02012019 - NBA tackles Buhari over rule of law abuse

Rising state of 

poverty and the 

Nigerian attitude 

to giving (2) 

40 

BOKO HARAM: Security 

situation in Borno getting 

worse — Gov Shettima 

•Zamfara killings, this is how 

Boko Haram started – JNI warns 

4 

MINIMUM WAGE: 

We’re not reviewing 

c’ttee report—FG; 

it’s delay tactics by 

8 

govt – Labour 

NSE reviews composition of market indices 

19 

VOL. 26: NO. 63713 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

NBA tackles Buhari over 

rule of law abuse 

•Vows to blow whistle on any plans to rig 2019 elections 

•We’re vindicated— PDP; We support whistle-blowing; not rule of law abuse — Keyamo 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

& Dirisu Yakubu 

A BUJA—THE 

Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, 

yesterday, took a swipe at 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s administration, 

alleging that rule of law in 

the country has suffered 

degradation in multiple 

ways. 

The association, which is 

the umbrella body of legal 

practitioners in the country, 

in a New Year message 

signed by its National 

President, Mr. Paul Usoro, 

SAN, cited what it 

described as brazen 

disobedience of court 

orders and judgments, as 

well as failure to build 

Continues on Page 5 

SEE STORY 

ON PG. 41 

Armed 

herdsmen 

raze Gov 

Ortom’s 

N100m rice 

farm 35 

Mr & Mrs 

2019: Aisha chairs 

women, youth 

presidential campaign 

team for Buhari 

•Dalung, Okorocha, 

Orji Kalu, Modu 

Sheriff make list 4 

COLUMNISTS 

DEAR BUNMI 

Presidency to 

spend 

N274.7m on 

electricity, 

N65m on 

animals 

43 

PRINCEWILL 

16 

17 

Fr. Mbaka 

endorses 

Buhari, 

Ugwuanyi for 

second term 

OHUABUNWA 31 FASAN 31 

8 

Buhari’s claim of 

B-Haram’s defeat 

makes mental test 

for presidential 

candidates logical 

— Atiku 

8 

SEE 

INSIDE

2—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019—3

4—VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

Boko Haram: Security situation in 

Borno getting worse — Gov Shettima 

•Explains why he hasn’t criticised Buhari on the issue 

•Zamfara: This was how Boko Haram started— JNI 

GOVERNOR Kashim 

Shettima of Borno State, 

Monday night, raised the 

alarm that the security 

situation in the state was 

getting worse. 

He also explained why he 

has not criticised President 

Muhammadu Buhari on the 

issue, saying the President 

had given him unfettered 

access to the Presidency on 

the crisis. 

Shettima’s statement came 

at a time the Jama’atu Nasril 

Islam, JNI, warned the 

Federal Government to nip 

in the bud the killings in 

Zamfara State to prevent 

emergence of another Boko 

Haram crisis in the state. 

The governor, who spoke 

an at extraordinary security 

meeting at Government 

House, Maiduguri, to 

discuss the worsening 

security situation in the state, 

attended by traditional rulers, 

security chiefs, Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, and other 

stakeholders, said: “Your 

royal highnesses and our 

elders, I will like to start by 

saying that the aim of 

convening this important 

meeting is not to pass blames 

or to pass any kind of verdict 

on our security agencies. 

“I think the most inhuman 

way to go is to gather and 

condemn those who are 

putting their lives on the line 

and giving their lives in efforts 

to find peace. 

“We are principally here as 

a family, as a people all 

affected by the situation in 

Borno State, to discuss 

suggestions that will 

hopefully contribute to 

combined ongoing efforts 

towards addressing the 

problem. 

“For seven years, we held 

our regular security council 

meetings. I from to time 

consult with some of the 

participants here. However, 

I never for once convened an 

extraordinary meeting of this 

nature because, frankly 

speaking, I was avoiding a 

sort of dramatisation or being 

sensational about our 

challenges in Borno State. 

“Without being insensitive 

to the realities of our situation, 

I feel deeply pained 

whenever Borno is being 

discussed on the basis of 

helpless weakness. I prefer 

to assume a position of 

strength; a position of 

normalcy and a character of 

being incurably optimistic. 

"My greatest wish was and 

still is, not to bequeath Boko 

Haram challenges and IDP 

camps to my successor. We 

wanted to, and still want to 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

get Borno fully back to normal 

days. Sometimes, I 

unconsciously find myself 

boasting that Borno is safer 

than Lagos. I simply feel very 

bad to sound pessimistic 

about Borno. I so much 

believe in optimism. 

“Of course, I know that in 

governance, responding to 

some situations demand a 

combination of being both 

optimistic and realistic. The 

reality is that while so much 

was achieved by our gallant 

military men and women, we 

are today faced with serious 

challenges in Borno State. 

"But then, these challenges 

should strengthen our 

abiding faith and resolve to 

continually do whatever we 

can, in support of our military, 

the police, the DSS, our 

Civilian JTF, all para-military 

agencies and political 

authorities at the federal level, 

to end the Boko Haram 

insurgency. 

Zamfara: This was 

how Boko Haram 

started— JNI 

Meanwhile, Jama’atu 

Nasril Islam, JNI, has raised 

alarm that unless the Federal 

Government quickly dealt 

with the killings in Zamfara 

State, it could snowball into a 

bigger problem, reminiscent 

of Boko Haram. 

The JNI in a statement by 

Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid 

Abubakar Aliyu, yesterday, 

entitled "Silence no longer 

golden," said the wanton 

destruction of lives and 

property by bandits in the 

state was unacceptable, 

lamenting that Zamfara State 

had become a theatre of 

dehumanisation and 

desecration of sanctity of 

human lives. 

The statement read: ‘’This 

is utterly reprehensible and 

unacceptable, for hooligans 

and way-wards to hold a 

whole state to ransom to no 

avail. Where is the 

government? Where are the 

security agencies? Where are 

the political, community and 

religious leaders? 

‘’Where is our conscience? 

Where is the humanness in 

us? Above all, where is our 

Islam? Where is the Qur’an 

and its pristine teachings? 

Where is the Prophetic 

guidance in his Sunnah? 

Equally painful is the return 

of insurgency in some parts 

of Borno and Yobe states, with 

wanton destruction of lives 

and properties. 

‘’Why must all these 

bloodletting be allowed to 

resurface? All these reoccurring 

acts of terrorism, 

dehumanisation, sacrilege of 

sanctity of life and all forms of 

wickedness are utterly and 

unreservedly condemned in 

their entirety and government 

must go beyond mere 

condemnations. 

‘’We must not see it as a face 

up to Zamfara State, as 

already spillover of it, has 

been witnessed in Kaduna, 

Niger, Sokoto Kebbi and 

Katsina states in the name of 

armed banditry and 

kidnappings. 

"It is so disheartening that 

after attacks are lunched on 

settlements, sporadic gun 

shots follow and then setting 

the communities ablaze 

ensues in Zamfara State. 

‘’Where is the humanity in 

us? This is very bothersome 

and calls for realistic 

investigation that must bring 

similar occurrence(s) to a final 

end." 

SYMPATHY: Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sanusi 

Rikiji (2nd right) and other dignitaries, sympathizing with wounded soldiers 

who were ambushed by armed bandits at Dumburum forest in a joint military 

operation between Nigerian Army and Niger Republic soldiers, at Federal 

Medical Centre in Gusau, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Nigerian children born in 2019 not expected 

to live beyond 2074— UNICEF 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA 

—United 

Nations Children’s 

Fund, UNICEF, has 

decried the low life 

expectancy rate for children 

in Nigeria, saying those 

born in the country this 

year may not live beyond 

2074. 

This is contained in a 

statement issued in Abuja, 

yesterday, by UNICEF 

Nigeria’s Communication 

Specialist, Eva Hinds. 

Hinds, who described 

Nigeria’s performance on 

the global life expectancy 

index for children as 

comparatively 

unimpressive, said a child 

born this year in Denmark 

was likely to live until the 

22nd century. 

According to the 

UNICEF expert, within 

Africa, only children 

delivered in Central African 

Republic, Chad and Sierra 

Leone have a lower life 

expectancy than those born 

in Nigeria. 

She noted that while an 

estimated 25,685 babies 

were expected to be born in 

Nigeria on New Year day, 

an average of 257 children 

who are still within their first 

month of life were equally 

expected to die every day 

in the country. 

She attributed this 

situation to preventable 

causes such as premature 

birth, complications during 

delivery, and infections as 

sepsis and pneumonia, a 

violation of their basic right 

to survival. 

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Aisha chairs women, 

youth presidential 

campaign team for Buhari 

•Dalung, Okorocha, Orji Kalu, 

Modu Sheriff, Hameed Ali, also 

make list 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—WIFE of 

the President, Dr. 

Aisha Muhammadu 

Buhari, is to chair the 

women and youth 

presidential campaign 

team for the re-election 

of President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

and Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo in February 

16, 2019 election. 

This was contained in 

a statement signed by 

Director of Information, 

Office of the wife of the 

President, Suleiman 

Haruna, in Abuja. 


statement, all the 

members of the 

campaign team will be 

inaugurated by 

President Buhari 

tomorrow at the State 

House Conference Hall. 

Aside from Mrs. 

Buhari, other executive 

team leaders for the 

campaign are wife of the 

Vice President, Mrs. 

Oludolapo Osinbajo, 

who is the co-chair, Mrs. 

Adejoke Adefulure, Vice 

Chair (South), Mrs. 

Mairo Al-Makura, Vice 

Chair (North), Salamatu 

Baiwa Umar-Eluma, 

National Coordinator, 

Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagu, 

deputy national 

coordinator (South), and 

Binta Muazu, deputy 

national coordinator 

(North) 

Zonal leaders are 

Mrs. Rashida Bello, 

(North Central), Mrs. 

Hadiza Abubakar, 

(North East), Dr. Zainab 

Bagudu (North West), 

Mrs. Nkechi Rochas 

Okorocha (South East), 

Mrs. Florence Ajimobi 

(South West) and Mrs. 

Judith Chibuike 

Amaechi (South South). 

Members of 

administrative 

secretariat of the 

campaign team are Dr. 

Hajo Sani, Dr. Nasir 

Ladan, Zainab Kassim, 

Rose Audu, Fatima 

Rafindadi and Dr. 

Nasiru Ajoge. 

Some of the members 

of advisory council 

include Minister of 

Youth and Sports 

Development, Solomon 

Dalung; Comptroller 

General of Nigeria 

Customs Service, Col. 

Hameed Ali (retd); 

Suleiman Abba, (retd); 

Brig. General Lawal 

Jafaru Isa (retd), 

General Abubakar Alkali 

(retd), General Buba 

Marwa (retd), Senator Ali 

Modu Sherrif, Chief Orji 

Uzor Kalu, Dr. Mohammed 

Mahmud, Dame Pauline 

Tallen, Naajatu 

Mohammed, Prof. Pat 

Utomi, Dr. Nasiru Ladan, 

Col. Abdallah (retd), AIG 

Sani Ahmed Daura (retd), 

and Prince Tonye 

Princewill. 

Others include Festus 

Keyamo, SAN, Muiz 

Banire, SAN, Barr. Obono 

Obla, Amb. Justice 

Muhammadu Dodo, 

Amb.Mohammadu Rimi 

Barade, Amb. Aminu 

Dalhatu, Amb. Aminu 

Iyawa, Amb. Baba Jidda, 

Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Amb. 

Deborah Iliya, Amb. 

Suzanne Aderonke 

Folarin, Amb. Ayuba 

Ngbako, Amb. Oji 

Nyimenuate, Mr.Terry 

Waya, Rear Admiral Dutse 

James, Alh. Bashir Ibrahim, 

Alh. Nasiru Danu Dan 

Amanar Dutse, Ahmed 

Gulak, Mahmud Aliyu 

Shinkafi, Hon. Kawu 

Sumaila, Senator Abu 

Ibrahim, Chief Sam Sam 

Jaja, Colonel Mohammed 

Abdul (retd), Hon. Igo 

Aguma, Chief Precious 

Osaro Ngelale, Alh. Bello 

Isa Bayero, Chief Felix 

Idiga, Dr. Noble Abe, 

Patrick Pascal, Longes 

Anyawu, Hon Ihuoma 

Onyebuchukwu, Agatha 

Benson, Dr. Cairo 

Ojougboh, Chief Emma 

Ejiofo, Dr. Betty Nnadi, 

Gbemi Saraki, Juliet 

Ibekaku-Nwagu, Sullivan 

Chime, Rt. AVM Terry 

Okorodudu, Dr. Macaulay 

Aigbe Ojeaga, Jessica Ine, 

Senator Ini Okori, Scott 

Tommy, Senator Andy Uba, 

and all APC SSAs, SAs, 

PAs, to the President 

Some members of the 

directorate of operations 

include Dr. Mohammed 

Mahmud, Haj. Salamatu 

Beiwa Umar Eluma, Dr. 

Nasir Ladan, Ibrahim 

Dauda, Bala Usman, Barr. 

Mary Eta, all APC women 

leaders at all levels, all 

APC women/female heads 

of government agencies 

and parastatals, all APC 

female candidates and all 

APC youth leaders at all 

levels. 

Other members of the 

campaign team are all 

elected officials of APC at 

all levels, while the 

directorate of contact and 

mobilization has Hon. 

Nasiru Ali Ahmed as 

director, and Barr. Mary 

Etta as deputy director. 

The directorate has over 

190 members.

vanguardnews 

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Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019—5 

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ABUJA BABY OF THE YEAR 2019—From left: Representative of wife of the President, Dr. 

Hajo Sani; father of the baby of the Year 2019, Mr. Linus Ameh and his wife, Ann, during a special visit 

to present gifts to the Baby of the Year 2019 at the Yanyan General Hospital, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: 

Abayomi Adeshida. 

NBA tackles Buhari over rule of 

law abuse 

Continues from Page 1 

strong institutions that 

could stand up to 

arbitrariness and abuse of 

power as examples of how 

the rights of people were 

being trampled upon. 

It said: “In our country, 

the rule of law suffers 

degradation in multiple 

ways. The rule of law is 

trampled upon when there 

is no access to justice or 

when such access is 

denied, not well defined or 

is constrained, stifled or 

impaired howsoever. 

“The rule of law is 

threatened when the 

practice of law, whether at 

the Bar or on the Bench, is 

brought under siege by 

agencies of state through 

their actions and/or 

inactions. 

“The rule of law suffers 

subjugation when the 

rights of our people are 

trampled upon, whether in 

terms of rights abuses or 

brazen disobedience of 

court orders and 

judgments. 

“The rule of law is 

degraded when we, 

wittingly or unwittingly, fail 

to build strong institutions 

that can stand up to the 

arbitrariness and abuse of 

power. 

“In 2019, we will continue 

to condemn and beam our 

searchlights on these 

undermining practices. 

Nigerian lawyers must 

stand as a united and 

independent Bar against 

these unwholesome and 

undemocratic practices. In 

carrying out this 

responsibility, we must not 

be cowed or intimidated 

howsoever.” 

The NBA, which prides 

itself as the largest body of 

lawyers in Africa, said it 

would mobilize its members 

across the federation to get 

their Permanent Voters 

Cards, PVCs, ready, and 

not only participate in the 

2019 general elections, but 

also ensure that the will of 

the electorate prevailed. 

The body maintained that 

the 2019 general elections 

would serve as a defining 

moment for the country, 

even as it vowed to blow the 

whistle on any perceived or 

identified plans to subvert 

the people’s will. 

The statement read 

further: “2019 is a year of 

hope and renewal for us not 

only in the NBA but also in 

the Nigerian nation, 

underscoring that national 

hope and renewal is our 

role as the pre-eminent 

Nigerian professional 

association and the voice of 

the voiceless. 

“Our role as the voice is 

even more pronounced and 

accentuated in this election 

year. This is the year that 

we would decide both at the 

national and states levels, 

how we wish to be 

governed and into whose 

hands we will entrust our 

affairs and lives. 

“I emphasize the 

entrusting of our lives 

because that is literally 

what we would be doing at 

the polls this year. The 

decisions of our rulers 

directly impact and 

determine the course of our 

lives. It determines the 

quality of our lives, not only 

from an economic 

standpoint but also from our 

health, longevity and 

developmental 

standpoints. 

“Our decisions at the 

polls will determine the 

quality of life for our youths 

and children from an 

educational prism as well 

as from the perspectives of 

employment and selfd 

e v e l o p m e n t 

opportunities. 

“The quality of rulers that 

we will vote into power this 

year will determine 

whether we move from a 

perennially consumption 

economy into a productive 

and hopefully an 

industrialized economy; it 

would determine whether 

we would, in our lifetimes, 

ever be assured of such 

basic necessities as 

pervasive energy supply 

and provision of potable 

water and primary health 

care for our citizens. 

“The elections of 2019 

should and must, therefore, 

serve as a defining moment 

for our country. In fulfilling 

these mandates, we have 

civic responsibility, as 

lawyers, to cast our votes 

and I am hoping that we 

all have our PVCs ready 

and available for that allimportant 

assignment. 

“Beyond that, as an 

association of lawyers, we 

have additional roles to 

play in assisting to ensure 

that the will of our people 

is not subverted and that 

the votes of our people 

count. 

“These include 

participation in voter 

education, consultation 

with relevant stakeholders 


Our wishes for Nigeria in 2019 (3) 

By Bose Adelaja, Ebun Sessou, Yinka 

Latona, & Tade Oluwapelumi 

I 

wish that Nigeria 

prospers in every 

sphere of human 

endeavour. I want the 

best political candidates 

to be elected in 2019. I 

want Nigeria to be 

elevated in status beyond 

Dubai. 

Above all, I wish for a 

brighter and stronger 

Nigeria where citizens 

prosper in every sphere 

of human endeavour 

Mr. Basit Badaru 

Analyst 

I 

pray that our leaders’ 

hearts be filled with 

love with eagerness to 

provide good leadership 

to citizens through equipping 

the health sector to 

provide adequate health 

care, funding of education 

sector for quality 

education. They should 

generate power to encourage 

small businesses 

to grow and also create 

jobs for youths 

Mrs. Vickie Onyekuru 

C h a r t e r e d 

Administrator 

Despite the economic 

challenges in the 

country, I am happy to 

celebrate this festive period 

with my family. I am 

particularly happy because 

the 2019 polls, will hold 

this year and it will enable 

us to choose the leaders we 

want in different aspects of 

governance. 

I am expecting to see 

improvements that 

would brighten the 

prospects of young 

people in Nigeria. 

Glory Bright 

Student 

I 

wish Nigeria good luck, 

especially in the 2019 

general elections. I want it 

to be free and fair and also 

want Nigerians to vote 

wisely. I also wish that those 

looking for jobs will get jobs; 

those seeking admission will 

be successful, and those 

who want to go into business 

will do so successfully. I also 

wish that 2019 will be 

better than 2018 for 

Nigeria. 

Mr. Idoku Friday 

Securityguard 

I 

am wishing 

Nigeria peace in 

2019. This country need 

the kind of peace that 

God gives. 

I wish that the killings 

by herdsmen will come 

to an end. Also, it is my 

wish that the killings by 

Boko Haram terrorists 

come to an end. I wish 

that kidnapping and 

armed robbery will be 

reduced. 

Mr Emmanuel Otobo 

Businessman 

I 

wish Nigeria remains 

one peaceful, undivided 

and progressive country. I 

pray for a successful 

election without shedding 

of blood and for political 

leaders who would make 

Nigeria a nation we can be 

proud of culturally and 

economically. I wish 

governments at all levels 

can work towards alleviation 

of poverty; better living 

standards, good and 

rewarding employment, 

infrastructure and food for 

all. Let there be peace and 

all round progress. 

Mr. Julius Adegunna 

Publisher

6—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

Police nab 

4 kidnap 

suspects 

THE Police in Borno have 

arrested four suspected 

kidnappers and rescued one 

victim at Tuga village in 

Damboa Local Government 

Area of the state. 

The Commissioner, Mr 

Danian Chukwu, made 

disclosed this at a news 

conference in Maiduguri. 

Chukwu disclosed that the 

suspects had on Dec. 13, 

2018, kidnapped one Hassan 

Muhammad and requested 

for N21 million ransom from 

his family. 

He explained that one of 

the suspects, Usman Abdul, 

18, was arrested at the 

victim’s house when he went 

to collect the money. 

Chukwu disclosed that 

Abdul escorted a team of the 

police and members of the 

Civilian Joint Task Force 

(CJTF) to their hideout 

where three other members 

of the gang were 

apprehended. 

The suspects were Adamu 

Dan-Rani, 20; Usman 

Musa, 40; and Musa 

Haruna, 74. 

Chukwu said that the 

police recovered one AK-47 

rifle, a pistol, Dane gun and 

32 pieces of ammunition; 

adding that some family 

members of the victim 

sustained injuries in the 

rescue mission. 

According to him, the 

suspects, upon interrogation, 

admitted the crimes, saying 

it was to enable them to get 

money to restock their herds 

rustled in the area. 

Chukwu added that the 

suspects claimed that 47 

cows and 83 sheep were 

stolen from their herd. 

The commissioner further 

disclosed that the police 

arrested one Bilal Babayola, 

in possession of a stolen 

vehicle. 

Chukwu revealed that the 

suspect was arrested in 

Maiduguri, on Dec. 18, 2018, 

while driving a Honda car 

with Registration No: Abuja 

AE 238 MDS. 

He said the command had 

so far established the owner 

of the car and it would be 

released sequel to the 

presentation of proof of 

ownership certificate. 

OGUN Command of the 

Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, says a nineyear-old 

girl, Ajadi Islamiya, 

incapacitated in a fatal 

accident in 2017, now walks 

again, a year after the 

incident. 

Islamiyah, whose mother 

died in the crash on Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway on Dec. 

31, 2017, walked exactly a 

21 people, including pregnant 

woman die, 20 injured in Ondo, Oyo 

By Dayo Johnson 

& Ola Ajayi 

IT was a black New Year Eve for 

some families in Ondo and Oyo 

states as 21 people reportedly lost 

their lives in auto crashes, kidnapping 

and armed robbery, while many 

sustained various degrees of injuries. 

Some few minutes before the New 

Year, a fatal auto crash at New Gbagi 

International Market on Ife-Ibadan 

expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State capital 

left twelve people including a 

pregnant woman dead and 20 others 

with life-threatening injuries. 

Same night seven persons were 

reportedly shot dead and many others 

injured as suspected armed robbers/ 

kidnappers invaded the notorious 

Uso/Owo Highway in Owo area of 

Ondo State, while two persons also 

died in an auto crash in Ajowa, Akoko 

area of the state. 

It was gathered that the Ibadan 

accident, which occurred 15 minutes 

before the New Year, left a bitter pill 

in the mouths of the families and 

sympathisers who thronged the scene 

of the accident. 

A source told Vanguard that at about 

11:40 pm, an articulated vehicle lost 

control and ran into commercial buses 

which had passengers in them. 

An eyewitness, Mr. Olatunde, said 

a bus belonging to his boss, Orobo 

baba welder, had loaded passengers 

at the spot and when it was about to 

commence its journey, a trailer en 

route Iwo Road from Ife axis rammed 

into the buses. 

“The victims were crushed to death 

by an oncoming trailer from Iwo Road 

axis which rammed into the 

commercial buses by the entrance of 

the market, where commercial buses 

usually park carelessly on the road .” 

Expectedly, the accident resulted in 

heavy traffic congestion which forced 

some motorists to spend the New 

Year's day on the road. 

Also involved in the accident were 

two cars including a Toyota Camry 

and Nissan Micra cars. 

Victims of the multiple accidents 

including people going to churches 

for the cross overnight service at 

Iyana-Agbala and Egbeda Area of the 

capital city were rushed to the 

hospital. 

The Oyo State Police Public 

Relations Officer, SP Adekunle 

Ajisebutu and the Federal Road 

Safety Corps, FRSC, who confirmed 

the incident, said the driver of the illfated 

truck absconded adding that the 

casualty figure stood at eleven. 

But Vanguard was reliably informed 

that nine people died on the spot, 

while three others died yesterday. 

The Sector Commander of the 

9-yr-old girl walks again, 12 months after accident 

year after the crash. 

