council chairman’s parents

BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA

BY SIMON EBEGBULEM

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E N AG OA — B A R E LY seven days after the abducted mother of the Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs. Betinah Benson, was released by her captors, gunmen have struck again at Oloibiri in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, kidnapping the parents of the chairman of the council, Mr. Richard Ibegu.

The incident is the latest in the series of high profile kidnappings in the state targeted at families of political office holders.

Vanguard gathered that the abduction of the couple identified as Mr. Festus and Mrs Ibiye Ebegu, occurred on Sunday at 10.30pm in the riverside town of Oloibiri.

Though the motive of the kidnappers could not be ascertained, community sources told our correspondent that the gunmen, three in number, stormed the predominantly fishing and farming settlement in a speedboat.

The gunmen were said to

B

ENIN—WIDOW ER of late Madam Mariam Edokpayi, who was buried alive in a shallow grave by suspected kidnappers on New Year eve, has appealed to the police in Delta State to hasten investigation into the case with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

It will be recalled that the deceased, who was 48 years old, was abducted at Ughelli, in Delta State while on her way to midnight service on the eve of the New Year. It was learnt that the family paid ransom to the suspected kidnappers but were shocked to discover her corpse in a shallow grave after the ransom was handed over to her abductors.

Vanguard learnt that the kidnap became tragic when a young man was said to have gone to the Area Commander's Office in Warri, to confess of his involvement in the abduction and led the police to a shallow grave where the body of the deceased was found.

We’re not militants, Delta community insists

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HE people of Louteyebiri Community have denied publication in a national newspaper referring to them as militants and illegal occupants of NPA, Warri Urban Area, Delta State.

In a statement, Chairman of the community, Mr. Bossman Azazi, condemned the claim, adding that the demand for compensation to the people of Ogbori community was uncalled for as they were not affected by the demolition.

He said: “We are not militants, we are peace loving citizens of OgbeIjoh in Delta State. We are not talking about land but the destruction of property worth over N800 million in our community.”

have fired sporadically into the air on getting to the community ostensibly to whittle down resistance from the natives before heading straight to the residence of their victims.

The gunmen were said to have seized their victims and disappeared with them into the creek.

A security source, who spoke anonymously, said a close aide to the chairman had furnished the police with vital information that would assist them in their investigation.

The source said the chairman had received threats in

the past from sources he declined to disclose so as not to jeopardize police effort in unmasking the perpetrators of the act.

Contacted, state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Fidelis Odunna, confirmed the incident. “A police crack team had swung into action with a view to apprehending the kidnappers,” he said.

MEETING ON NIGER DELTA POWER HOLDING COMPANY: From left: Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukthar Ramalan Yero; Governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji; Vice President Namadi Sambo and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abubakar Kachalla, during a meeting on Niger Delta Power Holding Company, at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

N9.6bn property damaged in Delta flood—Technical C'ttee

BY EMMA AMAIZE

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SABA—THE Tech nical Committee on Flood Impact Assessment in Delta State, yesterday, said property destroyed in 12 affected local government areas of the state stood at N9.602 billion.

The report was presented to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

Chairman of the committee and Vice Chancellor of Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Prof Eric Arubayi, said Uduaghan was the only governor out

of the affected states that set up a team of experts to assess the impact of the disaster and advised government on what measures to take to avoid a future occurrence.

The report said, over 57,000 farms, including cassava, plantain, poultry, piggery and fish were destroyed by the flood, while over 16, 000 buildings, including mud and block houses, shops and market stalls were also damaged.

The committee recommended short-term and

long-term measures to be adopted by the state government, among which were construction of floodwalls, delay action dams, channelization of flood waters, construction of depression/diversion structures and dredging of River Niger.

It, however, said its N9.6 billion estimate was only for tangible assets lost by internally displaced persons, as government required huge sums of money to tackle the damage wreaked by flood in the state.

Amaechi to detractors: God 'll fight for me

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IVERS State gover nor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, has said that despite comments by detractors against his government, God will continue to strengthen him to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

Governor Amaechi, who spoke, Sunday night in Port Harcourt, at

a special thanksgiving service to dedicate the state to God, said his administration will continue to depend on God, as it strives tirelessly to build a new Rivers State to better the lives of the people.

He said: “We need to tell our critics that development is not only about roads, but the projects that impact on the lives of the poor. What about

education, health, power, water? But unto God, every day is thanksgiving. I am ready for a debate with all those who criticise what we have done in the state. They should tell us what they have done with the position they held. I am open to debate with all those people and I will show them what I have done."

Receiving the report, Uduaghan, who signed into law, the Delta State Emergency Management Agency Bill, passed by

the House of Assembly on the occasion, said he was amazed at the depth of study carried out by the committee.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 —13

MEETING: From left: Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike; Minister of National Planning, Shamsuddeen Usman; Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, and Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council Committee on the state of education in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.

10 crushed, 12 injured in Onitsha trailer crash

BY VINCENTUJU-

MADU

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NITSHA—TRAG EDY yesterday struck in Onitsha at about 5.30 pm at the Nkpor Flyover bridge when a trailer with numbe plate XA 879 AMO Imo State, lost control killing about ten people and injuring 12 others.

The trailer was heading from Tazan junction, Nkpor, to Onitsha when it lost control and hit other vehicles, including a students bus and truck belonging to Consolidated Construction Company, CCC, handling the road project.

When Vanguard visited the scene of the accident at about 5.50pm, some dead victims were still being evacuated from the scene of the accident, while about 12 people who sustained various degree of injuries were rushed to nearby hospitals.

Some officials of Federal Road Safety Corps where seen controlling traffic for easy passage .

According to an eye witness, the accident would have been averted if the CCC construction company handling the road had not blocked one lane of the flyover road where no job was going on.

An eye witness said: “We have been appealing to them to open the other part of the

flyover they closed since last year but the refused now you have seen how their continued closure of that part of the flyover has led to loss of innocent lives.

“The trailer driver lost control of his vehicle tried to avert the accident but the only lane that is functional was filled with vehicles and he rammed into them.

Both the Police, Army and men of Federal Road Safety Corps were seen directing affairs and making effort to remove the vehicles from the road to ease the already traffic jam caused by the accident.

Nigeria, Canada target $6bn trade volume by 2015 geria’s exports to Canada BUJA—NIGERIA investment with Nigeria. Niand $199 million import.

A and Canada, yester- geria’s value of merchandise “The bulk of Nigeria’s trade with Canada stood at day, resolved to strengthen trade and investment ties between both countries by leveraging on areas of competitive and comparative advantage.

The two countries also agreed on strategies to double the volume of trade between them to $6 billion by 2015 just as Canada disclosed plans to review its visa processing time to aid trade and

about $2.7 billion in 2011.

The decisions were reached during the Nigeria-Canada Bi-National Commission meeting in Abuja, co-chaired by the Nigerian Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga; and the Canadian Minister for International Trade, Honourable Ed Fast.

Speaking during the meeting, Aganga said that Nigeria and Canada would significantly enhance their socioeconomic ties through the BiNational Commission by working on mutually beneficial growth projects along areas of competitive and comparative advantages.

He said: “Nigeria is one of Canada’s largest trading partners in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2011, Nigeria’s value of merchandise trade with Canada stood at $2.7 billion; consisting of $2.5 billion in Ni-

export to Canada, however, revolves around oil and gas. It is therefore imperative for us to strengthen our relationship by widening our export into the non-oil sector.”

Aganga noted that the meeting provided a veritable platform for the two countries to review their socio-economic progress and chart a new roadmap for increased trade and investment and enhanced economic growth on both sides.

“The establishment of the Nigeria-Canada BiNational Commission, NCBNC, to further facilitate and strengthen the bilateral cooperation between our two countries is indeed an initiative worthy of commendation,” the minister said.

14—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Pray for Chime, TUC tells Enugu people

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—ENUGU State Council of Trade Union Congress, TUC, has called on workers of the state to pray for God’s divine protection and enablement for Governor Sullivan Chime.

The union also commended the Acting governor, Sunday Onyebuchi for the able way he had piloted the affairs of the state along with other State Executive members, particularly on the ongoing projects in the state.

In a press statement signed by the Chairman, Igbokwe Chukwuma Igbokwe, and Secretary, Mr. J.C. Ugwoke, TUC further called on workers of Enugu State to be focused in the discharge of their duties in the various ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) and not to be distracted by comments and insinuations by any group.

It noted that the absence of Governor Sullivan Chime had not affected the payment of salaries and other allowances in the state, while negotiations on wage increase were ongoing between labour and government.

Guber poll: Ifeanyi Ubah’s campaign posters flood Anambra streets

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—BARELY few hours after the court judgment freed the Capital Oil boss, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, yesterday, his governorship campaign posters flooded all the major cities in Anambra State .

The posters were two different designs and a group known as Anambra Progressive Youths, who claimed to be sponsors of the posters, urged him to contest the forth -coming governorship election in the state.

Coordinator of the group, Mr. Joe Nwuba, said by the judgment of the court, Ubah had been vindicated.

We ‘ve not endorsed any guber candidate for 2014 —Anambra monarchs

BY VINCENT UJUMADU

A

WKA—AS the intrigues for Governor Peter Obi’s successor in 2014 continues, 70 traditional rulers in Anambra State yesterday denied a newspaper report (not Vanguard) that they had endorsed a particular candidate for the position.

Rising from a meeting at Otuocha in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, the royal fathers, under the aegis of Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, said they were not part of a statement credited to the traditional ruler of Igbariam, Igwe Kelly Nzekwe, that a former Secretary to the State Government had been endorsed by the royal fathers from the area.

Igwe Rowland Odegbo, the traditional ruler of Nteje in Oyi local government area, who is the chairman of Olu-na-Adagbe Traditional Rulers’ Council, told newsmen that such a thing never happened.

He described as embarrassing and insulting to the body of respected traditional rulers, an attempt to have their names linked to the endorsement of any governorship aspirant, adding that traditional rulers had vowed not to interfere with political process in Anambra State.

According to him, what happened was that the former SSG, Chief Paul Odenigbo, was conferred with a chieftaincy title by Igwe Nzekwe. He insisted that on that occasion, there was no political statement from the royal fathers present and that there was no attachment to the chieftaincy

conferment.

Though he admitted that Odenigbo served Anambra meritoriously as SSG, he said the chieftaincy titled conferred on him had nothing to do with politics of Anambra governorship in 2014.

He said: “The council is still wondering why a non-political and brotherly group photograph taken by monarchs during conferment of a title should be used to portray that we had endorsed someone.

“As traditional rulers and custodians of the culture of our peo-

ple, we have at no time engaged in partisan politics.

“We have not screened anybody and so could not have endorsed anybody. We are providing an open platform for all our sons and daughters who are interested in contesting the governorship election in 2014, irrespective of their political parties, to present themselves to us for our prayers and scrutiny, as we are looking for the best hands for the job.

“We also encourage political parties to look towards Anambra

VISIT: Acting Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi (left), and Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, during the courtesy visit to Government House, Enugu, when the good governance’s tour team visited the state, yesterday. Photo: Hill Ezeugwu.

FG must sustain good governance tour —Onyebuchi

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BY TONY EDIKE

NUGU—ENUGU State Government has said the Federal Government-initiated Good Governance Tour of the 36 states of the federation should be sustained periodically to ensure that governors accounted to the people.

Acting governor of the state, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, stated this, yesterday, while receiving the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and his 105-man entourage that paid him a courtesy visit before inspecting both federal and state governments’ projects in Enugu State.

“So I believe the good governance tour programme is a good one which I think should be sustained periodically, which in its own way, will make the governors of the states know that there is a forum where they need to give account to the people.

“We believe by the time we listen to you, we will be able to learn how we are doing well and

North as they search for the candidates that will fly their flags in the forthcoming governorship election.”

Another royal father, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno of Ifitedunu community, who is the secretary of the council, said that at no time did Odenigbo consult the council as a group to talk about his political ambition.

He warned those planning to drag the name of royal fathers into politics to desist so as not to bring down the curse of the gods on themselves.

how we are not doing well and how we can improve on how we are doing things,” Onyebuchi said.

He said Enugu State accepted to host the good governance tour team because “we believe that it is not just enough for the people of Enugu State who see what we do, who enjoy the services we

provide; it is also important that people outside the state know that Enugu State is the place to come and invest.

“It will also afford us the opportunity of having our people tell us how they feel about what we are doing, and then give us the opportunity to improve on the way we do things.”

Ohanaeze: Group lauds Igariwe’s election as president

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM HE Ohanaeze Media Fo rum, OMF, has hailed the recent election of Chief Gary Igariwe as the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the apex socio-cultural group uniting Ndi Igbo.

According to the body, the election of Gary Igariwe signals a new dawn in the affairs of the ethnic group, considering his wealth of experience in the affairs of Ndi Igbo,

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which he has championed over the years.

In a communiqué issued and jointly signed by major principal officers of the Ohanaeze Media Forum, which is led by Peter Anosike, the Forum, while restating that he was the man for the job, also tasked him on the area of uniting Ndi Igbo as the first step towards achieving the desired progress in the land.

Med-View plane to be recertified

by NCAA

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BY LAWANI MIKAIRU

AGOS—NIGERIA Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, is to recertify the MedView aircraft, that made air return on Sunday.

The Boeing 737-400 with Reg. No 5N BPA, left Lagos by noon and was bound for Abuja and Yola. The pilot made an air return to Lagos 20 minutes after take off when he noticed a fault in one of the twin engines.

The recertification will be done by NCAA after the plane had been subjected to technical re-examination and series of test before it will be allowed to fly again.

A statement by NCAA after the incident said: “Our safety inspectors, Med-View airline ground engineers and their Turkish maintenance firm, Technic engineers are now looking at the plane for proper rectification and recertification thereafter.’’

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—15

PDP expresses sadness over absence of Chime, Suntai

BY HENRY UMORU

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BUJA—THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, said it was deeply saddened that governors of Enugu and Taraba states, Sullivan Chime and Danbaba Suntai, have been away on health grounds. It also hailed party officials for holding sway for the period of their absence.

According to the party, for the fact that government activities are going on in these states, in spite of the absence of the two governors who have been out of the country since last year, is a manifestation that PDP governments have direction and is working in accordance with the party’s manifesto aimed at ensuring the welfare of the people.

In a statement signed by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that it was sad for anyone to be ill and urged the people of the two states to continue to be united and support the PDP administrations in their efforts to ensure stability, peace and progress of their states.

Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State was last year involved in a plane crash in Adamawa State, while his Enugu counterpart, Sullivan Chime, is said to be sick and was recently visited by Governors Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, Gabriel Suswam of Benue and Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom states in London.

The statement read: ‘’The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has commended the leadership of the party in Enugu and Taraba states, including the Acting governors, party chairmen, speakers of the Houses of Assembly, state caucus members, members of the National Assembly from the states, as well as government appointees in the states, for holding forth and ensuring smooth running of government affairs in the absence of their governors.

“The fact that government activities have been going on smoothly in these states shows that PDP governments have direction and focus, in line with the manifesto of the party to ensure the welfare of the people.

“We want to commend our party leadership and government officials in Enugu and Taraba states; the acting governors, speakers of

the Houses of Assembly and other state caucus members and government appointees in these states for holding forth in the absence of Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State and Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State who are out of the country for medical attention.

“The fact that government activities are going on smoothly without altercations shows that the PDP governments in these states and, indeed, across the country have direction and focus, which is to ensure the welfare of the people in line with our manifesto.

“The party is deeply saddened that the governors have been away for health reasons. We thank the people of the two states for their steadfastness in praying for

them. They will soon return to work.

“It is sad for somebody to be ill, but we are all human.

So the party commends the people of Enugu and Taraba states for their understanding and steadfastness in praying for their governors. We commend them for the night vigils they held in seeking divine intervention for the governors. We know that God answers prayers and we believe that with all our prayers, the governors will soon be back.

“The achievements made

by Chime in developing his state stands out for him.

The party is satisfied with the manner state officials have continued to ensure that the tempo is sustained, even in the absence of the governor.”

EFCC laments paucity of funds zSays it is hampering its operations

BY SONI DANIEL, REGIONAL EDITOR, NORTH

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BUJA—THE Econom ic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised alarm over shortage of funds that has hit its operations, amidst rising overheads in recent times.

The commission noted in its 2011 annual report, which Vanguard cited yesterday, that it had recently faced budgetary shortfalls, particularly in 2011 and that the situation required urgent attention by the authorities.

The 65-page report noted: “As new paradigms of economic and financial crimes emerge, the anti-corruption war must be fueled with funds necessary to service operations and purchase equipment.”

The commission lamented that the paucity of funds was coming in the wake of rising overheads and need to investigate complex cases, among them, oil subsidy and pension scams with foreign dimensions, which it claimed were very expensive to investigate.

The agency pointed out that the number of civil cases filed against it was also on the increase and that many fines imposed on the

agency were not budgeted for.

The report also lamented that work on the commission’s multi-billion headquarters, which is expected to house all its organs and provide a central point for its operations in Abuja, was facing a serious drawback arising from paucity of funds to finance the project.

It pointed out that as at September 2011, the commission was indebted to the contractors handling the project to the tune of N2 billion and that work had stopped on the site.

“The headquarters project embarked upon by the commission may soon become one of the most significant victims of the commission’s declining budgetary allocations if something urgent is not done.

“This project was embarked upon in 2011. Work has temporarily stopped on the site due to the dearth of funds, as the commission is already behind in payments to the tune of N2 billion.

“The completion of this project will enable the commission work under one roof as against the current practice of operating from several expensive rented accommodation scattered all over Abuja,” the report noted.

From right: South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kingsley Mamabolao; Chairperson, House of Reps Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri Erewa; Member of the Committee, Ajibola Famurewa and Deputy High Commissioner, Godfrey Mulaudzi during the committee’s visit to the Commission in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

Chinese govt hands over $12.5m hospital to Nigeria

BY VICTORIA OJEME

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BUJA—IN an effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goal target, 2015, the Chinese government yesterday handed over a newly-built $12.5million Federal Staff Hospital to its Nigerian counterpart.

The 150-bed hospital,

which covers 8,000 square metres, is a product of the bilateral relationship between the two countries.

Commissioning the hospital in Abuja, President Goodluck Jonathan said the facility would serve useful purposes in improving the health status of millions of Nigerians.

Jonathan, who was rep-

resented by Vice President, Namadi Sambo, noted: “The health sector is very critical to the attainment of United Nations Millennium Development Goals 2015 target.

“This administration is committed to the provision of quality and affordable health care for all Nigerians.”

16—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Benue communal clash: Police move to check crisis

Toxic waste: FG files 3-count charge against importers, vessel

BY PETER DURU

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AKURDI—FOL LOWING the bloody conflict between Idoma farmers and Fulani herdsmen which claimed three lives weekend in Otukpo, the Benue State Police Command has drafted policemen to the troubled communities to check further escalation of the crisis.

State Police Commissioner, Mr. Christopher Katso, who spoke yesterday after undertaking an on-the-spot assessment of the situation said, “I have dispatched my men to the troubled spot to ensure that the crisis is effectively checked through cessation of hostilities and further loss of innocent lives and property.

Meantime, I have also held peace meetings with the affected people including, the Chief (Ardoo) of the Fulanis and the Idoma communities where all the parties agreed to cease fire and allow peace to reign.

I have urged the feuding parties to identify the masterminds of the crisis with a view to ensuring that they are all arrested and brought to justice.”

Katso further said that the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Council, Mr. Innocent Onuh, also assured that he would reach out to the internally displaced persons with relief materials to alleviate their sufferings and urged the feuding parties not to take laws into their hands as anyone caught trying to escalate the already tensed situation would be apprehended.

BY INNOCENT ANABA

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From left: President and CEO, Delmote Fresh Produce Inc, Mr. Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh; President and CEO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Jeff Rakes; Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina; President Goodluck Jonathan; former Secretary General of United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Donald Kaberuka, at the inaugural meeting of Mr President's Eminent Persons Group on Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation Agenda in Geneva, Switzerland.

Kogi commissioner, councillor arraigned for attempted murder L

OKOJA— KOGI State Com missioner for Commerce and Industry, Ali Ajuh, yesterday appeared before a Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court for attempted murder.

Ajuh was arraigned, alongside Chairman of Omala Local Government Council of the state, Aminu Atabor, and a civil servant, Omale Simeon, for attempted culpable homicide and armed robbery.

The accused were arraigned before the Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ on an 11-count charge.

The charges levelled against the trio included criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, armed robbery, causing grievous hurt, public disturbance, thuggery, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.

The Prosecuting Police Officer, Mr Otowu Gabriel, had told the court that the accused, allegedly

committed the offences on Jan. 26, this year, during a prayer session, organised at Abejukolo in Omala Local Government Area, in honour of former governor Ibrahim Idris.

The event was designed to mark Idris’ successful tenure in office and exit.

The accused were said to have criminally conspired with thugs armed with dangerous weapons, including guns, clubs and cutlasses, to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.

They were also accused of blocking roads to attack and damage property of perceived enemies.

The prosecution said thugs belonging to the accused unleashed mayhem on the people, damaging cars and others valuables.

The thugs were also alleged to have taken two i-pad computers,

N200,000 cash, damaged five vehicles and injured several people while threatening many others with death.

The prosecutor also told the court that the accused declined to help the police to fish out the thugs when asked to do so, adding that the thugs were now at large.

Otowu, who had earlier opposed admitting the accused to bail, suddenly withdrew his submission.

He said: “I don’t want to be seen approbating and reprobating. I wish to withdraw my objection for the bail of the accused.

I am aware that bail is at the discretion of the court”.

Counsel to the accused, Chief Uche Enwere, had urged the court to invoke Section 341(1) of the Penal Code to grant his clients bail, assuring that they would not jump bail.

By Bartholomew Madukwe

PEOPLE SPEAK

08102479985

AGOS — THE Federal Gov ernment has filed a threecount charge against two persons, a company and a vessel before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over their alleged involvement in the importation of harmful electronic toxic waste into the country on January 9, 2013.

The accused persons, Rumok David, Mgbachi Chibuzo, Bonicks Investment and M.V. Marivia, were alleged to have without lawful authority, imported harmful electronic waste, containing a mixture of functioning and non-functioning electrical/electronic equipment in a vessel named MV MARIVIA. The first count of the charge, read: "That you, Rumok David, without lawful authority, imported electronic harmful waste in 40ft container No. ECMU9870858 containing a mixture of functioning and non-functioning electrical/electronic equipment imported in a vessel named MV MARIVIA” Mgbachi Chibuzo and Bonicks Investment were accused of the same offence in the second count.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, yesterday, none of the accused was present in court, but the prosecution informed the court that a charge had been filed against the accused persons, adding that the ship was brought to the shores of Nigeria on January 9, 2013.

The case, has, meanwhile, been adjourned till February 4, for the arraignment of the accused persons.

The ship, MV Marivia, was arrested at the Tin-Can Island Port in Lagos with two containers of e-waste.

(nwamad@yahoo.com)

AFCON 2013: THE CHANCES OF SUPER EAGLES (6)

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think they will go very far. The defenders really tried during their first match in the competition. I wish they could hold on for a while. But as they play more matches, I see the players getting better and better. Miss Obi Onyinye—Student.

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ITH the crop of players paraded

by Nigeria in the 2013 AFCON. Honestly I do not see them passing the group stage. In fact with their first match against Burkina Faso, it shows that the players are not really serious. Mr. Henry Iwaloken—Student.

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UPER Eagles chance at the ongoing Nations Cup is very slim.

Looking at the squad, many of the players lack experience. Also relying on Mikel Obi in the midfield, I do not see Nigeria going far. I will be surprised if they pass the next round. Mr. Fame Mikael—Student.

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think we still need a for eign coach. Yes, Stephen Keshi may have tried but it is obvious that professional touches are lacking in the team, especially during the match against Burkina Faso. The players need to work together, if they really want to go far in 2013 AFCON. Mr. Bode Kolawole—Student.

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NYWAY, I would not say that the Super Eagles will come out with flying colour. With the Super Eagles that I know, I see them performing averagely. But with miracle and prayers from patriotic Nigerians like me, they may go far.

Miss Oluwaseun Oludemi—Student.

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IGERIAN football is a reflection of the Nigerian economy. Our expectations are always truncated. I expect the Super Eagles to fly high since they are just playing with African teams.

I think the Super Eagles of Nigeria have really lost it. Miss Idowu Lawani—Student.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—17

wonderful in such situations!

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Experiences to learn from

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For theirs is the kingdom, the power and the...

I am least interested in a public officer’s health challenges. It is no use to bother.

Nigerian leaders are never ill. They only die! But this arrogance that turns state power to a private affair is insulting; as insulting as the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, declaring Imo citizens living outside the state persona non grata in the state.

Why? Because Imo State is now no different from Rochas Foundation, a private franchise, and nobody has a right to question what he does with it, no matter how bizarre his conduct. Yet, he had a free run criticising his predecessor in office and even continues to blame him today for every of his misadventure.

Nigerians in the dark

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resident Jonathan was visibly frustrated when he and the nation were kept in the dark about late President Yar ’Adua’s health challenges. When his wife, Mrs Patience Jonathan, was indisposed and was ferried to Germany at public expense, he had a golden opportunity to treat Nigerians differently. But what did he do? He kept Nigerians in the dark.

Trust Nigerians to quickly copy bad manners.

The Yar ’Adua uncertainty has become the standard for Governors abroad for treatment at public expense, while the invocation of “doctrine of necessity” has become fashionable. Those who follow the Yar ’Adua example Governors Godswill Akpabio, Gabriel Suswam,Sullivan Chime and Rotimi Amaechi in London recently. Chime simply short-change themselves. They rob says he would be back soon. How soon?

themselves of the sympathy and prayers of Nigerians for as long as we debate the impropriety of their being AWOLists.

Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, love him or hate him, set a fine example of how a public officer should treat the people who employ and pay him when he had his own health challenge in 1986. He told Nigerians that he was going to France to treat radiculopathy; and this, at a time military regimes looked over their shoulders because of incessant coups. We knew that he was going to the American Hospital in Paris. We at Thisweek magazine at that time brought to Nigerians photograph of the hospital he was being treated. We even,

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AST week, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State was smoked out of his foxhole in London by the determination of a pressure group, Save Enugu Group, to invoke the “doctrine of necessity” against him! Governor Chime has been missing in action for over four months, ostensibly on accumulated annual leave. And the people who elected him did not know his whereabouts. Some said he was dead, others said he was bedridden in an undisclosed hospital abroad. To squelch the speculation and save his job, three of his colleagues, Governors Godswill Akpabio (AkwaIbom), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers State) travelled to London at public expense to bring us visual proof that Chime was still alive, and his kingdom should remain intact!

Someone asked why Chime chose to make his post resurrection appearance to the three Governors and not to Enugu stakeholders to whom he was accountable. Chime, like many Governors, is accountable to the Governors’ Forum and to himself, not to Enugu people! The mentality behind the saga of “missing” Governors is linked to the primitive attitude of our politicians to public office. They hardly know the difference between their private estates and the states they govern. In Nigeria, public officers regard the public office they occupy as their wives’ kitchen. With that primitive attitude, on sick bed, dead or alive, their shadows must continue to cast a long pall over the state. The state must wait for their resurrection from yonder.

And those who defend this irresponsible behaviour also believe that power is a Governor ’s personal lollipop which must be jealously protected, lest it be snatched away from him. Once we elect people into office, they take it that we have ceded the state to them. They own us till death do them part from power.

