27022018 - Yobe Girls: We weren't part of meeting at Govt House — PARENTS OF ABDUCTED GIRLS

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INTER-FAITH DATING: 

7 killed, houses razed 

as Christian, Muslim 

youths clash in Kaduna 

8 

FG to announce 

new minimum 

wage Sept 

—MINISTER 

8 

We’re not 

interested in 

Presidency without 

restructuring 

— Igbo leaders 15 

VOL. 26: NO. 63494 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

Yobe Girls: We weren't part 

of meeting at Govt House 

** ** 

— PARENTS OF ABDUCTED GIRLS 

•Disagree with FG on number of missing girls; insist 105 are missing 

•Investigate girls’ abduction now, PDP tasks National Assembly 

•Why rescue of UNIMAID abductees took long —Buhari 

•Rescued lecturers beg Buhari for another job 

•Why we redeployed troops from Dapchi – Military 

FREED FROM KIDNAPPERS 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi, Bala 

Ajiya, Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru, Joseph 

Erunke, Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri & Dirisu 

Yakubu 

DAMATURU — Con 

trary to assertions that 

the figure of 110 missing 

girls was arrived at after a 

meeting with stakeholders 

as announced by Information 

Minister, Alhaji Lai 

Mohammed on Sunday, 

parents of the girls have differed, 

saying they were not 

part of such meeting. 

Chairman of the forum of 

parents of the missing 

girls, Bashir Manzo, who 

said he was not aware of 

the meeting in Damaturu, 

denied knowledge of the 

figure of 110 announced by 

the minister in Damaturu. 

“I am not aware of the 

meeting in Damaturu. No 

Continues on Page 5 

CBN injects 

$210m as 

Naira 

appreciates to 

N360.19/$ 

41 

Mr & Mrs 

President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by the recently liberated three lecturers of the University of Maiduguri and other freed 

kidnap victims from the North East at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Abayomi Adeshida. 

APC NEC holds 

today, amidst 

lobby for extension 

of NWC 

8 

ABANDONED PHC: 

We are neglected, 

Lagos communities 

cry out 

COLUMNISTS TENIOLA 18 ODUMAKIN 17 COLE 31 MAILAFIA 31 

Ortom raises 

fresh concerns 

over herdsmen 

incursions into 

Benue 

42 9 

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Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2018—5 

POCKET CARTOON 

AMBODE SIGNS BUDGET—Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi 

Ambode (middle), signing the Year 2018 Budget, Consolidated Transport Sector 

and State Teaching Service Commission bills into Law in his Office at the 

Lagos House, Ikeja, yesterday. With him are Commissioner for Finance, 

Mr. Akinyemi Ashade (left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, 

Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh (2nd left); Commissioner for Economic Planning 

& Budget, Mr. Segun Banjo (2nd right) and Commissioner for Transportation, 

Mr. Ladi Lawanson (right). 



Continues from Page 1 

one informed us here in 

Dapchi that a meeting 

would hold As far as our 

record here is concerned, 

we still have 105, but if they 

have additional names to 

what we had first 

established, fine and 

good." 

Alhaji Mohammed, on 

Sunday, in a statement issued 

by his media aide 

had said: 

“The Federal Government 

has confirmed that 110 

students of the Government 

Science and Technical College 

in Dapchi, Yobe State, 

are so far unaccounted for, 

after insurgents believed to 

be from a faction of Boko 

Haram invaded their school 

on Monday (19 February, 

2018). 

“The Minister of Information 

and Culture, Lai Mohammed, 

announced the 

figure after a meeting between 

a Federal Government 

delegation and representatives 

of key stakeholders, 

including the state 

government, the college, 

the parents, security agencies 

and Bursari Local Government, 

where Dapchi is 

situated, in Damaturu on 

Sunday." 

These came on a day 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari, in Abuja, 

explained that the rescue 

of the three staff of 

University of Maiduguri 

and 10 women abducted by 

Boko Haram insurgents 

was protracted because 

government was dealing 

with two different insurgent 

groups working at different 

locations, even as the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, called on the National 

Assembly to thoroughly 

investigate the abduction of 

the Dapchi school gils. 

Minister of Information, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

had said, Sunday in 

Damaturu, shortly after a 

meeting with Governor 

Ibrahim Geidam, and other 

stakeholders at the state 

Government House, that 

the Federal government 

had now confirmed that 

110 of the girls were 

missing, in the wake of 

Boko Haram’s attack on the 

school penultimate 

Monday. 

“There was no doubt that 

the insurgents were in 

Dapchi and as at today, we 

cannot account for 110 girls. 

“Because the total register 

of the students that came 

to school that day was 906 

but as at today (Sunday), 

about 110 of them cannot 

be accounted for and that 

is the situation," the 

minister had said at a news 

briefing after the meeting. 

But parents of the girls, 

yesterday, challenged the 

Federal Government to 

explain how it came about 

the 110 figure it dished out 

to the public. 

They had earlier, last 

week, said 105 of the 

students were unaccounted 

for, and wondered how the 

figure came to 110. 

Chairman of the forum of 

parents of the missing 

girls, Bashir Manzo, who 

said he was not aware of 

the meeting in Damaturu, 

denied knowledge of the 

new figure announced by 

the minister in Damaturu. 

Parents disagree 

with FG, threaten to 

withdraw children 

“I am not aware of the 

meeting in Damaturu. No 

one informed us here in 

Dapchi that a meeting 

would hold. As far as our 

record here is concerned, 

we still have 105, but if they 

have additional names to 

what we had first 

established, fine and good. 

We are happy no one is 

saying the figure is less 

than what we’ve had.” 

Some parents have 

threatened to withdraw 

their children from the 

school, since government 

could no longer guarantee 

their safety. 

One of the parents, 

Mallam Modu Mustapha, 

whose two daughters were 

abducted, lamented the 

inability of security 

agencies to rescue the 

students and threatened to 

withdraw his children from 

the school, if and when they 

were found. 

He advised government 

to always verify its facts 

before informing the public 

to avoid misleading 

information on the part of 

the abducted girls. 

Similarly, Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

yesterday, urged the 

National Assembly to 

urgently open a full scale 

investigation into the 

circumstances that led to 

the unfortunate abduction 

of the students. 

The party said such 

investigation had become 

necessary due to rising 

speculations and 

“conspiracy theories in the 

public space, fuelled by 

conflicting reports, attempts 

at cover-up and 

disagreements among 

government officials and 

agencies regarding the 

ugly incident." 

PDP tasks NASS 

“The National Assembly 

must take a critical note of 

the allegation by Yobe State 

Governor, Ibrahim 

Geidam, who insists that 

the abduction was 

preceded by the withdrawal 

of troops safeguarding the 

troubled area," the party 

said. 

National Publicity 

Secretary of the party, Kola 

Ologbondiyan in a 

statement yesterday, said 

the position of the governor 

was an indication that the 

abduction could have been 

avoided, noting that as 

representatives of the 

people, it behoved on the 

lawmakers to unravel what 

truly happened in the 

interest of the nation. 

“The governor is the chief 

security officer of the state 

and his statement cannot 

be taken lightly or even 

dismissed by just a wave of 

the hand by anybody or any 

government agency under 

any guise whatsoever. 

“The PDP also urges the 

National Assembly to 

investigate the various 

conflicting reports that have 

characterized the 

abduction, particularly the 

initial moves by the federal 

government to deny the 

occurrence of this incident. 

“Nigerians are indeed 

worried about the apparent 

deliberate design to hide 

the facts of this abduction 

and demand to know the 

truth. It is a common saying 


FG’s response to abduction of Dapchi school girls by y Boko o Haram (2) 

By Bose Adelaja, 

Bartholomew Madukwe & 

Frederick Okopie 

Is Boko Haram a ghost 

or spirit? Is Sambisa forest 

so big that Nigerian 

Army can’t destroy this terrorist 

group? How 

equipped is the Nigerian 

Army compared to Boko 

Haram? This government 

is a failure. 

Mr. Ademolu Adebayo, 

Self Employed 

Before anything, all 

those who were supposed 

to have acted to prevent, 

curtail or arrest the 

situation but failed in their 

duties should be relieved 

of their jobs. We cannot 

continue to condone dereliction 

of duty. 

Miss Eleodimuo Helen, 

Student 

With all the myriad of 

security check 

points, these terrorists still 

drove casually in a convoy 

of hilux vans and disappeared 

into thin air. Nigeria 

is a funny land 

where snakes swallow 

huge cash and monkeys 

devour naira notes. What 

a country indeed! 

Mr. Nonly Steve, 

Merchant 

If this is true, then 

shame on this government! 

How would they 

even say they don’t know 

the number of girls missing, 

is it that the school 

does not have a register? 

I must say that some people 

in the military are committed 

to their jobs, while 

some are not. The girls 

should be found before 

the Boko Haram men start 

to dehumanize them. 

Miss Adaobi Evangel, 

Soloist 

It is such a pity. May 

God please help the 

poor girls. This government 

has surely failed. 

Children and indeed parents 

of students in other 

government secondary 

schools in the North-East 

should be careful. This 

government has repeatedly 

failed in providing security. 

Mr. Udeze Ekene, 

Activist 

How can this happen 

for days and the Inspector 

General of Police 

and the army chief are 

still keeping their jobs? 

Now, my question is, can 

they secure the freedom 

of these girls quickly? 

These innocent school 

children should not be 

brainwashed to become 

Jihadist brides and suicide 

bombers for Boko 

Haram. Miss. Amechi 

Nuella, 

Businesswoman

6—Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

I've brought 

shame to my 

family, 

suspect 

cries 

By Dayo Johnson 

A KURE—AN 

Ordinary National 

Diploma, OND, holder in 

Mechanical Engineering, 

Desmond Fadamitan, 

paraded alongside other 

suspected robbers by 

Ondo State Police 

Command yesterday, 

burst into tears, saying he 

has brought disgrace to 

his family. 

Others paraded along 

with him are Olayemi 

Adeoye, the mastermind, 

and Roland Imafidon. 

Desmond told 

Vanguard: “I regret my 

action. I have made a big 

mistake in my life and I 

have brought shame to 

my family.” 

Asked to give details 

about his family members, 

the suspect said “I come 

from a much-respected 

family and I have brought 

shame to them,” but 

declined to say who is 

father or mother is. 

However, it was 

gathered from a Police 

source that he is the son 

of an important 

personality. 

The other suspect, 

Olayemi, a welder, when 

asked what pushed him 

into crime, said: “It is 

business now.” 

Vanguard gathered that 

after stealing the vehicles, 

Olayemi disposes each 

for between N50,000 and 

N150,000 to Roland 

Imafidon, who then sells 

each for N300,000 to 

Desmond. 

Desmond said he was 

not aware that they are 

stolen vehicles, but he 

was worried by the price 

they asked him to pay, 

noting that the market 

values of the vehicles 

were higher than what he 

paid the suspects. 

According to Desmond, 

“I decided to relax after 

discovering that the 

vehicles needed some 

repairs. Some of them 

don’t have good tyres and 

shock absorbers. 

“I will have to do some 

repairs and also spend 

some money before 

disposing them.” 

Parading the suspects, 

the state Police Commissioner, 

Olugbenga 

Adeyanju, said the 

vehicle of one Mrs Bukola 

Olamide, a Honda CRV, 

number plates MUS 437 

EL, was stolen at a 

commercial bank in Akure 

on November 28, 2017. 

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

3 nabbed over murder of LSNC official 

By Evelyn Usman 

LAGOS—THREE suspected 

cultists, who allegedly shot an 

official of the Lagos 

Neighbourhood Safety Corps, 

LNSC, Mosuru Bolaji, dead, in 

a bar at Mallam Isah close, 

Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos, 

last Wednesday, have been 

arrested by the Lagos State Police 

Command. 

This is just as the command 

also swooped on suspected 

cultists during initiation 

process at Elemoro , Ajah area of 

Lagos, with 57 of them arrested. 

One of them , a 15-year-old 

Junior Secondary School 1 

student, told Vanguard that he 

was lured with eight bottles of 

beer to the initiation ground. 

The suspected cultists arrested 

in connection with the LNSC 

official, Muyideen Bello (17) 

Wasiu Adio alias trouble ( 35) and 

Nurudeen Odofin (39) , 

according to the Commissioner 

of Police, Lagos State Police 

Command, Imohimi Edgal, 

confessed during interrogation to 

have taken part in the crime. 

He stated that one axe and a 

knife stained with blood , were 

recovered from the suspects, 

adding that the items had been 

sent to the Forensic Unit for 

analysis. 

Edgal further stated that one 

of the suspects , Adio alias 

Trouble, further confessed to be 

a senior member of Eiye 

confraternity and also revealed 

that he and members of his 

group also killed one Timothy 

last October. 

Edgal explained further that :” 

Investigation into the case 

revealed that the deceased was 

an active member of the newly 

inaugurated neighbourhood 

Safety Corps. His enlistment into 

the corps sent jitters down the 

spine of most cultist members as 

most of them were well known to 

the deceased , hence the suspects 

along with their accomplices 

currently at large attacked and 

killed the deceased at Umunede 

bar at Mallam Isah close , Aguda 

Surulere where he had gone to 

watch soccer at the close of work.” 

However when approached 

the suspects denied culpability. 

...during initiation 

In another development, the 

Command also swooped on 

some members of the Aiye 

confraternity during initiation 

of new members , in a forest at 

Abule Egbanu , in Elemoro area 

of Ajah, Lagos. 

Two locally made cut-to-size 

guns , three live cartridges and 

22 expended cartridges were 

recovered from the suspected 

cultists. Also recovered at the 

initiation scene were two Suzuki 

mini buses with number plates : 

LND 893 XV and EPE 189 XV 

respectively. 

Another Volkswagen bus with 

number plates: EPE 580 XP, a 

Mitsubushi space wagon with 

number plates: SMK 455 AL , 

two Toyota Camry cars with 

•...as Police arrest 57 cultists during initiation 

The suspected cultists. 

numbers plates: BD9 760 DH 

and LSD 506 EC, were also 

recovered. 

Some of the suspected cultists 

according to the command boss, 

Imohimi Edgal were half out of 

their minds at the time they were 

arrested, due to drug overdose. 

I was lured with 8 

bottles of beer 

However, one of the newly 

initiated cultists, Mujeeb Idris, 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—ONE person died, 

while three other members 

of his family are lying critically 

ill in hospital after eating 

cassava meal at Igogoro, Enugu 

Ezike, in Igboeze North Local 

Government Area of Enugu 

State, weekend. 

The incident reportedly 

occurred at Umuaba area when 

one Mr. Clement Urama, who 

ate the cassava meal with three 

of his children, began to feel 

uneasy shortly after dinner on 

Saturday night. 

It was gathered that as effort 

By Esther Onyegbula 

LAGOS—A bank robbery 

suspect, Ewuzie Mike, 29, 

has said he is not a robber, but 

only carry out spy work for a 

robbery ganag. 

Mike, Police said, a member 

of the three-man robbery gang 

that attacked a pregnant woman, 

who had gone to withdraw 

money from a second generation 

bank at Oba Elegushi area 

Lekki, Lagos, weekend, was 

arrested and a Berreta pistol with 

two live ammunition recovered 

a Junior Secondary School 1 

student, claimed that he was 

lured with eight bottles of beer 

to the initiation ground by a 

man he referred to 

as Egbon, in Orile. 

Idris (15), who stated that he 

also operates a tricycle in Orile, 

where he lives with his parents, 

said: “Egbon invited me to 

Savage bar at Orile where he 

bought a cartoon of Goldberg 

for me and some other youths. 

was being made to rush him to 

hospital, three of his children 

also started feeling dizzy, 

prompting neighbours to rush 

all of them to the nearby Bishop 

Shanahan Hospital, Annex, 

Ogrute. 

At the intensive care unit of 

the hospital, the patients were 

administered with blood 

infusions, as their blood levels 

were said to have gone down 

considerably. 

However, the father, 

Clement, was said to have died 

after some hours in hospital, 

while his three children were 

referred to another hospital in 

from him. 

Parading the suspects 

alongside 67 other suspects, 

Commissioner of Police, Lagos 

State Police Command, 

Imohimi Edgal, said the 

command received a distress 

call at 1:35p.m., consequent 

upon which operatives of the 

command were swiftly 

mobilised to the scene, where 

they met three armed men 

dispossessing a pregnant 

woman of her valuables. 

According to Edgal, “on 

sighting the operatives, two of 

“By the time I finished eight 

bottles, I became tipsy and slept 

off. The next time I opened my 

eyes, I found myself in a beach 

with some boys . I was blindfolded 

and had my right thumb pieced 

with broken bottle. Thereafter, I 

was asked to lick the blood. 

“They also gave me a liquid 

concoction to drink. Later, 

somebody announced ’welcome 

to Aiye cult. You have now 

blended’.” 

Man dies, 3 others hospitalised 

after cassava meal in Enugu 

Enugu, where doctors are still 

battling to save their lives. 

A relation of Clement, Francis, 

who confirmed the story, said the 

deceased had four children, but 

that his wife and the fourth child 

did not eat the cassava meal 

because they were not home 

when the meal was prepared. 

According to Francis, “the wife 

went to sympathise with 

somebody, who was bereaved, 

when her children prepared the 

meal. 

“We are lucky because all the 

six members of the family did not 

eat the cassava. It would have 

been something else.” 

I'm not a robber; I only spy for the gang—B 

the robbers escaped, abandoning 

a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle with 

number plates GGE-315-GE, 

while the third suspect was 

arrested and a Berreta pistol with 

two live ammunition recovered 

from him. 

Suspect’s confession 

He said: “My name is Ewuzie 

Mike, aged 29. I am an errand 

boy. I am a jobless street boy. I 

am still searching for a job. I was 

arrested by the Police because I 

am a spy, I am not an armed 

robber.

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018—7 


Dead patient saga: Segun Arinze’s allegations malicious, unverified—Hospital 

By Rotimi Agbana 

LAGOS—LAST Wednesday, 

popular Nigerian actor and 

filmmaker, Segun Arinze, accused 

the management of Doren 

Specialist Hospital, located in the 

Ajah axis of Lagos, of refusing to 

treat an accident victim, who was 

rushed into its emergency unit for 

undisclosed reasons. 

According to the veteran actor, 

By Innocent Anaba 

A 

former Acting Director 

General of the Nigerian 

Maritime Administration and 

Safety Agency, NIMASA, Calistus 

Obi, yesterday admitted that part 

of the N331million belonging to 

the agency which he was alleged 

to have diverted was used in 

building a hotel. 

He made the revelation under 

cross-examination at his on-going 

trial over the alleged offence 

before Justice Mojisola 

Olatoregun of a Federal High 

Court sitting in Lagos. 

The Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, is 

prosecuting Obi, alongside one, 

Alu Dismas, a former personal 

nk robbery suspect 

“I only help them to monitor 

those they ask me to monitor and 

then give them all the necessary 

information they will use to carry 

out their operation. 

“I usually provide information 

for CoCo, Hywuai and Obilo, 

who are currently at large. I 

don’t know their houses. 

Usually, Coco calls me on the 

phone to meet him at a particular 

venue. 

“He is the one that chooses the 

location of our meeting. I have 

worked for him twice. 

“The first time, he asked me to 

•...I’ve nothing more to say— Arinze 

the hospital’s refusal to attend to 

the patient eventually led to his 

death. 

However, the management of 

Doren Specialist Hospital has 

discredited Segun Arinze’s 

allegations, describing it as 

“malicious and unverified.” 

A management staff of the 

assistant to the immediate past DG 

of NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, 

and two firms on an 8-count charge 

of converting N331 million 

belonging to agency for personal 

use. 

The two firms involved are; 

Grand Pact Limited and Global Sea 

Investment. 

While being cross-examined by 

the EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi 

Oyedepo, the witness, who was 

also a former NIMASA Executive 

Director, Maritime Labour and 

Cabotage Service, disclosed that 

he transferred part of the 

allegedly diverted money to a 

firm known as Seastroke 

International, which built a hotel 

for him in Asaba, Delta State. 

He however, claimed he has 

trail a car heading towards Mile 

2. I don’t know what he got from 

the operation. All I did was spy 

on the victim and provide him 

with relevant information. 

“After each operation, he gives 

me money. The first operation he 

gave me N20,000. The gun is for 

Koko; it fell while he was 

escaping from the scene. 

“It was during the operation, 

when policemen almost 

apprehended him that he 

escaped with the bike. Koko is 

the one that oversees the 

operation.” 

hospital, Uwaezuoke Nduaka, 

said: “The attention of Doren 

Specialist Hospital has been 

drawn to the unverified 

statements and images made by 

Mr. Segun Arinze and shared 

by him on his social media 

handle in respect of a man who 

he falsely alleged was refused 

C C T V 

FOOTA GE 

GRABS: Doren's 

doctor checking the 

patient (above); the 

doctor walking back 

inside after certifying 

the man ‘dead at 

presentation’ (left). 

I used NIMASA money to build 

hotel, former DG tells court 

refunded the money when 

asked to do so by the EFCC. 

“I used part of the money to 

build my hotel constructed by 

Seastroke International. But the 

money has since been refunded 

to the EFCC. 

“The hotel is located 

somewhere in Asaba, Delta 

State. I can’t recollect the 

address now. The building is 

completed and is already 

functioning. The title 

document of the hotel is being 

processed but I have the 

Certificate of Occupancy (C of 

O) and I can produce it before 

the court,” he said. 

At this juncture, Obi’s 

lawyer, Wale Akoni, SAN 

expressed his disapproval of 

Oyedepo’s questioning his 

client about the title document 

of the hotel. 

In a short ruling, the court 

while dismissing Akoni’s 

objections held that “the 

questions asked on the title 

document is in order and the 

issue of the EFCC trying to 

forcefully seize it does not 

arise.” 

Further hearing in the 

matter has been adjourned to 

March 7. 

In the charge marked FHC/ 

L/148C/16, the accused 

persons were said to have 

committed the offence on 

August 5, 2014. 

medical attention by our 

hospital. 

“The patient was rushed into 

the hospital on February 21, 

2018 at about 11a.m., by a 

group of people, who said he 

was electrocuted. 

“What we normally do at the 

emergency entrance is that 

when a patient is brought in 

and appears lifeless, we confirm 

that the person is still alive, that 

he/she has pulse then we admit 

the patient. 

“A doctor from Doren 

Specialist Hospital promptly 

assessed the man and certified 

him ‘dead at presentation’. The 

people who brought him were 

informed that the man was dead 

and were advised to take the 

man to a morgue, since the 

hospital does not run mortuary 

services. 

“The people who brought the 

dead man, rather than take the 

corpse to the morgue, instead 

resorted to create a scene and 

disrupt the operations of the 

hospital. 

“As a point of duty, we at 

Doren Specialist Hospital 

attend to all emergencies as they 

present and do not put cost as 

a prerequisite for first aid 

treatment to be administered. 

“Having said this, our media 

team and concerned Nigerians 

have addressed Segun Arinze’s 

post on his page and he took it 

down. We even engaged him 

privately, but he said he is a 

public figure; we should talk to 

him on the public post.” 

He added that though the 

popular actor has taken down 

the post after much consultation, 

the hospital is still battling with 

the adverse effects of the 

unverified post which has since 

gone viral. 

His words: “Now that he has 

taken the post down, we are still 

battling with the ripple effect 

created by this unverified fake 

news. 

“We demand that Segun 

Arinze should return to the 

same channel used to spread 

this fake news and tender an 

unreserved apology to the 

management and staff of Doren 

Specialist Hospital. 

“At the same time he should 

publish his apology on the 

online media platform and at 

least two national newspapers, 

that he reaches out to all the 

social platforms that are within 

his reach, which had reposted 

and retweeted his fake news to 

withdraw their posts and tell the 

true side of the story.” 

When Vanguard reached out 

to Segun Arinze on the matter, 

he revealed that he had said 

what he had to say about the 

incident and it was a done deal. 

His words: “I have said what 

I wanted to say about this 

incident, I have nothing more 

to say. 

“Many of your people have 

been calling me, but I’m done 

with it so just let it go.” 

EFCC quizzes 

Senator 

Oduah over 

N9.4b airport 

contract 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

FORMER Minister of 

Aviation, Senator Stella 

O d u a h , 

was yesterday questioned 

for over ten hours by 

operatives of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission over what she 

knows about the award of 

award and implementation 

of the N9.4 billion contract 

for the provision of security 

in 22 airports across 

Nigeria. 

It was not clear as at the 

time of filing the report if 

she would be admitted on 

administrative bail and 

when she would leave the 

EFCC premises. 

The EFCC invited the 

former minister now a 

sitting Senator 

representing Anambra 

State to its head office in 

Abuja to clear the air on the 

contract, which the antigraft 

agency said was not 

properly executed and the 

money laundered. 

But Oduah denies the 

claim, insisting that she did 

no wrong while she held 

sway as Aviation Minister 

under former President 

Goodluck Jonathan and 

has not been able to 

honour the EFCC 

invitation to speak up on 

the 

matter 

until yesterday morning 

when she presented 

herself to her 

interrogators. 

An official of the agency 

confirmed to Vanguard 

that Senator Oduah 

finally honoured EFCC 

invitation yesterday around 11 

am when she walked into 

the waiting hands of 

operatives, who 

immediately took her in 

for questioning. 

The official said, “Oduah 

arrived the headquarters 

of the agency in Abuja at 

about 11am and was still 

being grilled by a team of 

investigators by 6pm. 

“She was invited over a 

number 

of 

allegations bordering on 

abuse of office and money 

laundering. One of the 

allegations concerns fraud 

in the N9.4bn ISEC contract 

for security installations in 

some airports. 

“She was invited on 

three different occasions 

to report for interview on 

the 13th June 13, 2017; 

June 29, 2017 and 

November 13, 2017, but she 

failed to honour any of the 

invitations.”

8—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 


FG to announce new minimum 

wage Sept — Minister 

•We’ll oppose moves to frustrate new minimum 

wage —NLC •Intensify participation in political 

arena, Jega tells workers 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru & 

Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA—MINISTER of 

Labour and 

Employment, Dr Chris 

Ngige, has assured workers 

across the country that the 

Federal Government would 

announce a new minimum 

wage by September this year. 

He gave the assurance 

while speaking at the 40th 

anniversary of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, in 

Abuja, yesterday. 

According to Ngige, the 

Federal Government is 

currently receiving 

memoranda from relevant 

bodies and persons to enable 

the determination of a new 

minimum wage for the 

nation. 

The minister added that the 

Buhari-led administration 

was not unmindful of the fact 

that some state governors are 

unable to pay the current 

N18, 000 minimum wage. 

He, however, appealed to 

workers for more time and 

understanding to enable the 

Federal Government ensure 

all state governments comply 

with the yet-to-be announced 

new minimum wage. 

He said: “Memoranda are 

being received from relevant 

bodies and persons to enable 

the determination of a new 

minimum wage for the 

nation. By the third quarter 

of this year, a new minimum 

wage will be announced for 

the country. 

“Better late than never 

because some state governors 

are still owing and cannot pay 

the current N18,000 

minimum wage to workers. 

That’s why we are ensuring 

we bring all stakeholders 

along and announce the new 

minimum wage at the 

appropriate time." 

We’ll oppose moves 

to frustrate new 

minimum wage 

—NLC 

In his remarks, President of 

the NLC, Comrade Ayuba 

Wabba, maintained that the 

current demand for the 

review of the current N18, 000 

minimum wage was borne 

out of the current reality of 

higher cost of living, free-fall 

of naira, and high cost of 

goods and services. 

He vowed to mobilise 

workers to resist any attempt 

to frustrate the current moves 

to give workers an improved 

minimum wage. 

He said: “Let me use this 

medium to serve notice to 

those who seek to slow down 

and frustrate the process of 

review of the national 

minimum wage that they 

will be resisted in like manner 

as our predecessors did." 

Intensify 

participation in 

political arena, Jega 

tells workers 

The immediate past 

chairman of the Independent 

National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, Prof. 

Attahiru Jega, in his lecture, 

entitled: “Labour, Politics, and 

Governance in Nigeria,” 

described trade unionism as 

a potent tool for conscientising 

the Nigerian people on the 

need to be liberated from all 

forms of exploitation and 

domination. 

He said in the past 40 

years, the journey for the 

protection and advancement 

of the collective interests of 

the Nigerian workers as well 

as the overall interest of the 

Nigerian people has been 

smeared with the sweat and 

blood of trade unionists who 

pursued a vision of national 

liberation more than 

contribution to national 

development. 

Jega argued that it was 

necessary for the labour 

movement and the working 

peoples of Nigeria to intensify 

participation in electoral 

processes, policy and 

legislation making processes, 

economic arena, and 

partnership with credible civil 

society. 

MTV SHUGA NAIJA PREMIERE: From left, Strategic 

Advisory/Government Relations, ASG Ekenem Isichei; Executive 

Director MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Senior Vice President 

of Social Responsibility for MTV Networks International, Georgia 

Arnold; Senior Programme Officer. Bill and Melinda Gates 

Foundation, Ms. Rodio Diallo; Executive Vice President and 

Managing Director of Viacom International Media Networks Africa, 

Alex Okosi, and Country Director, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 

Nigeria, Dr Paulin Basinga, at MTV Shuga Naija (Season 6) premiere 

in Lagos. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

7 killed, houses razed as Christian, Muslim 

youths clash in Kaduna over inter-faith dating 

•El-Rufai demands prosecution of culprits 

By Ben Agande 

KADUNA—NO fewer 

than seven persons 

were killed, yesterday, 

while 15 others were 

injured, as Christian and 

Muslim youths clashed at 

Kasuwan Magani Local 

Government Area of 

Kaduna State over forcible 

conversion and dating of 

girls of opposite faith 

Several houses were also 

set ablaze in the bloody 

clash. 

There were conflicting 

reports on what triggered 

the crisis but one account 

said some Christian youths 

in the town went about 

beating girls for allegedly 

dating Muslim boys, while 

another account claimed 

that some youths in the area 

went berserk when report 

filtered into town that there 

was an attempt to forcibly 

convert some Christian 

girls who were allegedly 

taken to the residence of the 

local chief. 

It was, however, 

gathered that there had 

been simmering crisis in 

the area between adherents 

of the two faith before 

things came to a head 

yesterday morning. 

The community, which is 

about 31 kilometers from 

Kaduna city, is located 

along the highway 

connecting Plateau, 

Nasarawa and Benue 

states as well as the 

southern part of Kaduna 

State. 

Commuters plying that 

route were stranded for 

several hours, following the 

incident. 

Residents alleged that 

security personnel did not 

arrived until around 2 pm 

when a combined team of 

soldiers and police were 

deployed to tackle the 

situation. 

Spokesman of Kaduna 

State Police Command, 

Aliyu Mukhtar, told 

Vanguard in a telephone 

interview that the situation 

had been brought under 

control. 

Aliyu said Assistant 

Commissioner of Police in 

charge of Operations had 

relocated to the area. 

He said: “We got a 

distress called in the 

morning that there was 

tension in Kasuwa 

Magani. The Assistant 

Commissioner of Police is 

already there as I am talking 

to you with his men. 

“Mobile policemen have 

been deployed to the place. 

So the situation has been 

brought under control. 

‘’I cannot give details 

about the cause of the 

problem now until 

investigations are 

concluded. We are yet to 

obtain the number of 

casualties but we are on top 

of the situation,” he said. 

El-Rufai 

demands 

No plan to re-introduce 

onshore/offshore 

dichotomy —FG 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government, yesterday, 

said there was no plan to reintroduce 

the abolished 

onshore/offshore dichotomy 

in revenue allocation or 

derivation. 

The clarification by the 

Federal Government came 

on the heels of the allegation 

that the report of Governor 

Nasir El-Rufai-ledAll 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, on the proposed 

restructuring of the country 

that was before the National 

Working Committee of the 

party, had recommended 

that the oil, gas and other 

minerals devolved to the 

state and that offshore belong 

to the Federal Government. 

It was alleged that from the 

APC report on proposed 

restructuring, its 

prosecution 

culprits 

In a swift reaction, 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai 

directed that all persons 

responsible for the crisis be 

arrested and prosecuted. 

A statement by his 

spokeman, Samuel 

Aruwan, said while 

condemning the incidence, 

Governor El-Rufai 

expressed his sympathy to 

those affected by the 

incidence. 

