South-East burns as Biafra Day turns bloody

...towards a better life for the people VOL. 25: NO. 63039

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

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N200

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

South-East burns as Biafra Day turns bloody 40 dead, scores injured as protesters, securitymen clash We don't need this distraction now —Okorocha Chekwas Okorie urges Buhari to release Kanu We're not involved, says MASSOB

By Emeka Mamah, Jimitota Onoyume,Vincent Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, Anayo Okoli, Peter Okutu, Nwabueze Okonkwo, Francis Igata, Chimaobi Nwaiwu, Cyril Ozor & Chinedu Adonu

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WKA— BIAFRA Day anniversary celebration turned bloody, yesterday, in South-East states as soldiers and policemen clashed with pro-Biafra groups.

In the commercial city of Onitsha, our reporters quoted eye witnesses as saying that about 40 people, including a soldier, were killed, while over 50 were arrested.

The incident, according to

Top left, below, and left: Victims of the clash in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Pic from twitter: @emmsanuelgreg1

Pic from twitter: @kingsleybiafran

Pic from twitter: @emmsanuelgreg1

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I'll soon reveal how Abacha, Abiola died

TOP: IPOB and BIM members during the Biafra Day anniversary celebration, yesterday.

—Al-Mustapha

FG sends warships, fighter jets to hunt militants 8

•Oil output down to 1.2mbpd; troops invade Kurutie, Okerenkoko, Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene COLUMNIST : Kidnappers collect ransom after killing, burying lecturer See Inside C M Y K

Fantastically corrupt Nigeria, fantastic British creation! •P.17

2015 POLLS: Jonathan shocked me by conceding defeat — Buhari

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Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

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POCKET CARTOON

FORUM: From left, French Ambassador for International Investment and CEO of Business France, Mrs Muriel Penicaurd; Chairman, UBA Plc and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Chairman, Senate Inter-Parliamentary Committee on France-West Africa, Senator Charles Revet and French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Denye Gauer, at the French Senate, Palais Du Luxembourg, Paris, weekend, where Mr. Tony Elumelu was guest speaker at the 'Colloque Nigeria: Nigeria, the Leading African Economy' forum.

South-East burns as Biafra Day turns bloody Continues from page 1 eye witnesses, started at about 3 a.m. when security forces entered the premises of St. Edmund’s Catholic Church, Nkpor Agu, near Onitsha and allegedly opened fire on the worshippers, accusing them of being Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, members, during which five were killed, while 10 others were injured.

The source further stated at 8 a.m., the security forces, who patrolled all nooks and crannies of Onitsha, Nkpor, Ogidi and environs, allegedly swooped on another batch of suspected IPOB members, where about 20 were allegedly killed and scores injured.

At about 11 a.m, the patrol team allegedly killed another 15, thus bringing the total casualty rate to about 40.

However, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,

MASSOB, said it was not involved in the protest that paralyzed commercial activities in the area.

It was alleged that at 6 a.m, members of IPOB took to the streets, some naked, and were confronted by soldiers of the 312 Artillery Brigade, an action that allegedly led to scores of people losing their lives.

The pro-Biafra groups blocked most major streets in Onitsha and Niger Bridge head, which made most people to remain indoors. All markets in Onitsha were also closed.

Most of the killings were done at Nkpor, a suburb of Onitsha, where IPOB had chosen to celebrate Biafra Day. Two killed at Niger Bridge head According to Area Administrator of Nnewi Region of IPOB, Mr Sonny Chukwuebuka, two of IPOB members met their

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Dont let life discourage you; everyone who got to where he is had to begin from somewhere — Richard L. Evans

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SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE Dogs do not actually prefer bones to meat; it is just that no one ever gives them meat.

untimely death at the Niger Bridge Head as they were coming from Asaba, Delta State capital, with others to join their Anambra State counterparts in the celebration.

They were said to have ran into soldiers, who denied them passage into Onitsha and in the process, a heated argument was said to have ensued.

Vanguard learned that this later resulted in a bloody clash and consequently, a policeman was killed, while a soldier was stabbed.

MASSOB not involved

MASSOB leader, Mr. Uchenna Madu, said in a telephone interview that his organization was not involved in the protest, explaining that he had earlier issued a statement that this year’s Biafra Day should be celebrated quietly and that all MASSOB members should stay at home.

Madu said though MASSOB was not involved in the protest, it was not enough reason for securitymen to open fire on innocent people.

He said: “Security operatives of the Federal Government are arresting and killing people who are non-violent. Is it because we are not armed? It appears the only language the Nigerian security understands is violence.

"This issue is not about MASSOB or IPOB. It is about Ndigbo generally. In the ongoing killings, innocent people were also targets."

IPOB protest illegal —Anambra govt

In its reaction, Anambra State government said the protest by IPOB, in Onitsha

was illegal, noting that the group did not obtain the necessary police permit for the rally.

In an announcement shortly after the Onitsha incident, government, through the state Commissioner for Information and Communications Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, said: “The attention of Anambra State government has been drawn to illegal demonstration by a group of individuals causing anxiety at Nkpor/Onitsha axis of the state. The law enforcement agencies are on top of the situation and are currently working to restore normalcy and free movement for all lawabiding citizens.

“Ndi Anambra are, hereby, advised to remain calm and vigilant and go about their lawful businesses. All should note that there are laws against disturbance of public peace.”

50 members arrested, IPOB alleges

Also reacting to the clash, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, alleged that apart from about 40 people killed, security operatives also arrested over 50 members of the group and took them to an unknown destination.

He said: “We were celebrating Biafra without any form of violence and the question we are asking is whether we no longer have our fundamental rights.”

National Publicity Secretary of Campaign for Democracy (CD), Mr. Dede-Uzor-Dede, said the Federal Government should arrest those involved in the killings of the harmless youths, with a view to bringing them to justice, in line with Chapter 4, Sections 33 to 41 which centred on fundamental human rights and in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

Enugu Police arrest MASSOB, BIM members

Also, yesterday, no fewer than 13 suspected members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, and Biafra Independent Movement, BIM,were arrested by the Police at the Edinburgh axis of Enugu metropolis where they converged as take-off point to embark on peaceful demonstration to commemorate their independence.

An eyewitness told Vanguard that the proBiafra members stormed

the venue at about 7.40 a.m. in a Toyota Hiace bus with number plate XG 265 UWN with flags and T-shirts bearing Biafra insignia and inscriptions.

They were said to have formed a circle, holding hands in prayers before the commencement of the protest when the police swooped on them.

Confirming the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ebere Amaraizu, Superintendent of Police, said the protesters were rounded up following intelligence report on the would-be protest which made the command ban any form of protest.

“They converged on Edinburgh axis and the arrested suspects in their reactions maintained that they are members of MASSOB and BIM. They further stated that they were to converge and pray at the spot before embarking on procession with their flags to commemorate their independence."

Chekwas Okorie urges Buhari to release Kanu

Meanwhile, Founder, United Progressives Party,UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie,yesterday, urged President Muhammad Buhari to release detained Nnamdi Kanu, Director Radio Biafra, as a prelude to dialogue with the aggrieved members of MASSOB, IPOB, and other affiliate groups demanding for Biafra secession.

Similarly, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, declined to comment on the activities of MASSOB, IPOB, BIM and other affiliate groups involved in the averted protest.

President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey, told Vanguard on the phone: “I do not want to talk about anything concerning MASSOB and others involved in any protest.”

40 MASSOB members arrested in

Nsukka church

In Nsukka, MASSOB raised alarm that the police arrested 40 of it members at St. Theresa’s Cathedral, Nsukka, yesterday, while attending a special thanksgiving mass in commemoration of 49th anniversary of the declaration of the defunct Biafran Republic by the late warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

The zonal leader of MASSOB in Enugu North, Chief James Omeke, said it was surprising that police circled the Catholic Cathedral, sneaked into the church and arrested the members at the special thanksgiving mass.

He said: ”The arrest, harassment and intimidation of the members would not deter the movement but would spur the struggle to freedom.

Nigerian government has not been fair to the freedom of Biafra.”

Efforts to get confirmation from the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebere Amaraizu. proved abortive as several calls to his line were not answered.

However, a senior police officer in Nsukka who spoke on condition of anonymity, denied any arrest.

Pro-Biafra protesters shot in Umuahia

In Umuahia, a member of MASSOB was said to have sustained gunshot wounds when police allegedly shot at the members, who held peaceful rally to mark 49th anniversary of Biafra.

He was said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the Abia State capital.

Also, 10 members of the group were said to have been arrested by the police during the rally.

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Youth Council has condemned the killings, saying it was wrong for the security to shoot citizens on a peaceful protest.

According to the Council, it is against international laws and conventions to attack unarmed protesters

Continues on page 12

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

Osun Police rescue abducted market leader

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—OSUN State Police Command has rescued a p r o m i n e n t businesswoman and Iyaloja (Head of Market Women) of Kajola-Ijesa Market in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, Alhaja Adunni Adegbokun, who was kidnapped 10 days ago.

Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olufemi Oyeleye, confirmed last night that the businesswoman was rescued along Ikire Expressway by the police patrol team from Ikire Divisional Police Headquarters.

Speaking through the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Egbedele Ajibade, the CP said policemen had been on the trail of the abductors of the woman.

It would be recalled that the Kajola-Ijesa market has been closed down since Alhaja Adegbokun was abducted at her residence at Araromi Street on May 19.

Driver crushes roadside trader

By Gbenga Olarinoye

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SOGBO—A young lady, who sold by the roadside along Capital Hotel in Osogbo, Osun State, was crushed to death by a drunk driver in a black SUV, yesterday.

The driver, according to sources, who was said to be in his vehicle with his wife and two kids when the accident occurred, reportedly drove out of a hotel opposite where the accident occurred.

A vegetable trader, simply identified as Mallam Nasir, who was at the scene of the accident, said he was standing close to the deceased, adding that he had just moved away from the spot when the driver rammed on her.

It was gathered the man was whisked away by some men in mufti claiming to be policemen.

FCT fire fighters at the scene of an accident on Lokoja-Abuja Road. NAN PHOTO.

Why I killed my aunt, by 28-yr-old man

By Tom Moses

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YO—A 28-year-old man, Uwem Akpanebe, who killed his 75 years old aunty, Josephine George, yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said he was told by prayer warriors that she was behind his travails.

The suspect, detained at Akwa Ibom State Police headquarters, Uyo, told Vanguard that he decided to kill his aunty as the prayer houses he went to for solutions to his problems told him the

person behind his woes was a close relative, who did not only spiritually block his chances of realising his aspirations, but was also plotting his death for money ritual.

The native of Ikot Ineme in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State added that since he was living with Josephine, he thought she was the one plotting to use him for money rituals and, therefore, had to go for her life first.

He said: “My action was caused by the revelations given to me by the prayer houses I have been attending.

I was told in almost all the prayer houses that someone close to me was the cause of all the ordeals I was passing through and that the person was even plotting to use me for money rituals.

“So I hid somewhere with a machete, waited for her and when she was returning home, I cut her with the machete till she died.”

Speaking on behalf of Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Murtala Mani, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Delia Nwawe, reiterated the commitment of the police in the state to smoke out all criminal elements from their hideouts for the state to remain peaceful and safe.

She expressed surprise that the young man could murder the woman he was living with because of unsubstantiated revelations by prayer houses that someone was after his life.

10 killed, as gunmen invade Rivers communities

By Jimitota Onoyume & Davies Iheamnachor

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ORT HARCOURT— MEMBERS of Greenlanders, a cult group, reportedly invaded Ibaa community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sunday, killing six people and injuring many others.

Meanwhile, about four persons were reportedly shot dead in Odhuaje community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of the state by unknown gunmen yesterday.

On the Ibaa community invasion, Vanguard learned that it was a reprisal attack against its rival cult group, The Icelanders.

Those reportedly killed during the shootout were Mr. Prince Nyenke, Mr. Dirinna, Mr. Kpomasiruchi, Mr. ThankGod Obisike and two others.

A community source, who did not want his name in print, disclosed that the gunmen laid siege to the community and operated freely without interruption from any quarter.

The source, who was privy to the development, noted that

the strange visitors were moving from house to house in search of the members of The Icelanders.

It also said that the Greenlanders had chased the Icelanders out of their camp in the community and taken over the place.

Vanguard also gathered that the mini-police post in the community has been closed since the shootout.

Meanwhile, the Caretaker Chairman of Emohua council, Mr. John Wokoma, who visited the affected people, described the situation as pathetic, promising to provide adequate security for the people.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, confirmed that it was a cult

clash for supremacy.

Muhammad noted that three casualties were recorded, but disclosed that peace has returned He said: “It was a supremacy clash between Deygbam and Islander cult groups, which left three fatal casualties. Normalcy has since been restored due to police intervention.”

But he denied knowledge of the Odhuaje community attack.

Lagos police raid hot spots, nab 59 criminals,

By Esther Onyegbula

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PERATIVES of the Rapid Response Squad, Lagos State Police Command, have arrested 59 suspected social miscreants during a raid on criminal hideouts and black spots in the state.

The suspected criminals were picked up in Oshodi, Ojota, Oregun, Mile 12, LASU/Iyana-Iba Junction and Mile 2 after repeated surveillance of the areas by the RRS Intelligence Team.

It was learned that some of the raided points were places where members of the public volunteered information as

crime spots and had been monitored by police for days before the raid.

Out of 59 suspects picked up, 46 were released to their relatives after screening. 13 suspects, who investigators confirmed were drug addicts, pickpockets and with questionable sources of livelihood, were sent to the State Environmental Task Force for prosecution.

In another development, the outfit is questioning two suspected cultists, who were arrested along with 12 other suspects in Oregun.

The suspected cultists, David Seun, 17, and Ahmed

Sulaiman, 17, have confessed to be members of a 12-man cult gang terrorising Oregun and Olusosun.

A tailor, David, stated that he was forced to join the cult gang by his friend, Sadiq.

He said: “Sadiq invited me out and I was initiated in Oregun High School, Oregun. Kehinde is the leader of the cult group, Eiye. He lives in Ikorodu, but I do not know his house.

“He comes to our meetings occasionally. It has been long since I saw him. The group took all I had on me the day I was initiated. They took my money, N6,000, my phone, wristwatch and my shoes.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—7

Ogun community deserted, as pipeline vandals engage police in gun battle

By Evelyn Usman

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ESIDENTS of Elebute community in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, yesterday, fled their homes to avoid being caught in the crossfire as policemen and pipeline vandals clashed.

Vanguard gathered that the vandals engaged policemen and other security agents in a shootout that lasted over an hour at the early hours of yesterday, in an attempt to rescue two of their colleagues that were arrested.

It was reported that they also attempted to deflate the tyres of the Police Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, but their attempt was frustrated.

However, some police vans were destroyed though no life was lost.

At noon yesterday, three APCs were seen stationed at Ibafo junction with over 50 heavilyarmed security personnel, comprising police, soldiers, and National Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, patrolling the area.

A resident, who came back to pick some of his belongings, told journalists: “Some oil vandals invaded the community two nights ago to attack oil pipelines, when security operatives swooped on them.

“This resulted in a gun battle that lasted over four hours. We all laid on the floor. The shooting, which continued the next day forced everyone to remain indoors. We have to vacate our homes so as not to be hit by stray bullets.”

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abdulmajid Ali, said two suspected vandals had been arrested following the attack.

He said: “We arrested two of the notorious pipeline vandals and before we knew it, the vandals opened fire on our APC. They destroyed our vehicles. I

2 cultists “We meet at Ita Egbe in Oregun. Other members of the Eiye cult group in Oregun are Ayo, Eyo, Bobo Olusosun, Last Born, Don Banny, Elewedu, Two Yansh, Pepper, Little 9 and Akube. We meet by 7p.m.”

On his part, Ahmed Sulaiman, an orphan, who was on apprenticeship under David, said he was forced to join the group by his boss, David.

Confirming the arrest, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Damasus Ozoani, noted that the police will leave no stone unturned to sanitise Lagos from the menace of social miscreants.

can assure you that we are out for them.

“We are no longer going to

tolerate their impunity. We are holding two of the kingpins and we would go out for more.

They should leave our national assets alone or face the wrath of the command.”

One dies in 3rd Mainland Bridge accident

By Bose Adelaja

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NE person reportedly died, yesterday, while several others sustained injuries as a yellow-painted bus somersaulted after one of its tyre burst on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

The accident, which occurred at about 11.30a.m. after Adekunle end of the bridge (before UNILAG Waterfront), according to an eyewitness, was due to speeding on the part of the driver of the bus with number plates EKY 190 VW. The remaining victims, as gathered, were rushed to a nearby hospital by law enforcement operatives.

LUTH awaits police report on doctor’s murder

By Chioma Obinna

T Scene of the accident on Third Mainland Bridge that claimed one life.

Lagos hotelier assassinated Police arrest lover, four others

By Evelyn Usman

T

HE Lagos State Police Command has begun investigation into the killing of Mr. Michael Ogunlusi, the owner of Alloizie Hotel located in Ishawo Road, Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos, weekend, by suspected assassins.

Vanguard gathered that the gunmen, four in number, wore black jeans, T-shirts and caps, when they stormed the hotel at about 11p.m.

While one of them remained in their operational vehicle parked close to the hotel with its lights off, others reportedly drove into the hotel’s premises on a motorcycle, pretending to be guests.

At the reception, they ordered everyone to move into one of the rooms and locked them inside, after collecting their phones.

One of the gunmen, who posed as a staff of the hotel,

reportedly made straight for the room where its owner, Mr. Ogunlusi, was and hit him with the butt of a pistol.

Information at Vanguard’s disposal revealed that an argument over the owner’s alleged affair with a lady, who incidentally was with him, ensued. One of them, believed to be the leader, was said to have accused Ogunlusi of having an affair with their boss’ woman.

Pleas by the fear-stricken Ogunlusi for his life to be spared, with a promise to give them any amount of money reportedly fell on deaf ears as the gunmen shot him at close range.

A staff of the hotel, who pleaded anonymity, told Vanguard: “We all went into hiding when we heard the gunshots, but no one knew it was from oga’s room. They left in a hurry, jumped into their

motorbike and drove out of the premises.

“When they got outside, one of them jumped down and ran inside a car that was parked. We did not know the type of car because it was dark and the driver did not put on the lights as he zoomed off.

“It was when we went to ascertain where the gunshots came from that we saw our boss in a pool of blood. His neck, chest and stomach were perforated with bullets. We also saw a lady, who later gave her name as Grace to policemen, with him. She was too shocked to speak.

“But she told policemen that it was obvious our boss knew the gunmen because while begging, he told them that they knew him very well.”

At press time yesterday, Grace was reportedly still with the police.

HE Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Professor Chris Bode, yesterday, declined comments on the murder of one of its Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr. Thomas Adekoya-Cole saying the hospital cannot say anything about the death of the consultant until police report is released.

Adekoya-Cole was abducted and killed at Itele Area of Ijebu in Ogun State, Sunday, during a clash among traditional worshippers.

Bode said: “It is a criminal case. It is Ogun State police that have jurisdiction over the case as it happened there. So direct all your questions to Ogun State Police Command. They are directly involved in the case. We have to wait for their verdict.”

He said the hospital can only sympathise with the family, knowing that they are in mourning mood.

It was gathered that Thomas Adekoya-Cole was murdered while in his hometown to attend a public function. He was allegedly attacked with machetes around 7.30a.m. on Sunday.

8—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

By Emma Amaize, Samuel Oyadongha, Sebastine Obasi, Egufe Yafugborhi, Akpokona Omafuaire and Perez Brisibe

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HE FEDERAL government, yesterday, deployed an armada of five warships, 100 gunboats and fighter jets to the creeks of the Niger Delta, in response to continued bombing of oil and gas pipelines by Niger Delta Avengers, NDA. This heightened tension in the coastal communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, even as helicopter gunships were seen hovering at low altitude in the predominantly riverine council.

It was gathered that while the Airforce deployed the fighter jets and helicopter gunships, the Army rolled on four more Ijaw communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West Local Government Area, Delta State, in search of the militants.

Bayelsa travellers from the hinterland, confirmed the large military presence in the tricky mangrove swamp of the council, which at the height of youth militancy, had the largest concentration of militant camps in the Delta.

“There is a massive security operation going on in the area.

Fighter jets and helicopter gunships have been hovering around the airspace at low level, apparently on surveillance mission. Many of the natives are worried about the development," said Ayebatari, an indigene of the area.

However, an Agip source told Vanguard that the company had, amid tight security, commenced repair of the damaged section of Tebidaba-Brass delivery line destroyed on Sunday by militants.

“Yes, the repair work is being done under the radar,” he said in reference to the aerial coverage by the military.

Meanwhile, the invasion of Ijaw communities, which started about 1.52a.m., on Saturday, with the take-over of Oporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom and Kurutie, also known as “Little London,” the country home of ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Okerenkoko, Kokodigbane and Benikrukru, yesterday, has caused food crisis in Gbaramatu clan.

Residents, who fled Oporoza, three days ago to the neighbouring Azama community, are famished, as they had not eaten for a while, and soldiers were reportedly not allowing them to return to the community to look for food and pick their clothes.

The traditional ruler of Gbaramatu kingdom, HRM Williams Ogboba, Oboro Gbaraun II, narrated the ordeal of the people when the Special Adviser to the President on Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (retd), visited him at his palace in Oporoza, Delta State, on Sunday.

Niger Delta Avengers: FG deploys 5 warships, 100 gunboats, fighter jets to Delta creeks ... Uses intelligence, host community to find Avengers ....Ransacks Tompolo’s father's house for arms, ammunition Oil production plummets to 1.2 mbpd As helicopters hover round Bayelsa airspace Soldiers invade Kurutie, Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene, Benikrukru Food crisis hits displaced villagers; soldiers take over Oporoza Guest House Onokpasa decries seizure of pots of soup by soldiers I'm under house arrest —Gbaramatu monarch, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II

Some displaced residents in Kurutie, yesterday, and (inset) Okporoza, the traditional headquarters of the kingdom deserted.

He said he was under house arrest and had not taken his bath since soldiers invaded his kingdom, while his subjects in Oporoza had all fled.

Commander, NNS Delta, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, confirmed, yesterday, that the security agencies were now working in synergy to rout the Avengers.

Surveillance He said: “We (Navy) use helicopter. If you spot it, you will clearly identify it as belonging to us. You see Navy written on it. The jet fighters and surveillance craft were deployed

by Air Force to watch over the high risk areas against activities of the oil assets vandals and anyone else involved in criminality in the area.

“There is now strengthened synergy among the security agencies to stop this vandalism.

The synergy is there. I will advise those involved to steer clear and employ peaceful ways of

agitating and engaging their minds.”

The fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were also seen flying around communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom and Ogulagha area in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State about 10a.m.

Ijaw leader, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and Public Relations Officer of Oporoza Youth Executive, Paul Kirifade, confirmed the movement of the jet fighters and aircraft in the communities.

It was learned that the fighter jets and surveillance aircraft were deployed to enable the armed forces locate the militants, believed to be running helterskelter and hiding in the mangrove swamps after the occupation of Oporoza and fly down on Kurutie and other communities, yesterday.

Our source said soldiers stormed Kurutie in six gunboats at 4.30a.m., while the people

were still asleep.

A 70-year-old man, identified as Mr. Dogood Ikekama, was allegedly molested and forced by the soldiers to take them round some houses in the community.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has been asked to focus more on intelligence gathering and collaboration with host communities in identifying the location of Niger Delta Avengers.

Chairman of Grassroots Initiative for Peace and Social Orientation and one of the facilitators of the amnesty programme, Mr. Richard Akinaka, who condemned the renewed attacks as not representing the intention and interest of the Niger Delta, blamed it on protection of individual business interests of some unscrupulous people from the region.

To avoid collateral damage and hurting innocent villagers whose lives, he said, had been battered by neglect and lack of development, Akinaka said soldiers should desist from mass arrest but focus on identifying where the Avengers were located and take them out.

He said: “What is happening in the region does not reflect the common interest of the people of the Niger Delta. It is orchestrated by a few disgruntled people for their selfish interests. We just finished six years of a Presidency headed by one of us, former President Goodluck Jonathan, why didn’t the Avengers carry out their agitation during his regime? ‘’We produced a President, who did nothing in six years to better the lot of his people, not even the road to Otuoke was touched under him while the East-West Road was left undone; so what justification do they have to protest now?”

Vanguard gathered that Tompolo’s father had since fled the community, following the hunt for his son but one of his wives, who was in town managed to run into the bush with other villagers before the soldiers reached the house.