Mr. Clement Oladele, the Ogun 

Sector Commander of FRSC, 

announced, yesterday in Ota, 

Ogun. 

Recall that a commercial bus with 

18 passengers had on Dec. 31, 

2017, while heading to Lagos from 

Ekiti State, rammed into a 

stationary truck due to speeding 

along Ogere axis on Lagos- 

Ibadan Expressway. 

FRSC, Mrs Cecilia Alao, 

however, confirmed that 12 

people died in the accident and 

that their remains had been 

deposited at the morgue of the 

Oyo State Specialist Hospital, 

Adeoyo, Ibadan. 

In a statement signed by the 

Corps Commander, Cecilia Alao 

noted: “The Command recorded 

a fatal, multiple, road traffic crash 

on Monday, December 31, 2018 

at 11:45p.m., at KM3 Gbagi, 

along Ibadan-Ife Highway. 

“A total of Nineteen (19) 

people were involved in the 

crash consisting of 10 male 

adults, 8 female adults and 1 

male child. 

“As at the time of conclusion 

of rescue operations, nine 

victims were confirmed dead 

and their corpses deposited at 

the morgue of Oyo State 

Specialist Hospital, Adeoyo 

while 10 injured victims were 

conveyed to Toun Specialist 

Hospital, Iwo road area for 

medical attention. 

According to her, apart from 

nine people who died 

immediately at the scene, 

additional three died yesterday 

morning out of the 10 injured 

victims. 

Ondo orgy of death 

On the Ondo deaths, it was 

gathered that seven persons 

were reportedly shot dead and 

many others injured as 

suspected armed robbers/ 

kidnappers invaded the 

notorious Uso/ Owo highway in 

Owo area of the state. 

Two persons also died in an 

auto crash in Ajowa, Akoko area 

of the state. 

Five people were killed 

including the mother of the 

girl, while 13 others 

sustained various degrees of 

injury. 

The crash 

According to him, Islamiya 

sustained multiple fractures 

from the auto crash and was 

taken to Victory Hospital, 

Ogere, Ogun, for an 

Consequently, the state 

Police Commissioner, Gbenga 

Adeyanju, queried the 

Divisional Police Officers DPO 

of Uso and four other 

policemen in the area for 

negligence of duty. 

The four Police officers, 

according to the state police 

spokesperson, Femi Joseph, 

have been suspended and 

would be tried. They were said 

to have abdicated the patrol of 

the area when the hoodlums 

struck. 

Joseph, however, confirmed 

that only three persons were 

shot dead by the robbers 

denying that they were 

kidnappers. 

He said the Police have not 

made any arrest but that the 

command is on the trail of the 

robbers. 

Meanwhile, sources said the 

suspects “were on a reprisal 

attack over the invasion of 

kidnappers’ den by security 

agencies last week in which 

five suspects were arrested 

including the arrest of a Boko 

Haram suspect wanted since 

2016. 

Vanguard was informed that 

the suspects, who were 

dressed in Police uniforms, 

invaded the Owo/Akure Road 

and shot sporadically into the 

air in a bid to force motorists to 

a halt. 

Eyewitness account said two 

persons on a motorcycle were 

killed instantly by the bullets 

of the hoodlums while many 

others were severely injured. 

Four persons were shot dead 

during the shooting, while 

other victims who suffered 

intensive treatment by the 

Ogere FRSC teams led by 

Mr Maxwell Lede. 

The Sector Commander 

commended the Chief 

Medical Director of the 

Hospital, Victor Emmanuel, 

for treating the girl without 

being sure of recovering his 

money for the past year. 

He said: ”I want to thank 

and give glory to God 

gunshot injuries, were said to 

have been rushed to the Federal 

Medical Centre, Owo. 

Two other persons allegedly 

died while they were being 

rushed to the Akure State General 

Hospital. 

An eyewitness, who gave the 

name of the victim as Fatai 

Awosusi, said: “He was on his 

way to Ipeme to celebrate the 

New Year festival when he was 

killed by the armed robbers.” 

Also, tragedy struck at Ajowa, 

in Akoko Northwest council area 

of the state as two persons died, 

while three others sustained 

various degrees of injury in a lone 

motor accident. 

The crash according to 

eyewitness account involved a J5- 

bus heading to the northern part 

of the country and conveying kola 

nuts and palm oil. 

FRSC 

Confirming the crash, the Commandant, 


Commission, FRSC, Ikare-Akoko 

unit, Jimoh Basiru, said it occurred 

around 12a.m., close to the 

military checkpoint in the town. 

Some soldiers on duty and 

officials of FRSC helped to 

rescue the accident victims and 

rushed them to the State 

Specialist Hospital, Ikare- 

Akoko. 

The sector commander 

attributed the crash to 

recklessness and night journey. 

The Chief Medical Director, 

CMD, State Specialist Hospital, 

Ikare Akoko, Dr. Wale 

Oguntuase confirmed that two 

persons were brought in dead 

and that their corpses have 

been deposited at the mortuary. 

REMAINS OF THE DAY: Tomatoes and other goods left after the yuletide 

business boom at Wuse Market, Abuja, yesterday. NAN PHOTO. 

because she can now walk on 

her own without any artificial 

support. 

“Only God who preserves her 

from the valley of the shadow 

of death on the Dec. 31,2017 

is worthy to be praised,” he 

added. 

Maxwell Lede, who is the 

Ogere Unit Commander of 

FRSC, noted that he was 

excited to see that the 

command’s efforts in the 

timely rescue of the accident 

victims were not in vain.


Cultists kill 3 in Badagry, Ondo 


AKURE—BLOODY clashes 

between suspected rival 

cult groups left three persons 

dead in Ondo town, Ondo state 

and Badagry, Lagos State. 

Sources said that two 

persons were reportedly killed 

during a supremacy battle 

between two rival cult groups 

in Ondo town, Ondo state on 

New Year Eve in what was 

described as reprisal attack 

over the murder of one of the 

cult leaders in the town 

popularly called “Sharpman”. 

He was allegedly shot dead 

by an unknown person on the 

eve of Christmas celebration in 

the town. 

The shooting reportedly took 

place in three locations in the 

town, the one at Sabo area 

reportedly claimed the life of 

one person popularly known as 

“Drogba” who was shot at close 

range by some men on a 

motorcycle at about 630am. 

He reportedly died while he 

was being rushed to the Ondo 

Trauma centre. 

Vanguard learned that the 

other clash occurred at Shora 

area in the town where an 

unidentified person was 

equally shot dead while two 

others sustained gunshot 

injuries at Ebido junction at the 

popular Yaba street in the 

town. 

The state police image maker, 

Femi Joseph, said the matter 

was yet to be reported at the 

state headquarters. 

Also, the bloody clash 

32-yr-old lady set ablaze in 

boyfriend’s stead over 

motorcycle theft in C’River 

By Ike Uchechukwu 

CALABAR—A 32-year-old 

graduate of Federal 

College of Education, FCE, 

Obudu, was reportedly roasted 

to death for allegedly 

harbouring his boyfriend, who 

reportedly murdered a 

commercial motorcycle 

operator (Okada) with a view 

to snatching his motorcycle. 

An eyewitness told Vanguard 

that the victim was set ablaze 

because her boyfriend, who 

was alleged to be part of a 

syndicate that specializes in 

stealing a motorcycle in Obudu 

LGA and its environs was 

recently involved in the 

murder of one Peter Akikieye 

and also dispossessed him of 

his motorcycle. 

Eyewitness' story 

The eyewitness said: “Vivian, 

popularly known as China in 

Obudu, was roasted on the 

allegation that her boyfriend 

was involved in the murder of 

Peter Akikieye, a commercial 

between suspected rival cult 

groups, yesterday, in Badagry, 

Lagos State, left one person 

dead 

Sources disclosed that the 

deceased, simply identified as 

Shefiu, was shot dead around 

Senior Boys Joint along Soglo 

Way at about 1a.m. on New 

Year’s Day. 

It was gathered that the 

deceased, who allegedly 

belonged to Eiye confraternity, 

was shot dead during a scuffle 

between rival suspected cultists. 

According to the source, 

members of the groups ran 

away from the scene 

motorcyclist from Obudu. 

“Akikieye was murdered when 

some persons attempted to 

forcefully collect his bike on the 

23rd of December 2018, along 

Bishiri Road Obudu. 

“I came out of my house this 

morning and saw some boys 

beating up China and asking 

her of the boyfriend. I identified 

some of the boys to be cultists 

belonging to the Klans, KK. 

“They asked the girl to call her 

boyfriend. She took her phone, 

tried to reach her friend but it 

was not successful. So they told 

her that if her friend does not 

come out, they will burn her and 

just like that they beat her blueblack 

and set her ablaze. 

“They dragged her and kept 

beating her from her house till 

they got to the cyclists’ park and 

a big crowd of more than 500 

persons gathered and watched 

her being burned alive. 

“Most of us from the opposing 

view, our opinion didn’t count 

because we were so little 

compared to those who were 

chanting the burning anthem. 

immediately after the 

shooting, leaving behind the 

lifeless body of the victim. 

Police 

The Divisional Police 

Officer (DPO) in Badagry, 

Mr. Samson Akhiromen, told 

NAN that one suspect had 

been arrested over the 

killing. 

The DPO said that 

investigation was under way 

to establish the motive behind 

the killing, adding that efforts 

were on to apprehend other 

suspected hoodlums involved 

in the incident. 

Gunmen kill couple on 

New Year’s eve in Ughelli 

By Perez Brisibe 

UGHELLI—A couple was, on 

New Year’s eve, killed by 

a gang of hoodlums in a 

circumstantial manner at 

Ughelli, headquarters of 

Ughelli North local government 

area of Delta State. 

The incident happened at the 

Robert Alu axis of Uloho Avenue 

in the late hours of last 

Monday. 

An eye witness disclosed that 

the hoodlums accosted the 

victims screaming, “where is 

the N4 million,” before they 

were both shot at close range. 

Though the Delta State Police 

Public Relations Officer, DSP 

Andrew Aniamaka, could not be 

reached at press time, a source 

at the Ughelli ‘A’ Division 

confirmed the incident when 

contacted stating that the 

Police has since deposited 

their remains in an 

undisclosed mortuary in the 

area. 

The source said: “We are 

yet to ascertain the identity 

of the victims but witnesses 

said they are a couple and 

that the hoodlums fled the 

scene after shooting them. 

“We are not restraining our 

investigations to armed 

robbery alone, hence we are 

investigating other angles to 

the crime including 

assassination, but an 

investigation is ongoing with 

efforts to arrest the 

hoodlums in full gear.” 

“It took up to an hour 

before she was totally burnt,” 

the source said. 

Police reaction 

When contacted, the Police 

Public Relations Officer, DSP 

Irene Ugbo, who lamented 

the mob attack and roasting 

to death of the victim, said 

the issue was a case of 

misplaced priority because 

the victim was just a friend 

to the real criminal. 

Ugbo said the victim 

harboured the suspect in her 

house and when the angry 

mob made up of Obudu 

youths invaded the 

compound, they pounced on 

her while the suspect 

absconded. 

According to Ugbo, “the 

woman was roasted to death 

by the youths of the 

community. They couldn’t 

get to the suspect and they 

pounced on the lady that 

harboured him (suspect) in 

her house. The suspect was 

her boyfriend.” 

But must you say 

everything your eyes see? 

...just 

after 

saying 

‘finally’ 

It's a new year. Repent!


Minimum wage: We’re not reviewing 

c’ttee report —FG It’s delay tactics 

by govt 

•Invites labour for briefing Jan 4 

—Labour 

•Bill to be forwarded to NASS after recess 

However, national 

•It’s delay tactics by govt—Labour 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA—THE Federal 

Government has said 

that the Technical Committee 

announced by President 

Muhammadu Buhari to be 

set up on the new Minimum 

Wage was not to review the 

report of the Minimum Wage 

Tripartite Committee. 

Besides, the government 

team on the new minimum 

wage has invited the 

leadership of the organised 

labour for a meeting on 

Friday to brief the workforce 

on the steps government was 

taking to ensure the 

implementation of a new 

wage. 

Minister of Labour and 

Employment, Senator Chris 

Ngige, told Vanguard on 

telephone that the Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

AGF, and Minister of Justice, 

Abubakar Malami, was 

looking through the 

minimum wage bill 

submitted by the tripartite 

committee. 

He said: “There is no bad 

situation, we are meeting 

them (labour) on January 4, 

and we have sent them a letter 

inviting them. I will meet 

them with the Budget and 

Planning Minister so that 

they will know what 

government is doing. 

“We will brief them properly. 

The labour technical 

committee is not for them, it 

is not for their consumption, 

it is for the executive. It is an 

executive committee, a 

committee to advise the 

executive. We are not 

reviewing the minimum 

wage report. 

“Government will look at the 

bill and the Attorney-General 

office is looking at that bill and 

we will bring out an 

executive bill from it for 

consideration by the National 

Economic Council, Federal 

Executive Council, National 

Council of States before 

transmission to the National 

Assembly, that is the 

sequence and we will do 

these things in January 

because the National 

Assembly is on recess.” 

On why the Minimum 

Wage Bill was not submitted 

to the National Assembly 

before they went on recess, 

the minister explained: “It is 

going to be part of the budget, 

that is why the President 

talked about it in the budget, 

the entire quantum of money 

that would be used is 

captured in the 2019 budget. 

“Besides, the Office of the 

Accountant General is still 

working on its own bill, it has 

not finished.” 

He further disclosed that 

people expected to attend the 

meeting from the 


government side include 

Minister of Budget and 

National Planning as well as 

the Minister of Finance. 

“The government side is 

me (Ngige), the Budget and 

Finance Ministers. Labour 

has been invited. We sent 

their invitation about three 

days ago,’’ Ngige said. 

Senator Chris Ngige 

President of United Labour 

Congress, ULC, one of the 

three labour centres in the 

country, Comrade Joe Ajaero, 

told Vanguard that any 

meeting by government now 

was just to buy time, stressing 

that what was needed at 

present was for President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

forward an executive bill to 

the National Assembly on the 

N30,000 new minimum 

wage as recommended by 

the tripartite committee. 

Ajaero said: “If you read 

Mr. President Budget speech, 

he was talking about setting 

up a technical committee. The 

very moment Minimum 

Wage Committee presents its 

report, it doesn’t meet again; 

it is an ad-hoc committee and 

not a standing committee. 

At press time, it was not 

confirmed whether the 

organised labour was in 

receipt of any letter from the 

government and whether it 

would honour the scheduled 

meeting on January 4. 

Mbaka endorses Buhari, Ugwuanyi 

for 2nd term 

By Dennis Agbo 

ENUGU—THE fiery 

Catholic Priest and 

Spiritual Director, 

Adoration Ministry, 

Enugu, Rev Fr Ejike 

Mbaka, has endorsed 


Buhari’s second term reelection 

bid. 

This priest also said he 

foresaw the country facing 

more serious economic 

challenge this year. 

Mbaka gave the 

endorsement and 

prediction in his new year 

message in his annual 31st 

cross over night. 

He said: “Among all the 

presidential aspirants, 

Buhari stands in the best 

position to win the 

presidential election.” 

He enumerated the 

achievements of President 

Buhari to include the 

construction of Enugu- 

Onitsha expressway, 

construction of second 

Niger Bridge. 

He also applauded what 

he said was the 

agricultural revolution of 

the Buhari government, 

noting that “what happens 

Comrade Joe Ajaero 

in the Ministry of 

Agriculture such as massive 

production of rice is 

unprecedented in Nigeria’s 

agricultural history. 

“In all this, we urge 

Nigerians to vote President 

Buhari in order to complete 

his eight years tenure and 

after which he will hand 

over to a younger 

candidate.’ 

He said the three years 

of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, in power 

could not be equated with 

16 years of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

measuring governance. 

On Enugu State 

government, Fr Mbaka 

praised Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi for his good 

work, saying since the 

inception of democracy 

Enugu State had not got a 

good leader like Ugwuanyi. 

On the area of security, 

Mbaka said Enugu State 

had been the pacesetter of 

peace, and admonished the 

people of the state to vote 

for him in order to finish 

his good work. 

Mbaka also told the 

governorship candidate of 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Enugu State, 

Senator Ayogu Eze, to forget 

his governorship ambition 

for Governor Ugwuanyi to 

finish his second tenure. 

Buhari’s claim on Boko Haram makes mental 

test for presidential candidates logical —Atiku 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, presidential 

candidate, Atiku Abubakar, 

has said President 

Muhammadu Buhari’s 

denial of the continued 

threats of the Boko Haram 

insurgency has made the 

demand for mental test for 

all presidential candidates 

imperative. 

Atiku in a statement on 

New Year’s day, also faulted 

Buhari’s declaration at the 

Uyo All Progressives 

Congress, APC, rally that 

he had fulfilled all his 

election promises as he 

drew to light the fact that 

under the APC 

administration the number 

of Nigerians living under 

extreme poverty had 

reached an alarming 90 

million persons. 

In the statement issued by 

APC mocks PDP, says it 

ate up Nigeria’s 

resources 

•Says ex-ruling party, ‘a nest of evil’ 

By Omeiza 

Ajayi 

ABUJA—The ruling 

All Progressives 

Congress, APC, has said 

the opposition Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, ate 

up the country’s 

resources in the 16 years 

it spent in power. 

APC said the ruling 

party had recently 

launched a vicious 

campaign, ahead of the 

general elections, but 

noted that its roaring 

didn’t last. 

“It has joyfully ended 

up as the bleating of a 

goat. Perhaps, the pun is 

intended as PDP is 

actually a goat that spent 

16 years eating our yams,” 

APC said. 

Speaking at a news 

conference, yesterday, in 

Abuja, National Publicity 

Secretary of the party, 

Mallam Lanre Issa- 

Onilu, also alleged that 

the PDP frustrated efforts 

of the ruling party to 

enhance the fortunes of 

Nigerians for the over 

three years it has 

governed so far. 

He also alleged that the 

leaders of the PDP were 

now ashamed to identify 

with the party’s 

presidential candidate, 

Atiku Abubakar, hence the 

abrupt halt of its 

electioneering 

campaigns. 

He said: “The year 2018 

was significant in many 

ways. Importantly, we 

witnessed in this past 

year the shameful attempt 

by the political predators 

his Media Adviser, Mr. 

Paul Ibe, the PDP 

candidate said: “The most 

blatant insult from the 

President was his assertion 

in Uyo that ‘we have 

defeated Boko Haram’. 

‘’It was most insensitive 

of the President to have 

said such on a day that 

foreign and domestic 

media reported the 

entrapment of our gallant 

troops by Boko Haram/ 

ISWAP in Baga, with as 

much as 700 hundred 

reported missing. 

“Even more indicting is 

the statement from the USbased 

International 

Strategic Studies 

Association, which 

revealed that the Boko 

Haram insurgency was 

lingering due to the 

massive corruption around 


Buhari. 

‘’How would those 

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to launch themselves back 

into reckoning. 

"Those who were roundly 

rejected by Nigerians in 2015 

for their grievous crimes of 

corruption, impunity, and 

maladministration once 

again struggled to rise up 

from the dungeon the people 

of this country had dumped 

them. 

"They were fierce and 

reckless in their wicked 

attempt to return to power to 

continue their primitive 

appropriation of our 

commonwealth for 

themselves and their 

immediate family. 

“The actions from these 

elements who have raped 

our nation for close to two 

decades were disruptive to 

the course of progress being 

vigorously pursued by the 


Buhari-led administration. 

"The year 2018, 

particularly, was a tough year 

for the APC government as 

we had to confront the 

monsters who have found 

their way into the ruling 

party during the merger in 

2014, pretending to have 

cured themselves of their 

insatiable greed and callous 

selfish disposition. 

"These enemies of our 

country found out that the 

beats have changed and 

their strenuous efforts to steer 

the APC administration 

towards their ignominious 

ways, as they practised under 

the Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, had become impossible 

under President Buhari. 

"Predictably, the forces of 

evil finally gravitated 

towards themselves and are 

now ensconced in their 

wicked nest, called the PDP.’’ 

soldiers feel, how would 

their families feel, how 

would their colleagues in 

the barracks feel when they 

are facing a life and death 

situation and their 

commander-in-chief is 

impervious to reality? 

“Faced with such 

delusions and obvious 

denial of reality by 

President Buhari, it has 

become expedient to revisit 

the demand by the 

Coalition of United Political 

Parties for all Presidential 

candidates to submit 

themselves for a mental 

health test because clearly 

someone has badly lost 

touch with happenings 

around him. 

“We declare that Atiku 

Abubakar is prepared to 

undergo such test and 

challenges President 


accept CUPP’s challenge."

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019—9

10 — VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

Oyetola, Aregbesola, others 

usher in 2019 with firewoks, 

funfair in Osogbo 

O SOGBO—THE 

Osun State capital, 

entered the new year was 

with pomp and ceremony, 

fireworks, and funfair. 

Governor Gboyega 

Oyetola, his immediate 

predecessor, Rauf 

Aregbesola and Deputy 

Governor Benedict Alabi, 

witnessed the ceremony 

which attracted a big 

crowd. 

Also, there were 

Chairman All Progressives 

Congress (APC) in the 

state, Gboyega Famodun 

and APC Senatorial 

Candidate for Osun 

Central, Dr Bashir Ajibola 

and top government 

funtionaries. 

The programme, tagged 

“Osun Countdown to 2019 

continuity edition” held at 

the Nelson Mandela 

Freedom Park 

Governor Oyetola 

congratulated Nigerians 

particularly the citizens 

2019: Lagos speaker tasks 

Nigerians on peaceful polls 


of the state for 

witnessing the New Year. 

He expressed gratitude 

to the people for electing 

him in the last governorship 

election in the state. 

Oyetola, who described 

2019 as ‘Year of Hope and 

Abundance’, said his 

administration is poised to 

bring to the people the 

much desired development 

in all strata of the economy. 

Oyetola said: “We will not 

relent in our efforts at taking 

Osun to next level of socioeconomic 

development. 

Aregbesola lauded the 

people for voting and 

supporting the continuity 

bid initiated by his 

administration. 

He appreciated the 

people of the state for being 

supportive to the present 

administration just as he 

expressed confidence in 

the 

Oyetola’s 

government to take Osun 

to greater heights. 

Politicians’ll twist my 2019 prophecies, 

says Adeboye 

PAdeboye, ASTOR 

the general 

Enoch 

overseer of the Redeemed 

Christian Church of God 

(RCCG), says politicians 

will twist his prophecies for 

the year 2019. 

The revered preacher 

said this is the reason he 

has decided to code the 

prophesies, so no one can 

say “Adeboye said.” 

He said as 2018 drew to 

its crescendo, he 

approached God to ask him 

what will happen in 2019, 

but added that “we have a 

little problem, the little 

problem is that in Nigeria, 

this is election year, and 

anything I say will be 

twisted by politicians”. 

He said God reminded 

him that this was not a 

problem, that the prophecy 

for the year will be coded. 

PROPHESIES: 

For international scene, 

he quoted Joel 2:28-32 

(KJV) 

28 And it shall come to 

pass afterward, that I will 

pour out my spirit upon all 

flesh; and your sons and 

your daughters shall 

prophesy, your old men 

shall dream dreams, your 

young men shall see 

visions: 

29 And also upon the 

servants and upon the 

handmaids in those days 

will I pour out my spirit. 

30 And I will shew 

wonders in the heavens 

and in the earth, blood, 

and fire, and pillars of 

smoke. 

31 The sun shall be 

turned into darkness, and 

the moon into blood, before 

the great and terrible day 

of the Lord come. 

32 And it shall come to 

pass, that whosoever shall 

call on the name of the Lord 

shall be delivered: for in 

mount Zion and in 

Jerusalem shall be 

deliverance, as the Lord 

hath said, and in the 

remnant whom the Lord 

shall call. 

For Nigeria, he quoted: 

Lamentations 3:22-23 

(KJV) 

22 It is of the Lord’s 

mercies that we are not 

consumed, because his 

compassions fail not. 

23 They are new every 

morning: great is thy 

faithfulness. 

“So those of us who are 

already praying for God to 

be merciful, continue your 

prayers, you are on the 

right track,” Adeboye 

added. 

