20022018 - I paid DSS men, others N1m to bring in 661 rifles — ACCUSED

Count me out of 

Obasanjo's 

Third Force 

5 

—SOYINKA 

FIFA VISITS AMBODE 

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi 

Ambode (M)); with FIFA President, 

Gianni Infantino (2nd L); President, 

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), 

Amaju Pinnick (L); FIFA Sscribe, 

Fatima Samba Diouf Samoura (2nd 

R) and CAF President, Ahmad 

Ahmad (R) during the FIFA 

President's courtesy visit to the 

governor at the Lagos House, 

Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday. 

** ** 

VOL. 26: NO. 63489 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

There’s 

anger 

in the 

land, 

Okogie 

warns 

8 

I paid DSS men, 

others N1m to bring in 

661 rifles — ACCUSED 

•DSS prosecutor tenders video of accused's confession in court 

•Accused lists how DSS men, Police, others shared bribe money 

By Innocent Anaba 

and Onozure Dania 

LAGOS — Mamudu 

Hassan, one of the 

accused persons standing 

trial over unlawful importation 

of 661 sophisticated 

pump action rifles into 

the country last December, 

yesterday told a Federal 

High Court sitting in Lagos, 

that he paid a sum of 

N1 million to officials of 

the Department of State 

Security, DSS, and other 

security agencies to 

smuggle the guns out of 

Apapa Ports. 

Mamudu, a retired Assistant 

Comptroller of 

Continues on Page 5 

BUHARI IN DAURA 

PRESIDENT BUHARI IN DAURA—President Muhammadu Buhari addressing Coalition of Daura Emirate Socio-political 

Association in Daura, Katsina State, yesterday. STATE HOUSE PHOTO. 

AGF queries Magu, Keyamo over 

CBN injects 

$210m as 

naira 

appreciates to 

N360.28/$ 40 

Mr & Mrs 

charges against CCT boss, Umar 

ATTACKS: Unite against 

herdsmen's menace, 

Akinrinade urges 

Southern govs 

11 

Be ready to 

sacrifice more, 

Buhari tells 

Nigerians 

COLUMNISTS TENIOLA 18 ODUMAKIN 17 COLE 31 MAILAFIA 31 

AHIARA CRISIS: 

Bishop Okpalaeke 

resigns, as Pope 

appoints 

administrator 

8 34 

8 

SEE 

INSIDE

2 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 3

4 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

S-SOUTH PDP—From left: Former Governor of Akwa Ibom/Senate Minority Leader, Godswill 

Akpabio; National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Gov. Seriake Dickson 

of Bayelsa; and Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, at the PDP South-South Zonal Executive 

Committee Meeting in Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Count me out of Obasanjo's Third 

Force—SOYINKA 

L AGOS—Nobel 

Laureate, Prof. Wole 

Soyinka, has said he 

should be examined by a 

psychiatrist, if he joins the 

Coalition for Nigeria 

Movement, CNM, spearheaded 

by ex-President 

Olusegun Obasanjo. 

Obasanjo recommended 

the coalition in a letter he 

wrote to President 

Muhammadu Buhari last 

month. 

The elder statesman had 

asked Nigerians to rally 

round the movement, 

saying neither the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, nor the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

could give Nigeria the 

leadership it deserved. 

But speaking in an 

interview with BBC Yoruba 

yesterday, Soyinka said the 

coalition was not meant for 

someone like him. 

“Me? Obasanjo would 

establish a group and I will 

become a member of such 

group? That means they 

should get a psychiatrist to 

examine me,” Soyinka 

said. 

He also spoke about the 

letters which Obasanjo and 

former military President, 

Ibrahim Babangida, 

addressed to Buhari, 

saying people should get 

suspicious “when these 

soldiers speak” because 

there is the possibility that 

“what they have in mind is 

different from what we 

have in mind.” 

Soyinka said 

nonetheless, the content of 

the message should be 

examined, even though the 

messengers were not 

trustworthy. 

He said: “When these 

soldiers begin to speak, we 

are supposed to get 

suspicious and ask what 

exactly do they have in 

mind? It is possible that 

what they have in mind is 

different from what we 

have in mind. 

“You can look at it from two 

perspectives, the 

messenger and the 

message. The message 

should be examined 

closely. We should not look 

at the misdeeds of the 

messenger alone. Let’s 

start by asking, is he saying 

the truth or telling lies, or 

is he being tricky? 

“If he is saying the truth 

and talking about things 

that are beneficial to the 

masses, we would allow 

that be. After that, we would 

now look at the person 

speaking, what is in his 

mind? …even if it’s a little 

child who is speaking, as 

far as that child is saying 

the truth, we won’t ask the 

child to keep quiet. 

"We won’t ask the child 

what do you know? We 

would listen. It is the same 

situation with those who 

have presided over the 

affairs of this nation without 

making significant 

progress. 

“We have seen their 

weaknesses, we have seen 

their nakedness in public, 

if they now want to be 

covered by saying that 

they have turned a new 

leaf, we would examine 

that, too. What I am saying 

in essence is that what they 

have said should also be 

examined.” 

I paid DSS men, others 

N1m to bring in 661 rifles 

Continues from Page 1 

Customs, stated this in a 

recorded video during his 

interrogation by men of 

the DSS. 

The video, recorded on 

March 27, 2017, between 

the hours of 2p.m., and 

2.45p.m., was tendered by 

an operative of DSS, 

Jaiye Emmanuel at the 

resumed trial-within-trial, 

as Mamudu gave a 

breakdown of how the N1 

million was shared 

He urged the youth to 

come together and present 

a candidate to represent 

them, adding that the older 

generation would support 

them. 

“We have a lot of them. It 

is the turn of the younger 

ones. If they come together, 

as we speak, if they can 

start now and bring out one 

individual among them, 

we will work with him. 

“We are going to give 

them the support they need 

to transform the country. 

People like us are supposed 

to sit somewhere," 

Soyinka said. 

among DSS and other security 

agencies. 

He said: “I gave N1 

million to facilitate the 

moving of the container 

out of port, but it is not 

because of the guns.” 

When Mamudu was 

asked how the N1 million 

was shared among security 

agencies, he said: 

“The examiners were 

given N200,000; C.I.O. 

N100,000; Enforcement 

N200,000; Police, SSS — 


Poor turnout for INEC voter registration in the south (2) 

By Bose Adelaja, 

Bartholomew Madukwe & 

Frederick Okopie 

I am one of those, who 

did not register. How can 

we queue for hours before 

we can register? 

After all, our votes will 

not count at the end of the 

day. Our leaders are deceitful 

and they don’t 

mean well. It is better we 

work hard to earn a living 

than waste time on 

leaders that do not care 

about us. It will be meaningless 

to waste quality 

time in the name of voter 

registration. 

*Osiboni Osibanjo, Businessman 

Nigeria is a country that 

does not live up to her responsibilities. 

That is the 

reason so many Southerners 

are not ready to participate 

in voter registration. 

It appears other regions 

have taken over the 

leadership of this country 

as our votes no longer 

count. The Southerners 

feel they are being shortchanged 

and will like to 

focus on other issues than 

waste their time on elections 

that have been concluded. 

* Dare Oyedele, Artisan 

The Federal Government 

should put measures 

in place to stop the 

irregularities going on 

during the registration 

exercise especially in the 

southern part of Nigeria. 

In 2015 some of us who 

registered did not get our 

cards and they are telling 

us to register again. In the 

North, it was not like that. 

The exercise is programmed 

to favour some 

parts of the country. 

*Nelson Ukerun, Businessman 

The conduct of the exercise 

in my area is very 

poor. It is an indication 

that the electoral body is 

not really prepared to get 

the citizens ready for 2019 

general election. Their 

computers are malfunctioning. 

Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, officials 

face power challenges in 

most of the centres in Lagos. 

*Judith Johnson, Worker. 

In Nigeria, many see an 

election as a do or die affair. 

That is why they use 

everything at their disposal 

to win. The poor turnout 

is due to the cumbersome 

process of registration. 

Why will I stress 

myself to get registered 

and the Permanent Voters’ 

Card will not be issued 

immediately? So 

many people cannot afford 

to go through the rigorous 

process of registration. 

*Sunday Ogayemi, Gospel 

singer 

I feel it is a strategy to 

manipulate the number of 

voters in the Southern region. 

INEC is working 

with the current government. 

Why is the Northern 

part of Nigeria not 

experiencing low turnout? 

Unlike the South, the 

North is not experiencing 

the kind of things we experience 

in the course of 

registering here. If southern 

elites are well coordinated, 

they can come up 

with their own strategy. 

*Lisa Odedede, 

Graduate

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

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

Medical doctor 

remanded in 

prison over 

N25m 

equipment 

theft 

•Accused 

keeps mum 

in court 

By Demola Akinyemi 

ILORIN—A medical 

practitioner in Kwara 

State, Dr. Ayodele Joseph, 

was, yesterday, ordered 

by Magistrate O. A. 

Adeniyi of Ilorin 

Magistrate’s Court to be 

remanded in Oke-Kura 

Maximum Prison, Ilorin, 

for allegedly stealing 

medical equipment of 

his colleague worth N25 

million. 

The prosecutor, 

Inspector Reuben 

Kolawole, had told the 

court that the suspect, 

Dr. Ayodele Joseph, 

committed criminal 

trespass, mischief, house 

breaking by night 

contrary to Sections 348, 

327, 356 and 287 of the 

Penal Code. 

Inspector Kolawole told 

the court that on July 20, 

2017 at about midnight, 

the suspect, Ayodele 

Joseph, of the popular 

Ayodele Group of 

Medical Hospitals, 

Ilorin, criminally 

trespassed into Group 

Medical Centre along 

Tipper Garage, Tanke 

area, Ilorin, destroyed 

the entrance gate and 

doors to gain access into 

the hospital and made 

away with all the 

hospital equipment, 

power generating sets 

and other items valued 

at about N25 million, 

property of Dr Rafiu 

Ajiboye. 

However, the suspect, 

Ayodele Joseph, neither 

pleaded guilty or not 

guilty to the charges, as 

he kept mum. 

His counsel, Akeem 

Ijaiya, pleaded with the 

court to grant the medical 

practitioner a status of 

self-recognition being a 

very popular practitioner 

in the state. 

However, counsel to the 

complainant, Dr. Dauda 

Osu, insisted that the 

freedom of the suspect 

would jeopardise further 

investigation of the case. 

Magistrate Adeniyi, in 

her ruling, ordered that 

the suspect be remanded 

in Oke-Kura Maximum 

Prison till March 5, the 

next date of adjournment. 

I ate heart of chicken as oath 

—19-yr-old Libyan returnee 

By Simon Ebegbulem 

BENIN—MANY 

were 

moved to tears listening to 

19-year-old Vivian Imunero, 

clutching a two-year-old baby, 

narrate how she ate the heart 

of a chicken as part of a ritual 

before her “madam” will take 

her to Europe, a journey that 

saw her end up in Libya. 

The young lady from Delta 

State said she was living 

happily with her parents in a 

village close to Benin, Edo 

State capital, before she was 

talked into the Europe journey. 

Narrating her ordeal, she 

said: “It was one guy called 

Biggy that helped me. He stays 

at Upper Sakponba Road here 

in Benin. Somebody in our 

village took me to him and he 

contacted one Madam, who 

lives in Italy. He also gave me 

N15,000.” 

‘Madam still threatening 

me from Italy’ 

She continued: “As we speak, 

the madam in Italy is 

threatening me with death. She 

said I took an oath before I left. 

It was Biggy and one other 

man that took me to the native 

doctor, as the madam directed. 

“We were two girls that went 

to the native doctor for the oath. 

The implication is that if I get 

there and run away or sleep 

with her husband or fail to pay 

her, the juju will kill me. 

Thereafter, they killed a chicken 

and gave us the heart of the 

chicken to eat, then water to 

bath with before we were asked 

to go. 

“Biggy is the one moving 

girls to Italy through Libya and 

from there our madam will pick 

the girls. The madam is angry, 

as I was supposed to wait in 

Libya until I succeed in coming 

to Italy, because she wants me 

to come and be making money 

for her through prostitution. 

“She doesn’t care how I fed, 

while in Libya; she never sent 

me money to eat. I was even 

raped when I got to Libya and 

she did not care. 

“The same woman took my 

younger sister to Libya. She is 

there, involved in prostitution. 

I am not happy about it. I 

understand how these things 

work over there and I know it 

is not good because they don’t 

By Emmanuel Ayungbe 

& Chioma Onuegbu 

UYO—A Joint Task Force, 

JTF, informant was 

reportedly beheaded by 

suspected militants Sunday 

night, when the JTF raided the 

militants’ hideouts in Etim 

Ekpo Local Government Area 

of Akwa Ibom State. 

use condom there.” 

Raped, pregnant 

According to her, “I was 

raped in a place called Gatron 

in Libya. This was when we 

were going to Saba. Our car 

parked in Gatron and they said 

we were going to sleep there. 

The Libyan men will come to 

the women section, wake us up 

one after the other and rape us. 

“They will point gun on your 

head and you must follow 

them. But I thank God I did 

not contract any disease 

after all these. 

“However, I discovered 

I was pregnant on April 

26, 2017 when I went for 

urine test. I felt bad 

because I was too 

young to have 

a baby. 

Besides, 

there 

Vivian and baby Treasure 

was nobody to help me. 

“Later, I decided to leave the 

By Chinenyeh Ozor 

A 

security staff of the 

University of Nigeria, 

Nsukka, UNN, was allegedly 

shot dead by unknown 

gunmen at his junior staff 

quarters residence. 

The murdered staff, 

identified simply as Chinedu 

Oranye, according to a source, 

was reportedly called on phone 

by his assailants around 12 

midnight to come out to a 

designated place in the 

compound for talks, only to be 

shot dead. 

It was gathered that there 

was an exchange of gunfire 

when JTF stormed the 

community to arrest a wanted 

militants’ leader known as 

Aboy Ikpor and his gang 

members, who led the Ikot 

Ekpene Prisons break that led 

to the escape of about 40 

inmates. 

A resident, Akpan Udotim, 

pregnancy, 

because I 

remember my 

mother 

always 

saying a 

child is a 

blessing. 

“The 

God that 

gave 

me the 

child 

knows I 

must feed, after all the birds 

of the air have no body but 

told newsmen, yesterday, that 

the militants ambushed the 

informant, who was 

reportedly dressed in a 

military camouflage, 

captured and beheaded him. 

He said: “They ambushed 

the man dressed in military 

camouflage. They chopped 

off his head and later 

dumped his headless body at 

God to feed them. 

“I just prayed that 

God will help me 

and that was why 

I named her 

Treasure.” 

Weeping 

profusely 

w h i l e 

speaking 

t o 

Vanguard, 

Vivian 

appealed 

to Delta 

and Edo 

states’ 

governors 

for help, 

saying “I 

have a 

baby girl at 

the age of 

19 from a 

Libyan man. I don’t have anything 

to care of her.” 

UNN security staff shot dead at his residence 

The source also said while 

the deceased was allegedly 

talking with his assailants, 

their voices rose in 

argument, which allegedly 

compelled one of the 

assailants to pull out a gun 

and shoot the deceased on 

the legs. 

This angered late 

Chinedu, who pounced on 

the person that shot him. 

Others that laid ambush 

pulled the trigger on his 

head before fleeing into the 

night. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

deceased, a father of three, was 

dead before the Chief Security 

Officer of the university, Mr. 

Romanus Nwafor, and the 

Divisional Police Officer arrived 

the scene. 

It was gathered that his 

remains were taken to the 

university medical centre and 

deposited at the morgue. 

The Chief Security Officer, 

who confirmed the incident, 

said the Police and the security 

department of the university 

have commenced investigations 

to unravel the circumstances 

surrounding Oranye's killing. 

Militants behead JTF informant in Akwa Ibom; cultists kill 3 

Urua Obo Inyang Market.” 

The Assistant Director, Public 

Relations, 2 Brigade, Nigerian 

Army, Major Shuaib Umar, 

could not be reached, as he did 

not pick calls to his phone. 

At press time, he had not 

responded to a text message 

sent to his phone. 

However, Commander of the 

JTF team in charge of Etim

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018—7 


Autopsy carried out on taxi driver killed over N200 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

BENIN—AN autopsy has 

been carried out on the 

body of late David Okoniba, 

the taxi driver, who was 

allegedly killed by a moving 

truck after being pushed by 

policemen in Benin, the Edo 

State capital, for refusing to 

Ekpo, Ukanafun, Oruk Anam, 

Ika and Ikot Abasi, Major 

Mohammed Hussain, who led 

the operation, confirmed the 

incident, but denied that the 

dead person was a soldier. 

He said: “The dead person was 

just our informant and we gave 

him military camouflage to wear. 

“They were three and we gave 

them military uniforms to wear 

so they can lead us to the 

militants' camp to capture some 

of the suspects that escaped from 

part with N200. 

Edo State Commissioner of 

Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, 

said the result of the autopsy 

will lead to investigation and 

pave way for further action. 

He said: “When somebody 

dies, the moment the matter is 

subject of investigation and 

possibly litigation or 

Aseptuagenarian, Emmanuel 

Ajasa, was, yesterday, taken 

before an Ebute Meta 

Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for 

the murder of his nephew, who 

he allegedly stabbed to death. 

Ajasa, 73, is to remain behind 

bars, pending receipt of legal 

advice from the office of the 

Lagos State Director of Public 

Prosecutions, the magistrate, 

Mrs O. O. A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, 

Ikot Ekpene Prisons. 

"But when he heard gunshots, 

out of fear he attempted to escape 

and I think bullets hit him.” 

3 killed 

Meanwhile, three civilians, 

including a woman, were also 

killed by suspected cultists in 

Udianga Enem, Ikot Obioma and 

Uruk Ata II, all in Etim Ekpo 

Local Government Area. 

It was also gathered that the 

cultists, who had been loyal to 

prosecution, there must be 

an autopsy. 

“It must be performed by a 

pathologist and tenderable 

in court. That is the essence 

of it. The result should be 

out, but it is not within my 

reach; I should have it 

tomorrow (today).” 

Recall that Okoniba, a 28- 

FOCUS: Young boxers training at Iganmu, Lagos-Badagry Expressway in Lagos. NAN PHOTO. 

ruled. 

The plea of the accused was 

not taken. 

Earlier, the prosecutor, 

Sergeant Courage 

Ekhueorohan, said the 

accused committed the 

offence on February 11 at 

10:40p.m. at 9, Kalejaiye 

Street, Lowa in Ikorodu, 

Lagos. 

He said the 

their deceased leader, 

Akaniyene Jumbo, alias Iso 

Akpafid, kidnapped a teacher 

at St. Joseph Primary School, 

Iwukem, Mr. Ekikeree 

Ukpekpe. 

The teacher, who hails from 

Ikot Obioma village, was said 

to have been captured by the 

‘Red Boys’ in his farm, after 

returning from his base in 

Ukanafun. 

A source, who did not want 

his name in print, told 

year-old cab driver, was on 

February 6 flagged down 

along with his wife, Ruth, by 

some policemen, who 

reportedly demanded for his 

vehicle papers at the Igun 

axis of Third-East Circular 

Road in Oredo Local 

Government Area, before the 

incident occurred. 

Wonder bank: 2 men allegedly 

defraud 11 Catholic priests of N42m 


BENIN—TWO persons, 

Greg Okojie and Monday 

Ahunwa, were yesterday 

arraigned before a magistrate's 

court in Benin, the Edo State 

capital, for allegedly defrauding 

11 reverend fathers of N42 

million through their ‘wonder 

bank’ scheme. 

The reverend fathers were said 

to have been attracted to the 

scheme because of the high 

interest rate that was payable on 

deposits. 

They were said to have been 

introduced to the wonder bank 

by a branch manager of a new 

generation bank, Mr. Okojie. 

It was gathered that Father 

Fidelis Arhedo was first 

introduced to the wonder bank 

supposedly owned by Monday 

Ahunwan and deposited N13 

million. 

Father Arhedo later introduced 

10 other priests after he received 

‘good interest.’ 

Other persons that fell to the 

scam besides the reverend 

fathers are Onomen Oriakhi and 

Theresa Oriakhi. 

It was gathered that trouble 

started when the wonder bank 

could not pay accumulated 

interest on the entire N42 

million collected from the 

reverend fathers, which forced 

the victims to report the matter 

to the Police. 

Greg and Monday were 

arraigned before an Oredo 

Magistrate's Court for 

conspiracy, obtaining money 

under false pretext and 

stealing. But they pleaded 

not guilty. 

In the charge sheet, the 

accused persons were 

alleged to have collected 

N42 million with the pretext 

of using it to do business and 

payback interest of five 

percent monthly. 

The accused persons were 

earlier arraigned on a threecount 

charge, but the 

prosecutor, Inspector 

Agbonifo Patrick, amended 

the charges to 13. 

Presiding Magistrate, F. E. 

Akhere, granted the accused 

persons N200,000 bail each 

and a surety in like sum; and 

adjourned the case till April 

4 for hearing. 

73-year-old man allegedly stabs nephew to death 

septuagenarian, out of 

annoyance, had used a knife 

to stab the deceased, 

Adeniyi Oyebajo, 50, who 

was trying to settle a dispute 

between his mother and the 

accused. 

The offence violates 

Section 222 of the Criminal 

Laws of Lagos State, 2015. 

The case has been 

adjourned until March 19. 

Vanguard that Ukpekpe’s 

abductors are demanding N1 

million from his family. 

He said: “Such huge cash 

won’t be easy. The man and 

his wife are primary school 

teachers. 

“Because of frequent crises 

in the community, the man 

had to evacuate his family to 

Ukanafun, but only to return 

temporarily to farm and was 

unlucky to be caught in his 

farmland by the hoodlums.” 

Bizwoman 

sues Turkish 

airlines over 

assault 

A 

By Esther 

Onyegbula 

Nigeria 

businesswoman, 

Tolulope Ogundokun, has 

sued Turkish Airlines 

before the Federal High 

Court, Lagos, for delayed 

boarding and assault 

during her trip from 

Istanbul, Turkey, to 

Heathrow, London. 

Ogundokun, who resides 

in Lagos, told the Federal 

High Court through her 

counsel, Mr. Mike 

Igbokwe(SAN), how she 

was battered and physically 

abused by a staff of Turkish 

Airlines at Ataturk 

International Airport, 

Turkey, for asking why she 

had SBY (standby) on her 

boarding pass instead of a 

seat number. 

The case was adjourned 

till March 9 for ruling. 

In an affidavit, she stated 

that she bought a confirmed 

return ticket from Turkish 

Airline through its agent in 

Lagos, Nigeria, and she 

departed Lagos on the 

airline’s aircraft to London, 

with a business stop-over 

in Istanbul, Turkey. 

After her two days 

business stop-over, she 

went to Ataturk International 

Airport, Istanbul, to 

board a flight to Heathrow 

Airport, London. 

On getting to the checkin 

Line C counter, she was 

handed a boarding pass 

with the letters SBY and told 

her flight was overbooked. 

She added: “I insisted on 

seeing the manager, Tartan 

Selim, for more 

explanation. Mr. Tartan told 

me to go and check their 

website, that a confirmed 

ticket did not guarantee a 

seat on the aircraft. 

“He then became 

aggressive, saying he does 

not have time for me. He 

even threatened that if I 

persisted, he would prevent 

me from travelling on the 

aircraft or take my bags out 

of the aircraft if I succeeded 

in getting a seat." 

Ogundokun said as she 

walked towards the airlines' 

customer service, making a 

video recording with her 

mobile phone to show the 

airlines’ customer 

representative, Tartan went 

wild and started hitting her 

repeatedly. 

She said: “I reported to 

policemen, who washed 

their hands off the matter 

after Tartan spoke his 

language with them. 

“They asked me to delete 

it, but after watching it, they 

advised me to go to the 

airlines’ management.”



AGF queries Magu, Keyamo over 

charges against CCT chairman 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA— ATTORNEY- 

GENERAL of the 

Federation and Minister of 

Justice, Mr. Abubakar 

Malami, SAN, has given 

Acting Chairman of 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, 

48 hours to explain why the 

agency filed corruption 

charges against Chairman 

of Code of Conduct 

Tribunal, CCT, Mr. Danladi 

Umar. 

Malami, in his letter 

dated February 16, with 

reference No DPP/ 

ADV:368/15, said the 

clarification was 

necessitated by the fact that 

EFCC under Magu, had 

on two occasions, cleared 

the CCT boss of complicity 

in the N10 million bribery 

allegation upon which the 

charge was based. 

The AGF said the EFCC 

chairman should, in his 

response to the query, 

clarify whether he, indeed, 

gave instruction or directive 

for the charge to be filed, 

and if in the affirmative, 

explain the compelling 

basis for the action. 

Magu was specifically 

directed to submit his 

response to the query, 

which was signed by 

Solicitor-General of the 

Federation and Permanent 

Secretary at Federal 

Ministry of Justice, Mr. 

Dayo Apata, before 

Tuesday, February 20. 

...Keyamo, too 

In a related 

development, the AGF, in 

a separate letter with 

reference No DPP/ 

ADV:369/15, asked Lagosbased 

lawyer, Mr. Festus 

Keyamo, SAN, to confirm 

whether indeed he was 

engaged by EFCC to 

prosecute the charge 

against the CCT 

Chairman. 

Keyamo was also given 

till Tuesday to furnish the 

Office of the AGF in writing, 

detail of who gave him the 

FIAT (authority) to file the 

charges. 

The AGF’s letter to 

Keyamo read: “The 

attention of the Honourable 

Attorney General of the 

Federation was drawn to 

news report that you have 

filed charges of corruption 

against the Chairman of the 

Code of Conduct Tribunal, 

Hon. Justice Danladi 

Umar, before the FCT High 

Court. 

“The Honourable 

Attorney General of the 

Federation hereby requests 

that you kindly furnish this 

office with the details of the 

instruction or authorization 

upon which you instituted 

the case under reference. 

Kindly accord this letter top 

priority while your prompt 

response on or before 

Tuesday, February 20, 

2018 is solicited in this 

regard” 

Group asks court 

to sack CCT 

Chairman 

Meanwhile, a group 

under the aegis of Kingdom 

Human Rights 

Foundation, yesterday, 

approached the Federal 

High Court in Abuja, 

asking it to order the CCT 

chairman to vacate his office 

pending the determination 

of the charge against him. 

The group, in its 

originating summons 

marked FHC/ABJ/CS/172/ 

2018, insisted that the CCT 

boss has breached the code 

of conduct for public 

officers and should, 

henceforth, stop presiding 

over the tribunal. 

More so, the plaintiff, 

through its lawyer, Mr. 

Okere Nnamdi, filed 

motion ex-parte for leave of 

court to apply for an order 

of mandamus to compel 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari and National 

Assembly to commence the 

process of removing Umar 

as the CCT Chairman. 

MEETING: From left, Assistant National Chairman, Miyetti 

Allah, Alhaji Useni Guso; Chairman, Oyo State Farmers Association, 

Chief Thomas Ayoola; Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun 

Odude; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; representative of 

General Officer Commanding 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.Gen. 

Yinka Soyele and Director, Department of State Service, DSS, 

Abdullahi Yaya Kure, when Gov. Ajimobi met with farmers and 

herdsmen, at House of Chiefs Secretariat, Ibadan, yesterday. 

ADEOSUN TO OECD, WORLD BANK, IMF: 

Label tax malpractices by multinationals 

as foreign corrupt practices 

MINISTER 

of 

Finance, Mrs. Kemi 

Adeosun, has called for the 

designation of tax 

malpractices by multinational 

corporations in Nigeria and 

other developing countries as 

foreign corrupt practices. 

She made the call at 

Platform for Collaboration on 

Tax, PCT, conference in New 

York, which rounded off over 

the weekend. 

The PCT is an initiative of 

the Organisation for 

Economic Cooperation and 

Development, OECD, World 

Bank Group, International 

Monetary Fund, IMF, and 

United Nations. 

The minister explained 

that Nigeria was doubly 

affected by illicit financial 

flows as a result of corruption 

and tax evasion. 

She requested global 

organisations such as the 

OECD, World Bank, IMF 

and United Nations to see the 

tax avoidance actions of 

multinational companies as 

corrupt practices. 

“There is absolute need for 

a complete understanding of 

how these Multinational 

Corporations, MNCs, 

behave in Nigeria and 

developing countries, many 

operate a completely 

different standard in Africa 

to what obtains globally,” 

Adeosun said. 

She lamented the 

capability of defaulting 

MNCs to hide behind slow 

legislative processes to avoid 

doing what was right in the 

nations from which they 

derived significant income. 

Adeosun, who disclosed 

that options to sue such 

companies in their own 

countries were being 

explored, said the 

designation of tax crime as 

foreign corrupt practices 

would support such efforts. 

On the wider issue of Illicit 

Financial Flows, she 

emphasised that Nigeria, 

under President 

Muhammadu Buhari, was 

‘taking strong action and 

was determined to reverse 

their impact’. 

The government, 

according to Adeosun, is 

taking a number of measures 

internally and also taking full 

advantage of international 

initiatives to tackle the 

problem. 

Grazing law: There are threats to my life —Gov Ortom 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI— 

GOVERNOR 

Samuel Ortom of Benue 

State has raised the alarm 

that there are threats to his 

life over the recently enacted 

Open Grazing Prohibition 

Law by his administration. 

Ortom, who spoke, 

yesterday, in Makurdi, said 

he had already reported the 

matter to security agencies, 

with expectations that those 

behind the threats would be 

arrested. 

Governor Ortom said: 

“There are threats to my life 

because of the grazing law 

we enacted in the state to 

ensure peaceful coexistence 

between our local farmers 

and herdsmen. 

“It is on record. I have also 

reported the matter to the 

security agencies that some 

persons were planning to 

attack me. 

“But I keep saying that life 

belongs to God. It is only God 

Be ready to make sacrifice, 

Buhari tells Nigerians 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

A BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

has told Nigerians to get 

prepared to make sacrifice 

as a foundation for national 

growth and development. 

The President, who made 

the appeal in his country 

home in Daura, Katsina, 

State, when he met with 

senior citizens of the state, 

led by Governor Aminu 

Masari, said in the life of a 

country, there were 

occasions when citizens 

must forgo personal 

pleasures or pay the 

ultimate price for the 

progress and unity of the 

nation. 

President Buhari in a 

statement signed by his 

Senior Special Adviser on 

Media and Publicity, 

Malam Garba Shehu, said: 

“The Nigeria of our time is 

in need of sacrifices by all 

that gives and takes away 

life, so my life is not in the 

hands of any person who is 

not happy with the Open 

Grazing Prohibition Law, 

2017. 

“If they are not happy, that 

is not my problem. They 

cannot take away my life 

because life belongs to God 

and not man no matter his 

position. 

“Whether these threats are 

real or not, they are threats 

and I have reported it to the 

Police, and the security 

citizens to free it from 

corruption, poverty, crime 

and underdevelopment.” 

While commending 

members of the forum for 

complementing his 

administration’s efforts at 

national development, 

Buhari assured them that 

the security of lives, 

property and prosperity of 

all Nigerians would 

continue to receive priority 

attention. 

In his remarks, Governor 

Masari said the delegation 

was in the President’s 

country home to condole 

with him on the death of two 

members of his extended 

family. 

Masari also extended the 

forum’s commiseration 

with the President over the 

recent auto-accident 

involving his son, Yusuf, 

and thanked God Almighty 

for his survival and 

subsequent discharge from 

the hospital. 

There is anger in the 

land, Okogie warns 

By Sam Eyoboka 

LAGOS— RETIRED 

Catholic Archbishop of 

Lagos, Anthony Cardinal 

Okogie, has warned the 

nation’s leaders to tread softly 

because there is anger in the 

nation. 

He argued that even 

leading members of the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, at the centre 

have demonstrated 

commendable candour by 

openly acknowledging that 

the hopes of 2015 have been 

shattered. 

In his latest open letter to 

the nation, Okogie began on 

a sporty note, reminding the 

nation that late football 

commentator, Ernest 

Okonkwo, was fond of using 

an Igbo proverb while giving 

minute-by-minute 

description of football matches 

on the radio. 

He said: “Anytime there 

was an infringement that 

escaped the attention of the 

referee, he would ask his 

colleagues, Sebastian 

Ofurum or Tolu Fatoyinbo if 

they too saw the 

infringement. If they 

confirmed what he saw, he 

would say in Igbo: “What two 

persons have seen and 

confirmed to be a boa must 

not be mistaken for a piece of 

diamond.” One may apply 

that maxim to the situation in 

our country right now. 

“There is anger in the land. 

Many voices are echoing it. 

These voices of anger are so 

deafening that it can no 

longer be denied. The level 

of discontent in Nigeria at this 

point in time is like the 

proverbial boa sighted by 

even more than two persons. 

It would be unwise to mistake 

it for a piece of diamond. 

“It has been sighted by 

Retired Generals Olusegun 

Obasanjo and Ibrahim 

Babangida who have spoken 

of the anger in the land in 

clear and unmistaken terms. 

It has been sighted by 

traditional rulers who have 

called the attention of 

government to it. 

"It has been sighted by the 

Catholic Bishops’ Conference 

of Nigeria when Bishops 

went into the corridors of 

power to speak to power, in 

the way Biblical prophets 

directly confronted kings in 

Israel.” 

agencies are doing the 

needful. I believe that those 

behind the threats will be 

apprehended and brought to 

book. 

“I must keep saying that 

the grazing law we enacted 

in Benue State, came from 

the people to stem the 

killings in our rural 

communities and it was not 

targeted at any group, 

persons or individuals, 

neither was it intended to 

chase anyone out of the 

state."



FG'll compel oil firms to build 

refineries in Nigeria —Kachikwu 

•Nigeria open to private sector investment 

in downstream —Buhari 

By Michael 

Eboh 

THE Federal Government, 

yesterday, said it was 

considering a policy to compel 

multinational oil and gas 

firms operating in the country 

to build refineries in Nigeria. 

Speaking at ongoing 

Nigerian International 

Petroleum Summit, NIPS, 

Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe 

Kachikwu, stated that in the 

not-too-distant future, 

multinational oil firms would 

no longer be allowed to ship 

out all the crude oil they 

produced in Nigeria, noting 

that emphasis would shift to 

local production of substantial 

portion of crude oil produced 

in the country. 

He said: “We would get to 

a point where Nigeria, 

definitely, would be a major 

supplier of refined petroleum 

products. It just have to 

happen. Nothing else makes 

sense. 

“We are also saying directly 

to oil companies that a time 

would also come when we 

would not be open to see 

them move around all the 

crude oil they produce in 

Nigeria. 

“We will like to see 

integrated refining and 

integrated processing here. It 

gives us more jobs and creates 

more investments." 

Kachikwu insisted that the 

challenge for oil companies 

had changed, noting that 

henceforth, oil had got to 

provide the resources to 

power the country; provide 

jobs for Nigerians and also 

provide the operational 

environment that is 

transparent enough for others 

to take Nigeria serious. 

According to him, oil has 

got to provide the technical 

and advanced skills that are 

essential for the country to 

export people out into other 

African countries, and to 

become investors in other 

African countries. 

He said: “The reality is that 

today, if you cannot produce 

cheap cost oil, if you cannot 

diversify the processing of 

your oil; if you cannot look to 

internalising and 

externalising investment in 

the sector; if you cannot 

capture the requisite 

technological skills that are 

essential to help you operate 

efficiently, you are lost before 

you start. 

“My target is that over the 

next 10 years, Nigeria would 

produce an FPSO and that is 

not too much to ask. My target 

over the next 10 years is that 

Nigeria would become selfsufficient 

in its power 

provision. And over the same 

period, Nigeria would 

gravitate from crude oil, as it 

where, to very refined, clean 

provision of fossils. 

“My target is that over that 

same period, investment in 

the sector, in the sense that 

Nigerian companies, 

Nigerian entities and 

Nigerian shareholders, 

would begin to move from the 

minuscule 10 per cent today, 

to between 40 and 50 per cent 

of local investments. 

“What have we achieved 

since the launch of the Seven 

Big Wins two years ago? We 

have been able to, through a 

lot of struggle, change the 

funding capacity for the 

upstream, and that had sort 

of energised investors in the 

upstream sector. 

Nigeria open to 

private sector 

investment in 

downstream 

—Buhari 

Also speaking, President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

disclosed that Nigeria is open 

to private sector investment 

in the downstream sector and 

is currently pursuing 

vigorously a programme for 

the rehabilitation of existing 

refineries so as to enhance 

capacity to supply locally 

refined petroleum products 

in Nigeria and West Africa. 

Buhari, who was 

represented by Secretary to 

Government of the 

Federation, Mr. Boss 

Mustapha, said based on its 

policies on the ease of doing 

business, the Federal 

Government would continue 

to ensure that all efforts in the 

petroleum sector and issues 

related to transparency, 

efficiency, enabling business 

environment and deploying 

new policies and regulations, 

would be taken into 

consideration so that investors 

would always feel at ease. 

INAUGURATION: From left, Personal Physician to the Governor 

of Bauchi State, Dr Nuhu Saleh; Secretary to the State Government, 

Nadada Umar; Governor Muhammed Abubakar; and Head of Service, 

Alhaji Liman Bello, during inauguration of Government House Clinic 

in Bauchi, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

El-Rufai’s suspension laughable 

— Kaduna APC 

By Ben Agande 

K ADUNA—ALL 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, in Kaduna 

State has dismissed the 

purported suspension of 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai by the 

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyiled 

faction of the party, saying 

it was illegitimate, laughable 

and should be disregarded. 

Briefing newsmen on the 

outcome of the state executive 

council meeting at the party 

secretariat in Kaduna, 

yesterday, Acting Secretary of 

the party, Yahaya Baba Pate, 

said the ‘so called’ chairman 

of the faction, Danladi Wada, 

was an impostor who lacked 

the power to suspend any 

member of the party. 

He said: “The authentic 

chairman of the party is Alhaji 

Shuaibu Idris. He is the 

chairman recognised by the 

national leadership of the 

party. 

"Last week, he received an 

invitation letter from the 

national secretariat, signed by 

National Chairman, Chief 

John Odigie-Oyegun, 

inviting him for National 

Executive Committee 

meeting next week. 

"The Senator Hunkuyi-led 

group is illegitimate. As far 

as we are concerned, most of 

them have been expelled, 

including the so-called 

factional chairman, Danladi 

Wada. 

"As for Senator Hunkuyi, he 

is on six months’ suspension, 

because we cannot expel 

him. Only the national 

leadership can expel him, 

because he is a political office 

holder.” 