She wept uncontrollably in her location as soldiers rummaged the house, but the soldiers, who also broke into and ransacked other

homes in the town departed at about 6a.m.

The soldiers marched into Okerenkoko, Kokodiagbene and Benikrukru community when they left Kurutie.

According to the chairman of Kokodiagbene community, Sheriff Mulade: “In the wee hours of yesterday, the Joint Military Task Force, codenamed Operations Pulo Shield, invaded more Ijaw communities in search of vandals and militants bombing oil and gas facilities in Delta state.

“The communities include Benikrukru, Kokodiagbene, Kurutie and Okerenkoko, all in Warri South West Council.

According to the JTF, the operations, named Cordon and Search, was aimed at unmasking the militants and vandals, who are perpetrating the heinous crimes, requesting the communities to produce them,” he said.

Oil production plummets to 1.2 mbpd Nigeria’s oil production has continued to plummet as at yesterday, it stood at 1.2 million barrels per day, against the 1.4 million barrels recorded last week.

Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Garbadeen Mohammed, said: “Our production is not less than, but about 1.2 million barrels per day.”

The decline has been attributed to increased vandalism of crude oil pipelines by vandals, as well as increasing blow up of international oil companies’ platforms in the last two weeks.

Onokpasa decries seizure of pots of soup by soldiers All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Mr. Jesutega Onokpasa, criticized the confiscation of household appliances and even pots of soup by invading soldiers in Oporoza, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West council, saying such act would only present the military as unruly and unethical.

Calling on the Niger Delta Avengers to have a rethink and embrace dialogue, he said: “Everyone in Gbaramatu cannot be an Avenger and we cannot be talking of negotiation and at the same time invading Oporoza. ‘’What is required is intelligence, not brute force.

These vandals could be operating from anywhere.

Would they bomb a pipeline and then remain in the area waiting for the military to come after them?

“Stopping further destruction of our oil and gas infrastructure is of utmost priority, invading communities and going so far as confiscating household appliances and even pots of soup, will only present the military as undisciplined, untidy and unprofessional.”

Continues on page 15

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—9

BAD DEBTS: EFCC summons NEXIM top

officials over N3.5bn

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A

BUJA—THE inability of key officials of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM, to explain the whereabouts of over N3.5 billion cash belonging to the bank has angered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which believes strongly that the huge sum was diverted.

The bank claims the money was lost to ‘bad debts’ but the anti-graft agency wants to know who the beneficiaries of the bad loans were and what relationship existed between them and top officials of the bank, which had been crippled by lack of funds to discharge its key mandate of funding production for exports.

Although the Federal Government had late last year, in apparent dissatisfaction, dispensed with the board and managing director of the bank, the questionable deals are being subjected to scrutiny by the EFCC in a deliberate move to bring the masterminds to justice, in the spirit of the present administration.

To unravel the fraud, Vanguard learned that the EFCC has summoned top officials of the bank in batches to take statements from them.

A source close to the investigation confirmed to Vanguard yesterday that apart from the current set of management staff, some members of the immediate past board were also being invited for questioning over bribery allegations and insider deals, which have robbed the bank of steam.

“All the directors have been invited in batches. It is only one or two of the many departments of the bank, which we don’t think have anything to do with the money we are talking about that have not been invited,’’ a source said yesterday.

According to insider sources, who have also made representations to EFCC, a former top official of the bank

was in the habit of disbursing huge loans amounting to N2 billion to his cronies and close associates to warehouse for him under the guise of loans.

All the loans, which were disbursed under the official, have now been classified as ‘bad loans’, meaning that the government may never recover them.

New report

According to a new report now before the Ministry of Finance, allegations of bribery and corruption were also rife within the bank, forcing prospective

customers to shun it.

In one classical case being investigated, a firm which was recommended by a former head of state, had approached the bank boss as early as 2012 for a loan facility of N1.5 billion for a farmers’ cooperative society to enable it acquire more equipment and produce more for exports, but a former key official of NEXIM insisted on taking 10 per cent bribe (N150 million) as a condition for listing the group for discussion with other board members.

After paying the initial N150 million as demanded by the bank boss, he, then asked the farmers

MEETING: President, African Development Bank, AfDB, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (left) and Acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Mr. Waheed Olagunju at AfDB's annual meeting in Lusaka, Zambia.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT BILL: Prepare memo to

Senate, Omo-Agege urges female students

A

By Henry Umoru

BUJA—SENATOR Ovie Omo-Agege, Delta Central, has urged all female students, through the National Female Students Association of Nigeria, to present a memorandum to the Senate to chronicle their demands during a public hearing on the bill on sexual harassment in tertiary institutions 2016.

According to Senator Omo-

Agege, the bill, which he sponsored with 45 other senators, did not come about by accident but were driven by a problem which has been on for a very long time that the Senate has been trying to fix.

Speaking when he received members of the National Female Students Association of Nigeria who were in his office on a solidarity visit, Senator OmoAgege described sexual

Dogara introduces electronic voting, e-parliament for Reps will be used regularly during

By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbakwuru

A

BUJA—SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has introduced electronic voting system in the conduct of legislative business.

Dogara, who last Thursday announced the adoption of the e-voting system, said it was in compliance with the 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda.

Consequently, forms have been distributed to individual members to collate their data ahead of production of e-voting

group to bring another N150 million to be shared out to his other officials before releasing the loan to them.

One of the farmers told Vanguard: “We were forced to go and source for the balance of N150 million to pay the man, only for us to be told that he had been sacked.

“We have already lost N150 million, being 10 per cent of N1.5 billion as bribe to this man who was shown the way out of the bank recently. ‘’All our documents for the loan are intact in the bank. We have reported this matter to both the EFCC and the Minister of Finance who supervises the bank.”

cards to all the 360 MPs. The implication of the new system is that records of each member ’s punctuality and voting patterns can easily be accessed by his/her constituents and members of the public.

According to details of the Legislative Agenda, as adopted by the 8th Assembly early in its life last year, the 8th House commits to the use of ICT in the daily conduct of legislative activities of the House. ‘’E-parliament and e-voting platforms will be made a regular feature of the House. E-voting

voting to properly reflect voting records of members and parliamentary accountability. ‘’The House shall collaborate with relevant stakeholders to achieve the goal of an eparliament,’’ the document revealed.

The e-parliament initiative will operate on the platform of modern, up to date digital technology.

Internet and intranet access supported by a computerized legislative information management system will be put in place.

harassment of female students by lecturers as totally unacceptable.

He said the bill was targeted at the few bad eggs who had continued to perpetrate the act in the nation’s universities and other tertiary institutions.

The senator, who noted that enough was enough for such lecturers, said the country must have a conducive learning environment for females.

Earlier in her presentation, President, National Female Students Association of Nigeria, Comrade Idongesit Micah, told the senator that they were in his office to show solidarity, following his sponsorship of the bill.

She said the challenges of female students on the issue of sexual harassment by lecturers had always been the ability to speak up. ‘’Female students are afraid of being humiliated by lecturers or being stigmatized among students. And even when she speaks up to the school authorities, little or nothing is always done about it,’’ she said.

Comrade Micah, who advocated more years as punishment for any erring lecturer, said the proposed five year jail term was very short.

Nigeria signs pact with Russia on nuclear technology

By Prince Osuagwu (in Moscow, Russia)

M

OSCOW—Nigeria yesterday signed Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the government of Russian Federation, on cooperation in construction of centre for nuclear science and technology in the country.

The MOU, which was signed between representatives of the two countries, Mr Sergey Kirienko, Director Russian Rosatom State Corporation and Dr Erepano Osaisai, Chairman/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, was part of the high points of Nigeria’s participation in the ongoing 2016 ATOM Expo, in Moscow, Russia.

International Forum, ATOM EXPO is the largest exhibition and business venue for meetings and negotiations of the world leaders in nuclear energy.

Immediately after signing the MOU, Dr Osaisai said that Nigeria’s intention to acquire nuclear technology followed the realization that nuclear energy contributes quite a chunk of global electricity.

He noted that Nigeria, with its huge population, could not afford to miss out in the current trend.

He also admitted that the project would come with a huge cost but added that the cost of not having clean energy and adequate electricity would be higher for those who failed to join the fray.

Osaisai said: “Nuclear acquisition has come to stay.

It is well known that it contributes quite a chunk of global electricity. ‘’Although Nigeria does have other sources of energy, but this is about a balanced and diversified energy basket.

Nuclear happens to be the one we considered.

“The preference is because it is environmentally friendly and leads to a better conservation of other resources."

Recall that Nigeria was first in Africa to establish a research reactor when in 2004, it enabled a Chinese-origin research reactor at Ahmadu Bello University.

The country is also reportedly seeking collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, to develop plans for up to 4,000 MW of nuclear capacity by 2027.

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY MAY 31 , 2016

WAEC sanctions 60 Lagos schools over exam malpractices

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—AT least 60 public and private secondary schools in Lagos State have been sanctioned for their involvement in examination malpractices at the Senior School Certificate Examination, SSCE, held in the last one year.

This came barely few days after West Africa Examination Council, WAEC, approved cancellation of entire result of any candidate found guilty of examination malpractice at its 61st meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee, NEC. Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, who also oversee activities of the state Ministry of Education, disclosed this while briefing the press on the activities of the present administration, led by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in education sector.

She lamented that the actions of the schools were in sharp contrast to the huge fund budgeted for SSCE annually.

Although, the deputy governor was not specific, Vanguard gathered that the schools perpetrated the acts at the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE held between March and May. Her words; “56 private and four public schools were indicted by WAEC for their involvement in examination malpractices. We are not shielding any school and that was why we have sanctioned them.

“The searchlight is now on to ensure that the private schools certified by the government adhere to the rules of engagement and to detect other schools especially private schools still involve in examination malpractices.

“It is pathetic that these schools are called ‘miracle schools.’ Any school found will be shut for their involvement in the act,” she added.

The deputy governor disclosed that N561,346,100 was spent as examination and administrative fees on 44,005 SSIII students “who sat for the March/May 2016 WASSCE in our state.”

Re-introduction of black book in public schools

Adebule also disclosed that in order to ensure discipline in public schools; “We have reintroduced the black books in our schools.

Kwankwaso mounts pressure on Ambode to reverse Mile 12 Market's relocation It’s his opinion; carries little weight— Govt official

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

L

AGOS—FORMER Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the planned relocation of Mile-12 Market, as “unfair and unacceptable.”

He therefore, cautioned Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State from relocating the market or witch-hunting the Hausas, as such move would be inimical and counter productive to the long existing cordial relationship between the two tribes in Lagos and beyond.

Kwankwaso made the remark yesterday, when he stormed Lagos to oversee the repatriation of 40 members of Hausa Community just released from Kirikiri Maximum Prisons.

However, a top state official, who preferred anonymity, told Vanguard that; ‘’The former governor is only winking in the dark.’’

According to him; ''He has not spoken officially to the governor over the matter, so whatever he says is his personal opinion that carries little weight.’’

The released prisoners, mostly, teenagers were arrested in the wake of the recent violent clash between people of Hausa extraction and the host Yoruba community in Mile 12 area of the state, which led to the closure of the market and later reopening

by Ambode following several pleas.

Other influential Northerners had earlier waded into the matter on the need by the governor to have a rethink on the planned relocation of the market.

Kwankwaso, representing Kano Central in the Senate, had earlier met with the Serikin Hausawa, Alhaji Musa Muhammed at his

Agege Palace, before he proceeded to address a large Hausa community in Lagos at Capitol Road, Agege.

While urging the Hausa community to be good ambassadors in the state, Kwankwaso urged the state government to accord due respect and friendship to the Hausas in the interest of one Nigeria.

KWANKWASO ON MILE 12 MARKET: Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (right) discussing with a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Damburam during a press conference over release of Hausa youths detained over the Mile 12 riots in Agege Lagos, yesterday.

Navy arrests five Beninoise over pipeline vandalism

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS—FIVE nationals of Benin Republic have been arrested in connection with pipeline vandalism,with the recovery of 500 jerricans filled with petroleum products suspected to have been siphoned from a ruptured pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. The suspects identified as Agbotou Firmin, Sohe Soule, Gbenou Daniel, Dosspu Vigor and Sodohe Oliver were apprehended by the Nigerian

Navy Task Force along the creek at Tongeji, in Ogun State.

They were reportedly about to convey the product to their country when the personnel swooped on them.

Parading the suspects before newsmen yesterday, the Commander, NNS Beecroft, Apapa, Commodore Abraham Adaji said the suspects claimed to be fishermen based in Port Novo, Benin Republic, when accosted.

“They claimed that it was their boss who asked them to convey the product to Port Novo, where it would be sold. This is petrol

imported by the Federal Government for local consumption. There is no known agreement between Nigerian and Benin Republic for the supply of petrol.”

Thereafter, he handed the suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC for prosecution.

Receiving the suspects,the Lagos State Commander, NSCDC, Tanjudeen Balogun said “I am elated by the confidence the Nigerian Navy repose on us by deeming us worthy to investigate and prosecute the suspects.”

RECOVERED LOOT: SERAP files contempt suit against AGF, others

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

L

AGOS—A contempt proceeding has been filed against the Federal Government over its failure to implement the judgment of the Federal High court ordering her to publish the spending of recovered stolen funds since return of democracy in 1999.

In a notice of consequence of disobedience of court orders filed

by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the body wants the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and Alhaji Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation to state reasons why they should not be committed to prison for violating subsisted court order.

The contempt suit was filed last week by SERAP executive director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni after the service on

Mr Malami and Alhaji Idris of the certified true copy of the judgment of March 24, 2016 delivered by Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The process reads in part: “Unless you obey the orders of the court contained on the reverse side of this process you shall be deemed to have disobeyed the orders of the court and shall be liable to committed to prison for contempt.”

According to Mumuni, the government has refused to yield to the order of court “despite the service of the certified true copy of the judgment on both the Attorney General of the Federation and the Accountant-General of the Federation.

“They have failed and/or neglected to acknowledge the judgment let alone obey it. It’s unacceptable to take the court, which is the guardian of justice in this country, for a ride. A

democratic state based on the rule of law cannot exist or function, if the government ignores and/or fails to abide by Court orders.”

In the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris in

March this years, the court has held: “Transparency in the decision making process and access to information upon which decisions have been made can enhance accountability.

Community leader drums support for FG, LASG Ogundunmade on the occasion

By Onozure Dania

L

AGOS—OTUNBA of Ifako Land, Chief Adeoye Ogundunmade, has urged Nigerians to be patient with the current All Progressives Congress, APC, governments at the federal and Lagos State levels.

Chief Ogundunmade, said Nigerians will soon begin to enjoy the fruit of democracy as all the lofty programmes put in place by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will begin to yield fruits.

to mark his 47th birthday, organised by the Ifako community said, with the liberalization of PMS import license, the upgrading of refineries and approval of private refineries, that in less than six months the present pump price of N145 per litre will drop to N40 a litre He urged President Buhari not to relent in his fight against corruption and gave kudos to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for the fatherly role he played in resolving the strike action recently embarked upon by Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 11

2015 POLLS: Jonathan shocked me by conceding defeat — BUHARI

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

C M Y K

unions appeal to labour

S

A

BUJA—ONE year after he became the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has said he is still shocked at how former President Goodluck Jonathan conceded defeat in the March 28, 2015, presidential elections and handed over the reins of power to him.

The President said it was such an incredible development that a man who had occupied various political offices as a deputy governor, governor, vice president and president could easily relinquish power to the opposition party, adding that Jonathan had by this gesture, distinguished himself as a generous and gracious man.

Buhari, who gave glowing tribute to his predecessor while hosting State House Correspondents to a luncheon at the new banquet hall of the Presidential Villa yesterday, was offering retrospective highlights of his early days in office after his inauguration.

He said that the last one year had been “a tumultuous year for everyone in the villa'', revealing that it was the congratulatory call from Jonathan made that prompted him to visit the Villa in with former Head of State, Abdusalami Abubakar, for appreciation.

He said: “I will talk about my experience here in Aso Villa. I underrated the influence of the PDP for 16 years, watching from outside as three consecutive governments went by.

“When we came, there were 42 ministries. We cut it to 24. This is where I pay my respect to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

This is actually a privileged information for you. He called me at a quarter past five in the evening. He said good evening Your Excellency sir and I said good evening. ‘’He said I have called to congratulate you and have conceded defeat. Of course, there was dead silence on my end because I did not expect it. I was shocked. I did not expect it because after 16 years, the man was a deputy governor, governor, Vice President and was President for six years.

“For him to have conceded defeat even before the result was announced by INEC, was quite generous and gracious of him.

“Abdulsalam recognized the generosity of Jonathan to concede defeat and said we should go and thank him immediately and that was the first time I came here.”

The President stated that reducing the Ministries to 24 from 42 was the best decision to take in the face of the circumstances his government found itself.

“We had to do it on our own we found out that government could not continue with 42 ministers and the paraphernalia of office.

EKITI WORKERS’ STRIKE: Trade

BANKING ACADEMY: From left; Funlola Oni, Executive Principal/Head, Banks Nigeria & West Africa, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank; Syed Khurrum Zazeem, Head, Transaction banking, Nigeria & West Africa, Standard Chartered Bank; Folakemi Fatogbe, Director, Risk Management, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Oloruntimilehin George, Executive Principal Head, Banks/Brokers Financial Institutions, Standard Chartered Bank, at the annual Standard Chartered Bank Correspondent Banking Academy in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

So, we cut it down to 24. We had to cut down half the number of permanent secretaries and then do some cross postings”, he said.

On what civil servants did to 2016 Budget

President Buhari, however, regretted that some civil servants within the budgetary system “padded” his first budget for the country.

He said it was a “nasty experience” for him and his Ministers, who spent sleepless nights putting the document together.

He said: “For somebody like me, for the first time I heard what is called padding. ‘’I think we will recover by the fourth quarter of the year. There were very serious development which I never knew about.

“So, really it was a nasty experience for us. It was also a nasty experience for some of the ministers who were never in government. For them to sit down day and night to work. I saw them.

Some of them literary lost weight

because they were sleeping less and eating less. Working on every kobo to be spent.

“Because we became a monoeconomy of oil-rich Nigeria, everybody relied on oil and forgot about solid minerals, agriculture, making and exploring things. We recently just found out that we are poor because we don’t have anything to fall back on. This is the condition we found ourselves and this change mantra had to go through hell up till yesterday.”

I pitied Lai Mohammed

The President said he pittied the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed who took pains in explaining the actions and inactions of government to the people.

“For you to talk to whoever came to visit us throughout that year, I wonder how each of your diaries would be, because people were expecting this change mantra in their own way.

“How do you define change?

Luckily our party identified three major items, security, economy

and corruption. One of the men I pitied is Lai Mohammed.

Everyday, he is on TV explaining our performance or lack of it,'' he said.

Our shock over $2.1 billion arms deal

One shocking discovery of the government, according to the president, was the “sharing” of the $2.1 billion meant for the purchase of arms for the military to fight insurgency in the north east.

“People were trusted and the most recent one which we haven’t recovered from is the $2.1billion dollars which was given by the government then, to the military to buy hardware to fight the insurgency which had taken over part of the country and they just sat just the way you are sitting now and shared the money into their own account. They didn’t even bother. So we are still trying to get the cooperation of the international community and so on and we have to do it with a lot of respect to the judiciary.''

Fayose dares FG to stop him from travelling abroad ...Says governors not President’s appointees

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

A

D O - E K I T I — GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti Statehas said the alleged plot by the Federal Government to prevent him from travelling abroad was inherently unconstitutional and dictatorial.

Miffed at the development, Fayose said; “Under the federal system of government, state governors are not appendages of the President and as a leading opposition figure in Nigeria, he cannot be cowed

by President Muhammadu Buhari and his agents.”

Governor Fayose, who spoke through his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka was apparently reacting to reports that two governors, one from the South-west and another from the South South have been placed on travel restriction on President Buhari’s order, saying whenever he wished to travel out of Nigeria, he will do so in the full glare of the public.

According to Fayose, “I am not surprised or disappointed by this latest plot of the Buhari’s government because the President Buhari that we know is a man without any atom of respect

for the rights of Nigerians and this he demonstrated as a military dictator and now demonstrating as an elected president.”

The governor said he was however amazed that; “This dangerous dimension of compelling a sitting governor that enjoys constitutional immunity like the President to obtain clearance from the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS) before travelling out of Nigeria can ever be contemplated.”

He said President Buhari should know that under a federal system of government, the states and national government both enjoy some autonomy.

TRIKING workers in Ekiti State have been urged to sheathe their sword and show understanding with Governor Ayodele Fayose as their colleagues in other states of the federation have done.

A group, under the aegis of concerned trade unions in Ekiti, which comprises the state’s chapters of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, (RTEAN) Ajegboro Association, Cooperative Drivers Union, Okada Riders Association, NATA, and artisans among others, made the call yesterday with a promise to stage a solidarity rally in support of the governor today.

In a statement co-signed by the leaders of the unions who include Clement Adekola, state chairman of NURTW, Agbede Gbenga, Mr. Agbede Gbenga, RTEAN chairman, Mr. Tosin Atowoja, Ajegboro Association, Elder Johnson Abioye, Cooperative Drivers Union, Mr. Niyi J.O, Okada Riders Chairman, Mr. Alo Babatope, Chairman, NATA, Mr. J.O Adu, chairman, Artisans, the unions said: “We appeal to the striking labour, Ekiti State, to immediately suspend the strike and we want them to see reasons with the government.

“There is a difference between what is at hand and what you don’t have. The governor has been transparent with the labour by taking them along with details of the federal allocations coming into the state. “ It is obvious that Ekiti, like other 28 states in Nigeria challenged by payment of salaries, does not have the money to meet the current demands of Ekiti labour.“ Citing another example of Benue State labour unions who in spite of being owed over 13 months salary, still maintained industrial harmony in the state, the concerned Ekiti unions further urged the striking workers to emulate the understanding gesture of their colleagues, saying: “Without doubt, they (Ekiti labour) have a right to their wages, but when you don’t have, you can’t give. In the South-West for instance, there are states owing more than Ekiti as a result of their lean purse and the labour in those states show understanding and cooperation with their government, why is Ekiti an exception?. Do we assume this has a political undertone?''

12—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

40 dead, several arrested as Biafra Day turns bloody Continued from page 5 with live bullets and called on the security operatives to respect the laws.

Reacting to the Onitsha killing and shooting in Umuahia, President General of the council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also said the mood of the nation required that the security agencies tread with caution so as not to heat up the polity.

Isiguzoro, therefore, called on the Federal Government to call the security operatives to order and caution them against incessant attacks on armless citizens.

The Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Udeviotu Onyeke, when contacted, denied that any protester was fired at by the police. He also denied that 10 protesters were arrested, saying police only arrested four activists.

SERVICE: Governor Udom Emmanuel and wife, Martha, flanked by the deputy, Mr. Moses Ekpo (right); former Governor of Benue State, Gov. Gabriel Suswam (2nd left); Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke (left), singing during a Special Inter-denominational Thanksgiving Service to mark governor's one year in office/2016 on Democracy Day in Uyo.

IPOB, MASSOB loyalists arrested in Imo In a similar development, the Imo State Police Command said it arrested only 17 loyalists of MASSOB and IPOB, including two women, as against the 50 claimed by the groups.

The MASSOB and IPOB members kicked off the road show at Waterside Primary School Owerri, from where they moved to Rotibi Street to Oguamana Street before linking Douglas Road where heavily armed security men threw teargas at them at Ama JK. Mr Okechukwu Nwogu, a leader of MASSOB, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, regretted the arrest of members of the group who, according to him, were on a peaceful march to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Biafra and 17th anniversary of MASSOB. The PPRO, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, who paraded those arrested, yesterday, before newsmen in Owerri, on behalf of the CP, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, saidthe MASSOB and IPOB loyalists were arrested along Tetlow/ Okigwe Road Park, Owerri, by policemen who were on routine patrol.

Police stop protest, arrest 92 in Ebonyi In Abakaliki Ebonyi State, the state police command said it stopped the proposed protest by MASSOB to mark their independence day in the state In a statement by the spokesperson of the command, ASP George Okafor, about 92 members led by one Vincent Nwamini and several other subleaders were arrested.

According to him, the command also discovered that the protest was a plot by miscreants to cause mayhem in the state.