My fear for the future of this country is not about the eventual exhaustion of our oil reserve. My fear for the future has to do with the generation in whose hands Nigerian will completely fall into in twenty years time.

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call it irreverently, had the telephone number to his suite! Nigerians were given a number in our Embassy in Paris for those who wanted to send messages of sympathy to him. We all forgot at that time that he was an unelected President. Nigerians are usually

man of style, Babangida introduced radiculopathy into Nigeria’s political lexicon. Many people sought opinions of medical experts to know what radiculopathy was and its risk factors. I bet many who had similar manifestations took hints and sought medical help. That is what the people benefit from experiences of leaders.

Americans were told when President Ford’s wife, Betty Ford had breast cancer and her experience brought more awareness and funding to breast cancer research. Ronald Reagan’s Alzheimer’s disease was not concealed from Americans. His case brought awareness to the disease and more funding for research. Hilary Clinton recently had concussion and Americans were told.

What can we really say is the benefit we derive from the lives of our leaders?

It is self-indicting when our leaders who preside over budgets to provide excellent medical care dash abroad where their counterparts have provided facilities they have failed to provide here. I found this narration by Dr Okechukwu Ikejiani in his autobiography, Okechukwu Ikejiani: The Unrepentant Nationalist—my Journey Through Life, very revealing: “In September 1965, I was summoned to the State House to see the President, Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was ill.

After taking his history and examining him, I tentatively diagnosed malaria infection. Nonetheless, in order to have a full medical examination, I arranged a complete check up at the Railway Medical Centre”. Yes, the same Railway Medical Centre, Ebute Metta, later to be named after the maximum ruler, Gen. Sani Abacha by men of straw.

Today, the decay is so bad that when our “leaders” go to a Nigerian hospital we clap for them.

Hear Dr. Ikejiani: “I believed that we should have one Railway Medical Service divided into two parallel divisions. A Medical Centre at Ebute Metta with a first class modern hospital run like the modern hospitals in America or England, (emphasis mine) and directed by a qualified administrator”. That was when leaders were patriotic and passionate about the welfare of the people of this country.

Today, such visionary and selfless leaders are in decline. My fear for the future of this country is not about the eventual exhaustion of our oil reserve.

My fear for the future has to do with the generation in whose hands Nigerian will completely fall into in twenty years time.

OPINION

BY WILLIAMS MBOHO

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T never ceases to amaze me to what length Nigerians would go in their unbridled quest for relevance. It is sad that the newspapers are awash with empty and often meaningless write-ups and commentaries by all sorts of people fanning the embers of the flame in the so-called Governor Amaechi and Hon. Minister, Elder Godsday Orubebe’s altercation.

One wonders why people who hitherto screamed loudest about the non-performance of Governor Amaechi and the deplorable state of Port Harcourt, formally referred to as the ‘garden city’ are now in the forefront in the defense of that same Governor and are unashamedly condemning the efforts of Elder Godsday Orubebe, the Hon. Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. Going through the piece under reference by Donu Kogbara, on the Sweet and Sour column of Vanguard, Friday, January 25, 2013, I couldn’t help the feeling of disappointment that grew within me with each line of the write-up. I say disappointment because I had always been enthralled by the succinct manner she had presented her critique of government functionaries and national attitude. The piece – People in glass houses – however, could have come from someone on the payroll of Governor Amaechi.

For Donu Kogbara to attempt to paint Governor Amaechi as a perfect achiever, indeed an untouchable is

Re: People in glass houses... mind boggling. However, it is not surprising since Donu Kogbara only travels out of Abuja on her way to England on a regular basis. My first and sincere advise to her is to travel to Port Harcourt and drive to the Ogoni region of Rivers State where she hails from and tell the whole world about the status of the East-West Road in that region instead of sitting in Abuja and reproducing very old photographs of portions of Section I of the East-West Road which have been over-flogged on the pages of newspapers. I dare to say without fear of contradiction that she is either oblivious or has refused to acquaint herself with the current status of the east-west road. The submissions on the current status of the East-west road with photographs on the electronics and print media by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs are eloquent testimonies to the on-going work on the road particularly the contentious Section I (Warri – Kaiama). The section of the East-West Road caught off by the flood and not motorable is a fiction of Donu’s mind. Contrary to what Donu would want the world to believe, throughout the festive period, people travelled unhindered on that particular section of the road and I also wish to disabuse

her mind and to assure Donu that contractors are working assiduously to ensure that the December 2014 is actualised. The Hon. Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe has left no stone unturned to make sure that adequate funds are available in 2013 and 2014 to enable the completion of the road by December 2014.

Donu Kogbara should “stop taking ‘panadol’ for Governor Amaechi’s headaches”. It is rather unfortunate that some Nigerians are known for disparaging key government offices and principal officials once their hopes of securing juicy contracts from such office are dashed. This is what Donu represents and it is unhealthy.

She should be informed that Gov. Amaechi has a more than adequate number of Special Assistants (SAs) and other political Aide and as such, no vacancy exists. Donu is better advised to look for a job that will occupy her instead of spending her life fruitlessly as a “political jobber”.

For her note, two brothers can loudly disagree on approaches to same objectives and not set the whole place ablaze. Please be reminded that the Hon. Minister has no personal issues with the Governor of Rivers State.

*Mr. Mboho, a social critic, wrote from Abuja.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 FORMER Vice President (Africa) at the World Bank and Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili’s insistence on transparency deserves more attention than trite defence. Twice in months, she has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of mismanaging huge resources Obasanjo saved.

The $67 billion (about N11 trillion) oil money she claimed Obasanjo left is huge. Government disputes it in a most jumbled manner.

What we find interesting about the exchanging is that Ezekwesili had tenures at Due Process, Ministry of Solid Minerals, and Ministry of Education. Instead of accusing her of mischief, it is necessary to take her up on her willingness to render account too.

The Obasanjo administration, which prides itself with its transparent and selfless services to Nigerians would proudly account for its stewardship in eight years of some of the most prosperous years in oil receipts. An account of those years that laid the foundation of our current predicaments is important.

“Where did all that money go? Where is the accountability for the use of these resources and the addition realised from oil sale by the two administrations that have governed our nation

BY HAMILTON ODUNZE

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VERY time Obasanjo says something, he reminds me of the American comedy series “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” hosted by Bill Cosby.

In the show, Bill Cosby asks the kids questions, hoping that they will give unexpected and bizarre answers. Just like any of these kids, Obasanjo’s utterances are sometimes downright bizarre and eccentric.

A few weeks ago, while speaking at Valparaiso University in Indiana, Obasanjo identified corruption, insecurity and infrastructural decay as the bane of Africa’s underdevelopment.

After many years of leading Nigeria, Obasanjo has finally started peeling away the layers of problems confronting both Nigeria and Africa. Nevertheless, he has failed to penetrate to the core issues. This article is an attempt to help him understand the core problems related to Nigerian and African underdevelopment.

Nigeria and Africa have seen many years of inept leadership. By that I mean the leaders who understand the problems faced by their people, but only in retrospect. If Obasanjo’s observation is correct, it seems that he did not understand Nigeria’s problems during his years as Head of State and President.

Yet, the most vital quality of a leader is anticipating or, at the very least, understanding the people’s problems while holding the power to make positive

Great, Let’s Account in the last five years? How were these resources applied or more appropriately misapplied?,” Ezekwesili, asked at the graduation ceremony of the University of Nigeria Nsukka Class of 2013.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala straddles the Ministry of Finance of the Obasanjo and Jonathan administrations. She has a responsibility to provide evidences about transparency without being asked.

Ezekwesili’s figures on the growth of poverty in Nigeria 17.1 million (1980), 34.5 million (1985), 39.2 million (1992), 67.1 million (1996), 68.7 million (2004) and 112.47 million (2010) are statistically unreliable. By 2004, official figures of 100 million poor Nigerians were available. Is it plausible for poverty to increase by 1.6 million between 1996 and 2004 (eight years), then

balloon by 43.77 million in six years, an average of 7.29 million per annum? More importantly, poverty growth is cumulative; decisions made more than a decade ago are still inducing poverty.

Nigeria missed its biggest chance of minimising poverty with the Millennium Development Goals, MDG, which the United Nations launched in 2000. Obasanjo’s administration neglected first seven years of MDG, which its missions were to: * Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger * Achieve universal primary education * Promote gender equality and empower women * Reduce child mortality rates * Improve maternal health * Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases * Ensure environmental sustainability * Develop a global partnership for development Ezekwesili should attach more importance to her transparency initiative. The administration’s accusation that she frittered away resources meant for the Ministry of Education deserves more seriousness than a challenge to a debate.

Her integrity is too important to be left to gesture.

OPINION Obasanjo says the darndest things changes. As Leroy Eims defines it, “a leader is one who sees more than others see, one who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others do.”

So, my question to Obasanjo is this: When did you realise that the bane of Africa’s underdevelopment is corruption and infrastructural decay? Judging from history, it does not seem he understood these issues while in power.

This is surprising when considering that during Obasanjo’s presidency, Transparency International (TI) rated Nigeria as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. In fact, corruption in Nigeria was higher than during the military rule. Yet, President Obasanjo did not do much to combat corruption.

Speaking of infrastructural decay, Obasanjo’s presidency marked the worst period of infrastructural decay in Nigerian history. It was at this time that travelling on Nigerian roads became more dangerous than ever due to the severe state of disrepair.

If one considers also that Obasanjo did not make any concerted effort to revive Nigeria’s dying refineries, you will be left with only one conclusion, which is that Obasanjo started recognising Nigeria’s problems only after he left the corridors of power. All through

Obasanjo’s years as President of Nigeria, the country exported crude oil and imported fuel. Even with five refineries working far below capacity, Nigeria imported fuel during Obasanjo’s presidency. Moreover, Nigeria’s power and electricity supply suffered the worst imaginable problems during Obasanjo’s tenure. That, all of a sudden, Obansanjo has become an expert on discerning Africa’s problems is very surprising.

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he only plausible explanation is that Obasanjo wants to remain relevant to discussions of Nigeria’s problems and the solutions thereof. If all Nigerians think like I do, we will deny him that grandiose idea. As a society, Nigerians are enablers of grandiose ideas. But, beyond Obasanjo’s selfindulgent behaviours, I am more depressed with a system that allows such visionless persons to emerge as leaders.

In today’s world, for any society to make significant progress, it must evolve a system that can effectively curb the power appetite of leaders without vision, or leaders who see the people’s problems in hindsight. In fact, the future is bleak for any society with such leaders.

As bad and as depressing as it is that leaders like Obasanjo emerge in a

country with more than 150 million citizens, his comments expose an even more disappointing trend. In fact, they expose a trend that has perpetuated corruption in Nigeria. Even when Nigerians engage in corrupt practices, they see their actions as only a small cog in the wheel of corruption. For instance, while collecting bribes, a police officer will be decrying the extent of corruption in Nigeria. In the same vein, a teacher who expects monetary or sexual favours in order to award a passing grade to a student decries corruption in Nigeria.

Nigerians do not understand that the general prevalence of corruption is the result of numerous individual behaviours.

There is no face to corruption in Nigeria. Nigerians treat corruption as a faceless monster that stifles national development and the prosperity of Nigerians. Nobody accepts that fighting corruption is a personal responsibility.

In fact, this is what Obasanjo’s statement amounts to. While Obasanjo presided over the most corrupt administration in the history of Nigeria, and while his personal actions portrayed him as, perhaps, the most corrupt Nigerian ever, he complains that corruption is the bane of underdevelopment in Africa. In any nation where citizens do not take personal responsibility for combating social maladies, the problems will continue indefinitely. *Mr. Odunze, a media consultant, wrote from Boston, USA.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANAUARY 29, 2013— 19

, American democracy and President Obama HE text of President Barack Obama’s second inaugural speech delivered January 21st, 2013 at the National Mall of the Capitol, Washington DC is similar in tone, gravity and perennial lucidity and clarity to any of the chapters of Moses’ Deuteronomy in the Holy Bible.

It is fascinating to see in Obama’s speech the match between incidents in American political history and the anthems of praise constructed from these incidents;thus the history provides orchestral material for composing soul stiring oratorical prose. Where else but America do we find such celebrative worship at the national political altar after the most scathing no-prisoner-taken spend-it-all-for-the-vote demonisation of the opponent as was televised in the ObamaRomney presidential race? All the instant rewriting of the immigrant ethnic “up from poverty, and from rag to middle class self-help patriotisms” constructed to divide the American electorate along party lines are swept under the rug not to be remembered until the next elections.

In a way the parallel between

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the United States of America and Abrahamic Israel is a striking one. Both are deliberate beginnings entailing the going out of a country to found another; both are experiments requiring re-experimenting; both witness to the enduring strength look back to a past available for of our Constitution. We affirm the refashioning to accommodate promise of our democracy. We new recasting of the Dream; to recall that what binds this nation accommodate new members together is not the colours of our bringing to this reconstructing skin or the tenets of our faith or their own peculiar tones and the origins of our names. What accent as they make the makes us exceptional- what American Dream their own makes us American- is our narrative of the becoming of an allegiance to an idea, articulated American. How genuinely and “in a declaration made more than original is this First Generation two centuries ago. “We hold these American. Obama’s father went truths to be self-evident, that all to America in the same late and men are created equal, that they early sixties as we did; he excelled are endowed by their Creator and got the highest academic with certain inalienable rights, honours that the best of that among these are Life, Liberty, America’s Ivy Leagues reserved and the pursuit of Happiness”. for their best graduates. This son Today we continue a never ending of an African who did not stay to journey to bridge these words be the first generation is this New with the realities of our time.

High Priest of this “Novus Ordo or history tells us that while Seclorum”, “Ex Pluribus Unum” these truths may be selfAmerica. See in the following evident, they have never been selfhow naturally and flawlessly American he begins the re- executing; that while freedom is enactment of the American a gift from God, it must be secured by His people here on Saga: “Each time we gather to Earth. The patriots of 1776 did inaugurate a president, we bear not fight to replace tyranny of a king with the privileges of a few

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For Emeka Udemezue, a tribute

BY SAM EKPE

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E was full of life at the second Igu Aro ceremony of His Majesty Igwe Ralph O. Ekpeh, Eze Enugwu Ukwu na Igwe Umunri on Saturday January 5, 2013. He was dressed in his Ozo regalia as a member of the Igwe’s cabinet, the mmilinaezoluora Enugwu Ukwu na Umunri - benevolent rainfall for the masses. Later in the evening, we sat together at the reception hosted by my younger brother Barrister Dozie Micah Ekpe who was one of the five personalities honoured with chieftaincy titles that day.

As usual we discussed intimately about family/village matters and politics of the town. In the morning of Saturday January 12, 2013, Engr. Chidozie Chiejina Onwa Iguedo called to inform me that our mutual friend had died in a motor accident in Abuja the previous night. Shock, disbelief, bewilderment. The sad news later spread throughout Enugwu Ukwu and Enugu where he resided.

Chief Emeka Chukwudi Udemezue was one of the finest gentlemen in our midst.

A catalyst in any group he belonged without any noisemaking, he was a shining example of industry, hardwork and visioner of an ideal society.

Born 59 years ago in Enugwu Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Emeka attended St. Luke’s Primary School Ogui Enugu and Colliery Comprehensive Secondary School Ngwo where he passed his West African School Certificate Examination in Grade I in 1975. He studied Biochemistry at the then University of Ife

(Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1975 to 1979 and later obtained Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Port Harcourt 19801982.

He did his National Youth Service with the North Brewery Limited, Kano 19791980, after which he worked with FGN Okoye and Sons Ltd from 1983 to 1984 as Operations Manager. He served their sister company International Aviation Services Cargo Airlines (IAS) from 1984 to 1985 as Station Manager and later as Assistant General Manager from 19851986.

He left the company at the end of 1986 and established his own firm Aeromine Freight Forwarders Ltd. Aeromine soon became a very reputed company in the

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It is evident that this celebration of the malleability of American Nationality, a trait quite different from the resilience of that nationality, would not have been featured in the inaugural speech of a Tea Party Republican President

Standing at a very safe distance opposite the National War College, Abuja he was knocked down by a drunk? motorist.

He died on the spot.

And we lost a jewel of inestimable value

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industry which cleared and delivered various cargoes imported by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources Abuja as well as those of over 30 Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) projects located in 30 states of Nigeria, sponsored by the various state governments and the World Bank. He managed the partnership with Agricultural Systems of Australia and Agrivisual United Kingdom in their various procurement activities by International Development Association (World Bank) procedures.

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The late Chief Emeka Chukwudi Udemezue

or the rule of a mob. They gave us a Republic, a government of, and by, and for the people, entrusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed”.

It is the genius of the American Nationality for it to be metaphysically and politically malleable. The Republic called into being by Obama was once of a Republic fitted only for White Anglo-Saxon America. In 1857, Chief Justice Taney of the American Supreme Court did define the boundaries of the citizenship in racially exclusive terms. “The question is simply this: Can a negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves, become a member of the political community formed and brought into existence by the Constitution of the United States, and as such become entitled to all the rights and privileges and immunities guaranteed by that instruments to the citizens? The question before us is, whether the class of persons described in the plea in abatement compose a portion of this people; and are constituent members of the sovereignty? We think they are not, and that they are not included and were not intended to be included under the word “citizens” in the Constitution and therefore can claim none of the rights and privileges which the instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States”.

Mirabile Visu (wonderful to behold) it is this same Constitution, this same Republic, this same people that have refashioned themselves to elect one that belongs to the class of persons” that are not included and were not intended to be included under the word “citizens” in the constitution”.

And Obama in good conscience can “bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution” that has affirmed the remarking of the American Republic on nonracialist terms. It is evident that

meka later founded Christy Daniels Nig Ltd with which he executed several projects for Federal and State governments’ parastatals. Some of these were the Ondo State Afforestation project, National Seeds Service of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and some rural electrification projects in Enugu, Abia and Imo States.

In 2006, he co-founded Konz Consulting

this celebration of the malleability of American Nationality, a trait quite different from the resilience of that nationality, would not have been featured in the inaugural speech of a Tea Party Republican President. Obama’s presidency indeed is a witness to the enduring strength of “our Constitution”- in a very personal and institutional way for the ownership of the American Constitution has been recovenanted”. Obama can legitimately and truly speak for the people as one of the peopleseverally he raised odes of praise to “ we the people”, for they are his people now and forever.

“For we the people understand that our country cannot succeed when a shrinking few do very well and growing many barely make it”. ·“We the people still believe that every citizen deserves a basic measure of security and dignity”. ·“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity”. ·“We the people still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war. ·“We the people declare today that most evident of truths-that all of us are created equal- is the star that guide us still; just as it guided our forebears through Senecan Falls and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women sung and unsung who left footprints along the great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul an Earth”.

The people have earned the right to be eulogized by one of the people in the spirit of all Americans defined by their being in truth and in politics citizens of a New Order of the World (Novus Ordo Seclorum).

with his wife Gozie. Two years later he became the Vice Chairman of the Healing Hearts Widows Support Foundation, an international Charity founded by his wife.

His wife and three children, many brothers and sisters survive him.

Uruekwo village, Enugwu Ukwu community and Anambra State will definitely miss this enterprising young man.

When we established the Enugwu Ukwu Friendship Association (EFA) and Ekwo Progressives following the creation of Anambra state in 1991, he was one of the movers. EFA speedily put up the Enugwu Ukwu Sports Club and arranged for the town’s civic centre to be used as the Anambra State House of Assembly for some years before it moved to its present location in Awka. Emeka availed us of his intellectual and financial resources. The political future of Enugwu Ukwu was a cause of concern for him and he was ever ready and willing to use his contacts to do whatever was required to move the town forward.

It is a matter of deep regret that this shining light of Anambra State and Ndigbo was suddenly dimmed on the night of Friday January 11, 2013. Standing at a very safe distance opposite the National War College, Abuja he was knocked down by a drunk? motorist. He died on the spot.

And we lost a jewel of inestimable value.

As his remains is interred on Thursday February 7, 2013, the good people of Enugwu Ukwu, his numerous friends and well wishers all over Nigeria can only pray and wish that the good Lord receive his soul.

*Mr. Ekpe, a media consultant, wrote from Abuja.

20—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013

Paincare: Ameliorating the pains of less privileged Lagosians

BY CHIOMA OBINNA

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Beneficiaries during the outreach in Shasha establish an old people’s home and a resource center, where old people can meet with each other and discuss.

“Growing up, there were so many things I could not afford.

One particular day, my mother fell sick and it was difficult treating her because we could not afford the medical bills in any hospital. Thereafter, I made a vow that any time God blesses me, I will do everything in my own little way to help the people and

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HERE is hunger in the land. Any person who doubts this statement should have been at at a recent Feed the Poor programme organised

by Paincare Outreach at Shasha, an outskirt of Lagos metropolis. The crowd that turned out for this monthly programme was simply intimidating.

As early as 6:00am, these less privileged Lagosians were already on their way to the premises of Peculiar Peoples Ministry in the area for the free distribution of spiritual and physical food as well as drugs amongst others.

Most of the women had their babies strapped at the back. All of them wanted to get there first and no one wanted to be outwitted. By 7:30 am that Saturday, the number on the register was already 2,500.

Before the programme commenced at 8:00am, controlling the crowd became a herculean task. The number has gone up to over 4,000. It took the organisers sometime to bring the situation under control.

As usual, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists and spiritual counsellors from both the government and private health institutions were on ground to attend to the multitude. This monthly programme which has been running for the pastfour years was targeted at less privileged Nigerians in the hard to reach areas. In December alone, Paincare’s train was in Ojodu area of Lagos and Nanka in Anambra State to feed the poor both spiritually and physically.

Founder of the outreach, Mr. Peter Nwosu explained that its mission statement is “Preparing people to be better witnesses for Christ ... physically, mentally, and spiritually.”

He stated that four years after a successful outing, it was now time to establish something solid for the people. According to him, he has tried to combine medical outreach and focusing on God hence plans have been concluded to build international standard hospitals for the poor in four undisclosed locations.

The gesture is to assist less privileged Nigerians have access to quality healthcare free of charge. “We discovered that some of those who our medical teams refer to general hospitals don’t even have money to go.

So we hope to build a hospital where we can attend to some of these aliments. We also hope to plant Churches where we find none to minster to the soul of the people,. He said” He also revealed plans to

programme, Pastor Ishola Taiwo who oversees the Peculiar People’s Ministry likened the event to what happened in the bible when after Jesus preached and gave people food to eat. He advised the government to provide good welfare packages for the people, access to clean water and quality health care delivery system if the nation is to move forward.

A guest Minister, Pastor Gladys Chinturu Nwankwo

One particular day, my mother fell sick and it was difficult treating her because we could not afford the medical bills in any hospital

that is exactly what am doing today,” he said.

The programme holds 14 times annually in Lagos, Ogun and Anambra states. Nwosu added. “The monthly activity consists of praise and worship, Bible study devotional time, prayers, followed by medical consultations and treatment by a team of doctors and nurses.

There are also two groups that take care of distribution of food items like half bags of rice, drugs, toiletries, and spiritual counselling groups. The goal is to give hope to the hopeless and leading them to Christ. “ Also speaking at the

said. Another beneficiary who simply identified himself as Samuel, said he was also part of the maiden event.“It has been marvellous. It is more

Stop aiding vandals, NSCDC tells Arepo community

BY BOSE ADELAJA

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from Orlando, Florida, said that the poor would always be in the land. It is only proper that people who have should share with those who don’t have.

Members of the community who came out in large numbers to benefit from the largess were full of praises for the founder of the outreach and his team.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Busola Ade said she decided to come after hearing about the programme. “I was checked medically and I received the word of God,” she

about the community and commitment to God and the devotionals. At first, I didn’t want to come but I was convinced to be here and now I am happy that I came,” he said.

HE Director General of Ni geria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin who visited the scene of last week's explosion in Arepo, Ogun State has berated residents of the community for aiding pipeline vandals operating in the area.“The commandant who took a walk round the community, discovered some building which pipes laid to the stream where the NNPC pipelines are located. A good example was a storey building located at Frank Ogbor Close, where a pipe was laid from the compound to the stream.“The NSCDC boss alleged that vandals use most of the structures as cover to siphon petroleum products from the NNPC pipelines. “Although, nobody was found in the building, Dr. Abolurin said there were indications that vandals are hiding inside the uncompleted building to carry out their illicit business

especially at nights. “According to him, some house owners in the community have contravened the law by erecting structures in a pipeline prone area.

“Structures are not supposed to be erected around here; but as you can see, they even build their houses very close to the pipeline zones. Some of the houses are not yet occupied but there are indications that the vandals come during the night to carry out their nefarious activities, using the buildings as“cover.

“As you can see, the NNPC has erected a sign board long ago warning people of the dangers associated with erecting structures close to NNPC pipelines. But, the sign board had been pulled down and relocated; while residents have encroached the pipeline areas,” he said.“He called on residents of the area to cooperate with NSCDC by exposing the vandals. According to him, there is no way the vandals could operate without the knowledge of the residents.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 21

the Ribadu-led committee was quoted as recoverable payments from International Oil Companies (IOCs), adding that the recovered funds will help in the development of the country.

He called on the relevant bodies to curb the high propensity for borrowing from abroad, except from Internaclaims of refineries and ensure the years ago to the National Assembly. tional Institutional Lenders such as speedy passage and signing into law Ajayi said government should be IMF, ADB, World Bank, IFC, etc, only of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), determined to recover by legal means for specific developmental projects and which was first submitted about six funds such as the US$29 billion, which accelerate payment of local debts owed indigenous businesses to enable expand, generate wealth and create jobs. This, he said, is only fair if treated with same attitude shown in collecting debts owed Governments.

On the issue of power, he said the cost of electricity has become intolerable as the bills have gone high despite the fact that power is not constant.

“You can say that the cost of electricity must go up, but that is when the electricity is constant, when you don’t need your private generators, then you can say the price is reasonable, but when you spend so much on elecFrom left: Dr Ogochukwu Promise, CEO, Lumina Foundation; Mrs Francesca Emmanuel, tricity and also spend Chairman; Mr Dele Alabi, Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ecobank; Mr Kingsley so much on fuel or dieAigbokhaevbo, Executive Director, Domestic and Mr Nabi Ouedraog, Ecobank Foundation sel then it is not cheap during a donation of N16.485 million as education support to Lumina Foundation as part or reasonable” he of Ecobank CSR initiatives, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele. stated.

Sell off or privatise current local refineries, NACCIMA urges FG

BY NAOMI UZOR

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HE Nigerian Association of Cham bers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Saturday, urged the Federal Government to sell off or privatise the current local refineries in the country while encouraging new private refineries to be setup.

In a parley with pressmen on the New Year press statement on the national economy, the President of NACCIMA, Dr. Ademola Ajayi, said the Federal Government and relevant bodies involved such as NNPC, NIPC BPE, etc should sell off or privatise the current local refineries in the country while encouraging new private refineries to be setup. “ We need to remind Government that there is hope for a positive turnaround for Nigeria in 2013. This is because our association believes in dialogues, partnerships and cooperation without dereliction of our duty to call to attention and where ever and whatever is unfavourable to the economy and to profitability of businesses” he said He said there is need to avoid fuel price increase and meanwhile, compile actual quantities sold through petrol station pumps and do all that would enable us to compare with total

NCC impounds N4.38bn pirated goods … Secures 29 convictions

BY EMMANUEL ELEBEKE

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HE Nigerian Copyright Commis sion (NCC), says it prosecuted 31 copyright cases in 2012, 26 of which were criminal convictions of pirates and five civil suits.

