10102017 - You lied, cooked figures NNpC replies Kachikwu

Ex-COAS, 

Malu, dies @ 

70; Buhari, 

APC mourn 

QUIT NOTICE: 

No one can send 

people away from 

any part of Nigeria 

— S-East, S-South govs 

14 34 

Monkey pox 

now in Lagos, 6 

other states; 31 

cases recorded 

—NCDC 

7 

PRESIDENCY 

2019: Atiku 

rethinks joining 

PDP, as Makarfi, 

Lamido prepare 

8 

** ** 

VOL. 25: NO. 63395 TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

You lied, cooked figures, 

NNPC replies Kachikwu 

•Says Kachikwu exaggerated, concocted figures to back his claims 

•PENGASSAN, NUPENG vow to resist interference, back Senate’s probe 

•It’s unfortunate, says Afenifere; Baru talking balderdash — Osuntokun 

DANGEROUS MISSION 

By Udeme Akpan, 

Dapo Akinrefon, 

Victor Young, Mike 

Eboh, & Ediri Ejoh 

LAGOS — THE Nige 

rian National Petroleum 

Corporation, 

NNPC, yesterday, described 

the allegations of 

Continues on Page 5 

Naira 

depreciates to 

N360.50 in 

NAFEX 5 

Mr & Mrs 

Residents of Adim Community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State, scooping fuel from a fallen tanker, 

yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Nigeria wasn't stable due to my husband's ill health—Aisha Buhari 

COLUMNISTS ERIC TENIOLA 

18 ODUMAKIN 17 MAILAFIA 31 

8 

SEE 

INSIDE 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

2—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017—3

C 

M 

Y 

4 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017

Vanguard, TUESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2017—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

S-EAST/S-SOUTH GOVS MEET—From left: Governors Seriake Dickson 

(Bayelsa), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Owelle Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Prof Ben 

Ayade (Cross River), Chairman of South-South and South East Governors 

Forum, Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Rivers), Dr 

Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, 

during the 3rd meeting of the South-South and South-East Governors at the 

Government House, Owerri, Sunday night. 

You lied, cooked figures, 

NNPC replies Kachikwu 


the Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, 

Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, 

against its Group Managing 

Director, Mr. 

Maikanti Baru, as baseless 

and accused the 

minister of exaggerating 

and concocting figures to 

give vent to his claims. 

NNPC’s statement yesterday, 

however, drew 

the reaction of stakeholders 

in the oil and 

gas sector and the polity. 

Among those that reacted 

were Petroleum 

and Natural Gas Senior 

Staff Association of Nigeria, 

PENGASSAN, Nigeria 

Union of Petroleum 

and Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG, Yoruba 

socio-cultural organisation, 

Afenifere, and 

former Political Adviser 

to ex-President Olusegun 

Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun. 

The NNPC 

response 

NNPC in a statement 

by Mr. Ndu Ughumadu, 

Group General Manager, 

Group Public Affairs 

Division, said: “Following 

the publication of alleged 

lack of adherence 

to due process in the 

award of NNPC contracts, 

the President ordered 

the Group Managing 

Director (GMD) 

and Management of the 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation 

(NNPC) to consider and 

respond expeditiously to 

the allegations. 

‘’The substance of the 

allegations made by the 

Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, in a 

letter to the President 

dated 30th of August 

2017, is that a number of 

“major contracts were 

never reviewed or discussed 

with me (sic) the 

NNPC Board. 

‘’It is important to note 

from the outset that the 

law and the rules do not 

require a review or discussion 

with the Minister 

of State or the NNPC 

Board on contractual 

matters. 

‘’What is required is 

the processing and approval 

of contracts by the 

NNPC Tenders Board, 

the President in his executive 

capacity or as 

Minister of Petroleum, or 

IT'S UP TO YOU 

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 

Standing up for the truth might pose a temporal 

inconvenience but it guarantees peace that 

endures for a long while. It’s up to you. 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

Your character is who you really are, when no 

one is looking —Jordan Bates 

WHEN you are a nice person, you inspire peo 

ple around you to be a li?le nicer as well. 

Jealousy and hatred also spread easily. Be a part of 

the solu?on, not the problem. When we are honest, 

we never have to remember to cover our tracks. When 

we are slow to anger, we avoid pointless arguments. 

Friendships blossom when you treat your friends 

the way you’d like to be treated. 

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE 

You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old 

gorilla 

the Federal Executive 

Council (FEC), as the 

case may be. 

‘’There are, therefore, 

situations where all that 

is required is the approval 

of the NNPC Tenders 

Board while, in other 

cases, based on the 

threshold, the award 

must be submitted for 

presidential approval. 

Likewise, in some instances 

it is FEC approval 

that is required. 

‘’It should be noted 

that for both the Crude 

Term Contract and the 

Direct Sale and Direct 

Purchase (DSDP) agreements, 

there are no specific 

values attached to 

each transaction to warrant 

the values of $10bn 

and $5bn respectively 

placed on them in the 

claim of Dr. Kachikwu. It 

is therefore inappropriate 

to attach arbitrary 

values to the shortlists 

with the aim of classifying 

the transactions as 

contracts above NNPC 

Tenders Board limit.They 

are merely the short listing 

of prospective off-takers 

of crude oil and suppliers 

of petroleum products 

under agreed terms. 

These transactions were 

not required to be presented 

as contracts to the 

Board of NNPC and, of 

course, the monetary value 

of any crude oil eventually 

lifted by any of the 

companies goes straight 

into the federation account 

and not to the company. 

Our GMD 

consulted 

Kachikwu 

— NNPC 

‘’Furthermore, contrary 

to the assertion of Dr. 

Kachikwu that he was 

never involved in the 

2017/2018 contracting 

process for the Crude 

Oil Term Contracts, Dr. 

Kachikwu was in fact expressly 

consulted by the 

GMD and his recommendations 

were taken 

into account in following 

through the laid down 

procedure. Thus, for him 

to turn around and claim 

that ‘…these major contracts 

were never reviewed 

or discussed with 

me…' is most unfortunate 

to say the least.” 

NNPC's 

contracting 

process 

On contracting process, 

he said: ‘’The contracting 

process in 

NNPC is governed by 

the following: Provisions 

of the NNPC Act, the 

Public Procurement Act, 

2007 (PPA), Procurement 

method and thresholds 

of application and the 

composition of Tenders 

Board as provided by the 

Secretary to the Government 

of the Federation 

(SGF) Circular reference 

no. SGF/OP/1/S.3/VIII/ 

57, dated 11th March, 

2009, NNPC Delegation 

of Authority Guide, Supply 

Chain Management 

Policy & Procedure documents 

and NNPC Ethics 

Guide.” 

‘’NNPC had cause to 

clarify severally from 

Bureau of Public Procurement 

(BPP) as to the 

composition of NNPC 

Tenders Board and the 

role of NNPC Board appointed 

by Government. 

The following clarifications 

were made. 

‘’The BPP expressly 

clarified that NNPC Tenders 

Board (NTB) is not 

the same as NNPC 

Board. The governing 

board (NNPC Board) is 

responsible for approval 

of work programmes, 

corporate plans and 

budgets, while the NTB 

is responsible for approval 

of day-to-day procurement 

implementation. 

‘’BPP referred to the 

SGF circular for the composition 

of the NTB to 

comprise of the Accounting 

Officer (GMD 

NNPC) as the Chairman, 

with Heads of Department 

(GEDs) as 

members with the Head 

of procurement (GGM 

SCM) serving as the 

Secretary of the NNPC 

Tenders Board. 

The above clarifications 

of the provisions of the 

procurement process 

show that approvals reside 

within the NTB and 

where thresholds are exceeded, 

the NNPC refers 

to FEC for approval. 

Therefore, the NNPC 

Board has no role in contracts 

approval process 

as advised by BPP. 

‘’As can be seen, all 

these clarifications were 

sought and obtained prior 

to August, 2015 and 

were implemented by Dr. 

Kachikwu as the GMD of 

NNPC. Dr. Kachikwu 

also constituted the first 

NNPC Tenders Board on 

8th September, 2015 and 

continued to chair it until 

his exit in June, 

2016.’’ 

He stated that approval 

of project proposal and 

contracting strategy by 

NTB was always followed 

by placement of adverts 

for expression of interest 

in electronic and print 

media, soliciting for tender 

(Technical and Commercial), 

tender evaluation, 

tender approval by 

NTB for contracts within 

its threshold; otherwise, 

obtain BPP certificate of 

no objection before presentation 

to FEC. 

The statement continued: 

‘’It is important to 

state that the COTC is 

not a contract for procurement 

of goods, works or 

services; rather it is simply 

a list of approved offtakers 

of Nigerian crude 

oil of all grades. This list 

does not carry any value, 

but simply state the terms 

and conditions for the lifting. 

It is therefore inappropriate 

to attach a value 

to it with the aim of 

classifying it as contract 

above Management limit. 

"In arriving at the offtakers 

list for 2017/2018 

COTC, the following 

steps were followed: adverts 

were placed in National 

and International 

print media on Monday, 

17th October, 2016. The 

bids were publicly 

opened in the presence 

of all stakeholders (NI- 

ETI, DPR, BPP, Civil Society 

Organisations, 

NNPC SCM Division 

and the press as well as 

live broadcasts by the 

NTA and other TV stations). 

‘’Detailed evaluation 

was carried out and the 

shortlist of the successful 

off-takers was presented 

to the approving 

authority (Mr. President) 

for consideration 

and approval. 

‘’Thereafter, NNPC 

published the list of the 

successful off-takers in 

newspapers and 

NNPC’s official website. 

‘’This has been the 

standard procedure and 

it is the same process 

adopted during the 

2016/2017 COTC when 

the HMSPR was the 

GMD. In conclusion, 

due process has been 

fully followed in the 

short listing of the offtakers 

of the Nigerian 

crude oil for the current 

term 2017/2018.” 

On the Direct Sale Direct 

Purchase (DSDP) 

Contract- valued at over 

$5bn. The statement stated: 

‘’Like the COTC, the 

DSDP is not a contract 

for any procurement of 


NAIRA WATCH 

CBN injects $195m in Forex 

Market as naira depreciates 

to N360.50 in NAFEX 

By Peter Egwuatu 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), yesterday 

continued its intervention in the inter-bank foreign 

Exchange market with the injection of $195million, even 

as naira depreciated to N360.50 per dollar in the Investor 

and Exporters (I & E) Foreign Exchange, forex Window. 

Data from the Financial Market Derivative Quote, 

FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the 

I &E forex Window, known as Nigerian Autonomous 

Foreign Exchange , NAFEX depreciated to N360.50 per 

dollar yesterday from Friday’s closing market rate which 

stood at N360.41 per dollar. This translated to 9 kobo 

depreciation. 

In the parallel market, the naira, yesterday, remained 

unchanged at N360 per dollar at which it traded on Friday. 

Meanwhile, figures released by the CBN showed that 

it offered the total sum of $100million to the wholesale 

segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises 

(SMEs) segment received the sum of $50 million. The 

invisibles segment, comprising tuition fees, medical 

payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among 

others, received $45 million.

Y 

K 

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

Navy 

arrests 67 

over 

illegal 

bunkering 

By Evelyn Usman 

OPERATIVES of the 

Nigerian Navy Ship, 

NNS Beecroft, Apapa, 

Lagos, have smashed 

foreign syndicates 

comprising 67 members, 

which specialised in oil 

bunkering and other 

criminal acts on the 

territorial waters within the 

base’s jurisdiction. 

The suspects comprised 

four Pakistanis and 20 

Benin Republic nationals. 

Also arrested were their 

Nigerian suspected 

members, majority of who 

are from Ondo State. 

The Benin Republic 

nationals were arrested at 

the verge of buying 

illegally-refined petroleum 

products from bunkerers. 

Recovered from the 

suspects were cash, in both 

local and foreign 

currencies, wooden fishing 

boats and petroleum 

products alleged to have 

been illegally sourced 

within the Western Naval 

Command’s jurisdiction. 

According to the 

Commander, NNS Beecroft, 

Commodore Mauris Eno, 

represented by the 

Executive Officer, NNS 

Beecroft, Captain Tajudeen 

Oshoba, showed that patrol 

team from the base arrested 

MV GLENNSTAR ship 

within the Lagos Safe 

Anchorage Area, on July 5, 

over suspicion of 

conveying product 

suspected to be illegally 

refined petroleum product. 

However, while speaking 

with Vanguard shortly 

before they were whisked 

away by officials of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, the suspects denied 

the allegation. Most of them 

claimed to be Sea 

Chandeliers. 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—FOLLOWING the 

violent crimes and 

kidnappings witnessed in Edo 

State in the past one month, 

indigenes of the state, yesterday, 

stormed Abuja, calling for the 

removal of the state’s 

Commissioner of Police, Mr. 

Haliru Gwandu. 

Meanwhile, the state Police 

Command has said it was 

making progress towards 

securing the release of musical 

:Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 

Gunmen kill 15 in Rivers community 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

PORT HARCOURT—NO 

fewer than 15 persons, 

including a pregnant woman, 

were reportedly murdered 

yesterday at Mgboshimili area 

of Obio Akpor Local 

Government Area of Rivers 

State, by unknown gunmen. 

However, Rivers State Police 

Command spokesman, Mr. 

Nnamdi Omoni, who 

confirmed the killings, said 10 

people were killed. 

Community sources told 

Vanguard that three of those 

killed were roasted to death as 

their assailants reportedly shot 

at a gas cylinder in their 

apartment, triggering a fire 

which consumed them. 

An eyewitness said one of the 

three people burnt beyond 

recognition in the apartment 

was a lady, adding that “some 

of the corpses are still in the 

apartment.” 

Invasion 

Vanguard gathered that the 

gunmen that stormed the 

community in the early hours 

of the day in speed boats, 

headed straight to the area 

around a market in the 

community, where they killed 

two persons suspected to be 

guarding cows meant for sale. 

The eyewitness added: “They 

then went to an apartment, 

where they set a portion of the 

building ablaze after shooting 

three persons, including a 

female, dead.” 

Community sources, who do 

not want their names in print, 

said the gunmen, at the end 

of their operation, left about 

15 persons dead, “five of them 

females, including a pregnant 

lady, while the others were 

men, including her husband 

and a widow’s only son.” 

Previous killings 

Nobody could say what led 

to the bloodletting, but 

community sources said there 

had been clashes among rival 

groups in the area, adding 

that two persons were shut 

dead last week. 

“Some of us think it a 

reprisal attack, though we 

cannot say for certain as the 

community has not been 

peaceful for some time now,” 

a source said. 

Recall that unknown gunmen 

murdered a community leader 

in the area, Chief Minikwu 

Chukwu, in May. Since the 

incident there had been tension 

in the community. 

Icelanders behind 

killings— Police 

Meanwhile, Police 

spokesman, DSP Omoni, said 

preliminary investigations 

showed that the attack was 

carried out by members of the 

dreaded Icelanders cult, 

adding that some of the 

assailants had been identified. 

He said policemen were 

combing the area for details. 

His words: “Unknown 

gunmen invaded Mgboshimili. 

At the time we got there, we 

confirmed 10 dead. Some 

WALK FOR BREAST CANCER: Students and officials of Vivian Fowler College for Girls, Lagos, at a breast 

cancer awareness waik organised by CSDON, at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese. 

Damaturu schools abandoned by pupils 

over rumour of NGO's unusual injection 

PARENTS and guardians, 

yesterday, withdrew their 

children from public primary 

schools in Damaturu, the Yobe 

State capital, over rumour of an 

unusual injection being 

administered on the children, 

forcing the schools to shut down. 

It was gathered that rumours 

had gone round the town that an 

unnamed non-governmental 

organisation, NGO, was 

administering injection on the 

ace, Joseph Osayomore, and 

Mr. Andy Ehanire, who were 

recently kidnapped, urging the 

people of the state to remain 

calm. 

The protesters, who stormed 

the National Assembly and the 

Police Command in Abuja, 

lamented that while Governor 

Godwin Obaseki and the Oba 

of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, were 

working round the clock to 

encourage investments into 

Edo State, the “IG has refused 

to support the government of 

heads of male and the navels of 

female pupils. 

There was pandemonium as 

angry parents and guardians 

stormed the schools to evacuate 

their children, with some 

confronting teachers who 

attempted to explain that it was 

a false alarm. 

Mr. Abdulmalik Sumonu, the 

state’s Commissioner of Police, 

said it was “a wild rumour 

without any iota of truth. 

Edo State in this effort.” 

In their protest letter 

addressed to President 

Muhammadu Buhari by the 

Coordinator of the Edo State 

Concerned Citizens, they 

noted that “while previous 

Police Commissioners posted 

to the state had done 

everything possible to check 

the activities of criminals that 

operate in these well-known 

flashpoints/areas to a 

minimum and tolerable level 

using available intelligence 

“We have investigated the 

matter in all the schools, but 

could not establish a single fact. 

I wish to advise people to stop 

peddling unsubstantiated 

rumour just to cause disaffection 

among the populace.” 

Emergency meeting 

When journalists visited the 

State Universal Basic Education 

Board, its Chairman, Alhaji 

Ibrahim Goni, was in a meeting 

Ehanire, Osayomore: Edo indigenes protest in Abuja, call for CP's removal 

reports, we have long noticed 

a lethargic approach and 

rather nonchalant attitude by 

the current state Police 

Commissioner, Gwandu.” 

Reacting to the allegation, 

the state Police Command, 

through its spokesman, Mr. 

Moses Nkombe, insisted that 

the Police was doing all it 

could to secure the release of 

the kidnapped persons 

(Ehanire and Osayomore) 

unhurt, urging the people of 

the state to be patient. 

with headmasters of all public 

schools in Damaturu. 

Alhaji Ismaila Balube, Public 

Relations Officer of the board, 

said: “We just learned of the 

rumour and closure of schools, but 

could not establish a single case. 

“The rumour was that the NGO 

was administering the injection 

on heads of males and under the 

navel of female pupils. 

“The chairman is presently 

holding a meeting with the 

headmasters to establish how the 

rumour started and find ways of 

avoiding future occurrence.” 

UN reacts 

Mr. Adebanjo Adegbolagun, 

Humanitarian Affairs Officer, 

United Nations Office for the 

Coordination of Humanitarian 

Affairs, also dismissed the claim, 

saying a similar situation had 

played out in Buni Yadi. 

“The same rumour went viral 

last week in Buni Yadi, but upon 

investigation, nothing was 

established; it is a mere fabrication 

intended to discredit activities of 

the organisations,” he said. 

C

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017—7 


•Killers 're cultists—Police •APC compromised security—Gov Wike 

•The killers were used by PDP to rig elections—APC 

persons were taken to the 

hospital. Preliminary 

investigations revealed that it 

was carried out by Icelanders. 

“We are combing the area and 

our men have been deployed 

there to ensure peace. 

One of those who lost a relative 

said the family had resolved to, 

immediately, bury the corpse 

since it was burnt beyond 

recognition. 

“The mortuary people cannot 

take care of the corpse so we are 

burying immediately,” he said. 

Wike blames Police 

The state’s governor, Nyesom 

Wike, who commiserated with 

families of those killed, accused 

the Police of allegedly 

politicising security in the state. 

Governor Wike spoke, 

yesterday, when he received 

course participants of the 

National Defence College, who 

are on tour, at Government 

House, Port Harcourt. 

He said: “We had a security 

incident and I expected the 

Commissioner of Police to be here 

to brief me and for us to plan to 

forestall a recurrence, but he 

will not come. He may brief me 

over the telephone. 

“We wrote to the Inspector 

General of Police to transfer 

those who sabotage our security 

out of the state, but he chose to 

leave them. Instead, the 

security saboteurs are busy 

participating in kidnapping and 

robbery with the use of SARS 

platform.” 

PDP, APC trade blames 

On his part, the state’s 

Commissioner for 

Information and 

Communications, Mr. Emma 

Okah, said: “The state 

government is ready to spare 

nothing to support the 

security agencies get these 

killers irrespective of where 

they are found. 

“Even in their holes, smoke 

them out from there and you 

should have no rest until we 

get to the end of the case, 

until we see justice.” 

The government also 

accused the Police of 

allegedly deploying about 

1,000 officers, armoured 

personnel carriers from 

strategic locations in the 

state to the Eleme venue of 

a rally of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, weekend, 

saying it created an opening 

for the development 

witnessed yesterday. 

APC, on its part, blamed 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, for the incident, saying 

the cultists behind the brutal 

murders were used by PDP 

to rig elections in the state. 

Spokesman of APC in the 

state, Mr. Chris Finebone, 

said effort by security 

agencies to achieve enduring 

peace will continue to fail. 

CLEAN LAGOS: MD/CEO, Credit Direct Limited, Akinwande Ademosu (middle), leading the Keep Lagos Clean campaign, 

as part of activities to mark the Customer Service Week 2017, in Maryland, Oworonsoki and Admiralty Way, Lagos, yesterday. 

Monkey Pox spreads to 7 states; 2 cases 

in Lagos 

By Chioma Obinna, 

Monsuru Olowoopejo, 

Davies Iheamnachor & 

Gabriel Olawale 

BARELY 24 hours after Monkey 

Pox virus spread to Akwa Ibom 

State, more suspected cases of the 

disease have been reported in 

Lagos and Rivers states, bringing 

the total number of states affected 

to seven. 

The states affected include 

Bayelsa, Rivers, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, 

Lagos, Ogun and Cross River. 

Confirming the latest 

development in a statement, 

National Coordinator/Chief 

Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre 

for Disease Control, NCDC, Dr. 

Chikwe Ihekweazu, who said all 

36 states of the federation and the 

FCT have been notified, explained 

that samples have been collected 

from each suspected case for 

laboratory confirmation. 

According to him, “results are 

still awaited. So far, there have 

been no deaths recorded. It is 

unlikely that many of the suspected 

cases are actually Monkey Pox, but 

all are being investigated. 

“All the suspected cases are 

currently receiving appropriate 

medical care, and the patients are 

all improving clinically in their 

various states. 

“In light of the above, it is 

important to be reminded that 

Monkey Pox is a rare viral zoonotic 

disease with symptoms in humans 

similar to those seen in smallpox 

patients, but much less severe and 

with a low fatality rate. 

“Monkey Pox is self-limiting, 

which means patients tend to 

recover with time. However, 

supportive care and management 

of condition is required and mostly 

successful.” 

...in Lagos 

Meanwhile, the Lagos State 

Government, yesterday, confirmed 

that two suspected cases of Monkey 

Pox have been recorded in the state. 

The state’s Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who 

disclosed this in a press conference 

in Lagos, said the two suspected 

cases were currently being 

investigated. 

“Although no confirmed case has 

been recorded, there is need to 

sensitise members of the public and 

provide adequate information on 

measures for prevention and 

•31 cases recorded so far—NCDC 

control of the disease in line 

with the policy of the state 

government.” 

Idris disclosed that the two 

suspected cases were recorded 

in an undisclosed private 

hospital in Lagos, noting that 

the two suspects were currently 

being quarantined in their 

various houses, pending the 

result of the investigation. 

“If there is any suspected case 

of Monkey Pox, the Lagos State 

Ministry of Health should be 

notified through the following 

mobile lines: 08037170614, 

09087106072,” he added. 

...2 in UPTH 

Also yesterday, the Chief 

Medical Director of the 

University of Port Harcourt 

Teaching Hospital, UPTH, 

Professor Aaron Ojule, 

disclosed that two persons with 

suspected Monkey Pox 

infection have been 

hospitalised in the institution. 

Ojule, who quickly added that 

the two cases have not been 

medically proven to be Monkey 

Pox, confirmed that samples 

have been collected and sent to 

a medical laboratory in Sierra 

Leone for examination. 

The CMD, who spoke to 

Vanguard yesterday in Port 

Harcourt, stated that the two 

patients, who are from the state, 

are doing well, adding that 

experts from UPTH are 

handling the matter. 

Ojule said: “Once we know 

that there is an emerging 

epidemic, we as an Emergency 

Response Mechanism, ERM, 

use the Infection Prevention 

Control Team. Now we have 

activated our ERM because we 

have to stand in the gap for this 

local area. 

“As we speak, there are two 

suspected cases. They are not 

yet confirmed, because they 

have generalised rashes which 

may not be Monkey Pox. 

“They are already on 

admission in our isolation ward 

and, of course, we don’t have 

the diagnostic ability to confirm. 

“So samples have already 

being taken and, in 

collaboration with the state 

government, they have been 

sent to where they are being 

examined in Sierra Leone.” 

8 docked 

over N300m 

fraud 

By Innocent Anaba 

MEN of Inspector- 

General of Police 

Monitoring Unit, Abuja, 

yesterday, charged eight 

men and two companies 

before a Federal High 

Court sitting in Lagos, over 

alleged N313,200,000 

fraud. 

Those charged before 

Justice Hadiza Rabiu- 

Shagari are Akala 

Anthony, 49; Umar Ali, 61; 

Saidi O. K., 43; Bashir 

Mohammed, 44; Dr. 

Chukwuemeka Anyanwu, 

50; Agboola Gbade, 67; 

Nkechi Nwafor, 43, and 

Larry Balogun Otunba, 51. 

The two firms are 

Grantland Investment 

Nigeria Limited and 

Abroad Development 

Foundation. 

In the charge, the Police 

alleged that all the 

defendants and others now 

at large, had, on June 15, 

at Lekki, Lagos, conspired 

among themselves and 

fraudulently obtained 

N313,200,000 from one 

Austin Albert, under the 

pretence of assisting him to 

buy $1 million. 

The offences, according to 

the prosecutors, Mr. 

Maroof Animashaun and 

Babatunde Oloyade, are 

contrary to Sections 8(b) 

and punishable under 

Section 1(3) of the Advance 

Fee Fraud and Other Fraud 

Related Offences Act, 2006. 

The arraignment of the 

defendants, which was 

scheduled for yesterday, 

could not go on due to the 

absence of some of the 

defendants. 

Those that were not in 

court yesterday include Dr. 

Chukwuemeka Anyanwu, 

Agboola Rasheed Gbade, 

Nkechi Nwafor and Larry 

Balogun Otunba, as well as 

the representatives of the 

two firms. 

Due to the absence of 

some of the defendants, the 

prosecutors pleaded with 

the court for a short 

adjournment to enable the 

Police present all the 

defendants before the court 

for their pleas to be taken 

together. 

However, lawyers to the 

four defendants that were 

in court yesterday, Bala 

Usman and Akeem 

Balogun, objected to the 

adjournment sought by the 

prosecutors. 

The trial judge, Justice 

Rabiu-Shagari, ordered the 

Police to ensure that all the 

defendants are present in 

court on the next adjourned 

date for their pleas to be 

taken and adjourned till 

Thursday.

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 


LAUNCHING: From left, Member, House Committee on Communication, Anayo Edwin; Minister 

of Communication,Adebayo Shittu; Post Master General of the Federation, Bisi Adegbuyi; Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa, and Vice Chairman, House Committee on 

Communication, Chukwuemaka Ujam, displaying the digital stamp/receipt of the new electronic money 

transfer system developed by NIPOST during the launch of NIPOST New Innovative and Game Changing 

Products, in Abuja. 

Nigeria wasn't stable for 6 months because 

of my husband's ill-health —Aisha Buhari 

•Attacks mgt of Aso Rock Clinic 

•Notes clinic lacks drugs, equipment 

•Says budgetary allocation to clinic must be accounted for 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA——WIFE of the 

President, Mrs. Aisha 

Buhari, said, yesterday, that 

the country was not stable for 

six months because of her 

husband's ill-health. 

Aisha Buhari, who spoke 

against the backdrop of 

inadequate facilities at Aso 

Villa Clinic, also stunned 

participants at a two-day 

stakeholders meeting on 

Reproductive, Maternal, 

Newborn Child Adolescent 

Health and Nutrition, 

RMNCAH+N, when she 

lamented that there was no 

single syringe at Aso Rock 

Clinic. 

Mrs. Buhari also said the 

clinic, which was budgeted 

for, lacked drugs and 

equipment, insisting that the 

management must explain 

how the budgetary provision 

for medical facilities was 

utilised. 

The event was organised by 

her pet project, Future 

Assured, and had in 

attendance state governors’ 

wives, development partners, 

primary health care 

coordinators and other 

stakeholders, including the 

Chief Medical Director of 

State House Clinic, Dr. 

Hussain Munir. 

Her outburst came barely a 

week after her daughter, 

Zahra, also called out State 

House Permanent Secretary, 

Mr. Jalal Arabi, on social 

media, asking him to account 

for the N3 billion allocated to 

the clinic. 

In her remarks at the 

stakeholders' meeting at the 

Banquet Hall of the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, the 

First Lady noted that 

President Buhari spent 

several months outside 

Nigeria for medical 

treatment, and wondered 

what could happen to 

ordinary Nigerians, despite 

the budgetary allocation for 

the State House clinic. 

Besides, she disclosed that 

she was sick some weeks ago 

and was advised to take the 

first flight out of the country 

to London for treatment but 

turned down the advice, 

insisting that she will be 

treated in Nigeria because 

there was budget for State 

House Clinic. 

She said to her greatest 

surprise, when a call was put 

across to Aso Rock Clinic to 

find out if the X-ray machine 

was working, she was told 

that the equipment was not 

functional. 

She queried why the 

management of the clinic 

would be funding new civil 

construction projects when 

medical items as ordinary as 

syringes were not available 

for patients at the facility. 

Aisha Buhari said: “Before 

I commence my speech, I will 

like to be realistic and say a 

few words concerning health 

delivery system in Nigeria. 

“It is very, very, very poor; 

sorry to say that. I am happy 

the CMD of Aso Clinic is here, 

or is he around? Dr. Munir or 

his representative? Ok Dr. 

Munir I’m happy you are 

here. 

“As you are all aware for the 

last six months, Nigeria wasn’t 

stable because of my 

husband’s ill-health. We 

thank God he is fully 

recovered now. 

“If somebody like Mr. 

President can spend several 

months outside Nigeria, then 

you wonder what will happen 

to a common man on the street 

in Nigeria. 

“A few weeks ago, I was sick 

as well, they advised me to 

take the first flight to London 

but I refused to go. I said I 

must be treated in Nigeria 

because there is a budget for 

an assigned clinic to take care 

of us. If the budget is N100 

million, we need to know how 

the budget is spent. 

“Along the line, I insisted 

they call Aso Clinic to find out 

if the x-ray machine is 

working, they said it is not 

working. They didn’t know I 

was the one that was 

supposed to be in that hospital 

at that very time. 

“I had to go to a hospital 

established by foreigners 100 

percent. What does that 

mean? So, I think it is time 

for us to do the right thing. If 

something like this can 

happen to me, no need for 

me to ask the governors’ 

wives what is happening in 

their states. 

‘’This is Abuja and this is 

the highest seat of 

government, and this is 

Presidential Villa. One of the 

speakers has already said we 

have very good policies in 

Nigeria. In fact, we have the 

best policies in Africa. Yes of 

course, we have but the 

implementation has been the 

problem. So, we need to 

change our mindset and do 

the right thing. 

“I am sure Dr. Munir will 

not like me saying this but I 

have to say it out. As the 

Chief Medical Director, there 

is a lot of construction going 

on in this hospital but there 

is no single syringe there; 

what does that mean? Who 

will use the building? 

“We have to be good in 

reasoning. You are erecting 

new buildings and there is 

no equipment, no 

consumables in the hospital 

and construction is still 

going on.” 

Obey our judgments, ECOWAS Court tells 

FG, 14 others 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri & Victoria 

Ojeme 

ABUJA—THE Court of 

Justice of Economic 

Community of West 

African States, ECOWAS, 

yesterday, urged Nigeria 

and governments of 14 

other member states not to 

ignore its judgments on 

cases affecting the interest 

and well-being of their poor 

citizens. 

The court, through its 

President, Justice Jerome 

Traore, made the appeal 

while flagging-off its 2017/ 

2018 Legal Year in Abuja. 

Justice Traore stressed that 

considered judgments of the 

court on cases filed by 

aggrieved citizens of 

member states of the 

regional body were 

rendered meaningless 

when they were not 

respected or complied with. 

He said the court had 

powers not only to settle 

inter-state disputes, but to 

also adjudicate on human 

rights issues in the subregion. 

He said judicial efficiency 

was not limited to justice 

delivered in reasonable 

time, but equally involves 

the expeditious 

enforcement of court 

decisions. 

He said: “Now to talk of 

judicial efficiency is to talk 

first of all of justice delivered 

in reasonable time. 

“Our English-speaking 

friends rightly say ‘Justice 

delayed is justice denied’, 

don’t they?" 

Boko Haram: Yobe gov seeks 

refund of N13bn from FG 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—GOVERNOR 

Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe 

State, yesterday, met 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari closed-door at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

and demanded a refund of 

N13 billion the state spent 

during the last 

administration on security to 

fight the Boko Haram 

insurgents. 

This is even as Governor 

Aminu Tambuwal in a 

separate meeting, briefed 

President Buhari on the 

possibility of exploration of 

oil at Sokoto Basin and efforts 

of governors from the north 

in meeting their South-East/ 

South-South counterparts to 

calm down security situation 

in the wake of secessionist 

agitation by Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB. 

Speaking to State House 

correspondents after 

meeting President Buhari, 

the Yobe State governor said: 

“I am primarily here for two 

reasons. Since coming back 

of Mr President from his 

medical trip, I was not able 

to meet with him, I also head 

some state issues which I 

would like to brief him. 

“So I came here to pay my 

homage, I congratulated 

him for him to get good 

health, I told him that I was 

here to brief him and at the 

same time, tell him the state 

of affairs of my state, that is 

Yobe state which is the front 

line state in terms of 

insurgency. 

“I told him that we have 

now gotten relative peace in 

Yobe state in terms of the 

insurgency. For the past two 

years or so, we have not had 

any attack by the insurgents 

in Yobe state. 

Speaking on how much 

support the state had 

received from the 

Presidential initiative so far 

and how much he was 

expecting, he said: “Well, 

we have not received a kobo 

in terms of cash but in terms 

of materials, food and non 

food items, we have been 

receiving a lot which I can 

not tell you precisely in a 

quantified form here, we 

have received enough. 

“But during the last 

administration, Yobe State 

took care of the Joint Task 

Force which is a combination 

of the military, the SSS, the 

Police, the Mobile Police who 

were carrying out the war 

against the insurgency. 

“We even paid their 

allowances, all their logistical 

needs including patrol 

vehicles. We have spent 

quite substantial amount of 

money in that direction, up 

to about N13 billion during 

the time of insurgency. 

“We have submitted the bill 

to the Federal Government, 

if they could refund even 30 

percent of that so that we can 

deploy it in establishment of 

some infrastructure such 

hospital.’’ 

2019: Atiku thinks twice 

about PDP as Makarfi, 

Lamido dust up preparation 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

DESPITE overt attempts 

by several stakeholders 

in the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, to woo Atiku 

Abubakar back to the party, 

the former Vice-President 

may be restrained upon 

indications of increasing 

resistance to him in the top 

hierarchy of the party. 

The most obvious block to 

him, Vanguard has learned, 

is the reported presidential 

intention of the outgoing 

chairman of the National 

Caretaker Committee, NCC, 

Senator Ahmed Makarfi. 

Besides Makarfi, former 

Governor Sule Lamido is also 

said to be set to kick off his 

campaign for the ticket with 

the opening of his North- 

West Presidential Campaign 

Office in Kaduna later this 

month. 

The opening of the Kaduna 

office is to be followed by the 

opening of Abuja office. 

Sources disclosed that 

Lamido and Atiku met, 

penultimate weekend, 

where the issue of their 

separate presidential bids 

was believed to have been 

on the table. 

The apparent 

determination of Lamido and 

Makarfi to bid for the PDP 

ticket, it was learned, may be 

putting Atiku on edge, given 

his apparent frustration with 

his current party, the APC. 

The move, Vanguard 

learned, is believed to be 

making Atiku to think twice 

about returning to the PDP, 

which he, with 33 others, 

helped to plant the seed in 

1998. 

A number of close 

associates of the former vicepresident, 

who moved over 

with him to the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, have commenced 

moves to return to the PDP 

to prepare for their 

principal’s return to the party. 

Atiku had in that line been 

making moves to return to 

the PDP and had flayed the 

APC for failing to deliver on 

its promises to the electorate, 

prior to the 2015 presidential 

election.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017—9 


Policemen protest non-payment of 

salaries in Kaduna 

•No policeman protested — Force Hqtrs 

By Ben Agande 

K 

A D U N A — 

HUNDREDS of 

policemen serving in 

Kaduna State Command, 

yesterday, stormed the 

command headquarters to 

demand explanation to the 

non-payment of their salaries 

for up to two months. 

The policemen, who came 

from various formations 

across the state, stayed in 

front of the police quarters 

peacefully before the state 

Commissioner of Police, 

Agyoleh Abeh, addressed 

and assured them that efforts 

were being made to correct 

the anomalies. 

He said the non-payment 

of salaries of some officers of 

the force was not the fault of 

the police high command but 

technical issues associated 

with the recent migration to 

the Integrated Payroll and 

Personnel Information 

system, IPPIS. 

The state Police Public 

Relations Officer, ASP 

Muktar Aliyu, who 

confirmed the incident, 

however, explained that 

some policemen, who had 

issues with the payment of 

their salaries, came to seek 

clarification from the state 

command headquarters. 

According to a police 

officer, who took part in the 

protest, some policemen are 

being owed two months 

salaries, while others are 

owed for one month without 

any explanation. 

He further explained that 

apart from being owed 

salaries, some policemen 

had been noticing unusual 

deductions from their 

salaries without explanation 

from police high command. 

“We decided to come to the 

state police command to seek 

explanation as to why some 

of our colleagues have not 

been paid, while some of us 

have been noticing unusual 

deductions from our salaries. 

‘’The commissioner of 

police addressed us and 

explained the circumstance 

to us. We hope that it will be 

resolved soon,” the police 

office who didn’t want to 

named for fear of 

victimisation said. 

But reacting to the 

development, Police Public 

Relations Officer for Kaduna 

State Police Command, ASP 

Aliyu, said the policemen did 

not protest but only came to 

seek clarification on the 

status of their salaries. 

“Some police officers have 

not been paid for two months, 

while others have not been 

paid for one month. The 

issue is not with the police 

high command and is not 

restricted to Kaduna State 

alone. 

"About 15 states are 

affected; it is because of the 

recent migration to the 

Integrated Payroll and 


system, IPPIS, and the 

issues associated with it. 

No policeman 

protested 

— Force Hqtrs 

Also reacting to the protest, 

Force Headquarters in a 

statement issued by 

spokesman, CSP Jimoh 

Moshood, said: ‘’The Force 

wishes to categorically state 

that salaries of Police 

personnel across ranks 

throughout the 36 states and 

the Federal Capital Territory, 

Abuja, and all other police 

formations are being paid as 

at when due and on time. 

"It is not correct and 

misleading that Police 

personnel protested 

anywhere in the country. A 

few policemen who went on 

inquiry to the Mechanized 

Salary Section, MSS, in 

Kaduna State Police 

Command over complaint of 

under-payment, omission of 

their names on the salary 

payroll as a result of the 

implementation of the 

Patience Jonathan: Senate summons 

Magu, MDs of seven banks Patience 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—THE Senate 

has summoned 

acting Chairman of 


Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, 

to appear before it 

tomorrow to defend the 

role his commission 

played in getting seven 

bank accounts of former 

First Lady, Mrs. 