7 die as MASSOB protests in Asaba No fewer than seven persons were confirmed dead following protest by members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, in Asaba, yesterday. The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Delta, SP Charles Muka, who confirmed this in a statement, added that the police recorded two casualties. He said in the statement that five members of

MASSOB were killed by military officers who had confrontations with the group along the AsabaOnitsha Expressway in Asaba.

It stated that the military arrested and brought eight members of MASSOB to the police and “are now in custody in Asaba.”

According to him, the protesters turned violent and attacked the policemen deployed to monitor the protest, killed two and injured two others. “We had to deploy our officers to ensure that the protest was peaceful but we were surprised that the people turned violent. To our surprise, they started attacking our men and at Okwe Junction in Abraka area of Asaba, the group killed a police corporal and took his AK47 rifle.

“Also along the Dennis Osadeby Way in Asaba, they wounded a police officer and took his anti-riot gun. This group also attacked and wounded two policemen, suspected to be marine police, and threw them into the River Niger at Cable Point in Asaba and in the process one died and one was rescued.

“This brings the casualty to two with two others injured on the side of the police. “The protesters also attacked military vehicles along the Asaba-Onitsha Expressway which left four members of the group dead and eight others arrested and brought to the police headquarters.” It added that a pregnant woman was hit by a stray bullet during the fracas but now receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba. The statement advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to follow the path of peace and pursue their agenda constitutionally.

12 pro Biafra protesters arrested in Rivers In Rivers state, twelve members of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign state of Biafra, MASSOB were arrested, yesterday, at Oyigbo local government area by the Police during a peaceful protest by the body.

Oyigbo Regional Administrator of the body, Mr Sunday Amuzie and the Rivers south Director of Information and Publicity of the group, Mr Anukem

Enugu Govt to pay 153 ESUT disengaged staff .IMT to award degrees

By Francis Igata

E

NUGU—THE Enugu S t a t e Government,Monday,assured

153 disengaged staff of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology,ESUT,of full payment of outstanding salaries and other

Jackson Annual Lecture!

T

HE STAFF and students of Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, invite the general public to her annual Jackson Lecture tagged: Journalism Today: The Realities of Professional Practices.

The lecture is part of the activities marking the departmental week this year and it promises to equip students and the general public with professional realities in the field of journalism, public relations, advertising and the new

media, as is obtained in the 21st century.

The Guest Speaker for the lecture is Mr. Paul Arinze, Country General Manager (Public & Government Affairs) ExxonMobil, and the special guest of honour is Mr. Babajide Orintusin, Senior Special Assistant, Media & Publicity, to the Governor of Niger State.

The conference is scheduled for Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Princess Alexandria Auditorium and Unity Hall.

entitlements, owed by the University.

This came on a day,government revealed that it has made fruitful efforts to provide and improve necessary infrastructure and facilities for the upgrade of the Institute of Management and Technology,IMT, into a degree awarding institution and also intervened to rescue the Institute from the crumbling weight of salary arrears and resultant low staff morale.

In his Democracy Day speech delivered after an interdenominational church service at the Micheal Okpara Square yesterday,Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State

pledged that, “ rather than allow the severe economic recession occasioned by the negative developments in the oil sector, deter us from achieving our goals, we will instead, turn the situation into an opportunity to look inwards and harness those potentials which free oil money has blinded and prevented us from exploiting all the while.

Reeling out some of his achievements under the year in review, Ugwuanyi explained that,”Government has profiled 14 moribund state-owned companies and agencies for privatization and commercialization. We are hopeful that investors will soon take advantage of this great opportunity."

Anthony condemned the arrest, saying it will not stop them from their peaceful agitation.

They further called on the Inspector General of Police to order immediate release of their members arrested.

Amuzie said : “Today is a big day for Biafra people because it is the anniversary of Biafra independence. It is what we are celebrating today. You know the mentality of Nigeria Police, they don’t maintain the law.

“If, in deed, they are people that maintain law, not just enforcing it, they do not have any reason whatsoever, to arrest any group of persons who are carrying out a peaceful activity.

“MASSOB is a non-violent movement and would continue to remain so, till the actualization of the freedom. No matter the level of harassment, we will continue to maintain the nonviolent principle”.

We don’t need this distraction now—Okorocha Reacting to the development, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State said the development was a distraction which the South-East does not need at this point.

A statement signedby his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “What the South-East and her people need at the moment is economic revolution to reposition the area for development and growth.

Anything short of this lofty dream is a distraction. What the people of the zone need to do now is to tap into President Buhari’s administration to get their due. They should forget these distractions.”

Former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, has said IPOB had no reason to confront soldiers if it was engaged in peaceful demonstration.

Eya, who spoke against reports that soldiers opened fire on IPOB members who were celebrating Biafran heroes at Nkpo, near Onitsha, warned those agitating for Biafra to remember that Biafra died in 1970 when the secessionist war ended in the country.

“I have always said that Nigerians must be disciplined and also imbibe the habit of engaging in peaceful demonstration.

“Anybody who wants to embark on peaceful demonstration must obtain police permit.

“If you do so, the police will provide security and ensure that hooligans do not hijack it. This is the standard behaviour all over the world.

“If it is true that the IPOB people actually killed a soldier, the natural reaction would be for his colleagues to open fire on the demonstrators.

“Many of us still have Biafra in our hearts but nobody should engage in illegality. They kill you and you are out.

As long as we continue to engage in illegality, we will not get our bearing.

Efforts to get the Presidency's reaction proved abortive as the Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Femi Adesina could be reached.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—13

HERDSMEN ATTACK:

meeting A

Okowa holds stakeholders

•As stakeholders seek prosecution of arms bearing herdsmen

By Festus Ahon

SABA—AS part of efforts to tackle the security challenge posed by Fulani herdsmen, the Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday, held a meeting with all stakeholders, stressing the need for peaceful coexistence.

The meeting at the unity hall in the Government House, had in attendance representatives of traditional rulers’ council, communities, farmers, local government council chairmen, Miyetti Allah, Miyetti Allah Kautu Hore, cattle dealers association, cattle breeders association, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Moslem leaders, civil society organisation, the Military, Police, Department of State Security, DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, as well as Nigeria Imigration Service. The stakeholders frowned at a situation where herdsmen carry offensive weapons.

Declaring the meeting opened, Okowa charged participants to speak freely about the way out of the quagmire to ensure a peaceful state where the people co-exist and carry out their business activities without fear.

The governor said: “Issues of misunderstanding between the

herdsmen and our communities have become worrisome in recent times and we don’t want it to continue. Deltans are hospitable people but, the would-be visitors to the state should know that they should live in peace with the people.

The communities are beginning to lose patience and I hope we will be able to speak frankly and in a peaceful manner for us to proffer the way forward.”

At the meeting, which lasted

several hours, it was resolved that security agents should be proactive and arrest anybody caught with AK 47 rifle and prosecute such persons and that security agencies should be more vigilant on the OhoroBomadi Road, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state to ensure that farmers and villagers move about freely without being attacked by the herdsmen.

The state Commissioner of Po-

lice, Mr Alkali Usman, called for tolerance, cooperation, mutual respect and peaceful co-existence among the people, groups and the local communities , saying that “four groups of persons can be categorised as herdsmen: cattle traders, cattle rearers, cattle breeders and the itinerant cattle rustlers; the groups can be nomadic and or sedentary in nature.”

From left, His Majesty Ikenwoli, the Olu of Warri, congratulating Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State at the interdenominational thanksgiving/praise session to mark the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's one year anniversary at the Event Centre, Asaba, Sunmday.

Photo: Nath Onojake

Tension in Esan North East as fire guts council secretariat Councillors pass vote of no confidence in LG boss

B

By Simon Ebegbulem

ENIN CITY—THERE is tension in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, after fire razed part of the secretariat building of the council few hours after 10 councillors passed a vote of no confidence on the chairman, Mr Sam Oboh.

It was learned that affected part of the secretariat housed sensitive documents relating to contract awards and payment vouchers.

The secretariat was set ablaze after the councillors ordered the freezing of the accounts of the council following the vote of no confidence on the chairman.

In a resolution by the 10 councillors, including their Leader, Michael Anenih and Majority Leader, Chris Ezehiwele, the councillors lamented that the chairman was invited on several occasions to explain contract awards and expenditure in the council but shunned the invitations.

“It will be recalled that the House watch your activities for some time now and how you have continually manipulated the internally generated revenue of the council for your personal aggrandizement and as a result hereby passes a vote of no confidence on you and freezes the accounts of the local government,” the resolution read.

The councillors accused the C M Y K

chairman of alleged collection of severance/gratuity while still in office, collection of IGR up front to 2020, diversion of compensation meant for traders whose shops were burnt and the collection of over-draft from banks without legislative approval.

The letter which was

forwarded to banks also alleged financial reckless and abuse of office against the chairman, as they urged all relevant agencies to stop dealing with the chairman until he explains the allegations against him.

But reacting, Oboh who confirmed the fire incident at the council, however, debunked the

claim that sensitive documents were burnt in the inferno.

On the vote of no confidence passed on him by the lawmakers and allegation of fraud against him, he denied same, saying it was due to his refusal to purchased vehicles for the councillor that they embarked on campaign of calumny against him.

We've stabilised Rivers economy—Wike

P

ORT HARCOURT— RIVERS State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike has said that his administration had stabilised the economy of the state through the strategic release of funds via payment of salaries and payment for key projects.

Governor Wike explained that he started with the renewal of infrastructure in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor

Local Government Areas because both towns support majority of the population of the state.

The governor also assured the people that every local government area in the state will host key projects, saying that no local government area will be denied the impact of good governance.

The governor, spoke yesterday, in Port Harcourt

during a town hall meeting tagged: “Accounting for Governor Wike’s Administration: One Year After.”

He said: “We have stabilised the economy of Rivers State since we took of the reins of leadership in the state. We achieved the stabilisation of the economy by injecting N151 billion as salaries and payment of contractors.

EDO 2016: Obadan assures APC aspirants manifest transparency. I of level playing field conducted that of Lagos State

By Gabriel Enoghol;ase

B

ENIN — AHEAD of the June 18, 2016 Edo State governorship primaries of All Progressives Congress, APC, former Deputy Governor of the state, Rev. Peter Obadan, has reassured aspirants and delegates of the party that the primaries will be very

transparent, saying “let the best in character, experience and intellect emerge.”

Obadan in his democracy day message to APC delegates said: “Beloved APC Edo State delegates, think before you make your choice from the list of aspirants who are aspiring to be governor. APC has a system that

and I know that rigging is not feasible.

“Voting is secretly done and it’s a caseofconscience. Letnomandespise or intimidate you. Money may be offeredtopurchaseyourvotebutthink.

Find out if that aspirant has ever attendedyourmeetingsorrelatedwith politicians in the past before deciding to aspire to be our governor."

Lawmaker hails Okowa on devt

A

By Simon Adewale

SABA—A member of the Delta State House of Assembly representing Oshmili North Consistency, Princess Pat Ajudua has described the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as an asset in the development of the state and beyond.

Princess Ajudua who spoke with newsmen in Asaba at the event to mark the one year in office of the state governor, noted that Governor Okowa’s ongoing infrastructural development across the state was monumental, adding that it was a clear attestation of a good leader that has the interest and love of the people.

The lawmaker who congratulated the governor and his team for a job well done in the past one year, stressed the need for all hands to be on deck to attract more dividends of democracy to the people.

She assured her Oshimili North constituents of more democracy dividend, reminding them especially the youths to key into the various youth programmes of the present administration.

PDP chieftain lauds Sen Nwaoboshi on empowerment

I

By Tare Youdeowei

BUSA—SENATOR Peter Nwaoboshi, has been described as an asset whose leadership style is worthy of emulation. Chieftain of Peoples Democratictic Party, PDP, in the state, Mr. Ojogbue Nnabuife made this commendation.

Nnabuife, who spoke with newsmen in Ibusa on the numerous empowerment programmes embarked upon

by Sen. Nwaoboshi for communities of Delta North senatorial district, cited the recent donation by the senator of an ambulance equipped with ultra modern facilities to a hospital in Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

The ongoing construction of a multi-million naira staff quarters for reverend sisters of the Catholic Church in Ibusa, empowerment projects for youths in Delta North and financial support towards the building projects of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Ibusa as well as financial assistance to widows, indigent students among others.

He also appealed to the Senator to use his position as a federal lawmaker to find lasting solutions to the current menace caused by the Fulani herdsmen to avoid any rift likelytocausebreakdownoflawand order in the senatorial district.

14—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

I’ll soon reveal how Abacha, Abiola died—Al-Mustapha Challenges Obasanjo to public debate Says Yoruba leaders, except Oba Tejuosho, deceived MKO

By Ikenna Asomba

L

AGOS—FORMER Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, yesterday, said he would soon reveal how his boss and the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Bashorun MKO Abiola, died.

Disclosing that Abacha and Abiola’s deaths were from same source, AlMustapha said he would make the comprehensive revelation in his new book, Mustapha’s Memoirs, which, according to him, is still in the works.

Al-Mustapha, who addressed journalists in Lagos yesterday, on a number of issues relating to his 15-year travails in detention, said Abiola and Abacha were very good friends before some fifth columnists caused disaffection between them.

He said: “For instance, when Chief MKO Abiola was in prison, many notable Nigerians visited him. They will visit him in the morning, and when they come back to the Villa in the evening to see Abacha, they would say a different thing entirely.

On video

“Unknown to these notable Nigerians, particularly notable Yoruba personalities, who visited Abiola, their visits were recorded on video. I did the video recording without their knowledge.

“These people would visit Abiola and come back to tell government a different thing about him.

“These same people would still go and tell Abiola a different thing about government. They are on video. The agencies of government have these videos evidence.

“These same people told MKO Abiola never to accept any compromise or negotiations.

They advised him never to

come back home without his mandate. All these things are on video.

“Of all the Yoruba leaders, only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola the truth: to accept the conditional bail and go home.

“Only Oba Tejuosho told MKO Abiola that Abacha was his friend, urging him to reconcile with Abacha who was ready for reconciliation.

It was Oba Tejuosho who told MKO Abiola that he still had the goodwill and would win if he recontests after Abacha.

“What killed Abacha is what killed MKO Abiola.

But I would reveal that after my court case, still at the Supreme Court. I would publish a book which has three volumes— the Mustapha’s Memoirs, which will tell what happened under Abacha and how he died.”

On Abacha loot still being returned to the country from abroad, 18 years after his death, AlMustapha said he was shocked the first time he heard of Abacha’s loot.

He added that most of what was today known in the media as Abacha’s loot were mere media campaigns aimed at smearing the late Sani Abacha's image by local and international persons he stepped on their toes while he was Head of State.

... killer squad

Also, Al-Mustapha reiterated his call for a public debate, where former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, would come to substantiate claims in his infamous 18-page letter that he (AlMustapha) was contracted to head a killer squad of 1,000 snipers for former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, ahead of the 2015 general elections.

A l - M u s t a p h a debunked insinuations that the ex-President, Jonathan, interfered with court process to facilitate his release from prisons, to enable him (Al-Mustapha) help train the ‘killer squad’ or procure Jonathan’s

success in the North during the last election.

Al-Mustapha said, ab initio, he had no case to answer but for the plots of his persecutors to see him eliminated because he stepped on their toes while he served as the Chief Security Officer to the late Head of State, adding that the appellate court acquitted him when it determined that he had no case to answer on all the charges levelled against him.

‘Obasanjo’s had his day’

He said: “Nobody contracted me to catch 1,000 mosquitoes under the Jonathan administration, let alone human beings. I am AlMustapha. I have my background away from the propaganda peddled by the likes of Obasanjo.

“Obasanjo has had his day. I am doing my investigation and I have discovered so many things as to what made him (Obasanjo) make such allegation. I have it.

I will release it very soon and that is why I have challenged him to an open debate.

“Obasanjo is my senior in the force; he was a former Military Head of State, but when issues of law and rights of man are being discussed, definitely equality comes to the fore.

“You cannot put an allegation against your junior because you are a senior, and you believe the junior would keep quiet. No, I would not.

That would amount to ignorance. I am not ignorant about our laws.

“I challenge Obasanjo to an open debate so that he can substantiate his allegations before the whole world; but he is yet to oblige the challenge.

“Thank God a new government is here today, where he (Obasanjo) can bring up the issue, requesting it to investigate and, if there is any contract between Jonathan and I to catch one single mosquito, I want to say that I am guilty and want to be tried.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—15

EFCC summons SSG over ‘missing' A/Ibom N450m share N24 BN POLL BRIBE:

....EFCC may subject Nkanga's signature on cash receipts to forensic tests

A

By Omeiza Ajayi

BUJA—WHO actually received and shared Akwa Ibom State share of the N450 million bribe released by the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, for onward distribution to members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state to influence the outcome of last year ’s presidential poll?.

This is the critical question the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is battling hard to resolve since the former military governor of the state, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, retd.,who was alleged to have signed and collected the cash, had since denied the claim.

Nkanga said the money was taken to Government House, Uyo and delivered to the Chief of Staff to the governor.

The EFCC, according to findings by Vanguard, has summoned the current

Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Etekamba Umoren, who was the Permanent Secretary, Government House/Chief of Staff to former Governor Godswill Akpabio at the time, to appear before its interrogators in Port Harcourt today to explain what he knew about the money.

Umoren was served his letter of invitation last week.

The SSG’s invitation, according to competent sources in EFCC, followed the conflicting submission by officials of Fidelity Bank in Uyo and the former military governor, who doubled as the state coordinator of both Goodluck Jonathan and Udom Emmanuel campaign organisations in the 2015 election.

The former Presidential Air Fleet Commander was also the coordinator of the state Subsidy Reinvestments Programme, SURE-P, and the photocopy of

his identity card was allegedly used to acknowledge the receipt of the money in two separate tranches.

While the EFCC initially alleged that the cash was given to Nkanga by an Uyo branch of Fidelity Bank official identified as Saint Anthony Ejiowu, the bank officials have, however, admitted that the cash was offloaded in Government House, Uyo, and not in Nkanga’s house.

But trouble is said to be looming for the former air force pilot since his name appeared in the two ‘receipts’ being bandied about by the bank officials as evidence of his collection of the said amount of money.

One of the ‘ receipts’ reportedly signed by Nkanga had a date, while the other did not.

Three officials of the bank, it was learned, had assured EFCC

when they were summoned last week that they would produce the original receipts which they reportedly obtained from Nkanga as acknowledgement for the N450 million but could not convince EFCC agents why the money was offloaded at Government House, if it was given to the former governor.

There was further confusion in the bank’s camp when the bullion van driver said that though he drove the money to Government House, he did not know who actually took custody of the money, as he was more concerned with offloading the cash than finding out the recipient.

There was strong indication last night that EFCC might be forced to subject the signatures said to have been signed by the former military governor to forensic analysis and use a Lie Detector to examine the bank officials, Nkanga and Umoren to be able to decipher the debacle over the money.

FG deploys 5 warships, 100 gunboats, fighter jets to Delta creeks Continues from page 8

Vanguard gathered that the greatest threat to the lives of residents, particularly Oporoza villagers, who fled to neighbouring Azama community since Saturday, is hunger.

Chief Gbenekama and Oporoza youths spokesperson, Kirifade, said the helpless villagers had not eaten for three days, as there was no food in Azama community, where they escaped to.

Also, National President of Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative, IPDI, Mr Austin Ozobo, who confirmed that hunger had hit the displaced persons, said: “There is hunger everywhere as there is no food for the people to eat. Food supply to the kingdom has been cut off by the military, which is not allowing boats to come in from Warri and other areas to bring food to the people.”

Kirifade added: “It is sad that soldiers are not even allowing the trapped villagers to get canoes to go to their homes in Oporoza to look for food and pick up clothes. Some of them have not taken their bath since last Saturday.

“We are not Niger Delta Avengers, why should government classify every Gbaramatu man as a Niger Delta Avenger, they should withdraw the soldiers because it is obvious that their aim is to commit genocide.

Though, we thank God that in their indiscriminate shooting, nobody has been killed.”

I’m under house arrest- Monarch Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Oboro Gbaraun II (Aketekpe) Agadagba, who raised the alarm when BrigadierGeneral Boroh (retd) visited his palace, said: “I am in pains, deep pains, this is the third time the military has invaded the community. They came with large number of soldiers, harassing and beating up women, there are kids missing now."

16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

MASSOB marks 49th anniversay of Biafra declaration ...protests in South-East

Protesters in Uga, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Catholic Bishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Archbishop Anthony Obinna, in a solidarity march with members of IPOB/MASSOB, in Nkpor, Anambra State.

...in Anambra North.

... in Onitsha and its environs.

Protesters in Enugu C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31 31, 2016—17

Fantastically corrupt Nigeria, fantastic British creation!

rigged the independence election in Nigeria. Hear Mr. Smith : British perenial involvment with rigging of Nigerian elections: “When I suggest that the British Government meddled with the democratic elections in Nigeria, I write as an authority. I was chosen by his Excellency the Governor General, Sir James Robertson, to spearhead a covert operation to interfere with the elections.

The laws of Nigeria were a sham and largely window-dressing to conceal, not mirror, the reality

S

OMEBODY introduced a popular artiste to me the other day with gusto and excitement "Meet so and so, she is great ".I greeted her normally wondering why my friend was so excited about her.She looked a bit deflated that there could be anybody who does not know her. After her departure my friend started telling me how great a crooner she is and mentioning her hit tracks.

Unfortunately, I don't know her and her songs and so it is with many of her peers who presently rock the airwaves.

And it is simply because I was forged in the school of art for life sake at Ife learning under such masters like Biodun Jeyifo, G.G Darah, Ropo Sekoni, Funso Aiyejina, Bayo Williams et al.We were not raised as fans of art for the sake of art. And I have not migrated since.

For me a work of art must be relevant to society. That is why for me to listen to an album for a second time, it must communicate some message to me. I pick wisdom nuggets from every musical piece I listen to and they form part of my mind's archives.

*David Cameron *President Muhammadu Buhari summit.

In a sense it served us perfectly right for our naiveity, in thinking that Britain would want the best of best practices for our country when their country remains receiver of stolen goods from our country after several decades of direct looting called colonialism.It was like our needless trip to Dubai to ask for loot repatriation from

Depth of philosophy For instance, I listen to Ayefele not on account of his rhythm but some depth of philosophy that litters his compositions. I remember the album where he sang about how short-sighted pot could be to mock the basket as an idle lot because the farmer summoned it to fetch rain water.

He advised the pot to wait and see who the farmer will beckon to in the days of harvest. That communicates clearly that every man has his time and season.

Another nugget I picked from him was where he sang about the wickedness of the people of this world. He showed how they would bruise you and mock you afterwards "Ohun taye ba so e da o,won a fi bu e bo dola"(whatever the people of the world make out of you,they would insult you with same tomorrow.

I have tried to see how one can get David Cameron to have access to that composition since after he went to the Queen of England to announce to her that he was expecting presidents of "two fantastically corrupt countries " ahead of the arrival of our president and that of Afghanistan for his road show called anti-corruption C M Y K

Whatever corruption we see in Nigeria today is a shame of the British legacy and that is the reason Nigeria would make no progress on the structure your ancestors left behind

a country whose foundation of prosperity is illicit funds.

Presidential spokespersons tried a lame one by saying that Cameron was talking of Nigeria of the past until The Mail came out with the story of a "fantastically corrupt minister" who allegedly spent £140m on the APC presidential campaign but who sits in the Federal Executive Council chambers and not in EFCC cell like Dasuki.

Mr. President eventually agreed that Mr. Cameron was

right but he should just give us the looted funds. May be the president should have battled for the image of his country as he would not get £ 1 back from Britain.

We have to tell Cameron what Mr President did not tell him.Like Ayefele sang ,you are merely abusing us with what your forebears made of Nigeria.They did a fantastic job in constructing Nigeria on a crooked foundation and bequeathed a legacy of corruption that would ultimately sink Nigeria if a new elite does not rise to reconstruct your patchwork .

Your ancestors were such poor architects of nationhood and that explains why many of British colonies have either disintegrated or are under intense strain because your exploitation of resources towered above considerations for the peoples of your excolonies.

Rigging culture in Nigeria You may decide to even mock us someday that we cannot even conduct elections in just one state after 56 years of independence citing the bungled Rivers re-run (INEC is not even talking about that again!) because you would not remember that your empire instituted the rigging culture in Nigeria to design a future Nigeria where pliable elite from a section that would not rock your boat would always hold power in Nigeria.

Thanks to Mr. Harold Smith an ex-colonial officer who confessed his roles in the evil of the British empire in Nigeria before he died,we now know matter-of-factly why Britain

of where power lay. I drafted some of those laws.