Director-General of NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja, also revealed that the Commission, during intensified anti-piracy operations last year, arrested a total of 85 suspected pirates and confiscated 3,621,787 million units of pirated goods worth about N4.38 billion (N4,379,431,000.00).

Mr. Ezekude said the commission, between July 2011 and December 2012, was able secure 29 convictions of pirates of copyright-protected books, musical and movie works, broadcast signals and software products, saying that the number of convictions shows a phenomenal increase from 10 convictions recorded by the Commission in 10 years, between 2000 and 2010.

“This feat which had never been recorded in the 22 years of the Commission can be traced to the enhanced surveillance activities of the Commission’s operatives, support of stakeholders, and more importantly, our synergy with the Nigerian Customs Service under our Inter-Agency collaboration initiative”, he stated.

The Director-General also revealed that the inter-agency partnership between the Commission and the Nigeria Customs has engendered the establishment of a protocol which makes

it mandatory for any importer of copyright-protected goods to obtain a letter of clearance from the Commission as a condition for clearance and release of such regulated goods by the Customs.

He noted that the high point of the Commission’s enforcement measures in collaboration with the Customs was the historic and unprecedented confiscation of a total of 13 containers of 3.6 million 3,613,315 units of pirated products, valued at four billion, seven hundred and fifty million Naira (N4.75 billion) at different seaports in the country.

He pointed out that 11 of the containers were loaded with pirated books of Nigerian and foreign authors while the remaining two were loaded with pirated musical and film works of local and foreign titles.

The Director-General stated that on January 25, 2012 in Epe, Lagos State, the Commission also destroyed by public burning 722 million units of various categories of copyright infringing products impounded between 2007 and 2011, estimated at N6.5 billion. ”The essence of the exercise was to ensure that the materials are permanently prevented from entering into the channels of trade; and also send a warning signal to perpetrators of piracy that it was no longer business as usual”, he stated, The NCC boss who noted that there was an improved international rating of Nigeria in the global fight against

piracy stated that the enhanced protection of local and foreign copyright works attracted increased investment in the copyright based industries.

“There are clear indications of a reduction in the level of domestic piracy which impacted positively in the legitimate copyright businesses as operators have reported over 50% increase in the profit margin for the year under review”, he added.

According to the Director-General, the Commission, last year, initiated a mechanism for the reform of the Nigerian copyright system to address the challenges that modern digital technology pose to the country’s existing inadequate copyright frameworks.

Noting that Nigeria was the first African country to undertake the comprehensive copyright reform as did China, India and Brazil, the DirectorGeneral stated: “The goals of the reform process include; updating the Copyright Act to meet the challenges of the digital age; to encourage and reward new forms of creativity and provide a platform for the creation, commercialization and broad diffusion of new knowledge, while enabling Nigerian businesses to profit from expanding global trade in cultural goods, which is currently heavily skewed in favour of countries with fully developed copyright systems”.

Ezekude revealed that the Commission, also last year, obtained the approval of the Honourable AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Minister of Justice to issue the Copyright

?Levy on Materials? Order 2012.

“The new Order establishes a regime of compulsory levy on materials used or capable of being used to infringe copyright in a work. The new Copyright Levy Order is informed by the need to compensate right owners for the loss that they would obviously suffer from the illicit copying of their works, and to maintain an acceptable international standard of protection that would ensure the betterment of the lot of authors” he pointed out.

147.65

1.1

2,167.00

-28.00

18.41

-0.08

113.40

+0.12

95.93 --0.02 CURRENCY BUYING CENTRAL DOLLAR POUNDS EURO FRANC YEN CFA WAUA RENMINBI RIYA KRONA SDR

154.73 244.0092 207.8952 167.4024 1.7003 0.2959 236.6431 24.8725 41.2569 27.8537 237.4022

155.23 244.7977 208.567 167.9433 1.7058 0.3059 237.4078 24.9533 41.3903 27.9437 238.1694

SELLING 155.73 245.5862 209.2388 168.4843 1.7113 0.3159 238.1725 25.0342 41.5236 28.0337 238.9365

CBN Exchange rate as at 28/01/2013

22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Our Expectations of the Electricity Distribution Companies in 20 13 201

T From left: Mr Jim Obazee, Executive Secretary/CEO, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria; Mr Adeniyi Obe, CEO, Deloitte, West and Central Africa and Prof. Frans Van Schaik, Partner, Deloitte, The Netherlands during an interactive session on the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards, in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Fidelity Bank to raise N15.5bn bond

By CHINEDU IBEABUCHI with Agency Report

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IDELITY Bank Plc said it is raising N15.57 billion two year loans from the international debt market to help increase its foreign currency lending capacity.

To achieve this, the bank had appointed Citigroup Incorporate as its issuing house.

Head of Strategy of the Bank, Francis Ikenga, said Citigroup was in the debt market to secure the loan through a book building process and that yield on the paper will be determined at the end of the transaction.

Ikenga said Fidelity Bank had seen an increase in demand for foreign currency loans from all sectors of Nigeria’s economy especially within the oil and gas and telecom sectors.

The Bank traded in the top ten most traded stocks last week, accounting for 18.8 per cent of the total market volume, with a turnover of 71.81 million shares valued at N240.35 million in 910 deals.

The Bank gained N0.09 or 2.73 per cent on the NSE on Friday to close at N3.39 per share from N3.30 per share at which it opened.

Recently, Fitch Rating published Fidelity Bank Plc’s Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of ‘B’, Viability Rating (VR) of ‘b-’, Support Rating of ‘4’ and Support Rating Floor of ‘B’.

The agency also assigned Fidelity a Short-term IDR of ‘B’ and affirmed its National Long-term Rating at ‘BBB+(nga)’ and Shortterm Rating at ‘F2(nga)’.

The Outlook on the bank’s Long-term IDR is Stable.

Fitch Rating said Fidelity ’s IDRs, National and Support Ratings were driven by the limited probability of support that Fitch believed would be forthcoming from the Nigerian authorities given the bank’s perceived relative systemic importance.

While Fitch considered that the authorities’ willingness to support the bank would be high, this may be limited in light of Nigeria’s

‘BB-’ rating.

Fidelity’s VR reflects a challenging operating environment, weak earnings through Nigeria’s financial crisis and asset quality that was vulnerable to market conditions. The VR also took into account the acceptable Fitch core capital (FCC) and a cleaner balance sheet with healthy liquidity following the sale of problem loans to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The sale of significant non-performing loans (NPLS) to AMCON during 2011 resulted in improved asset quality, with an NPL ratio of 6.3 percent at end-9M12 (end-2010: 28.2 per cent). Fitch considered loan loss reserve coverage was low at 70.3 per cent but noted that un-

covered NPLs only represented about 4 per cent of equity at end-9M12.

Fitch considered that the slower 8 per cent credit growth during 9M12 (2011 underlying: 66 per cent) lowers the risk of a relapse in NPLs. In line with its peers, Fidelity ’s loan book is concentrated, with the 20largest loans accounting for 36 percent of gross loans at end-H112. Credit concentration is a feature in Nigeria, which adds volatility to earnings and asset quality and necessitates higher levels of FCC. Fitch Rating said Fidelity ’s liquidity was sound, with 30 per cent of assets invested in government securities at end2011. At end-September 2012, Fidelity reported a loans/customer deposits ratio of 54.7 per cent.

Global shares, euro rise as economic outlook brightens

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HE euro hit an 11month high and global equity markets advanced on signs of a healthier European financial system and a brighter outlook for Germany, while U.S. stocks extended a rally to an eighth day, their best run since late 2004.

Solid U.S. corporate earnings and the strongest seasonal inflows to U.S. stock mutual funds in a decade also helped lift Wall Street, with the benchmark S&P 500 index closing above the 1,500 mark for a the first time in more than five years ago.

The Dow closed at its highest level since October 2007.

News from Europe was also bullish. The European Central Bank said banks will repay 137 billion euros from crisis loans next week, returning more cash earlier than expected in a sign parts of the financial system are regaining their health.

The repayments show financial strains are receding

and “allowing investor risk appetite to rise,” said David Joy, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial in Boston.

“So you’re starting to see more interest in stocks than in bonds, less interest in safe-haven currencies and just a general rise in risk appetite,” he said.

By taking back the three-year loans after only one year, the ECB has become the first major central bank to start moving away from unconventional monetary policy measures to tackle the crisis. In contrast, the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan are buying bonds to stimulate economic growth.

The scale of the repayment, which beat the average estimate of around 100 billion euros in a Reuters poll, sent the euro higher, pushed German government bond prices down and boosted bank stocks across the euro zone.

here are 11 electricity distri bution companies in Nigeria and the public comes into contact with the electric power sector through these distribution companies. We have great expectations with respect to the performance of these distribution companies during 2013.

Each time power supply goes off in our communities there is a cry of despair, and whenever power supply is restored we express the hope that we would have supply for what we consider a reasonable period of time. We are unhappy when supply comes at low voltage and when phase failure occurs. When the rains come accompanied by winds and lightning, power supply goes off.

During 2013, the electricity distribution companies would be free of the constraints of the national budget. The distribution companies would be expected to invest appropriately in insulation systems, protection systems against lightning and short circuits and the replacement of the four-wire 415V distribution system with 11kV distribution using 30kVA transformers suitable for two or three buildings to a transformer.

It would not be necessary to switch off power supply when it rains if the distribution companies use the 11kV distribution system with appropriate protection systems. Pilot schemes using the 11kV distribution system are in place in parts of Surulere and Agege in Lagos State.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, issued the Customer Service Standards of Performance for Distribution Companies in 2007. It is obvious that there are no penalties for failure on the part of the distribution companies to meet the standards. NERC should introduce penalties to be paid to NERC by the distribution companies whenever NERC upholds a customer’s complaint. A number of the performance standards are about meters. However, there are not enough meters installed in the premises of the customers of the electricity distribution companies. It is worrisome that NERC has issued a formula for the computation of estimated bills for customers without meters. It gives the impression that estimated bills are likely to remain as a permanent feature for several customers for some time. There are two factors that may be responsible for the lack of meters, the substantial amounts of money needed for the procurement of meters and a court action by a company seeking to enforce its right in respect of meters. I believe that NERC should in the public interest advise the Ministry of Power to seek a negotiated resolution of the court action. The Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement on a 2004 transaction in respect of privatisation in the aluminum sector. The period that has elapsed since 2004 is a loss to the Nigerian public. The customers of the

electricity distribution companies should be spared having to wait for several years before they can obtain meters.

The Multi-Year Tariff Order, MYTO, recently implemented by NERC has brought increased revenues to the electric power sector.

However, it is only one of the electricity distribution companies that is able to cover its costs from revenues received from customers.

The other ten distribution companies continue to receive subventions from the Ministry of Power. The distribution companies should be able to cover their costs when revenues are twice the present levels. The progression of increases in the MYTO should bring about the enhanced revenues within a few years without any significant increase in the power available from the national grid. Customers may be left to cope with increasing tariffs and an inadequate supply system. The Managing Director/CEO of each distribution company should prepare an audited balance sheet reflecting the state of affairs of his/ her company as at December 31 2012. It is expected that when the preferred bidder for each company assumes management control, they would within a few months tell us what they found in each company and what their investment plans are such that customers have improved services to match increasing tariffs.

The electricity distribution companies have to find electric power generated outside of what is available from the national grid. There are indications that if the electricity distribution companies are willing to work in partnership with the state governments, there would be marked improvement in the power supplied to customers in some states. For example, there are two small power stations in Lagos State operated by private sector interests for the exclusive use of the Lagos State Government, LASG. It would be possible in at least one of these power stations for an expansion of the generating capacity. The communities close to the station could have 24-hour supply everyday.

The LASG has plans for some other small power stations which could benefit the communities close to these power stations. Over the years, the state governments have established distribution networks for rural electrification and they have also provided transformers for use in urban areas. During this period, the electrical distribution companies belonged exclusively to the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN. With privatisation, the electricity distribution companies should ask the state governments to have equity participation and in return the state governments will make capital investment in the distribution networks and in the provision of generating capacity outside of what is available from the national grid.

DR. AKINTOLA OMIGBODUN omigbodunaa@yahoo.com

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 —23

Summit to finalise BRICS bank structure

By PETER EGWUATU

B

RAZIL, Russia, In dia, China and South Africa are likely to finalise the structure for a BRICS-led development bank at the fifth BRICS summit taking place in Durban in March, delegates were told at a preparatory media workshop in Pretoria recently. According to a statement obtained

by Vanguard, the bank is part of a strategy agreed to at last year’s BRICS summit in New Delhi to look at longterm investment opportunities within the countries making up the grouping.

It is envisaged that the bank would provide pooled funds for targeted infrastructure projects and key sectors, while supporting and driving increased commerce between the BRICS and other emerg-

ing economies.

Although multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) already perform a similar function, BRICS countries say the new bank would not compete with these but rather supplement them, especially in developing countries.

The seed capital for the bank is projected to be US$50-billion or more, making it about $10-billion per member country.

The director-general in the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Jerry Matjila, told delegates at the workshop that there was political will among the group to have the bank.

Pretoria is lobbying to host the bank, if it does get off the ground.

South Africa has placed emphasis on the integrity of its banking system, which Matjila described

as “modern and predictable”. South Africa cochaired the preparatory work on the bank together with India.

Meanwhile, preparations for the Durban summit are in full swing. The theme for the summit, which runs from 25 to 27 March, is “Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialization.

The department’s deputy director-general for Asia, Middle East and BRICS, Anil Sooklal, said it was all systems go for the logistics of the summit. About 3 000 delegates and officials, including the presidents and prime ministers of the five countries, will attend.

In a first for BRICS, high-level representatives of Africa’s regional economic blocs and the African Union (AU) have also been invited to attend.

SMEs need assistance on sustainable business practices — ACCA

By BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

P

OLICYMAKERS, regulators and finance professionals must help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) adopt sustainable business practices says ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

The Accounting body noted that this has become necessary given the huge environmental impact of SMEs, which is currently being overlooked.

Mark Gold, chairman of ACCA’s Global Forum for SMEs, said: ‘All too often, small business is overlooked when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues. But in terms of economic activity, employment and waste, small businesses make a huge impact and it is critical that they and those who advise and regulate them, recognise this and begin to take steps to tackle waste, promote efficiency and ensure that sustainability is at the forefront of their thinking.’

A statement by ACCA

said, “Despite representing more than 90 per cent of global businesses and accounting, on average, for 50 per cent of gross domestic product and 63 per cent of employment with a significant impact on industrial pollution, SMEs have been marginalised in the debate about sustainable business practices and have been slow to adopt environment-related improvements.

“For instance in the EU, only 29 per cent of SMEs have introduced measures to save energy or raw materials (compared with 46 per cent of large enterprises) and only four per cent have a comprehensive energy efficiency system.

“In its new policy paper Embedding Sustainability in SMEs, ACCA’s Global Forum for SMEs has called on a number of groups to take action to help smaller businesses to enable them to become more efficient and environmentally friendly.

“A series of SME-specific measures and approaches will need to be

adopted, if these efforts are to gain any significant momentum –with policymakers taking into account not only the differences between large companies and SMEs, but also the differences between micro, small and mediumsized enterprises, says the report.

“As many small businesses are run by owner-managers – with no shareholders or boards to answer to – they have more freedom to implement sustainability practices – or to ignore them.

This is why it is important that governments and business-support professionals ensure that SMEs are aware of the quick gains they can make through increased efficiency and of the grants, financial assistance and incentives that may be available for those which commit to cutting emissions or which reduce waste.

“This includes conditions that are set so that only businesses with sustainable practices have access to large and potentially lucrative public sector supply chains.”

24 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Shell spills over 26,000 barrels of oil in 13 months S

hell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, spilled in excess of 26,411 barrels of oil in 13 month period, January 2012 to January 2013.

At an average oil price of $112/barrel in 2012, according to US-based, Energy Information Administration, EIA, the volume spilled could have been sold for about $2.96million or N443.71million at ex exchange rate of $1 to N150.

The amount is enough to fund a major infrastructure project in Nigeria.

Data posted on the AngloDutch oil giant’s Nigerian unit website, www.shell.com.ng, showed that the volume of spill resulted from about 201 incidents in the period under review.

A further look at the data also revealed that the majority of the cases were as a result of sabotage and crude theft o0r 144 incidents, while about 55 of them were from operational mishaps.

However, the causes of two of the spill incidents, which occurred in June, are as yet to be determined, YTD, as shown in the data below:

F

rom the above data, whereas sabotage and theft accounted for 75.4 percent of the spills, while operational reasons accounted for more than 20 percent.

However, the Wikipedia on its website stated that oil spills in Nigeria “occur due to a number of causes, including: corrosion of pipelines and tankers (accounting for 50% of all spills), sabotage (28%), and oil production operations (21%), with 1% of the spills being accounted for by inadequate or non-functional production equipment.

“The largest contributor to the oil spill total, corrosion of pipes and tanks, is the rupturing or leaking of production infrastructures that are described as, “very old and lack regular inspection and maintenance.

“A reason that corrosion accounts for such a high percentage of all spills is that as a result of the small size of the oilfields in the Niger Delta, there is an extensive network of pipelines between the fields, as well as

numerous small networks of flowlines—the narrow diameter pipes that carry oil from wellheads to flowstations— allowing many opportunities for leaks. In onshore areas most pipelines and flowlines are laid above ground.

Pipelines, which have an estimate life span of about fifteen years, are old and susceptible to

Spill Data Month

Quantity spilled

Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May – Jun – Jul – Aug – Sep – Oct – Nov – Dec – Jan ’13

662.3 5314.9 1274.67 672.46 2495.84 1523.89 1266.1 2962.83 756.97 908.8 7001.81 1278 293

Total =

26,411.57

corrosion. Many of the pipelines are as old as twenty to twenty-five years.

“Even Shell admits that “most of the facilities were constructed between the 1960s and early 1980s to the then prevailing standards. SPDC would not build them that way today.”

“Sabotage is performed primarily through what is known as “bunkering”, whereby the saboteur attempts to tap the pipeline.

In the process of extraction sometimes the pipeline is damaged or destroyed. Oil extracted in this manner can often be sold,” it concluded Data outline Other issues captured in the data under the environment and society section also indicated the clean up status that is, whether Shell was able to recover any oil from the spill; comments on when the company planned to clean up the residual impacted areas or if it had already; photographs of the spill; and the Joint investigative team, JIV report.

The JIV Report, which often runs into many pages, usually contained more detailed information on each spill, and the discoveries made by the JIV team. However, in some cases not all the members of the team, which included the Host Community; Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR; National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA; State Ministry of Environment, SME; Nigeria Police; and SPDC. Also, there were no explanations as to why one or more of the parties did not sign the report after the conclusion of the investigations.

There are also some cases where the JIV recommended for further works due to residual impact at the incident site, even when in some cases there are no recorded impact to the environment in terms of

Incidence 9 16 14 11 20 22 16 25 23 10 17 13 5

Causes Operational 1 6 1 3 1 6 1 5 8 2 2 6 1

Sabotage 8 10 13 8 19 14 15 20 15 8 15 7 4

201

43

156

,

BY CLARA NWACHUKWU, KUNLE KALEJAIYE, BOLAJI AJALA, AND EDIRI EJOH

The government agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the relevant State Ministry of the Environment and the Police

,

structures, economic trees, ponds etc.

B

ut some of the consequences of oil spills as recorded by Wikipedia, is that “oil spillage has a major impact on the ecosystem into which it is released and may constitute ecocide.

Other consequences include loss of mangrove forests, depletion of fish populations, and water hyacinth invasion and a host of others.

Specifically the online encyclopedia also maintained that “Spills in populated areas often spread out over a wide area, destroying crops and aquacultures through contamination of the groundwater and soils. The consumption of dissolved oxygen by bacteria feeding on the spilled hydrocarbons also contributes to the death of fish.

In agricultural communities, often a year ’s supply of food can be destroyed instantaneously.

“Because of the careless nature of oil operations in the Delta, the environment is growing increasingly uninhabitable. People in the affected areas complain about health issues including breathing problems and skin lesions; many have lost basic human rights such as health, access to food, clean water, and an ability to work.”

Shell response to spills Despite recording the highest

incidents and the highest volume of spills in Nigeria’s petroleum industry operations, Shell on its website maintained that it was “committed to minimising oil spills to the environment and to cleaning up all spills in the Niger Delta when they occur, as fast as possible, no matter what their cause.”

It also noted that it had “publicly reported oil spill statistics annually since 1995, and this website further enhances transparency by recording as fully as possible every spill that happens from our facilities as soon as it is possible to get accurate information.

“We work hard to reduce the number and volume of operational spills, which are under our control i.e. spills due to corrosion, human error and equipment failure,” while also tracking “the progress of our spill response from when we learn about the leak to when clean-up is completed and signed off.”

Shell went on to outline how it responds to spills, saying, “SPDC’s operators continuously monitor for leaks and

YTD

2

2

respond to anomalies. In addition, any reports, either by community surveillance teams under contract to SPDC or by the public, are responded to immediately.

SPDC first shuts down the flow of oil to the leak before steps are taken to verify other details about the incident in preparation for the response, which starts with containment. By immediately shutting down pipelines or flowlines that are damaged and containing the spills, we minimize the damage to the environment.

“To provide transparency with respect to the cause and consequence of the spill, a team including relevant government agencies and SPDC is accompanied by representatives of impacted communities when they visit the site, as quickly as possible after the leak occurs. This Joint Inspection Visit, or JIV for short, determines the spread, the volume and the cause of the spill.

“The government agencies include the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the relevant State Ministry of the Environment and the Police.

After the JIV, SPDC’s spill response team makes the necessary repairs and recovers as much of the spilled oil as possible. This is called the clean-up.

“After the clean-up, there can still be residual oil that has soaked into the soil, or oil that is sticking to vegetation. A post clean-up inspection, involving representatives from the same parties listed for JIVs, assesses whether the site needs further remediation to comply with international standards. If remediation is not required, then the spill site can be certified clean and the incident closed out.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—25

Communities threaten to halt NPDC operations in Delta

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

O

ver 30 host communities in Ughelli North Local Government of Delta State have threatened to suspend the operations of Nigeria Petroleum Company (NPDC), if issues raised by the communities are not addressed immediately by the company ’s management.

In an address presented by the Chairman Association of Federated OML 34 Host Communities, Mr. Ben Ebite, demanded NPDC to suspend operations until Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC is pressurised to release funds for the remediation of environmental degradation in the area.

The funds is said to have been abandoned for than 50 years when SPDC commenced its operations.

Other issues raised by the host communities include transparency of oil companies operation in the region and more active participation of communities and her indigenes in major contract and ownership of oil assets in OML34.

Responding to the demands of host communities, leader of NPDC delegation to the meeting Mr. B. M Sobotie, confirmed that NPDC actually took over operations in OML 34 on January 1, 2013, He pleaded for time, stating that NPDC’s scope of operations has increased considerably; adding that time and patience is required so that issues raised can be adequately addressed to the satisfaction of all parties.

Sobotie noted that FTO was a prime requirement for operations in the Oil and Gas industry, and promised to address the issue urgently, but with no specific time-frame.

He reiterated that OML 34 is of strategic importance to Nigeria economy due to the large gas reserves in the area from where the Utorogun Gas Plant supplies the bulk of gas national consumption.

C M Y K

Power investors: Cross section of the Nigerian independent power projects contractors at a meeting with the Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa… recently

Pre-paid meters: NERC to sanction erring DISCOs

BY KUNLE KALEJAYE

E

LECTRICITY distribution companies, DISCOs, across the country which fail to meter electricity customers within their network will soon taste the wrath of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the regulatory body of the power sector.

This is coming even as it announced that electricity consumers were no longer required to pay for meters.

However, records show that majority of electricity customers across the country are without meters thereby compounding the issue of unrealistic estimated bills or ‘crazy bills.

This has therefore, compelled the Commission to explore alternative ways of ensuring the quicker deployment of electricity meters to customers.

According to a statement obtained by Vanguard, an order was issued to the DISCOs to issue meters to their customers who had already paid.

Chairman of NERC Dr. Sam Amadi, said, “Customers are advised to report to NERC of any violation of this order and we will ensure that punitive action is taken against any erring DISCO.” For a quicker deployment of electricity meters to customers, NERC plans to introduce Customer Financing and the use of Accredited Meter Vendors.

The Commission also plans to ensure standardisation and efficiency in the deployment of the meters and to that end a public notice will soon be

issued for all vendors of meters to apply for certification of their products in line with the metering code.

The Commission will also write to the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, to fast track a No Objection Certification for various vendors.

Explaining the rationale behind the Customer Financing, Amadi told Vanguard in a telephone chat

that willing customers can advance money to the DISCOS after which a meter will be installed in their premises within a stipulated timeframe.

He further explained that in exchange for this advance, the DISCOs will in turn reduce the customer’s electricity bills on a monthly basis to the tune of the amount originally advanced by the customer.

For Purchase and installation of meters from Accredited

Vendors, the NERC boss said the Commission may accredit meter vendors to supply and install meters directly to customers.

Payment modalities for these meters will be worked out by the Commission.

Amadi noted a key focus for 2013 is a comprehensive metering, which remains a priority of the Commission. To this end, NERC is compelled to look inward with a view to addressing this metering issue.

PTDF partners Navy, Yabatech in ICT, human capacity devt

BY MICHAEL EBOH

T

he Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has entered into a strategic partnership with the Yaba College of Technology, Yabatech and the Nigerian Navy to promote human capacity development in Information and Communication Technology, ICT. Speaking during the commissioning and handing over of the ICT Centre and ELearning centre built by the PTDF and donated to Yabatech and the Nigerian Navy respectively, Mr. Jolomi Arenyeka, Acting Executive Secretary, PTDF, said the centers will help promote learning and deepen ICT penetration in Nigeria.

He maintained that the projects are a product of need by the end users and that the PTDF will continue to invest in more of such projects when its resources increase.

“This is the computer age and our target is capacity building in the oil and gas industry, in the field of engineering and other sectors of the economy. Our goal is to take such centres across the length and breadth of the country.”

He said the decision to set up the ICT centre in Yabatech is borne out of the decision Our goal is to catch them young by setting up such centres in institution of learning across Nigeria.

He further stated that setting up the E-learning centre at the Nigerian Navy Ship, Quorra, Apapa, is due to the commitment of the Nigerian Navy to the training and development of its personnel.

He said, “The Navy over the years has engaged in various training programmes, hence our decision to look at the Navy in these early phases of the programme. As time goes on, we intend to look at

other areas of the armed forces.

This is line with our commitment to impacting knowledge in the system.

Speaking on the centre, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, represented by Rear Admiral Azubuike Ajuonu, said the project is in line of the mission statement of the Nigerian Navy and will assist in the training and re-training of both officers and men of the Navy.

He said the centre will enhance its officers’ knowledge of ICT, adding that it is a testimony of the Nigerian Navy’s thirst for modern ICT knowledge and technological advancement.

Also speaking, Mrs. Margaret Ladipo, Rector, Yabatech, said, “PTDF/ICT centre is a 100-seater building equipped with computer work stations, a server room, independent power supply, VSAT and air conditioning facilities.

26 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Nigeria loses N1.011trn to oil theft, flooding …Earns N235bn from local crude oil refining

BY MICHAEL EBOH

N

igeria lost N1.011 trillion ($6.439 billion) to oil theft and production losses arising from the flooding that ravaged most parts of the country last year, as the country recorded a decline in crude oil production in November 2011.