He directed the State 

Emergency Management 

Agency, SEMA, to take 

inventory of damage done 

and provide relief materials 

with immediate effect. 

The statement added that 

security forces had been 

deployed to contain the 

situation, protect lives and 

property and prevent any 

further breakdown of law 

and order. 

The governor urged all 

citizens and communities to 

reject violence and division, 

and uphold their 

neighbours in peace and 

harmony. 

recommendation intended to 

deprive the littoral states of 

Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, 

Delta, Lagos, among others, 

of the derivation content of 

revenue allocation. 

But debunking the 

allegation, Senior Special 

Assistant to the President 

(Senate) on National 

Assembly Matters, Senator 

Ita Enang, said there was no 

suggestion made for the 

abrogation of the Act in the 

recommendations and that 

there was no proposed bill 

drafted in the report. 

He said: “At no point has 

it been recommended for the 

onshore/offshore dichotomy 

to be re-introduced or 

enforced and the Federal 

Government is not doing so 

at this moment. May this be 

enough to allay the fears of 

the agitated or lay to rest the 

malicious issues raised by 

false alarmists.” 

APC NEC holds today, 

amidst lobby for extension 

of NWC 

By Emmanuel 

Aziken, Political 

Editor 

NATIONAL Executive 

Committee, NEC, of 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, is expected to hold 

today with state chairmen 

of the party canvassing an 

extension of the tenure of 

the party executives at all 

levels. 

The campaign of the state 

chairmen came ahead of 

speculations that the NEC 

would dissolve John 

Odigie-Oyegun-led 

national executive of the 

party. 

That move, Vanguard 

learned, is, however, being 

strongly opposed by the 

majority of the governors, 

despite the alleged support 

of the dissolution by 


Buhari and the party’s lead 

trouble shooter, Asiwaju 

Bola Tinubu. 

Today’s NEC meeting is 

expected to set the date for 

the national convention of 

the ruling party, which, if it 

holds, would come at least 

more than two years late. 

The national convention 

of the party under its 

constitution is supposed to 

hold every two years, and 

it has been due since 2016. 

The party has been largely 

faulted for failure to hold 

statutory meetings, 

including NEC, national 

caucus and has also been 

unable to inaugurate its 

Board of Trustees, BoT. 

Ahead of the 

apprehension of the fate of 

the National Working 

Committee, NWC, the 

party’s state chairmen in a 

meeting, yesterday, 

resolved, among others, 

that all standing structures 

of the party be sustained in 

the face of what the 

chairmen said was the short 

period between the 

expected national 

convention and the 

commencement of 

primaries for the 2019 

general elections.

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018—9 


Double registration: Gov Bello has 

no case to answer — INEC 

•As gov gets new voter's card 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo & 

Omeiza Ajayi 

LOKOJA— 

THE 

scandal that trailed 

Governor Yahaya Bello of 

Kogi State’s double 

registration last year has 

finally been resolved in 

favour of the governor as 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, has issued him a 

new voter's card. 

The governor had last 

Friday, picked his new 

Temporary Voters Card at 

INEC office in his country 

home, Okene, 

headquarters of Okene 

Local Government Area of 

the state. 

Bello, who first registered 

in Abuja before becoming 

governor, had tried 

unsuccessfully to transfer 

his registration to Kogi and 

was, a few months ago, 

accused by INEC to have 

registered within the 

precinct of the Kogi State 

Government House, 

Lokoja. 

The development forced 

INEC to cancel both 

registrations, and relieve its 

staff involved of their jobs. 

But last Friday’s 

collection/registration by 

the governor at INEC 

office, Okene, seems to 

have changed the 

narrative. 

Responding to inquiry on 

the governor’s new 

registration, Director- 

General, Media and 

Publicity to the Governor, 

Kingsley Fanwo, said it was 

not a new registration but 

that the governor went to 

pick his temporary voters 

card transferred to INEC’s 

Okene Office. 

“Yes, his card has been 

transferred to his polling 

unit at Okene. He has been 

on this for long but thank 

God INEC has finally done 

it. The governor is a lawabiding 

leader who will 

continue to follow due 

processes," Fanwo said. 

The commission also 

corroborated the 

governor’s spokesperson, 

saying the governor had 

now fulfilled all procedures 

and had no case to answer. 

Kogi HOD, Voter 

Education and Publicity of 

INEC, Mr. Ahmed Biambo 

who responded on behalf 

of the electoral commission 

in a statement, yesterday, 

said: “Following 

enquiries, INEC, Kogi 

State, wishes to inform the 

public that the governor, 

Alhaji Yahaya Bello, 

formally applied for transfer 

on January 26, 2018, 

through the Electoral 

Officer, INEC Okene LGA. 

"Having satisfied that he 

met the requirements for 

such transfer in accordance 

with the provisions of the 

Electoral Act and 

Guidelines, the Resident 

Electoral Commission of 

Kogi State approved the 

transfer of his registration 

from the Federal Capital 

Territory, Abuja to Okene 

LGA of Kogi State." 

PDP, Faleke react 

But the development has 

generated reactions in the 

political sphere of the state, 

2019 election sequence still 

intact —INEC 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT 


Commission, INEC, said, 

yesterday, it has not tinkered 

with the 2019 election 

timetable and schedule of 

activities, saying it arrived at 

the current election sequence 

not just based on its mandate 

but also on extant laws. 

INEC Chairman, Prof. 

Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed 

this at the regular 

consultative meeting with the 

media in Abuja. 

Though he was quick to 

concede that INEC was not 

defying the National 

Assembly, Yakubu said the 

commission was operating 

based on existing laws and 

not on conjectures or yet-tobe 

enacted laws. 

He said: “On January 9, we 

issued the timetable and 

schedule of activities for the 

2019 general elections based 

on our powers and extant 

laws and nothing has 

changed. There is a principle 

behind the choice of these 

as some questioned 

INEC's final decision on 

the case. 

In its reaction, Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

asked INEC to come to 

equity with clean hands 

and explain the mystery 

surrounding the collection 

of PVC by Governor 

Yahaya Bello. 

Director, Research and 

Documentation of the PDP 

in the state, Achadu 

Dickson, said the governor 

was culpable, having been 

registered twice, once in 

Abuja and another in Kogi 

State Government House. 

The party wondered why 

dates: as our democracy 

matures, we should be 

moving from uncertainty to 

certainty. 

“As far as the commission is 

concerned, there is no legal 

lacuna for now. We are 

working based on existing 

laws, but if something 

happens tomorrow, we will 

come out clear and tell 

Nigerians, but I think we are 

not operating based on 

conjectures.” 

INEC backtracked over its 

decision on the cancellation 

of both registrations. 

He said: “INEC must 

come clear with what is 

happening and the 

circumstances surrounding 

the governor's double 

registration, most especially 

that the governor has been 

dragged to court, having 

allegedly registered twice 

as even alleged by INEC." 

Also reacting, deputy 

governorship candidate of 

APC in Kogi 2016 guber 

election, James Faleke, said 

INEC must also recall its 

sacked workers since the 

scandalous deed was 

carried out together with 

the governor. 

CONFERENCE: From left, Executive Secretary of Lake Chad 

Commission, Mr Sanusi Imran; Minister of Water Resources, Mr 

Suleiman Admu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Deputy Director- 

General of UNESCO, Mr Getachew Engida and Secretary to the 

Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, at the 

international conference on Lake Chad in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: 

NAN. 

On vote-buying 

He also expressed worry 

over the monetization of the 

electoral process, especially 

with regards to vote-buying, 

saying INEC was 

collaborating with security 

agencies, including 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

to halt the trend. 

“INEC is worried on the 

issue of vote-buying. Ours is 

a democracy...by the people 

and for the people. It must 

not be a plutocracy for the 

rich,” he stated. 

Yakubu added that the 

commission was wellprepared 

for the elections, 

expressing optimism that his 

continued engagement with 

critical stakeholders in the 

electoral process would 

translate to a free, fair and 

credible general elections. 

“I wish to report that we 

have finished all the 

preparatory steps, which is 

planning, for the 2019 

general elections,” he said, 

adding that the commission 

had also taken practical steps 

to implement provisions of 

the Election Project Plan. 

He appealed to Nigerians 

to give consideration to 

special persons during 

elections, especially pregnant 

and lactating women, persons 

living with disabilities as well 

as the aged, adding that the 

commission is constantly 

improving on making the 

voting process easier for such 

persons. 

“Under the ongoing 

Continuous Voter 

Registration, CVR, we are 

also capturing data by 

disability so that we will know 

which poling units to provide 

with magnifying glasses for 

the visually impaired, ramps 

or other disability aid,” he 

explained." 

Ortom raises fresh 

concerns over herdsmen 

incursions in Benue 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI — 

GOVERNOR 

Samuel Ortom of Benue 

State, yesterday, raised 

fresh concerns about 

herdsmen incursions in the 

state, lamenting that there 

had been influx of over one 

million cattle into the state 

after the launch of Exercise 

Ayem A’ Kpatuma by the 

military to check herdsmen 

killings in the state. 

The governor spoke, 

yesterday, at the funeral site 

of the 73 victims of 

herdsmen attack buried on 

January 11, 2018, in 

Makurdi when he took 

Senior Pastor of Dunamis 

International Gospel 

Centre, Dr. Pastor Paul 

Enenche, and his wife, 

Pastor Becky, to the 

cemetery. 

He appealed to the 

military to flush out the 

invaders so that the over 

160,000 displaced persons 

who were in the eight 

camps created for the 

displaced persons in the 

state could return to their 

homes. 

“More than 60 people 

have been killed since the 

mass burial, with three of 

the victims killed last week 

in Guma Local 

Government Area by 

herdsmen,’’ the governor 

said. 

Pastor Enenche, who 

prayed for the repose of the 

souls of the dead, declared 

that the burial would also 

connote the internment of 

government and security 

failure, impunity, jihadist 

agenda and all forms of evil 

in the country. 

He prayed for God’s 

justice and judgment 

against the killers and their 

sponsors throughout the 

country and charged the 

earth to rise against them. 

How Commonwealth can 

outgrow its current 

position, by Ekweremadu 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA— DEPUTY 

Senate President, Ike 

Ekweremadu, has said if 

the Commonwealth must 

outgrow its present 

position, achieve 

prosperity, peace, security, 

and sustainable 

development, it must 

address the issues of 

inequity, natural resource 

depletion, and disrespect 

for human rights and rule 

of law. 

According to 

Ekweremadu, it is high 

time the Commonwealth 

transcended the 

Commonwealth of Nations 

to Commonwealth of 

People to ensure that 

everybody counted. 

He stated this in London, 

yesterday, while 

addressing the opening 

session of the inaugural 

Commonwealth 

Parliamentarians’ Forum 

currently engaging on the 

agenda themes of the 

Commonwealth Heads of 

State and Government 

Meeting, CHOGM, 

scheduled for London in 

April this year. 

In a statement, yesterday, 

by his Special Adviser, 

Media, Uche Anichukwu, 

the Deputy Senate 

President commended 

CHOGM 2018 for focusing 

on boosting intra- 

Commonwealth trade and 

investment, increasing 

cooperation on the war 

against global terrorism 

and organised crimes, 

building member states’ 

resilence to deal with the 

effects of climate change, 

and promoting democratic 

values across member 

nations. 

Ekweremadu said: “The 

truth is that the world may 

never enjoy true prosperity 

and sustainability in the 

absence of security, justice, 

and fairness. Security itself 

is a direct derivative of 

fairness and prosperity. 

“So long as there is 

injustice, unequal or unfair 

distribution of resources, 

opportunities, and 

prosperity; so long as 

unabated hunger, poverty, 

and preventable diseases 

pillage the overwhelming 

majority, for so long will 

peace and security continue 

to elude the world. 

“Importantly, the 

insecurity of a part is the 

insecurity of the whole. The 

rule is that when evil men 

and women conspire, the 

good men and women must 

congregate, and always 

keep steps ahead.” 

He described the 

protracted Boko Haram 

insurgency and herdsmen/ 

farmers crises as practical 

examples of how natural 

resource depletion and 

inequality adversely affect 

security and prosperity. 

He explained: “Lake 

Chad, which is a major 

source of livelihood for 

parts of Niger Republic, 

Chad, Nigeria, and 

Cameroon has shrunk from 

25,000 square kilometres in 

the 1960s to just 2,500 

square kilometres today."

10 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 


Ambode signs N1.046trn Appropriation 

Bill into law...Two other bills too 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

L 

A G O S — 

GOVERNOR 

Akinwunmi Ambode of 

Lagos State, yesterday 

signed the 2018 

Appropriation Bill of the 

State into law with a total 

budget size of 

N1,046,121,181,680. 

The governor appended 

his signature to the budget, 

termed, Progress and 

Development”, at a brief 

ceremony, held at the Lagos 

House, Ikeja. 

Ambode, also signed two 

other bills into law. They are 

the Consolidated Transport 

Sector Bill and the Lagos 

State Teaching Service 

Commission Bill. 

The Transport Sector Law 

2018 provides for the 

development and 

management of a 

sustainable transport system 

in the State, as well as 

development, management 

and maintenance of 

transport infrastructure and 

facilities within the State. 

The law also regulates the 

provision of an efficient 

transport delivery system 

and ensures availability of 

a safe and affordable 

transportation system. 

It is hoped that with this 

law, an efficient integrated 

transport management 

system will evolve in the 


Also, the Teaching Service 

Commission Law 2018 

provides for the control and 

management of teaching 

service matters in the State, 

and for connected 

purposes. 

The law regulates and coordinates 

the management 

of teaching service matters 

and provides uniform 

guidelines for the effective 

management of Post- 

Primary Schools in the 


On the budget, last year 

December, Ambode, while 

presenting the 2018 

Appropriation Bill to the 

State House of Assembly, 

pledged that his 

administration would make 

every effort to complete all 

ongoing projects as well as 

initiate new ones to 

consolidate on the 

achievements recorded in 

the last two and half years. 

Commissioner for 

Economic Planning and 

Budget, Mr. Olusegun 

Banjo, giving the 

breakdown of the budget, 

said capital expenditure 

would gulp N699.082 

billion, while N347.039 

billion would be dedicated 

to recurrent expenditure, 

representing a Capital/ 

Recurrent ratio of 67 per 

cent to 33 per cent and a 

28.67 per cent increase over 

2017 budget. 

He also listed key projects 

captured in the 2018 

Budget to include the 

Agege Pen Cinema flyover; 

alternative routes through 

Oke-Ira in Eti-Osa to Epe- 

Lekki Expressway; the 8km 

Regional Road to serve as 

alternative route to connect 

Victoria Garden City (VGC) 

with Freedom Road in 

Lekki Phase I; completion 

of the on-going 

reconstruction of Oshodi 

International Airport Road 

into a 10-lane road and the 

BRT Lane from Oshodi to 

Abule-Egba. 

According to sectoral 

breakdown of the budget, 

General Public Services is 

earmarked to gulp 

N171,623bn, representing 

16.41 per cent; Public 

Order and Safety, N46.612 

billion, representing 4.46; 

Economic Affairs, 

N473,866bn, representing 

45.30 per cent; 

Environmental Protection, 

N54,582 billion, 

representing 5.22 per 

VISIT: From left, Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University , Prof. Chinedu 

Babalola, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chatting with Bursar, Mr. 

Emmanuel Ogunwole and a Lecturer in the Department of Mass 

Communication , Mr. Ariba during Chrisland University Officials’ visit to 

the Former President recently. 

LASG seeks residents’ cooperation as 

Land Use Charge implementation begins 

By Peter Egwuatu 

LAGOS 

State 

Government 

yesterday said it had begun 

the distribution of the 2018 

Land Use Charge demand 

notices for properties across 

the state. 


Finance, Mr Akinyemi 

Ashade, who made this 

known, said the distribution 

which commenced last 

week ought to have been 

carried out much earlier in 

the year but was delayed by 

a review of the Land Use 

Charge Act by the State 

House of Assembly. 

He said the review 

process entailed a repeal of 

the old law, public hearings 

and enactment of a 

replacement by the House 

of Assembly on January 28, 

before it was signed into 

law on February 8. 

According to Ashade, 

the State House of 

Assembly decided to 

review the law in the light 

of some of the 

inefficiencies that had 

become associated with the 

old Land Use Charge act. 

“As noted by the Speaker 

of the Lagos House of 

Assembly, only a small 

fraction of taxable properties 

were actually remitting 

Land Use Charge to the 

government. To make 

matters worse, the land use 

charge rates had over time 

gradually become rather 

obsolete,” Ashade said in a 

statement. 

In addition, he said, 

determination of the rates 

payable by property 

owners was often 

questionable because the 

formula could be applied 

in a subjective manner. 

Security operators association tasks FG on 

abducted 110 Yobe schoolgirls 

By Evelyn Usman 

L 

A G O S — 

ASSOCIATION 

of Industrial Security and 

Safety Operators of 

Nigeria, AISSON, 

yesterday in Lagos, 

advised the Federal 

Government to set up a 

special task force to 

investigate and rescue the 

110 school girls abducted 

from Dapchi, Yobe State, 

last Monday by the Boko 

Haram sect. 

President of AISSON, Dr 

Ona Ekhomu, who gave 

the advice while reacting to 

the abduction, said aside 

adopting sound 

investigative strategies to 

speedily rescue the Dapchi 

girls, a bounty of at least 

N50 million should be 

placed on any information 

Ex-Daily Times MD launches 

book 

L AGOS—FORMER 

Managing Director of 

Daily Times, Chief Tola 

Adeniyi will Thursday, 

March 1, 2018, launch a 

new book titled: ‘In the belly 

of vultures.’ 

The book, which will be 

launched in Lagos, is a 

1,238-page compendium of 

some of his published 

articles pertinent to the 

decisive understanding of 

contemporary issues in 

Nigeria and trending 

significant global topics. 

In a statement, Chief 

Adeniyi said the volume, 

which “has been adjudged 

a collector’s item”, will be 

launched at NECA House, 

A2, Hakeem Balogun 

Street, Alausa, Ikeja in 

Lagos, by 11am. 

ADEBOYE @ 76: RCCG 76 

Hours Marathon Messiah’s 

Praise 2018 begins 

By Sam Eyoboka & 

Olayinka Latona 

LAGOS—THE much 

advertised 76 Hours 

Marathon Messiah’s 

Praise—-the world’s longest 

annual non-stop gospel 

musical event in honour of 

Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the 

General Overseer of the 

Redeemed Christian 

Church of God, RCCG, 

kicked off yesterday at 11.00 

a.m. at the Youth Centre of 

the Redemption Camp 

along the Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway. 

It will be a non-stop 

praise till 3.00 p.m. on 

March 1, 2018. 

Over 100,000 live 

participants including 

Pastor Kunle Ajayi, Bola 

Are, Nathaniel Bassey, 

Bukola Bekes, Dare 

Akinyemi, Efe Nathan, 

Beejay Sax, Busola Martins, 

Odee Equere, Taiwo 

Wemimo among others and 

over 10 million viewers are 

By Dayo Adesulu 

LAGOS—THE Deeper 

Christian Life 

Ministry has sealed a pact 

with communities in and 

around the Gbagada, 

Lagos headquarters of the 

church towards the social, 

economic and 

infrastructure development 

of the community. 

The pact, which will see 

the Deeper Life Church 

expected to attend and 

watch the event across the 

globe with over 4,000 

volunteers already 

registered. 

The 2017 edition had 

about 140 participants led 

by Pastor Kunle Ajayi, the 

church’s music director. The 

theme of this year’s event 

is: “The Great Redeemer.” 

“This theme reflects the 

miraculous and 

unquestionable way that 

God has brought our 

Father-in-the-Lord, Pastor 

Enoch Adejare Adeboye 

this far. It also reflects on 

the ability of God to use 

Marathon Messiah’s Praise 

to birth a new pattern of 

Praise/Worship in our age,” 

a statement by Precious 

Akingbade, the RCCG 

National Young Adults and 

Youth Pastor, at a news 

conference in Lagos said, 

adding: “We are dedicating 

76 out of 8,760 hours of the 

year to praise God for the 

life of Daddy Adeboye.” 

...As Deeper Life seals pact with 

community for socio-economic, 

infrastructure devt 

that could lead to the rescue 

of the girls. 

Ekhomu said: “The matrix 

organization, which should 

report to the National 

Security Adviser, NSA 

should include 

accomplished investigative 

personnel from the Nigeria 

Police Force, the Military 

Provost, Department of State 

Services, National 

Intelligence Agency and 

Federal Ministry of Justice.'' 

continually invest in 

opening of the various 

sections of the community 

through the creating and 

improving of access roads 

and which will involve the 

collaboration of members of 

the community, was sealed 

at a Townhall Meeting 

between the leadership of 

the Church and 

representatives of interest 

groups in and around the 

Gbagada area. 

Speaking at the event, 

General Superintendent of 

the Deeper Christian Life 

Ministry, Pastor William 

Kumuyi, represented by 

Senior Pastor Phillip Oluwi, 

pledged the commitment of 

the Church to attract 

development and also boost 

socio-economic activities in 

the area. 

Pastor Kumuyi, who 

referred to the Deeper Life 

Church as a member of the 

community said the growth 

and progress of the church 

must positively and directly 

reflect on the lives of the 

people and its socioeconomic 

growth.

' 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 — 11 


GOV POLL: Ekiti has 215,000 unclaimed 

PVCs, INEC raises alarm •Vows to stop underaged voters 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

ADO EKITI—THE 

Independent 


Commission, INEC, in 

Ekiti State, yesterday, 

lamented that about 

215,000 Permanent Voter 

Cards, PVCs, are yet to 

be claimed by owners few 

months to election in 

spite of its sensitization 

and campaign 

programmes. 

It also assured that 

underage voting will not be 

witnessed in the 

forthcoming elections. 

Speaking with newsmen 

in Ado-Ekiti, the INEC 

Resident Electoral 

Commissioner in the state, 

Prof Abdulganiy Raji, said: 

“We have done a lot of 

jingles and also working 

with all our outfits in the 16 

local governments for voter 

education, but despite that,, 

our people seem to be 

showing apathy.” 

Raji, however, expressed 

optimism that “all these will 

be collected before that 

election, because our aim is 

to ensure that we have high 

turnout during that election 

like we witnessed on July 

21, 2014.” 

While assuring that cases 

of underage voting won’t be 

allowed during the July 14 

governorship election in 

the state, the REC clarified 

SECURITY SUMMIT; From left; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Chief Moses 

Adeyemo, Chairman; Oyo State Security Trust Fund, Chief Bayo Adelabu; 

Commander, Air Force Base, Ibadan, Air Cdr. Razak Shittu; Oyo State 

Director, DSS, Mr Abdullahi Kure; Oyo SSG, Alhaji Olalekan Alli and Oyo 

State Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Ogunesan at the Oyo State Security Summit & 

Town Hall meeting held at House of Chiefs Secretariat, Ibadan. Photo by Dare Fasube. 

APC MEMBERSHIP: Ondo youths fault 

Akeredolu’s comments on Boroffice 

By Dayo Johnson 

A KURE—YOUTHS 

under the aegis of 

Progressives Youth League, 

PYL, in Ondo State 

yesterday picked holes in 

Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu’s outburst on the 

senator representing Ondo 

North senatorial district, 

Prof. Ajayi Boroffice. 

Governor Akeredolu had 

said that Prof. Boroffice is 

not representing the party 

and state in the National 

Assembly. 

A statement signed by its 

coordinator, Akinsola 

Olagbegi made available to 

Vanguard, in Akure, said 

that Governor Akeredolu is 

not more committed to the 

ideals and ideologies of 

APC than Senator Boroffice. 

Olagbegi said: 

“Obviously, the remark 

made by the governor is 

misleading. The remark 

has the potency to reignite 

and trigger conflicts and 

crises within the All 


APC, in Ondo State. 

“Like the media has 

reported, Senator Boroffice 

is a member of the APC. His 

membership of the APC 

is not a subject of debate . 

It is incontestable. 

“As the 2019 general 

elections get nearer, we 

believe all party leaders 

and members should set 

aside individual differences 

in order to work in unison 

for the electoral success of 

the party at all levels. The 

APC is big enough for all 

our party members to 

operate. 

“Finally, we wish to 

express confidence in the 

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu-led 

presidential committee that 

has the mandate to ensure 

reconciliation and 

confidence building 

towards improving 

cohesion within the party. 

“Furthermore, the 

reconciliatory committee 

should make Ondo State 

the priority on the list of 

states to be visited. The 

intervention of the 

committee is essential 

because the support base of 

the governor is not up to 

30% membership strength 

of the party. 

“This fact was 

corroborated by the scanty 

crowd that attended the 

purported unification rally 

the governor hosted last 

Saturday. 

Olagbegi noted that :“It is 

crystal clear that without 

genuine reconciliation 

between party leaders and 

the rank and file of the APC 

in Ondo State, the party will 

lose the 2019 general 

elections.” 

Governor Akeredolu had 

said during a rally, on 

Saturday, that he does not 

recognise the senator as 

representing the state. 

that the electoral body has 

not allowed such tendency 

during registration 

exercises that had been 

undertaken in Ekiti since 

inception. 

He said the commission 

won’t allow any sharp 

practice, including 

underage voting that can 

vitiate the electoral process. 

Raji spoke based on 

controversies that raged over 

the just concluded Kano local 

government elections, 

where some under aged 

voters were allegedly found 

to have voted. 

His words: “From 

inception, we have not 

accepted such tendency 

here in Ekiti and we won’t 

tolerate it. Election is a 

serious matter that has to 

do with people’s 

sovereignty that must not 

be abridged in any form. 

“So, we are assuring you 

that the Ekiti governorship 

election will meet 

international standard. We 

will improve on our 

outstanding past records to 

the extent that all the 

political parties and 

stakeholders will have 

cause to commend us.” 

Speaking on the 

commission’s preparedness 

for the governorship 

election, the INEC boss said: 

“Yes, we are working with 

the National Youth Service 

Corps, NYSC, where we 

will draw our ad hoc staff 

from.” 

“We have started training 

them and engaging them in 

election seminars, so that 

they can be well educated 

about the conduct of 

elections. 

“We have started training 

for our staff here in INEC 

and we are awaiting 

instructions from our 

national headquarters to lift 

ban on electioneering 

campaigns, so that we 

can increase our work 

rate here in our office”, 

he added. 

ATTACKS: Declare amnesty for 

armed herders, others, 

Afenifere tells FG 

By Dapo Akinrefon declaring an amnesty window 

for all arms-bearing 

THE Afenifere Renewal herders, farmers and other 

Group, ARG, has terrorists wherever they may 

called on the Federal be found in our country.” 

Government to open an It stated that after the 

amnesty window for armsbearing 

amnesty deadline, “anyone 

herders, farmers caught anywhere with arms 

and other terrorists saying should be arrested and 

the move will help curb the prosecuted under the 

spate of attacks in the Terrorism Act. Without an 

country. 

initiative like this, no 

In a statement by its positive or sustainable peace 

Publicity Secretary, Mr can be fostered.” 

Kunle Famoriyo, ARG said It also called on Houses 

it welcomes the of Assembly to make 

deployments of troops to digital animal 

various flashpoints across identification statutory 

the country to curb herders saying “there is no part of 

and farmers violent the country today that is 

encounters. 

strange to the use of GSM 

It, however, urged that technology. If all herds are 

more steps needed to be digitally identifiable, clashes 

taken to completely forestall between farmers and 

needless terror in the herders and rustling might 

country. 

be largely controlled, if not 

The Yoruba group said it eliminated. Such 

is important to nip identification technology 

herdsmen' activities in the will also facilitate 

bud, adding: “there should Nigerian livestock farmers 

be an executive order for meat export business.” 

Ajimobi, Adelabu harp on 

commitment from stakeholders 

on security 

By Adeola Badru 

I 

B A D A N — 

GOVERNOR 

Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State 

has said that the task of 

having adequate security 

in any society requires the 

commitment and 

contributions of all 

stakeholders. 

In a similar vein, the 

deputy governor of the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, Mr. Bayo Adelabu 

made case for the strict 

compliance of residents of 

the state to the 

government’s directive on 

payment of necessary 

levies to support the 

government. 

They said this at the Oyo 

Adeosun discusses infrastructure 

funding with China Dev’t Bank 

By Emma Ujah, 

Abuja Bureau Chief 

A BUJA—THE 

Minister of 

Finance, Mrs Kemi 

Adeosun, yesterday, in 

Abuja, held discussions with 

a delegation of the China 

Development Bank to 

explore how to better fund 

infrastructure in Nigeria. 

Mrs. Adeosun said that 

China Development Bank 

has a huge balance sheet 

and capable of funding any 

project in the country. 

According to her, “China 

Development Bank is a very 

important bank with a large 

balance sheet and a very 

good track record in 

funding major projects and 

we are very excited to have 

you here. 

“We are repositioning the 

Nigerian economy and we 

are opening up 

opportunities in a number 

of areas such as 

power,infrastructure, 

agriculture and exports. 

“We want to grow the 

economy and create jobs for 

our people and of course 

that means capital. We have 

a very good relationship 

with China and we have 

very strong commitment 

from China at the highest 

level of your support. 

“What we hope we will be 

doing is the specifics of how 

to get the China 

State Security Trust Fund 

summit/Town Hall 

Meeting, held yesterday at 

the House of Chiefs, 

Secretariat, Ibadan. 

The summit was titled: 

‘Public-Private Partnership 

in Security Funding’. 

Ajimobi, who was 

represented by his deputy, 

Otunba Moses Adeyemo, 

pointed out that security 

was an expensive venture, 

adding that the present 

federal structure of the 

security agencies was not 

sustainable. 

The governor said: “The 

idea of state police is a step 

in the right direction but 

this means the existing 

structure should not be 

strengthened and not be 

abandoned.” 

Development Bank to 

actively close some of the 

transactions that you are 

looking at and we are 

interested in partnering 

with you.” 

The minister said that the 

administration of President 

Muhammadu Buhari was 

working hard to increase 

revenue generation and 

ensure prudent application 

of available funds. 

According to her, the 

government would partner 

with the Chinese with a 

view to increasing the 

funding of the 

infrastryucure sector, which 

would serve as a catalyst 

to rapid economic 

development of the country.



Oshiomhole's performance as 

Edo gov credit to labour leaders 

—Jega 

A BUJA—FORMER 

Chairman of the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, Prof. Atahiru 

Jega, yesterday at the 

40th anniversary of 

Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, in Abuja, 

said the immediate past 

governor of Edo State, Mr 

Adams Oshiomhole, has 

proved that labour leaders 

can be trusted when they 

are bestowed with the 

opportunity of 

governance. 

Commending 

Oshiomhole for joining 

politics after heading the 

NLC for eight years, Prof. 

Jega stressed the need for 

labour leaders to be 

involved in the 

governance of the nation 

so as to ensure welfare for 

its members and also 

Asaba landlords petition Okowa, 

DSS as BEDC dares NERC 

THE lingering crisis 

between officials of 

the Benin Electricity 

Distribution Company, 

BEDC and electricity 

consumers of Block VII, 

Phase V of Asaba Core 

Area, Delta State, has 

worsened, as residents of 

the area may be forced to 

take laws into their hands 

if the head of BEDC in the 

state, Mr. Edgar Ernest, 

does not stop intimidating 

influence the enthronement 

of political leaders 

who are capable of finding 

solutions to the problems 

affecting the masses. 

Jega stated this when he 

delivered a lecture 

entitled Labour, Politics 

and Governance, at the 

40th anniversary of the 

NLC. 

He said, “We are proud 

with the kind of boldness 

and courage that 

Oshiomhole possessed 

that made him delve into 

politics. He contested 

under a political party 

and won as governor of 

Edo State and his 

laudable performance in 

office has shown that 

labour leaders are 

capable. And honestly, we 

are proud of 

Oshiomhole.” 

residents of the area. 

In a petition addressed to 

the state governor, Dr. 

Ifeanyi Okowa, for urgent 

intervention, the 

consumers under the aegis 

of Association of Landlords 

of Block VII, Phase V, Core 

Area, Asaba, lamented that 

trouble started when 

BEDC officials led by 

Ernest on June 8, 2017 

illegally disconnected 

power supply to the area. 