I look at that in the light of the recent outcry about Nigeria’s allegedly rigged elections, and I think cheating and dishonesty are a question of perspective, and that in this regard, while I do not wish to be seen as excusing corruption in any way, our greatest critics live in enormous glass mansions.”

The Blindness of Nigerian Socio-Political Critiques: “Unfortunately most of the early scholarly works on Nigeria did not choose to raise the curtain to see what was happening backstage, so that all too often the analysis is curiously superficial and lacking in bite or significance. Of course, academics or others who were seeking to teach or work in Nigeria, not only before but after Independence, would need to be very careful not to bite the hand of their colonial masters if they were not to be branded unreliable or unsound.”

‘Our agenda was to completely exploit Africa.

Nigeria was my duty post.

When we assessed Nigeria, this was what we found in the southern region; strength, intelligence, determination to succeed, well established history, complex but focused life style, great hope and aspirations… the East is good in business and technology, the west is good in administration and commerce, law and medicine, but it was a pity we planned our agenda to give power “at all cost” to the northerner.

They seemed to be submissive and silly of a kind. Our mission was accomplished by destroying the opposition at all fronts. The west led in the fight for the independence, and was

punished for asking for freedom. They will not rule Nigeria! " Harold Smith confessed that the Census results were announced before they were counted. "Despite seeing vast land with no human but cattle in the north, we still gave the north 55 million instead of 32 million. This was to be used to maintain their majority votes and future power bid." He stated that the West without Lagos was the most populous in Nigeria at that time but they ignored that. The north was seriously encouraged to go into the military. According to him, they believe that the south may attend western education, but future leaders will always come from military background.

Their traditional rulers were to be made influential and super human. The northerners were given accelerated promotions both in the military and civil service to justify their superiority over the south.

Everything was to work against the south. We truncated their good plan for their future. “I was very sorry for the A.G; it was a great party too much for African standard. We planned to destroy Awolowo and Azikwe well, the west and the east and sowed a seed of discord among them”. We tricked Azikwe into accepting to be president having known that Balewa will be the main man with power.

Awolowo has to go to jail to cripple his genius plans for a greater Nigeria."

Open and inclusive agenda However, Harold Smith justified the British agenda of colonialism in Nigeria, which he believed was originally to help build Africa after the ruins of slave trade, but lamented that the British only looked after themselves and not after Nigerian interest."

The British really let Nigeria down. When I see Nigerians being accused of fraud and from what I saw on the streets of Lagos; the British were worst fraudsters" Looking at the northern leaders he said, “If they have any agenda in Nigeria at all, sadly it is only for the north, and nothing for Nigeria". He stated that the British look after the British people and this is so all over the world.

He said the time has come now to see people of intelligent minds with an open and inclusive agenda for all Nigerians in power…people who will really look after Nigerians large population…but I still curiously and sorrowfully see now that the British has not let go of Nigeria…her wealth,. her potentials, her future."

Mr. Cameron,you can see how fantastically hypocritical you are when you speak about fantastic corruption in Nigeria. Whatever corruption we see in Nigeria today is a shame of the British legacy and that is the reason Nigeria would make no progress on the structure your ancestors left behind.It must restructure to cease from being a subject for idle jesting.

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 FOR nearly one hour on May 29 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation on the challenges facing his one-year administration and how he is tackling them or intends to do so.

He brought the citizenry up to date on the war against Boko Haram and also touched upon the new threats to our economic wellbeing by the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

To the shock and dismay of Nigerians he never made any reference to the threats to our national unity, stability and safety of indigenous people by armed militants masquerading as herdsmen in most parts of the country, which assumed a fresh dimension in the past one year of his reign.

The theatre of war initially was around the Plateau/Nasarawa axis but made a bold surge southwards,

By Ayodele Adio Continued from yesterday’s pg. 34

T

AIWAN in the 1960s was exporting mushrooms, by 1990, she had emerged a power house in semiconductor and was exporting electronic goods. Paul Krugman in his explanation of this phenomenal results by the Asian tigers said their rapid growth was a natural and automatic consequence of the rapid increase in input made through education and massive investment in physical capital.

Finland was known for lumber but became a power house of mobile phones in the 1990s, Kenya was only known for its coffee but today a leader in mobile technology. The secrets of these countries lie in their acquisition, domestication and expansion of local technologies and a vigorous pursuit of entrepreneur ship.

Unwholesome silence on herdsmen’s menace with virtually every state in the North Central, South East, SouthSouth, South West and the Taraba section of the North East targeted.

In the past one year alone, over one thousand Nigerians have been reportedly killed and hundreds of thousands driven from their homes into refugee camps. The greatest manifestation of these invasions took place in Agatu in Benue State and UkpabiNimbo in Enugu State.

The rising profile of this terror group is evident in that in the past year it was named among the five bloodiest groups in the world:

OPINION Tomorrow is dying (2) teachers and an improved welfare for the teachers. People should aspire to teach but for them to dream of teaching, the profession must have poise and ensure a decent livelihood.

A massive investment in the infrastructure of the schools and its facilities, an overhaul of its curriculum and an effective monitoring machine that ensures compliance from

The subjugation of women and exemption from socio economic activities are issues that must be reversed if the region will make any progress

THE WAY OUT The north must adopt a regional educational policy which emphasises access and quality education. The operation word is Quality, which will necessitate the equipping of colleges of education to produce standard

Boko Haram, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Taliban and Al Shabbab. In fact, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt- General Tukur Buratai, recently disclosed that these heavily armed “herdsmen” had links with the world’s most murderous terror group, Boko Haram.

We are, therefore, bewildered that President Buhari did not mention this important security threat in his May 29th broadcast, neither did he inform the people what he was doing about them.

We would have considered this a grievous oversight, if not for the

teachers and all stake holders. This can be achieved by allocating the required 26% of the budget of state governments to education as stipulated by the United Nations .

The technical colleges and institutes can be transformed into the bed rock

of innovation in Nigeria by opening them up to partnerships with the private sector, international exchange programmes, hands on experience with local projects and new funding windows. It is a shame to note that the north also has the least internet penetration in the country and as such are excluded from the global community, trends and the conversations that could shape their tomorrow.

The national council for the welfare of destitute puts the current population of Almajiri at about seven million, a figure that must be translated to an opportunity other than a bomb on speed dial. These young northerners usually within the ages of 11 and 19 can be engaged in carefully designed programmes by northern governors in collaboration with local government officials,traditional institutions and religious leaders at the grass roots level. They can be empowered with vocational and technical skills along sides a basic education in mathematics. Start up grants which must be carefully monitored should be given to qualified individuals and those without a knack for entrepreneur ship

fact that in his maiden broadcast after being sworn-in on May 29th 2015, the new President only spoke about his resolve to tackle “cattle rustlers” without even mentioning the rampage of the herdsmen around the country.

This apparent lack of sensitivity to this issue by the nation’s Number One citizen is worrisome, and we sincerely hope that this attitude will change for the better as we enter the second year of this regime. We need to quickly reassure Nigerians that the Federal Government will protect them from threats to their lives and property.

This will not only calm fears and anxiety among the people, it will also stem the growing temptation to resort to self-help.

The President’s silence on the herdsmen menace was not golden.

can be absorbed into the agricultural value chain where they can use their skills and earn a decent living. It is time for the northern elite to put their monies where their mouth is, a model of the Tony Elumelu entrepreneur ship project empowering a thousand entrepreneurs with skills and a take off grant of 5000 dollars should be domesticated in the northern region driven by northern elite for northerners.

The subjugation of women and exemption from socio economic activities are issues that must be reversed if the region will make any progress. It is counter productive and economic lunacy to exclude close to half of a population from active participation in politics, policies and governance and expect to grow.

Northern governors must begin a region wide campaign to get girls into school and ensure they finish.

Northern girls should be encouraged into sciences and other professional courses but most importantly must be supported to reach their fullest potential and highest aspiration.

The north must act now or may loose it’s tomorrow.

Concluded *Mr. Adio, a social critic, wrote from Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016— —19

Real issues in the Niger Delta crisis

By Sunny Ikhioya

W

HICH ever way you look at it, the root cause of the whole Niger Delta crisis is injustice. The truth will always come to light. The conspiracies of the old colonial masters, in tandem with the different international oil companies,IOCs, Shell, Mobil, Chevron, Total, Agip, etc and the activities of our dictatorial and uncaring federal government caused this situation we found ourselves today.

Isaac Boro started it in the '60s and Ken Saro wiwa amplified it in the '90s. Both of them were eliminated by the authorities in power and the result of those actions is what we are experiencing today. What is wrong in making the oil communities part owners of the companies operating in their land? I mean giving the villages five, ten or whatever percentage of the business ownership, which will in turn give them a sense of belonging. There is a list making the round in the Internet now, detailing names of different owners of the oil blocs in the country. There are no names from oil producing communities.

How did these people become owners of oil blocs that belong to the people? If you ask me, this is the beginning of institutional corruption in the land, where those in government allocate what

belongs to the people to their friends and cronies under various guises, without regard for the real owners of the resources. By so doing, the foundation for deep rooted distrust has been laid and under such atmosphere you cannot guarantee peace. I believe that our anti corruption battle should focus on this area.

It is unfortunate that this government has mis-managed the Niger Delta crisis, the way former president Goodluck Jonathan did with the Boko Haram and Chibok girls affairs when it started. You must find out what is in the people’s mind.

Are they genuine grievances? If yes, how do we ameliorate them?

It is true that a few people took advantage of the last government to engage in corrupt activities but it will be wrong to punish the whole people because of the activities of a few and deny them of projects that have already been allocated to them, for example; the dis continuation/suspension of the maritime university project.

As it is with the Hausa/Fulani dissidents in the north, so it is with the Ijaws of the Niger Delta.

They can lay down their lives for causes that they believe is their right and they can also be very friendly people, that is, if they see you as a sincere friend. It is left for the government to choose the path it wants to take. If it wants to violently suppress the people to submission, which will only postpone the duel to another

date , as have been the practice, or, negotiate a peaceful and mutually beneficial way out of it. The Ijaws are not the only tribe in the Niger Delta region that are suffering from the oppression and degradation of their lands; we have the very peaceful Efiks, Ibibios, Itsekiris, Urhobos, kwales, Isokos, Edo ethnic groups and others. The question we should ask is: these other tribes that have been

The struggle of the Niger Delta is a struggle for the soul of Nigeria sympathetic to the cause of various government positions, what have they gained from their peaceful stance? Dr. Jonathan who is a son of the soil did nothing to satisfy the yearning of the Niger Delta people; because of his desire to remain in power, he pandered to the wishes of the northern hawks - imagine the amount of money he placed in Sambo Dasuki's hands. Inspite of this , he did not please anyone. It is important for us to note however, that Jonathan could not have done any other way because those who put him in power wanted it so, but when he choses to exhibit some measures of independence we all witnessed what happened, the rebellion in the PDP party led

by Olusegun Obasanjo started.

A nut bereft of kernel

By Chuks Iloegbunam

T

WO things leap disagreeably out of President Muhammadu Buhari’s first-year-in-office anniversary speech of May 29, 2016. In the broadcast’s 2624 words, not once did he mention the words Fulani herdsmen, let alone address the real and present danger they constitute to Nigeria’s continued existence as one political entity. Was this unfortunate omission because he is himself of the Fulani ethnic group? Or was it because he considers a final stop to have been put to the herdsmen’s murderous rampaging throughout the country? Or is it because the destructive army is a law unto itself, above censure and sanction?

And this: “We are fully aware that those vested interests who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight. They will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the vice-like grip they have held on Nigeria.” In rendering the above two sentences in the present continuous tense, wasn’t President Buhari suggesting his government’s lack of total control, much in the manner of a monarch unable to hold his goblet?

Sidelining the connotative meaning of these sentences as down to clumsiness by presidential speechwriters, and also not minding the grammatical mistakes in the speech, a fundamental worry is evident.

Consider this: “They will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos…” If you interpreted this official attribution of treasonous quality to a robust media as the first decisive step to the systematic emasculation of public opinion, your apprehension would sit on a solid foundation. Is it not often said that truth – read an unfettered media – is invariably the first casualty in any C M Y K

dispensation’s charted course to a repressive bastion? Suddenly, a government that rode straight to power on the wings of the relentless and remorseless media battering and badgering of the Jonathan administration is talking about a “vile press”!

The “vile press” must, of course, have no future in this democratic march, must not feature in the dynamics of change.

So, let’s take a more detailed look at the President’s broadcast, employing the instrument of content analysis. “By age,

Nigerians can only hope that the speech to mark Change dispensation’s second anniversary will be other than rigmarole instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria,” said Buhari. Yet, about half the speech was on the past, rather than an expatiating on the “triumph”, “consolidation”, and “achievements!” he vaunted. He moaned about Boko Haram’s devastations. He moaned about the collapse in oil prices. He moaned about decayed infrastructures. He moaned about the preceding government that did not live up to expectation. You would expect the elaborate exercise in threnody to be followed by his administration’s rectifying “achievements!” That turned out to be a fatuous dream.

Let’s look at the details in terms of policy initiation and the reversal of national dilapidation. The President pointed at his administration’s thrust: “The problems Nigerians have faced over the last year have been many and varied. But the real

Jonathan had no structure to contain the opposition that he was faced with. The same way he faltered with issues concerning other Niger Delta ethnic groups like the Ogidigben project.

But not for procrastination and indecision on his part, the project would have been on now.

All Niger Delta ethnic groups would have benefited from it but he toed the path of his Ijaw brothers.

I will not encourage other Niger Delta ethnic groups to leave the Ijaws to the struggle alone, instead there should be dialogue with all the ethnic groups involved on the proper way to make the federal government see the urgent need to address the degradation, despoilation and sufferings that have befallen the land.

Let nobody compare the Niger Delta struggle to the Boko Haram. These are the owners of the resources and they are not targeting human beings. They are only telling the world that they are the ones responsible for the economic survival of this nation and that owners of resources must benefit from it.

In fact, they must be the first partakers, if one person or two display criminal tendencies, they can be dealt with by first convincing the people about the rightness of government actions and not make it seem like government is engaged in persecution and victimisation.

As long as over 90 percent of the country’s income is determined by the oil activities from the Niger Delta region, government must

challenge for this government has been reconstructing the spine of the Nigerian state. The last twelve months have been spent collaborating with all arms of government to revive our institutions so that they are more efficient and fit for purpose: * That means a bureaucracy better able to develop and deliver policy. * That means an independent judiciary, above suspicion and able to defend citizen’s rights and dispense justice equitably. * That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and * Above all; that means political parties and politicians committed to serving the Nigerian people rather than themselves.”

Very good! So, in what ways have the administration impacted bureaucratic improvements? The broadcast does not answer this question. In what ways have the administration promoted the independence of the judiciary? Since this question is not answered either, Nigerians may draw conclusions from the long list of judicial injunctions disregarded by the government. In what ways have the administration promoted the ideal of a legislature “actually” legislating effectively? It is not in the broadcast.

When the President talks about “political parties and politicians committed to serving the Nigerian people rather than themselves,” what, please, is the import?

Collectively, wouldn’t the report of the National Confab convened by the last administration better deal with these issues?

Take a look at the hoo-ha on fixing general decay. “The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a sorry state. All the four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and depots neglected.” So, to what extent has the Buhari administration rectified the general decrepitude of his sustained lamentation?

How many kilometres of rail line has the government constructed? What quantity of rolling stock has it imported? Not in the broadcast! Has the government increased mega wattages even by an iota since its

find ways to ameliorate their situation. By this I mean, laying solid foundations for peace. If you make them part owners of the oil exploring companies, they will not be disposed towards destroying their own property. The era of divide and rule is over. The people are now more conscious of what belongs to them, their rights, you must avail them of it. Some say they are destroying their own environment and I say, an environment that has been destroyed long ago by rusty over aged pipelines! What difference does it make. After the war, they will start rebuilding as is being done now in the north east.

The struggle of the Niger Delta is a struggle for the soul of Nigeria. One would have tended to wave it away as a “bad belle” action because their brother is no more there but when you look deep into the fundamentals, you will discover that the present government has not managed the situation very well. The people of the Niger Delta are a very wonderful people, receptive and hospitable - check out Warri, Calabar, Uyo, Port Harcourt, Yenogoa and others - but they can fight for their rights.

The Federal government must institute a very experienced, focused, diplomatic and considerate team now, to look into their affairs and bring this struggle to an end once and for all. No palliative will work. *Mr. Ikhioya, a commentator on national issues, wrote from Lagos.

inception, or is it not a fact that the country twice set a world record of zero wattage delivery under its watch? How many kilometres of roads has the Buhari government tarred? Not a single kilometre in 12 months. Of the four existing refineries, "all of which were in a state of disrepair”, how many are now of improved capacity?

Not one.

Well, it must be conceded that the Buhari government achieved something in its first year! It identified 43,000 ghost workers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPI) system, saving the country a colossal N4.2 billion in stolen pay packets every month. It also blocked leakages in public expenditure, “boldly” using the treasury single account (TSA)! But much-maligned former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, introduced the IPPI during President Obasanjo’s second term, and the same lady introduced the TAS during Jonathan’s presidency. But, again, hush!

Space stifles this submission because a book could easily be written on the President’s broadcast. Suffice to sum up with a couple of comments. When Buhari promises to “save Twenty-Three Billion Naira per annum from official travelling and sitting allowances alone”, it should be taken with a pinch of salt because he travelled abroad 36 times in his first year in office, each time with a large contingent. That’s three junkets every month, which makes him about the most travelled President in recorded history.

This first anniversary broadcast clearly delineates rhetoric and achievement.

And, “If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken.” If unarmed Biafran agitators are spotted, they must be gunned down!

But, on the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen, a deafening silence…!

Nigerians can only hope that the speech to mark Change dispensation’s second anniversary will be other than rigmarole. *Mr. Iloegbunam, an author, wrote from Lagos.

20—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 31, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

Nigeria loses N13bn to oil theft, vandalism in one month

By Michael Eboh

N

IGERIA has lost N12.566 i l lion in one month due to petroleum products theft and vandalisation of the facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC. Giving a breakdown of the losses, the NNPC, in its Monthly Financial and Operations Report for March 2016, disclosed that crude oil loss amounted to N5.94 billion; petroleum products losses stood at N1.757 billion, while N4.87 billion was spent on pipeline repairs and management cost.

According to the report, the losses negatively affected NNPC’s transfer to the Federation Account from the domestic sale of crude oil and gas.

Specifically, the report noted that transfers to the Federation Account by the NNPC dipped by N9.23 billion to N69.544 billion in March, compared N76.614 billion recorded in the preceding month. b

Domestic sale of crude oil However, the report highlighted that NNPC’s total payment to the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, in the month under review stood at N75.874 billion, due to the payment of N6.33 billion, which was for the repayment of a N450 billion debt to the Federal Government.

The NNPC, the report added, earned N67.01 billion and N2.535 billion from the domestic sale of crude oil and gas respectively, bringing the total sales receipts in the month under review to

SUMMIT: From left, Dr. Chris Ogbechie, Chairman, Diamond Bank Plc; Founder/CEO, HealthPlus Limited, Mrs. Bukki George; MD/CEO, Wakanow, Obinna Ekezie and CEO, SB Telecoms & Devices and Convener of Time Attendance Management System, TAMS, summit, Mr. Afolabi Abiodun, at the inaugural edition of the TAMS summit, in Lagos.

N69.544 billion.

To this end, the NNPC stated that the sum of N1.118 trillion had been paid to the Federation Account being domestic crude oil and gas and other receipts from April 2015 to March 2016.

Also, the report noted that in the last one year, between April

sidy in the last one year, from April 2015 to March 2016, while it earned N918.8 billion from crude oil sales within the period under review.

The report further disclosed that incessant vandalism and products theft had continued to destroy value, putting the NNPC

Economic slowdown triggers 60% decline in vehicles import

By Franklin Alli

E

CONOMIC slowdown has triggered 60 percent decline in vehicles imported into the country from 100,000 cars per year to less than 40,000 units in 2015. $122.55 0.75 Also, only two percent of the population is able $2,950.00 -3.00 to afford new vehicles given the current eco$ 16.66 0.05 nomic and financing environment.

This was disclosed by Deloitte Africa Automo$49.17 0.56 tive Insights, in a report titled ‘Navigating the Af$49.17 0.55 rican Automotive Sector: Ethiopia, Kenya and NiCURRENCY BUYING SELLING geria’, made available to US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 Vanguard.

287. 1596 287.8922 288. 6247 POUNDS The reported stated 218.9124 219.4709 220.0293 EURO that while auto imports 197.7002 198.2046 198.7089 FRANC recorded rapid growth 1.7871 1.7916 1.7961 YEN 0.3146 0.3246 0.3346 CFA between 2004 and 2014, 274.8766 275. 5778 276.279 WAUA the current slowdown in 29.8649 29.9415 30.0181 RENMINBI the economy and the re52.2583 52.3916 52.5249 RIYAL cent introduction of high 29.4316 29.5067 29.5818 KRONA 275.5368 276.2397 276. 9426 import duties on vehicles SDR linked to the new autoCBN Exchange rate as at 29/05/2016 motive policy has led to

C M Y K

2015 and March 2016, the NNPC had recorded crude oil losses of N15.456 billion; petroleum products losses of N42.93 billion, while N95.118 billion had been expended on pipeline repairs and management.

In addition, the NNPC expended N249.329 billion on sub-

approximately a two-third contraction in vehicle imports The report noted that although only Nigeria has a concrete automotive industry policy in place compared to Ethiopia and Kenya, yet the current slowdown in the economy occasioned by low oil price, weakened currency and the recent

Owing to the lack of domestic vehicle production, Nigeria is highly dependent on imports to meet its domestic demand

introduction of high import duty on vehicles has led to contraction in vehicle imports.

“Before the hike of import duties on second-hand vehicles, Nigeria importedmorethan100000carsper year from the US. In 2015, imports from the US had plummeted to less than 40 000 units,” said the report.

It further noted: “Owing to lack of domestic vehicle production, Nigeria is highly dependent on imports to meet its domestic demand. In 2014, passenger vehicles constituted the second-largest import category after petroleum oils or bituminous minerals.

Overall, automotive related imports stood at $6.9 billion (passenger vehicle imports: $2.9 billion) accounting for approximately 11.5 percent of Nigeria’s total imports.

“Second-hand vehicles dominate the import market. It is estimated that approximately 10 percent of vehicles imported to Nigeria are brand new. A large share of second-hand vehicles are imported from the US, given that vehicle specifications in this market are more in line with the demand and taste of Nigerian consumers, which is not always met by entry-level models from Europe.

— 21

at disadvantaged competitive position.

It argued that a reduction in vandalism will indeed unlock several industry upsides which include improved upstream oil production due to reduced pipeline disruptions, improved refinery utilization due to increased crude oil feed from restored pipelines, and reduction of crude/ product losses.

According to the report, a total of 3,153 vandalized points were recorded between April 2015 and March 2016, adding, that crude and products losses had continued to cost NNPC and the country huge amount of money.

In particular, the report stated that the 48-inch Forcados Oil Terminal (FOT) Export line was vandalized in February 2016, which crippled the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC and all Joint Venture, JV, partners’ ability to export crude oil from the terminal.

It noted that this situation led to the declaration of force majeure

by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, occasioned by production shut-in of about 300,000 barrels of oil per day.

UBA rewards 50 customers

T

EN lucky customers of UBA Plc at the weekend emerged star winners of the season 2 Remittance Awoof promotion organised by the bank to reward customers that had received remittances through Western Union and Moneygram from any UBA business office across the country.

40othercustomerswererewarded with beautiful gift items. The consolation prizes are as follows: 10 Beats byDreheadphones,10BoseSpeakers, 10 Home Theatre sets, 10 DSTV decoders plus one year subscription.

The star price winners are to undertake a three day trip to Kenya.

The winners were selected based on money transfers through Western Union at the bank within the period of January and August 2015.

The ten star price winners included: Adenugba Abimbola Emmanuel, Egwuanikwu Collins, Amaka Favour Egbo, Ridge Koripamo, Adu Tosin , Osagie Osas Omokaro, Abdulrahman Suleiman Uba, Obinna Daniel Chibuikem, Nwaokobia Isioma and Ogunleye Olawale.

It would be recalled that at the season one Awoof Promotion held last year, 10 lucky customers of the bank who won the star prize were taken to Dabai.

The trip is part of the bank’s efforts to reward loyalty, give back to the society and impact the lives of individuals that carry out business with the bank.