Patience Jonathan, 

frozen. 

It also summoned 

Managing Directors of 

Stanbic-IBTC, Diamond, 

Skye banks and four 

others to appear before 

it for the same reason. 

In the petition brought 

to the Senate Committee 

on behalf of Mrs. 

Jonathan by Granville 

Abibo, SAN, the former 

First Lady complained 

that the EFCC and 

National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, have at 

different times 

"unleashed terror, 

dehumanizing, 

degrading and 

despicable treatment,” 

on herself “and her blood 

relations without 

justification. 

Meanwhile, Magu, was 

absent at yesterday’s 

hearing. 

In a letter to the 

committee, the EFCC 

explained that Magu was 

out of the country, and 

could, therefore, not 

attend the meeting, 

adding that he would be 

returning today (Tuesday). 

Consequently, the 

committee then fixed 

tomorrow for Magu’s 

appearance. 

In a related 

development, Patience 

Jonathan’s counsel told 

the Senate Committee that 

they had resolved their 

differences with NDLEA, 

and would like to strike the 

agency’s name off the 

petition before the Senate. 

But speaking before the 

committee, counsel to 

Integrated Payroll and 


System, IPPIS, handled by 

the Office of the Accountant- 

General of the Federation, 

were immediately attended 

to. 

‘’They were addressed by 

the officer in charge of the 

Mechanized Salary Section, 

MSS, Kaduna State 

Command in the early hours 

of today (yesterday) that their 

problems have been taken up 

by the Force Headquarters 

with the Office of the 

Accountant-General of the 

Federation. 

‘’They left for their duty 

posts. No policeman 

protested and none went on 

rampage in Kaduna State or 

anywhere else in the 

country." 

CAPACITY BUILDING: From left, Chief Executive Office, AIMAS 

Lifestyle Limited, Tayo Shonekan; Programme Director, NLP Nigeria Limited, 

Rajiv Sharma; Head, Enterprise Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Babatunde 

Akindele; and Head, Business Development, Sales & Marketing (Africa), China 

Europe International Business School, Dr. Thelma Opara, at Stanbic IBTC 

Bank 2017 SME Capacity Building Series in Lagos, yesterday. 

Jonathan, 

Charles Ogboli, said the 

former first lady’s 

accounts and that of her 

relatives were frozen by 

the EFCC without any 

court order, adding that 

this culminated in the 

death of Mrs. Jonathan’s 

brother, Lazarus Eware. 

Impeachment: I share same vision with state 

assembly —Gov Badaru 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—GOVERNOR 

Abubakar Badaru of 

Jigawa State said, 

yesterday, there was no 

truth in alleged 

impeachment move against 

him by the state House of 

Assembly, saying he 

shared the same vision 

with members of the 

House. 

Badaru, who disclosed 

this while fielding 

questions from the State 

House correspondents after 

a closed-door meeting with 

Agbakoba sues FG over 

NNPC Board appointments 

By Bartholomew 

Madukwe 

FORMER President of 

Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, Dr Olisa 

Agbakoba, SAN, has sued 

the Federal Government 

over what he described as 

“lopsided appointments” at 

the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC. 

According to a statement 

by his Media Assistant, 

Niyi Odunmorayo, 

Agbakoba made the 

allegation in a suit filed at 

the Federal High Court, 

Abuja. 

In the suit, he challenged 

the non-inclusion of the 

South-East of the country 

in appointments to the 

NNPC Board. 

The legal practitioner 


Buhari at the Presidential 

Villa, Abuja, denied that he 

had issues with the 

members of the House of 

Assembly. 

He said: That is not true 

(impeachment plot), I 

believe there was some 

misunderstanding on that 

report. Even yesterday 

(Sunday), I was there the 

whole day and there was 

no such issue.” 

On his relationship with 

the State House of 

Assembly, the governor 

said: “It is really very good. 

It is a very good 

alleged that the 

appointments by the 

Federal Government 

contravened the provisions 

of Section 14 of the 

Constitution, as well as the 

Federal Character 

Commission Act. 

He stated that it was also 

in contravention of the 

“provisions of Sections 42 

of the Constitution of 

Nigeria that prohibits 

discrimination of any of 

Nigeria’s ethnic groups 

such as, in this case, the 

South-East.” 

Agbakoba requested the 

court to declare the 

“lopsided appointments” of 

board members of the 

South-East region 

unconstitutional, null and 

void. 

No date has been fixed to 

hear the suit. 

Alleged abuse of office: 

PSC probes CPs 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—THE Police 

Service Commission, 

PSC, said, yesterday, it has 

begun investigation against 

some Commissioners of 

Police holding state 

command appointments. 

The development came 

against the backdrop of 

recent official complaints and 

petitions of alleged abuse of 

office received against them. 

A statement released by 

Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press 

and Public Relations of the 

commission, said Permanent 

Secretary and Secretary to the 

Commission, Mr. Musa 

Istifanus, disclosed this, 

yesterday, in Abuja,while 

receiving the leadership of 

a group under the aegis of 

Concerned citizens of Edo 

State. 

The group had stormed the 

commission to protest against 

what they called “continued 

underwhelming 

performance of the 

Commissioner of Police in 

the State, Mr. Haliru 

Gwandu. 

Istifanus said the 

commission had since 

received several complaints 

and petitions against some 

Commissioners of Police for 

allegedly going against laid 

down rules and regulations. 

He noted that the 

commission would take 

serious action against any of 

the CPs found to have 

compromised his office. 

“The commission takes 

very seriously issues of abuse 

of office especially from state 

CPs, which he said could 

lead to anarchy, stressing 

that the complaint from the 

Edo group will be 

expeditiously handled. 

Earlier, the leader of the 

group, Henry Okpeme, had 

complained of the collapse 

of security in Edo State, 

mentioning the alarming 

increase in high profile 

assassinations, kidnapping 

and rape. 

He observed that the 

present CP appeared to 

have been overwhelmed or 

compromised and should be 

redeployed in the interest of 

the people of Edo State. 

relationship, we work together. 

‘’The idea is to impact on 

the lives of the people to 

support the common man 

and we share the same 

vision in trying to create a 

sustainable economy for the 

state and trying to support 

our people to be out of 

poverty and to create more 

employment. We share the 

same vision with them so I 

don’t believe there is a 

problem.” 

On his meeting with 

President Buhari, the 

governor said: “It is really 

in relation to the 

diversification of the 

economy to non oil 

dependence."



LEGAL YEAR SERVICE: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (middle); former Chief 

Judge of the state, Justice Inumidun Akande (2nd left); Acting Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice 

Opeyemi Oke (left); Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. 

Ephraim Adebola Ademowo (2nd right) and Justice Doris Okuwobi (right) during the 2017/2018 Golden 

Jubilee new Legal Year service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, yesterday. 

Drug abuse: Lagos govt may ban 

Davido, Olamide's songs 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

AS part of measures to 

checkmate persistent 

abuse of drugs in musical 

videos, Lagos State 

Government has concluded 

plans to introduce stringent 

sanctions that would 

prevent such music from 

being aired in the state. 

The state government 

added that plans have also 

been concluded to end 

open drugs sales in the 

state, lamenting that the 

drugs were often sold to 

residents without licence or 

medical advice. 

Commissioner for Youth 

and Social Development, 

Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile- 

Yusuf, disclosed this, 

yesterday, while flagging 

off sensitisation campaign 

on drug abuse, at Alausa 

Secretariat, Ikeja. 

Akinbile-Yusuf, who 

expressed concern over 

drug abuse among youths 

in the state, said the state 

government would never 

shy away from activities 

affecting residents. 

Responding to a question 

on some musical videos 

such as those by Davido 

and Olamide, where drugs 

were promoted, the 

commissioner said: “We 

will look at them again with 

others and if need be we 

will approach the governor 

for appropriate action to be 

taken. This is all about 

protection of the youths 

and the society, at large.” 

On open drug peddling, 

she assured that the 

government would ensure 

drugs sold through 

unauthorised mode are 

nipped in the bud in order 

to protect the future 

generations. 

She said: “It is getting out 

of hand and we will not 

allow such act to continue 

in Lagos. If anyone needs 

drugs, he should approach 

a medical expert for 

prescription before the 

purchase of the drugs. 

“It is alarming that many 

elders in the state abuse 

drugs at ease. And rather 

than this helping to 

improve their health, it 

continuously damages the 

body.” 

EFCC docks 2 oil firms, directors over 

N1.57bn alleged fraud 

By Innocent Anaba 

TWO oil service 

companies and their 

directors, were, yesterday, 

arraigned by Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

before a Federal High 

Court sitting in Lagos for 

allegedly inducing a 

financial institution to 

deliver to Danium Energy 

Services Limited the sum 

of N1.57billion. 

Counsel to EFCC, 

Rotimi Oyedepo, in the 

charge, said the accused 

on or about October 5, 

2016 in Lagos, with intent 

to defraud, conspired to 

inducing Fidelity Bank Plc 

to deliver to Danium 

Energy Services Ltd N1, 

573,146,000.00. 

The commission said it 

was under the false pretense 

that Total Nigeria Plc 

contracted Danium Energy 

Services Ltd to supply 

10,000 Metric Tons of 

Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, 

for N1,990,440,000. 

The defendants are Ogbor 

Kehinde Eliot, Godwin 

Okoronkwo, Danium 

Energy Services Ltd and 

Petrosol Energy Limited. 

In response, counsel to the 

1st and 3rd defendants, I.O. 

Ayoade explained that he 

had filed an application for 

bail on behalf of his clients. 

He also prayed the court 

that his clients be remanded 

in EFCC custody pending 

the hearing and 

determination of the said 

bail application. 

In a short ruling, Justice 

Oguntoyinbo ordered that 

the defendants be 

remanded in the custody of 

the EFCC until October 11, 

2017 for their bail 

applications would be 

heard. 

Lagos elders ask FG to cut 

down cost of governance 

By Onozure Dania 

S ECRETARY-GENERAL 

of Lagos Elders Council, 

Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has 

called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to, as 

a matter of urgency, cut down 

the cost of governance to 

boost capital projects and 

enable Nigerians enjoy 

dividends of democracy. 

He also said the federal 

and state governments 

should also slash salaries, 

allowances and other 

emoluments of political office 

holders especially members 

of the National Assembly. 

Speaking in Lagos, he 

urged the president to raise 

a new generation of 

visionary, patriotic and 

committed politicians that 

will take Nigerians to the 

promised land. 

Onitiri warned that looters 

and vagabonds had taken 

over Nigeria’s political 

structure. 

“Our present political 

structure has been taken over 

by looters, vagabonds and 

thugs who don’t mean well 

for our country.” 

According to him, the 

problem of Nigeria is 

visionary leadership and not 

corruption, adding that there 

was urgent need for 

President Buhari to strive 

and plug all loopholes and 

conduit pipes in 

government. 

How Jonathan was deceived, 

sabotaged by his cabinet 

—Wike 

AS former President 

Goodluck Jonathan 

prepares to give his own 

account of his historic 

defeat in the 2015 

presidential election, more 

insiders are coming 

forward with their version 

of what happened. 

Governor Nyesom Wike 

of Rivers State said 

members of Jonathan’s 

cabinet and ranking 

members of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, from 

the party’s former 

chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, 

deceived the former 

president and told him 

outright lies about his 

chances. 

In the current edition of 

The Interview, Wike said: 

“Let me tell you the truth; 

so many people were not 

sincere with Jonathan. You 

saw that even in the way 

some were being unduly 

sycophantic on issues that 

were totally out of point…I 

saw there was a lot of 

deceit.” 

In a statement, MD/ 

Editor-in-Chief, Azu 

Ishiekwene, said the 

current interview was “yet 

another riveting chapter in 

the unfolding story of 

Jonathan’s monumental 

defeat.” 

Wike said there were 

situations where politicians 

who were supposed to be 

in the field holed up inside 

Abuja, filing false reports. 

He continued: “Some of 

them would say, ‘Your 

Excellency Sir, as I’m 

speaking with you now, so 

and so state is down for 

PDP’. It was all lies.” 

He attacked the Northern 

leaders of the party, saying: 

“PDP in the North ganged 

up against Jonathan. Let 

the truth be told. Nobody 

will die. They were not 

sincere to him.” 

He said it was a mark of 

complicity that even though 

Jonathan was stoned in 

some states and the 

governors in those states 

UNILAG appoints Lawal as 

new Bursar 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

THE Governing Council, 

University of Lagos, 

UNILAG, has appointed 

Mr. Nurudeen Lawal as 

the institution’s new Bursar. 

His appointment, 

according to the Deputy 

Registrar, Mr. Adebule 

Toyin, will take effect from 

Friday, November 3, 2017. 

Lawal, a Fellow, Institute 

of Chartered Accountants 

of Nigeria and other 

professional bodies, served 

as Chief Accountant at the 

College of Medicine, 

University of Lagos from 

watched idly by, adding 

that, “if I were in Jonathan’s 

shoes, I won’t take it; let the 

heavens fall.” 

Wike, who was Minister 

of State for Education 

under Jonathan and 

generally perceived as First 

Lady, Dame Patience 

Jonathan’s “anointed,” 

attacked “most cabinet 

members” for taking 

advantage of the former 

p r e s i d e n t ’ s 

gentlemanliness. 

He, however, said the 

PDP reconciliation 

committee of which he is 

chairman, had in their 

sights, former President 

Olusegun Obasanjo and 

top members of the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

including former Vice 

President Atiku Abubakar 

and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu, among others. 

He also spoke on his 

controversial presence as 

the only PDP governor at 

the airport when President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

returned from his medical 

vacation in Britain, an act 

that has raised some 

eyebrow. 

Wike spoke on his 

relationship with former 

Governor Peter Odili and 

allegations that he 

gatecrashed the office of a 

former Chief Justice of the 

Supreme Court to fix the 

outcome of the state’s 

governorship election 

petition before the court. 

He said: “These (the 

purveyors of the 

information) are evil 

people. Can Rotimi 

Amaechi tell the story of his 

life and he won’t mention 

Peter Odili? Can Dakuku 

Peterside mention 

anything and he won’t 

mention Peter Odili?” 

The Rivers State governor 

also spoke on the leaked 

tape allegedly containing 

his voice, and claims that 

the $43 million found in an 

Ikoyi apartment belonged 

to the state government. 

1997-2009, and is currently 

the Director of Finance. 

Meanwhile, the school’s 

management has denied 

the allegation that a 

unidentified student was 

suspended for four 

semester. 

The signed release read: 

“ The management of 

University of Lagos wishes 

to inform all students and 

the general public that the 

current information making 

waves in the social media, 

concerning a student who 

was allegedly rusticated for 

four semesters for dancing 

with the statue of the late 

Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. B. 

Sofoluwe, is false and 

should be disregarded.”



Lagos, Ondo, Oyo commence new legal 

year •It’s a golden jubilee year —Ambode 

By Ola Ajayi 

Onozure Dania & 

Adeola Badru 

I BADAN—THREE 

states in the South- 

West, Lagos, Ondo and 

Oyo, yesterday, 

commenced the new legal 

year with Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, admonishing 

stake holders in justice 

delivery system to embrace 

accountability, 

transparency and shun 

corrupt practices. 

In his address at a service 

held at the Cathedral 

Church of Christ, Marina, 

to commemorate the 

occasion, tagged ‘’Golden 

Jubilee Legal Year’’, 

Governor Ambode said the 

expectations of the citizenry 

from government were 

enormous, and it was 

important for all 

stakeholders to 

demonstrate patriotism and 

leadership, and work 

continuously to promote the 

rule of law and guarantee 

protection of lives and 

property. 

Ambode who applauded 

the efforts of the judiciary 

in bringing sanity to the 

polity challenged judges 

and lawyers to embrace 

transparency and 

accountability in the 

administration of justice in 

order to enhance 

confidence in the legal 

system. 

In her remarks, the acting 

Chief Judge, Justice 

Opeyemi Oke, assured 

that the state's judiciary, 

under her watch would 

effectively discharge its 

statutory duties of 

dispensing justice to the 

people. 

Akeredolu expresses 

confidence in judiciary 

leadership 

In his speech to mark the 

legal year, Governor 

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of 

Ondo State said the 

country’s judiciary now has 

a leadership that can meet 

the expectations of the 

citizenry on spedy 

dispensation of justice. 

Akeredolu, who 

expressed confidence in the 

leadership of the Bench, 

after the church service at 

St David’s Anglican 

Cathedral, Ijomu, Akure, 

said he was confident that 

the current leadership in 

the country’s judiciary was 

capable of providing good 

direction. 

Why Nigeria must 

celebrate —Ajimobi 

In his speech in Ibadan, 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of 

Oyo State said for the 

country to still remain as 

one nation in the face of 

diversity and many 

challenges was enough 

reason for Nigerians to 

celebrate. 

This was part of his 

remarks at the special 

prayer to commence the 

2017/2018 Legal Year, held 

at the Oja’ba Cental 

Mosque, Ibadan. 

Ajimobi who was 

represented at the event by 

the state’s Commissioner 

for Health, Dr. Azeez 

Adeduntan, maintained 

that his administration, 

since its inception six years 

ago, has been focused on 

the enthronement of peace, 

security and pursuit of the 

Rule of Law. 

Oyo govt boosts agric, to give farmers 

unused land 

By Ola Ajayi & 

Adeola Badru 

OYO 

State 

Government has 

appealed to custodians of 

arable land across agrarian 

communities in the state to 

make them available to 

individuals and investors 

wishing to engage in large 

scale agricultural ventures. 

The government said the 

appeal became necessary in 

view of the difficulties 

individuals and corporate 

organizations encounter in 

securing land for 

commercial cultivation, 

despite the availability of 

2.5 million hectares of fertile 

land. 

Addressing newsmen at 

the Governor’s Office, 

Ibadan, yesterday, the 


Agriculture, Natural 

Resources and Rural 

Development, Prince 

Oyewole Oyewumi, said 

the state had vast arable 

lands, most of which were 

idle. 

He said that the 

CONFERENCE: From left; Prof. Toyin Falola of University of Texas, 

U.S.A; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Eleruwa of Eruwa, 

HRM, Oba Samuel Adegbola; Akindele I and daughter of late Prof. Joseph 

Atanda, Mrs. Ajoke Fatunde, at the Yoruba Nation and Politics conference 

held in honour of Prof. J.A. Atanda, at OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. 

Governor Abiola Ajimobiled 

administration had 

begun a sensitization 

programme aimed at 

educating the people on the 

need to surrender such 

land for mechanized 

agriculture under mutually 

beneficial arrangements. 

With oil, currently the 

nation’s cash cow, now 

under threat of diminishing 

value in the near future, he 

said that the government 

was determined to exploit 

the potential in the agric 

value chain to boost its 

economic revival. 

The commissioner said 

that the initiative would 

enhance agriculture 

production, while the value 

chain would create job 

opportunities and promote 

food security. 

Oyewumi said: “A 

committee was set up by the 

governor and it came up 

with an agriculture land 

policy to ensure the 

cultivation of idle arable 

land across the state. Land 

is a major asset for us in this 

state. 

“So, it is important that 

they are made available and 

accessible for people who 

are willing to invest in 

agriculture under mutually 

beneficial arrangements. 

The policy is not aimed at 

forcibly taking over lands 

“Land owned by 

communities and 

individuals can be made 

available to investors for 

productive purposes. 

Landowners are 

encouraged to use their 

lands with support from the 

government through the 

out-growers’ and off-takers’ 

scheme.’ 

“The scheme involves a 

collection or a group of 

farmers who work together 

to produce particular crops 

and farm produce and 

thereafter sell them off to 

another group of agric 

investors at the prevailing 

market price. 

“Another scheme is for 

lands to be leased or rented 

out to prospective investorsfarmers 

or farmers’ 

cooperatives. Both parties 

will mutually agree to the 

terms by deciding the 

duration of the lease and 

the type of crops to be 

cultivated. 

“Outright sale of the land 

is another option. An 

agreement between a 

willing buyer and willing 

seller can be reached, but 

the government will not 

force anyone to sell off his 

or her land. 

“Also, there is the option 

of payment of royalty, 

where farm produce is 

given to landowners in 

exchange for the use of the 

land for the agreed period. 

There is also the option of 

a partnership agreement 

between land owners and 

investors where the land 

could be used as equity by 

the land owner in a 

partnership arrangement 

with investors.” 

The commissioner 

expressed optimism that the 

new policy would open up 

the communities to 

investors and boost the 

state’s economy. 

Ekiti govt to EFCC: Release arrested 

officials unconditionally 

By otimi Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI—EKITI 

State Executive 

Council has described the 

arrest and continued 

detention of two of its 

members by the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, as a 

classic abuse of power and 

a witch-hunt by pseudodemocrats 

in Abuja to 

diabolically incapacitate the 

state government. 

The Council called on the 

commission to release them 

unconditionally or charge 

them to court. 

The council told newsmen 

in Ado Ekiti yesterday, that 

the continued detention of 

Chief Toyin Ojo, the 

Commissioner for Finance 

and Mrs Yemisi Owolabi, 

the Accountant-General 

was unacceptable. 

The state Commissioner 

for Information, Youth and 

Sports Development, Mr. 

Lanre Ogunsuyi, who addressed 

newsmen, said 

the executive council after 

its fifth emergency meeting 

described the arrest as an 

aberration that once again 

portrays the Federal 

Government as incapable of 

understanding the best 

democratic ethos. 

Ogunsuyi claimed that 

the arrest of the two 

members of the executive 

was in violation of a 

subsisting ruling of a court 

of competent jurisdiction 

restraining the supposed 

anti-graft body from 

inviting or arresting officials 

of the state. 

It called on the EFCC to 

respect the rule of law by 

abiding by the subsisting 

court ruling, saying; “The 

options available to EFCC 

was to either grant the 

arrested state officials 

administrative bail or 

charge them to court if they 

had breached the law.” 

PDP chairmanship: I won’t step 

down for anybody —Daniel 

A 

national 

chairmanship 

aspirant of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Otunba Gbenga Daniel, 

said yesterday in Lagos that 

he had no plan of stepping 

down for any of the other 

contenders. 

Reacting to speculations 

that he might be stepping 

down for Chief Olabode 

George, another aspirant 

for the position, Daniel said 

he had no intention of 

stepping down for anybody. 

Daniel is a former 

Governor of Ogun, while 

George served as a former 

national deputy chairman 

of the now opposition PDP. 

With the zoning of the 

PDP’s chairmanship position 

to the South West, five 

major contenders are currently 

jostling for the position. 

The other contenders are 

Mr Jimi Agbaje, the 2015 

governorship candidate of 

the PDP in Lagos State, 

Prof. Tunde Adeniran, a 

former Minister of 

Education and Prof. 

Taoheed Adedoja, a former 

Minister of Sports. 

Daniel told newsmen that 

although George was a 

respected leader of the PDP, 

he would not back down 

for the Lagos chief but 

would see the race to its 

logical conclusion. 

Alaafin raises alarm over 

assault on Yoruba culture 

By Daud Olatunji 

A BEOKUTA—THE 

Alaafin of Oyo, Oba 

Lamidi Adeyemi, 

yesterday, raised the alarm 

over the erosion of Yoruba 

culture by what he called 

received religions of Islam 

and Christianity. 

The first class monarch 

explained that both 

religions had portrayed the 

Yoruba values and 

traditions include 

traditional names and 

celebrations as evil, satanic 

or demonic. 

Oba Adeyemi stated this 

while declaring open the 

international conference on 

Yorubaland and politics 

since the 19th Century and 

beyond held at the Olabisi 

Onabanjo University, Ago 

Iwoye, in honour of 

renowned historian, late 

Prof. Joseph Atanda. 

The monarch lamented 

that with the advent of both 

religions, some aspects of 

Yoruba culture and tradition 

had suffered great assault 

leading to extinction of 

family life, pattern of social 

relations, family names and 

praise names among 

others. 


Monarch “Yoruba land is at 

a critical juncture today, 

more than ever before. The 

assault on our culture has 

assumed frightening 

dimensions, coming from 

the received religions of 

Islam and Christianity, 

especially their puritanical 

and pentecostal trends."



Patience Jonathan: Senate summons 

Magu, MDs of seven banks 

By Henry Umoru 

A BUJA—THE 

Senate has 

summoned acting 

Chairman of Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, Mr 

Ibrahim Magu, to appear 

before it tomorrow, to 

defend the role his 

commission played in 

getting seven bank 

accounts of former First 

Lady, Mrs. Patience 

Jonathan, frozen. 

Also for alleged freezing 

of the accounts of Dame 

Jonathan, the Senate 

summoned the Managing 

Directors of some banks to 

appear before it. 

They are to appear before 

the Senator Samuel 

Anyanwu (PDP, Imo East) 

committee, which will hear 

the petition by Mrs 

Jonathan. 

In the petition brought to 

the Senate Committee on 

behalf of Mrs. Jonathan by 

Granville Abibo, SAN, the 

former First Lady 

complained that both the 

EFCC and National Drug 

Law Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, had, at different 

times “unleashed terror, 

dehumanizing, degrading 

and despicable treatment,” 

on her and her relatives 

without justification. 

According to the petition, 

the frozen accounts by the 

seven banks include those 

of companies, Pluto 

Property and Investment 

Company Limited, Seagate 

Property Development 

Investment Company and 

Transocean Property and 

Investment Limited. 

The senators were also 

told that the account of her 

non-governmental 

organisation, The Women 

for Change Development 

Initiative, Aruera 

Foundation as well as 

Finchley Top Homes 

Limited and the former 

First lady’s salary account 

were frozen. 

The petition read: “The 

accounts of her siblings, 

Innocent Nyegerefaka, 

Mohammed Oba and 

Esther Oba had all been 

frozen by EFCC without a 

court order, all because they 

are blood relations of Dame 

Patience Jonathan.” 

In his remarks, Chairman 

of the Committee, 

Anyanwu, who issued the 

summons, however, 

insisted that the Managing 

Directors must appear in 

person as the committee will 

not accept any 

representative. 

Meanwhile, acting 

Chairman of, EFCC, Magu 

was absent at yesterday’s 

hearing. 

In a letter to the 

committee, the EFCC 

explained that Magu was 

out of the country, hence 

could not attend the 

meeting, adding that he will 

be returning today and 

against this backdrop, the 

Committee then fixed 

tomorrow for Magu’s 

appearance. 

In a related 

development, Patience 

Jonathan’s counsel told the 

Senate Committee that they 

had resolved their 

differences with the 

NDLEA and hence will like 

to strike their name from the 

petition before the Senate. 

But speaking before the 

committee, counsel to 

Patience Jonathan, Charles 

Ogboli, said that the former 

first lady’s accounts and 

that of her relatives were 

frozen without any court 

order by the EFCC, adding 

that this culminated in the 

death of Mrs. Jonathan’s 

brother, Lazarus Eware. 

LAUNCH: From left; Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ekiti State 

Ministry of Health, Sola Shittu; Marketing Manager, GlaxoSmithkline 

Pharmaceuticals (Nig) Ltd, Wole Fagbola; Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State 

Ministry of Health, Omole Ayotunde and Director of Medical Services, Hospitals 

Management Board, Ekiti State, Afolabi Williams, at the launch of the GSK 

Medvan initiative in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. 

Workers protest divestment of Delta Line 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

Line workers, 

yesterday, protested the 

divestment of the state 

government owned 

transport company, urging 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to 

rescind his decision on 

handing over the company 

to God is Good Motors. 

The workers under the 

aegis of Amalgamated 

Union of Public 

Corporations, Civil Service, 

Technical and Recreational 

Services Employees, 

AUPCTRE, barricaded the 

entrance to the company’s 

workshop in Asaba on the 

Benin-Onitsha 

expressway. 

The protesters carrying 

placards with inscriptions 

such as ‘Okowa, we say no 

to privatisation,’ ‘God is 

Good must not resume in 

Delta Line,’ ‘Okowa pay 

attention to Delta Line 

workers,’ ‘Ibru did not sell,’ 

‘Ibori did not sell,’ 

‘Uduaghan did not sell,’ 

‘Okowa don’t sell Delta 

Line,’ among others, 

insisted that they will not 

allow the new management 

access unless their 

demands were met. 

Chairman of AUPCTRE 

in the state, Mr Jerry 

Okosun, said that the 

union will not accept the 

partial sale of the 

corporation, adding that 

Delta Line was a viable 

asset and identity of the 

state. 

Okosun said, “We have 

no business with God is 

Good, it is the government 

that we have business with. 

Government should tell us 

why they want to sell the 

corporation. They said 

Delta Line is not making 

profit but we know that the 

company is viable." 

Meanwhile, Senior 

Special Assistant to the 

Governor on Transport, 

Mr Chibuzor Uwajeh, 

blamed the divestment of 

the company on the 

workers, alleging that the 

workers were running the 

company aground. 

Uwajeh said that the 

partnership with private 

sector will make the 

transport company viable, 

alleging that Delta Line had 

failed to meet the objective 

for which it was set up. 

OrderPaper bemoans scandal at NNPC 

O RDER-PAPER 

Nigeria, has 

observed with 

bewilderment, recent 

reports of alleged financial 

scandals and dire breaches 

of due process in the 

operations of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporations, NNPC. 

Executive Director, 

OrderPaper Nigeria, Oke 

Epia, in a statement, 

yesterday, said: “The flurry 

of consternation, 

condemnations and sundry 

reactions that have 

inundated the public space 

since news of the NNPC 

scandal broke is distressing 

to a nation long held in the 

grip of corruption, impunity 

and mind-boggling 

kleptocracy that have kept 

the mass majority of citizens 

in impoverishment and 

frustration. 

“In the mass hysteria 

which has greeted the 

scandal, the swift reaction 

of the National Assembly, 

especially the Senate is 

note-worthy. While 

OrderPaper Nigeria 

commends the federal 

legislature for its quick 

response, it is needful to 

place on record concerns 

about existing gaps in the 

performance of the 

oversight function of the 

National Assembly." 

Flood sacks Bayelsa community 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA— 

RESIDENTS of 

Okutukutu suburb of 

Yenagoa metropolis, 

Bayelsa State, have been 

forced to abandon their 

homes and relocate to other 

parts of the state capital 

following a massive flood 

that had submerged the 

area. 

Worst hit by the flood 

which worsened following 

a heavy down pour on 

Sunday are residential 

apartments, shops and 

other business outfits and 

had forced commercial 

activities in the area to shut 

down, while dangerous 

reptiles have taken over the 

flooded area. 

The displaced residents 

of the areas, who 

recounted the loss of their 

household properties and 

valuables, lamented that the 

flooding of the area was 

becoming a perennial 

problem to the people. 

A community leader and 

chairman of Community 

Development Committee, 

CDC, Mr. Emmanuel Egbo, 

who conducted newsmen 

around the flooded area, 

said the cause of the flood 

was the blocked Agbeneghe 

Creek that flows from Epie 

River through Okutukutu to 

Elebele Town in Ogbia 

Local Government Area of 

the state. 

Egbo, who lamented that 

residents of the area have 

been displaced and forced 

to relocate, regretted that 

the flood had disrupted 

social and economic 

activities of the area and 

caused untold hardship for 

the people, as he called on 

the state and local 

government authorities to 

come to their aid. 

LEDAP tasks govt on abolition 

of death penalty 

By Innocent 

Anaba 

AS the world marks 

the World Day 

Against the use of the 

Death Penalty with the 

theme Poverty and the 

death penalty, a rights 

group, Legal Defence 

and Assistance Project, 

LEDAP, has reaffirmed 

its position that the 

abolition of death 

penalty in law and 

practice should be the 

firm desire of the 

Nigerian government as 

death penalty was cruel 

and inhumane 

treatment, which has no 

place in modern society. 

National Coordinator 

of LEDAP, Mr Chinonye 

Obiagwu in a statement, 

yesterday, said “We 

contend that the 

application of death 

penalty is discriminatory 

in Nigeria as it has 

become a punishment 

exclusive to the poor in 

society. 

“LEDAP is continually 

in legal battles with the 

federal and state 

governments in its quest 

to ensure that 

fundamental rights of 

citizens are safe-guarded 

and death penalty is 

abolished. Currently, we 

have three cases in court 

where we are challenging 

the imposition of death 

sentences and the 

proposal of the federal 

and state governments to 

execute death row 

inmates."



Speed up passage of Maritime Varsity Bill, 

IYC urges Reps 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN—AS 

the 

House of 

Representatives conduct 

public hearing on the 

Maritime University Bill, 

the Ijaw Youth Council, 

IYC, has appealed to the 

members to toe the line of 

the Senate on the issue, 

appealing to it to adopt 

the procedure used by the 

Senate. 

A statement in Benin 

City, Edo State, yesterday 

by president of the body, 

Mr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo, 

said: “The survival of the 

Maritime University, 

Okerenkoko, is key to 

sustaining the existing 

peace in the Niger Delta. 

It is one of the cardinal 

conditions for peace in the 

region. 

“IYC wishes to reiterate 

the fact that the Maritime 

University is the only 

federal institution in the 

entire coastal belt of 

Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers 

States. Now is the time for 

the government to prove 

to the coastal people that 

they are also part of 

Nigeria. There is no doubt 

that the Maritime 

University will be a peace 

building bridge between 

the people of the Niger 

Delta region and the 

Federal Government. 

Edo Assembly summons contractors handling 

Benin-Auchi Road 

By Simon 

Ebegbulem 

BENIN—EDO State 

House of Assembly, 

yesterday, ordered the 

contractors handling the 

Benin-Auchi Road to 

appear before it next 

week Monday or be 

arrested. 

The charge was given 

when the Controller of 

Works in the state, Mr 

Oke Oweh, appeared 

before the lawmakers to 

explain the progress of 

work on the road which 

is no longer motorable. 

Motorists travelling to 

Ekpoma and Auchi now 

pass through Agbor in 

Delta State, a longer 

route, to get to their 

destinations. 

The Speaker of the 

House, Alhaji Kabiru 

Adjoto, had stormed 

Abuja with his members 

penultimate week to 

protest the bad state of 

the road and appealed to 


“Suffice to say that it will 

continue to be a rallying 

point to engender 

feelings of oneness in the 

corporate partnership. 

The gains Nigeria will 

garner from the institution 

cannot 

be 

overemphasized, 

especially as it relates to 

maritime business and 

peace and security of the 

oil exploitative activities 

in the region.” 

He therefore, called on 

the House of 

Representatives “to 

accept all positive 

memoranda and speedily 

pass the Bill into law like 

what the Senate did. 

“The council also uses 

this medium to call on the 

executive arm to release 

the N2billion initial grant 

for the school to take off 

this month. We have 

reliably gathered that the 

Federal Government has 

not released the money to 

the management of the 

school even after 

promising same by the 

Vice President sometime 

last month in Ondo State.” 

Going further, IYC said 

that “The government 

must live up to its 

promises. IYC cannot 

afford to experience a 

delay in the take off of 

academic activities at the 

school in this month. Any 

undue delay may alter the 

flow of the peace process 

in the region.” 

BIRTHDAY: Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday 

Osanebi (middle) flanked by Mrs. Ewean Edun (right); President, Association 

of Persons with Disabilities, Delta State chapter; Mr Isaac Obruche (left) and 

other disabled persons cutting the birthday cake of the Deputy Speaker in 

Asaba, weekend. 

to urgently find solution 

to the problem, which 

according to him, had 

caused great pains to not 

only indigenes of the 

state but other Nigerians 

who ply the road to 

Abuja. 

It was not an easy 

outing for the state 

Controller of Works, 

Engr Oweh, when the 

lawmakers lambasted 

him after he failed to 

give them the cost at 

which the contract was 

awarded and the 

duration of the project. 

He, however, informed 

the lawmakers that work 

was ongoing and that the 

road is much better now 

than it was due to the 

ongoing work. 

According to him, “You 

now get to Ekpoma from 

Benin in one hour and 

we are still working hard 

to get the Auchi end 

done.” 

I’ll rescue Deltans from injustice —Okotie 


ASABA—AHEAD of 

the 2019 general 

election, a governorship 

aspirant in Delta State on 

the platform of All 


APC, Chief Osiobe 

Okotie, has reiterated his 

determination to rescue 

the state from the 

“immeasurable injustice” 

which he claimed was 

being foisted on it by the 


PDP-led government. 

Speaking in Warri, 

shortly after inaugurating 

a political group, 

christened ‘Osiobe 

Vanguard,’ Okotie said 

he will deliver the 

dividends of democracy 

to all Deltans if elected 

governor in the 2019 poll. 

Lamenting that a few 

people had hijacked the 

common patrimony of 

Deltans, he said: “Our 

infrastructures are 

decaying, our hospitals 

are in a sorry state, schools 

have no desks and their 

roofs are leaking. 

Pensioners and local 

government workers are 

not being paid and the 

Paris Club fund is being 

diverted. 

“We are calling on all 

Deltans irrespective of 

their political party 

affiliations, to join hands 

with the APC, because I 

am out to rescue the state. 

Osiobe Vanguard is duty 

bound to go to all the 

councils, wards and units 

to preach the gospel for 

the people to know that we 

are serious.” 

On his part, Chairman 

of Osiobe Vanguard, 

Chief John Itebu, said 

that the group was a new 

political concept that will 

help in actualizing the 

governorship ambition of 

Chief Okotie. 

Create three new states from 

Urhobo nation —Oghenekaro 

FORMER member of 

the defunct Bendel 

State House of Assembly for 

Ethiope South-East 

constituency, Chief 

Michael Oghenekaro, has 

called for the creation of 

three new states from the 

present Urhobo nation, in 

line with the colonial 

administrative 

arrangement of Western, 

Eastern and Central 

Urhobo divisions. 

Chief Oghenekaro, 

Convener and President of 

Evren-Urhobo Peoples 

Congress, EPC, a sociopolitical 

pressure group, 

told newsmen in Enerhen, 

Warri, Delta State, that 

there was need for the 

creation of Ughelli, Ethiope 

and Ame states to correct 

what he described as “the 

Ex-militant leader joins race 

for Bomadi LG chair 

By Innocent Onoja 

B OMADI—NIGER 

Delta ex-militant 

leader, Mr Francis Muturu, 

has declared his intention 

to contest for the office of 

chairman, Bomadi Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State. 

Declaring his ambition 

before Bomadi Ward 1 

executive of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Bomadi, Francis said his 

intention to contest the 

council chairmanship 

position was to address the 

neglect of his people by 

providing them 

infrastructure, which was 

denied them by past 

administrations. 

He vowed to revamp the 

present imbalance, gross 

marginalisation and rape of 

our collective psyche.” 

Oghenekaro, who is the 

Esemugboja of Udu 

Kingdom, explained that 

while the Northern, 

Eastern and Western 

regions, which enjoyed 

equal status with the Mid- 

West region in 1963 have 

grown to several states, the 

Mid-West region has 

remained stagnated in two 

states, denying the Urhobo 

nation the benefits of equal 

rights and opportunities 

with people from other 

parts of the country, 

maintaining that the only 

thing that could correct the 

structural imbalance was 

the creation of more states 

from the Urhobo nation. 

council's system if elected, 

adding his leadership will 

be transparent as access 

roads will be constructed in 

the 12 communities in the 

council adding that 

payment of workers’ 

salaries will be a priority. 

He said: “I am not going 

to use council funds to build 

houses in Warri. I am not 

going to use council funds 

to buy cars because I 

already have them. I am 

contesting because of the 

pains in my heart, arising 

from poor service delivery 

to my brothers and sisters. 

I want to put smiles on the 

faces of council workers and 

others. I will care for our 

fathers and mothers 

between the age brackets of 

60 years and above," 

among others. 