The letter which was also 

copied to the state Attorney- 

General & Commissioner 

for Justice, the state 

Director, Department of 

State Services, Asaba, the 

Commissioner of Police, 

Delta State Command, the 

state House of Assembly 

and others, said that if 

nothing was done to the 

constant harassment of 

residents of the area, they 

might be forced to resort to 

self-help. 

Omoku killings: Court asks Obuah to appear for 

police questioning 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT—A Rivers 

State High Court sitting in 

Port Harcourt, has asked the 

Chairman of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP in 

the state, Felix Obuah, to 

honour the invitation of the 

state Police Command for 

interrogation over killings 

Alleged demolition of Abuja property: 

Patience Jonathan lied, EFCC tells court 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 


Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

yesterday, accused the wife 

in parts of the state. 

The ruling of the court 

yesterday followed a 

petition which fingered 

Obuah in the killings 

recorded in Ogba/Egbema/ 

Ndoni Local Government 

Area of the state before, 

during and after the 2015 

general election. 

The All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in the state 

had petitioned the police 

of former President 

Goodluck Jonathan, 

Patience, of lying to the 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Abuja that her property 

was illegally demolished. 

EFCC, in a counteraffidavit 

deposed to by one 

of its lead investigators, Mr. 

Kolawole Mukaila, told the 

court that the said property 

which was registered in the 

name of Ariwabai Aruera 

Reachout Foundation/ 

Women For Change and 

Development Initiative, a 

pet project initiated by the 

former first lady, was intact. 

Mukaila said he was a 

member of a special task 

force investigating alleged 

money laundered by Mrs. 

Jonathan, “into various 

accounts and property 

purchased, which are 

disproportionate to her 

known source of income.” 

The court had on January 

22, ordered an inquiry into 

the alleged illegal 

demolition of the property 

which has been subject of 

litigation between Mrs. 

Jonathan and the anti-graft 

agency. 

EFCC had approached 

the court for an order of 

interim attachment/ 

forfeiture of assets and 

properties of the 

foundation. 

However, Mrs. Jonathan, 

in reaction, filed a motion 

challenging the powers of 

the Commission to take 

possession of assets of the 

foundation. 

She prayed the court to 

strike out EFCC’s ex-parte 

suit dated September 20, 

2017, on the ground that 

the court lacked the 

jurisdiction to entertain the 

application which she said 

was legally defective. 

Meanwhile, when the 

matter came up for hearing 

at the last adjourned date, 

Mrs. Jonathan’s lawyer, 

Chief Mike Ozekhome, 

SAN, accused EFCC of 

resorting to self-help, 

alleging that it instigated 

the demolition of the 

disputed property. 

At the resumed hearing, 

over the killings recorded 

in ONELGA in 2015, 

accusing the state chairman 

of PDP, of gun-running and 

sponsoring the ONELGA 

killings. 

However, the state police 

command had invited all 

those mentioned in the 

petition, but the PDP 

Chairman challenged his 

invitation in court, accusing 

former Governor Chibuike 

Amaechi of political witchhunt. 

After over three years of 

hearing on the suit, the trial 

judge, Justice Adolphus 

Enebeli dismissed the 

application of the PDP 

Chairman as lacking in 

merit. 

Justice Enebeli held that 

the police has the right 

within the law to invite any 

individual for questioning 

on any report of crime and 

asked the applicant to do 

same. 

HOSTING: Olorogun Oskar Ibru host members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ughelli 

and Udu Federal Constituency on Saturday at Agbarha-Otor. Photo: Akpokona Omafuaire. 

yesterday, EFCC, in its 

counter affidavit, told the 

court that contrary to Mrs. 

Jonathan’s claim, it said the 

property it applied to seize 

from the foundation was still 

standing. 

The commission which 

tendered four pictureexhibits 

to prove its claim, 

told the court that the 

Federal Capital 

Development Authority/ 

Development Control, only 

demolished “a mini Chalet” 

that was constructed 

without approval. 

It insisted that most of the 

depositions Mrs. Jonathan 

made in the affidavit where 

she claimed that the 

disputed property was 

demolished, “were untrue, 

false and aimed at 

misleading the court.” 

However, Ozehkome, 

who told the court that he 

was only served him with 

a copy of the counteraffidavit 

on Sunday and 

described EFCC’s claim as 

“a lie from the pit of hell.”



Why we froze Bola Shagaya's account, by EFCC 

By Innocent Anaba 

THE Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, has 

told a Federal High 

Court sitting in Lagos, 

that it froze the account 

of a business woman, 

Mrs Bola Shagaya due to 

intelligence report that 

she was being used by 

former First Lady, Dame 

Patience Jonathan, to 

launder billions of naira. 

WORKSHOP: From left: Mr Samuel Nwaubani, Research Head, Nigeria Stored Product Institute; 

Mr Akabugwu Koya, Station Manager, Nigeria Aviation Handling Company; Mrs Azuka Ikejiofor, 

Nigeria Export Promotion Council, South-South Regional Co-ordinator, Port Harcourt and Mr Ofon 

Udofia, Chairman of the Occassion during a one day Capacity Building Workshop on the Potentials of 

Nigeria Horticultural Products at the International Market by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council 

yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke. 

Cameroonian soldiers invade Cross River 

community, kill three 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR— 

MFUM, a 

border community in 

Ikom Local Government 

Area of Cross River State 

has come under attack by 

soldiers from Cameroon, 

leaving three fishermen 

dead and two others with 

bullet wounds. 

A resident of the area, 

Okpa Ekpe, told 

Vanguard on phone that 

the attack was an 

onslaught by soldiers 

from that country who 

are in pursuit of 

separatists agitating for 

Ambazonia Republic, a 

country for the 

Anglophone people who 

are in the south west part 

of Cameroon. 

The eye witness said 

the attack lasted about 

three hours in the 

morning of Sunday and 

caught the fishermen 

who went out to the river 

to fish early in the day 

EFCC stated this in its 

counter affidavit to a suit 

by Hajiya Bola Shagaya 

before the court in which 

she is challenging the 

freezing of her account 

by the commission. 

Bola Shagaya in the 

suit is asking the court to 

set aside the order of the 

court freezing her bank 

accounts in Unity Bank 

Plc 

In the affidavit by a 

litigation officer, 

unawares. 

“The shooting was 

intense and mainly 

directed to the Nigerian 

side of the Mfum border 

and lasted for about 

three hours. The 

Cameroon soldiers have 

been doing this 

occasionally since the 

agitation for 

independence by the 

South West people of 

Cameroon increased.” 

Captain Kolawole 

Owolabi, the Public 

Relations Officer of the 

Nigerian Army in 

Calabar could not be 

reached as his phone 

was switched off but Ms 

Irene Ugbo, the Police 

Public Relations Officer 

of Cross River Police 

Command, when 

contacted said she was 

not aware of any attack . 

It’s not about Buhari’s age, Nigeria needs 

courage, vision —Ibori 

CHIEF James Ibori, 

former governor of 

Delta State, has said that 

Nigerians should be more 

concerned with whether 

the youths are ready to lead, 

rather than a mere 

generational shift at the 

nation’s helm of affairs. 

According to him, what 

the nation needs is courage 

and vision, as “age has 

nothing to do with good 

leadership.” 

In an article he wrote, 

Politics is a game of ideas 

and numbers, Ibori said 

that Nigerian youths need 

to pay the required price. 

Sulaiman Ali, EFCC 

averred that sometimes 

in the month of October 

and November 2016, 

Hajiya Bola Shagaya 

issued several payment 

instructions to her bank, 

Unity Bank Plc in 

respect of third party 

transactions, but to the 

applicant's chagrin, the 

said payment 

instructions were 

declined by her bank 

despite the fact that the 

He argued that the call for 


Buhari not to seek reelection 

so as to pave way 

for a youth to lead the 

country is unjustified. 

“The choice we face is not 

that of ‘paedarchy’ or 

‘paedocracy’ versus 

gerontocracy. 

“This age-related 

argument should not be 

aimed at Buhari. The 

constitution gives him the 

right to seek the Presidency 

for two terms. The 

argument for and against 

him should be based on his 

record of achievement. 

applicant (Bola 

Shagaya) had enough 

money standing to her 

credit with her bank to 

cover the payment 

instructions prior to 

issuing the instructions. 

The deponent said that 

upon enquiry the bank 

intimated Shagaya that 

it received a letter from 

EFCC directing it to 

place a Post No Debit on 

her account with it. 

“The young ones need to 

make the necessary 

sacrifice, study the 

problems facing the society, 

master how to solve the 

problems of the various 

parts of the Nigerian 

federation. 

“Have the youths 

trumped the old in 

behaviour, morality, 

leadership, integrity and 

frugality? How have our 

youth fared in the 

professions, the military 

and the civil service? Do 

they even hold out any 

hope for the nation?” Ibori 

asked. 

I've no plan to dump PDP for 

APC —Urhoghide 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B 

E N I N — 

CHAIRMAN, 

Senate Committee on 

Public Accounts, Senator 

Matthew Urhoghide, has 

denied rumours making 

the rounds in Edo State 

that he was planning to 

defect from Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, to 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, saying: 

“I have not told anybody 

that I was leaving PDP.” 

Senator Urhoghide 

made the refutation in 

Benin City, while 

speaking with journalists 

shortly after empowering 

widows, youths, market 

women among other 

groups with various items 

worth millions of Naira. 

Among items given out 

were 48 motorcycles, 46 

generating sets, 46 

Tricycles, 45 sewing 

machines, 10 deep 

Stop attacking Amaechi, 

others, Abe warns loyalists 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT 

HAR- 

COURT— THE 

senator representing 

Rivers South-East in the 

National Assembly, 

Senator Magnus Abe, 

has warned his loyalists 

to stop attacking leaders 

of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in the 

state. 

Abe reiterated that he 

will not leave the APC for 

any other party 

irrespective of the internal 

wranglings bedeviling 

the party, adding that the 

APC was formidable 

enough to be victorious in 

2019. 

He added that he will 

remain a member of the 

Herdsmen attacks: Police've lost 

fire power —Ex-DIG Ekpoudom 

By Harris-Okon 

Emmanuel 

U YO—FORMER 

Deputy Inspector- 

General of Police, Prince 

Udom Ekpoudom, has 

lent his voice to public 

outcry on the nefarious 

activities of herdsmen, 

saying that the massive 

killing and wanton 

destruction of property 

were damaging the 

image of the country. 

He also said that the 

Police may have lost the 

fire power in 

checkmating the unholy 

activities of the herdsmen 

and advised the Federal 

freezers, 22 grinding 

machines, five threshing 

machines among others. 

He said, “Let me make one 

point clear, I am a Senator of 

the Federal Republic of 

Nigeria. I used the platform 

of the PDP to get to the 

Senate. I am not overtly 

partisan or mentioning party. 

I came from the ACN to the 

PDP. 

“Today, over 50 per cent of 

the people I saw here are not 

PDP members, even 60 or 70 

per cent of them are not PDP 

members, but of course, I 

have my party (PDP) leaders 

here. 

“Somebody represented 

the Secretary to the State 

Government here today and 

if I have made it overtly 

partisan, the SSG would not 

have sent a representative to 

witness this occasion. So, 

whether somebody is going 

to APC or PDP, I have friends 

across, I will not despise 

anybody. I am a PDP 

member." 

APC and will never abandon 

the party for whatever 

reasons. 

Abe who spoke in Port 

Harcourt, yesterday during a 

one-day dialogue organised 

by a network of youths and 

student leaders in the state, 

called for a united APC. 

He urged his supporters to 

respect all the party leaders 

including the Minister of 

Transportation, Chibuike 

Amaechi and not to attack 

them on the social media, 

noting that APC is one and 

will remain indivisible. 

He urged executives of the 

party to call a meeting of the 

factions for a meeting in order 

to give members of the party 

the opportunity to express 

their feelings on some 

pressing issues. 

Government to strengthen 

security operatives to save 

the country from descending 

into anarchy. 

He said: “The herdsmen 

killing is damaging the 

image of the country. My 

advice is that the Federal 

Government and the Police 

need to checkmate it, but it 

seems the Police have lost 

their fire power. The Federal 

Government prefers to use 

other bodies which are not 

bad, but the Police have their 

jobs to do. In crime fighting, 

we need money. In Nigeria, 

the crime rate is high and the 

fund allocated to the Police is 

inadequate."


Jonathan salutes Shagari at 93 

FORMER President 

Goodluck Jonathan 

has felicitated with former 

President Shehu Shagari 

who clocked 93 years this 

Sunday, describing him as 

a formidable patriot and 

exemplary statesman. 

In a goodwill message to 

the nonagenarian, 

Jonathan praised Shagari as 

a humble leader who set 

standards in selfless service. 

A statement by Mr. 

Jonathan’s spokesman, 

Ikechukwu Eze, quoted the 

former president as 

describing Mr. Shagari as 

an elder statesman whose 

conduct in and out of office 

is worthy of emulation. 

The statement read: “I 

211,000 candidates sit for 

JAMB mock exam, 267,000 

apply — REGISTRAR 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—THE Joint 

Admissions and 

Matriculation Board, 

JAMB, yesterday said that 

it could only accommodate 

211, 000 out of 267, 000 

candidates that applied to 

sit for the Unified Tertiary 

Matriculation Examination, 

UTME, mock examination. 

Its Registrar, Prof. Is-hak 

Oloyede, disclosed this in 

Bwari while addressing 

journalists after visiting 

some Computer Based Test, 

CBT, centres in Bwari and 

Dutse areas of the city. 

The board had earlier 

scheduled February 26 for 

candidates who wish to 

write the mock 

examinations. 

According to Oloyede, 

the board reduced the 

number of candidates for 

2019: APC trying to muzzle 

opposition, NRM cries out 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A BUJA—NATIONAL 

Rescue Movement, 

NRM has condemned the 

ruling All Progressives 

Congress APC for what it 

described as the gross 

resort to underhand tactics 

to arm-twist the opposition 

into silence ahead of the 

2019 general elections. 

In a statement 

issued yesterday in 

Abuja, National Publicity 

Secretary of the NRM, 

Prince Chinedu Obi said 

the party “condemns in 

strong terms the action of 

the Kaduna State 

Government for 

demolishing the secretariat 

of a faction of APC in 

Kaduna metropolis led by 

Senator Suleiman 

Hunkuyi. By this action 

which looks like a rehearsal, 

the NRM sees the ruling 

party at both the federal and 


write, on behalf of my 

family, to express very warm 

greetings to you on the 

occasion of your 93rd 

birthday. 

“I am glad the grace of 

Almighty Allah which led 

you to set standards in 

selfless service has kept you 

healthy in old age. 

“You are an exemplary 

leader and elder statesman 

whose humility, patriotism, 

peaceful disposition and 

vision for a great nation will 

continue to inspire 

Nigerians across 

generations. 

“I wish you more years in 

good health and sound 

mind for you to continue to 

do good for humanity.” 

the mock examination 

because it did not intend to 

conduct the examination for 

more than a day. 

“It is not that we cannot 

have more than this number 

but because if we are to take 

the examination in all the 

areas in a particular town, 

it will take three days. We 

can take only what a town 

can take, that is how far we 

can go,” he said. 

While describing the 

action as unfortunate, he 

noted that the board had 

apologised to those 

candidates that were not 

fortunate to be 

accommodated for the 

examination. 

The registrar, however, 

assured that the board had 

put in place measures to 

ensure effective 

monitoring of candidates 

for the examination. 

states it governs, of 

intention to intimidate 

opposition even within its 

ranks by using security 

agencies to capture power 

in 2019 by all means. 

“This action of the 

Kaduna State Government 

is repulsive and 

excessively vindictive.'' 

Why many Nigerians are in Chinese 

prisons — ENVOY 

L AGOS—NIGERIAN 

Consul-General in 

Guangzhou, China, Wale 

Oloko, yesterday said 

many Nigerians were in 

various prisons in 

Guangdong province for 

overstaying their visas. 

Speaking in Lagos, Oloko 

said some Nigerians were 

also arrested for engaging 

in drug trafficking and 

other criminal offences. 

According to him, there 

were currently about 600 

Nigerians arrested for 

overstaying their visas and 

in detention for other 

offences, saying : “There is 

no doubt that there are 

currently a number of 

Nigerians in various 

Chinese prisons, at least 

those under our consular 

jurisdiction in Guangzhou. 

These our nationals are in 

different Chinese prisons 

for various offences. There 

are those that were arrested 

for overstaying their visas, 

while others were 

convicted for drug 

trafficking and other 

offences.” 

Oloko also said some of 

the Nigerian nationals 

currently in Chinese 

prisons were being 

prepared for deportation to 

Nigeria. 

The consul-general, 

therefore, enjoined 

Nigerians desirous of 

visiting any part of China 

to always obey immigration 

and general laws when in 

the province or other 

provinces in China. 

According to him: “Any 

Nigerian wanting to visit 

any part of China must first 

know something about the 

country’s immigration 

requirements and should 

be ready to obey laws in 

such places when they 

eventually arrive there. It is 

not advisable for any 

Nigerian to overstay his or 

her visa in any part of China 

or engage in any form of 

criminal act.” 

Guangdong, a province 

in South China is located 

on the sea coast. 

The province surpassed 

Henan and Sichuan to 

become the most populous 

province in China in 

January 2005, registering 

79.1 million permanent 

residents and 31 million 

migrants. 

The capital and largest 

city is Guangzhou and it 

has a GDP (2016) of 1.2 

trillion US dollars. 

BOOK LAUNCH: From left; Sir Herbert H.A Adewole Agbebiyi (father of 

the day); celebrant/author, Dean Eniola Olajumoke Adigun; representative 

of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Shamsideen Allison, Permanent Secretary, 

Office of the Special Adviser on Education, and representative of the 

Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Cecilia Oladapo, HOD, Adult Education, 

Faculty of Education, UNILAG at a book launch on History of Educational 

Development in Nigeria: A Concise Approach, at FCE (Tech), Akoka, Lagos. 

ALLEGED N7M EXTRA-BUDGETARY EXPENSES: Reps give 

NAG boss 24hrs to produce evidence 

By Emman 

Ovuakporie 

ABUJA—THE House 

of Representatives 

Committee on Public 

Accounts, yesterday gave 

Director General, DG, of 

National Arts Gallery, NAG, 

Mr Abubakar Muku 24 

hours to make available all 

documents used in 

awarding a N7 million 

contract to train 50 Curators 

within 24 hours. 

The Committee chaired by 

Kingsley Chinda, PDP, 

Rivers hinged its position 

on the Auditor General to 

the Federation’s, AuGF 

queries of 2013. 

The lawmakers in an 

FEC meeting won’t hold this week 


presidency has 

announced a cancellation 

of the federal executive 

council (FEC) meeting for 

this week. 

Femi Adesina, Special 

Adviser to the President on 

Media and Publicity, 

announced this in a 

statement yesterday. 

Adesina said President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

many ministers will be 

attending a programme at 

Transcorp Hotel, Abuja, on 

Wednesday – the day of the 

meeting. 

“The meeting of the 

federal executive council 

(FEC) will not hold 

tomorrow,” Adesina said. 

“This is due to the 

participation of President 

Muhammadu Buhari and a 

significant number of 

ministers at the high-level 

meeting of the International 

Conference on Lake Chad 

Basin, at the Transcorp 

Hilton Hotel, Abuja, for the 

better part of that day.” 

interactive session with 

Alhaji Muku raised 

observations based on the 

queries that the agency paid 

out N7 million for a training 

programme in December 

2013 and paid fully within 

48 hours to Rockages, the 

contractor. 

They asserted that it was 

virtually impossible for a 

contract to be awarded and 

got payment effected same 

day in the Nigerian public 

sector if there were no other 

incentives. In his response, 

the DG said “the entire 

money was paid because 

we had to pay 25 Curators 

and 6 zonal coordinators 

their daily transport 

allowances.” 

Solomon Maren at this 

point reminded the DG that 

“you awarded a contract on 

December 11, 2013 and on 

same day you paid and the 

contractor’s account was 

credited in 48 hours. Don’t 

you have a petty cash book 

and why must you pay 100 

percent to the contractor? Is 

that not a clear violation of 

the Financial Regulation Act 

procedure? 

Responding, the DG told 

the lawmakers that his 

agency did not operate a 

petty cash book and insisted 

the entire money was paid 

because civil servants 

needed to travel to the venue 

of the programme. 

Maren then said: “You 

paid on December 11 and 

concluded payments, 

makes the whole thing 

suspicious. This is the 

method they apply to 

ensure all the monies 

appropriated are exhausted 

Group urges Sirika to sustain 

developmental strides in aviation 

By Etop Ekanem 

A 

coalition of 

independent traders 

associations has urged 

Senator Hadi Sirika, 

Minister of State for Aviation 

to sustain his 

developmental strides in the 

sector. 

The group, comprising of 

Market Youth Congress of 

Nigeria, Igbo Traders 

Support Group on Good 

Governance and Yoruba 

Women Traders Support 

Group, said the 

development would not 

have been possible without 

the support of President 

Muhammadu Buhari who 

appointed him. 

According to the group, 

Sirika’s tenure as the 

Minister of Aviation had 

given Nigeria the highest 

as the year draws to a close. 

Even the consultant was 

paid DTA and we have seen 

where genuine contractors 

pursue payments and they 

are not paid. DG, we are not 

in a hurry, just get us the 

contract file, list of attendees 

of the programme and the 

certificates of all the 

participants within the next 

24 hours.” 

rating in air safety and the 

nation’s busiest airports, 

Lagos and Abuja, certified 

for the first time in the history 

of Nigeria. 

Speaking, Mr Chidiebere 

Okoh, conveyner of the 

coalition, said Sirika had 

improved security at the 

nation’s airports. 

He said for the first time 

in the history of Nigeria, 

''The two busiest airports in 

the country, Lagos and 

Abuja, were certified to the 

International Civil Aviation 

Organization (ICAO) 

standard. This means that 

these airports are 

recognised worldwide as 

meeting all standards for 

international flight 

operations. This was done 

in consonance with 

recommended international 

practices.'' 

C 

M 

Y

C 

M 

Y 

K 

VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018—15 


We’re not interested in presidency 

without restructuring—Igbo leaders 

By Clifford 

Ndujihe 

LAGOS—AT a time 

some leaders of the All 


APC, in the South-East are 

mobilising support for 


Buhari’s re-election to pave 

the way for Igbo presidency 

in 2023, some Igbo leaders 

have said that the Igbo are 

not interested in the 

presidency without 

restructuring of the country. 

This was the view of some 

Igbo leaders, who met with 

the Senator Enyinnaya 

Abaribe-led Ohanaeze 

committee on collation of 

Igbo views on restructuring 

on Sunday night in Lagos. 

Vanguard gathered that 

Igbo leaders at the meeting 

held in Ikoyi included 

Deputy President General 

of Ohanaeze, Dr Sylvan 

Ebigwei; Dr Kalu Idika 

Kalu; Chief Guy Ikokwu; 

Agunze Chibeze Ikokwu; 

Professor Uzodinma 

Nwala; Chief Charles 

Odinukwe; representatives 

of South-East governors; 

and members of Igbo 

Think-Tank group, Aka- 

Ikenga among others. 

Raised with the intention 

of ensuring that the Igbo 

present a common view on 

restructuring, the Senator 

Abaribe committee had its 

first meeting in Abuja. The 

Lagos gathering is the 

second in the series. There 

will be another meeting in 

Enugu on March 4 to be 

followed by the Ime-Obi 

(inner caucus meeting) of 

the apex Igbo socio-cultural 

organisation, Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, which will lead to 

an enlarged Igbo summit. 

Asked the views of Igbo 

leaders at the meeting, 

Chief Guy Ikokwu told 

Vanguard: ‘’We debated 

Igbo position on geopolitical 

restructuring. Igbo 

insist on restructuring of the 

polity immediately. We are 

not interested in Igbo 

presidency now without 

restructuring. We are 

calling on the presidency 

and the National Assembly 

to proceed with 

restructuring immediately. 

‘’The Federal 

Government or the centre 

should have less power 

than it has now. It should 

devolve power to the 

federating units. We agree 

with the South-West and the 

Middle Belt that the 

federating units should be 

the zones with the states 

under them. Each zone 

should have its constitution. 

There should be fiscal 

federalism and resource 

control. 

‘’We are looking at six 

zones, three in the South 

and three in the North. The 

majority of Ndigbo believe, 

like the South-West, that the 

federating units should be 

the zones. With true 

restructuring, equality of 

zones, fiscal federalism and 

resources control, there will 

be no need for an 

additional state in the 

South-East. Each zone will 

be free to create as many 

states at it deems fit without 

recourse to the centre.’’ 

On the herdsmen crisis, 

he said the leaders want 

South-East governors to 

‘’see livestock, breeding of 

animals or ranching as an 

economic activity, as our 

forefathers did in the old 

Eastern region. Chief 

Michael Okpara 

established ranches across 

the Eastern region and we 

had the Obudu Cattle 

Ranch. Apart from meat, 

we produced dairy 

products. Livestock is not 

only cattle. It includes pigs, 

goats, rabbits, sheep, etc. 

Today, we don’t have Igbo 

livestock any longer. We 

expect our governors to 

have something to show in 

this regard in 24 months.’’ 

From left—Human Resources Director, Nigerian Bottling Company 

Limited, Olumide Sholanke; Registrar, Pan-Atlantic University, Lekki, 

Rosemary Okolo; Bursar, Pan-Atlantic University, Chidi Nwagu; and 

Dean, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, 

Ikechukwu Obiaya, during a career fair organised by Pan-Atlantic 

University, at the university complex in Lagos. 

Biafran warlord, Achuzia dies at 89 

By Chioma 

Gabriel & Festus 

Ahon 

ASABA—CIVIL war 

veteran and Biafran 

warlord, Col. Joseph 

Achuzia (rtd) is dead. He 

died yesterday morning 

at the Federal Medical 

Centre, FMC, Asaba, 

Delta State, after a brief 

illness at the age of 89. 

One of his sons, Mr. 

Benedict Onyeka Achuzia, 

who spoke to newsmen, 

said 21-gun salute has 

been shot to traditionally 

announce the demise of the 

Ikemba of Asaba to 

indigenes of the town. 

He said his father passed 

on at about 8a.m, adding 

that “it was something we 

never expected but it has 

happened. It is a sad 

incident." 

He described the late war 

lord as "the best dad ever." 

"I was so sad when he 

gave up, and I can’t help 

it. Even when he was 

entering the mortuary, I still 

didn’t believe my eyes," he 

said. 

On the last moment with 

his dad, he said: “He was 

smiling, so we never knew 

he was going. May his soul 

rest in perfect peace.” 

As at the time of filing this 

report, sympathisers were 

trooping into his Idumujei 

quarters residence in 

Asaba. A condolence 

register has already be 

opened for him. 

The late Col. Joseph 

Achuzia (rtd) was born in 

1929. He was a Major in 

the Biafran army during the 

Nigeria Civil War of 1967 

to 1970. 

Achuzia led several 

Biafran units during the 

war among which were the 

11 Div, 13 Div , 15 Div and 

the Commando Unit of the 

Biafran Army . He fought 

gallantly in the battles 

especially at Oguta, 

• Late Col. Joseph 

Achuzia (rtd) 

Abagana, Okigwe and Port 

Harcourt sectors of the war. 

He played a crucial role 

in ending the Biafran war 

when he engaged the 

federal officers in the tetea-tete 

that brought them 

into contact with top 

Biafran Commanders at 

Amichi in Nnewi. 

After the war, Col Achuzia 

was detained and later 

released some years after. 

He later joined politics , the 

NPN and years after, the 

APGA which he felt was a 

fall back political platform 

for Ndigbo. 

He was also the 

Secretary General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the 

apex Igbo socio-cultural 

organisation some years 

ago when Prof Joe Irukwu 

was the President General. 

He recently wrote a book 

on spirituality and life after 

death. 

He's legendary— 

Obiano 

In a message of 

condolence conveyed on 

his behalf by Ogbuefi Tony 

Nnachetta, Commissioner 

for Information and 

Strategy, Governor Willie 

Obiano of Anambra State 

expressed regret and 

emotion at the news of the 

passing of Ogbueshi 

Joseph (Hannibal) 

Achuzia, Ikemba Asaba 

after a bout of illness. 

“This is the passing of a 

legend and a patriot of the 

highest order. A man of 

service and deep 

convictions whose exploits 

in the sand of time can 

never be forgotten by our 

people, both young and 

old. His Excellency recalls 

his personal sacrifices at 

trouble shooting in 

Igboland and the well 

being of our peoples in war 

and in peace," he stated. 

Enugu not owing salaries, 

says NLC 

ENUGU—THE Enugu 

State chapter of the 

Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC, has debunked 

newspaper report that 

Lagos State Government is 

the only state in the country 

that is “healthy” in the 

payment of workers’ 

salaries, saying that 

“Enugu State Government 

does not owe any salary to 

date.” 

In a statement by its State 

Chairman and Ag. 

Secretary, Comrade 

Virginus Nwobodo and 

Comrade Edema Edward 

Olorunwa, respectively, the 

congress took exception to 

the said report, regretting 

that the author did not carry 

out “a thorough and holistic 

research before issuing the 

statement.” 

The NLC stressed that 

“apart from making sure 

that salaries are paid not 

later than 25th day of every 

month,” Enugu State 

Government also ensured 

that the 13th month salary 

was paid to all the workers 

last year as Christmas 

bonus. 

The congress added: “It 

is also imperative to inform 

the public that the backlog 

of salaries owed local 

government staff by 

successive governments in 

Enugu State had been 

cleared by Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on 

assumption of office.” 

It maintained that Enugu 

State Government does not 

take the issues of workers’ 

salaries “lightly at all”, 

saying: “We will be 

available to prove our case 

beyond any reasonable 

doubt should the need 

arise.” 

According to the 

congress, “Enugu State is 

quite healthy, as 

Gburugburu is working 

and this is possible because 

Enugu State is in the hands 

of God.” 

Groups urge FG to immortalise 

Nwobodo, Mbakwe, Obi 

By Bartholomew 

Madukwe 

AWKA—IN line with 

promoting quality 

leadership and good 

governance in the 

Southeast zone of Nigeria, 

some groups have 

requested that the trio of 

Chief Jim Nwobodo, 

governor of old Anambra 

State; late Chief Sam 

Mbakwe, governor of Imo 

State and Chief Peter Obi, 

former governor of 

Anambra State, should be 

celebrated and 

immortalised as achievers. 

The groups included Int’l 

Society for Civil Liberties & 

the Rule of Law; Civil 

Liberties Organisation; 

Centre for Human Rights 

& Peace Advocacy; Forum 

for Promotion of National 

Ethos & Values; 

Foundation for 

Environmental Rights 

Advocacy & Development; 

Igbo National Council; 

Easy Life Initiative for Rural 

Youths; Initiative for Ideal 

Dev & Emancipatory 

Leadership in 

Nigeria;Society for 

Economic Rights & Social 

Justice; Voice of the 

Voiceless International and 

Igbo Ekunie Initiative, 

among others. 

The groups in an 

interaction with journalists, 

opined that the trio must 

make the hall of fame as 

great achievers and as 

democratically elected 

governors of old Imo and 

former governors of 

Anambra State, adding that 

if it was in other social 

climes, these great leaders 

and achievers will eternally 

be celebrated and 

immortalised. 

“University faculties, 

research centers, care or 

charity foundations and 

public monuments should 

be named after them. Their 

achievements in office 

would also have been 

theorized and developed 

into courses of study in the 

tertiary institutions. 

“Those of them still living 

would have been made 

visiting or guest lecturers 

and professors in some 

reputable universities." 

Women group seeks promotion 

of Igbo language, culture 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—UMUADA 

IGBO Nigeria and 

Diaspora, an Igbo gender 

socio-cultural group has 

sworn that they will never 

allow Igbo language and 

culture go into extinction. 

The Igbo women group 

said it was poised to fault 

the earlier prediction by an 

international agency that 

the peoples' language 

would soon cease to exist. 

Speaking at Igbo cultural 

fiesta to mark the United 

Nations "Mother Tongue 

Day," President-General of 

the group, Lolo Kate 

Ezeofor stated that Igbo 

women will never allow 

the prediction of the United 

Nations Education and 

Cultural Commission, 

UNESCO, that Igbo 

language will go into 

extinction in a few years 

time to become a reality. 