The UBA Awoof Season 2 Campaign kicked off bigger and even more exciting than the first season, with loads of goodies for both Moneygram and Western Union customers.

22—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

C M Y K

VOL. 1: No. 93

By Perez Brisibe GBARHO—AN over 15man abduction ring in Delta State has slain and interred in a shallow grave a senior lecturer of the College of Education, Warri, Isaac Dittimiya, who was kidnapped February 15, while he was driving his Mercedes Benz ML Jeep, and heartlessly went ahead to collect ransom from his family after his death.

The father of the lecturer and his mother and sister, crestfallen and distraught by his coldblooded murder, buckled under the weight of the tragic news and in March and April went to meet their maker.

Luck, however, ran out for the wicked kidnappers when men of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, VGN, Delta State branch, led by the Commander, Monday Owhosiri, busted the hostagetaking syndicate, apprehended nine of them and exhumed the corpse of the lecturer buried few meters away from their den at Agbarho, near Ughelli.

A

TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

Kidnappers collect ransom after killing, burying lecturer •Father, mother, sister slump, die in a row on hearing heartbreaking news •Vigilante group seizes, hands over 9 suspected abductors to Police •Kidnapper bolts with ransom in separate incident •A spot used as a den by the kidnappers deep inside the bush at Agbarho

Health challenges The deceased in his early 50's was an indigene of Kiagbodo, the country home of former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

He was the breadwinner of his family.

The kidnappers forced the don, who had some health challenges to march with four other kidnap victims from Eku to Agbarho on foot, along an abandoned Federal Government railway line project to their hideaway located in the heart of Orhokpokpo –Agbarho forest from 10.00p.m. to 5.00a.m. under torture.

The fragmentary railway track, which runs from Abraka-Agbarho through Eku, linking Warri to Ajaokuta in Kogi State, according to our findings, had become a safe conduit for kidnappers in the area to transport victims to their hide outs.

A kidnap victim rescued alive by the VGN told Niger Delta Voice that the lecturer died of fatigue in odd hours of day after the gang transferred them (victims) to another gang, to negotiate ransom with their respective families and companies, as the case might be.

His words: •"It was a while since we were being transferred from one of the kidnappers' den to another in the middle of the night when the lecturer slumped and C M Y K

Late lecturer, Isaac Dittimiya

died. The hoodlums even tried to resuscitate the lecturer after he collapsed, but to no avail.• His abduction led to protest by students of the College of Education, Warri, organized by the president of the Students Union Government, SUG,

My dad died on March 18 following reports that his son died while in custody of his abductors.• On April 19, my mum too died as a result of the emotional trauma caused by the incident and on May 13, my elder sister followed suit Emmanuel Bipeleghe, on March 9, which paralyzed academic activities in the institution, yet they did not release him.

The passing away of the victim

•Henry Dittimiya whose elder brother was killed and buried by the kidnappers at Agbarho •Identifying the shallow grave of the late Isaac Dittimiya

and demonstration by the students did not dissuade the kidnappers as they contrived other means of extorting money from the family.

They, nevertheless, hid the news of his death from his family and went ahead to demand for payoff for his release.

His younger brother, Henry Dittimiya said the abductors demanded and collected ransom on different occasions from the family even after his death.

According to him, "I was the person that personally went to drop the last N500, 000 ransom the kidnappers obtained by threat from us at a spot close to Auchi, Edo State in March."• Our informant could not say the exact date the lecturer died, but asking the families of their victims to go to Auchi to drop ransom was an ingenious red-herring by the gang to divert attention from their hide-away in the locality to Edo State.

The younger Dimittiya said the

family never knew that their son was deceased until the vigilante group, acting on a tip-off, stormed the kidnappers' den in March and liberated four victims held with the senior lecturer before his death.

When we heard that the four persons rescued by the vigilante were taken to the Ebrumede Police Station, Ebrumede, near Effurun, I quickly went to the police station to find out if my brother was among them.

Unidentified shallow grave "It was at the station that one of the freed victims told me that my brother was held with them, but that he died and had since been buried by the hooligans at an unidentified shallow grave, Henry said.

Catastrophe upon catastrophe: It was a crushing blow as the news of the death of the lecturer got to his family. Further lamenting the

nightmare the Dittimiya family underwent, he said: "My dad died on March 18 following reports that his son died while in the custody of his abductors. On April 19, my mum too died as a result of the emotional trauma caused by the incident and on May 13, my elder sister followed suit. As I speak with you, their remains are still in the mortuary, he said.

How vigilante group smashed kidnap gang: On how the gang was busted, Owhosiri, the VGN boss said: "Following the abduction of an Urhobo youth president, recently, we embarked on an underground security operation leading to the arrest of one Friday, who made confessional statements leading to the subsequent arrest of one Orowhite, Oyile (owner of the kidnap den used) and Omovike Efeturi."

He said; the arrest and

Continues on page 24

24 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

PANORAMA

Book presentation on the late Col Nwaowo

From left, Group Captain Akarire (rtd), former Acting Governor, defunct Bendel State; Mr. Nwaowo (son), Chief Patrick Onwuka, former Orderly to late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, and Ogbueshi Emma Okocha.

•From right, Mr. Onyeabo Nwawo (son), Capt Larry Obiechei (retd) , Mr. Gideon Nwaomu, Group Captain Mike Amanyeiwe (retd) and Ogubueshi (Dr) Ngozi Allanah, during Tribute/book presentation on the late Col. Conrade Nwaowo, 10th commissioned officer (N10) of the Nigerian Army, then known as West African Frontier Force at Grand Hotels, Asaba.Photos: Nath Onojake

•Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State, and Dr. Austin Odili, performing the ground-breaking ceremony in Ibeno

•From left, Ogbueshi Allanah, Mr. Nwawo (son), Group Captain Akarire (rtd), Chief Onwuka, and Mr. Nwaomu.

Kidnappers collect ransom after killing, burying lecturer Continues from page 23 subsequent confession of the suspects led to the arrest of other gang members, including the one who was lured into coming to Agbarho through calls made from the phone of one of the suspects earlier arrested, he said.

According to him: •"On the day the ransom for the release of the UPU youth president was to be paid, we condoned the entire area, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Andrew and Paul, who had come to pick up the ransom, while a third

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

suspect, Agbavwe escaped with human movement.

They erect their dens there and the ransom."

Exhuming of corpse: On the transport their victims to these exhuming of Dimittiya's remains, dens in the middle of the night Owhosiri told Niger Delta Voice with victims made to trek long reporter, who went with his team: distances specifically between the •"About a fortnight ago, they hours of 10.00p.m to 5.00a.m, he (suspects) brought us here to further revealed. identify the shallow grave where Victims swapped among gangs the lecturer was buried and we like slaves: Investigations are here today with medical showed that like in the slave trade personnel and a representative of era, kidnappers trade their victim the family to exhume his remains." to other gangs, which finalize the Modus Operandi of kidnap ransom payment for the release gang: On the modus operandi of of such victim.

Giving details of the exchange the gang, a source, who spoke on anonymity, divulged, •"The gang during interrogation, one of the having explored the abandoned suspects, Efetur, disclosed that Standard Gauge rail line that runs those who own the kidnap dens from Warri t h r o u g h Agbarho to Eku to Abraka to Ajaokuta, Kogi State uses it as their route to transport their kidnap victims.

On both sides of the railway line which goes deep into forest of these communities, there are bush paths that are unmanned by •R-L Omovike Efeturi and one of his security and are accomplices who visited from Benin to totally devoid hatch a kidnap plan before they were of all forms of arrested by the VGN vehicular and

were different from those that carry out the abduction. He also said that those who feed and keep vigil on the victims at the various dens were another team entirely.

VGN hands over suspects to Police: At the end of the successful operation, the VGN handed over the nine suspects to the Police in Asaba.

Slow pace of criminal cases VGN Commander, Owhosiri, who lamented the slow pace of criminal cases in the state, retorted: "Based on the ordeal I and my men underwent before

busting this gang, we would not accept it if the culprits are not brought to book as we would embark on an indefinite strike.

He threatened that the group would down tools if members of the kidnap syndicate were not brought to book.

Patrolling the rail tracks is suicidal: –Police source A police officer in Agbarho Police Division, who spoke on the constraints faced by the police in checkmating the activities of kidnap gangs scattered in the area, stated that owing to the challenges faced by police in the area, coupled with the terrain around the railway track, police officers could not patrol the area, as they should. The police source, who spoke on anonymity, said: “You went there with the security team to exhume the remains of the lecturer, so I guess you witnessed firsthand how challenging the terrain is.

Patrolling that area in the day time is suicidal, not to talk about doing that in the middle of the night."

•Members of the VGN by the grave side where the late lecturer was buried

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FG earns N33.86bn from solid minerals —NEITI •As N3.59bn remains unreconciled

By Sebastine Obasi

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HE Federal Government earned not less than N33.86 billion from solid minerals, the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, stated in its audit report of 2013 released last week.

This showed a 7.67 percent revenue increase over N31.5bn recorded in 2012. The increase was said to be as a result of growth in taxes paid by extractive companies.

One of the highlights of the report showed that from data provided by the extractive companies and Government agencies, the total revenue generated from the solid minerals sector amounted to N33.86 billion of which the sum of N30.26billion was fully reconciled, leaving an unreconciled figure of N3.60 billion.

The report also indicated that the total export earnings from solid minerals grew from an average of 0.02 percent of Nigeria’s total export in 2012 to 0.09 percent of the country’s export in 2013 with lead ores accounting for 50 percent of the value.

Specifically, there was a 33 percent increase in the total production across whole solid minerals sector in 2013 due to the rise in limestone production from 18million tons to 24 million tons.

Unilateral disclosures Out of the amount realised within the period under review, N748 million came from unilateral disclosures by government entities, while N2.9 billion came from unilateral disclosures by companies. Both represent 9 percent of solid mineral revenue.

Also, out of the reconciled figure, N28.9 billion came from taxes realised through the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, while N1.24 billion and N0.055 billion were realised through the Mines Inspectorate Department, MID and Mining Cadastre Office, MCO, respectively.

The NEITI report however observed that various government agencies responsible for the supervision of exports of minerals did not exhibit good synergy as figures from the agencies did not match and differ from those declared by Companies. The report also observed that despite the provision in the mining act, minerals are still exported without the export permit from the Mines Inspectorate Department.

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Consequently, NEITI recommended increased awareness by the Nigerian Government amongst the export supervision agencies (Nigeria Customs Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council and Nigeria Ports Authority) of the importance of export permits in all mineral exports taking place in Nigeria.

According to NEITI, it is also mandatory that exchange of data between these agencies is simplified as quickly as possible in order to ensure that minerals exported are subject to the

required taxes that have been prescribed by the prescribed by law.

The NEITI report observed that according to the Federation Act 1982, the Federal, State and Local Government Areas are entitled to the amount standing to the credit of the Federation Account, less than the sum equivalent to 13 percent of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resource. However, according to Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, confirmation, the sum

of N2.04 billion from the Solid Minerals sector for the year ended 2013 had not yet been allocated to the beneficiaries.

It recommended that in order to ensure a more transparent and prudent management of public revenue from Nigeria’s extractive industries, it is important that the National Stakeholders Working Group and Government take quick action to ensure beneficiaries receive their fiscal allocations and statutory disbursements from mineral resources.

620m Africans live without electricity

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AWARD:From left, Dr. Nike Akande, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry LCCI; Chief Philip Asiodu, former Federal Permanent Secretary and former Chief Economic Adviser; Jeff Corey, Chief Operating Officer; Patricia Akinlotan, Head of Shared Business Support, both of Seven Energy, after receiving the Impactful Investment in Gas to Power Industry Award at the 2016 LCCI industry awards.

ORE than 620 million people in subSaharan Africa today live without access to electricity, a figure that is gradually growing, according to the Angolan Secretary of State for Energy, Joaquim Ventura.

The supply of this resource is not reliable for those who have access to it and in many cases, they need to rely on private generators that work with diesel or gasoline, Ventura said at a meeting of the steering committee of the Bureau of the Association of African Electricity Companies (ASEA) taking place in Luanda.

In some African countries, he said, the electricity tariffs are sometimes the highest in the world, mainly due to the excessive use of fossil fuels for its production, and losses in transmission and distribution networks due to the lack of maintenance.

Ventura explained that the natural increase in population (915 million people in subSaharan Africa), also increases the use of biomass, which exerts more pressure on forest reservoirs and increases the impact on climate change.

FG set to open up coal deposits for investors

Quality of the service

By Sebastine Obasi

T

HE yearnings of Nigerians to have stable power supply may be fruitful, if the plans by the Federal Government to open up Nigeria’s abundant coal deposits to investors interested in using coal to generate electricity, is anything to go by.

Stating the stance of the Federal Government in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, said, “We actually have coal in abundance in Nigeria, and we have decided in this government that we need to take advantage of it to open it up to investors, who are interested and get them to come and site plants near the coal deposits.

“They can then use it to generate the shortfall that we are experiencing in the power supply situation in the country.

“I believe it is only when we have done that, our people even have electricity that we can start talking about the dangers but I don’t think that should stop us from getting power to the people which is a priority for Nigerians right now.”

He said the government had identified the places it needed to reclaim as part of efforts to boost mining in the country.

The Minister explained that the brown field project had been reopened and allocated to people who would work in the areas, adding that the tin mines in Plateau State had been privatised. According to him, the Ministry did not have enough money to reclaim all the mining

sites in the country.

Fayemi also said that the N400 million required for the preliminary phase of the work had been captured in the 2016 budget of the Ministry of Power.

He however said that the project cannot be realised without the active involvement of the

We will site those generation companies nearer the reserve where they are rather than take them thousands of miles away where you now have to spend money on transmission lines Ministry of Solid Minerals.

“We are working with the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing on the Okaba mines and the Onyema mines in Enugu with a view to ensuring that we assist in the coal-to-power generating plants project.

“We will site those generation companies nearer the reserve where they are rather than take them thousands of miles away where you now have to spend money on transmission lines.”

He highlighted “the role of ASEA in coordinating and facilitating the integration of electricity markets in Africa for energy transfer between regions and of knowledge to improve the quality of the service”.

On the subject of Angola, the Secretary said that dams were being built not only to increase the availability of electrical energy, but also to create added value to the comprehensive development of the country.

The government is building energy plants to increase the production capacity of energy to 3,570 megawatt before 2018.

Seventy-nine of this energy figure will be water-powered and 21 percent powered by natural gas. In addition to production plants, lines of high voltage transmission and distribution are under construction. The government is also committed to a rural electrification program and electrification of border regions.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 29

Seven Energy wins Gas-toPower Industry award

Indigenous com pan irms par tner tto o boost fuel q uality compan panyy, UK ffirms partner quality of the right quality, it has a high level of impurity, and it can destroy the aircraft.

“These UK companies have the technology for the testing of the integrity of aviation fuels, lubricating oils, crude and heavy fuel oils, and motor fuels to ensure that there is no compromise that can lead to human casualties.

The technologies can also be deployed to mitigate and manage corrosion in all facilities used in the oil, gas, aviation sectors.” Okon also said that EAUTECH had also sealed a deal with the UK firms that allowed for the training of many Nigerians in the repair, service, and maintenance of these equipment.

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EVEN Energy, an indigenous, integrated oil and gas company has won the 2016 Gas to Power Industry Award, for its investment in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

The award instituted by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, recognises deserving corporate and public institutions that have contributed to commerce and industrial development in different sectors of the Nigerian economy through innovation, business sustainability and positive societal impact.

Commenting on the award, Phillip Ihenacho, Chief Executive Officer, Seven Energy said, “We are truly honoured to be a recipient of the LCCI award and are pleased that our effort in providing the much needed gas for sustainable power supply and for use by industries to drive economic growth is being recognised.

We remain fully committed to delivering on the vision that sees Nigeria powered by its own gas resources.”

The LCCI stated that Seven Energy was selected for the award in recognition of its commitment to sustainable power supply in Nigeria through efficient gas delivery.

Other reasons include Seven Energy ’s Green Team Initiative, an innovative community-based approach to maintain, monitor and clear the Right of Way (RoW) of its gas pipelines and the recent admission of Seven Energy into the Corporate Pillar category of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.

Equipment manufacturers

Coal processing plant

By Sebastine Obasi

F

UEL users in Nigeria will soon heave a sigh of relief as an Indigenous service company, Engineering Automation Technology Limited (EATECH) has launched new technologies to detect poor quality fuels and lubricating oils in Nigeria’s oil and gas, as well as the aviation sectors.

Speaking on the technologies, the Managing Director of EATECH, Mr. Emmanuel Okon said the company had to partner two United Kingdom (UK) based firms, Cygnus Instruments Limited and Stanhope-Seta Limited in an effort to boost the utilization of good quality fuels by consumers in the country.

Okon who spoke to journalists in Lagos during a workshop to

train clients and other users of the various technologies, decried the usage of poor quality

These UK companies have the technology for the testing of the integrity of aviation fuels, lubricating oils, crude and heavy fuel oils, and motor fuels to ensure that there is no compromise that can lead to human casualties or adulterated fuels and lubricants in the Nigerian market, saying that the trend

which had done more havoc to users should be stopped.

According to him, at a time when the cost of fuel had gone up following the full deregulation of the downstream sector, it was pertinent that consumers paid for the right quality of fuel they purchased at retail outlets. He said, “Let us take the aviation sector where all of us know that there is no parking space in the air and that no matter the quality and the integrity of the aircraft engine, any impurity in the aircraft fuel is capable of bringing it down and killing the entire crew and passengers.

“It is order to avert that type of risk that we have decided to bring in the technology that can tell you, this fuel is bad, it is not

“If you bring in the equipment and they are not well serviced, calibrated and maintained, they will even give you wrong results.

We have also worked with the original equipment manufacturers to gain the same competence as they do. We have also gotten the authorization and approval as in-country authorized service centre for these products. And what that implies is that Nigerians don’t need to send the equipment back to the manufacturers in the UK for services, maintenance, repairs and revalidation and calibration.

“Any of the upstream or downstream oil firms or the airlines can call us and we validate or maintain any of the equipment whenever they get spoilt. We are also boosting human capacity by training these Nigerians. That means we are saving a lot of foreign exchange for the country and I believe you know the challenge of sourcing for FOREX these days in the country.

Wind power to supply 10% of US electricity by 2020

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MERICA’s wind power sector is on track to provide 10% of the countr y ’s electricity by 2020, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

According to wind energy executives attending the American Wind Energy Association’s (AWEA) WINDPOWER 2016 Conference and Exhibition, being held in New Orleans, if technology development continues to lower costs, wind power will stay on pace to supply 10% of the country’s electricity needs by 2020.

Existing stability provided by the extension of the wind production tax credit is being matched by state-level policy and corporate and other nonutility buyers all aiming to cut carbon pollution.

But this political stability must hold if the country’s wind power sector is

to reach its full potential in the years to come.

“We’ve built an American success

We’ve built an American success story that creates jobs, cuts carbon pollution, and cuts costs for American consumers story that creates jobs, cuts carbon pollution, and cuts costs for American consumers,” said Tom

Kiernan, CEO of the AWEA. “To continue this success by installing at least eight gigawatts a year through 2020, we need our 88,000 workers to share our story with elected officials, the communities that host our projects, and with all the young people throughout the country.”

Renewable technology “Wind is winning,” added Chris Brown, President of Vestas America, and recently-elected board chair of AWEA. “While our fuel is free, our customers know the machines aren’t free.

The challenge is to make renewable technology so cheap that it’s the obvious choice. That’s why we’ve driven down costs by technology

advancement including longer rotors, taller towers, advanced controls, and product reliability.

Investor appetite has grown, also lowering the cost of capital. And as a result, the real cost of wind power in the US has dropped by more than 60%.”

According to the AWEA, there is now enough wind capacity installed throughout 40 US states to reliably supply power to 20 million homes.

In an attempt to beat the (presumed) expiry of the wind production tax credit, the wind industry installed more new electricity generating capacity in 2015 than any other technology. Wind power jobs therefore rose 20% coming into 2016, and wind turbine technology is continuing to advance.

30—Vanguard, TUESDAY,

MAY 31, 2016

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 31

32 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 YOUR LUCK TODAY

LEISURE

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 CANCER: BET TER than yesterday as you will be at a more comfortable place today and suddenly discover that your hope is alive. Venus at crying sisters degree can bring avoidable deception via love.

LEO: ROMANTIC Venus in crying sisters degree may bring matters-of-the heart related temptation through friends. But your best bet now is moderate ambition.

VIRGO: IF you have experienced tension yesterday, such will give way to conducive atmosphere today. This is not the right time to become desperate about love at work.

LIBRA: EVERYBODY needs other people’s co-operation just like you today but you will not be compelled by situation to dance to others’ tune; meaning that you can do things your own way and rightly expect success.

SCORPIO: THOSE of you willing to give others the needed co-operation will be in better position to consolidate on progress you have made recently. Don’t allow sex to distract you.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard Eromosele

I

T is amazing how some people think they are rich because of their strength.The truth is that there are lots of factors that could make one rich.And chief among these, is the

Why you are rich favour of God.There are millions of people who work harder than you,yet they are so poor.

Whether rich or poor, there is a purpose for it.Some

TERROR MUDA

people have to be rich, so that they can help the poor.

Similarly, some have to be poor so that the rich can be valuable.The rich

in “Never say goodbye”

has its role, the poor also has its usefulness.Together, they make the world a balance world.Can you imagine how the world would have looked like if what we have is only the rich or only the poor? Think about it!

By Kola Fayemi

SAGITTARIUS: WATCH-OUT for minor and avoidable but costly mistake within your working arena, especially if you are in charge of other people’s money.

CAPRICORN: AS the saying goes “time waits for nobody” it’s important you guard against unnecessary procrastination capable of putting you at tight corner tomorrow. Be loving.

AQUARIUS: IT’S better you conclude what you’ve been doing for a while rather than starting something new you don’t know when to finish it. Be more family minded.

PISCES: IF careless remarks are made by you today, it would back-fire at resumption of work tomorrow morning.

Those who are eager for romantic attention will have their dream coming true sooner. Be family minded.

ARIES: IF you wait too long before an important (financial) decision is taken, you may find yourself keeping date with what you don’t bargain for.

TAURUS: THE moon moves into your star sign and influences you to become more self-assertive to the betterment of your cause. However, it’s important about your tomorrow with others.

GEMINI: BET TER than yesterday and luckily for you, opportunity to rectify mistakes made yesterday may come today to the betterment of your finances. Don’t try to buy love with money.

KAPTAIN AFRIKA

in

“Pretty Lunatic’

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,

What about my health?

Dear Joshua, AS the saying goes” health is wealth”, I want you to kindly analyse my star and tell me everything about my health according to my star. I am into oil business and so far, God has been kind to me: yet I want to know if I’m not on the wrong path because things do go wrong very badly sometimes. And what other business is good for me?

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

Quadri, Ibadan Dear Quadri, Things do go wrong when your calculations and timing are wrong. Therefore, oil is the best for you.

Another good line for you is commercial involvement with anything liquid.

Scorpio and Libra that hosted both your natal sun and moon are members of very strong star signshealth wise. Scorpio, in particular, has unusual survival ability. That is to say, even when health related challenges come, your survival endowment will always see you through.

Your major challenge is from your constant worries about too many things, especially on career related issues. Business miscalculation can be another source of health related challenge. You will agree with the fact that both constant worries and business miscalculation can affect one’s circulatory system.

Other things to watchout for include: Urino-genital organs, minor accident (fire), bones dislocations, a few other times, skin infections and, ofcourse, fever.

Always take care of the stomach. Please take note that all these are mere warnings as there is nothing fatalistic about them; a good guard, though.

Oil related Neptune was the closet heavenly body to the sun when you were born at positive angle to Pluto in Leo. Thus, having things to do with oil along your career/business lines is not by accident.

Then preponderance of water element and fixed quality in the distribution of the planets in your chart are favourable to commercial involvement with liquid.

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—33

Tension in Edo communities over land tussle As Iguomon community appeals to Oshiomhole

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By Gabriel Enogholase

ENIN—TENSION is mounting between Iguomon community and their Ikhuonbo neighbours both in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State over the ownership of a parcel of land between the two communities.

Meanwhile, to avert a clash between both communities, the Iguomon community has appealed to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and security agents to wade into the matter before it gets out of hand.

The community thanked the governor and the state Commissioner of Police for taking prompt action in the past to forestall peace and orderliness in the area and reinstated its commitment to continue to operate within the provisions of the law.