Court to rule on SUBEB director's 

bail application Oct 17 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN—AN 

Edo 

State High Court 

sitting in Benin City, 

yesterday, adjourned 

ruling on the applications 

for bail by counsel to the 

former chairman of Edo 

State Universal Basic 

Education Board, 

SUBEB, Prince Stephen 

Alao, Edo State Woman 

leader of the All 


APC, Dr. Aisosa 

Amadasun and three 

other members of the 

board, who were 

arraigned on a 50 count 

charge of conspiracy and 

corruption by the 


Commission, EFCC. 

Other accused persons 

are Adam Osabuohien, 

Dove Momodu and 

Mallam Ali Sulayman. 

It will be recalled that 

they were alleged to have 

awarded several contracts 

amounting to over 

N1.5billion while 

members of the board. 

The adjournment was 

sequel to the plea by 

counsel to the third and 

fourth accused persons, 

Mr. Ohioguehi Candy, 

that his clients were 

charged for offenses that 

do not carry capital 

punishment, urging the 

court to use its discretion 

to grant them bail. 

He said that the issues 

raised by counsel to 

EFCC, were not relevant 

to the matter on ground 

as they were related to 

murder cases.



TRINITY HOUSE 2017 HONOUR NIGERIA AWARDS 

From left: Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor, Trinity House; Chief Olu 

Akinkugbe; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) receiving 

2017 Leadership award; Mr Ladi Balogun, and Pastor Ibidun Ighodalo, during 

Trinity House 2017 Honour Nigeria Awards organised by Trinity House, Zion 

Centre, Corporation Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. Photos: Kehinde 

Gbadamosi. 

From left, Chief Igho Dafinone, Dr Terri Dafinone, Chief Ede Dafinone, 

representing Senator David Dafinone, as 2017 Professionalism Awardee, and 

Ms Tolu Ighodalo-Ojie. 

From left: Mr Boye Oyewumi, SA Investment to Ondo State Governor; Dr 

Yolanda George-David, 2017 Contribution to Society Awardee, and Mrs 

Olubunmi Ademosy, SA Public & Intergovernment Relations to Ondo State 

Governor. 

From left: Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Mrs Ifeoma 

Nwosu, wife of Mr Nwosu, 2017 Philanthrophy Awardee, and Pastor Mrs 

Ibidun Ighodalo. 

Ex-Chief of Army Staff, Gen 

Victor Malu, dies @ 70 

•Buhari, APC mourn Malu 

By Peter Duru & 

Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

M AKURDI— 

FORMER Chief 

of Army Staff under former 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s administration, 

Lieutenant General Victor 

Malu, is dead. 

Vanguard gathered from 

a family source and cousin 

of the retired army chief, 

Mr, Bem Adoor, that 

General Malu died 

yesterday morning in an 

Egyptian hospital in Cairo 

where he had gone on 

routine medical check up. 

According to Adoor, “he 

travelled to Egypt about two 

weeks ago for check up but 

unfortunately he did not 

make it back. He died this 

(yesterday) morning, he 

was 70 years.” 

Malu, who battled with 

stroke and diabetics before 

his death, was born on 

January 15,1947, in 

Katsina-Ala, Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State. 

Malu was appointed 

Chief of Army Staff in May 

1999 at the start of 

President Olusegun 

Obasanjo’s administration 

and was removed in April 

2001. 

He was also commander 

of Economic Community of 

West African States, 

ECOWAS, peace-keeping 

force, ECOMOG, from 

December 1996 to April 

1998 during the first 

Liberian civil war. 

The former Army chief 

also chaired the military 

tribunal that tried former 

Chief of General Staff, 

Lieutenant General 

Oladipo Diya, in 1998 over 

alleged coup plot against 

the then late Head of State, 

General Sanni Abacha. 

Malu enrolled in the 

Nigerian Defence 

Academy, Kaduna, in 1967 

as part of the 3rd Regular 

Course and was 

commissioned as a 2nd 

Lieutenant enlisted upon 

graduation in 1970. 

Buhari mourns 

Malu 

Meanwhile, President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

yesterday, expressed his 

heartfelt condolences to the 

Malu family as well as the 

government and people of 

Benue State. 

President Buhari in a 

statement signed by his 

Special Adviser Mr. Femi 

Adesina, also commiserated 

with the Nigerian Armed 

Forces on the demise of a 

very distinguished and 

professional colleague, 

who he said demonstrated 

incredible courage and 

leadership, including 

during very turbulent times 

in Liberia. 

President Buhari in the 

statement recalled that as 

Force Commander of the 

ECOMOG peace-keeping 

troops in Liberia from 1996 

to 1998, General Malu was 

“an icon of professionalism, 

bravery and discipline, and 

he aptly demonstrated 

these attributes throughout 

his national and 

international military 

assignments.” 

The President was of the 

belief that the late Malu will 

be fondly remembered for 

his dedication and 

commitment as a military 

officer; and his numerous 

landmark contributions to 

Nigeria’s unity and 

development. 

He urged the bereaved 

family, friends and 

associates to honour Malu’s 

memory by upholding his 

invaluable sacrifices for a 

peaceful and united 

Nigeria. 

He also prayed that 

Almighty God will comfort 

all who mourn Gen Malu, 

and grant his soul perfect 

peace. 

APC too 

Meanwhile, All 


APC, has condoled with 

the immediate family, 

Nigerian Army and the 

government and people of 

Benue State over the 

painful loss. 

According to the party, 

Nigeria has indeed lost one 

of its finest military officers, 

who distinguished himself 

and made the country 

proud in several local and 

international assignments 

he undertook during his 

illustrious military career. 

The APC recalls the 

distinguished service of the 

late Malu as Force 

Commander of the 

Economic Community of 

West African States 

Monitoring Group, 

ECOMOG, peacekeeping 

force in Liberia 

from 1996 to 1998. 

It said: "His impressive 

performance earned him 

commendations from both 

Liberians and international 

observers over 

improvements that 

followed his taking 

command. 

"In the course of the late 

Malu’s eventful tenure as 

the country’s Chief of Army 

Staff from 1999 to 2001, he 

doggedly canvassed and 

undertook reforms aimed at 

establishing a truly national 

army with a deep sense of 

purpose.! 

The party prays the 

Almighty God to grant the 

late Malu eternal rest and 

the family the strength to 

bear the loss. 

Leave investors in solar 

alone, Fashola warns DISCOs 

By Chris Ochayi 

O WERRI—MINISTER 

of Works, Power and 

Housing, Mr. Babatunde 

Faahola, yesterday, 

cautioned power 

Distribution Companies, 

DISCOs, against 

interference in operations of 

investors in solar energy 

and independent power 

plants because they don’t 

have the monopoly of 

supplying electricity. 

Fashola, who issued the 

warning at the 20th monthly 

power sector operators 

meeting in Owerri, the Imo 

State capital, pointed out 

that the Electric Power Sector 

Perform Act of 2005, EPSRA, 

did not contemplate 

monopoly to any licencees. 

Besides, the minister 

noted that the immediate 

concerns of the government 

was that a solution be found 

quickly to the inability of 

DISCOs to take about 2000 

MW of power that will 

imminently increase as 

power generation gets more 

incremental. 

He said: “DISCOs have 

nothing to fear about solar. 

It is a space in which they 

are entitled to play but in 

which they cannot exclude 

others from playing. 

“The ESPRA did not 

contemplate a monopoly for 

any licensee unless it is 

expressly stated in the 

license. 

“As for channelling 

investment into Distribution 

assets through the DISCOs, 

Government has not yet 

taken a position on what the 

best way forward will be. 

“However, government is 

clear that a solution must be 

found quickly to the inability 

of DISCOs to take about 

2000 MW of power that will 

imminently increase as we 

get more incremental power. 

“But the point that must 

be made is for all of us to 

remember that 

government is a 40 per c 

ent shareholder of the 

DISCOs (on behalf of the 

federal, state, local 

governments and 

workers) and, therefore, 

has a self-benefitting 

interest in the well-being 

and efficiency of the 

DISCOs."

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Nigeria’s problem is national question, not corruption— Nwabueze 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

ELDER statesman and 

Chairman of The 

Patriots, Professor Ben 

Nwabueze (SAN), 

yesterday, dissected 


Buhari’s 57th 

independence anniversary 

speech and disagreed with 

the President that corruption 

is Nigeria’s problem. 

According to Nwabueze, 

Nigeria’s problem is the 

national question, which he 

fingered as the greatest 

threat to the country’s unity, 

saying until it is answered 

corruption will remain 

insurmountable in the 

country. 

He said: “The national 

question is concerned with 

how, while preserving 

something of their separate 

identities, the immense 

number of diverse ethnic 

groups comprised in the 

territorial area of the state 

created with the name 

Nigeria and forcibly 

imposed by British 

colonialism, can be 

coalesced and united into 

one nation and how the 

state so created can order 

the relations among the 

constituent groups to 

facilitate such coalescing. 

“That is the essence and 

the core meaning of the 

term, National Question.” 

In his independence 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA—THE 

Ooni of Ife, Oba 

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 

II, yesterday, said youths in 

the South-East were 

justified in asking for justice 

and equity, saying they 

should not be condemned, 

but listened to, to see if their 

complaints are genuine. 

The Ooni, who spoke in 

Umuahia when he paid a 

visit to Governor Okezie 

Ikpeazu at Government 

House, contended that 

rather than discard the 

name Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, it should be 

renamed Indigenous 

People of Brighter Nigeria, 

IPOBN, and the issues 

being agitated for looked 

into. 

The monarch said: “There 

is something that is 

making them to cry. We 

should not throw them 

away; we should draw 

them closer. The youths of 

this country are the future, 

the energy— they are the 

heartbeat of this country. 

“There is no need for war 

or disunity in the country, 

anniversary speech, 

President Buhari had said: 

“We must fight corruption, 

which is Nigeria’s number 

one enemy. Our 

administration is tackling 

these tasks in earnest.” 

Disagreeing, Nwabueze, 

in a statement, said: “The 

national question has an 

intimate connection with 

corruption as a 

fundamental cause of it. 

“The origin of the state in 

the African continent, as an 

alien organism planted in 

the body of Africa by 

European colonisation, has 

created in Africans an 

attitude towards it as 

belonging, not to them, but 

to the white colonialists, 

and that his interest in it is 

to get as much from it as he 

could, by any means, 

largely by corrupt means. 

“Thus, corruption, in 

Nigeria as in other African 

countries, has its origin, by 

and large, in attitude 

ingrained in us towards the 

state. 

This attitude must be 

uprooted if corruption is 

ever to be eradicated— 

what has been called restructuring 

of the mind. 

“The President, as the 

elected leader of the 

people, has the primary 

duty to mobilise the people 

for such re-structuring of the 

mind. For two and a half 

years, President Buhari has 

totally failed to 

acknowledge his duty, 

much less to take any 

concrete action to tackle it.” 

WTO IN MOROCCO: From left— Minister of Industry, Trade and 

Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah; Secretary of State to the Moroccan 

Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy, Rakiya 

Eddarhem, and Chief Negotiator, Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations, 

NOTN, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, at the World Trade Organisation miniministerial 

meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, yesterday. 

South-East youths deserve to 

be heard, not condemned—Ooni 

but there is need to tell the 

youths that disintegration 

will not pay. 

“Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, can be 

renamed and rebranded 

Indigenous People of 

Brighter Nigeria, IPOBN, 

as the youths are the 

heartbeat of our country.” 

He urged Governor 

Ikpeazu and other South- 

East leaders to open their 

doors, bring youths in and 

re-orientate them. 

Oba Ogunwusi said he 

was in Abia State “to 

continue the oneness we 

preach concerning the 

unity of this country and to 

continue to build bridges 

across the entire country,” 

explaining that he will join 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—IN the wake of 

the secessionist 

agitation by the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, an 

ex-officio of All 


APC, Chief Nduka 

Anyanwu, has called on 

Ndigbo in the celebration of 

their New Yam festival with 

Eze Eberechi Dick, 

Chairman of South-East 

Traditional Rulers’ Council, 

at Obingwa Council area of 

the state. 

In reference to the 

position of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo that Nigeria should 

be restructured to ensure 

equity, justice and fairness, 

the Ooni said the Yoruba 

race shared same view on 

the way forward for a better 

and all inclusive Nigeria. 

He commended the 

people of South-East zone 

for their contribution to 

national development, 

saying “Igbo people are 

truly the life line of this 

country with their can-do 


Buhari to immediately sack 

the Minister of Trade and 

Investment, Okechukwu 

Enelama, and other cabinet 

members from the South- 

East for their inability to 

rein in the youths. 

He told journalists in 

Abuja, yesterday, that past 

spirit, which I am very 

proud of.” 

Gov Ikpeazu’s reaction 

In his remarks, Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu said he 

was honoured and 

privileged to play host to the 

Ooni and commended him 

for being in tune with 

national issues and making 

positive contributions for 

national rebirth. 

“I am a firm believer 

that this country is strong 

today because of its 

diversity,” Ikpeazu said, 

adding “we are not going 

to be tired until we ensure 

that a good number of our 

youths are gainfully 

employed and make a 

decent living.” 

... as APC chieftain blames youths restiveness on S-East leaders 

and present governors in 

the region are responsible 

for bad governance, which 

he said had rendered more 

than 85 percent of the 

youths jobless. 

He alleged that the fact 

that the Minister’s 

appointment was imposed, 

he (Minister) has refused 

Raid on Kanu’s home 

primitive—MASSOB 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—THE 

Movement for the 

Actualisation of the 

Sovereign State of Biafra, 

MASSOB, yesterday, 

described the alleged 

invasion of the palace 

and home of Eze Israel 

Kanu, father of the leader 

of the Indigenous People 

of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi 

Nnamdi Kanu, at Afara 

Ukwu, Umuahia by 

security operatives, as 

primitive and brutal. 

In a statement, 

MASSOB’s National 

Director of Information, 

Mr. Samuel Edeson, said 

under the leadership of 

Mr. Uchenna Madu, the 

movement condemns in 

its entirety, the military 

invasion of Kanu’s home 

for no justifiable reason. 

Edeson said: “These 

primitive and brutal 

approaches of the 

By Emeka Mamah 

& Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—THE 

Professor Ben 

Nwabueze-led Igbo 

leaders of Thought, ILT, 

has demanded from 


Buhari a fresh draft 

constitution through 

convocation of a 

constituent Assembly. 

The group also said it 

aligns completely with 

the last resolution of the 

joint meeting of four geopolitical 

zones in the 

country—South-South, 

South-East, South-West 

and the Middle-Belt— in 

Abuja last Thursday. 

The Igbo leaders went 

further to throw their 

weight behind the 

Ibadan, Oyo State, 

declaration on the 

September 7, insisting 

that the powers of the 

Federal Government be 

reduced far below what 

they were under the 1963 

Constitution. 

These were parts of the 

deliberations of the group 

on the state of nation, 

where they said the 

to visit the state and the 

party secretariat since his 

appointment. 

He said: “Abians will vote 

Buhari for 2019 if he comes 

out and we are going to ask 

him to. But the few people 

working for him in the 

South-East are not really 

taking care of that zone.” 

Nigeria security agents 

against the non-violence 

Biafra agitators are signs 

of cowardice. They show 

Buhari government’s 

frustration on the eloquent 

consciousness and realities 

of Biafra freedom, which is 

being appreciated and 

acknowledged by the 

international community. 

“MASSOB and other 

pro-Biafra agitators are not 

cowed or intimidated by 

this act of over-zealousness 

and ethnic hatred of the 

people of Biafra by the 

security apparatuses. 

“Application of brutal 

federal forces against the 

non-violent Biafra agitators 

can never subdue or defeat 

the indestructible 

revolution of Biafra. Even 

in these persecutions, 

arrests, extra-judicial 

killings and detention of 

non-violent pro-Biafra 

agitators, we shall continue 

to maintain our nonviolence 

principles.” 

... as Igbo leaders demand 

new draft constitution 

meeting reviewed all 

things currently going on 

in the country including 

the October 1 speech by 

President Buhari, 

Professor Ben Nwabueze’s 

letter to The Patriots, 

communiqué of the 

Middle Belt Forum, 

among other issues. 

Roll call 

Those at the meeting 

also included Major 

Goddy Onyefuru, Chief 

Maria Okwor, Professor 

Chiweyite Ejike, Chief 

Enechie Onyia, Professor 

Uzodinma Nwala, 

Evangelist Eliot 

Ugochukwu-Uko, Rev. Fr. 

John Odey, among others. 

In the communiqué, 

signed by Professor 

Nwabueze and read by 

ILT’s Secretary, Professor 

Elochukwu Amucheazi, 

the Igbo leaders said they 

would like to remind all 

Nigerians that the greatest 

problem facing Nigeria 

remains the unresolved 

national question, he noted 

as “restructuring.” 

Parts of the communiqué 

read: “ILT condemns the 

invasion of the South-East 

by the military through the 

so called Operation Python 

Dance II and the humiliation 

and the attendant 

killings by the Army. 

“The ILT calls for a 

thorough investigation into 

NNPC crisisand will like 

to reiterate, even if it is for 

emphasis, the support for 

the wide-spread clamour in 

the country for 

restructuring.”


STERLING POWERGEN: From left— Head, PowerGen Business, 

Bipin Moye; CEO, Sterling and Wilson PowerGen Business, India, Sanjay Jadhav; 

Business Advisor to the company, Sandeep Jayaswal; MD, Royal Power and 

Energy Ltd., Sasha Israni, and Head, Sterling and Wilson MEP Business in 

Nigeria, Devendra Munot, at the grand opening of Sterling Generators showroom 

and office in Victoria Island, Lagos. 

WEMA AWARD: From left— Product Manager, WEMA Bank Plc, Mr. 

Opeyemi Eboka; awardee’s mother, Mrs. Victory Akinleye; winner of WEMA 

Educational Award, Master Caleb Akinleye, and Acting Branch Manager, WEMA 

Bank, Bariga Branch, Mrs. Wummi Fagunwa, during the prize presentation to 

the winner of WEMA Educational Award in Lagos. 

VIVIAN FOWLER'S TEA PARTY: From left—Professor Wale 

Omole; student, Miss Doyinsola Ogunsola; Director, Mrs Olufunke Amba, both 

of Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls; Mr. Sunmi Smart-Cole; another 

student, Miss Ibukun Adeola, and Mr. Supo Shasore (SAN), at the College's 

afternoon tea with Nigerian historians, at the school's premises in Alausa, Ikeja, 

Lagos. PHOTO: Shola Oyelese. 

TEACHERS' DAY: From left— Chief Executive Officer, The Hospital, 

Dr. Joel Akande; Group Public Relations & Events Manager, Dufil Prima Foods 

Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju; Chairman, NUT, Surulere, Mr. Soremekun Joseph, 

and Managing Consultant/CEO, Brain Connection Associate, Dr. Abdul Kokori, 

during a seminar by Dufil to celebrate World Teachers' Day in Surulere, Lagos. 

PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

C 

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Yakubu Mohammed's hate verses 

VETERAN journalist 

Yakubu Mohammed of 

defunct Newswatch fame did 

a yeoman's job for opponents 

of restructuring in his piece 

"Mind Your Language" 

published in The Guardian 

of October 5, 2017. He 

succeeded in doing more than 

a day's job for a day's pay but 

failed to hit target as he picked 

on the wrong men.Lacking 

sufficient arguments to fill a 

column against some of the 

finest patriots Nigeria can 

boast of , he ridiculed his 

reputation deploying untruths 

recklessly to exhaust the 

space. 

Users of hate speech: 

Mohammed sought in vain to 

portray Chief Ayo Adebanjo 

with a proud 65 years of 

unblemished public 

engagement, Akin Oyebode, 

renowned Professor of 

International Law and Banji 

Akintoye, foremost Professor of 

History and a former Senator 

of the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria as users of "hate 

speech" . Unable to fault the 

fecundity of these rare 

gentlemen on the well 

reasoned positions they have 

canvassed on the need to 

return Nigeria to a federal 

union, Mohammed resorted to 

"if you miss the ball, don't miss 

the leg" tactics and ended up 

being unconvinving. 

Enemies of 

restructuring 

He picked on Chief 

Adebanjo first and said he "has 

proved less than a statesman" 

because he "believes" and 

"thinks" that "northerners are 

opposed to federalism". He 

insults him without quoting a 

line where the Chief ever 

branded all northerners as 

enemies of restructuring . 

His next target was Prof. 

Oyebode whom he assaulted 

on the charge that the eminent 

scholar contended that 

“anybody who mouths the 

shibboleth that Nigeria’s unity 

is not negotiable is merely 

advertising his or her own 

ignorance". Anyone guided by 

knowledge should of course 

know that any entity is a daily 

dialogue and there is nothing 

settled in its life. 

Perhaps realising that the 

charge is jejune and not 

strong enough to hang the 

man of deep intellect, he went 

to lie against him that he was 

one of those who brought 

about the 1999 Constitution. 

He wrote:" Remember this 

respected professor? The one 

who was alleged to have 

helped to bring about the 1999 

constitution when General 

Abdulsalami Abubakar, who 

succeeded General Sani 

Abacha as head of state, was 

eager and desirous of handing 

over to a democratically 

elected government, the one 

who now turns around, 

without batting an eyelid, to 

describe the same constitution 

as an illegitimate child of the 

military? Nobody says the 

erudite professor is not 

entitled to his opinion, except 

that one is left aghast that all 

Mohammed is 

advised to 

sustain his 

professional 

integrity by 

sticking to the 

path of truth 

and contribute 

his quota in 

weaving the 

conversations 

on the side of 

consensus 

building 

the academic accolades and 

the international exposure do 

little to curb some people’s 

propensity for the use of the 

language of violence". 

In a desperate bid to deliver 

on the task of demolishing 

some of the greatest 

exponents of restructuring, an 

experienced journalist of his 

hue failed to check recent 

history which would have 

shown him the falsity of his 

assertions.The Constitution 

Debate Co-ordinating 

Committee, CDCC, headed by 

Justice Niki Tobi with 24 other 

members did not include Prof. 

Oyebode who has consistently 

criticised the 1999 constitution 

since its promulgation. 

He moved on to Prof. Banji 

Akintoye whom he accused of 

sounding so " militant" in his 

appearance with Alhaji Tanko 

Yakassai on Channels TV 

recently to the point that he 

mistook him for an "old parade 

commander". I watched that 

encounter and it is still 

available on Channels 

website.The erudite Prof was 

cool,calm and collected all 

through. 

Scoring cheap point: In an 

attempt to score cheap point, 

Mohammed also lied against 

Prof. Akintoye that while he 

agreed in the course of the 

interview that APC was right 

in setting up a committee on 

"True Federalism", the refined 

gentleman dismissed the 

capacity of Governor Nasir El- 

Rufai for the assignment 

saying “that small boy 

governor can’t do it” not only 

because he is avowedly 

opposed to restructuring but 

because, in his view, he lacked 

the capacity and the 

experience for it". 

The only score on which Prof. 

Akintoye faulted Governor El- 

Rufai choice was his open 

opposition to restructuring. He 

never talked about his age or 

experience.He could not have. 

Prof. Akintoye was 29 in 1964 

when he contested election 

into the Federal House of 

Representatives. Some 

Newspapers said he was the 

youngest candidate 

nationally.He became a 

Senator at the age of 44 in 

1979. How could such a man 

call a governor that is almost 

60 a "boy" in 2017? 

The Yoruba 

pedigree 

These finest specimen of 

human beings who are from 

the Yoruba region and their 

likes are too refined to trade 

insult or use the "language of 

violence".They have so much 

arguments to put forward that 

they do not need to abuse 

those who do not see issues 

from their prism. 

If Mohammed is looking for 

purveyors of "hate speech " 

whom he should admonish to 

"mind your language" he has 

sufficient men among those he 

defended in his article with 

relish. 

Starting with Governor El- 

Rufai,came on Channels TV 

months back to deploy 

unparliamentary language 

against proponents of 

restructuring .“Most of what 

you see in the media, most of 

the people that talk about 

restructuring or give long 

lectures about restructuring 

are unable to give you any 

concrete ideas about what it 

really means. As I said, a lot 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 —17 

of the talk on restructuring is 

political opportunism and 

irresponsibility in my view". 

The Vanguard of October 

5, 2016 quoted Alhaji Tanko 

Yakassai as dumped down on 

the Yoruba. 

"From Action Group to UPN, 

to NADECO to PRONACO, 

the agitation for restructuring 

is concentrated among the 

South West people of Southern 

Nigeria. The whole aggression 

originated form Action Group, 

and the intention was to deny 

the North the benefit of 

population and land mass. 

Population and 

land mass 

It is, therefore, a gang-up to 

deprive the North the benefits 

it was getting for being richly 

endowed.This agitation is not 

driven by patriotism, rather it 

is driven by hate and envy 

and this campaign started with 

some politicians in the South 

West way back in 1959....The 

agitation is not borne out of 

good intention, they know that 

they have evil intention in this 

idea of restructuring." 

In backing the quit notice 

issued by Arewa youth,The 

Nation of June 9, 2017 quoted 

Prof. Ango Abdullahi who is 

Mohammed ideal elder 

statesman as saying “I am 

disappointed in the decision 

taken by Northern Governors’ 

Forum disowning and 

condemning the agitation by 

this young agile and 

progressive youth groups. Let 

me ask these Northern 

governors whom are they 

representing,are they 

representing spirits,ghosts or 

people of the North?" 

I must not fail to point out 

the disingenuous attempt by 

Mohammed to separate Chief 

Olu Falae from his colleagues 

by attempting to create some 

imaginary wedge. 

All the gentlemen he 

critiqued and Chief Falae are 

on the same page as evident 

with the Ibadan declaration 

they all subscribed to on 

September 7, 2017 at 

Adamasingba stadium. 

Neither does the simplistic 

postulations by Mohammed 

on the calls to return to the 

federal spirit of the 1963 

constitution cut it at all. 

Nobody has said we should 

return to the letters of 1963 

constitution. 

Mohammed is advised to 

sustain his professional 

integrity by sticking to the path 

of truth and contribute his 

quota in weaving the 

conversations on the side of 

consensus building. He has 

lived too long in the Yoruba 

region not to know that the 

Yoruba public intellectuals 

consider all sides of a matter 

before taking positions.The 

issues they raise about 

restructuring is for the good of 

all Nigerians and they cannot 

be bought or blackmailed to 

abandon the truth. 

Feedback 

Re: If it is not Awo, it can't be Awo 

DEAR Mr. Odumakin, 

I thank you for your piece of Tuesday October 3, which 

appeared in the Vanguard newspaper. While I am a regular 

reader of National newspapers, particularly articles written by 

prolific columnists, I make it a point of duty not to respond, 

unless it is absolutely necessary. 

And this is one of such necessities, hence my having to write 

you. 

Please note that this response is not about your opinion on 

the statute of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that Nationalist whose 

ideology and achievements transcend all times. Rather, I am 

writing because you tried to advise Governor Ambode to revisit 

the project and probably mandate the contractor to re-work the 

statute. Your advise/request is not out of place. However, if 

Governor Ambode's posture and antecedents is anything to go 

by, I don't believe this project would be re-visited. 

I am appalled by the level of neglect by government on issues 

of public interest. I would just mention two to drive home my 

point: state of dilapidated and impassable roads throughout 

the state and heaps of refuse that dot the 'centre of excellence.' 

The government doesn't seem to be concerned about the 

seemingly long hours citizens have to commute on the roads 

as a result of several failed portions. Governor Ambode's 

government certainly has proved that his is not a listening 

government. 

And if what I read on the internet a couple of months ago is 

anything to go by, then Lagos residents can expect this hardship 

for a long time. In an article purportedly written by the 

Governor, he said: 'I hear what people say, but I may not listen.' 

The implication of this statement is that while Governor Ambode 

may indeed hear about your recommendations on the Awo 

statute, he may not necessarily listen. For every communicator, 

it is known that listening is a higher realm than hearing. One 

day governments elected by people will begin to 'listen' rather 

than merely 'hear' what the people say. 

Thank you. 

Dr. Gbenga Fajemirokun, 

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, 

Olabisi Onabanjo University, 

Sagamu Campus.

Y 

18 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

THE recent exchange of visits 

by some Northern and South 

East leaders has undoubtedly 

reignited the spirit of 

brotherhood which reckless 

acts of some elements in 

authority and youths in the 

wider society had sought to 

break over the Biafra agitation. 

First was the visit to the East 

by a delegation of Northern 

governors led by the Chairman 

of the Northern States 

Governors Forum, NSGF, 

Governor Kashim Shettima, to 

Port-Harcourt, Owerri and 

Umuahia, in late September 

2017. In the delegation were 

also Governors Aminu Masari 

of Katsina State, Aminu 

Tambuwal of Sokoto State, 

Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State 

and Simon Lalong of Plateau 

State. 

The essence of the visit, 

according to Governor 

The good in the North-South exchange of visits 

Shettima, was to promote peace 

and foster cordiality between 

Northern communities and 

their hosts in the visited states. 

During the visit, the governors 

urged members of the 

Northern community in the 

three states to maintain good 

neighbourliness with their 

hosts. They also encouraged 

their host governors to pay 

similar visits to the North and 

by that, reassured the Igbo 

living in the North of their 

safety. 

Within 48 hours of that visit, 

a delegation from the apex 

Igbo socio-cultural body, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its 

President-General, Dr Nnia 

Nwodo, was in Sokoto and 

other Northern states at the 

instance of the South East 

Governors, where the same 

message of national unity was 

reiterated. 

In the face of the descent of 

public discourse into acrimony 

and the abundance of hate 

speech in social media which 

nearly precipitated national 

upheavals, these visits by 

Northern and South East 

leaders are deeply 

encouraging. 

As Governor Shettima said, 

the visit to the South was to 

show solidarity with the 

Southern governors who, in the 

face of pressures from some 

agitated youths, refused to play 

to the gallery. Particularly heartwarming 

was the unanimous 

decision by the South East 

Governors to distance the Zone 

from the separatist agenda of 

some groups choosing, instead, 

to stand with a united Nigeria. 

These efforts showed the 

determination of Nigerians to 

stay firm with the project to 

make Nigeria work in spite of 

daunting challenges. 

We commend the National 

Assembly, the Northern 

Governors and the Eastern 

leaders for taking the bull by 

the horns in dousing the 

tension through constructive 

dialogue. This is further proof 

that leadership in a democracy 

is a collective venture and 

should never be left in the 

hands of any single authority. 

Now that tensions have gone 

down, we urge the Federal 

Government to learn from this 

experience and do everything 

in its power to create an 

atmosphere that will give all 

Nigerians a sense of equity and 

full belonging to our national 

commonwealth. 


Buhari should take the lead in 

this effort and bring everybody 

back on board. 

IT is rare for a church to 

celebrate One hundred and 

fifty years anniversary in Africa, but 

that was exactly what the Cathedral 

Church of Christ, Diocese of Lagos, 

Marina did recently. The faithful 

trooped out to the church to mark 

the event with pomp and 

pageantry. It was a remarkable 

event. Last Sunday the incumbent 

provost, Very Reverend Adebola 

Ayodeji Ojofeitimi from Ilesha in 

Osun state announced that the 

150th anniversary will be rounded 

off on December 10 while a church 

will be planted around Okun Ajah 

in Lekki to be name in honour of 

Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther next 

month. 

Earlier Provosts of the Church 

include Adelakun Williamson 

Howells (1951-1960), Festus 

Oluwole Segun ( 1960-1970), 

Samuel Hugh Akinsope Johnson 

(1970-1995), Adebola Olusegun 

Okubadejo (1995-1998), Thomas 

Akinola Jaiyeola Oluwole (1999- 

2002), Oluyinka Ibikunle Omololu 

(2002-2009) and Babatunde 

Colenso Akinpelu Johnson (2009 to 

2016) . 

The Provost Wardens of the 

Church were R.A.O. Martins (1946- 

1950), G.O. Laja (1951-1955), 

Alphaeus Martins (1956-1961), 

E.V. Badejo(1962-1970),D. O. 

Asekun (1970-1975), Bode 

Peters(1975-1980), Ayo Otuyalo 

(1980-1985), V. Akin Thompson 

(1985-1990), Kola Ramos(1990- 

1993), F.T. Durand (1993- 

1995),E.O.G. Moore (1995-1999), 

Muyiwa Oyewole (1999-2003), 

Gbola Akinola (2003-2011), 

Damola Dacosta (2011-2013) and 

Jide Ladeinde(2013 to date). 

Honouring Bishop Ajayi 

Crowther(1806-1891) is a good 

thing. For on June 29 1864 he was 

consecrated the Bishop Western 

Cathedral Church of Christ 

Marina, Lagos @ 150 

Equatorial Africa by the Archbishop 

of Canterbury in Canterbury 

Cathedral, becoming the first 

African Anglican Bishop. His son, 

Archdeacon Dandeson Crowther 

was also a prominent churchman 

in the lower Niger area while his 

daughter was the mother of 

Herbert Samuel Heelas Macaulay 

(1864-1946), a Nigerian Surveyor 

and Politician. 

The foundation stone of the 

Cathedral Church of Christ, 

Marina was laid on March 29, 1867 

by Mr. John Hawley Glover, 

administrator of the then Lagos in 

the presence of Henry Doherty and 

John Ogunbunmi who were then 

Wardens of the Church. 

Bishops that have served in the 

church include Rev. Melville Jones 

(1919-1940), Lesilie Gordon 

Vining(1940-1953),Leslie Gordon 

Vining (1951-1955), Adelakun 

Williamson Howells (1955- 

1963),Seth Irunsewe Kale (1963- 

1974), Festus Oluwole Segun 

(1975-1985), Joseph Abiodun 

Adetiloye (1985-1999) and 

Ephraim Adebola Ademowo (2000 

to date) 

And the following have served as 

people’s warden in the church. They 

are E. M. Agbebi (1907-1909), C.B. 

Olumuyiwa (1919-1923),D.T. 

Sasegbon (1923-1935), A.A. 

Bajulaiye (1936-1941),E. A.. Pearce 

(1946-1947), J.A. Curtis (1948- 

1952), Adeniji-Williams (1953),F. 

O.. Campbell(1955-1967), J. G. 

Ayodele(1967-1970),A. O. 

While church 

attendance is falling 

in England, church 

attendance is rising 

in Nigeria 

Oredugba(1970-1975), D.B.O. 

Ogutuga (1975-1981), S. A. 

Makinwa (1981-1987), S. A. 

Durojaiye (1987-1989),John 

Balogun(1989-1996), F. A. 

Adwunmi (1996-1999),Goke 

Ademiluyi (1999-2002), Rotimi 

Odugbesan (2002-2010), 

Gbolahan Ayodele (2010-2015) 

and Olugbolaga Ajayi (2015 to 

date). 

On January 1926, the stained 

glass window at the High Altar of 

the church were presented by Mr. 

E.M.E. Agbebi in memory of his 

late brother and his wife, Mr.& Mrs. 

G. D. Agbebi and, his father-in-law, 

Dr. Obadiah Johnson. He also 

donated to the Cathedral the 

stained window at the altar of the 

Lady Chapel in memory of his late 

brother, Mr Folarin Agbebi. 

In 1920, the following members 

were members of the Church 

building committee. They were 

M.S. Cole, J.H. Doherty,E.O. 

Moore, P.H. Williams,E.M.E. 

Agbebi,G.D. Agbebi, G.T. 

Bikersteth, J.R.R. McEwen,F.T. 

Wey,T.K.E. Phillips,S.H. Pearce, 

Adeniyi Jones,F.G. Martins, M.A. 

Akinsemoyin, Victor Coker,T.J. 

Carew, C.B. Olumuyiwa,I.A. 

Ogunmodede, A.E. Norman- 

Williams, J.T. Nelson-Cole, Z.I. 

Renner and D. Sasegbon. 

On September 10, 1958, the 

terrazzo flooring of the church was 

donated by the Jones family in 

honour of Dr. C.C. Adeniyi Jones. 

When Queen Elizabeth II and her 

husband Prince Phillip came to 

Nigeria on January 28 1956, they 

worshipped at the church and on 

Independence Day 1960, Princess 

Alexandria who represented the 

Queen also worshipped in the 

church. 

The following served as the 

Vicar’s Warden of the church. They 

are M.T. Robbin(1907-1916), M.T. 

Ogunmefun(1917-1922), F.T. 

Wey(1923-1924), M.O. H. 

Obafemi(1925-1926), J.R.O. 

McEwen(1928-1929), H. S. A. 

Thomas (1930-1931), A. A. 

Bajulaiye (1932-1935), E.A. 

Pearse(1936), N.O. Dixon (1938- 

1939) and J. A. Adeniji (1940- 

1945). 

On April 19, 1969, General 

Yakubu Gowon the then Head of 

State married his wife, Victoria 

Zakari in the church. 

At present the church has a 64 

stop, 4 manual pipe organ which 

was dedicated on May 2, 2010. 

On a normal Sunday, the Church 

conducts four services—7.15am, 

9.15am, 11.15am and 5pm. On 

entry to the Church one is 

captivated by the beauty of its 

architecture. It is the oldest 

Anglican Cathedral in the Church 

of the Nigeria Communion and one 

of the most beautiful Cathedrals in 

Africa. It was designed by Architect 

Benjamin Bagaondogi. At present, 

the church attendance is high 

owing to the recently designed 

policy of the Provost, Very Reverend 

Adebola Ojofeitimi who has 

involved Youths and Church 

societies in the administration of 

the Cathedral. 

While church attendance is 

falling in England, church 

attendance is rising in Nigeria. 

What a paradox. 

According to a recent report I 

read by Mr. Harriet Sherwood, a 

religious correspondent, “The 

number of people attending 

Church of England services each 

week has for the first time dropped 

below 1 million – accounting for 

less than 2% of the population – with 

Sunday attendances falling to 

760,000. 

The statistics, published on 

Tuesday, reflect the C of E’s steady 

decline over recent decades in the 

face of growing secularism and 

religious diversity, and the ageing 

profile of its worshippers. Numbers 

attending church services have 

fallen by 12% in the past decade, to 

less than half the levels of the 1960s. 

Continues Online@ 

www. vanguardngr.com 

C

C 

M 

Y 

K 

FG begins review of Nigeria’s ‘ease of doing 

business’ initiatives 

By Yinka Kolawole 

VICE President, Yemi 

Osinbajo, yesterday, in London, 

said the Federal Government 

was undertaking extensive reforms 

in its ‘ease of doing business’ 

initiatives, barely five months 

after he signed executive orders 

for the initiatives which is aimed 

at improving the business environment 

in Nigeria. 

A statement made available to 

Vanguard by Laolu Akande, senior 

special assistant to the 

vice president on media and 

publicity, noted that Osinbajo 

made the remark at the Financial 

Times Africa Summit held at the 

Claridge’s Mayfair Hotel in London. 

He said the government has 

been working assiduously to improve 

macroeconomic conditions 

in the past months, adding, “After 

a continuous slide in growth 

since 2014, the trend of growth in 

GDP has turned around with a 

modest growth of 0.55 percent in 

the second quarter of this year 

while inflation, though still somewhat 

high, has declined from its 

peak of 18.7 percent in January 

2017 to about 16 percent today.” 

Speaking to a global audience 

made up of international business 

leaders, investors, public sector 

officials, media gurus and intellectuals, 

the vice president noted 

that ‘the outlook going forward is 

quite positive based on improvements 

in oil prices and production 

and the trend of leading indicators 

such as positive purchasing 

managers indices, a revived stock 

exchange and increasing foreign 

exchange reserves.” 