For individuals, he cited; 

Isaiah 3:10-11 (KJV) 

10 Say ye to the 

righteous, that it shall be 

well with him: for they 

shall eat the fruit of their 

doings. 

11 Woe unto the 

wicked! it shall be ill with 

him: for the reward of his 

hands shall be given him. 

And for RCCG, he 

used; Psalm 91 (KJV) 

91.1 He that dwelleth 

in the secret place of the 

most High shall abide 

under the shadow of the 

Almighty. 

2 I will say of the 

Lord, He is my refuge 

and my fortress: my God; 

in him will I trust. 

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3 Surely he shall 

deliver thee from the snare 

of the fowler, and from the 

noisome pestilence. 

4 He shall cover thee 

with his feathers, and under 

his wings shalt thou trust: 

his truth shall be thy shield 

and buckler. 

5 Thou shalt not be 

afraid for the terror by 

night; nor for the arrow that 

flieth by day; 

6 Nor for the pestilence 

that walketh in darkness; 

nor for the destruction that 

wasteth at noonday. 

7 A thousand shall fall 

at thy side, and ten 

thousand at thy right hand; 

but it shall not come nigh 

thee. 

8 Only with thine eyes 

shalt thou behold and see 

the reward of the wicked. 

9 Because thou hast 

made the Lord, which is 

my refuge, even the most 

High, thy habitation. 

10 There shall no evil 

befall thee, neither shall 

any plague come nigh thy 

dwelling. 

11 For he shall give his 

angels charge over thee, to 

keep thee in all thy ways. 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

L Speaker AGOS—THE 

of the 

Lagos State House of 

Assembly and Chairman, 

Conference of Speakers of 

State Legislatures of 

Nigeria, Mudashiru 

Obasa has called on 

Nigerians to continue to 

pray for a peaceful and 

successful general elections 


Obasa, also saluted 

Nigerians for their 

resourcefulness, 

courage, prayers and 

support which he said 

have been vital to the 

successes so far 

Christian group preaches 

salvation, honours Ojo, Sanusi 

THE importance of the 

salvation of mankind 

through Jesus Christ was 

in focus at the 2018 Praise 

and Worship Fiesta, an 

interdenominational 

programme organised for 

churches and their choirs 

in Ona-Ara Local 

Government Area and Inukan 

Local Council Development 

Area of Oyo State. 

The fiesta, a yearly event 

and a brainchild of the 

Christian Network for 

Good Governance and 

Leadership, had as its 

theme for this year, "All 

Living Souls Praise The 

Lord." 

The founder of the 

programme, who doubles 

as the host, Prophet (Dr) 

Matthew Bogunbe, said 

the programme was 

organised to "celebrate the 

love of Jesus Christ in our 

lives, honour Christian 

leaders in their various 

fields and pray for Nigeria, 

the Nigerian government 

recorded by the All 

Progressives Congress 

(APC) administration at 

all levels of governance. 

Obasa made the remarks 

in his New Year’s message 

through his Chief Press 

Secretary, Musbau Rasak. 

“Nigerians are very 

resourceful and 

courageous and it is 

obvious that all these, 

coupled with their 

prayers and support, 

have been very vital in 

the successes recorded 

so far by the APC 

administration at all 

levels. Indeed our 

people deserve special 

recognition and praise 

for this,” he said. 

and the coming general 

elections." 

The programme also 

featured free distribution of 

food items to the underprivileged, 

ministration and 

praise and worship by 

about 50 choir groups in 

Ona-Ara Local Government 

Area and Inukan Local 

Council Development 

Area. 

The group said among 

the people to be 

honoured are: Dr Ojo; 

the Chief Executive 

Officer of Ilaji Stadium 

and Resorts Centre, 

Chief Dotun Sanusi, the 

chairman of Ona-Ara 

Local Government Area, 

Mr Buliaminu 

Ogundele, and a few 

other personalities were 

thereafter presented 

with awards of 

excellence for their 

contributions to the 

socio-economic 

development of the local 

government area. 

ONE LAGOS FIESTA COUNTDOWN: Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (middle) addressing 

participants; while Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice (right), Prince 

Anofiu Elegushi, Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD) (2nd left) and other's Ade 

Akinsanya, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure (3rd right) and others watch, during One 

Lagos Fiesta Countdown 2019 at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos. Photo: Bunmi Azeez 

Ojikutu advocates removal of power to appoint, remove traditional 

rulers from governors 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

LDeputy AGOS—FORMER 

Governor of 

Lagos state, Alhaja Sinatu 

Aderoju Ojikutu, has 

advocated the removal of 

the power to appoint 

traditional rulers by the 

government from the 

Constitution so that the 

approval of appointment of 

Obas, Emirs, Igwes etc) will 

revert to their inherited 

Traditional approving 

authority in their locality. 

In a statement in Lagos, 

Ojikutu hinged this on the 

foisting of candidates not 

supported by their people 

but supported by the rulers 

due to the patronage they 

receive and the fear of 

removal if they go against 

the choice of the controling 

politicians. 

She said: ''This inability 

of traditional rulers to let 

the elected political office 

holders feel the pulse of 

the people has been the 

bane of delivery of good 

projects etc to the people. 

The patronage the rulers 

By Olasunkanmi 

Akoni 

LAGOS—AS the world 

bask in ushering in a 

New Year, wife of the Lagos 

State Governor, Bolanle 

Ambode, the First Lady of 

the state, yesterday, 

welcomed the first babies of 

2019— a male and a female 

child, weighing 3.7 

kilogram, Kg and 2.8kg 

respectively, who were 

delivered at the Lagos 

receive also do not allow 

them to give sound advise 

without fear or favor that 

will enhance good 


“I believe by removing 

this authority the elected 

political leaders will be able 

to feel the pulse of their 

people through sincere 

advise and admonitions 

from the rulers so that some 

home-truths can hold sway 

to bring back the honour 

and glory to the 

traditional institution.'' 

Island Maternity boosts Lagos population 

with 3,493 births in 2018 — RECORDS 

Island Maternity, with 

various gift items and 

undislosed amount of cash 

to the parents. 

This came as the Island 

Maternity recorded a total 

of 3,493 births in 2018 alone. 

The Lagos State Governor, 

Akinwunmi Ambode had 

recently, said that the 

population of the state was 

galloping above 24 million. 

Meanwhile, the first baby 

of year 2019, male, 

belonging to Mr. and Mrs. 

Adegbesan was said to 

have been delivered at 

12.00 a.m propmt, while 

the other baby, female 

arrived at 12 01, am to 

become first and early 

babies of 2019 in the state. 

In a statistics presented 

before the public at the 

event revealed that of the 

3,493 total births at the 

health facility in 2018, 111 

were recorded as sets of 

twins, 12 were triplets, 

while a set of quadruplets 

(four babies in one birth), 

was also recorded.

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 — 11 

NEW YEAR DAY CELEBRATIONS IN SOME STATES 

From right; Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, his wife, Justice 

Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike and other worshippers during the Cross- 

Over Service at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday. 

From left, APC Lagos governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Catholic 

Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins 

and PDP Lagos governorship candidate, Jimi Agbaje at the World Day of Peace 

(New year day) Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island yesterday. 

Wife of Ondo State Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, at the end of 

the year Town Hall meeting at her community, Emeabiam in Owerri West local 

government area of Imo State, organized by Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu 

Foundation in conjunction with Ada Emeabiam foundation on Monday. 

Kids having fun at the Johnson Jakande Tinubu (JJT) Park, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos 

in celebration of the New Year yesterday. Photo Joe Akintola, Photo Editor 

( L E F T ) : 

Representatives of 

the wife of the 

President (from 

right) Dr. Hajo Sani; 

Hajia Hadizatu 

Dahiru Abba (Mata); 

Dr. Pauline Tallen; 

Hon. Sadia Lawal 

Ibrahim and Mrs. 

Aso Grace Phillip 

cutting the cake to 

mark the Christmas 

and new Year 

Children's Party with 

a few of the invited 

children at the State 

House Banquet Hall, 

Presidential Villa, 

Abuja. Photo by 


Oba Dr Adedapo Tejuoso, Osile Oke Ona Egba (right) and his 

Oloris, Omolara, Yetunde and Olabisi at the New Year service at 

St. James African Church Cathedral, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta yesterday. 

From left: Dean of Cathedral, Ven. Goke Agara, his wife, Toyin; Bishop of 

Diocese of Lagos West, Rt. Rev. James Olushola Odedeji and his wife, Lydia 

at the new year thanksgiving service held at Archbishop Vining Memorial 

Cathedral, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. Photo: Akeem Salau. 

From right: Wife 

of Bauchi State 

Deputy Governor, 

Hajia Amina Audu- 

Katagum; mother 

of the 2019 Babyof-the-Year 

in 

Bauchi State, Hajia 

Rabiatu Abdullahil 

and Bauchi State 

Commissioner for 

Women Affairs, 

Rukaiya Ibrahim, 

during the visit of 

Hajia Audu- 

Katagum to the 

Baby-of-the-Year at 

Bauchi State 

Teaching Hospital in 

Bauchi yesterday.


Justice Nyesom-Wike 

tasks women on society 

building 

P ORT 

HARCOURT— 

WIFE of the Rivers State 

Governor, Justice 

Eberechi Nyesom-Wike 

has said that women are 

the backbone of any 

society. 

She urged women to 

work hard towards 

developing their 

respective families as that 

was the only way the 

society can develop in the 

right direction. 


spoke, yesterday, when 

she visited the state’s New 

Year Baby, Baby Ela 

Diseph at the Rivers State 

University Teaching 

Hospital in Port Harcourt. 

Baby Ela Diseph was 

born to the family of Dr 

and Mrs Ela George by 

12.05a.m., on January 1, 

2019. He weighed 4.1kg 

at the time of delivery. 

Speaking after the visit, 


said: “Women are the 

backbone of any family. 

Therefore, we are the 

foundation of any society. 

When we get it right at the 

level of the family, things 

will be right with the 

society. When the society 

is troubled, then the 

problem actually started 

from the family. 

“When we get it right in 

the family, everything 

finds its place in the 

society. My message to 

mothers is to be 

supportive of their 

husbands and every 

member of the family.” 

She urged women to 

continue to work hard for 

the family, because when 

the family is destroyed, 

there is nothing to be 

proud of. 

She advised women to 

keep praying not only for 

their families, but for the 

entire state, adding “I wish 

everyone a happy 2019, 

especially the mothers 

who are the backbone of 

the society. I congratulate 

all of us for seeing this new 

year.” 

Remain united, peaceful, 

Okowa urges Deltans 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State has called on the 

people of the state to 

remain united to the cause 

of developing the state, 

irrespective of ethnic or 

party differences. 

Okowa, in a statement 

by his Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr. Charles 

Aniagwu, felicitated with 

all Deltans as they 

stepped into 2019 and 

expressed gratitude to 

God for the grace granted 

Delta and its citizens in 

2018. 

Praying for unity and 

peace in the state, which, 

he noted “is the bedrock 

of meaningful 

development in any given 

society,” he expressed 

the hope that 2019 will 

be a year of fulfilling a 

greater and stronger 

Delta. 

He said: “Given our 

success story in the past 

three and half years in 

office, I have no doubt that 

with the same level of 

cooperation from the good 

people of Delta State, our 

government will achieve 

more in all facets of 


“Our optimism is driven 

by the support we enjoy 

from our youths, leaders, 

the legislature, the 

judiciary, the civil service, 

my team of political 

appointees, agencies of 

government, both at the 

federal and the state 

levels, as well multilateral 

...emerges Silverbird Man of 

the Year 2018 


A 

S 

A B A — 

GOVERNOR 

Ifeanyi Okowa has 

emerged Silverbird Man 

of the Year, 2018 after 

securing the highest 

number of votes sent in by 

respondents to emerge 

victorious. 

Okowa was nominated 

for ensuring peace and 

security in Delta State, 

youth empowerment, 

sports development, as 

well as infrastructure 

development, especially 

road construction, even in 

riverine communities, 

earning him the name 


“Roadmaster.” 


management of Silverbird 

Group, the prestigious 

Silverbird Man of the Year 

award was instituted 13 

years ago to recognise 

individuals who have 

impacted positively on the 

lives of Nigerians through 

their chosen careers. 

The prestigious 

Silverbird Man of the Year 

award and other 

categories of awards will 

be conferred on Governor 

Okowa and other welldeserved 

recipients at a 

ceremony on February 3 

in Lagos. 

Controversy trails police killing of 

suspected robber 

By Alemma 

Ozioruva 

B ENIN-CITY— 

CONTROVERSY is 

trailing the New Year killing 

of a middle-aged man 

around Oba Ovonramwen 

Square, popularly called 

Ring Road in Benin City, 

Edo State by policemen 

believed to be attached to 

the Oba Market police 

station. 

The roads leading to the 

police station were 

yesterday, barricaded for 

fear of reprisal attacks by 

members of the public who 

believe the dead man was 

innocent. 

It was gathered from a 

police source that the man 

that was shot was a 

suspected armed robber 

who had been on the 

wanted list of the police. 

He was said to have 

coordinated early morning 

robberies yesterday, after 

the New Year cross over 

where mobile phones were 

stolen from several persons. 

The source said one of the 

two girls found with him 

had been arrested as an 

accomplice, as missing 

phones were allegedly 

recovered from her. 

However, following the 

outrage generated by the 

shooting, Edo State 

Governor, Mr. Godwin 

Obaseki, has urged the 

Edo State Commissioner of 

Police, Mr. Johnson 

Kokumo, to investigate the 

incident. 

In a statement, Special 

Adviser on Media and 

Communication Strategy to 

the governor, Mr. Crusoe 

Osagie, said: “The 

governor has asked the 

Police CP to thoroughly 

investigate the incident and 

assured that anyone found 

culpable will be brought to 

book. 

“The governor is 

disturbed by the incident 

and wants a clear report on 

what actually transpired 

and the circumstance 

under which the reported 

shooting took place. 

“The governor has urged 

the Police Commissioner to 

investigate the incident 

thoroughly. I am confident 

that we will have the true 

picture of what transpired 

after the investigation. I can 

assure you that the state 

government will take a 

decisive action on the 

matter.” 

MEETING: PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje (left), with 

party faithful, during the Eti-Osa Day, held in Lagos recently. 

Commuters stranded as shortage of vehicles 

hit transport companies in Bayelsa 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA— 

COMMUTERS 

travelling for the New Year 

celebrations were 

yesterday stranded in most 

parts of Bayelsa State, as 

there were no vehicles in 

most of the transport 

companies and motor parks 

in the state to convey them 

to their various 

destinations. 

Some of the commuters 

who had thronged the 

Ekeki Central Park about 

5a.m., hoping to catch early 

vehicles were disappointed 

as the park was empty of 

vehicles. 

The situation was the 

same at other private 

operated parks and 

terminals located in the 

state capital as there were 

no vehicles to transport 

commuters. 

The situation affected 

transportation fares as the 

few available vehicles 

increased their charges by 

50 percent. As it were, 

Yenagoa by bus to Port 

Harcourt is now N1, 500 as 

against N1,000, while 

Yenagoa to Uyo is now 

N3,000 as against N2,000 

previously. 

A manager of one of the 

privately operated 

terminals, Mr Joel Johnson, 

said the situation was 

caused by the massive 

outward movement of 

persons in the Yuletide 

season, adding that some 


A SABA—PEOPLE’S 

Progressive 

Parliament, PPP, a pressure 

group in Delta State, has 

urged the House of 

Representatives not to 

allow selfish interests kill 

the bill to stop estimated 

billing method employed 

by Electricity Distribution 

Companies, Discos, in the 

country. 

The group in a statement 

by its Chairman, Matthew 

Onorhere maintained that 

the bill initiated over nine 

months ago by the Majority 

Leader of the House, Femi 

Gbajabiamila, if passed and 

signed into law would 

address over 70 per cent of 

the power challenges faced 

by electricity consumers in 

the country. 

of the drivers were yet to 

return from their trips. 

He said: “The shortage in 

vehicles is because of the 

Yuletide season. We have 

more people going out and 

few coming in, so most of 

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the vehicles that went out 

are not yetback, hence the 

shortage. It’s unfortunate 

but we are making efforts 

to check the situation by 

recalling available vehicles 

from our nearby terminals.” 

Don’t kill law against estimated 

billing, group urges Reps 

The group which was 

reacting to the poor power 

supply situation in Delta 

State by the Benin 

Electricity Distribution 

company, BEDC, before 

and after the Christmas 

celebration, argued that the 

lack of proper legislation to 

check the activities of the 

Discos and protect 

consumers rights had 

given rise to the continuous 

decline in power supply in 

the country. 

Berating the National 

Association of Nigerian 

Students, NANS, for 

purportedly commending 

the stability of power supply 

in the country during the 

Christmas period, the 

group urged the student 

body to ensure it get its fact 

right before making such 

general statement. 

It said, “We want to call 

on the House of 

Representatives to speed 

up the passage of the bill 

prohibiting the Discos from 

giving estimated bill to 

consumers. The Discos are 

sleeping and not doing 

anything to improve power 

supply all over the country, 

and they are getting away 

with it because no law stops 

them from extorting the 

consumers. 

“The issue of poor supply 

and extortion is not new and 

it affects over 70 percent of 

electricity consumers, 

everybody is complaining 

about it including the 

government but the 

unfortunate thing is that 

nobody is ready to do 

anything about it."

Ceasefire disruption, strategy to militarise 

N-Delta, rig polls for APC— Militants 

•NDRC, 21st Century Youths denounce threat by militants 

By Emma 

Amaize, South- 

South Editor 

WARRI— 

TWO 

revolutionary groups, 

Niger Delta Revolutionary 

Crusaders, NDRC, and 21st 

Century Youths of Niger 

Delta, said, yesterday, that the 

call-off of the ceasefire deal 

with the Federal Government 

by Niger Delta Creek 

Warriors, an alleged coalition 

of agitators in the oil region, 

was a decoy to militarise the 

region and manipulate the 

forthcoming election in favour 

of the ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

The two groups in a 

statement by “General” O I 

Izpn Ebi, dissociated 

themselves from Niger Delta 

Creek Warriors, NDCW, 

which, Sunday, aborted the 

prevailing ceasefire, citing 

alleged failure of the Federal 

Government to meet their 

demands. 

The two groups said: “The 

NDRC and the 21st Century 

Youths of Niger Delta 

disassociate ourselves from 

these faceless groups that call 

themselves Niger Delta 

Creek Warriors. Yes, all their 

demands are genuine and 

legitimate, but it has a political 

coloration taking into 

cognizance the forth-coming 

general election. 

“Why is this threat coming 

at this time? Who and who 

did they contact? What is the 

motive behind it? The NDRC 

and the 21st Century Youths 

of Niger Delta view it as a 

ploy to militarise Niger Delta 

and put fear into the people 

to rig the election for the 

ruling APC. 

“They should be 

disregarded because they do 

not have the capacity to carry 

out their threat. We want to 

advise the Nigerian Army, 

other security agencies and 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, to be neutral in the 

forth coming general election 

not to incur the wrath of all 

agitating groups in the Niger 

Delta. 

"They should take into 

consideration the huge 

amount spent in servicing our 

foreign debts and our over 

dependence on our oil 

proceeds to sustain this 

nation, most especially, 

funding of the 2019 budget. 

“The 2019 general election 

is very important and crucial 

to all Nigerians and we 

believe that it will give birth 

to a new Nigeria that will be 

fair to the Niger Delta people 

and enthrone equity and 

justice or mar and breakup 

this nation called Nigeria. We 

wish the nation a happy New 

Year and a peaceful election 

ahead. 


N-Delta struggle 

"'The Niger Delta struggle 

is all about the emancipation 

of the Niger Delta and 

cutting loose the spiritual 

chains of modern slavery, 

degradation, exploration, 

poverty, underdevelopment, 

oppression, injustice and 

total extinction of Niger Delta 

people by the activities of the 

multinational oil companies. 

“The companies are only 

interested in drilling of oil 

with impunity and the 

Nigerian nation is interested 

in making profit, even when 

endangering the health and 

well-being of the Niger Delta 

people. 

“The oppressive attitude of 

the Nigerian government 

and the inhumane activities 

of the multinational oil 

companies has given the 

Niger Delta Revolutionary 

Crusaders and the 21st 

Century Youths of the Niger 

Delta no choice, but to set 

aside their individual 

differences so as to focus on 

the great task of facing the 

oppressors that claim to own 

Nigeria. 

Caution Armed 

Forces 

“We warn the northern 

oligarchy and the Nigerian 

military that the people of the 

Niger Delta will not tolerate 

the unprofessional conduct of 

the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air 

Force and other security 

agencies any more. In the 

guise of looking for criminals 

or militants, they erase an 

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019—13 

entire community and kill our 

people on flimsy excuses. 

“We have seen in the 

northern part of the country 

where Boko Haram operates 

with impunity, two 

distinguished Generals were 

brutally and shamefully 

slaughtered like common 

criminals. No single house or 

its inhabitants were killed or 

massacred like in the case of 

the genocide against the 

people of Odi in Bayelsa State 

and Gbaramatu kingdom in 

Warri South Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, whose wealth is used 

to sustain this nation called 

Nigeria. 

“We want to warn that gone 

are the old ugly days such will 

happen again and the people 

of Niger Delta will still accept 

to be called Nigerians again 

in this 21st century.” 

PRESENTATION: Provincial Pastor of Shekina Mega Parish, Redeemed 

Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Ezekiel Olukanhunsi and his wife, Taiwo, 

on behalf of the church presenting food items, clothings, shoes and Holy 

Bible to the less privileged in Warri, Delta State, yesterday. 

Ogboru’s kinsmen promise to mobilise 

votes for Okowa 

By Perez Brisibe 

EKU 

—Youths 

numbering over 5,000 

from 23 communities that 

make up Agbon Kingdom in 

Ethiope East Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State, home council for 


All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Chief Great Ogboru, 

have promised to mobilise 

their votes for Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa, who is 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, governorship 

candidate in the state. 

The youths made the 

disclosure during a Team 

Kelly for Okowa rally at Eku 

town hall organised by 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the state governor on Youth 

Mobilisation, Mr. Kelly 

Erhijakpor. 

The event also witnessed 

the defection of scores of APC 

members to PDP, who 

regretted working for a party 

that has continued to 

impoverish Nigerians, and 

pledged their total 

commitment to the PDP and 

to work for the victory of 

Okowa in 2019. 

Some of the youths under 

various pressure groups 

such as Great Okowa 

Disciples, with Bishop 

Ewrudjakpo as Director- 

General and Ramsey 

Oghenedoro as the 

President, said the governor 

had demonstrated strong 

passion in the 

empowerment of youths of 

the area and being the first 

governor to initiate and 

complete road network in 

the university town of 

Abraka. 

In his remarks, Erhijakpor 

said the youths of Agbon 

Kingdom and Ethiope East 

Local Government Area of 

the state in general have 

resolved to take their 

destinies in their hands by 

mobilising and voting 

massively for Okowa and all 

PDP candidates in the 2019 

polls. 

He said: “The outcome of 

the elections in the area 

would reflect a shift from the 

old order where voting was 

based on the consideration 

for the main challenger of the 

governor who hails from the 

Obaseki urges support for 

Buhari at New Year church 

service 

By Alemma- 

Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY — 

Governor Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State has 

called on the people of the 

state to vote for the reelection 



and All Progressives 

Congress, APC, 

candidates in the coming 

February elections. 

Obaseki made this call 

at the Cathedral of St 

John Anglican Church in 

Sabongida-Ora, 

headquarters of Owan 

West Local Government 

Area of the state, where 

he attended the New Year 

day church service. 

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The governor explained 

that a vote for President 

Buhari would enable the 

APC-led government 

sustain the achievements 

and progress the nation had 

recorded under the party. 

He said: “We must 

understand that Nigeria 

faces major challenges. But 

we are on course as we have 

done quite a lot of work in 

the last three and a half years. 

We need to sustain the work 

we are doing and massive 

support for the APC will 

guarantee this.” 


people of Sabongida-Ora are 

celebrated for the high value 

they place on education and 

emphasise that the ongoing 

reform in the state’s 

education sector was 

revolutionising the sector. 