Addressing journalists in Benin, yesterday, Vice-Chairman of Iguomon Youth Association, Mr. Stanley Osazee, who spoke for the community, gave the genesis of the crisis and accused the Ikhuonbo community of crying wolf where non –existed, insisting that the land in question which he described as their ancestral land belongs to them.

He said: “We the people of Iguomon community have deemed it fit to inform the general public about the lingering crisis and the deliberate occupation of

our ancestral land by some group of people who call themselves Ikhuonbo community in Edo State.

“Early this month, the people of Ikhuobo came to the media to mislead the general public, claiming that the good people of Iguomon community were trying to chase them away from their land but they refused to provide the general public with the true situation on ground.

“The land in dispute is owned

by Iguomon community, and the Benin palace validated Iguomon’s right to the land in the past and the palace recommended that Iguomon community should give Ikhuonbo 150ft from the land.

“The people of Iguomon community went to court to seek legal interpretation, backing and the right to owned the land by dragging the people Ikhuonbo

community before an Edo State High Court in Benin which ruled that Iguomon community owns the land.

“Ikhuonbo appealed to the Appeal Court in Benin, which also validated the judgment of the lower court that Iguomon community owned the land.

Ikhuonbo again went to the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court ruled in the year 2006 that Iguomon community owned the land.”

TOWN HALL MEETING: Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike (left) and his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, cutting a tape to unveil a book on the achievements of their administration in the past one year, during a Town Hall meeting, at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

Cross River business cluster to generate 10,000 jobs

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By Princewill & Ike Uchechukwu

ALABAR—OVER 10,000 jobs will be created in Cross Rivers State in one year when Governor Ben Ayade’s business cluster comprising four different ventures, including the garment factory becomes operational.

Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, made the disclosure, after conducting journalists round some projects in Calabar to ascertain the level of progress made n them, as one of the projects (garment factory) is set for commissioning by President Mohammadu Buhari soon.

Ita said: “The business cluster will provide over 10,000 jobs to youths across the state while widows will be given preference in employment in the factory that will produce uniforms for customs, police, T-shirts, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC uniform among others.”

He said that the business plan which encapsulates the garment factory, rice city which is a training centre that will produce highly vitalized rice, a bio tech laboratory as well as a cosmetics and pharmaceutical company will create over 10,000 jobs within one year and will grow from there.

He added that the garment factory will employ 3000 people,

while the rice city will provide about 2000 jobs in addition to the bio tech lab which will be a platform for manufacturing items

for modular houses, including the cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies that

will create over 5000 jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

Partner Delta govt to tackle N-Delta crisis, Reyenieju tells politicians

By Daniel Gumm ARRI—A member of House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has urged politicians in Delta State, to join hands with the state government to find solutions to the present crisis besieging the area as a result of the renewed attacks on oil facilities by militant groups.

Speaking to newsmen in Warri, Reyenieju, who represents Warri constituency in the House of Representatives, said that the present crisis directed against oil facilities was a challenge to all politicians, community leaders and all person of good conscience.

He explained that the economic and environmental consequences were not selective of their victims, but negatively affect all, saying this should make all politicians unite and cooperate with the government by keying into the efforts of the Delta State Government, instead of opting for irresponsible path of politicizing the present crisis and trading in unhealthy blame

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games for personal gains.

He said the present situation where monthly allocation accruing to the state has become so reduced, should be of serious

concern to everybody, explaining that this informed the present commitment of the state towards finding a workable solution.

Dickson gets commendation

By Samuel Oyadongha

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ENAGOA—A group, the Bayelsa Citizens for Good Governance has hailed Governor Seriake Dickson for his disposition to protect the nation’s democracy and his steady resolve to allow the rule of law prevail at all times.

The group gave the commendation when they paid a solidarity visit to the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jonathan Obuebite in Yenagoa as part of their 2016 Democracy Day activities.

Leader of the group, Mr. Charles Irigha-Abbey, noted that since Dickson came on board in 2012, he has never let anyone in doubt of his profound love to

defend the sanctity of democracy and allow for freedom of divergent views.

Irigha-Abbey maintained that in Bayelsa, it was now common to criticize a sitting governor, adding that people now have a say in the affairs of governance.

He urged the governor not to deviate and also charged him to continue his good works despite the current economic challenges in the country which have affected the state in great measure.

Responding, Obuebite thanked the group for the visit, the kind words showered on Governor Dickson and assured them that the current administration will continue to do its best to make life more meaningful for Bayelsans.

A-Ibom builds 200km roads, 15 bridges

By Chioma Onuegbu

U

YO —GOVERNOR Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has said that his administration has in the last one year been able to construct about 200 kilometers of roads and 15 bridges across the state.

Emmanuel in his 2016 Democracy Anniversary broadcast, yesterday, listed the road networks to include, 6.6km internal roads in Oron with outfall drains, Information Drive at Atan Offot in Uyo and OnnaEtinan-Uyo Road among others.

According to him, “By the stride, communities that were once cut off in the state have been opened up. We have intervened in a number of places ravaged by gully erosion. Calabar-Itu Road and St Luke’s Hospital Anua are prime examples and we hope to do the same in many other communities of the state.

“Five days ago, I commissioned 6.6kilometer internal roads in Oron with outfall drains to the excitement of the people. In the last one year, we have sought to provide vision, motivation, direction and inspiration for a new Akwa Ibom State packaged as an oasis of industrilaization and good governance.”

1,000 Isoko indigenes get free medical care

By Ochuko Akuopha

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LEH—ISOKO Health Foundation, IHF, has provided free medical services for over 1000 residents of Owhe-Ologbo and Uzere communities, Isoko North and South Local Government Areas, Delta State.

Speaking with journalists during the exercise, Managing Director of IHF, Dr. Lawrence Adu said that the foundation was founded by United States of America based medical doctors of Isoko descent, who came together with a mission to deliver free health care services to the people of the Isoko nation.

Saying that the free medical exercise was sponsored by the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Mr. Askia Ogieh, he noted that the treatments were meant for those suffering from ailments such as malaria, diabetes, typhoid fever, optical challenges as well as distribution of free eye glasses.

34—Vanguard, TUESSDAY, MAY 31, 2016

‘Probe APC campaign funding if you are serious with anti-corruption war’

Trans-border robbery kingpins arrested in Enugu

By Ugochukwu Alaribe

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BA—A legal practitioner, St. Moses Ogbonna, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to order a probe on how the All Progressives Congress, APC, sourced its campaign funds during the 2015 general election, if he is serious with

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vehicles recovered

By Francis Igata

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NUGU—TWO alleged notorious transborder cararmed robbery kingpins, Okwudili Nwodo of No 39 Amaetiti Street Abakpa and Kingsley Okoro who hails from Enugu-Ezike in IgboEze North Local Government Area of Enugu S t a t e , w e r e weekend,arrested by operatives of the Ogui Police station,Enugu Command.

The suspects had allegedly snatched a Black Lexus Jeep with registration number ISD 625 DJX at gunpoint on May 20, at Ebenano,Ekwe in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State from a victim, identified as one Amadi Kingsley.

Vanguard learned that the duo, allegedly conveyed the stolen jeep to an automobile panel beating workshop situated at Presidential Road,Enugu State where they engaged a panel beater to re-spray the vehicle for sale to a prospective buyer.

Further findings showed that the operatives of the Ogui Police station,acting on intelligence report, swooped on the suspects at the panel beating workshop where they were arrested.

his fight against corruption.

In an interview with Vanguard in Aba, Ogbonna who is the newly elected Abia state PDP Organizing Secretary, said the move has become necessary following revelations that some APC chieftains allegedly misused public funds and made mind boggling donations to the party’s campaign fund.

He urged Buhari to mandate the EFCC to investigate APC governors who are being accused of misusing public funds, stressing that only this will make Nigerians and the international community believe that the President is truly serious about his anti corruption agenda.

According to him, “The EFCC should beam its

Okorocha denies presidential posters

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MO GOVERNOR, Rochas Okorocha has denied having anything to do with the posters of the governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima running for the 2019 Presidency Rochas as the Vice.

The governor said the posters were another mischief by mischievous elements cowed by his monumental achievements in Imo and what he represents in the politics of the South-East and Nigeria in general today.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo said those behind this mischief first invaded the social media

with the fake posters and when they discovered that the comments by decent men and women doubted the source and the genuineness of the posters, they decided to paste them in Abuja.

“On the part of the Imo State Governor, it is very difficult to capture what the folks behind this pettiness want to achieve or what must have prompted them, in the first place "Since 2015 elections when he cowed his detractors, they have never left any stone unturned to ensure that they put knife in the enviable relationship existing between the president and Governor Okorocha. Their latest unfortunate outing is the

searchlight on how the APC sourced its campaign funds during the 2015 general election. The probe should be extended to serving and ex governors of the party. It is unfair to concentrate probe on how the PDP funded its campaigns. It is in the best interest of the nation that EFCC does the needful. The anti corruption fight should not be seen to be selective. It is only when he probes the sources of APC campaign funding that Nigerians and the international community will know he is serious in fighting corruption.

posters in question.

“Interestingly, Governor Okorocha has for sometime now been reported to have told those willing to hear that he won’t run for the 2019 presidential election because of President Buhari. And by repeatedly saying that, he succeeded in disarming the little minds who had used that issue to blackmail him.

“And now, they have begun to publish about Okorocha being the vice-presidential candidate to Governor Shettima. And for the sake of exposing these petty minded fellows, one can ask whether Rochas and Shettima would start campaign in 2016 for 2019 election?

favour.

Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area during cash empowerment he granted them, Nwoye said he would soon declare officially for APC, adding, however, that his immediate concern is to empower the people of the constituency, who made it possible for him to be elected into the House of Representatives.

According to him, many people in the state have lost confidence in PDP, arguing that their best

alternative is APC, which, he added, is striving to correct the mistakes of the past federal administration.

He said: “I am no longer satisfied with what is happening in PDP. I no longer have anything to do with the party and I will soon officially declare for APC. I won’t force my followers to follow me, but they are free to join me in the movement to APC because politics is a matter of choice.”

“Corruption is not something you fight with half measures or kid gloves. In fighting corruption, you don’t say, this is my party man, friend or brother. There should be no selective application of laws. In fact, the probe of the APC campaign funding is the major test of Buhari’s anti corruption war.”

He advocated the granting of autonomy to the EFCC and other anti graft agencies in the country to enable them investigate and prosecute corruption cases without fear or

Nwoye dumps PDP for APC .Empowers constituents

By Vincent Ujumadu

A

W K A — GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2013 poll in Anambra State and the member representing Anambra East and West in the House of Representatives, Chief Tony Nwoye has finally dumped the party for All

Progressives Congress, APC. There are indications that Nwoye, who was also a former Anambra State chairman of PDP, will vie for the 2017 governorship election on the platform of APC and serious consultations towards that are already ongoing in and outside Anambra State.

Addressing stakeholders from Anambra East and Anambra West in his country home at

By Bartholomew Madukwe (08102479985) nwamad@yahoo.com

PEOPLE SPEAK

On Children's Da Dayy celebration

W

e owe it to our children to live and lead by example. Every child is proof that we have a future as a people and that we must ensure that our past mistakes are not repeated or instilled in them.

Mr Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, Lawyer

I

cannot understand why we celebrate Children’s day in this country. Children have no right to anything, there are so many children that are out of school, live in abject poverty, despite enormous wealth of this great nation.

Miss Anne Kelechi, NYSC member

P

resident Buhari should do something to alleviate the pains and sufferings of innocent children brought upon them by bad leaders in times past. Most children in Nigeria today are suffering. Mr Ogechukwu Lynda, Student

W

ell, I wish all Nigeria children happy celebration. Let us impact on our children the qualities of good leadership for them to grow and become tomorrow’s leader. Mr Olatunbosun Joel, Self Employed

H

appy children’s day to every Nigerian child and the world at large. Parents should devote more care and attention to the well-being of the children of the poor and less privileged in the society. Mr Onyebuchi Igwe, Engineer

A

s Nigeria joins the rest of the world in celebrating Children’s Day, let me use this opportunity to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to bring the issue of violence against children to the barest minimum in the country. Miss Jennifer Gabriel, Student

Vanguard, TUESDAY MAY 31 , 2016 — 35

Some people lobbying Presidency to reverse my appointment —KAWU

By Demola Akinyemi

I

L O R I N — N E W LY appointed Director General of Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, BON, and a Vanguard Newspapers’ columnist, Alhaji Modibbo Kawu, yesterday said some unnamed people from Kogi State had been lobbying some individuals in the presidency to get his appointment reversed.

This came as various groups continued to praise President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment.

However, Alhaji Kawu assured that such moves by detractors would propel him to work beyond expectations to silence them.

He spoke when some groups visited him to thank the President for the appointment.

Among the groups were Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association, IEYDA, and members of the Kawu family from Ikokoro compound in Ilorin.

In a letter of congratulation to him, Head of Ikokoro family, Alhaji Saadu A. Aluko, prayed for a successful tenure at the NBC, and on behalf of people of Kwara, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, for his support.

On its part, IEYDA, led by its President, Mr. Abdullahi B. Salau, said members were in Kawu’s house to felicitate with him and to pray for God guidance in the discharge of his duty at the commission.

Also speaking, Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the group, Mallam Muhammad Uthman Jagunma, said “We are after the development of Ilorin in particular and Kwara state at large. We pray for the sustainability of the post and your success because it is only when you succeed that Kwarans will be proud of his representation.”

While thanking them for the visit and the prayer, Kawu promised not to disappoint the confidence repose in him.

He narrated how some people from Kwara State had been going round to work against his appointment.

Sokoto to employ 10,000 teachers S

OKOTO—THE Sokoto State Government has concluded plans to employ no fewer than 10,000 qualified teachers, the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal has said.

Governor Tambuwal, who made the disclosure yesterday at a media chat to mark the 2016 Democracy Day in Sokoto, said this was part of the recommendations in a report of a technical committee he earlier set up to advise the government on the education sector.

The governor said the committee was headed by Professor Riskuwa Shehu, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

‘According to him: “‘The state government set up the committee as part of the measures to improve the standard of the education sector in the state. According to the committee’s report, we are short of no fewer than 10,000 qualified teachers in the state. ''We will do everything possible in moving our standard of education forward in order to guarantee a productive citizenry in the state. The government will also cover the training and

retraining of teachers in line with the global trend of making education a priority.’’

He stated that the state of emergency on education already declared in the state would remain until the government achieved the desired standard.

Tambuwal also noted that the committee had recommended the construction of additional 6,000 classrooms in the state, saying the government would

implement the committee’s report to generally improve the education sector in the state.

He called on the people of the state to always complement the efforts of the government in funding education at all levels.

Tambuwal urged the people to jealously guard all ongoing projects as well as assist the government in their routine The governor said the state would collaborate with investors in Europe and China to improve

power supply in the state.

According to Tambuwal, the foreign investors were going to focus on the use of solar energy and wind power to generate more energy for the state.

He said: “Already, five companies have shown interest in the proposed project and discussions are on with them. The issue of power is key and fundamental to the sustenance of every society, as it can boost socioeconomic development.''

VISIT: From right; Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP C a r e t a k e r C o m m i t t e e Chairman, Senator A h m e d M o h a m m e d Makarfi and the National Vice Chairman, Northwest of the party, Ambassador Ibrahim Kazaure during a solidarity visit to Senator Makarfi at his Kaduna residence, weekend. Photo by Olu Ajayi.

AMCON: Buhari okays Malami to head presidential c'ttee on loan recovery

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

A

BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has okayed the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN,

to head the Presidential InterAgency Committee on recovery of loans granted to commercial banks and corporate organisations by Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.

Why I appointed 147 aides — GOV ISHAKU

By John Mkom

J

ALINGO—GOVERNOR Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, has said he appointed 147 Advisers and Special Assistants as a means of reducing unemployment in the state.

But All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, has faulted the appointments, saying it is a waste of scarce resources even when others are reducing cost of governance.

The governor, who spoke in Jalingo, while briefing on his achievements in the past one year in office, noted that on assumption of office, he discovered that apart from civil servants who worked at local governments and state level, there were no industries that could generate employment for the youths; hence he decided to enlarge the number of political appointees as a means of engaging some people to work.

He said: “We need to create jobs opportunities and empower them through such appointments because we have a state that is

purely a civil servants state and I decided to enlarge the number of appointments in other to spread welfare to the citizens of the state.

But reacting, Chairman APC in Taraba State, Harsan Ardo Jika, condemned the bogus appointments, saying such appointments were misplacement of priority and a waste of resources.

Members of the Committee who include representatives drawn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), are, the AGF as Chairman, Minister of State (Aviation), Senator Hadi Sirika, Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase and Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Others are the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, Group Managing Director Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, Director General, Debt Management Office, DMO, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo, Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed and the

Bello turns to RMAFC for help over financial challenges

By Boluwaji Obahopo

L

OKOJA—GOVERNOR Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has approached the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, for assistance to enable the state meet its rising financial challenges.

The governor, who made the plea during a visit to the commission where he served close to 15 years, referred to the visit as a “return to his primary constituency”, contending that it had become imperative for the commission to help President Muhammadu Buhari achieve his

change agenda.

Bello also said he was prepared to take Kogi State to higher ground through effective delivery of democracy dividends to the people of the state.

He highlighted the needs of the state to include the necessity to bridge the huge infrastructural deficit, security challenges among others, promising to be a good Ambassador of the commission.

The governor noted that he had carried out staff audit in the state to make its payrolls credible and assured the civil servants in the state of the readiness of his administration to protect every legitimate job.

managing director, AMCON, Alhaji Ahmed Kuru.

A statement yesterday by spokesman to the AGF, Mr. Salihu Othman Isah, said the committee was inaugurated recently in Abuja.

Lagos seeks joint efforts on morals in child devt

By Prince Okafor

W

ITH attention geared towards ensuring good morals among children across the country, Lagos State, has called on parents and individuals to join hands to bring up children worthy of the country’s pride.

The Executive Secretary, Yaba Local Council Development area, LCDA, Lagos, Mrs. Bola LawalOlumegbon, who made this call at the Sparkle Foundation Smiley Face Children day event in Yaba, urged parents, community leaders, social groups, voluntary organization and co-operative organization as well as teachers and children to shun all act of juvenile delinquencies found in the present age.

She said: “Business as usual is not enough to ensure that every child’s right is protected. We need new ideas and approach, as a guideline for every human right to be protected as well as that of our children who are the future of our tomorrow. Child’s rights include; their right to association with both parents, and to basic education and health care.''

36—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

C M Y K

HONOUR: From left— Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State; Mr. Razak Atunwa, member, House of Representatives for Asa and Ilorin West; and Rector, International Aviation College, Ilorin, Captain Abdulmumini Karim, during the decoration of the lawmaker with Executive Private Pilot Licence at the college in Ilorin.

AfDB’S MEETING: President, African Development Bank, AfDB, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (left); Acting MD, Bank of Industry, BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju (right), at AfDB's annual meeting in Lusaka, Zambia.

EXXONMOBIL DONATES E-LIBRARY: From left— MD, Crestage Limited, Mr. Charles Emembolu; Project Engineer, ExxonMobil, Erha North Phase 2 EPC 1, Engr. Richard Megafu; Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Professor Kate Omenuga, and Local Content Coordinator, OneSubsea, Mr. Donald Ibegbu, at the commissioning of an e-library at All Saints Primary School, Onitsha, donated by ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Exploration & Production Nigeria Limited in Onitsha, Anambra State.

ANNIVERSARY: From left— Guest of honour, Rev Jimi Joseph; Founding Pastor and President, Christ the King Rescue Global Ministry, Prophet Gabriel Onaolapo; his wife, Florence, and Prophet Gabriel Fagbehinbo, during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the ministry on Celebrating the Vindication of the Freedom Mandate at the church's headquarters, Oke-Aro, Akute Road, Ogun State. PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

EBONYLIFE WINNER: From left— Executive Director, Skymit Motors, Mr. Martin Ayeni; winner, EbonyLife Films’ Win With Fifty, Miss.

Benedicta Ojo; ED, Commercial, Mr. Uzoma Onwuchekwa, and Chief Strategy Officer, Miss Eunice Omole, both of EbonyLife TV, during the presentation of Mercedes Benze B170 to Miss Ojo in Lagos. PHOTO: Oscar Ochio.

TECNO: From left— Retail Manager, Mr. Onuh Emeka; Business Development Manager, Mr. Peter Shi; Business Unit Head, Mr. Gbenga Oguntade, and Business Development Manager, Mr. Jack Huang, all of Tecno, at the launch of Phone and Pad 711 in Lagos.

IKEJA ELECTRIC GIVES: From left— Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric, Mr. Felix Ofulue; Matron-in-Charge, Children’s Ward, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Mrs. Ajibola Osanyinlusi; Business Manager, Ikeja Business Unit, Mr. Christopher Lawal, and Brand and Events Manager, Titi Aikhomu, both of Ikeja Electric, during the donation of items to hospitalised children in celebration of children's day.

THANKFUL: National President of Igbo Youth Congress, Chief Jerry Ugwu (3rd right) and friends at his survival thanksgiving service and party in Lagos.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 37

C M Y K

38 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

C M Y K

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 39

C M Y K

40—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

By Theodore Opara

Fuel price: Are SUVs disappearing from the roads?

T

HE increase in fuel pump price from N86.50k to N145 may have led to the gradual withdrawal of most big Sport Utility Vehicles, SUV from Nigerian roads, and drop in sales of such vehicles.

Vanguard Motoring investigation revealed that most owners of such vehicles now drive them occasionally to save fuel, while some have put theirs up for sale. It is a common sight to see most SUVs with ‘for sale’ pasted on their glasses even when they are being driven on the road.

Before the increase in fuel pump price, use of SUVs was the trend but with the high cost of fuel, people are beginning to think twice before putting the vehicles on the road on a daily basis.

Most people now prefer to put their SUVs on the road when travelling out of their stations because of the state of the road, while using the small cars for movements within the city.

For instance, while it costs about N8,000 to fill a tank of big SUV, before the fuel price increase, it now costs between N14,000 to N16,000 to fill such cars under the current fuel pricing.

Even with the poor road condition caused by the rainy season, which was given as reasons for buying used SUVs in the past, a lot of people are beginning to overlook this even when acquiring their used SUVs.

Air-condition system What most people are now looking for are cars that can take them from one point to the other so long as the air-condition system is working.

A visit to the popular used car market in Lagos, Berger Yard Tokunbo market, revealed that sales of big cars had dropped, occasioned by the hard times being experienced by Nigerians in the last one year.

Though most of them wouldn’t like their names in print, they told Vanguard Motoring that selling cars these days has become very difficult as a result of the high cost of cars and fuel price.

“People hardly buy cars these days even when they do so, they consider fuel consumption first and reliability of such cars, unlike in the past when the first consideration was how beautiful the car looks and the engine capacity,” the car dealer stated.

He added that this has made the Japanese-made cars the toast of many car buyers, especially Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, though German products, are not doing badly too.

According to another dealer, you can stay for a whole month before selling a car, unlike before C M Y K

A typical big SUV, Cadillac Escalade for those who can afford the fuel. when they used to sell up to six vehicles within the same period.

Even when such cars are sold, they are sold at a loss.

“Tell me, how can you make profit when you buy cars from abroad with foreign exchange at N330 to a dollar, he queried.

Meanwhile, some car owners who spoke to Vanguard Motoring lamented the high cost of fuel.

Some of them explained that their SUVs are no longer everyday’s car as a result of the high cost of fuel.

"Nowadays, I drive my ‘Jeep’

only on Sundays to save fuel because I cannot afford to use it on daily basis again’’ said Mr. Adekunle Akintan, a business man who deals in men wares on Lagos Island.

According to him, he cannot afford the fuel, as the car gulps

more fuel in traffic. His submission is that it costs as much as N15,000 to fill the tank of the Jeep which lasts only one week on daily use. This according to him means spending about N60,000 to fuel the ‘Jeep’ and if you add the same amount used to fuel generator, at home you are talking about N120,000 monthly on fuel alone.

Others who spoke to Vanguard Motoring revealed that the solution lies on small fuel efficient cars but the question is where are the roads.

To some of them, using these small cars is fuel economical, but costlier on the long run as you would have to visit your mechanic and panel beater as regularly as possible. Consider the wear and tear on the small car due to bad road condition. You are either fixing your bumper, bolt joints, tie rods, shocks absorbers etc, due to poor condition of the roads

Toyota brand leads at LCCI award •Dedicates award to customers

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OYOTA Nigeria Limited, TNL, has dedicated its latest awardbytheLagosChamberofCommerce and Industry, LCCI, to its loyal customersacrossthecountry.