The CBN also stated that the country earned N235.307 billion ($1.499 billion) from the local refining of crude oil for domestic consumption in November 2012, as deliveries to the refineries for domestic consumption stood at 0.45 mbd or 13.50 million barrels during the month under review.

According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Economic Report for the month of November 2012, Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensates and natural gas liquids, was estimated at an average of 1.95 million barrels per day (mbd) or 58.5 million barrels for the month, dropping by 0.05 mbd or 2.5 per cent below the average of 2.00 mbd or 62.0 million barrels produced in the month of October 2012.

The CBN, which put the price per barrel at US$111.02, said the country earned N784.366 billion ($4.996 billion) from crude oil export, dropping by 3.2 per cent from N837.518 billion ($5.335 billion) recorded in October.

According to CBN, Crude oil export was estimated at 1.50 mbd or 45.0 million barrels for the month, representing a decline of 3.2 per cent when compared with the 1.55 mbd or 48.05 million barrels recorded in the preceding month.

“At an estimated average of US$111.02 per barrel, the price of

O

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Solonic Energy Limited, Otunba Olu Adenodi; Director, Mr Peter Ewemen; Creative Director, Solnic GMBH, Germany, Mrs Martina Holtmann; and Mr Hans Holtmann, MD, Solonic GMBH, during the inauguration of Solonic Energy in Lagos, recently.

Nigeria’s reference crude, the Bonny Light (37º API), fell by 2.8 per cent, compared with the level in the preceding month.” The report noted.

The CBN said the fall in price was attributed to the heightened concerns of decreased demand by the United States as a result of their announcement of plans to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

The report further stated that the average prices of other competing crudes, namely the U.K Brent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Forcados, at US$110.20, US$79.15 and US$112.66 per barrel also exhibited similar trend as the Bonny Light.

“The average price of the OPEC’s

basket of eleven crude streams decreased by 1.8 per cent to US$106.86 per barrel below the level recorded in the preceding,” the CBN stated.

The CBN further disclosed that oil sector receipts increase by 5.2 per cent to US$3.53 billion (N554.21 billion) in November, accounting for 33.6 per cent of the total foreign exchange inflow of US$10.53 billion (N1.65 trillion).

Continuing, the CBN said, “The visible sector accounted for the bulk (65.9 per cent) of total foreign exchange disbursed in November 2012.

“A breakdown of the sectoral disbursement showed that the minerals and oil sector accounted for 14.9 per cent followed by industrial sector 20.8 per cent.

NUPENG blames pipelines vandalism on NNPC

BY GODWIN ORITSE

T

HE leadership of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has berated the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for not concluding on security of pipelines with local communities and their leaders.

NUPENG alleged that the NNPC previously had an arrangement with communities to secure pipelines across the country for a fee, but which the Corporation refused to pay after several years of securing these pipelines by members of the host communities where these facilities are sited.

Speaking to Vanguard in Lagos recently, NUPENG’s Zonal Chairman, West, Comrade Tokunbo Korodo, alleged that the NNPC failed to protect these pipelines by reneging on the agreement it entered into with leaders of the host communities.

Korodo noted that from the time the NNPC reneged on the agreement, vandals have been having a field C M Y K

BRIEF Oando rig operates 3 years without loss time injury

day in damaging the pipelines.

He stated that vandals had also crippled other NNPC’s facilities across the country, and advised the management of NNPC to return to the former arrangement of securing pipelines with the assistance of community leaders. He argued that it is cheaper to have the community people secure the pipelines than allow vandals hold the country to ransom.

The NUPENG’s official disclosed that at a time, the group had to provide security to ensure the steady flow of products across the country since the government failed to see the need to do so.

His words, “The Federal Government has failed to live up to its primary responsibility of protecting the pipelines and by extension expectations of the masses, and this has also brought about an increase in the issue of vandalism.

“The Government buried pipelines across the country and empowered NNPC/PPMC to ensure the protection of these pipelines, and between NNPC and PPMC went as

far as giving the security contract of these pipelines to local chiefs and Community Development Associations to ensure that the pipelines that runs through their domain and communities were adequately protected for a little amount to the communities.

“The pipelines were well protected by the community leaders and local chiefs for a long time until NNPC and PPMC refused to pay a backlog of arrears of these peanuts that are paid to the people for protecting the pipelines.

“Because the debt owed to these people, they abandoned the job and vandals moved in, when we now saw what going on we was moved in to checkmate the activities of these vandals. When we saw what was going on we moved in our security to checkmate the activities of vandals “None of the systems are working Vandals have cripple the entire operations of NNPC excerpt for system 2B of NNPC you can check this, it is system 2B that belongs to the western states that is working.

ando Energy Services Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous provider of swamp drilling rigs services and a subsidiary of Oando Plc, last week announced that the OES Teamwork, one its four rigs, has recorded a safety milestone of three years of uninterrupted operations without a Loss Time Injury (LTI).

LTI is an industry Key Performance Indicator (KPI), which measures adherence to safety requirements by evaluating the number of injurybearing incidents capable of preventing a worker from performing or continuing with a task.

OES Teamwork is the second rig in Oando’s drilling fleet to achieve this safety feat, after OES Integrity recorded the same achievement on Friday, August 10, 2012. OESL, which currently has three swamp rigs in operations, is strongly committed to Health, Safety, and Environment requirements, and is poised to remain a leading service provider in Nigeria’s oil servicing sector.

Commenting, Mr. Bandele Badejo, Chief Executive Officer, OESL said: “We are pleased with this very significant and commendable milestone for all our stakeholders.

Operating the rig for One Thousand and Ninety-six days without a Lost Time Injury is a demonstration of the emphasis we place on Environment Health, Safety, Security and Quality processes in the company, as well as the commitment of our people to these processes. This feat further demonstrates to the industry that indigenous drilling services providers with the right people and attitude are capable of sustaining safe, efficient and incident-free operations.”

Also commenting, Mr. Chijioke Akwukwuma, Chief Environment, Health, Safety Security and Quality (EHSSQ) Officer, Oando PLC, “We are very proud of the OES teamwork for achieving this remarkable safety milestone, which is in line with the Oando Group’s zero tolerance for unsafe conditions and practices.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 27

Understanding petroleum industry JOA in post world financial meltdown era (1)

BY FELIX AYANRUOH

J

OINT Operating Agreements (JOA) is the engine that drives petroleum exploration and development around the world. It is axiomatic that major international petroleum companies depend on JOA to provide services and technology which drives petroleum development and production both onshore and offshore. The JOA has two main purposes.

First, it establishes a legal framework for the parties to allocate risks and costs amongst themselves. Generally, costs and risks are shared according to each party ’s production interest in the contract area. Second, the JOA sets out the rules and procedures governing the relationship between the Operator and nonOperators in connection with operations in the contract area.

After 20 years of preeminence and general usage the Association for International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN) JAO has become the grundnorm for petroleum joint venture a r r a n g e m e n t i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, particularly in emerging economies like Nigeria.

Due to its importance and acceptability in the upstream petroleum industry and with recent trends in the industry, the AIPN revised Its 2002 International Operating Agreement, to “current-day realities” of international oil & gas projects. The revised 2012 JOA updates the 2002 JOA, which was first issued in 1990 and subsequently revised in 1995, and 2002. Several recent significant events that redefined the industry’s approach to doing business, includes the 2008 meltdown of the financial markets, the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the 2010 introduction of the UK Bribery Act. The drafting committee grappled with these new realities in adapting the model JOA in a way that addressed the risks inherent in the changing global industry but still reflects current international practice.

The revised 2012 JOA C M Y K

include changes and additions to provisions related to (i) Operator rights and duties, (ii) limitations on Operator liability, (iii) removal and replacement of Operators, (iv) revisions to Work Programs, Budgets, and AFEs, (v) decommissioning, (vi) the consequences of Exclusive Operations, (vii) default, (viii) conflicts of interest, and (ix) Bribery compliance.

The provisions dealing with the limitation of the operator ’s liability was not substantially revised, notwithstanding the fact that experts in the field advocated for an overhaul of the provision. The 2002 JOA reverberate the long established position that the operator should neither profit nor suffer loss from its role as operator, and hence indemnified by the other parties of the agreement for any liability to them or to third parties – shared on a pro-rata basis between the interest holders, including the operator.

Furthermore, it provides for carve-out from the exclusion of liability and indemnity – that is, in the event of gross negligence or willful misconduct by the senior supervisory personnel of the operator or its affiliates. The operator’s liability does not cover any consequential or environmental loss. With the Deepwater horizon oil spill saga, the issue of the inclusion of senior personal in the definition of willful misconduct becomes imperative – in practice it is difficult to prove willful misconduct due to the narrow definition in the 2002 model agreement and show of involvement of senior personnel.

However, the 2012 JOA does not include any suggestive changes pursuant to the concerns raised on the issue of operator ’s liability. The reason for sustainability of the limitation of operator liability is the need to encourage parties to take on the role of the operator, suffice it to state that any party taking on this role may be perspicacious of accepting any greater liability than provided for in the 2002 JOA.

However, this provision will typically lead to heavy negotiations JOA drafting. In light of the post deepwater horizon saga parties particularly minority interest holders will argue that the operator should take greater responsibility for its decision and actions.

The issue of defaults in JOA’s has always been a contentious one in negotiating the consequences of default – failure by one party to satisfy cash call.

Forfeiture, which was held as a default remedy under both the 2002 and 2012 JOA’s may be overreaching and unenforceable in certain jurisdiction – amounts to penalty under English Law. However, the 2012 JOA provides for remedies in the event of default, nondefaulting parties may now avail themselves of a new “ withering” remedy, in addition to the remedies contained in the 2002 JOA. Under the withering provisions, the non-defaulting party shall have the option to require the party in default to offer to assign a part of the defaulting party ’s participating interest in the corresponding exploitation area. As a remedy, the “withering” clause is more proportionate than a complete forfeiture because it is measured against the extent of the default, and therefore tries to avoid the enforceability concerns with the “disproportionate” remedies. This remedy also provides continuity by enabling the defaulting party to remain in the rest of the p r o j e c t . felix.ayanruohlaw@gmail.com

28—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Nigerian Content creates 30,000 jobs – Alison Madueke …As Nigerians win 87% of industry contracts T

he implementation of the Nigerian Content Act in the past 30 months has deepened the Nigerian Oil and Gas local supply chain and increased industry manhours performed by Nigerians by over 350 per cent resulting in over 30,000 direct productive jobs, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has said.

Speaking at a meeting of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board held in Abuja last week, the Minister who doubles as the Chairman of the Council explained “that just by insisting on using Nigerians in the industry, we have deepened the local supply chain” The jobs were generated in engineering, fabrication, exploration and production, marine transportation and logistics sectors, which had been developed to become more robust.

She expressed optimism that the job growth trajectory will not only be sustained but also drive multipliers across industries following the integration of youths training into the implementation process.

“I have no doubt that more jobs will be created in 2013 and we shall achieve greater

localization of industry services, manufacturing and fabrication in 2013,” she added.

According to AlisonMadueke, Nigerian Content implementation has increased the level of participation of Nigerians in oil and gas contracts to 87 per cent of total industry contracts, describing this is a first step towards domiciliation of spend and local value addition.

Commenting further on the

success recorded so far, the Minister noted that “The Board has to a large extent achieved consensus in most aspects of Nigerian Content implementation to the extent that there has been no major dispute amongst stakeholders on interpretation of provisions of the Nigerian Content Law. “Stakeholders are also responding positively to the need to do things differently in the industry, for the benefit

From left: Managing Director, RSL Derivatives Global Services Limited, Mr. Lekan Abiola; Chief Financial Officer, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman; and Group Head, Consumer Lending, Sterling Bank, Mrs. Kikelo Kuponiyi, during the Press Conference on Renta -Month Launch in Lagos.

Oil workers threaten strike over unfair labour practices

BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG

O

IL workers have issued a three-day strike notice to the governments of Rivers, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Benue over alleged unfair labour practices by the management of Onne, Rivers State, Free Trade Zone, FTZ. Under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, the workers demanded the immediate recall of workers sacked for engaging in union activities and called for the stopping of every act of impunity and injustice being meted out to oil and gas workers in the FTZ. In a communiqué issued after a meeting of the Joint Action Committee, JAC, of the two unions on Onne FTZ in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the oil workers explained that

of all.

This clearly demonstrates that we have been carrying the industry along in the implementation of the Act.” Alison-Madueke also assured that the Federal Government will continue to support the Board and its numerous local value addition initiatives, aimed at deepening indigenous participation in the industry.

the planned industrial action would commence on February 13 and end on February 15, 2013.

They said during the three days action, all activities in the oil and gas sector in the entire south east and south-south states except Delta and Edo states, would be crippled.

They warned that if after the three days’ warning strike, no concrete step was taken to correct the injustice by the employers in the FTZ, a full blown industrial action affecting the whole country and including but not limited to total shut down of the oil and gas production would be embarked upon.

According to them, the planned strike was in compliance with an earlier directive of the November 16, 2012 Joint National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of NUPENG and PENGASSAN in Calabar, Cross River State, which gave a three weeks ultimatum to companies operating in the FTZ to allow unionisation in

compliance with the Nigerian Labour laws.

The workers noted with dismay that more than two months after the expiration of that ultimatum, and despite intimating all concerned government agencies with the unwholesome anti-labour practices in the Onne FTZ, nothing had been done to redress the situation.

The unions were therefore being forced to embark on the warning strike to seek redress, saying “In trying to organise members in the Onne FTZ, we have lost members to sack, victimisation and humiliation contrary to labour best practices and as guaranteed by Section 40 of the Nigeria Constitution, Nigerian Labour Laws and International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 90.

In fact, companies in other areas of the zone which oversees Rivers, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Anambra and Benue have relocated to the Onne FTZ just to avoid the existence and practice of trade unionism.

”We have reported severally, the unfair labour practices going on in the Onne FTZ to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment but despite the lip service advise of the Ministry of Labour to authorities of the FTZ to respect constitutional rights of workers to join trade unions and bargain collectively,

BRIEF Gov Fayemi partners ICAN to promote corruption free society

D

R. Kayode Fayemi, Executive Governor, Ekiti State, will be joining Mr. Adedoyin Owolabi, BSc, MILR, MNIM, FCA, 48th President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at the 7th Western Zonal Districts’ Conference of ICAN on Tuesday, February 12, to promote a corruption-free society through advocacy of cashless economy.

The conference tagged Ekiti 2013, which has been scheduled to take place at the Bimbo Owolabi Hall, Afe Babalola University Ikare Road, Ado-Ekiti from Monday, February 11 to Thursday, February 14, will be declared open by the Governor, who is both the Grand Patron and Special Guest of Honour, while Mr. Owolabi, as the chief host, will deliver the keynote address.

The theme of the Conference is “Promoting a Corruption-free Society through a Cashless Economy – The Role of Chartered Accountants.Other dignitaries and erudite resource persons expected at the conference plenary sessions and technical workshops include Professor Taiwo O. Asaolu, PhD, FCA, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, who will deliver the lead paper on the topic, Promoting a Corruption– free Society through a Cashless Economy – The Role of Chartered Accountants. The lead paper session will be chaired by Dr. Olaoye Adegoke, MFR while the discussants are Mrs. Tope Omage, FCA and Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, FCA.

World Bank partners Nigeria to reform water sector

T

HE World Bank has said it will work more closely with the Federal Government in order to achieve its objective of reforming the water sector, particularly in the area of irrigation.

A statement from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday said the Country Director of the World Bank in Nigeria, Maria Francoise Maria-Nelly, said this at a meeting with officials of the ministry.

The ministry’s delegation to the World Bank office in Abuja, according to the statement, was led by the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe.

Maria-Nelly urged the ministry to also focus on irrigation

of dry lands across the country in order to increase available land for cultivation.

The statement, which was signed by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the ministry, Mrs. Boade Akinola, quoted Maria-Nelly as saying the bank would deploy all the necessary expertise to ensure that the water sector reform process was concluded and implemented.

Ochekpe commended the bank for its support to the water sector reform programme, adding that the Federal Government was doing all within its powers to promote synergy among the three tiers of government.

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—29

Toyota Prius named ‘greenest'car, Ford F-350 ‘meanest'

BY THEODORE OPARA

T

HE Toyota Prius C, the newest member of Toyota Prius “family,” has been named the nation’s “greenest” vehicle by the American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy. At the other end of the spectrum, the ACEEE tarred the Ford F-350 as the “meanest,” or dirtiest vehicle on the road.

The organization, which describes itself as a “catalyst to advance energy efficiency,” hailed the growing number of hybrids, plug-ins, pure battery-electric vehicles and other environmental friendly vehicles now coming to market and noted that new products dominated the dozen models on its “Greenest” vehicle list.

“The vehicles at the top of this year’s rankings are proof that automakers are really ramping up their offerings,” said ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. “There are more hybrid and electric options on the market this year than ever before and the race for a spot on the Greenest list is increasingly competitive.

Automakers have revamped their offerings to meet the growing demand for efficient vehicles and new fuel economy standards.”

While a select group of conventionally powered vehicles continues to do well in the study, they’ve largely been displaced by newer offerings using some form of battery power, whether light hybrids or full electric propulsion. The Honda Civic Natural Gas model that dominated as the number greenest model for eight years didn’t even make ACEEE’s Top 12 this time. Only the Smart fortwo and Scion iQ microcars made the list using gasolinepowered engines.

All of the new Prius family members took “Greenest” honors, the original Prius hatchback taking third place, the big Prius V in 11th, and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid landing in fourth.

While the Honda natural gas model was knocked off the list for the

Toyota Hilux 4X4 drivers, De Villiers, Von Zitzewitz join Dakar elite

G

Toyota Prius C survey’s 25th year, the Japanese maker ’s Fit Electric earned the number two spot, while its new Civic Hybrid landed in fifth.

Three Ford Motor Co. models also earned “Greenest” honors, including the Focus EV and the Fusion C-Max Hybrids. The dozen

honored nameplates also included two Europeans, the VW Jetta Hybrid in seventh, and the Smart fortwo in eighth.

Along with the “Greenest” list, the ACEEE gave kudos to a dozen “Greener Choice” models that were the cleanest in their individual product

segments. Detroit models claimed half of those winners, including the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Equinox.

However Ford was hammered as having three of the “Meanest” models, a list that not only included the F-350 but also the slightly smaller F-250 pickup.

Lagos commences removal of abandoned vehicles

T

HE Lagos State Government will soon commence removal of all abandoned vehicles on Lagos Street as the three day ultimatum given to owners of such vehicles

expired last week.

Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who gave the warning in his office at Alausa, Ikeja, said that owners of abandoned vehicles

especially in Surulere, Mainland, Mushin, Agege, and other Local Governments in the State should remove their vehicles immediately as members •Continues on page 31

INIEL de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz have secured their place in the history books of the world’s longest and toughest motor race, the Dakar Rally. In the five South American editions of the iconic event – it was held in Africa up to 2007 and cancelled in 2008 because of political unrest and terrorist activity – the 2009 champions have achieved four top-four placings – an achievement unequalled in marathon rallying history.

Their latest achievement in finishing second in the 2013 edition in Santiago, Chile, on Saturday behind defending champions Stephane Peterhansel and Jean Paul Cottret of France came after an 8 500-kilometre haul through Peru, Argentina and Chile. It was a supreme demonstration of reliability for their South African-built and

developed Imperial Toyota Hilux 4x4 and of the dedication and commitment of a whollySouth African team with South African sponsors.

De Villiers, 40, from Stellenbosch, and Von Zitzewitz, 44, from Karlshof in Germany (although regarded by the team as an honorary South African), have contested six Dakars together since 2007 and enjoy a finishing record unequalled by anyone: 11th in 2007, first in 2009, seventh in 2010, second in 2011, third in 2012 and second in 2013. They have always made it to the finish.

Peterhansel, who has now won 11 Dakars (six on a motorcycle and now five in a car), and Cottret started the 2013 edition as rank favourites. While they came up to expectations, De Villiers and Von Zitzewitz in Imperial Toyota #301 far exceeded expectations by beating several more favoured competitors.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—29

C M Y K

30—Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Toyota Prius named ‘greenest'car, Ford F-350 ‘meanest'

BY THEODORE OPARA

T

HE Toyota Prius C, the newest member of Toyota Prius “family,” has been named the nation’s “greenest” vehicle by the American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy. At the other end of the spectrum, the ACEEE tarred the Ford F-350 as the “meanest,” or dirtiest vehicle on the road.

The organization, which describes itself as a “catalyst to advance energy efficiency,” hailed the growing number of hybrids, plug-ins, pure

C M Y K

battery-electric vehicles and other environmental friendly vehicles now coming to market and noted that new products dominated the dozen models on its “Greenest” vehicle list.

“The vehicles at the top of this year’s rankings are proof that automakers are really ramping up their offerings,” said ACEEE lead vehicle analyst Shruti Vaidyanathan. “There are more hybrid and electric options on the market this year than ever before and the race for a spot on the Greenest list is

Toyota Prius C

increasingly competitive.

Automakers have revamped their offerings to meet the growing demand for efficient vehicles and new fuel economy standards.”

While a select group of conventionally powered vehicles continues to do well in the study, they’ve largely been displaced by newer offerings using some form of battery power, whether light hybrids or full electric propulsion. The Honda Civic Natural Gas model that dominated as the number greenest model •Continues on page 31

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—31

VW to add CrossBlue to SUV line-up V

OLKSWAGEN has promised to double the range of SUVs and crossovers it currently offers – and a critical addition to the line-up is making its first appearance at the Detroit Auto Show this week. Dubbed CrossBlue, the midsize SUV concept has been developed specifically for the North American market.

Significantly, the prototype on display at the 2013 North American International Auto Show features VW’s new dieselelectric plug-in hybrid

drivetrain, a technology the maker boasts can deliver a mix of performance, range and segment-leading fuel economy.

Whether the diesel hybrid technology will actually be offered in the U.S. market remains to be seen, but a production version of the CrossBlue Concept is expected to reach showrooms in the near future. Company officials say it is critical if they hope to meet their target of setting an alltime sales record in the American market before

the end of the decade.

“The CrossBlue concept is exactly the right type of vehicle for the U.S. market,” said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. “It combines a truly versatile interior layout with sophisticated Volkswagen design, to give a unique and supremely stylish offering in this segment. Moreover, the vehicle showcases our innovative German powertrain engineering and the bandwidth of the new MQB architecture.”

While designed in Germany under the guidance of VW’s styling chief Walter da Silva, the CrossBlue aims to balance two distinctive American niches, blending what the maker describes as the “masculine character of an SUV…with the spaciousness and flexibility of a minivan.”

In fact, it appears to be aimed at serving as an alternative to the longawaited and ultimately abandoned replacement for the legendary Volkswagen Microvan.

The maker has tried re-

peatedly to come up with a modern version – such as the ill-fated Bulli concept — but has repeatedly failed to find a design that would both meet modern safety standards while also clicking with American buyers.

What remains to be seen is whether the production version of the CrossBlue would serve as a replacement for the slow-selling Routan, the VW-badged minivan currently being produced by Chrysler.

The CrossBlue Concept boasts six individual seats and 12 airbags, as well as

a variety of other advanced safety features. The cabin is both spacious and wellappointed, with the use of wood, leather and chrome trim more in line with an Audi model than the vehicle Volkswagen.

The high-tech focus can be seen in almost every details of the CrossBlue, from LED taillights that form the letter “E,” to the onboard infotainment package that includes a Fender audio system and video players that allow rear passengers to watch their own programming.

Toyota Prius named ‘greenest'car, Ford F-350 ‘meanest' Continues from Page 30 for eight years didn’t even make ACEEE’s Top 12 this time. Only the Smart fortwo and Scion iQ microcars made the list using gasolinepowered engines.

All of the new Prius family members took “Greenest” honors, the original Prius hatchback taking third place, the big Prius V in 11th, and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid landing in fourth.

While the Honda natural gas model was knocked off the list for the survey’s 25th year, the Japanese maker ’s Fit Electric earned the number two spot, while its new Civic Hybrid landed in fifth.

Three Ford Motor Co. models also earned “Greenest” honors, including the Focus EV and the Fusion C-Max Hybrids. The dozen honored nameplates also included two Europeans, the VW Jetta Hybrid in seventh, and the Smart fortwo in eighth.

Along with the “Greenest” list, the ACEEE gave kudos to a dozen “Greener Choice” models that were the cleanest in their individual product segments. Detroit models claimed half of those winners, including the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Equinox.

However Ford was hammered as having three of the “Meanest” models, a list that not only included the F-350 but also the slightly smaller F-250 pickup.

C M Y K

32—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Tribute to the Country Man @ 47 F

OR Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and reality of tomorrow. Many years ago, Dickson suffered from bad governance and lamented in particular, the underdevelopment of Bayelsans and the Ijaw nation as a whole.

The cop - turned lawyer dreamt to develop his people if he got the opportunity to lead. God Almighty and the good people of Bayelsa State gave him the mandate to give hope to his people and translate his dream to reality with his overwhelming election as the fourth executive governor of the oil rich Bayelsa State on February 11, 2011.

And like the former leader of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kwan Yew, who turned around the fortunes of his country by leapfrogging Singapore from third world to first world, Dickson has hit the ground running, laying a solid foundation for the rapid development of Bayelsa State.

tic centre as well as a door court house which are to be commissioned on February 14, as his government turns a year. There are other ongoing projects in the state such as the Deep Sea Port in Agger, Yenagoa Airport, the three senatorial roads and to mention but a few. The governor has promised to complete the Tower hotel, Yenagoa and any viable projects inherited from past administrations. And above all, there is peace, security and social justice in the once restive state. Thanks to the huge investments in security and the financial autonomy granted the state judiciary by the Dickson’s administration.

Governor Henry Seriake Dickson on his swearing in as govoernor of Bayelsa State

Payment to ghost institutions It will be recalled that Dickson inherited a hugely indebted state running into over N66 billion with a bloated monthly salary wage bill of over N6billion, in spite of the over N650 billion collected as federal allocation by his predecessor. Staff audit conducted by government showed that the bulk of the money went to ghost workers and ghost institutions and the governor has since brought sanity to public service by stopping the fraud as well as prosecuting culprits.

While taking his oath of office on February 14 last year, Dickson popularly known as Countryman because of his manifest connect with the grassroots and Ijaw cause, proclaimed free and compulsory education in the state. He promised to drastically trim the cost of governance, deliver developmental deliverables to the people and change the governance culture in the state through the enthronement of purposeful leadership that is anchored on justice, fairness, transparency and accountability.

Barely one year into his administration, he has walked the talk so much so that ordinary Bayelsans now call him the “talk na do governor.” The Dickson’s administration has already constructed 41 roads, built 18 buildings which include schools and a multi-million naira world class diagnos-

Map of Bayelsa State

The governor showed leadership by starting his reform with his office. His predecessor used about N1.685 billion monthly to run government house, Yenagoa, otherwise known as Creek Haven. The Countryman showed clearly that he is a leader of conviction and not convenience when he denied himself the luxury of living like a king kong.

Hugely indebted state He cut it to about N657,460,000 million, thereby saving over N1 billion for the hugely indebted state.

He has turned a hitherto pariah Bayelsa to a tourism and investment haven. The question those who may not have keenly followed his government may ask is, how did he achieve this feat? First, Governor Dickson invested heavily in security, outlawed kidnapping, secret cultism and all forms of criminalities hitherto used by politicians especially incumbents to oppress their opponents and drive away contractors from sites. The governor

also enacted the Compulsory Savings Law, Transparency and Accountability Law which made it mandatory for him to be prudent and accountable to the people. And with the savings regime, the state is fully prepared for the rainy day.