The acting secretary also 

revealed that the meeting 

adopted 

the 

recommendations of the State 

Working Committee on local 

government elections and 

commended the ongoing 

registration of party 

members. 

According to Pate, the party 

is set to roll out the timetable 

in a few days for the party 

primaries, ahead of the local 

government elections. 

APC Reconciliation: Tinubu 

charged to extract 

commitment to peace from 

Buhari 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

Leader of 

NATIONAL All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu, has been 

asked to extract a 

commitment from President 

Muhammadu Buhari on 

his willingness to allow total 

reconciliation in the party, 

sources at the weekend 

meeting between the 

trouble shooter and the 

Sokoto State caucus of the 

party have revealed. 

Tinubu, who was, 

penultimate week, charged 

by President Buhari to lead 

the reconciliation process in 

the party, formally 

commenced his duty with 

the visit to Sokoto State 

where he met Governor 

Aminu Tambuwal, Senator 

Aliyu Wamakko, and the 

state executives. 

Following his arrival and 

meeting with the governor, 

Tinubu was taken to 

Wamakko’s residence 

where the meeting, which 

lasted about two hours, took 

place last Saturday. 

A source at the meeting 

said there was nothing to 

reconcile in the party but 

that the meeting was an 

opportunity for Tinubu to 

leverage on the experience 

of Tambuwal as Speaker of 

the House of 

Representatives and 

Wamakko’s role as the APC 

campaign 2015 coordinator 

in the North-West Zone. 

“We don’t have much 

problem in Sokoto and all 

he (Tinubu) came here for 

was to get proper direction 

on how to resolve the 

issues in the north and for 

that he was basically told 

that he must extract 

commitment from those 

who appointed him of their 

readiness to pursue 

reconciliation to the end,” 

an APC chieftain privy to 

the development told 

Vanguard yesterday. 

Onnoghen urges use of 

ADR in conflict situations 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA—-Chief Justice of 

Nigeria, CJN, Justice 

Walter Onnoghen, yesterday, 

called for more application of 

Alternative Dispute 

Resolution, ADR, 

mechanisms in peace 

building efforts across the 

federation. 

The CJN said it would 

better serve the ends of justice 

if lawyers would inculcate the 

habit of first encouraging their 

clients to explore ADR 

options before resorting to 

legal actions. 

Justice Onnoghen insisted 

that adversarial system of 

resolving conflict was no 

longer fashionable. 

Consequently, he urged 

Nigerian Law School to only 

post their students to law 

firms with ADR facilities for 

their chambers attachment, 

saying it was imperative for 

law firms in the country to 

make provisions for out-ofcourt 

methods of promoting 

peace and harmony in the 

society. 

The CJN spoke at the 

inauguration of the Bar and 

Bench House, a law firm in 

Abuja. 

In his speech presented by 

Chief Judge of the Federal 

Capital Territory High Court, 

Justice Ishaq Bello, the CJN 

said: “People are now moving 

away from adversarial system 

of dispute resolution to 

Alternative Dispute 

Resolution; this promotes 

peace and harmony in the 

society. 

“The Law School should 

only send students to law 

firms with ADR facilities like 

we have seen in this edifice 

of the Bar and Bench House.” 

The CJN lauded the 

principal partner of the Bar 

and Bench Publishers, Chief 

Ogwu Onoja, SAN, for 

erecting a “world-class 

edifice” for providing training 

resources for both judges and 

lawyers. 

He said: “This edifice 

represents a congenial 

atmosphere for judges and 

lawyers. It represents worldclass 

in terms of standards. 

Chief Onoja’s calmness 

represents diligence and 

high sense of articulation. 

“The Bar and Bench House 

is a meeting point for judges 

and lawyers, and we will seek 

the firm’s collaboration in the 

training of lawyers." 

Speaking on behalf of the 

Body of Senior Advocates of 

Nigeria, Mr. Israel 

Olorundare, SAN, 

commended Chief Onoja, 

whose 50th birthday 

coincided with the 

inauguration of the building, 

for the “huge investment he 

has made in furtherance of 

legal jurisprudence in 

Nigeria.” 

Meantime, in his address 

of welcome, Chief Onoja said 

expressed concerns over what 

he termed “archaic laws of 

antiquities in our statutes 

book.” 

He said: “These laws are 

not only prejudicial to effective 

justice system, they are 

contrary to good reason and 

conscience. They are 

anachronism and abandoned 

legal relics in our statutes 

books begging for repeal by 

the parliament."

10 — VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 


Ambode directs payment of taxes, 

levies through banks from March 1 

By Kingsley 

Adegboye & 

Olasunkanmi Akoni 

L 

A G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, yesterday 

directed that all taxes and 

levies due to the state 

should now be paid 

through the banks and 

online banking platforms 

from March 1. 

Ambode who gave the 

directive after paying his 

personal Land Use Charge 

at a branch of a new 

generation bank in Opebi 

area of Ikeja, said the 

decision to pay through 

banks was to reduce fraud 

and also encourage people 

to embrace the cashless 

policy of the state 

government. 

According to him, to 

ensure that government 

improved on quality of 

service to the people, 

effective from March 1, no 

payment of taxes would be 

made by cash anymore 

across the state. 

“Tax payers should be 

able to pay every legitimate 

bill through all payment 

channels at their 

convenience. The 

transaction process is going 

to be everyday, anytime 

and no weekends to avoid 

paying into wrong hands. 

We should be able to pay 

our taxes from any bank, 

any branch using webpay, 

paypoint and USSD, 

thereby encouraging 

•As Lagos abolishes cash payment in revenue collection 

TAX CAMPAIGN: From left Mr Fola Lasisi, Special Adviser to the Governor on 

Revenue and Tax; Mr. Ayo Subair, Chairman, Lagos State Internal revenue Service 

(LIRS); Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Mr Segun Agbaje, MD/CEO, 

GTBank PLC; Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, Commissioner for Finance, Lagos State and 

Mrs. Sherifat Dawodu, Assistant General Manager/Divisional Head, Lagos State 

Public Sector, GTBank at the flag-off ofthe e-Payment tax campaign by the Lagos 

State Government at GTBank, Opebi branch, Lagos yesterday. 

mobile money without any 

contact with government 

officials. I repeat, every 

kobo counts; do not pay into 

wrong hands anymore”, 

Ambode said. 

He said in partnership 

with Interswitch Limited, all 

the multi-layer platforms 

would henceforth be 

deployed and used by all 

government Ministries, 

Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, 

associated companies and 

units. 

While explaining the 

rationale behind his 

decision to lead the 

payment of Land Use 

Charge, Ambode, said the 

government could not be 

preaching and promising 

prosperity without leading 

by example, just as he 

urged residents and all 

taxable adults to be faithful 

to their civic obligations. 

Continuing, he said: 

“Today, what we are doing 

is to back up our talk with 

our walk. The state 

government cannot be 

promising prosperity in the 

future without investing in 

the future. I have just 

invested my quota by 

paying my Land Use 

Charge and I ask all 

residents and citizens to 

join me by courageously 

ILO seeks protection 

for 150m migrant workers 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

L 


INTERNATIONAL 

Labour Organisation, ILO, 

yesterday demanded fair 

treatment for the world’s 

150 million migrant 

workers, saying it was in 

everyone's interest. 

Speaking on “World Day 

of Social Justice”, in 

Geneva, Switzerland, 

Director-General of ILO 

Mr. Guy Ryder said: “On 

this World Day of Social 

Justice, we are focusing on 

the world’s 150 million 

migrant workers, many of 

whom face exploitation, 

discrimination and violence 

and lack even the most 

basic protections. 

''This is particularly true 

for women, who make up 

44 per cent of migrant 

workers. Most migration 

today is linked, directly or 

indirectly, to the search for 

decent work opportunities. 

But many migrant workers 

end up trapped in jobs with 

low pay and unsafe and 

making a decision for 

prosperity and pay all their 

taxes.” 

Ambode said all the 

multi-layer platforms were 

to be deployed and used by 

all government MDAs, 

associated companies and 

units henceforth, calling on 

all local government areas 

in the state to quickly adjust 

their collection processes to 

eliminate all leakages. 

The governor, who 

described the payment of 

taxes as an investment for 

the future, urged all 

residents to perform their 

civic responsibility, 

pledging that every kobo 

paid would be 

judiciously utilised. 

unhealthy working 

conditions, often in the 

informal economy, without 

respect for their labour and 

other human rights. They 

often have to pay high 

recruitment fees to get a job, 

on average over a year’s 

wages – there is high 

vulnerability to forced 

labour and child labour. 

“Migrant workers like all 

workers are entitled to fair 

treatment and fair treatment 

for migrant workers is also 

key to preserving the social 

fabric of our societies and 

to sustainable 

development. 

''If labour migration is 

well-governed, fair and 

effective, it can deliver 

benefits and opportunities 

for migrant workers, their 

families and their host 

communities. It can 

balance labour supply and 

demand, help develop and 

transfer skills at all skill 

levels, contribute to social 

protection systems, foster 

business innovation, and 

enrich communities both 

culturally and socially.” 

2.6m newborns die annually 

during 1st month of life 

— UNICEF 

By Chioma Obinna 

LNation AGOS—UNITED 

Children’s 

Fund, UNICEF, yesterday 

raised alarm over 

increasing global deaths of 

newborn babies among 

world poorest countries, 

saying every year, no fewer 

than 2.6 million newborns 

around the world die before 

their first month of life. 

This came as the global 

body said the situation in 

Nigeria had improved. 

Disclosing this in its new 

report on ‘Newborn 

Mortality’, UNICEF noted 

that of the 2.6 million 

newborns, one million of 

them die the day they were 

born. 

UNICEF’s Executive 

Director, Henrietta Fore, 

while reacting to the report 

explained that it showed 

that the globally, in lowincome 

countries, the 

average newborn mortality 

rate was 27 deaths per 1,000 

births. 

“In high-income 

countries, that rate is 3 

deaths per 1,000. While we 

have more than halved the 

number of deaths among 

children under the age of 

five in the last quarter 

century, we have not made 

similar progress in ending 

deaths among children less 

than one month old. Given 

that the majority of these 

deaths are preventable, 

clearly, we are failing the 

world’s poorest babies,” 

Fore stated. 

Continuing, Fore said the 

report noted that 8 of the 10 

most dangerous places to be 

born were in sub-Saharan 

Africa, where”pregnant 

women are much less likely 

to receive assistance during 

delivery due to poverty, 

conflict and weak 

institutions. With the 

newborn mortality rate of 29 

deaths per 1,000 births, the 

global estimates rank 

Nigeria as the 11th highest 

on newborn deaths.” 

Also speaking, UNICEF 

Nigeria’s Representative, 

Mohamed M Fall, stated 

that the recent Multiple 

Indicator Cluster Survey, 

MICS, conducted by 

Nigerian Government in 

2016/17, put the rate of 

newborn deaths per 1000 

births to 37. 

APC RECONCILIATIATION: Tinubu 

best man for the job — AKANDE 

LAGOS—THE former 

interim chairman of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Chief Bisi 

Akande, has said APC’s 

National leader, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu is the best 

person for the job of 

reconciling aggrieved 

members of the party, 

commending President 

Muhammadu Buhari for 

the choice of Asiwaju 

Tinubu. 

Akande who spoke in 

Lagos; said “To avoid the 

journey to the undertakers 

we are all agreed that 

prevention is often a wise 

counsel, more so for the 

APC. APC is a party born 

out of necessity at a time 

Nigeria needed a life boat, 

a new lease of life. For the 

purpose it was set up, it 

succeeded in unseating an 

incumbent government. 

And for a higher purpose it 

is working hard to succeed 

at good governance. 

Nobody watches the child 

he gave birth to die just like 

that. The responsibility to 

save the child comes 

suddenly upon the father. 

The APC cannot be allowed 

to wither away because of 

omissions and commissions. 

“Time like this calls for 

sacrifice and service. Of 

note is the saying that a real 

man, a hero is known by 

where it stands in the time 

of adversity. Bola Tinubu, 

President Buhari and I 

stand together in this effort 

to save APC from itself. 

Serving the nation has 

complex colours which 

constantly dazzle distant 

onlookers. The job at hand 

is not about Buhari. It is not 

about position sharing. It is 

not about ethnic nationalism. 

It is about the strength and 

the beauty of one’s deeds at 

one time or the other. It is 

about our party - the APC - 

Buhari or no Buhari. 

“Tinubu was a major 

participant in the emergence 

of APC. He must never be 

happy seeing it destroyed. 

Let APC be - no matter who 

may be lucky using it to gain 

power, make money, get 

famous - be such lucky ones 

born by Yoruba, Ibo or 

Hausa-Fulani. For as long 

as APC remains relevant, so 

long shall Bola Tinubu’s 

contributions to nationbuilding 

be magnified in 

Nigerian history. 

Book 

presentation 

THE 

public 

presentation of a new 

book entitled The Three 

Musketeers written by 

Agboola Saani and 

published by Aike Books, 

an imprint of Syndicated 

Communications Limited 

is scheduled to take place 

on Thursday, February 22, 

2018 at the Banquet Hall, 

Premier Hotel, Mokola 

Ibadan. 

The high profile event 

which is slated to kick off 

by 11.00 am will have Oba 

Lamidi Adeyemi 111, 

Alaafin of Oyo, as the Royal 

Father of the day, while 

Chief Dr. Muritala Adebayo 

Adetunji, JP will be the 

Father of the day.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 11 


80TH BIRTHDAY ANNIVERSARY OF OSIELE OKE-ONA EGBA: From left; Senate President 

Bukola Saraki ;Senator Solomon Ita Ewang, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President 

Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo and celebrant, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso during the special thanksgiving service to mark 

the 80th birthday anniversary of Osile Oke-Ona Egba, Oba Dr. Adedapo Tejuoso held at Olusegun 

Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta yesterday. 

Wives of Oba Tejuoso, (From right) Oloris Omolara, Yetunde and Olabisi 

at the event. 

ATTACKS: Be united against herdsmen 

menace, Akinrinade tells Southern govs 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE — A former 

Chief of Defence 

Staff, Gen Alani Akinrinade 

(retd) yesterday urged 

governors in the southern 

states to stand up against 

the rampaging herdsmen 

before the nation descends 

further into anarchy. 

He also expressed 

reservation about the 

nonchalant attitude of 


Buhari to the killings by the 

herders across the country. 

Akinrinade said this at the 

first year anniversary 

lecture organised to mark 

the Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu’s administration 

in Akure, Ondo State. 

While he backed the 

creation of state police to 

tackle the threat posed by 

the herdsmen he 

lampooned the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, for registering 

“hoards of toddlers for 

elections in the Northern 

part of the country.” 

The lecture, titled: 

‘Rethinking the Nigerian 

Nationhood: Issues and 

Challenges,’ was delivered 

by a renowned professor of 

International Law, Prof. 

Akin Oyedele. 

Akinrinade, who chaired 

the event, lamented that 

“herdsmen have been on 

the rampage for several 

months now, killing, 

maiming, raping, burning 

and kidnapping; name it, 

all the hallmark of those 

who never exited the 

animal farm.” 

Berating the president 

over his nonchalant attitude 

to herdsmen activities, the 

former Chief of Defence 

Staff said: “It was recently 

when our president was 

called out as the patron of 

his kinsmen, the 

herdsmen, that letters of 

complaints and its denials 

between the federal 

executive, the police and 

governors in distress 

started circulating that he 

gave a feeble, unclear, half 

hearted order to stop the 

carnage.” 

In addition, he said: “Let 

us allow history to deliver 

its verdict after many more 

have died, but I am 

certainly tired and 

ashamed of being classified 

as a barbarian. May I 

appeal to the governors in 

the southern states to stand 

Osun Assembly backs 'Not To 

Young To Run Bill' 

O SOGBO—THE 

Osun House of 

Assembly has expressed 

support for the ‘Not Too 

Young To Run Bill’, saying 

the nation can achieve 

more through the agility 

and dynamism of its youth 

population. 

The Chairman, House 

Committee on Information 

and Strategy, Mr 

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, 

said this in an interview 

yesterday in Osogbo. 

The bill passed by the 

National Assembly in July 

2017 reduced the age 

requirement for President 

from 40 to 30 years, 

Governor from 35 to 30 

years and Senate from 35 

to 30 years. 

Oyintiloye (APC- 

Obokun), who confirmed 

that the assembly had 

received the bill, said that 

action was underway on it. 

According to him, the 

assembly’s position on the 

bill is in line with national 

aspiration, especially for 

the promotion of youths to 

leadership position. 

“The Osun Assembly’s 

disposition to the bill is 

positive. If you are 

following up with the 

activities of the house, 

you will come to terms 

and agree that the 

assembly strongly 

believes in youth 

engagement and youth 

inclusion in governance. 

“The trend worldwide 

favours this paradigm shift 

and our youths are no less 

qualified to demonstrate 

their capacity to be part of 

up strongly together before 

more of what happened to 

Chief Olu Falae happens 

and we descend further 

into anarchy.” 

Lamenting the current 

state of the country, 

Akinrinade said “the past 

two or so years in our 

country appears to be like 

a tragic thriller movie in 

slow motion, full of object 

cruelty of the highest order 

of barbarity, edged on by 

those elected or selected to 

give us governance.” 

The guest lecturer, Prof 

Oyebode said that the 

nation is at a crossroad 

as “the multifarious 

ethnic nationalities, 

culture areas and 

linguistic groups hitch 

together by British 

imperialism are almost 

totally dissatisfied, if not 

actually disillusioned by the 

arrangement foisted on 

them.” 

Emir Sanusi, Miyetti Allah boss 

commend Fayose's Grazing Law 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI — THE 

Emir of Kano, Alhaji 

Mohammed Sanusi II and 

National President of the 

Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association of 

Nigeria, MACBAN, Alhaji 

Muhammadu Kiruwa, 

have thrown their weight 

behind the enactment of the 

Anti-Open Grazing Law in 

the state, saying it is for the 

protection of all interest 

groups. 

The duo also 

commended Ekiti State 

Governor, Mr Ayodele 

Fayose for promulgation of 

the law, which, according 

to them, caters for the wellbeing 

of parties involved, 

especially the herders, 

farmers, host communities 

among others. 

Also, amnesty has been 

declared for any armed 

herder who surrenders 

such arms to security 

Buhari felicitates with Awolowo-Dosunmu at 70 

P RESIDENT 

Muhammadu 

Buhari has congratulated 

Nigeria’s former 

Ambassador to The 

Netherlands, Dr 

Olatokunbo Awolowo- 

Dosunmu on her 70th 

birthday, today. 

In a statement by his 

Special Adviser on Media 

and Publicity, Mr Femi 

Adesina, the President 

said he joined the 

Awolowo family, friends 

and professional 

colleagues of the cerebral 

daughter of the late sage, 

Chief Obafemi Awolowo 

in celebrating her 

landmark age. 

He noted with delight 

that Awolowo-Dosunmu’s 

life had over the years 

been lined with service to 

her fatherland, and 

humanity, as a medical 

doctor, diplomat and 

philanthropist. 

The President said the 

former Ambassador’s 

representation of the 

country at different fora, 

local and international 

reflected her “unbridled 

passion to see Nigeria 

succeed and grow to be 

among the most 

influential.” 

Buhari affirmed that 

Awolowo-Dosunmu had 

upheld the legacies of good 

and free education, effective 

and accessible healthcare 

systems that “indelibly 

inscribed her father’s 

political philosophy in the 

history of Nigeria.” 

According to him, many 

citizens are still testifying 

to the benefits of 

Awolowo’s legacies after 

several decades. 

The President prayed 

that the almighty God 

would grant Awolowo- 

Dosunmu longer life, 

robust health and more 

wisdom to serve the 

country and humanity. 

agencies in the state. 

They spoke in Ado-Ekiti 

on Monday during a 

stakeholders meeting held 

at the Government House 

Grounds. 

In a statement by the 

governor’s Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr Idowu 

Adelusi, the Emir, who is a 

patron of the MACBAN, 

was represented by former 

Kano State Governor, 

Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, 

who is also the Sarduana 

of Kano. 

Emir Sanusi 

also frowned at the 

situation whereby some 

criminal elements would 

hide under grazing of herd 

to perpetrate crimes. 

CORRUPTION: 

Sagay chides 

judges over 

undue 

adjournments 

CHAIRMAN of the 

Presidential Advisory 

Committee on Anticorruption 

PACAC, 

Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, has 

berated judges who 

adjourn corruption cases for 

more than the maximum of 

14 days stipulated by the 

Administration of Criminal 

Justice Act, ACJA. 

Sagay said: “There have 

been cases in which Judges 

have adjourned to give 

rulings in interlocutory 

applications instead of 

waiting for the day of 

judgment on the 

substantive matter of 

corruption to read both 

Ruling on the interlocutory 

application and Judgment 

on the substantive issue of 

corruption."



Community invites govt, security agencies to 

flush out oil thieves 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W ARRI—UGBO- 

EGUNGUN 

community in Warri 

South-West Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State, has decried 

activities of oil thieves in 

the area, appealing that 

security operatives and 

the Federal Government 

should take decisive steps 

to flush them out. 

Chairman of the 

community, Mr Bawo 

Oteri, who spoke in Warri, 

yesterday, said the 

illegal bunkering 

activities were polluting 

the environment and 

making life difficult for 

residents, adding that 

the oil thieves have 

almost crippled the 

economic life of the area. 

Painting a gloomy 

picture of the situation in 

the community, he said 

fishermen were greatly 

affected as the waters had 

been severely polluted by 

the illicit activities. 

He stressed the urgent 

need for the Delta and 

Federal governments to 

collaborate to rid the 

community of the ugly 


He said the community 

was ready to collaborate 

with the government to 

put a halt to the activities 

of oil thieves. 

Oteri said some 

residents have been 

forced by the activities of 

the illegal bunkerers to 

abandon their houses, 

explaining that the oil 

thieves operated close to 

their buildings. 

“This is very dangerous. 

Some residents have 

relocated from their 

apartments for fear that 

the activities of illegal oil 

bunkerers could cause a 

major fire outbreak in the 

area,” he said. 

APC gained power by deceit 

— S’South PDP leaders 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT - 

SOUTH South 

leaders of the People’s 


yesterday taunted the All 

Progressive Congress, 

APC of gaining control of 

Federal Government 

through deceit, vowing 

that PDP was bound to 

regain power come 2019. 

At a Zonal Executive 

Meeting in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State, the regional 

leaders of the party noted 

that the APC led Federal 

Government had 

destroyed the economy, 

destabilised the nation’s 

security infrastructure and 

thrown Nigerians into 

unprecedented suffering. 

Governor Nyesom Wike 

of Rivers State, chief host 

on the occasion, said 

“What we want is free and 

fair elections for Nigerians 

to determine the future of 

the country. Nigerians are 

tired of the APC. 

“Nigerians have seen 

that the so called social 

group that calls itself a 

political party is a failure. 

The only political party in 

the country is PDP. APC 

took power by deceit, but 

they cannot govern.” 

National Chairman of 

PDP, Prince Uche 

Secondus said: “This 

crisis is no longer a 

laughing matter. The 

country is coming to an 

end and we must rescue 

the nation. “Come 2019, 

Nigeria will be liberated 

from the hands of the 

APC. The APC has lost 

ground in all the six geopolitical 

zones. We have 

to take one final step to 

sack the APC vengeance 

government.” 

CONFERENCE: From left: Adaora Ude, Head, Strategy, Sigma Pensions Limited; Dave Uduanu, 

MD/CEO, Sigma Pensions Limited; Amaju Pinnick, President, Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and 

Mabel George, Vice President, Business Development, West, Sigma Pensions Limited, during the football 

African conference in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

NASU blocks UNIUYO main gate to enforce 

stay-at-home order 

By Emmanuel Ayungbe 

THE leadership of 

striking members of 

the Non-Academic Staff 

Union of Universities, 

NASU, University of Uyo 

chapter, yesterday, stormed 

the main gate of the 

university to enforce its 

stay-at-home order on 

members. 

Chairman, Joint Action 

Committee, JAC, 

University of Uyo, 

UNIUYO, chapter, Mr 

Idongesit Nsubong, who 

led the leadership of the 

three major non-academic 

unions, barricaded the 

main entrance, denied 

access to their members into 

the campus. 

The operation which is 

considered as the last 

option in their efforts to 

force government to come 

to terms with their demands 

was carried out by 

leadership of SSANU, 

NASU and NAAT to stop 

the process of the semester 

examination which 

commenced yesterday. 

A source who would not 

want his name mentioned, 

told Vanguard that the 

leadership of the unions 

decided to enforce total 

compliance to send a strong 

signal to the Federal 

Government to urgently 

pay their entitlements. 

“We are trying to fish out 

the ‘black legs’ among us. 

Some of our union 

members out of disrespect 

to our action came to assist 

the members of academic 

union despite the fact that 

we are on strike. 

“The strike will be total 

this week. We are trying to 

make sure we enforce the 

strike by making sure none 

of our members is allowed 

into the campus.” 

Nsubong vowed that the 

unions will paralyze 

administrative activities in 

the institution, until the 


acceded to their demands. 

“Our members are in 

charge of administration in 

all the faculties. From today 

there will be no water and 

electricity supply in the 

university. The strike will 

now be total.’’ 

Meanwhile, the 

authorities of the University 

have waded into the issues, 

pleading with the striking 

union members to embrace 

dialogue rather than 

confrontation in the 

resolution of the issues at 

stake. 

Delta to begin construction of 30,000bpd 

refineries this year —Pirah 

By Mike Eboh 

DELTA 

State 

Government 

yesterday, said that it will 

commence the 

construction of three 

modular refineries, with 

a capacity of 10,000 

barrels per day before 

the end of the year. 

Speaking at the 

ongoing Nigerian 

International Petroleum 

Summit in Abuja, 

Commissioner for Oil 

and Gas, Delta State, Mr. 

Mofe Pirah, said the 

state was currently 

awaiting approval from 

the Department of 

Petroleum Resources, 

DPR, for it to commence 

production 

He said: “Delta State 

already has three 

modular refineries 

waiting to take off, one 

in Sapele, one in Kwale 

axis, one in Ukpai. They 

have a capacity of 10,000 

barrels each. 

“They are yet to come 

on stream because of the 

rigours associated with 

getting approvals from 

the DPR and getting 

funding among others. 

Some of the refineries 

have got certificates, 

some have acquired the 

site and engineering 

works are in progress."



Govt's programme feeds 168,069 pupils in C-River 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR— 

S C H O O L 

enrolment is witnessing 

an increase in public 

schools in Cross River 

State as children who 

hitherto did not attend 

school are being 

encouraged to enrol while 

some parents are 

withdrawing their 

children and wards from 

private to public schools, 

says Ntufam Okulaja, 

Special Adviser to 

$200m intervention fund'll deepen local 

content in oil industry —NCDMB 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

& Emem Idio 

E XECUTIVE 

Secretary of 

Nigerian Content 

Development and 

Monitoring Board, 

NCDMB, Engr Simbi 

Wabote, has said that the 

recently launched $200 

million Nigerian Content 

Intervention Fund, NCIF, 

was targeted at deepening 

local content participation 

in the oil and gas industry 

of the country. 

Wabote, who disclosed 

this in an interactive 

session with journalists, 

said that as part of its 10- 

year strategic plan, the 

board will create over 3,000 

jobs in the country, 

including indirect 

employment. 

Wabote said that since the 

Local Content Act was 

enacted in 2010, the oil and 

gas sector has witnessed 

tremendous growth in 

terms of what the country 

has been able to draw back 

and domicile locally. 

According to him, prior to 

the enactment of the act, 

“Out of the about $20 

Governor Ayade on Home 

Grown Feeding 

Programme 

Speaking to Vanguard 

in Calabar, he said that as 

at the end of 2017/2018 

first term school year in 

December last year, about 

117, 750 pupils were fed 

every school day by 1,358 

vendors/cooks engaged 

by the programme but the 

number has risen to 

168,069 pupils with 1,963 

vendors/cooks currently 

serving the meals. 

He said: “As part of the 

billion, which the industry 

spent on its annual 

activities, less than three 

per cent originated from the 

country while the rest was 

taken out, but after the 

implementation of the Act, 

about five per cent has 

returned to the country.” 

He explained that the 

aspiration of the board in 

terms of its 10 years 

strategic plan, was to have 

up to $14 billion out of the 

NAPTIP D-G tasks govt on public 

reorientation over migration 

By Gabriel Enogholase 

B 

E N I N — 

DIRECTOR - 

General, National Agency 

for the Prohibition of 

Trafficking in Persons, 

NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah- 

Donli, has stressed the 

need for government at all 

levels to come up with 

transformation and reorientation 

programmes 

that will change people’s 

attitude towards migrating 

out of the country. 

She spoke yesterday in 

Benin City, Edo State, at a 

public lecture organised in 

standardization process, a 

robust monitoring and 

evaluation process is in 

place to ensure 

compliance with quality 

and this mechanism 

ensures that safe food is 

delivered to pupils under 

the programme and this 

has encouraged children 

who never attended 

school to enrol while some 

parents have withdrawn 

their children and wards 

in private to public 

schools.” 

He maintained that 

about $20 billion domiciled 

in the country annually. 

The critical success factor 

of the board, he pointed out, 

has been the 

implementation of the Act 

itself. 

“The Act has been very 

critical to the success we 

had achieved. Prior to now, 

we practised what we call 

poles in terms of local 

content implementation.” 

Wabote disclosed that one 

children have become 

used to the daily meals 

served them and are 

expectant once the time to 

serve the meals reaches 

and the meals, according 

to him, are fortified with 

the right nutrients to boost 

their learning ability and 

also stabilise their health 

condition. 

He said the programme 

was collaborating with 

some food producers to 

ensure a steady supply of 

food to meet the quantity 

required by the vendors. 

ELECTION: Newspaper distributors in Edo State during an election to chose their leaders for the 

next four years. 

commemoration of Captain 

Idahosa Okunbo’s 60th 

birthday held at the 

University of Benin, 

UNIBEN. 

Okah-Donli in her paper 

entitled Youth Migration, 

Deportation and 

Rehabilitation: NAPTIP’S 

Rehabilitation Plan, said 

something fundamental 

must be done to control and 

curtail the illegal 

movement of people out of 

poor countries and 

incentives introduced for 

those willing to stay and 

work at home. 

She said: “Migration is 

of the major impediments 

for most Nigerians in the 

oil and gas sector is the cost 

of financing projects which 

was put at between 15 per 

cent and 26 per cent. 

But working in 

partnership with the board 

he said, the sector came up 

with facilities that involve 

a large range of funding up 

to $10 million with a single 

digit interest rate of eight 

per cent. 

not bad in itself because 

there are various 

opportunities and ways in 

which Nigeria as a country 

can tap into this 

phenomenon to bring 

development to the country 

rather than simply 

restricting mobility. 

“Migrants do not have to 

return permanently to make 

contribution to 

development, but often 

times, young Nigerian 

migrants under the 

misguided belief that life is 

always better and rosier 

abroad and some believe 

that money can be picked 

on the streets abroad." 

2019: Okoh joins House of 

Reps race 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—SENIOR 

Special Assistant 

to Delta State Governor on 

Events 

and 

Entertainment, Mr 

Sebastine Okoh, has 

declared his intention to 

run for the Ika Federal 

constituency seat. 

Declaring his intention 

at Umunede, Ika North- 

East Local Government 

Area of the state during 

the unveiling of his 

portrait by the Sebastine 

Ambassadors, Sunday, 

Okoh said his decision to 

contest the House of 

Representatives election 

was informed by his 

desire to add value to the 

lives of Ika people. 

Urging the people of the 

constituency to screen all the 

aspirants looking at their 

performances and prospects 

and support the most 

suitable, he told the people 

to shun violence all through 

the electioneering 

campaigns. 

Insisting that he has all it 

takes to represent Ika nation 

in the House of 

Representatives, he noted 

that the business of 

lawmaking should be for the 

most suitable. 

Chairman of the occasion, 

Chief Frank Igwebuike, who 

earlier described Okoh as the 

fresh breath of Ika federal 

constituency in 2019, said 

that Okoh has paid school 

fees and hospital bills for 

many people in Ika nation. 

Navy to receive more ships in 

few weeks —Defence Minister 

By Egufe Yafugborhi 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT—THE 

Nigerian Navy will in 

the next few weeks 

receive more 

sophisticated ships in 

furtherance of 

government's 

determination to fortify 

the Nigerian armed 

forces to stem increasing 

security challenges in 

the country. 

Minister of Defence, 

Mansur Mohammad 

Dan-Ali, stated this at 

the Nigerian Naval 

College, Onne, Rivers 

State, where the Navy 

commissioned 118 

cadets after successful 

completion of the Direct 

Short Service Course 24. 

Represented by the Chief 

of Defence Staff, Gen. 

Gabriel Olanisakin, the 

Defence Minister said the 

expected new naval ships, 

just like the graduation of 

more junior level leaders in 

the newly commissioned 

trainees, will complement 

the recent successes of the 

Navy in protecting the 

nation’s waterways. 

He said: “With the 

lifeblood of Nigerian 

economy domiciled 

predominantly at the sea, 

the nation has over the 

years depended on the 

Navy to secure its 

resources, national assets 

as well as its sea lines of 

communications." 

Osanebi, Ezechi hail Okowa 

over award 

By Tare Youdeowei 

DEPUTY Speaker, 

Delta State House 

of Assembly, Mr. Friday 

Osanebi, has described 

the Governor of the Year 

Award bestowed on Dr 

Ifeanyi Okowa by 

Independent 

Newspapers as a reward 

for hard work, dexterity 

and prudence. 

Also, a DESOPADEC 

Commissioner, Nnamdi 

Ezechi, has applauded 

the award on Okowa for 

his passion and 

commitment towards the 

holistic development of 

the state, noting that the 

award has shut the mouth 

of critics. 

Ezechi in a chat in 

Lagos, said: “Within the 

space of two years, 

Governor Okowa has 

demonstrated an 

unparalleled passion and 

zeal to the holistic 

development of Delta State 

and the SMART prosperity 

of Deltans across board.” 

On his part, Osanebi in a 

congratulatory message said 

the award has once again 

shown that the 

developmental strides of 

Governor Okowa are being 

appreciated by the people of 

the state and Nigerians at 

large. 

He described the awards as 

a reward for excellence, 

adding: “Your Excellency, 

through diligence and 

prudent management of 

resources, you have 

practically demonstrated that 

you are a leader with strange 

abilities. This award today is 

indeed a reward of 

excellence.” 

Osanebi noted that 

Governor Okowa, who was 

recognised for uncommon 

wealth creation and 

infrastructure in the state, has 

demonstrated rare virtues of 

frugality and industry in the 

discharge of his duty as 

governor.

14 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

SERAP to Buhari: Publish details 

of corruption in social 

investments programme 


By Abdulwahab 

Abdulah 

S OCIO-ECONOMIC 

Rights and Accountability 

Project 

(SERAP) has challenged 


Buhari to direct 

the Attorney General 

of the Federation, Mr 

Abubakar Malami, SAN 

and Minister of Finance, 

Kemi Adeosun to publish 

more details on the 

alleged fraud and stealing 

of some of the N1 trillion 

budgeted for the Social 

Investments Programme 

(SIP). 

SERAP also requested 

the authority to publish the 

exact amount of the $321 

million of the late Head of 

State, Gen. Sani Abacha 

loot recently returned by 

Switzerland, which was 

stolen. 

A statement by SERAP’s 

Deputy Director, Timothy 

Adewale pleaded that the 

President should, “instruct 

appropriate authorities to 

publish details of how his 

government plans to 

spend and monitor the 

spending of the $85 million 

returned by the United 

Kingdom from the controversial 

Malabu deal involving 

$1.6 billion, so as 

to remove the risks of corruption 

or mismanagement 

of the money.” 

The Special Adviser on 

SIP, Maryam Uwais, had 

last week reportedly disclosed 

that the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC) 

was invited to probe 

‘massive fraud’ and other 

corrupt practices like 

short-changing, racketeering, 

harassment of beneficiaries 

and exploitation 

of the vulnerable plaguing 

the scheme in some states.” 

Welcoming the reported 

disclosure of fraud and corruption 

in the SIP and the 

request to the EFCC to 

probe the allegations, 

SERAP said it was concerned 

that sufficient details 

about the allegations 

had not been disclosed. 

“Nigerians have the right 

to know more about the allegations, 

including the 

names of the states involved, 

and whether the 

recently returned $321m 

Abacha loot was affected by 

the reported fraud and corruption,” 

it added. 

Killing of innocent Nigerians 

by herdsmen, serious security 

challenge 

By Wole Mosadomi 

M 

I N N A — 

IMMEDIATE 

past Governor of Niger 

State, Dr. Muazu Babangida 

Aliyu, has described 

the continuous 

killing of innocent Nigerians 

by herdsmen as a 

serious security challenge 

for the country. 

The ex-governor said the 

challengeshould be tackled 

with all seriousness 

it deserves by the Federal 

Government before it 

gets out of hand. 

Speaking with journalists 

citizens in Minna 

yesterday, the former 

governor said: “We saw 

this problem of 

herdsmen/farmers 

clashes coming when I 

was the Chairman of 

Northern Governors Forum, 

NGF, and we had 

series of meetings on 

how to tackle it in 2014. 

The report produced by 

the committee headed 

by former Governor 

Gabriel Suswan of 

Benue State tackled the 

problems and proffered 

solutions which are still 

useful. The problem is 

not tribal but economic 

in nature because both 

of the herdsmen and 

farmers see either the 

death of their cows or 

destruction of their 

farmlands as economic 

setback to them, hence 

the clashes. This is why 


should settle it immediately 

before it gets out of 

hand.” 

Babangida Aliyu called 

on the present All Progressives 

Congress, 

APC-led administration 

both at the Federal and 

state levels to stop running 

down the Peoples 


but focus its attention on 

governance especially on 

how to make life meaningful 

for the citizens. 

He said with the numerous 

achievements of 

the PDP in the past both 

at the national and state 

levels, it would take the 

ruling party (APC) another 

10 years to get its 

bearing saying, “APC 

should therefore focus its 

attention on governance 

and not on criticism.” 

On rumours that he 

has decamped to APC, 

the former Governor 

simply said, “I have not 

decamped and I am not 

contemplating of decamping. 

I had the opportunity 

to do this 

when I led the G7 Governors 

some years back 

on some issues but did 

not because I did not see 

defection as solution.'' 