He drew attention to the significant 

progress achieved in the ease 

of doing business initiative of the 


Osinbajo stated: “In the first 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

$130.00 +2.80 

$2,011.00 -74.00 

$13. 97 -0.01 

$14. 71 

$55.57 -1.43 

$49. 59 +0. 30 

304.65 305.15 305.65 

398.5431 399. 1972 399. 8513 

356. 7147 357.3001 357.8856 

310. 8673 311.3776 311. 8878 

2.697 2.7014 2.7058 

0.5263 0.5363 0.5463 

428.52957 429. 2959 429. 9993 

45. 787 45. 8626 45. 9382 

81. 2335 81. 3668 81.5001 

429. 2214 429.9258 430. 0718 

RAND 22.8 1927 22.2291 22. 

2655 

CBN Exchange rate as at 9/10/2017 

PRESS CONFERENCE: From Left, Head of Lubricants - Eterna Plc, Nnamdi Obiagwu, 

Marketing Manager - Castrol, Akosua Acheaw, Managing Director - Eterna Plc, Mahmud 

Tukur, and Sales Manager - Castrol, Matteo Antonelli, at the Castrol Nigeria Launch Press 

Conference in Lagos. 

stage, reforms were introduced 

under a 60-day national action 

plan focused on eight areas that 

make it easier to register 

businesses, obtain construction 

permits, get credit, pay taxes, get 

electricity, trade across borders, 

facilitate entry and exit of people 

and register property. 

“Practical examples of success 

include leveraging the use of technology 

to fast track business registration 

and payment of taxes, a 

functioning, tried and tested 48- 

hour electronic visa procedure and 

an Executive Order mandating 

greater transparency and 

efficiency across all government 

agencies. The reforms have led to 

reduction in cost and time, as well 

as greater transparency for small 

and medium sized enterprises in 

particular. 

“Following the 70 percent success 

rate achieved in the first phase of 

the ease of doing business reforms, 

we recently embarked on a second 

national action plan which will have 

11 areas of focus and will run for 60 

days from October 2017.” 

Vanguard reporter wins PwC’s capital 

market award 

NKIRUKA 

Nnorom, 

Capital Market Reporter at 

Vanguard Newspapers, emerged 

the winner of this year’s PwC 

Media Excellence Awards in capital 

markets reporting, at a ceremony 

in Lagos, weekend. Nnorom 

bagged the award with her entry 

entitled, “Furore over 

conversion of dollar 

debts to equity” coming 

ahead of other entries. 

The PwC Media 

Excellence Awards, 

established and 

managed by the 

world’s leading 

accounting and 

management services 

provider, seeks to 

recognise and reward 

excellence in business 

and financial reporting 

by celebrating 

journalists who 

distinguish themselves 

in different categories. 

The award is in four 

categories - Tax 

Reporting, Capital 

Markets Reporting, 

SMEs Reporting and 

Business and Economy 

Reporting. 

Winners in other categories 

include Collins Nweze of 

The Nation in Tax Reporting, Isaac 

Anyogu of BusinessDay in SMEs 

Reporting and Victor Ekualor of 

Techpoint NG in Business and 

Economy Reporting. In each category, 

winners were rewarded with 

N500,000. 

Mr. Uyi Akpata, Country Senior 

Partner for PwC Nigeria, said 

following the success the firm had 

recorded in different fields, it 

decided to widen its intervention 

last year by rewarding those 

journalists who were exceptional 

in their work and hence the media 

excellence awards. 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 — 19 

Allocate 2% oil 

output to fund 

nuclear regulatory 

agency, 

PENGASSAN 

tells FG 

He stated: “The number of entries 

this year tripled compared to that of 

last year and the quality of entries 

have gone many notches higher. 

This only suggests that the awards 

is striking the right notes and 

journalists in Nigeria now aspire to 

a higher level of excellency in their 

work. Beyond giving out cash 

prizes, we hope that this award becomes 

a motivating factor for journalists 

working in Nigeria to improve 

the quality of their reports and take 

greater interest in business reporting, 

which is critical to the socio-economic 

development of our country”. 

SON bursts cable cloning syndicate in Lagos 

STANDARDS Organisation of 

Nigeria has apprehended a 

syndicate specialized in cloning of 

certified Made in Nigeria cables in 

Lagos. 

A statement from the office of the 

Director General, Mr. Osita Aboloma, 

disclosed that the syndicate was located 

at 5, Collins Street Opposite 

Akapo Street in Ojo Alaba area of 

Lagos. According to the statement, 

the successful operation was carried 

out by a combined team of the Special 

Protection Unit of the Nigeria 

Police attached to SON, operatives 

of the Force Criminal Investigation 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Petroleum and 

Natural Gas Senior Staff 

Association of Nigeria, 

PENGASSAN, has called on 

the Federal Government to allocate 

two per cent of the revenue 

from Nigeria’s crude oil 

output to Nigerian Nuclear 

Regulatory Agency, NNRA, to 

tackle its funding challenges. 

Speaking at its second Triennial 

Branch Conference in 

Abuja, Chairman, 

PENGASSAN, NNRA Chapter, 

Mr. Ifreke Udeme, lamented 

that inadequate funding 

was hindering the Agency 

from carrying out its crucial 

roles. 

He stated: “Due to the 

specialised nature of NNRA 

and the need for highly-skilled 

and technically-competent 

staff, the need for training and 

re-training of staff cannot be 

over-emphasised. This is in 

line with international best 

practices in the industry the 

world over. Sadly, this is not the 

case, as paucity of funds is a 

very high hurdle to achieving 

this goal. 

“The activities of NNRA, 90 

per cent of them are in the oil 

and gas industry. We license 

the sources, we conduct well 

logging; and these cut across 

the oil and gas industry. The 

proceeds from these, part of it, 

a percentage of it, with legislation 

should be used to fund 

NNRA for its activities in the 

sector. Two per cent of the proceeds 

can fund the activities of 

NNRA, vis-a-vis, the directive 

by the government that we 

should exit the Federation appropriation 

by 2020.” 

To push this demand, 

Udeme said the workers plan 

to engage and collaborate with 

the relevant stakeholders - 

NNRA Governing Board, National 

Assembly, management 

of NNRA, PENGASSAN and 

Nigerian Union of Petroleum 

and Natural Gas Workers, 

NUPENG. 

In his response, Minister of 

State for Petroleum Resources, 

Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, said these 

days, the oil and gas business, 

as well as the industry, is run 

with collaboration between 

workers and their employers. 

Department in Lagos and officials of 

SON Inspectorate and Compliance 

Directorate. 

The syndicate specializes in importing 

unregistered and substandard 

cable brands like Verginity, New Age 

and Sunrise which are then rerolled, 

rebranded and repackaged as certified 

made in Nigeria cable brands for 

sale to unsuspecting consumers, it 

said. The statement disclosed that 

about 2647 bags of cables waiting to 

be cloned, 22bags, five cartons and 

270coils of already cloned cables and 

two re-rolling and rebranding equipment 

were evacuated from the premises. 

Two culprits caught in the 

process of cloning the certified 

made in Nigeria cables were arrested 

at the scene and are helping 

the Police with investigations. 

The implications of the syndicates’ 

activities, according to the statement 

would include inadvertent purchase 

and use of substandard cables 

by unsuspecting consumers; demarketing 

of certified made in 

Nigeria cables as a result; loss in 

sales and revenue by genuine local 

manufacturers of cables; reduction 

in capacity utilization and attendant 

job losses.

20— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

Lakowe Country Estate redefines Lekki skyline 

with lakes, golf course, hospitality 

Stories by 

Kingsley Adegboye 

PROSPECTIVE home 

owners who love to 

live exclusively close to 

nature in a serene and secure 

environment may not have to 

look too far to realise their 

ambition of ideal homes, as 

Lakowe Lakes Golf & Country 

Estate, an exclusive 308- 

hectare residential golf estate 

located along Ibeju-Lekki 

corridors, has brought nature 

and luxury to community 

lifestyle. 

Owned and developed by 

Mixta Africa, a leading real 

estate development company 

based in Lagos, a wholly 

owned subsidiary of ARM 

Limited, the Lakowe Lakes 

Resort is a unique, natureinspired, 

luxury hospitality 

product which takes 

advantage of the natural 

setting of Lakowe Lakes Golf 

& Country Estate in Lagos 

Nigeria. 

Specifically, the Resort 

includes 63 suites, 

comprising studio, one 

bedroom and two-bedroom 

villas, a full service spa & 

wellness centre for fitness 

and relaxation, with steam 

rooms and saunas, as well as 

an Asian themed specialty 

F&B outlet and other 

recreational facilities. 

Recreational 

facilities 

The residential estate is a 

secure and serene gated 

community with an 18-hole 

world class golf course 

comprising guest cottages, 

corporate lodges, spa 

facilities, hotel and a 

clubhouse. 

Speaking on the multibillion 

naira project during 

media tour,weekend, Mr. 

Korede Lawrence-Salu who is 

the Head of Sales at Mixta 

Nigeria, disclosed that special 

features of the expansive 

estate include The Village 

which is the luxury 

residential community within 

the estate, consisting of only 

18 residential homes, offering 

two distinct home styles and 

specially designed to cater 

for a select few. 

According to him, each 

home has its own amenities, 

adaptable to the residents’ 

requirements with wide 

doorways, ramp access, 

handrails, lighting and 

security features, adding 

that home owners will also 

enjoy the exclusive use of a 

dedicated gym, mini club 

•The Enclave, one of the housing types at Lakowe Country Estate 

house, swimming pool, 

landscaped gardens, bike rails 

and walkways. He said no 

future expansion is planned 

within The Village beyond 

these 18 unique homes. 

“Another special feature in 

the estate is The Enclave which 

is a premium residential 

community within the estate 

featuring a range of houses 

themed around some of the 

spectacular and renowned 

natural landforms in Nigeria. 

The Enclave comprises 206 

homes, delivered with 

infrastructural amenities 

including roads, water and 

sewage treatment plants. The 

Enclave provides a unique 

take on the Lakowe Lakes 

experience. Residential units 

are offered in a range of styles 

to meet the diverse 

requirements of our clients, 

including palatial retreats for 

executives and holiday 

makers, cozy homes for 

couples and corporate clients, 

and larger units for families,” 

Lawrence-Salu noted. 

Disclosing further that there 

are equally serviced 

residential plots within the 

estate with full infrastructural 

amenities for those who 

desire to buy plots to build 

by themselves, the head of 

sales said clients or 

subscribers to the plots will 

be given the option to choose 

from 10 different house 

designs, with construction 

completed only by approved 

contractors. 

Speaking on the hospitality 

aspect of the huge project, 

Mrs. Sade Hughes, 

Managing Director, Mixta 

Hospitality & Retail said there 

is The Lodge and Spa Resort 

at Lakowe Lakes that is the 

first of a number of hospitality 

products within the Golf and 

Country Estate, pointing out 

that it consists of a corporate 

lodge facility as well as a 

nature inspired Spa Resort 

that will promote wellness, 

relaxation and recreation. 

According to Hughes, the 

resort is on a dedicated and 

secluded platform within the 

estate and overlooks a lake 

which enhances the serenity 

of the setting and offers a oneof-a-kind 

experience. She 

added that the adjacent 

corporate lodge overlooks 

the golf course offering 

The Enclave 

provides a unique 

take on the 

Lakowe Lakes 

experience; 

residential units 

are offered in a 

range of styles to 

meet the diverse 

requirements of 

our clients, 

including palatial 

retreats for 

executives and 

holiday makers 

stunning views of the 18-hole 

Golf Course and beyond. 

“At completion, the Spa 

Resort will comprise 63 

upscale suites in Balinese 

inspired timber villas 

comprising studio, onebedroom 

and two-bedroom 

units. It will also include a 

full service spa and wellness 

facility, offering a wide 

variety of rejuvenating and 

therapeutic treatments. 

Recreation will also be a 

primary offering of the facility 

leveraging on the natural 

setting of the resort and the 

larger estate. 

“It will include water 

activities as well as others 

such as hiking trails and bike 

rides. A specialty restaurant 

is intended to complement 

the other elements of the 

resort and will offer fine 

dining using organic 

produce, again promoting 

wellness within the resort. 

The Corporate Lodge will 

include 20 luxury rooms as 

well as meeting and 

conferencing facilities for up 

to 150 people in various 

configurations including a 

fully equipped boardroom, 

breakout meeting rooms and 

the strategy hall for larger 

gatherings. 

“A full service restaurant is 

also included in the offering 

including a golf course facing 

outdoor dining terrace for 

private dining, cocktails and a 

host of other events. The Lodge 

and Spa Resort offers a perfect 

setting for corporate bodies 

looking for residential 

conference and retreat venues; 

leisure groups looking for 

weekend or holiday getaways. 

Spa and wellness enthusiasts 

looking for one of a kind 

upscale experience previously 

only available outside the 

country, will not need to look 

outside the country for such. 

Social parties and other 

celebratory events requiring a 

unique destination venue can 

be taken care of at our Resort,” 

Mrs. Hughes stated. 

Ambode 

Commissions 

RCCG’s N200m 

Rehabilitation 

Centre 

SUCCOUR has come the 

way of youths who suffer 

substance abuse with the 

commissioning of Enoch & 

Folu Adeboye Rehabilitation 

Centre at Araga, Epe, Lagos 

State last week. The Centre is 

an initiative of the First Born 

Family of the Redeemed 

Christian Church of God 

which later metamorphosed 

into Christ Against Drug 

Abuse Ministry, CADAM. The 

project which has gulped over 

N200m was majorly funded by 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye and 

Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. 

While unveiling the centre, 

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, 

assisted by top notch of the 

church including Mrs. Folu 

Adeboye who doubles as the 

matron of the home, lauded 

CADAM’s initiative noting 

that it will go a long way in 

complimenting efforts of the 

state government to eradicate 

crime in the society and make 

the state safe for the citizens. 

Governor Ambode also 

promised to personally assist 

the Centre in its areas of needs 

while also advising parents to 

be vigilant of drug addiction 

signs and possible anti-social 

behaviours among their 

wards. 

Positive 

transformation 

Explaining the rationale for 

the Home which has produced 

numerous graduates who have 

made impact in various fields, 

Mrs. Adeboye said it will 

serve as a centre of 

transformation for youths who 

suffer from substance abuse 

and seeking new life. She 

praised the giant 

developmental strides of the 

state government especially in 

opening up rural areas, 

hoping that the centre and its 

environs will benefit from the 

state’s infrastructural 

development. 

Mrs. Adeboye said that the 

centre which started its 

journey in 1991 has treated 

about 2000 beneficiaries with 

about 70 per cent of them 

living drug-free, independent 

and productive lives in various 

professions and vocations all 

over the world, adding, "today, 

we have both formal and 

informal relationships with 

about 12 Nigerian universities 

that send their students to us 

for the programme and 

readmit them to continue and 

complete their education upon 

our certification.” 

C 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER10, 2017 —21 

Professionals decry govt’s 

patronage of foreign contractors 

•IGP Idris and the CEO of Renmax, Mrs Adefunke Adesoji 

Shelter for police: IGP Idris to the rescue 

By Emma Nnadozie, 

Crime Editor 

T 

HE lingering problem of 

shelter for officers and 

men of the Nigeria Police Force, 

NPF, may at last have been 

addressed following the intervention 

of the Inspector-General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris. And in the event, 

policemen dutifully engaged in 

both internal security and 

mediation in civil cases can now 

heave a sigh of relief after years of 

battling with poor accommodation. 

Before now the few available 

barracks for police men were in 

advanced state of squalor and 

dilapidation, with some in danger 

of total collapse. Thus, the toiling 

men and women of the force found 

themselves living under inhuman 

and pitiable conditions, exposed in 

most cases to the harsh effects of the 

elements. The barracks were said to 

have deteriorated due to alleged 

mismanagement and paucity of 

funds. 

The good news at the moment is 

that in a bid to boost the welfare 

and living conditions of officers of 

the NPF, IGP Ibrahim Idris, 

recently commissioned the first 

tranche of 312 units out of the 

proposed 1083 units of two and 

three bedroom flats built by 

Realmax Realtors Ltd at the 

Muhammadu Buhari Estate in 

Mowo area of Badagry, Lagos. 

Upon completion, the estate which 

sits on over 64 hectares of land, is 

billed to have facilities like nursery 

and primary schools, a minishopping 

complex with a banking 

facility, an event management 

centre and a petrol station. 

Commissioner of Police, 

Cooperative, Shola David, 

acknowledged that much when he 

stated that the 1083 units of flats 

named Muhammadu Buhari 

Estate at Badagry was in fulfilment 

of the IG’s promise to improve the 

welfare of Nigeria Police officers. 

He said: “Today is a remarkable 

day in the history of the Nigeria 

Police under the leadership of the 

IG as he commissions the 1083 

units of flats at Muhammadu 

Buhari Estate. This is the first phase 

which has 312 units consisting of 

three and two bedroom flats and 

officers of the Nigeria Police have 

shown interest." 

He further said that the police 

boss will soon commission similar 

projects embarked upon in 

Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara and 

Sokoto. The project, Vanguard was 

told, started about eight years ago 

under previous police 

administrations. The first estate 

named the Goodluck Jonathan 

Housing Estate in Idimu, a 500 

unit of three-bedroom flats 

constructed for officers and men 

of the police force in Lagos, was 

also targeted at catering for the 

housing needs of police officers at 

a subsidised rate. Envisaged as a 

morale booster, the initiative to 

build an estate on buyer-owner 

basis was intended to drive the 

desired result as regards the 

officers living up to their 

responsibilities without poor 

accommodation-related 

distractions. 

The project took eight months 

to complete and it represents 

another successful Private-Public 

Partnership in providing housing 

for policemen. Interestingly IGP 

Ibrahim Idris is said to have been 

Today is a 

remarkable day in 

the history of the 

Nigeria Police under 

the leadership of the 

IG as he 

commissions the 

1083 units of flats at 

Muhammadu Buhari 

Estate 

motivated to do this as a way of 

ensuring that serving personnel 

who would one day retire are 

provided with affordable housing. 

Idris who also commissioned the 

newly constructed Mopol 22 

Headquarters building in Ikeja 

said he was committed to the 

improvement of the welfare of 

police officers. He added that one 

of his pivotal keys border on 

welfare of men and personnel of 

the force. 

He said: “In my inaugural speech 

on July 22, 2016, I said the Nigeria 

Police Force will henceforth be 

guided by international core value 

of policing with integrity, ensuring 

that the rule of law prevails in all 

our actions and activities. I also 

assured police personnel of my 

determination to accelerate all 

issues as regards the welfare of 

police men and their families such 

as promotion, prompt payment of 

salaries, provision of affordable 

housing units among others." 

For the brain behind the 500 

units constructed in Idimu and the 

recent 312 units in Badagry, the 

dream to build affordable 

accommodation for policemen 

was not without its share of 

challenges. CEO Director, Remax 

Realtors Ltd, Mrs. Adefunke 

Adesoji, said at the commissioning, 

“On behalf of the chairman and 

the board of Remax Realtors Ltd, 

we are pleased to commend the 

uncanny leadership qualities of 

the IGP for making today a reality 

and finding time out of his busy 

schedule to commission this 

project. We do appreciate your 

moral and financial support since 

you came on board, especially at 

the most critical time. 

Unflinching 

commitment 

We see this not only as support to 

our organisation but rather, your 

unflinching commitment to the 

welfare of the men and officers of 

the force by providing them with 

decent and affordable 

accommodation they can all be 

proud to call their own, now and 

at retirement, which indeed is one 

of the goals enunciated when you 

mounted the saddle. 

“The event of today has been a 

journey of about eight years when 

the management of the Nigeria 

Police Force under IGP Mike 

Okiro (rtd.) mooted the idea of a 

House Ownership Scheme for the 

men and Officers of the Police 

Force. Since then, Remax Realtors 

has worked with the Nigeria Police 

Multipurpose Cooperative 

Society to provide 500 (three 

bedroom flats) at Idimu which was 

commissioned by the former 

President Goodluck Jonathan and 

the Estate christened as Goodluck 

Jonathan Housing Estate. Today 

is another landmark occasion 

where Remax is privileged to be 

involved in the commissioning of 

another estate under our current 

President-General Muhammadu 

Buhari (rtd). The estate, when fully 

developed, would have 1083 

bungalows of both two-bedrooms 

and three-bedrooms delivered to 

the Nigeria Police Multipurpose 

Cooperative Society." 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

PROFESSIONALS in the 

construction sub-sector of the 

nation’s economy, weekend, took 

a surgical look at the performance 

of the sector under the recession 

and what is expected of the sector 

as the country exits economic 

recession, pointing out that the 

continued patronage of foreign 

construction firms at the expense 

of their Nigerian counterparts has 

remained a major draw back to the 

sector. 

Making the observation were 

members of professional bodies 

such as the Nigerian Institute of 

Architects, the Nigerian Society of 

Engineers, Nigerian Institute of 

Quantity Surveyors, the Nigerian 

Institution of Surveyors, the 

Nigerian Institute of Building, 

Building Collapse Prevention 

Guild among others who graced 

the 2017 Annual Lecture of the 

Property & Environment Writers’ of 

Nigeria PEWAN, held at the LCCI 

Conference Centre, Ikeja CBD, 

Alausa, Lagos. 

Mr. Kunle Awobodu, First Vice 

President of the Nigerian Institute 

of Building NIOB, and immediate 

past president of the Building 

Collapse Prevention Guild while 

speaking on “The Role of the 

Construction Sector in the Post 

Recession Nigeria” which was the 

theme of the lecture, identified lack 

of government commitment as 

factor militating against growth of 

the building construction industry 

in Nigeria. 

Awobodu added that Nigerian 

government gives more support to 

foreign construction operators than 

the local ones, pointing out that 

development of infrastructure 

remains a major determinant of 

economic growth of a nation. He, 

therefore, warned that if 

government’s policies are not tilted 

to favour construction which is a 

determinant of development, the 

nation is going to slip back into 

recession. 

He said, “Many nations’ 

development programmes are tied 

to the construction sector, this sector 

is the determinant of development 

in any nation. Government should 

take investments into construction 

industry serious, recession can reoccur 

due to our human errors,” 

adding that until the citizens and 

government learn to make use of 

the local construction operators, the 

sector may not record significant 

growth. 

Mr. Meckson Innocent Okoro, 

founding Partner/Consultant, 

M.I.Okoro and Associates, a firm 

of estate surveyors and valuers, 

and chairman of the day, said that 

foreign construction firms which 

are given most contracts in the 

nation usually repatriate all the 

funds back to their countries, 

adding that the capital flight is 

injurious to the nation’s economy. 

While commending PEWAN 

members for setting agenda on 

issues of growth in the construction 

industry in the nation, the astute 

estate surveyor and valuer, 

however, lamented the absence of 

the representatives of the Lagos 

State and Federal Government at 

the event, urging journalists to 

exert themselves to ensure things 

are done right in the construction 

sector. 

“It is disappointing that the guest 

speaker at the event, Minister of 

Power, Works and Housing, Mr. 

Babatunde Fashola, is neither 

present, nor sent his 

representative. The President of the 

Nigerian Society of Engineers 

NSE, Mr. Otis Anyaeji, an 

engineer, represented by the Ikeja 

Branch Chairman of the society, 

Mr. Akintayo Akintola lamented 

that most projects in the nation have 

become ‘processes’ because of lack 

of adherence to completion dates. 

Anyaeji said that conditions for 

award of contacts are usually 

deliberately made difficult to 

eliminate local engineers which 

makes a nonsense of the Local 

Content Law to have the 

participation of indigenous 

engineers. 

Infrastructure 

deficit 

Mr. Jide Oke, Executive Secretary 

Marketing, Nigeria Institute of 

Quantity Surveyors NIQS, said that 

the attitude of the political class was 

the cause of economic recession 

and other challenges faced by the 

country. 

According to Oke, who 

represented Mrs. Mercy Iyortyer, 

NIQS President, infrastructure is 

very critical to construction and as 

we come out of recession we must 

deal with the issue of power. 

He said that the infrastructure 

deficit in the nation is huge, adding 

that the private sector must drive 

the sector to speed up development. 

“Construction is very important, it 

is the barometer to measure the 

growth of any nation,” he said. 

In his goodwill address earlier, 

His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye 

Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, the Ooni of 

Ife, pointed out that the country will 

definitely get it right as long as the 

citizens join hands with 

government in its policies. Ooni, 

who was represented at the event 

by His Royal Highness, Oba 

Adebanjo Adedinni Asoya of Isoya, 

Ile Ife and his counterpart, Oba 

Adetokunbo Anosunge, Elejesi of 

Ife Kingdom, assured the 

organisers of the event his 

commitment to the course of 

construction industry, especially, 

infrastructure provision and 

housing delivery. 

“I’m happy with what you are 

doing. Without you the Property 

and Environment Writers, most of 

the successes we recorded in 

Nigeria and the ills that have 

befallen our society will not be 

known”, he said, while reassuring 

the organisers of the event of his 

commitment to the course of 

construction industry.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

How liquidity, debt, vandalism, others affect 

power supply 

By Udeme Akpan 

THERE are indications that 

many problems, including 

liquidity, vandalism and huge 

debt have constrained 

operators from supplying 

adequate power to Nigerians. 

Mr. Chiedu Ugbo, managing 

mirector of the Niger Delta Power 

Holding Company, NDPHC, 

who put the indebtedness to his 

company alone at N105 billion 

said these and others have 

constrained it from making more 

impact in the sector. 

In his recent presentation in 

Abuja obtained by Vanguard, 

Ugbo said, “NDPHC is 

experiencing some challenges, 

including liquidity limitation in 

the sector with market debt 

profile owed the company at 

over N105billion as at last 

invoice, low pace of work by 

some contractors resulting in 

re-assignment of some projects 

and vandalism of completed 

projects and transmission lines. 

“Failure of DISCOs to provide 

Distribution Substation 

Operators (DSOs) to man 

completed substations as well as 

their failure to take over some 

completed injection substation 

and lackadaisical attitude of 

DISCOs to service customers 

from the Completely Self 

Protected (CSP) transformers, 

hence failure to utilise already 

handed-over High Voltage 

Distribution System, amongst 

others.” Despite the challenges, 

Ugbo indicated that the NDPHC 

has executed 120 National 

Integrated Power Projects, NIPP 

targeted at boosting power 

supply in different parts of 

Nigeria. 

Ugbo, explained that these 

included 1,635 Km of 330kV 

Double Circuit lines, 720Km of 

132kV Double Circuit lines, 10 

new 330kV substations, seven 

new 132kV substations, 

6,150MVA of 330/132kV 

transformer capacity, 

2,800MVA of 132/33kV 

transformation capacity and the 

expansion of 36, TCN 330kV 

and 132kV substations. He 

indicated that most of these 

projects have been completed 

and many are already in 

service. 

Ugbo disclosed that the few 

remaining ones are at advance 

stages of completion, adding 

that preparations were 

underway to commission the 

330/132/33KV Ikot-Ekpene 

switching station in the second 

week of November 2016. He said 

that the switching station, will 

from its location in Akwa-Ibom 

State enable the evacuation of 

over 2,000MW of electricity from 

Calabar, Alaoji, Afam and the Ikot 

Abasi/Eket sectors in the Eastern 

flank of the national grid. 

Ugbo noted that at the 

distribution voltage level, 

NDPHC has added 1,712 Km of 

33kV lines, 4,540KM of 11kV 

lines, 24,996 completely Self- 

Protected (CSP) distribution 

transformers, 3,970MVA 

injection substations capacity 

and 1,212MVA CSP 

Transformers (distribution) 

capacity in the network. 

He pointed out that in order 

to ensure inadequate gas 

infrastructure does not affect fuel 

supply to the power plants, 

NDPHC inititated and 

constructed seven gas 

conditioning and metering 

facilities alongside several 

kilometers of pipelines to 

facilitate gas delivery to these 

plants. 

Ugbo said, “Out of these, only 

the Egbema gas metering station 

is yet to be delivered, currently 

constructed to over 85 per cent, 

awaiting gas for commissioning 

activities. Most of the 

completed facilities have been 

handed over to the Nigerian Gas 

Company who are the statutory 

body to manage the gas facilities. 

THE average price 

of Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting 

countries, OPEC’s basket 

of fourteen crudes in the 

past one week averaged 

$54.36 compared with 

$55.78 recorded the 

previous week. 

According to OPEC’s 

calculation, the highest 

price of crude was 

recorded on October 05, 

2017, which averaged 

$54.62 per barrel, while 

the lowest price for the 

period under review 

averaged $53.93 

Several intervention projects in 

both transmission and 

distribution chain of the power 

industry were also completed 

and added to the network by 

NDPHC across the nation. The 

TCN intervention projects 

include the upgrade and Turn- 

In-Turn-Out of the Ajah/Lekki/ 

Alagbon from 132kV to 330kV 

DC Line. This has been 

completed and energised. 

“The Turn-in/Turn-out of the 

3rd Benin/Onitsha 330kV Single 

Circuit transmission line at 

Asaba, completed and 

energized; the Installation of 

75MVAR Shunt Reactor at the 

Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV 

substation which has its 

procurement process initiated as 

well as completion of the TCN 

2x60MVA, 132/33kV Kukwaba 

substation which is on-going and 

currently about 85 per cent 

completed. 

“The distribution intervention 

projects include some 544Km of 

33kV Lines, 130Km of 11kV 

Lines, some 199no distribution 

transformers (100KVA, 

200KVA, 300KVA, 500 KVA), 

148MVA injection substation 

capacity added and 108MVA 

distribution transformers 

capacity added. The privatisation 

of the ten generating power 

plants is still on course. The three 

power stations of Calabar, Geregu 

and Omotosho are being 

concluded as a first phase. 

Specifically, this process will 

continue with the conclusion of 

the rest of the plants slated, noting 

that preferred bidders for these 

plants have already emerged for 

80 per cent share sales. 

“All these strategies are 

designed to enable the 

management complete all the 

on-going projects under the 

current NIPP phase, thus 

delivering power to Nigerians. In 

a similar vein, management plan 

the completion of Gbarain power 

station by firing the second unit 

to bring available capacity to 

225MW as well as completion of 

Alaoji Combined Cycle Phase. 

This will bring additional capacity 

of 270MW with one block steam 

Cycle.” 

NLNG engages local contractors on $1.6 bn ship construction 

Prince Okafor 

THE Nigerian Liquefied 

Natural Gas, NLNG, has 

engaged local contractors to 

paint, supply cables and 

carpentry works required to 

build $1.6 billion ships. The six 

vessels are being constructed 

by Samsung Heavy Industries, 

SHI, and Hyundai Heavy 

Industries, HHI, in South 

Korea. 

In an interview with 

newsmen in Lagos, the General 

Manager, External Relations, 

Source: NERC 

NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said: 

“We had a deal to build six new 

ships with HHI and SAMSUNG 

of about $1.6 billion. We then 

insisted that as part of local 

content drive, they should 

make sure that all the paints, 

arnolds, cables and carpentry 

works required to build the 

ships will have to be supplied 

by Nigeria companies. 

“Having had them commit to 

that, we then came to Nigeria 

and look out for companies 

that can meet up or almost 

meet up to those standard and 

then help them to attain that 

standard that can be accepted 

for exports. All that have been 

done and we helped them to 

raise foreign exchange from 

such projects.” 

Commenting on its N60 

billion support to government 

on the Bonny Island road 

network, Eresia-Eke noted that, 

“We believe that Bonny is in the 

conscience of Nigeria. Bonny 

has played a key role in the 

development of our country 

for decades. More recently, 

with respect to petroleum, the 

gateway to export crude oil is 

located in Bonny. Shell has 

facility in Bonny, ExxonMobil, 

Nigeria LNG also in Bonny and 

most of the proceeds from these 

operations go to the coffers of 

the federal government by way 

taxes, dividends and 

depending on the joint venture 

that is in operation, the lion 

share goes to federal 

government. 

“This community has been 

cut off from time immemorial 

from the mainland so they 

travel mainly by seas with all 

the hazards. We share our 

voyage with the community 

people to reduce hazards and 

hardship they faced. The 

second reason is that the 

government has been 

tantalizing the entire Niger 

Delta with this project because 

everyone knows that it is a 

great project but it has been 

sitting there for over 25 years. 

“We all know what good the 

project can bring in terms of 

employment, mobility of 

labour and capital. It is right in 

the heart of the Niger Delta but 

because of funding and other 

reason, it has not been 

executed so we thought we 

should help the government to 

make that dream comes to 

reality.’’ 

C 

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DPR to sanction erring IOCs, others on sharp practice 

By Ediri Ejoh, Oluchukwu 

Nkenta & Joseph Oso 

THE 

Department of 

Petroleum Resources, 

DPR, has threatened to sanction 

International Oil Companies, 

IOCs, and laboratory 

practitioners who flout 

regulatory standards in their 

operations. This was even as 

stakeholders in the sector 

bemoaned operational 

difficulties occasioned by costcutting 

beyond profitable 

margin owing to crude oil price 

crunch at the International 

market. This was disclosed at 

the ongoing 2nd stakeholders’ 

laboratory workshop, tagged: 

“Accurate analytical data- The 

fulcrum for reliable scientific 

investigation”, held in Lagos. 

Director, DPR, Mr. Mordecai 

Laden, said, “reports and data 

emanating from laboratories 

and environmental 

investigations guide policy and 

project design decisions which 

have far reaching effects on the 

ecosystem and our lives. It is 

therefore absolutely imperative 

that we cultivate the culture of 

diligence and quality in our 

practices.” 

Represented by Deputy 

Director and Head, Safety, 

Health and Environment, DPR, 

Mrs. Sibeudu Caroline, Laden 

emphasised: “As we strive as a 

nation towards economic 

independence and 

sustainability, issues of quality 

take center-state and cannot be 

compromised.” 


industry, had in the past decade 

witnessed increased local 

participation in oil and gas 

activities, “thanks to the federal 

government’s deliberate policy 

and action plan through the 

Nigeria content Development 

drive. “The main challenge 

which is a general issue is the 

cost of the materials they use in 

doing the business and this has 

been affecting them. The costs 

are going up and the cost of 

doing business is almost static. 

That has been a major challenge 

for the laboratory operators. 

However, despite these 

challenges, we are trying to make 

sure the quality does not drop,” 

he said. 

On his part, Manager 

Laboratory Services, DPR, Mr. 

Agada Onuminya, lamented huge 

neglect by oil companies and other 

operators, calling for workable and 

best practices in their laboratories. 

According to him, “some 

companies do not have quality 

staff who are practitioners in the 

laboratory fields. Some time ago, 

we discovered a company (not 

mentioned) which had sets of hired 

mass communication graduates 

working on laboratory. What do 

they know about the ethics 

involved?” 

He noted that the DPR is 

focused on ensuring that the 

environmental consultants/ 

laboratories in the Nigerian oil 

and gas industry conduct these 

services in line with 

internationally acceptable best 

practices. 

Electricity watch 

TOUR: 

Executive 

Secretary of the 

Nigerian 

Content 

Development 

and 

Management 

Board, Engr. 

Simbi Wabote 

and Managing 

Director of MG 

Vowgas Ltd, 

Engr. Godwin 

Izomor and 

others during a 

tour of MG 

Vowgas facilities 

in Port Harcourt / 

$41m WABECO J.V Deal: Peto-Gas petitions FG, 

others over non-payment of brokerage fee 

AN indigenous oil and gas 

consulting company, 

Peto-Gas Ltd, has petitioned 

relevant government agencies 

and organisations over alleged 

non-payment of 10 per cent 

brokerage fee by Trafigura 

Beheer B.V (Trafigura), the 

parent company of Puma 

Energy Ltd (Puma). In a petition 

sent to Vanguard, Peto-Gas 

indicated that it facilitated a $41 

million Bitumen Joint Venture 

deal between Puma and 

Wabeco Petroleum Limited 

(Wabeco) on terms and 

understanding that Peto-Gas 

would be entitled to 10 per cent 

industry standard Brokerage 

Fee. 

It stated that after the 

transaction was successfully 

consummated, Puma failed to 

honour its obligation. The 

indigenous company disclosed 

that after writing to the Senate 

Committee on Downstream 

Petroleum, where nothing was 

achieved, it also appealed to 

the Office of the Attorney 

General of the Federation and 

Minister of Justice of Nigeria 

(HAGF) to seek redress. 

It stated that in consequence 

of this, a mediation meeting 

was held on July 7, 2017 at the 

instance of HAGF, the meeting 

presided by the Solicitor 

General of the Federation and 

Permanent Secretary of the 

Federal Ministry of Justice 

(SGF/PS) in the person of Mr. 

Taiwo Abidogun, Esq., and was 

duly attended by Peto-Gas and 

its counsel (Bode Olanipekun, 

Esq. of Wole Olanipekun & Co.), 

Mr. Victor Umar, Company 

Secretary of Puma and its 

Counsel, and the Director and 

Deputy Director of the Citizens’ 

Rights Department of the 

Federal Ministry of Justice. 

The company disclosed that at 

the said meeting, after listening 

to both parties, the SGF/PS and 

his team highlighted the 

numerous inconsistencies in the 

case presented by Puma and 

further advised the Puma team 

to consider settling the matter 

amicably. It stated that in 

response, Victor Umar agreed 

that Puma would pay Peto-Gas an 

amount to be communicated no 

later than July 17, 2017 with a 

caveat that the payment may be 

less than the 10per cent being 

demanded by Peto-Gas. 

The company indicated that: 

“Victor Umar specifically sought 

Peto-Gas’ approval in principle 

that Peto-Gas was willing to 

reduce its demand and Peto-Gas 

responded in the positive. “Typical 

of Puma, by a letter dated July 17, 

2017 to the HAGF, Puma reneged 

on the agreement and stated that 

the management of Puma Energy 

has carefully reviewed the 

aforesaid suggestions, and is 

unable to find basis to make any 

settlement offer of any kind to Peto- 

Gas.” 

However, Trafigura stated in an 

email to Vanguard that, “Puma 

Energy is aware of the allegations 

reported in the media by Peto-Gas 

Limited and we dismiss them on 

the grounds that they are 

completely baseless. All legal 

avenues are being explored and 

as a result we cannot comment 

further.” 

Source: NCC Daily Operational Report 

TCN restores second Jebba-Kainji, 

Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada transmission 

lines 

THE Transmission Company of Nigeria said that it has 

successfully restored and energised the second 330kV power 

transmission line 1 from Jebba to Kainji, and the Ajokuta – 

Gwagwalada 330kV Double Circuit transmission line 11 on Monday, 

October 2, 2017. 

In a statement signed by the GM (Public Affairs), Ndidi Mbah, 

TCN said that the second 330kV Kainji -Jebba line had been 

unavailable for two years, due to technical problems emanating 

from the Kainji end of the power transmission line, while the 

Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada line 11, was out on account of cut sky wire 

which tangled with conductors at towers 338 and 339. 

With the rectification and energizing of the both 33kkV 

transmission lines, TCN now has transmission line redundancy 

on both the Jebbi-Kainji and Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada 330kV 

transmission lines. This means that there is increased evacuation 

and transmission flexibility on the Jebba-Kanji line. Going forward, 

fault on one of the 330kV transmission lines in each line route, 

would not interrupt power evacuation and transmission. 