This also implies that it will neither be indebted to businessmen nor be broke and investors are assured of great returns for their investments.

Indeed these measures coupled with the governor’s integrity and track record of service, helped to restore investors’ confidence in the state and that was the magic wand that made them to scramble for investment opportunities in Bayelsa.

As Governor Dickson marked his 47th birthday, yesterday, January 28, he exudes six cardinal qualities which make him stand tall in the comity of governors: Integrity, uncommon courage, vision, conviction, service to mankind and fear of God. Indeed it takes a man with fear of God and audacity to sacrifice his comfort by cutting Creek Haven allocation, banned cultism and made it punishable by 10 years impris-

onment without option of fine.

Similarly, it takes a man of conviction to honour late General Sani Abacha for creating Bayelsa State. Like the wordsmith of our time, Chief Dan Agbese, posited in his column, the award came at a period in Nigerian history when identifying with the late general was like committing political harakiri. But Governor Dickson reputed for working according to his conscience immortalized the late General by naming an estate in the state capital after him and conferred Ijaw name on his first son, Mohammed.

It takes a man with these qualities to declare a functional free and compulsory education in Bayelsa State. Before Dickson came to judgement in Creek haven, no governor dared to implement free and compulsory education. The thinking especially during the

,

By FRANCIS AGBO

billion, the first of its kind, on the education of indigent post graduate students of Ijaw nationality who are covered by the Bayelsa State Scholarship Scheme. Born on the 28th January, 1966 in the rustic riverine Toru- Orua in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Nanaye Dickson of Orua, a descendant of the famous King Kpadia Royal House of Tarakiri Kingdom, Dickson is also a descendant of the renowned Obu warrior family of Orua whose trademark is valour, bravery and honour.

Dickson attended Kolobiriowei Primary School, Toru-Orua from 1972 to 1978 where he got his First School Leaving Certificate and proceeded to Government Secondary School, Toru-Ebeni between 1978 to 1983 and obtained his West

What is not often remembered about Dickson and for which he has not received sufficient encomium was his role in the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill at the National Assembly

immediate past administration was that if education was free, there may not be enough money for the power elites to share.

Today, the entire education sector has changed. Government provides the following items free to pupils and students: textbooks, uniforms, sandals, bags, and writing materials. Government is also responsible for the payment of WAEC, NECO, and JAMB forms fees for students. Already 400 primary schools with 400 headmaster/ principal/staff quarters are under construction across the state. Similarly, Dickson has spent about N2

,

African School Certification (WASC/GCE). Dickson joined the Nigeria Police Force in 1986 to raise money to further his education, because his parents could no longer cater for his schooling. He gained admission in 1988 at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt to study Law from where he graduated with LL.B (HONS.) in 1992.

He then proceeded in 1993, to earn his Bachelors of Law (B.L.HONS) from the Nigeria Law School, Lagos and was called to the Nigeria Bar the same year.

Continues on page 33

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 33

Continues from page 32

He was Cadet Assistant Superintended of Police in 1994 but withdrew his service to start legal practice in Port Harcourt where he worked with SERENA DAVID DOKUBO & CO. He was an associate solicitor from 1994 to 1995 and moved to ALUKO & OYEBODE, a prominent Law firm in Lagos in a similar position. In 1996, he founded SERIAKE DICKSON & CO law firm in Port Harcourt and later Yenagoa. He was elected Pioneer Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Bayelsa State Chapter, a position he held from 1996 to 1998.

In 1998 when all the bigwigs in Bayelsa were either in PDP or APP (now ANPP), Dickson chose to pitch tent with the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and was elected its chairman between 1998 to 2000 and led the party to winning all the elections in Bayelsa West Senatorial District. Indeed Bayelsa State was the only state the party recorded such victory outside the core Yoruba speaking states. The party apparatchik rewarded him by elevating him to the post of National Legal Adviser between 2000 and 2002.

He was equally elected National Legal Adviser of the foremost Pan-Ijaw Socio-Cultural and Political group, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) from 2001 to 2003. He became a Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Nigeria

,

He has turned a hitherto pariah Bayelsa to a tourism and investment haven.

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Bar Association between 2004 and 2006. The crisis in the defunct AD coupled with his desire to help President Goodluck Jonathan who was deputy governor at the time to succeed the incumbent governor, Chief DSP Alamiesiegha forced Dickson to join PDP in 2005 and became the founding Secretary of Jonathan’s political group, Green Movement in 2006. Dickson was appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Bayelsa State in 2006 by then governor, Dr. Jonathan, following the ouster of Alamiesiegha.

Poised to play national politics, he was elected member, representing Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Dickson served as the Chairman, House Committee on Justice.

Spornsorship of critical bills He was re-elected in 2011 but resigned after he was elected governor. As a lawmaker, he sponsored so many critical bills which have been passed into law and played a key role in the successes recorded by the sixth National Assembly.

But what is not often remembered about Dickson and for which he has not received sufficient encomium was his role in the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill at the National Assembly where he served as Vice Chairman of the FOIB harmonization committee and his delivery of an entire senatorial district to AD in 1998 and 1999 as well as his amendment of the evidence Act, the first ever since 1954. The lesson from Dickson’s story is if this man who did not see a moving vehicle until he was 18 years could work so hard to be governor, then there are limitless opportunities for all Bayelsan youths if they take advantage of the enabling environment created by this government. Happy birthday to the Olokodau of Orua Kingdom.

Francis Agbo, a journalist and Public Affairs Analysts based in Yenagoa wrote via (francisagbo38@yahoo.com)

Bayero’s attack: A sinister sign to northern rulers

BY ROSS ALABOGEORGE

T

HE abhorrent and bloodcurdling assailment on the highly respected Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ado Bayero 13th Fulani emir since the Fulani War of Usman dan Fodio, and the longest-serving emir in the emirate’s history - perhaps signal of an emerging blitz on the emirates, partly because of their disinclination to the heightened threat of Boko Haram.

It also exposes the undeniable truth – a deep chasm in sociopolitical dynamics on the Fulani dominated Northern Nigeria. Alhaji Ado Bayero, the Emir of Kano sits on throne of the wealthiest emirate in Northern Nigeria, and is by all standards the wealthiest Emir of his generation; ironically, his emirate when compared with others, also has the highest population of poor people.

As far back as 1850, a German scholar, Heinrich Barth, who lived in Kano for several years, de-

,

Tribute to the Country Man @ 47

Map of northern Nigeria

1995, the Late military administrator of Kano state, Col Abdullahi Wase, himself the son of a first class Emir in Plateau state ordered the federal pay officer in Kano to deduct three (3%) directly from the statutory allocations of all the local governments in Kano state for the upkeep of the Kano Emirate Council, since then the cash flow from the councils have remained that way.

The new Kano is ruled and governed by seasoned capitalists,

The attack on the emir is quite unfortunate, but the attack that happens to the North everyday is the millions of Northern children living in poverty and illiteracy

scribed the city as a remarkable centre of trade in Africa. The city had some of Nigeria’s earliest millionaires. By 1922, groundnut trader Alhassan Dantata had become the richest businessman in Kano, surpassing fellow merchants Umaru Sharubutu Koki and Maikano Agogo.

However, this history of commerce and trade has only left behind artefacts for the local museum in the city centre.

Kano state, by 2006 census figures, is the most populous state in Nigeria. By virtue of its given population and the state’s 44 local government areas, the state receives the highest federal allocation from the Federal Government of Nigeria, more than Lagos and any other state of the oil producing Niger Delta Region.

The Kano Emirate is a key beneficiary of this huge population incentive that accrues to the state.

It is no secret that the Emir of Kano receives as some kind of royalty (homage). In march

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who have shown little or no empathy to the squalid and grimy living conditions of majority of its people. The new Kano has a total of about six million Almajaris (2006 census figures) roaming the street. The new Kano has one of the highest absolute poverty level in the country.

In the last decade no one would have thought that such a high profile attack on one of the best preserved and established royal dynasties of the North was even nearly possible. The Kano emirate has always enjoyed the love and honour of all its subjects, at least, so they thought until that utterly horrendous attack.

In the past, such grotesque attack on the highly revered Emir would have attracted the spontaneous ire of the people of Kano, and an immediate eruption of violence from all corners of emirate. The uncontrollable rage of the subjects would have actually made Kano state ‘ungovernable’.

It has happened before, in 1981,

when Governor Abubakar Rimi launched a political attack on the emir of Kano, the people resisted fiercely. Despite Rimi’s political maverick and mass following, riots broke out in Kano. The mayhem consumed his political Adviser Dr. Bala Muhammed. Rimi, after the incident, showed his maverick once again: he retreated. And it came to pass that the Emir had his peace.

This time it was not so. The city was calm.

The time has come for the emirates to stop ruling their people: it is time to lead. The attack signals a need for change, from the ancient Fulani manual of dominating a conquered territory, to an all inclusive service driven leadership. The emirates must champion the education of their children, a role they have failed to play for almost a century.

T

heir attempt to shield the chil dren of their poor subjects from Western education by creating a bespoke system of education called the Almajiri system, has been severely abused and has today spiralled into what we all know as Boko Haram.

The attack on the emir is quite unfortunate, but the attack that happens to the North everyday is the millions of Northern children living in poverty and illiteracy. In this generation driven by information and information technology, only education and proper mentorship can build children with smart minds, minds that can reason.

In this generation, where primary schools in south of the country are installing computer laboratories, Northern governors and the emirates are throwing grand events for projects such as the renovation of six classroom blocks . In Kano state, apart from the Federal Government Colleges, no other secondary school has a good library. This generation Continues on page 34

34—Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Continues from page 33

cold streets to be prosecuted? How much longer will the Emir wait to tell these reckless fathers in his domain who abandon their children to the Almajiri system to take responsibility for their education and security?

I remember the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, for raising a strong objection to the Onshore/Offshore Abrogation Bill as passed by the National Assembly in 2002. He, in fact, led a strong delegation – the Kano Elders Forum, to then President Olusegun Obasanjo in Aso Rock, to pres-

does not forgive poverty, and technology does not too. Northern children will pay severely in coming decade if the emirates and governments do not rally to declare a state of emergency in their education sector. The next generation would not be about government and politics; it would be about industry and technology.

Northern children must be prepared.

Sir Ahmadu Bello understood what preparation meant. He prepared the North radically for politics and power. Now, this generation must prepare the next for technology and industry.

The Sardauna prepared and nurtured wise men in the days when Western education was not popular in the North, he sent his power trainees to London,and they were bred thoroughly.

Nigerians who have watched Alhaji Tafawa Alhaji Ado Bayero, Emir of Kano Balewa’s speech to the US Consure the President to veto the bill. gress would testify of an orator who’s Now, it is time for the Emir to chamevery gesticulation and word had a pion the advocacy for the abrogation pleasant sweetness. Till this moment, of Almajiri system, at least in his large I have not seen such a moving predomain. sentation from a Nigerian leader.

He has done it before. HRH Alhaji Balewa was nurtured.

Ado Bayero’s reign which has This moment also should serve as spanned five decades has been proa period of sober reflection for the gressive and marked with landmark Polo-loving children of HRH Alhaji reforms. During his tenure, he transAdo Bayero, who would rather spend formed the Kano emirate from a namillions of Naira on breeding and tive authority to community leadership, he fought for the education of girls in Kano, and has never been afraid to confront civilian or military authority at all levels.

Severally, he has had bitter clashes with civilnurturing their Arabian and Appalian and military authorities in the oosa hybrid horses, than sending a state and the centre. In 1984, a travfew more destitutes to school. What I el ban was placed on the Emir and still don’t understand is how they his friend Okunade Sijuwade, anothtransport these horses in chartered er oil tycoon. cargo planes to polo tournaments, Kano is Northern Nigeria’s main while thousand of their subjects loicommercial nerve centre and whatter around the palace begging for ever cripples Kano will definitely affood. fect the already fragile economy the The governor of Kano state recentcountry. The city has become home ly arranged for the marriage of hunto many Nigerian businessmen, esdreds of widows, I would not critipecially traders; it is our gold souk. cize that now, but what the governor As we pray for the speedy recovery also did, but didn’t say, is that he sent of the Emir and his sons, the emir and sentenced those women to beshould also be reminded that the come baby factories to unready men, throne he occupies in peace today, who couldn’t sponsor a small marstill bears scars of turmoil. From 1893 riage. Who will take care of the chiluntil 1895, two rival claimants for the dren from these arranged marriagthrone fought a civil war. With the es? They are the unborn recruits of help of royal slaves, Yusufu was victhe emerging violent wing of the Altorious over Tukur, and claimed the majiris. title of emir. Today, Alhaji Bayero’s Is it not time for the Emir and his throne is not in contention; therefore, sons to lead the campaign for the ban there is no need for these children of the Almajiri system? Is not time soldiers anymore. that those lazy parents and Ulamas •Ross Alabo-George writes from who send five year old kids into the Port Harcourt

,

Now, it is time for the Emir to champion the advocacy for the abrogation of Almajiri system, at least in his large domain

,

Towards improved VFS service to S-Africa visa

BY VERA SAMUEL ANYAGAFU

T

HE issue of ill treatment meted to Nigeria visa applicants by foreign embassies or their proxies has gone on for too long in the country, hence, the need for remedial measures, so that every visa applicant can experience less cumbersome visa processing.

It has become imperative for foreign embassies to treat Nigerian visa seekers with mutual respect and dignity, in their pursuit for visa to gain entry to countries of choice. Coming back to the point of the foreign missions who have outsourced their visa processes to VFS Global, and from the point of view of several applicants, it is necessary that these embassies carry out quality assurance and insist on certain standards of service to applicants’ that seek entry to their countries.

As far as the likes of Matthias are concerned, the embassies that have outsourced their visa processing to the agency cannot be divorced from what goes on there. A number of applicants were expressive in their rage that customer care service should form the utmost part of the contract between both parties for more effective customer relation, and are not happy with the back-passing tips.

They argue that it is not enough for staff of VFS to wait in their offices only to receive application forms from applicants, after all, Nigeria applicants are those that pay for the poor services VFS provides. They are also of the view that Nigeria government should legislate a system across board that would observe its citizens’ complaints and also ensure that those complaints are treated effectively.

It is interesting to know that many foreign missions, like the United States, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom,

President Jacob Zuma of South Africa

her name as Jenifer queried why the VFS Global would have to ask applicants to pay a service charge, including SMS charge for the services of the company.

She also queried why the management has chosen not to provide a sitting/ waiting area for applicants, despite the service charge that applicants incur.

Jenifer said: “I am moved to ask what is VIP in visa application?”

Another applicant who declined to give her name said that since the South African embassy outsourced their visa application processing to VFS, the situation has become worse for her, adding “Many a time fracas have ensued among the applicants when they let out their frustration in anger on one another.” Describing herself as a frequent traveller, she speculated that the VFS Global choose to treat applicants to other countries a little more decently because of the fear that such countries would terminate the contract if their applicants are subjected to inhuman treatment, so why The VFS Global choose to treat would South African embassy not applicants to other countries a little do same.” more decently because of the fear She also that that such countries would terminate suggested South Africa the contract if the applicants are embassy should introduce online subjected to inhuman treatment appointments among others, outsourced their visa schedule, so that applicants would not application management to VFS Global, have to show up if they have no to cut down on applicants waiting time appointment. at the embassies. But from the Consular Advisory checks also perspective of a number of Nigerian revealed that the High Commissioner applicants, the management of VFS of the Republic of South Africa embassy global may not be living up to in Nigeria, Ambassador Mamabola, had expectation. stated that the embassy’s final decision A recent visit by Vanguard Consular to move application matters away from Advisory to the VFS Global office at the consular offices in both Lagos and Lekki, Lagos was very revealing. It Abuja offices, came as a aresult of the showed that many Nigerian applicants mounting criticisms levelled against the that had to go through the application High Commission by Nigerian centre were still dissatisfied with the ill applicants, who complained daily of treatment they received on daily basis frustration as a result of the slow and trying to procure visa. They still have to ineffective pace of work at the consular stand under the harsh sting of the sun, offices as well as incessant cases of overwaiting to be called in and attended to. crowding, stampede and sharp practices While speaking with Mr. Matthias, by touts in collusion with consular staff. who obviously was not aware that In this light, therefore, many applicants are allotted numbers, it was applicants for South African visa have realised that a certain number of opined that the Commissioner review the applications are handled per day by the high commission’s contract with VFS VFS Global and if unfortunately your Global to ascertain if the management number is not among them, you have to of its visa application is any better with return the next day. the VFS Global.

One of the applicants who simply gave consularadvisory@vanguardngr.com

,

Bayero’s attack: A sinister sign to northern rulers

,

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—35

36— Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

R

ESIDENTS and traders of Oko-Baba, Ebute Metta area of Lagos State have urged the state government to design a ‘Master Plan’ for the area instead of relocating them to Timber village, in Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state.

This came as Oko-Baba Internally Displaced People, IDPs, abandoned the Agbowa Relief Camp, in Ikorodu suburb over alleged poor living conditions. There are about 450 IDPs including 98 children in the camp.

Three weeks ago, fire gutted the Oko-Baba Sawmill, destroying equipment worth millions of naira and rendered about 1000 people homeless.

Speaking during an inspection tour of ongoing projects at the proposed relocation site for Oko-Baba Saw millers, Governor Babatunde Fashola said: “It is going to be a clearly articulated timber village that is a whole industry on its own with offices, trailer park and other ancillary services like welding, carpentry and woodwork. What is further interesting about the Timber Village is the housing estate that is being constructed where people can live with modern housing facilities away from the unsightly and unacceptable conditions that now exist.

“We made an agreement with them; I signed on behalf of government a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with them. This is the future that we want for them.

We are delivering on our promise and there is going to be a community of about 3000 houses here with the first 400 already done.”

However, contrary to earlier claims by the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu that IDPs were daily storming the camp, when Megacityspotlight visited the camp last weekend, it was virtually deserted as there were few people around. Though, about 450 IDPs are said to be accommodated only few people were seen around.

Osanyintolu had earlier claimed that the IDPs would also be taught vocational skills by the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and emergency stakeholders such as UNICEF, LASAMBUS, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, none of these officials was on camp when Vanguard visited.

Also, there was no transportation provided. LASEMA boss had claimed: “We have also provided transportation needs for them at the camp.

By 6 am bus takes some of them to Mile 12 while in the evening precisely, by 6. 30 pm, they are returned to the C M Y K

Burnt Oko-Baba Market: Victims kick against relocation *Shun govt Agbowa relief camp

,

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

This was where I gave birth to my six children. I have nowhere to go. I have lived here for long. Where does he (governor) want me to relocate to? This is my heritage. I am not ready to leave this place. I am ready to rebuild my structure. What we want from the government is to design the area in a way that the residents would live separately from the saw millers

camp. That is for those who intend to go out of the place.”

During his visit to the camp recently to assess state of the victims, he said that everything needed to mitigate the effect of the loss of properties on the victims had been provided in the camp in accordance with the governor’s directives, adding that efforts were also ongoing by the state‘s Ministry of Education to take charge of the education needs of the displaced children in the camp.

We’ve no means of livelihood – Victims

O

ne of the IDPs at Agbowa, Mrs. Folashade Ojeshipe, commended the state government for its gesture, saying: “We were well fed here but we need help for clothing and we need some pocket money because we have no means of livelihood.

And also the government should remember its promise

,

to keep us here for only three months. I lost my house and the stall to the inferno but most importantly, they are yet to take care of the schooling of our children, they just keep on roaming about. We need Fashola’s immediate intervention on this. “ Another IDP, a graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Mr. Olamutu Olatunji, an Artist, appealed passionately to Fashola for financial assistance as he had lost all he owned to the fire. “I have been redundant by not working. I want Governor Fashola to assist me financially. I do monument on structures, all my materials got burnt in the inferno. In fact I lost everything I owned to the inferno.”

Why we’re against relocation

H

owever, some of the vic tims that aandoned Agbowa and dn’t want to be relocated to Ikorodu contended

that Oko-Baba has for decades been their home and their main source of livelihood, hence, relocation would make them lose their heritage.

They added that it would cost the government less to design a master plan for the area that would include residential, offices and sawmill than to commence new construction.

Mrs. Ayoka Salako, one of the residents, said, “I want to rebuild my house. I don’t want to leave this place, even to Agbowa relief camp.”

According to Salako, a septuagenarian, “this was where I gave birth to my six children.

I have nowhere to go. I have lived here for long. Where does he (governor) want me to relocate to? This is my heritage. I am not ready to leave this place. I am ready to rebuild my structure. What we want from the government is to design the area in a way that the residents would live separately from the saw millers,” adding “I felt relieved when I heard that the governor would be visiting the scene. And when he came, I expected him to sympathize with us; disburse some funds to the victims to rebuild our structures and proffer solution

on how to end fire disaster in the area. Instead he ordered that we should be relocated.”

Mr. Fola Muhammed, a trader, said: “The relocation plan by the state government cannot be possible. I am the one managing my father ’s business since his demise.

And my father started the business here before my birth.

I am not ready to relocate my father’s business. If I relocate the business away from here to wherever the government planned to build its new timber village, what will happen to the avalanche of customers I have? So I am not ready to lose any of my customers. This is the hub of plank market business in the country.”

Mrs. Funmilayo Gbadamosi said that she had experienced life at both Agbowa and Oko-Baba, “but I prefer to live in the latter.”

Gbadamosi, a petty trader explained “I was among the victims who went to the resettlement camp at Agbowa. But I had to leave because the camp isn’t conducive for habitation especially for me. Several others have also abandoned the camp for the city.

While at the camp I was idle.

And when I decided to leave the camp to my office, I couldn’t cope with the cost of transportation considering the type of business I operate.”

Mr. Abiodun Adewole, whose office was razed, commended Fashola for the relocation of the victims to Agbowa relief camp, saying “It shows that the governor understand leadership.”

Adewole however said “what would be the fate of the victims after three months when they would be required to leave the camp. Will there be any provision after they leave the camp?”

Continues on Page 37

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 37

Dana plane crash site now robbers’ den

BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

B

ARELY eight months after the Dana plane crash, in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA), armed robbers have turned the crash site into a hideout.

Although the state government has barricaded site, rubble from the destroyed structures have not been removed and weeds have overgrown the once upon a residential area.

It will be recalled that over 153 persons died on June 3, 2012 when the ill-fated flight crashed into a two-storey building on 12 Olaniyi Street.

Vanguard gathered that residents of the area are now gripped by fear of attack from the robbers, who hide in the site at night.

It was also learnt that the bad state of the road which hinders vehicular movement is also aiding robbers in perpetuating their nefarious acts.

Mrs. Bashir, a resident of Olaniyi Street said that her son was attacked by the robbers while on his way to board the early morning train.

According to her, “Since my son was attacked, we have stopped leaving our home before 6:00 am. We are gripped by the fear of the robbers always.”

Engr. Adeleke Matthew, another resident, decried the poor state of the site, saying “it has

contributed to insecurity in the community.”

Matthew noted that the government was not doing anything to improve the state of the crash site and the roads.

Chairman Akande Community Development Association, (CDA), Mr. Adewale Oriowo said: “It is true that anyone who passes through the site at night or before 6:00 am would be attacked by the robbers. At this time, the crash site is always dark. In fact, over four residents have been attacked.

When the robbers are through with their nefarious acts, they hide in the crash site. And due to the present state of the site, no one will be bold to go in-

side to confront the robbers.

The state of the site gives the robbers opportunity to see anyone trekking along the street while those outside wouldn’t be privileged to see them.”

The chairman of the CDA lamented that “none of the roads in the community is motorable.

The state government has neglected Akande, a community on the border line between Lagos and Ogun state.”

Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze had during the 2013 budget analysis said the government would within the year rehabilitate the network of roads linking the site of the Dana Plane Crash.

has been sustaining the road was the yearly contribution of N5, 000 from the each landlord.”

Hey! YYour our driver s’ licence ma ak drivers’ mayy be ffak akee *Over 90% of driver’s licences in Lagos are fake — VIO

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

O

VER 90 percent of driver’s licenses being carried about in Lagos are fake and over 7, 000 have been seized

by the Vehicle Inspection Office, VIO, of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation in the last 18 months, according to investigations.

Megacityspotlight learnt

Burnt Oko-Baba Market: Victims kick against relocation Continues from Page 36

Conditions for relocation to Timber Village

A

dewole noted that the traders and the residents could not be relocated until adequate facilities that would aid their resettlement were provided at the new timber village, saying “until then, the government shouldn’t think of relocation.”

He stated that the place must be closer to a lagoon, as this would aid the movement of logs into the market.

“A fire station and schools must be provided for the traders and the residents. There must also be recreation centres for the workers; an independent power project (IPP) must be provided to supply electricity at the centre. The reason for this is the business relies on power supply for its survival. Also, the new village must be designed to accommodate the avalanche of workers who rely on the market for their daily survival. ”

Oriowo continued, “We are hoping that the roads will be done this year as said by the commissioner. Previously what

that VIO operatives seized the licences because they were obtained through fraudulent processes.

According to an official of the unit, who preferred anonymity, most of the affected licences were obtained through touts. “Most of them did not go to the Federal Road Safety Commission‘s offices, they only gave money to someone who later brought the licence to them at home or their respective locations.”

The VIO has begun an aggressive enforcement and mop up of all fake driver ’s licences in circulation which had resulted in applicants making frantic efforts to obtain the legal licence as they besieged FRSC offices and other designated places for issuance.

According to an official, those eligible for driver ’s license are adults, who are not less than 18 years of age with good eye- sight, among other features.

Prospective applicants are however, advised to visit FRSC office at Ojodu area of the state or any other designated office for authentic driver ’s licence or download the form from the following web s i t e : www.nigeriadriverslicense.org “Otherwise, an applicant for a driver‘s licence can go to FRSC office and process the document personally. The originality of the driver ’s licence could also be verified on the above stated website.

VIOs are expected to handle tests for applicants and when the applicant is confirmed, he will be issued a license. The Vehicle Inspection Officers will handle your tests and when you are confirmed qualified to pick up the driver‘s licence, they will recommend you to us to produce the licence,” the source stated.

So watch it that driver’s licence you are holding might be fake

Lawmak er tner FG on drug count er Lawmaker erss par partner counter erffeiting

BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI

L

agos State House of As sembly has expressed its readiness to join hands with the Federal Government to eradicate fake and counterfeit drugs in the state.

Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, Suru Avoseh made the remarks during a meeting with the members of the Lagos State Medicine Dealers Association held at the Assembly Committee room.

Avoseh noted that “the Committee has received several petitions and complaints from the public on fake and unwholesome drugs being

circulated in the state.

He said “the state government will deal with any association, person or group of people engaging in selling fake drugs within the state”.

The Lawmaker expressed the committee’s commitment to working in partnership with the Association to ensure that they operate in a free and conducive society.

President of the Association Mr. Fidelis Nwokocha said since the association was established in 1981 its had over time assisted the Lagos State Government in arresting fake drug dealers, who are later handed over to the appropriate agents for prosecution.

Nwokocha added that the Association has 46 zones while each zone has over 100 members across the State. HE listed some of the challenges facing the Association as frequent raiding and inability of the regulatory body to approve licence for members.

The association therefore called on the House Committee on Health Services to find solution to drug hawkers at the various bus-stops and buses.

Contributing, a member of the Committee, Yinka Ogundimu noted that all hands must be on deck to check the activities of fake drug dealers in the state.