106 children, 1,200 adults died in road 

accidents in Nigeria in last quarter of 2017 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

A BUJA—PEOPLE 

P e o p l e s 


has said President 

Muhammadu Buhariled 

presidency has no 

honour left after reports 

emerged that it 

allegedly concealed a 

N10 billion theft 

perpetrated by its 

officials at the National 

Health Insurance 

Scheme, NHIS. 

The party said Nigeria 

is being shoved to the 

precipice as “Buhari 

Presidency’s 

incompetence manifest 

in the daily activities of 

government.” 

The PDP, in a statement 

issued yesterday by its 

National Publicity Secretary, 

Kola Ologbondiyan, said it 

was shocking that the 

NHIS money was 

siphoned through the 


Treasury Single Account 

(TSA) in the Central Bank 

of Nigeria under the direct 

purview of the Presidency. 

“Nigerians can now see 

the level of debauchery 

associated with this 

administration. It is 

appalling that a 

government can be so 

depraved that it 

superintended over the 

stealing of money meant 

to provide healthcare for 

the citizens. We challenge 

INVESTITURE: From left, Mr Oderinlo Tunbosun,Business Development,Cosse 

Limited; Mr Olakunle Oyebanjo, Head of Sales & Marketing, Nordica Fertility Centre/ 

member, Endometriosis Support Group Nigeria (ESGN); Deaconess Omolewa 

Ahmed, First Lady of Kwara State;Dr Abayomi Ajayi,Managing Director Nordica 

Fertility Centre and Trustee of ESGN and Onuora Molokwu, COO, Cosse limited, 

during the investiture of Kwara State First Lady as Endo Champion 2018 at Kwara 

State Liaison Office in Victoria Island, Lagos.Photo by Akeem Salau. 

A BUJA—THE 

National Bureau of 

Statistics (NBS) has said no 

fewer than 1,306 Nigerians 

died in road accidents in the 

fourth quarter of 2017. 

The NBS stated this in its 

“Road Transport Data for 

Fourth Quarter 2017” 

posted on its website. 

The Federal Road Safety 

Commission (FRSC) is the 

government agency with 

statutory responsibilities for 

road safety administration in 

Nigeria. 

The NBS said that 1,200 

of the 1,306 Nigerians who 

died, representing 92 per 

cent of the figure were 

adults, while the remaining 

106, representing eight per 

cent, were children. 

According to the report, 

1,019 male, representing 78 

per cent died in the period 

under review, while 287 

female, representing 22 per 

cent, died in road accidents 

in the period. 

The report said 2,489 road 

crashes occurred in fourth 

quarter of 2017. 

It indicated that speed 

violation was the major 

cause of road crashes during 

the period and this accounted 

for 45.08 per cent 

of the total road crashes reported. 

It said loss of control and 

dangerous driving by motorists 

represented 10.08 per 

cent of crashes recorded in 

the fourth quarter. 

According to the report, a 

total of 7,349 Nigerians got 

injured in road accidents 

recorded in the period. 

NBS stated that 6,855 of 

the 7,349 Nigerians that got 

the Presidency to speak out 

on this report as well as 

similar reported sleaze that 

have occurred under its 

watch. 

“Who in the Presidency 

authorized the withdrawal 

of the money from the 

TSA and who are the 

beneficiaries thereof? What 

has the Presidency to say 

about revelations that it 

ordered the reinstatement 

of the indicted Executive 

Secretary of the NHIS, 

Prof. Yusuf Usman, to help 

conceal this illegal 

withdrawals and shield 

PDP blasts FG over fresh N10bn NHIS scam 

ABUJA—THE Auditor 

General of the Federation, 

AuGF, Mr Anthony 

Ayine, yesterday said 

auditing 471 Ministries, 

Departments and Agencies, 

MDAs with 1500 

workforce was herculean 

and made his agency not 

to perform optimally. 

Speaking while defending 

his agency’s 2018 

budget, Ayine said “it 

should be noted that the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria has 471 parastatals 

and agencies and the 

AuGF is required to 

comment on their audited 

financial statements. Due 

members of the presidency 

cabals involved in the 

deal? 

“Until and unless the 

Presidency clears its name 

by investigating, exposing 

and prosecuting those 

involved, it must directly be 

held responsible for this 

wicked act against 

Nigerians, who daily suffer 

hunger, depravation and 

death owing to the 

corruption in the APC 

government,” the 

statement read in part. 

The party also expressed 

dismay over President 

to inadequate capacity and 

the complex nature of some 

of the accounts, the review 

and comment on the 

audited financial statements 

of some of the 

agencies have to be outsourced. 

It is important 

to note that the current 

workforce will significantly 

be depleted when 54 

officers and 139 officers 

retire from service this 

year. 

“If no further recruitments 

are made to improve 

the strength of the 

workforce, this depleted 

workforce could constitute 

critical threats to the 

functioning of the office. 

For the office to function 

injured, representing 93 

per cent of the figure, were 

adults, while the remaining 

494 Nigerians, 

representing 7 per cent of 

the figure were children. 

It also reported that 5,366 

male, representing 73 per 

cent, got injured during the 

quarter, while 1,983 female, 

representing 27 per cent, 

were injured within the period. 

The report said a total of 

214,256 national drivers’ licenses 

were produced in 

the quarter. 

NBS said Lagos and FCT 

produced the highest 

number of drivers’ licenses, 

while Zamfara and Kebbi 

states produced the least 

numbers of national drivers’ 

licenses in the period. 

Buhari’s alleged “Refusal 

to act on the leaked memo 

showing corrupt oil contracts 

at the NNPC to the 

tune of N9 trillion ($25billion 

dollars) in a sector under 

his supervision as Minister 

of Petroleum. 

“Nigerians are aware that 

the Presidency has 

continued to shield 

fraudulent cabinet ministers 

including those known for 

extorting funds from 

agencies under them in 

addition to those indicted 

for corrupt enrichment,” 

PDP added. 

AUDIT OF MDAs: We can’t effectively perform 

due to staff shortage — AuGF 

By Emman 

Ovuakporie 

and achieve results, personnel 

cost budget ceilings 

of N1,909,022,726 

should be replaced by a 

new personnel cost budget 

ceilings of 

N3,424,510,028.55.'' 

Responding, chairman 

of the Committee Kingsley 

Chinda,PDP, Rivers 

said “if this government 

truly wants to fight corruption 

then it must properly 

fund the office of the 

AuGF. ''In the civilised 

climes strong institutions 

are built not persons because 

here it is who pays 

the piper that dictates 

the tunes and that is why 

the audit department 

should be independent 

of the three arms of government.''


16—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

We’ll support Buhari if he 

contests in 2019—S-East 

elders 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

A WKA—SOUTH 

East Elders’ Council 

has promised to support 


Buhari in the 2019 

presidential election if he 

decides to run again, 

arguing that the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, controlled 

government had done well 

in fighting corruption and 

the dreaded Boko Haram 

insurgency. 

Chairman of the forum 

and former President 

General of the apex Igbo 

socio -cultural organization, 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr 

Dozie Ikedife told reporters 

yesterday at Nnewi that 

South East leaders took the 

decision at their meeting in 

Enugu. 

Ikedife, however, said it 

was not yet clear if 

President Buhari would 

contest again, adding that 

Paul varsity VC bemoans 

mounting insecurity 

By Etop Ekanem 

VICE Chancellor of 

Paul University, Awka, 

Anambra State, Prof Uche 

Isiugo-Abanihi, has 

lamented mounting 

insecurity in the country. 

Prof Isiugo-Abanihi, who 

stated this during the 8th 

matriculation ceremony of 

the university in Awka 

where no fewer that 125 

intakes matriculated 

weekend, noted that 

insecurity has remained a 

nagging issue in the 

country. 

He said killings in parts 

of the country on daily basis 

have made even the valiant 

faint-hearted, noting that 

such has made life in the 

country cheap as the 


he would not be drafted for 

the position when he had 

not indicated any interest. 

He said: “There are so 

many factors to be taken 

into consideration while 

talking about Buhari for the 

second tenure. You have to 

know whether the man 

wants to go for a second 

tenure before you begin to 

support him. If he does not 

indicate any interest, then 

what is the purpose of 

supporting him? 

“Are you going to draft 

him into the position? And 

you should know that 

between now and 2019 is a 

long time in political 

calendar because a lot of 

things can still happen. 

There is this saying that 

man proposes, but God 

disposes. But left with us, 

if he wants to run, let him 

go ahead. 

“We will support him but 

the decision has to come 

from him and not foisted on 

him by his handlers." 

Cleric laments hardship in Imo 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

O WERRI—THE 

growing level of 

devastation and sorrowful 

narratives coming from 

Imo people, is now giving 

the Catholic Archbishop of 

Owerri Ecclesiastical 

Province, His Grace, Dr. 

Anthony J. V. Obinna, 

sleepless nights. 

Archbishop Obinna 

made his feelings known in 

his 2018 Lenten pastoral 

message titled “Take heart! 

God cares for you”. 

“As I travel across the 

length and breadth of the 

Archdiocese, I see the 

devastations and hear the 

sorrowful narrations of the 

losses sustained by our people”, 

Obinna said. 

He said it was sad that 

this year, his usual practice 

of opening the market year 

with Holy Mass and 

prayers, inside Ekeukwu 

Owerri market failed to 

hold. 

“I am also saddened by 

the fact that many other 

people, their businesses 

and business locations 

have been adversely 

affected. I commiserate with 

you all, our traders in 

Ekeukwu Owerri Market, 

New Market in Owerri, and 

in other markets across the 

state that have been 

demolished”, Obinna said. 

killings keep festering, with 

the government appearing 

to have no solution but only 

feeble-like responses. 

On the problem of 

infrastructure within the 

system, he admitted the 

school depends principally 

on kind public-spirited 

individuals and 

organisations, such as the 

late elder statesman, Dr 

Alex Ekwueme who 

donated the Admin Block, 

among other donors. While 

thanking the donors for 

their support, the vice 

chancellor appealed for 

more assistance from 


organisations to speed up 

the pursuit of achieving the 

institution’s goals in record 

time. 

IPOB berates judiciary for releasing 

violent Boko Haram, detaining its 

peaceful members 

By Clifford 

Ndujihe 

U MUAHIA—THE 

Indigeneous People 

of Biafra, IPOB, has 

decried what it described 

as the worst form of judicial 

immorality and conspiracy, 

the continuous release of 

violent Boko Haram 

suspects and detention of 

peaceful IPOB members. 

Weekend, a Federal High 

Court sitting in Wawa 

Cantonment, Kainji, Niger 

State released no fewer 

than 475 suspected Boko 

Haram members to be 

rehabilitated by their state 

governments. 

Reacting to the 

development, the IPOB, in 

a statement by its Media 

and Publicity Secretary, 

Comrade Emma Powerful, 

noted with dismay the 

release of another group of 

Boko Haram suspects 

‘’while innocent IPOB 

family members are still 

being illegally and 

unlawfully detained, some 

FOOTBALL: From left: Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. 

Hon. Edward Ubosi; Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi; and Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, 

accompanying former Super Eagles Captain, Kanu Nwankwo to kickoff 

the final football match of the 2018 edition of Ekweremadu-sponsored 

Ikeoha Youth Sports Championship at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, 

Enugu. 

....As Kanu's wife says she lacks 

knowledge of his whereabouts 

Meanwhile, Uchechi 

Kanu, wife of 

Nnamdi Kanu, leader of 

the Indigenous People of 

Biafra, IPOB, has said she 

is not aware of the 

whereabouts of her 

husband, adding that she 

is not sure if he is alive or 

dead. 

She said the last time she 

spoke with him, in a 

telephone conversation 

was when the army raided 

their Abia residence in 

October. 

Uchechi insisted that her 

husband is in the custody 

of the army. 

“The IPOB people are not 

sleeping. The army is going 

to tell them where their 

leader is. Keeping Nnamdi 

Kanu does not mean that 

IPOB is asleep,” Uchechi 

said. 

“I don’t know where my 

husband is. If he is dead or 

alive, I don’t know. The 

people that are supposed 

to answer these questions 

are the army. 

“The last time I spoke 

him was when the army 

came to shoot in our house. 

He called me and asked if 

I was hearing the gunshots. 

I heard the gunshots and 

started shouting and asked 

him what was wrong. 

“He said they are 

shooting and he is inside 

the house. That was the last 

time we spoke.” 

In an interview with 

BBC Igbo, Uchechi also 

LGA autonomy: Ihedioha 

berates Imo Assembly 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

O WERRI—THE 

former deputy 

speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Mr. 

Emeka Ihedioha, said 

yesterday that the reported 

refusal of the Imo state 

House of Assembly to 

endorse the constitutional 

amendment, seeking local 

government autonomy, was 

unacceptable. 

In a statement in Owerri 

by Ihedioha’s Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr. Chibuike 

Onyeukwu, the lawmaker 

said the step was against 

public interest. 

Ihedioha went further to 

advise other state Houses 

of Assembly to see the Imo 

lawmakers’ stance as antipeople. 

The statement read in 

part: “The bill was 

forwarded to all the 36 state 

assemblies by the National 

Assembly for their 

said the Igbos deserved 

more than they are getting 

from the country, noting 

that Nigeria needs to allow 

an Igbo person to rule. 

concurrence as part of the 

process of altering some 

identified clauses in the 

constitution. 

“The National Assembly 

had proposed an 

amendment to the 

constitutional provision that 

hitherto guarantees State 

Joint Local Government 

Accounts. 

“The amendment bill 

which was opposed by Imo 

lawmakers sought that the 

joint account be set aside 

such that each local 

government would be able 

to operate special and 

distinct accounts, thereby, 

pushing for secure financial 

independence for the third 

tier of government 

“Ihedioha described the 

failure of Imo State House 

of Assembly to ratify the bill 

as outlandish, 

unacceptable and against 

the interest and aspiration 

of the generality of the 

people many of whom 

according to him reside at 

the local communities.” 

for nearly three years without 

trial as in the case of 

David Nwawuisi at Kuje 

prison in Abuja.’’ 

It continued: ‘’To rub salt 

on the injury, Nigerian 

Police, DSS and Army 

rather than facilitate the 

release of Biafrans in their 

custody have instead 

continued with their reign 

of terror across the South 

East and South South. The 

latest is the arrest of Mrs 

Blessing Okoye in Obigbo 

Igweocha (Port Harcourt) 

on the evening of Sunday 

February 18, 2018 by 

Hausa speaking men of the 

state secret police, the DSS. 

"How can this APC 

government of Buhari, the 

Nigerian National 

Assembly and Nigerian 

judiciary morally justify the 

detention and continued 

arrest of a peaceful people 

with no history of violence 

whatsoever while releasing 

those involved in the most 

heinous and abominable 

crimes known to man? 

Justice in Nigeria as we 

know it has been turned 

upside down, killers 

released, innocent people 

incarcerated indefinitely. 

This level of brazen judicial 

wickedness, immorality 

and double standards 

cannot obtain in any other 

society on earth except 

Nigeria. 

"Till date, no single law 

court in Nigeria can 

categorically state, with any 

shred of conviction, that 

they have before them any 

evidence, no matter how 

insignificant, to the effect 

that IPOB has been 

involved in a disorderly 

conduct , let alone murder 

or any other illegality. 

IPOB remains till date the 

largest and most peaceful 

mass movement on earth. 

Our only crime is to 

demand for our God given 

right to self determination 

the same way humans have 

been doing since the dawn 

of civilisation. 

‘’A Yoruba man Herbert 

Macaulay started the 

agitation for self 

determination that led to 

independence for the geopolitical 

entity we have 

come to know as Nigeria. 

Today, Buhari and his 

tribesmen are enjoying 

unprecedented political 

power, military might, 

wealth and influence 

directly derived from 

agitation for self 

determination initiated by 

a Yoruba man and those 

that emerged later like Dr 

Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief 

Obafemi Awolowo 

popularly referred to as

Ondo as a cattle colony? 

ONDO state has a rich 

history as the bastion of 

resistance and a land intolerant 

of opportunism. We know what 

Ondo people would tolerate and 

what they would not accept. 

When the National Party of 

Nigeria, NPN, rigging machine 

went into an overdrive doing 

landslide and moon slide in 

1983,the greatest mistake it made 

was venturing into Ondo State. 

The chilling accounts of the 

pushback of that misadventure is 

the captivating "House of War " 

by Dare Babarinsa, a copy of 

which I have been flipping 

through anytime the provocative 

Fulani herdsmen carry out new 

aggression in their serial attacks 

on the land of freedom. 

The owners of the temporary 

and unsustainable game 

presently going on in this 

Cowtry(Nigeria )are playing a 

dangerous one in Ondo state 

similar to what provoked the war 

in Ondo in 1983 and signaled 

the end of that Republic. 

By the way, when the Buhari 

junta took over in 1984, a special 

vindictive focus was placed on 

Ondo state in the anti-corruption 

propaganda,Chief Adekunle 

Ajasin whose testimony was that 

he left office as Governor with the 

set of agbada he came in with and 

his personal car unserviceable 

(he was taken back to Owo in 

Senator Banji Akintoye's car after 

the coup) was put on trial thrice 

and found blameless.He was kept 

in gaol while Shagari who 

headed the whole corruption was 

in a guest house where he sired 

a new baby! 

Back to the current provocations 

of Ondo people. It started with 

some Fulani urchins kidnapping 

former Secretary to the Federal 

Government and President-- 

almost, Chief Olu Falae who was 

kept in the bush for days with 

machete cuts inflicted on 

him.This country would have 

gone up in flames if some Yoruba 

boys living in the North were to 

do such against an Adamu 

Ciroma . 

The boys who inflicted that 

horror against Falae were 

eventually sent to jail after a 

judicial process. 

Nasir El-Rufai's tweeted in 2012: 

"We will write this for all to read. 

Anyone, soldier or not that kills 

the Fulani takes a loan repayable 

one day no matter how long it 

takes." It now appears that this 

code is in enforcement in Ondo 

state over the jailing of the 

criminals who kidnapped Falae. 

The Fulani herdsmen have 

returned to his farm repeatedly 

after until they set it ablaze 

recently . 

They invaded a farmland in 

Arodoye in Akure South Local 

Government Area of Ondo State, 

destroying 200 acre farms, killed 

a female farmer, identified as 

Patience Salami among several 

during the last Yuletide.There 

have been other reported cases 

of attacks in the state. 

On the 12th of February,I 

received images from a young 

friend of mine in Akure of 

hundreds of cows roaming the 

streets of Akure triumphantly. It 

was so provocative and I sensed 

something in the air. I was not 

surprised the following day when 

he told me that herdsmen have 

taken over the Secretariat of Akure 

chasing out the workers. The 

Vanguard report of the incident 

went thus: 

"AKURE South local 

government council, the seat of 

power in Ondo state was sacked 

by over 30 herdsmen who 

invaded it. Workers of the council 

fled as the rapacious herdsmen 

inflicted machete cuts on the 

shoulder of the council's 

Agriculture Officer Simon 

Johnson. No fewer than three 

about to be wedded couple fled 

to different directions as the 

herdsmen disrupted their 

wedding ceremonies slated for 

the council's registry. Many of 

them came back looking for their 

shoes and handbags after 

normalcy returned to the council. 

Vanguard gathered that all the 

weddings scheduled to take place 

at the council area yesterday 

could not hold following the 

stampede that occurred and the 

threat to lives and properties." 

Days after the invasion, the 

workers in the council refused to 

return to work because it appears 

there is nobody to protect them 

even as the police whose IG has 

become what Governor Samuel 

Ortom called "spokesman for 

Fulani herdsmen " denied the 

invasion took place . 

As I began scribbling this, news 

filtered in that the Air Peace flight 

to Akure on Saturday escaped a 

mishap at it hovered in the air for 

several minutes because cows 

took over the runway. 

Writing on his Twitter handle 

Governor Ayodele Fayose who 

witnessed the incident said: 

“Today, while at the Akure Airport 

to board Air Peace commercial 

flight to Lagos, I witnessed cows 

taking over the Airport runway 

and preventing Aircraft No. 

5NBQQ from landing for more 

than 15 minutes. Thanks to Capt 

Inyang for saving the lives of the 

passengers.” 

Reacting to the development, 

the Federal Airports Authority of 

Nigeria, in a press release, 

“apologised to Air Peace Airlines 

and our esteemed passengers for 

a runway incursion incident that 

prevented an Akure airport 

bound flight from landing for 

some minutes." 

How barbaric and primitive can 

it get? 

For the reason best known to it, 

the Government of Ondo state 

has not said a word on these 

incidents unlike that of Osun 

whose Executive Council took a 

strong position on the nefarious 

activities of the herdsmen about 

two weeks ago. Is Ondo state now 

a prototype 'colony'? 

But thanks to the traditional 

rulers who have not kept sinful 

silence. The Deji of Akure Oba 

Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi has 

issued a stern warning “Akure 

people can no longer tolerate the 

excesses of these herdsmen who 

are now making live unbearable 

with their nefarious attitudes.” 

The monarch also appealed to 

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu 

to take proactive measures in 

curbing the herdsmen menace. 

For the reason best 

known to it, the 

Government of 

Ondo state has not 

said a word on 

these incidents 

unlike that of Osun 

whose Executive 

Council took a 

strong position on 

the nefarious 

activities of the 

herdsmen about 

two weeks ago 

He called on the Inspector 

General of Police, the 

Commissioner of Police and all 

security agencies to take more 

decisive steps in ensuring that the 

arsonists are brought to justice. 

“It is important to act now to 

avoid self-defence by our people", 

he said while calling on President 

Buhari to take action too. 

Some other traditional rulers in 

the State have also asked 

Governor Oluwarotimi 

Akeredolu, SAN, to break his 

silence on the proposed cattle 

colony by the Federal 

Government. 

The traditional rulers under the 

auspices of 130 Krown Club asked 

the governor to make his position 

known to members of the public 

in the state. 


monarchs after a meeting held at 

the palace, Oba Idowu Faborode, 

the Ogbolu of Ita-Ogbolu in Akure 

North Local Government, the 

Aladeokun of Idanre, Oba 

Olusegun Akinbola, Owa-Ale of 

Ikare-Akoko Oba Samuel 

Adedoyin-Adegbite and Olupe of 

Ipe-Akoko, Oba Francis 

Makanjuola Apata expressed 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 —17 

fears about the various attacks of The Land use Decree of 1978 vest 

Fulani herdsmen in different parts the ownership of land on the 

of the state. 

governors. The Federal 

Oba Adedoyin-Adegbite who Government does not have land 

raised alarm about infiltration of unless offshore. The governor of 

Fulani herdsmen in the state said Ondo State should take a position 

about four truck loads of on cattle colony. We cannot cede 

herdsmen from Iseyin in Oyo any of our land for cattle colony.” 

State were dropped in Akoko land Also, Oba Akinbola said the 

recently . 

monarchs who would be affected 

The traditional rulers warned by any policy statement of the 

the state government against governor should be carried along 

ceding of the lands in their in any decision making process. 

domains for the proposed cattle According to the monarch “the 

colony. 

obas are not a trade union or 

The monarchs said it took an pressure group. We want to know 

emergency meeting of all the stand of government on the 

traditional rulers from Akokoland issue of cattle colony.” 

in Ondo North Senatorial district It will be well with the land if 

before security men came to the highest authorities in the land 

evacuate the herdsmen from the use the words of the Monarchs 

territories. 

to gauge Ondo mood at the 

His words: “we reject cattle moment and not the silence of the 

colony in any part of Ondo State. state administration. 

Feedback 

Re:Time to call out Osinbajo 

DEAR Bro Odumakin, 

A lot of thanks for helping in your own 'little' way in bearing a 

number of the troubles and 'heartaches' in our Nigeria. 

Some time ago, during Segun Obasnjo's tenure as president, a 

friend/confidant of mine who was being considered for a political 

appointment did ask me to accompany him to see his Pastor. The 

mission was to seek proper counselling. Well, the experienced and 

respected man of God summarised all the deliberations with just two 

notable posers among others, which he maintained that my friend 

needed to go home and 'sleep' over. 

The first was, whether my friend was ready to die or kill for a course 

he believed in? 

And the second was about my friend's ability and readiness to 

differentiate between genuine state interest(s) and those of his 

principal's and promptly/subsequently act 'righteously' when the chips 

were down. Hmmmm. Please permit me to digress a little. 

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, just like the late mechanical engineering genius, 

Prof. Ayodele Awojobi won my feeble heart, majorly due to the 

testimonies of their former students at UNILAG and the legacies 

bequeathed to the society. And invariably, the Vice president profusely 

cemented my personal admiration for him with his divinely led 

performance when President Muhammadu Buhari , PMB, was on 

medical vacation, inspite of the horrible 'mines' that were surreptitiously 

laid for him and the nation by those who drafted PMB's celebrated 

second handing-over memo. No thanks to the cabals. 

Prof. Osinbajo's seeming 'failings' today the way I see it, are all 

indeed woven around the second poser to my friend/confidant by his 

spiritual mentor cum Pastor as mentioned earlier. 

PMB's several actions, inactions and body language, are most times, 

enough to put a good number of his loyalists who are forthright and 

God fearing in serious dilemmas. 

For example, what do you make out of the replacement of the 

'troubled' NIA boss with a northerner right under the nose of Prof. 

Osinbajo?. What about the damning and very surprising absence of 

both Aso Rock occupiers during the mass burial of 73 poor souls in 

Benue state ?. At least, one would have expected either of them to be 

in Markurdi. Curiously and sheepishly if I may ask, did the very 

aged, kids, even pregnant women and their unborn babies equally 

took part in blocking the 'holy' grazing routes in Benue state? Or, did 

PMB actually encourage Benue farmers/citizens to embrace and 

'ACCOMMODATE' as brothers, the questionable characters who the 

DSS boss earlier proclaimed to the whole world to be the deadly and 

notorious ISIS terrorists? Glaringly and very painfully too, a number 

of things just can't add up. 

Apart from our V P's slippery and undefined stance on restructuring/ 

true federalism, ordinarily, Prof. Osinbajo in his true elements would 

have certainly been by the grave sides with Governor Ortom in 

Markudi, if for nothing else, but to please his Creator. 

The Vice president, the way I perceive, is a worthy gift to our country 

Nigeria. It is NOT easy persuading such personality and character to 

go into mainstream politics in Nigeria. And somehow, this is partly 

where one needs to give it to the astute and shrewd professional 

politician, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

Please, Bro Odumakin, rather than "call out Osinbajo", in my own 

opinion, our dear and very polished Vice president should be "called 

inside" for special prayers,and maybe, reminded that it is very 

dangerous and unprofitable to please man at the expense of one's 

Creator/conscience. The Holy Scriptures have it that "what shall it 

profit a man to gain the whole world but loses his own soul" -Mark 

8:36. No one should be considered too wise, intelligent or gifted for 

advice/admonitions. 

May God have MERCY on all of us. 

Ikperite, G.K. - Lagos 

C 

M 

Y 

K


SIRENS ordinarily should be alarm 

signals to herald vehicles on 

emergency missions. They are also 

meant to clear the way for a limited 

number of very important 

government dignitaries who because 

of security concerns and official duty 

imperatives should not be bogged 

down in vehicular traffic. 

Ambulances, fire trucks and the 

gamut of emergency responders are 

among those whose movements should 

be heralded by sirens when in traffic. 

Besides these emergency responders, 

the police have listed out ten categories 

of public office holders who are entitled 

to sirens while on official convoys. 

They include the President, Vice 

President, Senate President, Deputy 

Senate President, House of 

Representatives Speaker, State 

Governors, Service Chiefs, Inspector- 

General of Police, General Officers 

Commanding (GOCs) and Deputy 

Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs). 

However, the reality is that several 

Abuse of Sirens usage 

other public office holders and 

wealthy private individuals illegally 

mount sirens on their convoys 

bringing serious discomfort to other 

motorists and pedestrians. Banks 

have also joined the craze with sirens 

on their bullion vans. 

Indeed, the abuse of sirens has 

turned into torment for many 

innocent road users. Convoys turn 

themselves into sources of terror on 

the roads. It is a great irony that 

government vehicles which are 

purchased with tax payers’ money are 

used to torment them and create 

noise pollution on public highways. 

In several cases, the pilot vehicles 

of the convoys do not have 

identifiable licence plates, putting the 

public in confusion on the identities 

of the dignitaries being conveyed. In 

most cases, the drivers on such 

convoys drive recklessly putting 

other road users and pedestrians in 

harm’s way. 

We condemn this act of impunity 

whereby drivers and security officers 

attached to siren-convoys harass and 

intimidate road users simply because 

they want to clear the road for an 

individual, whether entitled to a siren 

or not. 

The law enforcement agencies 

appear to be sleeping at their duty 

posts while just about anyone who 

can buy sirens feel free to do so with 

very little deterrence at the various 

police checkpoints, mainly because 

some of the police officers are more 

interested in taking bribes to look the 

other way, rather than implementing 

the law. 

We recommend the innovation that 

the Lagos State Government adopted 

years ago whereby convoys only 

maintain orderly formations with 

hazard pointers on but without sirens. 

It serves the intended purpose 

without polluting the atmosphere. 

The use of siren-convoys to harass 

members of the public was an act of 

impunity popularised during the 

military era. It must stop. After all, it 

is nearly twenty years since we 

returned to democracy. 

The unwillingness or inability of 

our law enforcement agencies to do 

their work does not portray Nigeria 

in good light in the eyes of the 

civilised world. This must stop. 

AFTER the inauguration on 

October 1, 1979 Dr. Alex 

Ekwueme as Vice President with the 

approval of his boss, Alhaji Shehu 

Shagari made some appointments. 

These included Dr. Patrick 

Okedinachi Utomi from Igbuzo in 

Oshimili North Local Government 

in the present Delta state as special 

assistant and Prince Victor 

Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi as 

special adviser. Prince Olagbegi is 

now the Olowo of Owo. Dr. 

Ekwueme had two disadvantages at 

that time. He was not part of the 

kitchen cabinet of President Shehu 

Shagari made up of Alhaji Umaru 

Dikko, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki, Dr. 

Ibrahim Tahir, Alhaji Uba Ahmed, 

Alhaji Saleh Jambo, Alhaji Isiaku 

Ibrahim, Alhaji Aminu Tijani, Alhaji 

Shehu Musa and others. 

The other disadvantage was that 

his home state of Anambra was 

under the control NPP although there 

was an NPP/NPN accord at the 

centre. 

He overcame these disadvantages 

by being completely loyal to his boss, 

President Shagari. 

He also established a network that 

caught political brides for the NPN 

from the NPP in Imo and Anambra 

states. Among those caught very 

early were Senator Nathaniel Anah 

from Anambra north and Senator 

Tony Anyanwu from Owerri. 

President Shagari helped also by 

conceding that all Federal 

appointments from Imo and 

Anambra states must be endorsed by 

Dr. Ekwueme. 

With that, Dr. Ekwueme’s political 

base swelled day by day and that 

made Governor Jim Nwobodo of 

Anambra state extremely 

uncomfortable such that he called 

How Ekwueme helped in creating 

more states (1) 

for the termination of the NPN/NPP 

accord. At that time, there was high 

demand for the creation of more 

states in the country. The demand 

was more vocal from the east 

central zone,Ogoja,Ibibio,Osun 

Nasarawa,Taraba,Katsina,Igala 

territories. The argument 

particularly from the East Central 

zone was that Imo and Anambra 

states were insufficient for the Igbo 

tribe and that the Igbos were short 

changed in the last exercise of the 

creation of states in February 1976 

because of the Civil War. There was 

this demand too that the old 

provinces should be made states. 

Ogoja and Ijebu provinces qualified 

in this category. The Ibibios in the 

then Cross Rivers state who were 

described as the fifth largest tribe in 

Nigeria at that time wanted a state 

of their own although they 

dominated the business and the civil 

service echelon in Cross Rivers state, 

yet they wanted a state of their own 

to have a full identity. The Ijaws too 

who controlled the coastline in the 

country wanted also a state of their 

own. No doubt the demand for states 

became the major topic in the first 

eighteen months of President 

Shagari’s tenure. 

To arrest the demand President 

Shagari summoned a meeting of all 

the political leaders to address the 

issue of creation of more states. The 

meeting was held in Lagos on 

Tuesday February 22, 1982. The NPP 

and the UPN boycotted the meeting. 

After the meeting, President Shagari 

set up a 17man committee and 

made his vice-president, Dr. 

Ekwueme Chairman. 

The other members of the 

committee were Chief Richard 

President Shagari helped 

also by conceding that all 

Federal appointments from 

Imo and Anambra states 

must be endorsed by Dr. 

Ekwueme 

Osuolale Akinjide(SAN),(Hon. 

Attorney-General and Minister of 

Justice), Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, 

Special Adviser to the President on 

Political Affairs, Hon. J.C. Ojukwu, 

Hon. A.A. Waba, House of 

Representatives, Hon. Senator 

Ja’Afar J. Mangga, Hon. Senator 

Abba Ali,Senate Representatives, 

Senator D.O. Dafinone, Alhaji Idris 

Ibrahim,NPN Representatives, 

Alhaji Musa Musawa, Dr. Ikem 

Okeke, PRP Representatives, Dr. B.N. 

Ukegbu, and Alhaji Aliyu 

Ibrahim,GNPP Representatives. 

The argument of the UPN and the 

NPP was that the provision of section 

8 of the 1979 constitution was enough 

guide for states to be created and 

there was no need for a multiparty 

conference on the issue. The 

committee proceeded on its 

assignment and on March 9 1982, 

held its first meeting. At the meeting, 

Dr. Ekwueme declared “there is no 

gainsaying that there is a need to 

work out modalities which will 

facilitate and streamline the 

procedures for creating new States 

while at the time upholding in tenor 

and spirit the Constitutional 

requirements on this issue. Thus, the 

raison deter for our gathering today 

is to evolve ways and means for the 

processes for creation of new States 

in order to meet the wishes of the 

generality of our people whose 

welfare we have a duty to protect. It 

is however necessary to emphasise 

at this juncture that all efforts must 

be seen as an attempt to assist the 

National and State Assemblies in the 

onerous task of creating new states 

which is and remains their 

constitutional responsibility. As you 

know, we are required to submit our 

report by the end of this month. 

Another, meeting of the Party 

Leaders has been scheduled to take 

place on April 6 to consider our 

report. This means, in effect, that we 

cannot ask for any extension of time. 

This imports hard work, dedication 

and seriousness of purpose on our 

part. I consider our assignment an 

enviable one; an assignment if 

properly tackled could make a 

historical contribution to Nigeria’s 

political development. I have no 

doubt that given the composition of 

this committee, we shall be equal to 

the task”. 

He emphasised the need to correct 

the wrong impression held by some 

Nigerians that the effort being made 

in this regard was to circumvent the 

provisions of the Constitution. 

Members of the Committee 

critically examined the terms of 

reference, their scope and the 

modalities to be adopted in carrying 

out the assignment. It was finally 

agreed that because of the disparate 

political and legal problems and 

implications of the relevant terms of 

reference two sub-Committees— 

political and legal—be created to 

examine closely the issues involved 

and make recommendations to the 

main Committee for consideration 

as its subsequent meetings. 

The legal sub-Committee had the 

benefit of advice from Prof. B.O. 

Nwabueze, SAN and of draft bills in 

relation to creation of States by Chief 

Rotimi Williams, SAN. The main 

Committee met consecutively from 

23rd to 31st March, 1982 to examine 

the reports and recommendations 

of the sub-Committees and to adopt 

a final position on the various terms 

of reference to be submitted to 

President Shagari. 

The Committee noted that the 

political parties had, in their 

memoranda expressed their view on 

the number of states they wished to 

see created( the National Party of 

Nigeria—25, Unity Party of 

Nigeria—22,Nigerian Peoples 

Party—21,Great Nigerian Peoples 

Party—27, and Peoples Redemptive 

Party—24. 

Continues Online@ www. 

vanguardngr.com

Revenue from VAT rises by 19% to 

N968bn in 2017 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

FEDERALLY collected 

revenue from Value- 

Added Tax (VAT) rose to N968 

billion in 2017, up by N156.7 

billion or 19 percent from 

N811 billion recorded in 2016. 

This was contained in the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, Economic Report for the 

fourth quarter of 2017 (Q4 

2017). 

But on a quarter-on-quarter 

basis, the report revealed that 

VAT revenue generated by 

government increased 

marginally by N4.57 billion (a 

one percent increase) to 

N253.46 in Q4 2017 from 

N248.89 billion recorded 

previous quarter (Q3’17). 

CBN further disclosed that 

of the N253.46 billion 

collected, N243.4 billion was 

transferred to the VAT Pool 

Account from which the 

federal government was 

allocated N36.58 billion; while 

the state and local 

governments were allotted 

N121.66 billion and N85.16 

billion, respectively. 

The report also stated: “The 

Provisional Federal 

Government retained revenue 

for the fourth quarter of 2017 

was estimated at N731.61 

billion. Of the total revenue, 

Federation Account accounted 

for 87.2 per cent, while VAT, 


Independent Revenue and 

Exchange Gain accounted for 

5.0 percent, 4.5 percent and 

3.3 percent, respectively. 

“The total allocation to state 

governments from the 

Federation Account, including 

the 13.0 percent Derivation 

Fund and the VAT Pool 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$122.35 +0.50 

$2,151.00+55.00 

$13.37 -0.25 

$63.00 +0.41 

62.13 +0.45 

304.95 305.45 305.95 

428.7902 429.4932 430.1963 

380.6386 381.2627 381.8868 

330.1754 330.7168 331.2581 

2.8707 2.8754 2.8801 

0.5549 0.5649 0.5749 

441.74921 442.216 442.9399 

48.0038 48.083 48.1621 

81.3113 81.4446 81.578 

444.7696 445.4988 446.2281 

51.1027 51.1864 51.2702 

26.1647 26.2076 26.2505 

CBN Exchange rate as at 19/02/2018 

Account was N578.05 billion in 

the review quarter. This was 

lower than the proportionate 

quarterly budget estimate by 

31.9 per cent. A breakdown 

showed that the receipts from 

the Federation Account 

totalled N456.39 billion (79.0 

percent), while the share from 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 19 

L-R; Rachel Bentley, Director, PWC London; Adekunle Awojobi, Managing Director, FBNQuest 

Trustees Ltd; Babajide Fetuga, Head, Business Development, FBNQuest Trustees; Ade 

Ogunsanya, Senior Manager, People and Organisation, PWC and Michael Okhidie, Associate, 

Business Development, FBNQuest Trustees at the FBNQuest Trustees Leading Conversations 

event: “Beyond VAIDS”, which took place in Lagos. 