TCN further noted that energising the recovered 330kV power 

transmission lines means that there are now two 330kV transmission 

lines, from Jebba to Kainji and two lines from Ajokuta – Gwagwalada. 

This has further increased the company’s transmission capability. 

TCN is committed to revamping the nation’s transmission grid 

and will continue to intensify efforts aimed at completely transforming 

the system to bring it at par with international standards.


Eta-zuma Group completes $12 million coal briquettes 

production factory 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

NIGERIA’S indigeneous 

mining company, Eta- 

Zuma Group, has completed a 

$12 million coal briquettes 

production factory in Kogi State. 

Executive Chairman of Eta- 

Zuma Group, West Africa 

Limited, Dr Innocent Ezuma, 

disclosed that this was part of his 

company’s plans to invest 

massively in order to improve 

the health of Nigerians. 

According to Ezuma, the 

factory will commence 

operations in October 2017, and 

when fully operational has the 

capacity to employ over 500, 

000 Nigerians. He said: “The fact 

is that we don’t want firewood in 

Nigerian home again. Firewood 

is a killer, firewood soothes, it goes 

into the lungs of the people that 

cook with firewood, and it kills. So 

we don’t want it. 

“It is a second biggest killer in 

Africa after malaria. It destroys 

the respiratory system because 

people inhale soothes and smoke. 

As it blackens the wall when it is 

used so it is inside the lungs and 

also destroys the skin, burns the 

face, destroys the capillaries of the 

eye, and we want to stop that. We 

have completed the factory and will 

commence commercial operations 

from October 2017. Now today we 

have fully mechanised factory in 

Nigeria completely built in Ankpa, 

Kogi State. We have spent tonnes 

of money, and as I am talking with 

you now we have spent close to 

$12 million in this project. 

“The equipment are produced, 

built, imported and installed. We 

are now waiting for natural 

binders so we can start to produce 

the coal stove and coal prickets. 

Later the coal stove. These 

opportunities will give over 500, 

000 Nigerians jobs at its maturity.” 

Meanwhile, he said the 

company has a 5, 000 tonnes 

capacity that would sustain 

production, adding that the project 

will be replicated in 11 more states. 

“The coal briquettes plant we 

have pilot plant of 2, 000 tonnes 

per month, but we are now 

developing the plant to be 5, 000 

tonnes per month modular, 

which we intend to install in 11 

states of Nigeria. Then recruit 

people, teach them and make 

them to be productive in their 

areas, and then we provide the 

technical support, funding and 

others. “We will put in the 11 States 

that are very critically challenged 

by desert encroachment and by 

erosion so that people will not be 

cutting trees again and they will 

have alternative to tree cutting, 

which even is as cheap as the 

firewood itself. 

“We will not tell you the states 

because is great secret. We are 

negotiating with some governors 

and we have serious discussions 

with Governors of Jigawa who is 

highly supportive and interested 

in this project.” 

Eterna Oil invests N3bn on lubricant plant expansion 

By Udeme Akpan 

THE Management of Eterna 

Oil Plc said that the 

company has invested over N3 

billion to further expand its 

lubricant oil plants operations to 

promote local content drive in oil 

and gas sector. 

Mr. Mahmud Tukur, the 

company’s managing director 

disclosed this while briefing the 

media, weekend, in Lagos, on 

its investment drive during the 

official launch of Castrol lubricant 

oil which was made in Nigeria 

product. 

Tukur said that the Nigeria’s 

local content drive in the oil and 

gas sector received major boost 

as an indigenous oil company, 

Eterna oil expands its investment 

in the sector to boost production 

of variants of Castrol oil which 

was hitherto imported. 

He said that Eterna was 

importing and distributing 

Castrol lubricants in Nigeria, 

before it set up a robust 

marketing structure with 

increased market sales, which 

culminated in the manufacture 

of the lubricants locally through 

a third-party facility on an interim 

basis. The Eterna boss said that 

the company has commenced 

local production of Castrol oil in 

Nigeria, adding that the aim was 

always for the company to own 

its blending facility. According to 

him, our dream became a reality 

WORKSHOP: From left: Environment Engineer, Total, Uzoma Okoroafor; 

CEO, Environmental Resources Managers, Victor Imevbore; Deputy Director, 

Safety Health and Environment, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), 

Mrs Onyebuchi Sibeudu; Manager Laboratory Service, DPR, Agada Jerome and 

Head Public Affairs DPR, Paul Osu, at the DPR 2017 Stakeholders Laboratory 

Workshop in Lagos. 

when it secured 940,000 dollars 

loan from the International 

Finance Corporation (IFC) in 

1995 to construct what was to 

eventually become one of the 

best and most modern lubricant 

manufacturing plants in Africa. 

“Castrol designed the plant 

and provided the required 

technical support during 

construction ensuring that the 

plant met global standards. 

Eterna currently operates a 

15,000, metric tons, MT, capacity 

state-of-the-art lubricant 

manufacturing plant, which is 

fully owned through its 

subsidiary Eterna Industries 

Limited, which is one of the only 

3 Castrol accredited blending 

plants in Africa. “The company 

has invested over N3 billion to 

further expand lubricant oil 

plants operations in Nigeria as 

part of President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s agenda to promote local 

content initiative,’’ he said. 

Tukur said that the plant which 

is equipped with a state of the art 

laboratory to support the blending 

activities as well as used oil analysis 

services for customers, can blend 

up to 45,000 MT, if it runs three 

full shifts. The laboratory according 

to Tukur, is a vital technical support 

which the company provides to its 

customers to enable them optimise 

equipment up-time and avoid 

failures where possible, through 

early detection and diagnosis. 

According to him, the laboratory 

frequently participates in ILCP 

(Inter Laboratory Correlation 

Programmes) exercises where it is 

provided with random samples to 

test and the results are 

benchmarked against many 

laboratories scattered all over the 

globe. “I am pleased to report that 

Eterna’s Laboratory has continued 

to retain its global rating and is 

currently pursuing its ISO 17025 

certification. 

Testing 

methods 

“The overall activities of the 

blending plant are supervised by 

Castrol’s Global manufacturing 

and Technology teams, ensuring 

that our staff are exposed to the 

latest manufacturing and testing 

methods, resulting in the highest 

quality manufactured lubricants. 

“I am proud to announce that the 

latest addition to the Castrol GTX 

family “Castrol GTX Essential” was 

produced for the first time in the 

world at our plant in Sagamu this 

August. This is a clear 

demonstration of the confidence 

reposed in our manufacturing 

capabilities by Castrol, Eterna oil 

boss added. He said that the 

Castrol GTX Essential was 

developed in response to specific 

market requirements in Nigeria/ 

Africa (and other regions with 

similar climatic conditions). 

He said that this is an example 

of how globally developed 

technology is brought to bear in 

ways that address local conditions, 

meet engine manufacturers’ 

specifications whilst remaining 

affordable and cost effective. 

“Between 2009 and 2015 post 

the acquisition of Castrol by BP, 

Eterna was majorly active in the 

Marine and Energy sectors, 

providing premium lubricants to 

tanker vessels, supply vessels, port 

operators, Floating Production 

Storage and Offloading(FPSOs) 

and drilling rigs. 

“In 2015, we commenced further 

discussions with Castrol to extend 

our licensing rights to cover the 

Automotive and Industrial Sectors. 

“Culminating in the signing of a 

sole distributorship agreement in 

February 2017 for the Automotive 

and Industrial range of Lubricants 

for the Nigerian Market”, he said. 

Tukur said in the next few 

months the company will be rolling 

out sales points nationwide, 

appointing distributors in strategic 

markets, partnering with 

independent retailers and 

constructing our own mega 

stations in key cities including 

Abuja and Calabar. 

He said that Eterna oil Plc is the 

first fully indigenous oil marketing 

company to be listed on the floor 

of the Nigeria Stock Exchange 

(NSE). 

Aveon offshore 

boost local content 

with new 257 tons 

Egina facility 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

AVEON Offshore has 

unveiled its 257 tons Egina 

Subsea Production Manifold in 

Port Harcourt, Rivers state. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Group 

Managing Director, Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru said the 

development has reaffirmed the 

commitment of the company to the 

implementation of Nigerian 

Content Act. 

He said the six manifolds 

constructed by Aveon Offshore 

with each weighing 257tons were 

the heaviest so far built in Africa. 

“The Egina 6 slots production 

manifolds are the first of its in 

Nigeria. Subsea production 

manifold deployed for previous 

deep water projects has maximum 

4 slots. 

“By today’s event, we have 

reaffirmed our commitment to the 

Nigerian Content Act. We celebrate 

today a clear demonstration of the 

growing efficacy of the Nigerian 

content act.’’ 

Dr Baru said it was heart warming 

to note that despite the over four 

million man hour on the project, 

there was no loss time injury and 

the fabrication firm worked within 

the limit of the budget. 

He further commended the 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources, Nigerian Content 

Development Monitoring Board, 

NCDMB, National Petroleum 

Investment Management Services, 

NAPIMS and other stakeholders 

for the support to the fabrication 

firm to achieve the feat. 

Aiteo appoints 

Burrows, Chief 

Finance Officer 

AITEO has announced the 

appointment of Mr. Bruce 

Burrows as Global Group Chief 

Financial Officer (CFO) with 

effect from November 18, 2017. 

Aiteo, in a statement said 

Burrows would report to the 

executive vice-chairman, Global 

Group Aiteo. 

The company stated that 

Burrows brings a wealth of 

experience from different parts 

of the world in the oil and gas, 

power, mining, manufacturing, 

consumer products, finance and 

public service sectors. Most 

recently, Aiteo said Burrows held 

CFO roles at Lekoil and Seven 

Energy respectively, oil and gas 

exploration and production 

companies with focus on Nigeria 

and West Africa. 

Prior to those roles, the 

company noted that Bruce was 

for 14 years the Finance Director 

of JKX Oil & Gas Plc, a Londonlisted 

exploration and 

production company with 

interests in Ukraine and Central/ 

Eastern Europe.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017—25

26 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

VOL. 1: NO. 156 

TUESDAY, , OCTOBER OBER 10, 0, 2017 

OGONI CLEANUP: 

MOSOP 

laments delay, 

says land, 

water still 

contaminated 

A’Ibom rebuffs FG’s 

prog for rice farmers 

— Inyang, A’Ibom/C-River 

programme coordinator 

AKWA IBOM… 

LAND OF PROMISE 

By Emmanuel Ayungbe 

UYO- AKWA IBO M 

State has reportedly 

backed out of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s N12 

billion Anchor Borrowers 

Programme for rice farmers in 

the state sponsored by the 


Managing Director/Chief 

Executive Officer, Hebron 

Integrated Farms and Mills 

Limited, the company 

coordinating the programme 

for rice and cat fish farmers in 

Akwa Ibom and Cross River 

states, Mr. Alphonsus Inyang, 

stated this in an interview with 

NDV. 

Inyang, an agricultural 

development expert, who 

sounded disturbed at the 

development, asked the NDV 

reporter, who probed for the 

reason from the Akwa Ibom 

State government. 

He bemoaned: “Well, we 

have had numerous 

challenges, the programme 

initially started as a 

AGENDA 

government window 

programme, which was state 

government partnering with 

the private sector. There are 

two windows; the state window 

whereby the state government 

is the one sponsoring like what 

is done in the Northern states, 

then there is a private window, 

whereby you do not need 

government. 

But 

In the South-South, 

you have to cut down 

trees, we have asked 

the state government 

to help us 

deploy heavy-duty 

equipment to clear 

these lands and 

prepare them so that 

these rural farmers 

can go in and farm 

unfortunately, the programme 

has moved from the state 

window to the private window 

in Akwa Ibom because the 

state government backed out.” 

I don’t know why: Pressed 

How Buhari can bring off 

Kachikwu/Baru commotion 

•Mr. Alphonsus Inyang, Coordinator, CBN Anchor 

Borrowers Programme, Akwa Ibom State. 

on the state government's 

backing out, he replied: 

“Well, I do not know, maybe 

if you ask the government. 

The funding of this 

programme, training and 

land verification has been 

on the shoulder of Hebron 

Integrated Farms. We are 

talking about several 

millions of naira, which have 

gone into this programme to 

make it successful, and we 

also complained to the 

government on the area of 

land preparation for rice. 

“For instance, in the 

Northern states, you use at 

least N20, 000 to prepare a 

piece of land, because all 

you find is the stumps of 

grasses. In the South-South, you 

have to cut down trees, we have 

asked the state government to 

help us deploy heavy-duty 

equipment to clear these lands 

and prepare them so that these 

rural farmers can go in and 

farm. It costs about one million 

naira to clear these swamps. 

Our constrictions 

“That has been a constraint, for 

that reason, this cultivation will 

only be done in the area where 

we have grass land, not the thick 

forest. We have over 30,000 

hectares of swamp forest in 

Uruan, the whole of Oron nation, 

we have over 2000 hectares. 

Areas such like Onna and Eket, 

we will not be able to farm in 

these ones because we will not 

be able to clear them.” 

Appeal to state govt 

Underscoring the need for 

government partnership, 

Inyang said: “Yes, if 

government can partner with 

us on preparing these lands 

for Akwa Ibom people to farm, 

better. There is no Igbo man in 

the programme, there is no 

Hausa man in this programme, 

everybody here is from Akwa 

Ibom State. These are the 

people government exists to 

cater for their welfare, we have 

asked them severally to come 

in and see how they can assist. 

“I was on radio recently to 

see how government can assist 

to help us clear swampy lands 

so that they can be ready for 

the yearly cultivation of rice, if 

the state government can come 

in to assist, it will go a long way 

to help, the reason being that 

from the number we are looking 

at, without state government 

participation, it will be difficult. 

N9bn in the hands of the 

poor: “The programme is 

expected to put over N9 billion 

into the hands of the poorest 

of the poor, the rural people, 

the aged women and the 

youths, who have being 

roaming about in the streets, 

some riding motorcycles, 

tricycles and some just hanging 

around anywhere. So these are 

the people we are engaging in 

this massive wealth creation, 

massive employment 

generation, massive increase in 

food production, especially 

rice, and then the spread of 

prosperity in the rural 


By Emma Amaize 

INSIDERS, particularly workers, 

watching the power play between the 

workstations of the Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel 

Kachikwu and the Group Managing 

Director, GMD, Nigeria National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, in the last six months, 

at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, had diagnosed 

that it was only a matter of time for things to 

explode. 

In fact, when the powers that be at the 

corporation started taking more than a 

passing interest in the workers that stopped 

at the Minister’s work floor and the deeper 

reason of them by-passing, it was palpable 

that matters could run out of control. 

Not unanticipated: By and large, the 

developments were not totally unexpected. 

Some have described it as a personality 

problem between Kachikwu, the former 

GMD of NNPC and Dr. Maikanti Baru, the 

incumbent GMD, his successor. 

Unmistakably, when President 

Muhammadu Buhari, who doubled as the 

Minister of Petroleum Resources, relieved 

Dr. Kachikwu of his NNPC GMD portfolio, 

last year, albeit retaining him as Minister of 

State for Petroleum with Chairman, NNPC 

Board of Directors as pacifier, it was apparent 

to even the dumb that “power has changed 

hands.” 

What was indistinguishable is the extent 


•Maikati 

•Kachikwu

Senators Imoke, Enoh, monarchs 

brainstorm on peace in C’River 

Central district 

CROSS-RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

By Emmanuel Una 

IKOM- FORMER 

Governor of Cross River 

State, Senator Liyel Imoke, 

current Senator representing 

Central senatorial district, 

Senator John Enoh, former 

Commander of the United 

Nations Peace Troop to Sudan, 

General Moses Obi, monarchs 

and other leaders of the district 

P-A-N-O-R-A-M-A 

Army takes free medicare to war-torn 

C-River community 

CROSS-RIVER… 

THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

OGURUDE- NO fewer 

than 3,000 inhabitants of 

war-torn coastal community 

Ogurude in Obubra Local 

Government Area, Cross River 

State, have benefitted from the 

free healthcare outreach carried 

out by the Nigeria Army, 13 

Brigade, Calabar. 

Residents were given free 

drugs for various ailments 

ranging from malaria to typhoid 

fever and some checked for 

hepatitis and blood pressure, 

while the army distributed 

insecticide-treated nets. 

Flagging off the medical 

outreach, the Chief of Army 

Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai, 

represented by the Commander, 

13 Brigade, Calabar, Brig. Gen 

Ismaila Isa, said the outreach 

was in support of the ongoing 

exercise, Python Dance II. 

His words: “I am here as the 

representative of the COAS 

with our health team to render 

this free medical service to you 

as part of the ongoing exercise, 

Python Dance II. The essence 

of this exercise is to rid our 

society from armed robbery, 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize, Editor 

Jimitota Onoyume 

Samuel Oyadongha 

Simon Ebegbulem 

Gabriel Enogholase 

Festus Ahon 

Egufe Yafugborhi 

Emmanuel Una 

Akpokona Omafuaire 

Godwin Oghre 

Chioma Onuegbu 

Ike Uche 

Davies Iheamnachor 

Emem Idio 

Brisibe Perez 

Theresa Ugbobu 

Ochuko Akuopha 

Barnabas Uzosike 

Nath Onajoke 

Chijioke Nwankpa 

converged on Ikom 

community in the state, 

penultimate Saturday, to 

proffer solutions to the 

incessant communal conflicts 

and cult clashes in the 

province. 

They noted that the fact that 

Central senatorial district has 

become the hotbed of inter 

communal wars, leading to 

loss of lives, destruction of 

property and insecurity in the 

state is no longer an issue, but 

what has agitated sane minds 

militancy, kidnapping, 

terrorism, proliferation of arms 

in the as well as other vices in 

the country. 

“I am happy that we have not 

found anything incriminating in 

this community. We understand 

•Imoke and Owan Enoh 

in the state was why leaders 

took a long time in 

intervening. 

It was, therefore, not 

surprising that political 

leaders, traditional rulers, 

opinion moulders, youths 

groups and women of the 

district stormed the Ikom 

Council Hall for a ‘Peace and 

Security Summit’ to dialogue 

and find ways to end the 

that this community used to be 

in conflict with their neighbours 

over land. But, I am happy now 

that you have all surrendered 

your arms for peace to reign. 

You must learn to live in peace 

amongst yourselves.” 

Residents receiving medical attention during the exercise 

Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 — 27 

incessant communal conflicts 

and cult clashes plaguing the 

area. 

The summit chaired by 

General Obi was organized by 

a former Commissioner of 

Police in the Federal Capital 

Territory, Mr. Lawrence Alobi 

and was facilitated by Senator 

Enoh. 

None is acquitted – Enoh 

Senator Owan Enoh in his 

speech stated that none of the 

six local government areas in 

the district has not been 

engaged in one form of 

conflict or the other and those 

bounded by neighbouring 

states also have engaged in 

internecine clashes with 

them, leading to loss of many 

lives and the destruction of 

property in the past few years. 

“It is only in the central 

district that we have had the 

unpleasant experience where 

two communities have 

completely been wiped out 

and these frequent conflicts 

are giving our area the image 

of a theatre of war which 

should not be so,” he asserted. 

He said war in whatever 

form or for whatever reason is 

a misplaced exercise that 

impedes progress and 

development of a place and for 

the people of the central 

district to find conflict so 

attractive to be engaging in 

A’Ibom rebuffs FG’s programme 

for rice farmers 

Continues from page 22 

communities. What this 

means is that Akwa Ibom state 

by November, this year, will be 

able to contribute six tons 

per hectare, multiply by 

20,000 hectares, that will give 

you 120,000 tonnes of rice.. 

“That is what we are bringing 

to the national table and what 

this will do is that Akwa Ibom 

state will now be found in the 

map of states that produce rice 

in Nigeria, for now, we are not 

there.” 

How we mobilized 17,000 

farmers 

Inyang told NDV: “The first 

stage is the development of 

ecosystem, that is getting 

together the small holding 

farmers in rural areas, getting 

them together registering 

them and forming a 

cooperative society, making 

them open accounts with the 

recommended bank, in this 

case, it is the Bank of 

Agriculture. You know, what 

this means, is that, for you to 

squabbles all year round, “is 

wrong and should be stopped 

hence forth.” 

Senator Enoh said another 

monster consuming the lives of 

the youths of the district is 

cultism, adding: “On June 29, 

this year, a young man was 

brutally butchered in Ugep, 

Yakkur Local Government Area 

by some blood-thirsty 

individuals in the name of 

cultism. It is unfortunate that 

some young men have chosen 

the path of guns and axes 

rather than education to better 

their future.” 

I made cultism unappealing 

in my time- Imoke 

Senator Imoke, who spoke in 

similar tone, said during his 

tenure as governor of the state, 

he ensured that every political 

office holder took an oath to stay 

away from cultism and those 

who were already in the act to 

denounce their membership of 

such cults, making cultism 

unattractive thereby 

enthroning an era of peace in 

the state. 

"When a leader is peaceful, 

he takes decisions that 

enthrone peace and the people 

follow suit but if he is violent, 

his actions would breed 

violence which makes the 

society violent and in such an 

environment, one can hardly 

experience meaningful 

progress,” he said. 

Imoke added that he ensured 

that proactive decisions were 

taken to ensure that any 

community that seem to be 

heading towards conflict with 

its neighbour; the situation was 

addressed speedily before 

events got out of hand. 

Why we convened summit- 

Alobi 

Ex-FCT Commissioner, Mr 

Alobi, said there were many 

things that could bring conflict 

in a community and the summit 

was aimed at addressing such 

flash points to ensure that 

peace reigns in the district to 

enhance development. 

get several thousands of rice 

farmers from rural areas, 

people who have never walked 

into a banking hall before, 

convincing them to open 

account, is not easy. 

“But we have already 

opened accounts for over 

17,000 of them, mostly women 

and youths in the rural areas. 

They have opened accounts 

with the participating financial 

institutions, the PFI, and Bank 

of Agriculture, right now, we 

have done the training for this 

number, our training was 

conducted in 11 centres. 

“We brought in the best 

experts, subject matter 

specialists trained by the World 

Bank and Food and Agriculture 

Organization to train these 

people on tricky areas, such as 

agriculture as a business, 

which has been a major issue. 

This is because here in Akwa 

Ibom State, people go to farm, 

and still go to the market to buy 

the same thing they planted the 

Continues on page 25

28 — Niger Delta Voice, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

OGONI CLEANUP: MOSOP laments delay, 

says land, water still contaminated 

RIVERS… TREASURE 

BASE OF THE NATION 

By Davies Iheamnachor, 

Amarachi Uzoma & Isioma 

Ananaba 

PORT HARCOURT: 

THE Movement 

for the Survival of Ogoni 

People, MOSOP, has 

expressed fears over the 

continuous deferral in the 

commencement of the 

actual cleanup of Ogoni 

land. MOSOP stated that 

Ogoni lands and water 

were still polluted, 

adding that the people 

could not resume fishing 

and farming due to the 

delay in the cleanup. 

The Hydrocarbon 

Pollution Remediation 

Project, HYPREP, had 

been set up to carry out 

the remediation process 

and had commenced a 

demonstration exercise in 

some of the impacted 

sites in Gokana, Khana 

and Tai local government 

areas of the state. 

Expedite process 

President of MOSOP, 

Legborsi Pyagbara, 

speaking in Port 

Harcourt, during a 

consultative meeting with 

Civil Society 

How Buhari can bring off Kachikwu/Baru 

commotion 

Continues from page 26 

he would cope with the 

‘ambuscade’ or whether 

he would suffocate. In 

Nigeria, a junior minister 

plays a subservient role to 

the senior minister. So 

when it concerns 

petroleum and the 

President himself is the 

key Minister of Petroleum, 

the whys and wherefores 

for certain happenings are 

bald-faced. 

Before now: Discoveries 

showed that as GMD and 

Minister of State, 

Petroleum, Kachikwu was 

reporting directly to Buhari 

not only as his senior 

minister, but also as 

President. There was no 

other go-between as he is 

the junior minister. 

Existing order: Probably 

due to the circumstances 

of Baru’s appointment 

designed to cut 

Kachikwu’s growing 

influence at the time, the 

enablers did not see any 

need for the GMD to pass 

through the Minister of 

State for Petroleum 

Resources to the Minister 

Organizations, CSOs, to 

examine the capacity of 

the governing structure 

for the cleanup, called on 


and the Hydrocarbon 

Pollution Remediation 

Project, HYPREP, to 

speed up the process. 

Pyagbara said: “Five 

years are over and the 

Ogoni lands are still 

polluted and our people 

are still suffering. The 

land cannot still be used. 

Even the financial 

support is limited and 

this is causing havoc for 

the people. 

Between capital flow 

and real execution 

“We have set up a 

structure to interface 

between HYPREP and 

the community, but the 

cleanup has not even 

started. If you count from 

August 2011 when the 

project was endorsed, 

you will notice that we 

have already gone past 

the first five years and 

nothing has been done, 

that is why people have 

been crying over the 

delay. 

“Last year, they 

launched the 

implementation process 

of Petroleum Resources, as 

the latter, who is President 

could not be reached 

through another channel 

with the correct knob. 

Seeming 

assent 

And since the senior 

minister did not kick 

against the modusoperandi 

of side-tracking 

his junior minister, the 

rebellion not just 

blossomed but grew 

wings. 

Way out: A federal 

bureaucrat familiar with 

the problematic told this 

reporter, weekend: “It is 

not a difficult matter to 

resolve. The question is 

that there is no structure, 

no defined line of 

communication between 

the NNPC, Minister of 

State for Petroleum 

Resources and Minister of 

Petroleum, who is the 

President. 

“Some people saw the 

lacunae and they took 

advantage of it to achieve 

their ambition. Now that it 

has reached a roasting 

in June 2, 2016 which 

occurred almost in the 

first five years of the 

project; we are supposed 

to encounter significant 

work done. The process 

has begun, but the 

problem now is how to 

bring the capital in the 

process and the 

implementation on 

ground.” 

Not enough support 

from Rivers govt 

Pyagbara further noted 

that the project was not 

getting the expected 

support from the Rivers 

state government, 

adding that stakeholders 

were not pleased with the 

situation. 

“The Rivers State 

Government says they 

are not being carried 

along in the project, 

which is not true to some 

extent because the 

current representation of 

the Governing Board for 

the cleanup has the 


Environment as a 

member. We are not 

getting the level of 

cooperation that the 

Rivers State government 

is supposed to give to the 

project,” he asserted. 

point and the President 

had invited Kachikwu to 

listen first-hand to him and 

Dr. Baru also met with the 

Vice President, Prof Yemi 

Osinbajo, to debrief him, 

the solution is at the corner. 

The President should have 

done this earlier than now. 

“He (Buhari) should 

clearly spell out the 

structure, supervisory 

power and line of 

communication. He 

should neither entertain 

nor condone a breach of the 

guidelines to be rolled out. 

The guidelines will show 

if he was tacitly in support 

of the strange happenings 

all along or not. 

“I can tell you that once 

this is done, the 

disagreement will fizzle 

out, each officer will know 

his boundary. Even if it is 

ego at play, the new rules 

will check it. Indeed, this 

should be done at other 

ministries and agencies 

where such unhealthy 

rivalry exists, but 

providentially it has not 

ballooned like the present 

case,” he added.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017—29


vanguardpolitics@gmail.com 

Old PDP hands accuse Obi’s men 

of marginalisaiton 

By Emmanuel Aziken, 

Political Editor 

ACRISIS of confidence has 

broken out over the 

handling of the PDP campaign 

with senior and original 

members of the party alleging 

that they have been sidelined by 

new entrants into the party 

brought in by Mr. Peter Obi, the 

immediate past governor of the 

state and a major figure in the 

Oseloka Obaze campaign. 

The assertions circling among 

top stakeholders of the party were 

immediately countered by the 

director of media of the Oseloka 

Obaze Campaign, Mr. Okey 

Aroh. 

“I can tell you that I don’t know 

what is happening and so are 

many senior chieftains of our 

party even though they publicly 

By Levinus Nwabughiogu 

THE national chairman of 

the UPP, Chief Chekwas 

Okorie, has said that the 

election is for the UPP to lose 

saying that every factor on the 

ground is against APGA and 

other major parties in the 

contest. 

Okorie in an interview with 

Vanguard further affirmed that 

UPP is the only party that has 

identified with the suffering 

and alleged indignities poured 

on the Igbo even as he said 

that the voters would not forget 

the role played by every party. 

He said: “I have always told 

anybody who asks me this 

question that Anambra election 

is between UPP and UPP, others 

are not in contention, and I am 

not boastful or immodest about 

this; it is based on very good 

•Obaze: PDP Candidate 

claim that I am part of the 

campaign, but I can tell you I am 

not and I don’t know what is 

happening,” a very prominent 

member of the party told 

Vanguard. 

The member spoke in an off the 

•Obi: Former governor 

record interview. 

“I don’t know who among the 

party’s senior members can be 

said to be involved despite the 

fact that they claim to have 

reached out to us. Ben Obi, 

Stella Oduah, and even Chris 

This election is UPP's to lose — Okorie 

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

THE Police in Fegge 

Division, Onitsha, 

Anambra State, have assured 

that it will do all within the law 

to ensure that the forthcoming 

governorship election will not 

witness, any kind of violence, 

including ballot box snatching, 

thuggery and other election 

violent activities, assures the 

electorate of their safety before, 

during and after the election. 

The Divisional Police Officer, 

DPO in charge of Fegge 

Division of the Nigerian Police, 

Onitsha, Mr. Rabiu Garba gave 

the assurance during the send 

off party, he organized for his 

13 retiring officers at the Fegge 

Police Station, weekend. 

While urging the electorate to 

come out en-mass to vote their 

•Okorie 

reasons. The Igbo people that 

you are talking about are not 

gullible people, they are not 

zombies they have feelings too, 

they are human beings, and 

Onitsha Police vow no room for 

election violence 

choice candidates, the DPO 

said he has zero tolerance for 

any criminal and violent activity 

that will mar the election, 

warning trouble makers to steer 

clear of the area while 

appealing to the politicians not 

to heat up the polity with 

inflammatory statements that 

are likely to cause trouble. 

“I continue to advise the 

politicians whenever they are 

having any public gathering or 

engaging in their campaign 

that will attract the public to 

always inform the police for 

security, there is no charge for 

that we do not have any 

interest, we belong to all, they 

should call us to provide 

security, there is no charge for 

doing our work, it is our 

administrationally established 

function," he said. 

they are rational people. 

“And I can tell that Anambra, 

in particular, is the most 

politically sophisticated state in 

this country. So anybody 

thinking that somebody will 

wake up, go to the polling 

station and cast votes for a 

party that has made life 

miserable for him is dreaming 

dreams. And now, we also 

know that the era of sitting 

down and writing results and 

then announcing it is over. 

APGA, as we speak, has two 

candidates. We are going to 

complain publicly, and if need 

be sue them because the law 

does not allow any political 

party to parade two candidates 

for the same election, you 

disadvantage others because 

they have cases in the courts 

hanging at the Supreme 

Court. 

"As for the PDP, they have 

been there for 16 years, they 

were in power for 16 years, 

they laid the foundation for the 

rot in the Southeast, and 

sometimes I find it funny to see 

even a PDP person from Igbo 

land criticizing Buhari for what 

Buhari has not done for us; 

when they told Buhari that the 

best way to treat Ndigbo is to 

neglect them because it was 

PDP that laid a bad example 

that we are still suffering from 

and they think that the same 

Igbo people will forget so soon. 

“And it is only UPP too that 

has all the agenda I told you 

earlier. So what I can say right 

now is that the election in 

Anambra state will be a kind of 

referendum, it will be a matter 

of yes or no. If you want the 

status quo to maintain, then you 

can vote for any of the other 

parties, but if you want 

revolutionary change that will 

affect you positively, it is the 

UPP you will vote for.” 

Uba are just watching, and the 

problem for us is that this was 

how they ran the PDP 

presidential campaign and led 

us to lose,” the source added. 

Responding yesterday, Mr. 

Aroh said: “Mr. Peter Obi is not 

doing any marginalisation. 

People who are mentioning those 

names are those who had 

succeeded in keeping us out of 

government for the past 12 years. 

I am an original PDP member, 

there is no marginalisation 

except those who want to keep 

us out of power, and I can assure 

you by the grace of God they will 

not succeed.” 

Chukwuka 

canvasses 

continuity with 

Obiano 


AN industrialist, Chief 

Augustine Okechukwu 

Chukwuka, has called on the 

people of Anambra State to 

embrace the policy and spirit of 

continuity in the issue of 

governance and other political 

activities in the state, particularly 

in electing the governor of the 

state. 

Speaking in an interview with 

Vanguard in Ogidi, Idemili 

North local Government, 

headquarters, Chief Chukwuka 

said: “without embracing the 

policy of continuity and imbibing 

the spirit, the state will not 

achieve much in its 

developmental goals.” 

Chukwuka who is the chief 

executive officer of Austraco 

Industries Nigeria Limited, said, 

“good governance, security, 

infrastructural development, civil 

service welfare and agricultural 

development will not be achieved 

if the policy and spirit of 

continuity are not imbibed by the 

people of Anambra State. 

“Governor Willie Obiano need 

to be voted into office for second 

tenure for the democratic 

dividends which his 

administration has achieved to be 

well rooted in the state, voting in 

a fresh candidate will draw the 

state backward, because most of 

the things he has put in structure 

will either be abandoned or 

dismantled, and such does not 

bring sustainable development. 

“My slogan is continuity 2017, 

Governor Obiano has provided 

good governance, security, 

infrastructural development, 

ensures good civil service 

welfare, agricultural 

development, and therefore, he 

needs to be allowed to continue 

in office for the second tenure in 

the spirit and policy of continuity 

and to ensure sustainable 

development. 

“For me there is no vacancy in 

the seat of the Governor of 

Anambra state, Chief Willie 

Obiano is a burning fire, and 

nobody can stop him." 

Obiano’s poor 

performance 

will pave way 

for our victory 

— Ikedife, APC 

running mate 


THE APC Deputy 

Governorship candidate, 

Mr. Dozie Ikedife jnr, yesterday, 

said the poor performance of the 

incumbent Willie Obiano 

administration which has turned 

the state into a failed state had 

created a big opportunity for the 

party to win the election. 

Ikedife who spoke in Nnewi 

yesterday, said, “with Dr. Nwoye 

and myself as governor and 

deputy governor, respectively, 

there will be a new lease of hope 

and life in Anambra State, that 

would signal a new era, now the 

Obiano’s lacklustre performance 

has made it very imperative to 

deny him second tenure. 

“Our task now is to defeat a 

non-performing, but very well 

funded incumbent in the 

gubernatorial election. Time is 

tight. The campaign will gather 

much-heightened media 

visibility in the coming days. And 

by the time we are done, 

Anambra people will be 

convinced that we are a far better 

alternative to the Obiano 

administration. We have key 

messages that would be fleshed 

out in the coming media 

campaign and other points which 

will be deemed necessary as the 

campaign progresses.” 

He made it clear that that Dr. 

Nwoye and himself are very 

young and vibrant with youth 

development initiatives, job 

creation, and empowerment at 

the core of their plans for 

Anambra State, adding that the 

pair cannot be matched in the 

state and South East in general. 

“The APC government in 

Anambra State will empower 

youths and make them 

competitive through education, 

there was an obvious downward 

trend in performance in 

education since the present 

government took over, and one 

of the priorities of the APC 

government in Anambra will be 

to bring the state back to the top 

of the national education league. 

“Dr. Tony Nwoye and Dozie 

Ikedife, Jnr, have real 

understanding of the challenges 

of Anambra people since we 

have both lived in Anambra State 

and not in Lagos or Abuja, we 

are also accessible to all and 

sundry, the records are there. 

"Dr. Nwoye as a medical doctor 

had long developed a health 

policy which will ensure primary 

healthcare to as many Anambra 

people as possible, and the issue 

of health care delivery will 

continue to be a major point in 

our administration like never 

done in the state.”

C 

M 

Y 

K 


Epistle to the Catalonians 

DURING July/August, I spent 

part of my summer in the 

beautiful city of Barcelona, the 

capital of Spain’s Catalan region. 

I gave a talk at an international 

conference on the New Silk Road 

in which China hopes to invest over 

a $1 trillion to create a new coprosperity 

sphere stretching 

through Asia, the Middle East, 

Africa and the Mediterranean. 

One of the keynote speakers was 

Carles Puigdemont, leader of the 

Catalan regional government. He 

spoke in subdued tones about the 

October referendum that he was 

convinced would lead to 

independence for his beloved 

Catalunya. Not a few of us were 

dumbfounded. 

All my life I have been fascinated 

by Spanish history and civilisation. 

As a schoolboy I read Don Quixote 

de la Mancha, master of wit and 

irony. Some of my readers might 

know that the Arab-Muslim Moors 

ruled Spain for several centuries, 

during 711 AD – 1492. The 

Umayyad Caliphs brought glory 

to such cities as Alhambra, 

Granada, Cordoba and al- 

Andalus. Global Jihadists today 

continue to lament the loss of 

Spain. 

Twentieth-century Spain 

underwent cataclysmic traumas 

— civil war and fascist 

dictatorship under General 

Franco. Today, the country is a 

By Banji Ojewale 

IT troubles one to observe that Nigeria’s 

clean weekday newspapers 

metamorphose into lewdpapers at 

weekends. Saturday and Sunday when you 

look forward to domestic company with 

child-friendly weeklies, you are trapped in 

an oppressive nightmare, wrestling with 

nudepapers. They flaunt naked images of 

female bodies not healthy for 

impressionable young minds. But these 

expressive photos also harm the larger 

society with destructive far-reaching 

consequences: they devalue the dignity of 

our womenfolk; they offer false and ungodly 

standards about intimacy between man and 

woman; they trigger an unending chain of 

loose moral conduct among the youths and 

the adults. 

We appear to have become quite tolerant 

of this creepy soft and hard pornography on 

the sacred pages of our newspapers. It used 

to be a coy feature in the gossip outlets and 

fashion magazines in the local media. Later, 

our submission to the decadent values of the 

capitalism of the Western world took us to 

an adventurous and bolder threshold that 

led to the publication of wholesale 

underground cover to cover magazines 

trading in sex. 

Since Playboy magazine, whose founder 

Hugh Hefner died recently, began the 

business in the 1950s in the print medium, 

producers of porn have deployed new 

technologies in filmology, starting in the late 

1970s to push the trade to wider and more 

daring platforms. 

They moved from 16mm to the readily 

available camcorder which even the 

unskilled could operate to shoot bedroom 

prosperous constitutional 

monarchy, with a population of 

46.5 million, a GDP of US$1.8 

trillion and a per capita income of 

US$26,643. 

I have been fascinated by 

Spanish artists and thinkers from 

Pablo Picasso to José Ortega y 

Gasset, Miguel de Unamuno and 

Salvador da Madariaga. Federico 

Garcia Lorca is among my 

favourite poets, alongside Pablo 

Neruda and Christopher Okigbo. 

No one has inspired my moralpolitical 

sensibilities more than 

the medieval Jesuit lawyers of 

Salamanca – Francisco Suarez 

and Bartalomé de las Casas – who 

warned the Conquistadores not to 

treat the conquered peoples of 

Latin America as beasts but as 

human beings deserving of honour 

and dignity. 

Twenty-first century Spain faces 

enormous challenges. As most 

people would know, the Euroland 

crisis has affected the Southern 

European countries the most, 

especially, Spain, Portugal and 

Greece. The subprime crisis that 

began in Wall Street in 2008 had a 

devastating impact on Spain. The 

economy was plunged into 

recession, with unemployment 

soaring to a high of 36 percent. The 

national debt rose to 72.1% of GDP. 