Lolo Ezeofor said that the 

cultural fiesta including 

school debates and quiz 

competitions in Igbo 

language, as well as 

cultural food displays, 

fashion competition, and 

traditional wrestling 

competition, were all 

aimed at promoting Igbo 

language and culture.

16—VANGUARD, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

Police begin illegal arms mop-up 

By Dennis Agbo 

E NUGU—THE 

Nigeria Police Force 

has commenced mop up of 

illegal firearms across states 

in the country. 

Enugu State Police 

Commissioner, Danmallam 

Mohammed, who 

disclosed this in a press 

briefing 

in 

Enugu, yesterday, said 

the order was from the 

Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, Ibrahim Idris. 

Mohammed added that 

in compliance to the 

directive, the Enugu State 

command had set up a task 

force headed by the 

Assistant Commissioner of 

Police in charge of 

Operations, Frank Idu. 

According to him, Idu 

was mandated to draw task 

force members from 

different arms of Police, 

such as SARS, the state 


CID, counter terrorism and 

mobile police, among 

others. 

He said the mandate of 

the committee included to 

curb militia groups, which 

he however said do not 

exist in Enugu State. 

Mohammed therefore 

asked those in possession 

of illegal arms in the state 

to surrender them 

forthwith or face 

prosecution while those 

with licensed arms should 

come forward for 

revalidation. 

He further disclosed that 

illegal gun trotting 

herdsmen and 

unauthorized vigilante 

operatives would be 

affected in the operation. 

Danmallam used the 

opportunity to say that there 

has not been fresh 

herdsmen attack in Enugu 

State since after the 2016 

attack in Nimbo. 

Ngwa monarchs adopt 

Ikpeazu for second term 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABA—AHEAD of the 

2019 governorship 

election in Abia State, 

traditional rulers from the 

seven local governments in 

Ngwa area of the state, 

have adopted Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu for a 

second term in office. 

The monarchs in a 

meeting held at Mbawsi, 

Isiala Ngwa North Local 

Government Area, stated 

that Ikpeazu had, despite 

distraction from litigations, 

made them proud through 

promotion of made-in-Aba 

products, fair distribution of 

political offices among the 

three senatorial zones, 

provision of security and 

building of roads, as well 

as other infrastructural 

facilities across the state. 

In a communiqué signed 

by Eze Monday Ugbor – 

Aba South; Eze P. O. 

Ogbonna- Obingwa; Eze 

R.K. Nwogu - Ugwunagbo; 

Eze Paul Okpanku- Isiala 

Ngwa South; Eze S. 

Ukaegbu- Osisioma Ngwa; 

Eze S.A. Egege- Aba North 

and Eze Dandy Ogalabu – 

Isiala Ngwa North; the 

traditional rulers urged 

governorship aspirants 

from the zone to shelve their 

ambitions and support 

Ikpeazu in the interest of 

the zone. 

Earlier, chairman of 

Ngwa Traditional Rulers 

Forum, Eze Nwabiaraije 

Eneogwe, noted that Abia 

North and Abia Central 

senatorial zones had each 

completed eight years 

during their stint at the 

Government House, 

stressing that it will be a 

great injustice and threat to 

peace and harmony of the 

state to deny Ikpeazu a 

second term in office. 

Okopoly suspends Librarian, 

appoints new Deputy Rector 

A WKA—THE 

Governing Council 

of the Federal Polytechnic, 

Oko has suspended the 

institution’s Chief 

Librarian, Dr Fredrick 

Obodoeze for three months 

over his alleged inability to 

achieve good results. 

Chairman of the council, 

Chief Lasbry Amadi 

announced the suspension 

at the plenary session of the 

council held in the 

Polytechnic. 

Handing down the 

council’s resolution on the 

matter, the chairman on 

behalf of the council, 

warned other erring staff of 

the institution to sit up and 

take their responsibilities 

serious in order to justify 

their positions. 

According to the 

resolution, academic 

activities in the institution, 

especially the library, 

remained very key aspect 

of the system needed to 

build and mould quality 

students, assuring that the 

council would continue to 

ensure delivery of academic 

excellence in the 

institution. 

He said: “We can no 

longer tolerate some 

anomalies in the 

polytechnic’s library 

because that section is a 

very important arm of the 

Institution." 

Former Enugu council chairmen want 

severance allowance 

By Chinedu 

Adonu 

E 

N U G U — 

ASSOCIATION of 

Former Local 

Government Council/ 

Development Centre 

Chairmen, Enugu State, 

comprising local council 

chairmen, who served the 

state between 2003 and 

2007, has appealed to the 

state government to pay its 

members their statutory 

severance allowance or 

what they called, 

'severance package'. 

Stranded Ebonyi students abroad appeal to 

Umahi for help •We're doing our best to care of them— Ebonyi govt 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI— 

EBONYI State 

students under the State’s 

Overseas Scholarship 

scheme pursuing various 

PhD degrees at different 

universities in the Diaspora 

especially in the United 

Kingdom, weekend, 

appealed to Governor 

David Umahi to 

disentangle them from the 

clutches of debt and 

embarrassment facing 

them in the foreign land. 

The governor had been 

assisting the students with 

their tuition and other 

logistics to ameliorate their 

condition since he assumed 

office in 2015. 

In a statement tagged “A 

passionate appeal for an 

urgent intervention to 

salvage the deteriorating 

conditions of the 

abandoned Ebonyi state 

government sponsored 

PhD students in the 

Diaspora” and signed by 

Chuku Ejike, Enyita 

Clifford Iteshi and Jude 

Ogbodo of University of 

Bradford, Lancashire, 

University of Salford, 

Manchester and University 

of Central Preston, 

The former council bosses 

made the appeal in Enugu 

when they paid a 

congratulatory visit to the 

Chief of Staff, Government 

House, Enugu, Dr. Festus 

Uzor. 

Coordinator of the group, 

Hon. Ernest Nweze, in an 

address, told the Chief of 

Staff that according to the 

Enugu State Local 

Government Law 2000 that 

empowered the creation 

of the development centres, 

they are entitled to 

severance packages. 

“The Enugu State Local 

respectively, on behalf of 

their colleagues, the trio 

explained how they have 

unavoidably accumulated 

huge debts through house 

rent, feeding and other 

miscellaneous 

expenditures in order to 

support themselves. 

According to them, "many 

of us in the final year of our 

research are perching 

precariously on the 

precipice and without 

paying up our bills; all our 

efforts and steadfastness for 

the past three years will be 

in vain." 

But reacting to the 

development, the State 


Education, Prof John Eke 

who stated that the present 

administration was doing 

its best to ensure that these 

categories of students were 

adequately provided for , 

explained that the state 

government had recently 

paid their tuition to enable 

them conclude their 

educational pursuit abroad 

without stress. 

According to him, despite 

the harsh economic 

situation in the country, 

Ebonyi State government 

has made it a tradition not 

Government Law 2000 

empowered the creation of 

the development centres 

and the appointment of 

chairmen by the then 

executive Governor of 

Enugu State. 

"This bestowed on us all 

the rights and privileges of 

government appointees 

entitled to a severance 

package,” Nweze posited. 

Nweze, however, 

lamented that while some 

of their colleagues were 

paid severance package, 

they seemed to have been 

forgotten. 

to owe workers’ salaries 

and payment of fees for the 

overseas students is usually 

done immediately after 

salaries of workers are paid 

in the state. 

The statement from the 

scholars read in part: “Your 

Excellency can recall that 

your administration had 

approved about £5,500 for 

U MUAHIA—A 

coalition of over 20 

women societies and 

groups under the body of 

National Association of 

Isiala-Ngwa Progressive 

Women has endorsed Lady 

Blessing Uwaoma 

Nwokonneya for the Isiala- 

Ngwa Federal 

Constituency seat in the 

2019 election. 

The endorsement came 

after their enlarged town 

hall meeting held in 

Omoba, the capital of Isiala- 

Ngwa South LGA, Abia 


In a joint statement by its 

National President, Mrs 

Anastesia Ukomadu and 

National Secretary, Lady 

“In the recent payment of 

these packages, we were 

either by commission or 

omission not included. 

Kindly use your good office 

to let our governor know 

about this glaring omission 

with the aim of availing us 

with the payment." 

In his response, the 

Chief of Staff, Dr. Uzor 

assured them that their 

message would be 

conveyed, saying that they 

deserve what they were 

asking for. 

“I have heard your 

request. Be rest assured 

that the governor will hear 

it. You deserve what you 

are asking for,” he said 

From Left—Pastor 

Bayo Oyeyemi, Lagos 

Moderator; Pastor 

Phillip Oluwi; Pastor 

Samuel Afuwape, 

Church Secretary; 

and Pastor Jerry 

Asemota, Project 

Director, All of 

Deeper Life Church, 

at the town hall 

meeting of the Church 

in Lagos, yesterday. 

Photo: Akeem Salau 

each of the beneficiaries of 

this scholarship scheme on 

two different occasions. This 

money was tagged our 

‘school fees’ but we want 

to bring to the notice of Your 

Excellency that the 

approved fund could not 

pay our school fees to say 

the least." 

Isiala Ngwa women endorse Lady 

Nwokonneya for House of Reps 

By Onozure Dania Adaku Erondu, the 

coalition anchored its 

endorsement of Lady 

Nwokonneya on her track 

record of commitment to 

the welfare of the Isiala- 

Ngwa people, wealth of 

experience and its 

confidence in her capacity 

to offer a first class 

representation for her 

people. 

The women however 

urged all stakeholders to 

support the candidature of 

Lady Nwokonneya, a 

financial management 

specialist and 

thoroughbred professional 

banker with many years of 

service in various banks in 

Nigeria, so that the socio 

economic life of the Isiala- 

Ngwa people will be lifted.

Mai ruka bulldozer (El-Rufai) and this demoncrazy 

TWO events occurred last 

Thursday in faraway 

America and our "shithole" 

which offer contrast in an 

orderly society and a decadent 

and dying one. 

Governor Eric Greitens of 

Missouri was arrested on the 

first floor of Carnahan 

Courthouse in St Louis, 

according to an eyewitness 

report by a journalist from the 

St Louis Post-Dispatch. 

He was charged with 

invasion of privacy which was 

apparently linked to media 

reports last month that he had 

allegedly threatened to 

transmit photographs of the 

woman with whom he was 

having an affair. 

Missouri law states it is a 

felony to take a nonconsensual 

photo and distribute to another 

person, according to a 

statement from the office of St 

Louis Circuit Attorney 

Kimberley M Gardner. 

“As I have stated before, it is 

essential for residents of the 

city of St Louis and our state 

to have confidence in their 

leaders,” Gardner said. 

Greitens faces a sentence of 

up to four years in prison if 

found guilty of the allegation 

as he lives in a society where 

there are strong institutions as 

against strong men. 

As the law was catching up 

with Greitens for making good 

his threat, our President in 

Nigeria was hailing the 

Governor of Kaduna state, 

Nasiru el-Rufai, as "Mai ruka 

bulldozer" (an Hausa 

expression for bulldozer 

driver). 

The event being made light 

of was the allegation that El- 

Rufai personally drove a 

bulldozer to demolish a 

property belonging to a 

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi 

who belongs to the same 

political party with him but in 

a different faction. The 

building until it was 

demolished was the secretariat 

of the factional APC in the 

state. 

The Kaduna State Urban 

Planning and Development 

Agency, KAPSUDA, in a 

statement signed by its 

Director-General, Ibrahim 

Husseini, said the demolition 

was part of operations the 

agency was undertaking 

across Kaduna metropolis in 

compliance with its mandate. 

“In partnership with sister 

agencies, KASUPDA is 

clearing illegal structures, 

tackling street hawking and 

restoring order across 

Kaduna. 

“This morning, a building on 

11B Sambo Close was 

removed for flagrant violations 

of land use and non-payment 

of ground rent since 2010. 

This illegal violation of use 

had begun to distress 

neighbours who were being 

forced to endure an influx of 

thugs and blockage of the 

road,” 

There was no mention of the 

particular "land use" violated 

by the property except that 

ground rent was owed on the 

property and demolition could 

not have been penalty for 

owing ground rent. It was 

however strange that there 

We are going 

nowhere with our 

democracy for as 

long as we keep 

the immunity law 

in our books. It 

would encourage 

the kind of 

impunity we have 

seen El-Rufai 

displayed 

was no such violation when 

the building served as a 

campaign office for El-Rufai 

when he was campaigning for 

governor. According to 

Hunkuyi:“You may need to 

know that that same property 

is the property that we started 

clamouring for support for the 

same governor for the people 

to elect. That same office he 

has been in and out 

uncountable number of times 

as the centre of his…, before 

the establishment of a 

campaign office. 

“In case Mallam Nasir 

forgets and wish to push the 

boundary of personal feelings 

to express the way he feels 

against Hunkuyi, let me seize 

this opportunity to remind him 

that my own residence is at 

18A Inuwa Wada Road. If he 

Governor of Kaduna state, 

Nasiru el-Rufai 

Governor Eric Greitens of 

Missouri 

wishes to demolish that, he 

can go ahead. 

“Let me also use the 

opportunity to remind Nasiru 

that there is another property 

where I housed him, which he 

slept in so many times and we 

fed him in the course of 

bringing people together to 

elect him as governor and it is 

in Queen Elizabeth Road, 

Zaria.” 

The diminutive governor has 

taken the gauntlet by serving 

a demand notice of 24 years 

ground rents on the Senator's 

home within 30 days.The 

ground rent per year stands at 

N61,160.9 and amounts to 

N1,467,861.6 for the 24 years 

he was said to be owing but 

the penalty fine imposed is 

N30 million which brings the 

total amount he is supposed 

to pay within 30 days to 

N31,467,861.6. 

Hunkuyi, who confirmed the 

development on his twitter 

handle said this might be 

another ploy to demolish his 

personal residence. 

The senator tweeted : “Once 

again, @GovKaduna Malam 

@elrufai has sent a ridiculous 

bill to me for a purported 

ground rent of my personal 

house at Inuwa Wada to the 

tune of N30 million to be paid 

within 30 days, failure to do 

so might probably result to 

another demolition like he did 

on my other property.” 

It is a tragic twist that the 

President would throw banter 

over the action of El-Rufai 

which is a clear threat to 

democracy after Senator 

Shehu Sani told the Senate 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 —17 

that the governor drops the 

name of President Buhari for 

his actions in the state. "These 

actions by the governor had 

been done in the name of Mr. 

President whom he believes, 

he is his son that he so much 

loves,“he said. 

This action shows more than 

anything that Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu who claims he has a 

presidential mandate to 

reconcile APC members is in 

serious contention for the 

NAIVE MAN OF THE YEAR 

award. Oyegun may not be his 

problem at the end of the day 

if he is still a reflective man 

we used to know. 

We would not have been 

bothered with this hellish 

action of El-Rufai if its 

ramifications were limited to 

the APC as a party. Alas,this 

is not a family affair but a 

dangerous move that has 

serious implications for the 

polity. To start with, it 

conscripts the democratic 

space and hampers freedom of 

association. People who feel 

sufficiently aggrieved within a 

political party would now be 

afraid to voice dissent against 

a sitting power for the fear of 

the El-Rufai treatment that 

may earn a presidential 

hailing. 

In the same vein, property 

owners would now be scared 

to let their property for 

political tenants for fear of 

bulldozers moving into their 

premises whimsically and 

capriciously even when we 

falsely claim we are in a 

democracy. 

The greatest threat of it all is 

that the Yoruba say that a man 

who disciplines his fullblooded 

brother with a pestle 

is too dangerous for a halfbrother 

to mess around with. 

A mind that can pull down the 

building of a member of his 

party who disagrees with him 

may not waste time in doing 

you know what against an 

opposition party member. 

This is why the admonition 

of the Deputy President of the 

Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who 

presided when the Kaduna 

crisis was reported, in saying 

that democracy has no place 

for tyranny and this kind of 

impunity is very apt. "If we 

decide to go on the path of 

democracy, we must accept 

some of the things that come 

with it, and one is the rule of 

law. 

“If we have any kind of 

grievance, that grievance 

should be settled in the law 

court and not using force or the 

weight of our office. I believe 

this is one of the reasons 

Nigerians are opposed to the 

issue of immunity especially 

for chief executives. 

“This is something we need 

to watch. As we head toward 

2019, we must appeal to 

politicians not to overheat the 

system and then imperil our 

democracy. 

“There is a limit to the 

patience of our people,” 

Ekweremadu said. “I do hope 

that if it is true, the governor 

will make effort to go and 

rebuild the house or pay him 

adequate compensation. We 

condemn the act,“ 

We are going nowhere with 

our democracy for as long as 

we keep the immunity law in 

our books. It would encourage 

the kind of impunity we have 

seen El-Rufai displayed. 

A day before the departure 

of the military in 1999, Festus 

Keyamo and I led a group of 

demonstrators on the streets of 

Lagos bidding the fellows in 

green bye and we sang : 

A le koko nile yi/It shall be 

tough in this land 

A le koko nile yi o/It shall be 

tough in this land o 

Bi soja pada wa/if solders 

returned 

A le koko nile yi/It shall be 

tough in this land 

A few years after we marched 

and civilians started 

misbehaving the street 

changed our lyrics: 

Se democracy leyi?/is this 

democracy ? 

Se democracy leyi o?/Is this 

democracy o? 

Ti military la nso/We were 

talking about the military 

Se democracy leyi?/Is this 

democracy ? 

The solders are surely back 

in our tyrant democrats. It is 

no longer democracy. It is 

demoncrazy. 

Let the Refuseniks stand to 

bring back democracy in 2019! 

Feedback 

Re:Ondo as a cattle colony? 

THE menace of these brutal herdsmen would continue in 

Yoruba land and other southern States as long as the 

people in the area show weakness. Are these southerners 

pretending not to know that these killers are the Caliphate foot 

soldiers with only one aim, to go forth and dump the Quran in 

the sea? 

Until the Yoruba and the rest in the south wake up and 

confront these barbarians, the madness would persist. Do you 

even know that heads of military formations in the south are 

Fulani officers? This is deliberate because they are expected to 

provide cover for these marauding hoodlums. Take the case of 

the recent killing of a Vigilante member who was watching 

over two arrested Fulani robbers by soldiers in Edo state. 

As for Akeredolu, what do you think that the man would do, 

when his governorship victory was made possible by the Miyetti 

Allah National patron in Aso Rock ? Buhari described brutalities 

visited on helpless farmers by his kinsmen as 'herdsmen/ 

farmers clash' which can be translated to mean two fighting, 

and funnily enough, many people are now fooled into believing 

that,that fraudulent semantic jargon best described the carnage. 

Who say that these People are not smart?-Ebenezer Essien 

C 

M 

Y 

K


IT is dangerous to be overzealous 

and to run too far ahead of the pack 

when there is social tension. In a 

democracy, it pays for government 

officials to consult thoroughly, think 

carefully through policies and apply 

circumspection in their execution to 

carry the public along. True democrats 

are always mindful of conducting 

public affairs in a manner as to 

maintain legitimacy and public 

approval. 

Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is 

privileged to be appointed Minister 

for the second time, is repeating a 

mistake he made over 30 years ago 

when he was the Minister of 

Communications under President 

Shehu Shagari. At that time he had 

threatened to shut down the Radio 

Lagos FM station for reaching other 

states with its broadcasts. 

Meanwhile, he ignored the Radio 

Rivers FM which could also be picked 

up in Imo, Anambra and Cross River 

Minister Ogbeh should tread with caution 

States. But, Lagos State was under the 

opposition Unity Party of Nigeria, 

UPN, while Rivers State was governed 

by the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, 

to which Ogbeh belonged. The legal 

battle which was brewing was only 

aborted when the military returned in 

1983. 

Recently, Ogbeh announced the 

Federal Government’s intention to 

create cattle colonies which he claimed 

would be established in every state of 

Nigeria. Ogbeh ignored the fact that 

the state governors have constitutional 

powers over land matters in their 

states. He made it appear as if the 

states had no choice over the matter. 

His enthusiasm was buoyed by the 

response of the Kogi State Governor, 

Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who quickly 

volunteered to make land available for 

the project, though several interest 

groups across Kogi State angrily 

kicked against it. 

It was the same Minister Ogbeh who 

jumped into the fray as soon as he 

was appointed Minister of Agriculture, 

and promised that Nigeria would 

import grass from Brazil to feed our 

livestock without consulting 

stakeholders who would have told 

him that Nigerian researchers had 

already developed suitable improved 

grass varieties for the same purpose. 

On Saturday, February 10, 2018, 

President Buhari put the nail on the 

coffin of Ogbeh’s idea of establishing 

cattle colonies by declaring that he had 

no powers to create them. From all 

indications, the Minister acts alone on 

most of these knee-jerk plans. The 

result is always that he is forced to 

backtrack, and that is not a dignified 

way of exercising public authority. 

Minister Ogbeh is advised to be 

more sensitive to public opinion. This 

is what comes of effective 

consultation. It is the height of 

insensitivity for him to even propose 

the cattle colony idea without caring 

about the way his people of Benue 

State and other Nigerians would feel 

about it, especially for someone who 

claims to be a seasoned democrat. 

It pays to tread with caution. 

DR. Alex Ekwueme’s 

committee on creation of 

more states worked in conjunction 

with another committee 

inaugurated in the National 

Assembly and headed by Alhaji 

Abubakar Tuggar of the House of 

Representatives and with Mr. 

Bamidele Adewunmi as the 

Secretary. The supporting staff of 

the committee were Mr. D.O. 

Enanya, Ladi Falade and Dr. A. 

Dada. 

The Committee was 

inaugurated by Dr. Joseph 

Waya,the Senate President on June 

23, 1983 with the Speaker of the 

House of Representatives, Chief 

Umeh Ezeoke. In 1959, Alhaji 

Abubakar Tuggar was the 

Publicity Secretary of the 

Northern Peoples Congress. In 

1979, he was elected to represent 

Gumawa Constituency in Bauchi 

State in the House of the 

Representatives. 

The other members of the Alhaji 

Abubakar Tuggar’s committee 

were, Dr. O. O. Oreh, Sule Ibrahim, 

J.M. Zuokkumor, S.I. Idakwo, 

Yunusa Folorunsho, T. Sekibo, 

Umaru Ahmed Shuni, Mrs. Abiola 

Babatope, T.O. Akinbode, T. 

Ogunji, S.A. Odetoyinbo, Chief M. 

Nwoseh, E. Ononokpono, S.U. 

Wanganga, G.B. Wodi, J.Y. Mallo, 

Idi Mustapha, M.A. Tukur Fagam, 

Badamasi Yamma, Dr. Gordon 

Idang and David Gba’aondo. 

The Senators who were 

members of the committee were 

Senators D. O. Dafinone, A. 

Muazu, I. Dimis, Hassan Zuru, 

F.O.M. Atake, D.O. Oke, Adeyiga 

Ajayi, Onyeabo Obi, E.P. Echeruo, 

Umaru Lawan Bama, Jalo Waziri 

and Barkin Zuwo. 

The committee held then divided 

into subcommittees. 

One of the memoranda received 

How Ekwueme helped in creating 

more states (2) 

by the committee proposed that 

Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, 

Shomolu , Mushin, and Ikeja 

Local Government Area of Lagos 

should continue to serve as a 

Federal Capital (or territory) 

notwithstanding subsequent 

movement to Abuja; that Epe and 

Ikorodu Local Government Area 

should be merged with Ogun 

State. Attractive as this proposal 

may appear, the committee felt 

that it will be difficult to 

accomplish it since the National 

Assembly can only consider 

requests for creation of a new State 

validly made and received by it. 

Accordingly the question of 

retaining any part of Lagos State 

as Federal Capital or Territory can 

only be accomplished by an 

amendment to Section 261, 

Section 262, and the first Schedule 

Parts I and II of the Constitution 

rather than through the process of 

creation of New States. 

At the end of the exercise, Dr. 

Ekwueme and Alhaji Abubakar 

Tuggar’s committees 

recommended for the creation of 

the following states: NEW 

ANAMBRA State to be made up 

of—Anambra, Awka, Idemili, 

Ihiala,Njikoka,Onitsha,Nnewi 

and Aguata, EBONYI STATE to be 

made up of Ishielu, Ikwo, Ezza, 

Afikpo,Ohoasara and Abakaliki, 

GOMBE STATE to be made up of 

Akko,Tangale-Waja,Dukku and 

Gombe, KATAGUM STATE to be 

made up of Shira,Katagum, 

Gamawa, Misau and Jama’re, 

NEW CROSS RIVER STATE to be 

made up of Calabar Municipality, 

Akampa, Obubura, Ikom, 

ANIOMA STATE to be made up 

of Ika, Oshimili, Aniocha and 

Ndokwa. DELTA STATE-to be 

Dr. Ekwueme’s 

committee arrived at 

the conclusion that 

the request to join 

Anioma is 

unanimous 

made up of Bomadi, Burutu, 

Ethiope, Isoko, Okpe, Ughelli and 

Warri, TARABA STATE-to be made 

up of Wukari, Jalingo, Takum, 

Bali, Sardauna, Karim, 

Lamido,Ganye, Maye and 

Gamadiyo Districts of Numan 

LGA Zing, Jeren(Part of Mayo 

Belwa LGA), ABIA STATE-to be 

made up of Aba,Obioma 

Ngwa,Ukwa; Isiala Ngwa, 

Arochukwu Ohafia, Bende, 

Ikwuano/Umuahia and 

Isuikwuato District, Afikpo, 

Ohoazara, ABA STATE-to be made 

up of Aba, Isiala Ngwa,Obioma 

Ngwa and Ukwa, NJABA- As in 

the Request, KATSINA-Daura, 

Dutsima, Katsina, Kankia, 

Mani,Malumfashi and Funtua, 

NEW KADUNA-to be made up of 

Zaria, Ikara, Saminaka, Kachia, 

Jema’a, Birni Gwari, and Kaduna 

LGA, NEW ONDO STATE-to be 

made up of Akoko North, Akoko 

South, Akure, Idanre/Ifedore, 

Ifesowapo, Ikale, Ese Odo/Ilaje, 

Ondo and Owo, OYO STATE-to be 

made up of Ogbomosho, Oyo, 

Ifedapo, Isyin, Kajola, Irepo Iwo, 

OSHUN STATE-to be made up of 

Ede, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ila, 

Irepodun,Irewole,Odo Otin, 

Osogbo,Iwo and Ogbomosho, 

PORT HARCOURT STATE-to be 

made of Port Harcourt City,Tai 

Eleme LGA, Bori LGA Excluding 

Odual Community,Ikwere,Etche 

and Aboada,ZAMFARA-to be 

made up of Talata Mafara, 

Anka,Gumni,Maradun, Gusau, 

Chafe,Kaura/Namoda Zurmi,Isa, 

Zuru and Sakaba/Wasagu 

LGA,KEBBI STATE-to be made up 

of Arewa Dendi,Argunugu, 

Baguda, Bunza, Gwandu, Jega, 

Koko/ Besse, Sakaba/Wasagu, 

Yauri, and Zuru, JIGAWA STATEto 

be made up of Birnin- 

Kudu,Dutse, Gaya, Gwaram, 

Sumaila and Wudil, LAUTAI 

STATE-to be made up of Ringim, 

Kaugama,Garki, Gumel, Maitagi, 

Hadeija Keffi-Hausa, Birniwa, 

GHARI-Kazaure, Bichi,Dabatta, 

TIGA STATE-to be made up of 

Bebeji, Gwarzo, Rano, and Tudun- 

Wada and Rogo, GUJBA STATEto 

be made up of Damaturu, Fune, 

Gujba, Biu,Fika,Bade and Kaga, 

NEW BORNO-to be made up of 

Askira-Uba,Bama, Damboa, 

Gwoza, Konduga,Maiduguri 

Metroplolitan, Monguno and 

Ngala, NASSARAWA/MIDDL 

BELT STATE- Lafia, Akwanga, 

Keffi, Nassarawa and Awe,KOGI 

STATE-to be made up of Kogi, 

Bassa,Okehi,Okene,Dekina and 

Idah,OKURA STATE-to be made 

of Ankpa,Bassa,Dekina,Idah,Ofu 

and Omalla. 

I can not publish in full the 

reports of Dr. Alex Ekwueme’s 

committee as it relates to all the 

states but I will like to refer to the 

committee’s final conclusion on 

Anambra state. After careful 

consideration, Dr. Ekwueme’s 

committee arrived at the following 

conclusion as it affects Anambra 

state—That the request to join 

Anioma is unanimous, moreover 

the request is not homogenous in 

character, That the people of 

Onitsha Local Government Area 

should feel free to request for 

boundary adjustment under 

Section 8(2) of the Constitution 

once Anambra State is created. 

Aghamelum Clan in Uzo-Uwani 

Local Government Area and 

Ugwuoba, Akpugo towns in Oji 

River were removed from the 

component units of the proposed 

New Anambra State. 

The total land area of the 

proposed New Anambra State is 

over 4,923 square kilometres with 

project population of 2.5 million 

people distributed among the 

constituent units of the proposed 

state. In applying the provisions of 

Section 8(1) (a) (i) (ii) (iii) of the 

Constitution of Nigeria 1979, the 

New Anambra State request is 

qualified to go into referendum 

hence it is recommended by the 

committee. Onitsha is 

recommended as the capital of the 

proposed state. 

Continues Online@ www. 

vanguardngr.com

Banks’ lending to private sector to rise by 6.3% 

•As CBN offers N369bn TBs 

By Babajide Komolafe 

BANKING sector lending 

to the private sector will 

rise to N16.7 trillion this year, 

up by 6.34 percent, from N15.7 

trillion recorded in 2017. 

Analysts at FSDH Merchant 

Bank made this projection in 

the company’s weekly insights 

released yesterday. 

They also noted that the 

agricultural sector is faced with 

many challenges which make 

it difficult for it to attract more 

credit from the banks, while 

uncertainties about the fuel 

subsidy may constrain lending 

to the petroleum sector. 

They stated: “The 

manufacturing sector should 

attract the highest credit. The 

uncertainties surrounding the 

fuel subsidy in the petroleum 

marketing sector may lead to a 

contraction of credit to the 

sector.” 

The provisional figure that 

the National Bureau of 

Statistics (NBS) released for the 

fourth quarter (Q4) 2017 shows 

that the banking sector credit 

to the private sector dropped 

from N16.1trillion in Q4, 2016 

to N15.7trillion in Q4 2017. 

FSDH analysts explained: 

“Although the total credit as at 

the end of 2017 was higher than 

the figure of N13.1trilion in Q4 

2015, the impact of the 

devaluation of the local 

currency may be responsible for 

the growth in 2017 over 2015.” 

The sector with the highest 

credit allocation as at Q4, 2017 

was Mining & Quarrying and 

Petroleum Marketing, which 

accounted for 28 percent of the 

total banking sector credit to the 

private sector. 

This was followed by 

Manufacturing 14 percent; 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$118.75 -0.85 

$2,204.000.00 

$13.67 -0.01 

$67.31 0.00 

63.51 -0.04 

304.95 305.45 305.95 

426.869 427.5689 428.2688 

375.2715 375.8868 376.5021 

326.3242 326.8593 327.3943 

2.8556 2.8603 2.865 

0.5516 0.5616 0.5716 

440.9463 441.6693 442.3923 

48.1099 48.1892 48.2685 

81.3113 81.4446 81.578 

441.6591 442.3832 443.1074 

50.3841 50.4667 50.5494 

26.3101 26.3533 26.3964 

CBN Exchange rate as at 26/02/2018 

General Services 18 percent; 

and Trade 7 percent. We note 

that Agriculture, which 

contributed about 29 percent of 

the Gross Domestic Product 

(GDP) in Nigeria in Q3 2017, 

attracted 3 percent of the total 

credit. 

FSDH stated: “Our findings 

show that the Agriculture sector 

in Nigeria is faced with many 

problems. Thus the sector is 

unable to attract the required 

credit. 

“Some of the problems are: 

inadequate storage facilities; 

poor transport network; 

inadequate research to develop 

improved seedlings; and weak 

integration between the sector 

and the manufacturing sector in 

providing manufacturing 

inputs.” 

CBN sells N369bn TBs 

Meanwhile the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will 

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 — 19 

sell treasury bills (TBs) 

worth N369.4 billion this 

week. These include N260 

billion worth of Primary 

Market (fresh) and N109.4 

billion worth of secondary 

market TBs. 