UBA contactless cards hit industry high of three 

million 

UNITED 

Bank 

for Africa (UBA) Plc, has 

recorded an industry landmark 

in the Nigerian e-banking space 

with the issuance of over three 

million Near Field 

Communication 

(NFC) 

technology enabled 

contactless cards to 

the customers. 

UBA has 

revolutionised the 

payments landscape 

in Nigeria in 2015, 

with the introduction 

of contactless 

payment cards which 

enable customers pay 

with ease by 

leveraging the NFC 

technology. 

The NFC 

technology allows 

w i r e l e s s 

communication 

between devices that 

are a few centimetres 

apart. The NFC 

payment card uses 

microchips/antenna to 

transmit data via 

shortwave radio 

frequencies. 

Referring to this 

VAT pool account stood at 

N121.66 billion (21.0 percent). 

The receipt from the VAT Pool 

Account was 43.7 per cent 

below the proportionate budget 

estimates. 

“Meanwhile, total 

allocations to local 

governments from the 

Federation and VAT Pool 

Accounts in the fourth quarter 

NO fewer than 700 women 

applied for admission into 

the 2018 Women Empowerment 

Programme Synergy Scheme 

(WEPSS) of oil and gas logistics 

giant, INTELS Nigeria Limited. 

A corporate social responsibility 

initiative of INTELS, WEPSS was 

established in 2013 with the vision 

of empowering 5,000 community 

women over a 20-year period 

through training in fashion design 

and tailoring. To date, more than 

500 several women have been 

empowered through the project. 

Director of INTELS Nigeria Lim- 

of 2017 stood at N344.21 

billion. This was below the 

proportionate quarterly budget 

estimate by 32.9 per cent. Of 

the total amount, allocation 

from the Federation Account 

was N259.05 billion (75.3 

percent), while the VAT Pool 

Account stood at N85.16 billion 

(24.7 percent),” the report 

added. 

development, UBA’s Group 

Head, Cards, Dr. Yinka Adedeji, 

stated: “Our customers have 

found out that with our 

contactless cards, they make 

payments for everyday essentials 

and other things that money can 

buy the contactless way, and 

these cards can be used across 

all the channels where you use 

your regular card – ATM, POS 

and Web”. 

He also explained that all UBA 

contactless cards use the Combined 

Data Authentication EMV 

Chip which is currently the highest 

standard for chip technology 

used in payment cards to ensure 

that UBA contactless cards are 

absolutely safe. 

He added: “These cards, which 

work anywhere in world, have 

over the years, made it easy for 

customers to have access to basic 

banking transactions quickly, 

safely, and conveniently without 

having to visit bank branches, via 

ATMs, POS and on the internet.” 

Tourism to 

create 100,000 

jobs in one year 

— Jones 

By Prince Okafor 

AS the nation strives tow 

a r d 

becoming a leading hub 

for tourism in Africa, fresh indication 

emerged that over 

100, 000 Nigerians can be 

employed in the sector in one 

year. 

Speaking during the unveiling 

of the February edition 

of the Entrepreneur Africa 

Magazine in Lagos, 

Chairman, Federation of 

Tourism Association of Nigeria, 

FTAN, Mr. Wemi Jones, 

said if Nigerians tap into the 

opportunities in tourism, 

many people will be employed 

within a space of 

twelve months. 

Jones said: “It may not be 

job that pays N500, 000 per 

month, but nobody will be 

idle. There is no part of Nigeria 

you get to that lacks 

tourist attractions. 

“There is no place in Nigeria 

that does not have one 

form of tourism or the other. 

Federal government needs to 

assist in creating enabling 

environment, most especially 

security and infrastructure 

and allow people to come in 

and invest. 

“But it won’t be a good ideal 

for government to run it, 

rather, it should allow private 

sector to be fully involved, because 

the federal government 

cannot run it well. Government 

can take share from it 

but they shouldn’t be solely 

in charge. This will help create 

jobs for youths 

Jones also explained that, 

“There is place in Kabba village 

called ‘Obangogo’ every 

year we climb the mountain. 

Look at Olomo rock in 

Abeokuta. After the state government 

refurbished it and 

installed elevator there so 

that if you cannot climb, you 

enter lift to go up. You pay 

money for that. Somebody put 

a fast food and other stuffs, 

there, and they are earning 

good income. It got their 

people employed. 

“Assuming the government 

didn’t structure the place the 

way it’s structured now, those 

opportunities will not be 

there.’’ 

700 women apply for INTELS 2018 women empowerment 

training 

ited, Mr. Silvano Bellinato, said 

the company remains resolute in 

enhancing the lives of people in 

its area of operation and committed 

to the development of communities 

in the area. 

He said to ensure successful 

implementation of the WEPSS initiative, 

INTELS acquired and 

made available over 300 sewing 

and specialised machines and built 

a 5000-square metres garment 

manufacturing factory at the Federal 

Lighter Terminal, Onne for 

the purpose of the training. 

Speaking at the commencement 

of training of the 2018 session in 

Onne on Monday, the Head of 

WEPSS, Abhina Ajmani, said, 

“Out of the 700 women that applied, 

we admitted 125. It was really 

competitive because the slots 

are limited. 

“This training is free and lasts 

for four months per set. Everything 

has been done to ensure the beneficiaries 

give their full commitment 

to acquiring skills that will 

empower them for life.” 

A 2016 beneficiary and graduate 

of WEPSS, Ms. Dorothy Egbe, 

said WEPSS is gradually transforming 

the lives of women in Rivers 

State.


Stories by 

Kingsley Adegboye 

The growing urgency to 

provide more homes 

to millions of households in 

Nigeria, and the remarkable 

rate of illegal construction and 

housing production processes 

in the country calls for a 

paradigm shift in housing 

policy, urban planning and 

building practices. This 

becomes more urgent when 

the phenomenon of climate 

change is considered, given 

that the building sector is 

responsible for nearly 40 per 

cent of greenhouse gas 

emissions in cities. 

This problem compels 

national and city governments 

to attend to design, planning 

and technology standards and 

norms that affect the planning 

of residential areas, housing 

design and production, and 

the construction industry. 

Sustainable housing is, 

however, yet to gain its due 

prominence in developing 

countries. It is rare that the 

social, cultural, environmental 

and economic facets of 

housing are addressed there 

in an integrated policy. In 

many developing contexts, the 

so-called pro-poor housing 

programmes often provide 

accommodation of poor 

standards, in remote locations, 

with little consideration to 

residents’ lifestyle and 

livelihood strategies. 

In others, rapid housing 

developments create 

amplified carbon footprint and 

further negative impacts on 

the environment. Yet, in most 

developing cities, decent and 

safe housing remains a dream 

for the majority of the 

population, while government 

considers affordable housing 

as merely a social burden. In 

order to address their housing 

and informal settlement 

issues, governments need to 

set up a strong national 

housing policy to create an 

enabling environment that will 

increase the supply of 

affordable housing. 

This is a central 

requirement: only with strong 

political will, sound 

guidelines and adequate 

regulations will countries and 

cities be able to provide 

adequate shelter for all, 

reduce slum growth and 

ensure sustainable urban 

development. Key 

stakeholders such as national 

and local government bodies, 

non-governmental 

organisations, financial 

institutions, as well as builders 

and private sector developers, 

have to operate within clear, 

given frameworks. 

This will enable well-defined 

institutional and operational 

conditions in order to support 

the housing sector more 

ANALYSIS 

Need for 

housing 

policy 

development 

effectively and in doing so, 

contribute to the provision of 

affordable, adequate housing 

for all. 

National housing policies 

need to be closely harmonised 

with other development 

aspects such as economic, 

social and environmental 

interests. For instance, beyond 

the mere provision of shelter, 

housing projects have to be 

understood as playing an 

active role in boosting 

employment and the economy, 

reducing poverty and 

improving 


human 

Likewise, housing policies 

have to include urban 

planning considerations, 

advocating for mixed urban 

uses and medium to high 

density, ensuring small urban 

footprints and rationalised 

mobility patterns. 

National and local 

authorities need to be at the 

helm of housing projects, not 

only to create a conducive 

environment for investors, 

developers and builders – for 

instance in resolving land 

issues, but also to ensure 

housing affordability that is 

pro-poor oriented, and 

guarantee provision of basic 

services and infrastructure. 

Apapa-Wharf Road reconstruction: 

Dangote e assures of June deadline deliver 

ery 

Business tycoon and 

President, Dangote 

Group of Companies, Aliko 

Dangote, has assured that the 

ongoing Apapa-Wharf Road 

reconstruction project would be 

completed on schedule in June 

this year, adding that he was 

impressed that the work was 

progressing faster than he 

anticipated. 

The business mogul who 

made this disclosure during his 

visit to the project site recently 

to see extent of work done, said, 

“Now, my impression has 

changed, AG Dangote is 

actually doing an excellent job.” 

He lauded the quality of work 

being done just as he 

commended the project 

financiers such as Dangote 

Group, Flour Mills of Nigeria 

and the Nigerian Ports 

Authority. 

Dangote explained that 

utilities in the right of way of 

the project had initially slowed 

down work but that engineers 

had evolved a design that 

solved the problem. 

The business mogul said that 

people were not aware of the 

revenue loss caused by the 

gridlock caused by the 

National and 

local authorities 

need to be at the 

helm of housing 

projects, not only 

to create a 

conducive 

environment for 

investors 

deplorable condition of the road 

before now, explaining that the 

cost of the gridlock to the 

economy was 20 times the cost 

of the road project which is 

about N4.3 billion. 

“NPA is giving about N1.8 

billion; the rest of the money, 

which is N2.6 billion is going 

to be given free of charge both 

by Flour Mills of Nigeria and 

Dangote. But I must also 

caution that the cost of the road 

is not N4.3 billion because we 

got our own construction 

company to do it,” he said. 

The Group Managing Director 

of Flour Mills, Mr Paul 

Gbededo, told newsmen that the 

gridlock had posed severe 

difficulties for both big 

businesses and small ones in 

Apapa. 

He said that the economy of 

Apapa was generating over 

N20 billion a day and that the 

gridlock was causing huge 

revenue losses. 

The Managing Director of AG 

Dangote Construction 

Company Ltd., Mr Ahif Juma, 

said he had deployed 140 men 

to site, to ensure that the project 

was completed on schedule. 

“Some of the men would work 

on night shift, seven days a 

week and we would work 24 

hours. 

“Now we have about 39 to 40 

per cent completed and by end 

of June, July, we should be able 

to finish the work,” he said. 

Calling on the Federal 

Government to withdraw 

agencies causing the perennial 

gridlock in Apapa, he cited the 

presence of the Nigerian 

Customs and the Nigerian 

Navy on the road, saying 

Customs men especially, were 

causing untold hardship to road 

users in their bid to collect 

revenue at check points. 

Dangote lamented that check 

points mounted by the 

Customs, Navy and other 

agencies were causing the 

gridlock, making life 

particularly unbearable for 

motorists. He said the presence 

of Customs men on revenue 

drive on the road was taking on 

businesses and killing the 

economy of Lagos, Nigeria’s 

economic hub. 

“We are going to formally 

write to the government to 

withdraw all these task forces, 

especially the Federal Unit of 

the Customs. 

Housing 

Programme: 

Contractors 

assured prompt 

payment 

In order to hasten speedy 

completion of the 

ongoing housing construction 

under the National Housing 

Programme NHP, across 33 

states in the country, the 

Federal Government has 

pledged quick disbursement of 

funds to contractors. 

The Minister of State for 

Power, Works and Housing, 

Alhaji Mustapha Shehuri, 

made the pledge in Enugu at 

the end of his inspection tour 

of NHP sites in South-East 

zone of the country. 

Shehuri promised to facilitate 

payment of contractors once 

they raised certificate to enable 

quick completion of the housing 

projects nationwide. 

The housing construction 

activities, which are going 

simultaneously in 33 states of 

the federation, are at different 

stages of completion. Some of 

the construction sites have 

reached roof and lintel levels 

in some states, while other 

states are just commencing 

foundation laying. 

The minister assured 

contractors in the south estate 

that regarding the issue of 

funding, he would personally 

take the issue up and make sure 

that funds are made available 

as at when due to round up the 

project. He said: “I am sure that 

funds are available and 

payment will be made when 

due to complete the projects.” 

According to him, the 

housing programme was in line 

with the President’s campaign 

promise to provide 

infrastructure to Nigerians, 

assuring that government is 

doggedly determined to 

bridging the nation’s housing 

deficit of 17 million units. 

The minister appealed to state 

governments to settle NHP land 

owners to enable them to access 

the site for successful project. 

The NHP is one of the 

programmes of Federal 

Government to provide 

affordable and functional 

housing units to Nigerians 

The minister noted that in all 

the states he visited in the zone, 

none of the housing 

construction reached near 

completion like that of Enugu. 

Deputy Director, Department 

of Public Building and Housing 

of the ministry, Mrs Tina Ene, 

briefed the minister that 12 

contractors were mobilised at 

the project site,adding that some 

of the houses had gone beyond 

lintel level, while some had 

been roofed. 

C 

M 

Y 

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By Kingsley Adegboye 

H omework 

Development 

and Properties Limited, a 

leading real estate company 

in Nigeria, has commenced 

work on one of its new mini 

estates with units ranging 

from one-bedroom and twobedroom 

flats as well as three 

and four-bed terraces dubbed 

Dunvale Court, as part of its 

efforts in ensuring provision 

of affordable luxury property 


The estate, which is located 

in Lekki area of Lagos, 

consists of four units of fourbedroom 

semi-detached 

apartments, 19 units of fourbedroom 

terrace apartments 

and 12 units of threebedroom 

terrace apartments. 

In addition, the estate 

which is located on a land 

mass of over 7,133 square 

metres also comprises a 

cluster of eight units of twobedroom 

flats and eight units 

of one-bedroom as well as 

studio flats with dedicated 

car parking lot per unit. 

Director, Homework 

Development and Properties 

Limited, Jide Adekola, an 

architect, assured that the 

mini estate, which is 

currently ongoing and up for 

sale off plan, would feature 

innovative architectural 

Community leaders in the 

mainland area of Lagos 

have called on the national 

leader of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, and former 

Lagos State Governor, 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to 

intervene as a matter of 

urgency in the ongoing 

misunderstanding between 

the local PSP waste operators 

and the state government to 

save Lagos from imminent 

take over by refuse dumps. 

The community leaders, 

who say they represent a 

cross section of Community 

Development Associations, 

CDAs, from across the 

Mainland, Lagos, said they 

are unable to keep silent any 

more when their people are 

choking from piles of wastes 

in their homes and streets, 

claiming that unless Asiwaju 

Tinubu makes the incumbent 

Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi 

Ambode, to see reason and 

urgently restore sanity in the 

state's waste management, 

the state would face 

disastrous health 

consequences from built-up 

wastes in homes, drainage 

channels and streets as a 

result of the decision of the 

present government to stop 

the PSP operators from 

domestic waste collection. 

“We are faced with the 

possible twin problem of 

Developer unveils 

affordable luxury with 

units of terraces 

designs. 

“It will be spacious and 

cozy. It is tailored to cater for 

the upwardly-mobile family 

lifestyle fit for investment and 

features family-friendly 

facilities like a gym, garden, 

playground, swimming pool, 

central water supply and 

central sewage system 

among others,” Adekola 

said. 

He added that the mini 

estate will be secured with a 

three-gate security point, 

CCTV surveillance to boost 

security, treated water and a 

minimum of 18 hours 

guaranteed power supply. 

For easy purchase, Adekola 

said subscribers could make 

40 per cent advance payment 

with the balance spread over 

12 months, pointing out that 

the off-plan sale for the onebedroom 

apartment is 

N15,000,000, N25,000,000 for 

two-bedroom flat, N38,000,000 

for threebedroom terraces, 

while the four-bedroom terrace 

apartment is being sold for 

•Dunvale Court 

The estate which 

is located on a 

land mass of over 

7,133 square 

metres also 

comprises a 

cluster of eight 

units of twobedroom 

flats 

N48,000,000. 

He emphasised that 

Homework is driven by the 

passion to create world class 

estates, which set it apart in 

the industry. The company, 

according to Adekola, is 

passionate about delivering 

unmatched quality services to 

its clients through the 

provision of exciting 

architectural designs in serene 

Community leaders seek Tinubu’s intervention in 

LASG, PSP waste operators’ feud 

·Say wastes have taken over Lagos homes and streets 

massive flooding and 

outbreak of diseases with 

current situation in Lagos. 

The waste dumps that once 

lived with us until the 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

administration came and 

battled strenuously to 

consign them to history are 

again sprouting all over the 

place. 

“As community leaders, our 

people are asking questions 

but we are unable to give 

them satisfactory reasons we 

have to return to this path. 

We were paying the waste 

operators, we didn’t complain 

and they were coming to 

remove the waste from house 

to house. Our environment 

was clean and tidy, then we 

decided to change a winning 

team, knowing that if you 

make such a change midway, 

what you get is what 

we are experiencing now. 

Our environment is fast 

deteriorating, it is clear now 

that the new company His 

Excellency, Governor 

Akinwunmi Ambode, has 

brought to replace the PSP 

operators, who were 

deployed to manage 

domestic waste collection 

from ward to ward, cannot 

effectively cope with the 

collection of the huge volume 

of waste daily generated 

across Lagos. 

“We appeal, therefore, 

that Asiwaju Ahmed Bola 

Tinubu, known for his 

undiluted love for the 

people of Lagos, intervenes 

and prevails on Governor 

Ambode to kindly overlook 

whatever wrong the PSP 

operators may have done in 

the interest of the people, 

temper justice with mercy 

and find a way to bring them 

locations. 

Recently, Homework 

participated at the annual 

conference of the Association of 

Nigerian Physicians in the 

Americas in Atlanta, Georgia, 

United States. The invitation was 

at the instance of members who 

had benefited from the 

company’s unswerving services 

to tell the Nigerian success story 

at the global level. 

Abuja block producers beg minister for a 

permanent site 

By Chris Ochayi 

The Association of Abuja 

Block Producers, AABP, has appealed 

to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT, Mustapha Bello, to approve a 

permanent place for moulding blocks for 

them. 

The group in a statement issued in Abuja, 

said the appeal became imperative following 

massive destruction of their blocks and 

cement by agents of the FCT. Chairman of 

AABP, Comrade Emmanuel Ukaegbu in a 

statement signed by the Association’s 

secretary, Sebastine C. Eze and Ex-officio, 

Mallam Shehu Mohammed, respectively, 

regretted that it had made several efforts to 

reach out to the minister but failed. 

The block producers, to this end, pleaded 

with the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji 

Aliko Dangote to prevail on concerned 

authorities to “approve our request.” 

According to AABP, “We want to 

passionately appeal to the Minister of Federal 

Capital Territory to approve permanent place 

for block producers in the Federal Capital 

Territory. Our members have witnessed series 

of destruction of our blocks and cement by 

back to work side by side 

and hand in hand with the 

new waste managers to take 

Lagos out of the looming 

waste disaster,” they 

appealed. 

members of Abuja Environmental Protection 

Agency, AEPB, and ministerial joint task 

force, MJTF. 

“We have written series of letters to the 

minister and Abuja Metropolitan 

Management Council, AMAC, but this has 

not yielded positive result. We were informed 

through the office of the Director, 

Department of Urban and Regional Planning 

that AMAC has been directed to consider 

our request. Our members cannot access 

fund meant for small and medium scale 

industries due to the fact that we are not in 

a permanent place and cannot guarantee 

repayment of loans approved for members 

hence, this has affected our operations. 

“We have created employment for the 

teeming population of our youths and have 

added to the nation’s GDP. 

We also want to commend Dangote 

Cement on their partnership with our 

association and their corporate social 

responsibility, CSR. We want the chairman 

of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote to 

use his good offices as the chairman, Board 

of Trustees, Cement Institute of Technology 

of Nigeria, CITN, to prevail on concerned 

authorities to approve our request.

22— Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

Oil spillage drops by 27.3% in Niger Delta 

•As UK court upholds Nigeria's judicial sovereignty in Bille, Ogale suit 

By Udeme Akpan 

THERE are indications that oil 

spillage, occasioned by 

sabotage and other factors have 

dropped in the Niger Delta by 27.3 

percent. 

Many oil companies, including 

International Oil Companies, IOCs 

and indigenous companies did 

not disclose their oil spill data. 

But a compilation of 2017 data 

obtained by Vanguard from Shell 

Petroleum Development Company 

Limited, SPDC, a leading IOC, 

and operator of the Nigeria 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC, Total and Agip joint 

venture with over 500,000 barrels 

per day output indicated that the 

company recorded a total of 76 spill 

cases in 2017. 

A breakdown showed that 44 spill 

cases were recorded in the first half 

(January - June) of the year, leaving 

32 cases for the second half (July- 

December). 

The company attributed most of 

the cases to sabotage while a few 

were attributed to other factors in 

the region. 

For instance, on January 3, 6, 13, 

15 and 21 of 2017, Shell stated that 

it recorded six oil spills on land and 

swamp as a result of sabotage. 

It indicated that: ''Recovery 

completed on 07 Jan 2017, 

assessment completed on 12 Jul 

2017, clean-up and remediation 

planned for April 2018. Recovery 

completed on 11 Jan 2017, 

assessment completed on 17 Feb 


completed on 19 Sep 2017, site 

certification planned for February 

2018. 

''Recovery completed on 24 Feb 

2017, assessment completed on 29 

Apr 2017, clean-up and 

remediation planned for May 

2018. Spill was contained on 14 

Jan 2017, no recoverable oil found, 

assessment completed on 24 Mar 

2017, clean-up and remediation not 

required, site certified on 04 Apr 

2017. 

''Spill was contained on 21 Mar 

2017, no recoverable oil found, 

assessment completed on 24 Apr 


planned for January 2018. Spill 

Shell’s monthly oil spill incidents in 2017 

was contained on 20 Jan 2017, 

recovery completed on 04 Apr 2017, 

assessment completed on 07 Feb 


planned for May 2018.'' 

Consequently, the company has 

in recent times attributed many 

allegations of environmental 

pollution by communities to 

sabotage, operational failure and 

other factors. Dissatisfied, some of 

the communities have headed to 

the courts in Nigeria and overseas. 

The case of Bille and Ogale 

In May 2015, UK solicitors, 

Leigh Day, filed oil spill claims 

against Shell Petroleum 

Development Company of 

Nigeria (SPDC) on behalf of 

Ogale and Bille communities in 

Rivers State. 

Bille and Ogale are areas heavily 

impacted by crude oil theft, 

pipeline sabotage, and illegal 

refining, which remain the main 

sources of pollution across the 

Niger Delta. 

Specifically, Ogale is in Ogoni 

land, where SPDC has produced 

no oil or gas since 1993, as access 

to the area has been limited 

following a rise in violence, threats 

to staff and attacks on facilities. 

Leigh Day argued that SPDC 

owes a duty of care to Nigerian 

communities impacted by massive 

crude theft and the resultant 

pollution, and that RDS owes a 

similar direct duty of care to 

prevent oil spillage as a result of 

intentional third-party interference 

from damaging Niger Delta 

communities. 

SPDC and RDS responded that 

an English court has no 

jurisdiction over these claims, 

arguing that claims by Nigerians 

against a Nigerian company about 

events in Nigeria, governed by 

Nigerian law, should be heard in 

a Nigerian court. 

High court, appeal judgments 

After listening to all parties, the 

High Court decided RDS had no 

legal responsibility for harm to the 

communities in the Niger Delta 

caused by criminal interference 

with the operations of a joint 

venture in which the Nigerian 

government owns a majority 

interest. As such, the claims have 

been dismissed. 

The judge rejected Leigh Day's 

THE average price 

of Organisation of 

Petroleum Exporting C 

1ountries, OPEC’s 

basket of 14 crudes in the 

past one week averaged 

$61.34 compared with 

$63.86 recorded the 

previous week. 

According to OPEC’s 

calculation, the highest 

price of crude was 

recorded on February 

16, 2018, which averaged 

$62.41 per barrel, while 

the lowest price for the 

period under review 

averaged $60.52 

Source: Shell Nigeria 

claim that RDS owed a duty of care 

to the Nigerian claimants 

allegedly impacted by SPDC, and 

consequently there is no anchor 

defendant for the case against 

SPDC to be brought in England. 

Not satisfied, Leigh Day 

appealed the decision and the 

appeal hearing took place 

November 21-23, 2017. 

On February 14, 2018, the Court 

of Appeal handed down its 

judgment, dismissing the appeal. 

Specifically, the Court of Appeal 

dismissed the claimants' appeals 

and affirmed the lower court's 

decision that the claims against 

RDS were bound to fail and should 

be dismissed. 

This means that SPDC does not 

come into the jurisdiction of the 

English court, so the case against 

both RDS and SPDC should not 

proceed in England. 

Deregulation responsible for development of LPG 

sector – NLPGA 

By Prince Okafor 

DEREGULATION has been 

identified as a major single 

factor responsible for the 

development of Nigeria’s Liquefied 

Petroleum Gas sector. 

Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, the President 

of the Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum 

Gas Association (NLPGA), 

disclosed in an interview with 

Vanguard that: ‘’the best and most 

important policy of government that 

was introduced to promote 

investment in Nigeria’s LPG sector 

is the introduction of full 

deregulation. 

‘’This singular policy of 

Government then encouraged the 

major producers of LPG like the 

Nigeria LNG (NLNG) to intervene 

in the supply market, to sustain the 

envisioned growth, towards 

realising the market full potentials. 

Since around 2007 till now, LPG 

demand/supply market in Nigeria 

has grown from a mere 70,000MT/ 

annum market to over 600,000MT/ 

Annum, pulling along with it, 

massive investments in LPG 

infrastructure along the value chain. 

‘’So, in the last 10 -12 year, along 

with growth in the market has been 

development of over five privately 

financed, owned and operated LPG 

coastal terminals, in Lagos, Calabar 

and Port Harcourt, with total storage 

in excess of 35,000MT, along with 

Stakeholders' comments 

The judgment has attracted the 

comments of some stakeholders. 

For instance, General Manager 

External Relations for The Shell 


of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Igo 

Weli, stated that: "The Court of 

Appeal has rightly upheld the 

earlier decision that this case 

should not proceed in the English 

courts. 

"Nigeria has a well-developed 

justice system that is capable of 

dealing with these claims. Both 

Bille and Ogale are areas heavily 

impacted by crude oil theft, 

pipeline sabotage and illegal 

refining, which remain the main 

sources of pollution across the 

Niger Delta. Litigation in courts 

unfamiliar with the law and 

realities on the ground ultimately 

does nothing to address the issue 

of criminal interference in the 

operations of a Nigerian company. 

"SPDC works with a range of 

stakeholders, supporting the 

industry's search for solutions to 

these complex issues." 

The President, Eleme General 

Assembly, Israel Gomba Abe, 

advised that, "The people of Ogale 

should try and litigate within the 

confines of Nigeria. The courts will 

hear them. Let them not entertain 

any fear of not having fair hearing 

or proper judgment.'' 

Report 

Meanwhile, Shell stated in its 

latest report that: ''Illegal refining 

and third-party interference are the 

main sources of pollution in the 

Niger Delta today. Third-party 

interference is the cause of 90% of 

the number of spills of more than 

100 kilograms from The Shell 


of Nigeria Limited operated Joint 

Venture (SPDC JV) pipelines in 

2016.” 

LPG ship loading/offloading jetties, 

LPG cylinder bottling plants, LPG 

mini plants, LPG road delivery 

tankers which have particularly 

seen a growth from less than 100 

trucks 12 years ago to over 1,050 as 

at last count in 2017. 

‘’The above does not include the 

effort made by NNPC, with the 

revival of the nine LPG Butanization 

plants strategically located in major 

cities and towns in across Nigeria’s 

geo-political regions, adding 

9,000MT to its already existing 

4,500MT storage terminal in 

Apapa-Lagos, and returning them 

to profitable operations. 

‘’So in all, Nigeria’s coastal and 

inland LPG terminals can boast of 

aggregate storage capacity over 

50,000MT as at today, by reason of 

the positive multiplier effect of a 

single, yet very important 

government policy. 

And effort is on for new policy 

initiatives that have already been 

approved by the federal government 

to kick in, and further deepen 

investment in LPG sector.’’ 

C 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018— 23 

INSPECTION: From left: 

Executive Secretary, Nigerian 

Content Development and 

Monitoring Board (NCDMB), 

Engr. Simbi Wabote; Minister of 

State for Petroleum Resources, 

Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu 

and Managing Director, Total 

Exploration and Production 

Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Terraz 

arriving for the inspection of the 

Total's Egina Floating 

Production Storage and 

Offloading (FPSO) vessel on 

Tuesday at SHI-MCI Yard, 

LADOL Free Zone, Lagos. 

Electricity watch 

/ 

FG upgrades electricity distribution capacity 


A 

total of 18 

communities in the 

Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT, are to start enjoying 

improved electricity supply 

following the installation of 

two additional high capacity 

electricity transformers by 

the Federal Government. 

The installation of the 

transformers, an 

1×100MVA and 190MVA 

at Katampe and Apo 

districts respectively, 

according to the Minister of 


Babatunde Fashola, who 

inaugurated the projects in 

Abuja, will give the 

communities remarkable 

improvement in power 

supply. 

The Minister of State for 


Alhaji Suleiman Zarma, 

said besides the two 

transformers, five new 

substations and a third 

330KV transmission line 

have been established. 

While noting that the 

capacity of the Katampe 132/ 

33KV substation, prior to 

this installation, was 

220MVA, Fashola said with 

the installation, the capacity 

has been raised to 220MVA. 

Also, the minister hinted 

that with the installation, the 

Apo 132/33KV substation 

has been raised from 

190MVA to 290MWA. 

The two transformers, 

executed by Messrs MBH 

Power Limited, according to 

him, were part of the 

Nigeria Electricity and Gas 

Improvement Projects 

financed by the World Bank. 

The beneficiary 

communities, he said were 

Gwarimpa; Life Camp; 

Jabi; Kado; Wuye; 

Maitama; Mpape; 

Katampe 1 & II; Jayi; 

Mabushi; Garki; Gudu; 

Asokoro; Apo Resettlement; 

Wumba; Apo Mechanic 

Village and part of Lugbe 

and Nnamdi Azikiwe 

International AirPort, all 

located within the FCT 

Abuja. 

Fashola stated that: '"With 

this development, the 

Transmission Company of 

Nigeria, TCN has not only 

established adequate 

transformer capacity to 

All On seals three off-grid investments in 

Niger Delta 


NIGERIAN off-grid 

energy investment 

company, All On, has announced 

financial close with 

three firms for accelerated access 

to affordable and sustainable 

energy sources in 

the Niger Delta. 

Chief Executive Officer of 

All On, Dr. Boer Wiebe, announced 

a follow up to the 

equity investment made in 

2017 to Nigeria Solar Home 

System market leader, Lumos 

Global BV, in the form 

of a debt facility to facilitate a 

quick rollout in the Niger 

Delta. 

All On is also providing 

equity and debt to Port Harcourt 

based Green Village 

Electricity (GVE), Nigeria's 

leading mini-grid player, for 

expansion in the Niger Delta 

and across Nigeria, while 

ColdHubs is receiving a convertible 

debt facility to expand 

its solar-powered marketplace 

cold storage business 

to new markets in the 

region. These developments 

are coming barely three 

months after All-On announced 

its first set of transactions 

in Nigeria's off-grid 

market, and two months af- 

serve these parts of Abuja 

but also provided the 

necessary redundancy in 

line with the requirements 

of N-1 reliability criterion at 

both Katampe and Apo 

substations.' 

"The installation of the two 

100MVA, each at Apo and 

Katampe will increase the 

total wheeling capacity of 

TCN, which was last 

simulated in December 

2017 to slightly above 

7,000MW." 

ter the firm and U.S. 

Africa Development Foundation 

(USADF) announced 

a $3 million partnership to 

expand access to energy for 

underserved and unserved 

markets in Nigeria. 

"The investments made in 

these energy solution providers 

further demonstrate 

our firm belief that off-grid 

energy is indispensable in 

the improvement of Nigeria's 

energy narrative. It 

therefore deserves adequate 

attention and financial backing 

from both the public and 

private sectors." Dr. Boer 

said. 

Commenting, Lumos's 

CEO Davidi Vortman, said: 

"This debt facility from All On 

both cements the strategic 

relationship between our two 

companies and goes a long 

way towards significantly 

accelerating the speed of 

penetration of Lumos Solar 

Home Systems in the Niger 

Delta region. All On has established 

itself as a leader in 

off grid energy in Nigeria and 

we are therefore excited to 

work with All On to enhance 

energy access for Nigerians 

in the Niger Delta and 

across the country." 

ColdHubs CEO, Nnaemeka 

Ikegwuonu, described the 

investment as a demonstration 

of All On's commitment 

beyond simply addressing 

the access to energy gap, to 

harnessing innovative renewable 

energy solutions for 

the preservation of perishable 

foods. 

Source: NCC Daily Operational Report 

Solar suitable for business 

in Nigeria - Arnergy 

SOLAR has been recommended for operators in many 

sectors of the economy as Nigeria continues to battle 

with epileptic power supply. 

In a statement sent to Vanguard, Arnergy solar power 

solution stated that its solar application will support 

entrepreneurship growth in Nigeria. 

"The uninterrupted electricity that has eluded Nigerian 

homes and businesses will not come from the quasi 

privatized and centralized distribution and transmission 

grid but from several off-grid solar power businesses ran 

and led by (Solar Angels +). 

''Also, the situation can be best addressed by Nigerian 

entrepreneurs leveraging state of the art, reliable, rugged 

and localized array of solar products and services that 

will not only power a few bulbs or charge a phone but 

will power Nigeria out of her economic slowdown. 

"Better days are here for several businesses across 

variety of sectors that have been running at loss or closed 

due to erratic power, the Healthcare sector (Hospitals, 

Pharmacy, Diagnostics Centers), Hospitality (Hotel, Quick 

Service Restaurant, Guest Houses, Bars, Café Education 

(Schools, Creche, Training Center, hubs). 

"Other sector of the economy to benefit from this 

development include, Agriculture (Poultry farm, Cold 

fresh food preservation), Retail (Supermarket, shops), 

Residential, SME (Barbers, Tailors) & Services 

sectors(Law firm, Accounting Firm, Insurance firm etc)."


Azikel Refinery to process 12,000bpd by 2019 


THE capacity of Nigeria to 

refine petroleum products for 

domestic consumption is set to rise by 

12,000 barrels per day, bpd as Azikel 

Petroleum, an indigenous company 

has promised to complete its refinery 

in 2019. 

The Federal Government and other 

stakeholders had earlier looked up 

to the $12 billion Dangote refinery 

alone to reduce the nation’s high dependence 

on imported petroleum 

products. 

But the President of Azikel Group, 

Dr Eruani Azibapu, disclosed at the 

foundation laying ceremony of the refinery 

project in Bayelsa state over the 

weekend that plans were underway 

for the completion and coming on 

stream of the project. 

He stated that: ‘’Azikel Petroleum 

was awarded the licence for a private 

refinery by President Mohammadu 

Buhari Administration. We are extremely 

grateful and thankful to President 

Mohammadu Buhari for considering 

us qualified and granting us 

the licence to participate in the inaugural 

private refineries investment in 

Nigeria. 

‘’Our name plate licence is 12,000 

barrel per stream day (BPSD) hydroskimming 

refinery. The gesture was 

in line with the federal government 

policy to liberalize the petroleum sector 

by allowing the establishment of 

private refineries to participate in the 

downstream sector. 

‘’This Federal Government initiative 

By Ediri Ejoh 

THERE are indications that the 

United States and other 

nations will soon abandon 

Nigeria's oil, which may 

negatively affect the nation's 

revenue generation. 

According to the Energy 

Information Administration (EIA), 

the US may drastically reduce its 

import of crude oil from Nigeria by 

2022, going by its projection of 

becoming a net energy exporter in 

four years. 

In the newly released Annual 

Energy Outlook for 2018, EIA stated 

that the transition from net energy 

importer to net energy exporter will 

not take place until 2050 in some 

sensitivity cases. 

"The transition of the United States 

to a net energy exporter is fastest in 

the high oil price case, where higher 

crude oil prices lead to more oil and 

natural gas production and 

transition the United States into a 

net exporter by 2020. 

"In that case, higher crude oil 

prices also result in higher 

petroleum product prices and lower 

consumption of petroleum 

products, driving decreases in net 

petroleum imports. 

"In the High Oil and Gas 

Resource and Technology case, with 

more favourable assumptions for 

geology and technological 

developments, the United States 

becomes a net exporter in 2020, and 

net exports increase through the 

end of the projection period. 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, sorrounded by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa 

State, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, President of Azikel Group and Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, at the 

foundation laying ceremony of Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa state over the weekend 

when fully crystalised by all licenses 

will largely support the nation’s refining 

capacity to end fuel scarcity, short 

supply, price hike and importation into 

the country and hopefully position 

Nigeria as a net exporter of refined 

product in the near future.’’ 

He stated that: ‘’the development of 

the refinery is into aspects viz; Outside 

Battery Limit (OSBL). This is clearing 

of the virgin swamp forest, destumping, 

sand filling to reclaim and 

regenerate the land, the concrete perimeter 

fencing, internal roads, security 

building, on-going administrative, 

"In cases with relatively low oil 

prices or less favourable 

assumptions for geology and 

technological developments, US 

net energy trade still decreases, but 

the United States remains a net 

energy importer through 2050." 

Meanwhile, India, Nigeria's 

largest importer of crude, which 

reduced its demand in 2017, started 

importing from the US. 

However, speaking on the 

implication of this development to 

the NigeriaN economy, Chairman 

of the Petroleum Technology 

Association of Nigeria, PETAN, Mr. 

Bank Anthony Okoroafor, stated 

that: "we should be looking for 

alternative buyers, build refineries/ 

No clear policies in award of oil, gas licenses —NNRC 

By Michael Eboh 

THE Nigerian Natural 

Resource Charter, NNRC, 

has disclosed that there are currently 

no clear policies in the award of oil 

and gas licenses in the Nigerian 

petroleum industry, stating that the 

decisions to award or deny licenses 

are determined by the prevailing 

socio-political environment. 

NNRC, in its 2017 

Benchmarking Exercise Report, 

presented in Abuja, stated that 

bidders are only required to meet 

certain criteria before they progress 

to different stages of the licensing 

rounds, showing elements of prequalification. 