Toyota won the ‘High Standard in AutomobileServiceaward”attheevent and was the only automobile companyrecognisedattheceremony.

TheannualLCCIawardwasattended by high networth individuals from the corporate world, who converged at the Muson Centre, Lagos, to grace theoccasion.

According to LCCI the award was instituted to recognise deserving sectorsoftheeconomyand19awardswere presentedtodifferentorganisationsfor standing out in their various sectors.

In the automobile category, Toyota lived up to its superior quality slogan by emerging the only automobile brandtoreceiveanawardattheevent.

Receiving the award, the Managing Director of Toyota Nigeria, Mr Kunle Ade-Ojo, expressed appreciation for the recognition and promised that it would spur them the more to giveToyotacustomersthebestquality and service at all times.

WhilededicatingtheawardtoallToyotaloyalcustomers,Mr.Ade-Ojosaid: “Wearepromisingourcustomersour unrelenting commitment to interna-

tional best practice and excellent customerservicedeliveryateverycustomer touchpoint.”

Thewell-attendedawardwasgraced bynotableindividualsfromthehealth, manufacturing,agriculture,education, realestate,banking,diplomats,etc.

According to LCCI, the metrics for selecting awardees cut across differ-

Toyota Nigeria lived up to its superior quality slogan by emerging the only automobile brand to receive an award at the event

entconsiderationswhichincludethe positive impact the company made on the society through building increased confidence in people and

From left - Chief (Mrs) Nike Akande, President, LCCI, Chief Phillip Asiodu, former Minister of Petroleum presenting the High Standard in Automoible Services award to the MD of TNL, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, at the Muson Centre, Lagos. wealth creation, compliance with set standard, regulations, level of disclosure, enhanced product and services through innovation for increased valueandexcellentcustomerserviceand servicedelivery.

Eminentpersonalitiesthatgracedthe occasionamongmanyothers, werethe Deputy Governor of Lagos State Dr. (Mrs)IdiatOlurantiAdebule,whorepresentedtheGovernorofLagosState, Mr.AkinwunmiAmbode; Speakerof

the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; the Director-GeneralofNigerianTourismDevelopment Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo; President of LCCI, Mrs. Nike Akande, who is also a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; theimmediatepastpresident ofLCCI,and AshiwajuSolomonOnafowakan,ChiefPhillipAsiodu,aformer ministerofpetroleum.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—41

To drive home his policy of prosperity for all Deltans, believing in the age-old truism that health is wealth, Governor Okowa’s administration is poised to implement the Contributory Health Pension scheme which will ensure universal coverage for all categories of Deltans.

The Governor has equally consented to the establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research’s, NIMR South-South out station in Asaba.

This will bring closer

•: Keeping to his agenda

DELTA: Okowa’s SMART one year THE economic crunch has not deterred Governor Ifeanyi Okowa from pursuing his SMART agenda

By Festus Ahon

D

R. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State is one of the first term Governors that came into office with dynamism and a clear cut agenda of what he wants to achieve for the people of the State.

Since he assumed office on May 29, 2015, he has been making relentless efforts towards reducing unemployment in the State through his job creation programme.

Over 1,300 youths have so far been trained and provided with equipment in their respective areas of trade and cash to start off business. While some of the youths are trained in skills, others are trained in the area of farming.

These youths who are being monitored and mentored by the State Government are expected to in no distant time be employers of labour.

Job creation programme The job creation programme is a continuous one, and Governor Okowa is pursuing it with so much passion.

In the area of roads, Okowa is not lagging behind. He has embarked on the building of many township and rural roads.

His desire to provide a good network of roads in the state is apparently not deterred by the present economic crunch.

He has embarked on the construction of the middle section of Alisimie-Ozanogogo Road; dualisation of Nnebisi Road, from traffic light to Cable Point, Asaba.

Also, he is reconstructing the old Oleh/Emede/ Olomoro Road;

widening/reconstruction of Owhe-Ologbo/Abbi Road and reconstruction/expansion/ construction of Kefas Road, Emore Road and Uzere Road.

In Sapele, Orerokpe and Ughelli axis, Okowa is working on the dualisation of Sapele Road, from Amukpe Roundabout to AT&P, Sapele; the construction of Ejinyere/Orodje Street, Orerokpe and construction of Oteri township roads, Ughelli .

In pursuit of his resolve to tackle the dwindling standard of education, Governor Okowa held a two-day Education Summit

with the theme ‘Leapfrogging Education in Delta.’ The summit which attracted prominent Nigerians and educationists like Chief Afe Babalola, Prof Pai Obaya and a host of others, addressed the challenges the education sector was facing in the state and the way forward.

As part of his effort to revive vocational study, Okowa has embarked on the upgrade of Sapele, Agbor, and Ofagbe Technical Colleges. He is also upgrading infrastructure in both primary and secondary schools across the State.

Over 1,300 youths have so far been trained and provided with equipment in their respective areas of trade and cash to start off business

collaboration between NIMR and tertiary health institutions in the state and that is besides providing employment for Deltans.

And in line with the administration’s commitment to open up the state for business and tourism, he has embarked on the remodelling of the 3.4 kilometers runway of the Asaba International Airport to meet international standard. The aviation authorities had recommended the measure to enable bigger aircraft to land at the airport.

The economic diversification initiatives of government have

Jigawa: Still expecting Badaru’s promises

I

By Aliyu Dangida

T was perceived that expectations from the Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Badaru-led administration in Jigawa State would be beneficial to citizens and residents of the state, who wanted more from government having tasted some dividends of democracy from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government of Alhaji Sule Lamido.

During the 2015 electioneering campaigns, the All Progressives Congress, APC, went to town chanting its change mantra in a bid to oust the then Lamido administration.

Rather than enjoying the benefits of democracy, tales of woe seem to be filling the air in the state.

There is no gainsaying the fact that the Lamido administration transformed Dutse, the state capital, which

successful businessman but some now say that he was not acquainted with the difficult challenges of being a governor.

In his first 100 days in office, the g o v e r n o r distributed goats to widows and divorcees as well as disbursed cooking stoves •Badaru: Facing challenges in Jigawa and N20, 000 to food vendors. was before his advent tagged Aside the distribution of these a glorified local government items which were labelled as area. dividends of democracy, the Expectations from the Badru governor also promised to administration to take the state construct 40 housing units to greater heights have been across the 27 local government considered disappointing as areas at the inception of this political observers posit that the year. task of transforming the state The promise seems to be a tall is overwhelming the governor. one as nothing has been done.

Before venturing into politics, Interestingly, one year down Badru was considered a the line, Badru’s popularity in

also yielded results as many investors have signed Memoranda of Understanding, MoU on key areas meant to boost the economy of the state with the State Government.

Among them is an agreement for the construction of 10,000 housing units for which 202 hectares of land have been acquired in Illah, Oshimili North Local Government Area. The project would be executed under the Public Private Partnership model-where the state’s contribution would be the provision of land and secured environment for business.

Secured environment There is also an MoU with a Chinese firm for the construction of Solar Generating Plant. Land for this has also been provided along Umunede - Otolokpo Road in Ika North East local government area.

As part of efforts to open up Asaba for commerce, another agreement has also been signed with a consortium of construction companies to construct a-onestop-shop commercial city within Asaba and about 305 hectares of land for the project has also been acquired towards the Niger bridge.

The representatives of the company have indicated that construction work on the project would commence before the end of the year. Another initiative which has elicited a lot of interest from within and outside Delta State is the Fast Track 90 scheme.

This is a platform that enables a land owner or a prospective land owner to process and be issued with Certificate of Occupancy on the land within 90 days; baring all unforeseen circumstances.

Jigawa seems to be waning.

The state capital, Dutse is littered with heaps of refuse dumps as most residents now pay private refuse collectors to evacuate their refuse.

He has, however, not relented in his effort at ensuring the prompt payment of workers salary in spite of the dwindling economy.

To cut government expenditure, the governor directed a 50 per cent slash in overhead cost.

His recent trip to China, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the state government in the area of commerce, agriculture, health and other sectors, seem not have paid off.

Some equipment meant to be procured for the health, agriculture and education sectors are yet to arrive despite the governor’s promise during his 100 days in office.

One year down the line, what has been seen in Jigawa state has been motion without movement.

42—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

FHA loses Festac land to Kuje Amuwo family •Family takes possession, urges property owners to regularise documents

By Kingsley Adegboye

T

HE FEDERAL Housing Authority FHA, has lost disputed land in Festac extension, Lagos to Kuje Amuwo Chieftancy family following the judgement of February 29, 2016 delivered by Justice O. E. Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos in favour of the Kuje family in Oriade Local Council Development Area, Lagos.

The land case with suit No. FHC/ L/CS/1065/2012 was instituted by Kuje Amuwo Chieftancy Family as plaintiffs against FHA as defendant.

Upon the enrolment of the judgement order directing the Sheriffs to carry out the execution of the judgement, the Kuje family has accordingly taken possession of the landed property situate at 6th and 7th Avenues FESTAC town in Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos state.

The possession taking which took place last week, was witnessed by Oba Isaac Owolabi

Olayemi, the Alamuwo of Kuje Amuwo land, Chief Imam of Kuje Amuwo, Alhaji Mustapha Akinlolu and all members of the Kuje Amuwo Chieftancy Family amid heavy police presence who provided protection.

Commenting on the successful possession taking, the General Secretary of Kuje Amuwo Land, Alhaji Mustapha Akanni Akinlolu, said the possession had put to rest fear and doubt created in the minds of those who have bought plots of land in the said land, have developed them and are already occupying their property, as some property owners on the land witnessed the peaceful conduct of the possession taking.

Akinlolu who disclosed that some of the sitting land lords bought their plots directly from Kuje Amuwo family, assured that “We are not going to demolish any property on the land. But we are asking those who did not buy from us to come and regularise their documents”.

Kuje Amuwo family taking possession last week According to the General Secretary, the purported land was declared free from the land acquired by the federal government for the purpose of Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC 77. The family added that it suddenly realised the arbitrary encroachment on the land by FHA without recourse to the aborigine owner which prompted the family to challenge the encroachment in court, pointing out that the outcome of the matter was the judgement in favour of Kuje Amuwo Chieftancy Family.

Housing deficit: Shonekan tasks govt on infrastructure devt in budding estates

By Kingsley Adegboye

I

NFRASTRUCTURE is a major determinant of real estate investment. Therefore, when facilities such as good road networks, electricity, drainage channels, sewage plants, water treatment plants, water supply and others are not readily available in a community or residential estate, prospective investors or home owners will not be encouraged to invest in such residential estates.

And when people do not invest in properties in such places, it affects returns on investment for the estate developers. This buttresses the fact that infrastructure is important and necessary for developing communities. But in a country like Nigeria where the provision of basic infrastructure is still an issue even in our cities, the government seriously has a lot to do in respect of infrastructure provision.

In the light of the above, Mr. Lanre Shonekan, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lashone Group of Companies with Lashone Links Property Limited, a Lagos-based leading real estate development firm as a flagship, has said that if the housing deficit of the country is to be reduced drastically and the real estate sector maximized, the government must take infrastructure development in budding estates seriously to C M Y K

encourage residential and commercial living in Nigeria.

According to Shonekan who stated this while speaking to the th press at the just concluded 6 Annual Annual Stakeholders’ Meeting & Real Estate Investment Forum organised by Lashone group, provision of infrastructure in upcoming residential estates by the government coupled with less stress and less time in obtaining titles to land will make houses cheap and affordable for Nigerians,

help in decongesting the already over populated cities of the country, explaining that in advanced countries of the world, people reside outside the cities because infrastructure provision is as adequate as they are in the cities or urban centres.

particularly low and middle income groups.

Lashone boss who disclosed that his real estate company has developed 14 estates both within and outside Nigeria within six years of its establishment, noted that provision of required infrastructure in upcoming estates will equally

Applicable law on the subject “And the court having also heard Fred Agbaje Esq. leading Adeniyi Pokonu for the defendant vehemently opposed to the plaintiffs' claims. And the court having considered the facts of the case, the evidence of the plaintiffs and defendant's witnesses in chief, under cross examination and reexamination and the applicable law on the subject both statutory and judicial.

“And the court having delivered its judgement in the open court,

the reasoning and conclusions are as contained in the body of the judgement dated the 29th day of February 2016, as follows- That exercise of the defendant's power in putting the plaintiffs' land into parcels and plots and attempting to sell them without the land having been first acquired by the acquiring authorities and vested same in the defendant as required by law is ultra vires her powers and therefore illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

“That the purported advertisement in the Nigerian Newspapers and particularly in the Guardian Newspaper of Monday April 12, 2012 and in ThisDay Newspaper of Monday Monday January 31, 2011 saying that the land belongs to the defendant and calling for contractors and consultants for the purpose of mobilising into the plaintiffs' land without same having been first acquired by the acquiring authorities and vested same in the defendant is ultra vires her powers and therefore illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

Climate change: Akwa Ibom hosts mega summit to safeguard environment

By Mike Ebonugwo

B

The government seriously has a lot to do in respect of infrastructure provision

In the enrolment of judgement order from Federal High Court, Lagos signed by Mrs. O. Y. Thomas, it said “Upon this proceeding coming before the court on February 29, 2016 for judgement, and the court having already heard Chris Okeke Esq. leading Ibrahim Bawa, Chidi Nkocha, H. O. Kazeem and Mabel Kalu for the plaintiffs, argued the plaintiffs' case dated September 7, 2012.

ARRING any hitches or last minutepostponementdue to unforeseen circumstances, the First Akwa Ibom State Climate Change and Clean Energy Mega Summit/Expo will hold as scheduled from July 26 to July 28, 2016. The event which enjoys the blessing of the state government as primary host is being organised by the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the Water Safety Initiative Foundation, the Africa Clean Energy Summit and the Environment Communications Limited.

In a statement issued to outline arrangements already put in place to ensure its success, the CommissionerforEnvironmentand Mineral Resources, Iniobong Ene Essien, informed that the summit with the theme “Charting a Roadmap for Sustainable

Environment in Akwa Ibom State” will feature an all-stakeholders brainstormingandsolution-seeking sessions that would benefit the human and natural environment in Akwa Ibom State.

To this end it is expected to attract a gathering of experts, intellectuals and major stakeholders in the environment who will participate in strategic and high-level sessions to address salient issues, generate new ideas and approaches as well as chart a roadmap to combat the scourge of climate change in the region.

On the theme of the event, Essien had this to say: “Scientific evidences are conclusive that the earth is warming and climates are changing with serious and potentially damaging consequences. Climate change is aggravating the environmental issues such as deforestation and degradation, freshwater shortage, food security and air and water

pollution. Projected increases in extreme climate events as well as more changes in the weather patterns may further threaten the means of livelihood in the face of inaction”. He did not stop there.

“In Akwa Ibom State, climate change is already affecting various sectors of the state economy with serious biophysical and socioeconomic impacts. Many local communities in the state are in the climate frontline struggling daily to adapttothechangingclimate.Some coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State are already relocating due to sea level rise and excessive flooding – Climate change is the defining issue of the 21st Century,” he further said.

Continuing, he said: “In responding to the Climate Change challenge, the administration of His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has proactively put in place measures aimed at tackling the impact of climate change in the state.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 43

White House placed on security lockdown •As prediction of independent candidate rattles Trump

T

HE White House was placed on a security lockdown during the Memorial Day holiday, according to media reports Monday.

Reuters was not able to confirm the reports. The Secret Service, however, would not allow reporters to leave the White House compound through its western gate and flashing

lights from emergency responders could be seen nearby.

President Barack Obama had visited Arlington Cemetery earlier in the day as part of the annual commemoration for armed services members.

This came as Donald TrumplambastedtheWeekly Standard Editor, William Kristol, who suggested on

Secret Service Counter-assault Team member is seen through a window of the press briefing room, standing on alert during a lock down the White House in Washington yesterday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Twitter that news of an “impressive” independent conservative presidential candidate is forthcoming.

In a series of tweets, Trump criticized Kristol, calling him a “dummy” and “an embarrassed loser,” suggesting the pundit reflects a lack of party unity that could affect the ideological composition of the Supreme Court.

“The Republican Party has to besmart&strongifitwantstowin in November. Can’t allow lightweights to set up a spoiler Indiecandidate!”Trumptweeted.

Inarelateddevelopment,Gary Johnson,theformerRepublican governor of New Mexico, has wonthepresidentialnomination of the Libertarian Party, a sliver group hoping to make an outsized impact in this election year.

Japan on alert for possible North Korea missile launch

J

APAN has put its military on alert for a possible North Korean ballistic missile launch, national and international media said.

Tokyo government ordered naval destroyers and antiballistic missile Patriot batteries to be ready to shoot down any projectile heading for Japan, state broadcaster NHK said.

A government official confirmed that an order was issued, according to the Reuters news agency. The official declined to be identified as he is not authorised to speak to the media, the agency said.

Japan has put its antiballistic missile forces on alert at least twice this year after detecting signs of launches

by North Korea.

North Korea conducted its

fourth nuclear test in January andhasfollowedthatwithtest launches of various missiles.

Japan has advanced Aegis vessels in the Sea of Japan that are able to track

multiple targets and are armed with SM-3 missiles designed to destroy incoming warheads in space before they re-enter the atmosphere and fall to their targets.

Turkey’s Erdogan warns Muslims against birth control

T

URKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hascalledonMuslimstoreject contraception and have more children.

In a speech broadcast live on TV, he said “no Muslim family” should consider birth control or family planning.

“We will multiply our descendants,” said Mr Erdogan, who became president in August 2014 after serving as prime minister for 12 years.

His AK Party has its roots in Islamism and many of its

supporters are conservative Muslims.

In Monday’s speech in Istanbul, the Turkish leader placed the onus on women, particularly on “welleducated future mothers”, to not use birth control and to ensure the continued growth of Turkey’s population.

Mr Erdogan himself is a father of four. He had previously spoken out against contraception, describing it as “treason” when speaking at a wedding ceremony in 2014.

Africa won’t fall back into 1990s-style debt trap— AfDB

A

FRICA is unlikely to fall into the type of unsustainable debt trap seen in the 1990s despite a spike in borrowing and widening budget deficits, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Monday.

Falling commodity prices and slowing global growth

have hammered African economies in the past year, prompting many governments to sharply increase borrowing, drawing comparisons with the crippling debt trap many countries faced in the 1990s.

The AfDB said last week that African governments

Chad’s Habre jailed for crimes against humanity

A

SPECIAL court in Senegal has sentenced former Chadian military ruler Hissene Habre to life in prison after convicting him of crimes against humanity, torture and sexual slavery.

The verdict on Monday caps a 16-year battle by victims and rights campaigners to bring the former leader to justice in Senegal, where he fled after being toppled in a 1990 coup in the central African nation.

“Hissene Habre, this court finds you guilty of crimes against humanity, rape, forced slavery, and kidnapping,” as well as war crimes, said Gberdao

Gustave Kam, Burkinabe president of the Extraordinary African Chambers (CAE) court.

“The court condemns you to life in prison,” Kam added, giving Habre 15 days to appeal against the sentence.

must take urgent steps to ensure they can finance their debt after borrowing heavily when interest rates were low.

In 1996, international donors cancelled tens of billions of dollars in debt owed by African countries through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative.

“Clearly the increase in debt coupled with serious budget deficits are putting a lot of pressure on African countries,” AfDB vicepresident Charles Boamah told Reuters on the sidelines of a meeting on debt management.

...Muslim Brotherhood’s leader, 35 others sentenced

A

N Egyptian court has sentenced the Muslim Brotherhood’s leader and 35 other people to life in prison over violent clashes in 2013 after the army overthrew ex-president Mohamed Morsi, a judicial official has said.

Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood’s supreme guide, has already been sentenced to death and prison terms in other trials.

The court also sentenced 48 defendants to jail terms ranging from three to 15 years, and acquitted 20 others.

Suspected al Shabaab fighters kill village elders in Kenya

S

USPECTED al Shabaab militants shot and killed three village elders, including a Muslim cleric, in Kenya’s coastal region on suspicion of helping security agencies fight the insurgents, police said on Monday.

Village chairman Juma Mwanyota, religious leader Hassan Mwasanite and a member of local neighbourhood security

group, Mohammed Manguze, were shot and killed separately on Sunday in Kwale county, south of Kenya’s port city Mombasa.

Kwale county police chief Joseph Omija said they believed the killers were young recruits who had returned to Kenya from training by al Shabaab in Somalia.

“They (the suspects) think these elders have information

about them which they are sharing with us and other security agencies, and that is whytheyaretargetingthem,” Omija told Reuters by phone.

Al Shabaab has said in the past its frequent attacks in Kenya are in retaliation for Kenya sending its troops into Somalia in 2011. They are now part of an African Union peacekeeping force. Several raids targeted coastal sites.

Iraqi troops storm ISIS-held Fallujah

I

RAQI special forces launched an assault on oneoftheIslamicStateofIraq and the Levant (ISIL) group’s most emblematic bastions, Fallujah, as the group counter-attacked in both Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

The assault was launched in the early hours of Monday morning. Troops entered the city from three directions.

“Iraqi forces entered Fallujah under air cover from theinternationalcoalition,the Iraqi air force and army

aviation, and supported by artillery and tanks,” said Lieutenant-General Abdelwahab al-Saadi, the commander of the operation.

Crocodile grabs Australian woman during night swim

A

WOMAN is feared dead after a crocodile attack in Australia’s Daintree National Park.

The woman, named locally as Cindy Waldron, 46, from Lithgow in New

Saudi human rights activist sentenced to 8 years in prison

U

“CTS forces, the Anbar police and the Iraqi army, at around 4am (01:00 GMT), started moving into Fallujah fromthreedirections,”hesaid.

NITED Arab Emirates (AP) — A court in Saudi Arabia sentenced a member of an independent human rights organization to eight years in prison in the latest guilty verdict to be issued against the group’s members, rights group Amnesty International said.

Abdulaziz al-Shubaily, 31, was the only founding member of the Saudi Association for Civil and Political Rights, known by its Arabic acronym HASEM, not yet sentenced to a prison term.

South Wales, was reportedly swimming with a friend on Sunday evening at Thornton Beach near Cairns in north Queensland.

She was in waist-deep water when she was attacked, media reports said.

The last fatal attack in the area occurred in 2009, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

“We would hold grave fears for the welfare of the woman,” police spokesman Russell Parker said.

•Former President of Chad, Hissene Habre raises his hand in defiance following the court proceedings in which he was sentenced to life in prison yesterday in Dakar, Senegal.

US committed to suppressing ravaging terrorism in Nigeria

By Vera Samuel Anyagafu

C

OMMANDER of US Army,Africa and co-host ofAfrican Land Forces Summit, Major General Darryl Williams has stated that the US government is deeply committed to suppressing terrorism in Nigeria.

Williams said this at the just concluded 2016 African Land Forces Summit in Arusha,

Tanzania, where he spoke on Interagency Cooperation to Build Regional Security across the African Continent.

Responding to a question on the level of capacity building the US security agencies are rendering Nigeria to enable them coordinate properly and understand what it takes to secure a country from ravaging terrorism, he said, “both the US and Nigeria armies are involved

in the process”, adding that the USArmy Chief of Staff gave him active duty Guard Soldiers and Reserve Soldiers to work with.

“Whether it was theArmy, the Marines, all components in AFRICOM are synchronizing and coordinating with the Nigerian military and as a part of the United States Army Africa’s grand strategy of African horizons, Nigeria is a very critical partner.’’

44—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

Traditional medicine:

Family planning is safe for all women

With research, most diseases would become curable

— Dr. Jumoke Adekogba

— Dr. Bola Olaosebikan A REPRODUCTIVE Health and Family Planning Advisor with Engender Health, Dr. Jumoke Adekogba, speaks to Chioma Obinna, on the importance of family planning and why it is safe for every woman.

Excerpts:

A

F

AMILY Planning is the initiation and use of natural or modern contraceptive methods to delay, space or limit future pregnancies. It gives couples the ability to choose the number and space births of their children. Healthy spacing of pregnancies increase healthy outcomes for mother and baby. Family planning methods are safe for all women especially with the right criteria. This is why we have the eligibility criteria. Before a woman is given family planning, her condition must be measured with the method of her choice and if she is eligible, she can be given. But if she has any medical condition that makes her not to be eligible for that method, she is re-counseled to make another choice.