APC solicits Bayelsa 

voters’ support 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha & 

Emem Idio 

YENAGOA — 

Bayelsa State 

chapter of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, has called on the 

people of the state to 

embrace the wind of 

change blowing across 

the country by voting the 

party in the forthcoming 

election. 

The APC in a 

statement by its Publicity 

Secretary, Mr. Doifie 

Buokoribo, made the 

appeal in a new year 

message to the people 

of the state. 

It also warned the 

residents to be wary of 

fake news, innuendos, 

and propaganda 

intentionally designed 

by those it described as 

“enemies of peace and 

democracy” to cause 

disaffection among the 

people for selfish 

political purposes. 

Buokoribo said: “It is 

our honour to extend 

felicitations to you, the good 

people of Bayelsa State, on 

this joyful occasion of New 

Year’s day. APC wishes all 

Bayelsans the best as they 

pursue their traditionally 

lofty endeavours 

throughout 2019 and 

beyond. 

“May we also use this 

medium to warn the people 

of the state to be wary, as 

some powerful individuals 

in the state, with their 

acolytes outside, have 

concluded a plot to launch 

a campaign of fake news 

and disinformation 

intended to cause 

disaffection among the 

people and try to discredit 

some of our finest leaders 

to criminally perpetual 

themselves and their 

cronies in power. 

“We call on the people of 

Bayelsa State to vote the 

APC Presidential 

candidate, President 

Muhammadu Buhari, and 

others carrying our party’s 

flag for the various elective 

offices in the 2019 general 

election.” 

Greater hope awaits 

Deltans in 2019 —Mutu 

A LAWMAKER 

representing 

Bomadi Patani Federal 

Constituency in the 

House 

of 

Representatives, Mr 

Nicholas Mutu, has 

urged his constituents, 

Deltans and Nigerians 

to be prayerful and 

resolute in their support 

as 2019 will usher 

greater prospect for the 

people, Ijaw nation, 

Deltans and Nigerians 

in general. 

Mutu in a New Year 

message to members of 

his constituency, said 

despite the economic 

challenge in the past 

year, they have every 

cause to thank God for life 

and provision to them. 

The lawmaker, who 

advised them to remain 

resolute in their support for 


PDP, expressed optimism of 

greater prospect in 2019 

and urged them to keep 

hope alive. 

He said: “We must be 

thankful to God for keeping 

us alive, despite some 

daunting challenges in 

2018. We must use this 

period to renew our faith in 

God as exemplified by our 

Lord Jesus Christ and its 

essence in our lives.


Buhari'll transform Nigeria for 

better, Akeredolu tells Nigerians 


A 

K U R E — 

GOVERNOR 

Rotimi Akeredolu of 

Ondo State yesterday 

advised Nigerians to 

have confidence in the 

ability of President 


transform the country for 

the better. 

This was contained in 

a statement issued by his 

Chief Press Secretary 

Segun Ajiboye in 

Akure. 

Akeredolu advised 

Nigerians to cooperate 

with the government to 

enable it deliver on its 

avowed promise to 

Mrs Ajimobi doles out gifts, cash 

to 7 new year babies in Ibadan 

By Adeola Badru 

I commemoration BADAN—IN 


the new year, wife of the 

Oyo State governor, Mrs. 

Florence Ajimobi has doled 

out gifts and cash to seven 

new born babies of the year. 

The babies are one boy 

and six girls from Nigerian 

Police Medical Service, 

Eleyele and Adeoyo 

Maternity Hospital in 

Ibadan. 

While receiving the gifts 

and cash at the Nigeria 

Police Medical Service, 

Eleyele, Ibadan, the mother 

of the first baby, a boy 

whose baby was delivered 

at exactly 12:01am thanked 

the state government for the 

gestures. 

The mother, who is an 

Assistant Superintendent of 

Police (ASP) Esther Olaofe 

and husband, Mr. Olawale 

Olaofe, a university staff, 

said they did not expect the 

gestures from the state 

government. 

Meanwhile, the mothers 

of other six new born babies 

who were delivered at 

Adeoyo Maternity 

Oyetola’s wife presents gift 

to First Baby of the year 

By Gbenga 

Olarinoye 

Oof SOSGBO—WIFE 

Osun State 

Governor, Alhaja Kafayat 

Oyetola yesterday 

presented to first baby of 

the year in Osogbo, Osun 

State capital with 

valuable gifts and cash 

and advised mothers to 

take good care of their 

children. 

The first lady, who 

arrived at the State 

Hospital located at 

Asubiaro Area, Osogbo to 

welcome the new baby 

presented cash and gift 

items to the 2019 first 

baby in the state and 

other babies in the 

hospital. 

Mrs Oyetola who was 


transform the country 

and its people. 

He added that they 

should continue to 

promote societal 

common good by making 

sacrifice for a better and 

peaceful Nigeria their 

utmost priority adding 

that “only the best is 

good for Nigerians”. 

The governor prayed 

that 2019 will usher in 

peace, progress and 

prosperity for all. 

Akeredolu, however 

restated 

his 

administration’s 

determination not relent 

in its efforts to make 

Ondo State a developed 

and prosperous state. 

Hospital, namely Suliyat 

Adeleye, a medical doctor 

from Jericho Specialist 

Hospital in Ibadan, Rukayat 

Adesina and four others also 

thanked the state 

government for the show of 

love. 

Speaking with newsmen, 

Mrs. Ajimobi, who was 

represented by the 

Comissioner for Women 

Affairs, Community 

Development, Social 

Welfare and Poverty 

Alleviation, Mrs. Tinuke 

Osunkoya charged mothers 

and all citizens of the state 

to continue to live in love, 

peace and harmony with 

one another. 

She said: “On behalf of the 

state government, I thank 

God for witnessing a new 

year and we congratulate 

the new mothers on the birth 

of their children today, the 

first of January, 2019. We 

pray that it shall be a 

blessed, happy and joyful 

year for all of us.” 

“And my message to the 

people of Oyo State is that 

we should continue to live 

in peace and harmony in 

the state.'' 

accompanied by the 

immediate past 

Commissioner for Health, 

Dr Rafiu Isamotu and other 

senior officials of the 

ministry of health and top 

government functionaries 

took time off to play and 

pray for the babies. 

The first lady rejoiced 

with the parents of the 

lucky child and 

showered the child with 

prayers and also 

presented gifts to the 

family. 

Speaking, Mrs Oyetola 

urged parents to take 

good care of their 

children, advising the 

parents to inculcate 

good cultural 

behaviour in their 

children for them to be good 

ambassadors of the state. 

Oyo, a challenging state to rule — AJIMOBI 

By Adeola Badru •Presents N285bn for 2019 

I 

B A D A N — 

GOVERNOR 

Abiola Ajimobi has admitted 

that governing the state has 

been a challenging one 

going by its peculiarities in 

the political climate of the 

country. 

Ajimobi, during his 

budget presentation 

tagged: “Budget of 

Sustainability,” said having 

managed to govern the 

state successfully for two 

consecutive tenures was 

something worth thanking 

God for. 

He noted that the state’s 

House of Assembly in his 

eight-year rule has been 

devoid of rancour as 

witnessed in previous 

administration. 

While presenting a 

budget of N285 billion to the 

state’s House of Assembly 

for the 2019 fiscal year, out 


which 

N100,535,047,409.14 

(61.50%) was allocated to 

the economic sector, Ajimobi 

noted that the budget took 

into consideration the 

challenges in the outgoing 

year arising from almost 

complete reliance on 

Federal Allocation, which 

be said, had grave 

consequences as Federal 

Statutory Allocation itself 

was dependent on 

extraneous factors. 

He added that more efforts 

shall be geared towards 

harnessing all available 

sources of internal revenue 

to the state. 

“It is to be emphasised that 

capital receipt shall be ringfenced 

in line with the 

Federal Governments’ fiscal 

sustainability plan. The 

preparation of this proposed 

Budget Estimates has 

therefore been as realistic as 

is practicable, to ensure a 

more pragmatic and 

productive performance in 

the 

budget 

implementation.” 

While reviewing the 2018 

budget performance, 

Ajimobi recalled: “At this 

point, I wish to give a brief 

insight into the 

performance of the state 

Budget in the months of 

January to September, 2018. 

Revenue performance was 

27.26% instead of 75% of 

approved budget and 

36.34% on pro-rata as at 

September, 2018 while for 

the same period, 

expenditure performed at 

25.24% instead of 75% on 

approved budget and 

33.66% on pro-rata.” 

“The 2018 figures show a 

decrease on 2017 

performances which were 

46.95% and 62.63% on 

revenue and 46.09% and 

61.46% on expenditure on 

approved and pro-rata 

estimates over the same 

period.” 

“The sum of N7.48 billion 

was spent on the Economic 

Sector, representing 

51.22% of the total N14.59 

billion expended on 

Capital Expenditure as at 

September of this fiscal 

year. This shows the 

continued priority 

attention we are giving to 

economic and 

infrastructural 

development. It is to be 

noted that the recurrent 

expenditure particularly on 

personnel cost is heavier.” 

“This is due to the 

continued commitment to 

oiling government 

machinery for effective 

service delivery. It is to be 

recalled that apart from 

consistently utilizing more 

than the stipulated 

minimum of all the 

recurrent intervention from 

the Federal Government to 

settle monthly salary/ 

pension and arrears, the 

state government has 

consistently conceded 

100% monthly allocation 

from the Federation 

Accounts to payment of 

salaries and pensions of the 

state’s public servants.” 

Avoid acts that could trigger violence 

in 2019 election — FAYEMI 

By Rotimi Ojomoyela 

ADO 

EKITI— 

GOVERNOR 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti 

State, has called on the 

people of state to avoid 

acts that could trigger 

crisis in the coming general 

elections, in order to make 

the 2019 a rewarding year 

for the citizenry. 

Fayemi urged 

politicians to play by the 

rule and avoid politics of 

bitterness at all cost, 

adding that political 

discourse should be civil 

with decorum and in a 

constitutional manner. 

The governor assured 

that the 2019 budget will 

be prosecuted diligently 

to redirect Ekiti to the 

path of economic sanity 

and recovery. 

Fayemi, in a new year 

state broadcast said his 

government will 

prioritise payment of 

salaries and pensions as 

well as concretize the 

state’s development plan 

through the fourcardinal 

policy thrust of his 

administration for Ekiti to 

regain its lost core values. 

The broadcast heralded 

the return of Broadcasting 

Service of Ekiti State to air 

wave after being closed 

down by the Nigerian 

Broadcasting 

Commission since July, 

2018. 

In his words, “If we 

count the blessings and 

gains of the past two 

months of our 

administration in the 

saddle, you will all agree 

with me that we are already 

out of the dark tunnel into 

the glowing light of fast 

economic recovery and 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

PRAISE AND 

WORSHIP FIESTA: 

Chief Executive Officer of 

Ilaji Stadium and Resorts 

Centre, Ibadan, Chief 

Dotun Sanusi (left), 

receiving the plaque of 

the Award of Excellence 

from the chairman of the 

Christian Association of 

Nigeria (CAN), Inukan 

Local Council 

Development Area 

chapter, Reverend Amos 

Aderonhunmu; the host 

of the Christian Network 

For Good Governance 

and Leadership, Prophet 

Matthew Bogunmbe and 

Prophet Kola Lanleyin at 

the 2018 Praise and 

Worship Fiesta in 

Ibadan. 

speedy value restoration. 

“This, indeed, is the 

least we can do for Ekiti 

people for their belief, 

love and trust in our 

ability to steer the course 

and put our State back 

on the path of prosperity, 

honour and peace.'' 

2019: AANI urges Nigerians to be 

more patriotic, participate in polls 

By Ediri Ejoh 

LAGOS—AS the world 

celebrates the New 

Year, the Alumni Association 

of the National Institute, 

AANI, yesterday, urged 

Nigerians to be patriotic and 

participate actively in the 

forthcoming general 

elections. 

This was contained in a 

statement signed by the 

National Publicity Secretary, 

AANI, Dr. Ogbonna 

Onyeisi, as the association 

wished Nigerians the best 

in the new year as they gear 

up for greater achievements 

in nation building. 

Onyeisi also implored 

Nigerians to be seen as 

committed people in 

shaping the destiny of the 

country by contributing their 

part in sustainable 

development through their 

constitutional responsibility. 

AANI is an association 

made up of bureaucrats, 

private sector leaders, Army 

officers, and medium-rank 

and senior civil servants, 

who graduated from the 

National Institute for Policy 

and Strategic Studies, 

NIPSS, in Kuru, Jos, 

Plateau State, which make 

the association a foremost 

National Think Tank. 

The statement reads in 

part: “The Alumni 

Association of the National 

Institute, AANI, wishes 

Nigerians Happy New Year 

and as Nigeria prepares for 

general elections in 2019, 

implores Nigerians to be 

more patriotic citizens and 

work towards building a 

sustainable nation that 

future Nigerians and 

humanity will be proud of. 

“AANI is apolitical but shall 

always offer policy options 

and implementation 

strategies towards building 

a better society in Nigeria 

and beyond. Nigeria is 

crying for our love through 

patriotic involvement. 2019 

is an election year and it 

expects all Nigerians to 

fulfill their civic 

responsibility by voting in 

the general elections.''

VANGUARD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019—15 

BABY OF THE YEAR: Wife of Enugu State Governor, Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi (2nd right) with 

the wife of the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Bilkisu Danmallam (right), the state's first 

baby of 2019, Baby Chinecherem Akasike and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Akasike, when the 

governor's wife visited the baby at Parklane Hospital, Enugu, to mark the New Year, yesterday. 

2019 will favour Nigerians 

—Okorocha, Obiano, Madumere, 

•Be your brother’s keeper, Obiano tells Nigerians 

•Madumere urges religious leaders to remain courageous 

By Chioma Gabriel, 

Vincent Ujumadu & 

Chidi Nkwopara 

OWERRI—IMO State 

Governor and 

chairman of Progressives 

Governor’s Forum, Chief 

Rochas Okorocha; 

Anambra Governor, Willie 

Obiano; Imo Deputy 

Governor, Eze Madumere 

and the gubernatorial 

candidate of All 

Progressives Grand 

Alliance, Alex Otti have 

urged Nigerians to be 

positive about the new year, 

as “it will favour the country 

and her people more than 

2018. 

In a New Year message, 

signed by his Chief Press 

Secretary, CPS, Mr. 

Samuel Onwuemeodo, 

Governor Rochas Okorocha 

said, “No nation grows 

with the citizenry being 

negative about the progress 

of such a nation.” 

He called on Nigerians 

to see the light at the end 

of the tunnel, especially 

over the nation’s politics, 

economy, unity and 

development, urging 

Nigerians to be grateful to 

God for His goodness in 

2018, as we pray that the 

current year will be far 

better than the previous 

year. 

While assuring Imo 

people that his 

administration will 

continue to work till the end 

of his tenure in May 2019, 

Okorocha however claimed 

that most of the things his 

government promised to 

do, have been done. 

“In 2018, the people of the 

state enjoyed unbridled 

peace and security. I want 

to assure you all that my 

administration shall not 

relent in these regards”, 

Okorocha promised. 

Be your brother’s 

keeper, Obiano tells 

Nigerians 

In a special New Year 

message signed by his 

Chief Press Secretary, Mr 

James Eze, Governor Willie 

Obiano described the year 

2019 as a watershed in the 

modern history of Nigeria 

and called for sober 

reflection, prayers, 

contrition and brotherly 

love among Nigerians. 

His message read in part: 

“ A new page of history has 

opened before us today. It 

is up to us as one people 

who desire a better world 

for ourselves and our 

children to write a dazzling 

account of ourselves with 

our actions and inactions 

with our choices and 

preferences. 

“The New Year offers us 

a time for deep reflection on 

the political choices we must 

make in February. This is a 

defining year in our political 

history and a year when we 

must choose between 

marching forward or sliding 

backwards. 

“But whatever our 

decision finally turns out to 

be, it must serve the 

purpose of deepening the 

roots of our democracy”. 

Madumere urges 

religious leaders to 

remain courageous 

Also yesterday, Imo State 

Deputy Governor, Prince 

Eze Madumere charged 

religious leaders in 

Nigeria, to not only “remain 

courageous in kicking 

against the ills of the 

society, but to also call 

erring public office holders 

and members of the society 

to order”. 

Madumere gave the 

charge during the 

installation of Canons and 

ordination of a priest, at the 

Diocese of Ohaji/Egbema, 

Church of Nigeria, 

Anglican Communion. 

“Religious leaders should 

remain courageous. They 

are the conscience of the 

society. I must say it clearly 

that it takes people like the 

religious leaders to say 

things the way they are, 

without fear or favour”, 

Madumere said. 

He commended all 

religious leaders that 

courageously attack bad 

policies and anti-people 

programmes of 

government, without fear of 

their personal safety. 

2019, our year of 

restoration 

—Alex Otti 

In his goodwill message, 


the All Progressives Grand 

Alliance, APGA, in Abia 

State, Dr. Alex Otti 

described 2019 as the year 

of restoration for the state. 

“God has promised in Joel 

2:25, that He will restore the 

days that the locust has 

eaten, the cankerworm and 

the caterpillar and the 

palmerworm. The time for 

our restoration is now. The 

year 2019 is our year of 

restoration. Let us break the 

evil chain that has held our 

State bound. Enough is 

enough!” he declared in a 

statement laced with 

references to the Bible and 

signed by the Director, 

Media and Publicity of the 

Alex Otti Campaign 

Organisation, Mr. Kazie 

Uko. 

We’ll restore 

confidence in Enugu 

people —Ayogu Eze 

Meanwhile, the All 


APC, governorship 

candidate in Enugu State 

for the 2019 general 

election, Senator Ayogu 

Eze, has promised to 

restore hope and 

confidence in the people, 

by embarking on several 

meaningful peopleoriented 

programmes and 

projects if elected governor. 

In his New Year message, 

titled, “It is well with 

Enugu State”, where he 

asked the people of Enugu 

to embrace love and peace 

in 2019, Eze said Enugu 

State would experience a 

new lease of prosperity and 

even development when 

his government takes off in 

May 2019. 

The Enugu APC guber 

flag bearer implored 

Enugu people to be 

prayerful to ensure that 

negative forces do not 

thwart their collective will 

to install a government that 

will work for them. 

Uzodinma campaign 

organisation launched 

in Ihitte Uboma 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O WERRI—THE 

Senator Hope 

Uzodinma Campaign 

Organisation, SHUCO, 

was yesterday, 

inaugurated in Ihitte 

Uboma Local 

Government Area of Imo 

State, by the Chief Press 

Secretary, CPS, to the 

National Chairman, All 


APC, Comrade Simon 

Ebegbulem. 

Speaking during the 

event, Comrade 

Ebegbulem told the party 

faithful that Senator Hope 

Uzodinma has what it 

takes to turn Imo State to 

Nigeria’s Dubai. 

“Do not be intimidated 

or deceived by any one. 


Buhari belongs to APC 

and is working for the 

success of all APC 

candidates. Imo State is 

an APC state and we 

should collectively work 

assiduously to make it 

remain so”, Ebegbulem 

said. 

While saying that 

Senator Hope Uzodinma 

is the party’s 

gubernatorial candidate in 

the forthcoming general 

elections, Comrade 

Ebegbulem also said that 

Senator Ben Uwajumogu 

is the senatorial candidate 

for Okigwe zone. 

“Our gubernatorial 

candidate, Senator 

Uzodinma has been 

tested and trusted and will 

succeed Governor Rochas 

Okorocha as governor of 

Imo State”, Ebegbulem 

said. 

He took a swipe at 

politicians for what he 

called “insignificant 

political parties”, which 

now use President 

Buhari’s picture to shore 

up their battered images, 

pointing out that such a 

gimmick is fraudulent. 

Speaking also, the local 

government coordinator 

of SHUCO, Mr. Choke 

Olemgbe, charged 

members to be counted in 

the re-election of President 

Buhari and all APC 

candidates in Ihitte 

Uboma Local Government 

Area. 

“Ours is a moving train 

and we are going to 

change the narrative in 

Ihitte Uboma. We are not 

members of Action 

Alliance, AA, and our 

people must not be 

deceived by their failed 

antics. We should work 

towards defeating all 

other parties in Ihitte 

Uboma”, Olemgbe said. 

Ebonyi reinventing economic 

agenda to increase its GDP 

—Commissioner 

By Peter Okutu 

A BAKALIKI— 

EBONYI State 

government, yesterday 

stated the present 

administration led by 

Governor David Umahi 

was systematically 

reinventing an economic 

agenda to increase the 

Gross Domestic Product, 

GDP, of the State. 

The Commissioner for 

Human Capital 

Development and 

Monitoring, Mr Uchenna 

Orji stated this in 

Abakaliki while giving a 

break down of efforts put 

in place by the State 

government to revamp all 

the sectors and improve 

the living standard of 

Ebonyi people. 


Ebonyi State government 

has changed its Ministry 

Group drums support for Buhari 

By Anayo Okoli 

U MUAHIA—AHEAD 

of the February 

Presidential polls, a pro- 

Buhari group, South East 

People’s Consultative 

Parliament, SEPCP, has 

pledged to raise not less 

than one million votes for 


Buhari in the zone. 

The group expressed its 

commitment towards 

ensuring that President 

Buhari was re-elected at 

the February polls with 

massive support from the 

South East zone. 

President General of the 

group, Udo Agoha, who 

made the pledge yesterday 

when he led a delegation 

of the organisation on a 

solidarity visit to the courtbacked 

governorship 

candidate of APC in Abia 

of Economic Empowerment 

and Job Creation to 

the Ministry of Human 

Capital Development 

and Monitoring, to be 

able to capture the overall 

economic interest of 

the state. 

The commissioner 

hinted that the new ministry 

had been ratified by 

the state Executive 

Council, EXCO. 

“The new ministry’s 

mandate is to implement 

and supervise activities 

that would enhance the 

living standard of the 

people. 

“This would involve 

improving the per-capital 

income of individuals, 

developing the human 

person in terms of 

intellect, human capacitydevelopment, 

training 

and re-training of 

personnel, among others," 

he said. 

state, Chief Ikechi 

Emenike at his country 

home in Okpuala 

Umukabia, Umuahia 

North council, said they 

were determined to ensure 

Buhari’s success. 

He said: “We want to let 

people know for Ndigbo to 

have the presidency in 

2023, we must work with the


Presidency to spend N274.7m on 

electricity, N65m on animals 

•Another N198m on VP mini church 

•EFCC earmarks N244m for lawyers' fees 

•BPE to spend N149m for post-privatisation monitoring 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

THE Presidency has 

earmarked N274.7 

million for electricity and 

another N65 million on 

animals in this year's 

budget. 

A breakdown of the federal 

estimates for 2019, which 

Vanguard obtained last night 

indicates that some 

expenditure items, which had 

in the past caused some 

concerns, have also found 

their way into the current 

budget. 

The Presidency, which is the 

most crucial office in the land, 

has not been spared in the 

repeat of such items. 

The budget breakdown 

shows that the State House is 

to spend a whopping 

N274,798,446 for electricity 

charges, while N23.8 million 

will go for telephone within 

the year. 

Similarly, the State House 

plans to commit N135 million 

to refreshments and meals, 

N478 million for honorarium 

and another N198 million to 

the construction of a mini 

chapel in the residence of the 

Vice President. 

Within the same year, the 

Villa wants to spend N65 

million to buy animals for 

wildlife conservation, N67 

million on the internet, N65 

million on water charges, 

N132 million on lubricants 

and N79 million on uniforms 

and clothing for workers. 

At the same time, N39 

million will be used for 

gaming and sporting 

equipment and another N79 

million for stationery. 

In a similar development, 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, which is 

domiciled in the Office of the 

Secretary to the Government 

of the Federation, plans to 

commit a princely N250 

minion to hire lawyers to 

handle its cases while it will 

also make use of another N1.8 

million to purchase a parcel 

of land, whose purpose and 

location are not disclosed. 