The report noted that though there 

is a commitment by the Federal 

terminal operational building, loading 

gantry, piling and construction/ 

installation of storage tank/pilling 

and other ancillary support facilities. 

We have also completed offsite 150 

unit apartments of residential accommodation 

for staffs. We have 

achieved a near 45% completion of 

the OSBL. 

‘’Inside Battery Limit (ISBL): This 

is the Engineering Procurement and 

Fabrication of the Process modules 

or the core refinery engine. This portion 

of the project is being handled 

offshore in the United States by our 

New threat as USA, others set to abandon Nigeria's oil 

upgrade and maintain our existing 

refineries to focus on adding value 

to our crude oil which will also 

create more jobs and more revenue 

to the country. We can be supplying 

refined crude to the whole of Africa. 

"Also, we should change from 

been a net importer of crude oil to 

net exporter of refined petroleum 

products." 

He stated that: "We import over 

80% of products consumed. This is 

a shame. There is a big gap in the 

supply of refined products in 

Nigeria and West Africa region. 

This shows great potential for 

domestic refining of petroleum 

products. With oil price hovering 

between 60 to 70 dollars per barrel, 

we should focus on refining. 

Government to conducting open, 

transparent and competitive 

bidding for licenses, the minister of 

petroleum resources possesses and 

still uses discretion. 

It said, "Licensing processes are 

delayed and oversight institutions 

are relatively weak and ineffective. 

There are frameworks for 

monitoring of operations but these 

are not effective." 

The report also lamented that the 

fiscal framework for the oil and gas 

sector remained complex and limits 

government ability to collect all the 

revenue due to her. 

According to the report, the fiscal 

terms is contained in legislations 

but several are negotiated 

separately into contracts with 

contracting and technical partners. 

This stage had also attained advanced 

stage of near 65% completion. 

Partners, products 

He disclosed that the project has 

many partners, including Basic 

Equipment USA, MUC Oil and Gas, 

Middle East, Geo-Technical Survey, 

Oil Project, USA, Axens Engineering, 

DSC Dredgers and JLS Capital., 

adding that Azikel Refinery 

would be the first conversion greenfield 

refinery built in Nigeria since 

the mid-70s, and it would enjoy operational 

advantages in the competitive 

oil sector. 

"Our local refining capacity is 

445,000 bpd but they have never 

operated above 15% capacity which 

is a real shame. We consume about 

17 billion litres of PMS annually, 

2.9 billion litres of AGO annually 

and 390 million litres of aviation fuel 

annually.'' 

Commenting on downstream 

activities, he added that: "We must 

privatise the refineries, deregulate 

fully refined products and allow 

demand and supply to regulate 

price. 

Deregulation will be a key driver 

for growth within the refining sector. 

We really need bold and decisive 

reforms to attract investors. 

incentives that is a deviation from 

the overriding legislations 

It said, "The fiscal regime is not 

simple. It is characterized by selfassessment, 

upfront declaration, 

varied tax rates depending on the 

status of the company, depth of 

operations and terms that are not 

uniform. The tax administrators 

have capacity but are limited in 

number and not well resourced 

considering the complexity of the 

fiscal regime and the need to carry 

out tax audit after tax return filings. 

"Oversight of the fiscal regime is 

not strong. The administration is 

routine and oversight by any 

external body is conducted only 

where an infraction is highlighted 

and huge revenue loss is reported. 

NNPC advocates 

closer ties among 

African countries in 

oil sector 

The Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation 

(NNPC) has called for closer 

collaboration among African 

nations not only in oil and gas 

but across all sectors to leapfrog 

the economies in the continent. 

Group Managing Director of 

the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, 

made this submission during his 

goodwill message today at the 

opening ceremony of the 

ongoing Nigeria International 

Petroleum Summit (NIPS) at the 

International Conference Center 

in Abuja. 

The theme of this year’s 

conference is: “Leading Africa’s 

Response to Global Oil and Gas 

Challenges.” 

Dr. Baru challenged the 

participants to come up with 

practicable solutions to effectively 

develop Africa’s hydrocarbon 

resources, saying that 

discussions and interests alike 

would stir up strategies and 

actionable items that would 

crystalize into a veritable 

roadmap for the energy future of 

the African continent. 

“Our expectation is that at the 

end of this summit a communique 

will be issued out as action points 

for current and potential African 

oil and gas countries for better 

collaboration and development,” 

Dr. Baru stated. 

According to him, discussions 

were expected to cut across the 

industry value chain with focus 

on deepening collaboration 

across and within the African oil 

and gas space; modern 

technologies in the industry; 

innovative strategies to survive 

after a global downturn; current 

trends in the oil and gas markets. 

FPSO to be fully 

integrated in 8yrs 

— Wabote 

WITH the arrival of Egina 

floating production storage 

and offloading, plans are underway 

to develop local capacities to 

execute full fabrication and 

integration of floating production 

storage and offloading, FPSO 

vessels in-country within the next 

eight years, the Executive 

Secretary, Nigerian Content 

Development and Monitoring 

Board (NCDMB), Mr.Simbi 

Wabote has said. 

Speaking when he accompanied 

the Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe 

Kachikwu and other top officials of 

the oil and gas industry to inspect 

the Total Exploration and 

Production Nigeria Limited's Egina 

FPSO docked at the SHI-MCI 

Yard, LADOL Free Zone in Lagos, 

he said that Egina is a landmark 

achievement in Nigeria's oil and 

gas industry. 

"Our aim is to stretch the limit to get 

more for Nigeria. Our aspiration is 

that come the next seven to eight 

years, full integration of an FPSO 

must happen in Nigeria."

Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 25 

VOL. 1: NO. 167 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR- THE three 

female siblings, aged 13, 

five and three years 

respectively, whose HIVpositive 

grandmother branded 

as witches at a community in 

Akamkpa Local Government 

Area, Cross River State, have 

divulged how their grandma 

allegedly conspired with some 

persons to whip them with 

red-hot machete to coerce 

them to confess what they 

were not. 

They flogged us with hot 

machete 

The eldest of the siblings, 13- 

year-old Imabong (not real 

name) told NDV: “We are not 

witches, our grandmother 

made us to confess what we 

are not. We dropped out of 

school in 2016 when our 

mother died; we also lost our 

father in 2014. We do not 

belong to any witchcraft world. 

We are normal children; she 

made us to sell sachet water 

before we can eat once a day. 

“She is our grandmother, she 

normally brings people like 

Uncle Aniekan to punish us 

with hot machete and he 

flogged us with it after it had 

been heated up in fire. 

They will use it to flog us to 

confess that we were 

responsible for her sickness, 

but we are not. 

“It was out of fear and 

intimidation that we admitted 

earlier that we were witches, 

me and my sisters, Grace and 

Emem are not witches, we are 

normal children," she 

emphasised. 

Father died in 2014, mother 

in 2016 

NDV learnt that the three 

children, who lost their father 

in 2014 and mother in 2016, 

had since dropped out of 

school, following the death of 

both parents and hawked 

sachet water on a daily basis 

before they would be given 

food. 

What we found out - BCRI 

Two non-profit organisations 

based in Calabar, Child 

Protection Network and Basic 

Rights Counsel Initiative, 

BRCI, took up the matter to 

ensure that the rights of the 

children were protected by the 

appropriate authorities. 

Principal Counsel to BRCI, 

which had removed the 

children to a comfortable 

home, Barr. James Ibor, said 

the witchcraft-related case of 

the three kids was very 

disturbing, as a lot of children, 

including the three sisters who 

are orphans, have been 

dehumanised to the point of 

death because according to 

their grandmother, they were 

the ones behind the family's 

predicament. 

He said that he got a report 

The three siblings 

TUESDAY, , FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

18 

They flogged us with hot machete 

to admit we are witches 

– 3 orphans accused of witchcraft in C’River 

from their volunteer about the 

matter and as the Chairperson 

of Child’s Protection Network 

in Cross River State, he and 

his team decided to launch an 

investigation and discovered 

that the children were near 

death because of the kind of 

treatment they got from their 

grandmother. 

“When we got the call, we 

thought it was just a mere 

allegation, but when we 

probed further, we discovered 

that the children were near 

death, so we mobilised and 

got the police involved and the 

first suspect that was arrested 

was their grandmother, who 

was later granted bail because 

she was HIV-positive and was 

like a walking corpse. 

“We also discovered that the 

children have been 

dehumanised for more than a 

year and it only got worse two 

months ago." 

Grandma has deadly illness, 

refused to take drugs 

EDO STATE… 

HEARTBEAT OF THE NATION 

“We know that the old woman 

in question has a terminal 

illness, for which she has 

refused to continue taking 

drugs as prescribed and 

recommended, but she 

decided to blame her condition 

on the children, who she 

claims are behind her 

deteriorating state of health,” 

Ibor asserted. 

He added: “With the help of 

one Aniekan, they heat up a 

machete in fire, and flogged 

the children’s backs with it, 

inflicting serious lifethreatening 

injuries on them 

all in a bid to make them admit 

they were witches. But from 

our findings, the children have 

nothing to do with their 

grandmother’s condition, she 

is only suffering from a 

terminal disease and if she 

adheres to the treatment made 

available by government, 

which is free, she would 

bounce back to life” 

Apprehension and release by 

Police 

Ibor told NDV: “She was 

arrested by the Police but was 

later released because her 

health condition was obviously 

deteriorating. We want the 

government of Cross River 

State to enforce the Child 

Rights law of 2009 in a bid to 

stop this kind of barbaric 

practice and demonic belief 

that children are witches or 

wizards. 

“She got other accomplices to 

help inflict those injuries on 

the children because she 

believed that her health 

condition was caused by their 

(grandchildren’s) witchcraft 

and demonic powers, but it is 

really shocking and frustrating 

to know she was aware of her 

status and was placed under 

anti-retroviral drugs, but she 

stopped taking them and 

decided to say her children 

were sucking her blood. 

Appeal to govt 

“We are calling on the 

government to take more 

interest in children, implement 

the child rights law and also 

regulate churches that 

promote the belief of children 

being witches and wizards. 

The matter is on and we are 

going to make sure that other 

accomplices face the full 

weight of the law,” he said. 

Case under investigation – 

PPRO 

Contacted, Police Public 

Relations Officer, PPRO, Cross 

River Command, ASP Irene 

Ugbo, confirmed the incident, 

adding that the matter was 

under investigation and all the 

parties involved would be 

made to face the 

consequences of their actions. 

Traditional activities stall in Uromi over 

deposition of monarch 

*Ozah, UTC scribe begs Obaseki, Oshiomhole to reinstate HRM Aidonojie 


UROMI- THE 

dethroning of the 

Onojie (traditional 

ruler) of Uromi, Esan North 

East Local Government Area, 

Edo State, HRM Anselem 

Aidonojie, November 9, 

2016, by the former Governor 

of Edo State, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole, has held up the 

performance of key traditional 

activities and festivals in the 

community. 

Secretary, Uromi Traditional 

Council, UTC, Uromi, Chief 

Francis Ozah, who disclosed 

this in an interview with NDV, 

asserted that the situation was 

adversely affecting the 

community. 

He said: “I am appealing to 

Governor Obaseki and his 

predecessor, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole to please pardon 

the Onojie of Uromi for any 

mistake he must have made in 

the past so that he can come 

back and continue on the seat 

of his ancestors.” 

Idamigbe, Ukhora 

festivals stalled 

His words: “The situation is 

affecting us seriously as a 

community. We have many 

festivals today that we are no 

longer able to celebrate 

because the traditional head is 

not there. We have Iduamigbe 

and Ukhora, we have both 

women and men festivals and 

the Onojie of Uromi plans 

everything. 

“These festivals have no 

glamour without the Onojie. 

What has been happening is 

that people now celebrate the 

festival in their homes, rather 

than doing it openly because 

the King is not there. That is 

why we are begging the 

governor of the state and Oba 

of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, who 

is our father, to temper justice 

with mercy,” he stated. 

Residents gloomy 

over dethronement 

Chief Ozah lamented: “We 

have not been happy that our 

king was dethroned, we are 

just like a wife that has no 

husband. A woman that has no 

husband does not command 

any respect and that is how 

Uromi is today 

“For instance, last month 

(January), Onojie of Uromi was 

supposed to perform his New 

Yam festival but he could not 

do it due to his dethronement. 

Every traditional ruler is 

responsible to the state 

government and his people 

Continues on Page 26

26 — Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

CROSS RIVER…THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

Needy C-River school kids risk 

infection sieving rice chaff 

By Emmanuel Una 

U G E P - 

UNDERPRIVILEGED 

children between the ages of 

seven and 11 years face the 

danger of lung contamination 

as they rummage local rice 

mills at Ugep, Yakkur Local 

Government Area, Cross River 

State, for cast-off rice chaff, 

which they sieve for grains, 

stockpile and retail to pay 

school fees, buy books and 

support their parents. 

While sifting and playing on 

the heap of chaff, the children 

are covered with dusty 

particles, which make them 

look like tailor’s dummy. 

A medical doctor at the Ugep 

General Hospital, Angela 

Ekpe, said the rice 

chaff, which are tiny particles 

when inhaled, could cause 

infection to the lungs and 

therefore, not advisable for 

children to be exposed to such 

particles. 

“They go there on their own, 

but if you ask me, I will say 

children should stay away 

from that place because it is 

not good for their health and 

wellbeing,” she admonished. 

THE TEAM 

Emma Amaize, Editor 

Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa 

Simon Ebegbulem, Benin City 

Jimitota Onoyume, Warri 

Gabriel Enogholase,Benin City 

Festus Ahon. Asaba 

Egufe Yafugborhi. Port Harcourt 

Emmanuel Una. Calabar 

Akpokona Omafuaire, Warri 

Godwin Oghre, Sapele 

Chioma Onuegbu, Uyo 

Ike Uche, Calabar 

Davies Iheamnachor, Port Harcourt 

Emem Idio, Yenagoa 

Brisibe Perez, Ughelli 

Theresa Ugbobu, Agbor 

Ochuko Akuopha, Oleh 

Emmanuel Ayungbe, Uyo 

Nath Onajoke, Asaba 

Chijioke Nwankpa, Port Harcourt 

I pay school fees from the 

proceeds - Thomas 

One of the boys, Thomas, told 

NDV that he does the rice 

filtering all year round and 

pays his fees in Ugep 

Community Secondary School 

and buys books from proceeds 

generated from selling the rice 

he gets from the dustbin. 

“I come here after school on 

school days, but on Saturdays, 

I come here in the morning 

and each day I come here, I 

filter between 20-30 cups of 

rice. 

“Sometimes, the traders 

come to the house to buy while 

some women who run 

canteens sometimes ask me to 

bring for them though they 

buy at a lower price,” he said. 

My grandmother prepares 

meals with what I gather- 

Etong 

Another of the boys, Etong, 

said most of what he filters is 

used to prepare meals for the 

family, as he gives it to his 

grandmother to cook for the 

family. 

“I live with my grandmother 

Traditional activities stall in Uromi over deposition of monarch 


and whatever the 

government says is 

what he does. More 

importantly, he is the 

custodian of the 

culture and tradition 

of Uromi and as it is 

today, there is a big 

vacuum,” he said. 

PDP should steer 

clear 

Chief Ozah, who is 

the Oza of Uromi, 

berated the People's 

Democratic Party, 

PDP, for allegedly 

politicising the 

deposition of the 

king, saying: “It was 

not the PDP or the 

APC that made him 

Onojie, so they 

should stay off. PDP 

should not dabble 

and the rice is very useful as 

we prepare our Sunday meals 

with it and I am very proud 

that I can contribute my quota 

to the feeding of the family.” 

He said he got itches from the 

chaff in the past, but after some 

time, he became immune to it 

and can now play, lie on the 

mountain of rice chaff without 

feeling any itching on his 

body. 

Why I don’t want to stop them 

- Ewa, rice mills owner 

Owner of the rice mills at 

Omilakwa, Festus Ewa, noted: 

"I see them everyday here and 

some of them run errands for 

my workers and since they are 

doing it on their own initiative 

to help themselves and their 

parents, and are happy doing 

it, I cannot stop them.” 

He said in the past, women 

used to sieve the chaff, but 

when the boys came on the 

scene, they stopped going 

there, perhaps, they could not 

compete with the boys. 

His words: “We always set the 

chaff heap on fire after some 

time, but we allow the boys to 

filter all they needed to before 

we do that.” 

into traditional affairs and 

traditional rulers should not 

dabble into politics.” 

He asserted: “It is not the duty 

of the PDP to fight the cause 

of the traditional ruler. As the 

traditional ruler of Uromi, he 

is for all political parties. PDP 

dabbling into our affairs as 

regards the dethronement of 

the Onojie will not solve any 

issue; rather, they are 

compounding the problem. 

“HRH Aidonejie II is not 

involved in what the PDP is 

doing; he is the father of all. 

And the truth is the Onojie 

belongs to the party in power 

because as a traditional ruler, 

he works with government for 

the welfare of his people,” he 

stated. 

Unsuccessful bid to meet 

Obaseki 

Bayelsa residents 

groan under protracted 

power outage 

...State government 

moves to salvage situation 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

YENAGOA- BAYELSANS 

who had waited for relief 

from the lingering power outage 

in Yenagoa, the state capital 

and environs, have expressed 

disenchantment at the 

persistent blackout, which has 

crippled their businesses. 

Residents in some parts of the 

city had electricity supply last 

on Christmas and New Year 

day and are perplexed at the 

decision of the Port Harcourt 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, PHED, to stay moot 

on the sustained blackout 

The high cost of premium motor 

spirit, PMS, in the 

predominantly riverine state 

where the filling stations 

dispenses a liter of fuel at 

N200, except the NNPC 

mega station that sells at 

N143 per liter, has further 

compounded the woes of 

residents. 

PHEDC issues bills for 

unsupplied electricity – 

Inhabitants 

A resident of Biogbolo, 

Ebiowei Jones asserted: “It has 

been a trying period for us since 

after the yuletide celebration. 

We have not had power supply 

in the last five weeks, yet bills 

are being distributed by PHED 

for electricity not supplied.” 

A welder, simply identified as 

Adi, said: “The power 

situation is affecting our 

business. We have been relying 

on generator and you can 

imagine the cost of buying fuel. 

If only we can return to those 

days when our state generates 

its power independently 

through its Imiringi Gas 

Turbine and transmit same free 

to her citizens,” 

ABBEC bemoans darkness 

Few days ago, the Association 

of Bulk Bill Electricity 

The community leader 

added: “Governor Obaseki is 

father of all and I know that 

both him and the former 

governor, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole will understand 

the plight of Uromi people by 

bringing back our Onojie and 

disregard the antics of the 

PDP.” 

According to him, “Last 

September, we made attempt 

to see the governor to plead 

with him so that the Onojie of 

Uromi will be pardoned. 

Though that day we could not 

have an audience with the 

governor, but we met with his 

representatives. “ 

Pleads with Benin monarch to 

wade in 

He added: “And for our father, 

the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 

11, we are begging him not to 

abandon us at this moment 

Consumers , ABBEC, 

Yenagoa, expressed concern 

over the sad turn of event in the 

state, calling for government 

intervention to save members’ 

businesses from incurring 

further losses due to lack of 

power supply. 

The group, in a statement, 

lamented: “Few months after 50 

per cent tariff increase by the 

PHEDC, power supply has 

dwindled to an all-time low. Yet, 

at the end of the month, you 

expect the people to pay for 

electricity which they did not 

consume, how can that be 

possible?” 

ABBEC chair, Mr. Ebi Ozegbe, 

stated that members were losing 

the confidence to face residents 

of the state to demand for 

electricity bills when the people 

were wallowing in darkness. 

Commissioner assures 

residents 

Though the lingering power 

outage blamed on the activities 

of vandals in neighbouring 

Rivers State had been restored 

in some parts of the state, most 

parts of the capital are still in 

darkness. 

Commissioner for Power, Chief 

Partner Jim-Ogbolo, has, 

however, assured residents of 

better days, following ongoing 

government efforts to light up 

the state. 

Chief Jim-Ogbolo said the 

state government is carrying out 

48 projects out of which 23 have 

been completed and 25 ongoing 

with a view to improving the 

power situation in the 

predominantly riverine state. 

He said the government had 

constructed a new 33 KVA subtransmission 

line from Ogbia to 

Nembe, Ikibiri-Angiama 33 

KVA and upgrading of 

electricity supply in Akipelai 

community. 

because the Benin people and 

Uromi have always been in 

the same team. When the Oba 

of Benin then, Oba 

Ovonranwe was exiled to 

Calabar, it was only the Onojie 

of Uromi that fought with him 

and defended him before the 

British invaders. 

“And that was why both of 

them were exiled to Calabar. 

Oba Ovonranwe died in 

Calabar while the Onojie of 

Uromi, Okojie Okolo 

Onigbede later returned. But 

when he returned, things 

changed, he was asked to rule 

indirectly and no longer 

directly. 

“So the Benin people and 

Uromi have common bearing. 

We are begging Oba Ewuare 

11 not to forget us because we 

have the same relationship. 

The Binis cannot abandon us 

in this situation,” he stated.

BAYELSA… JERUSALEM OF IJAW LAND 

*Stakeholder Management & Community Devt Division Manager, Mr Dennis Mazi, flanked by the President- 

General of Abuetor community, Lovely Agwor & the Community Relations Manager , Oando Oil Ltd, Chief Sam 

Onyenwe, inaugurates a 200KVA power project at Abuetor , Sagbama LGA, Bayelsa State. 

Agip, JVPs banish darkness from 2 Bayelsa riverside 

communities scheme, known as 

“Communities with Access 

to Energy Initiative 

Projects.” 

The communities on 

the bank of the River 

Niger, which over the 

years, had been in darkness, 

were powered by 

a 200kva generator. 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

SAGBAMA - TWO 

riverside Isokospeaking 

settlements, 

Osifo and Abuetor in 

Sagbama Local Government 

Area of Bayelsa 

State, came alive weekend, 

as the Nigerian 

Agip Oil Company Limited, 

operator of the 

NNPC/NAOC/ONDO 

Joint Venture, lit up the 

communities under its 

ultra-modern power 

Why we executed 

projects -NAOC GM 

Speaking during the 

inauguration ceremony, 

which the natives turned 

into a mini carnival, the 

General Manager, 

NAOC, Mr. Marco Rotondi, 

stated that over 

the years, the company 

and its Joint Venture 

Partners had been in the 

forefront of improving 

the living standards of 

the people of its host 

communities. 

Rotondi, represented 

by the Stakeholders 

Management and Community 

Development 

Division Manager, Mr. 

Dennis Masi, explained 

that the 200kva generator 

and the ultra-modern 

generator house each 

Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 27 

donated to the communities 

were in fulfillment of the 

terms of the Memorandum 

of Understanding (MOU) 

entered between NAOC and 

the communities, as part of 

the Access to Energy Initiative 

of the Joint Venture 

partners, designed to ensure 

the implementation of socially 

beneficial and sustainable 

projects in its areas of operation. 

He called on the people of 

the communities to reciprocate 

the company’s gesture 

by providing suitable working 

environment for its staff. 

Projects’ll propel growth- 

Oando GM 

Also speaking, the Managing 

Director of Oando Oil 

Limited, Engr. Durotoye 

Olupade, represented by the 

Community Relations Manager, 

Chief Samuel Onyenwe, 

noted that it was the 

company’s belief that with 

the provision of the generators 

and the ultra-modern 

generator houses in the communities, 

the economic potentials 

of the communities 

and its environs will be galvanised. 

Communities 

celebrate 

Earlier, the President- 

General of Osifo Community, 

Mr. John Oghoro, 

thanked NAOC and its 

JVPs for providing the generator 

and the generator 

house in the community. 

Mr. Oghoro also commended 

the JVPs for other 

amenities, including cottage 

hospital, electrification, 1km 

road, six-classroom blocks 

provided for the people, 

which according to him, 

have impacted the community 

positively. 

President-General of 

Abuetor community, Hon. 

Lovely Agwor also thanked 

the company for all the developmental 

projects built in 

the community such as six 

classroom primary and secondary 

school blocks, electricity 

and wiring of 500M 

low voltage electrification, as 

well as the just commissioned 

200KVA generator 

and generator house to banish 

darkness from their community. 

AKWA IBOM 

...THE LAND OF PROMISE 

Job prospects in 

ALSCON thrill 

A’Ibom youths 

By Chioma Onuegbu 

EKET - YOUTHS 

of Ikot Abasi Local 

Government Area, 

Akwa Ibom State, are 

excited at the projections 

of fresh job opportunities, 

following 

the plan by the Aluminium 

Smelter Company 

of Nigeria, 

(ALSCON), located in 

the area, to commence 

full operations after 

Russian Aluminium 

Company, RUSAL and 

BFIG settled their contentious 

bid controversy 

out of court. 

FG resolves BFIG, 

RUSAL court battle 

NDV learned that 

the process to privatise 

ALSCON started since 

2001, but the highest 

bidder, BFIG, in2004, 

dragged the Bureau of 

Public Enterprise, BPE 

and RUSAL to court. 

It was gathered that 


subsequently 

gave RUSAL, the second 

highest bidder, a 

go-ahead after BFIG 

failed to pay the money 

it offered to take 

over the company. 

Immediate past 

president of Ukpum 

Ete Clan, who expressed 

confidence in 

RUSAL restoring 

ALSCON to its former 

glory, said: “When our 

people heard that the 


had intervened in the 

lingering court matter 

between BFIG and 

RUSAL towards the 

ending of 2017, we 

were very excited. 

Even foremost sociocultural 

groups like 

Mboho Ikot Abasi 

were optimistic that 

once ALSCON commenced 

full operations, 

Ikot Abasi will 

come alive again.” 

Outstanding past 

“When ALSCON 

was functional, there 

were lots of job opportunities 

and our people, 

especially youths, 

benefitted a lot from 

the company. Apart 

from the constant and 

free electricity supply 

enjoyed by our communities, 

there were 

programmes for 

youths of the five clans 

in Ikot Abasi, including 

payment of certain 

amount of money to 

each clan for youth 


“The Americans that 

managed ALSCON 

then did a lot for us 

and that was responsible 

for the peaceful coexistence 

between the 

company and its host 

communities of Ikot 

Abasi,” he said. 

RUSAL wins hearts 

His words: “We have 

also observed that 

since RUSAL took over 

ALSCON before the 

court case, they have 

demonstrated that 

they would toe same 

path. For us, it is a 

good sign that once 

they start full operations, 

Ikot Abasi people 

will smile again. 

“And for convincing 

RUSAL and BFIG to 

settle out of court, we 

the youths cannot 

thank the Federal Government 

enough for 

that effort. We specially 

thank this administration 

for considering 

ALSCON among nonfunctional 

industries in 

the country,” he added. 

Similarly, Chairman 

Ikot Abasi Clan Youth 

Leaders' Forum, Akparawa 

Mfreke Usoro 

said: “For many years 

now, nothing had been 

happening in Ikot 

Abasi. No development, 

no job opportunities, 

the youths are 

idle because they have 

nothing to do and that 

is why there is rise in 

criminality. 

“And what Ikot Abasi 

youths want now is for 

RUSAL to start production 

immediately; no 

more court matter or 

anything that will bring 

problem or impede development 

of our communities. 

And I believe 

that RUSAL will accommodate 

our youths 

very well,” he said. 

No more litigation 

An activist, Innocent 

John, said: “I want to 

advise that RUSAL 

and BFIG resolve the 

matter once and for all 

because we do not 

need any more court 

case. We need progress 

and development in 

Ikot Abasi We value 

ALSCON so much because 

it is the only Federal 

Government presence 

in our communities.”

28 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018



Corruption must be tackled to fight human trafficking 

—Oba of Benin 

By Simon 

Egbebulem & 

Gabriel Enogholase 

BENIN—OBA 

of 

Benin, Omo N’Oba 

Ewuare II, has said that 

unless the issue of 

corruption was tackled with 

all the serious it deserved 

and the economy 

improved, it will be difficult 

to fight human trafficking 


The Benin monarch 

DINNER: From left: Major-Gen. V. B. Williams; Mr Olu Vincent, cordinator of the event; Prof 

Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, Vice Chancellor, UNILAG; Mr Adedapo Fasanu, President of CMS Old Boys 

and Mrs Seun Ogundipe, at a dinner in honour of the UNILAG VC, in Lagos. 

Ogbe-Ijoh cut off from access road, electricity 

by Aladja, Monday alleges 

By Emma Amaize 

W 

A R R I — 

NATIONAL 

Coordinator, Niger Delta 

Scholars, Chief Keme 

Monday, yesterday, said 

since 2016, residents of 

Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South- 

West Local Government 

Area, Delta State, have been 

prevented from passing the 

only link road to their 

community allegedly by 

neighbouring Aladja 

community in Udu Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

Chief Monday, in a 

statement, said: “The 

governor of Delta State is 

aware that the only access 

road to the headquarters of 

Warri South-West had been 

blocked by Aladja people 

since March 24, 2016, 

depriving the council 

workers, school teachers 

and others access to the 

road. 

“The headquarters of 

Warri South-West and Isaba 

communities were 

disconnected by Aladja 

people from the national 

grid in the past two years 

and government of Delta 

State has not done anything 

about it,” he lamented. 

made the observation when 

the Director-General of 

National Agency for the 

Prohibition of Trafficking in 

Persons, NAPTIP, Dame 

Julie Okah-Danli visited 

him at his palace in Benin 

City. 

He called on the state and 

federal governments to 

fight corruption, provide 

jobs, improve the economy 

and make life meaningful 

for the people in order to 

discourage them from 

The Ogbe-Ijoh leader, 

who flayed the handling of 

the crisis between the two 

communities by the state 

government, said: “The 

state government cannot 

claim to be ignorant of the 

existence of boundary law 

which government in the 

past had consistently 

maintained as evidenced in 

the present maps of Udu 

and Warri South- West 

councils. 

“First was Public Notice 

No 28 of 1946 enitled 

‘Southern Nigeria 

Protectorate’ which created 

the boundary line between 

embarking on illegal 

migration and human 

trafficking. 

He enjoined NAPTIP to 

work closely with Oba 

Ewuare II Foundation in 

order to eradicate the 

scourge in the society and 

assured of the readiness of 

the palace to collaborate 

with the state and federal 

governments to stamp out 

human trafficking through 

advocacy, enlightenment 

and persuasion. 

the Urhobo and Warri 

divisions and demarcated 

the boundary to be the 

creek by Delta Steel 

Company, which the 

company converted to 

drainage. 

“Then in 1955, the above 

mentioned boundary law 

was amended via Gazette 

No 176 of 1955, which 

shifted the boundary 

between the then Urhobo 

and Warri divisions to the 

present roundabout in 

Aladja town. 

“The above referenced 

law was applied to resolve 

the boundary dispute 

Earlier, Director-General 

of NAPTIP, Dame Okah- 

Donli said they were in the 

palace as part of NAPTIP's 

enlightenment campaign, 

pointing out that so much 

had been said and linked 

to Edo State with regard to 

human trafficking. 

She told the Oba that 

many Nigerians have been 

held in Libya, adding that 


has done a lot to bring them 

back and rehabilitate them. 

between Ekpan in Uvwie 

Local Government and 

Ubeji in Warri South Local 

Government on one hand 

and Oghara in Ethiope 

West and Koko in Warri 

North councils. 

“Any attempt to share the 

entire land in Ogbe Ijoh, 

which Aladja claimed to be 

disputed land equally, to 

the two communities and to 

shift the council boundary 

to the new point of division 

by the Okowa-led state 

government is strange and 

unknown to the law as the 

state government lacks 

such powers,” he added. 

Monarch stresses need for preservation of 

cultural assets 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

THE traditional ruler 

of Umunede 

Kingdom in Ika North East 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, Obi Agadagidi 

Ezenwali I, has stressed the 

need for the continued 

preservation of the rich 

culture of the people. 

Obi Ezenwali, while 

conferring the chieftaincy 

title of Onwa I of Umunede 

on Chief Dickson Utuke of 

Idumu Illeje Quarters, in 

Umunede, said the cultural 

identity of the people 

should be preserved and 

projected to the world at all 

times. 

The Umunede royal 

father said the conferment 

of titles on deserving 

members of the community 

was not a right but a mark 

of recognition of the 

contributions of the 

recipients to the growth and 

development of the community 

and society at large. 

Obi Ezenwali I advised 

Chief Utuke to work with 

the Umunede Council of 

Chiefs to promote the 

overall interest of the 

community. 

In his remarks, Chief 

Utuke appreciated the 

Umunede monarch's 

gesture and promised to 

promote the interest of 

Umunede community at all 

times. 

2019: Deltans urged to go for 

vibrant youths 

THE Coalition of 

Professionals for 

Good Governance in Delta 

(Youth for Governor 2019), 

has enjoined voters to go 

for a vibrant youth in next 

year’s gubernatorial 

election in the state. 

In a statement by its 

secretary, Mr. Magnus 

Okwudibie, the coalition 

said: “For over a month 

now, a group of 

professionals has been 

going through the 

credentials of so many 

aspirants. Some aspirants 

have displayed seriousness 

in pursuit of their 

aspiration, while others, we 

observed, were just on an 

attention-seeking mission. 

“Our mission is to get a 

youth who is also a 

technocrat with the drive to 

take Delta from the 

doldrums it has been in 

Delta community urges Heritage 

Energy to disregard ultimatum 

By Fred Okopie 

CHAIRMAN 

of 

I b r u v w e 

Development Union, IDU, 

in Ethiope-East LGA of 

Delta State, Mr. Duke 

Oniarah, has urged 

Heritage Energy Services 

to disregard the 21-day 

ultimatum issued to the 

company by one Mr. 

Wilson Kokharaye on 

behalf of Ibruvwe 

community. 

Oniarah said Kokharaye 

should stop using Ibruvwe 

flow station in the so-called 

forum of flow station owners 

as the alleged “illegal 

body” was not recognised 

by the Ibruvwe famiily and 

cluster 4 oil communities. 

According to him, “This 

since 1999, to greater 

heights. 

“Many aspirants had 

their aspirations under 

scrutiny and at the end, we 

got who we feel is right for 

Delta State at this stage of 

our national life. This does 

not mean all the aspirants 

who made the final cut are 

not equally good.” 

The aspirants who made 

the final cut, according to 

Okwudibie, are Victor 

Ochei, Mr. Sheyi Money, 

Chief Osiobe Okotie, Mr. 

Magnus Atoka and Itse 

Imeni. 

He added: “We are in the 

final stage of the search and 

have started a thorough 

screening of the five 

aspirants and we assure 

Deltans that we will pick 

the one with the right 

credentials, personae and 

charisma." 

act of Kokharaye may lead 

to a breakdown of law and 

order in the cluster. We 

desire peace and unity for 

the effective operation of oil 

facilities in cluster 4. The 21- 

day ultimatum by the forum 

should be disregarded as 

Kokharaye does not 

represent Ibruvwe oil 

producing community of 

Kokori sub-clan of Agbon 

Kingdom.” 

Oniarah noted that 

whatever ultimatum and 

threat issued to Heritage 

Energy Services by 

Kokharaye was not in the 

interest of Ibruvwe 

community, but for selfish 

reason, stressing that he 

doesn’t have the support of 

Ibruvwe community. 

Ekeremor people commend 

Agip over road project 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

E KEREMOR— 

INDIGENES of the 

coastal town of Egbemo 

Angalabiri in Ekeremor 

Local Government Area of 

Bayelsa State have 

commended Nigerian Agip 

Oil Company, NAOC, 

over the construction of a 

road in their community. 

The road with two side 

drains, spanning 500m is 

one of the several projects 

being carried out in the 

predominantly swampy 

area by the oil company 

under the memorandum 

of understanding it 

entered into with the 

community. 


elated indigenes during the 

commissioning of the 

project the Community 

Development Committee, 

Chairman, Mr. Pumokumo 

Gabice, said it was 

gratifying to the community 

to see the completion and 

commissioning of the road 

project by NAOC and its 

joint venture partners. 

He noted that the 

manifestation of the project 

was a dream come true for 

the people of Egbemo 

Angalabiri community. 

Gabice thanked the 

company for fulfilling the 

terms of the memorandum 

of understanding with the 

community and urged 

other oil companies 

operating within Egbemo 

Angalabiri territory to 

emulate NAOC and its JV 

partners.

30 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018


A season of resignations 

LAST week was a rather 

unusual week in our glorious 

continent of Africa. It was the week 

of Valentine, as February 14 has 

always been since time immemorial. 

The week of love, the week in 

which lovers re-avow their 

affection to each other and 

exchange gifts. That same week 

saw resignations by leaders of two 

of the most important countries in 

our continent, namely, Jacob 

Zuma of South Africa and 

Hailemariam Desalegn of 

Ethiopia. As it happens, I have 

followed both gentlemen in the 

course of my career. 

On Wednesday 14 February, 

Jacob Zuma succumbed 

unrelenting to pressure from his 

colleagues in the ANC and decided 

to throw in the towel. It had been a 

long drawn-out battle. Zuma had 

done his best to ensure he could 

outlive his traducers. But it was not 

to be. 

I met Jacob Zuma as President of 

South Africa in April 2013 when he 

came on a state visit to the European 

Union in Brussels. I was privileged 

to accompany my boss Dr. 

Mohamed Ibn Chambas to visit 

Zuma in his hotel room. We were 

accompanied by a young woman 

colleague, a beautiful princess from 

the Bangwamanto Kingdom of 

Botswana. We had jokingly warned 

her to be on her best behaviour, as 

African economic redemption: 

Chimera or hope? 

It is tedious to go on about Africa having 

THE West has left us with the template 

for economic growth and worldwide 

domination: the franchise system or the 

selling and use of patents, symbols, etc. in 

short, branding. McDonald, Pepsi Coke, 

Coca-Cola, 7UP, KFC, Dominos are brands 

well known which people buy, so also is 

General Electric, Toyota, etc. Now they have 

developed to technologies for 

communications, Google, Facebook, 

YouTube, Uber, etc. all depending on our 

own fascination and should I say closeness 

and obsession with the use of the 

smartphones, the owners of these 

technologies rely on a simple fact, that 

algorithm was the answer to all problems. 

If the problem exists, there must be an 

algorithm to solve it. The West developed 

this, at great cost to themselves – loss of the 

traditional jobs of Post and Telegraphs, 

shorthand typists etc. As at today, the three 

richest men in the US are all from the 

technology of communications – Bill Gates, 

Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page and Sergey 

Bezos, who today are richer than 60% of all 

US citizens combined. 