A proficient provider is eligible to do all the checks for the woman before a method of her choice is given. A woman must have adequate information of all the methods before she can make a choice of her own.

Effects of rapid population growth Among other factors, rapid population growth has affected the quality of life and made achievement of socioeconomic development goals difficult.

Population explosion Let’s look at why. First, when a couple has approximately five children per women, you see how quickly the population explodes. In two generations here, if each of the five children have five children, there will be 25 grandchildren; and in one more generation, they will be up to 125 people. So, if you have high fertility, a couple can produce 155 offspring in just four generations.

Remember, this example represents even lower fertility than Nigeria that has 5.7 children per woman.

Prevention, treatment of Obstetric Fistula Family planning is a strategy to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Fistula is morbidity and can be prevented and treated with it. A woman that is not pregnant cannot have fistula. Too early, too soon, too many and too frequent pregnancies can be checked by family planning and these can results to fistula. A woman that

By Gabriel Olawale FORMER Commissioner for Health in Kwara State, and Founder, Healthcare Group, Dr. Bola Olaosebikan has said traditional medicine is the only viable alternative to drug resistance as opposed to orthodox medicine.

Olaosebikan who argued that diseases often labelled as incurable or resistance to drugs can be treated with appropriate local herbsaffirmed that when science fails, nature does not.

“When chemical medicine fails, nature will not fail and that is where traditional medicine comes in. The food we eat cannot fail us, but chemicals can fail us. The “gari”, and “okro” we take are plant and herbs,” he said.

Speaking during the 30th anniversary of Healthcare Group Limited in Nigeria, Olaosebikan said his experience as an orthodox and herbal practitioner, gave him advantage.

“During my practice as a doctor, patients complained about resistance to orthodox drugs and I tried some foreign herbal products and they worked.

“Nigerians have been taking chloroquine for so long that now it is ineffective, but we failed as a country to develop Dongoyaro which is more effective for treatment of malaria.”

He said many diseases common to the black race, and to which orthodox medicine has not found a cure, could become curable if there was increased support for herbal research in the country. “If government and corporate bodies can partner with herbal practitioners, they will definitely find cure to some of the resistant diseases ravaging our communities.”

“Federal government should encourage special programmes for development of herbal medicine in Nigeria to improve the health of Nigerians and to generate foreign exchange like China and India.

He said a large number of the herbs in Nigeria are not available in other parts of the world.

“Presently more than 3,000 herbs with medicinal value are in Nigeria, and if we develop these, it will help our agriculture and create employment as well as export for foreign exchange for the country.”

•Dr. Jumoke Adekogba has been repaired of fistula will have to wait six months before resuming sexual intercourse and she still have to wait for another six months before becoming pregnant and for the six months she has to be on contraceptives.

That will give her good healing and recovering and will be in perfect health before being pregnant.

Contraceptive rate in Nigeria When you talk about contraceptive prevalence rate we are moving because before now, women used to be ashamed to talk about family planning, now we see many women in the communities talk about it openly.

They will boldly tell you at least three methods. And if you can have such in the communities, it means the acceptance is much better than what we have before.

Good for single ladies Once a child is sexually active, she has the right for family planning to prevent unwanted pregnancy which can lead to abortion or disability.

The awareness is greater now, even in the higher institution where sexually active girls can go on contraceptives. The methods do not prevent sexually transmitted infections and HIV. We let them know this during counselling that methods can only prevent pregnancy and we encourage them to use a multiple barrier if they are at risk of getting infections.

Fertility and development Fertility decline helps many families out of poverty. At the family level, having fewer mouths to feed could help to reduce poverty and free more money to educate or help each child. In economic terms, fertility decline and thus Continues on Page 45

Nigeria requires N100m annually to eradicate Neglected Tropical Diseases — Adewole

A

By Sola Ogundipe

S Nigeria seeks an end to the burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases, NTDs, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, says an estimated N100 million is required annually to eradicate the seven major NTDs in the country.

Adewole spoke last week at the launch of the Expanded Special Project for Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases, ESPEN, by the World Health Organization, WHO, Regional Office for Africa, AFRO, at the opening of the 69th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a chat with Good health Weekly, the Minster said Nigeria is a major

C M Y K

player.

“We habour about 25 percent of the the burden of NTDs in Africa and the international community believes that if Nigeria can get it right to wipe off this group of diseases, then it will be safer for Africa and the world and all of us.”

“We have created a budget line for the first time for it, though the allocation is small, but we will do better next year.

What we plan to do in Nigeria is to mainstream all activities for the control of NTDs ino existing programmes.

“We will deliver services through the Primary Health Centres, to reach at least 80 percent of our people over the next two years.

He said the 69th WHA was an opportunity to renew Nigeria’s

•Professor Isaac Adewole commitment and encourage the leadership to get NTDs under control.

“I called on other African health ministers to join me in the campaign.

Doing so will require a multidisciplinary approach because those NTDs are

diseasesof poverty, either because people do not have good water or do hot have good food or they have food contaminated by faeces. So we can link everything to poverty, poor living conditions, lack of water, and lack of good living hygiene.”

There are seven major NTDs. We have wiped off guineaworm in Nigeria, The drugs are given to us free of charge which is good for us, the We need the correct tools to handle any disease. We also need data. Data will tell us the burden of the problem and whether we are succeeding.

What we are planning to do in the context of the health sector, is to change how we measure success. We want to be able to k now how m any people have been treated and cured or restored.

ESPEN will run from 2016 to 2020 and will work towards the control and elimination targets established by WHO and endorsed by the London declaration of 2012 on NTDs

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016—45

Family planning

Healthcare providers call for review of health financing

By Chioma Obinna

H

EALTHCARE providers have warned that unless the current state of health financing in Nigeria is reversed the journey to the planned Universal Healthcare Coverage, UHC, for all Nigerians may remain a mirage.

Issuing the warning in Lagos under the auspices of Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria, HCPAN, they called for immediate review of the system.

In her lecture entitled: “Universal Health Insurance Coverage: The Role of Healthcare Providers”, a Consultant Public Health Physician, Dr. Adenike Olaniba said with less than 5 percent of the Nigerian population insured under the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, there is need for immediate review of the NHIS Act 35 of 1999 to make it mandatory to all citizens of Nigeria to sign up under the scheme.

Olaniba who is the former Medical Director, Mainland Hospital, Yaba, and erstwhile President, HCPAN, said the existing structure of health financing in Nigeria will not enable achievement of desired health outcomes in a country where healthcare spending per head is $67.

“WHO report shows that South Africa spends seven times more while Angola spends three times more than Nigeria. In the US, healthcare spend is $7,000 per head and $6,000 per head in Switzerland.

Currently, 59 percent of Nigerians pay for healthcare out-of-pocket.

Olaniba who spoke at the 2016 HCPAN’s Mid- Year Capacity Building Meeting in Lagos said Political leaders at all levels should know that “health is wealth” and they should have long-term

commitment to increasing health spending whilst at the same time explore innovative health financing mechanisms.

“The health indices in Nigeria are poor and need to be improved. Nigeria has the eighth-lowest life expectancy at birth and one of the highest maternal mortalities in the world. Though we have the largest economy in Africa, yet only 3.5 per cent of our 2016 budget is given to health. That is a serious issue with funding.

“To ensure equity in the distribution of enrollees NHIS

Continues from Page 44

should put a peg on the maximum number of enrollees per facility e.g. 5000, so that all accredited providers can participate in the scheme.”

On his part, the Chairman, Lagos State, HCPAN, Dr. Ademola Aina, explained that the capacity building meeting was for all health professionals to harness strategies to ensure universal health coverage for all because as professionals health insurance is the only way by which everybody whether rich or poor can have access to health.

ANNIVERSARY: From Left- Chairman, Healthcare Group, Dr Bola Olaosebikan; Former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Special Adviser on Health, Lagos State, Dr Olufemi Onanuga and Provost, LASUCOM, Professor Babatunde Solegberu during the 30th anniversary of Healthcare Group Limited in Lagos. Photo by Akeem Salau.

slower population growth creates.

It has potential to increase the rate of economic growth and a path out of poverty for many families. In Nigeria, more than 6 in 10 births fall in at least one of the high risk categories.

Types of modern Family Planning methods There is the hormonal method; Intra-uterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) which is inserted 48 hours or four weeks after delivery. This can last 12 years.

It is safe for women who are breastfeeding. Some side effects include bleeding or spotting after insertion.

Others are the barrier methods, natural family planning, and Voluntary Surgical Contraception.

Unfortunately, many of these methods are underutilised due to lack of access, knowledge, myths and misconceptions, lack of awareness, gender and sociocultural norms and provider bias.

Benefits It ensures healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy. It improves the health of the mother and the child, reduces the chance that newborns, infants and children will die under five years of age.

It gives couples time to prepare for the next pregnancy, reduces the chance of problems during the next pregnancy. Further, it allows mothers to breastfeed for two full years and helps each co-wife to have healthy and productive children.

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I

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46—Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

One year in office: Our gains, challenges —Buhari Being the address to the nation by President Muhammadu Buhari to mark his first year in office, Sunday.

M

Y compatriots, it is one year today since our administration came into office.

It has been a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements. By age, instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria. But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress.

“We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite the many years of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation have proved inherently good, industrious tolerant, patient and generous. The past years have witnessed huge flows of oil revenues. From 2010 average oil prices were $100 per barrel. But economic and security conditions were deteriorating. We campaigned and won the election on the platform of restoring security, tackling corruption and restructuring the economy.

Restructuring of the economy On our arrival, the oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per barrel and we found nothing had been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices have been declining since 2014 but due to the neglect of the past, the country was not equipped to halt the economy from declining.

The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a decrepit state. All the four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and depots neglected.

“Huge debts owed to contractors and suppliers had accumulated. Twenty-seven states could not pay salaries for months. In the north-east, Boko Haram had captured 14 local governments, driven the local authorities out, hoisted their flags. Elsewhere, insecurity was palpable; corruption and impunity were the order of the day. In short, we inherited a state near collapse.

“On the economic front, all oil dependent countries, Nigeria included, have been struggling since the drop in prices. Many oil rich states have had to take tough decisions similar to what we are doing. The world, Nigeria included has been dealing with the effects of three significant and simultaneous global shocks starting in 2014: A 70% drop in oil prices. Global growth slowdown.

Normalization of monetary policy by the United States federal reserve. “Our problems as a

government are like that of a farmer who in a good season harvests ten bags of produce. The proceeds enable him to get by for rest of the year. However, this year he could only manage 3 bags from his farm. He must now think of other ways to make ends meet.

“From day one, we purposely set out to correct our condition, to change Nigeria. We reinforced and galvanized our armed forces with new leadership and resources. We marshaled our neighbours in a joint task force to tackle and defeat Boko Haram.

By the end of December 2015, all but pockets and remnants had been routed by our gallant armed forces. Our immediate focus is for a gradual and safe return of internally displaced persons in safety and dignity and for the resumption of normalcy in the lives of people living in these areas.

“EFCC was given the freedom to pursue corrupt officials and the judiciary was alerted on what Nigerians expect of them in the fight against corruption. On the economy, in particular foreign exchange and fuel shortages, our plan is to save foreign exchange

When this work is complete we will have a leaner, more efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of changing Nigeria for the good and for good

by fast tracking repair of the refineries and producing most of our fuel requirements at home.

And by growing more food in Nigeria, mainly rice, wheat and sugar we will save billions of dollars in foreign exchange and drastically reduce our food import bill.

Buhari “We resolved to keep the Naira steady, as in the past, devaluation had done dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I supported the monetary authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal policy. We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the Naira and the economy. But we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong economy pre-supposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market. The measures we must take, may lead to hardships. The problems Nigerians have faced over the last year have been many and varied.

But the real challenge for this government has been reconstructing the spine of the Nigerian state. The last twelve months have been spent collaborating with all arms of government to revive our institutions so that they are more efficient and fit for purpose: That means a bureaucracy better able to develop and deliver policy That means an independent judiciary, above suspicion and able to defend citizen’s rights and dispense justice equitably. That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and Above all; that means political parties and politicians committed to serving the nigerian people rather than themselves.

Vital structural reforms “These are the pillars of the state on which democracy can take root and thrive. But only if they are strong and incorruptible.

Accordingly, we are working very hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we conduct government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can build enduring change. “An important first step has been to get our housekeeping right. So we have reduced the extravagant spending of the past.

We started boldly with the treasury single account, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.

“We then identified forty-three thousand ghost workers through

the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information system.

That represents pay packets totalling N4.2 billion stolen every month. In addition, we will save Twenty-Three Billion Naira per annum from official travelling and sitting allowances alone.

“Furthermore, the efficiency unit will cut costs and eliminate duplications in ministries and departments. Every little saving helps. The reduction in the number of ministries and work on restructuring and rationalization of the MDAs is well underway. When this work is complete we will have a leaner, more efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of changing Nigeria for the good and for good. As well as making savings, we have changed the way public money is spent. In all my years as a public servant, I have never come across the practice of padding budgets.

Budget process I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget, but more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent, more inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in the recent past. 30% of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to capital items.

Furthermore, we are projecting non-oil revenues to surpass proceeds from oil. Some critics have described the budget exercise as clumsy. Perhaps. But it was an example of consensus building, which is integral to democratic government. In the end we resolved our differences.

“We have, therefore, delivered significant milestones on security, corruption and the economy. In respect of the economy, I would like to directly address you on the very painful but inevitable decisions we had to make in the last few weeks specifically on the pump price of fuel and the more flexible exchange rate policy announced by the central bank. It is even more painful for me that a major producer of crude oil with four refineries that once exported refined products is today having to import all of its domestic

needs. This is what corruption and mismanagement has done to us and that is why we must fight these ills.

“As part of the foundation of the new economy we have had to reform how fuel prices had traditionally been fixed. This step was taken only after protracted consideration of its pros and cons.

After comprehensive investigation my advisers and I concluded that the mechanism was unsustainable.

“We are also engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which are in different jurisdictions. The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant amount of assets have been recovered. A considerable portion of these are at different stages of recovery. Full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the Ministry of Information and updated periodically. When forfeiture formalities are completed these monies will be credited to the treasury and be openly and transparently used in funding developmental projects and the public will be informed.

“On the Niger Delta, we are committed to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations.

I believe the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the issues that affect the delta communities. Reengineering the amnesty programmes is an example of this. The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems. If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken.

We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice.

Economic misfortune “The policy measures and actions taken so far are not to be seen as some experiment in governance. We are fully aware that those vested interests who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight. They will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the vicelike grip they have held on Nigeria.

“The economic misfortune we are experiencing in the shape of very low oil prices has provided us with an opportunity to restructure our economy and diversify. We are in the process of promoting agriculture, livestocks, exploiting our solid mineral resources and expanding our industrial and manufacturing base. That way, we will import less and make the social investments necessary to allow us to produce a large and skilled workforce.

To be concluded

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016 — 47

Rashford signs £1.3m Man U deal •To earn £25k weekly

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A R C U S Rashford has signed a £1.3million deal with Manchester United.

The promising young striker ’s new contract will tie him down until 2020 on £25,000-a-week plus bonuses.

Rashford, 18, came through United’s academy and was let loose on the first team by Louis Van Gal, who he repaid with several key goals.

He said: “I am delighted to have signed a new contract. I have always been a Manchester United fan, so to be playing in the first team really is a dream come true. I am grateful for having the chance to prove myself.

“To be able to play football at the biggest club in the world means everything to me and my family.”

•Rasford

Barca show off new kit B

ARCELONA have launched their new home kit for next season.

While Barca’s “vapor match home” replica shirt — £26 more than the cheapest season ticket at the Nou Camp, which is a bargain £74.

Nike have however released a standard cheaper option that retails for £65.

Add in the shorts (£45) and socks (£13) and that

is the full kit (£158) costing more than double the price of watching the La Liga champions defending their title next season.

Barca returned to vertical stripes for the shirt. The Catalan giants made a controversial switch to red and blue horizontal hoops for last season but have now returned to their classic look.

Aubameyang ‘ready’ to join Man U

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O R U S S I A Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ready to move to England, according to former Gabon international Daniel Cousin.

The Gabon international, who scored 39 goals for the Bundesliga outfit last season, has been linked with summer moves to Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, City

O

as he reappeared in shorts and a vest top after his 24hour ordeal was brought to an end.

But he told local journalists: “I’m very well thanks” before being taken to hospital for a check-up.

Egidio Torre Cantu, governor of the state of Tamaulipas where Pulido was snatched on Saturday

M

ARIO GOTZE wants to forget about Liverpool and

Barca players in new jerseys

evening as he headed home from a party, said as he stood alongside the footballer: “The most important thing is that here he is, with us and that’s what we want to make clear.

“At the moment the circumstances of what happened are still being investigated and later on

we should be able to release the details.”

Local reports said he had been rescued by federal police and an elite police anti-kidnapping group from a house in the south of Ciudad Victoria, the capital city of Tamaulipas which is in north-east Mexico near the border with Texas.

focus on Euro 2016 instead.

The Bayern Munich striker has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool this summer.

His former manager at Borussia Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp, is a known fan of the G e r m a n y international.

Bayern do not want to sell and Gotze has previously said he is happy in the Bundesliga.

But the Sun claim

T

Tennis Junior Championships holding June 3rd - 10th in Tunis, Tunisia.

The trio of Christopher

Eagles

•Pulido C M Y K

Continues from BP generally enjoying the atmosphere under a light rain shower.

On Monday morning, defensive midfielder Wilfred Ndidi arrived the team’s Alvisse Parc Hotel camp in Luxembourg City, bringing the number of players in camp to 21.

Midfielder Babatunde Michael, who flew to Morocco after the clash with Mali to be on duty for his club, Raja Casablanca, was being expected in Luxembourg

City.

Former U-17 and U-20 star Ndidi, who helped his Belgian club, KRC Genk to qualify for the UEFA Europa League following a 5-1 defeat of Charleroi on Sunday, could start in midfield alongside captain Ogenyi Onazi and Shehu Abdullahi.

Coach Salisu Yusuf and assistants are also likely to start Turkey –based defender Kenneth Omeruo in central defence, and South Africa

Itodo, Christopher Bulus and South Africa-based Emmanuel Mordi will play in the Junior Davis Cup (U16), while Michael Osewa, –based goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi may start in place of Carl Ikeme as the coaches intend to take a look at all the players in camp.

Ikeme, Musa Mohammed, Kingsley Madu, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Onazi Ogenyi, Etebo Oghenekaro, Moses Simon, Odion Ighalo and Alex Iwobi started the game against Mali, with Gbenga Arokoyo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Raheem Lawal, Aminu Umar and Brown Ideye coming on in the second half.

the 23-year-old has hinted that he could still move to Anfield once the European Championship has finished.

“I think enough was written and done,” he said when responding to questions about his future after Germany’s shock 3-1 friendly defeat to Slovakia last night.

“I’ve said everything about this. Now I’m at the Euros and don’t want to say anything about this.”

Messi Continues from BP n trial today on charges of defrauding Spain of •4.1m (£3m) in unpaid taxes.

The court in Barcelona will hear that Messi and his father, Jorge Horacio Messi, who manages his financial affairs, used tax havens in Belize and Uruguay to conceal •10.1m earned in image rights from 2007 to

Davis Cup: Team Nigeria names six, set for Tunisia HE Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has named a six-man team for the 2016 ITF World Junior Davis Cup and World Team

to Germany; it’s more physical and, for me, it’s a good moment for Pierre to move to a big club like Man United or Man City.

“Yes [he would be a success]. I think he can score more goals and get more experience with a big team. With Mourinho at Man United, and Guardiola [at City], I think this kind of coach can help Pierre-Emerick to progress’’.

Gotze responds to Liverpool link

Pulido rescued after kidnap hell LY M P I A KO S striker Alan Pulido has been rescued from his kidnap hell after security forces stormed a house where he was being held hostage on Sunday night.

The Mexican 25-year-old looked dazed and confused and sported a bandage on his left hand

and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Daniel Cousin, who played alongside the 26year-old on the international stage, believes the striker would prefer to move to England – and has backed him to be a success in the Premier League.

“I think he wants to move to England,” Cousin told the BBC. “The Premier League is a different style

Saminu Abubakar and Musa Sani will feature in the World Team Junior Tennis Championship U(14).

National junior tennis head coach, Mohammed Ubale disclosed that the players, who have been in close camping in Abuja for some weeks justified their selection by dominating the junior Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship concluded last weekend in Kaduna.

Nigeria will be making its debut in the Junior Davis Cup qualifiers and last featured in the World Team Championships qualifiers in 2012 and Ubale believes the chances of clinching tickets for the tournaments, scheduled to hold respectively in Hungary and the Czech Republic later in the year, is bright.

2009. The two deny any wrongdoing.

The Spanish tax agency is demanding the payment of a fine equivalent to the •4.1m allegedly defrauded and a sentence of 22 months and 15 days for both Messi and his father.

The case centres on the alleged unlawful activities of Messi’s father, but authorities have said the Barcelona player knew enough to also be named in the case.

Charges previously brought were dropped on the grounds that Messi has no personal involvement in his financial affairs.

The trial is expected to last three days, with Messi expected to give testimony on Thursday.

A five-time winner of the Fifa Ballon d’Or, Messi has insisted all along that he has no knowledge of his financial dealings. His father has backed this up, saying:

Flamingos Continues from BP Canada will slug it out.

Group D consists of USA, Paraguay, Ghana and Japan.

The opening game of the tournament will be between New Zealand and Mexico.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2016

Messi goes on trial over unpaid taxes T

Eagles set to peck Red Lions of Luxembourg Today: 6pm

Continues on Page 47

Pulido rescued after kidnap hell 47

FIFA U-17 WWC:

—

P.

Flamingos draw Brazil, England, North Korea

S

UPER Eagles look forward to another victory when they take on the Red Lions of Luxembourg at the Stade Josy Barthel today.

A young and vibrant side prevailed over one of Africa’s strongest teams, Mali, at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France on Friday, with England –based Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the only goal 13 minutes from time.

The team spent longer than the 40 minutes that was earmarked for Sunday’s first training session, shaking off travel fatigue and

HE Barcelona and Argentina football star Lionel Messi goes o

U

-17 Women’s e a m , the Flamingoes, have been drawn against Brazil, England and Korea DPR in Group C of the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.

The draw was held at the Al-Hussein Cultural Centre yesterday.

Hosts Jordan are in Group A with Spain, Mexico and New Zealand.

In Group B Venezuela, Germany, Cameroon and Continues on Page 47 t

•Moses Simon

Continues on Page 47

Flamingos celebrate during a past match. They hope to celebrate when the World Cup begins on September 30 in Jordan.

QUICK CROSSWORD

T OD AY'S PUZZLE ODA

YESTER DAY'S YESTERDAY'S

ANSWERS

DOWN ACROSS 2 Spring (3) 1 Custom (5) 3 Acquired (6) 5 Method (6) 4 Epoch (3) 8 Ascended (5) 5 Scorch (4) 10 Madman (6) 6 Slice (6) 11 Parched (4) 7 Blended (6) 14 Delirious (6) 9 Month (7) 15 Monarch (7) 12 Beam (3) 18 Longing (3) 13 Eat (4) 19 Cot (3) 16 Mud (4) 21 Perused (4) 17 Allude (5) 23 Postpone (5) 20 Ousted (7) 24 Fruit (4) 22 Competent (4) 27 Material (3) 24 Platform (6) 29 Vehicle (3) 25 Greedy (4) 31 Revolved (7) 26 Devastate (6) 32 Motorist (6) 34 Appointment (4) 28 Spoiled (6) 30 Entrap (3) 35 Deserved (6) 33 Torn (4) 38 Elbow (5) 36 In the past (3) 39 Pester (6) 37 Bird (3) 40 Hatred (5)

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS ACROSS: 1, Vanish 5, Lustre 8, Moribund 9, Rite 10, Law 12, Sever 15, Cos 17, Rot 18, Ill 19, Too 20, Acrid 21, Ode 22, Tor 23, Get 24, Roe 26, Theme 29, Hip 33, Idle 34, Barbaric 35, Priest 36, Treaty.

DOWN: 2, Aroma 3, Iris 4, House 5, Lodge 6, Sort 7, Ratio 10, Later 11, Wrote 12, Start 13, Verge 14, Ridge 15, Cloth 16, Sleep 25, Order 27, Habit 28, Merit 30, Idiot 31, Mere 32, Fame.

How to Play Sudoku

P

lace a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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