The primary market bills 

which would be offered 

tomorrow comprise: N7.9 

billion worth of 91-Days 

TBs, N30 billion worth of 

182 days TBs and N222.2 

billion worth of 364-Days 

TBs. 

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu (L) presenting the award for the 

best performing company in Social contribution to General Manager, Policy, Government and 

Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn 

Shareholders seek extension of free e- dividend 

registration 

By Peter Egwuatu 

SHAREHOLDERS 

of 

quoted companies in the 

country, under the aegis of Proactive 

Shareholders of Nigeria, PROSAN, 

have called on the Securities and 

Exchange Commission, SEC to 

extend the period of its 

free e-dividend 

registration due to the 

breakdown of its portal. 

The call for the 

extension is coming a 

day to the end of the free 

e-dividend registration 

exercise. 

The members of the 

shareholders’ group, 

through its National 

Coordinator, Mr. Taiwo 

Oderinde, said: “We 

held a meeting and 

discussed on the 

increase in unclaimed 

dividend which had risen 

to over N60 billion and 

came up with solutions 

to reducing it. 

Meanwhile, our 

members have called on 

SEC to extend the 

deadline for the free e- 

dividend registration due 

to the fact that its portal 

has not been functioning for the past 

two weeks. 

‘’After deliberation, we came up 

with decision to ask from the 

commission an extension as the 

shareholders could not access the 

registration portal for the past two 

weeks. The portal has not been 

functioning well and many 

shareholders are frustrated. 

Therefore, we are calling on the 

Acting Director General of SEC for 

the extension of closing date to enable 

more shareholders to register.” 

It will be recalled that SEC, in 

reviewing the progress of the e- 

dividend registration exercise, after 

the December 31, 2017 deadline, 

noted that there was still a great influx 

of shareholders desirous of 

mandating their bank accounts for 

payment of dividends electronically. 

In light of the foregoing, 

SECextended the period for the free 

e-Dividend registration exercise till 

February 28, 2018, to encourage more 

shareholders mandate their ban 

accounts. 

FG links Kaduna Fair to Industrial Revolution Plan 

By Naomi Uzor 

The Federal Government, has 

said that the on-going 

Kaduna International Trade Fair is 

well-timed and aptly linked to the 

nation’s industrial revolution plan. 

Speaking at the opening 

ceremony of the 39th edition of the 

Kaduna Fair in Kaduna, President 

Muhammed Buhari who was 

represented by the Minister of 

Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. 

Okechukwu Enelamah, said the 

theme of the 39th edition, “ 

Promoting Commerce, Industry 

and Agriculture for International 

Competitiveness,” is very 

appropriate at the present state of 

the economy. 

He stated: “The theme of the 

event is apt and relevant to the 

Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan 

(NIRP) with stated objectives of fasttracking 

inclusive growth, job 

creation, enterprise development 

and industrialization, and the 

success of these policies is already 

evident in increased value addition 

in the agricultural and 

manufacturing sectors” 

“As we are all aware, capital 

investment is a vehicle for industrial 

growth in any developing country 

like Nigeria. However, the bulk of 

industrial inputs in Nigeria are 

imported, which should not be the 

case. To promote the inflow of 

foreign capital, we should 

undertake measures for using and 

IOSCO warns on 

regulation of 

virtual currencies 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

THE International Organisation of 

Securities Commissions, IOSCO, 

has cautioned its member countries 

over regulation of crypto-currencies - 

bitcoins and other virtual currenciessaying 

that such regulation may 

confer undue legitimacy on the 

products. 

Virtual currencies, which is fast 

gaining popularity among the 

investing public due to the high rate 

of returns, has in recent time, become 

a source of worry to market regulators 

around the world over its safety, the 

risks involved for investors and 

markets, as well as the nature of 

regulation required for it. 

Nigeria’s financial sector regulators, 

namely, the Securities and Exchange 

Commission, SEC, the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN, and the Nigeria 

Deposit Insurance Corporation, 

NDIC, have, at various times warned 

Nigerian investors to steer clear of all 

forms of virtual currencies, saying that 

they are not legal tenders in Nigeria. 

SEC had said that none of the 

individuals or companies promoting 

the use of the currencies is recognized 

by it or any other regulatory agency 

in the country and therefore stated that 

investments or transactions in such 

products cannot be protected by the 

regulators over risks and likely losses. 

Rising from a two day meeting in 

Madrid, Spain, the comity of 

regulators opined that regulating 

virtual currencies would deceive the 

general public into believing that there 

is regulatory faith in the products. 

They, therefore, agreed to conduct 

a deep analysis of the nature of the 

products to enable a clear appreciation 

of the depth of regulation required to 

ensure adequate protection of 

investors. 

They also agreed to launch an 

intensive public awareness initiatives 

to boost investor education and 

understanding, and accelerate the 

development of the right regulatory 

framework as may be necessary. 

Speaking at the end of plenary, Dr. 

Abdul Zubair, Acting Director General, 

SEC, observed the benefits of tackling 

the issue of crypto-currencies at this 

time as it provides an opportunity for 

regulators especially in the emerging 

markets, to better prepare for the 

incursion of virtual currencies into their 

markets by putting in place the 

appropriate regulatory frameworks 

that will ensure transparency, 

efficiency and protection for investors. 

promoting our own inputs to produce 

our goods” he stated. 

The President of Kaduna 

Chamber of Commerce Industry, 

Mines and Agriculture, 

KADCCIMA, Dr. Muheeba 

Dankaka, said the Nigerian 

economy is influenced by both 

external and internal factors like 

any other country operating within 

the present global setting, adding 

that the country faces the challenge 

of steering the economy towards 

global economic integration 

through trade liberalization, 

bilateral and multilateral 

cooperation, trans-border 

investment flows and prompt, 

efficient and effective mechanism 

for conflict resolutions. 

C 

M 

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K



KIP, model for Okowa's industrialisation of Delta —Otuaro 

By Etop Ekanem 

DELTA Sate deputy 

governor, Mr 

Kingsley Otuaro, has said 

that the Kwale Industrial 

Park, KIP, project is a 

model for aggressive 

industrialisation of Delta 

State by Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa who has provided 

the enabling environment 

in Delta State for investors 

VISIT: From left; Senior Brand Manager, Regional Mainstream Brands, NB Plc, Funsho Ayeni; 

Portfolio Manager, Mainstream, Lager and Stout brands, NB Plc, Emmanuel Agu; former Big Brother 

Naija housemates, Abiri Oluwabusayo Khloe and Kelvin Brouillette; Head of Media, Digital and 

Sponsorship NB Plc., Wasiu Abiola; Brand Manager, “33” Export & Stout NB Plc., Oluseun Lawal, 

during the former Big Brother Housemates courtesy visit to Nigerian Breweries. Photo: Keihnde 

Gbadamosi. 

IYC hails Amnesty International, laments 

detention of 49 youths 

By Jimitota Onoyume 

W ARRI—IJAW 

Youth Council, 

IYC, has flayed the 

continued detention of 

about 49 youths from the 

Niger Delta region for over 

a year allegedly by the 

Department of State 

Services, DSS. 

Speaking in Warri, Delta 

State yesterday, on the 

heels of the 2017/2018 

report of Amnesty 

International, on alleged 

human rights violations in 

the country, president of 

IYC, Mr Eric Omare, said 

the DSS had allegedly 

ignored court orders to 

release the detainees. 

He hailed the report of 

Amnesty International, 

stressing that it truly 

captured the level of 

alleged abuse of rights in 

the country. 

Omare also enjoined the 

rights body to extend its 

investigations to the Niger 

Delta region, adding that 

it should also prevail on the 

security body to release the 

youths allegedly in their 

custody . 

His words: “We hail 

Amnesty International for 

to leverage on. 

Otuaro, who 

represented Governor 

Okowa in leading the 

Delta State delegates to 

the just-concluded 

Nigeria International 

Petroleum Summit, NIPS, 

in Abuja, said that 

Okowa's SMART agenda 

was pivoted to and 

remains committed to 

peace and beckoned on 

exposing human rights 

violations in Nigeria in its 

2017/2018 annual report 

which was released on 

February 22, 2018. The 

Amnesty International 

report is a true reflection of 

the human rights situation 

in Nigeria. There is very 

little difference between the 

human rights situation 

during the military era and 

the current Buhari 

administration. Under this 

administration, the rights of 

Nigerians are violated with 

reckless abandon and 

2019: Mulade assures on quality 

representation, inaugurates c'ttees 

By Onozure Dania 

DELTA State House 

of Assembly hopeful 

in Warri South- West 

constituency, Mr Sheriff 

Mulade, has inaugurated 

his consultation/campaign 

committee, with a promise 

to be a good representative 

of the people if elected in 

2019. 

Speaking at the 

inauguration ceremony in 

his country home, 

Kokodiagbene, Mulade, 

who is the immediate past 

Chairman of Kokodiagbene 

investors to come to Delta 


At its stand at the 

Petroleum Summit, Delta 

State showcased its 

kaolin, lignite, bitumen, 

silica and potentials of 

other solid minerals, 

which can be investors’ 

delight. 

The deputy governor 

said that the state 

maintained, among other 

without regard to the fact 

that we are in a civil 

administration. 

“At the time of issuing this 

statement, about 49 Niger 

Deltans have been in the 

detention facilities of the 

DSS for more than one year 

without trial. In some of the 

cases, competent courts of 

law established by the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria 1999 

(as amended) have 

ordered their release but 

the DSS refused to comply 

with the release orders in 

Community, Gbararmatu 

Kingdom, Warri South West 

Local Government Area of 

Delta State, said that he 

joined the 2019 House of 

Assembly race to give his 

people purposeful 

representation. 

Mulade, who is also the 

National Coordinator of 

Centre for Peace and 

Environmental Justice, 

CEPEJ, said: “I want to 

assure my good people of 

Warri South-West LGA and 

Deltans in general that the 

time has come to move our 

dear state forward 

structures, a Delta 

Waterways and Land 

Security Committee, Delta 

State Advocacy 

Committee against 

Vandalism of Oil and Gas 

Facilities led by himself, 

which collaborates with 

presidential peace 

overtures in the Niger 

Delta to pursue peace and 

create an investor-friendly 

environment. 

disregard to the court 

orders. This is unthinkable 

in a democratic 

government where the rule 

of law is the cornerstone of 

governance. It is a 

dangerous precedent for 

security agencies 

established by law to 

disrespect the orders of 

court in a democratic 

government. If the 

authorities have any case 

against those detained, 

then, they should be 

charged to court and not 

kept in indefinite 

detention." 

particularly Warri South 

West constituency with 

people oriented legislative 

programmes with special 

focus on building peaceful 

coexistence among ethnic 

groups. 

“The time to provide 

environmental justice for 

Deltans, particularly oil and 

gas host communities and 

collaborating with security 

agencies to end criminality 

and support Governor 

Okowa's smart agenda to 

attract development is now 

and I am offering myself for 

service to my people,” he 

said. 

Fed Govt adopts Songhai model 

in integrated farming scheme 

By Emma Una 

C ALABAR—THE 

Songhai faming 

model in which organic 

fertilizer is used in the 

cultivation of crops and 

vegetables has been 

adopted by the Federal 

Government in its 

Integrated Farming 

Scheme to boost food 

production in Akwa Ibom 

and Cross River states 

Managing Director of 

Cross River Basin 

Development Authority, 

Mr Bassey Nkposong, 

who stated this, yesterday, 

while addressing chiefs of 

Onna Local Government 

Area, revealed that the 

Integrated Farming 

Scheme will revive 

agricultural production 

through the use of cost 

Delta to assist fire disaster 

victims 

By Festus Ahon 

A SABA—DELTA 

State Government 

has assured victims of 

Kwale market fire 

disaster of assistance to 

enable them restart their 

businesses. 

The 

state 


Bureau for Special 

Duties, Mr Ernest 

Ogwezzy, who gave the 

assurance when he 

visited the market to 

sympathise with those 

whose shops and wares 

were razed by 

Wednesday's fire 

disaster, said the 

Governor Ifeanyi 

O k o w a - l e d 

administration was 

Rivers loses National 

Industrial Court judge 


Madukwe 

THE 

Presiding 

Judge of the 

National Industrial Court, 

NIC, Port Harcourt 

Division, Rivers State, 

Justice Auwal Ibrahim, is 

dead. 

In a statement, yesterday 

by the Ag. Chief Registrar, 

the NIC President, Justice 

B. A. Adejumo, said that 

there will not be court 

sitting in the division in 

view of the demise of the 

late jurist who died in the 

early hours of Monday. 

“May God forgive the 

deceased his entire 

shortcomings and grant 

his soul eternal rest,” Justice 

Adejumo said. 

Late Justice Ibrahim was 

appointed a judge of the 

National Industrial Court in 

2008. After his Bachelors 

effective means to boost 

food production in the 

country and it involves a 

collaboration between the 

communities and the 

government. 

“We are not buying off the 

land from you but 

partnering you to add 

value to your land by 

upgrading the soil quality 

with organic manure and 

also teach you the 

technique which is easy to 

adopt,” Nkposong told the 

community leaders 

He said the Federal 

Government was keen to 

introduce agriculture as the 

viable alternative to oil and 

will use the 100 hectres of 

land donated by the 

communities in the area to 

boost agricultural activity 

and create employment for 

the youths. 

committed to the 

wellbeing of all Deltans. 

Ogwezzy who also 

inspected the burnt 

portions of the market, 

said: “The extent of 

damage as I have 

witnessed so far is 

colossal and I don’t 

know how to put it in 

figure, but all I need to 

say is that it was a big 

loss.” 

Urging the victims and 

other shop owners to 

always guard against 

fire, he said: “You should 

at all times provide fire 

extinguishers in your 

shops and residence so 

that when these things 

happen, people can 

easily combat the fire 

before fire fighters will 

arrive.” 

Degree in Law at the 

University of Maiduguri, 

he proceeded to University 

of Warwick, Coventry, 

England for his LL.M and 

backed it up with a 

doctorate degree in Law at 

the London School of 

Economics and Political 

Science, University of 

London. 

Justice Ibrahim served 

on the Attorney General of 

the Federation’s Working 

Committee on the Laws of 

the Federation of Nigeria 

and was also on its Editorial 

Board. 

In the field of academics 

and research, Justice 

Ibrahim was a lecturer at 

the graduate and post 

graduate levels in the areas 

of Constitutional Law, 

Labour and Industrial 

Relations Law at the 

University of Maiduguri, 

Maiduguri, Borno State.


22 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018

Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 — 23









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

VOL. 1: NO. 168 

IKARAMA- THE shooting 

of a neighbourhood 

watch member at Ikarama 

community, Yenagoa Local 

Government Area, Bayelsa 

State, allegedly by men of the 

Nigeria Security and Civil 

Defence Corps, NSCDC, last 

Tuesday, is generating 

controversy in the state. 

While some persons in the 

community claim that NSCDC 

operative shot a vigilante 

member, the state Commandant, 

Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu, said 

his men neither shot nor injured 

anybody, adding that oil thieves 

destroyed a bridge leading to the 

community to evade arrest. 

Report indicated the Anti- 

Vandal team of NSCDC had gone 

to the community in search of a 

suspected oil vandal, but arrested 

a female suspect in his stead, 

while a local vigilante member, 

Perekurofa Odoyibo, was shot in 

an ensuing commotion between 

security agents and his group. 

The victim supposedly shot on 

the arm and leg, according to the 

report, was in a critical condition 

at an undisclosed hospital in the 

state capital. 

Wife bemoans 

His wife, Mrs Rebecca Odoyibo, 

lamented: “Look at what they 

did to my husband who 

volunteered for the community 

vigilante work, he is there in 

pains and we lack the resources 

offset his hospital bills.” 

Twenty-five years ago, Ogoni 

natives halted oil operation in 

the area by Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, 

SPDC, due to alleged 

environmental devastation 

and pollution,. 

The pronouncement of the 

Ogoni royal fathers that 

RoboMichael should carry on 

exploration has expectedly 

ignited reactions and attacks 

from the Movement for the 

How they shot vigilante 

Narrating what transpired, a 

youth leader, Mr. Ben Warder 

said: “The local vigilante team 

noticed the NSCDC van at about 

3.00 am and was trying to find 

out why they had to take away a 

nursing mother with children 

over an offence purportedly 

committed by the husband.” 

“They shot one of them and 

sped off with the woman. They 

TUESDAY, , FEBRUARY 27, 7, 2018 

18 

Oil thieves collapse bridge to 

Bayelsa community to foil arrest 

— Nwachukwu, NSCDC Commandant 

*Threaten operatives with weapons, threw stones at them 

*It’s a lie; rampaging NSCDC men shot a vigilante member – Youth leader 

BAYELSA… JERUSALEM OF IJAW LAND 

BY EMEM IDIO 

BY DAVIES 

IHEAMNACHOR 

OGONI: THE recent 

endorsement of 

RoboMichael Nigeria Limited 

by Ogoni monarchs, under the 

auspices of Supreme Council 

of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, 

SCOTRA, to explore oil in 

Ogoni land has triggered fresh 

crisis in the oil-rich Rivers’ 

ethnic nationality. 

•NSCDC Operatives 

Survival of Ogoni, MOSOP, 

which insists that it is the only 

body vested with the power to 

speak for Ogoni people. 

A social-cultural pressure 

group in Ogoni, Ken Saro- 

Wiwa Associates, has also 

handed out conditions to the 

Federal Government and oil 

firms concerning the takeover 

of Oil Mining Lease, OML II 

We endorse RoboMichael- 

Royal fathers 

SCOTRA’s decision was 

disclosed in a communique 

came from the oil field in Ikarama, 

operated by Shell Petroleum 

Development Company, SPDC, 

and that is why the youths 

mobilized and blocked the road 

to the Okordia manifold. 

“The youths subsequently 

mobilized to protest the use of 

security men to molest oil 

communities; this is because we 

learnt that the arrest is linked to 

an oil spill incident,” he asserted. 

Ogoni splits again over oil exploration 

*Royal fathers recommend RoboMichael 

*MOSOP accuses oil firms of dividing the people 

*Ken Saro-Wiwa Associates gives reopening conditions to FG, oil firms 

*Stop approving oil firms, youths tell monarchs 

RIVERS…THE TREASURE BASE OF THE NATION 

issued after the meeting of the 

body at the palace of the 

chairman, HRM King Godwin 

Gininwa in Tai local 

government area. 

Spokesperson of SCOTRA 

and paramount ruler of Kpite 

communities, HRH King 

Samuel Nnee, Gbene-mene 

Tuatua Tai, who read the 

communiqué, said the chiefs 

resolved after due 

consultations to allow the firm 

operate the oil wells in the 


I’m not a pipeline vandal- 

Suspect 

However, Mr. Orukari Udoji, 

the suspect whose wife, Deborah, 

was arrested and later released 

by operatives of the NSCDC, 

denied any involvement in 

pipeline vandalism. 

He said: “I was out in the forest 

for my timber lumbering work 

when men of NSCDC stormed 

my residence and took away my 

wife. I am at a loss on what to do 

because I do not even have idea 

of where they took her to, and as 

we speak I do not even have 

money to pay transport to go in 

search of her.” 

“Everybody in this community 

knows that I do timber work and 

by the time they came, I was in 

the forest working and they 

claimed that there was oil spill in 

the bush near where I felled some 

timber.” 

It’s unfortunate – Traditional 

head 

Traditional head of Ikarama 

community, Chief Richard Seiba, 

told our reporter: “What the Civil 

Defence people did was 

regrettable, they shot the boy 

twice on the arm and leg, I have 

just visited him and he is in pains 

and is currently receiving medical 

attention.” 

Ikarama notorious for oil theft 

- NSCDC commandant 

Reacting to the hullabaloo 

generated by operations of his 

men, the state Commandant, 

Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu, 

stated:”Ikarama is notorious for oil 

theft and pipeline vandalism and 

the syndicate has always adopted 

devilish strategies to frustrate the 

efforts of NSCDC to stop their 

practices. Despite all the antics 

of these evil merchants, we have 

continuously remained resolute 

to ensure an end to this economic 

crime.” 

“Our anti-vandal team based at 

Ikarama community responded 

to a case of sabotage of oil 

pipelines in the community. The 

team was only doing its legitimate 

duty in line with the mandate of 

the NSCDC. 

Community hassle our 

operatives 

“Our investigation into the 

incident that happened on the 

said night revealed that our men 

did not release any single 

gunshot. Despite all the 

harassments, insults and other 

uncivil means unleashed on them 

to stop them from arresting a key 

suspect involved in the recent 

vandalism in the community. 

They were professional and fired 

no shot. 

“Though the suspect escaped, 

they were able to arrest a woman, 

who works with the man and 

knew his whereabouts. The 

woman was quizzed and later 

released. She made valuable 

confessional statements, which 

we are using to continue with our 

investigation. 

Syndicate lays ambush 

“Not relenting in their plots to 

frustrate and blackmail the 

operations of NSCDC in the war 

against oil theft in the area, the 

syndicate whipped up public 

sentiment and tried to ambush 

our men, who returned to the 

community the next day to arrest 

the key suspect. 

“They demolished the bridge 

leading to the community the next 

day, threatened the lives of our 

men by brandishing all manner 

of weapons and even hauled 

stones at them." 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 

PANORAMA Continues 

Dein of Agbor, Chancellor, West African Union University, Cotonou, 

Republic of Benin, leads prominent Nigerians to convocation ceremony 

The Chancellor, HM Ikenchukwu Kiagborkuzi I (left) and 

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the occasion. 

The Dein of Agbor flanked by his chiefs, from left: Tibi, Ayawa 

and right by Usifoh, Aziken and Nenyiaba, at the occasion. 

Dein of Agbor (left) and Mr. Femi Falana, SAN. 

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 

Niger-Delta Voice, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018—33 

YESSO catalogues 100,000 underprivileged C’River folks 

“FG adopts 20,000 for Conditional Cash Transfer, CCT programme; group trains 5,000 

•World Bank project expires 2020; C’River govt yet to pay counterpart funding — Ofegobi, Coordinator 

CROSS RIVER…THE PEOPLE’S PARADISE 

BY EMMANUEL UNAH 

CALABAR- YOUTHS Employment 

and Social Network Operations, 

YESSO, has registered 100,000 

vulnerable people across the 18 Local 

Government Areas of Cross River State, 

who require financial assistance and 

skills training to live a worthy life, under 

a World Bank sponsored project. 

N5, 000 a lot of money 

to the vulnerable 

YESSO Coordinator in the state, Mr 

Bolinwo Ofegobi, in a chat, said: “Some 

of these people are so poor such that 

N5, 000 means so much to them, 

which is why we do everything to make 

sure they are provided for by social 

welfare programmes of the 

Ogoni splits again over oil 

exploration 

from page 32 

area. 

Nnee said: “We, the Supreme 

Council of Traditional Rulers of 

The Chancellor, HM Ikenchukwu Kiagborkuzi I (left) and Prince 

Oguntuase Kayode, Nigeria's Ambassador to Republic of Benin. 

The Dein of Agbor and honorary degree holders. 

Pioneer Vice Chancellor of West African University, 

Cotonou, Republic of Benin, HM Ikenchukwu Kiagborkuzi, 

the Dein of Agbor. 

government”. 

He said YESSO is not an employment 

agency, but captures susceptible 

people and those without jobs and 

train them to attain skills that will help 

them live responsibly. 

“Poverty is not static, that is why we 

regularly visit communities that we had 

gone before to record those who may 

have falling into the poverty net since 

poverty is endemic to ensure that we 

capture everyone who needs to be 

captured on our list”. 

He said the project sponsored by the 

World Bank also identifies those who 

have basic vocational skills or can be 

trained to acquire skills that can help 

them gain employment to sustain 

themselves and those incapacitated by 

ailment or are abandoned. 

FG adopts 20,000 persons 

Ogoni in consultation with our 

people resolve and endorse 

RoboMichael limited as our 

preferred company to operate 

the assets situated in our land.” 

Oil firms at it again- MOSOP 

However, MOSOP accused 

oil firms of employing divide 

and rule tactics to arm-twist the 

people. 

He called on President 

Muhammadu Buhari to avert a 

possible breakdown of the peace 

in Ogoni land by putting a 

check to the activities of Belema 

Oil Producing Limited and Robo 

Michael Limited, adding that 

their desperation for Ogoni oil 

has created division among the 

people. 

The spokesman, Fegalo 

Nsuke, told NDV, “The way 

forward is a peaceful settlement 

through dialogue taking into 

strong consideration the 

interests of the Ogoni people as 

articulated in the Ogoni Bill of 

Rights” 

KSA gives conditions 

However, Ken Saro-Wiwa 

Associates said it would only 

allow a company preferred by 

larger number of stakeholders 

in the area on grounds that 

Federal Government would not 

renew the license it issued to 

Shell Petroleum Development 

Company, SPDC, to operate 

OML11 when it expires in 2019. 

National Coordinator of KSA, 

Chief Gani Topba, who stated 

this during a sensitization in 

Bori, Khana local government 

area, said that any company 

which intends to resume 

exploration in Ogoni must give 

a clear template on 

development and on human 

capacity building. 

3 years, 3 endorsements 

Topba disclosed that within 

the period of three years, the 

same chiefs have endorsed over 

three different firms to explore 

Ogoni oil, adding that the 

endorsement was only a ploy to 

enrich themselves. 

“These traditional rulers who 

call themselves Supreme 

Council or COTRA lack the 

capacity and moral justification 

to endorse any company. In 

2015, Belemaoil was in Ogoni 

and this same chiefs endorsed 

them. In 2016 and 2017 the 

chiefs wrote to NNPC that 

Belemaoil remains their 

choice,” he said. 

“From our list, the Federal 

Government has adopted over 20,000 

persons in the state for the Conditional 

Cash Transfer programme and as I talk 

to you now, they are given money every 

month to help sustain them,” he said. 

Why C’River govt should make haste 

Ofegobi asserted: “In Cross River 

state, we are using a credit provided by 

the World Bank since 2014 with which 

we are training 5,000 youths on basic 

vocational skills, but the state is yet to 

meet its obligation and the basket for the 

funding of this project will expire by 

2020, which is why we need to make 

haste as a state in dire need of this 

programme.” 

He stressed the need for the state 

needs to pay its share of the funds, 

which is just one percent to show its 

commitment to the project before the 

time for the funding by the World Bank 

expires.

34— Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

By Ediri Ejoh 

THE 

Federal 

Government has been 

urged to as a matter of 

urgency join world leaders 

and address current climate 

change caused by emissions 

and other catalysts. 

The Director, Carbon 

Limits Nigeria, CLN, a 

project and technical 

consultancy service 

company, Paul Parks, stated 

this against the backdrop of 

the recent report on climate 

change released by CLN. 

He explained that 

policymakers in the country 

need to understand how 

climate change acts as a 

threat multiplier and address 

it appropriately. 

According to the report, 

“The increase in violence is 

tied to a large degree to land 

use, natural resource 

development, and 

disruptions in traditional 

lifestyles. 

“Where climate 

degradation and conflict 

were once seen primarily as 

a Niger-Delta issue related 

to oil development, the 

conflict has now become 

endemic in the North-East 

with Boko Haram and in the 

North-Central region 

between herders and 

farmers. 

“While these various 

conflicts have diverse 

AWARD: From left: 

Minister of State for 

Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu; Country Chair, Shell 

Companies in Nigeria and 

Managing Director of The Shell 

Petroleum Development 

Company of Nigeria Limited 

(SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor; 

and the Managing Director, 

Shell Nigeria Exploration and 

Production Company, Mr. Bayo 

Ojulari, during the presentation 

of The Best International 

Company in Technology and 

Innovation to Shell at the 2018 

Nigeria International Petroleum 

Summit in Abuja 

Carbon emmision posses new threat— Report 

causes, climate change is a 

factor in all of them. Climate 

change is causing 

increasing temperatures 

leading to encroaching 

desertification, rising sea 

levels leading to coastal 

degradation, variability in 

weather patterns to stresses 

in the agricultural and 

livestock sectors resulting in 

volatile food prices and more 

frequent and violent storms.” 

The report further added 

that given the inexorable, 

albeit not fully predictable, 

increased aridity and 

desertification; the stress on 

By Prince Okafor 

AS the nation battle to 

be self sufficient in 

electricity, ASTEVEN 

Group has officially 

launched the first Sub 

Sahara Renewable Energy 

Academy in Nigeria. 

Students of the academy 

will be trained green 

vendors, service providers, 

installers, technicians and 

dealers in renewable energy 

technologies. Graduates will 

receive global certifications 

that will eliminate the 

quacks that currently 

operate in the industry. 

both herders and farmers 

will only get worse in the 

future. 

It also stated that for 

adaptation to be successful, 

greater public discussion 

about active involvement 

across all stakeholders is 

urgently needed. 

“Climate change is with us, 

and the stress on Nigeria will 

only increase. To be 

successful, adaptation 

measures require well 

developed, long-term plans 

that address the complexities 

of the issue, including the 

reduction of violence. 

Nigeria gets first renewable energy 

academy in Africa 

Speaking during the 

launch of the ASTEVEN 

Renewable Energy 

Academy and Centre of 

Excellence, in Ogun State, 

the Managing Director and 

Chief Executive Officer, 

ASTEVEN Group, Dr. Sunny 

Akpoyibo, said: “This 

Academy was borne out of 

a necessity to develop local 

capacity, change the course 

of power access in Nigeria 

and increase job creation. 

“The academy located 

along Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway its arguably the 

first of its kind in Sub Sahara 

Africa, built and structured 

to support the rapidly 

These plans will take years 

and much money to 

implement, and require the 

long-term commitment of the 

government.''It is 

encouraging to see the 

Governor of Kebbi State 

speaking out on this. Public 

dialogue needs to expand to 

all levels of government and 

citizens and lead to actions. 

Far too many Nigerians live 

on the very edge of economic 

survival and are the ones 

must vulnerable to climate 

impacts and susceptible to 

the allure of violence.” 

developing markets for 

renewable energy and 

energy efficient industry.” 

ASTEVEN has installed 

over 20 megawatts of 

renewable energy in Nigeria 

and it translate into Carbon 

emission reduction of 

20744tCO2eq per year in 

Nigeria. 

He noted that, In spite of 

these huge efforts, it is 

unacceptable that about 60 

percent of Nigerians still do 

not have access to modern 

forms of energy. It is also 

worrisome that about 94 

percent of the population 

with access depends hugely 

on fossil fuel generators, 

kerosene, wood fuel etc. 

“We have all been 

concerned by the fact that 

the lack of energy in Nigeria 

is one of the greatest threats 

to the nation’s 

development.The 

Government of Nigeria 

recognizes this and has put 

in significant effort and 

resources to improve energy 

access in the country. 

“Renewable Energy holds 

the key to changing this 

dependence. Since the 

adoption of the Paris 

Agreement on climate 

change in 2015, the world is 

travelling in this direction. 

The Government has 

demonstrated its 

commitments not to be left 

behind by ratifying the 

Agreement and submitting 

an ambitious Nationally 

Determined Contributions.” 

Electricity watch 

Source: NCC Daily Operational Report 

IMC honours IBEDC on 

mgt development 

By Oluchukwu Nkenta 

THE Institute of Management Consultant, IMC, 

has given an award of management excellence 

to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, 

IBEDC, over its strides in the power sector 

workforce. 

The award was given to the company at the Lagos 

Airport Hotel. Speaking on the award, Managing 

Director/CEO, IBEDC, Mr. John Donnachie, who 

was represented by Deputy Managing Director of 

the company, Mr. John Ayodele, stated that the 

company was striving to ensure a better 

management structure in the power business. 

According to him, “We are eventually here to help 

provide and renew our consulting management. 

Consultancy in management does not mean you 

have to establish a consulting firm. It means if I am 

in a business of management and establishment, 

there is need for: firstly, professionalism so you 

can be regulated in a way to ensure that everybody 

is doing what is right. 

“Secondly, it provides avenue for interaction and 

information flow and sets standards for the 

corporation and that is basically what the institute 

is all about. 

“There is need for the award because they went 

through some round table discussion centred 

around the functionality of the institute and how 

we are going to relate and form pressure groups, 

share information among ourselves and how we 

are going to regulate ourselves.'' 