Is there a lesson for Africa here? We would 

hope to produce an African Bill Gates or an 

African Zuckerberg or an African Steve Jobs 

and an African Bezos. But if you looked at 

the system these technology giants have 

built, they have built-in branding into their 

systems. It is true you may want to use a 

different operating system instead of 

Microsoft word, office, cloud, but it would 

cost you. These giants depend on small 

payments per usage of their products but 

have enough power to force the banks, 

government and everybody else to use their 

systems, etc. 

we were made to believe the man 

was on a hunt for Wife No. 5. As it 

turns out, our colleague confessed 

that, as a woman, she could 

perfectly understand why women 

would easily fall for a guy like that. 

Jacob Zuma was smooth and 

charming. He had a way of 

making you feel at ease. Unlike 

Thabo Mbeki, he had no basis to 

feel any intellectual arrogance. At 

a personal level, I found Zuma to 

be a sincere, down-to-earth and 

very likeable person. 

Jacob Zuma never had a real 

education beyond primary school. 

He learned everything he knew 

from the trenches of the bitter 

struggles between the ANC and the 

ruthless Apartheid government of 

South Africa. But through dint of 

hard work and commitment he 

found himself in the upper 

echelons of the party, rising to the 

exalted position of Vice-President, 

and subsequently, President. 

When, as Vice-President, he 

began to indicate that he had 

interest in succeeding Thabo Mbeki, 

the latter placed all sorts of stumbling 

blocks on him, believing he did not 

have what it takes to occupy the high 

magistracy of the South African state. 

It had the opposite effect. Jacob 

Zuma became the underdog. He 

drew the sympathy of the masses, and 

particularly youth leaders like Julius 

Malema, leader and founder of the 

75% of the world’s minerals if Africa is 

unable, like Japan, without minerals, to 

build a strong economy. If the computer 

was a once purchased item and therefore 

does not depend on their operating systems 

to work that business would be out of date 

soon. Its strength is its novelty adaptability, 

flexibility and the promise of even greater 

things to come – artificial intelligence, 

nanotechnology, robotics – all good for war 

and peace: although this makes for an 

uncertain future. Worse still Africa has no 

role to play in this development beyond 

being a voracious consumer. 

It is tedious to go on about 

Africa having 75% of the 

world’s minerals if Africa is 

unable, like Japan, without 

minerals, to build a strong 

economy 

The minerals in Africa are buried deep 

underground. The West and China send 

different machines to dig for it, scoop it etc. 

carry it away for development into the 

various components of life in the world. The 

genius of McDonald is that each time you 

eat McDonald anywhere in the world, 

someone in the company makes money in 

the US. Ditto for KFC etc. 

Africa must find ways to encourage the 

West that what is good for the goose is good 

for the gander. The West and China mines 

and scoop earth, Copper, Columbite, 

Magnesium, Calcite and other forms of rare 

earth, uranium, aluminum, gold, diamonds 

radical Economic Freedom 

Fighters, EFF, party. 

Unfortunately, after he was sworn 

in as president in May 2009, it soon 

became clear that he had immense 

deficits both in character and 

intellect. He was charged for 

corruption and racketeering as a 

result of his links with his financial 

advisor Schabir Shaik in April 2009. 

He illegally committed state funds 

That same week saw 

resignations by 

leaders of two of the 

most important 

countries in our 

continent, namely, 

Jacob Zuma of South 

Africa and 

Hailemariam Desalegn 

of Ethiopia 

for the renovation of his palatial 

home, Nkandla, in Zululand. 

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma has 

been a disaster for South Africa. A 

man who has been charged for rape, 

corruption, fraud and racketeering 

certainly is unfit to lead such a great 

country. He is definitely not in the 

same league as Thabo Mbeki, not 

to talk of Nelson Mandela. He has 

brought nothing but disgrace to 

South Africa. 

I am pleased that he has been eased 

off and my friend Cyril Ramaphosa 

has been sworn in as President of 

South Africa. I first met Cyril in a 

hot summer day at Montreal 

International Airport in Quebec, 

Canada, in July 1986. We got 

introduced and sat together for 

coffee. He introduced himself as a 

leader of the labour movement and 

that he was in Canada to undertake 

a course in labour unionism and 

industrial relations. I explained to 

him that I was a Nigerian intern 

working for Lavalin International in 

Quebec, having been posted from my 

institution in Paris, Institut 

International d’Administration 

Publique, now known as ENA-IIAP. 

We exchanged personal details and 

we all went our personal ways. 

When Nelson Mandela was 

released from prison in 1990, I was 

astonished to see that the person that 

was closest to him besides his thenwife 

Winnie Mandela was none 

other my friend Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The whole world knows that Cyril 

was Mandela’s favourite to succeed 

Madiba as President. Unfortunately, 

the high echelons of the ANC 

overruled. There had been an 

unwritten rule that the highest 

positions of the leadership were 

reserved for those who had either 

been in prison in Robben Island (the 

Robben graduates) or those who had 

served the organisation in exile. 

Although South Africa does not suffer 

the kind of rabid ethnic bigotry that 

we suffer in Nigeria, there was also 

no doubt that ethnicity did matter. 

The Xhosa political elites have 

tended to dominate the ANC, from 

Nelson Mandela to Walter Sisulu 

and the Mbekis. Cyril is a Venda, one 

of the smallest of the tribes in South 

Africa. As a matter of fact, Zuma 

himself had played the ethnic card 

in warning that the Zulus were single 

largest majority and he had to have 

his way. 

Cyril Ramaphosa disappeared 

from the political scene for about two 

decades, where he went into mining 

and other sectors. He made himself 

a billionaire. The white Afrikaners 

found him a man they could do 

business with. He is an enormously 

gifted man. A lawyer by profession, 

he is known to be a tough negotiator 

as well as a consummate 

administrator. He has skilfully 

camouflaged these gifts by 

appearing like a simple, smiling fox. 

He will serve his country with 

distinction. 

etc. out of Africa. 

They sell these 

manufactured 

items from these 

goods back to us. 

Let us imagine a 

bright African 

who was able to 

franchise 

copper – every 

time an item 

having copper in it is used, a penny is given 

to the African country from which it was 

mined. All the electric wires used in the world 

would now pay something to sustain the 

people it originated from. At first, though 

this seems a crackpot idea, our new geniuses 

tell us that nothing is impossible; they can 

find a suitable algorithm to change this 

aspect of commerce as they have changed 

banking, communications, airlines, and 

planes etc. We must ask the right questions 

to get the right answers. If we start by 

thinking that it cannot be done, then it would 

not be. If Microsoft worried about the 

millions of shorthand typists it put out of 

business, it would never have developed its 

operating system. 

No smartphone can work without Calcite 

which is mined now in a number of places 

in Africa. Our goal should be that each time 

a phone is used those places get a few cents. 

These principles could be applied to other 

African exports since we pay each time a 

Radiation instrument is used in Africa, each 

time a car is driven- spare parts to the outlets 

etc. that is a kind of branding. Globalisation 

cannot simply mean the selling of any 

product you make to anywhere in the world 

that is willing to pay. As it works now, it is to 

the disadvantage of the non-Western or nonindustrialised 

countries. 

There are instances where usage is the 

base of the currency that vendors use. Any 

airline that flies over the space of Nigeria 

pays Nigeria good money for the privilege. 

There is also the case of Ethiopia. I 

have been to that country more times 

than I could remember. I can manage 

a smattering Amharic. I met Prime 

Minister Desalegn when he visited 

the African Caribbean and Pacific 

Secretariat, of which I was Chief of 

Staff. He came across as a mildmannered 

and decent statesman. He 

had the composure that is so much a 

character of the Ethiopian people. 

He had been a former Dean of a 

University before pursuing a political 

career that saw him rise to the exalted 

position of prime minister. His 

resignation came as a shock, 

because no leader in the history of 

the Ethiopian has ever retired from 


Ethiopia has much in common 

with Russia, both of them members 

of the Orthodox faith. Their political 

traditions do not allow for any kind 

of liberalism. They have tended to 

admire and respect only strongmen. 

The late Meles Zenawi was a 

strongman. But he did well for 

Ethiopia. Desalegn was a career 

academic who easily caved in as a 

result of the unprecedented 

demonstrations and riots throughout 

the country. The young people of 

Ethiopia are demanding more 

freedom and more liberty. It is not 

enough that remarkable progress 

has been made on the economic 

front. 

There are serious underlying 

political problems. Out of Ethiopia’s 

90 ethnic groups, the dominant ones 

are the Oromia (37%) and the 

Amhara (30%). The Tigrinya trail 

behind at 6 percent. But it is the latter 

that have dominated the state and 

economy since 1991, after the fall of 

the Mengistu dictatorship. The 

people of Ethiopia deserve greater 

freedom and political participation 

to enjoy the fruits of development and 

social progress. Political reforms are 

needed to expand the possibility 

frontiers of liberty as well as social 

justice for all. 

When our planes fly over Europe and the 

US, the same happens despite the so-called 

open skies agreement. That our ministers of 

Aviation and NCAA staff have regularly 

raided these coffers is not the point here. 

Money is paid to us as in McDonald’s as in 

Google for access and usage. 

This is not traditional economic theory. 

My economist friends insist that we make 

our minerals here into products which the 

West wants to buy rather than insists on a 

rentier economy. Such a view does not take 

into account the overwhelming structural 

power of the West on almost all our lives, 

the meaning of education, the processes for 

creation of values etc. What are we afraid 

of? 

As the West progresses in the use of fossil 

fuels itself, the base of its industrial 

revolution and power is now threatened. 

Engine designs that lower fuel consumption 

or even eliminate it are on the horizon. No 

one in Nigeria has produced any sensible 

lines on what to do when this inability hits 

on. It is said that gas and fuel have about 

3000 uses – they produced over 3000 items. 

My Nigerian conservative economist friend 

says research institutions, the universities, 

etc. can begin to make these products for 

sale to the West. There is merit in this 

argument but some of it is like inventing the 

wheel. 

Nevertheless, the problem is the scale and 

where to find money, scientists, technicians, 

and algorithms to take us to the next level? 

C 

M 

YK


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

AQUARIUS: Once again, you’ll have the needed opportunity 

to assert yourself to the administration of others. Both love 

and financial success can be yours with efforts. Reason with 

your tried and trusted friends. 

PISCES: You can make it a successful day with positive 

approach on your part. You will be in a better position to 

defuse tension within your working arena. Try to be more 

ambitious. 

ARIES Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when opposition 

and/or competition come your way but, if you give in to 

diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today. 

TAURUS: Pressure that came your way suddenly will give 

way unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course. 

The more financially ambitious you are today, the better for 

you. Be steadfast. 

GEMINI: You sincerely believe in intelligent argument or 

discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplomatic come 

to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoy your love life. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART —ELLA RANDLE 

“Stay committed your decisions, but stay flexible in your 

approach.” — Tony Robbins 

If you feel dissatisfied or let down by an outcome, then you 

must have been expecting somethingdifferent. Rather than 

get upset, ask yourself, 

“Were my expectations too narrow?” and “What new truths 

have I learned? The bottom line is that you must see and 

accept things as they are instead of as you hoped, wished, or 

expected them to be. Just because it didn’t turn out like you 

had envisioned doesn’t mean it isn’t exactly what you need to 

get to where you need to be. - Ella Randle 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

Nobody is 

born wise 

~ African 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

CANCER: You’ll tend to become both creative and persuasive 

to the administration of others. Then those who’ve been 

resisting secret love may slip suddenly and become excited. 

LEO: Even if opposition persists, supports you are getting 

from the influential people will be enough to see you through. 

Yet, the more cooperative you are the better. 

VIRGO: Your creativity quotient within your working arena 

will today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep official 

issues secrets from your challenges at work. 

LIBRA: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll have the 

needed opportunity to look through windows of the world 

and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magic days is 

predicted for lovers today. 

SCORPIO: Even if you continue to work under pressure via 

increased workload, you will have good results to show for 

your efforts today. Be steadfast. 

SAGITTARIUS: Promise made to genuine personalities 

should be kept if not because of today but for better tomorrow. 

Be reasonable and clean. 

CAPRICORN: Those of you willing to let go hard feelings at 

work are for a progressive day to the betterment of your 

finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

What’s my horoscope? 

Dear Joshua, 

Kindly tell me how the planets lined up when I was born 

and the day of the week I was born but don’t publish my 

date of birth.. Please tell me my full horoscope. 

Anonymous, Nigeria. 

Dear Anonymous, 

You were born on a Sunday. The Sun was placed in early 

degree of Scorpio together with many other heavenly 

bodies. Then with the Moon in Libra when you were born 

Libra will equally be influential in your characteristics build 

up but, you are mainly a Scorpio born person 

YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA 

Day of Birth = Sunday 

Sun Sign = Scorpio. Sun in Zero Degree of Scorpio 

Moon Sign = Libra: Moon in 5th Degree of Libra 

Mercury in 12th Degree of Scorpio 

Venus in Zero Degree of Sagittarius 

Mars in 1st Degree of Aquarius 

Jupiter in 29th Degree of Cancer 

Saturn in 10th Degree of Scorpio 

Uranus in 27th Degree of Cancer 

Neptune in 25th Degree of Libra 

Pluto in 26th Degree of Leo 

North Node in 8th Degree of Capricorn 

South Node in 8th Degree of Cancer 

No planet in earth spar sign, one in available, two in fire, 

three in air, four in cardinal, fixed and water star signs 

hosted five planets each. 

PHYSICAL INFLUENCE = 50% 

NON-PHYSICAL INFLUENCE =50% 

PLANET AT HOME = NONE 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA 

You are both an intelligent and emotional person. And as 

there was planet at home when you were born, too many 

ideas will always struggle for prominent place in your 

mind, thus decision making is difficult but most times, your 

intelligence comes to the rescue. 

Certainly, you appear to other as a gentle person who can 

be mistaken for soft fellow but your inner-self is the 

personality with a steel like will power. 

You are the consistent type who may find it difficult to 

change once you have made up your mind as indicated by 

distribution of the planets as written out in paragraph two 

of this exercise. 

One major challenge you have been battling for a very long 

time is constant worries, some times, necessarily and the 

other time, uncalled for, as indicated by conjunction 

Mercury and Saturn formed when you were born. 

Placement of your natal Sun (basic self head) and Moon 

(your sub-conscious self) in Scorpio and Libra respectively 

are indications of your being mainly Scorpio born person 

and partly in Libran. And that is to say basic characteristics 

of both Scorpio and Libra are highly pronounced in you. 

Then, you are spiritually gifted; if you don’t develop it is 

another thing. 

VIRGINIA 

HOME & ABROAD 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

By Lawrence Akapa




Ahiara crisis: Bishop Okpalaeke 

resigns, Pope appoints administrator 

By Sam Eyoboka & 

Chidi Nkwopara 

O WERRI—MIXED 

reactions yesterday, 

trailed the eventual 

resignation of the embattled 

Catholic Bishop of Ahiara 

Diocese, Most Rev. Peter 

Ebele Okpalaeke, and the 

reported acceptance of his 

resignation by the Holy 

Father, Pope Francis. 

According to a statement 

issued by the Director of 

Social Communications, 

Catholic Secretariat of 

Nigeria, CSN, Rev. Fr. 

Chris N. Anyanwu, 

monitored in Owerri, the 

Bishop of Umuahia, Most 

Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, 

was appointed the 

Apostolic Administrator. 

The terse statement read: 

“Following the resignation 

of Most Rev. Peter 

Okpalaeke as the Bishop of 

Ahiara Diocese, as a result 

of the crisis that has 

lingered for nearly six years 

in that Diocese, His 

Holiness, Pope Francis, has 

today, appointed Most Rev. 

Lucius Ugorji, the Bishop 

of Umuahia, as the 

Apostolic Administrator of 

Ahiara Diocese. This 

appointment is with 

immediate effect.” 

Similarly, the 

Congregation for the 

Evangelization of Peoples, 

equally released a 

statement, Agenzia Fides, 

from where the CSN 

hinged it’s release. 

Part of the statement read: 

“The Holy Father, after 

having accepted the 

resignation of His 

Excellency, the Most Rev. 

Peter Ebele Okpalaeke, has 

relieved him of the pastoral 

care of the Diocese of 

Ahiara, and at the same 

time, has thanked him for 

his love for the Church. 

“Following the 

instructions of His 

Holiness, Pope Francis, 

during the months of June 

and July 2017, he received 

200 letters from individual 

priests of the Diocese of 

Ahiara, in which they 

manifested to 

him,obedience and fidelity. 

“Some priests however, 

pointed out their 

psychological difficulty in 

collaborating with the 

Bishop after years of 

conflict. 

“Taking into account their 

repentance, the Holy 

Father decided not to 

proceed with the 

Canonical Sanctions and 

instructed the 

Congregation for the 

Evangelization of Peoples, 

to respond to each of them. 

“In this line, the 

Congregation has urged 

every priest to reflect on the 

grave damage inflicted on 

the Church of Christ and 

expressed hope that in the 

future, they will never 

again, repeat such 

unreasonable actions, 

opposing a Bishop 

legitimately appointed by 

the Supreme Pontiff. 

“The Holy Father is 

grateful to the faithful: 

priests, religious and laity, 

who have shown closeness 

to His Excellency, 

Monsignor Okpalaeke, 

and have supported him 

with prayers. 

“He is also grateful to the 

Bishops of the Episcopal 

Conference of Nigeria, for 

the support given to their 

Ugwuanyi signs N103.5bn 2018 

budget into law 

The governor 

E 

N 

U G U — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State, yesterday, 

signed the N103.5 billion 

2018 budget recently 

passed by the State House 

of Assembly into law, with 

a firm promise to fully 

implement the 

appropriation law for the 

benefit of the people and 

sustainable development of 

the state. 

Signing the budget at the 

Government House, 

Enugu, in the presence of 

his Deputy, Mrs. Cecilia 

Ezeilo and other members 

of the State Executive 

Council; members of the 

House of Assembly led by 

the Speaker, Rt. Hon. 

Edward Ubosi; State 

Chairman of the Peoples 


Hon. Augustine Nnamani, 

among other top 

government functionaries, 

Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that 

the House after due 

deliberation on the budget 

and consideration of the 

defence by the various 

brother Bishop, to whom 

He sends a special 

Apostolic blessing. 

“For the time being, the 

Holy Father does not 

intend to appoint a new 

Bishop in Ahiara, but he 

reserves to himself the right 

to continue to have a 

special and particular 

concern for this Diocese, 

assigning a new Apostolic 

Administrator, see vacante 

et ad nutum Sanctae 

Sedis, in the person of His 

Excellency, Most Rev. 

Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, 

Bishop of Umuahia, to 

whom he grants all the 

ministries, MDAs, 

Parastatals and all 

concerned with the budget, 

increased the budget size 

from N98,563,500,000 to 

N103,563,500,000. 

Kalu urges Tinubu to accelerate 

reconciliation of aggrieved APC 

members 

L AGOS—FORMER 

governor of Abia 

State , Dr Orji Uzor 

Kalu, yesterday, urged 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed 

Tinubu, the national 

leader of the All 


APC, to quickly get to 

work and reconcile 

aggrieved members of 

the ruling party. 

This is just as Kalu 

canvased support for 

Igbo presidency in 2023. 

Speaking to reporters 

on arrival from Abuja 

yesterday at the Murtala 

Muhammed Airport 

faculties reserved to an 

Ordinary. 

“The Holy Father, who 

accompanies with prayer, 

this new phase in the life 

of the Church in Ahiara, 

hopes that with the new 

Apostolic Administrator, the 

local Church will recover 

it’s vitality and never again 

suffer such actions that so 

wounded the Body of 

Christ.” 

Meanwhile, anti- 

Okpalaeke group in 

Mbaise went into wild 

jubilation while those in the 

opposing camp sulked in 

grief. 

SUMMIT: From left—Group Managing Director, Nigeria National 

Petroleum Corporation, Alh. Maikanti Baru, Secretary General, 

Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Mr. Mohammed 

Bankindo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Mr. Boss 

Mustapha and Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, during 

the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit an African petroleum 

technology and business conference in Abuja, yesterday. Photo by Gbemiga 

Olmikan 

commended the members 

of the House for the speedy 

and considerate passage of 

the budget and the 

“wonderful” cooperation 

they have accorded the 

state government since 

inception. 

Terminal Two, MMA2, 

Ikeja, Lagos, Kalu said 

it does not augur well 

for a serving governor, 

Ajumobi and the 

Communication Minster, 

who are members of the 

ruling party to have 

political differences at a 

time they should be 

galvanising support for 

Buhari’s re- election bid. 

Kalu said: "I have 

reported this to the 

highest authority of the 

party that it is not proper 

for a governor and 

minister in Ibadan to go 

two parallel ways." 

Fuel hike: Imo monarch plans 

protest at NASS 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

O 

W E R R I — 

FOLLOWING 

reports of increase in pump 

price of petrol, a traditional 

ruler, Eze Desmond 

Ogugua of Eziudo in 

Ezinihitte Mbaise Local 

Government Area, in Imo 

State, said he would 

demonstrate against the 

increase to the national 

assembly. 

Ogugua who spoke at his 

palace yesterday, added 

that states should be 

allowed to establish 

refineries. 

He said: “Nigeria crying 

over shortage of fuel is 

unfortunate. Shame to the 

leadership. Why can’t 

states establish their own 

refineries? How can they 

think that three refineries 

can serve Nigeria with 

millions of people? 

“If the government is 

sincere, they should allow 

states to own their own 

refineries. I remember 

when David West was the 

minister of petroleum, he 

invited me to his office in 

Lagos. 

“I challenge the minister 

of petroleum and the 

NNPC to tell the country 

why we should have three 

refineries in Nigeria. I am 

begging President Buhari, 

the Senate President, 

Bukola Saraki and the 

Speaker of the House of 

Representatives, Yakubu 

Dogara to look into the 

petition I wrote to them. If 

not, I will lead a self protest 

to the National Assembly. 

“K. O. Mbadiwe, Chief A. 

K Hart, Obafemi Owolowo 

and myself Eze Desmond 

Ogugua,among others 

should be appreciated for 

letting this country know 

the secret of how many 

barrels of oil produced daily 

in Nigeria". 

The Imo monarch 

recalled that, “the people 

who worked for the interest 

of this country were not 

appreciated. It is on record 

that without us, Nigeria 

might not have established 

the NNPC." 

Delta Airline Incident: Foreign 

carriers must upgrade planes 

to Nigeria—Udeogaranya 

L 


FOLLOWING the 

crash-landing of Delta 

Airline's plane in Lagos last 

week, a chieftain of All 


APC, Chief Charles 

Udeogaranya has urged 

foreign airlines to upgrade 

their planes for Nigerian 

operation. 

According to him in a 

statement yesterday: “I 

sincerely sympathise with 

the victims of Delta Airline's 

unfortunate air mishap that 

left five persons injured as 

purportedly reported. 

“I compel President 

Buhari to issue a directive 

to his aviation minister to 

ensure that all airlines 

flying into and from Nigeria 

must upgrade their planes 

to the same grade of planes 

they use in their cross 

Atlantic flights. 

“As government that was 

mandated by her 

constitution to cater for the 

security and welfare of her 

citizens, the Delta Airline 

incident was a fore warning 

of what will happen if 

proactive action is not taken 

now. 

“It is unfortunate that 

these airlines charge 

Nigerians higher than 

citizens of western nations 

and at the same time, offer 

Nigerians rickety and 

outdated planes and when 

incidents occur as a result 

of the airline's fault, they will 

not offer Nigerian 

passengers fair and 

acceptable treatment. They 

treat western nationals 

better. This to me is a 

m o n u m e n t a l 

discrimination and must 

not be allowed to continue.” 

Ekwerike appointed into Para 

Athletics Board 

US-based Nigerian 

Professor of Nuero Science, 

Alphonsus Ekwerike has 

been appointed as a federal 

board member of 

Ministry of Youth and 

Sports’ Para Athletics 

Federation of Nigeria. 

At the first official board 

meeting and election held 

at the National Indoor 

Stadium,Abuja, 

Prof.Alphonsus Ekwerike 

gave an insight to what the 

new board would focus 

on. He said they will 

create equal opportunities 

for the disabled to excel in 

mental and physical 

challenges and in turn, 

bring honours to this 

country. 

According to him, “the 

new board will make sure 

Nigerian paralympics 

participate more in many 

national and international 

sports 

and 

games,especially the 

olympics henceforth and 

are treated well as they train 

and compete.”



Lack of electric power grounds Awoyaya 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

FOR years now, 

residents of Awoyaya 

in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, have 

struggled with the effects of 

epileptic power supply 

caused by a bad 

transformer, in spite of 

several entreaties to Eko 

Electricity Distribution 

Company, EKEDC. 

Consequently, economic 

and social activities in the 

area have been grounded, 

as several small and 

•Be calm, Eko Electric begs residents 

medium scale businesses 

have closed shop. 

A resident, Madam 

Folashade Ogunwusi, 

expressed her frustration to 

Vanguard: “What these 

people are doing to us is 

unfair. The transformer in 

question has been serving 

this area for a very long 

time, when about 20 

percent of the present 

population lived here. 

“What we need is a 

replacement, because each 

time they come to repair the 

transformer, it normally 

does not work for more than 

two days. I had to shut down 

my hair dressing saloon 

business, when I could no 

longer cope with using 

generator to run the shop.” 

Another resident, 

Ugochukwu Nzube, said 

Power Holdings Company 

of Nigeria, PHCN, was 

making arrangements to 

change the transformer 

before it was privatised. 

His words: “Since then, 

we have heard nothing 

about the planned 

replacement. Nobody is 

talking to us. They are 

actually expecting us to 

buy the transformer for 

them. But that cannot 

happen.” 

Reacting, the General 

Manager, Corporate 

Communications, 

EKEDC, Godwin 

Idemudia, appealed to the 

residents to be calm. 

He said the company is 

putting in place structures 

to tackle the problem. 

ECOBANK: From left— Head, Commercial Banking, Rotimi Morohunfola; Head, Treasury, Ayo 

Babatunde; ED, Corporate Banking, Akin Dada; MD, Charles Kie; Acting Chief Financial Officer, Abiola 

Aderinola, and Acting Head, Business Services, Tayo Yusuf, all of Ecobank Nigeria, during the flagging 

off of Ecobank Graduate and Development Programme in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Lamidi Bamidele. 

PDP accuses Bello of wasting N2bn on rally 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA—THE Peoples 


has described last 

Saturday’s mega rally 

organised by Governor 

Yahaya Bello of Kogi State 

in Lokoja as a colossal 

waste of the state’s frugal 

resources, alleging that the 

governor wasted N2 billion 

on the exercise, at a time it 

owed 22 months arrears in 

salaries and pensions. 

However, in swift 

reaction, Governor Bello 

dismissed the allegation, 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—A 

Makurdi Chief 

Magistrate's Court, 

presided over by Justice 

Dennis Ingya, yesterday, 

fixed March 15 for ruling 

in the forgery case 

preferred against the Public 

Complaints Commissioner 

in charge of Benue State, 

Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, and 

his Personal Assistant, 

Torkuma Uker, by Benue 

State government. 

They were accused of 

forging government 

documents which they 

relied on in writing 

•Gov denies allegation, says PDP’s lazy, uncoordinated 

saying PDP is merely 

ranting, having suddenly 

realised it had lost the state 

for good, describing its style 

of opposition as lazy and 

uncoordinated. 

Kogi State PDP Director 

of Research and 

Documentation, Achadu 

Dickson, in a statement 

yesterday, said: “Spending 

a whopping N2 billion tax 

payers’ fund to organise a 

rally that is of no 

significance to the lives and 

well-being of Kogi people 

is disheartening and a 

petitions against Governor 

Samuel Ortom and his 

administration. 

At the hearing, counsel to 

the defendants, Mr. 

Anthony Agadah, informed 

the court that the several 

sections of the pleadings in 

the fundamental right 

action pending before a 

Makurdi Federal High 

Court and the case of 

injurious falsehood also 

pending before a Makurdi 

Magistrate's Court against 

the first defendant (Alhaji 

Tsav) were replicated in the 

case before the court. 

He said: “Our submission 

is that the court has the 

powers to check the abuse. 

What we have here is a 

glaring show of man’s 

inhumanity to man. 

“We wonder why 

Governor Bello would dole 

out N750,000 per polling 

unit in mobilisation, while 

council administrators 

were also directed to 

mobilise 500 persons at 

N5,000 per person, when 

the Independent National 


INEC, has not announced 

the commencement of 

political activities.” 

The party said it was 

worrisome that a governor 

March 15 for ruling on Abubakar Tsav's 

forgery case 

multiplicity of actions, 

which amounts to an abuse 

of court processes and the 

only remedy is a strike out.” 

But counsel to the state 

government, Mr. Andrew 

Wombo, accused defence 

counsel of misleading the 

court, insisting that the 

substances of the two cases 

pending before the Federal 

High Court and 

Magistrate's Court were 

completely different from 

the matter before the court. 

Justice Ingya granted bail 

to Alhaji Tsav on grounds 

of self-recognition, while 

his aide, Torkuma Uker, was 

granted N500,000 bail, 

with a surety who must be 

a top civil servant. 

who was planning to sell 

off state assets to fund 2018 

budget could hire a private 

jet for the APC National 

Chairman to attend “the 

cash-and-carry jamboree.” 

The party also accused 

the governor of diverting 

January and February local 

government councils’ 

allocation to fund the 

jamboree in Lokoja. 

Gov Bello reacts 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Bello said, yesterday, that 

he didn’t spend N2 billion 

on the rally. 

Bello, who reacted 

through his Director 

General, Media and 

Publicity, Fanwo Kingsley, 

said: “What PDP is afraid 

of telling the world is that 

they have lost the state 

forever. 

“We had over 100,000 

people who couldn’t even 

access the stadium. The 

issue of rented crowd is an 

insult to the pride of Kogi 

people. 

“We didn’t campaign. 

We brought our people 

together to play an 

important role in inviting 


Buhari to continue beyond 

2019. When he accepts 

our call, we shall follow 

INEC’s guidelines on 

campaign.” 

Video of underage voting 

belongs to INEC—Kano Govt 

By AbdulSalam 

Muhammad 

KANO 

state 

Government, 

yesterday, declared that 

the controversial video of 

under-aged voters in 

Kano belongs to the 

Independent National 


INEC. 

Speaking at the second 

Nigerian Union of 

Journalists, NUJ, 

National Conference in 

Kano, holding on the 

theme Hate Speech: 

Halting the Tide Before 

it's Too Late, government’s 

spokesperson 

and Commissioner for 

Information, Alhaji 

By Marie- 

Therese Nanlong 

JOS—EFFORTS to 

revamp the mining 

and steel sub-sector has 

received a boost as the 

National Metallurgical 

Development Centre has 

sought partnership with 

a Malaysian smelting 

firm on research and 


Engineer Emmanuel 

Mbaya, Acting Director- 

General and Chief 

Executive Officer of the 

Centre, said the 

partnership is specifically 

to upgrade the Centre’s 

equipment and 

machines as well as build 

By Oboh 

Agbonkhese 

THE Senior Pastor of 

Praise Arena- 

Kingdom Light Christian 

Centre, Pastor Jummy 

Adetoyese-Olagunju, 

has said: “Christianity is 

not just a religion but a 

way of life, practical 

application of Bible 

principles on daily basis 

and how it connects to 

the way every individual 

is expected to behave in 

the society.” 

He spoke during the 

graduation thanksgiving 

of Barrister Adesola 

Ajayi, a visuallyimpaired 

attorney and 

one of the many 

beneficiaries of the 

church’s scholarship 

programme, who 

graduated from Law 

School last December. 

Pastor Adetoyese- 

Olagunju appealed to 

well-meaning 

Muhammad Garba, said 

the video was shot on 

March 30, 2015. 

His words: “The council 

poll in Kano was 

adjudged the freest in the 

history of council polls in 

Nigeria by both local and 

international observers. I 

make bold to say that the 

controversial video belongs 

to INEC. 

“The viral video 

contained scenes where 

INEC card readers were 

deployed and nothing of 

such was used in the last 

council poll in Kano.” 

The former President of 

NUJ, however, expressed 

happiness that INEC has 

seized the gauntlet to 

investigate the matter. 

Metallurgical Centre 

partners Malaysian firm 

the capacity of staff to 

operate the upgraded 

equipment. 

Vanguard gathered that 

representatives of the 

Malaysian company, those 

of the Nigerian Tin 

Corporation and the 

Ministry of Mines and 

Steel Development have 

paid a working visit to the 

Centre in Jos, to assess the 

state of its facilities. 

Leader of the Malaysian 

delegation, Dato Lee 

Chung Han, expressed 

happiness with the calibre 

of facilities at the Centre, 

saying he was hopeful that 

the anticipated partnership 

will be rewarding to both 

countries. 

Cleric makes case for 

indigents, tasks Christians 

individuals, organisations, 

parastatal and government 

institutions to provide 

employment opportunity 

to the disabled and 

physically-challenged, but 

qualified people, such as 

Adesola Ajayi. 

While appreciating the 

Church and Pastor 

Adetoyese-Olagunju in 

particular, Mr. Ajayi said 

when he went blind life 

became unbearable until 

he reached out to Pastor 

Adetoyese-Olagunju 

“through his Kingdom Life 

Family programme on Eko 

FM.” 

Ajayi, who said he read 

law “so I can be a voice for 

the voiceless, defenseless 

and the vulnerable people 

in the society,” thanked 

Lagos State Government 

for enacting the Special 

People’s Law, 2011, aimed 

at protecting the rights of 

people living with 

disabilities, but noted that 

the enforcement is poor.


Africa is the ‘New 

Branding Frontier’ 

Gary Harwood’s’ voice is very loud and clear 

throughout Africa’s world of branding and design. As 

one of the leading advocates for the role of branding 

and design in the beneficiation of the Africa’s raw 

materials, he has helped to redefine the craft of 

branding and design and is very well known as one 

of the founders of HKLM, Africa’s leading brand 

agency with representation in South Africa, Nigeria, 

Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana and Swaziland. 

In the competitive industry of branding and design, 

where it can be difficult to establish a name brand, 

HKLM have managed to cut through the clutter and 

gain international prestige. Their roster of clients, 

impressive portfolio of work, prominence in local 

markets and international reach have indeed made 

them the major branding and design agency on the 

continent. HKLM was berthed in 2003 and is run by 

four partners-all of whom are leaders in the branding 

and design industry. HKLM sits on the spectrum of 

the African continent (the world's most exciting and 

challenging market) concentrating on building 

mega brands. The agency is constantly interested in 

projects that presents significant challenge, 

somewhere where it can really make a difference. In 

their own words, they succintly assert: “If you can 

build a brand in Africa, you can build a brand 

anywhere in the world”. 

What is your 

background, and 

when/how did 

you decide to start HKLM? 

I studied Information 

Design in Johannesburg and 

landed up working for South 

Africa’s most prominent 

branding and design agency 

at the time called Pentagraph. 

That company was 

subsequently bought by a big 

international branding and 

design agency called 

Enterprise IG. By that time we 

were working across Africa, 

the Middle East, Europe and 

Australia. I was Executive 

Creative Director of 

Enterprise IG Africa and 

Middle East.Fifteen years ago 

my colleague Dr Sean McCoy 

and myself were working on 

a project in Nigeria and after 

a taxing day were relaxing at 

the bar at the Eko Hotels on 

Victoria Island. As the Star 

beers slipped away one thing 

led to another and we got 

talking about starting our own 

Branding and Design agency 

that would focus specifically 

on building brands in Africa – 

and that is how HKLM was 

born. 

What does HKLM mean? 

Sean and I invited two fellow 

directors who were working 

with us at Enterprise IG at the 

time to join us. Paul Kirsten 

is an Accountant and Graham 

Leigh is an Architect. In the 

beginning we had no clients 

but all of us were fairly well 

known in the industry so we 

named the company after 

ourselves -–Harwood, Kirsten, 

Leigh, McCoy. We came up 

with the tag line ‘New Brand 

Thinking’ and we therefore 

used a ‘thought bubble’ as our 

logo with the acronym ‘HKLM’ 

inside the thought bubble. The 

intention was always to drop the 

full name ‘Harwood, Kirsten, 

Leigh, McCoy’ once we were 

up and running and when the 

company had built up its own 

reputation.Color is a vital part 

of a brand and we selected 

orange as the HKLM colour. 

It was unique in our industry 

at the time and it signified a 

bright optimistic future and 

positive energy. 

What is the branding and 

design (B&D) process like at 

HKLM? 

We have developed a 

process called ‘Brand 

Advantage’. This process 

revolves around three key 

stages and we use this process 

for each and every project no 

matter how big or small. The 

three stages are Strategy, 

Creativity 

and 

Implementation. We see many 

projects where the Creativity 

was beautiful and everything 

was meticulously 

implemented – however the 

strategy was ill considered 

and the end result was not 

optimal and money was 

wasted. Skip out one of the 

three steps and you are bound 

to fail. 

How do you work through 

big problems using the craft 

of B&D thinking to create a 

GARY HARWOOD 

Founder/Director, HKLM 

solution for clients? 

We follow our Brand 

Advantage process and we 

begin with brainstorming 

sessions. In these sessions we 

bring in a very diverse mix of 

people. Diverse disciplines 

like designers, strategists, 

architects and digital guys. We 

also ensure a mix of age, race 

and gender – juniors and 

seniors. In these sessions 

everyone has their say and no 

one is wrong. These highly 

diverse multi-disciplinary 

sessions produce a starling 

array of incredible ideas. 

Branding and 

design is going 

to play a 

massive role in 

helping Africa 

reach its full 

economic 

potential 

These ideas are then filtered 

by a much smaller team – 

usually the Creative Director 

and the Head of Strategy. 

This refined set of ideas is 

then worked on and fine-tuned 

before sharing them with our 

client. The interaction with all 

of our clients is very interactive 

and many solutions are often 

co created between HKLM 

and our clients. 

South Africa has a very rich 

history with B&D, what does 

being based there contribute 

to HKLM’s work aesthetic? 

South Africa has some very 

good branding and design 

schools and universities and 

we are fortunate to therefore 

have a constant stream of 

talented youngsters coming 

into the industry. HKLM 

encourages students to do 

internships with us and we 

have subsequently employed 

many of those interns.South 

Africa is also a very diverse 

multi-cultural environment 

which positions South 

Africans well in terms of being 

able to deliver Branding & 

Design solutions across our 

incredibly diverse continent. 

Branding and design seem 

to be in a phase where people 

are more aware of it and even 

celebrating it. So, looking 

to the future. What’s the next 

step for design? 