He added that “If you are not licensed automatically you cannot operate within the State. You must follow the lay down rules and regulation guiding your business”.

Ogundimu, who represented Agege Constituency I, appealed to the Association to work closely with the Committee in realizing its objectives.

He noted that “If you don’t fight what could affect your business, then that thing will swallow and affect it”.

“We cannot allow expired or fake drugs to take over our drug shelve, anyone caught will be dealt with accordingly.

38—Vanguard 38—Vanguard,,

TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 VIRGO; Emphasis will continue to be on career related issues. However you will not be wrong if you take mattersof-the-heart more seriously now. Be more loving.

LIBRA; Mid-morning till early afternoon period may bring more promises than it can actually deliver; your being clever will see you through. Be very practical.

SCORPIO; Continue to attach necessary importance to your family values. Here is a day when joint ventures can bring you under pressure between 9.46am and 12.43pm.

SAGITTARIUS; Other people will continue to feature in your activities; that is to say you will need to be as cooperative as reason permits. Watch it between 9.46am&12.43pm CAPRICORN; You may be in position to minimise the pressure of yesterday. And you will need to watch your mood from 9.46am to 12.43pm.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

A

RE you doing a good job? Fine! So is the neighbour next door. What about your career, good? There are probably a thousand and one individuals having a good career.

What about your business? Not doing badly?

So are other people’s businesses not doing

...What else? badly too. But pause and think. Are you satisfied with your achievement so far? If your answer to the above question is no, then ask yourself what is respon-

TERROR MUDA

sible for your little success inspite of your great potential? Are you doing routine work? Are you doing just what others are doing? Are you doing just enough to

in “Never say goodbye”

keep you going?

You will not get super success if you continue to do routine and ordinary things. For hyper success, after doing the expected things, ask yourself – what else can I do? Do more than is expected of you. Give the extra.

By Lanre Kehinde

AQUARIUS; It is important you don’t take things for granted around mid-morning and early afternoon period so that you will not run into avoidable disappointments.

PISCES; If you are in position to control your actions you would fare better if you can wait till after 12,43pm before you make an important move. Be family minded.

ARIES; Your being receptive can enhance your prospects but that is not to say you have to be naïve, especially during mid-morning and early afternoon periods.

TAURUS; Success is boldly printed on your cards and like yesterday if priority attention is given to money the scope of your success will be wider.

GEMINI; Although things may be happening around you, you are the right person to make things happen and give others opportunities.. Be wise.

CANCER; Take note that others may break promises made before early afternoon period; that is to say you should not take anybody for granted before 12.43pm.

LEO; Although friends are willing to assist you circumstances may not allow complete help as expected. 9.46am to 12.43pm can be a bit sensitive.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Princess Shii’

By Andy Akman

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat th ttoo the As tr ological datee and place of bir birth Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Are they compatible?

Dear Joshua, Kindly analyse horoscopes of two young lovers willing to share the rest of thie lives together. I am concern because one of the is my own son. However I want you to leave out their birth dates.

Abioye, Osun.

Dear Osun, COMPATIBILITY GUIDE What will follow here-under are analyses of their horoscopes , so that they will know each other very well vis-à-vis strong and weak points of each other. By this you will decide if actually what you are looking for is in the relationship.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE LADY SUN SIGN = AQUARIUS; SUN IN 13TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS. MOON SIGN = CANCER ; MOON IN 3RD DEGREE OF CANCER MERCURY IN IST DEGREE OF AQUARIUS VENUS IN ZERO DEGREE OF ARIES MARS IN 29TH DEGREE OF PISCES JUPITER IN 29TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. URANUS IN 16TH DEGREE OF SAGITTARIUS. NEPTUNE IN 2ND DEGREE OF CAPRICORN PLUTO IN 4TH DEGREE OF SCORPIO. NORTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF TAURUS. SOUTH NODE IN 23RD DEGREE OF SCORPIO. ANALYSIS OF THE CHART SUMMARY Here is a gentle person who cares so much for both her extended family (especially her mother) and her personal family. She can be highly emotional, although highly intelligent too THE WEAK POINT She can unexpectedly burst into tears whenever she fails to control her husband. And if she does not result to weeping she can many times force this man to turn violent to the detriment of too many things. She in particular will many times become jealous for no reason and can be difficult to manage by this man.

Although she loves freedom, she will want to be in firm control of the man’s freedom. Issues of control and freedom must be clearly defined before final marital rite, or else serious trouble would be the result.

THE HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT OF THE MAN SUN SIGN = TAURUS MOON SIGN = ARIES; MOON IN 20TH DEGREE OF ARIES.

VIRGINIA

Commen3

dadadekola@yahoo.com

by Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard , TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 —39

From left: Mr. Hassan Balogun Deputy Admin. Manager, Vanguard Newspapers; Mrs. Felicia Martins, CEO, So-Said Charity Home, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos and Elder Emmanuel Obuh, during the presentation of products donated by A&P Food Limited, to Mrs. Martins. Photo Kehinde Gbadamosi

From Left: Rev. Fr. Seunyn Okai, Prison Chaplain, Ghana Prison Service; Mrs. Abiola Ogunbiyi, National Director, Alpha Nigeria; Rev. Yinka Omololu, Chairman, Alpha Nigeria, Alpha for Prisons West Africa, and Mrs. Elizabeth Uwoghiren, Deputy Controller of Prisons, during the closing ceremony of a three-day training for prison officers by Alpha Nigeria, held at Church of Assumption Hall, Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos . Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi

From left: Mrs. Adepeju Dinyo, PTA Chairman; Mr. Feyi Dinjo, Chairman, 9th Inter-House Sports Competition (both of Dansol High School) Mr. Akintunde Akinyemiju, Chairman of Dansol From left: Mr. Mike Omeri, Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA); Mr. High School and Mrs. Susan Onwudinjo, Guest of Honour, at David Akoji, Special Adviser (Tech); Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoba, Director, Special Duties (NOA) the 9th Dansol High School Inter- House Sports Competition, and Ms. Adaora Onyechere, during the presentation of a certificate to Ms. Onyechere, at Agege Stadium, Lagos. Photo: Diran Oshe recipient of NOA Peace Mission Envoy, in Abuja.

From left: Patrick Akpobolokemi, Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, and Ade Abolorin, Commandant General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, when the latter paid a courtesy visit to NIMASA, weekend.

Dr. Asabe Shehu Yar'Adua, founder, Asabe Shehu Yar'Ă dua Foundation, ASYARF, (4th left); Mrs. Grace Igbokwe, founder, Grace CIIFEK Initiative (middle), and other women, during a grassroots empowerment programme on how to make 'Chinchin', organised by ASYARF and CIFEK, in Ikeja, Lagos.

From left: Bishop James Odedeji, Bishop-elect, Diocese of Lagos West; Mrs. Peace Okpala; Bishop Peter Adebiyi, Bishop of Diocese of Lagos West; Ven. Reginald Okpala, Archdeacon of the new OjoAlaba and Justice Ogunlade, after the inauguration service of Ojo-Alaba Archdeaconry, in Lagos.

Donation: From Left: Engr. Ebikise Iwollo, Chairman of Relief Committee; Tari James Teilanyo, President ,Association of Bayelsa State Indigenes, Ebitimi Rgberipou, presenting food items to Mr. Inaede Ivhareve Felix, From left: Prof. Amos Utuama, SAN, Delta State Deputy Governor, his wife, Dr. the accountant of Karu Orphanage Home, Abuja, weekend. Photo: Nelly Utuama; Mrs. Roli Uduaghan, wife of the State Governor, during a solemn Gbemiga Olamikan prayer assembly, at Otu-Jeremi, weekend

40—Vanguard, TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013

DESOPADEC Rep assures on devt of Urhobo communities

BY EMMAARUBI

W

A R R I — D E LTA State Oil Producing Area Development C o m m i s s i o n , DESOPADEC, is set to develop Urhobo communities and create job opportunities for its teeming unemployed youths.

Chief Christopher Obiunwevwi, one of the commissioners representing Urhobo ethnic nationalities on the board of the commission, said this, yesterday, when members of Club 12, AragbaOrogun, paid him a courtesy visit to congratulate him on his recent appointment.

Obiuwevwi said the commission was set up to address major issues that would positively impact on the lives of the oil bearing communities while minor issues like street light bulbs can be addressed by clubs, such as Club 12.

He said the commission would do away with all quack road contractors. He said they were responsible for the bad state of roads in the area, stressing that defaulting contractors would be brought to book.

Firms to empower 10,000 A’Ibom youths

BY TONY NYONG

U

YO—AN ICT firm, Onward ICT Group, consisting of Onward ICT Institute, Onward Computers, and Onward Electrical, in conjunction with Ibedmore Resources, have concluded plans to empower 10,000 youths in the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.

This was made known to newsmenby the Chairman of Onward ICT Network, Mr. Emmanuel Onekanma, during the recruitment of the 2013 batch A students of the information, and computer technology academy.

He disclosed that no fewer than 201 students of the academy graduated in November last year, of which most of them have been linked up with various organisations where they are currently working.

From left: Guest Speaker, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo; Deputy National Chairman, Ulama'u Council, Sheikh Yusuf Rigachukun; Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State; Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhjai Sa'ad Abubakar III; Vice President Namadi Sambo; National Chairman, Ulama'u Council, JIBWIS, Ash-Sheikh Muhammad Sani Jingir; Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Umar Gabai El-Kanemi and others ,at the National Preaching and N1.5bln Education Appeal Fund organised by the Jama'atu Izalatil Bidah Wa'ikamatissunnah in Abuja, Sunday. Photo:Abayomi Adeshida.

From left: Phil Okoroafor, Principal Consultant, Kanu Heart Foundation; Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, Coordinator; Mr. Dele Alabi, Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ecobank, and Mr. Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, during a donation of Fifty thousand dollars to Kanu Heart Foundation by the bank in Lagos. Photo: Lamidi Bamidele.

Nsukka people allege marginalisation by PDP

BY PROVIDENCE OBUH

E

NUGU—THE people of Enugu North Senatorial District, Enugu State, are lamenting their support for the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, at both federal and state levels.

The people who spoke under the aegis of, Nsukka Zonal Union, NZU, said that they were being discriminated and marginalised at both federal and state levels despite their huge population and support for the party in power.

Chairman of NZU in Lagos State, Chief Alphonsus Ezea pointed out that the PDP, start-

ing from Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency to Umaru Yar’Adua and now Goodluck Jonathan, has never appointed any Nsukka man minister.

According to Ezea, all the ministers appointed by the PDP government, starting from Chief Dubem Onyia, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, Mr. Nweke jnr, Prof.

Bartholomew Nnaji and now Prof Chinedu Nebo are from Enugu zone, which still has both the governor in the person of Sullivan Chime and his deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi.

“In Enugu State State, we have a system where everybody is contributing his best but not all those working are being rewarded.

Apart from the positions earlier mentioned, the Deputy Senate President is from Enugu West, just like the state Chief Judge, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the state Attorney General which is recognised in the constitution: the Secretary to the State Government as well as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka among other top positions.

H e said: “We are therefore, bound to ask ourselves what has gone wrong? We are having a situation that is worse than what obtained in the apartheid South Africa in Enugu State of Nigeria.

We are however appealing to

Community leader allays fears of attack on Chevron Abiteye flowstation

W

ARRI—CHEVRON Ni geria Limited, CNL, has been told not to panic over the safety of its Abiteye Flowstation in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, saying there was no plan to attack it.

Speaking to Vanguard weekend, the Amadiwei/Chairman of Benikrukru Community, Chief Jeffrey Ojogun said Chevron needed not worry over the Abiteye Flowstation, pointing out that whatever that was happening in the community was internal and had nothing to do

with Chevron.

The Abiteye Flowstation is the Swamp Headquarters of Chevron and produces about 250 barrels of oil per day and Chief Ojogun made it clear that there was no plan to attack it.

He said: “There is no plan whatsoever to attack Chevron or its operations at the famous Abiteye Flowstation. We are law abiding citizens and we will remain so.

“It is true that there are some issues in our community begging for urgent resolution, but we want Chevron to know that they are in-

ternal issues and all peace loving people of Benikrukru are working hard to resolve them.

“What are on ground have nothing to do with Chevron and I want to reassure the company again that there is no plan to disrupt its operations in the community.”

Chief Ojogun who said that his tenure will run its full circle October this year further said: “Those who do not want peace and development of Benikrukru are those spreading dangerous rumours of plot to disrupt Chevron operations.”

Guber aspirant canvasses support for Eket senatorial district

BY TONY NYONG

U

YO—A marine engineer and gubernatoril aspirant, Mr. Okpo Onofiok, from Eket Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State, has called for political strategies that would put the area in a strong position to secure some advantage in the 2015 governorship election.

Okpo urged politicians from the other senatorial districts in the state with gubernatorial

ambitions to relegate the idea as embarking on electioneering campaigns now could compound the political tension in the state.

He spoke against the backdrop of opposition to zoning, which he alleged to emanate from other parts of the senatorial districts of the state, namely, Uyo and Ikot Ekpene.

Okpo who hails from Udung Uko Local Government Area of the tate, recently declared his intention to vie for the governor-

ship seat in 2015.

According to him, after widely consulting with politicians across the state, he has been assured that this was the turn of Oron people of Eket senatorial district to produce the next governor.

The gubernatorial aspirant urged Governor Godswill Akpabio to use the remaining years of his administration to transform the Oron bloc as he has done in other areas and communities of the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene on our behalf and address this injustice by rewarding hardwork in the party.”

Labour threatens to shut down electricity supply

BY VICTORAHIUMA-YOUNG

L

AGOS—ORGANISED La bour in the Power Sector, yesterday, threatened to shut down the sector over alleged plots by government officials to subvert agreement reached with labour on terminal benefits for workers of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, ahead of the privatisation of the sector.

It advised all investors scrambling to take over the assets of PHCN, to steer clear of the company’s installations pending the implementation of agreed labour issues to avoid confrontation with workers.

Under the aegis of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, labour condemned statements credited to some very senior government officials of the intentions of government to hand over PHCN within two weeks to core investors in completion of the privatisation process.

Bradford Pharm unveils new drugs

B

RADFORD Pharma ceutical Limited, an indigenous pharmaceutical company, is set to unveil four range of drugs as part of efforts to boost local production of drugs.

The drugs are Bradferex Blood tonic, 200ml, a tasty blood tonic with iron in daily-need amount and vitamin B complex.

It also include Bradmol 60ml syrup, a flavoured paracetamol.

Others are Bradcuff 100ml expectorant, a cough syrup and Bradferon 200ml blood tonic, which provides iron, folic acid and vitamin B complex.

The launch of the products is billed for Thursday, January 31, at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013—41

Jonathan is too tolerant with power – Anyim *Says I won't be tolerant like him SENATOR Anyim Pius Anyim, erstwhile president of the senate, is presently the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF with oversight over preparations for the country’s centenary celebrations. Ahead of next month's flag-off of the 22 month long celebrations, Senator Anyim alongside the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke unfolded plans to commemorate the proclamation during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos. The plans, he said as at last week, were still tentative with inputs still being received from critical stakeholders. One of the poignant points raised in the course of the interaction was on the role of some past leaders who have today coalesced into the political opposition.

Senator Anyim, whose wits and wisdom helped him in navigating through the once slippery corridors of power in the Senate responded to those issues and many more in the course of the session. Excerpts:

BY EMMANUEL AZIKEN, POLITICAL EDITOR

think my tomorrow is secured in God’s hand and I sleep very well.

O

On the role of the states One of the major arguments we had in the senate was people from Kogi saying that Lokoja should host most of the activities, but that is why we said that states can come up with their own programmes and align with us.

Lagos State can come up and tell us, this and this can be in Lagos, then we will now meet with Lagos, work it out and work out the funding plans because the states may have their own projects that they want to sponsor and others we may want to raise funds from alternative sources.

So, it is not exclusive.

*Anyim: I have never seen anybody that is as tolerant with power as he between the principles of democracy or a peculiar type of democracy that is peculiar to Nigeria .

We have measured civilian regimes and military regimes.

How would Abacha have done it? How would Murtala have done it? How did Obasanjo do it (no I don’t want to talk about that one o!)

But the truth is that the principle of democracy is universal. So you have to compare what he is doing is what should be or how the other people did it. Somebody told me that the kind of president Nigeria needs is the one with iron hand. When he comes you know he has come.

We shouldn’t take it for granted because instead of maximising the opportunity of the kind of person Jonathan is we are abusing it. I wont be as soft, as

humble, as tolerant as he is in power. I will not be, I! I am saying so. You know I am saying the truth, if you step on me, I step on you!

Let’s get it right this is the duty we have to perform together, the

,

N the role of the political opposition during the celebrations The time I was leaving the senate I was getting to 42 and I didn’t think about what I would be tomorrow. I walked away.

Why wouldn’t people also think that the country should be above them? I had become chairman of the National Assembly and I said I had no business here again and I walked away and I had no plan about what I was going to do except that my father was a farmer and I had a farmland. It is as simple and straight as that.

We must join hands to promote the country above every selfish interest.

I think the duty is for us to elevate the corporate wellbeing of Nigeria because it is all our collective well being over and above every narrow and parochial feeling. Honestly and I think so.

Let me again empahsise about this issue of perception.

If I were Jonathan, if I were him, I ordinarily try to simplify my life, (but) I have never seen a man humble with power as Jonathan. I wouldn’t be as humble as that with power, I can tell you that I was not. I have never seen anybody that is as tolerant with power as he. I have never seen any leader in Nigeria and I have been around, that has managed power the way Jonathan has and that is why everybody thinks we can rubbish him, ‘that one, what can he do?

He wont do anything. We can step on him!’

We haven’t had it that way before. And I have told people, we have wonderful opportunity under Jonathan to deepen democracy because he will not interfere with anything, he will not interfere with what you are doing. He will not even challenge you. What you want to do, do!

Those working with him, he doesn’t manipulate, he doesn’t control, just run your office. That is the basic principle that will advance our democracy. But we turn it otherwise to say, it is weakness. We have to choose

nobody ever gave any chance.

Who didn’t even want. He wanted to remain in his small Bayelsa, they dragged him out overnight and you cannot see the hand of God in it? You think you can throw him away like that? It

I have never seen anybody that is as tolerant with power as he. I have never seen any leader in Nigeria and I have been around, that has managed power the way Jonathan has...

country should be above every personal interest. You mustn’t rule. People will come and tell me it is the turn of the Southeast, it is the turn of this…. Who zoned it to South-south now? Who zoned it to them? God! Who gave it to Jonathan? This is a man

,

is not possible. It is because we do not believe in God that is why you cannot see God in anything.

We should get it right.

God has so pampered me in my life that I don’t sleep and worry about tomorrow. I don’t think about tomorrow, because I

The role of former Heads of State The programme we are doing is not fragmented on the basis of parties or on the basis of regions.

At any level which ever programme that concerns anybody we will reach the person. We are interviewing people on what they say about Nigeria . Buhari has been interviewed, Babangida has been interviewed. They are yet to get Obasanjo, they haven’t interviewed him. On the flag off day, Gowon has a role to play, Abdulsalami has a role to play, Obasanjo has a role to play.

Why the centenary would not be manipulated to help 2015 agenda If we do it party by party we would not even take off because political interests is not what you just resolve overnight because in this part of the world politics is life. So we don’t want to bring politics into this, we are talking about Nigeria .

We will not because if any party wants government, it is for INEC and the Nigerian electorate. It is different from what we are doing, The truth is that Nigeria is 100 years under Jonathan. It is not Jonathan that put 2014 neither is it Jonathan that put 2014 close to 2015! These issues will arise, but it is for you to put it right.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 43

2015: Difficult rivers before Jonathan in C/River T

HE maxim in politics is that there is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy but permanent interest. So, as the 2015 presidential election draws nearer, it is not surprising that more alignments and re-alignments are going on across the country. Groups, associations and states are reviewing their romance with the elected officers in the past years to know how far and how fair those given the mandates have justified the trust.

In Cross River State, the story has been that of lamentations. A cross section of the people have become disillusioned with the government at the centre, claiming that instead of being commended for the support given to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the last presidential election, they have been impoverished and some of them turned to aliens in their fatherland.

Accordingly, they are pledging that the era of sentiments when tribal or geopolitical configuration influenced their voting pattern is over.

Leading the push is the local chapter of the Peoples Democratic movement, a political group established by the late General Musa Yar ’adua which has started consultations on how to bring the ‘Joseph’ that will know them to the saddle.

Among the reasons being given by the group for their disenchantment is the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to the Cameroons, the ceding of the 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State and the delisting of Cross River from the list of oil producing states by the National Boundary

Commission, NBC, and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Cross River after being removed from the league of oil producing states and the stoppage of the 13 per cent oil derivation, the state has increasingly found it difficult to meet up with its financial challenges.

Indeed some allege that the financial situation of the state may have contributed to the reported poor state of health of Governor Liyel Imoke who last November proceeded on leave.

Indeed, midway into the life of his administration some of the ongoing projects of the state were temporarily stopped as a result of paucity of funds.

Another reason that is being put forward for the expected difficulties of President Goodluck Jonathan in the state in 2015 is the way and manner the Bakassi case was handled by the Federal Government.

The administration’s failure to examine the prospects of a reversal of the Court of Appeal judgment angered many.

Commenting on these developments, the former Coordinator of Atiku Presidential Campaign in the

,

BY JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU

*Jonathan: Many rivers to cross the next president come 2015 had been put in motion in South-South geo-political

Another reason that is being put forward for the expected difficulties of President Goodluck Jonathan in the state in 2015 is the way and manner the Bakassi case was handled by the Federal Government

state Hon. Ernest Irek said that the machinery to ensure that Atiku Abubakar emerges

,

zone.

Hon. Irek said all stakeholders in the zone are

involved in the project of ensuring that Atiku emerges president in order to return the country to her lost glory as well as rescuing the state from its present financial mess as a result of the delisting of the state from the league of oil producing states.

Irek also said that going by the zoning formula of the PDP, the office of the president was supposed to be occupied by somebody from the North, adding that the zoning formula will be religiously kept to in the 2015 election and after the North had completed its tenure, power

Okorie’s party, UPP to test strength in FCT polls

BY GABRIEL EWEPU

T

HE United Progressive Party, UPP the new party recently registered by the dethroned founder of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA is to test its muscles in the forthcoming local government elections scheduled for March.

The party has nominated Mr Okorie Chambers to challenge the incumbent chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Micah Jiba of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is also in the race

for a second term.

Chambers told Vanguard that the party deemed it fit to challenge the PDP because it has failed to improve the standard of living of the people at the grassroots since 1999 after successive administrations.

Vowing that the UPP would make a difference despite its late entry into the political field, he said: “As an emerging political party, United Progressive Party has the strength to absolutely end the era of PDP dominance of AMAC politics. We are going

to carry out a robust campaign, where we will drive our message of change to the homes, business area and place of worship of the people. The incumbent chairman, AMAC, Mr Micah Jiba is my campaign manager, as he continues to be my point of reference.

Moreover, the people are disgusted with his administration and that is my strength.”

“UPP being a new political party has an advantage, because it is unencumbered, and a lot of people are receiving it with tremendous

acceptance.”

He accused the current chairman, AMAC, Mr Micah Jiba for not being committed to the welfare of the people in the area, “The incumbent chairman, AMAC, Mr Micah Jiba has not been able to bring people-oriented policies that have welfare content for the people. The Gwari and Gwandara people in AMAC are wallowing in abject poverty and penury, because successive administrations have not been able to meaningfully improve their lives.

could go to the South East.

He said he was privy to the Atiku blueprint when he met Senator Ben Obi and that the blueprint will make the country great and more united if implemented.

A cross section of the state said that despite the fact that Governor Imoke was the Campaign Coordinator of President Jonathan in the last presidential election and ensured that he was overwhelmingly voted for, the state was paid back by being removed from benefiting from the oil derivation, while Bakassi was handed to Cameroon contrary to the appeals by Nigerians that the ICJ judgment should be appealed.

Besides, the embattled state chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, Hon, Cletus Obun said that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the centre has inflicted more pains on the people of the state, stressing that bringing back President Jonathan would increase their sufferings.

Obun noted that virtually all the federal government facilities in the state have collapsed, stressing it will be disastrous if the same person comes back to power come 2015.

42 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

How we 're rebuilding Abia — Orji ABIA State Governor, Chief T.A Orji fielded questions from journalists on the margins of the National Good Governance Media Tour of the state.

BY ETOP EKANEM

T

HERE are fears about the completion of the many ongoing projects in the state before you leave, what assurance are you giving?

I am assuring Abians that I am going to finish the projects that I have started. I cannot start any project that I know that I ‘m not sure I will finish. We have the funding for most of the projects that you are seeing on ground.

And as we are progressing, I know that the revenue of the state will continue to improve on a daily basis because of the machinery that we have put on ground.

One lingering question is how are you getting funds without borrowing to execute these projects?

It is by the prudent management of the one that we have. If you move around, you discover that we are not extravagant in the first instance; we are not doing showman’s business. We have all buried our ambition to make sure that we achieve these projects. We are cutting our coat according to our size.

So what drives you?

What is driving me is the determination to improve Abia because I know what we have suffered. Before now, if you compare Abia with some of the states that were created with Abia, you would see that it was lagging and people were insulting us, some of them refer to Umuahia as a glorified village.

But do you hear that again?

People came to Umuahia in the past and said that it was like a glorified village yet we had governors here who were having their personal agenda.

I don’t have any personal agenda. I am not a businessman, I don’t own any company. I am not interested in business because I have said it that if I go into business, I will be cheated because I don’t know anything about business. What I know is this thing that I am doing and I ‘m here to utilise any little money I get and ensure that such is invested on the people.

We want to do something for which we shall be remembered.

You have relatively formed a consensus among the political class here and minimized antagonism. How were you able to do this?

If I were a cantankerous

governor, we would have been fighting here everyday but we have seen those things as mere distractions and we decided to face governance and you don’t govern alone.

You have to carry your people along and what we did was to bring those people that were disenchanted by what was happening before and give them a sense of belonging.

It didn’t cost us anything. What we did was to give them sense of belonging which was not given to them before now. Instead they were driven away and nobody listened to them despite their age and experience.

At that stage in life if you find yourself in that position, where nobody cares about you or consults you, what you do is to relax and leave the state to drift to any situation.

I formed the Elders Council (EC) that involved all those elders that will be giving their advice on a regular basis to the government. So, that is a sense of belonging. When you go to those people that you see as pessimists or enemies or visit their houses, they will express surprise.

I made Gen Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), the Chairman of the reconciliation committee and he was going from house to house reaching out to those people who were attacking us and today most of them have come together.

If people give the stakeholders a sense of belonging, and empower the youths and the masses just as we are doing, they will rally round your government.

Before now what the former administration used to give the youths in the name of

*Orji: What is driving me is the determination to improve Abia empowerment were shovels and head pans. You as a young man, if I give you a shovel and head pan, will you be happy? You will curse me and that was the mentality during the time of the former government because they don’t want anybody to surpass them.

But in our youth empowerment, we are giving out brand new cars and tricycles. I banned the use of Okada here and replaced them with tricycles. We gave out refrigerators and barbing equipment and other items that are tangible which can add value to the lives of the people. You can now see the difference. When you touch the youths in that positive way and give the elders the sense of belonging, you will see that all of them will rally around you. So that is the magic that we are doing.

Some people are advocating going back to the cultivation of some of those things that used

to give Nigeria money in the past like palm produce, cocoa and rubber, do you have the intention of reviving that aspect of the economy of this state?