The European Commission had to 

cough out a ª100 billion bailout 

to save the economy from collapse. 

Lewdpapers or Newspapers? 

scenes for commercial distribution. Finally 

in the 1990s, following the dawn of the 

Internet man was completely overwhelmed 

by this carnal craze. It’s only a button away 

on your palm device. Of course, it’s one’s 

choice to visit such sites or resist the urge 

and recoil from it. No one takes your finger 

there. 

But this line of defence isn’t acceptable 

because we need to protect our vulnerable 

youth and society from easy exposure to 

potential peril. We can’t be fence sitters if 

there are threats to our collective cultural 

When we talk of the 

breakdown of society and 

insensitive leadership and 

institutions, we must trace 

the deficiency to a spiritually 

and morally stricken soul 

purity, sanity and morality such as 

lewdpaper journalism poses. 

There is palpable danger to our humanity. 

Our traditional values will go under if we 

are sold to consuming depravity and 

licentiousness that manifest in displaying 

sensitive parts of the body that ought not to 

be so profaned. That is where you find the 

difference between sedate civilisation and 

its antithetical obscenity. 

It is disingenuous to suggest that posting 

pictures of couples in love making act, halfclad 

females, models in thigh-high slits and 

those baring their breasts along with graphic 

literature on sex is part of the information 

and education as well as entertainment 

agenda of the media, which the Nigerian 

Add to this the recent political 

saga arising from the Catalan bid 

for secession. For more than a 

year, there had been a quarrel 

between Madrid and Barcelona 

about the constitutionality of the 

referendum for independence, 

given that the Supreme Court had 

withheld its assent. The Catalan 

The Catalan people 

have a proud history 

and identity that they 

have a right to 

protect. I believe that 

secession will 

diminish not 

enhance, their 

standing in the world 

leaders, as it were, took the law into 

their own hands, and, some would 

say, their destiny too. 

With a population of 7.5 million 

and a GDP of US$336 billion, 

Catalonia is one of the most 

prosperous regions in Europe. It 

accounts for 19 percent of the 

country’s GDP, with a per capita 

income of US$36,000, 

significantly higher than the 

national average. Unemployment 

is also significantly lower, at 13.2 

percent. Catalonia is home to 

many of the world’s Fortune 500 

companies; a leader in the export 

of automobiles, agribusiness, 

pharmaceuticals and industrial 

machinery. It is a major logistics 

hub in Europe; a leader in 

biotechnology, neuroscience and 

nuclear research. It attracts a 

staggering 18 million tourists 

annually. FC Barcelona is one of 

the best football clubs in the world. 

And IESE is one of the leading 

business schools in the world. 

My Catalan friends never cease 

to remind me that during the 

seventeenth century, they were an 

independent republic, but were 

subjugated through Castilian 

royalist subterfuge and complot. 

During the Franco era their 

language and culture were 

savagely suppressed. All of which 

is true. 

In 1992 Barcelona hosted the 

Olympic Games. It brought not 

only renown to the city; it marked 

the beginning of a new prosperity, 

as businesses and investors came 

in droves. In 2006 a new Statute of 

Autonomy was conceded by the 

central government, amidst 

grumbling by significant sections 

of Spanish society. In November 

2015 Catalan lawmakers voted 72 

to 63 to begin a process leading to 

independence from Spain in 2017. 

The Supreme Court rejected that 

decision. The Catalan regional 

government remained defiant. In 

late September a Civil Guard from 

Madrid raided regional 

government offices and detained 

officials involved in the 

referendum. The referendum still 

took place on Sunday 1st October, 

with those voting for independence 

reported to be an overwhelming 

91.96% of the voters. 

There is no end in sight to this 

crisis. Catalan leaders insist on 

international mediation, but 

Madrid would not hear of it. The 

wise and wily Angela Merkel of 

Germany has made it clear that 

she would not interfere in the 

domestic affairs of an EU member 

country. Some observers are of the 

view that the Catalonian crisis may 

well do harm to European 

integration than Brexit ever could. 

When I spoke to Catalan leaders 

and ordinary citizens during my 

visit last summer, their general 

refrain was that they generate all 

the wealth and Madrid creams off 

all the revenues. They would rather 

keep their revenues within 

Catalunya. But the fears of the 

central government in Madrid are 

not without foundation. A Catalan 

Constitution guarantees. It speaks of 

freedom of expression, information (and 

dissemination) and access to it. But it isn’t 

unfettered freedom. For instance, despite 

the acclaimed principle of fundamental 

human rights, the law doesn’t give one the 

freedom or right to take one’s life. 

To be sure, we can’t rule that all 

photographic portrayal of coital organs or 

activity is porn. We can have them aplenty 

in educational or medical textbooks. But 

the text that accompanies them is 

dispassionately technical and instructional. 

On the other hand, our lewdpapers have 

a motive to trigger sexual arousal by 

bringing up pictures of seemingly 

impeccable women in seductive killer 

mood. They defile the minds of those who 

fall for them and force them into an 

addiction akin to the calamity caused by 

alcohol and drugs. 

When a man is given to porn, he is in a 

merciless three-fold hold. He has 

dehumanised himself because he is prey to 

fantasy and futile chase for gorgon 

goddesses who won’t spring alive from the 

screen or the nudepapers. His wife would 

no longer please him since she has paled 

beside the newfound youthful sex object in 

the pictures he is served every weekend. It is 

the beginning of the breakdown of the 

home—and alas of society. 

Secondly, an early authority, Jeff Olson, 

had this to say: “as pornography pollutes 

the mind, it often turns into an enslaving… 

addiction where there is a ‘continual lust 

for more’… an addiction to pornography 

doesn’t happen overnight. It sneaks out on 

a man overtime…” 

The third dangerous effect of this retail of 

porn in our weekend newspapers is that it 

rocks the settled sanctity of sex and ruins 

our respect for women who are the 

industry’s most violated. Porn attempts to 

secession would hive off some 30% 

of GDP, compounding the national 

debt, unemployment and other 

macroeconmic fundamentals. 

I made haste to explain to them 

that they should allow reason and 

moderation to prevail. I reminded 

them that we in Nigeria once had 

a crisis of secession which plunged 

our country into civil war. And 

even today, the ghost of Biafra 

refuses to die. 

As a student of world 

civilisations, I am more keenly 

aware than most that, ultimately, 

no nation is sacrosanct. Stable 

democracies since ancient Greece 

are founded on a profound sense 

of spiritual community. They can 

be undermined by folly, hubris or 

cupidity. If regions must secede, it 

would be necessary to follow due 

constitutional process. I also told 

my Catalan friends not to forget 

that it was the Madrid 

government that, in the first 

place, encouraged investors to go 

into Catalonia to take advantage 

of its coastal location. The 

prosperity of the region is largely 

because it has an expansive 

hinterland that it services. 

I hear the same kind of noises 

at home about Lagos paying too 

much VAT to Abuja and having a 

GDP higher than Ghana. I always 

remind my omo eko friends that 

Lagos is Lagos only because it has 

a vast interior that it services. 

Remove the rest of Nigeria and 

the mega-city will be an 

overpopulated marshland of no 

significance whatsoever. 

The Catalan people have a 

proud history and identity that 

they have a right to protect. I 

believe that secession will 

diminish not enhance, their 

standing in the world. They should 

continue to work for equity and 

fairness within a more democratic 

Spain; maintaining their 

singularity within a more 

prosperous and more democratic 

Europe. 

demystify a sacred activity meant to 

symbolise man’s partnership with God in 

His plan of procreation and perpetuation 

of the human race. It seeks to give flippant 

flavour to a deep-seated pleasurable affair 

found only in a conjugal setting. Thus, it 

gives the impression that men and women 

are nothing more than animals feeding 

only on sex. 

The danger lewdpapers constitute is 

regardless of whether the victim is married 

or single. As far as they arouse one the red 

button for adventurous quest, they represent 

an anathema and a no-go area. Researchers 

in the United States of America and other 

western countries report that exposure to 

porn leads to deviant cravings including 

rape, child molestation and divorce. In one 

study, 86% of convicted rapists admitted that 

they regularly used porn. 57% said they tried 

to re-enact what they saw in the sex video. 

Porn is a deadly assault on our society. It 

works on all aspects of society—the young, 

the old and adults. It wages a mind war 

which is far more devastating than when 

physical weapons of mass destruction are 

at work. Such battles aim at the soul—the 

very essence of a human being. When we 

talk of the breakdown of society and 

insensitive leadership and institutions, we 

must trace the deficiency to a spiritually 

and morally stricken soul. That’s where you 

find loose values and insensitivity to 

character and integrity, which undermine 

the foundation of the community. 

The Pied Piper of Hamelin who caused 

national grief by killing scores of children 

in 1284 didn’t drop a bomb. He played 

seductive music that pulled the kids away 

from their parents into perdition. Nigeria’s 

own Pied Piper is in town, in the garish gab 

of porn. 

*Mr. Ojewale, a writer, wrote from Ota, 

Ogun State.

32 -- Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS: Weekend is meant for relaxation but to some 

people weekends are when money comes in and if you are 

one of those that make money around weekend then you 

are in for a good weekend. But you must take your health 

more seriously. 

GEMINI: It is a weekend young-at-heart members of this 

Star sign will like to paint towns red. Many will have genuine 

cause to celebrate life with their loved ones. 

L E I S U R E 

THOUGHT FOR TODAY 

“Love doesn’t have any failure. If you win, you will win a heart and if you don’t, you 

will win a life and you’ll surely know how to live after. Experiencing the love is important, 

regardless of its outcome. Open up your heart and experience it again. The last time you 

won a life and this time you may win a heart.” 

Written in 2014 by Neda Smaeeli Far — Iran 

CANCER: The Moon’s placement is talking about important 

aspect of your life since it is all about your Solar 4th 

house of your family base. Be more family minded. 

LEO: This weekend will impact positively on your cause 

as you will have many new brilliant ideas capable to bring 

you success. 

“A relationship without true love may blossom and appear nice, but it’s for a short period. 

True love lasts forever, and its foundation is not on sex, but sacrifice.” 

Written in 2014 by Seth Opoku Korankye — Ghana 

Love and true relationships are based on love. True love is based on sacrifice. 

VIRGO: This weekend positively highlights your Solar 

2nd house of money and important financial transactions. 

The more self assertive you are about money this weekend 

the better for you. 

LIBRA: Moon in your star sign will give you the needed 

opportunities to assert yourself this weekend. You will have 

more to gain tomorrow. 

SCORPIO: Here is a typical weekend when people of considerable 

influence will be willing to assist you. Today is 

actually your lucky day which you are expected to utilise 

fully. Then it is important you keep your secrets this weekend. 

SAGITTARIUS: This weekend positively highlights your 

Solar 11th house of friendship. Here is a good weekend 

when your hopes and wishes will come nearer fulfilment. 

It is good to be more friendly. 

CAPRICORN: This weekend will see to coming to purposeful 

end most of the challenges you have been going 

through your career/business affairs. Today will give you 

much to smile about; it is your day. 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

By Kola Fayemi 

AQUARIUS: Gradually things having to do with your career/business 

lines will come to a head to the betterment 

of both your finances and image. 

PISCES: You are in for a rewarding weekend when things 

will go according to your plans. Those of you working 

today will have more positive things to show for your efforts. 

It is good to join forces with other reliable people 

around you. 

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman 

ARIES: The weekend points to the fact that it is high time 

you do something positive about an important relationship. 

Take no decision when you are angry please. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What should I do? 

Dear Joshua, 

I am a trained caterer and I am not doing badly in 

the catering business but is like I should go back to 

school for my degree programme as if catering is not 

the right line for me. Am I thinking rightly, if yes what 

should I go for? What should I expect from my finance? 

Solomon, Lagos. 

Dear Solomon, 

Education is very important and I will never object 

to whoever want to further his or her education; meaning 

that you can further your education. However I 

want you to take a few things into consideration namely 

funding and what will become of your catering business. 

Anyway catering is good for you and I will advise 

you don’t abandon it; because you can do the two 

side by side. Under-here is analysis of your career 

and finance as requested by you. 

You actually have good head for books as indicated 

by many planets in intellectual related air Star Signs. 

Then the Libra influence in you might have taken over 

others along your career line. Hence you have rightly 

taken to SOCIAL SERVICE related business line. Then 

you are a gifted ARTIST but am not sure if you have 

discovered this traits in you, but I know you love music 

and beautiful sights. Beside Catering/Social Services 

you are into now, the COMPUTER WORLD, 

EVANGELISM and other businesses with strong links 

with RELIGION/SPIRITUAL SIDES OF LIFE are 

equally good for you so also bridal needs and things 

needed at social functions like foods, décor, flash things 

e t c. Practical approach on your part is very important 

in all business you do because you tend to day-dream 

a lot. 

You were born with Midas’ touch when it comes to 

money and financial transactions as indicated by good 

relationship between monetary Venus in unusual 

Aquarius and lucky Jupiter in monetary Libra when 

you were born. If you don’t allow African factors (like 

spiritual warfare) to affect you, you are not meant to 

run into any serious financial trouble; actually your 

hands are truly blessed . But then you must always 

guard against your excessive generous nature on one 

hand and your not being practical enough on the other 

hand. And most importantly do not allow 419ners to 

have their ways with your easy nature. Whatever happened, 

you will not know poverty. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa



Police High Command distorting Rivers 

security architecture —Wike 

By Vera Opone 

RIVERS 

State 

governor, Mr 

Nyesom Wike, has decried 

the alleged politicization of 

security in the state by the 

Police High Command, 

saying that it was 

negatively affecting the 

state’s security 

architecture. 

Speaking during a 

courtesy visit by Course 

Participants of the National 

Defence College Study 

Tour to Rivers State at 

Government House, Port 

Harcourt, yesterday, 

Governor Wike said that the 

state was suffering certain 

avoidable security 

infractions because of the 

politics introduced to 

security management. 

Governor Wike 

commiserated with the 

families of the deceased in 

Obio/Akpor Local 

Government Area of the 

state, saying that the 

administration will 

continue to strengthen 

security, despite the acts by 

the Special Anti-robbery 

Squad to sabotage the state 

security architecture. 

He said: “We had a 

security incident, I 

expected the state 

Commissioner of Police to 

be here to brief me and for 

us to plan to forestall a 

recurrence, but he will not 

come. He may brief me over 

the telephone.” 

The governor reiterated 

that the State Anti-Robbery 

Squad, SARS, 

Commander, Mr Akin 

Fakorede was specifically 

positioned in the state by 

the Police High Command 

to disorganise the state 


He informed that the 

same Rivers SARS 

Commander who was 

indicted by the INEC 

Official Election Report as 

being involved in the 

repeated rigging of 

elections, had been left in 

the state to continue to 

wreak havoc on the state's 


“We wrote to the Inspector 

General of Police to transfer 

those who sabotage our 

security out of the state, but 

he chose to leave them. 

Instead, the security 

saboteurs are busy 

participating in kidnapping 

and armed robbery with the 

use of SARS platform. 

“Everyday people are 

crying on radio about their 

experiences with SARS, 

yet the Police High 

FACEBOOK WOMEN: From left: Jennifer Fong, Strategic 

Partnerships Manager, Middle East and Africa at Facebook; Barbara Mbanefo, 

Software Engineer, Facebook; Nana Akyaa Amoah, Head of Platform Product 

Operations at Facebook and Cynthia Obioma, Product Growth Manager, 

Facebook, at the Facebook Women in Technology event at CC-Hub, Lagos. 

N-Delta Ministry to collaborate with ex-agitators 

to sustain peace 


A 

S A B A — 

MINISTER of 

Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. 

Uguru Usani, has 

reiterated the preparedness 

of the ministry to collaborate 

with ex-agitators in the 

Niger Delta in the quest to 

sustain peace in the oil-rich 

region. 

Speaking in Effurun, 

Delta State, during a peace 

security summit organised 

by the Coalition of Niger 

Delta Agitators, Usani 

commended youths of the 

region for embracing peace 

to pave way for the 

development of the country. 

Represented by Mrs. 

Lauren Braide, the 

Minister said, “We must 

commend the effort of the 

ex-militant groups because 

there is no other option to 

peace. 

“It is a good thing that the 

youths in the Niger Delta 

region are the ones 

initiating the peace and the 

ministry is ready to 

cooperate with them in this 

direction.” 

Earlier in their remarks, 

National Chairman, 

Presidential Amnesty, 

Phase II and the National 

Secretary, Ebisintei 

Stephen and Abraham 

Ekokotu respectively, said 

that the summit was aimed 

at promoting peace in the 

region in order to make way 

for proper dialogue and 

development. 

Ebisintei said, “Even as 

we are promoting this 

peace, we want Federal 

Government to be fair to us 

to ensure that the region is 

properly developed and 

keep to their promise to 

develop the region.” 

In a keynote address he 

presented at the summit, 

Prof. G. G Darah urged the 

Federal Government to 

work towards ensuring that 

2 Brigade Nigerian Army commences 

Operation Crocodile Smile in A-Ibom 

By Dennis Udoma 

U 

Y O — T W O 

Brigade, 

Nigerian Army, Uyo, Akwa 

Ibom State, has 

commenced Operation 

Crocodile Smile II in the 

state. 

The exercise is in line with 

the training directive from 

the 6 Division Nigerian 

Army, Port Harcourt, Rivers 

State, and will end on 

October 28, 2017. It is to 

avail the troops of the 

opportunity to sharpen 

their skills in the conduct 

of land- based and joint 

riverine operations. 

The troops will also 

benefit from other trainings 

such as importance of 

equipment handling and 

maintenance, inter-service/ 

inter-agency cooperation, 

application of the Nigerian 

Army Code of Conduct, 

adherence to rules of 

engagement and 

fundamental human rights 

as well as civil military 

Command has refused to 

act,” he said. 

He stated that certain 

official federal policies and 

decisions also negatively 

affect security in the Niger 

Delta. 

In his remarks, the Team 

Leader and Secretary of the 

National Defence College, 

Air Vice-Marshal Shafi 

Kudo, said that the theme 

of the study tour is: “Youth 

Empowerment and 

National Security: Issues 

and Prospects.” 

He lauded the governor 

for his achievements, 

noting that his projects 

have transformed the 

landscape of Rivers State. 

the region receives proper 

care for past years of 

neglect. 

Reiterating that it was 

imperative to go beyond 

promoting peace in the 

region, he frowned at the 

situation where the Federal 

Government had to wait for 

the region to take to violent 

agitation before trying to 

pay attention to the 

sufferings of people of the 

region the region. 

cooperation. 

The Brigade, in a 

statement in Uyo, by the 

Assistant Director of Public 

Relations, Major Shuaib 

Umar said, “In line with the 

6 Division Nigerian Army’s 

Training Directive for the 

Year 2017, troops of 2 

Brigade Nigerian Army, 

Uyo will be participating in 

this year’s Exercise 

CROCODILE SMILE II, 

which will be conducted 

from 7 – 28 October 2017 

within the 2 Brigade Area 

of responsibility." 

EGCDF Chairman warns against 

illegal bunkering, pipeline 

vandalism 

By Gab Ejuwa 

CHAIRMAN 

of 

Egbema and 

Gbaramatu Communities 

Development 

Foundation, EGCDF, Mr 

Jude Ukori, has advised 

those who indulge in 

illegal oil bunkering and 

pipeline vandalism in the 

area to stop forthwith in 

order for their sole 

sponsor, Chevron Nigeria 

Limited, to thrive in their 

business. 

Ukori during a 

familiarization tour/town 

hall meeting at Azama, 

Benikrukru and 

Kokodiagbene 

communities, thanked the 

people for their efforts in 

bringing them on board as 

Okoba donates N10m equipment 

to tackle sickle cell in Delta 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

M 

E D I C A L 

equipment, 

including Haematocrit 

Analyzer kits and 

electrophoresis machine 

valued at over N10 million 

have been donated to the 

05 Initiative, the pet project 

of Dame Edith Okowa, wife 

of Delta State governor, to 

facilitate the execution of 

sickle cell projects in public 

health institutions in Delta 

State. 

Making the donation at 

Government House, 

Asaba, United States- based 

renowned family physician 

and founder of Isioma 

Okobah Foundation, Dr. 

Isioma Okobah, said that 

the gesture was aimed at 

complementing what she 

called “The genuine 

FG feeds 17, 000 C-River pupils 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR—NO 

fewer than 17,000 

school children in primary 

and junior secondary 

schools across the 18 local 

government areas in Cross 

River State are being fed 

one meal a day during 

school hours through the 

Federal Government’s 

school feeding programme. 

Mrs Marian Uwais, 

Special Adviser to the 

President on National 

Social Investment who 

disclosed this in Calabar, 

also stated that 16, 000 

households in six councils 

of the state were receiving 

the sum of N5,000 each 

from the Conditional Cash 

Transfer scheme of the 

executives and members 

of the foundation. 

He said that the group 

was poised to promote 

sustainable development 

of all the communities 

and attraction of 

empowerment 

opportunities to all 

deserving indigenes of 

the communities, adding 

that they are not ignorant 

of the enormous 

developmental needs of 

the communities. 

According to him, “We 

can only achieve these 

through the people’s 

support in ensuring 

peaceful environment for 

Chevron. So let us jointly 

protect the oil and gas 

facilities within and 

around our communities." 

passion and commitment 

so far demonstrated by 

Dame Okowa towards 

tackling the menace of 

sickle cell disorder in the 

society.” 

Okobah acknowledged 

the achievements of the 05 

Initiative in promoting the 

health of Deltans, saying 

that the seriousness of sickle 

cell ailment was being 

underestimated and is 

deadly in sub-Sahara 

Africa. 

Receiving the equipment, 

founder of 05 Initiative, 

Dame Okowa, described Dr 

Okobah as a woman whose 

humanitarian work had 

earned her international 

accolade particularly in the 

area of providing free 

medical programme for the 

rural populace more than 

a decade ago. 

government which is part 

of the social welfare project 

of the government to 

cushion the effect of 

hardship on the poor and 

zero income earners in the 

country. 

She said that Cross River 

State was doing well 

because all the four social 

investment schemes: N- 

Power, Conditional Cash 

Transfer, Artisans Loan 

scheme and the schools 

feeding progaramme are 

all functioning in the state 

which was why the 

National Social Investment 

Office chose the state as 

host for stakeholders 

operating the programmes 

to interact and find a 

benchmark to address the 

issues facing the scheme in 

the state alongside others.



S-East, S-South govs take stand on 

quit notice 

O 

W 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

E R R I — 

GOVERNORS of 

South-East and South-South 

states of the country have 

said this will be the last time 

any person or group of 

persons will make any 

statement or take action that 

suggests that any part of the 

country is a no-go area to 

other Nigerians. 

This was part of the 

communiqué issued in 

Owerri, Imo State, at the end 

of their meeting, Monday, to 

discuss and take a position 

on certain issues common to 

the interests of the states in 

the nation’s affairs. 

The meeting, which was 

chaired by Governor Udom 

Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom 

State, had in attendance 

eight governors and a 

deputy governor. 

Other governors at the 

meeting were Rochas 

Okorocha of Imo State, 

Nyesom Wike of Rivers 

State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State, Seriake 

Dickson of Bayelsa State, 

Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia 

State and Ben Ayade of 

Cross River State. 

The Deputy Governor of 

Anambra State, Dr. Nkem 

Okeke, represented the 

governor. 

In the communiqué 

signed by Governor 

Emmanuel, Chairman of the 

forum, insisted that what 

unites the people of the 

South-East and South-South 

is much more than political 

party and other 

considerations. 


communiqué, “the forum is 

worried by the dearth of 

infrastructure and unjustified 

lack of significant federal 

presence in the South-East 

and South-South regions 

and called for more attention 

to be paid to the 

infrastructural and other 

needs of the regions by the 


"The forum discussed 

extensively on the proposed 

amendment of 1999 

constitution and resolved to 

take a position that will be 

in the best interest of the 

people of the two regions. 

The forum commended the 

role played by some patriots 

in instituting broad-based 

negotiations between the 

regions of the North and 

South-East, which led to the 

setting aside of the so-called 

'quit notice' issued by some 

misguided youths in the 

North to the Igbo resident 

in that part of the country. 

"They also expressed the 

hope that it will be the last 

time any person or group of 

persons will make any 

statement or take actions that 

suggest that any part of the 

country is a no-go area to 

other Nigerians. 

“The forum discussed 

issues bordering on the 

prevalent political 

atmosphere in the country 

and resolved that the regions 

will go in the direction that 

will be beneficial to the 

political future of the people 

of the region. 

"The forum acknowledged 

the efforts of the security 

agencies, which have 

brought relative peace to the 

regions and across the 

country, and have 

consequently contributed 

immensely to an increased 

and sustained oil production 

with the attendant benefits 

to the country. 

"They also commended the 

efforts of all stakeholders 

who have worked to ensure 

that the regions remain calm 

and safe. The forum 

expressed the hope that these 

efforts by the governors and 

other stakeholders to 

maintain peace and stability 

in the two regions will 

translate to the two regions 

reaping increased 

dividends in the form of 

greater attention paid to the 

urgent infrastructural and 

other needs of the regions." 

Abandonment of Zik’s Mausoleum project, 

a national shame— UNN Alumni 

•Wants 2014 confab reports implemented 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

O NITSHA—University 

of Nigeria Alumni 

Association, UNAA, Onitsha 

branch has described as a 

national shame, the 

abandonment of Zik’s 

Mausoleum project located 

at Zik’s Inosi Onira Retreat, 

Onitsha, Anambra State 

The mausoleum is the 

final resting place of 

Nigeria’s first president and 

Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. 

Nnamdi Azikiwe. 

The alumni called on the 

Federal Government to 

complete without further 

delay, the mausoleum 

project, which it said has 

constituted a national 

shame, having been 

abandoned several years 

after Zik was laid to rest 

inside the Inosi Onira 

Retreat. 

President of the 

association, Chris Ajugwe, 

who spoke in Onitsha at the 

57th Founders’ Day 

celebration, awards/ 

workshop and induction of 

the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe 

Alfred Achebe, as its grand 

patron, said it was quite 

regrettable that such a 

laudable project initiated by 

the federal government 

during Zik’s burial in 1996 

was yet to be completed. 

On the current agitation for 

the restoration or actualisation 

of Biafra, Ajugwe, urged 


Buhari to summon the 

political will and implement 

the manifesto of All 


APC, with respect to 

restructuring of the country. 

According to him, “a 

faithful implementation of the 

recommendation of the 

National Conference of 2014 

will douse the tension in the 

polity and safeguard our 

country’s unity.” 

He described Igwe 

Achebe as a first class 

traditional ruler and 

maintained that he deserved 

the grand patronship award 

just bestowed on him and 

prayed for him to reign many 

more years on the throne. 

Responding, Igwe Achebe 

thanked UNAA members for 

the honour done him and 

pledged to offer any possible 

assistance to them whenever 

the need arose. 

World Post Day: NIPOST assures of quality 

service delivery 

ENUGU Zonal office of 

Nigeria Postal Service, 

NIPOST, has assured its 

customers in the zone of 

quality service delivery; 

even as it said positive steps 

have been taken to take its 

services to the grassroots. 

Enugu Zonal Manager, 

Willie Ekong, spoke during 

the celebration of World Post 

Day, attended by 

representatives of some 

federal bodies like Nigerian 

Customs and Federal Road 

Safety Commission, among 

other dignitaries. 

According to him, 

NIPOST is restructuring and 

it is hinges on quality service 

MEETING: 

From left, 

Governors 

Ifeanyi Okowa 

(Delta), Udom 

Emmanuel 

(Akwa Ibom); 

Nyesom Wike 

(Rivers) and 

Seriake Dickson 

(Bayelsa), 

during the 3rd 

meeting of 

South-South and 

South-East 

governors at 

Government 

House, Owerri, 

Sunday night. 

delivery with the concept of 

“Posting the Post into 

Prosperity,” explaining that 

this is anchored on four 

pillars with 18 programmes, 

which brought about 

creation of seven 

commercial business units. 

He said the “purpose of 

World Post Day is to create 

awareness of the post in the 

everyday lives of people and 

businesses contribution to 

the social and economic 

development of countries,” 

adding that “positive steps 

have been taken to take the 

post to the grassroots.” 

In a lecture, Dr. Innocent 

Chibuzor Anidu ex-rayed 

the relevance of the post in 

the era of information and 

Ekeukwu market: Over 3000 

displaced traders get N50m 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

O WERRI—OVER 

3,000 displaced 

traders of the demolished 

Owerri Ekeukwu market by 

Imo State government, 

yesterday, got a cheque of 

N50 million, to assist them 

revive their businesses. 

Chief Executive Officer, 

Zinox Technologies, Leo 

Stan Ekeh, handed over 

the cheque to Fidelity Bank 

representative, Mr. Iheanyi 

Amakeme, in Owerri, for 

onward disbursement. 

According to Ekeh, he 

donated the money in 

order to calm tension. 

On how he was able to 

gather the data of the 

affected traders, he said it 

was through the committee 

for rehabilitation of 

displaced Ekeukwu 

communication technology, 

ICT, and noted that 

“NIPOST needs the free 

divers at all levels, because 

these are the people that can 

establish and sustain the 

relevance of NIPOST in the 

era of information and 

communication 

technology.” 

NIPOST used the 

occasion to dismiss 

insinuations that 

“communications 

technology threatens the 

existence of the post, rather, 

ICT opens opportunity to the 

post, hence it has brought 

about efficiency and 

improvement in service 

delivery.” 

traders, headed by Mr 

Ambrose Ejiogu. 

Ekeh said: “Let me tell 

you, even in Lagos, it is 

good to support the state 

that supports the growth of 

your business. If I do it to 

other states while not my 

own state. Nobody can stop 

me from doing something 

good for Imo State. I 

intervene quietly and I do 

not make noise about it. So, 

I am doing this to calm 

tension. Also, we have 

included the families of the 

bereaved including those of 

them still hospitalized.” 

While thanking Ekeh, for 

this gesture, Chairman of 

Ekeukwu market, Mr. 

Lawrence Okwudiri Alex, 

said: “I am short of words 

but I want to say this: your 

intervention has saved 

people who would have 

died." 

Bad leadership, Nigeria’s 

greatest problem —Diwe 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

A BA—CHAIRMAN, 

Association of South 

East Town Unions, ASETU, 

Chief Emeka Diwe, has 

said bad leadership has 

been the greatest problem 

inhibiting Nigeria from 

realising her full potential 

as a leading nation. 

In a chat with Vanguard 

in Aba, he contended that 

once Nigerians got over its 

leadership problem, 

nobody would be 

interested to know who 

occupies the presidential or 

governorship position and 

urged Nigerians to shun 

money, tribal and partisan 

politics to elect the proper 

people at all levels of 

governance in the country. 

He said: “Bad leadership 

has been Nigeria’s greatest 

problem. Any day we elect 

the proper people in 

positions of power, 

everything will start 

working out well. It will no 

longer matter who is at the 

centre once we elect the 

right leadership. 

"Another thing is that in 

Nigeria, we must deemphasize 

the issue of 

money in politics. This is the 

root cause of our political 

problems. People must 

begin to ask questions 

about some characters that 

represent them. When 

people think that 

everything ends and starts 

with money, then there is a 

problem. 

“Some sections of this 

country are gradually 

passing the level of seeing 

money as the only thing in 

politics. We must reorientate 

our people. We 

must look for credible 

people who have a name 

to protect. 

"In 2019, we must change 

our value system if we must 

get the type of 

development we desire. 

We must elect credible 

leadership. We need 

people who can 

appropriately articulate our 

needs. 

“The major issue is who 

is at the apex leadership? 

Who are the people 

surrounding him? What are 

their antecedents? Does the 

leadership have a vision? 

For things to work, the 

proper people have to be 

at the helm of affairs at 

every level of governance. 

"I don’t see it as a party 

issue; it depends on who 

are the personalities 

involved in leadership. In 

Igbo land, the problems are 

that most of the people 

parading themselves as 

leaders are selfish and have 

no business being in 

government.” 

C 

M 

Y

C 

M 

Y 



Bagudu denies taking N10bn 

primary education fund 

By Kabir 

Dankatsina 

BIRNIN 

KEBBI— 

GOVERNOR 

Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi 

State has dismissed reports 

that the state accessed N10 

billion from the primary 

education fund. 

In an interview with 

newsmen in Birni Kebbi, 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—BARELY 

three weeks to the 

commencement of the 

enforcement of the open 

grazing prohibition law in 

Benue State, Governor 

Samuel Ortom has 

inaugurated a special task 

force to effectively 

implement the law. 

Performing the 

inauguration yesterday in 

Makurdi, Governor Ortom 

urged members of the task 

force to always refer to the 

provisions of the law in the 

performance of their duties. 

Ortom said: “You were all 

picked as members of the 

task force because you are 

professionals, traditional 

rulers and securityconscious 

people. Your 

selection, therefore, is not 

a coincidence but 

deliberate. 

“I urge you to use your 

By John Mkom 

J ALINGO—THE 

International Funds for 

Agricultural Development, 

IFAD’s Value Chain 

Governor Bagudu 

disclosed that what the state 

actually accessed from the 

fund was N2.3 billion, 

adding that another N2.3 

billion was accessed, which 

brought the total to N4.6 

billion. 


money was expended on 

the renovation and 

upgrading of 16 secondary 

wealth of experience, 

knowledge, foresight and 

contact to successfully 

perform this onerous task.” 

Ortom, who named his 

Security Adviser, Colonel 

Edwin Jando (retd.), as 

Chairman of the Task 

Force, said the group was 

made up of widely 

Development Programme, 

yesterday, distributed 

android phones to 50 lead 

farmers in Taraba State to 

enhance Agricultural 

Marketing Information 

schools, 200 primary and 

junior secondary schools in 

the state. 

He called on the media 

to always cross check their 

facts before going to press. 

The governor 

commended the state 

assembly for its support to 

government’s projects, 

saying without the 

lawmakers’ support, no 

experienced personalities 

from security, traditional 

leadership and 

technocrats. 

IFAD distributes phones to Taraba farmers 

System, AMIS, after a 

training on AMIS and 

usage of smart phones to 

achieve it. 

Mr. Irimiya Musa, the 

State VCDP Programme 

single project would be 

executed. 

Governor Bagudu also 

thanked the people in the 

state for ensuring Nigeria 

remained as one entity, 

where everyone can pursue 

his/her objective in life. 

He revealed that another 

team from abroad will visit 

the state for another round 

of medical outreach. 

UNILEVER IDEA TROPHY: From left—Managing Director, Unilever Ghana-Nigeria, Mr. 

Yaw Nsarkoh; CEO, Biola Alabi Media, Mrs Biola Alabi; Local Media Manager, Andre Tayo-Jr, and HR, 

Director, Eniola Onimole, both of Unilever Ghana-Nigeria, during the 2017 grand finale of the Unilever 

Idea Trophy in Lagos. PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

Gov Ortom sets up task force on grazing 

prohibition law 

...assures of security 

The governor, who 

assured people of the 

state of his 

administration’s 

commitment to their 

safety, peace and security 

said: “We will continue to 

do everything to ensure 

peaceful coexistence and 

the security of lives and 

property in Benue State.” 

Responding on behalf of 

members, Chairman of 

the Task Force, Jando, 

promised that his team 

will dispassionately 

discharge 

its 

responsibilities. 

Kebbi, UNICEF tackle diarrhoea, measles 

By Kabir 

Dankatsina 

BIRNIN 

KEBBI— 

FOLLOWING the 

recent outbreak of diarrhoea 

and measles in some parts 

of Kebbi State, the state, 

yesterday, signed an 

agreement with UNICEF to 

address the menace. 

Already, a three-day 

advocacy and 87 

community engagement 

workshop was organised 

by the two bodies that came 

out with a five-year plan to 

improve the health sector. 

Speaking during the 

opening ceremony in 

Birnin Kebbi, Governor 

Abubakar Bagudu urged 

the participants to use what 

they have been taught to 

enlighten the affected 

communities and other 

parts of the state. 

He noted that the 

workshop was organised 

as a result of cases of the 

two diseases that were 

reported to the government, 

urging the participants to 

find ways of improving on 

hygiene in communities. 

The participants, which 

include traditional rulers, 

Islamic scholars, health 

personnel and journalists, 

were invited to discuss how 

best the two diseases can 

be stopped. 

Speaking at the event, 

UNICEF Sokoto Field 

Office, Dr. Mohammed, 

assured the government 

that the workshop will yield 

positive results. 

Coordinator, noted on the 

occasion that the move was 

aimed at linking farmers to 

the global market for 

enhanced profit. 

Musa, who noted that 

farming was a business, 

urged farmers to make 

Tuface fights stimatisation 

in Glo's Professor Johnbull 

TELEVISION viewers 

will see the acting 

prowess of the Afro hiphop 

megastar, Innocent 

2Face Idibia, as he 

features in the latest 

episode of the popular 

TV drama series, 

Professor Johnbull, airing 

today at 8.30p.m. on NTA 

Network, NTA 

International on DSTV 

Channel 251 and NTA 

on StarTimes. 

A repeat broadcast is 

aired on Friday at the 

same time and on same 

channels. 

The new episode of the 

series, sponsored by 

Nigeria’s foremost 

telecommunications 

company, Globacom, will, 

this week focus on the 

issue of stigmatisation 

and discrimination 

against ex-convicts and 

people living with HIV 

and related ailments. 

In character 

TuFace will be playing 

the role of an ex-convict, 

who tries to run an eatery 

but faces bankruptcy 

when people are wary of 

patronising him on 

account of his 

imprisonment history. He 

had been sentenced to 

prison for burglary. 

How Tuface manages 

this challenge and 

whether he is able to 

POWER Oil, in 

collaboration with 

Ogun State government, 

has deployed its health 

camp team across three 

primary health centres 

from different local 

government areas of 

Ogun State to support 

and facilitate the vital 

check process of the 

Ministry of Health. 

This was established 

during the formal launch 

of the project at the Ogun 

State Ministry of Health 

Secretariat, Oke Mosan, 

Abeokuta. 

The health centres 

include Ita Alapo Family 

Health Centre in Ijebu 

Ode Local Government 

Area; Ota Primary Health 

Centre in Ado-Odo Otta 

Local Government Area, 

and Obantoko Primary 

Health Centre, Odeda 

Local Government Area. 

achieve success at the end 

of the day, as well as his 

interpretation of the role, 

are worth viewers’ time. 

This is especially so, given 

that he has not been seen 

in a TV sit-com before 

now. 

HIV fears 

Also in this episode, Mai 

Doya (Funky Mallam), 

goes for an HIV test, 

attracting a series of 

incidents as a result of this, 

and especially because of 

his lean stature. It would 

be interesting to find out 

how he overcomes this 

predicament. 

The episode, tagged 

Stigma, seeks to create 

understanding for people 

who have served out stateprescribed 

punishments 

for anti-social behaviour 

and preaches integration 

for ex-convicts so that it will 

be easier for them to carry 

on with their lives without 

relapsing into criminal 

behaviour. 

Cast 

Stigma stars the regulars, 

including the protagonist, 

Professor Johnbull 

(Kanayo O. Kanayo); 

Olaniyi (Yomi Fash-Lanso); 

Ufoma (Bimbo Akintola); 

Etuk (Imeh Bishop); 

Samson (Ogus Baba) and 

Abednego, interpreted by 

Martins Nebo. 