I really do believe that Africa 

is the ‘New Branding 

Frontier’. Branding and 

design is going to play a 

massive role in helping Africa 

reach its full economic 

potential. Branding and 

design is going to play a 

massive role in beneficiation 

of Africa’s raw materials. 

Africans are the most creative 

people on the planet and as 

we see that energy channelled 

into meaningful projects we 

are going to experience 

massive change. 

Who are some of the clients 

you’ve worked with? 

We work with a vast array of 

clients in many industry 

sectors and countries. An 

example of some of our clients 

are: Glo, Conoil, FCMB, 

Eunicel and Natures Gentle 

Touch in Nigeria. Anglo 

American, Nedbank, Exxaro, 

University of Johannesburg 

and Internet Solutions in 

South Africa. Mcel, Hydra 

CahoraBassa and Karingani 

in Mozambique. Singita in 

Tanzania, Zimbabwe and 

South Africa. Bank of 

Abyssinia in Ethiopia.Gamma 

Civic and Mauritius Union in 

Mauritius.Roche in 

Switzerland. 

What are you most proud 

of in recent years in terms of 

work? 

Each project is unique and 

each project has aspects that 

make us very proud. An 

example would be assisting 

Singita in positioning itself as 

Africa’s foremost conservation 

company rather than just a 

luxury safari company. 

Another example would be 

assisting in the creation of the 

Glo brand and helping 

position Glo as a proudly 

Nigerian company that 

celebrates and supports 

Nigerian culture, sport and 

the arts. 

Getting to work on the GLO 

brand is quite a gig. How did 

you end up helping Dr. Mike 

Adenuga to design the logo 

for his telecoms company, 

GLO? 

Dr Adenuga sent a 

delegation to South Africa to 

find a branding and design 

agency to assist with the 

branding and design of his 

new telecommunications 

company. The delegation 

found us and invited us to 

come up to Nigeria to meet 

with him and the rest they say 

is history. 

What aspect of working 

with GLO has impressed you 

the most? 

The incredibly fast pace at 

which everything moves and 

the boldness and courage of 

the brand to innovate and try 

new things. 

What were the elements 

that were important to you 

to convey on that job? 

At the time Glo was the only 

wholly owned Nigerian 

telecommunications company 

and it was important to 

communicate this in all that 

we did and position Glo as a 

proudly Nigerian company. 

From representing Nigeria’s 

green and white National 

colours in the logo to the use 

of Nigerian ambassadors in all 

of its communication. 

You are also known to 

produce a variety of design 

work for Dr.Adenuga. How 

design savvy is he? 

He is extremely design 

savvy and challenging, he 

knows what he wants and he 

always pushes us to go the 

extra mile. 

Ok now, spill the beans: 

What’s it like having Dr. 

Mike Adenuga as a client? 

It’s fantastic. He keeps us 

on our toes and is a true 

inspiration to work with. His 

energy is infectious.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 —37 

I don’t deserve 

grand children 

— Richard Mofe Damijo 

BY ROTIMI AGBANA 

With the pressures, wants and 

challenges of life, it won’t be 

surprising for people to forget to 

appreciate the grace of God in their lives, but 

such is not the case with effervescent 

Nollywood actor, Richard Mofe Damijo, 

fondly known as RMD. 

According to the one time Delta State 

commissioner for culture and tourism, he is 

more than thankful to God because he does 

not deserve to have grandchildren, a reason 

he has decided to focus more on them. 

“With the pressures of life, it’s easy to forget 

the blessings and focus on the problems, so 

I want to forget about the killings and unrest 

around Nigeria, the fuel situation, the 

terrible light situation, the 

horrendous Lagos traffic 

and focus on my precious 

grand babies who l am 

undeserving of but for 

God’s gracious mercies”, 

he said. 

He added that people 

should focus more on 

God’s blessing rather 

than on their problems. 

“Today as the new week 

begins, I challenge you 

to stop elevating the 

problems and focus on 

the blessings. What is 

that blessing you are 

thankful for, share it with 

the world.” 

Agatha Amata tackles 

relationship problems 

in ‘Disguise’ 


All is set for the premier of 

Agatha Amata’ first self 

produced movie titled ‘Disguise’. 

The movie which attempts to 

unravel the major causes of 

marriage crash and relationship 

failure will premiere amid pomp 

come March 3, 2018. 

Directed by Desmond Elliot 

and produced by Agatha Amata, 

‘Disguise’ paints an imaginative 

picture of women’s relationship 

requirements but fails to proffer 

a solution because of the complex 

nature of women. 

The suspense filled movie features IK 

Ogbonna, Nancy Isime, Chiagoziem 

Nwakanma, Stephen Daniel and 

others. 

In a chat with e-daily, Agatha 

revealed that few weeks into the movie 

shoot, funds from the Bank of Industry 

were exhausted weeks. She explained 

the idea behind the message in the 

movie. 

“I like the fact that we were able to 

write the story without putting the 

blame on any gender and sending out 

the message that we all have our wants 

and our needs. The key is to listen to 

your partner, communicate with them 

because it is not a one size fits all 

approach.” 

•Agatha Amata 

•RMD 

•Mr. 2Kay 

I will be greater than 

Mandela, Mr. 2Kay 

boasts 


In recent times popular Nigerian 

singer, Mr. 2Kay has been 

romancing news headlines for the wrong 

reasons, but this time it is for good. 

Celebrating his recent musical 

achievement, the ‘In the Morning’ 

crooner who has released a new album 

titled ‘Elevated’ boasts that he would be 

more successful, celebrated and famous 

than former South African president, Late 

Nelson Mandela. 

He said, “I will be greater than the late 

Nelson Mandela; Elevated album is too 

hot, check it out for yourself.” 

Mr. 2Kay who has since resumed his 

music business after recovering from a 

robbery attack in his hotel room after 

performing at a popular concert in Lagos, 

is on a conscious mission to take his 

music craft top the next level as he is 

stopping at nothing to rise to the top like 

Wizkid, Davido, others. 

•Khloe and Kbrule 

BBNAIJA Week4: 

Four housemates evicted, two 

disqualified 

By Adetutu Adesoji 

The Big Brother Naija 2018 ‘Double Wahala’ themed reality 

TV show saw mixed emotions of sadness and 

disappointment on Sunday, as four housemates were evicted 

while two others were disqualified. 

Few hours before the live eviction show, the unique pair of 

Khloe and Kbrule (Ksquare) was disqualified from the game 

for breaking the big brother house rules. The pair who were 

used to getting into petty fights with each other were involved in 

an altercation on Saturday after the house party, which led to 

abusive verbal exchange from both party, an occurrence which 

is totally against the big brother house rules. 

Recall that the pair got their first strike from big brother 

during the first live eviction show after Kbrule violated a rule 

in the house by sustaining a self inflicted injury. The second 

strike came after Khloe got into a heated fight with fellow 

housemate Alex, while the pair was served their third 

strike which led to their disqualification when Kbrule 

attempted to violently attack housemate, Dee One. 

During the live eviction show hosted by Ebuka Obi 

Uchendu, the pairs of Pritto (Princess and Bitto) and 

Vandee (Vandora and Dee One) became the first sets of 

housemates to be evicted from the show for not 

garnering enough votes to keep them running 

in the game. 

After an exhilarating performance by 

Oritsefemi, Ebuka announced the eviction 

of Princess and Bitto and later on in the show 

Vandora and Dee One’s quest for the 

45million naira grand price came to an 

end. 

However the pairs of Mina (Miracle and 

Nina) with a total of 28.5% votes, 

Bamteddy (Bambam and Teddy A) with 

21.6%, Loto (Lolu and Anto) with 15.2%, 

Cebi (Ceec and Tobi) with 13.5%, Rineeka 

(Ricco and Ahneeka) with 11.6% and 

AngelIfu (Angel and Ifu Ennada) with 

3.99% votes were saved from eviction. 

Bobby Benson resurrects 

at MUSON alumni 

valentine concert 


In a night filled with soulful ballads 

and scintillating dance performances, 

the alumni of the MTN Foundation 

MUSON Scholarship programme 

enacted ‘a celebration of love’ at the 

Shell Recital Hall of MUSON Centre 

in Lagos. 

Displaying uncommon musical skills, 

the musical scholars effortlessly 

switched from one musical genre to 

another. From haunting renditions of 

Yanni’s ‘Nightingale’ and a Disney 

Moments’ medley performed by Irede 

Adegoke and Salome Nmesoma, to 

sing-along inspiring performances of 

Cobhams Asuquo’s hit song ‘Empty’, 

and Bobby Benson’s classic ‘Taxi 

Driver’, by Osewa David Olawale and 

Imoleayo Balogun, the evening 

delivered enthralling sensory 

experiences. 

Mrs. Marion Akpata, Director of the 

MUSON School of Music, praised the 

performance saying, “We are grateful 

to the MTN Foundation for making this 

possible and are very proud of our 

alumni for putting up such a beautiful 

show. Their achievements and creativity 

consistently exceed our expectations. 

We look forward to watching them 

conquer the world and perhaps return 

to us to help others achieve the same 

dream here at the MUSON School of 

Music.”

38— Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

By Elizabeth 

Uwandu 

Chieftain of 

NEWS HOTLINES: 

08052867023, 08052867058 

Imo APC crisis: Ezediaro sues for 

peace 

OGUTA—A All Progressive 

Congress, APC in Imo state 

and former Legal Adviser 

and Public Relations 

Manager to Texaco 

Overseas Nig. Ltd, Sir Sam 

Ezediaro has called on all 

warring factions within the 

party in the State to close 

ranks and come together as 

a united force in the overall 

interest of the party ahead 

of 2019 general election. 

Ezediaro made the call 

when leaders of APC in 

Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta 

LGAs paid him a solidarity 

visit at his country home in 

Oguta. 

He said the party may 

appear badly divided in the 

state due to conflict of 

interest of aspirants, the 

situation was not 

irredeemable because 

conflict is normal in every 

Old students decry dilapidated 

infrastructure at Nshagu College 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—OLD students 

of Nshagu College, 

Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha 

North Local Government 

Area, Delta State, class of 

1978, have lamented the 

encroachment on the 

school's land and 

vandalization of its 

structures by residents of the 

community. 

Speaking during a 

courtesy call on the 

Principal and inspection 

tour of the school, 

Acting National Chairman 

of the 78's old boys and 

girls, Mr Austin 

Ikenye, decried the 

dilapidated standard of 

infrastructure in the school. 

Blaming the 

encroachment and 

vandalization of the school's 

property on the lack of 

perimeter fencing, 

he directed the principal to 

write to the ministries of 

Lands and Survey, and 

education to get the survey 

plans of the school in order 

to look into the issue of 

fencing off the school 

property. 

"We are here to listen to 

you, and see the things the 

way they are. We are not 

democracy. 

The APC stalwart 

maintained that what the 

party required was a little 

bit of tolerance and 

accommodation by party 

stalwarts that will open the 

way for dialogue to enable 

all parties broker a truce that 

will position the party for 

landslide victory at the 2019 

polls. 

He called on cessation of 

hostilities among 

supporters of different 

opposing camps within the 

party in Imo state to enable 

them to be formidable and 

coast home with victory in 

the coming 2019 general 

elections. 

‘‘I wish to call for cessation 

of hostilities among 

supporters of different 

opposing camps within the 

Imo State APC. The party 

appears badly divided 

today due to conflicting 

interests of aspirants. This 

is understandable in a 

here to make promises. We 

are here to pray. We 

remember the hostels, we 

remember the tennis and 

handball courts. We 

remember the junior and 

senior football fields. We 

will inspect the school. 

There is no person whose 

democracy. 

‘‘We must not allow the 

division within the party to 

linger and weaken our 

chances of coasting to 

victory at the polls. In this 

regard I will be very willing 

to be part of any scheme 

that will unite the divided 

party for the good of all. As 

an expert in conflict 

resolution I will be willing 

to avail our great party of 

my expertise in leveraging 

for a strong, united and 

cohesive party not only in 

Imo State but across the 

entire Nation. 

‘‘The ambivalence of 

leaders on the protracted 

intra party squabbles has 

only exacerbated matters 

and deepened the rift.’’ 

According to Ezediaro, a 

little bit of tolerance and 

accommodation by party 

stalwarts will open the way 

for dialogue to enable us 

broker a truce that will 

position the party for 

landslide victory at the 2019 

polls. 

house falls, who will be 

happy," he said. 

On her part, the 

Principal, Mrs Nemkpen 

Owoloja, thanked the old 

students for their concern, 

describing their visit as a 

prayer answered.


40—Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

LETTER TO BUHARI: Obasanjo ought 

to be on trial —SENATOR ADAMU 

By Henry Umoru 

A 

B U J A — 

CHAIRMAN, 

Northern Senators Forum, 

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, 

APC, Nasarawa West, 

yesterday, took a swipe at 

former President Olusegun 

Obasanjo for writing and 

criticizing President 


saying the former 

President ought to be on 

trial for his activities while 

in office. 

Addressing journalists, 

yesterday in Abuja, 

Senator Adamu, however, 

said he agreed with the 

position of Obasanjo that 

the anti-corruption war, as 

currently being prosecuted, 

was selective. 

He stressed that he was 

enjoying such benefits, 

going by what he 

described as Obasanjo’s 

actions while in 

government from 1999 to 

2007. 

Senator Adamu said: 

“Chief Obasanjo said 

President Buhari is 

selective in his anticorruption 

war. I agree with 

him because if the President 

were not selective, Chief 

Obasanjo himself would be 

in the dock today on trial 

on charges arising from the 

pursuit of his third term 

gambit in the National 

Assembly in 2006. 

“He (Obasanjo) knows 

as well as I and other 

leading members of the 

PDP that he badly wanted 

it and initiated the process 

of constitutional 

amendment. He influenced 

each member of the 

National Assembly who 

signed to support the 

amendment." 

He alleged that Obasanjo 

gave money to members of 

the then National Assembly 

to pursue his third term bid. 

He said: “The money was 

not his, and it was not 

appropriated by the 

National Assembly as 

required by law. I, 

therefore, agree that in 

failing to make former 

President Obasanjo 

account for the money, 

President Buhari is waging 

his anti-corruption war 

selectively. 

“Should we forget that 

President Buhari has also 

not bothered to interrogate 

Obasanjo’s role in the 

Halliburton scandal for 

which some Americans are 

cooling their heels in jail? 

Perhaps President Buhari 

might wish to look in the 

Siemens affairs in which 

Obasanjo’s administration 

was indicted.” 

Buhari inherited 

unsteady economy 

The former governor of 

Nasarawa State, who also 

picked holes in Obasanjo’s 

low marks for Buhari’s 

NAIRA WATCH 

CBN injects $210m as naira 

appreciates to N360.28/$ 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday injected 

$210 million into the foreign exchange market even as 

the Naira appreciated by 8 kobo to N360.28 per dollar in 

the Investors’ and Exporters’ (I&E) window. 

Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department 

(CCD), CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor confirmed the injection 

saying: “The CBN offered $100million to authorized 

dealers in the wholesale segment of the market, while 

the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment got 

the sum of $55 million. According to figures obtained 

from the Bank on Monday, February 19 2018. Customers 

in need of foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition 

fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), 

among others, were also allocated the sum of $55 million. 

Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) 

showed that the indicative exchange rate for the I&E 

window known as Nigerian Autonomous Foreign 

Exchange, NAFEX, dropped to N360.28 per dollar, 

yesterday, from N360.36 per dollar recorded last week 

Friday, indicating an 8 kobo appreciation of the naira. 

Meanwhile, the volume of dollars traded in the I&E 

window yesterday stood at $181.01 million; even as naira 

remained stable at N363 per dollar yesterday, in the 

parallel market. 

government on economy 

and security, declared that 

Buhari inherited most of the 

problems afflicting the 

nation from the two areas. 

He said further: “Every 

administration grapples 

with problems thrown at it 

by circumstances beyond 

its control. President 

Buhari inherited an 

economy that was 

unsteady on its feet. 

“He also inherited the 

security problems such as 

Boko Haram, armed 

robberies and kidnappings. 

Yes, I agree that under his 

watch these problems 

should grow less, not more. 

But the solution to problems 

such as these, is a slow and 

agonising process since he 

has no powers to simply 

make them disappear over 

night." 

I paid DSS men, others 

N1m to bring in 661 rifles 


between N20, 000, N25, 

000, and N30, 000; the two 

gates — N200,000; Exit 

gate, N20,000, and final 

gate N50,000.” 

Mamudu also told the 

investigators in the video 

that he first agreed with the 

importer of the guns for 

N3.8 million, when he was 

first told that the consignments 

were steel doors, but 

raised the cost of clearing 

the consignment to N4 million, 

when he was told that 

the consignment included 

661 pump action guns. 

The video recording was 

admitted in evidence, while 

further hearing continues 

today. 

It will be recalled that the 

Nigeria Customs Service 

had on June 14, 2017, arraigned 

two Customs officers, 

Mamudu Hassan 

and Salisu Danjuma, 

alongside Oscar Orkafor, 

Donatus Achinulo and 

Matthew Okoye, before 

Justice Ayotunde Faji on 

charges of illegal importation 

of fire arms, conspiracy, 

forgery and altering of 

documents, offering of graft 

to government officials and 

importation of prohibited 

goods. 

They were arrested January 

30, 2017. 

The offences, according to 

the prosecutor, Mr. Julius 

Ajakaiye, are contrary to 

and punishable under Sections 

3(6),1(14)(a)(I) 1(2) of 

the Miscellaneous Offences 

Act, Cap. M17, Laws of 

the Federation of Nigeria, 

2004, and Section 98(1) (b) 

of the Criminal Code Act. 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation, AGF in charge 

number FHC/L/190c/17, 

alleged that all the accused 

persons conspired with 

one another to illegally import 

into Nigeria 661 Pump 

Action Rifles. 

They were also alleged to 

have forged the documents 

which include: two Bills of 

Lading, one reads ‘Shanghai 

China,’ as Port of Loading, 

instead of ‘Istanbul.’ 

One of the counts reads: 

‘Steel Doors’, as the contents 

of the container instead 

of Customs’ Form M, 

Pre-Arrival Assessment 

Report (PAAR) used in 

smuggling the said 661 rifles 

into the country. 

In particular, one of the 

Customs officials, Mamudu 

Hassan, was alleged to 

have corruptly offered the 

sum of N400,000 to one 

Aliu Musa, the Examination 

Officer of the Federal 

Operations Unit of the Customs 

Service with intent to 

prevent one hundred percent 

search on a container 

marked PONU 825914/3, 

which was used in bringing 

the arms into the country. 

He was also alleged to 

have corruptly given the 

sum of N1 million to government 

officials at Apapa 

Ports through his colleague, 

Danjuma Abdulahi, in order 

to prevent the searching of the 

said container used in bringing 

in the 661 illegally imported 

Pump Action rifles. 

FG to dispose all unclaimed looted 

assets—Buhari 

K ATSINA— 

PRESIDENT 


yesterday, said all 

unclaimed looted assets 

including landed 

property recovered by 

the 

Federal 

Government would be 

sold and the proceeds 

deposited into 

government treasury. 

The President made 

this known when he 

addressed members of 

Daura Emirate coalition 

who paid him a 

condolence visit at his 

country home, Daura, 

Katsina State. 

President Buhari 

noted that many 

suspected looters of 

government resources 

had been denying 

ownership of their illgotten 

property and 

assets across the 

country. 

He stated that he was 

not surprised by the 

increasing number of 

those denying 

ownership or 

disclaiming the 

property traced to them 

by the various anticorruption 

agencies. 

“Some years back one 

of my schoolmates in 

the primary school, who 

worked at a cottage 

company before his 

demise predicted that 

we would come to a 

situation when looters 

would deny their loots 

in Nigeria. 

“So, there are civil 

servants, who have 10 

houses in Abuja and 

even in Kaduna and 

abroad, the more you 

show them the property 

the more they will 

swear that they do not 

belong to them. 

“And we are still 

following the process, 

you know democracy 

you have to follow due 

process and respect the 

rule of law. 

“If you are following, 

you will hear that some 

of these looters were 

arrested, and for those 

who deny their loots, 

then instead of what 

happened before, this 

time around we will sell 

those stolen property 

and the proceeds will 

be deposited in 

government treasury,” 

“If the money is in the 

government treasury I 

will see who will come 

back after we left and 

reclaim them,” he said. 

The president 

pledged that 

government would 

ensure availability of 

fertilizer and other farm 

inputs to farmers to 

sustain the successes 

recorded by the farmers 

in the previous farming 

seasons. 

He said: “Please tell 

Nigerians that we are 

trying our best, and I 

thank God, the rainy 

season is blossom, we 

will try to add more 

money to farmers, and 

ensure the availability of 

fertilizer and other farm 

inputs. 

“We will also continue 

TSA: Buhari govt saves 

N24.7bn monthly—FG 


ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government, 

yesterday, said it has 

continued to save up to 

N24.7 billion monthly as 

a result of Treasury Single 

Account, TSA, policy. 

The government also 

boasted that within the 

last two and half years in 

office, about N108 billion 

had been saved from 

removal of maintenance 

fees payable to banks 

before the advent of TSA. 

A professor of 

Economics from the 

Nassarawa State 

University, Uche 

Uwaleke, who gave an indepth 

assessment of the 

achievements of President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

administration, however, 

said the sudden and 

unexpected drop in crude 

oil price from a peak of 

$114.6-O/bbl in June 2014 

to under US$30] bbl by 

February 2016 created 

financial crises for the 


Prof. Uwaleke, while 

speaking yesterday, in 

Abuja at the week-long 

leadership training 

programme organised 

under the auspices of the 

National Committee of 

Buhari Support Groups, 

NCBSG, for its 

coordinators nationwide, 

said in spite of the 

dwindling economy, the 

Buhari led administration 

to reconstruct roads and 

railways and provide 

electricity and we 

promise we will 

continue to do so.” 

The leader of the 

coalition, Alhaji 

Muhammed Sale told 

the President that they 

were in his resident to 

condole with him over 

the death of his two 

relatives. 

has expended over N1.2 

trillion on capital/ 

infrastructure projects 

nationwide. 

According to him, 

“Effective implementation 

of the Treasury Single 

Account, entrenching 

transparency and 

accountability, N108 

billion has been saved 

from removal of 

maintenance fees payable 

to banks before TSA. 

“The nation is being 

saved N24.7 billion 

monthly with the full 

implementation of the 

TSA and implementation 

of the Bank Verification 

Number, BVN, thus 

tackling corruption by 

plugging loopholes for 

siphoning of public fund 

and tracking of illicit funds 

through multiple 

accounts 

He said further that the 

Buhari led administration 

has expended over N1.2 

trillion on capital/ 

infrastructure projects 

nationwide last year was 

a milestone in the nation’s 

history. 

He 

added, 

“Improvement in 

transport infrastructure, 

rail and road; construction 

work ongoing on the 

Lagos-lbadan 

Expressway, renovation of 

Abuja international 

Airport runway, 

completion of Abuja 

Kaduna Railway among 

others." 

Protest, as PDP kicks against 

imposition of LG caretaker c’ttee 

chair in Katsina 

By Bashir Bello 

K ATSINA—THERE 

was pandemonium in 

Batsari local government 

area of Katsina State 

yesterday, as protestters 

overran the area over 

alleged imposition of local 

government council 

caretaker committee 

chairman. 

This is coming as the 

opposition party, Peoples 


also kicked against the 

plan by the APC-led 

government of Governor 

Aminu Bello Masari to 

appoint caretaker 

committees to run the 

affairs of the local 

government areas in the 

state. 

A source in the area 

who pleaded anonymity, 

said several people were 

injured in the protest, 

while bonfire was set on 

major streets. 

According to the source, 

residents stayed indoors 

as the protests, which 

lasted several hours, 

spread round the area. 

The source said 

government had met with 

political stakeholders from 

the area and assured one 

Mannir Muazu that he 

would be made caretaker 

chairman.


The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, set up the Suicide Research & Prevention Initiative/Staff Emotional Care Services, 

SURPIN/SECS in response to increasing wave of suicide in the country. Inset is Dr.Raphael Ogbolu, Coordinator, LUTH SURPIN/SECS. 

Nigeria not on track to meet global suicide 

prevention goal — Psychiatrist 

. . 

No national suicide prevention strategy 

Suicide rate higher than regional African average 

By Sola Ogundipe & 

Chioma Obinna 

WORLDWIDE each year, 

over one million people or 

one person every 40 seconds, end 

their own lives while a further 10 

million attempt suicide annually 

according to the first global 

report on suicide prevention 

published by the World Health 

Organisation, WHO. 

Even as 75 percent of suicides 

occur in low- and middle-income 

countries, suicide is a prominent 

public health problem and 

Nigeria is ranked 12th among 

countries with the highest 

number of suicides in Africa, yet 

there is currently no national 

suicide prevention strategy in the 

country as recommended by the 

WHO. 

Findings by Good Health 

Weekly show that one of the keys 

to reducing death by suicide is 

commitment, according to the 

WHO, is commitment of national 

governments towards 

establishement and 

implementation of a coordinated 

multisectorial plan of action 

within education, employment, 

social welfare and judicial 

departments. 

But, Nigeria, with a suicide rate 

of 9.9 per 100,000, which is 

higher than the African regional 

average of 8.8 per 100, 000, is 

not measuring up to expectation 

in its suicide response plan. 

Currently, only 28 countries 

have national suicide prevention 

strategies, while 13 others are in 

the process of developing their 

own national strategies. 

The WHO’s Mental Health Gap 

Action Programme, launched in 

2008, includes suicide 

prevention as a priority and 

provides evidence-based 

technical guidance to expand 

service provision in countries. 

Similarly, under the WHO 

Mental Health Action Plan 2013- 

2020, Nigeria pledged with other 

member states to work towards 

the global target of reducing the 

suicide rate by 10 percent by 

2020. 

While prevention is an integral 

part of the plan, the goal is 

reducing the rate of suicide in all 

countries by 10 percent by 2020 . 

Statistics show that the global 

suicide rate has risen around 60 

per cent in the last 45 years and 

suicide is the leading cause of 

death in young people in many 

nations. 

For instance the Federal 

Neuro-Psychiatrist Hospital, 

Yaba, Lagos, witnessed a 111 per 

cent increase in overall patient 

attendance and 59 per cent 

increase in number of new 

patients from January – 

November 2016. 

In absolute figures, according 

to the data, there was an overall 

46 per cent increase in number 

of admissions in 2016 (867) 

compared to 594 in 2015, while 

the community clinic attendance 

went up from 1,793 to 3,510, a 95 

per cent increase. 

Findings however show that 

the majority of people with 

suicidal tendencies do not 

receive psychiatric help before 

taking their own lives 

The Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital, LUTH set up the 

Suicide Research & Prevention 

Initiative and Staff Emotional 

Care Services, SURPIN/SECS in 

response to the increasing spate 

of suicide in the country. 

Psychiatrists under the 

SURPIN platform expressed 

worry that over 90 percent of 

people who take their own lives 

were depressed even as they 

noted that suicide is a global 

phenomenon and a large public 

health problem shrouded in 

taboo for far too long. 

They agreed that suicide is a 

global phenomenon and a large 

public health problem which has 

been shrouded in taboo for far 

too long. 

Coordinator of the SURPIN, Dr. 

Raphael Ogbolu who is a 

specialist in Consultation-liaison 

Psychiatry/Emergency 

Psychiatry, regretted the 

absence of a national suicide 

prevention strategy even when 

While 

prevention 

is an 

integral part 

of the plan, 

the goal is 

reducing the 

rate of 

suicide in all 

countries by 

10 percent 

by 2020 

the law framed suicide as a 

crime. 

“Suicide is relatively a rare 

cause of death but it affects many 

people within the society and its 

influence can be extensive. 

“Depression contributes 1.5 

percent of deaths and major 

symptoms include; low or bad 

mood, loss of interests/ pleasure 

in previously pleasurable 

activities and loss of or reduced 

energy and increased 

fatigability.” 

According to Ogbolu, suicide 

is a global event with the World 

Health Organisation (WHO) 

reporting that up to one million 

people die by suicide every year, 

despite most cases not being 

reported. 

“Over 3 percent of people who 

commit suicide must have told 

somebody but people wave it 

aside.” 

Ogbolu who stated that suicide 

cases were on the rise in Nigeria 

with sharp increase from 6.2 per 

100,000 in 2012 to 9.9 per 

100,000 in 2015 linked most 

suicide attempt to depression, a 

mood disorder. 

He said LUTH developed the 

SURPIN/SECS programme to 

enhance efforts to help save lives 

and prevent death by suicide 

locally and nationally. 

Ogbolu noted that media 

coverage of suicide was 

significant influence on patterns 

and occurrences of suicide, 

adding that if well manage 

research has shown that 

journalists can help prevent 

suicidal behaviour beyond 

simply reducing the Werther 

effect. 

In the view of a consultant 

Psychiatrist and lecturer at the 

College of Medicine University 

of Lagos, CMUL who trailed the 

history of psychiatry listed some 

of the common mental disorders 

to include, schizophrenia, 

depression, obsessive 

compulsive disorder, antisocial 

personality disorder, drug 

dependence, substance abuse, 

ASD, attention deficit 

hyperactiver disorder etc. 

He said in Nigeria currently the 

number of mental illness due to 

drug abuse was currently on the 

increase even as he identified 

stigmatization due to several 

myths about mental health, policy 

makers and insurance 

companies often reluctant to pay 

for help as major challenges of 

the 21st century. 

Other challenges include; 

perception of the public about the 

mentally ill as being less 

competent, and as a result may 

avoid working, socializing, or 

interacting with such individuals 

Debunking the myths, 

Ogunubi said just as people 

with heart diseases can be 

treated, people with brain 

disorders can also be treated. 

“With proper treatment and a 

healthy lifestyle people with 

physical health diseases such as 

diabetes live a fulfilled lives so 

will a mental patient live a 

productive life if supported with 

treatment.” 

On the overview of scientific 

literature on media impacts, 

Assistant Director, Medical 

Social Services Department, 

LUTH, Miss Titi Tade said 

literature has indicted the media 

especially the electronic platform 

to have contributed a great deal 

in setting agenda for persons 

with suicidal traits. 

“Celebrity model and TV 

personality Kylie Jenner who just 

delivered her daughter a few 

days ago having gotten pregnant 

at 20 for Travis Scott was cited as 

an example for young people, as 

this occurrence can trigger the 

youths to pattern their lives and 

follow suite by getting pregnant 

as well since they follow these 

important personalities with 

passion. Celebrities who have 

ever been suicidal can share their 

experiences to encourage people 

on how they survived the 

challenge. By so doing they use 

their popularity to create positive 

impact on the society and not 

otherwise she said. 

In addition persons with 

suicidal signs do not just commit 

suicide, they usually leave some 

form of signal or message of any 

kind especially on their social 

media page. Therefore if at any 

time messages like these are 

seen, immediate action should 

be taken at providing some form 

of help by either reporting to the 

police or letting their loved ones 

know about it, or even words of 

encouragement instead of 

leaving negative comments on 

their timeline that can further 

trigger death. 

While suicide rates are highest 

in people aged 70 years and 

over, in developing countries, 

the highest rates are found 

among the young. Suicide is the 

second leading cause of death in 

15-29 year-olds globally.


Hope rekindles for breast 

cancer survivors 

...As C.O. 


CANCER may be the 

number one chronic 

human disease but many 

care givers are now 

devising simple ways of 

enabling cancer survivors 

live openly and think 

positively. 

An encounter with a 

group of cancer survivors 

who recounted 

testimonies of their 

challenges was quite 

graphic. 

It was the first 2018 

meeting of Breast Cancer 

Survivors Support Group of 

the Care. Organization. 

Public Enlightenment. 

C.O.P E. an organisation 

that provides free 

ultrasound screening for 

cancer survivors, creates 

awareness as well as gives 

hope to persons living with 

cancer. 

A few spoke about 

their challenges. Some in 

dire need of money to 

the tune of N500, 000 to 

keep accessing treatment 

are still waiting to hear 

from organisations that 

pledged to assist . 

The fate of several that 

require different 

laboratory tests hangs in 

the balance, as they await 

urgent intervention. For 

those that require 

prostheses, the current 

P.E launches Therapy Package 

foreign exchange has shot 

up the cost as a complete 

prosthetic bra is about 

N80,000 which is 

unaffordable for those 

requiring it. 

One survivor who tried 

to improvise with locally 

made materials said she 

regretted it. 

“I was feeling irritations 

and I went to the hospital 

for tests but they could 

not find anything. When I 

now placed the locally 

made prothesis on my 

breast it started 

happening again, the 

doctor recommended 

some antibiotics which 

resolved the problem. I 

thank God I am alive 

today.” 

According to another 

survivor: “As I speak now, 

I am in dire need of 

money for three lab tests 

now but there is no 

money. I have gone 

everywhere, no money. I 

have told God that this 

sickness will not kill me. 

“I went for my rountine 

check, I was asked to do 

three tests, CT scan, 

bone scan, and 

mammogram, I am still 

believing God for money. 

I almost gave up after the 

death of my partner but 

today I have summoned 

courage again,” 

As the testimonies 

continued, C.O.P.E 

unveiled what it tagged 

“Therapy package for 

breast cancer survivors.” 

The package which 

includes musical therapy is 

designed to calm 

survivors and make them 

pick courage to continue 

to live. All survivors then 

lay on the floor forming a 

circle with their legs 

joined in the middle. 

For 20 minutes, they 

were in that position as 

light music played. A few 

said it was a big relief to 

their burden. 

The Chief Executive 

Director, C.O.P.E, Mrs Ebun 

Anozie, said the therapy 

package is from a training 

she had over the years 

about helping survivors 

The package 

which 

includes 

musical 

therapy is 

designed to 

calm 

survivors and 

give them 

courage to 

stay alive 

OAM Foundation, advocate demystify 

albinism with Angels Amongst Men 

Cross section of cancer survivors during COPE Musical Therapy session last week 


come out of their shell and 

have the will to live, and 

not to see cancer as death 

sentence. 

“The musical therapy is 

to make them fly out of 

the norm, flow and free 

their minds. It eases the 

pains they are going 

through and makes them 

think positively. You 

heard their testimonies. 

To make them ease the 

pain they went through 

and flow into a positive 

year,” she stated. 

Anozie who lamented 

that the group lost five of 

their members last year, 

said cancer although and 

individual could be given 

a clean bill of health 

though not in all cases. 

“A lot of things happen 

along the line. As a care 

giver, sometimes I feel like 

I am not doing enough, 

sometimes I feel so 

pained. It is not easy for 

you to love and lose a 

dear one because they 

are all very dear to me. 

“It takes a lot of energy 

out of me because you 

have come to know them 

very well, it is painful there 

is also a therapy I go 

through as well as a care 

giver,” she stated with 

emotions. 

Anozie appealed to wellmeaning 


corporate organisations 

to help save the lives of 

these Nigerians. 

“We need a lot of 

finance to help them with 

their treatment. Some are 

still on their yearly 

treatment and don't have 

the money . Without money 

it is depressing and could 

trigger some other things. 

My prayer is that God 

should give C.O.P.E the 

means to reach out to them.” 

Reacting to Federal 

government plan to 

screen all Nigerians for 

cancer, Anozie said “I 

don’t know what they 

have on the table but 

there are rules to 

screening. If it is breast 

cancer, there is Breast Self 

Examination, breast ultra 

sound scan, mammogram 

and Magnetic Resonance 

Imaging, MRI. Different 

stages require different 

things. We should be sure 

what we are doing.” 


IN a move to demystify 

albinism in Africa, 

particularly, Nigeria, 

Onome Akinlolu Majaro, 

OAM, Foundation in 

collaboration with 

Damilola Onafuwa last 

week held a photography 

exhibition tagged ''Angels 

among Men' 

The project, 'Angels 

among Men' explored the 

special character of the 

pale skinned, light haired, 

rose-coloured or blue 

eyes humans otherwise 

known as albinos. 

It also explored the lives 

of People Living with 

Albinism in Nigeria and 

Cancer awareness our 

collective responsibility 

— Ambode 

By Gabriel Olawale 

WIFE of the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Bolanle 

Ambode has admonished Nigerians to step up 

awareness and public enlightenment on cancer, saying 

cancer can be effectively prevented if simple dietary 

and medical instructions are followed. 

Ambode who spoke at the 4th Omolara Jolaoso 

Memorial Lecture organised by Landers 88’ Reunion 

Club, said those diagnosed with cancer can also be 

managed to live normal, useful and pain-free life. 

SHe said: “What we must emphasise is what can be 

done to save precious lives and prevent needless deaths 

in the cold hands of cancer. 

“For too long, it has caused untold pain and anguish 


how they thrive in spite of 

the lack of melanin in their 

'African skin' and the 

stereotypes associated 

with it in most parts of 

Africa. Nigeria has an 

estimate of over 2 million 

albinos. 

Addressing journalists 

during the exhibition in 

Lagos, Mr. Damilola 

Onafuwa, a visual artist, 

said it was his first solo 

exhibition, noting that 

albinism in Africa is 

associated with negative 

connotation, and in many 

parts of Africa, people 

living with albinism are 

often times faced with 

these societal issues. 

Onafuwa said the 

exhibition was strictly to 

expose, educate and 

inspire truth of the 

condition, debunk myths 

as well as celebrate 

people living with albinism 

that have, in spite of all 

odds lived above it and 

made a life for 

themselves. 

“The title, Angels Among 

Men does not intend to 

Cross section of albinos at the exhibition tagged: Angels Amongst Men, 

organised recently in Lagos by OAM Foundation and Damilola Onafuwa 

recently in Lagos 

fetishise or refer to people 

living with albinism as 

literal angels or as superior, 

it rather refers to everyone 

who has chosen to rise and 

live above stereotypical 

judgments against people 

of a different race, colour 

or gender; people who 

choose not to be limited 

by short sighted and 

shallow standards of 

men, but treat all with a 

scale of equality.” 

For Damilola, “it is a 

project put together in 

love for humanity, aimed at 

dignifying the subjects 

photographed, and 

celebrates beauty in 

difference.” 

The Co Founder, Mrs 

Onome Akinlolu Majaro, 

disclosed that the art 

works will be shown in 

several other countries 

ibecause albinism is in 

every part of the world. 

Onome who said OAM 

has reached over 2000 

albinos since inception 

with education, 

scholarships, free 

sunscreens, jamb forms 

and pay lessen fees for 

albinos etc, said by June 

this year, the Foundation 

will dole out another sets 

of scholarships, 

sunscreens to mark this 

year's world Albinism Day. 