We have already gone back to that. For example, we have the rubber plantation in Ndioji that was wasting but today we have brought in investors who are currently managing that place, tapping the rubber gums, selling them, making money and also giving us our own share. As at now, they have employed 1300 youths for rubber alone. Now we are establishing liberation farms in the senatorial zones. We have started from Ukwa West.

Some assert that you are not doing much on the matter of sports development. So, what efforts are you making to promote sports development?

My brother, who told you that sports has not received an attention here? Enyimba is there.

Do you know how much it cost

us to keep Enyimba Football Club? Since 2007 that I came on board, they have won many laurels, nationally and internationally, and it takes us a big chunk of money to run that club and they have been in the top league all along from 2007 till now.

Apart from that, just two weeks ago, I rewarded the Paralympics, I gave to each of them N1 million. They won medals in London for Nigeria and not for Abia but we decided to encourage them. So we do encourage our sports people. We don’t come out to blow our trumpets but we are spending a lot of money in that area.

You see, it is only in Abia that we have three football clubs that we are running: Enyimba Football Club, the Comet and the Warriors. Some people are only running one club and they are shouting but we have been running three clubs in Abia since 2007.

PIB: Kwankwaso is ignorant — Reps

BY OKEY NDIRIBE & EMMAN OVUAKPORIE

G

OVERNOR Musa Kwankwaso has been urged to adequately familiarise himself with the content of the Petroleum Industry bill before embarking on a hasty criticism of the proposed legislation.

This call was made in Abuja yesterday by two members of the House of Representatives who hail from the Niger Delta Region.

In his own contribution to the raging debate on PIB, Chairman of the House

Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) Hon. Dakuku Peterside stated that he was sure that Governor Kwankwaso was not adequately informed about the provisions of the bill.

Said he: “I do not think that Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso has gone through the Petroleum Industry Bill yet. Incidentally, Governor Kwankwaso was a one a one-time member of the House of Representatives. Very Often, people take positions based on information at their disposal.”

He continued: “In the first place, what Northern leaders should understand is that the Bill

intends to open up the economy for further investment. It creates the opportunity for more revenue to enter Federal Government’s coffers and by extension the purse of Kano State and all other states in the country.

Presently, the economy is being strangulated and all this because there is restricted opportunity for investment. This is mainly as a result of uncertainty in the petroleum sector.

I plead with the Northern leaders to try to understand what the issues are. If they do, they would take a different position. I assume they all believe in

Nigeria and progress.

“Our economy is still a third world economy which requires a lot of investment in infrastructure. The PIB addresses all of that. I have come to realise is that what most Northern leaders are opposed to is the allocation of 10 percent from the profit of oil companies to their host communities. But If we have peace in the host communities of the Niger Delta, then it is better for the entire nation. There is no doubt that the nation has lost trillions of naira as a result of the absence of peace in the region.”

44—Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 29, 2013 TUESDA

Stanford researches create HIVresistant cells in the lab

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

R

ESEARCHERS at Stanford University, California, USA, have created HIV-resistant T-cells, a breakthrough that, if proven successful in humans, could potentially stop the virus from developing into AIDS. The discovery which was announced last week in Molecular Therapy, is believed to have potential to replace lifelong drug treatments and protect the immune systems of those infected.

A press release by Stanford said the new study describes the use of a kind of molecular scissors to cut and paste a series of HIV-resistant genes into T-cells.

By inactivating a receptor gene and inserting additional anti-HIV genes, the virus was blocked from entering the cells, thus preventing it from destroying the immune system.

HIV works by entering and ultimately killing an individual's T-cells, leading to a collapse of the immune system.

Researchers were quick to point out that the therapy is not a cure for HIV, but rather a method to make patients immune to it.

Dr. Matthew Porteus, the study's principal researcher, stated that the goal is to build an immune system that is resistant to HIV. "Once a person contracts HIV, they become susceptible to all sorts of infections and cancers, and that's what kills the patient ultimately--not the virus," he explained.

In theory, a percentage of a patient's T-cells could be replaced with the HIV-resistant cells. As the HIV-sensitive cells would die off, the resistant cells would reproduce, eventually creating an immune system of entirely HIVresistant cells.

"The body has an incredible way of balancing itself. The virus would have no more cells to infect."

Currently, doctors use drug therapy to help achieve this affect. But because HIV mutates, many patients must take dozens of pills a day for the Continues on page 45

C M Y K

• Early detection is the key to survival of all cancers.

‘We should keep talking about cancer’

BY SOLA OGUNDIPE

“W

E should keep talk ing about cancer.

The prediction is that HIV and all the other infections will reduce while cancer is increasing. We need more awareness.”

Such was the comment of Dr. Kin J-Egwuonwu, National Coordinator, National Cancer Prevention Programme, NCPP, during the recent

breast cancer and cervical cancer screening carried out for 10,000 women in Surulere local government area of Lagos State.

Egwuonu who lamented the alarming incidence of cancer in the country, said: “We need to increase awareness about cancer screening so that people will go for screening at the right time and not wait.

People are really dying un-

timely deaths unnecessarily, and at a young age. People need to take their health seriously.

“Cancer is the number one killer of mankind, and in today’s world one in every three persons is diagnosed with cancer,” notes Egwuonwu.

About 100,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer annually, and about 80,000 die (10

Research shows vaccinated children are more prone to disease

A

STUDY comparing dis ease rates among vaccinated and unvaccinated children has indicated that children who have been vaccinated according to official government schedules are up to five times more likely to contract a preventable disease than children who developed their own immune systems naturally without vaccines.

Findings of the German study reported by Health Freedom Alliance, and first released as a preliminary study in September 2011, includes data on 8,000 unvaccinated children whose overall disease rates were compared to disease rates among the general population, the vast majority of which has been vaccinated.

In every single disease category, unvaccinated children fared far better than vaccinated children in terms of both disease prevalence and

severity.

Data at VaccineInjury.info, said vaccinated children are nearly twice as likely as unvaccinated children to develop neurodermatitis - a skin disorder marked by chronic itching and scratching.

Similarly, vaccinated children are about two-and-a-half times as likely, based on current data, to develop a pattern of migraine headaches compared to unvaccinated children.

For asthma and chronic bronchitis, where vaccinated children are about eight times more likely than unvaccinated children to develop such respiratory problems.

Vaccinated children are also far more likely to develop hyperactivity, hayfever, and thyroid disease, with their likelihood three times, four times, and up to 17 times higher, respectively, compared to unvaccinated children.

According to the data, vaccinated children are about 2.5 times more likely to develop severe autism compared to unvaccinated children.

Though the correlation does not necessarily conclude causation, the overall disparity of disease rates between vaccinated and unvaccinated children at the very least points to a very strong connection that cannot be denied or dismissed.

deaths every hour). The Nigerian cancer death ratio (4 : 5) compares unfavourably with other nations. Most of these deaths can be prevented, through awareness, early detection and first-class treatment.

On the outcome of the screening exercise, Egwuonu opined that those who participated had been better infoirmed about the precautions to take with cancer as well as where to go to seek help.

“We had people that were positive, we had abnormanl cervical cases, there were breast problems, lumps, and other complications. This was combined with eye screening, to encourage the screening and of course because the eye is also important and vulnerable to cancer.

“There were many people with glaucoma at advanced stages, which means they did not know because glaucoma is silent and the affecetd person may go blind in one eye before noticing it. There were also people with growths in the eye that were not cancerous.

“Many women had changes in the cervix. Usually about 4 out of 100 womwn will be positive for cervical cancer, but incidence for breast cancer is higher. It was not surprising we found those changes.”

Noting that Nigeria currently has no comprehensive cancer centre, Nigerians are Continues on page 45

Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 29, 2013 —45 TUESDA

Keep talking about cancer Continues frompage 44 compelled to spend over $200 million annually on treatment abroad, he lamented the lack of facilities to treat cancer in Nigeria, especially at the end stage.

“People have no option other than to go abroad. They travel and still die. In sharp contrast, India has over 120 cancer centres, mostly established through non-governmental effort, with private sector support.

Further, Egwuonu said for women, screening for should begin from the age of 18 and should be yearly, because the aim is to catch changes early for easy treatment.

He said when caught early, breast and cervical cancer are easily treatable and the treatment would not be too expensive. Also the chances of survival is higher and there wouldn’t be a need to go abroad.

There are other cancers that also kill and are not commonsuch as colorectal cancer that kills about 4,000 yearly.

“It is still significant and de-

tectable through colonoscopy. Though screenings, and some of the cases can be treated with cryotherapy and the cancer is not likely to progress, we need good facilities.

“A cancer care centre would provide all this including early detection, and resection. Each type of cancer has the early stage that can be treated (polyp). What we have in Nigeria is not the best for treating the early stages, that is awhy we need the comprehensive cancer centre. We need sophisticated equipment to detect the early stages.”

Egwuonu said the Port Harcourt Cancer Centre,PHCC, a non-profit, non-governmental initiative of the NCPP, has a goal to set up a comprehensive cancer centre in each of Nigeria’s six zones, with the PHCC in the South-South as the first of the six.

Already, the Nigerian Communications • L-R: Phil Okoroafor, Principal Consultant, Kanu Heart Foundation with Pastor Onyebuchi Commission, NCC, supported by all major Abia, Coordinator, KHF; Mr Dele Alabi, Executive Director, Finance and Risk, Ecobank and network operators, has created a unique short Mr Kingsley Aigbokhaevbo, Executive Director, Domestic, during the donation of code; by texting “CANCER” to ‘’44777”, any- US$50,000.00 to KHF as part of Ecobank’s CSR initiatives in Lagos last week in Lagos.

Photo by Lamidi Bamidele one can contribute N100/sms to the cancer project. Interswitch Nigeria also established a dedicated code - “77526”- for donations via ATM or online at www.quickteller.com. Further enquiries can be obtained through 0805-MEDIC-88 ( 0 8 0 5 6 3 3 4 2 8 8 )

BY CHIOMA OBINNA Chapter, Dr. Jimmy Arigbabuwo "The first few hours of a baby abia@ncpp.com.ng. said encouragement of proper coming out from the womb will ORRIED about the challenges of attainment antenatal care guarantees determine the survival or of the fourth Millennium survival of a baby as well as safe otherwise of the baby. Hence, giving life to that baby on arrival Development Goal, MDG 4, by motherhood.

Arigbabuwo further noted that is very important. Arigbabuwo Continues frompage 44 2015, stakeholders in the such policies would not only said it would be very sad to lose private medical sector have rest of their lives. Should the gene therapy prove successful, urged government at all levels reduce the deaths of babies at a baby after carrying a the pills would no longer be necessary. birth but would encourage pregnancy for nine months,” he Further, Porteus explained: "What we've done in our study is to initiate policies that would affordable healthcare delivery lamented. Based on this, he showing that we can add multiple layers of protection, creat- encourage proper antenatal in the country. said the association would procedure in the country. ing what is essentially a complete resistance to HIV." “It is important for us to restore empower medical practitioners Making the call in Lagos The Stanford breakthrough is one of several increasingly posirecently during the presentation the confidence of expectant in having resources that are tive studies in the fight against HIV. mothers that facilities and strong enough to have safe If the researchers can create immune systems that are pro- of 150 neonatal resuscitation skilled professionals are delivery and to ensure that the sets by the Bridge Clinic, Lagos tected against HIV, there could be a situation where there would available to attend to their baby is also sent to the to private medical doctors in be a fully-functioning immune system with a low level of HIV Lagos, Chairman of the needs whenever they visit the appropriate quarters once the infection that wouldn’t cause any problems. healthcare centre. In terms of attending medical officers The plan is to conduct more laboratory work before starting Association of General and resources, it could be very sad realises his limitation, he Private Medical Practitioners of animal testing. There are hopes to begin testing on humans to lose a baby after such a should know when to refer.”

Nigeria, AGPMPN, Lagos State within the next five years. period.

MDG 4: Private medical doctors seek effective ANC policy

HIV-resistant cells

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Achieving prosperity through disease prevention

BY DR. OYEWALE TOMORI & DR. GEORGE ARMAGH

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EALTHY children grow up to build prosperous nations. A healthy child has the energy to learn more in school, help her parents with their farm or business and become a productive adult. Her parents can focus on their work instead of tending to a sick child. When children are healthy, the positive economic effects are felt not only within their families, but across communities and countries.

Child health is the cornerstone of sustainable economic growth, stronger nations and a brighter future for our continent.

To ensure the health of our children, we must protect them from diseases like diarrhoea. Despite the fact that it can be prevented and treated, diarrhea continues to take a devastating toll on Africa. It’s a leading cause of child death in Africa and globally, and it is responsible for sickening and hospitalizing millions of children.

In fact, rotavirus, the most common cause of severe, deadly diarrhea, claims the lives of more than 600

• These Nigerian children are looking forward to a healthy future.

African children under age five each day. That’s nearly a quarter of a million of our children each year. In Nigeria alone, over 41,000 rotavirus diarrhoea deaths occur annually, the secondhighest of any country worldwide.

We can stop illnesses and deaths from diarrheal diseases using a comprehensive approach focused on

preventing illness in the first place and treating children if they do become sick. Diarrhea can be prevented with an approach that includes exclusive breastfeeding, access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene, as well as by using vaccines, like rotavirus vaccines. When children do become sick with diarrhea, they can

be treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS)—a simple mixture containing sugar, salt and safe water and zinc supplements. However, in some cases, the severe dehydration diarrhea can lead to may require intravenous fluids and urgent medical care. For too many of our children this care is out of reach, which makes protecting them through prevention efforts, such as vaccination, essential to ending diarrhoea’s deadly toll in Africa.

Today, the most powerful tools to prevent severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, which causes approximately half of all diarrhea deaths in Africa, are rotavirus vaccines.

As researchers and doctors, we’ve been on the front lines, working to understand the impact vaccines, like rotavirus vaccines, can have in Africa.

Today, the existing body of research is robust and demonstrates rotavirus vaccines provide broad protection against severe rotavirus diarrhea, even against strains not included in the vaccines. These vaccines have been shown to significantly reduce the number of diarrhoea-related illnesses,

Continues on page 46

46—Vanguard, TUESD AY, JANUARY 29, 2013 TUESDA

Dangerous ways acidosis impacts on the body (2) Calcium and cancer N order for blood to retain oxygen, it must also remain alkaline. Diet is critical to this process as minerals and nutrients such as calcium that help the blood to remain alkaline are typically obtained through the food we eat. If our diet is lacking in these essential nutrients, it will be forced to find them in alternative sources such as spinal fl uid, the kidneys and liver or saliva. Ironically, this then causes these organs to become acidic and vulnerable to cancer and other diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and lupus.

I

Calcium is actually classifi ed as an alkaline earth metal. Chemically, it makes up about 1.5 percent of the human body.

This invaluable element is involved in almost every biological function within the body. It provides electrical energy to make the heart beat and the muscles move and it is responsible for feeding the cells and even DNA replication, a crucial process in cellular repair and aging. More importantly, calcium is essential to pH control as it can easily destroy acid in bodily fluids.

As early as the 1950s, researchers dis-

Julia Oyefunke Fortune

The Cancer

FIGHTER

juliafortune@hotmail.com

covered patients suffering from various degenerative diseases could actually be cured by consuming large amounts of calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and other essential nutrients. Although thousands were cured of cancer by increasing their calcium intake, the traditional medical establishment ignored the evidence and actually condemned and persecuted doctors who suggested this to be a viable treatment for the disease.

Today, numerous studies again recog-

Achieving prosperity through disease prevention Continued from page 45 hospitalisations and deaths among children.

Just months ago Ghana, introduced rotavirus vaccines and already more than 60 percent of eligible children have received the rotavirus vaccine.

Six other sub-Saharan African countries—Botswana, Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and Tanzania—have introduced these vaccines into their national immunization programs.

Zambia has introduced them regionally, and others—Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Niger, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zimbabwe—are planning to include the vaccines in their efforts to control diarrhoea. But many more

countries need to be reached and there’s more work to be done to protect all of Africa’s children. If, for example, Nigeria could introduce rotavirus vaccines into the routine immunization, the country would be preventing the deaths of thousands of children each year.

We have seen for ourselves that when children are protected from debilitating illnesses like diarrhea, they can grow up to learn better in school and be more productive, helping to lift their families, communities—and countries—out of poverty.

With this in mind, as our leaders gather at the African Union Summit to discuss the most pressing matters facing the continent, we want to remind them of a core AU objective: the eradication of preventable

diseases. This work must start with our children. We must fight diseases that are taking children’s lives with the best tools we have. We know what is needed to stop diarrhea—a comprehensive approach. We urge our leaders to work toward an Africa where every child has access to prevention and treatment tools like vaccines, ORS and zinc that not only improve health, but save lives. Our future depends on it.

Dr. Oyewale Tomori from Nigeria’s Redeemer's University, and Dr. George Armah from Ghana’s Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research at the University of Ghana, are members of the Rotavirus Organization of Technical Allies (ROTA) Council, an organization of technical experts working to save children’s lives and improve health.

nize that calcium can in fact, reduce the risk of all cancers.

Oxygen and cancer Despite the many claims by various cancer associations and traditional medical professionals that we have yet to find the cure for cancer because we have yet to find the underlying cause, studies have actually shown for years that the fundamental cause of cancer is as simple as low cellular oxygenation levels. In fact, in 1923, Dr. Otto Warburg discovered the real cause of cancer and in 1931 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery.

Dr. Warburg showed cancer can only exist in cells in which the respiration of oxygen is replaced by the fermentation of sugar. In other words, he showed cancer can only exist in acidic, unhealthy cells as these cells don't use oxygen to survive. Instead, cancerous cells rely on sugar as their primary source of energy.

He showed cancer cells actually become dormant in pH 7.4 and at pH 8.5, cancer cells die while healthy cells live.

Warburg concluded if a cell is deprived of 60 percvent of its oxygen it will turn cancerous. He further stated if a cell is deprived of 32 percent of its oxygen for 48 hours it may become cancerous. Typically, a healthy person has a blood oxygen level of between 98 percent and 100 percent saturation. Cancer patients on the other hand, routinely show blood oxygen levels as low as 60 percent.

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL)

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ELLO Uche. After we stopped having children four years ago, my wife started taking contraceptive pills to prevent accidental pregnancy. The problem is that she has added a lot of weight since she started taking these pills. Please what other options are there for pregnancy prevention? Thanks Chukwuma Chukwuma there are many of them. Most contraceptive options are not as popular as pills or condoms and that’s why many people don’t know about them. Here are contraceptive options your doctor can recommend for you: 1.Diaphragm: A Diaphragm is a shallow latex cap inserted into the vagina to cover the cervical opening. This prevents sperm from making contact with the woman’s egg.

2.Contraceptive sponge: This is a disc shaped barrier made of spermicidal foam. It has a string attached to it and is inserted into the vagina to block the cervix and soak up the male sperm during intercourse.

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Should I take Sex Voltz or Libigrow? I have diabetes Tolu Both of them are good for diabetics so you can take any one – Uche I just heard about your dating site. I am a 33 year old woman looking for a man I can settle down with. Please what is the cost of joining your dating site? Thanks – Angela Angela the dating site is a free service we offer visitors to our site. There is no registration fee. Just register, upload a good picture of yourself and start making friends – Uche I am interested in penis enlargement but I cannot take pills. What else can you recommend? Mike Mike you can also use a cream like Maximus Enlargement Cream or a penis pump. Potent Developer Pump is very good too – Uche Hello Mr Uche, I had my first orgasm after I used the Liquid Sex Orgasm Gel and Jelly Chocolate vibrator. It was so intense that I urinated hard in the process, screaming at the top of my lungs. Is that how it happens? Mabel Dear Mabel, you did not urinate. You ejaculated. That’s right, women can ejaculate too and it is the best kind of orgasm. It is called a Squirting Orgasm and it is difficult to reach. So congratulations.

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 47

HIGH POINTS *Multi-storey buildings must be designed to incorporate fire escape stairs with minimum distances to offices *Builders should jettison the use of fanciful but combustible building and finishing materials * A minimum setback of three metres should be observed between two properties

Luxury Estate: Such projects must incorporate safety devices

Between safety and fanciful designs:

Avoid use of combustible materials —Experts

BY JUDE NJOKU

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part from the Building Code, Nigeria has a National Fire Safety Code which sets out rules guiding fire prevention and control in all public buildings in the country. But a code is not yet a law hence violators cannot be prosecuted in the law courts. Against this backdrop, built environment experts have been lobbying the Federal Government to initiate bills in the National Assembly that would ensure that these codes become Acts of the Parliament.

While this is taking time to materialise, some of them have identified a number of safety checks that would assist in stemming the rampant occurrence of fire and related disasters in the country.

These experts who spoke to Vanguard Homes & Property in separate interviews, particularly warned against the use of combustible materials, no matter how fanciful, in building constructions.

A Lagos-based Architect, Mr. Emeka Izuwah advised builders to always insist on using only fire-rated building

materials, especially in public buildings. .

He decried the siting of petrol filling stations in residential neighbourhoods.

“Petrol filling stations should be located away from residential areas. In the same vein, tankers carrying fuel must be regulated to particular routes convenient for them and away from

densely populated areas. This will prevent the upturning of tankers and the attendant danger,” he said.

Detection and prevention.

Other safety measures canvassed by the CEO of ARCHIPLEX CONSULT include: * Petrol or other easily combustible materials must never be stored at home, shop

or in offices- Petrol for domestic use must be contained in the generating set tank except in cases where diesel is being used *Multi-storey buildings must be designed to incorporate fire escape stairs with minimum distances to offices. Such areas must have independently lighted signage or directional signs

Ekpenyong memorial lecture holds Thursday

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overnors Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State are expected to grace the 19th John Wood Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture slated for Thursday in Lagos. The annual Ekpenyong Lecture is organised by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, NIESV. The lecture which will be chaired by the immediate past chairman of the Estate Surveyors and Valuers Registration Board of Nigeria, ESVARBON, Mr. Joe Idudu, will be delivered by the current ESVARBON chairman, Mr. Ayodele Sangosanya. The theme of the lecture is ‘Honesty and devotion in Nigeria’s transformation agenda’.

The annual lecture which first held in 1995, was instituted to honour Mr. Ekpenyong, the first Nigerian to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor/Estate Surveyor and Valuer.

A statement by NIESV image maker, Mr. Victor Ayeye stated that this year’s lecture is significant in the sense that it will be graced by an array of influential Nigerians in politics, commerce and industry .

He remarked that the acceptance of the three governors to grace the lecture is an indication of the growing awareness of the importance of the contributions of estate surveyors and valuers in nation building.

He explained that the Ekpenyong Memorial Lecture serves as a think tank session for members of NIESV and our guests to exchange ideas on issues of national development especially from the prism of land assets management.

“This year’s lecture will also witness the admission of some NIESV members who were recently ratified by the National Council as Fellows of the Institution.

which can guide escape in the case of emergency. *Fire/smoke alarm and detection system is a must for offices and other areas (kitchens) with a likelihood of fire. This is especially necessary for multi-storey building or offices that have overnight or weekend minimal occupancy. This system can also be connected to trigger off a preventive mechanism to contain the fire pending greater response.

Arc. Izuwah made a strong case for the use of sprinklers and fire extinguishers, especially in public buildings.

“Water sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers are a must for multi-storey building and markets and can be installed to be activated via sensors or a fire or smoke detection mechanism.

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hese must however be regularly maintained so as not to fail in an emergency,” he said. .

Another safety measures suggested by Izuwah is the use of durable electrical cables and equipments. “A significant cause of fire outbreaks are poorly manufactured electrical wires/cables and faulty equipment. Contractors must use only cables approved by the Nigerian Standards Organization,SON and replace them once their lifespan is attained. It is highly unfortunate that most offices do not have an operational fire safety plan which prepares people for an emergency. The culture of fire drills should start at primary school level. Markets organisations should be compelled to have fire drills on a regular basis,” he said. .

The Archiplex Consults boss who described the operational readiness of our Fire Service as most appalling, declared: “There is an urgent need to increase the capacity of our fire service nationwide.

48 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

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ETERMINED to ensure early completion of ongoing housing projects in Lagos State, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, last week undertook an inspection tour of some housing projects sited in different parts of the state. The estates are located at Agbowa Township in the Old Epe Local Government Area, Sangotedo, in Eti-Osa, Ogba, in Ikeja and Ajara in Badagry.

The estates at Agbowa include Chois City Garden, a partnership project between a private developer and State Government and Agbowa Housing Units being developed by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, MPPUD. Specifically, the Agbowa Housing Estate is a 660- unit mixed accommodation along Agbowa-Shagamu Road. The estate is just beside the Resettlement Centre for those displaced by flood and other natural disasters in the State.

A breakdown of the different house types shows that there are 80 blocks of single bedroom units totalling 192 units in all; two-bedroom (21 blocks) of 252 units; 3-bed rooms (26 blocks) of 156 units and (15 blocks) of 60 units.

Built in a parcel of land measuring about 11,883.74 acres, the estate is designed to have a shopping complex, playing ground, boreholes, sewage plant and wire mess’ perimeter fence.

On its part, Chois City Estate, located at Imufe-Imope road, along Itoikin-Epe road, comprises two and three-bedroom flats.

In all, 3000 housing units would be built at the site. 400 of these units would be ceded to the Lagos government to accommodate the saw millers

•Fashola during inspection of housing projects in Lagos, last week

We are builders and not demolishers — Fashola

*Inspects ongoing housing schemes at Agbowa, others

By JUDE NJOKU

displaced at Okobaba in the Ebute Metta area of the city..

Governor Fashola who spoke after the inspection, said his government is also building housing estates at Sangotedo

in Eti-Osa and Ogba in Ikeja.

“We are building over 400 housing units here, (Igando), we are building another 400 plus in Ogba, about 500 in Sangotedo and over 600 in Agbowa,” he said, adding that another scheme will soon be flagged of at Ajara in

Stakeholders x-ray new building process to tackle 16m housing deficit

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By KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE

TAKEHOLDERS in the building and construction industry will this week hold a summit on how to tackle the 16 million national housing deficit in the country. The one-day event with the theme Bridging the 16 million national housing deficit is being organised by Nigerite Limited and REDWOOD Consulting.

The organisers said Dry Construction Solution, a Nigerite initiative, will help create a new platform for discussion and education on the challenges facing housing for all by the year 20: 20: 20. Marketing Director of Nigerite, Mr. Toyin Gbede said in a statement that stakeholders at the summit will take a holistic look at the present challenges posed by wet construction in achieving the housing for all by the year 20:20:20 and offer solutions to these challenges. ‘’Presently, wet construction is the fad in vogue in building and construction industry.

The option which is capital intensive is believed not to hold much prospects for

resolving the 16 million national housing deficit, hence the need for stakeholders’ collective efforts towards a search for a better option. The proposed summit will enable industry operators and practitioners to rub minds together and adopt an alternative building processes while also proffering a word of mouth solution on the benefits of dry construction in the sector. The summit is also intended to reveal and offer opportunity to compare the wide array of advantages of dry construction”, Gbede said.

Managing Partner of Redwood Consulting, Mr Femi Olaiya said it is no longer news that Nigeria has over the years suffered from the dearth of adequate housing due to the current building process which is majorly wet construction.

“With a population of well over 160 million, Nigeria cannot effectively provide durable housing for its citizens, hence we have decided to gather a wide array of professionals in the industry to come together and discuss, with the hope of proffering solution to this challenge,” he said.

Badagry.

The Governor who stated that another 1008 housing units has being built at Ijora declared: “ We are builders and not demolishers. We are focused; we know where the target is.”