In the same vein, Bureau of 

Public Enterprises, PBE, 

which has since sold off core 

assets of Nigeria, most to nonperforming 

entities and 

individuals, plans to use the 

sum of N150 million for what 

it calls ‘post privatization 

monitoring’ just as the 

Ministry of Defends has set 

aside the sum of N20 million 

to embark in a project it calls 

‘Anti-corruption sensitization’ 

for Staff and military 

formations. 

But it has also emerged that 

the clamor by a cross section 

of Nigerians for the federal 

government to sell off the 

Uzodinma campaign organisation 

inaugurated 

O WERRI—Senator 

Hope Uzodinma 

Campaign Organisation 

has been inaugurated in 

Ihitte Uboma Local 

Government Area of Imo 

State by Mr. Simon 

Ebegbulem, spokesman 

to the National 

Chairman of All 


APC, Comrade Adams 

Oshiomhole. 

Speaking at the 

ceremony, which had 

leaders of APC across 

the 10 wards of the local 

government including 

Chief Friday Obasi, 

Chief Ogoke Victor and 

National Theatre, Iganmu, in 

Lagos, largely seen as a 

wasting asset, will not 

BRIEFING: National Publicity Secretary of All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu (middle), addressing a 

news conference on the party’s activities ahead of this year's general 

elections, in Abuja, yesterday. With him are Assistant Director, Media 

and Publicity, APC, Mr Edegbe Odemwingie (right), and Special 

Adviser to the Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr Remi Adelowo. Photo: 

NAN. 

Iriojuogu in attendance, 

Ebegbulem said Senator 

Uzodinma has what it 

takes to turn the state to 

another Dubai. 

He noted that “Imo 

State is an APC state and 

it will remain APC 

because our President, 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

will be re-elected while 

the people of Imo State 

will elect Senator 

Uzodinma as governor 

so as to deepen the 

progresses made by the 

APC-led administration 

both at the Federal and 

the state. 

“Do not be intimidated 

or be decieved by 

materialize soon. 

This is because rather than 

hid the call, the Federal 

Government plans to spend 

N642 million on the running 

of the centre this year while 

another N128 million will go 

into the rehabilitation of the 

expansive arts structure. 

Elections: Onaiyekan cautions on use 

of security agents 

A BUJA—CATHOLIC 

Archbishop of Abuja, 

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, 

has advised the Federal 

Government to ensure 

proper use of security 

agents during the election 

to avoid intimidation of 

electorate. 

Onaiyekan gave the 

advice in Abuja, yesterday, 

while celebrating the New 

Year mass at SS Peter and 

Paul Catholic Church, 

Nyanya. 

He said President 

Muhammadu Buhari had 

promised to ensure free and 

fair election and so prayed 

for God’s intervention to 

make it come true. 

He said: “It is the 

government that is 

responsible for free and fair 

election in any country, the 

government has all the 

necessary things to make 

it free and fair. 

“The use of security 

agents should be handled 

properly to ensure that 

voters are not intimidated 

during election.” 

He prayed that 

Nigerians would elect 

good leaders in the coming 

election that would address 

the challenges of the 

country. 

Onaiyakan said the 

country was faced with 

corruption, unemployment 

and poor infrastructure, 

adding: “Nigeria need 

leaders that will carry 

everybody along to make the 

country a better place.” 

According to him, other 

African countries have 

moved ahead leaving the 

giant “Nigeria” behind. 

The Cardinal said that 

most countries suffer from 

national disaster while 

Nigeria was faced with 

human disasters and urged 

Nigerians to serve God 

more than ever before. 

He further called on 

Nigerians to pray that 

peace, progress and unity 

would pervade the length 

and breadth of the country. 

anyone. President Buhari 

belongs to APC and is 

working for the success of 

all APC candidates. 

Uzodinma is our 

governorship candidate, 

Senator Ben Uwajumogu 

is our senatorial 

candidate for Okigwe 

zone.” 

Speaking also, the local 

government Coordinator 

of Senator Uzodinma 

governorship campaign, 

Chike Olemgbe, charged 

members of the party to 

be counted in the reelection 


Buhari and “all our 

candidates in Ihitte 

Uboma council.” 

W/Africa Crude:Chinese demand 

subdued, sellers stay on sidelines 

Spot activity was subdued due to the Christmas 

holiday period, particularly from Chinese 

refiners, while fresh offers were scarce. 

Traders said that Chinese buying had peaked 

during the previous two loading programmes - 

December and January - to prepare for the impact 

of U.S. sanctions on Iran and ahead of the Chinese 

New Year in February. 

Asian refinery maintenance is due to start in March 

and peak later in the spring, which will put a 

dampener on demand going forward. 

Angola’s state oil firm Sonangol continued to offer 

two cargoes of Dalia at dated Brent minus 30 cents 

a barrel loading Feb. 17-18 and Feb. 23-24. 

Nigerian oil marketing firm MRS issued a sell 

tender for a cargo of Forcados loading Feb. 14-15 

and a cargo of Amenam loading Feb. 10-11. The 

tender closes on Jan. 31. 

South African stocks end worst year 

since 2008 on positive note 

Johannesburg’s FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index 

ended the year down 11 percent, its worst 

performance since 2008. 

Naspers Ltd. was the biggest drag on the 

benchmark, in terms of index points, dropping 16 

percent for the worst annual performance by Africa’s 

largest company by market value since 2001. 

Anglo American Platinum Ltd. was the bestperforming 

index member, climbing 52 percent in 

2018. Property investor Lighthouse Capital Ltd. 

was the worst, dropping 85 percent. Troubled 

retailer Steinhoff International Holdings NV’s 

Johannesburg-traded shares fell 63 percent. 

An index of South African gold stocks soared 25 

percent in December as investors turned to bullion 

as a haven. Over 2018, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. 

was the sector’s best performer, climbing 41 

percent. 

The South African benchmark index fared better 

than the 17 percent decline in emerging markets. 

In dollar terms, however, Johannesburg stocks 

delivered a 24 percent loss for investors. 

Zambia’s 2018 copper output to be 

above last year’s 800,000 tonnes 

Zambia’s 2018 copper production is projected to 

rise above the 800,000 tonnes produced last 

year, its Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe 

said in a statement on Monday. 

Copper output in 2018 continued to increase with 

a total of 696,526 tonnes produced between January 

and October, compared with 654,743 tonnes in the 

same period in 2017, Mwanakatwe said. 

“The fairly high global copper prices which 

averaged $6,598 (per tonne) and demand provided 

the impetus for copper production,” Mwanakatwe 

said. 

Congo cuts internet for second day 

to avert chaos 

Democratic Republic of Congo’s government cut 

internet connections and SMS services across the 

country for a second straight day on Tuesday as the country 

nervously awaited results from the weekend’s chaotic 

presidential election. 

Both the opposition and ruling coaltion said on Monday 

they were on track to win after a turbulent election day on 

Sunday in which many Congolese were unable to vote 

due to an Ebola outbreak, conflict and logistical problems. 

Barnabe Kikaya bin Karubi, a senior adviser to President 

Joseph Kabila, said internet and SMS services were cut to 

preserve public order after “fictitious results” began 

circulating on social media. 

“That could lead us straight toward chaos,” Kikaya told 

Reuters, adding the connections would remain cut until 

the publication of complete results on Jan. 6.The signal to 

Radio France Internationale (RFI), one of the most popular 

news sources in Congo, was also down, and the 

government withdrew the accreditation of RFI’s main 

correspondent in the country late on Monday for having 

aired unofficial results from the opposition.

THE significant disparities 

between rich and poor in 

Nigeria no longer invite much 

comment or analysis: poverty, 

despite political rhetoric, is 

more or less accepted as the 

capitalist norm and many have 

been content to watch the 

middle class gradually 

disappear, squeezed into inexistence 

by systemic 

corruption and economic 

inefficiency. Interestingly, in 

other West African countries 

which haven’t had the Nigerian 

experience of military rule 

(Senegal and Ivory Coast, for 

example), the middle class lives 

a life that only few could dream 

of in Nigeria. It isn’t strange in 

such countries to find 

individuals buying yoghuts, 

meats and hams which in 

Nigeria are reserved for a small 

elite. 

In fact, one is often shocked 

by how affordable consumer 

goods are in such countries, in 

comparison to Nigeria where 

producers of any event or 

merchandise prioritise luxury 

items over affordability and 

mass consumption. 

From raising the minimum 

wage, to raising the standard 

of education, to making political 

participation easier and voter 

friendly, successive Nigerian 

governments have shied away 

from making real changes 

which threaten the corporate 

existence of the small oligarchy 

whose survival is based on our 

country’s dysfunction. 

As much as some leaders 

mean well, their ability to 

deliver on their promises is 

limited by the numerous 

individuals, across party lines, 

who have no reason to support 

true democracy or equality, a 

hindrance to the quick and easy 

money lifestyle they’ve become 

accustomed to. Nigeria is thus 

caught in a catch 22 situation: 

without a sizeable, vibrant 

middle class to continuously 

pressure politicians for change, 

there can be no real incentive 

to push democratic reforms, but 

without said reforms, there can 

be no self-sufficient, 

sustainable middle class. 

Sustainable 

middle class 

Jean-Claude Junker, 

President of the European 

Commission was quoted as 

saying, in reference to the 

global political class: “We all 

know what to do; we just don’t 

know how to get re elected after 

we’ve done it.” This is central 

to the Nigerian problem: after 

all, winning an election is 

expensive. How does a “wellmeaning” 

individual get into 

power without personal wealth 

or support from people who 

have wealth but who might 

have acquired it through means 

contrary to the ideals the 

candidate stands for? Nigerian 

politicians, and most of the 

major parties, are yet to build 

mass movements linking 

people together from the 

ground up based on varied and 

identifiable ideas. 

Until the middle class gets 

involved in politics, until youth, 

women and students see 

Nigeria’s absent middle class: A threat to 

democracy 

themselves as something more 

than crowd fillers, such a 

movement will remain 

nonexistent. Ironically, without 

a mass movement to galvanise 

the people into holding 

governments accountable, there 

will be no real incentive for 

politicians to deliver, knowing 

they can get re-elected based 

on sentiments beyond their 

performance. 

The man or woman who 

decisively deals with 

corruption, who is able to not 

just impose penalties but 

institutionalise deterrents to 

graft could potentially be 

reelected through genuine 

Prof. Sophie Oluwole 

SHE was a renowned 

Professor of Philosophy 

and gender studies who quietly 

passed away last week. Her 

books aimed to prove that 

Africans had produced 

indigenous philosophical 

knowledge before the advent of 

colonisation. 

The society the military 

produced only recognises 

money and disdains 

scholarship. In other climes, 

such a woman should have 

been feted for her intellect and 

radical submissions. 

The African inferiority 

complex, which she dealt with 

in her research, doesn’t allow 

real growth or change, due to 

our disregard for locally 

produced goods and ideas. 

Most “big men” in Nigeria 

would prefer to have foreigners 

run their companies than 

Nigerians, no matter how 

competent. Prof. Oluwole’s 

books on gender are now 

increasingly supported globally 

by new research which admits 

middle class support and 

without support from the 

political class which often 

entails bargaining away his or 

her soul. But getting elected in 

the first place, in a context 

where the average person is 

completely disconnected from 

the political process, is near 

impossible without spending a 

number of years building such 

a movement. 

Most Nigerians neither 

understand nor care to know 

the inner workings of the 

political parties who represent 

them. The only real dialogue 

between the ordinary man on 

the street and the political class 

•The late Prof. Sophie 

Oluwole 

the colonial encounter was 

disastrous for women: African 

women’s status primarily 

regressed due to Victorian 

norms on gender. 

In fact, much of what we refer 

to today as “African tradition” is 

actually a result of laws and 

ideas promoted by colonial 

native authorities and not 

indigenous African ideology. 

Where is the next generation of 

scholars to take up Prof’s 

research? 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 —17 

occurs during elections and in 

most cases, people don’t fully 

know the right questions or 

things to ask of their leaders. 

The middle class in Nigeria 

isn’t just economically feeble, it 

is intellectually poor and this is 

why progress eludes us as a 

country. 

Those who consider 

themselves middle class in 

Nigeria, who might work for 

state governments as teachers, 

nurses or civil servants, are 

We must never 

give up on 

Nigeria, no 

matter how 

bleak things 

might look 

completely subservient to the 

government’s ideology. This 

class of people, who in other 

countries and eras led 

“revolutions” are totally 

beholden to those in power, 

absorbing their values and 

ideas unquestioningly. As for 

those in the private sector, they 

too simply keep their heads 

down and pray for the best. 

Where is the discourse, in 

Nigeria, about policies to assist 

home ownership, for example? 

An Igbo Presidency, or a Yoruba 

Presidency, in itself, will not 

give Nigerians a better quality 

of life without concrete policy 

proposals. 

The patron-client relationship 

at the heart of our current socioeconomic 

system, which 

prioritizes ethno-religious 

linkages over rational 

performance-based choices, is 

killing Nigeria slowly. To quote 

one of Barack Obama’s 

speeches on the American 

economy in 2011: “when 

middle-class families can no 

longer afford to buy the goods 

and services that businesses are 

selling, it drags down the entire 

economy from top to bottom, 

that’s why a CEO like Henry 

Ford made it his mission to pay 

his workers enough so they 

could buy the cars they made”. 

Interestingly, Nigerian business 

men and women have no 

interest in mass consumption 

which is ironic because globally, 

most fortunes are made through 

products marketed to the 

middle class, the backbone of 

any economy. 

My hope for 2019, as with 

every new year, is the same: I 

pray for the awakening of the 

Nigerian middle class and of the 

working poor and for them to 

realise who in our society, no 

matter how imperfectly, serves 

their interests. Those who’ve 

taken more than their fair share 

from this country, and used 

their resources to hold the rest 

of us hostage, are many and 

recognizing them isn’t always 

easy, given the propensity in 

Nigeria to reinvent oneself with 

the help of the media and 

religious leaders. 

We must never give up on 

Nigeria, no matter how bleak 

things might look, small 

changes add up and each and 

every one of us, at our own 

level, in whatever sphere we 

find ourselves has the potential 

to make a difference if we 

commit to doing so. 

As for our leaders, only our 

commitment to real change can 

spur them on, we must help 

them dare to take on those 

holding Nigeria to ransom: can 

we stop providing excuses for 

those accused of wrongdoing? 

This will make all the difference 

in 2019. 

South East Development Commission 

THE Senate passed a bill 

establishing the SEDC, 

the equivalent of the Niger 

Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, for the 

South East zone. How effective 

has the NDDC been? And will 

it take every zone in Nigeria 

getting its own commission, 

with staff, budget and further 

expenses to drain our 

resources, for development to 

occur? 

Adding “commissions” won’t 

solve any issues without fresh 

ideas. After all, there isn’t yet 

much resolution to the past 

corruption cases involving the 

NDDC and a number of other 

federal departments and 

agencies. 

The SEDC is expected to 

produce a “master plan” for 

development in the South East. 

Is it impossible for South East 

governors to come together to 

do this without creating a whole 

new agency? 

Tabia Princewill is a 

strategic communications 

consultant and public policy 

analyst. She is also the cohost 

and executive producer 

of a talk show, WALK THE 

TALK which airs on 

Channels TV.

18 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

THE gruesome murder of former 

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal 

Alex Sabundu Badeh by gunmen on 

Tuesday, December 18, 2018, was a 

sad reminder of the perilous times we 

live in, here in Nigeria. 

The atmosphere of insecurity, 

amplified by the Boko Haram 

insurgency, armed herdsmen attacks, 

the siege on Zamfara State by bandits 

and heightened activities of 

kidnappers, has been worsened by the 

upsurge of assassinations, 

particularly of serving and retired 

military officers. 

Barely a few weeks after the Army 

successfully discovered the remains 

of its retired Chief of Administration, 

the retired Major General Idris Alkali, 

in a disused well in Lafande 

community, Jos Plateau State, it is 

now the grim burden of the Nigerian 

Air Force to front the efforts to 

unravel those behind this horrendous 

killing. 

Probe Marshal Badeh’s assassination 

Pending when the law enforcement 

agencies, given a special presidential 

directive to fish out the killers, are 

able to come out with their findings 

this shooting appears to bear all the 

tell-tale signs of an assassination, 

which is defined as the targeted killing 

of a prominent person. That Badeh 

was targeted was obvious, since he 

(along with his driver) was killed on 

his way back to Abuja from his farm, 

and nothing appeared to have been 

removed from the murder scene. 

A thorough investigation will 

establish the motive behind the act, 

which will also enhance a better 

understanding of the people behind 

it and why they struck. Beyond the 

fact that Badeh was once the highestranking 

military officer in the 

country, he was also standing trial on 

a N3.9 billion corruption and money 

laundering charge. Since the trial was 

still ongoing when he met his untimely 

death, a full unravelling of this killing 

will expose whether, as some are 

openly speculating, he could be a 

victim of efforts to conceal the truth 

or shield some people from facing 

their own portion of justice. 

The murder of Badeh, a former 

Commander of the Presidential Air 

Fleet, could deal a deadly blow on 

certain unresolved issues, such as his 

possible role in the alleged diversion 

of $2.9 billion fund meant for the 

purchase of military equipment to the 

pockets of politicians and top military 

officers by former National Security 

Adviser, retired Colonel Sambo 

Dasuki. 

It is also speculated that Badeh 

could have harboured some useful 

information about those behind the 

Boko Haram sponsorship as well as 

the abductions of our schoolgirls by 

the terrorist outfit. 

We encourage the Chief of Air 

Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, 

to make good his pledge of getting 

the NAF’s personnel to assist the 

security agencies in unmasking 

Badeh’s killers. If a murder of this 

magnitude goes unsolved, nobody 

will ever consider himself safe again 


Why our change is stalled 

By Sunny Ikhioya 

WE have a lot of dreamers in Nigeria, 

that on its own is no problem. The 

problem is: while others are making conscious 

and deliberate efforts to make their dreams a 

reality, we are here wishing it to happen. 

That is why the population trooping to 

Churches, Mosques and other worship centres 

are on the increase. The yahoo-plus 

phenomenon has taken a new dimension with 

parts being plucked out of human bodies while 

the victims are still alive. 

The best of the world in diverse fields - 

aviation/aeronautics, fine and virtual arts, 

nursing, law, medicine, literary arts, computer 

engineering, business and more, we have them; 

but why have these not been harvested towards 

meaningful progress for our country? 

The answer to this question will help us 

understand why the so much sought-after 

change has eluded us. In an article posted on 

his blog and titled: “Community Initiated 

Development And Sub Urban Economy”, Dr. 

Charles Apoki wrote: “When a community is 

not ready to initiate development, it is very 

difficult to help them develop. When a couple 

is not ready to live in peace and improve on 

their marriage, there is hardly anything you 

will do to help them.” 

That is the situation with Nigeria, the people 

are not ready for the change; therefore, it 

cannot happen. It is only when we are ready to 

enforce it, that the change will take place. For 

consecutive weeks, over two months now, we 

individuals clad in yellow/green jackets in the 

streets of different cities in France, trying to 

force government to reverse policies that they 

considered unfavourable to the people. What 

are we doing in Nigeria? 

Praying. There is nothing wrong with praying 

but even the Bible tells you that prayers without 

work will yield no fruit. We cry about our desire 

for change and everyone is running to the 

PDP and APC parties; no one is giving a thought 

to other alternatives because we always want 

the easy way out. 

We want standard health care established in 

the country, yet all our top officials are 

travelling abroad for their medical check ups. 

What will it cost to have just one standard 

hospital here that will take care of our 

President and top officials in the country? We 

want to encourage local manufacturers, but 

the government will not patronise Innoson 

Motors - even if it is just an assembly plant - 

and designate it as its official vehicle supplier. 

We want our educational institutions to be 

of world standard, but the children of almost 

all of our leaders school abroad. So, how do 

we expect the change to take place? Our 

leaders and politicians are now going back 

and forth- PDP-APC-PDP-APC-PDP and so on. 

Nothing new as it is a case of putting new wine 

in old bottles, same solutions that have failed 

in the past. They have started to deceive and 

bamboozle the poor masses and we want 

change to happen? 

A few months ago, a law was passed to 

encourage youth participation in political 

leadership. How has it fared? The obstacles 

put in place by cunning and conniving leaders 

have made it difficult for this to be actualised. 

The passiveness of the Nigerian populace has 

made it easy for our politicians to dribble us 

always. 

According to Senator Shehu Sani, on his 

twitter handle: “Northern political elite are 

silent on the frequent killings and kidnappings 

in the North because of any of these three 

reasons: Fear to be seen as opposing the 

government, belief that the President is doing 

his best; indifference because it’s the poor that 

are dying”. The senator is referring to the North 

OPINION 

here because that is his constituency and also, 

that is where the killings are prevalent. But the 

attitude is that of Nigerians generally, towards 

those in public office and positions of 

leadership - apathy and docility. 

So bad is the situation now that even the 

educated amongst us would see a melon seed 

in a pot of soup and call it a piece of meat. 

How low can a nation sink! We now slaughter 

and massacre human beings more than cows? 

As I write, another massacre had just taken 

place in Zamfara State. Meanwhile, our 

politicians are campaigning. Who will wake 

up the people from their slumber? Who will 

The leadership has 

displayed a total lack of 

capacity to manage the very 

delicate strand holding this 

country together 

bring the leaders to their senses? Who will 

make them to understand that unless the 

problems of this country are tackled in an 

unbiased and rationale manner, the nation is 

doomed? 

Things have never been so bad in this country, 

with extreme poverty pushing our youths in 

droves into foreign lands where they are treated 

worse than animals, where they get involved 

in yahoo-plus gangs of ritualists and 

murderers. The nation has been debased. 

Who are the leaders that can change the 

situation? In a recent conversation was with a 

friend, he asked: “Sunny, where is your third 

force?” I could not respond to the question 

because I have no answer to it. The Nigerian 

people have let themselves down again, with a 

golden opportunity beckoning on them to 

effect the much needed change through the 

instrument of the ballot; they have decided to 

run-after the APC and PDP parties, going back 

to their own vomits. Senator Shehu Sani, one 

of the politicians I believe still has character in 

the country, just moved from his APC to the 

PRP( Peoples Redemption Party). 

How many people are following his 

footsteps? Haven’t we had enough of the APC’s 

and PDP’s bitter pills? There is a lady who has 

been crying over the years, the leader of Kowa 

party; she has been consistent over the years in 

her stance. Have we given her a try? What 

about the SDP, a resurgent of the old 

progressives? 

What about others such as Moghalu, Sowore, 

Durotoye. If we are afraid of trying new people, 

we will not move forward. The ones we have 

there now have failed us. It’s time to make the 

change happen. If we must change, we must 

change indeed, both the personnel and the 

structures must be restructured for us to have 

effective result. We cannot keep on recycling 

the same people over the years and expect that 

something different will happen. If in doubt 

check out ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s 

first and second tenures. 

Also, check President Muhammadu Buhari’s 

past tenure and the present; they have one 

common denominator: hardship. The 

leadership we have in Nigeria today has 

displayed a total lack of capacity to manage 

the very delicate strand holding this country 

together. We are not talking about palliatives 

here, we are referring to the cure. If we want a 

permanent solution to the rot we have in place, 

we must be ready to change the status quo and 

the people must be ready to effect the change. 

It is time for the leadership to come out with 

the truth about the situation in the country; a 

leadership that will be able to lead solely on 

the basis of the rule of law, that will be 

impartial in all ramifications. It is time for the 

people to kick out these incompetent 

politicians. 

Ikhioya, www.southsouthecho.com 

Twitter; @SunnyIkhioya

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 — 19 

NSE reviews composition of market Indices 

*Sterling Bank replaces Beta Glass on key index 

From left: Minister of Finance Hajia Zainab Ahmed, Acting Director General, Securities and 

Exchange Comission Ms Mary Uduk and Director General, Debt Management Office Ms 

Patience Oniha during a World Press Conference on the Activities of Ministry of Finance in 

Abuja 

The Indices, which were developed 

using the market capitalization 

methodology, are rebalanced 

on a biannual basis, the first business 

day in January and in July. 

The stocks are selected based on 

market capitalization and liquidity. 

The liquidity is based on the number 

of days the stock is traded during 

the preceding two quarters. 

According to NSE, to be included 

in the Index, the stock must have 

traded for at least 70 percent of the 

number of trading days in the preceding 

two quarters. 