Gave out jam forms for 

albinos, pay for lessons. 

Onome who is living 

with albinism advised 

albinos that although 

there is discrimination they 

should learn to love 

themselves. 

The high point of the 

event was the exhibition of 

16 art works and a book 

called Angels Among Men, 

where some of the works 

not exhibited were 

captured.


Experts move to stop quackery in infertility treatment 

By Sola Ogundipe 

IT will no longer be 

business as usual for 

unregistered fertility 

treatment and Assisted 

Reproduction Technology, 

ART, practitioners that are 

operating in Nigeria as 

professionals in the 

industry have taken steps 

in collaboration with 

government to curb the 

menace of quacks within 

the profession. 

President of the 

Association for Fertility and 

Reproductive Health, 

AFRH, Dr. Faye Iketubosin, 

said a bill for regulatory 

framework for reproductive 

health in the country is 

already before the National 

Assembly. 

“The bill is designed to 

regulate the practice. We 

are putting regulation in 

place with government and 

already there is a bill for 

regulatory framework for 

reproductive health at the 

National Assembly,” he told 

Features Health & Living 


“The bill is designed to 

draw up the minimum 

acceptable standards or 

guidelines for practice. 

What it will mean is that if 

a clinic or practitioner is not 

registered with the AFRH, 

that clinic or practitioner 

would be regarded as 

WHEN I was in my twenties and thirties, I had a 

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cheating - Oyinda 

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are many. Work, domestic stress, depression, sexual 

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connection or satisfaction with your partner, dropping 

hormonal levels due to aging, health problems like 

fibroids, alcohol intake and certain medications as well 

can all cause it. 

You are not alone in this. 33 percent of women from ages 

18 to 59 all experience a lack of sexual desire. So what 

you are experiencing is quite common but taking some 

time out to work on your sex life can help. Simply 

subjecting yourself to erotic images and fantasies can 

help distract your mind from some of the things preventing 

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Aphrodisiacs can also help especially if the problem is 

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L-R: Assistant Secretary General (AFRH) Mrs. Abiola Adewusi, Vice Chairman (LOC) 

Dr. Ikenna Emeka, President (AFRH) Dr. Faye Iketubosin, Chairman (LOC) Dr. 

Abayomi Ajayi and Financial Secretary (AFRH) Dr. Adeyemi-Bero at a press 

conference on the forthcoming 8th Annual International Conference to be hosted in 

Lagos by the Association for Fertility & Reproductive Health (AFRH). 

illegal.” 

Iketubosin said a list of 

clinics that have been 

inspected and accredited to 

practice ART would be 

published. 

“We have a voluntary 

inspection of members of 

the Association. The idea is 

to have members selfregulate. 

It has been on for 

two years and is intended 

to be continuous over three 

years. Inspection teams will 

be going around for 

compliance with these 

guidelines.” 

To provide services in 

ART, our activities include 

working with government 

to have ethical and 

regulatory for regulation for 

the practice, working with 

the LASG and FG the 

National ethical and 

regulatory framework for 

practice of ART in Nigeria 

“The practice of ART has 

exploded in Nigeria from 

a situation of two or three 

clinics of several years ago 

to 74 clinics across the 

country today with 24 of the 

clinics in Lagos. 

Currently there are over 

250 registered members 

with ARFH. There is need 

for fertility research in 

reproductive health 

issues.” 

Iketubosin said the AFRH 

which is the umbrella body 

for the practice and 

regulation of ART in the 

country is committed to 

creation of awareness about 

reproductive health 

services in Nigeria, Africa 

and globally through 

implementing 

programmes for improving 

Sexual and Reproductive 

Health, SRH, care and 

support. 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) 

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My fiancée never has an orgasm through penetration. 

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The AFRH which is also 

planning its 2018 

conference themed: “New 

Frontiers in ART” in 

September 

Chairman of the 

Conference Local 

Organising Committee, 

LOC, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, 

said: “One of the pillars of 

ART is training of doctors 

and we take it very 

Cancer awareness 

Continued from Page 42 

among the people but the 

happy news is that cancer 

is gradually being 

demystified. Though a 

permanent cure may not 

have been found yet, we 

now have reliable clues on 

prevention and the 

condition can be 

effectively managed with 

strict adherence to 

medical instructions. 

“What we are saying 

therefore, is that cancer is 

no more a death 

sentence, if people will 

strictly follow medical 

advice and treatment 

instructions.” 

Corroborating her view, 

Medical Director, 

Alimosho General 

Hospital, Dr. Madewa 

Adebajo urged Nigerians 

to do away with lifestyle 

that can predispose 

someone to cancer and do 

medical checkup 

seriously. Infertility is 

increasing from all 

available evidence and our 

main workshop will be 

coming up in September 

2018.” 

According to Ajayi, the 

workshop billed to hold at 

EKO Hotel and Suites, 

featuring experts from all 

over the world and Nigeria 

was preceded by an 

ultrasound workshop on 

February 16-17 at the 

Oriental Hotel, Lagos. 

regularly. 

“Part of it is environmental 

factor, we are talking about 

global warming, it is getting 

hotter daily meanwhile 

many people destroy their 

skin with creams, removing 

the protective part of their 

skin. A lot of people are 

using generators, 

smoking, taking alcohol 

and the fact that we have 

embraced western lifestyle 

can predispose us to it. 

The President of Landers 

88’ Reunion Club, Soji 

Adekogbe, called on 

government to declare a 

purpose driven state of 

emergency in the health 

sector. 

“Sadly due to limited 

cancer treatment 

equipment in Nigeria, 

many die before it is their 

turn to be on treatment, so 

government needs to 

integrate cancer control 

into our national 

development agenda.


Nigeria ranks 11th highest in newborn 

deaths, says UNICEF 

By Sola Ogundipe 

NIGERIA has one of 

the highest 

newborn deaths 

according to current 

rankings by UNICEF and 

even though the situation 

is improving progress is 

still very slow. 

With the newborn 

mortality rate of 29 deaths 

per 1,000 births, the 

global estimates rank 

Nigeria as the 11th 

highest on newborn 

deaths. 

In the recent Multiple 

Indicator Cluster Survey 

(MICS) conducted by the 

Government of Nigeria in 

2016/17, the rate of 

newborn deaths per 1000 

births is 37. This national 

average hides the 

differences between the 

36 states and the slow 

progress in some of them. 

“A fair chance in life 

begins with a strong, 

healthy start. 

Unfortunately, many 

children in Nigeria are 

still deprived of this,” said 

Mohamed M Fall, 

UNICEF Nigeria’s 

Representative. “MICS 

data tells us that the trend 

is improving but urgent 

action needs to be taken 

for Nigeria to reach the 

Sustainable Development 

Goals. It cannot afford to 

fail its newborns today.” 

According to a new 

report on newborn 

mortality released one 

million die the day they 

are born, while 2.6 million 

newborns around the 

world do not survive their 

first month of life. 

The report, released by 

UNICEF, notes that 

global deaths of newborn 

babies remain alarmingly 

high, particularly among 

the world’s poorest 

countries and every year, 

DIABETES CONTROL: ISN advocates constant blood glucose check 

By Gabriel Olawale 

NIGERIANS with 

diabetes have been 

urged to frequently 

check their blood 

glucose level to enable 

them make informed 

choice as regard the 

management of their 

health. 

Making this charge 

during Customer 

Appreciation Forum 

organised by ISN 

Products Nigeria Ltd, 

Executive Director for 

Business Development, 

Mr. Felix Ofungwu said 

that self monitoring 

enable patients to 

achieve blood glucose 

control and proper care 

of their diabetes. 

Nigeria 

has a 

newborn 

mortality 

rate of 29 

deaths per 

1,000 

births 

Dolait Yoghurt debuts in Nigeria 

By Oluwaseyi Adeshina 

TO support nutritional 

needs of Nigerians, 

Sotibe Nigeria last week 

launched into the Nigerian 

market, Dolait Yoghurt, a 

non-preservative and tasty 

yogurt. 

Dolait, natural and fresh 

yoghurt, has been in some 

African countries including 

Cameroon, Republic of 

Benin, for over a decade 

and it’s being sold in 

popular malls in Nigeria 

like Shoprite, Dellis and 

other top supermarkets. 

Speaking during the 

launch of the product in 

The report notes that 8 

of the 10 most dangerous 

places to be born are in 

sub-Saharan Africa, 

where pregnant women 

are much less likely to 

receive assistance during 

delivery due to poverty, 

conflict and weak 

institutions. 

Globally, in low-income 

countries, the average 

newborn mortality rate is 

27 deaths per 1,000 births, 

the report says. In highincome 

countries, that 

rate is 3 deaths per 1,000. 

“While we have more 

than halved the number 

of deaths among children 

under the age of five in 

the last quarter century, 

we have not made similar 

progress in ending deaths 

among children less than 

one month old,” said 

Henrietta H. Fore, 

UNICEF’s Executive 

Director. 

“Given that the majority 

of these deaths are 

preventable, clearly, we 

Lagos, the Managing 

Director of Sotibe Nigeria, 

Mr Monah Chalabi, said 

Dolait is produced under 

hygienic environment, 

contains the best of 

ingredients and well 

packaged to customers 

delight. 

On the uniqueness of the 

product, he said “It’s handy 

and easy to hold when 

drinking. If not frozen, it 

does not spoil like other 

yoghurts that you have 

known in the past but it’s 

best served chilled and it’s 

suitable for all, both sick 

and healthy. 

"Dolait Yoghurt has been 

the favorite of 

are failing the world’s 

poorest babies.” 

More than 80 per cent 

of newborn deaths are 

due to prematurity, 

asphyxia, complications 

during birth or infections 

such as pneumonia and 

sepsis, yet the deaths can 

be prevented with access 

to well-trained midwives 

during antenatal and 

postnatal visits as well as 

delivery at a health facility, 

along with proven 

solutions like clean 

“It also 

help to 

reduce 

t h e 

likelihood 

o f 

developing 

long time 

complication 

which can 

be very 

l i f e 

threatening 

a n d 

understand 

that every 

Accu-Chek 

decision they made have 

direct effect on their 

blood glucose. The 

decision to use staircase 

instead of elevator, more 

vegetable than 

carbohydrate, take 

Camerounians and some 

other African countries for 

16 years, giving the 

populace a healthy product 

with nutritional values. 

Sotibe Nigeria Limited, 

the manufacturer of Dolait 

Yoghurt has existed in 

Nigeria since 2016 and we 

thought this is the right 

time to formally launch our 

tasty and nutritious product 

to the yearning people of 

Nigeria at a pocket-friendly 

price," he stated.Chalabi 

further noted that their 

factory in Cotonou would 

be serving the Benin 

Republic and Nigeria 

markets. 

Mother and newborn 

water, disinfectants, 

breastfeeding within the 

first hour, skin-to-skin 

contact, etc. 

This month, UNICEF is 

launching Every Child 

ALIVE, a global 

campaign to demand and 

deliver solutions on 

medication at the right 

time, decision to be 

happy. 

“It also helps the doctor 

who is managing them to 

have information to take 

proper care of them to 

behalf of the world’s 

newborns. 

Through the 

campaign, UNICEF is 

issuing an urgent 

appeal to governments, 

health care providers, 

donors, the private 

sector, families and 

adjust on medication 

where it is necessary. 

He pointed out that 

people living with 

diabetes needs to own 

the disease and 

understand that the time 

they spend with the 

doctor in a year is lesser, 

“they live with diabetes 

365 days in a year and 

the moment by moment 

decision they take 

concern how to improve, 

how to manage diabetics 

they take it 365 days in 

a year but the time they 

spend with their doctor 

is less than 5 hours in a 

whole years. 

“This makes it 

important for them to do 

self monitoring of their 

businesses to keep every 

child alive by recruiting, 

training, retaining and 

managing sufficient 

numbers of doctors, 

nurses and midwives 

with expertise in 

maternal and newborn 

care among others. 

blood glucose regularly 

of which Accu-Chek 

blood glucose meters can 

help them achieve better 

result. 

Corroborating his view 

during the presentation 

of awards to three 

outstanding customers, 

Marketing Manager, 

ISN Products Nigeria 

Ltd, Mr. Nonso Offia 

said Accu-Chek has 

laboratory accuracy and 

can simply be regarded 

as mini lab, “diabetes is 

complex so we believe 

testing doesn’t have to 

be. 

Accu-Chek is 

surprisingly simple, 

accurate and reliable 

results you can trust. 

LAUNCH: From left: Head of Sales, Sotibe Nigeria Limited, Tolu Adewunmi, 

Assistant Commissioner of Police(ACP) Federal Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS) 

Bunmi Ogedengbe; General Manager Sotibe Nigeria Limited, Monah Chalabi and 

Consultant Food Nutritionist, Austin Anyanwu, at the launch of Dolait Yoghurt 

at the grill place, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Trump backs background gun checks 

US President Donald 

Trump is “supportive” 

of efforts to improve 

background checks on 

gun ownership, the White 

House says. 

He has spoken to Republican 

Senator John 

Cornyn about a bipartisan 

bill he helped introduce, 

a statement read. 

The 2017 bill sought to 

improve federal compliance 

with checks that are 

processed before someone 

can buy a gun. 

It comes after authorities 

said the suspect in 

last week’s school shooting 

in Florida had bought 

OXFAM has for the 

first time publicly 

released its internal report 

into the 2011 Haiti 

prostitution scandal 

which has badly damaged 

the British charity’s 

reputation around the 

world. 

The report reveals details 

of the internal investigation’s 

findings, including 

allegations three 

staff members under investigation 

had “physically 

threatened and intimidated” 

a witness. 

Allegations first 

emerged last week that a 

number of staff members, 

including the country director, 

had hired prostitutes 

at Oxfam properties 

while working in 

Haiti after the 2010 

earthquake. 

Four staff were dismissed 

and another three 

others resigned following 

the investigation, including 

former Haiti 

country director Roland 

van Hauwermeiren. 

The names of the other 

staff members involved 

in the scandal have been 

redacted in the publicly 

available version of the 

his gun legally. “While 

discussions are ongoing 

and revisions are being 

considered, the president 

is supportive of efforts to 

improve the federal background 

check system,” 

White House press secretary 

Sarah Sanders 

said on Monday. 

The National Instant 

Criminal Background 

Check System (NICS) 

currently relies on state 

and federal officials to report 

any criminal convictions 

and mental health 

issues that should legally 

stop someone buying 

a gun. 

report. 

In the document, the 

UK charity said it would 

be meeting with the Haitian 

government on Monday 

to present them with 

a copy of their findings 

and apologize. The Haitian 

government has 

threatened to expel Oxfam 

from the country 

following the accusations. 

According to the document 

released Monday, 

Its failings were put in 

the spotlight last year after 

the US Air Force admitted 

it had failed to flag 

a gunman’s domestic violence 

conviction before 

he shot dead 26 people 

at a church in Sutherland 

Springs, Texas. 

After that shooting, the 

bipartisan bill was introduced 

by Mr Cornyn and 

Democratic Senator and 

gun-control advocate 

Chris Murphy. Mr 

Trump’s view on gun 

control has changed over 

time, but he ran as an 

anti-gun control candidate 

in the 2016 election. 

allegations of sexual misconduct 

were first reported 

to Oxfam in July 2011 

following an email from 

a source whose name has 

been redacted. 

Oxfam said it dispatched 

a team to Haiti 

to investigate the allegations 

and, during an interview 

with investigators, 

van Hauwermeiren 

admitted to hiring prostitutes 

on Oxfam property 

and agreed to resign. 

Last year the President 

told a National Rifle Association 

convention that 

he would “never, ever infringe” 

on the constitutional 

right to keep and 

bear arms. He has previously 

blamed the FBI 

and the shooter’s mental 

health for Florida’s 

school attack but had yet 

to comment on fresh 

demands for gun control 

coming from surviving 

Florida students. 

Nikolas Cruz, 19, had 

been investigated by the 

authorities for posting 

disturbing content online, 

according to reports. 

*Family members of plane crash victims weep in the village of Bideh, at the area that the plane 

crashed, southern Iran (Ali Khodaei/Tasnim News Agency via AP) 

HAITI PROSTITUTION CLAIMS: Oxfam releases report 

In an open letter, published 

by Belgian broadcaster 

VTM on Thursday, 

van Hauwermeiren denied 

sleeping with a 

prostitute in the villa 

Oxfam had rented for 

him. “I had up to three 

times intimate contact in 

my house. (She) was, in 

my opinion, a mature 

honorable lady, not an 

earthquake victim and 

no prostitute,” he said in 

the letter. 

Russian mafia trial opens in Spain 

A 

Russian MP, 

Vladislav Reznik, 

and 17 other suspects 

have gone on trial in 

Madrid accused of massive 

money-laundering 

for a Russian mafia gang. 

The alleged gang bosses 

Gennady Petrov and 

Alexander Malyshev are 

still at large, believed to 

be in Russia. Some suspects 

are alleged to have 

Russian government connections. 

Mr Reznik told the 

court he had turned up 

in order to prove his innocence. 

Five Spaniards 

are also in the dock, accused 

of helping Russian 

criminals. 

The case dates back to 

2008, when Spanish police 

carried out “Operation 

Troika”, arresting 20 

Russian mafia suspects. 

Mr Reznik, whose wife 

Diana Gindin is also on 

trial, previously chaired 

the Russian parliament’s 

financial markets committee. 

He is a member 

of the United Russia party, 

loyal to President 

Vladimir Putin. The money-laundering 

by Russian 

gangsters in Spain 

is said to have started in 

the 1990s, when rich Russians 

began buying luxury 

villas in the Costa del 

Sol and Balearic Islands. 

Spanish prosecutors 

believe more than €50m 

($62m; £44m) of Russian 

mafia money was laundered 

by the so-called 

Tambovskaya-Malyshevskaya 

gang, based 

in St Petersburg. 

Prosecutors have demanded 

jail sentences of 

five-and-a-half years for 

most of the suspects and 

fines which could reach 

up to €100m. 


Iran: Search continues for 

missing plane 

SEARCH and rescue teams are continuing to look 

for an Iranian plane that crashed in bad weather 

on Sunday. Local government officials reported 

that the wreckage had been found, but a Red Crescent 

official later said there was no evidence of this. 

A civil aviation official was also unable to confirm 

the reports. 

The Aseman Airlines passenger plane came down 

in the Zagros mountains on Sunday, and all 66 people 

on board are feared to have been killed. 

Hundreds of mountaineers with dogs and drones 

are trying to reach the site, in bad conditions. 

Due to fog and strong winds, helicopters that were 

deployed for the search at dawn on Monday have 

had to be grounded, a Red Crescent official told local 

media. And on Sunday, teams had to stop work 

altogether due to winds and snow. The ATR 72-500 

twin-engine turboprop was travelling from Tehran 

to the south-western city of Yasuj. 

Flight EP3704 left Tehran at 04:30 GMT on Sunday, 

and crashed about an hour later in the Mount 

Dena area, about 22km (14 miles) from its destination. 

17 killed in Mozambique 

as pile of garbage collapses 

AT least 17 people died and several others were 

injured in Mozambique’s capital early on 

Monday when a 15-metre pile of garbage collapsed 

due to heavy rain and buried seven houses, officials 

said. The collapse happened at around 3 a.m. 

(0100 GMT) in the impoverished Hulene neighbourhood, 

which is around 10 km (6 miles) from the centre 

of Maputo. The houses were built illegally and 

authorities had previously asked the residents to 

leave, officials said. 

“Up to now 17 dead bodies were recovered. We 

fear more might be unaccounted for. So we will keep 

searching for bodies buried underneath the garbage 

pile,” a councillor for Ka Mavota Municipal District, 

Despedida Rita, told reporters. 

Land pressure in many African cities leads some 

people to squat on land they do not own as they 

seek higher wages available in urban centres. The 

dwellings are sometimes built on land that is marginal 

or unsafe. 

Cholera kills more than 

500 in Malawi 

CHOLERA cases in Malawi have tripled and 

four more people have died, the Ministry of 

Health said on Monday, a month after the spread of 

the disease from Zambia was thought to have been 

contained. Ministry of Health spokesman Joshua 

Malango said the number of cases had increased to 

527 from 157 recorded in January, and that deaths 

had doubled from four to eight. 

He said new cases continued to emerge in Central 

and Northern Malawi districts, including the 

administrative capital, Lilongwe where 10 new cases 

were recorded at the weekend. 

“It’s mainly due to drinking of water from contaminated, 

shallow sources. We’ve intensified chlorine 

spraying in the localised infection centres,” he said. 

Gupta challenges freezing of 

asset in S/Africa 

ATUL Gupta, one of 

three Gupta brothers 

being investigated for 

corrupt links to ousted 

South African president 

Jacob Zuma, is challenging 

a court order freezing 

10 million rand 

($859,025) in his bank 

account, according to 

court papers seen by Reuters. 

South African prosecutors 

were authorised to 

freeze 220 million rand, 

including 10 million 

which they said was illegally 

transferred to Atul 

Gupta’s bank account, as 

part of an investigation 

into fraud at a statebacked 

dairy project in 

the Free State province. 

The three Gupta brothers, 

accused by the public 

anti-graft watchdog of 

using their friendship 

with Zuma to influence 

policy and amass wealth, 

have denied any wrongdoing, 

as has Zuma. 

In the court papers 

filed in a court in the Free 

State province, Atul Gupta 

denied having received 

10 million rand as 

alleged by prosecutors 

and said he was “currently 

outside South Africa.” 

The affidavit attached to 

the court papers was 

signed on Feb. 8 at the 

South African consulate 

in Dubai.

46— Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

VISIT: From left, Managing Director, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics 

Base, LADOL, Dr Amy Jadesimi; Chairman, Senate Committee on Local 

Content, Yayi Adeola, and Managing Director, Total Total Exploration 

and Production, Nicolas Terraz, during a visit of the Senate Committee to 

LADOL facility to inspect Egina platform. 

DONATION: From left, Government Relations Advisor, MTN, Mrs. 

Ifeoma Nkata; Deputy Director, Monitoring and Reporting, Office of Head 

of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Maureen Ubi; Matron, Divine 

Wounds of Jesus Orphanage Home, DWJOH, Mrs Catherine Akochiwe; 

Secretary, DWJOH, Mr. Bon Ukachukwu, and Director, DWJOH, Mr 

Charles Ikezemuoka, during the donation of household and food items 

to DWJOH by MTN Foundation, in Abuja. 

Presidency, , Enyimba mourn late Udoji 

he Presidency and 

TE n y i m b a 

International have 

mourned the death of 

defender, Chinedu Udoji 

who passed on in the wee 

hours of Monday. 

Udoji who captained 

Enyimba for five years, 

was until his death, 

playing for Kano Pillars 

FC. 

The Chairman of the 

People’s Elephant, Felix 

Anyansi-Agwu, in a 

statement in Lagos 

described Udoji’s death 

as untimely. 

Anyansi-Agwu said 

•Late Chinedu 

Udoji and family 

that the contributions of Udoji 

to the team during his time 

with the club was 

commendable, adding that 

he was a leader both on and 

off the pitch. 

“Words cannot convey 

either the depth of our pain 

or the intensity of our anguish 

over the death of Udoji. 

“What we can do in this 

hour of sadness, however, is 

to pray to God to strengthen 

the family he left behind, the 

teammates he so 

passionately inspired and his 

friends and fans. 

“Udoji joined our club in 

2009 and captained the club 

for five seasons before his 

departure in 2016 to Kano 

Pillars. 

“He was a ferocious 

captain and leader on 

the pitch but warm and 

gentle friend off it. 

During his time in Aba, 

he won two league titles 

and two Federation 

Cups. 

“He also helped the 

team to reach the semifinals 

of the 

Champions League. A 

legend worthy of the 

Enyimba captaincy, he 

will remain in our hearts 

forever,” 

Similarly, the Presidency 

is in mourning too. 

According to President 

Muhamadu Buhari’s 

Personal Assistant on New 

Media, Ahmad Bashir, the 

nation’s number one 

citizen expressed sadness 

over Udoji’s death. 

Bashir described Udoji 

as one of Nigeria’s finest 

players. 

He tweeted that, “So 

sad. He was one of our 

finest players. 

Condolences to his family, 

Kano 

Pillars 

Management, their fans 

and all football lovers. 

#RIPChinedu” 

NFF, LMC, Adepoju rue 

Udoji’s death P,46 

The Nigeria Football 

Federation (NFF) and the 

League Management 

Company have rued the 

death of defender Chinedu 

Udorji. 

NFF, through its twitter 

handle @thenff tweeted 

that, “The demise of 

@pillarsfc defender 

Chinedu Udoji comes as 

a rude shock to us this 

morning. Our thoughts 

and prayers are with his 

family and club. May his 

soul rest in peace. 

#RIPUdoji.” 

Also, the League 

Management Company 

(LMC) tweeted that 

“GONE TOO SOON, We 

are deeply saddened by 

the tragic death of one of 

NPFL’s finest defenders. 

Our thoughts and prayers 

are with Chinedu Udoji’s 

family, Kano Pillars & 

#NPFL 

#RIPUDOJI.” 

clubs 

CONFERENCE: From left, Sir Dan Anaebo Okekenta, Supreme Subordinate 

President, Knights of St. John International, Nigeria; Noble Lady Georgina 

Onyeziligbo, Supreme Subordinate President, Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of St. John 

International and Sir Patrick Igwilo, Supreme Subordinate Secretary, Knights of St. 

John International, at the opening session of the Catholic Bishop Conference of 

Nigeria, in Abuja. 

THANKSGIVING: From left, Visually-impaired graduate of law, Mr 

Adesola Ajayi (middle) flanked by Pastor Jummy Adetoyese-Olagunju, 

Senior Pastor, Praise Arena-Kingdom Light Christian Centre, and his wife, 

Fummilayo, during the thanksgiving for Ajayi, one of the beneficiaries of 

the church's scholarship programme. 

Pillars lament 

Udoji’s death 

Kano Pillars Football club have described 

the untimely death of its central 

defender Chinedu Udoji in a fatal car accident 

Sunday night in Kano metropolis as a great loss 

to the football family. 

The club’s Technical Committee chairman, 

Alhaji Faruk Haladu in a statement signed by its 

Media Officer, Idris Rilwanu Malikawa, 

described the late player as an “asset and a 

dedicated player.” 

Haladu said “Udoji lost his life in a ghastly motor 

accident along independent road in Bompai area in 

the State capital.” 

The club said “the player was heading to his 

residence in Badawa quaters after he visited his 

former club, Enyimba FC after the Week 9 encounter 

which ended 1-1 on Sunday.” 

The club said “Udoji was alone in his car with 

registration number KSF 499 BF when the accident 

happened.” 

The corpse of late Udoji has been deposited at the 

Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital kano and the 

incident reported to the Bompai Police Division in Kano. 

Haladu said “the management, technical crew, 

players, fans of the club and the entire football family in 

kano are in shocked this morning following the death of 

the player.” 

He said the club officials are processing all 

necessary documentation before taking his corpse to 

his family for burial rites. 

•Late 

Chinedu 

Udoji

Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2018 — 47 

Ebuehi: 

My dream is to 

play for Eagles at 

World Cup 

DO Den Haag fullback 

ATyronne Ebuehi has said 

his dream is to be part of the 

Super Eagles team to the 

2018 World Cup. 

If the right-back is 

summoned for the 

upcoming friendlies against 

Poland and Serbia, it means 

he is in the plans of 

manager Gernot Rohr and 

stands a good chance of 

making Nigeria’s 

provisional World Cup 

squad when it is 

announced by 

May 14. 

‘’For me, the 

most important 

thing is to keep 

making minutes. 

Going to such a 

club means a new 

adventure and you 

do not know 

whether you’re 

going to make 

minutes,’’ Ebuehi 

told FCupdate.nl. 

‘’Here I get trust 

from the club, the 

trainer and the 

players. If I keep 

playing here, I can 

hopefully go to the 

World Cup and 

nice things can 

come.’’ 

On his chances 

of being on the 

plane to Russia, 

Ebuehi stated : ‘’I 

do not have to act 

too fast, otherwise 

it can also be a 

disappointment, I feel good 

about it, and of course I 

dream about it, it’s close 

and in terms of football, the 

World Cup is the biggest 

stage in the world. I can go 

with it, it’s a dream come 

true, maybe the biggest 

one.’’ 

Udoji dies in 

car accident, 

aged 28 

•Ebuehi 

Kano Pillars have 

announced the 

death of 28-year-old 

defender Chinedu Udoji in 

a car crash on Sunday. 

The accident happened a 

few hours after a league 

game against his former 

club Enyimba. 

Udoji, who played for 

Pillars in Sunday’s 1-1 

draw against Enyimba, 

was involved in an accident 

on his way back after 

visiting his former 

employers. 

Kano Pillars announced 

Udoji’s death on the club’s 

official Twitter account. 

Udoji joined Kano Pillars 

in 2016 after seven 

successful seasons with 

two-time African 

champions Enyimba. 

He won two league titles, 

two FA Cups and reached 

the semi-final of the 2011 

African Champions League 

with the Aba-based club. 

‘Ferocious captain and 

leader on the pitch’ 

Enyimba, the People’s 

Elephants, also took to 

Twitter to mourn their 

former player and 

described him as a great 

captain, leader and legend. 

Club chairman Felix 

Anyansi-Agwu added: “He 

was a ferocious captain 

and leader on the pitch, but 

a warm and gentle friend 

off it.” 

Udoji is survived by his 

wife and two children. 

Real target Klopp, Pochettino 

to replace Zidane 

iverpool manager Jurgen 

L Klopp and 

Tottenham boss Mauricio 

Pochettino are at the top of 

Real Madrid’s shortlist to 

replace Zinedine Zidane, 

according to reports in 

Spain. 

Zidane is under intense 

pressure at the Spanish 

champions with his side 

currently sitting fourth in 

LaLiga. 

Madrid’s poor form has 

sparked rumours that the 

Frenchman will be axed in 

•Messi 

Lagos aglow for 

FIFA Executive 

Football Summit 

he City of Excellence, 

T Lagos, is in positive 

media blitz again as the FIFA 

Executive Football Summit 

holds at the Eko Hotels and 

Suites, Victoria Island on 

Tuesday, 20th February 2018. 

The Summit, one of only 

12 being staged across the 

universe between November 

2017 and March 2018, is 

part of FIFA President Gianni 

Infantino’s vision of 

“bringing FIFA back to 

football and football back to 

FIFA.” It comes less than 24 

hours after the inaugural 

edition of the AITEO-NFF 

Football Awards that shook 

the same facility to its 

foundation on Monday night. 

FIFA sources confirmed to 

thenff.com that apart from 

FIFA President Gianni 

Infantino, CAF President 

Ahmad and FIFA Secretary 

General Fatma Samoura 

who all arrived in Lagos on 

Monday, FIFA Council 

members Kwesi Nyantakyi 

of Ghana and Sonia Bien 

Aime from Turks and Caicos 

Islands are also in town to be 

part of the summit. 

the summer 

and a new 

man placed in 

charge. 

There has also 

been speculation 

Zidane could walk 

away of his own 

accord at the end of the 

season and have a sabbatical due to 

tiredness. 

And, according to AS, if the former 

midfielder does go then Madrid have 

placed Klopp and Pochettino at the top of 

their managerial shortlist. 

The pair are said to be on a three-man 

wish list drawn up by Real, which also 

contains Germany head coach Joachim 

Low. 

Pochettino is reportedly the frontrunner 

due to his experience of coaching in Spain 

with Espanyol. 

However, both Klopp and Low are viewed 

as serious contenders with Madrid big fans 

of the two coaches’ style of play. 

Lionel Messi is still 

waiting to score 

his first goal 

against Chelsea 

after drawing a blank in 

eight previous UEFA 

Champions League 

matches. 

The five-time World 

Player of the Year is 

likely to get another 

chance to break his 

duck this week and 

•Klopp 

Costa: Some referees hate me 

Atletico Madrid striker 

Diego Costa said that 

some — not all — referees 

hate him after scoring in his 

side’s 2-0 win against Athletic 

Club at the weekend. 

Substitute Kevin Gameiro 

opened the scoring at the 

Wanda, before Costa’s 

strike ensured Diego 

Simeone’s side 

remained with seven 

points of La Liga 

leaders Barcelona. 

As well as scoring, 

Costa felt he should 

have had a penalty 

when he was 

challenged by 

Unai Nunez in 

the area and 

he was later 

Champions League: 

booked for arguing over an 

offside position. 

“I think it’s a penalty,” the 

former Chelsea man said. 

“I was going to shoot, 

[Nunez] dives in, makes 

contact with me and puts 

me off balance. Not giving 

it is the referee’s decision 

and I’m not going to 

complain.” 

However, he did 

complain about 

the caution he 

received. 

He added: 

“You know how 

it is. [Some] 

referees hate me 

and there’s no 

way to change it. 

Messi mustn’t 

score against 

Chelsea, Conte 

declares 

Chelsea manager 

Antonio Conte 

believes the past will 

count for little when 

Barcelona visit 

Stamford Bridge on 

Tuesday. 

“I hope we 

maintain this 

tradition but we are 

speaking about a 

fantastic player,” 

Conte said ahead of 

the last-16, first-leg game. 

“The most important thing is 

the present. 

“We must have great 

respect but at the same time 

we must be excited to play 

this type of game and take 

on this type of challenge. It 

won’t be easy because we 

know very well this player, 

we are talking about one of 

the best in the world.” 

Arsenal sign record-breaking 

shirt deal worth £200m 

rsenal have signed a five-year 

Aextension to their shirt sponsorship 

deal with airline Emirates. 

The extension through to the end of 

the 2023-24 season, the largest 

sponsorship deal ever signed by the club 

and understood to be worth over 

£200million over the course of five 

years, extends a partnership that 

will run to at least 18 years by the 

end of the newly-signed contract. 

The deal in excess of £40m a 

season, Arsenal’s terms are the 

second most favourable in the 

Premier League, behind the 

£47m Manchester United 

receive from Chevrolet. 

Chelsea receive £40m as 

part of their deal with 

Yokohama but 

significantly signed a 

separate deal with Carabao in 

2015 to sponsor their training kit. 

Arsenal’s agreement with Emirates 

means the airline will appear on 

both matchday and warm-up attire. 

Arsenal will however be able to add 

a sleeve patch from next season, 

which were it to be on a par with 

fellow members of the Premier 

League’s ‘Big Six’ could net them 

between £5m and £8m. 

Oliseh: I made Eagles 

stronger by bringing 

Iwobi, Moses Simon 

The teams have produced 

some epic games in the past 

although they have not met 

in the Champions League 

since Chelsea pulled off a 

remarkable backs-to-thewall 

semi-final victory over 

Barcelona on the way to 

winning the trophy in 2012. 

Messi missed a penalty in 

the second leg at Camp 

Nou as the London club 

overcame the first-half 

dismissal of captain John 

Terry, and a 2-0 deficit, to 

draw the game 2-2 and 

secure an unforgettable 3-2 

aggregate win. 

Bayern Munich host 

Besiktas in Tuesday’s other 

game while the following 

day sees Manchester 

United traveling to Sevilla, 

and Shakhtar Donetsk 

playing host to Roma. 

Rivaldo backs Barca to beat Chelsea 

here have been many 

Tgreat clashes 

between Chelsea and 

Barcelona with 

Rivaldo confident 

that the Azulgrana 

will come out on 

top when the next 

affair kicks off 

tonight. 

Rating 

Barcelona as 

the better 

team when 

compared 

•Costa 

to the Premier League title 

holders, the Brazilian knows 

that any match-up with an 

English side is tough to 

bypass. 

“I think it will be a 

difficult tie, but Barcelona 

are favourites,” Rivaldo told 

MARCA. 

“You have to always 

respect English teams, but I 

think Barcelona are a better 

team than Chelsea and will 

qualify for the next round.” 

Rivaldo played a key role 

in the epic Champions 

ormer Super Eagles coach Sunday 

F Oliseh has stated that the 

national team was weak until he 

introduced some young players into the 

squad after his appointment as coach in 

2015. 

Hale End Academy product Alex Iwobi 

was being groomed to play for Nigeria’s 

Olympic national team by Samson 

Siasia but was fast-tracked into the 

Super Eagles by Oliseh ahead of friendly 

matches against Cameroon and DR 

Congo despite the fact he was yet to 

debut for Arsenal’s first-team. 

In addition, the likes of Moses Simon, 

Wilfred Ndidi, William Troost-Ekong, 

Abdullahi Shehu, and Kelechi Iheanacho 

made their international bows under 

Oliseh. 

‘’One of the first things I did when I got 

the job was to bring a lot of young blood 

in because the team itself was already on 

the wane,’’ Oliseh said to ESPN. 

‘’Players like [Alex] Iwobi, I brought 

into the team, I gave him his first 

call-up, and some others who had 

been sidetracked like Moses 

Simon. 

“I brought them in and 

pushed them up.” 

Oliseh stepped down as 

coach of the Super Eagles in 

February 2016, citing 

breach of contract by the 

Nigeria Football 

Federation. 

League clash between the 

two sides in 2000, the 

Blaugrana winning the 

return leg 5-1 after extratime. 

“I remember that we lost 

3-1 in England but we 

came back here after going 

into extra-time in a difficult 

game,” he recalled. 

“I had a penalty in the 

45th minute of the second 

half to make it 4-1 and I 

missed. We went to extra 

time and then we scored 

two more goals.”

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Orange-yellow colour (7) 

5 Put off till later (5) 

8 Beasts of burden (5) 

9 Outside (7) 

10 Conundrums (7) 

11 Conceals (5) 

12 Rove (6) 

14 Bicycle for two (6) 

18 Jittery (5) 

20 Feeling, sentiment (7) 

22 Ruffian (anag.) (7) 

23 More pleasant (5) 

24 Shouts (5) 

25 Spendthrift (7) 

DOWN 

1 Common garden bird (7) 

2 Combined (5) 

3 Make a firm decision (7) 

4 Most recent (6) 

5 Drainage channel (5) 

6 Deluged (7) 

7 Council tax (5) 

13 In name only (7) 

15 Sums (7) 

15 Cur (7) 

17 Language of Israel (6) 

18 Instant (5) 

19 Renowned Irish poet (5) 

21 Become liable for (5) 

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

two of the same number). 

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

lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold 

block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. 

This means that no number can appear twice in any 

block, column or row. 

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or 

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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20022018 - I paid DSS men, others N1m to bring in 661 rifles — ACCUSED

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