Power Oil, Ogun partner 

on primary health care 

judicious use of the phones 

for better profit. 

He commended 

Governor Darius Ishaku 

for the prompt payment of 

counterpart fund for the 

success of the programme 

in the state. 

Free facility-based 

hypertension screening 

equipment, including 

blood pressure monitor, 

BMI device as well as the 

routine hypertension data 

booklet, which registers 

patients’ personal 

information such as age, 

sex, height, weight and 

checkup result, were 

presented 

to 

representatives of each of 

the health centres. 

Speaking at the 

programme, Dr. Qudus 

Yusuff, Director, Public 

Health, Ogun State 

Ministry of Health, 

commended the Power Oil 

brand for its unrelenting 

efforts in the promotion 

and encouragement of 

stable heart health and 

healthy living among 

Nigerians. 

The Public Relations 

Manager of Power Oil, 

Mrs. Omotayo Azeez- 

Abiodun, thanked the 

Ogun State Ministry of 

Health for the 

endorsement, while 

assuring the state of the 

brand’s continued support 

in the quest for a deeper 

outreach result in the state.


H.E Pirijo Suomela-Chowdhury 

Ambassador, Embassy of Finland 

C 

Y


GLO MUSIC IN ANYIGBA: Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, Kogi 

State University, Anyigba, Dr. Dan Atidogu (middle), flanked by winner of the 

male dancing competition, Tony Isah (left) and first runner up, Muhammed 

Obieha, at the Anyigba edition of the Glo Mega Music Nationwide Tour. 

EATON PROMO: From left— Eaton Distributor & Representative, 

ANSA Systems, Mr. Olorunleke Alfred; Power Quality Sales Specialist, Eaton 

Nigeria, Mr. John Ehiedu; Regional Sales Manager, Eaton Nigeria, Mr. Charles 

Iyo; and representative of Everlasting Father Computers Ltd., winner of Eaton 

UPS promo, Chioma Ezekiel, at the prize presentation in Lagos, yesterday. 

PHOTO: Bunmi Azeez. 

RIBENA BACK-TO-SCHOOL: From left— Marketing Director, 

Suntory Beverage and Food, Mrs. Rosemary Akpo; beneficiary, Master 

Fatukesi Tosin; his mother, Mrs. Caroline Fatukesi, and Finance Director, 

Vladimir Dzurilla, at the 2017 Ribena Lucozade Back-to-School Scholarship 

promo cash presentations at Suntory Head Office, in Lagos. 

CELEBRATION: From left— Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and 

Sports, Mr. Afolabi Afuape; celebrant, Mr. Olalekan Adebayo; his wife, Adedoyin; 

Chairman of the occasion, Chief Duro Aikulola, and Maiyegun of Egbaland, 

Chief Olatunde Abudu, during Mr. Adebayo's 70th birthday celebration in 

Abeokuta, Ogun State.



Political interference in NNPC operations poses risks —PwC 

By Ediri Ejor 

L AGOS—POLITICAL 

involvement in the 

management of Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, can 

lead to a rapid turnover in 

key staff, and create 

difficulties in the ability to 

execute strategic initiatives, 

a new report by 

PricewaterhouseCoopers 

has said. 

The PwC report, entitled 

‘The new nation builders: 

Creating the African 

national oil company of the 

future,’ said NNPC’s 

financial position had been 

a problem, given the low oil 

price environment, as with 

other national oil 

companies. 

It said though NNPC 

obtained funds from diverse 

sources, including the 

government, financial 

institutions and dividends, 

low oil price had led to an 

inability to meet cash calls 

on a number of joint 

ventures. 

“Issues relating to 

business irregularities (for 

example, sales of crude by 

non-approved entities) 

may have impacted the 

inflow of investment,” the 

report said. 

The PwC analysts, 

however, said the 

corporation’s 

comprehensive business 

operations across the value 

chain had enabled it to 

develop strong technical 

and operational capabilities 

and mitigate operational 

costs and reduce 

dependence on third 

parties. 

“This, and the NNPC’s 

commercial flexibility and 

understanding of local 

requirements, has 

supported the successful 

establishment of a range of 

product-sharing 

agreements. 

''The NNPC maximises 

participation of locals 

through implementing the 

Nigerian content policy. 

Local content development 

has become a key strength. 

“The NNPC wants to 

leverage its position in 

having the largest reserves 

in the region to becoming 

the pre-eminent oil and gas 

company in its technical 

and commercial capability 

and supply of hydrocarbons 

across Africa. 

''The NNPC intends to 

reform refineries to improve 

margins and increase the 

volume of petrol being 

trucked out to fuel stations 

across major cities to ease 

distribution operations,'' the 

report said. 

Noting that a proposed 

new Petroleum Industry Bill 

was set to define the legal 

and regulatory framework 

for the Nigerian oil and gas 

industry, the PwC said, 

“This has been in the works 

for years, creating 

uncertainty. Passing it will 

create an enabling 

environment and 

encourage international oil 

companies to make 

additional investments in 

the sector, particularly in 

exploration. 

The analysts said the 

Petroleum Industry 

Governance Bill, which 

was recently passed by the 

Senate, called for a 

restructuring of the 

business to split the 

NNPC’s regulatory and 

operational roles. 

Be agents 

of change, 

cleric urges 

Nigerians 

By Olayinka Latona 

LAGOS—BISHOP of 

Church of God 

Mission Int’l, Bishop 

Egwowa Matthew has 

charged Nigerians to be 

change agents in their 

various capacities so as to 

contribute their quota to 

bringing about the change 

that the nation needs. 

Bishop Matthew gave 

the charge during his 

birthday celebration which 

also coincided with the 

church annual week-long 

programme tagged: 

'Burning Bush' 

The cleric said that while 

Nigerians marked another 

Independence Day 

nationwide, as a country 

that hopes to flourish into 

a glorious future, God’s 

presence is required and 

that all Nigerians have to 

contribute positively to the 

development of the nation. 

He has also thrown his weight 

behind calls for 

Ekpanrestructuring of the 

Nigerian nation, noting that it 

would go a long way to providing 

solutions to several unnecessary 

agitations across the nation and 

open doors for Nigeria to settle 

down and address important 

issues that would give Nigerians 

a sense of belonging. 

Lawyers' 

group faults 

NASS' 

invitation 

By Tare Youdeowei 

LAGOS—THE League 

of Patriotic Lawyers has 

faulted the invitation of the 

Chairman of Economic 

C r i m e s 

Commission,EFCC, 

Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim 

Magu by the House of 

Representatives, 

describing it as an exercise 

in futility. 

Briefing newsmen, 

yesterday, in Lagos, 

Chairman of the group, 

Mr. Abubakar Yesufu 

urged the National 

Assembly,NASS, to stop 

what it termed dabbling 

into matters before the 

courts. 

He said: ‘’The recent invitation 

of Ibrahim Magu by the House 

of Representatives is indeed an 

exercise in futility and a gross 

abuse of legislative powers.The 

invitation was one of the series 

of methods crafted to clog the 

wheel of the anti – corruption 

campaign under Ibrahim Magu. 

How else can one justify the 

recent “Lettre De Catchet” issued 

in a matter that the courts are 

seisedof.

C 

M 

Y 

K 



Families launch appeal fund to defend 

detained Boko Haram suspects 

MAIDUGURI—AS the 

federal government 

gets set to commence trial 

of 1,600 Boko Haram 

suspects, about 1,200 family 

members of some of the 

suspects yesterday 

launched a fund raising 

exercise to back their 

campaign for justice for the 

suspects. 

The Nigerian 

government through the 

Federal Ministry of Justice 

said last week that the trial 

of the suspects being held 

in various detention 

facilities across Nigeria 

would begin on October 9 

in Kainji, Niger State and 

Maiduguri, Borno State. 

But the family members, 

who are mostly women, 

insist that some of the 

suspects who are being 

detained by the Nigerian 

military are innocent. The 

family members have 

formed a movement called 

KNIFAR to coordinate their 

quest to secure justice for 

them. 

They lamented that they 

could not appear before the 

presidential panel set up to 

review alleged human 

rights abuses by soldiers. 

They said they were sure 

of the innocence of their 

relatives and were 

demanding their 

immediate release by the 

military whom they said had 

failed to arraign them 

before the court since 

taking most of them into 

custody in 2015. 

KNIFAR members said 

they submitted a petition to 

the Presidential Panel 

when it commenced sitting 

in Maiduguri recently but 

had not been invited to its 

public hearing before the 

panel ended its sitting. 

The group said they 

complained to the panel 

that they had not been able 

to speak for their relatives 

in detention but were told 

they would only be heard 

if they could travel down to 

Abuja, adding that their 

relatives were victims of 

Boko Haram violence 

caught between the 

fighting forces of soldiers 

and Boko Haram before the 

soldiers arrested them as 

Boko Haram suspects. 

Nigeria needs robust Debt Capital 

Market, says Prof Inyanete 

A BUJA—THE 

Managing Director 

of the Nigeria Mortgage 

Refinance Company 

(NMRC), Prof. Charles 

Inyangete, yesterday, 

advocated a more 

conducive policy and 

regulatory environment for 

a robust Debt Capital 

Market, in the country. 

According to him, this 

would attract more domestic 

and international investors, 

increase the market’s 

financial depth and 

strengthen its capacity to 

provide the multi-billionnaira/dollar 

long-term 

financing that is required 

to address the country’s 

housing deficit. 

Prof. Inyangete spoke at 

the just-concluded FMDQ 

2017 Nigerian Debt Capital 

Markets Conference in 

Lagos. 

While acknowledging the 

positive strides being 

recorded by NMRC in 

increasing home 

ownership, he expressed 

concern that the 

company’s N440 billion 

Bond Issuance Program to 

fund its refinancing 

activities remains grossly 

inadequate. 

He, therefore, called for 

stakeholders to take actions 

that would help deepen the 

Debt Capital Market, 

considering its pivotal role 

as an effective financing 

enabler of infrastructure 

development. 

The NMRC boss added 

that a more vibrant Capital 

Market is critical because 

it serves as the main source 

of funds that NMRC uses 

to make housing affordable 

for Nigerians. 

His words: “In connecting 

mortgages to the capital 

market, we are finding that 

we need to have the 

mortgages in the first place. 

So, housing stock is 

important and of course the 

structure to support 

housing is also crucial. 

“A housing deficit of 360 

billion dollars as estimated 

by the Center for Affordable 

Housing Finance in Africa 

requires Nigeria to invest 

annually in the region of 3.5 

trillion for housing. If you 

take the infrastructure such 

as power, water, access 

roads, to support that, you 

are looking in the region of 

900 billion annually.” 

Sultan calls for extension of 

armed forces retirement age 

By Emma Elebeke 

ABUJA—SULTAN of 

Sokoto, Alhaji 

Mohammad Sa’ad 

Abubakar III, has called on 

federal government to 

review the years of service 

of officers and men of the 

Nigerian Armed forces in 

the interest of the nation. 

Abubakar said this in 

Abuja, yesterday, during a 

dinner to mark the Re- 

Union of Nigerian Defence 

Academy Alumni, 18 

Regular Course held at 

Army Headquarters 

Command Officers Mess, 

Asokoro, Abuja. 

Speaking on the 

importance of experience in 

military operations, 

Abubakar said: ‘‘When it 

comes to retirement age of 

officers in the armed forces, 

we are not doing the right 

thing because we need to 

tap more from their wealth 

of experience, having spent 

so much on them. ‘‘When 

PDP remains most vibrant 

party in Delta—Okowa's aide 

By Jeremiah 

Urowayino 

EKPAN—THE Political 

Adviser to the Delta 

State Governor, Mr Omimi 

Esquire has assured 

members of Accord Party 

who are willing to join the 


PDP, in the state of equal 

treatment, noting that the 

PDP Umbrella is big 

enough to cover every 

body. 

Esquire, made this 

disclosure, yesterday, at 

Eliko Hotel Ekpan, while 

addressing a large crowd 

of Accord Party Members 

led by Chief Oluwashina 

Akindele, Accord Party 

Governorship Candidate 

in 2016 Ondo State 

Governorship Election. 

Convention: PDP chieftain 

drums support for Dokpesi 

By Lucky Oji 

WARRI—AS 

the 

National Convention 

of the Peoples’ Democratic 

Party, PDP, gets closer, a 

PDP chieftain, Alaowei 

Promise (aka General 

Black) has began 

mobilisation of party leaders 

in Niger Delta in support 

of Chief Raymond Dokpesi 

for the position of the 

National Chairman of the 

party. 

Rising from a closed door 

meeting, weekend, with 

major PDP stalwarts in 

Niger Delta at Okerenkoko, 

Warri South West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, the ex-militant 

they get to 55 to 60 they are 

gone. We have gone round 

the world, seen generals in 

their 60s, 65 with grey hairs. 

Even with our grey hairs, 

we are not too old to serve 

Nigeria. 

‘‘It is important we mobile 

other people to start talking 

to government to allow our 

generals to reach at least 65 

years before they leave 

service, because 

government invests so 

much resources to train 

them without replacement. 

Let’s expand, Nigeria is so 

big to lose these 

experiences. It is important 

we look at this.’’ 

The Sultan who thumped 

up for the military said 

Nigerians must learn to 

appreciate the military for 

their sacrifice and efforts to 

keep the country united and 

maintain peace across the 

country, especially in the 

North East, South South 

and South East. 

In his response Chief 

Oluwashina Akindele, said 

“All my business are in the 

Delta State and I have lived 

all my life in this State. I 

am satisfied with the 

SMART Agenda of the 

Okowa led administration. 

“I am coming to the PDP 

with my supporters to work 

with Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa” said Akindele. 

Those that accompanied 

the Political Adviser, 

includes Comrade Hope 

George, SSA to the Delta 

State Governor on Youth 

Development, Prince 

Tunde Fregene, Member 

Delta State Scholarship 

Board who is the former 

State Assistant Secretary of 

the PDP, and Mr Lawrence 

Ngozi Akpomeimei SA 

Youth Development. 

General, while urging other 

leaders of South –South to 

throw their weight behind 

Chief Dokpesi, revealed 

that the meeting was held 

to assess Chief Dokpesi 

ambition and convince 

some leaders present at the 

meeting to support him in 

the forthcoming PDP 

national convention. 

The PDP chieftain further 

disclosed that another 

meeting has been slated for 

Friday at Bonny-Island in 

Rivers State, where other 

major PDP stalwarts would 

also be briefed on the need 

to support Dokpesi and 

build a workforce towards 

the National Convention of 

the party.


Workplace environment crucial to mental health of 

workers — PSYCHIATRIST 

ANOTHER World 

Mental Health Day - 

October 10, 2017 - is upon 

us. This year's theme is 

"Mental Health at the 

Work Place". Although it 

focuses on how to make 

the workplace better for 

everyone, it is an 

opportunity to once again 

draw attention to mental 

health issues in our society. 

We spend a significant 

part of each day at work 

and much of our lifetime 

working. Apart from 

providing us with income 

to meet our financial 

needs, studies have shown 

that being gainfully 

employed gives life a 

meaning, helps selfesteem 

and improves 

overall quality of life. But 

the work itself and the 

environment where it takes 

place can have a negative 

impact on us if not 

managed properly. 

When employees suffer 

from mental health issues, 

this is likely to impair their 

performance and output at 

work, it is thus in the 

interest of the employer to 

support them to recover as 

soon as possible and to 

provide a workplace that 

foster mental wellbeing. 

In Nigeria, there are no 

data on financial losses to 

businesses resulting from 

poor mental health of 

employees. Estimates from 

the UK indicate that up to 

£70 billion is lost annually 

due to mental ill health and 

reduced productivity of 

employees with up to 20 

percent of the workforce 

taking on average, one day 

off annually because of 

stress and other mental 

health related issues. It is 

obvious that poor mental 

health of individual 

employees has significant 

repercussions for 

businesses including poor 

motivation, increased staff 

turnover, sickness absences 

due to stress, burnout and 

exhaustion. 

Enabling 

environment 

The starting point is 

awareness of these issues 

and for employers to 

recognize that they have 

responsibilities to their 

employees some of which 

are statutory. 

The workplace must be 

an environment that 

challenge, support and 

help develop a sense of 

purpose of the employees. 

A mentally healthy 

Dr. Olufemi Oluwatayo, CEO, The Retreat Healthcare Inset: mental illness, common but treatable. 

workplace is built on good 

basic line management 

relationships, clear health 

policies and engagement 

of staffs in decision 

making. 

A workplace that 

discourages culture of 

bullying and encourages 

openness, communication 

and easy access to 

management helps foster 

a "happy" working 

environment. 

Prevention is key - 

organizations need to 

enable employees to 

flourish and for those in 

distress to access help 

quickly. There should be 

access to confidential 

telephone lines to help deal 

with stressful work-related 

issues that people don't feel 

comfortable talking about 

face to face with their 

managers. There should 

By Chioma Obinna 

C OCA-COLA 

Company is set to 

launch a new programme 

tagged: "The Safe Birth 

Initiative" to support the 

Ministries of Health in 

Nigeria and Ivory Coast to 

tackle the high incidence 

of maternal and newborn 

mortalities. 

Disclosing this during a 

courtesy visit to the 

President of the Republic 

of Ivory Coast, Alassane 

Ouattara, the Coca-Cola 

Europe, Middle East & 

Africa (EMEA) Group 

President, Brian Smith, 

said the programme will 

focus on strengthening 

the capacity of maternity 

and neonatal units in 

be a clear grievance 

process and ways of 

seeking redress when 

When 

employees 

suffer mental 

health issues, it 

is in the 

interest of their 

employers to 

support them 

to recover as 

soon as 

possible 

things go wrong. When 

employees have a mental 

disorder and it is disclosed, 

employers must keep the 

information confidential 

and the employee should 

be supported to return to 

work after recovery with 

reasonable adjustments 

made to their job if 

necessary and/or be 

allowed to return in a 

graded fashion or be 

placed in less demanding 

and more appropriate roles 

within the organization. 

There should be access to 

stress management 

courses, occupational 

health services and to 

mental health specialists, 

preferably outsourced. 

Employees 

In general, employees 

are under no obligation to 

disclose a mental disorder 

to an employer except for 

some positions, for 

example, if the job involves 

having contacts with 

vulnerable people. 

MATERNAL HEALTH: $20m safe birth initiative for Nigeria, Ivory Coast 

selected public hospitals 

in the two countries. 

"With US$20 million 

grant from Coca-Cola to 

Medshare International 

Inc., the US-based notfor-profit 

NGO will 

source essential 

equipment, kits and 

supplies worth about 

US$20 million to enable 

safe deliveries and postdelivery 

emergency care 

for both mothers and their 

newborns," Smith said. 

"The program will also 

include the training of 

biomedical technicians 

and other appropriate 

hospital personnel by 

Medshare International 

on the operation, repair 

and maintenance of the 

donated equipment as 

well as the reactivation of 

a huge stock of faulty or 

abandoned equipment in 

public hospitals which is 

a major challenge for the 

country's healthcare 

delivery system. 

According to UNICEF's 

2016 State of the World's 

Children report, 38 out of 

every 1,000 babies die 

within the first 28 days of 

birth while 645 out of 

100,000 women die 

during or shortly after 

child birth due to 

avoidable conditions. 

In Nigeria on the other 

hand, about 40,000 

women and 260,000 

newborns (excluding 

300,000 stillborn) die 

during or shortly after 

childbirth annually. For 

1 

However, it would be 

impossible for the employer 

to provide support if 

nothing is disclosed. This 

is obviously a very sensitive 

issue in our society with 

potential adverse outcomes 

including loss of job and 

inappropriate use of the 

disclosed information. This 

is further compounded by 

the general culture of 

silence in our society when 

it comes to talking about 

mental health issues or how 

it impacts us. The stigma 

surrounding the topic does 

not make it an easy 

conversation to have, with 

many employees not used 

to disclosing their mental 

health or even seeking help 

for fear of being 

stigmatized, discriminated 

or even ostracized. 

When we talk about poor 

mental health, it includes 

this reason, neonatal 

mortality is considered as 

one of the worst public 

health crises in Nigeria 

and a major priority for the 

Government in its resolve 

to meet the Sustainable 

Development Goals, SDGs. 

Smith added that, "The 

commitment to help 

promote sustainable 

development in our 

communities is a 

fundamental part of Coca- 

Cola's strategy for 

sustainable business 

growth. This program 

which demonstrates this 

commitment will help 

save the precious lives of 

many mothers and 

newborns and also 

support the remarkable 

efforts of the Ivorian 

commonly experienced 

conditions such as poor 

sleep, feeling stressed, 

poor concentration, 

anxiety, through to 

clinically recognised 

disorders such as 

depression, generalised 

anxiety disorder, panic 

attacks, obsessive 

compulsive disorder and 

even psychosis. Illicit drug 

use and misuse of 

prescribed psychotropic 

medications are also 

common mental health 

conditions that may result 

from issues at the 

workplace. 

It is not really hard to see 

why employees might feel 

stressed, burnt out or 

exhausted especially in a 

city like Lagos - leaving 

home at 4 am, enduring 

hellish traffic and then 

having to deal with work 

pressure and the 

prevalent job insecurity 

not to add individual 

family problems and 

responsibilities. It is no 

surprise that in general, 

many more people seem 

to be suffering from 

anxiety and depression. 

The recent increase in 

reports of suicide in the 

media is a source of great 

concern. To my mind, this 

is a challenge to us all to 

do more to support each 

other and to help the most 

mentally vulnerable 

people in our society. 

Everyone deserves a 

chance to make a 

reasonable living, to work 

and contribute positively 

to the society to the best of 

their ability. 

Dr. Olufemi Oluwatayo 

is a Visiting Consultant 

Psychiatrist and CEO, 

The Retreat Healthcare, 

Ikorodu, Lagos. 

.AS GRAYS CENTRE OFFERS FREE HEART CH 

government at rebuilding 

this vibrant country". 

Responding, the Ivory 

President Ouattara 

welcomed Coca-Cola's 

support for the Health 

Ministry, noting that 

maternal and child health 

was an area the country 

recorded a weak 

performance under the 

Millennium Development 

Goals. 

President of Coca-Cola 

West Africa Business Unit, 

Peter Njonjo, said "Coca- 

Cola has a special 

relationship with women 

who are pillars of our 

business, especially in 

Africa where women play 

a dominant role in our 

distribution and retail 

network.


FG adopts 

multisectorial 

approach to 

block 

revenue 

leakages 

By Gabriel Olawale 

THE Federal Ministry 

of Health in 

collaboration with the 

Federal Ministry of 

Finance and support from 

office of Accountant 

General of the Federation 

has began the sensitization 

of heads of federal health 

institution across the 

country on the need to 

harmonized revenue 

collection and payment 

monitoring for transparent. 

Speaking in Lagos, 

during South West Zonal 

stakeholders meeting on 

implementation of Online 

Health Pay Platform, 

Chairman Steering 

Committee on Health Pay 

Project, Mr. John Waitono 

said that the whole idea of 

online health payment was 

not about policing head of 

federal hospitals across the 

country but empowered 

them with tools to make 

right decision and 

eliminate leakages. 

Waitono who is the 

Deputy Director (PICA/ 

Special Project), Federal 

Ministry of Finance 

explained that they are 

aware that certain hospitals 

across the country are 

implementing different 

payment platform or 

process but the proposed 

Online Health Pay 

Platform will improve the 

existing system in various 

institution. 

Corroborating his views, 

Director, Specialty 

Hospital, Federal Ministry 

of Health who represented 

Director of Hospital 

Services, Dr. Noah Andrew 

said the platform goes 

beyond revenue 

monitoring. 

“It helps to answer what 

we are collecting payment 

for. Are people paying 

more for malaria drugs, test 

for diarrhea and what it 

means? Aggregation of 

payment is a big issue 

across health institution in 

the country and technology 

is the only thing that can 

help us bridge that gap and 

provide that level of 

information to different 

stakeholders.” 

In his welcome address, 

Medical Director, Federal 

Medical Centre Ebute 

Metta, Dr. Adedamola 

Dada expressed the 

hospital’s commitment to 

any initiative that will bring 

about better care for the 

Nigerians and promote 

transparency. 

Stakeholders task FG on care, support for breast 

cancer patients 

By Sola Ogundipe 

GROUPS advocating 

patient-support for 

people living with cancer 

have urged the Federal 

government to provide 

access to treatment, care 

and support services for 

Nigerians living with 

cancer. 

At a press conference to 

commemorate the National 

Breast Cancer Awareness 

Month (NBCAM) 

stakeholders lamented the 

dire situation of cancer 

patients as they continually 

lose their lives as a result 

of numrous gaps in the 

system. 

The event was held in 

partnership between the 

Care. Organization. Public. 

Enlightenment (C.O.P.E) 

and the Bricon Foundation, 

sponsored by Hurlag 

Technologies Ltd and 

supported by Pfizer 

Pharmaceuticals. 

In the views of the CEO, 

C.O.P.E, Ebunola Anozie, 

cancer patients are losing 

their lives unneccesarily no 

thanks to late presentation 

occasioned by stigma and 

discrimination and other 

problems. 

Anozie said even when 

cancer patients present 

early, they are either unable 

ARC Nigeria, partners strengthen vaccine cold chain infrastructure 


TO reverse the 

worrisome state of 

vaccine cold chain in 

Nigeria, Africa Resource 

Centre for Supply Chain in 

Nigeria, ARC, an 

independent advisor and 

strategic partner founded 

by the Private Sector Health 

Alliance of Nigeria and Bill 

and Melinda Gates 

Foundation, BMGF, is 

brokering States and 

Private sector partnerships 

PRESS BRIEFING: From left: Co-founder, Bricon Foundation, Abigail Simon- 

Hart; Chief Executive Officer, C.O.P.E., Ebunola Anozie, DDS Cancer Support 

Group, Ms Della Ogunleye during a press conference to mark the National 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Lagos. 

to receive immediate 

treatment due to long 

queues or are delayed for 

one unpalatable reason or 

another giving the cancer 

cells opportunity to spread. 

"We are desperately 

pleading with and 

imploring the government 

to realise that our health 

sector is in a comatose state, 

it needs urgent attention. 

We also ask the private 

organizations and well 

to strengthen vaccine cold 

chain infrastructure in 

Nigeria. 

Speaking at the 

Knowledge Sharing and 

Hackathon Workshop on 

Supply Chain organised 

by ARC Nigeria, NPHCDA 

and Solina Group, which 

brought together over 80 

Ministry of Health Directors 

and Immunization 

Managers from Borno, 

Sokoto, Osun, Kano, 

Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, 

Yobe and Niger states, 

WORKSHOP: From Left: Consultant to Project Last Mile, Bill 

and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Lionel Pierre, Project Last 

Mile Delivery Lead, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. 

Trip Allport, CDE Director, Nigeria Bottling Company, Mr. Rudi 

Lensley, at the Supply Chain Workshop on Private-Public sector 

Collaboration organized by Africa Resource Centre for Supply 

Chain Nigeria in Kaduna for Ministry of Health Directors and 

Immunisation Managers in 10 states in Nigeria 

We are 

desperately 

pleading with 

and imploring 

government 

to realise that 

our health 

sector is 

comatose 

Executive Secretary, Osun 

State Primary Healthcare 

Development Board, Dr. 

Kayode Ogunniyi said that 

the survival of Nigeria as a 

nation depends on the 

quality of healthcare that is 

giving to children, 

particularly, the under-5 

that constitutes 20 percent 

of the total population. 

According to Dr. 

Ogunniyi “Giving them the 

right vaccines at the right 

time is a strategy to secure 

their wellbeing. A robust 

knowledge of 

vaccine supply 

chain with a view 

to protecting 

vaccine integrity 

from the 

manufacturers to 

the administration 

to the child is a 

task that must be 

done. 

Programme 

Manager, 

Immunisation 

Vaccine and 

Logistics, Niger 

State, Dr. Samuel 

Jiya, noted that 

the workshop has 

created a platform 

that will 

strengthen Public- 

P r i v a t e 

Partnerships in 

the Immunisation 

meaning Nigerians to 

donate time and resources 

to helping NGOs like ours 

in making a difference. 

“If every Nigerian does 

their own bit, we can 

definitely become the 

change we want to see and 

truly be able to say, in the 

theme for World Cancer 

Day 2017 -We Can, I Can!" 

Ngozi Ushedo, Media & 

Public Relations Manager, 

Pfizer, remarked: "We will 

and Vaccine space in 

Nigeria. 

“It has facilitated direct 

engagement of players in 

the Private sector and public 

wing. Personally, for Niger 

State, we have outlined our 

challenges and proffer new 

innovations in tackling 

them.” 

Sharing private sector 

engagement experience in 

healthcare, Project Last 

Mile Delivery Lead, 

BMGF, Mr. Trip Allport, 

disclosed that the Project 

Last Mile , PLM, which is 

an initiative of BMGF in 

partnership with Coca Cola 

is an example of how the 

continue to work together 

and speak with one voice 

to help raise awareness on 

early detection, reducing 

cancer risks and improving 

the quality of life for cancer 

survivors and patients". 

Della Ogunleye, a breast 

cancer survivor, and the 

CEO, DDS African Cancer 

Support Group based in 

the UK, noted that care and 

support are essential 

towards ensuring cancer 

survival. 

"When you are diagnosed 

with cancer, you need 

support. Somebody has to 

hear your voice. We should 

stop wallowing in self-pity. 

If we don't tell the 

government what to do, it's 

a waste of time. We should 

target the right audience." 

Also speaking, Co- 

Founder, The Bricon 

Foundation, Abigail 

Simon-Hart, described 

cancer as an every day 

occurrence that should be 

talked about every day. 

"The important thing is 

education and access to 

treatment, care and correct 

medication. The Nigerian 

health system should be 

improved because even 

with early detection, if there 

are no facilities, people will 

continue to die." 

Dr Niyi Adekeye, also 

Co-Founder of The Bricon 

Foundation, said without 

care and support patients 

are worse off. 

private sector is engaging 

with the public sector to 

develop an innovative 

solution with the aim of 

providing access to 

essential medicines and 

medical supplies in 

African. 

“Project Last Mile, in 

partnership with the Bill & 

Melinda Gates 

Foundation, is proud to 

support Nigeria in 

strengthening the vaccine 

cold chain, tapping into the 

capabilities of The Coca- 

Cola Company and its 

bottling partner, the 

Nigerian Bottling 

Company.


Make heart healthy choices at all times, Nigerians told 

•As Grays Centre offers free Heart Checks 


TO mark this year’s 

World Heart Day, 

cardiology expert has 

urged Nigerians to make 

healthy choices wherever 

they live, work or play even 

as the Grays Cardiology 

Center, a part of 

Reddington Hospital 

Group, weekend offered 

free heart check, ECG, 

Blood Pressure Check, 

Blood Sugar and Eye 

Check to Nigerians. 

In lecture entitled: 

“Effects of Blood Pressure 

on Body Organs”, 

Associate Professor of 

Cardiology & Consultant 

Interventional 

Cardiologist, at the centre, 

Dr, Moe Soe Aung said the 

body needs adequate care 

to function maximally, 

noting that healthy choices 

such as; increased physical 

activity, healthy eating, 

regular medical check for 

cardiovascular indices e.g, 

blood pressure, BMI, 

blood cholesterol etc are 

necessary for remaining in 

stable and healthy 

conditions. 

He however warned that 

bad health choices such as 

over eating, lack of 

exercise, unhealthy diets, 

high blood pressure, 

cholesterol and glucose 

level are all factors which 

can trigger heart diseases 

and threaten our lives and 

those of loved ones. 

He said that the need to 

constantly screen for 

diseases is because 

hypertension and many 

cardiovascular diseases are 

silent and often with no 

symptoms which results in 

life threatening 

complications such as heart 

failure, heart attack, stroke, 

aneurysm, peripheral 

artery disease. He stated 

that early diagnosis and 

detection allows for prompt 

treatment and intervention 

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In her remark, Facility 

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Cardiology Centre, Mrs. 

Bisola Audiferen said that 

the Centre is joining 

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World Heart Day, hence the 

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public. 

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Avon HMO introduces new health plans 

IN a bid to deepen 

healthcare penetration 

across the customer 

divide, Avon HMO, 

Nigeria’s leading 

Health Maintenance 

Company that recently 

introduced new health 

plans to leverage 

maintain healthy living. 

Nigerians in their 

hundreds, who visited the 

Grays Cardiology Centre, 

were attended screened 

free of charge in line with 

the theme of this year’s 

technology and drive 

affordable and quality 

healthcare in Nigeria. 

The new plans which 

include Life Starter, 

Couples’ Plan, Life 

Plus, Premium Life and 

Boss, are designed to 

cater for the healthcare 

needs of customers 

across various stages of 

their lives. According 

to the MD/CEO, Avon 

HMO, Mrs. Adesimbo 

Ukiri, the introduction 

of the new plans is 

informed by observable 

gaps in the market for 

products tailored to 

address the particular 

needs of market 

segments which do not 

fit into traditional 

market models, 

particularly, in the face 

of Nigeria's emerging 

middle class and SME 

economies. 

“Since we came into 

the market about four 

years ago, Avon HMO 

has been at the forefront 

event tagged: “Creating 

Heart-Healthy 

Environment.” 

Other activities lined up 

for the day included facility 

tour of the state-of-the art 

facility and technology 

available in the centre for 

diagnosis and treatment of 

various cardiac conditions. 

of offering innovative 

subscription plans that 

enhance the 

experience of Nigerians 

across the healthcare 

value chain. 

“Avon is synonymous 

with many firsts and 

what we have done this 

time is to expand the 

plans on our bouquet so 

Nigerians have more 

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in meeting their 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2017 —43 

You lied, cooked figures, NNPC replies Kachikwu 

NNPC—From left: Bolaji Osunsanya, CEO, Axxela; Engr. Saidu 

Mohammed, Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, 

Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC); Engr. Babatunde Bakare, 

Managing Director, Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company, 

during the recent submission ceremony in Transcorp Hilton, Abuja of a 

feasibility study by Axxela to NNPC regarding a proposed 510km ELPS- 

Ibadan-Ilorin-Jebba gas pipeline to boost power generation across the South 

Western and Central states. 

Continues from Page 5 

goods, works or services; 

rather it is simply a list 

of off-takers of crude oil 

and suppliers of petroleum 

products of equivalent 

value. 

‘’This list does not carry 

any value, but simply 

state the terms and conditions 

for the lifting and 

supply of petroleum 

products. It is therefore 

mischievous to classify it 

as contract and attach a 

value to it that is above 

Management’s limit. In 

arriving at the off-takers 

list for 2017/2018 DSDP, 

the following steps were 

followed: Work plans and 

execution strategy for 

the DSDP was granted by 

the approving authority 

(Mr. President), adverts 

were placed in National 

and International print 

media and NNPC website 

on Thursday, December 

22, 2016, the bids 

were publicly opened in 

the presence of all stakeholders 

(NIETI, DPR, 

BPP, Civil Society Organisations, 

NNPC’s SCM 

Division and the press 

as well as live broadcast 

by the NTA and some TV 

stations), detailed evaluation 

was carried out 

and the shortlist of the 

successful off-takers was 

presented to the approving 

authority (Mr. President) 

for consideration 

and approval and this 

has been the standard 

procedure and it is the 

same process adopted 

during the 2016/2017 

DSDP when the HMSPR 

was the GMD. 

In conclusion, it has 

been confirmed that due 

process has been followed 

in arriving at the 

shortlist of the DSDP 

partners for the 2017/ 

2018 cycle.” 

On the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano 

(AKK) Gas 

Pipeline Contract, it stated: 

‘’The AKK Gas pipeline 

project is a contractor-financed 

contract. 

‘’The process adopted 

for this contract is as follows: 

approval of project 

proposal and contracting 

strategy was given by 

NTB, Placement of adverts 

for expression of 

interest in some National 

and International 

print media and NNPC’s 

website, expression of 

interest for pre-qualification 

received and evaluated, 

technical and commercial 

tenders issued 

and evaluated, NTB considered 

and endorsed 

tender evaluation result 

for FEC approval since 

this contract is above 

NTB’s threshold subject 

to obtaining the following 

certificates of no objections, 

BPP certificate 

of no objection (obtained). 

Certificate of no objection 

from Infrastructure 

Concession and Regulatory 

‘’Commission 

(ICRC) (obtained). Certificate 

of no objection 

from Nigerian Content 

Monitoring & Development 

Board (NCMDB) 

(being awaited. BPP and 

ICRC certificates have 

been obtained, while 

that of NCDMB is being 

awaited after which the 

contract will be presented 

to FEC for consideration 

and approval. Thus, 

due process is being followed 

in the processing 

of this contract.’’ 

On the various financing 

arrangements considered 

with IOCs, it 

stated: ‘’The financing 

arrangements reported 

as contracts are part of 

the process of exiting 

Cash Call approved by 

the FEC. 

‘’It entails negotiations 

with JV Partners on alternative 

funding of 

some selected projects 

through third party financing 

to bridge the 

funding gap associated 

with Federal Government’s 

inability to meet 

its cash call contributions. 

‘’The third party financing 

option emanates 

from the appropriation 

act provisions that 

allow sourcing of financing 

outside regular cash 

call contributions. Upon 

approval of the calendar 

year’s operating budget, 

the NNPC in conjunction 

with its JV partners commence 

the necessary 

process for accessing financing 

to bridge the 

funding gap. 

‘’NAPIMS and JV partner 

identify bankable 

projects that require financing 

and sends to 

NNPC Corporate Finance 

to assist in procuring 

financing. Constitution 

of Joint Financing 

Team (JFT) between 

NNPC and the JV Partner. 

JFT NNPC invites 

Request For Proposals 

(RFPs) from Financial 

Institutions. ‘’Submitted 

RFPs are evaluated and 

beauty parade conducted 

to determine most 

cost-efficient proposal. 

‘’Negotiated Financing 

Strategy, Term-sheets, 

Structures and pricing 

are presented for NNPC 

Management’s (NTB) 

approvals. NNPC 

presents the renegotiated 

termsfor approval of 

Mr. President. 

‘’NNPC executes the 

resultant Agreement. All 

established due process 

as enumerated above has 

been observed leading to 

the securing of financing 

for the following projects 

in 2016/2017: 

‘’All the NPDC procurement 

contracts were 

subjected to the approved 

procurement procedures 

as described in 

respect of the AKK Gas 

Pipeline project above. 

‘’There were no 

breaches of any extant 

procurement processes. 

For the benefit of doubt, 

it is confirmed that there 

is no single NPDC contract 

that has been approved 

by the relevant 

Tenders Board beyond its 

limit of financial authority 

and there is no single 

contract that is in the 

$3bn to $4bn range 

claimed in the write-up. 

‘’From the foregoing, 

the allegations were 

baseless and due process 

has been followed in 

the various activities. 

Furthermore, it is established 

that apart from 

the AKK project and 

NPDC production service 

contracts, all the other 

transactions mentioned 

were not procurement 

contracts. 

‘’The NPDC production 

service contracts 

have undergone due 

process, while the AKK 

contract that requires 

FEC approval has not 

reached the stage of contract 

award.” 

However, the statement 

has generated a lot of 

reactions from many 

stakeholders sector 

wide. 

PENGASSAN, 

NUPENG 

pledge support 

for Baru 

The Petroleum and Natural 

Gas Senior Staff Association 

of Nigeria 

(PENGASSAN), and the 

Nigeria Union of Petroleum 

and Natural Gas 

Workers (NUPENG), 

have pledged unalloyed 

support for the transformation 

stride of the 

Group Managing Director 

of the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation, 

Mr. Maikanti 

Baru. 