Refineries: No TAM in 42 years — NNPC 

*Ramps up oil output to 2.09 mbpd 

By Peter Egwuatu 

THE Nigerian Stock Ex 

change (NSE), in a stock basket 

rebalancing measure, has reviewed 

its NSE 30 Index and eight 

sectoral indices, stating that the 

composition of the indices is effective 

January 1, 2019. 

The indices are: NSE Consumer 

Goods, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance, 

NSE Industrial, NSE Oil & 

Gas, NSE Pension, NSE Lotus Islamic 

and NSE Corporate Governance 

Indices. 

According to NSE, the index rebalancing 

exercise which will see 

the entry of some major companies 

and the exit of others from the various 

indices. 

In a statement yesterday the NSE 

said: “A review of the composition 

of Indices shows that: for NSE 30 

Index, Sterling Bank Plc was selected 

to join the Index, while Beta 

Glass Company Plc was selected 

to exit. 

“For NSE Consumer Goods Index, 

no company is expected to join 

or exit. For NSE Banking Index, 

Jaiz Bank Plc was selected to Plc was selected to exit. 

geria Aviation Handling Company 

join while Diamond Bank Plc has “For Corporate Governance Index, 

no company was selected to 

been selected to exit. For NSE Insurance 

Index, Consolidated Hallmark 

Insurance Plc, Sovereign ance Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, and 

join the Index, while NEM Insur- 

Trust Insurance Plc and Regency Continental Reinsurance Plc were 

Assurance Plc are selected to join, selected to exit the Index.” 

while Continental Reinsurance Plc, 

Staco Insurance Plc, Standard Alliance 

Insurance Plc have been selected 

to exit. 

“For NSE Industrial Index, No 

change for both joining and exiting. 

For NSE Oil/Gas Index, MRS 

Oil Nig Plc has been selected to By Michael Eboh 

join the Index, while Eterna Plc is 

selected to exit. For NSE Pension 

Index CCNN Plc, Beta Glass leum Corporation, NNPC, 

THE Nigerian National Petro 

Co. Plc, Julius Berger Plc are selected 

to join the Index, while Dia- 

country’s refineries have not un- 

yesterday, disclosed that the 

mond Bank Plc, Continental Reinsurance 

Plc, and Ecobank Internanance, 

TAM, for an aggregate of 

dergone Turn Around Maintetional 

Incorporated have been selected 

to exit. For Lotus Islamic In- 

In a statement in Abuja, the 

42 years. 

dex, Jaiz Bank Plc have been selected 

to join the Index, while, Ni- 

NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, noted, 

Group Managing Director of the 

however, that despite the challenge, 

major rehabilitation works 

were carried out in all the 

three refineries. 

$101.00 -0.75 

In a massage to staff, 

obtained by Vanguard, 

2,398.00 25.00 Baru, said that Warri Refinery 

and Petrochemical 

$12.38 0.13 

Company, WRPC, had its 

Distribution Control System 

(DCS) successfully 

upgraded; Port Harcourt 

Refining Company, 

$53.21 0.00 PHRC, had major interventions 

in Fluid Catalytic 

$45.12 0.51 Cracking Unit, FCCU, 

and Power Plant Unit, 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING PPU, fixed, while Kaduna 

Refinery and Petrochemical 

Company, KRPC, was 

US DOLLAR 306 306.5 307 

POUNDS 388.4058 389.0405 389.6751 

undergoing major repairs 

EURO 350.8596 351.4329 352.0062 

FRANC 311.9902 312.5 313.0098 

of its FCCU, Catalytic Reforming 

Unit, CRU, and 

YEN 2.775 2.7795 2.7841 

CFA 0.5135 0.5235 0.5335 Crude Distillation Unit 2, 

WAUA 423.9579 424.6507 425.3434 CDU2. 

RENMINBI 44.505 44.5781 44.6513 He noted that efforts 

RIYAL 81.5674 81.7007 81.8339 were afoot to get the original 

builders of the refin- 

SDR 424.3302 425.0236 425.7169 

DANISH 46.9801 47.0568 47.1336 

RAND 21.2569 21.2917 21.3264 eries to carry out TAM on 

CBN Exchange rate as at 31/12/2018 them after securing 

favourable private funding 

for the exercise. Of the industry 

milestones in 2018, Baru disclosed 

that the Egina project had 

achieved First Oil at 11.20pm 

on 29th December, 2018 while he 

noted that the Egina Floating Production 

Storage and Offloading, 

FPSO, vessels is currently adding 

200,000 barrels of oil per day to the 

country’s crude oil output. 

He further stated that Nigeria’s 

crude oil daily production recorded 

an upward swing of about 2.09 

million barrels in 2018, translating 

to a nine per cent increment, compared 

with the 2017 average daily 

production of 1.86 million barrels. 

Baru explained that the average 

production from NPDC’s operated 

assets alone grew from an average 

of 108,000 of oil per day (bod) in 

2017 to 165,000bod in 2018, describing 

the feat as the strongest 

production growth within the oil 

Industry in recent times, even as 

he added that it was worth being 

celebrated. 

The NNPC boss said NPDC’s 

equity production share which 

stands at 172,000bod, representing 

about eight per cent of national 

daily production, was no less impressive, 

saying the desired results 

are outcomes of initiatives his Management 

team emplaced, among 

which, he noted, are the Asset 

Management Tea (AMT) structure, 

Strategic Financing, Units Autonomy 

and security architecture 

framework. 

In the Midstream, the NNPC 

GMD stated that in 2018, Nigeria 

achieved an average national daily 

gas production of 7.90bscf, translating 

to 3 per cent above the 2017 

average daily gas production of 

7.67bscf. 

Tony Elumelu Foundation opens applications for $100m 

Entrepreneurship Programme 

THE Tony Elumelu Founda 

tion, TEF, is now accepting 

applications for the 2019 cohort of 

the TEF Entrepreneurship 

Programme. 

The Programme is a 10-year, $100 

million commitment to identify, 

train, mentor and fund 10,000 African 

entrepreneurs. The 

Programme’s objective is to generate 

at least 1,000,000 new jobs and 

create at least $10 billion in new 

business revenue across Africa. 

Now in its 5th year, the TEF Entrepreneurship 

Programme has 

empowered 4,470 entrepreneurs, 

using a bespoke and robust selection, 

training and implementation 

process to create visible and sustainable 

impact across all 54 African 

countries. Founder, Tony O. 

Elumelu, CON, stated: “The private 

sector must be the core driver 

of Africa’s economic transformation, 

but this sector cannot attain its full 

potential if entrepreneurs are left 

behind. We call on all stakeholders 

– policymakers, business leaders 

and development agencies – 

to actively commit to creating a better 

future for our young Africans 

who have demonstrated intellect, 

BEDC celebrates 

Christmas for 

communities in 

Ekiti, Ondo 

states 

THE ‘Eka Meta” communi 

ties of Ekiti state experienced 

a refreshing Christmas as 

Bedel Electricity Distribution 

Company, BEDC Plc restored 

supply to Erinijiyan, Ipoleloro, 

Ikogosi. 

The three communities are at 

the end of Ilawe/Aramoko feeder 

which have been subjected to 

unreliable supply for several 

years. 

However, the supply source of 

the community was changed 

whilst the feeder and entire network 

was rehabilitated and restored 

by 1.15pm on Christmas 

day. 

The feat was achieved in collaboration 

with Niger Delta 

Power Holding Company 

(NDPHC) under the National 

Independent Power Project 

(NIPP). 

Similarly, Ode-Aye community 

in Okitipupa local government 

area of Ondo state that has been 

without supply for close to seven 

years was also restored on 

Christmas day by BEDC. 

This was after a massive reconstruction 

done jointly by 

NDPHC and BEDC. This was 

the first phase of the Ondo south 

restoration, as Okitipupa will be 

in the next phase. 

Following the restoration of 

power to Ode Aye town in 

Okitipupa Local Government 

area, after a long time, the traditional 

ruler of Ode Aye, Oba 

William Akinmusayo Akinlade, 

commended the staff and management 

of BEDC for the restoration 

of electricity to the town. 

Last Monday, the management 

of BEDC, led by the Chief 

State Head, Ondo/Ekiti state, 

Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, had charged 

the company’s field staff to leave 

no stone unturned in ensuring 

that Ode-Aye people enjoy electricity 

beginning from the 2018 

Christmas celebration. 

The Managing Director/CEO 

of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu 

had, at a press briefing hinted 

that there was ongoing rehabilitation 

of Ikogosi/Erinijiyan/ 

Ipole-Iloro on Aramoko 33kv 

feeder, adding that communities 

in these areas should have more 

stable power soon. 

skill, and passion, to empower 

them to succeed because their success 

is Africa’s success. The TEF 

Entrepreneurship Programme is by 

far the most impactful project of my 

life and represents my commitment 

to transforming Africa through entrepreneurship”. 

Parminder Vir, CEO, Tony 

Elumelu Foundation, said: “Our 

entrepreneurs illustrate the 

Foundation’s commitment to transform 

the African economy, by building 

on the intelligence, skills and 

resourcefulness of Africans. I encourage 

all ambitious young Africans 

to take advantage of this 

unique opportunity”.


Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 

Gas shortages continue to pressure power sector 

*Losses hit N519bn in 12 months 

*Weak investment threatens outlook 

By Udeme Akpan and Prince Okafor 

DESPITE its 202 trillion stan 

dard cubic feet, scf, gas reserves, 

Nigeria has not been able 

to harness enough of its gas for power 

generation, as a result of many 

challenges, including low investment, 

inadequate funding of 

projects and huge indebtedness to 

gas suppliers. 

A compilation of industry figures 

obtained by Vanguard from the office 

of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, 

indicated that the power sector 

has, in the past 12 months (January 

– December 2018), suffered several 

setbacks, resulting to N519 billion 

losses due to insufficient gas supply, 

amidst dilapidated distribution 

and transmission infrastructure. 

A breakdown showed that a total 

of N40 billion, N36 billion, N36 billion, 

N33 billion, N48 billion and 

N43 billion was lost in January, February, 

March, April, May and June, 

2018, respectively. 

It also showed that N50 billion, 

N57 billion, N51 billion, N52 billion 

N38 billion and N31 billion were lost 

in July, August, September, October 

November and December 2018, respectively. 

The report further stated: “On December 

29 2018, average energy sent 

out was 3,510 MWH/Hour (down by 

728.04 MWH/Hour from the previous 

day). 1,960 MW was not generated 

due to unavailability of gas. 0 

MW was not generated due to unavailability 

of transmission infrastructure, 

while 558.1 MW was not 

generated due to high frequency resulting 

from unavailability of distribution 

infrastructure. 

“Nil was recorded as losses due 

to water management. The power 

sector lost an estimated N1, 

209,000,000 (One Billion Two Hundred 

and Nine Million Naira) on 

December 29 2018 due to insufficient 

gas supply, distribution infrastructure 

and transmission infrastructure. 

“The dominant constraint on December 

29 2018 was due to unavailability 

of gas - constraining a total 

of 1,960 MW from being available 

Babatunde Fashola 

on the grid. Peak Generation attained 

on December 29 2018 - 

4,506MW. Peak Average Energy 

sent out ever - 4,557MWH/H (02 

February 2016). Peak Generation 

attained ever - 5,222MW (18 December 

2017). Estimated Amount 

Lost to Insufficient Gas Supply, 

Distribution, Transmission & Water 

Reserves to date in 2018 - 

N517,133,000,000 (Five Hundred 

and Seventeen Billion One Hundred 

and Thirty Three Million 

Naira only).” 

Commenting on the situation, the 

Executive Director, Association of 

Nigerian Electricity Distributors 

(ANED), Barr. Sunday Oduntan, 

stated: “there are some challenges 

that need to be tackled by many 

stakeholders, especially the Federal 

Government, the DISCOs and gas 

suppliers. These include: lack of liquidity 

that hampers operations. 

Another challenge is energy theft 

which culminates in leakages and 

losses. 

“The vandalism of facilities that occur 

too often is also a serious problem 

that leads to huge deficit. No 

bank would lend you money unless 

your business is bankable. 

“Let me re-state for emphasis that 

this liquidity crisis is a major threat 

to the power sector. The revenue 

shortfalls adversely affect the ability 

of the DISCOs to make capital investments 

in metering, network expansion, 

equipment rehabilitation 

and replacement that are critical for 

service delivery.” 

Corruption 

In addition, the sector is also 

haunted by corruption. In one of its 

recent reports sent to Vanguard, the 

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability 

Project (SERAP), stated: “Allegations 

of corruption in the electricity 

sector in Nigeria have had 

catastrophic effects on the lives of 

millions of Nigerians, akin to crimes 

against humanity as contemplated 

under the Rome Statue and within 

the jurisdiction of the court. 

“Therefore, the staggering 

amounts of public funds alleged to 

have been stolen over the years in 

Bar Sunday Oduntan 

the electricity sector create just 

these consequences. Crimes 

against humanity are not only 

physical violence; allegations of 

corruption in the electricity sector 

hold a comparable gravity, which 

the Prosecutor should examine and 

thoroughly investigate. 

“Corrupt officials and corrupt contractors 

in the electricity sector know 

well that their conduct is criminal 

and injurious, and the denial of human 

dignity coupled with a radical 

breach of solemn trust, aggravate 

their alleged crime.” 

Impact 

From construction, to education 

and from finance to manufacturing, 

the poor power supply has crippled 

activities in many sectors of the nation’s 

economy. 

Immediate past President of the 

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria 

(MAN), Mr. Frank Jacobs, stated: 

“It is possible to gauge the loss 

suffered by manufacturers arising 

from paucity of electricity supply 

and high cost of alternative energy 

source. Capacity utilisation in the 

sector has barely been above 50 percent. 

“This implies that the production 

has been sub-optimal; production 

value in the sector was estimated at 

N8.38 trillion in 2016. Another way 

of measuring the loss to manufacturers 

as a result of the challenges 

of electricity supply is by looking at 

the huge cost of alternative energy 

which was estimated at N129.95 billion 

in 2016. 

“Even though the sector, especially 

the distribution aspect has been 

privatised, it is important that government 

should find ways and 

means of supporting the Discos until 

a stable, quality and reasonably 

priced electricity is available to the 

manufacturing sector. 

“There is need for government to 

continue to offer integrated support 

to all stakeholders on the NESI value-chain 

i.e. manufacturers, GEN- 

COs, TCN, and DISCOS in terms of 

finance and expertise.” 

Expectation 

From all indications, this situation 

will continue in 2019 and beyond, 

especially as the deep-seated problems 

may not be successfully tackled 

in a short or medium term. 

Executive Secretary, the Association 

of Power Generation Companies 

(APGC), Joy Ogayi, said: “To bridge 

the gap between demand and supply 

of power, there is need for all 

parties of the power chain to be fully 

effective to bring about the installed 

capacity of 13,200MW to hungry 

consumers. However, this is not 

the case in the power sector in Nigeria.” 

World oil demand to rise by 

1.29 mb/d 

THE Organisation of Petroleum 

Exporting Countries, OPEC, 

world oil demand has been projected 

to rise by1.29 million barrels per day, 

bpd in 2019. 

In its recent report sent to Vanguard, 

OPEC stated: “In 2019, world oil demand 

is anticipated to rise by 1.29 mb/ 

d, similar to last month’s projections. 

As a result, total world oil demand is 

anticipated to reach 100.08 mb/d. Oil 

demand growth is projected to originate 

from Other Asia, led by India, followed 

China, then OECD Americas. 

“OECD countries will rise by 0.25 mb/ 

d, while non-OECD countries will drive 

oil demand growth by adding an estimated 

1.04 mb/d in 2019. Non-OPEC 

oil supply growth in 2018 is estimated 

Frank Jacobs 

at 2.50 mb/d, an upward revision of 0.19 

mb/d from the previous month’s assessment. 

“The US, Canada, Russia and Kazakhstan 

are expected to be the main 

growth drivers, while Mexico and Norway 

are anticipated to show the largest 

declines. With this, total non-OPEC supply 

for 2018 is now estimated at 60.03 

mb/d. 

“Non-OPEC oil supply growth in 2019 

was revised down by 0.08 mb/d to stand 

at 2.16 mb/d and is now forecast to reach 

an average of 62.19 mb/d. This is mainly 

due to a lower oil supply forecast for 

Canada given Alberta’s announcement 

of a mandatory production adjustment, 

as well as downward supply forecast adjustments 

for the 10 non-OPEC participants 

in the Declaration of Corporation 

in the first half of 2019.”


Experts offer solution to revamp Nigeria’s lackluster 

brand positioning 

Stories by Princewill 

Ekwujuru 

MARKETING 

and public relations 

experts have called 

for a new strategic approach 

to revamp the 

lackluster brand positioning 

of the Nigerian 

state. 

They spoke at the sixth 

Brand Journalists annual 

Brands and Marketing 

conference in Lagos 

titled: Brand Lagos 

Challenges, Opportunities 

and Lessons. 

Speaking, the Chief 

Executive Officer, Prima 

Garnet, Lolu Akinwunmi, 

offered some suggestions 

to the lackluster 

attitude of the Nigerian 

states on brand positioning, 

using Lagos 

as a case study. 

He stated that the lackluster 

attitude is induced 

by easy oil money with 

key international tourist 

destinations neglected 

without the objective to 

generate sufficient earnings 

for economic 

growth. 

Recognising the fact 

that there is no perfect 

brand, as nations and 

cities have their 

strengths and weaknesses, 

he strongly advised 

Lagos State and other 

states to set up a structure 

on a private partnership 

arrangement for 

their branding project, 

which is a trending global 

scenario. 

Under the structure, he 

suggested that an ad 

hoc committee be set up 

and made up of seasoned 

professionals and 

experienced civil servants 

to determine the 

strategy and scope of the 

branding project. “On 

approval of its recommendation, 

the committee 

will hand over to a 

special purpose vehicle 

set up by the government 

to be known as the 

Lagos Branding Project 

Business Support 

Group, LBPBSG. 

“The mandate of the 

group would be to implement 

the agreed 

strategy 


the committee by putting 

the structure and 

strategy in place to run 

the project. It will also 

generate the funds and 

goodwill needed for the 

implementation through 

the agreed PPP process, 

especially from the private 

sector, showing 

them opportunities and 

benefits for involvement.” 

Lolu further said that 

for reasons of probity 

and accountability, and 

to assure prospective 

sponsors and the Nigerian 

public, “we propose 

the setting up of the Lagos 

State Branding 

Project Fund, LBPF, 

which will be managed 

under the supervision of 

whomever the governor 

designates as the CEO 

and the LBPBSG Advisory 

Board. 

The LBPF will be independent 

of direct government 

control and be 

open to regular audit 

from a properly appointed 

independent audit 

firm. The board and 

management will also 

ensure that quarterly reports 

are generated 

which will be made 

available to all sponsors 

and donors and all stakeholders 

to the fund. 

"We expect this to further 

engender believability 

and trust from 

stakeholders. The state 

government should be 

prepared to add its own 

counterpart fund for every 

naira generated 

through this source.” 

He said what a state 

like Lagos needs is a 

strategic brand management 

plan which goes 

beyond the traditional 

approach of brand promotion. 

“This way, the 

start-up point is a holistic 

audit of Brand Lagos 

through the eyes of all 

its stakeholders.” 

Lolu, however, said the 

government needs to 

“live the brand. What 

you are saying must not 

be any different from 

what you are projecting.” 

Panelists' take 

During the panel discussion, 

Mary Ikoku, a 

media expert urged marketing 

professionals to 

help states by projecting 

positive aspects of Nigeria. 

Shola Fajobi of 

Brooks and Blake PR, 

challenged government 

to put infrastructure in 

place and citizens will be 

the first marketers of 

Nigeria. 

Odion Olebua, a PR 

expert regretted that the 

state of the international 

airport in Lagos, the 

first entry point of most 

foreigners, is not in good 

condition and should be 

addressed by the government, 

while Joe Onuorah 

of APCON called 

for the strengthening of 

law and order as a strategy 

to achieve state 

branding. 

Access Bank retells African 

story through music 

DAVIDO, D’banj, 

Yemi Alade, Falz 

and Awilo will headline 

the first of its kind 

Born In Africa Festival 

2018. The event, which 

is presented by Access 

Bank said it is retelling 

the African story 

through music at the 

just-concluded one day 

music display tagged: 

Born in Africa Festival, 

BAFEST, 2018 in Lagos. 

According to a statement 

by the Group 

Head, Communications 

& External Affairs at Access 

Bank Plc, Amaechi 

Okobi: “We are proud to 

be showcasing the best 

of African Vibes at this 

historic event. It is the 

climax of all our efforts 

to change the Nigerian 

and African narrative. 

Our string of event partnerships 

such as the 

Access Bank Lagos City 

Marathon, Art X Lagos, 

the African International 

Film Festival and the 

finale, the Born in Africa 

Festival, all aim to 

change the continent’s 

negative narrative as 

well as project it as a 

hub for entertainment 

and creativity. ” 

He added: “African 

culture has served as 

an inspiration to the 

western world over the 

years. Pablo Picasso, a 

Spanish expatriate 

painter, sculptor, printmaker, 

ceramicist and 

stage designer considered 

to be one of the 

greatest and most influential 

artists of the 

20th Century was said 

to have had a period in 

which his paintings 

were strongly influenced 

by African sculpture 

and particularly, 

traditional African 

masks.” 

*From Left: The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the founder of the 

Obijackson Foundation, Dr Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi (second right), flanked by the 

new Face of Okija (male), Achukwu Promise Chidi and the new Queen Oluchi 

Blessing Nwizugbo at the Face of Okija Cultural Festival which held in Okija, 

Anambra State. 

Union Bank named Pitcher Awards 2019 

Advertiser of the Year 

CHINI 

Africa, 

Cannes Lions Official 

Festival representative 

in Nigeria and organisers 

of the Creativity 

Week has named 

Union Bank as the 2019 

recipient of the Advertiser 

of the Year Award. 

The award will be presented 

at the Pitcher 

Awards Night and Gala 

in Lagos as part of the 

Creativity Week, which 

will hold from March 25 

to 30, 2019. 

Nnamdi Ndu, CEO, 

Creativity Week, said: 

“We are happy to honour 

Union Bank withthe Advertiser 

of the Year 

Award in recognition of 

their impressive use of 

creative advertising and 

storytelling to portray 

their rejuvenated100- 

year-old brand in a way 

that connects with the 

people.” 

Union Bank’s comprehensive 

transformation 

programme began with 

a recreation of the 

bank’s business model, 

rebuilding of its technology, 

physical infrastructure 

and reengineering 

of its work force. These 

efforts tied into the rebranding 

initiatives and 

quickly helped to dispel 

the lingering perception 

as “old fashioned,” coming 

from the bank’s century 

long history. 

Following the internal 

operations overhaul and 

rebranding exercise has 

been a series of successful 

campaigns that have 

resonated with Nigerians, 

including the 

award-winningUncle 

Thomas advertising campaign 

and the Enabling 

Success short filmwhich 

received wide acclaim, 

gaining one million 

views on Youtube within 

three weeks of release 

and boasting of over two 

million views at present. 

MTN, MUSON hold donors’ 

concert 

MTN Foundation and 

the Musical Society 

of Nigeria, MUSON, hosted 

the society’s donors to an appreciation 

concert in recognition 

of their continued support 

in the year. 

The event which held in Lagos 

saw MUSON board 

members, donors, friends of 

the Society and MTN Foundation 

officials reflect on a 

successful year in the country’s 

cultural and creative space, 

and pledge their support for 

its continued renaissance. 

Speaking, MTN Foundation’s 

Director, Dennis Okoro 

said: “We commend our 

scholars for the beautiful performance 

tonight. We are 

proud of the MUSON School 

of Music and have been since 

2005. 

“It is because of the great 

Indomie Relish hits market 

INDOMIE Relish, the 

newly introduced Indomie 

noodles variant 

from the stables of Dufil 

Prima Foods, has entered 

the market. 

The launch, which 

kicked off with a market 

activation in Abuja gave 

consumers an opportunity 

to buy the product. The 

Abuja launch team took it 

further with a mall activation 

at Jabi Lake Mall in 

Abuja with an in-store wet 

and dry sampling, which 

lasted for six hours. 