According to him, “The present administration is not made up of showmen. We don’t do turning of the sod. We take our work seriously and this is the work that this new team has put together in one and half years since we got elected. We have not been here but we know the work is going on” .

Continuing, he said: “All those turning of the sod before you build the house are not for us. You can see structures, you can see buildings, you can see people on all those sites where houses are being constructed. In Igbogbo, 1,038 people were working as well as 26 companies while in the first scheme in Agbowa there are about 23 companies and 880 people who have been employed”. There is another contractor who is using a different model at the AgbowaIkosi area for the 144 units.

You saw people at the construction site. You see people here dredging and you can see people here working. So that is what is important”.

Home and Of Offfice Exhibition T

he organizers of the biannual Home and Office Exhibition, PR D i s t i n c t i o n a n d N TA Properties Investment Limited, have concluded plans to hold the 11th edition of the fair in Lagos between 13th and 15th March, 2013.

The three-day event which will showcase the latest designs in home furniture, home appliances, interior decorations, house finishing materials, security gadgets, cleaning and safety equipment is expected to PR Distinction’s Head Consultant, Mrs. Alero Edu said the fair will attract over 30 companies and more than 3,000 visitors.

“For 11 years, the Home and Office Exhibition has been in the business of promoting quality products of industry players.

It has proved to be a veritable networking venue for participants and visitors alike, and has hosted over 200 companies who have taken advantage of this opportunity,” she said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 49

Climate coalition seeks reduction of black carbon, methane emissions M

INISTERS from countries around the world, last week released a statement calling for accelerated action to substantially reduce venting, leakage, and flaring of natural gas from oil and gas operations worldwide.

Specifically, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition intends to work with leading oil and gas

companies to achieve substantial global methane and black carbon emission reductions.

It is estimated that over eight percent of total worldwide natural gas production is lost annually to venting, leakage, and flaring. In addition to U.S. $27 to $63 billion in energy and economic losses, these activities result in nearly

two gigatons of CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emissions per year, over 80 percent of which are methane emissions, making oil and gas operations the second-largest source of global anthropogenic methane emissions behind agriculture.

Flaring releases substantial amounts of black carbon, which is particularly harmful

to human health and areas like the Arctic.

The Climate and Clean Air Coalition aims to help companies accelerate and expand voluntary emission reductions where there are cost-effective opportunities to do so, and to showcase progress by companies that are already taking significant action.

This effort will build upon and scale-up the achievements of the Natural Gas STAR International Program, the Global Methane Initiative, and the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership.

The Coalition will work with leading oil and gas companies to collaboratively design an initiative that will quickly and meaningfully achieve substantial climate, air quality, health, environmental, operational, and financial benefits. Initial CCAC engagement with interested oil and gas companies is commencing and will accelerate over the coming months.

Ministers from additional CCAC countries are also expected to join the effort.

The Coalition which was launched by six countries and the UN Environment

Gas flaring

Increase in land used for crops a major reason for loss of biodiversity — Report A N increase in the amount of land being used for crops is one of the main reasons for the continuing loss of biodiversity and threatens to undermine attempts to meet international environmental goals, according to a new report involving scientists from the United Nations Environment Programme UNEP. The report, entitled Crop Expansion and Conservation Priorities in Tropical Countries, details how land, which is often rich in biodiversity, is being converted or set aside for crops like rice and maize in some 128 tropical countries. The study warns that such trends, if continued, could derail progress towards meeting the Aichi Biodiversity Targets ? a set of 20, time-bound measurable targets aimed at halting global biodiversity loss by the middle of the century.

Researchers from UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Centre and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative analyzed data on crop distribution and expansion, assessed changes in area of main crops, and mapped overlaps between conservation priorities and cultiva-

tion potential.

They found that cropland in tropical countries expanded by around 48,000 km² per year from 1999?2008. Rice was the single crop grown over the largest area, especially in tropical forest habitats.

Countries which added the greatest area of new cropland were Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Sudan and Brazil. Soybeans and maize are the crops which expanded most in absolute area.

Other crops with large increases included rice, sorghum, oil palm, beans, sugar cane, cow peas, wheat and cassava.

The report highlights the urgent need for more effective sustainability standards and policies to address production and consumption of tropical commodities, including robust land-use planning, the establishment of new protected areas, projects to support forests (such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD+) in places agriculture has not yet reached, and the reduction or elimination of incentives for land-demanding bio-energy feed stocks.

Programme in February 2012, now consists of 28 state partners and other key institutions like the World Bank, and is already acting on several fronts to reduce shortlived climate pollutants such as methane, black carbon, and many hydroflourocarbons (HFCs).

UN-Habitat launches new global consultation on wastewater

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HE Executive Director of UN-Habitat’, Dr. Joan Clos last week, announced the launch of a new global consultation on wastewater management and water quality for the post-2015 development agenda.

“The global population is expected to exceed nine billion by 2050 with majority of growth expected in developing country urban areas with inadequate infrastructure. The pace of urbanization is a critical issue.

The management of all forms of water and especially waste water is often conveniently forgotten in the political debate while in reality it is a time bomb waiting to explode,” Dr. Clos said. In a televised statement the UN-Habitat ED said that with current extreme climate events, contaminated water is likely to constitute an increasingly important risk to public health and a threat to recovery from disaster.

“A new emphasis should be placed the on prevention of wastewater as a critical component in order to ensure efficiency of the water cycle,” he said.

According to him “this is best done by reducing the consumption of water to acceptable levels and by reducing the amount of harmful pollutants entering the water system.”

UN-Habitat will lead the consultation, as part of the Thematic Consultation on Water, to discuss the role of wastewater management and water quality for global development goals after 2015. The consultation will solicit views from people at all levels key priorities in this area.

50—Vanguard , TUESDAY TUESDAY,, JANUARY 29, 2013

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 — 51

French, Malian troops seal off Timbuktu •Hollande challenges African leaders

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RENCH and Malian troops yesterday sealed off Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after fleeing Islamist rebel fighters torched several buildings in the ancient Saharan trading town, including a priceless manuscript library.

Without a shot being fired to stop them, 1,000 French soldiers including paratroopers and 200 Malian troops seized the airport and surrounded the centuries-old Niger River city, looking to block the escape of al Qaedaallied fighters.

The retaking of Timbuktu followed the swift capture by French and Malian forces at the weekend of Gao, another major northern Malian town which had also been occupied by the alliance of Islamist militant groups since last year.

A two-week intervention

by France in its former Sahel colony, at the request of Mali’s government but also with wide international backing, has driven the Islamist rebel fighters northwards out of towns into the desert and mountains.

A French military spokesman said the assault forces at Timbuktu

were being careful to avoid combat inside the city so as not to damage cultural treasures and mosques and religious shrines in what is considered a seat of Islamic learning.

But Timbuktu’s mayor, Ousmane Halle, reported that fleeing Islamist fighters had torched a South African-funded library in the city containing thousands of priceless manuscripts.

“The rebels set fire to the newly-constructed Ahmed Baba Institute built by the South Africans ... this happened four days ago,” Halle Ousmane told Reuters by telephone from Bamako.

He said that he had received the information from his chief of communications who had travelled south from the city a day ago.

...fears Islamist rise in Syria FRANCE’s foreign minister, yesterday said that Syria risks falling into the hands of Islamist militant groups if supporters of the Syrian opposition do not do more to help it in a 22-monthold revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Addressing the opening of a conference in Paris with senior members of the Syrian National Coalition, Laurent Fabius said the meeting must focus on making the opposition politically and militarily cohesive to encourage international assistance.

“Facing the collapse of a state and society, it is Islamist groups that risk gaining ground if we do not act as we should,” he said. “We cannot let a

revolution that started as a peaceful and democratic protest degenerate into a conflict of militias.”

Western concern over the growing strength of jihadist militants fighting autonomously in the disorganized ranks of antiAssad rebel forces is rising.

This has hindered international aid to the moderate Syrian National Coalition opposition and may push it more into the arms of conservative Muslim backers, diplomatic sources say.

The meeting, which brought together Western and Arab nations and the three vice-presidents of the coalition, tackled the lack of cohesion that has led to broken promises of aid.

Malian soldiers gesture at a check point at Thy, 15km away from Sevare

Immigration: US senators reach bipartisan deal

A

bipartisan group of US senators is to unveil later a comprehensive plan for reform of the immigration system.

The framework calls for a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, while tightening border security.

The eight senators would have promoted their plan yesterday , a day before President Obama presents his own

Egypt opposition rejects Morsi’s dialogue call

E

GYPT’s main opposition alliance has rejected the president’s call for national dialogue as empty of content.

Mohammed Morsi had urged opposition leaders to attend a meeting following four days of deadly violence.

Dozens have died since a court sentenced 21 people to death over football riots last year.

Anger over Mr Morsi’s rule has fuelled other unrest.

A state of emergency has been declared in Port Said, Suez and Ismailia, and a nighttime curfew will begin later.

The violence continued yesterday

passed by the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament.

•Obama blueprint.

Correspondents say c o n s e r v a t i v e Republicans’ hard line on immigration has become an electoral

Brazil detains band, club owners after nightclub disaster

B

RAZILIAN police yesterday detained the owners of the nightclub where a fire killed 231 people as well as two band members whose pyrotechnics they say triggered the blaze as the focus turned to finding

India rape: Court to try suspects as juvenile

A Thousands turned out to mourn victims of the violence in Port Said morning, with one man killed by gunfire near Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

The state news agency, Mena, reported another six deaths in Port Said, where funerals were held for three people killed in Sunday’s violence.

Some 590 people had been injured on Monday, most of them in Port Said, it added.

Also yesterday, the cabinet approved a draft law allowing the army to participate in policing and have the power of arrest. The bill was later

court in India has ruled that one of the six people accused of the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi last month is a minor.

The Juvenile Justice Board said it accepted the accused’s date of birth as 4 June 1995, making him 17 years old.

He will be tried in a juvenile court.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of three years in a reform facility.

Five other suspects

liability.

In last November ’s elections, President Obama, a Democrat, won more than 70% of the Hispanic vote.

However, the bipartisan group’s blueprint could face stiff opposition in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives.

have gone on trial at a specially convened fasttrack court and face the death penalty.

those responsible for the tragedy. No charges were filed against the four men, but prosecutors said they could be held for up to five days as police pressed them for clues as to how the fire early Sunday morning could have caused so many deaths.

Stunned residents in the southern city of Santa Maria began attending a marathon of funerals in the pre-dawn hours of Monday. Many of the dead were university students who knew each other.

Chavez calls for regional unity

H

UGO Chavez, Venezuela’s ca. ncer-stricken president, made his presence felt at a regional summit yesterday with a flowery letter from his sickbed in Cuba that was laced with literary references and calls for Latin American unity.

Chavez has not been seen in public since cancer surgery in Cuba in mid-December, missing his own inauguration for a new six-year term this month and fueling uncertainty over the illness jeopardizing his 14-year rule.

52 —

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Eagles watch Ethiopia tapes •As Kanu, Okocha, Odegbami storm Eagles camp

P

VIGILANCE — Kenneth Omeruo of Nigeria (r) keeps a close eye on Zambia's Mayuka in the clash between Eagles and Chipolopolo. The match ended 1-1.

LAYERS and officials of Super Eagles watched tapes of Ethiopia team twice after which the Nigerian players held a meeting on importance of their last group match.

Yobo, Mikel, Moses and Enyemma agreed they must show the younger players the way to go. Team captain Yobo said Keshi’s methods will change Nigeria football for ever.

Meanwhile, head coach, Stephen Keshi closed the team’s camp to visitors. Camp sources told Sports in Vanguard Rustenberg that Keshi, however agreed to relax the rule for Nwankwo Kanu and Austin Jay Jay Okocha, two former

Eagles must be clinical — Lawal F

ORMER Super Eagles striker, Garba Lawal has said the Eagles must be clinical in front of goal if they hope to progress out of the group stages of the on-going African Cup of Nations.

Lawal was speaking ahead of the Eagles last group match against Ethiopia on Tuesday.

Nigeria are without a win after playing two matches and will hope

to defeat the Walyas Antelopes who returned to the African tournament after a 30-year hiatus.

The former Eagles utility player has said if the team hopes to get into the last eight, then there is the need to score more goals and remain defensive throughout the match.

“We always score first but it’s like we relax after we score one goal,

then we lose concentration in the last quarter of the match,” Lawal said.

“We need to start taking our chances and hold on to the ball to the very end. In the match against Burkina Faso, we conceded in the final seconds, it shows that our mentality needs work.

We need to know it is not over till it is over,” Lawal continued.

We have to win — Renard "T

*Renard

HE question for us in the match against Burkina Faso is simple; we have to win and we have the ability to do it, says Chipolopolo trainer Herve Renard.

The African champion coach said Zambia knew what was at stake and did not need the help of any other team to secure qualification stressing that “destiny is in our hands”.

“We’re under pressure than Burkina Faso because they only need a draw to qualify. But I can

tell you, we are strong enough because we have been in this situation before. In Angola in 2010, we drew our first match against Tunisia, and then lost to Cameroon. We needed to win against Gabon in our final game and we played a good match and won,” Renard told a pre match press conference at the team hotel in Mbombela.

“We have been in this situation before. We have destiny in our own hands."

captains of the team who are in South Africa to motivate the team Another former captain of the national team, Chief Segun Odegbami also made a surprise visit to the team’s camp to motivate the players. He spent time talking to the players.

*Okocha

Mayuka sure of Zambia’s qualification

E *Ike Uche

MMANUEL Mayuka is optimistic Zambia will on Tuesday qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup quarterfinals.

The Southampton striker said the team was not feeling any pressure ahead of Tu e s d a y s m u s t - w i n game against Burkina Faso at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

“In football you just have to be positive,” Mayuka said.

“I believe we will get the result we need against Burkina Faso.

But we just have to win.”

After two games played, Zambia are tied in second place on two points with Nigeria and are two points behind leaders Burkina Faso whom they face in their final Group C game.

“It is just people who are talking about pressure but we are taking it easy and just a game at a time,” Mayuka said.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 2013 — 53

54 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 2013

Eagles must be ruthless against Ethiopia —Emenike N

IGERIA striker Emmanuel Emenike says his team must score more goals to win their matches, and this just ahead of their must-win clash against Ethiopia.

The Super Eagles take on the Harambee Stars on Tuesday evening at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. Nigeria lead 1-0 in their first Group C matches against Burkina Faso and Zambia, but were let down by poor finishing.

Without a doubt a favourite to win the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations title, the Super Eagles have not been convincing.

The Burkinabe are top of the group with four points followed by Nigeria and defending champions Zambia on two each,

GERVINHO: Every match is like a final for us

I

VORY Coast striker Gerv inho says they are approaching every game as if it’s a final as the team look for glory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. The Elephants are the only nation in the tournament to qualify for the next round with two group-stage victories against Togo (2-1) and Tunisia (3-0) and are on top of Group D with six points.

The last group clash against the already eliminated Algeria is a mere formality for the AFCON favourites, but Gervinho is adamant that his side will give it their all.

Last year Ivory Coast were favourites as well and made it to the final where they were beaten by Zambia 8-7 via a penalty shootout.

while Ethiopia has only one.

Every nation has a chance to qualify for the quarter-final stage in what are must-win games for all. Emenike is under no illusion that they have to finish off their last group stage opponents with more goals.

“We need to be more ruthless in front of goal, maybe 1-0 could not be enough to claim victory, so we will do our best to score more goals in our next game,” said the Spartak Moscow forward.

“I knew from the onset that our group will be a most interesting and tough group, but no matter what, we just need to be optimistic of our qualification. As it is now, only victory against Ethiopia can give us the ticket.

“Angola will bounce back”

F

•Emenike

I want to score goals, not show off — Adebayor

E

MMANUEL Adebayor says he is not worried about making an impression at the African Cup of Nations. He just wants to score goals.

The Togo captain has shrugged off criticism that he has yet to dazzle at the event, saying that his focus is not to show off his skills but to help his team to advance. And so far, it’s going to plan.

The Tottenham striker scored his first goal of the tournament in a 2-0 win over Algeria on Saturday, a result that left Togo needing just a draw against Tunisia in their final Group D match on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

“The most important thing is not to see the great Adebayor,

but to see a goal-scoring Adebayor,” he said. “My mission is to score goals. If people think that they haven’t seen the great Adebayor, so be

it. I haven’t come here for fame and glory. I came here to win matches.”

Adebayor was Togo’s biggest threat in the opener against Ivory Coast but missed a few key opportunities to score and help avoid his team’s 2-1 loss.

One of his unlikely misses came less than three minutes into the match, when he failed to score from close range despite having only the goalkeeper to beat.

He wasn’t superb against in the second match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, but found the net after a breakaway in the 32nd minute, sending a low shot underneath the charging Algerian goalkeeper. A late goal by teammate Dove Wome sealed a crucial victory.

Morocco hold their heads high

F

AILURE to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations may be viewed as a dismal result, but Morocco coach Rachid Taoussi believes they have reason to be proud.

The Lions of the Atlas recorded their third successive draw on Sunday when they were held 2-2 by South Africa, a result that saw them eliminated from the tournament. It continues a poor run of form in the continent’s premier competition, one they haven’t won since 1976.

Despite this, Taoussi feels that his young squad - in which C M Y K

the average age is 24 - is heading in the right direction.

“We walk out with honour and dignity after a good game.

I am very happy with the team and they played very well and they tried hard to improve,” he said.

“For me the balance sheet is positive, we didn’t lose a match. I know that the national team will do well because the foundations are there.”

Taoussi, who has only been at the helm of the national team for a matter of months, says his team are now looking forward to their upcoming World Cup qualifying games.

ORMER Angola midfielder Raul Neves Chipenda says the current team have a bright future despite enduring a disappointing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2-1 loss to Cape Verde on Sunday saw the Sable Antelopes dumped out of the continental championship, although for 82 minutes they were heading to the quarterfinals, along with South Africa, until two goals in quick succession saw the Blue Sharks claim their place in the lasteight.

Chipenda acknowledged that Cape Verde had played to their strengths on the night, but as a young team they will use this tournament as vital experience for their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

And after their defeat on Sunday, Chipenda explained: “I think in this game Cape Verde had a very, very big team and they knew that was their weapon.

Bafana coach proud of players

B

AFANA Bafana coach Gordon Igesund admitted that he felt immense pride following his side’s qualification for the quarterfinals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

The South Africans secured their passage into the next phase of the competition courtesy of a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Morocco and it is the first time since 2002 that they have made it out of the group stage of the tournament.

“We feel very, very proud” said Igesund. “We did what we had to do and achieved our first objective. We can now look forward to our next game and the next 20 hours we’re just going to relax.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 2013 — 55

Eagles: This Said can send you out!

O

N the eve of what has turned out to be Nigeria’s most important match at this Africa Cup of Nations so far, Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green has assured that the Super Eagles will not under-rate their less fancied opponents from the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia’s Walya Antelopes stand between Nigeria and a place in the knock-out phase of the continent’s biggest house party, following inauspicious draws with Burkina Faso and Zambia in earlier sessions.

Green said: “The players know what this match means and they will not toy with it. It is the game we must win to get to the quarter finals. A win and nothing less.”

A draw could still get Nigeria into the last eight, provided Burkina Faso’s Etalons overpower the defending champions in the other game of Group C at Mbombela Stadium same day, but Green is averse to such negative thinking and voodoo mathematics.

“I am not at home for such permutations. The two matches will be played simultaneously and any team that takes things for granted will have itself to blame,” Green said, as he referred to Sunday’s dramatic end to Group A, with Morocco’s Atlas Lions eliminated despite being at the top of the table with five minutes left.

“When we step out at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Tuesday, it is to pick up the three points,” concluded Green.

It will be important for the Super Eagles not to underestimate their opponents in Tuesday’s encounter.

In June 2011, the Nigerians were overwhelming favourites to trample on the Antelopes for three points in a 2012 Cup of Nations qualifier in Addis Ababa. The irrepressible Ikechukwu Uche gave Nigeria the lead but the hosts equalized when Vincent Enyeama misjudged a pull-out and lethal marksman Salahdin Said headed into the net on the stroke of half time.

Eagles were on the backfoot soon after recess when Efe Ambrose sold his headed ball to Enyeama short and Said capitalized to slot past the stranded goalie. Skipper Joseph Yobo had to sprint forward to head in the equalizer with few minutes remaining.

Salahdin Said, 24, who plays for Wadi Degla in the Egyptian League, has not scored at this tournament, but is by far the most dreaded striker in the Ethiopian team.

The skinny, tireless forward has scored nine goals in 14 appearances for his country, including the goal that sent Ethi-

Chipolopolo to bag $23,750

Z

Said, Ethiopia's talisman opia to the 29th Africa Cup of Nations at the expense of a rampant Sudan.

Following a 5-3 first leg win, the Sudanese arrived in Addis Ababa determined not to concede. However, they went behind after one hour and, had it stayed that way, they would have reached the finals. But Said turned up again and got the goal that eliminated them on the away-goal rule, sending Ethiopia to their first Cup of Nations in 31years.

Ethiopia currently top their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying table thanks to Said, who scored in the 1-1 draw with South Africa away and both goals in the 2-0 defeat of Central Africa Republic in Addis in June 2012.

Alongside skipper Adane Girma and the youthful Fuad Ibrahim, Coach Sewnet Bishaw has an attacking line capable of delivering the goods when called upon.

Officials have hinted that since goals are needed aplenty on Tuesday, Coach Stephen Keshi may start the ever-reliable Ikechukwu Uche, top scorer for Nigeria in the qualifying race.

Uche, who plays for Villarreal of Spain, was also top scorer for Nigeria in the qualifying race for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, also held in South Africa, but missed the finals as a result of injury.

We will show Eagles we can play football —Ethiopia “We are here to play football tenberg, Bishaw said that “be-

E

THIOPIAN coach, Sew net Bishaw has said today’s match against Nigeria will afford his players the opportunity to show the world that they can play good football.

Nigeria go into their final group game chasing their first win, while Ethiopia are bottom of the pile with a point.

The Super Eagles stand in second place in Group C with two points, having conceded late equalisers to Burkina Faso and Zambia.

Nigerian captain Joseph Yobo and Chelsea midfielder Victor Moses face late fitness tests.

Ethiopia may be without striker Adane Girma, who scored their only goal of the finals, and Asrat Mergasa.

Girma has a leg injury after coming off in the Ethiopians’ defeat to Burkina Faso and Mergasa has a knee injury.

Speaking yesterday in Rus-

fore the match I will tell my players to play football and to gain experience out of a huge team like Nigeria.

and everybody is surprised by our football. Our mission is to show the rest of the world that we can play football. That is the message to my players.”

Keshi challenges Eagles Continued from back page Addressing the players at the team’s evening training in Rustenberg Sunday evening, Keshi said the team may have been hard done by some calls by officiating officials but they should learn to finish games well and with wide margins before such calls are made.

“We should win our matches before bad calls are made so that those who know next to nothing about football will not become our overnight technical advisers. You all know how hard we have worked. It is left for you to get the job done”, he said.

•Keshi He again restated his confidence in the abilities of his 23man squad to do Nigeria proud at the tourney, adding that the Super Eagles have a rich tradition in the Nations Cup that must be sustained and improved upon by the present squad.

AMBIAN players will each receive US$23,750 (KR126,000) if they beat Burkina Faso in today’s last Group C match and qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals.

The $23,750 is an accumulative payment which has been boosted by Government’s decision to increase the winning bonus for the final group game from $8,500 promised prior to the start of the competition to $11,000 – an increment of about 30 per cent.

Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili said in an interview that Government’s move was meant to motivate the players to work harder and qualify for the quarter-finals and step further into the title defence crusade.

As an added incentive, should the Christopher Katongo-captained squad qualify, one of the draws in the games against Ethiopia and Nigeria would be paid as a winning bonus at $8,500.

‘Keshi not a Cup of Nations failure’

T

HE Nigeria Football Fed eration on Monday lashed out at those giving the false impression that Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has never won a match at the Africa Cup of Nations.

“This impression is not only false and a fallacy, but is uncalled-for on the eve of a crucial match at the Africa Cup of Nations,” said Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Assistant Director of Media.

Olajire continued: “Keshi is not a Cup of Nations failure.

He won the Africa Cup of Nations as a player and has won a match at the Africa Cup of Nations as a Coach. Although his Togo side was winless in Egypt in 2006, Keshi was in charge of the Mali National Team when they defeated Malawi 3-1 at the finals in Angola three years ago.”

The NFF spokesman also pointed out that Mali was eliminated in the group stage in Angola only by the head-tohead rule. “The Eagles of Mali came from four goals down to draw 4-4 with the host nation in the tournament opening match, and then lost 0-1 to Algeria before beating Malawi 31.

C M Y K

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013

Ethiopia: We will show Eagles how to play — P55

Keshi challenges Eagles •Says we’ll not accept excuses from you

H

Eagles in training ahead of today's match against Ethiopia

Chipolopolo to bag $23,750 —pg 55 TODAY'S

PUZZLE

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

AVING satisfied himself that he has done reasonable coaching to guide the players win matches, Super Eagles Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has told his players that neither the technical crew, NFF nor the Nigerian public would take excuses from them if they fail to qualify for the knock-out stage of the ongoing Nations Cup in South Africa.

He told the players that they had the potentials to be champions of the tourney and that the ball was in their court to prove critics wrong.

Continues on Page 55

Q/final matches (Saturday) Ghana Mali

RESULTS

Ghana Congo DR

3 Niger 1 Mali

vs Cape Verde 4p.m vs S/Africa 7:30 p.m.

TODAY'S MATCHES

0 1

Nigeria Zambia

vs vs

Ethiopia— 6 pm B/Faso — 6 pm

ANSWERS ACROSS 2 Mend (5) 7 Wide (5) 8 Store (5) 10 Fire (5) 12 Fuss (3) 13 Diminish (5) 15 Earthenware (7) 17 Venerate (6) 19 Grief (3) 20 Old (7) 23 Clip (4) 25 Yell (4) 26 File (7) 30 Drunkard (3) 31 Beat (6) 34 Chase (7) 37 Dirt (5) 38 Fasten (3) 39 Hut (5) 40 Coppice (5) 41 Nurse (5) 42 Revolt (5)

DOWN 1 Investigate (5) 2 Glue (5) 3 Stick (6) 4 Harvest (4) 5 Majestic (7) 6 Spurn (5) 9 Poem (3) 11 Soared (7) 13 Ascend (5) 14 Shun (5) 16 Hill (3) 18 Resilient (7) 21 Rustic (5) 22 Indolence (5) 24 Own (7) 27 French coin (3) 28 Purify (6) 29 Teacher (5) 32 End (5) 33 Make amends (5) 35 Tear (3) 36 Docile (4)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 2, Wager 7, Core 8, Unsure 9, Dunce 11, Cod 13, Par 15, Raid 16, Late 19, Elector 20, Cape 22, Gaol 23, Oversee 25, Apse 27, Tow 28, Role 30, Lee 31, Nod 33, Story 36, Praise 37, Elan 38, Token.

How to Play Sudoku

THE VIGILANTE

DOWN: 1, Cocoa 2, Wed 3, Gun 4, Rue 5, Asp 6, Great 10, Case 11, Crucial 12, Dispose 13, Paragon 14, Replied 16, Alert 17, Screw 18, Log 21, Eve 24, Sort 26, Pearl 29, Loyal 32, Zip 33, Set 34, Oak 35, Yen.

e-mail: rowolove@yahoo.co.uk

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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