Speaking during a solidarity 

visit to Baru, National 

President of PEN- 

GASSAN, Comrade 

Francis Johnson, said 

the unions and their 

members considered it 

appropriate to rally 

round the GMD and the 

NNPC Management to 

pledge their support. 

Comrade Johnson 

said: “The National body 

of PENGASSAN and all 

the NNPC in-house unions 

are here today to 

show our support for 

you. You have brought 

stability to the NNPC 

and we are happy today 

that staff morale is high. 

‘’You were Chairman of 

NNPC Anti-Corruption 

Committee for over five 

years and that was what 

informed your appointment 

as GMD of NNPC. 

Today, all the bullets you 

are taking are on behalf 

of members of staff. We 

will continue to pray for 

you, God will continue to 

guide and shield you.” 

The PENGASSAN 

President called on Nigerians 

to be cautious of 

their comments on the 

controversy, adding that 

any wrong information 

was capable of discouraging 

investors from the 

oil and gas industry 

which is the highest foreign 

exchange earner. 

The unions’ visit came 

on the heels of the recent 

controversies over a letter 

the Honourable Minister 

of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu forwarded to 

the President alleging 

non-adherence to due 

process by the Management 

of NNPC in some 

contract administration. 

The NNPC Group 

Chairman of PENGAS- 

SAN, Comrade Sale Abdullahi, 

who also spoke 

during the visit to the 

GMD, stated: “Today, 

the GMD and NNPC 

Management receive inputs 

from staff and this 

gesture by Dr. Baru has 

given members of staff a 

sense of belonging. Today, 

our inputs are being 

implemented and we are 

highly motivated.” 

In a statement by the 

Group Secretary of the 

Group Executive Council, 

GEC, of PENGAS- 

SAN in NNPC, Sulaiman 

Sulaiman, noted that 

the recent re-organisation 

in the NNPC was in 

good faith and encouraged 

internal growth. 

“We are convinced that 

the recent re-organization 

in NNPC is in good 

faith and in tandem with 

our call for allowing internal 

growth in the system 

through hard work 

and positive appraisals. 

We shall continue to reject 

and vehemently resist 

attempts in meddling 

into day-to-day running 

of the organization by 

non-executive officials of 

the Corporation. We will 

not, any longer allow our 

institution to be an avenue 

to settle friends and 

cohorts into Management 

positions of NNPC 

at the detriment of dedicated 

staff with all the 

requisite qualifications 

within the system. 

“Problems will continue 

to occur as long as 

the Chairman of the 

Board will continue to 

meddle into day-to-day 

running of the organizations, 

which is a Management 

role. Any attempt 

to allow this to 

happen will spell doom 

for the country and create 

a window for abuse. 

Good practice in corporate 

governance requires 

absolute segregation of 

oversight role from management 

day-to-day role. 

Why should a board 

chairman seek to meddle 

in internal organizational 

adjustment? The 

Board Chairman should 

focus on performance 

appraisal of the Board 

Committees and its members 

rather than wanting 

to dictate appointments 

or award contracts in 

NNPC.” 

It’s unfortunate 

— Afenifere 

However, the Pan-Yoruba 

socio-political organisation, 

Afenifere described 

the statement as 

unfortunate. 

Afenifere’s National 

Publicity Secretary, Mr. 

Yinka Odumakin said: 

“The NNPC statement is 

quite unfortunate. Why 

have an NNPC board 

that a GMD would treat 

with disdain? Would that 

be Baru’s attitude if the 

President has not ceded 

the chairman of the 

board to the Minister of 

State? 

Kachickwu talked of 

contracts being awarded 

but the NNPC is saying 

that they are going to 

send the papers to FEC 

for approval. Who had 

been approving without 

FEC? It is becoming 

clearer why the Chief of 

Staff is on the board of 

NNPC, only he could 

have been representing 

the board.” 

Baru talking 

balderdash 

— Osuntokun 

For Mr. Akin Osuntokun, 

Political Adviser 

to former President, 

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, 

the NNPC boss is 

talking balderdash adding 

that he is portraying 

Buhari as mindless. 

Osuntokun said: “The 

GMD is talking balderdash. 

The Minister of 

State is also legally, constitutionally 

and administratively 

a full cabinet 

ranked Minister of Petroleum 

until the appointing 

authority, namely the 

President, says otherwise. 

If the Minister of 

State, Petroleum, is not 

Minister of Petroleum, 

what then is his ministry? 

And who presents 

the memo of the Petroleum 

Ministry at the Federal 

Executive Council? 

Is it the President? 

“There’s this misconception 

about the Minister 

of State, it doesn’t 

imply inferiority, otherwise 

you will be implying 

that one state is inferior 

to the other; because 

they are representing 

their states on 

the council. What this 

Baru man is implying is 

that the appointment of 

Kachikwu as Minister of 

State and board chairman 

of NNPC is meaningless.”

44 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

Catalan leader under pressure to drop independence 

•France snubs independence bid 

CATALONIA’S 

se 

cessionist leader faced 

increased pressure on Monday 

to abandon plans to declare 

independence from 

Spain, with France and Germany 

expressing support for 

the country’s unity. 

The Madrid government, 

grappling with Spain’s biggest 

political crisis since an 

attempted military coup in 

1981, said it would respond 

immediately to any such unilateral 

declaration. 

A week after a vote on independence 

which the government 

did its utmost to thwart, 

the tension also took its toll 

on the business climate of 

Spain’s wealthiest region. 

Property group Inmobiliaria 

Colonial (COL.MC) decided 

to relocate its registered 

office to Madrid, following 

decisions by banks Caixabank 

(CABK.MC) and Sabadell 

(SABE.MC) to move their 

Moscow says escalation of tension on Korea peninsula unacceptable 

ANY escalation of 

tension on the Korean 

peninsula is unacceptable, 

Russian Foreign Minister 

Sergei Lavrov told U.S. Secretary 

of State Rex Tillerson 

in a phone call on Monday. 

U.S. President Donald 

Trump warned over the 

weekend that “only one thing 

will work” in dealing with 

head offices out of Catalonia. 

Spain’s finance minister 

blamed the Catalan government 

for the exodus. 

Regional leader Carles 

Puigdemont is due to address 

the regional parliament 

on Tuesday afternoon and 

Madrid is worried it will vote 

for a unilateral declaration of 

independence. 

Catalan officials say people 

voted overwhelmingly for 

secession in the Oct 1 referendum, 

which had been 

declared illegal by the government. 

Some 900 people 

were injured on polling day 

when police fired rubber bullets 

and stormed crowds with 

truncheons to disrupt the voting. 

The issue has deeply divided 

the northeastern region 

as well as the Spanish 

nation. Hundreds of thousands 

of people demonstrated 

against breaking away in 

Barcelona at the weekend. 

They say the referendum did 

not show the true will of the 

region because those who 

want to stay in Spain mainly 

boycotted it. 

Buoyed by the show of support, 

Spanish Deputy Prime 

Minister Soraya Saenz de 

Santamaría said on Monday: 

“I‘m calling on the sensible 

people in the Catalan 

government...don’t jump off 

the edge because you’ll take 

the people with you.” 

“If there is a unilateral declaration 

of independence 

there will be decisions made 

to restore law and democracy,” 

she told COPE radio station. 

Underlining conflicting 

pressures on Puigdemont, 

the small, anti-capitalist Popular 

Unity Candidacy (CUP) 

party, which has an outsized 

influence on his government, 

said the outcome of the vote 

Pyongyang, hinting that military 

action was on his mind. 

Lavrov underlined the inadmissibility 

of any escalation 

of tension on the Korean 

peninsula, to which the 

USA’s military preparations 

lead, and called for contradictions 

to be resolved by diplomatic 

means only,” the foreign 

ministry said in a statement. 

Lavrov also demanded the 

return of Russian diplomatic 

property seized by the United 

States in 2016 when 

former U.S. president Barack 

Obama expelled 35 Russian 

diplomats and ordered that 

some of its U.S. diplomatic 

properties be vacated. 

must be applied. 

Meanwhile, the French 

government has said it will 

not recognise Catalonia if it 

declares independence from 

Spain and such a move will 

mean expulsion from the EU. 

European Affairs Minister 

Nathalie Loiseau said the crisis 

following the banned 1 

October referendum had to 

be resolved through dialogue 

within Spain. 

Catalan President Carles 

Puigdemont is expected to 

address the regional parliament 

on Tuesday. 

There has been no sign of 

a compromise being struck 

with Madrid. 

Economic pressure on the 

pro-independence camp is 

rising with three more 

companies expected to 

discuss moving their offices 

out of Catalonia on Monday, 

sources told Reuters news 

agency. 

Migrants wait to be transported to a detention center, in the coastal city of Sabratha, Libya. REUTERS/ 

Hani Amara 

Turkey-US row: Erdogan upset by visa suspension 

TURKISH President 

Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

has described a US 

decision to suspend most 

visa services as “upsetting”. 

He said Turkish officials 

had contacted their US 

counterparts about the 

move, which was prompted 

by the detention last 

week of a Turkish national 

working at the US consulate 

in Istanbul. 

Turkey has also suspended 

visa services in the US. 

Prosecutors are seeking 

another consulate worker 

for questioning as a suspect, 

the state news agency reports. 

The first worker was held 

over alleged links to a cleric 

blamed for the failed 2016 

Turkish coup, but no reason 

has been given for the 

latest action. 

The row has driven down 

Turkey’s currency and 

stocks. 

“This decision is very, 

very saddening. For the 

Ankara [US] embassy to 

take a decision like this, to 

put into practice is saddening,” 

Mr Erdogan said at 

a news conference in the 

Ukrainian capital Kiev. 

Several Turkish news networks 

announced earlier on 

Monday that a warrant had 

been issued for a second 

US consulate worker. 

Turkish officials have not 

confirmed the warrant, but 

later the state news agency 

Anadolu reported that 

prosecutors were seeking 

the man for questioning as 

a suspect, adding that he 

did not have diplomatic immunity. 

It said the suspect’s wife 

and child had been detained 

in the city of Amasya, 

in northern central Turkey. 

The Obama administration 

said it was retaliating for Russian 

meddling in the U.S. 

presidential election. 

In July, Moscow responded, 

ordering the United 

States to cut the number of 

its diplomatic and technical 

staff working in Russia by 

around 60 percent, to 455. 

“Russia reserves the right 

to go to court and to (take) 

retaliatory measures,” 

Lavrov told Tillerson. 

Russian President 

Vladimir Putin said last 

month the foreign ministry 

would go to court “to see just 

how efficient the muchpraised 

U.S. judiciary is”. 

Lavrov and Tillerson discussed 

the conflicts in Syria 

and Ukraine, the ministry 

said. 

Lavrov said a Kiev-backed 

draft law aiming at “reintegration” 

of Ukraine’s Donbass 

region, which is controlled 

by Russian-backed 

separatists, contradicts the 

Minsk peace agreements 

aimed at resolving the conflict. 

May sets out Brexit options 

including no deal 

THE UK has set out how it could operate as an 

“independent trading nation” after Brexit, even if no 

trade deal is reached with Brussels. 

Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs “real and tangible 

progress” had been made in Brexit talks. 

But the country must be prepared for “every eventuality”, 

as the government published papers on future trade and 

customs arrangements. 

Labour said “no real progress has been made” since last 

June’s referendum. 

Mrs May also confirmed that Britain would remain subject 

to the rulings of the European Court of Justice during a 

planned two-year transition period after Britain leaves the 

EU in March 2019. 

Responding to a challenge from Eurosceptic Conservative 

MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, she told MPs the need to ensure the 

minimum of disruption “may mean that we will start off with 

the ECJ still governing the rules we’re part of for that period”. 

She said it was “highly unlikely” any new EU laws would 

come into force during the transition, but did not rule out the 

possibility that any which did so would have effect in Britain. 

In her first statement to MPs since her Florence speech 

last month, which was meant to kick-start stalled Brexit talks, 

Mrs May repeated her call for a “new, deep and special 

partnership between a sovereign United Kingdom and a strong 

and successful European Union”. 

“Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility, 

not just from us but from our friends, the 27 nations of 

the EU,” she said. 

“And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their 

court. But I am optimistic we will receive a positive response.” 

Tunisia’s Health Minister dies 

after charity run 

TUNISIA’S health minister has died of a heart 

attack after taking part in a charity marathon to help 

fight cancer. 

Slim Chaker, 56, fell ill after running some 500 metres, and 

died in a military hospital, the health ministry said. 

Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said he had lost a “brother 

and colleague”, who had died doing a noble humanitarian 

act. 

The marathon was held in the coastal town of Nabeul on 

Sunday to raise funds to build a cancer clinic for children. 

Mr Chaker was appointed health minister last month in a 

major cabinet reshuffle. 

He was a former banker who had served in the ministries of 

finance, sports and youth after the overthrow of long-serving 

ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in 2011. 

Although the chest pain is often severe, some people may 

only experience minor pain, similar to indigestion. In some 

cases, there may not be any chest pain at all, especially in 

women, elderly people and people with diabetes. 

KENYA: 37 killed in election 

violence 

T least 37 people, including three children, 

Awere killed in the protests that followed the announcement 

of the elections result in Kenya, a local human rights 

group said. 

Some of the deaths were caused by “police using live bullets” 

while others were killed by police “bludgeoning using 

clubs”, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said 

in a report on Monday. 

Among the dead was a six-month-old baby girl who was 

“clobbered by armed security agents whilst under the care of 

its mother in Kisumu County”, the report said. 

Almost all the victims of the violence were killed in opposition 

strongholds in the slums of the capital, Nairobi, or the 

western part of the country. 

In August, Fred Matiangi, acting interior minister, denied 

security services used live bullets or excessive force in 

dealing with protesters and blamed the violence on “criminal 

elements”. 

“I’m not aware of anyone who has been killed by a live 

bullet fired by a police officer anywhere in this country,” Matiangi 

said. 

Rapist can share custody of victim’s child 

THE case of a Michigan man awarded joint legal custo 

dy of a child whose mother he sexually assaulted when 

she was 12 has provoked universal outrage. 

Many are incredulous that Christopher Mirasolo, 27, could 

be granted parental rights after a DNA test established his 

paternity. The victim’s lawyer said the case was set in motion 

after her client received child support from the state. 

The case is thought to be the first of its kind in Michigan 

and maybe the US. 

Attorney Rebecca Kiessling filed objections on Friday after 

Judge Gregory Ross ruled that Mirasolo had parental rights 

to the boy, who is now eight years old, reports the Detroit 

Free Press newspaper.

DAVIDO: Tagbo’s fake 

autopsy result hits 

social media 

By Rotimi Agbana 

NIGERIAN pop singer, 

Davido, is bound to be 

having sleepless nights at 

the moment, not because 

he’s sick, but principally, 

because of the turn of events 

in his life following the 

death of his friends, Tagbo 

and DJ Olu, who both died 

on different days under 

mysterious circumstances. 

And in the midst of the 

tragic circumstances, a fake 

autopsy and toxicology 

report of Tagbo’s death went 

viral on the social media, 

yesterday, exonerating the 

pop singer from having any 

hand in the death of his 

friend. 

The fake autopsy said to 

have been copied from a U.S 

based website, went viral 

almost immediately on the 

social media, yesterday. 

Reports said the autopsy was 

actually for Kenneka 

Jenkins, the American 

teenager who walked into a 

hotel freezer and died. 

According to the fake 

report, the Medical 

Examiner’s Office revealed 

that alcohol was a substantial 

factor in the death of 35- 

year-old Tagbo Umeike, the 

friend of Davido who died on 

his birthday. 

The result also showed that 

he had alcohol and drugs in 

his system capable of easing 

a person into the early stages 

of hypothermia and eventual 

death. The toxicology tests 

detected alcohol (Bacardi 

151, 75.5 per cent Alcohol) 

and topiramate, a medication 

for epilepsy and/or migraines 

in a man’s system, in Tagbo 

Umeike.’ 

Tagbo’s blood-alcohol 

concentration (BAC) was at 

0.112, higher than the 0.08 

legal limit for normal human 

being state, the coroner’s 

office stated. 

A statement by the 

Late Tagbo and Davido 


coroner’s office said; 

“Alcohol and topiramate 

are synergistic. When 

combined, the effect of 

either or both drugs is 

enhanced.” 

While his family claims 

that Tagbo “didn’t have a 

prescription for any type 

of topiramate 

medication”, the 

coroner’s office stated 

that the amount of drug 

in Tagbos’ system was in 

the “therapeutic range.” 

Double 

celebration 

for Akpororo 

By Rotimi Agbana 

OVER the weekend, it was 

double celebration for 

popular humour merchant, 

Akpororo, who celebrated his 

daughter as she clocked one and 

also held a house warming 

ceremony for his newly completed 

mansion in Lagos. 

While breaking the news of his 

most recent achievement on social 

media, the self acclaimed ‘Mad 

Comedian’, expressed excitement, 

he was full of praises to God as he 

dedicated the mansion to his lovely 

wife and daughter who also clocked 

one that same day. 

“Except the Lord builds a house, 

the labourer labours in vain; Father 

thank you for this one, I dedicate 

this to my wife and daughter”, he 

wrote. 

FELABRATION 2017: 

Fela had uncompromising attitude 

towards corruption —Femi Kuti 

•Davido, Adekunle Gold, others to perform at grand finale 

Akpororo 

By Benjamin Njoku 

WITH the annual 

Felabration, the 

week-long festival to 

celebrate late Afrobeat 

legend, Fela 

Anikulapo Kuti 

entering day two, 

having kicked off, 

yesterday, with a 

secondary schools 

debate at Freedom 

Park, Broad Street, 

Lagos, the eldest son of 

music icon, Femi Kuti 

has described his late 

father as “someone who 

had complete 

dedication and 

uncompromising attitude towards 

corruption in the country.” 

Femi made the remark, while he was 

interviewed on Classic F.M on Sunday 

evening. He said his late father gave 

Nigerians a lot of confidence through 

his music, which he used as a weapon 

to fight against social injustice and 

oppression of the masses. 

He also recounted the kind of 

relationship he had with his father, 

saying they used to smoke together as 

father and son. 

Meanwhile, the organizers, 

yesterday, announced the artistes who 

will be taking the centre stage at the 

grand finale of the festival which is 

billed for Sunday, October 15, at the 

New Afrika Shrine, Ikeja, Lagos. 

Music veterans like Femi Kuti, Seun 

Kuti and Adewale Ayuba will be joined 

Fela 

by superstars like Davido, Adekunle 

Gold, Bez and Niniola amongst others 

as they take the Felabration stage next 

week. 

Also confirmed on the line up are 

Kenyan Afro-pop band, Sauti Sol, DJ 

Jimmy Jatt, Kiss Daniel, Koker, MC 

Galaxy, Viktoh, Q Dot, Terry Apala, 

Brymo, Jaywon and Dotman. 

Over the years Felabration has 

attracted many high class musical acts 

from all over the world like Hugh 

Masakela, Femi Kuti, Lucky Dube, 

Awilo Longomba, Baba Maal, Les 

Nubians, King Sunny Ade, Lagbaja, Asa 

and 2baba, to name a few. Nigeria’s 

fastest growing stout brand, Legend 

Extra Stout will also be joining millions 

of Nigerians in the week-long musical 

event as the brand will bring its realness 

and uniqueness to Felabration. 

Burna Boy 

declares hatred 

for pastors 

By Tolulope 

Abereoje 

N IGERIAN 

reggaedancehall 

singer, 

Damini Ogulu, 

popularly known as 

Burna Boy, has 

taken to social 

media to share his 

thoughts on 

Nigerian pastors 

and preachers and 

it is definitely not a 

good one. 

In a couple of 

tweets, the Yawa crooner 

revealed his hatred for the 

ministers of God and even 

advised his followers to seek the 

truth, ask questions and free 

themselves. 

“The way I genuinely dislike 

pastors, preachers, etc, I might 

Burna Boy 

have to knock one of them the fuck 

out one of these days, I know God 

will be happy”, he said. 

Burna Boy has come on the block 

with OAP Daddy Freeze, who has 

always been on the heels of pastors 

and their doctrines and 

speculations are certain that the 

OAP will be proud of Burna Boy.


World Cup: 

NFF shops for top 

friendly matches 

for Eagles 

By John Egbokhan 

Having qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

in Russia, top quality friendly matches 

against highly-rated teams are being lined up 

for the Super Eagles. 

Nigeria became the first African 

nation to book one of the five spaces 

reserved for Africa at next 

summer’s World Cup, with a 1-0 

victory over the Chipolopolo of Zambia 

weekend at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium 

in Uyo. 

And aware of the tough challenges that await 

the team in 

the 32-nation global football fiesta, the Nigeria F o o t b a l l 

Federation (NFF) has begun shopping for top oppositions for the Eagles 

to play ahead of the World Cup finals, starting in June. 

Speaking in an interview with Sports Vanguard, President of the NFF, 

Amaju Pinnick, who was expectedly elated with the team’s qualification 

for the World Cup, said that the job for now was to get the Eagles ready 

for a credible outing, adding that the football-governing body 

has started consultations to ensure proper preparations. 

“It’s obviously a great moment for Nigeria and we are 

very proud of this team, who showed tenacity, dedication, 

discipline and unity to get the World Cup ticket. 

‘’Now that they have the ticket, the ball is now in our 

court to start preparations, which have already started. We 

will ensure that they play top quality teams to get them in 

the best possible shape for the World Cup. Even as we speak, we have 

started getting calls and making calls to countries on the possibilities 

of playing against the Super Eagles’’, added Pinnick. 

Rohr to earn two years 

contract extension 

Nigeria Football 

Federation, NFF 

will extend the contract of 

Super Eagles coach, 

Gernot Rohr, after 

Nigeria sealed 

qualification for the 

Russia 2018 FIFA World 

Cup. 

Rohr, signed a two-year 

contract, while accepting 

the job in 2016 with the 

option of extending the 

deal, if Nigeria qualifies 

for the World Cup. Rohr 

will now be in charge of 

the team till the 2019 

Africa Cup of Nations, if 

there are no twists in his 

romance with the NFF. 

Speaking on the 

development, Rohr, 64, 

said he was glad Nigeria 

qualified for the World 

Cup as they were not 

given the chance to pick 

the ticket when the 

qualification series 

started with Cameroon 

and Algeria as 

bookmakers’ favourite to 

clinch the ticket. 

“I believe Russia 2018 

will be a good adventure 

for us all,” the German, 

who previously coached 

Burkina Faso said. 

Rohr thanked 

Nigerians for the feat 

saying it was a collective 

effort, “Thank you 

Nigerians, we won this 

World Cup ticket 

together.” 

NFF secretary-general, 

Mohammed Sanusi said 

the Super Eagles will 

have the best of 

preparations for the 

World Cup. 

“We are excited and as 

this Board has continued 

to promise, it is not just 

about qualification. We 

will ensure the best 

preparation for the team 

to set a new record of 

performance for Nigeria 

at the FIFA World Cup 

when they go to Russia 

next year.” 

Egypt’s president gives 

players $85,000 each 

Egypt’s President 

Abdul Fattah al- 

Sisi has given a bonus of 

$US85,000 to each of the 

players who clinched a 

place at the 2018 World 

Cup finals in Russia. 

A 2-1 win over Congo 

Brazzaville saw them 

qualify for the global 

showpiece for the first 

time since 1990. 

The president 

announced the reward 

on Monday as he met 

the Argentine coach 

Hector Cuper and the 

players. 

“Maybe we don’t play 

beautiful football but we 

are at the World Cup and 

that’s the most important 

thing,” Cuper said. 

Al-Sisi had special 

praise for match-winner 

Mohamed Salah, who 

scored a penalty in 

injury time to secure the 

qualification. 

“I am proud of all the 

players but especially of 

Mo Salah who was brave 

enough to take the 

crucial penalty,” the 

president said. 

“Also thank you to 

coach Cuper who has 

made our dreams come 

true.” 

•Iwobi 

•Mikel 

Ideye to pay 

$225,000 

in paternity 

suit 

Nigeria international 

Brown Ideye has 

been ordered by a Swiss 

court to pay $225,000 

being child support for the 

son he allegedly fathered 

while he played for 

Neuchatel Xamax. 

Francisca Errol, who 

worked as a secretary at 

Neuchatel Xamax, 

claimed she gave birth to 

a son from her romance 

with Ideye when he started 

out in Europe between 

2008 and 2010, according 

to British Newspaper, The 

Sun. 

She also alleged that on 

October 14, 2014, a court 

in Switzerland ordered 

Ideye to pay her $225,000 

as support for the son, who 

is now six years old. 

Ideye was served this 

ruling when he was 

playing in the Premier 

League with West 

Bromwich Albion. 

He has not appealed 

against this ruling, 

preferring to rather ignore 

it. 

“It’s shameful that a 

personality that represents 

Nigeria all over the world 

doesn’t respect a court 

decision and abandons his 

own blood,” she told the 

newspaper. 

Okala says 

Eagles ‘ll spring 

surprises at 

World Cup 

Former Green Eagles goalkeeper Emmanuel 

Okala on Monday said he was confident the 

Super Eagles players would spring surprises at 

the 2018 FIFA World Cup with their present 

form. 

“With the present crop of players, the 

future looks bright for the Super Eagles, 

even at the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

proper,” Okala told the News Agency 

of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu. 

Nigeria qualified for Russia 2018 

after a 1-0 win over Zambia in Uyo 

on Saturday, with an unassailable 

six-point lead after five matches in 

Group B. 

Okala, who is a former Super 

Eagles Goalkeeper Trainer, said he could see 

the needed “fighting spirit in the present Super 

Eagles”. 

“They stop at nothing, except success. The 

way they played against Zambia showed that 

uncommon commitment to make the country 

proud. 

“Saturday’s match against the Chipolopolo of 

Zambia was the most difficult in the series of 

matches played by the Super Eagles so far in the 

World Cup qualification. 

“However, looking at the match critically, one can 

see a determined Super Eagles who held their 

visitors down until a victory goal came in the 74th 

minute,” he said. Okala advised that all the players 

in the present Super Eagles squad should be retained 

for the World Cup finals. 

“At this stage, consistency matters. The team should 

be kept together, and activities and programmes 

which allow for more bonding should be put in place,” 

he advised. Last Saturday’s match was tensionsoaked, 

with the Super Eagles missing many 

goalscoring chances until the 74th minute when Alex 

Iwobi scored the winning goal. 

Iwobi’s entry as a substitute to Moses Simon in the 

second half of the match changed the tempo of the 

game to put smiles at on the faces of the team’s fans. 

FIFA has scheduled the 2018 FIFA World Cup 

tagged “Russia 2018” for June 14 to July 15 in Russia. 

Governor’s Cup top 

seed tumbles out 

The first leg 

(Futures 4) of 

2017 edition of the 

Governor’s Cup Lagos 

Tennis Championship 

began Monday with 

shocking result as number 

one seed in the men’s 

singles, Egyptian Karim- 

Mohamed Maamoun 

failed to make it to the next 

round of the International 

Tennis Federation (ITF) 

pro circuit competition 

going on at the Lagos 

Lawn Tennis Club, 

Onikan. 

Maamoun, who is 

ranked 236, a regular face 

in Lagos in the last few 

years, crashed out of the 

first leg of the Governor’s 

Cup as he succumbed to 

the fire power of the Dutch 

star, Stephan Fransen, 

who is ranked 1212 in two 

straight sets of 6-2, 6-2 that 

lasted more than one hour 

on court 3. 

Though the Egyptian 

player may bounce back in 

the second leg (Futures 5), 

he will have to raise his 

game in the doubles event 

if he wants to make any 

impact in the first leg of the 

competition. 

In other results, playing 

on Court 1, Imeh Joseph 

could not continue his 

game against Serbian Ilija 

Vucic as he retired midway 

in the match. He lost the 

first set 1-6. Alao in the 

Doubles event, Nigeria’s 

Abdulmumuni Babalola 

and Clifford Enosoregbe 

lost to Johan Sebatien 

Tatlot and Andrew Watson 

of France and Great Britain 

respectively in 0-6, 3-6 

game.


Dog convinces 

Heynckes to accept 

Bayern job 

Bayern Munich coach 

Jupp Heynckes said 

Monday he was persuaded to 

return to the club for a fourth 

stint in charge after speaking 

to his family, and his dog. 

“It’s been a difficult time, but 

my wife and my daughter said 

I should do it,” the 72-year-old 

Heynckes said at his 

presentation. “My dog also 

barked twice, so that meant I 

should do it.” 

Heynckes retired after 

guiding Bayern to the 

Champions League, 

Bundesliga and German Cup 

treble in 2013, but he has 

returned to take over from 

Carlo Ancelotti after Bayern’s 

poor start to the season. 

Bayern is already five points 

behind Borussia Dortmund 

after seven matches. Ancelotti 

was fired a day after the team’s 

3-0 loss at Paris Saint- 

Germain in the Champions 

League. 

“Despite this difficult phase, 

I am confident that the team 

Matchmakers Consult 

International, 

organizers of the prestigious 

Nigeria Pitch Awards, have 

will quickly show a different 

side,” Heynckes said. 

Heynckes paid tribute to his 

predecessor as a “very good 

coach and a real gentleman.” 

He said he had nothing but 

respect for him and was very 

impressed when he met him 

in Madrid a few years ago. 

Heynckes said there had 

been a clear hierarchy at the 

club under former players like 

Bastian Schweinsteiger and 

Philipp Lahm. 

Nigeria Pitch Awards organizers 

felicitate with Eagles 

congratulated President 

Muhammadu Buhari, all 

Nigerians and the victorious Super 

Eagles, on their qualification for 

the 2018 FIFA World Cup due to 

hold next summer in Russia. 

Shina Philips, the President of 

the Nigeria Pitch Awards, also 

congratulated the hard 

working and focussed Amaju 

Pinnicked-led administration of 

the Nigeria Football Federation 

for remaining committed to 

their initial plan of re-building 

Nigeria’s national teams. ‘We 

are delighted the rebuilding 

process has eventually yielded 

the desired results even though 

it appeared very tough and 

unpopular two years ago’, 

Philips said. 

Speaking further, Philips 

noted that last Saturday, 

‘Nigeria emerged the first 

African country to qualify for 

the 2018 World Cup, just like it 

happened in 1997.’ 

‘We are indeed delighted that 

our voters have always made the 

right decisions about award 

winners. The Akwa Ibom state 

Governor was last year’s 

‘Football Friendly Governor of 

the Year,’ and Amaju Pinnick 

himself had previously won the 

Sam Okwaraji Award for 

Commitment to Nigerian 

Football. In every way you look 

at it, all the players and officials 

involved are all winners and have 

been so recognized even before 

kicking the ball on Saturday at 

the Akwa Ibom International 

Stadium in Uyo’ he further said. 

Pentathlon: We’ve started work in 

earnest — Ogboro development. I consider this a 

Chairman of the Local 

Organising Committee for 

the fast-approaching Modern 

Pentathlon Youth Olympic 

qualifier, Africa and Senior African 

Championship billed for 

December in Lagos, Chief Francis 

Ogboro has said that the various 

sub-committees under him had 

started turning in positive reports 

already. 

Briefing members of the Media 

sub-committee in his Victoria 

Island office Monday, Chief 

Ogboro who doubles as President 

of the Nigeria Polo Federation 

commended the Modern 

Pentathlon Union for awarding the 

hosting rights of the global event 

to Nigeria and said the Pentathlon 

body would not be disappointed at 

the end of the event which will be 

holding in Africa for the first time. 

He pledged his personal 

commitment to the success of the 

global event because he would not 

want to disappoint those that 

appointed him as chairman of the 

LOC. “They know me well and 

know my pedigree in sports 

personal challenge which must be 

accomplished,” he said. 

He assured the nation that his 

committee will not fail while 

commending the President of 

Modern Pentathlon of Nigeria, Dr 

Jonathan Nnaji for assembling the 

best men for the task ahead. “We 

will make Nigeria proud, come 

December, 2017.” He promised. 

Two top Nigeria club sides that 

qualified to represent 

Nigeria in the forthcoming 2017 

FIBA Africa Zone 3 Qualifiers have 

threatened to take legal action 

against the Musa Kida led faction 

of the Nigeria Basketball 

Federation, NBBF, over its planned 

move to rob them of the tickets. 

The clubs in separate letters to the 

Executive Director, FIBA Africa, 

noted with dismay that the Kida led 

faction of the NBBF in connivance 

with the President of FIBA Africa 

Zone 3, Sam Ahmedu were trying 

to replace the two teams with their 

favoured team who failed to 

Neymar, Suarez, Kane 

make Ballon d’Or list 

Paris Saint-Germain and 

Brazil forward Neymar was 

one of the first five names that 

award organisers France Football 

revealed from the shortlist, along 

with Real Madrid duo Luka 

Modric and Marcelo, Juventus 

forward Paulo Dybala and 

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo 

Kante. 

Barca and Uruguay striker 

Suarez, Madrid defender Sergio 

Ramos, Liverpool’s Philippe 

Coutinho, Atletico Madrid 

goalkeeper Jan Oblak and 

Napoli forward Dries Mertens 

were named in the second phase 

of the announcement, followed 

by Manchester City’s Kevin De 

Bruyne, Tottenham’s Kane, 

Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski, 

Manchester United’s David De 

Gea and Roma’s Edin Dzeko. 

Neymar, who left Barcelona to 

join PSG this summer in a worldrecord 

move, came third in the 

voting in 2015 and was fifth last 

year, while Suarez has yet to make 

it into the final three-man 

selection. 

Madrid star Ronaldo, who beat 

Lionel Messi and Antoine 

Griezmann to the award last year, 

is expected to be announced 

among the nominees later after 

helping Madrid to a third 

Champions League crown in four 

seasons and a first La Liga title in 

five years, as well as the FIFA Club 

World Cup. 

Ronaldo scored twice as Madrid 

beat Juventus 4-1 in the 

Champions League final, while 

also finishing top scorer in the 

competition with 12 goals. 

Ndidi to undergo Leicester 

medical checks today 

Super Eagles 

midfielder, Wilfred 

Ndidi is expected to 

undergo a medical test to 

be conducted today by 

Leicester’s doctors to find 

out the extent of his injury 

in last weekend’s FIFA 

World Cup qualifier 

against Zambia in Uyo. 

Ndidi, who was on the 

pitch for all 90 minutes 

collapsed in a heap of pain 

clutching his hamstring 

muscle after attempting a 

shot from outside the 

Zambian box. Though 

Super Eagles medical 

crew gave the player a 

clean bill of health, 

Leicester insists he will be 

examined to ascertain if 

Ndidi had picked up 

hamstring injury. As 

Leicester prepare for their 

English Premier League 

clash with West Brom next 

week Monday. 

Any injury to Ndidi 

would further stretch 

Leicester’s already limited 

options in central 

midfield, and leave only 

Andy King, Vicente Iborra 

and Daniel Amartey as 

available players in that 

position. 

Matty James is out with 

an Achilles injury, while 

Adrien Silva’s registration 

remains blocked by Fifa . 

Aruna Quadri is a record setter - ITTF 

•Aruna-Quadri 

As the only African to make 

it to the quater-final of 

the World Cup and Olympic 

Games, the International Table 

Tennis Federation (ITTF) 

through it Publication Editor, 

Ian Marshal has described 

Aruna Quadri has a record setter 

following his feat at the Polish 

Open at the weekend. 

After winning the Polish Open 

men’s singles title, Aruna Quadri 

becomes the first African to win 

an ITTF title outside the 

continent. 

In his review of the 2017 Polish 

Open, Ian Marshall wrote, “At 

the Liebherr 2014 Men’s World 

Cup in Düsseldorf Quadri 

FIBA Zone 3 Qualifiers: Gombe Bulls, Kano Pillars threaten Kida’s 

NBBF with legal action 

participate in the final round of the 

Kwese Premier league. 

The clubs in the letter copied to 

the Chairman, House of 

Representatives Committee on 

Sport, said it was high time the 

continental body waded into the 

crisis for the good of the game in 

the country. 

The letters signed by Ibrahim 

Sa’ad, Chairman of Gombe Bulls 

and Bashir Bello, Secretary of 

Kano Pillars, noted in their 

petitions that it was unfortunate 

that Kida and his group were 

doing everything within their 

reach to jeopardise the future 

prospect of the players who 

merited their qualifications. 

The clubs said their position was 

necessitated by the fact that they 

have been kept in the dark on 

their participation in the Zone 3 

qualifiers billed to hold in Nigeria 

from 19 - 29 October, 2017. 

“As you might been aware by 

now, Kano Pillars Basketball Club 

has successfully defended its title 

by winning this year’s Kwese 

Premier League in Kano on 9th 

September, 2017.This by tradition 

and standard has qualified our 

team to represent Nigeria in FIBA 

Africa Zone 3 qualifiers. 

•Neymar 

•Ndidi 

Aruna became the first player 

from Africa to reach the quarterfinal 

stage of the prestigious 

tournament; just over one year 

ago in the Men’s Singles event 

at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, 

he replicated the feat. Against 

all expectations he reached the 

round of the last eight. 

“The win in Czestochowa 

means that he becomes the first 

player from Nigeria to win a 

Men’s Singles title on either the 

ITTF World Tour or ITTF 

Challenge Series; notably on 

home soil in Nigeria, in 2015 he 

had been beaten in the final by 

Egypt’s Omar Assar, his only 

previous Men’s Singles final in 

a recognised open international 

tournament. 

“He now joins Omar Assar as 

the only African player to win 

such a title and the only player 

to win beyond the continent’s 

shore. Omar Assar has three 

such titles to his name but all in 

Nigeria. He repeated his Lagos 

success earlier this year, having 

also won in 2014. 

“Furthermore, at the final 

hurdle in Czestochowa, 

Quadri Aruna beat a most 

worthy adversary; a decade 

ago Kaii Yoshida was pivotal 

to Japanese success, his right 

handed pen-hold grip all out 

attacking style of play 

challenging the very best."

Vanguard, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 

Sudoku 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

ACROSS 

1 Skilled worker (7) 

5 Abyss (5) 

8 Disabled (5) 

9 Wednesday or 

thereabouts (7) 

10 Recover from illness 

(3,4) 11 Less civil (5) 

12 Embellished (6) 

14 Masculine or feminine 

(6) 18 Abominable snowmen 

(5) 20 Reluctance to move (7) 

22 Garbage (7) 

23 Nick, incision (5) 

24 Odour (5) 

25 Fuel for a Christmas fire 

(4,3) DOWN 

1 Lively, in music (7) 

2 Entice (5) 3 Most wretched 

(7) 4 Agile (6) 

5 Tree with fragrant wood (5) 

6 Rectified (7) 

7 Manufacturer (5) 

13 Eminent (7) 

15 Everlasting (7) 

16 Inconsiderate driver (4,3) 

17 Fourscore (6) 

18 Tales (5) 

19 Motionless (5) 

21 Aggregate (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can 

have two of the same number). 

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, 

(also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block 

within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number 

from 1 through 9. This means that no number can 

appear twice in any block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, 

division or multiplication, just plain logic and your 

imagination. 

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 

01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, news@vanguardngr.com, letters@vanguardngr.com. Advert:advertproduction@yahoo.com 

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: EZE ANABA. Phone: 01—4548355, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

10102017 - You lied, cooked figures NNpC replies Kachikwu

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