The Product Manager, 

Indomie Relish, Ginny 

Tewatia, said:”After the 

successful launch of Indomie 

Relish in Lagos, 

we decided to take it to 

Abuja, and it has been 

well received. Indomie 

Relish is a complete meal 

work that the MUSON continues 

to churn out that makes 

us immensely proud and committed 

to extending our support 

to Nigerian arts and culture 

fully.” 

As a country with a rich and 

diverse history, supporting Nigerian 

arts and culture has 

been at the core of the MTN 

Foundation’s mandate. Part of 

the Foundation’s support is the 

scholarship programme for 

students at the MUSON. The 

programme has produced 

graduates who have also become 

notable music directors 

for internationally acclaimed 

musicals like Kakadu, Fela 

and the Kalakuta Queens, and 

Legends. In November, the 

Foundation sponsored a master 

class for students of the 

MUSON School of Music as 

part of its longstanding partnership 

with the school that 

dates back to 2006. 

with real fish and chicken 

chunks, depending on 

one’s taste and preferences. 

We are also here at the 

Jabi Lake Mall giving free 

Indomie Relish samples 

to people in the spirit of 

Complete Christmas Experience.” 

At the wet sampling 

stand, each shopper was 

treated to a bowl of both 

the chicken and fish flavours 

of the Indomie Relish 

at a stand, where consumers 

attested to seeing 

and eating real fish and 

chicken chucks in the 

sampled bowls. The side 

attractions had a violinist 

and a trumpeter playing 

melodious Christmas 

tunes to thrill the excited 

customers, in a bid to give 

consumers the classy taste 

and feel of the Indomie 

Relish.


Laundry detergent: Manufacturers intensify bid 

for market share with new features 

Stories by Princewill 

Ekwujuru 

PRESSURE on consumers’ 

disposable income 

has forced laundry detergent 

producers to reformulate 

their products for improved 

performance in a bid to attract 

more patronage and increase 

market share. 

The three contending 

brands for more market 

shares are Sunlight from 

Unilever Nigeria Plc, Ariel 

manufactured by Procter 

and Gamble (P&G), and 

Soklin, produced by Eko Supreme 

Resources Nigeria 

Limited. 

Investigation conducted 

by Vanguard Companies 

and Markets, C&M shows 

product repackaging, redesigning 

and segmentation 

initiatives by these companies 

in a bid to make their 

products more pocketfriendly 

in recognition of the 

reduced purchasing power 

of consumers. 

The manufacturers are 

also infusing new washing 

technology via stain removing 

chemicals for added value. 

For example, Ariel 

launched The Stain Challenge 

campaign and 

claimed the brand contains 

an upgraded and more effective 

enzyme cocktail that 

gently removes tough stains 

in one wash. In addition, the 

manufacturer added fragrances 

and redesigned the 

wrapper. 

Likewise, Sokline on its 

part introduced the stain remover 

technology that removes 

stains from clothes 

hence the consumer does 

not need to scrub hard. It 

also added fragrance and introduced 

a redesigned wrapper. 

On its part, Sunlight introduced 

a new stylish design 

for its wrappers, while reformulating 

its washing technology 

with the introduction 

of deep wash campaign, that 

explains the deep wash 

mechanism imbedded into 

the product. 

Manufacturers speak 

Marketing Manager of 

the company, Mrs. Abimbola 

Alabi said: “Eko Supreme 

will continually strive 

to incorporate advanced 

manufacturing technologies 

in the production of our 

brands as recently demonstrated 

with SoKlin’s reformulation, 

imbued with new 

stain magnet technology, a 

combination of broad spectrum 

enzymes that release 

and remove all dirt faster 

from cloth fiber giving 

brighter and cleaner wash. 

SoKlin now adorns a new 

pack upgrade with glossier 

and trendier look and feel, 

in tandem with its premium 

status and for maximum 

shelf appeal.” 

Speaking on condition of 

anonymity, a Senior Manager 

in P&G, said: “One of the 

major differentiators for Ariel 

is its promotion strategy. 

To differentiate itself from 

competitors, Ariel is always 

focused on the latest and has 

always maintained that 

‘seeing is believing” and 

therefore has created campaigns 

to make its product 

visible in the eyes of the consumers. 

Like a typical FMCG company 

with mass marketing, 

the ads are placed on television, 

radio, newspapers, billboards 

and magazines. “Ariel 

has also utilised the internet 

medium and all the 

ads along with the product 

information can be viewed 

at the various sites. 

Ariel is popularized as a 

detergent that has enzymes 

for the removal of stains 

without harming the 

clothes.” 

Unilever could not reply to 

the questions sent to them on 

the Sunlight brand. 

Consumers’ response 

Commenting, Mrs. Amarachi 

Ude, a housewife, described 

efforts by detergent 

manufacturers to garner 

more market share as “manufacturers' 

sensibility to consumers' 

quest for a more satisfying 

product for washing.” 

A laundry operator at Old 

Ojo road, in Lagos, Mr. Adeniyi 

Adeleke, said most of 

the detergents are doing well 

in the market but he prefers 

Ariel. 

“Some of them have infused 

other washing technologies 

into their brands to enhance 

their acceptance in 

the market.” 

He went on to say, “most 

times I use two different detergents 

for my washing, 

Soklin or Sunlight; Soklin 

for its stain removing mechanism 

and colour guard 

technology, Sunlight for its 

freshness and perfume.” 

Another laundry operator, 

Alhaji Ahmed Gidado, who 

plies his trade at Amukokooja, 

Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA, 

Lagos, says he prefers Ariel, 

but uses Soklin as last resort. 

A teacher with a private 

school in Isasi, Lagos, 

Mrs.Rose Iwuagwu said: 

“What attracted me to Ariel 

was its strong stain removing 

power and the cleanliness 

it gives to my clothes especially 

white clothes.” 

Distributors 

On market leadership, a 

distributor at Ereko market, 

Lagos Island, who refused to 

give his company’s name, 

but simply referred to himself 

as Alhaji Agba, observed 

that the limitation of bar 

soaps is what the detergent 

manufacturers are utilising 

to pull customers to their 

brands, by improving on 

their brand quality. 

He stated further that 

“most of the brands are doing 

well, but pointed out that 

the leadership tussle is between 

Sunlight, Ariel and 

Sokline. He said he sells 

more of Soklin, even though 

some brands are making incursion 

into the market.” 

Mazi Bonnyface Obigwe 

of Josh Enterprises, Alabasuru 

market, Lagos said: 

“The battle line is drawn 

between Sunlight, Ariel and 

Soklin, “sometimes you are 

made to make impulsive 

buying because it appears 

one brand is making more 

progress in the market than 

the other. It is a serious war 

between the trio.” 

141 unveils new brand identity, 

now Nitro 121 

INTEGRATED Marketing 

Communication, 

IMC agency, Nitro 121 

marketing communication, 

formerly 141 Worldwide 

has unveiled a new name 

and logo, promises better 

digital and creative engagement 

for the clients. 

Speaking in Lagos, Managing 

Director of the agency, 

Lampe Omoyele at the 

unveiling said nothing was 

wrong with 141 Worldwide 

brand. “What we have done 

is an evolution and taking 

the opportunity to use a new 

name, a new identity to 

launch ourselves to higher 

height as a business." 

According to Omoyele 

the revitalised agency is 

bringing to the market high 

performance. “We bring to 

Most of the 

brands are doing 

well, but 

...the leadership 

tussle is 

between 

Sunlight, Ariel 

and Soklin 

*Centre: Mercy Johnson Okojie, Brand Ambassador to Mr Chef Salt with some 

staff of Royal Salt Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Mr Chef Salt brand while on 

courtesy visit to the company in Lagos. 

the table a new dimension 

of digital marketing, we 

have one of the strongest 

teams and one of the best 

digital marketing personnel 

in the country, we are 

bringing a new digital marketing 

strategy capabilities 

into the game. We have recruited 

in the past one year 

some of the best strategists; 

the average agency just 

speaks about creativity. No, 

we are starting from consumer 

hindsight and developing 

strategy,” he said 

He went on: ”In formula 

one car race, when a car and 

a driver come to a pit stop, 

within a few seconds that 

car pulls up to perform at 

the higher level before it 

gets to the pit stop. 

Nitro 121 is a pit stop 

where brands and businesses 

come to, and working 

with us, their levels of 

performance improves. So, 

every brand and business 

that comes in touch with 121 

to the pit stop, we would 

leave you performing better,“ 

he said. 

He stated that the 121 

metaphor speaks about the 

higher level of connection 

with brands and consumers. 

In motorsports, a pit stop 

is where a racing vehicle 

stops in the pits during a 

race for refuelling, new tyres, 

repairs, mechanical adjustments, 

a driver change, 

as a penalty, or any combination 

of the above. 

Be tech-savvy, photo 

journalists urged 

MEDIA practitioners in the country, especially photo 

journalists, have been advised to embrace technology 

and be digitally- savvy so as to be able to meet up 

with the modern-day demands of the job. 

Giving the advice at this year’s annual conference of 

the Photo Journalists Association of Nigeria, PJAN, held 

in Lagos, recently, a marketing communications practitioner 

and former president of the Association of Advertising 

Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, also 

advised the present-day journalists to develop a pool of 

reliable public citizens, who would help keep portfolio 

of newsworthy pictures. 

Oke, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ladybird 

Limited, harped on the need for photojournalists 

and editors to be one step ahead of others, by being digitally- 

savvy and learning to pool photo archives/ resources 

for speed and collaboration. 

She noted that the primary role of the photojournalist 

is to be a visual storyteller by photographing, editing, 

and presenting images to the public, and as a result, 

must be able to use digital as well as print photography 

equipment, editing tools, and publication software. 

Welcoming members and guests to the event, the chairman 

of the association, Mr. Ademola Akinlabi noted that 

it had become imperative for members to improve on 

the trade through creativity for them to keep up with the 

demands of the profession. 

“Our pre-occupation should be how we can bring in 

new perspective and creativity into photojournalism and 

collectively change the face of the practice." 

LAIF Awards: X3M Ideas 

emerges among most 

valuable agencies 

X3M Ideas has once again emerged one of the most 

valuable creative agencies in Nigeria. 

At the 13th edition of the 2018 Lagos Advertising and 

Idea Festival, LAIF held in Lagos. X3M work for Glo 

'Spoken Words, won a gold in the telecoms category 

while in the Radio Craft segment, Spoken Words 

(Glo)also won. Peak’s Always and Lacasera’s Moon (Eid 

Mubarak) also won gold in the Digital Craft. 

The agency’s work for DSTV's Easter hunt and 

Lacasera’s Moon/Eid Mubarak each got a Press Silver 

while Peak’s Island and Peak's Generation, got silver 

each in the film category. Glo’s The Chase, Peak's Heritage 

and X3M Ideas' social service initiative, Depression, 

contributed a silver each to the chest. 

In the Bronze zone, X3M Ideas’ winning works include 

Glo - Experience the Legendary Game. 

Speaking on the agency’s feat, Chief Executive Officer 

of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, said one of the things that 

delights him is the consistency of his team and "fresh 

breath of life we have brought to bear on the Nigerian 

advertising industry and our clients’ businesses. 

“I am really proud of the team, since we started participating 

in LAIF in 2013, we have consistently been in 

the top three or four bracket. This year is not an exception, 

we came 3rd in the awards that is becoming more 

competitive by the day. We’re really proud, and feel so 

proud of the clients we work with, for giving us opportunity 

to push for something new,” he said. 

MultiChoice announces winners of 

2018 DStv Eutelsat Star awards 

WINNERS have emerged from the 2018 edition 

of the DStv Eutelsat Star awards. They are 

Tirzah Ikiri of Zamani College, Kaduna, winner in the 

Essay category of the award while Prosper Okarike of 

Graceland International College, Port-Harcourt came first 

in the Poster category,making him a two-time winner of 

the competition at the national level. 

The runners-up for this year’s awards are, Michael Okwutu 

of The Heavenly College, Lagos who won in the 

essay category and Wandoo Ayabam, Hill Crest School, 

Jos, who won in the Poster category. 

While commending the judges for making out time to 

conduct a transparent adjudication, Mr. Ugbe further explained 

that the award is meant to inspire innovative thinking 

amongst secondary school students in Africa, to create 

awareness on how science and technology can be 

applied to everyday life, and to showcase the many ways 

that satellites already impact the development of the African 

continent.” 

The annual awards which received a total of 70 entries 

including 57 essays and 13 posters this year, takes the 

form of a competition open to students between the ages 

of 14 and19 years. 

Nigerian winners of the award have now qualified to 

compete at the continental level for the emergence of Africa’s 

best in the essay and poster categories of the awards. 

The award was established in 2011 by MultiChoice Africa 

in collaboration with Eutelsat; a leading satellite operator 

for broadcasting, broadband and data services.


ON what Nigeria should 

do to regain its position 

in the comity of cocoa 

producing nations despite 

recent flooding 

We are in the rainforest and 

from my experience, heavy rain 

will always affect us. It is not 

really the flood per se but the 

amount of water over the fruits 

and over the tree. 

Where the fruits are really 

affected has to do with the 

damage to the pods and that is 

what reduces the production, 

that is why I said one of the 

things we are not really doing 

is we are not getting involved 

in research. 

We have done a lot of research 

on production, on reducing the 

amount of time to increase 

production per one seedling or 

per tree. What we are not doing 

is sometimes there are some 

fruits that have been developed 

which sort of prevent pests from 

destroying them but now, the 

issue of flooding should be 

another subject on its own and 

the only way we can prevent that 

is if research goes into it. 

If we say research, we are 

talking of funding, so 

everything comes down to 

funding and I want to believe 

that the more we talk about 

this flooding issue, the more they 

will now look for ways of 

immersing cocoa pods into 

water and it still comes out 

good at the end of the day, so it 

is about research. 

On getting the country’s 

beans classified under fine 

cocoa that attracts higher 

prices 

It is not about regulating 

your pricing or fixing your price 

or making sure it is only cocoa 

boards that buy the cocoa so you 

create a regulated market, no, 

you can create regulations to 

guide standardisation that will 

guide quality, to guide other 

things that will make your 

product or your raw beans 

premium. 

It is not your pricing, so the 

Ghana model, the Ivory Coast 

model are problems for their 

"Why we need more research 

in cocoa " 

Oba Dokun Thompson, the Oloni of Eti-Oni, Osun State, 

is an advocate of empowering cocoa farmers in the 

country. 

Speaking during a forum of Food and Agric writers in Lagos, 

the Monarch said cocoa was a key export commodity central 

to the realisation of the Federal Government’s targets towards 

sustainable development. 

Here is an excerpt from the discussion. 

countries. a problem for the 

industry and a problem for the 

continent, because that is why 

you will see Nigeria cocoa 

going to Ghana, going to 

Cameroun or vice-versa when 

prices are going up and down 

and all that. 

But if everything is left to the 

market forces, left to demand 

and supply and when we now 

start consuming cocoa, the price 

of cocoa is going to go up, it will 

definitely go up because the 

quantity of cocoa that will be 

available to the outside market 

will be reduced drastically, what 

will now happen is that they will 

increase the margin to be able 

to get enough of what they 

require. 

On the Federal Government 

10-year cocoa plan being the 

right initiative to develop the 

industry 

I have not seen the details of 

the 10-year cocoa plan but we 

have several plans in Nigeria: 

Vision 20-20, and the likes. 

You see, when you don’t grow 

things organically, you run into 

problems, what is the benefit of 

achieving one million tons? Is it 

to bring down the prices of cocoa 

to $1000 per ton or to $500 per 

ton? 

They have not achieved 

500,000, they are talking of 

1million, who are the people 

that will grow this cocoa? Who 

are the people that will go and 

harvest them? 

In 2012-2013, 800,000 to one 

NASS pushes for separate Agric budget 

….as farmers soon to be 40% shareholders of BoA 

By Gabriel Ewepu 

ABUJA — THE National 

Assembly at the 

weekend, pushed for separate 

agricultural budget for speedy 

release of funds to boost 

performance, productivity and 

food security in the country. 

This was the position of both 

Committees of the Senate and 

House of Representatives on 

Agriculture and Rural 

Development, during a joint 

oversight function at the 

headquarters of the Federal 

Ministry of Agriculture and 

Rural Development in Abuja, 

led by both chairmen, Sen. 

Abdullahi Adamu and Hon. 

Mohammed Monguno 

respectively. 

Speaking on the need for a 

separate budget for the 

agricultural sector, House 

Committee Chairman on 

Agriculture, Hon. Monguno, 

maintained that agricultural 

practices are seasonal, and that 

late release of approved funds 

has hampered smooth 

execution of programmes and 

projects by the Ministry, 

therefore affecting farmers' 

productivity and food security 

over the years, which has been 

a major problem in the sector. 

Monguno also frowned at 

some cumbersome provisions of 

the Procurement Act that have 

negatively impacted the sector, 

and therefore, frustrated the 

million seedlings 

were given out for 

free to cocoa 

farmers, the 

production 

capacity went up 

then because 

there was a lot 

o 

f 

encouragement, 

but right now, 

it's like there 

is a little bit of 

lull in the 

activities of 

cocoa production. 

Don’t let us call it politics, you 

can create policies and not back 

it up with actions. When you 

don’t back that policy with an 

action that it requires, then the 

policy is hopeless, it is 

meaningless. It is about lack of 

interest. 

A few years back, they were 

saying they wanted to overtake 

Ghana and Ivory Coast as the 

largest producers at that time 

I also have a 

problem with the 

export drive, in terms 

of encouraging people 

to export raw cocoa 

beans rather than 

encourage them to 

export intermediary 

product 

government and farmers' effort to 

make the nation self-sufficient in 

food production and security. 

His words: “There is need for 

the legislature and executive to 

collaborate to make sure 

budgetary issues concerning 

agriculture are removed from 

the traditional budgetary 

provisions in view of the fact that 

issues concerning agriculture 

are time-bound and the rains are 

not going to wait. 

“So there is need for the 

executive to submit the budget 

concerning agriculture different 

and distinct from the other 

budgets of other ministries so 

the legislature can quickly 

approve the budget concerning 

Ministry of Agriculture in tandem 

Ivory Coast was producing about 

800,000 tons, today Ivory Coast 

has moved to 1.2 million tons 

per annum. That, on its own, had 

its own effect, you crash the 

prices and they lost $300,000 in 

their cocoa pricing. 

The farmers were in huge 

problems, that is on one side, 

but let's look at the positive side, 

they moved from where they 

were between now and that 

time that Nigeria said it wants 

to move to 1.3 million tons, and 

at the same time, they moved to 

become the largest processor. 

They have the largest 

processing capacity in the 

world, overtaking Holland. 

Holland used to be the largest 

processor of cocoa in the world 

which I think is about 600,000 

tons every year but today, Cote 

d'Ivoire has overtaken them by 

a margin of 20-30,000 tons. 

I am not sure what they mean 

by wanting to produce one 

million tons, do we have to be 

an extractive location? The only 

with the fact that agriculture is 

time-bound and the rains cannot 

wait. 

“Again, with regards to the 

release of funds, it should be 

speedy so the Ministry will hit 

the ground running for the 

purpose of executing their 

budget and Nigerian farmers are 

going to benefit from the service 

of the ministry. 

They also spoke on the need 

for the executive and legislature 

to look into the Public 

Procurement Act to allow the 

Ministry of Agriculture in 

particular, not to comply with the 

Public Procurement Act that tend 

to constitute a clog in the wheel 

of fast-tracking delivery of 

services to farmers so that 

Nigerian farmers will enjoy the 

service of the ministry. 

thing that can drive our economy 

is manufacturing and that is what 

will add value to the economy, that 

is what will create jobs and sustain 

the industry, even the production. 

If you look at the Netherlands, 

they have a population of about 15 

million people; the number of 

people that are actually into 

farming, into agriculture in the 

Netherlands is only about 7 or 8 

per cent of the population, under 

a million people and yet, they 

export over $65 billion of 

agricultural produce because they 

add value. 

Nigeria has a population of 180 

million, we have 75 per cent of 

our population in agriculture and 

we don’t do a billion dollar of export 

in agriculture, there is a major 

problem. So look at the capacity 

or the value of each person, each 

person in the agricultural sector in 

the Netherlands has the capacity 

to produce maybe a million dollar 

or so, meanwhile, in Nigeria it is 

like in the deficit. 

So if that 10-year plan does not 

involve very strategic planning 

whereby it is not just saying we 

are going to be producing one 

million tons of cocoa every year, 

we want to achieve that and if that 

is just what they say, then there is 

a problem because they are 

supposed to be saying how we are 

going to add value to it, how we 

are going to rebuild our 

communities, how we are going 

to encourage the younger 

generation to go into it, how we 

are going to create industries etc. 

What do we need a 10-year 

development plan for, if the main 

crux of that plan is not about 

adding value? 

I also have a problem with the 

export drive, in terms of 

encouraging people to export raw 

cocoa beans rather than encourage 

them to export intermediary 

product which has increased the 

price and also created jobs in 

multiple folds.


vicahiyoung@yahoo.com 

Govts pushing us to early graves—Pensioners 

•••says only 10 states paying benefits as and when due 

Stories by Victor 

Ahiuma-Young 

THE worsening living conditions 

of the nation’s senior citizens has 

remained a source of worry to well 

meaning individuals and groups especially 

Organised Labour. 

Every given opportunity, Labour has 

drawn the attention of government and 

other relevant authorities to the need to 

care for the senior citizens who spent 

their productive years in the service of 

the nation, especially by ensuring that 

their meager pensions are paid as and 

when due to lessen their pains and sufferings. 

However, all these pleas, so far have 

fallen on deaf ears going by the complaints 

of the President of Nigeria Union 

of Pensioners, NUP, Dr Abel Afolayan, at 

the recent celebration of Pensioners’ Day 

in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, 

FCT. 

While lamenting that the Federal 

Government has partially been trying 

to address the pensioners’ plight, he, however, 

declared that only about 10 states 

had been up to date with pensioners’ benefits. 

He said: “The Federal Government 

and by extension, the state governments, 

who are in full knowledge of Section 

173, subsection 3 and Section 210 subsection 

3 of the 1999 Constitution as 

amended, have always failed to comply 

with the provisions contained therein. 

The sections stipulate thus: “Pension 

shall be reviewed every five years or together 

with any increase in workers’ wages, 

whichever comes earlier.” The federal 

and state governments have always 

violated these constitutional provisions. 

*A cross section of Pensioners protesting in Lagos 

Reprieve for disengaged tally clerks, onboard security men 

AFTER three years of batting 

for their entitlements 

through the Maritime Workers 

Union of Nigeria, MWUN, disengaged 

tally clerks and onboard 

securitymen, indications have 

emerged that the affected workers 

who were members of the Dockworkers’ 

branch of MWUN, will 

soon have reason to smile. 

Available information has it that 

Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, and 

MWUN, have completed the verification 

exercise ahead of payment 

of the outstanding benefits of the 

workers disengaged by NPA in December 

2015. 

The General Manager, Human 

Resource, NPA, Y.G Bukar on behalf 

of the Managing Director, in a statement 

dated 14th December, 2018, 

titled: Addressing the Request for 

Payment of Severance Incentive to 

Disengaged Dockworkers, had said 

the verification exercise would take 

place between December 17th and 

Friday 21st at the various ports locations 

in Lagos, Onne, Rivers, Calabar 

and Delta. 

According to the statement: “Sequel 

to the meeting held with the 

leadership of dockworkers for severance 

incentive to be paid to disengaged 

tally clerks and onboard security, 

the committee constituted to 

examine the demands of dockworkers 

will be embarking on a verification 

exercise at the different locations 

in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, 

Rivers and Warri. The National 

Association of Stevedoring companies 

is hereby informed of the exercise 

and charged with the dissemination 

of the information as scheduled 

to the respective employees.” 

Though the Federal Government has 

been trying to comply partially, it has 

always failed woefully in the payment of 

arrears resulting from pension increase. 