/


NNRC rates Nigeria low in management of oil wealth 

By Udeme Akpan 

NIGERIA Natural 

Resource Charter, NNRC, 

has rated Nigeria low in the 

management of the nation's oil and 

gas wealth. 

In its Benchmark Exercise 

Report, BER, obtained by 

Vanguard, NNRC stated that: 

“the BER also notes that on issues 

of licensing, exploration and 

monitoring, that there has not 

been significant change since 

2014. Nigeria, the BER notes, still 

does not meet the natural 

resource charter benchmark. 

Laws, policies and practices 

reveal absence of strategic impact 

assessment and poor disclosure 

of exploration and licensing 

information. Monitoring of 

operations across every stage of 

projects is ineffective as the 

government agencies responsible 

lack some technical capacity and 

are not always sufficiently 

resourced. 

By Udeme Akpan, 

Sebastine Obasi & 

T 

Michael Eboh 

OTAL Exploration and 

Production Nigeria, TEPU, 

and other stakeholders have 

intensified efforts toward the 

completion of the full integration 

of FPSO in Lagos. 

A visit to Ladol yard over the 

weekend showed that a team of 

indigenous engineers were 

working to meet the July, 2018, 

target for the sail out of the facility 

to the Oil Mining Licence 130, 

some 200km South of Port 

Harcourt, Rivers State. 

Nicolas Terraz, the Managing 

Director, TEPU informed the 

House of Representatives 

committees on local content and 

gas, that visited Egina FPSO, 

Friday that: ‘’The plan is now to 

complete these integration works 

within a period of six months, and 

our target is to achieve the sail 

away of FPSO to its final location 

in Egina Field by July. 

“Let me assure you that Total is 

working relentlessly to deliver this 

project within the initial budget of 

$16 billion and even below that. 

“Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd. is 

proud of this achievement. Today, 

we want to share this pride with 

you and express our thanks for your 

support.’’ 

The Chairman, House of 

Representatives Committee on 

Local Content, Emmanuel Ekon, 

described the Egina FPSO as a 

pride for Nigeria. 

Ekon said: “What I am seeing 

means that local content is 

working. Egina Project was the 

first project after the Local Content 

Law was signed. A lot has been 

said about local content on Egina 

FPSO project; so, it was necessary 

for me to lead the members of the 

Committee on Local Content to 

come and see the Egina FPSO. 

“Our presence here has 

answered a lot of questions. I am 

happy local content is working, 

but there is a lot more that we 

can do. I am satisfied; 

*Mr. Albert Mabuyaku, Corporate Affairs Manager of Total Nigeria Plc, addressing graduating 

beneficiaries of its Skills Acquisition Programme in Koko, Delta State. 

“Oversight institutions are 

weak, inefficient and in some 

cases, compromised. It is 

however, expected that the 

component parts of the 

Total, others intensify efforts to integrate Egina FPSO 

integration is done here, this is a 

plus for us.” 

Frederick Agbedi, Chairman, 

House of Representatives 

Committee on Gas Resources, 

also hailed Total for the feat. 

He said that the committee 

members were satisfied that 80 

Petroleum Industry Bill will 

adequately address this when 

finally passed into law. But for the 

time being, not much has been 

achieved. The need for greater 

per cent of local content was 

considered in Egina FPSO. 

A few days earlier, the Senate 

Ad-Hoc Committee on local 

content had commended Total 

and its partners for the 

remarkable progress made 

towards the completion of the 

FPSO. 

transparency in Nigeria’s oil and 

gas sector cannot be 

overemphasized if government’s 

efforts at growing the sector and 

effectively competing are to be 

achieved. 

Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, 

had said, “Seeing the Egina FPSO 

has shown that a good 

investment has been made to 

ensure that Nigeria moves 

deeper and deeper into the sea 

to exploit its God-given 

endowment of oil. 

Pass PIGB to attract investments in the oil industry – SPE 

By Sebastine Obasi & Ediri 

Ejoh 

INVESTMENT growth and 

opportunities in the 

petroleum industry will not 

improve unless the petroleum 

industry governance bill, PIGB 

is passed without delay, 

Chairman of Society of 

Petroleum Engineers, SPE, 

Nigerian Council, Mr. Chikezie, 

Nwosu said. 

Speaking at a briefing to 

announce the 18th Annual 

Oloibiri Lecture Series and 

Energy Forum, scheduled for 

March 1, to begin on the 1st of 

March, Nwosu, who is also 

Deputy Managing Director 

(Technical), Addax Petroleum, 

stated that the challenges 

confronting the industry are 

very well known. He said: 

“Incentives to invest in the 

petroleum industry when 

supply is unsure and fiscal 

incentives are uncertain are 

known and are being addressed. 

If the passion we have seen in 

putting together the enabling 

policies (of which the critical 

elements of the PIGB – The 

Governance, Host 

Communities, Fiscal Reforms 

and Downstream bills) is 

sustained in passing the bills and 

implementing all the 

provisions, then we will succeed 

in attracting the needed 

investments.” He explained that 

the breaking into four parts of 

the PIGB was well thought of. “It 

will help to deliver the bill 

expectedly as we are confident 

it will be passed before the end 

of 2019,” he said. 

While caution on the over 

reliance on fossil fuel, he 

reiterated that focus should be 

on renewable energy. “It has 

become clear that with 

anticipated growth in energy 

demand, the world is rapidly 

moving towards an age of 

cleaner sources of energy. 

For fossil fuels, this will mean a 

greater reliance on gas and less 

reliance on oil and, especially, 

coal. 

In addition, hydroelectric and 

gas powered cars will replace 

Chevron's subsidiary, Star Deep 

Water, Agbami partners invest 

N13bn in CSR 

CHEVRON Nigeria Limited, 

(CNL), operator of the joint 

venture between the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, 

NNPC/CNL JV,? has disclosed that 

its subsidiary, Star Deep Water 

Limited, along with its Agbami 

partners have invested over N13.1 

billion in Corporate Social 

Responsibility projects across 

Nigeria, between 2008 and 2016. 

This was even as CNL was named 

the 'Top Domestic Gas Producer' 

and the 'Best Performing Upstream 

International Company in Social 

Contribution' for 2016/2017. 

According to a statement by the 

company, both awards were 

presented at a ceremony 

organized by the Ministry of 

Petroleum Resources as part of 

programmes to mark the official 

opening ceremony of the Nigerian 

diesel engines and, with time, 

gasoline engines. 

“Add to this the growing 

investments in renewable 

sources of energy such as solar 

and wind, and it becomes 

evident that Nigeria must 

rethink (or rejig) its energy 

policy to solidify on the gains in 

the oil and gas industry (the 7 

Big Wins), and leverage on these 

learnings to prepare for an 

energy mix that will become less 

reliant on the more polluting 

fossil fuels. 

International Petroleum Summit 

(NIPS) held in Abuja last week. 

The company said the award 

certificates and plaques were 

presented to CNL at a dinner event 

in Abuja, and was witnessed by 

many dignitaries including the 

Minister of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, 

representatives of the NNPC/ 

industry regulators, participants 

from other African countries and 

other industry players. 

On hand to receive the awards 

which were separately presented 

by the Honourable Minister of 

State for Petroleum Resources 

and the Chief Financial Officer of 

the NNPC, Isiaka Abdulrazaq, 

who represented the Group 

Managing Director, NNPC, Engr. 

Maikanti Baru was the General 

Manager Policy, Government and 

Public Affairs, CNL, Mr. Esimaje 

Brikinn. 

Lumos partners 

All-On to provide 

solar in the 

Niger- Delta 

LUMOS Nigeria, a leading 

solar home systems service 

provider through its LumosYéllo 

box has signed a debt financing 

agreement with All-On, a 

Nigerian off-grid energy 

investment company, as part of 

a project aimed at providing 

affordable solar electricity to 

families, homes and businesses 

in the Niger-Delta. 

This facility will help Lumos to 

accelerate the entry of its service 

into hard to reach areas within 

the region. The agreement was 

officially flagged off at a media 

event/signing ceremony and 

press conference held at the 

Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State, on Friday, February 

16, 2018. 

Speaking on the development, 

the Chief Executive Officer of 

Lumos Nigeria, Mr. Houssam 

Azem said: “This debt facility 

from All-On further cements the 

strategic relationship between 

Lumos Nigeria and All-On, and 

is geared towards the 

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 indeed, across the 

country.” 

NIPCO bags 

maiden NIPS oil, 

gas award 

NIPCO Plc has won an Oil and 

Gas industry award because 

of its unprecedented acquisition of 

ExxonMobil stake in Mobil Oil 

Nigeria Plc. 

The award, which was in 

recognition of the company's huge 

financial investments in the nation's 

downstream sector of the 

hydrocarbon industry, was the 

highlight of the maiden Nigeria 

International Petroleum Summit 

held in Abuja. 

Presenting the award to the 

company at the NIPS, the 

Permanent Secretary, Federal 

Ministry of Petroleum Resources, 

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Ojo, said that it 

was part of Federal Government's 

efforts to encourage operators who 

have shown considerable interest 

in the growth of the industry. 

The acquisition of ExxonMobil 

stake in MON by an indigenous 

company, she said, was assessed 

by FG as a significant effort, hence 

the award to NIPCO. 

The Permanent Secretary while 

presenting the award in the 

presence of the Minister of State, 

Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe 

Kachikwu, said that the deal to 

acquire ExxonMobil stake in 

MON was adjudged by team of 

assessors, with KPMG offering 

consultancy support, as the largest 

deal in the downstream sector in 

2017.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


Real estate firm empowers youths 

with 5-star partners’ programme 

By Kingsley 

Adegboye 

AS part of its efforts to 

bridge the widening 

employment gap in the 

country and empower 

young Nigerians to create 

wealth for themselves, 

Alpha Mead Development 

Company, AMDC, a 

strategic business unit of the 

Alpha Mead Group, 

Nigeria’s first real estate 

development company 

certified to international 

standards (ISO 9001: 2015) 

in the United Kingdom, has 

re-launched its youth 

empowerment programme 

known as the 5-Star 

Partners in Lagos at the 

weekend. 

The 5-Star partners’ 

programme is a sales 

network initiated by 

AMDC for real estate 

professionals, who are tired 

of doing things in the 

conventional way and seek 

for an opportunity to try out 

new ideas and better ways 

of carrying out their day-today 

business transactions 

which will make them stand 

out in the marketplace. 

The event which offered 

new real estate consultants 

the opportunity to sign up 

to the 5-Star Partners 

programme having met the 

desired requirements, also 

provided the firm the 

opportunity to reward its 

best performing sales 

consultant of the year with 

a car. 

“Beyond providing 

housing solutions to meet 

the needs of middle income 

Nigerians, we are also very 

keen on empowering and 

helping young Nigerians to 

create wealth,” Femi 

Akintunde, Group 

Managing Director, Alpha 

Mead Group said at the 

forum. 

Akintunde further noted 

that as real estate 

developers look to respond 

to 

improving 

macroeconomic indices by 

exciting the market with 

new projects, it has become 

imperative to create 

opportunities like this to 

begin to inculcate the 

culture of real estate 

investment in young 

Nigerians. 

According to him: “It is 

clear to everyone that real 

estate is one of the most 

sustainable investments 

anyone can do. But most 

young Nigerians today can 

hardly afford to do that 

investment. So, what we 

have done is to create this 

vehicle called the 5-Star 

Partners to help these 

young Nigerians build 

equity to own their own land 

or home.” 

In his remarks, Damola 

Akindolire, Executive 

Director, Real Estate 

Development of Alpha 

Mead, said: “What this 

programme does is to set 

milestone sales target for 

the 5-Star Agents where 

they earn attractive 

commission on every sale 

they make and build equity 

with us to own their own 

homes. Example of this is 

what you have seen here 

today, where we just 

presented a car to Kelechi 

Nwaorgu, who signed on 

to the programme six 

months ago. Let me quickly 

add that this car prize has 

nothing to do with Kelechi’s 

commission. He keeps 

earning his commission 

while we help him build 

equity to drive home this car 

today.” 

Congratulating Kelechi, 

Adetola Ajagunna, General 

Manager, Sales and 

Marketing of the company 

commended Nwaorgu for 

his dedication, hard work 

and commitment to the 

AMDC brand. She 

encouraged the sales 

consultants to emulate 

Nwaorgu’s marketing 

tactics and approach to 

enticing home buyers to 

AMDCs’ projects. 

She further enjoined other 

consultants to take the 

opportunities to create 

wealth for themselves and 

avail themselves of the 

different learning and 

development opportunities 

of the programme. 

Speaking after receiving 

his car, a visibly elated 

Kelechi Nwaorgu, thanked 

the management of AMDC, 

adding that what propels 

him to always want to do 

more is the integrity that 

AMDC stands for. “I used 

to move from site-to-site 

trying to sell roofing sheets, 

but since I joined the 5-Star 

Programme six months ago, 

I gave it my all because I 

know AMDC doesn’t sell 

anything that is 

questionable." 

*From left: Mr. Damola Akindolire, Executive Director, Real Estate Development, 

Engr. Femi Akintunde, Group Managing Director both of Alpha Mead, Mr. 

Kelechi Nwaorgu, 5-Star Selling Champion and Ms. Adetola Ajagunna, General 

Manager, Sales & Marketing Green Park at the car presentation to the 5 -Star 

Selling champion in Lagos weekend. 

LG Electronics unveils home-friendly 

technology with ultimate performance 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

LG Electronics, a global 

leader in heating, ventilation 

and air conditioning, has 

introduced its latest Multi V 

5 commercial air conditioner 

into the Nigerian market. 

The unveiling to ensure 

penetration of this 

commercial air conditioner 

into the market to meet the 

growing need for air 

conditioners that can 

perform on a higher level, 

took place in Lagos at the 

weekend. 

Speaking at the unveiling 

ceremony, General 

Manager, Air conditioning 

and Energy Solution 

Division, LG Electronics 

West Africa Operations, Mr. 

Cholyong Park said: “As a 

company with a great focus 

on producing energysaving 

and efficient 

products, we are happy to 

introduce the Multi V 5 into 

the Nigerian market. With 

this product in the market, 

we are in a better position to 

work with our dealers and 

business partners to make 

LG the No. 1 provider of 

smart and efficient HVAC 

solutions. 

“Equipped with LG’s 

exclusive Ocean Black Fin, 

the MULTI V 5 is protected 

from corrosive substances 

such as salt, sand and other 

elements brought in by sea 

winds as well as industrial 

pollution. The black coating 

of the Ocean Black Fin heat 

exchanger keeps water from 

accumulating in order to 

minimize moisture build up. 

The durability enhancement 

prolongs the product’s 

lifespan and lowers 

maintenance costs, paving 

the way for improved 

performance. 

“Efficient systems like the 

Smart Load Control make it 

possible to effectively 

regulate outdoor unit 

discharge refrigerant 

temperature, increasing 

energy efficiency anywhere 

from 15 to 31 per cent 

depending on humidity 

conditions. This is ideal 

especially for tropical 

environment as the Smart 

Load Control function’s 

comprehensive 

understanding of its 

surroundings helps optimise 

energy efficiency while 

maximizing indoor comfort 

levels. 

“Typical VRFs normally 

fluctuate considerably in 

order to maintain a set indoor 

temperature, making them 

highly inefficient. The 

introduction of the new 

technology is coming at a 

time LG is looking at the 

direction of laying more 

emphasis on its business to 

business in Nigeria, where 

the demand for energysaving 

technology is 

increasing on a daily basis. 

“The unveiling of the 

Multi V 5 which is LG’s 

newest Heating Ventilation 

and Air Conditioning 

(HVAC) solution is evidence 

of the electronic giant’s drive 

to always be ahead of 

competition and lead in 

innovation by ensuring 

consumers’ satisfaction and 

comfort is a key concern 

when manufacturing 

products. Expectedly, this 

cutting edge technology 

would gain significant 

market share in Nigeria and 

indeed, Sub-Sahara Africa. 

“Interestingly, the Multi V 

5 solution is designed to offer 

exceptional performance 

even in extreme climate 

conditions with its 

streamlined functionality 

optimising energy efficiency 

and maximizing user 

comfort at all time. It is 

equipped with an innovative 

Dual Sensing Control that 

monitors temperature and 

humidity level to efficiently 

manage cooling and 

heating. The Multi V 5 is no 

doubt a powerful climate 

control solution that can 

excel in tough climates,” Park 

said. 

Two firms partner to promote elevator, 

escalator equipment in Nigeria, West Africa 

By Moses Nosike 

TO strengthen the 

services of elevator, 

escalator and related 

construction components 

in Nigeria and West 

African construction 

industry, Eliel Jerahmeal 

Nigeria Limited, which 

specialises in marketing, 

distribution, sales and 

services of elevator and 

escalator equipment in 

the country, has been 

granted exclusive right 

by China’s leading 

elevator company, Xizi 

Elevator, first class 

manufacturers of 

elevator and escalator 

equipment to promote 

construction activities in 

Nigeria and West Africa 

respectively at 

affordable cost. 

Speaking on the 

partnership, Chairman, 

Elief Jerameal Nigeria 

Ltd., Ayo Adefemi said 

that Xizi elevators serve 

world-class standards, 

adding that Nigeria as a 

developing country and 

other African countries, 

would benefit from its 

services. 

“As mentioned, you can 

see top and big brands 

that are into business 

with the company 

because of its quality 

brands and the kind of 

services it renders. So, 

the partnership is an 

authorisation to bring 

this equipment into the 

Nigerian market for 

distribution, sales, 

installation and services 

at affordable cost 

compared to the ones on 

ground already.” 

Adefemi said that the 

cost is considerable and 

really affordable because 

of the economic 

recession the country is 

still recovering from. 

According to him, “The 

company after 

investigation discovered 

that Eliel Jerameal is 

strong in Nigeria in the 

aspect of elevator and 

escalator equipment, 

and so, the president of 

Xizi signed a letter of 

authorisation for our 

company to market this 

equipment to West Africa 

including Benin 

Republic, Cameroon, 

Nigeria and Ghana.” 

He added that Xizi 

elevator has a senior 

industry technology R&D 

team and engineering 

personnel, with over 300 

R&D engineers and 

national laboratory and 

over 30 primary 

constructors. 

“Our confidence is that 

this brand of elevator 

technology is tested and 

it has delivered in almost 

every part of the world 

and Africa will not be an 

exception especially 

Nigeria. 

Xizi elevator is used in 

homes, hotels, office 

buildings, hospitals, 

industries, shopping 

malls and others.


CHANGE OF NAME 

ALOWAMOU 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Dansou, 

Mazcellin Alowamou, 

now wish to be known 

and addressed as 

Dansou Maxwell 

Alowamow. All former 

documents remain 

valid. General public 

please take note. 

ANYAH 


addressed as Miss 

Anyah Mariam 

Nnenna, now wish to 

be known and 

addressed as Mrs. 

Esuh Meriam 

Nnenna. All former 




EZUMA 

I, formerly known 

and addressed 

as Nto Ezuma, 

now wish to be 

known and addressed 

as Amos 

Nto Ezuma. All 

former documents 

remain valid. General 

public please 

take note. 

IHEANACHO 


addressed as 

Iheanacho Princewill 

Bede, now wish to be 


as Uzoma Princewill 

Bede. All former 




COLE 


addressed as Adeyemi 

Cole, now wish to be 


as Raji Sodiq 

Abayomi. All former 




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House c'ttee on banking 

expresses satisfaction 

with Arik Air 

By Lawani 

Mikairu 

L AGOS—THE 

Chairman of House of 

Representatives Committee 

on Banking and Currency, 

Hon. Jones Chukwudi 

Onyereri , weekend, 

expressed satisfaction with 

the level of turn around of 

the fortunes of Arik Air by 

t h e p r e s e n t 

management, led by 

Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, the 

Chief Executive Officer. 

Recall that the present 

management assumed 

office in February, 2017 

after the intervention of the 

Asset Management 

Corporation of Nigeria , 

AMCON, in the airline, 

which prevented its 

imminent collapse. 

Speaking with journalists 

when he led members of 

the committee on a surprise 

visit to Arik and after a 

guided tour of the airline 

in Lagos, Hon Onyereri 

said that from what the team 

saw on ground, Nigerians 

stood reassured of the 

safety of Arik and its 

survival. 

Hon Onyeriri, who spoke 

glowingly about Arik 

especially its aircraft spare 

parts store, said he was 

satisfied with the fact that 

the airline had enough 

spare parts to carry on with 

seamless operations, which 

he stated was reassuring to 

the flying public. 

He said: “To the extent of 

safety, the amount of spare 

parts in their (Arik) store is 

huge, we are completely 

impressed. They have 

brand new tyres, spare 

engines and that is 

comforting enough.” 

Reacting to the chances 

of Arik Air being named the 

national carrier, the 

chairman said it was 

beyond scope of the 

committee for now, noting 

that there were so many 

things to be considered 

before such a development 

could happen. 

It will be recalled that the 

committee earlier in 

February promised 

Nigerians that they will 

soon pay a visit to Arik and 

Aero airlines for what they 

described as on the spot 

assessment of recent 

positive developments at 

the two airlines since they 

were taken over by 

AMCON when he said, 

“We owe it a duty to 

Nigerians to visit some of 

the critical institutions 

AMCON was mandated to 

take over in the interest of 

the nation.” 

Imo monarchs to be held 

responsible for clashes in their 

communities 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—THE Imo 

State government, 

has said traditional rulers 

in the state, will be 

answerable for any act of 

violence in their 

communities. 

Head, Imo State, Bureau 

for Peace and Conflict 

Resolution, Mr. Peter 

Ohagwa, stated this while 

reacting to the reported 

communal clash between 

Ogbujioma community in 

Mbaitoli Local Government 

Area and Mbano Agwa in 

Oguta local government 

areas in the state. 

The communal clash was 

said to have led to 

destruction of houses, with 

scores of people injured. 

Those who lost their 

homes were said to have 

moved to take refuge in the 

neighbouring 

communities. 

Speaking to Vanguard, 

yesterday in Owerri, 

Ohagwa said: "My 

attention was drawn to the 

communal clash between 

five or six communities. 

There were some kind of 

unrest some people were 

abducted, some people 

:Vanguard 

shot. Houses were 

destroyed, some people 

were wounded in the 

process. 

"So, we can't fold our 

hands, I invited six 

traditional rulers, with their 

Presidents-General and 

youth leaders. 

"At the end, we narrowed 

down to what has to do 

with an age-long land 

dispute between 

Ogbujioma autonomous 

community in Mbaitoli 

Local Government Area 

and Mbano Agwa 

autonomous community in 

Oguta Local Government 

Area, and this matter had 

already been decided by 

the court. But the boundary 

is the problem. This is the 

bone of contention." 

He warned that, "If there 

is any further attack, we 

will hold the traditional 

rulers of the three main 

communities including 

Okwu Ogbaku, 

responsible. They can't tell 

us they do not know the 

black spots in their domain. 

"We have asked the three 

communities involved to 

come back on the 12th of 

next month, we want to 

start listening to their 

problems with a view to 

resolving their matter."


Bobrisky underrates 

BBNaija, ready for BBA 

AFTER slamming 

Big Brother Naija 

housemate, Cee-C, 

calling her names like 

cheap and dumb, 

Nigerian male barbie 

Bobrisky has expressed 

his desire to participate 

in the Big Brother 

Africa reality TV show. 

The popular 

crossdresser says he’s 

too big for Big Brother 

Naija, and wants to 

contest with 

housemates from other 

countries as he doesn’t 

need 45 Million from 

Nigeria, but N110 

Million from Africa. 

In a post on his 

Instagram page, 

Bobrisky wrote; “Guys 

let me know when Big 

Brother Africa is out. I 

wanna go disturb the 

house. I wanna 

compete with other 

African countries. Bob 

is too big for Big 

Brother Nigeria, I don’t 

need 45 million from 

Nigeria, but Africa 

N110 million. I’m ready 

to play the game.” 

Bobrisky 

Olamide out with ‘Science 

Student’ video 

STREET rapper, Olamide 

has finally stepped out 

with the musical video of his 

controversial track “Science 

Student”. 

In this visual, the rapper walks 

through a building filled with 

drug addicts abusing drugs in 

different ways unimaginable. 

The father of one later comes 

out of the building dancing 

with a group of people dressed 

in an African style and at the 

end the song comes to a finish 

with “Say No To Drugs”. 

Kaffy is behind the creative 

direction of the clips while the 

video was shot and directed 

by Unlimited L.A. Check it out. 

Efe Prime drops ‘Blessed Be the Name’ 

Shortly after the release 

of his debut single, 

‘Hallelujah’, gospel singer, 

Efe Atiyo, a.k.a Efe Prime has 

delighted his fans with yet 

another worship song titled 

‘Blessed Be the Name.’ 

The mid-tempo song, which 

was picked as a fan-favourite 

via an online poll he 

conducted, talks about the 

presence of God which is 

deserving of worship and 

total devotion, bringing 

about blessings, glory, 

power, miracles 

Olamide 

“There’s worship in the 

atmosphere, the presence of 

God is everywhere. Blessed 

be the name of the Lord,” 

sings the South Africa - 

based Nigerian musician. 

Be the Name’ is dedicated 

to those who are holding 

strong to their faith, 

believing that a miracle is 

close. 

“I do have a strong bias 

towards music that reflects 

intimate and passionate 

worship.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


40 —Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

My experiences in 

Oil and Gas, Mining 

Business 

ig name celebrities are known to slap their names 

B on a brand, give it their blessings, then sit back and 

rake in the royalties.But for some, that’s not enough. 

These are the few famous faces that have 

entrepreneurial spirits – seeing past the careers that 

made them famous; venturing into the business world 

to develop some successful business interests. 

Nigerian flutist with cross 

cultural Itsekiri and Swiss roots, Tee Mac Omatshola 

Iseli is one of such. An investor in a number of 

businesses totally unrelated to his original career in 

classical music composition and concert performance, 

Iseli’s business stakes spans oil and gas, solid minerals 

and mega entertainment projects. He is also the West 

African Representative of Daewoo and Hemla Norway 

Oil and Gas solutions, with substantial shares in the 

Nigerian arm of the Norwegian Oil and Gas Company; 

James Bay Energy Limited. Amongst much active 

participation in the Nigerian/international arts and 

culture sectors, he recently established and Chairs the 

Nigerian Entertainment Foundation. He lets us into his 

business world. 

You’re the Chairman of Tee 

Mac Petroleum Ltd, a 

company you established 

more than 30 years ago. How 

did that start? 

In the mid-80s, when I was 

working as a composer for 

Universal Studios in LA, I met 

the oil billionaire, Mickey 

Hajecate, owner of the Falcon 

Refining Company and he had 

a contract in Nigeria to lift 

980,000 barrels of Brass River 

Light Crude Oil a month. He 

invested into a movie whose 

soundtrack I was contracted to 

write. He made me a director 

of the company and I flew 

regularly to Nigeria on behalf 

of his company. That was when 

I had my first experience with 

crude oil. I registered Tee Mac 

Petroleum Ltd in the early 90s 

and exported LPFO to Spain. 

In 2007, I became a director in 

Daewoo/Hemla (D&H Gas 

and Oil Solution) and Tee Mac 

Petroleum Ltd became a local 

content partner. 

Can you give us a brief about 

the company and its activities? 

At the moment, there is not 

much going on because the Gas 

and Oil business in Nigeria is 

in a kind of slumber. We are 

waiting for the extension on 

one marginal field and to farmin 

in a major offshore oil block. 

What were your first 

impressions when you started 

Tee Mac Petroleum? 

In the 90s, business in 

Nigeria was okay and much 

more straight forward than now. 

I have experienced that the Oil 

and Gas business is for the 

sharks and high rollers and 

that have made me lose 

interest in it. I only do follow 

ups as representative of 

HEMLA Gas in their Nigeria 

business and I’m still trying to 

make a success out of it. 

What is your “bird’s eye 

view” of the Oil and Gas 

industry as a whole? 

From what you’ve seen, 

what aspects could be 

improved? 

I don’t want to be rude in this 

interview but I do not have 

much respect for Oil and Gas 

companies, NNPC and DPR. 

Especially the major 

companies. I am suing SHELL 

at the moment on behalf of the 

communities of the Bonga Oil 

spill with my lawyer, Awosika 

in Nigeria, Holland and the 

United Kingdom. There is a lot 

wrong with Shell! In the 

civilised world, Shell cannot 

operate and behave as they do 

in Nigeria. I shall write a book 

about my experience with Shell 

and the case we took to the 

National Assembly. 

The oil industry’s deep 

spending cuts, analysts say, 

could crimp global crude 

production and cause oil 

prices to spike toward the end 

of the decade. Are you 

counting on it? 

There is enough profit in the 

Oil and Gas business for them 

to comfortably survive. Major 

oil companies are big spenders 

and their Chief Executives are 

having ridiculous high salaries 

and remunerations. As stated 

earlier, it is a Shark business 

and Sharks like big chunks of 

everything. Over-invoicing, 

false declarations to NNPC, are 

the norm. 

Can you talk about 

Nigeria’s future energy mix? 

I am going to build a solar 

panel manufacturing company 

in Delta State, not assembly but 

real manufacturing. The 

TEE MAC C OMATSHOLA ISELI 

Chairman Tee Mac Petroleum; 

Allied Minerals Limited 

Norwegian Government will 

fund 70 per cent with EU 

funding and I will put in the 

balance of 30 per cent. I believe 

in clean and alternative 

energy. The project has started, 

feasibility studies done and in 

principle, the funding is 

available. 

You’re also a big player in 

the Mining field through your 

Allied Minerals Limited. What 

are your main activities here? 

In the early 90s, a former 

Minister of Mines told me that 

the future of Nigeria is in 

mining and I started with a 

Quarry business in Abeokuta. 

I had a very dishonest 

In the 90s, 

business in 

Nigeria was 

okay and much 

more straight 

forward than 

now; I have 

experienced that 

the oil and gas 

business is for 

the sharks 

managing director who stole 

and mismanaged the Quarry 

and in 1999, I had to sell it to 

pay N120 million back to the 

bank on money he borrowed on 

behalf of the company. This 

was my sad experience with 

Quarry business which cost me 

around N60 million (remember 

exchange rates in the mid-90s 

was N4 to 1 USD). 

How would you summarise 

the investment opportunities 

that mining presents and the 

business model of Allied 

Minerals? 

I started Allied Minerals to 

explore mine and process zinc, 

lead, copper and gold in eight 

states. After investing an initial 

20 million USD (having a 

processing plant in Jos and 

Bwari), Obasanjo revoked 

everybody’s licence and for two 

years until the new mining act 

came out, nobody was able to 

mine. Most of my equipment 

got spoiled. When I got my 

entire licence re-instated, I 

made a deal with Sterlington 

Israel for them to invest USD 

120 million against 61 per cent 

shares in Allied Minerals Ltd. 

They started a small 

investment in Bwari (FCT) to 

mine tin and we were core 

drilling for cooper in Wase, 

Plateau State when Boko Haram 

started to kill people in Langtang. 

My partners packed their bags, 

sneaked out of Plateau State and 

left Nigeria through Abuja and 

never came back. It cost me a lot 

of money and efforts to get them 

out of the Allied Minerals Ltd 

shareholding because they never 

paid up. My mining experience 

has been very costly and 

frustrating. No infrastructure 

(roads) to evacuate the mined 

minerals, horrible conditions in 

the Apapa port and I think I know 

now why the Mining Industry 

has not taken off. Banks have Oil 

and Gas desks, and apart from 

Sterling Bank, no one is 

interested in mining. That brings 

me to the conclusion that we do 

not have banks in Nigeria! We 

have money warehouses, foreign 

exchange and ATM companies. 

I declare most banks as fraud 

companies. Excessive charges, 

incredible interest rates have 

killed industries in Nigeria. Until 

we have serious banks who do 

not borrow money abroad cheaply 

and sell expensive in Nigeria, 

there will be no development. 

What is your competitive 

advantage to other companies in 

the field? Do you have any direct 

competitors? 

There are competitors and 

everybody is going through the 

same problems. As long as the 

Ministry of Mines is asleep, not 

much will happen. As long as 

banks do not believe in Mining 

and make serious money 

available, development will be 

slow. We have the best minerals 

in the world, zinc concentrate 65 

per cent, lead concentrates up to 

70 per cent out of the earth. Tin 

85 per cent, copper up to 50 per 

cent. In Canada, my partner 

company mines copper at 18 per 

cent. 

What is your outlook for the 

mining sector as a whole for the 

long-term? 

It could be bright if there are 

joint venture funding and bank 

facilities. The government has to 

build roads for trailers to 

comfortably evacuate the 

minerals. In the 90s, there was a 

rail link from Jos to Apapa which 

has died a natural death of 

incompetence. 

You recently founded the 

Nigerian Entertainment 

Foundation. What is the 

mission? 

To assist the development of 

the Entertainment Industry in 

Nigeria, to take care and assist 

old and sick artistes and to 

educate young ones in music, 

acting and dancing to lift up 

the bar of our talents. 

How did it get started? 

There was a need to put up a 

structure and when President 

Goodluck Jonathan met with 

the industry, he promised to 

assist financially. It never 

happened because the people 

under him did not execute his 

wishes. 

What inspired you to start the 

foundation? 

To lay the foundation for a 

solid structure. In the mean 

time, I have also registered 

and started the Entertainment 

Database Nigeria, the 

Entertainment Cooperative 

Multipurpose Society of 

Nigeria and the Entertainment 

Products Distribution Network. 

The other director and 

executive secretary is Mr 

Cletus George, a seasoned 

entertainment expert. 

In what ways does the 

Nigerian Entertainment 

Foundation engage with and 

on behalf of its stakeholders? 

We have a board with the 

presidents of the most 

important Entertainment 

industry associations, we meet 

and take decisions. As the 

Chairman of the Entertainment 

Foundation of Nigeria, I am 

chairing the meetings. It has 

been a big challenge to raise 

funds, Nigerians have not yet 

understood the value of the 

Entertainment industry and 

most expenditure (including 

the registration) is carried by 

me. 

What has been the most 

fundamental change in 

Nigerian entertainment in the 

last 20 years? 

Some good but mostly 

negative. Nigerians have 

accepted Nigeria music more 

than in the 80s but the quality 

has dropped drastically. There 

is too much trash being 

produced and very few good 

songs hit the radio stations. 

This means the young ones 

grow up listening to meaningless, 

badly produced songs and 

are bombarded with obscene 

videos. 

Visit www.vanguardngr.com 

to read full interview.

Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2018 —41 

BOOK LAUNCH—Former Director-General, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

Prof. Okereke-Onyiuke; Chairman of the occasion, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; 

representative of the Emir of Kano, Shehu Shuib; author of the book, Kingsley 

Moghalu; and his daughter, Chidera, at the launch of a book titled: “Build, 

Innovate and Grow: My Vision for Our Country”, by Kingsley Moghalu, in 

Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 



Continues from Page 5 

in Africa that thunder does 

not strike on the same spot 

twice. 

“We must not allow our 

national ambience to be 

filled with speculations 

from conspiracy theorists. 

Our lawmakers must 

therefore, in unravelling 

the matter, question all 

security agencies, 

particularly those operating 

in the area. 

“We urge the National 

Assembly to urgently come 

to the rescue of some of the 

parents of our abducted 

daughters, who were 

arrested and taken into 

custody for daring to 

demand to know the 

whereabouts of their 

children and wards,” the 

statement read. 

Why we redeployed 

troops from Dapchi 

– Military 

The military has 

explained the rationale 

behind the redeployment of 

troops from Dapchi, a town 

in Yobe State where the 

Government Girls Science 

Technical College 

(GGSTC) is situated. 

Following the invasion, 

the state governor, Ibrahim 

Geidam, reportedly alleged 

that the withdrawal of the 

military personnel was 

responsible for the attack. 

The Deputy Director of 

Public Relations, Theatre 

Command Operation 

Lafiya Dole, Colonel 

Onyema Nwachukwu, 

however, faulted the 

allegation as “unfortunate” 

and “very far from the 

truth”. 

According to him, 

soldiers earlier deployed in 

Dapchi were redeployed to 

reinforce troops at Kanama 

following attacks on troops’ 

location at the Nigerian– 

Nigerien border. 

Colonel Nwachukwu 

noted that the 

redeployment was on the 

premise that the town had 

been relatively calm and 

peaceful while the security 

of Dapchi was formally 

handed over to the Nigeria 

Police Division located in 

the town. 

He stressed that the 

troops’ redeployment was 

also done in tandem with 

the demands of operation 

and not as misconstrued. 

NAIRA WATCH 

CBN injects $210m as Naira 

appreciates to N360.19/$ 

By Adaeze Okechukwu 

The Naira started the week with a 51 kobo 

appreciation to N360.19 per dollar in the Investors’ 

and Exporters’ (I&E) window, even as the Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN) injected $210 million into the foreign 

exchange market. 

Acting Director, Corporate Communications 

Department (CCD), CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor 

confirmed the injection saying: “The CBN offered $100 

million to authorized dealers in the wholesale segment 

of the market, while the Small and Medium Enterprises 

(SMEs) segment got the sum of $55 million. Customers 

needing 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.” 

Meanwhile, data from the Financial Market Dealers 

Quote (FMDQ) showed that indicative exchange rate 

for the I&E window dropped to N360.19 per dollar, 

yesterday, from N360.70per dollar recorded last week 

Friday, indicating a 51 kobo naira appreciation. 

NHRC seeks 

restructuring of 

security apparatus 

The National Human 

Rights Commission, 

NHRC, yesterday, called 

for restructuring of the 

security architecture of the 

country, saying there is 

need to put measures in 

place to stop the violation 

of the right to education 

and dignity of school girls 

in the North-East. 

The Acting Executive 

Secretary of the 

Commission, Mr. Tony 

Ojukwu, via a statement he 

issued in Abuja, said the 

call was in reaction to 

confirmation by the Federal 

Government that 110 out of 

the total of 906 students in 

Government Science and 

Technical College in 

Dapchi, Yobe State are 

unacounted for, after the 

school was allegedly 

attacked by Boko Haram 

insurgents on February 19, 

2018. 

Ojukwu who also Heads 

the NHRC Human Rights/ 

Humanitarian Assessment 

Team in the North East, 

condemned what 

happened in Dapchi as 

“inhuman and degrading 

treatment which inflicts 

both physical and 

psychological torture on the 

innocent school girls and an 

affront on their 

fundamental rights and 

freedoms.“ 

Released UNIMAID 

victims: Why it took 

long — Buhari 

Meanwhile, President 

Buhari, yesterday in 

Abuja, explained that the 

rescue of the three staff of 


and 10 women abducted by 

Boko Haram insurgents 

was protracted because 

government was dealing 

with two insurgent groups 

working at different 

locations. 

This is as the Director- 

General of the Department 

of State Services, DSS, 

Lawal Daura, said the 

service decided to follow 

the path of negotiations 

which he described as the 

safest option, stressing that 

applying force in the rescue 

operations would have 

endangered the lives of 

those abducted. 

The rescued staff of 


pleaded with President 

Buhari to provide 

alternative jobs for them as 

they would not want to go 

back to Maiduguri because 

of their horrible experience 

in the hands of their 

abductors. 

While receiving the 

rescued victims at the 

Presidential Villa, Abuja, 

the President said he was 

worried whens the 

abductees were in captivity. 

He told the abductees: 

“This administration has 

been unrelenting in your 

rescue and freedom from 

your captors several 

months ago. I was terribly 

saddened by the incident 

of the abduction of June 

20, last year of innocent 

women and the brutal 

killing on the spot of six 

others along Damboa 

Road, while heading for the 

burial of a close one in 

Askira Uba Local 

Government of Borno 


“The second was the July 

26, last year of the 

abduction of three 

university staff who were on 

official mission to explore 

the possibility of the 

exploration of oil at the Lake 

Chad Basin. 

“I can assure that apart 

from your family members, 

every peace-loving 

Nigerian prayed for your 

safety and wished for your 

early release from the hold 

of your abductors. 

“Your rescue on the 10th 

of February this year was a 

very huge relief to me 

personally as well as to all 

Nigerians. 

“Let me say that this 

government treasures 

human lives, particularly 

that of its citizens and 

following your abductions, 

the security agencies were 

directed by me to do 

everything humanly 

possible to ensure the safe 

release of every one of you 

and other persons under 

the hold of the insurgents. 

“While government was 

fully aware of the 

expectations of your 

families and the general 

public for their immediate 

freedom, the path to your 

freedom was painstaking 

and protracted. 

“This was because the 

groups responsible for your 

abduction were not only 

different but also based in 

different locations that if not 

properly handled could 

result in dire 

consequences. 

“I thank all the various 

security agencies for their 

professionalism throughout 

this process, as well as other 

agencies of government, 

sister nations in the Lake 

Chad region, the 

International Committee of 

the Red Cross who have 

contributed to this feat of 

bringing you all home 

safely. 

On Dapchi girls 

“While thanking the 

security agencies and all 

those who facilitated this, 

let me clearly reiterate the 

resolve of this 

administration to ensure all 

persons abducted by the 

insurgents are rescued or 

released safely. 

“This is especially against 

the backdrop of the recent 

incident where another 

group of girls were 

abducted on the 19th (of 

February) from 

Government Science and 

Technical Girls College, 

Dapchi, Yobe State. 

“I have since directed all 

security agencies to 

immediately ensure that 

every effort is directed to 

ensure the safety of our 

schools and students as 

well as bringing back the 

abducted girls to their 

families. 

“Government remains 

unrelenting towards 

rescuing all those abducted. 

Government will also work 

closely with all 

stakeholders, especially the 

United Nations and other 

donor agencies, voluntary 

organizations towards 

rehabilitating and resettling 

all those displaced as a 

result of all these conflicts, 

to quicken resumption of 

meaningful social 

economic activities. 

“I remain very mindful of 

the pains and injury 

collectively meted out by 

the insurgents and we will 

ensure that government 

does not leave any stone 

unturned to degrade and 

contain these insurgents 

and ensure that complete 

peace returns to our land. 

“Once again, I am 

pleased to see that all of you 

are now free and will soon 

join your loved ones as well 

as being fully integrated 

back into the society. 

“Nigerians sympathise 

with you on your ordeal and 

wish you welcome back to 

your families and friends. 

“And I suppose the NYSC 

(National Youths Service 

Corps) should give a 

certificate of discharge to 

the person that spent the 

remaining of her service 

somewhere else (with 

abductors)." 

Why we decided to 

negotiate with Boko 

Haram – DSS DG 

Presenting the rescued 

abductees to the President, 

the Director General, DSS, 

Lawal Daura, said any 

attempt to use brutal force 

in the efforts to ensure the 

rescue of the abducted 

citizens would have had a 

terrible consequence. 

He said it was the safety 

of the victims that made the 

security operatives to toe 

the line of negotiations 

which he said paid off. 

He said: “Mr. President, 

the search for negotiations 

for the rescued victims 

commenced in earnest, 

following your directives to 

the effect that all abducted 

persons must be found and 

rescued alive. 

“However, we chose the 

paths of negotiation 

because it was considered 

as the safest option because 

any forcible attempt to 

rescue the victims could 

endanger their lives. 

“These negotiations took 

several months and the 

Department of State 

Services, with support of 

the external elements of the 

group in diaspora and 

support from friendly 

countries and liaison with 

International Community of 

the Red Cross, made the 

rescue possible. 

“The process was slow 

due to the problem of 

dealing with two different 

groups based in different 

locations at the same time. 

In addition, the 

negotiations took place 

mostly outside the country, 

though subsequently 

finalized in the theater of 

operations. 

“The negotiations were 

mainly centered on an 

attempt at conflict 

mitigation which includes 

the fate of arrested members 

of the insurgent groups, 

especially accepting to free 

by government those found 

not to be culpable in any 

criminal action. 

“Also, possible cessation 

of hostilities, especially the 

attacks with IEDs on 

innocent civilians, worship 

centers, schools and other 

public places in return for 

temporary stoppage of air 

strikes by helicopter 

gunships. 

“Lastly, the negotiation 

was also centered on the 

possibility of granting 

amnesty to those willing to 

surrender and ready to lay 

down their arms by the 

federal government.” 

UNIMAID lecturers 

beg Buhari for job 

outside Maiduguri 

Expressing appreciations 

to the Federal Government, 

one of the abducted staff of 

the university and a 

lecturer, Department of 

Geophysics, Dr. Solomon 

Nicholas Yusuf, who spoke 

on behalf of the abductees, 

said they had lost hope of 

surviving from the 

abductors. 

He said: “While we were in 

captivity and we said with 180 

million or more Nigerians, 

will Nigeria ever come to 

rescue us? 

“We lost hope. Sir, you 

surprised us. After seven 

months for us in the university 

and eight months for the 10 

ladies, Nigeria rescued us. 

This shows that the life of every 

Nigerian is important and is 

worth rescuing. 

“Sir, we are grateful. You 

gave us hope when there was 

no hope. And we are excited, 

we thank you Sir. 

“We also want to appreciate 

the DSS, the Nigerian Armed 

Forces, and the entire team 

that worked together to make 

sure we regained our freedom. 

We appreciate the labour and 

love you have shown to us. 

“We also want to appreciate 

Nigerians for praying. We 

were informed that the entire 

nation was praying for us and 

we were excited and we said 

oh God what is this? This is 

love. Sir, we are grateful. 

“Sir, from the university, it 

is a golden opportunity for us 

to see you and to share our 

fears and concern because we 

were abducted while working 

for the nation. And right now, 

going back home to us is still 

a nightmare because of our 

experiences. 

C 

M 

Y 

K


Abandoned Primary Healthcare Centre at the boundary of Ikaare and Irede communities in Lagos. (Inset )Abike Ahmed, a pregnant mother. 

Abandoned 

PHC: 

We e are neglected, ed, Lagos communities cry y out 

. 

By Gabriel Olawale 

RESIDENTS of Ikaare 

and Irede, two 

neighbouring communities in 

Oriade Local Council 

Development Area of Lagos, 

are in a quandary. 

They have continually 

agonised over the 

inaccessibility and 

unavailability of qualitative 

healthcare services in their 

area. 

The riverine communities 

inhabited by over 10,000 people 

have witnessed recurrent loss of 

lives, notably among pregnant 

women and the elderly people 

in the communities as a result of 

lack of reliable health services. 

Good Health Weekly gathered 

that back in the 1970s, during the 

Lateef Jakande administration, a 

dispensary was built along the 

boundary of the two communities 

to service the inhabitants, but 

was later pulled down by the 

authorities to give way to the 

proposed Primary Healthcare 

Centre, PHC, in 2012 during the 

tenure of Ibrahim Tunde Sanusi 

administration as the Chairman 

of Oriade LCDA. 

Investigations revealed that the 

anticipated PHC had been left 

uncompleted and later 

abandoned since 2013 leaving 

the residents without accessible 

healthcare services.Recounting 

an incident that occurred about 

a year ago in Ikaare community, 

one of the residents, Mrs. 

Komolafe Adisa, said a friend of 

hers whose only daughter died 

during childbirth, decided to 

leave the community 

afterwards. 

“When the incident happened, 

I wondered if it was wrong to get 

pregnant. My friend had only 

one daughter that was about 16 

Quack doctors are exploiting our people - Princess Assisat 

years old when she was 

impregnated by one Ahmed, 

who absconded and left my 

friend to take responsibility for 

the pregnancy. 

“The girl went into labour at 

midnight and although the 

traditional birth attendants in 

the community tried their best, 

it was to no avail. There was 

fuel scarcity during that period 

and none of the boat 

operators had fuel. By the 

time we could find someone 

that had fuel, it was already 

late. She died and my friend 

was so overwhelmed with grief 

she decided to leave the 

community.” 

According to Mrs Assisat 

Adebisi Lawal, daughter of the 

late king in Irede Community, it 

was precisely a year after the 

entire community mourned the 

death of one of its promising 

young daughters. 

“She died out of ignorance,” 

Assisat remarked adding “The 

lady had high blood pressure 

and the quack doctor that came 

around gave her medication 

that worsened her situation. Few 

hours to her death, she was 

paralysed.” 

Assisat lamented that life in the 

community is generally made 

worse by the menace of quacks 

that regularly take advantage of 

the situation to exploit the people. 

“What is really happening in 

this community regarding 

healthcare is not good. Some 

quack doctors come around 

and lie to our people. They 

claim to have diagnosed 

series of health problems, but 

their real intention is 

exploitation. 

“They come around selling 

different kinds of drugs and I 

had to get one of them arrested 

not too long ago. I often 

Opeyemi Adegboyega 

challenge these fraudsters and 

question them. I discovered 

that some of them, after testing 

our people, take their results to 

qualified doctors for 

interpretation, and afterwards 

return to adminisiter treatment. 

But the qualified doctor does not 

even know the patient and 

doesn’t know their medical 

history. 

“In this community, we don’t 

even know our true health 

We don’t even 

know our true 

health status; a 

lot of people are 

going around 

with chronic 

illnesses but 

don’t know their 

status 

status; a lot of 

people are 

going around 

with chronic 

illnesses but 

don’t know 

their status. 

“If there are 

g o o d 

healthcare 

facilities that 

give people 

opportunity to 

know their 

status, it is 

better, and 

even if they 

don’t give them 

drugs they can 

e a s i l y 

prescribe such 

drugs for 

them. The 

doctor can be 

coming only 

three times in a 

week while the qualified nurse is 

on standby. 

“During election period, our 

politicians come around and 

promise us healthcare facilities 

but immediately after election we 

don’t see them again.” 

A nursing mother in the 

community, Mrs. Opeyemi 

Adegboyega, told Good Health 

Weekly how during her 

pregnancy, she had to travel for 

about 30 minutes after crossing 

the river in a boat. According 

to her, she paid N1,000 for the 

trip. 

“I registered in one private 

hospital across the river, it was 

hell for me to go there and 

return. The experience was not 

palatable. I was fasting every 

Friday during pregnancy. 

“My prayer was that my 

delivery should not be 

at midnight. Thank God I 

delivered my baby during the 

daytime”she said 

As for Mrs. Abike Hameed, a 

mother of three, all her babies 

were delivered in Irede 

community by TBAs. 

“I registered for antenatal 

with the TBA with N2,500 for 

the card. Every Saturday when 

I went for checkup, l paid 

N100. It was only during 

delivery that she collected 

N10,000’she said. 

Mr. Sabitu Akanbi who has 

functioned as the Irede 

Community Head since the 

death of the king, said although 

the community has existed for a 

very long time, not much 

development has been recorded. 

“We have the Salvation Army 

Primary School and Unity 

Grammar School which serve the 

two communities because the 

distance between the two is 

under three minutes. 

“The dispensary was 

demolished with the view to 

build a proper PHC, but ever 

since, that project has not been 

completed. It’s just two 

traditional birth attendants in the 

community that have been 

helping our pregnant 

women”,he lamented 

Akanbi pleaded with 

government to assist in approving 

the appointment of a new king. 

“It’s about three years now 

since our king died and we have 

not been able to enthrone 

another until government gives 

approval’, he said. 

One of the community leaders, 

Mr. Saliu Sekoni, noted that the 

10 riverine communities in the 

LCDA enjoyed electricity for a 

while before it was cut off due to 

exorbitant billings. 

“We have been agitating for 

rural electricity for a long time, 

but about two years ago they 

gave 10 riverine communities 

in Amuwo Odofin LGA and 

Oriade LCDA electricity which 

barely lasted for one year.We 

have a borehole which is our 

only source of drinking water 

and for other purposes’, he 

lamented.


Foundation offers free treatment to 20 infertile couples 

. AS ESGN holds Endo March 2018 against Endometriosis 

By Sola Ogundipe 

ARE you a married 

couple challenged by 

infertility? Do you have a 

compelling story to tell 

about your infertility? Are 

you aware of Assisted 

Reproduction Technology, 

ART, but unable to pay for 

the treatment due to high 

cost? 

If you answer yes to all 

these questions, then you 

are qualified to enter for 

the 2018 edition of the free 

fertility treatment 

programme for couples, 

organised by the Fertility 

Treatment Support 

Foundation, FTSF. 

The initiative has potential 

of allowing more couples 

enjoy the joy of parenthood. 

A Trustee of the Foundation 

Dr. Abayomi Ajayi who is 

the Medical Director, 

Nordica Fertility Centre, 

Lagos, Abuja and Asaba, 

along with an Executive 

Member, FTSF, Mr. 

Onuora Molokwu, said 20 

deserving couples each 

with a compelling infertility 

story but are unable to pay 

for the treatment will be 

offered full treatment this 

year. 

Last year five couples were 

selected by the Foundation 

to receive free treatment. 

From this number, two 

have confirmed 

MY wife says that I am not romantic. When I want 

sex, I jump right into action. I don’t know what 

else I am supposed to do. Who has time to read poems 

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Tell her nice things. Crack a joke. Give her a massage or 

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just fake it. Women need to be adored and men must 

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I enjoy your column but I have never heard you write 

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Shortly after I turned 56, I started struggling in bed. 

Sometimes I get erections and sometimes I don’t. A 

friend says you can help – John 

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They also stop premature ejaculation and help enlarge 

the penis– Uche 

I want to thank you. I bought the G Female Libido 

L-R: Founder, ESGN/MD Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr Abayomi Ajayi; Clinic 

Manager, Nordica Lagos, Mrs. Tola Ajayi, Head of Corporate Communications, 

Diamond Bank (Diamond Woman Initiative), Ms. Chioma Afe, and Executive Member 

of ESGN, Mr Onuora Molokwu,during the press conference in Lagos last week to 

announce Endo March 2018. 

pregnancies while one is 

scheduled to have a 

pregnancy test this week. 

Two of the couples are, Mr 

Soyemi & Mrs Mr & Mrs 

Eshiet “This year, we are 

planning to do 80 free 

screenings, from where we 

will select five couples 

every quarter, making a 

total of 20 for the year that 

will qualify for free 

treatment,” Molokwu 

noted. 

He said the high cost of 

fertility treatment all over 

the world has remained a 

challenge for many fertility 

challenged couples and 

denied them opportunity of 

accessing fertility treatment 

and the joy of completing 

their families. 

Molokwu said FTSF was 

encouraged by the results 

from previous interventions 

of free fertility treatment 

since inception in 2008 

which has resulted in over 

150 couples receiving free 

fertility screening and 

treatment. 

The FTSF commenced 

operations as a non-profit 

organization in 2008 with 

a mandate to provide free 

fertility screening and 

treatment to couples with a 

compelling infertility story, 

but are financially 

challenged. 

Interested couples are to 

visit the FTSF website or its 

social media handles to 

receive information on how 

to qualify for the free 

treatment programme. 

COMMON SEXUAL PROBLEMS AND THEIR NOVELTY BASED SOLUTIONS (ADVERTORIAL) 

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Been using the FX 3000 performance enhancer for two 

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Endo March 2018 

activities 

Meanwhile, in line with its 

relentless pursuit to create 

awareness about 

Endometriosis, the 

Endometriosis Support 

Group Nigeria, ESGN, is 

holding the 2018 Endo 

March in Lagos. 

Founder 

and 

Spokesperson for the 

Group, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, 

described endometriosis as 

a debilitating condition 

which affects 1 in 10 

women. 

Ajayi ssys, “it is 

characterized by late 

diagnosis as most 

physicians tend to miss it. 

We are bringing a message 

of hope to sufferers, new 

technologies and 

treatments are becoming 

available to manage the 

condition. 

“On March 10, 2018, we 

will have our annual Endo 

March, a walk to drive 

awareness about the 

condition in Lagos. We will 

commence at 7am from 

City Mall, Onikan through 

Awolowo road to Muri 

Okunola Park.” 

Ajayi said the Diamond 

Woman initiative would be 

supporting the walk as it 

has done during the past 

four years. 

“Every year, we try to 

ensure that our Lagos Endo 

March is celebrated in 

commemoration of the 

International Women’s Day. 

This year, ESGN is 

partnering with the 

German Endometriosis 

Scientific Research 

Foundation to help increase 

awareness among medical 

practitioners about 

advancements in the 

management of 

endometriosis. 

A special edition of the 

Physicians Round Table is 

billed for 12th of April 2018 

at the Civic Centre. The 

roundtable is Nordica’s 

annual medical conference 

usually in March and 

dedicated to endometriosis. 

Other activities lined up 

include the Secondary 

Schools Essay 

Competition. Twice the 

number of schools that 

participated in the 

competition last year have 

been invited. 

Winners of the essay 

competition will be 

awarded a cash prize and 

plaque at the Endo Gala 

slated for April 14, 2018 at 

the Civic Centre, Lagos. 

Also slated for this year’s 

activities is the ESGN 

Picture Contest. 

“This is the first time we will 

be introducing this to our 

scope of activities. The 

winner of this contest will 

become an ambassador for 

ESGN from the date of 

being crowned till our next 

year’s event.”

44— Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

Billy Graham, the measure of 

man 

THE American evangelist 

Billy Graham passed away 

peacefully in his sleep on 

Wednesday 21 February in his 

home in Montreat, North 

Carolina, USA, age 99. William 

Franklin Graham Jr was born on 

7 November 1918 on a dairy farm 

outside Charlotte, North Carolina, 

of Scottish-Irish Presbyterian 

stock. Graham was brought up on 

a diet of rural Calvinistic values. 

He had to wake up at 2.30 am to 

milk the cows and shovel off tons 

of manure. At a tent revival 

organised by the travelling 

evangelist Modercai Ham, the 

sixteen year Graham made the lifechanging 

decision to commit his 

life to Jesus Christ as Lord and 

Saviour. 

In 1936, he enrolled at Bob Jones 

College, a Christian liberal arts 

institution in Greenville, South 

Carolina, but soon left because he 

found the atmosphere rather 

stifling. The following year he 

transferred to Florida Bible 

Institute, where he apparently 

bloomed. He found in his new 

academic home “a unity of God’s 

people who sincerely held Jesus at 

the centre of their lives”. During a 

solitary walk in the woods one 

evening, he knelt down and offered 

his future and destiny to serve the 

Lord as pastor and evangelist if this 

was His will for his life. In 

February 1939, he was ordained 

as a Southern Baptist minister. 

He later proceeded to the betterknown 

Wheaton College Illinois, 

Polio, Lassa and Yellow Fever: Where is 

the Political will? 

SINCE the conception of Nigeria as an 

independent country, it has struggled 

with a number of deadly viruses and diseases. 

The most prominent and reoccurring have 

been Polio, Lassa fever and Yellow fever. These 

three have plagued parts of the country for 

many years and appear sporadically, peaking 

and dipping throughout the country’s history. 

Under colonial rule vaccinations were kept 

for the expatriates and British citizens in the 

country. The indigenous population was 

mostly ignored and this allowed the viruses to 

spread unchecked throughout the country. It 

wasn’t until later in the country’s history that 

measures were taken to slow the spread and 

commence eradication of the disease. 

Re-emergence of Viruses 

The return of the Polio virus in 2016 sparked 

a mass emergency vaccination campaign. The 

return was seen in two young children in the 

Northern part of the country, in areas affected 

by the Boko Haram insurgency. The return of 

the Polio virus was especially disheartening 

for the country because it was a year away 

from being declared Polio free by the World 

Health Organisation,WHO. WHO's guidelines 

states a country must not experience any new 

cases of the wild Polio virus for three years 

before being declared polio free. The return of 

Polio can be attributed to presence of Boko 

Haram. The insurgency has made it very 

difficult to get necessary treatment and 

vaccines to that area of the country, allowing 

Polio to creep back in. 

Lassa fever has however been more 

prominent than Polio in Nigeria, springing up 

every couple of years mostly between June and 

December. There has been a decline in the 

severity of break outs but it must still be taken 

very seriously and focus should be placed on 

prevention. Since December 2016, a total of 

501 cases have been reported with 104 

confirmed deaths. A total of 17 states have 

reported cases of Lassa fever with Lagos being 

the latest, confirming a case in June 2017. 

Lassa fever can be contracted from food or 

where he graduated in 1943, 

majoring in anthropology — a 

discipline that broadened his mind 

and enabled him to see beyond the 

narrow waspish culture of his 

forebears. At Wheaton, he also met 

the woman that would become his 

wife, Ruth Bell, daughter of 

medical missionaries in China. It 

was a marriage made in heaven. 

In 1944, Billy Graham began his 

ministry as a pastor with the Youth 

for Christ evangelistic mission. In 

1950, he founded the Billy 

Graham Evangelistic Association, 

BGEA. His style combined the 

traditional open tent crusades in 

football stadiums with 

broadcasting in radio and 

television in over 140 countries. He 

ministered directly to more than 

200 million people, and, indirectly, 

2 billion. Some 3 million people 

are said to have responded directly 

to his altar calls. 

Billy Graham has won more 

souls to Christ than any single 

individual in history. His secret lay 

in a simple message: “Jesus loves 

you. Let Him into your life and your 

sins will be forgiven.” He often 

startled his audience with a rather 

unsettling question: “What would 

happen to you if you died on your 

way home?” It was an existential 

question that demanded an 

existential decision. 

For decades his Hour of 

Decision broadcast, delivered in a 

uniquely mellifluous voice, 

haunted listeners throughout the 

world. A mentor of mine, a brilliant 

household items contaminated with rodent 

urine. 

Yellow fever is an acute virus that is passed 

on to humans by mosquitos and can become 

an outbreak very quickly because it is a 

contagious virus. Yellow fever has not seen a 

serious outbreak in Nigeria in recent years but 

the possibility of a nationwide epidemic is 

rising with the yellow fever rearing its head 

again in 2017. The WHO has warned the 

country of an “imminent epidemic” if 

appropriate steps aren’t taken. This is especially 

worrying for Nigeria, as a densely populated 

country, the outbreak can be rapid and 

blindsiding. The first case was seen in 

November 2017, a seven year old girl in Kwara 

state. Confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for 

Disease Control, NCDC, and reported to 

Nigeria has been heavily 

reliant on donor and 

international help to fight 

its immunisation battle 

WHO. Between June and December 2017, a 

total of 341 suspected cases of yellow fever 

have been reported in 16 states. Of these cases, 

62.8% are male and 66% are under the age of 

20. 

Call to Prof. Isaac Adewole to Act 

Professor Isaac Adewole is the Minister of 

Health for Nigeria and there have been 

outcries for him to act accordingly and help 

Nigeria reduce number of viral outbreaks that 

the country experiences. Nigeria’s health sector 

has a number of issues; poor financing, 

inadequate number of health personnel per 

capita, poor support infrastructure, dearth of 

equipment and little or negligible investments 

in research. The National Association of 

Medical Doctors, NARD, have come out to 

say that the Ministry of Health needs to be 

more proactive when dealing with epidemics. 

chemical engineer, confessed to 

me that after listening to the Hour 

of Decision in his undergraduate 

dorm room in Ile-Ife in the early 

seventies, knelt down and tearfully 

surrendered his life to Christ. As a 

youth corper serving in ABU Zaria, 

this same man led me to Christ in 

my teens. I am, in a way, a 

grandchild of Billy Graham. 

Graham’s secrets lay in the 

simplicity of his message, his purity 

of soul and the radiance of a 

consecration that shone through 

A confidante to a 

succession of popes, 

he was awarded an 

honorary doctorate by 

Belmont Abbey 

College, a 

conservative catholic 

institution — the first 

protestant leader to 

be so honoured 

his persona — a man with no guile. 

He preached a simple gospel of 

grace, repentance and holiness. He 

also avoided the scandals over 

money and sex that stalked teleevangelists 

such as Jim Bakker 

and Jimmy Swaggart. He made it 

a policy never to be found alone in 

a car or room with another female 

other than his wife — later to be 

known as “the Billy Graham Rule”. 

He also empowered the BGEA 

board with strong leaders while 

placing himself on a fixed, modest 

salary. All the funds from his 

speaking engagements and books 

went to God’s work and for 

humanitarian action. He never 

boasted of miracles nor did he 

pitch his faith on prophecy. He 

preached a simple message of 

faith, love, repentance, forgiveness 

and salvation. 

How I wish our avaricious and 

grasping “General Overseers” in 

Nigeria could learn from this 

humble pastor who was a Field 

Marshal in God’s vineyard! 

Billy Graham was the moral 

sentinel of America and easily one 

of the towering figures of our 

century. He condemned the 

debaucheries of our decadent age; 

objecting to homosexuality and 

same-sex marriage on moral 

grounds. A counsellor to presidents 

and monarchs; he reinvented the 

Christian faith to meet the 

worldview demands of a nihilistic 

age. He was a friend of American 

presidents Dwight Eisenhower, 

Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bill 

Clinton and the two Bushes. 

According to Clinton, “When he 

prays with you in the Oval Office 

or upstairs in the White House, you 

feel he’s praying for you, not the 

president”. 

He was particularly close to 

Queen Elizabeth II of Britain. 

According to him, “No one in 

Britain has been more cordial 

toward us than Her Majesty 

Queen Elizabeth…I have always 

found her highly intelligent and 

knowledgeable about a wide 

variety of issues, not just politics.” 

Her Majesty once confided to him, 

“You do speak with such wonderful 

clarity and certainty…Above all 

things, I do think of myself as just 

a simple Christian.” 

Billy Graham was one of the 

architects of the ecumenical 

movement. He financed the 

Lausanne Conferences on World 

Evangelism; working tirelessly for 

unity in the body of Christ. A 

confidante to a succession of 

popes, he was awarded an 

honorary doctorate by Belmont 

Abbey College, a conservative 

catholic institution — the first 

protestant leader to be so 

honoured. 

He was also close friends with 

Martin Luther Jr, whom he once 

bailed out when he was jailed in 

Alabama. He forbade segregation 

in all his crusades while ensuring 

that his evangelistic associates 

were mixed-race. He once warned 

white Americans that their racial 

arrogance will stand in judgement 

against them at the gates of 

heaven. 

The passing of his beloved Ruth 

in 2007 was one of the lowest 

points in his life. He himself was 

gradually overcome with several 

geriatric illnesses which 

The president of 

NARD, Dr. Ade 

Faponle, has said 

the county does 

not have a 

prepared 

template to 

handle the 

outbreak of 

infectious 

diseases and 

w o r k s 

retroactively. 

Prof. Adewole himself has made it clear that 

for the Ministry of Health to combat the viral 

outbreaks, it needs more funding from the 

Federal Government. This came after the 2018 

proposed budget was released and there was a 

percentile cut in the health budget when 

compared to 2017. Prof. Adewole is doing what 

he can with the resources at his disposal. In 

2016, he announced that the Ministry of 

Health will be partnering with the private 

sector to create a Bank of Health. Prof. 

Adewole declared that Nigeria’s health scene 

needs a presence from the private sector and 

the government cannot bear the burden alone. 

The Bank of Health aims to provide resources 

for those in the private sector who wish to set 

up health facilities in the form of single digit 

interest loans with long repayment periods. 

Prof. Adewole backed this move by saying: “We 

have decided to work with the private sector in 

the coming year because they have the 

discipline, resources and efficiency to drive the 

sector.” 

Cost of Doing Nothing: Non 

Intervention 

Nigeria needs to act swiftly in order to quell 

the outbreaks of the aforementioned viruses. 

This has not been entirely the case presently, 

but the country is working hard to stop the 

spread of diseases. The Ministry of Health is 

quick to give updates of cases in different parts 

of the country and also report each new case 

of any potential epidemic to WHO for advice 

and support. Also, when Polio resurfaced in 

the country, the Ministry of Health was quick 

to issue an emergency vaccination campaign 

in order to boot it once and for all. Even going 

as far as vaccinations for neighbouring 

countries in the Lake Chad area. The need for 

intervention by the government has often come 

necessitated his eventual 

retirement. The BGEA is currently 

headed by his son Franklin 

Graham. 

Tributes have come from far and 

wide. President Donald Trump has 

tweeted: “The great Billy Graham 

is dead. There was nobody like 

him! He will be missed by 

Christians and all religions. A very 

special man.” Vice-President Pence 

described him as a matchless 

voice that “changed the lives of 

millions”. Barack Obama 

describes him as “a humble 

servant who prayed for so many - 

and who, with wisdom and grace, 

gave hope and guidance to 

generations of Americans”. The 

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin 

Welby noted that “the debt owed 

by the global church to him is 

immeasurable and inexpressible”. 

Back home in Nigeria, Musa 

Asake, Publicity Secretary of the 

Christian Association of Nigeria, 

described Billy Graham as “a 

faithful preacher who worked for 

God and has gone to be with the 

Lord”. 

Billy Graham made friends 

across racial, class and religious 

barriers. He disagreed with his son 

Franklin when he made rather 

uncomplimentary remarks about 

Islam. The awards and honours 

showered on him during his 

lifetime are far too numerous to 

be recounted here. He leaves 

behind five children and several 

grandchildren and great grand 

children. President Donald Trump 

has ordered that his simple coffin 

will lie in state on Capitol Hill 

before being moved for final 

interment on 2 March in his 

hometown of Montreat. His 

funeral will be graced by present 

and former American leaders, 

among other distinguished 

personalities. 

Years ago, he commented on the 

prospects of his own death: 

“Someday you will read or hear 

that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t 

you believe a word of it. I shall be 

more alive than I am now…I will 

have gone into the presence of 

God.” 

What a fitting epitaph to a 

remarkable life! 

late or has been very weak. This was the case 

in Ebonyi state, a state with a large Lassa fever 

outbreak. It was discovered that three out of 

nine cases were from people who had been 

sent home from the hospital but went on to 

contaminate others. 

The country’s health sector has been 

underfunded for many years and the federal 

government needs to do more in order for 

Nigeria to have a health sector that can 

convincingly fight the spread of viruses and 

epidemics. Nigeria has been heavily reliant 

on donor and international help to fight its 

immunisation battle. Since 2001, Gavi, an 

international public-private health actor, has 

committed $697m to Nigeria’s immunisation 

bid. Gavi has stated that Nigeria has a number 

of challenges, such as uneven infrastructure 

and immunisation coverage, geographical 

barriers and anti-vaccine movements. 

Government officials need to be aware that 

the country cannot be reliant on other actors 

to solve its problems forever. Gavi support is 

winding down as Nigeria is no longer 

classified as a low income country; Gavi’s 

criteria for offering support. This means by 

2021 Nigeria will have full responsibility for 

the immunisation of its citizens. 

However, these haven’t stopped Gavi seeing 

some positives. The Nigerian government is 

aware of what needs to be done and 

commitment from state governors is 

promising. Some states are trying to take a 

proactive response while no cases have been 

reported in their territory. States neighbouring 

affected locations are beginning to take 

proactive actions to prevent the further spread 

of the disease to their territory. 

Continues Online @www. vanguardngr.com 

C 

M 

Y 

K



Kogi govt describes critics as ‘bunch of failures’ 

KOGI State Government 

has described leaders 

of the Save Kogi Project as 

a “bunch of failures,” who 

are unsettled by the giant 

strides the administration of 

Alhaji Yahaya Bello is 

recording in the state. 

Reacting to a statement by 

the group in Abuja, in 

which the state government 

was carpeted, Director 

General of Media and 

Strategy to Governor Bello, 

Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said 

NLC @ 40: From left— (front row) Awardee, General-Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment 

& Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, Mr. Issa Aremu; former Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, 

President, Mr. Abdulwaheed Omar; National President, NUTGTWN, Mr. John Adaji, and Chairman, 

NLC, Kaduna State, Mr. Adamu Ango, and others, at the NLC 40th anniversry celebration and 

presentation of award to Mr. Aremu in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: Olu Ajayi. 

We'll resist herdsmen's 

re-entry into Tiv land—Youths 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—TIV 

Youth Organisation, 

TYO, an umbrella body of 

Tiv youths, has cautioned 

herdsmen to stay away from 

Tiv land or be prepared to 

face resistance. 

The warning came on the 

heels of an outcry by the 

tribal leaders of Benue 

State, who alleged that the 

personnel of Operation 

Ayem A’ Kpatuma (Cat 

Race), were allowing 

herdsmen to take over 

Benue land. 

Addressing the media in 

Makurdi, the National 

President of TYO, Timothy 

Hembaor, maintained that 

Tiv people had the statutory 

rights over the lands of the 

Benue Trough, where they 

had lawfully dwelt and 

earned a living in the past 

three centuries and had 

been so recognised by law. 

Hembaor said: 

By Demola 

Akinyemi 

I LORIN—VICE 

Chancellor of Kwara 

State University, Malete, 

KWASU, Professor 

the group should not be 

taken serious. 

Mr. Fanwo said: “They 

are a bunch of failures, who 

are trying to play politics 

with the future of our dear 

state. Our decision to sell 

off non-yielding assets is to 

enable government 

provide infrastructure for 

economic development. 

“It is economic smartness 

to sell what does not give 

you income now and inject 

what is realised to stimulate 

“Therefore, Tiv people will 

resist with all means at their 

disposal the confiscation of 

our land and transmutation 

of same into grazing areas 

for herdsmen and their 

cattle. In essence, the Tiv 

people are saying no to 

THE Billitar Maroobe 

Pastoralist Association 

of Nigeria, BILMPAN, has 

appealed to President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

prevail on Jigawa State 

government to return their 

grazing lands to members. 

Alhaji 

Ya’u 

Malammadori, a Board of 

Trustees, BoT, member of 

the association, made the 

appeal in an interview with 

newsmen, yesterday. 

Malammadori alleged 

that Governor Muhammad 

Badaru seized the grazing 

the economy. 

“The angst of the group 

was the failure of Governor 

Bello to share the 

commonwealth of the state 

with them. 

“We remain resolute to 

moving the state forward as 

the people are solidly with 

the governor. The latest 

onslaught was occasioned 

by the embarrassing sea of 

heads that greeted the All 


APC, rally in Lokoja on 

grazing areas of whatever 

sort in Tiv land. 

“We, therefore, call on 

President Buhari to respect 

his oath of office and the 

constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, both in 

content and spirit, and 

lands from its members in 

various parts of the state 

without providing 

alternatives, leaving 

pastoralists in Jigawa in a 

difficult situation. 

His words: “Since Badaru 

seized these lands from us, 

we do not know what to do 

and where to go with our 

animals. We are in dilemma 

because we are also 

indigenes of Jigawa State 

and citizens of the country. 

“We wonder why he 

should deprive us of these 

privileges and rights. The 

February 17. 

“The staff verification 

exercise was a huge 

success that saved the state 

billions that were hitherto 

wasted on ghost workers 

and unintended 

beneficiaries. We have 

changed the orientation of 

the civil servants. 

“Their lies that APC was 

dead in Kogi was 

punctured and they have 

decided to move on to the 

next lie.” 

sincerely intervene now 

and halt the killing of the 

Tiv people by his kinsmen. 

“Failure to do so, the Tiv 

people are capable of 

defending themselves 

against any occupation of 

our ancestral dwellings.” 

... as Jigawa pastoralists seek Buhari’s 

intervention on seized grazing land 

‘Intellectualism, not weapons, 'll save Nigeria' 

AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, 

and the Director of the 

Institute of Advanced 

Military Studies in the 

institution, Dr. Ademola 

Araoye, have blamed the 

protracted problems of 

insurgency and other 

security challenges in the 

country on neglect of 

military intellectualism. 

Na’Allah and Araoye 

made the observation 

during the launch of 

grazing lands have been in 

existence since colonial era. 

“We are calling on 


Buhari to quickly 

intervene because we are 

also indigenes of the 

state; we don’t have any 

place to go.” 

He stressed the need for 

the Jigawa government to 

return their grazing lands 

to prevent members of the 

association from moving 

from one place to another 

in search of pasture for 

their animals. 

KWASU Institute of 

Advanced Military Studies, 

IAMS, in Malete, Kwara 


The university dons said 

crime can be eliminated in 

the society through 

intellectualism and not by 

sheer force or through more 

Justice Ibrahim of NIC dies 


Madukwe 

THE Presiding Judge 

of the National 

Industrial Court, NIC, 

Port Harcourt Division, 

Justice Auwal Ibrahim, is 

dead. 

In an announcement 

yesterday by the Acting 

Chief Registrar, the NIC 

President, Justice B. A. 

Adejumo, declared that 

there will not be court 

sitting yesterday, to 

honour the late jurist who 

died in the early hours of 

yesterday. 

Late Justice Ibrahim 

was appointed a judge of 

NIC in 2008. After his 

bachelor’s degree in law 

By Prince Okafor 

D ISTRIBUTION 

Companies, 

DISCOs’ drop in 

electricity load and other 

technical challenges 

forced Lokoja’s resident 

into total darkness. 

TCN, in a statement, 

said the blackout in 

Lokoja, Kogi State 

capital, was due to a 

sharp drop in load by the 

distribution companies, 

which created extremely 

high voltage in the grid. 

TCN General 

Manager, Public Affairs, 

Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, said: 

“The resulting effect 

caused lightening 

arrester in the 150MVA 

power transformer in the 

Lokoja Transmission 

at the University of 

Maiduguri, he proceeded 

to University of Warwick, 

Coventry, England, for his 

LL.M. and a doctorate in 

law at the London School 

of Economics and Political 

Science, University of 

London. 

Justice Ibrahim served 

on the Attorney General of 

the Federation’s working 

committee on the Laws of 

the Federation of Nigeria 

and was also on its 

Editorial Board., and was 

a lecturer at the graduate 

and post-graduate levels 

in the areas of 

Constitutional Law, Labour 

and Industrial Relations 

Law at the University of 

Maiduguri. 

TCN explains Lokoja blackout 

By Marie- 

Therese Nanlong 

J OS—PASSENGERS 

in Jos/Bukuru 

metropolis, yesterday, 

got stranded as tricycle 

riders, popularly called 

Keke NAPEP, abandoned 

their trade to protest what 

they described as 

unlawful exploitation by 

Vehicle Inspection 

Officers, VIO, the Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC 

and the Police. 

The riders, who 

converged on various 

locations in the city, 

including State House of 

Assembly, State 

Secretariat, Angwan 

substation to shatter. 

“The chattered 

lightening arrester 

punctured the cooling fin 

of the power transformer, 

causing oil to gush out 

from the 150MVA power 

transformer. TCN’s 

maintenance engineers 

quickly mobilised and 

arrested the oil and made 

concerted efforts to seal the 

cooling fin. 

“Having successfully 

sealed the transformer on 

Sunday, February 25, TCN 

has proceeded to put 

transformer oil into the 

transformer. This process 

will be completed today 

(yesterday) and the 

transformer energised 

latest tomorrow (today) so 

that normal supply is 

restored to Lokoja.” 

Tricycle riders ground 

Jos over sundry charges 

guns and other war 

weapons. 

They noted that the 

current security tensions in 

Nigeria were not unique 

to the country, but that 

“what we need to do is to 

manage tensions 

constructively.” 

Rukuba Junction, Dogon 

Karfe, Tudun Wada, 

Bauchi Road and Old 

Airport, Gangere Junction, 

among others, blocked 

roads and prevented the 

few who conveyed 

passengers from 

operating, thereby forcing 

the stranded passengers 

to trek several kilometres 

to their destinations. 

According to the Acting 

Chairman, Union Bank 

Unit of the tricycle riders, 

Monday Francis, and a 

tricycle operator, 

operating tricycle in the 

state is frustrating due to 

incessant clamp down on 

operators. 

However, the 

Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Works and 

Transport, Gabriel 

Mafulul, who addressed 

some of the protesters, 

urged them to be calm as 

“government has 

suspended the policy and 

will engage in further 

consultation.”


SYRIA: Putin orders humanitarian 

pause in Eastern Ghouta 

*Ceasefire to run from 09: 00 to 14: 00 

RUSSIA’s President 

Vladimir Putin has ordered 

a daily humanitarian 

pause in fighting in the Eastern 

Ghouta enclave in Syria. 

It will start today and 

includes the creation of a 

“humanitarian corridor” to 

allow civilians to leave. 

The rebel-held area has 

been under intense bombardment 

by the Syrian government, 

with Russian backing, 

for over a week. 

It has led to more than 550 

deaths, according to a monitoring 

group. 

Russian Defence Minister 

Sergei Shoigu made the 

announcement, saying the 

ceasefire would run from 

09:00 until 14:00 local time 

daily. He said more details 

on the corridor would be released 

soon. 

The United Nations Security 

Council unanimously 

called for a 30-day ceasefire 

on Saturday. 

The resolution demanded 

that “all parties cease hostilities 

without delay” to allow 

aid deliveries and medical 

evacuations. 

Russia had been accused 

of delaying the UN vote for 

several days by asking for 

changes to be made to the 

draft. 

UN Secretary-General 

Antonio Guterres has described 

the situation as “hell 

on Earth”, and demanded 

immediate action. 

The UN resolution applies 

to the whole of Syria. 

However, the primary intention 

is to stop the government 

attacks on the Eastern 

Ghouta, where some 393,000 

civilians are trapped. 

Rebels in the enclave 

would also have to stop firing 

shells into Damascus, an 

act that has also killed civilians. 

The resolution allows operations 

against groups that 

the UN regards as terrorists, 

including the Islamic State 

(IS) jihadist group, to continue. 

On Sunday, air strikes by 

a US-led multinational coalition 

against IS killed at 

least 10 civilians in the eastern 

province of Deir al-Zour, 

according to activists. 

Supreme Court rejects Trump’s immigration 

appeal 

*As Ivanka defends father over sexual misconduct allegation 

CLOSING GONG: From left, Company Secretary, Odu'a Investment Company 

Ltd, Mrs Abiola Ajayi; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, 

NSE, Mr. Oscar Onyema; Group Managing Director, Odu'a Investment Company 

Ltd, Adewale Raji; General Manager, Finance, Odu'a Investment, Mrs 

Yinka Tunji-Ojo, and Group Head, Strategy and Growth, Odu'a Investment, 

Mr Babajide Oyebola, at the Closing Gong ceremony of NSE, in Lagos. Photo: 

Kehinde Gbadamosi. 

The U.S. Supreme Court 

on Monday dealt a setback 

to President Donald Trump, 

requiring his administration 

to maintain protections he 

has sought to end for hundreds 

of thousands of immigrants 

brought illegally 

into the United States as 

children. 

The justices refused to 

hear the administration’s 

appeal of a federal judge’s 

Jan. 9 nationwide injunction 

that halted Trump’s 

move to rescind a program 

that benefits immigrants 

known as “Dreamers” implemented 

in 2012 by his 

Democratic predecessor, 

Barack Obama. 

The protections were due 

to start phasing out beginning 

in March under the 

Republican president’s action, 

announced in September. 

Under the Deferred Action 

for Childhood Arrivals 

(DACA) program, roughly 

700,000 young adult, mostly 

Hispanics, are protected 

from deportation and given 

work permits for twoyear 

periods, after which 

they must re-apply. Congress 

so far has failed to 

pass legislation to address 

the fate of the “Dreamers,” 

including a potential path 

to citizenship. 

San Francisco-based U.S. 

District Judge William Alsup 

ruled last month that 

DACA must remain in 

place while litigation over 

the legality of Trump’s action 

is resolved, prompting 

the administration’s unusual 

appeal bypassing a federal 

appeals court and going 

directly to the Supreme 

Court. 

“The DACA program — 

which provides work permits 

and myriad government 

benefits to illegal immigrants 

en masse — is 

clearly unlawful. The district 

judge’s decision to unilaterally 

re-impose a program 

that Congress had explicitly 

and repeatedly rejected 

is a usurpation of legislative 

authority,” White 

House spokesman Raj 

Shah said. 

“We look forward to having 

this case expeditiously 

heard by the appeals court 

and, if necessary, the Supreme 

Court, where we fully 

expect to prevail,” Shah 

added. 

Meanwhile, Ivanka 

Trump said she believes her 

father’s denials about the 

accusations of sexual misconduct. 

“I believe my father,” she 

said Sunday in an exclusive 

interview with NBC 

News, claiming the question 

posed to her was “inappropriate.” 

“I know my father. So I 

think I have that right as a 

daughter to believe my father.” 

Trump, a White House senior 

adviser, also discussed 

her father’s proposal of arming 

teachers, which the 

president raised after a 

gunman killed 17 people 

at a high school in Parkland, 

Florida, this month. 

President Trump also said 

an officer who stayed 

outside a Florida high 

school during a mass 

shooting was a “disgrace”. 

Trump said he believes he 

would have acted 

differently. 

ZUMA: South Africa to announce decision 

on graft charges in two weeks 

SOUTH African state 

prosecutors will announce 

in two weeks 

whether they will reinstate 

corruption charges against 

former president Jacob 

Zuma, eNCA television 

reported on Monday. 

The 783 counts of corruption 

against Zuma relate 

to a 30 billion rand 

($2.6 billion) government 

arms deal arranged in the 

late 1990s. They were filed 

but then dropped by the 

National Prosecuting Authority 

shortly before 

Zuma ran for the presidency 

Ṡouth Africa’s High 

Court reinstated the charges 

in 2016 and the Supreme 

Court upheld that 

decision last year, rejecting 

an appeal by Zuma 

and describing the NPA’s 

decision to set aside the 

charges as “irrational”. 

Bollywood star Sridevi died from 

drowning 

BOLLYWOOD 

ac 

tress Sridevi died 

from accidental drowning, 

according to the forensic 

report. 

Dubai-based newspaper, 

Gulf News, reported 

on Monday that the iconic 

actress was under the influence 

of alcohol when 

she lost balance and fell 

into the bathtub of her room 

at Jumeirah Emirates Tow- 

ers and drowned. 

The paper quoting a police 

official said that “investigation 

was still going on 

to determine the circumstances 

surrounding the 

accident”. “The Dubai Police 

has transferred the 

case to the Dubai Public 

Prosecution, which will 

carry out regular legal procedures 

followed in such 

cases,” the government of 

Dubai media office tweeted. 

ANNIVERSARY: From left, Major-General Bamidele Ogunkale, Director-General, 

Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria; Mr, Moyosore Abdulrasheed, immediate 

past Chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers, NSE, Victoria Island branch; 

Rose Madaki, 6th branch Chairman, NSE, Victoria Island branch, and Mr. Adekunle 

Mokuolu, President, NSE, Victoria Island branch, at the 60th anniversary of the 

NSE, Victoria Island branch and ceremonial installation, in Lagos. 

VALENTINE PROMO WINNER: Vanguard Advert Manager, Mrs. Ethel 

Igboeche (right) presents a copy of Weekend Vanguard to 1st prize winner of 

2018 Vanguard Valentine Love Poem promo, Mr. Emmanuel Azuka, while his 

family and Rockview Front Office Officer, Mr. Moses Odo (2nd right) watched 

at Rockview Hotel Classic, Maitama, Abuja, weekend. Photo: Abayomi 

Adeshida 

DINNER: From left, representative of Managing Director of AXA Mansard 

Health, Mr. Kola Oni; an Oncologist and Guest Speaker for Breast Cancer 

Awareness Seminar, Dr. Olabisi Ademuyiwa, and Chief Medical Director, 

Alliance Hospital, Dr. Utabor Christopher, during a dinner for the guest 

speaker, in Abuja.

Vanguard, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2018 — 47 

Iheanacho keen to make impact at Russia World Cup 

•Iheanacho 

Super Eagles and Leicester City of England forward, 

Kelechi Iheanacho is fired up and looking forward 

to the 2018 World Cup in Russia with great expectations. 

Kelechi’s image right manager, Kingsley Ogbodo 

made the declaration from Cyprus where he went 

to attend an international scouting seminar put 

together by Wyscout, a world renowned football 

platform that offers scouting, match analysis, 

networking, training and player transfers. 

“Kelechi is eagerly waiting for the World 

Cup so he can prove himself once again,’’ 

Kingsley Ogbodo said. 

“Every time we chat about Russia 2018, 

you could see the eagerness in him.” 

“He says he can’t wait for the Super 

Eagles to shock the world in Russia.” 

“Right now people think we are 

underdogs, but Kelechi’s target is to 

play in the World Cup final.’’ 

Obaseki leads Aisien, Amun, 

Odemwengie, others to 

Bendel Insurance relaunch 

otable football actors led by the 

N legendary 1978 Bendel Insurance 

Challenge Cup winning Coach, Alabi Aisien 

and Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, 

will highlight the relaunch of a rebranded, 

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin City today in 

Benin City. 

Also expected is the NFF President, Amaju 

Melvin Pinnick. Former Super Eagles 

Player, former NFF Scribe and the only man 

who has criss-crossed all national teams, 

Fanny Amu coach of the Golden Eaglets to 

Japan U 17 World Cup triumph, Hon Ayo 

Omidiran, Shehu Dikko, LMC Chairman, 

Osaze Odemwingie, Yakubu Ayegbeni, 

Julius Aghahowa and First Nigerian Coach 

to win a World Cup at any level in China 

1985, Coach Sebastian Brodericks- 

Imasuen, members of the National 

Assembly from Edo State and their 

counterparts in the State House of Assembly 

are also expected at the occasion. 

A Government 

House release, signed 

by the Chief Press 

Secretary to Edo State 

Deputy Governor, 

Comrade Ebomhiana 

Musa said the 

technical crew headed 

by Monday Odigie as 

Manager, will be 

assisted by Baldwin 

Bazuaye as the Chief 

Coach and Greg 

Ikhenobas and 

Assistant Coach. •Philips 

Bolt signs with 

football team 

Athletics great 

Usain Bolt 

claims he has signed 

for a football team and 

will announce the club 

in question today. 

Bolt, who brought his 

glittering sprint career 

to an end following the 

2017 IAAF World 

Championships in 

London, has frequently 

talked up his 

footballing prowess 

and revealed last 

month he was set for a 

trial with Borussia 

Dortmund in March. 

The 31-year-old 

Jamaican has also 

repeatedly expressed an 

interest in turning out 

for Premier League 

giants Manchester 

United, the club he 

supports, while he also 

recently offered his 

services to David 

Beckham’s new Major 

League Soccer 

franchise, Futbol 

Miami. 

U-20 Africa Nations 

Cup qualifiers: 

F/Eagles 

draw bye 

•Henry 

Henry y wants 

Wenger’s job 

Arsenal’s all-time top 

scorer Thierry 

Henry said it would 

be a “dream” to 

manage the club, whose 

season is threatening to 

unravel after their 

capitulation to Manchester 

City in the League Cup final. 

Arsene Wenger’s side 

crumbled 3-0 at Wembley on 

Sunday and languish 10 

points off the top four in the 

Premier League, with the 

Europa League their only 

chance of silverware this 

season. 

Wenger is under contract at 

Arsenal until 2019 but a 

failure to qualify for the 

Champions League for a 

second straight year would 

ramp up pressure for him to 

step down. 

Asked on-air after the game 

about whether replacing 

Wenger would appeal to him, 

By Patrick Omorodion 

fter failing to qualify for the 2017 U- 

A 20 Africa Cup of Nations held in 

Zambia, Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the 

Flying Eagles have been given a bye in the 

2019 qualifiers scheduled to kick-off late 

March. Niger Republic are slated to host the 

biennial event 

According to the draws released by CAF 

yesterday, the Flying Eagles will await the 

winner of the two-legged ties between 

Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone for their 

second round ties. Guinea Bissau host Sierra 

Leone first on the weekend of March 30-31 

and go to Freetown for the second leg on the 

weekend of 20-22 April. 

The Flying Eagles will play either of the 

teams first at away on the weekend of 11-13 

of May when the second round begins and 

host the visitors in any chosen Nigerian city 

on the weekend of 18-20 May. 

If the Flying Eagles scale through the 

second round, they will battle the winner of 

the Mauritania/Morocco versus Guinea in 

the third round. 

the Sky Sports pundit, who is 

also a member of Belgium’s 

coaching staff, said: “I still 

have a job to do with Belgium, 

but let’s see what’s going to 

happen. 

“It will be a dream for me, 

but I’m still with Belgium. 

“Interested? Yes, who 

wouldn’t be? But I can’t talk 

about that out of respect for the 

man that is in charge still and 

my job that I’m doing right now 

with Belgium. But who 

wouldn’t be interested?” 

Henry, who was brought to 

Arsenal by Wenger in 1999, 

believes a lack of consistency 

is the key to the club’s troubles, 

with the Gunners having lost 

six games in all competitions 

since the turn of the year. 

“With Arsene, what is 

difficult is when you have bad 

momentum,” the 40-year-old 

told Sky Sports News on 

Monday. 

•Neymar 

•Ronaldo 

Champions League: 

Zidane prays for Neymar to recover for Real clash 

inedine Zidane expressed hope that 

ZParis Saint-Germain star Neymar 

returns from his ankle injury in time to 

face Real Madrid in the Champions 

League. 

Neymar was carried off the Parc des 

Princes pitch in tears during PSG’s 3-0 

Classique victory over Marseille last 

Sunday after riding a challenge from 

Bouna Sarr before twisting his right ankle 

as he planted his foot on the turf. 

On Monday, Neymar posted a photo of 

his foot in heavy strapping after being 

taken to hospital and, although head 

Tues Page 47 26/2/2018 

Governor Udom kicks 

off 2nd Akwa Ibom 

Youth Sports Festival 

A 

ll is now set for the Second Akwa 

Ibom State Youth Sports 

Festival billed for Uyo from March 

5 – 10 2018. 

The originator of the festival 

and executive Governor of 

Akwa Ibom State, His 

Excellency Udom Emmanuel 

is to preside over an elaborate 

opening ceremony that will 

have the Honourable 

Minister of Sports Solomon 

Dalung as Special Guest of 

Honour among other 

distinguished invited 

guests. 

The Festival Torch 

which started the 

rounds of all the 31 

Participating Local 

Governments in the 

State was received in Onna yesterday 

by Council chairman Imo Atat. 

The Council boss said he was 

delighted to be part of a festival that 

has already broken all the records in 

terms of grass root sports 

development and the discovery of 

talents. 

He thanked Governor Udom 

Emmanuel for putting the festival in 

place and promised that “. . .Onna 

Local Government will shock others 

this year”. 

Ronaldo wants three more 

Ballon d’Or 

coach, Unai Emery said in his postmatch 

news conference that the injury 

is not serious, it remains to be seen 

whether the forward will be fit in time 

to face Madrid on March 6.. 

“No, I don’t like it when players get 

injured,” Zidane told reporters on 

Monday at a news conference ahead 

of Madrid’s La Liga trip to Espanyol on 

Tuesday. 

“I’m not happy if Neymar is injured. 

Hopefully, he can play. I’m never going 

to want an opposing player to get 

injured." 

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has achieved all of his 

dreams in football, but would like to win the 

Ballon d’Or another three times before he retires. 

The Real Madrid star was named the best player on the 

planet for the fifth time in 2017, pulling level with 

Barcelona rival Lionel Messi. 

Ronaldo already has four Champions 

League and Club World Cup trophies to add 

to his Premier League and La Liga winners’ 

medals accrued in his sensational periods at 

Manchester United and Madrid. 

And while the 32-year-old feels he would 

be perfectly happy in life if he were to retire 

from the game immediately, he 

believes he can still achieve a 

great deal more before he does 

call time on his career. 

“I never dreamed of winning the 

Ballon d’Or five times,” he told 

Desimpedidos . 

“If I had to finish my career now, I 

would be super happy... [but] if I won 

another Ballon d’Or, two or three more 

times I’d be delighted with life. 

“Even if I don’t win, I’ve already won 

five... but I still have the confidence and 

the strength to compete for the prize... it 

depends on the titles we win this year. 

“Everything I dreamed of, I achieved.” 

After guiding his national team to 

Euro 2016 glory last season, Ronaldo is 

preparing to lead out Portugal in their 

World Cup campaign in Russia this 

summer.

48---Vanguard, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2018 

Sudoku 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Tardy (4) 

3 Undying (8) 

9 Ungraciously curt (7) 

10 Cold (5) 

11 Concur (5) 

12 Kidnap (6) 

14 Waylay (6) 

16 Spanish rice dish (6) 

19 Bird with a long curved 

bill (6) 

21 Light weight (5) 

24 Path of a planet (5) 

25 Cradle song (7) 

26 Shunters (anag.) (8) 

27 Capri, for example (4) 

DOWN 

1 Unauthorised passenger 

(8) 

2 Tender (5) 

4 Noon (6) 

5 Possessed (5) 

6 Characteristic (7) 

7 Short narrative poems 

(4) 

8 Strata (6) 

13 Bronte heroine (4,4) 

15 American whisky (7) 

17 Handsome Greek god 

(6) 

18 Resides (6) 

20 By and by (5) 

22 Approaches (5) 

23 The two of them (4) 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that 

no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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

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

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

27022018 - Yobe Girls: We weren't part of meeting at Govt House — PARENTS OF ABDUCTED GIRLS

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