“The violations are much worse in the 

states. With the exemption of a few states 

like Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Yobe, 

Plateau, Ogun, Anambra, Kebbi and Jigawa, 

all other states are still owing their 

pensioners outstanding pension arrears 

amounting to billions of Naira and covering 

many years. Imo State Government 

has the worst record of non-challant, 

cruel and dehumanizing treatment 

of their pensioners. 

NPA stressed that to ensure a 

hitch-free session, the affected staff 

were to bring along their identification 

of employment, form of identification 

while next of kin of deceased 

employees were to provide proof of 

employment of the deceased employee. 

However, it was gathered that the 

verification exercise of the affected 

workers in Lagos did not take place 

as scheduled due to disturbances by 

PenCom, vested interests and security of pension fund 

By Suleiman Tajudeen 

Anyone who has ever headed 

an organisation or association 

of people knows the peril 

of fighting corruption and those 

who profit from it. It is a hazardous 

venture undertaken only by 

persons with strong character, 

conviction and determination. 

Such individuals often come out 

of the struggle bruised or battered, 

but nevertheless, contented 

and comforted for putting 

themselves on the firing line to 

protect public trust. This is the 

situation with the National Pension 

Commission, PenCom, 

which is the regulatory body 

mandated to regulate, supervise 

and ensure the effective administration 

of pension matters in 

Nigeria. The management of the 

agency is currently facing challenges 

from what one may describe 

as ghosts of varied types. 

Those at the helm of affairs at 

PenCom today have no doubt experienced 

what it means to fight 

institutional corruption. Mrs. 

Aisha Umar, the Acting Director- 

General of PenCom and her team 

are certainly not finding it funny 

regulating the pension industry. 

As at today, Imo State Government is 

owing its pensioners N56 billion. Oyo 

State Government is similarly owing local 

government and primary school 

pensioners billions of naira as unpaid 

pension arrears. The matter is already 

before the National Industrial Court and 

so no further comment is necessary.” 

Backlog of arrears 

Commending the Federal Government 

for paying pensioners monthly 

pensions very often but not always as 

and when due, Dr. Afolayan, however, 

noted that “there are enormous arrears 

of pension and gratuities owed especially 

as a result of the recently-concluded 

verification exercise for pensioners who 

have genuine complaints and have been 

captured on payrolls. However this is 

not the case as far as payment of accrued 

rights by the Federal Government 

is concerned, thus making it impossible 

for contributory pensioners who migrated 

from Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS, 

to Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, 

to be paid in time. It is our humble plea 

that immediate steps should be taken to 

pay all outstanding arrears and accrued 

rights in no distant future. 

some of the workers who were alleged 

to have acted ignorantly as a 

result of 'outsider' influence. 

Their verification it was gathered 

took place between December 27 

and 28 under the personal supervision 

of the President-General of 

MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju and 

other leaders of the union including 

the President of the Dockworkers’ 

branch of the union, Ibrahim Ohize. 

Speaking earlier ahead of the verification 

exercise, Adeyanju said it 

was a welcome development following 

persistent battle by the union to 

ensure justice for the affected workers. 

He recalled that since the issue 

started, the union during the leadership 

of Anthony Nted and up till 

his leadership of the union, had not 

relented in ensuring that the disengaged 

workers were paid their due 

and legal benefits. 

Recently, they have found themselves 

having to refute spurious 

allegations, one after the other, 

from largely faceless individuals 

and groups. These are people 

who see their stake in the industry 

only in terms of undue benefits 

to themselves and their organisations 

to the detriment of the 

common good. 

It would be recalled that following 

the enactment of the Pension 

Reform Act 2004, which was 

later repealed and re-enacted in 

2014, it became mandatory for 

employers to deduct at source, 

the monthly contribution of the 

employee from the employee’s 

salary in addition to the employer’s 

contribution and remit it to 

the Pension Fund Custodian, 

PFC, specified by the employee’s 

Pension Fund Administrator, 

PFA. It is one of the fundamental 

functions of PenCom to ensure 

that this process is strictly complied 

with, in order to achieve the 

cardinal objective of pension 

payment as and when due. Pen- 

Com has fairly succeeded in discharging 

this responsibly since 

its establishment in 2004 due to 

sustained commitment and performance. 

The Nigerian pension 

industry is today worth over eight 

trillion of assets investment in 

various segments of the economy. 

However, a group that calls itself 

the Centre for Public Accountability, 

CPA, has since 2016, 

engaged in an insurgency against 

PenCom, barely 12 years after the 

take-off of the Contributory Pension 

Scheme. The group and other 

faceless groups fronting for 

fraudulent employers and pension 

administrators, waged a relentless 

battle of attrition against 

PenCom, using half-truths and 

outright lies as weapons. 

The struggle to sanitise the industry 

pre-dated the current 

management of PenCom but intensified 

under the current Ag. 

Director-General, Mrs Umar. 

This posture opened the regulator 

to campaigns of calumny by 

faceless groups claiming to expose 

corruption but actually 

fighting to protect themselves 

against the regulator’s hammer. 

Read full story at 

www.vanguardngr.com 

“We call on the Federal Government 

to intervene in the cruel treatments being 

meted out to pensioners in most 

states. We humbly appeal to President 

Muhammadu Buhari to persuade and 

prevail on all state governors who are 

slowly killing and exterminating their 

pensioners through long delays in pension 

payment, to have a rethink and be 

more responsive to their plight as it is 

utterly inhuman and ungodly to continue 

to be averse to their unbearably debilitating 

condition and treat them with 

disdain. The Council of State meetings 

which they (state governors) are all expected 

to attend should provide sufficient 

ground for such intervention and 

solution to the nagging problem. 

“We would like to point out humbly 

but firmly and sincerely that since state 

governors never fail to collect their 

monthly salaries, security votes and other 

fantastic and mouth-watering allowances, 

they have no moral justification 

for failing to pay their pensioners as and 

when due. It is equally disgusting and 

inexplicable that ex-governors and their 

deputies who served for eight years or 

less are paid enormous/unimaginable 

severance allowances while pensioners 

are left to suffer endlessly. This intolerable 

situation does not portray us well 

here at home and before the international 

community. It must stop as it is a 

disgrace to us all. 

“We see it as one of our main challenges, 

the stoppage of 5 per cent counterpart 

funding being paid by the Federal 

Government to assist in paying 

monthly pension of Local Government 

and Primary School pensioners. This 

stoppage has resulted in untold hardship 

for this category of pensioners. We 

humbly call on the Federal Government 

to resuscitate this funding to enable local 

governments have sufficient funds to 

pay their local government and primary 

school pensioners. 

“ I want to passionately appeal to federal 

and state governments to take pensioners' 

welfare, comfort and happiness 

through payment of their entitlements 

as and when due with all seriousness 

and commitment. I want to reiterate my 

appeal in my last year’s address to make 

pension payable on first line charge to 

ensure that pensioners are paid their 

monthly pension before serving workers 

because pensioners need their monthly 

pay early to take care of their agerelated 

ailments regularly and fulfill other 

financial commitments. This is the 

norm in other climes.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

Data & Figures 

maritimerepor6005@gmail.com 

VESSELS EXPECTED AT THE LAGOS PILOTAGE DISTRICT 

DELTA PORT


IMO aims at crew safety, combating 

illegal fishing 

The Maritime Safety 

Committee is the 

International Maritime 

Organization's senior 

technical body on safetyrelated 

matters. Member 

States meet twice a year to 

discuss safety of life at sea. 


Organization 

Circumstances are 

sometimes downright 

treacherous because of 

weather, the condition of a 

vessel, a captain's decisions, or 

a combination of those factors. 

Fortunately, the 


Organization (IMO) is 

working to improve safety for 

crews at sea. It recognises the 

best way to accomplish this is 

through the Cape Town 

Agreement (CTA), an 

international treaty that 

outlines fishing vessel 

standards and aims to protect 

the safety of crews; the treaty 

must enter into force to be 

effective. At its 100th session 

last week, the IMO's Maritime 

Safety Committee (MSC) 

noted that this would make a 

significant contribution to the 

safety of fishing vessels and 

fishers and, because the 

agreement includes ship 

inspection protocols, could 

support initiatives to combat 

illegal, unreported, and 

unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

The CTA would save fishers' 

lives by driving improvements 

in vessel safety standards 

globally, including regions 

such as the Arctic and 

Antarctic where crews often 

fish in extremely hazardous 

conditions. 

Illicit fishing jeopardizes the 

health and sustainability of the 

world's fisheries, undermines 

law-abiding fishers, and has 

been linked to crimes such as 

piracy, human trafficking, and 

arms and narcotics smuggling. 

In their quest for profit at any 

cost, IUU fishers may cut 

corners on vessel standards 

and crew safety, and instances 

of horrific treatment of workers 

at sea by some captains have 

been well documented. 

Many illegal operators have 

evaded detection and 

prosecution for decades 

because of lax oversight and 

patchwork governance. But 

numerous anti-IUU initiativesat 

the national, regional, and 

international levels-are 

showing promise, offering 

hope that many illegal fishers 

will abandon the crime as the 

risk of being caught outweighs 

the likely gains. States around 

the world can provide a 

consistent and minimum set of 

rules to combat IUU fishing, 

ensure decent working 

conditions, and safeguard 

fishers by implementing three 

United Nations treaties: 

" The United Nations Port 

State Measures Agreement 

(PSMA). 

" The International 

Labour Organization Work in 

Fishing Convention No. 188 

(C188). 

" The International 

Maritime Organization Cape 

Town Agreement. 

Three Key Ship Types to Watch in 2019 

THERE are three major ship 

types to keep a close eye 

on in 2019, based on what has 

transpired this year. 

These include big-ship 

categories led by Capesizes, 

large LNG carriers and 

medium range (MR1) tankers, 

according to VesselsValue’s 

trade analyst Court Smith. 

Capesizes 

The Capesize market has seen 

a surprising amount of 

volatility this year as the 

prospect of a trade war 

between the US and China 

created market uncertainty for 

buyers of raw materials. The 

market took an unexpected dip 

in autumn as a result, which 

Investors Inquire about 

Rainbow Trout Breeding 

Opportunities in Klaipeda 

A 

Danish company, working 

in the field of aquaculture, 

is discussing possibilities of 

breeding rainbow trouts in 

Lithuania. On 13 December 

potential investors have met 

representatives of Klaip?da 

State Seaport Authority and 

researchers of Klaip?da 

University (KU). 

The Danish company is 

interested in possibilities of 

establishing a rainbow trout 

farm in the Baltic Sea, about 

16 km north of Klaip?da. 

According to preliminary 

calculations, it would produce 

about 3 thousand tonnes of fish 

every year. During the first 

stage the farm would grow 

larger trouts that have been 

grown in closed systems for 

two years and brought from 

Denmark, but eventually 

Klaip?da region could 

develop its own infrastructure 

chain, including fry growing in 

special tanks, a trout farm with 

feeding barges in the sea, a 

then disrupted what was 

otherwise a strong year for dry 

bulk ships. 

In the third quarter of 2018, 

Capesize freight rates 

improved 52 percent year-onyear, 

somewhat against the 

odds, BIMCO said. 

“The prospects at the start of 

2019 are fundamentally 

bearish. There is a strong 

seasonal dip in January and 

February in ton mile demand, 

and the fleet size has been 

gradually increasing,” Smith 

said. 

Companies like GoodBulk 

and Seanergy Maritime 

believe that Capesize market, 

despite being the most volatile 

fish processing block and 

warehouses. Investments 

could reach about 20 million 

Euro and create more than 60 

new jobs. 

During the meeting 

representatives of Klaip?da 

State Seaport Authority have 

informed the investors that the 

preliminary location, planned 

for the farm, should not create 

any difficulties to fishing. 

Useful information for 

further stages of planning has 

been also provided by the 

researchers that the investors 

have met at the KU Marine 

Research Institute. The guests 

have also used the opportunity 

of exploring the experimental 

base, established by the 

initiative of Klaip?da Science 

and Technology Park (KSTP), 

which grows shrimps with the 

assistance of KU researchers, 

and getting to know the activity 

of the Centre for Aquaculture 

Competence, which was 

opened this summer. 


International News 7 

dry bulk sector, offers high 

returns but also exposes 

owners to high risks as well. 

GoodBulk’s management 

is optimistic that supply and 

demand fundamentals in the 

Capesize market will remain 

strong supported by 

historically low fleet growth 

and growth in tonne miles. 

During the Q3, six Valemaxes 

were delivered from Chinese 

shipyards, bringing the total 

new-built deliveries for the 

year to up to 15 Valemaxes, 

with 18 still left on the order 

book, primarily for 2019 

delivery. Overall, over the past 

year, the Capesize fleet has 

grown by 2.9%, BIMCO’s data 

shows. 

According to Maritime 

Strategies International 

(MSI), Capesize spot 

rates could rise above USD 

25,000 per day in Q4 if iron 

ore exporters meet planned 

shipment targets, with the 

upside cascading into the 

Panamax market as shippers 

consider splitting ore cargoes. 

Large LNG Carriers 

Smith believes the LNG 

market faces a more complex 

outlook. The global thirst for 

cleaner fuels has continued to 

increase and hire rates for 

ships remain near USD 200k/ 

day. 

“However, a warm winter so 

far in China has depressed 

some of the immediate 

demand, and ton miles have 

nudged downwards. The 

long-term prospects for this 

market are promising, but the 

market has likely peaked for 

now,” he said. 

The outlook for the next three 

years shows that a total of 91 

mtpa of new LNG production 

capacity is expected to start up 

in 2018 to 2021. 

West 

Terminal 

receivesBRC 

certification 

New Bedford, Massachusetts, 

21 May 2018 - Maritime 

International Inc., the largest 

public cold storage facility in New 

Bedford, is announcing that their 

West Terminal division has 

received certification from the 

British Retail Consortium (BRC) 

an approved audit scheme under 

that Global Food Safety Initiative 

(GFSI). 

Maritime International is proud 

to have achieved the BRC 

certification. "This achievement 

confirms our long term 

commitment to supply our 

customers with the highest quality 

and rigid safety standards through 

the supply chain." said David 

Wechsler, President 

BRC has been recognized 

internationally as the leader in 

food safety certification. As a 

member of the GFSI, the BRC is 

committed to continuous 

improvement of its food safety 

standards and requires the same 

continuous improvement from the 

distribution centers they certify. 

About West Terminal: West 

Terminal, highly recognizable 

from the muralist Wayland's 

painted whales, is a 63,000 square 

foot facility and is part of Maritime 

International's New Bedford cold 

storage complex with facilities 

totaling over 190,000 square feet 

of refrigerated space. 

Maritime operates Bridge 

Terminal in New Bedford which 

specializes in blast freezing and 

the storing of fresh and frozen 

perishables. Maritime also 

unloads refrigerated railcars and 

handles the stevedoring of 

international cargo ships. 

Nanjing Tanker to 

relist on 

Shanghai 

exchange this 

month 

CHINESE transportation 

company Nanjing Tanker 

Corporation, part of 

Sinotrans & CSC, will relist on 

Shanghai Stock Exchange on 

January 8, 2019. 

The opening price of its stock 

will be CNY 4.31 (USD 0.63) 

per share, the company said 

in its relisting report. 

Earlier this week, the 

company said it has been 

granted bank credit support 

which would help Nanjing 

Tanker relist and implement 

future projects. 

The tanker shipping company 

suffered financial losses for 

four consecutive years from 

2010, triggering the delisting 

process in 2014. 

It carried out restructuring by 

divesting some of the nonperforming 

VLCC 

assets, terminating several 

leased contracts, forming 

joint-venture companies and 

disposing of some of its noncore 

assets. 

World Maritime News Staff


6 

International News 

OPEC Cuts to Test the Strength of Tanker 

Market Recovery 

Organization of the 

Petroleum Exporting 

Countries (OPEC) and 

Russia agreed to cut oil 

production by 1.2 million 

barrels a day during their 5th 

meeting held on December 7 

in Vienna. 

The contributions from OPEC 

and the voluntary contributions 

from non-OPEC participating 

countries of the ‘Declaration of 

Cooperation’ will correspond to 

0.8 million barrels a day (2.5%), 

and 0.4 million barrels a day 

(2.0%), respectively. 

The decision came just days 

after the U.S. President Donald 

Trump called on OPEC to 

maintain production at the 

same level. 

“Hopefully OPEC will be 

keeping oil flows as is, not 

restricted. The world does not 

want to see, or need, higher oil 

prices!,” Trump said in a Tweet. 

Commenting on the decision, 

Iranian President Hassan 

Rouhani said that ”despite the 

American’s efforts to interfere 

in OPEC affairs and attempting 

to disrupt the balance, with the 

resistance of member countries 

and the Islamic Republic of Iran 

and Mr Zanganeh, their plots 

were foiled, marking another 

failure for them.” 

Iran, which has been faced 

with U.S. sanctions, is believed 

to have been exempt from 

making the cuts. 

Impact of the Decision on the 

Tanker Market 

OPEC-led production 

reduction is being announced 

at the time when the tanker 

market is finally exiting from 

the doldrums. 

“Against the backdrop of this 

uncertainty (or maybe because 

of it), the tanker market is 

holding up fairly well. 

However, a significant cut in 

exports will test the strength of 

the market in the coming 

months,” Poten and Partners 

said in a weekly report. 

As explained earlier by CEO 

of Tsakos Energy Navigation 

(TEN) and Chairman of 

INTERTANKO, Nikolas 

Tsakos, ”the market right now 

has learned to live with the 

cap.” 

Commenting on the 

anticipated OPEC cut before 

the decision was announced, 

Tsakos said in a conference call 

that it was good for the market 

that three major producers of oil 

are outside the OPEC or 

independent of OPEC, those 

being the United States, Saudi 

Arabia and Russia. 

Since these three countries 

make up almost 35% of oil 

production, the impact of OPEC 

cuts is expected to be somewhat 

lessened. However, Tsakos 

believes that a large daily cut 

of about one million barrel per 

day would help the market 

normalize in the long-term. 

The U.S. in particular is 

gaining an ever more important 

role in the market as last week 

it became a net oil exporter for 

the first time in 75 years. 

Another milestone for the 

country was achieved earlier 

this year, when the U.S. became 

the largest crude oil producer 

in the world, surpassing Russia 

and Saudi Arabia, data from 

IEA shows. 

“Overall we see an 

oversupplied oil market. 

•Ship berthed at a port 

Cutting into a surplus of oil will 

not have a massive effect on 

tankers,” Peter Sand, Chief 

Shipping Analyst at BIMCO 

told World Maritime News. 

Sand added that based on the 

information from large middle 

eastern oil producers there are 

not enough buyers for the level 

of production right now. 

According to Poten, for the 

large tanker market, OPEC 

output decisions continue to be 

very important, both physically 

and psychologically. 

The previous OPEC cuts that 

went into effect in January 2017 

had a significant impact on the 

VLCC market. Time charter 

equivalent (TCE) earnings for 

VLCCs on the benchmark 

Arabian Gulf to China route 

went from USD 55,000/day in 

December 2016 to USD 16,000/ 

day in March 2017 as 

production from Middle East 

OPEC countries dropped by 1.2 


Exmar’s Tango FLNG Sets Sail for Argentina 

Exmar’s 

floating 

liquefaction unit (FLNG), 

to be renamed Tango FLNG, 

has left China and is headed 

to Bahia Blanca, Argentina, to 

start its liquefaction 

operations. 

Tango FLNG’s voyage to 

Argentina is expected to take 

approximately 45 days. The 

vessel was hired by Argentinabased 

engineering firm YPF 

under a ten-year agreement, 

and it is expected to start up 

LNG production in the second 

quarter of 2019. 

Under the deal, Exmar’s 

FLNG barge wil produce and 

export LNG from the Vaca 

Muerta source at the Neuquén 

Basin in Argentina. The 

project marks the country’s 

entry to the club of global LNG 

exporting nations, with an 

initial plan to export 500,000 

Maersk Eyes Land-Based Acquisitions 

South Korean Regulator Approves 

MacGregor’s Acquisition of TTS Businesses 

MacGregor, part of 

Cargotec, has received 

a clearance decision from the 

South Korean Fair Trade 

Commission on the 

company’s acquisition of the 

marine and offshore 

businesses of TTS Group 

ASA. 

tons of LNG per year to 

overseas markets. 

Up to eight LNG cargoes per 

year are expected to be 

produced over the ten-year 

period, Belgian owner and 

operator of gas carriers said. 

World’s largest shipping 

company Maersk is 

reportedly targeting 

acquisitions on land to bolster 

its logistics operations as part 

of the group’s transformation 

from a conglomerate to an 

integrated global container 

logistics company. 

“The future will be very much 

about scaling the land side of 

the equation . . 

. We for sure have to do 

some acquisitions in the 

logistics space, primarily to 

The acquisition was 

announced in February 2018 

when MacGregor decided to 

buy all TTS’ assets except for 

TTS Group ASA and its 

shipyard solution business 

Syncrolift for EUR 87 million. 

In November, MacGregor 

also received approval from 

Tango FLNG is designed for 

a liquefaction capacity of about 

0.5 million tons of LNG per 

year. 

Exmar disclosed earlier that 

the hire rate of Tango FLNG 

is partially based on a floating 

gain capability and 

scale,” Søren Skou, Maersk’s 

Chief Executive Officer, is 

quoted by the Financial 

Times as saying. 

As reported, potential 

acquisition candidates are 

likely to include trucks, 

warehouses and other 

important segments of the 

supply chain management, but 

the company would refrain from 

making multi-billion deals and 

go after bolt-on acquisitions. 

The key reason behind taking 

the German Federal Cartel 

Office. 

The company is still waiting 

for the approval from the 

competition authority in China. 

Once the approval is 

received, the company expects 

to complete the acquisition in 

Q1 2019. 

million b/d. 

The large tanker market 

remained depressed throughout 

the rest of 2017 and only started 

to recover in October 2018, a 

few months after OPEC 

producers, in particular Saudi 

Arabia started to ramp up 

production again. 

rate with an expected EBITDA 

of around USD 43 million per 

year based on the estimated 

production of the Tango FLNG 

with upside potential 

depending on the market 

environment. 

a disciplined investment 

approach is in line with 

Maersk’s desire to reduce its 

debt at a time when operating 

costs, led by high bunker prices, 

exert high pressure on the 

company’s earnings. 

The remaking of Maersk 

Group is expected to 

last between three to five 

years. For the transformation to 

be completed, Maersk is yet to 

finalize the separation of 

its energy business, as 

structural solutions are still 

being sought for Maersk 

Supply Service. 

Namely, in November 

2018, Vincent Clerc, Maersk’s 

Executive Vice President, said 

the group would not 

finalize the sale of its Maersk 

Supply Service business, which 

was expected to be completed 

by the end of the year. 

As part of its energy business 

separation drive, earlier this 

year Maersk announced its 

spin off of Maersk Drilling as 

a standalone company on 

Nasdaq Copenhagen in 2019.



Customs & Imports 5 

Why Customs linked seized Owerri armoured 

vehicles to national security 

Stories by Eguono 

Odjegba 

THE Controller, Nigeria 

Customs Service, Federal 

Operations Unit, Zone ‘C’, 

Owerri, Imo State, 

Comptroller Kayode 

Olusemire, has said that the 

importations of armoured 

vehicles portend several 

risks to Nigeria. 

He said the Customs has 

the duty to curtail the 

security risks of imports 

without End-Users 

Certificate, explaining that 

the End-User Certificate 

legally and officially enables 

government security 

agencies to be able to track 

such imports and their uses, 

and to forestall their ending 

up in the wrong hands. 

Items listed therein 

includes explosives, 

chemicals, arms, armoured 

vehicles or what is 

commonly known as bullet 

proof vehicles, etc; and for 

which the importers or the 

agent is expected to procure 

an End-User Certificate. 

At the briefing in 

Government Warehouse 

Benin City, Olusimire 

disclosed that NCS in the 

Zone has seized six 

armoured vehicles over the 

past one month, and said 

the Customs will continue 

with its clampdown on the 

illegal imports because of 

both its economic and 

security implications. 

Explaining, he said 

prospective importers 

should endeavour to be 

guided by the Nigeria 

Customs Import Prohibition 

List which showcases an 

array of controlled imports 

for which permits must be 

sought and obtained before 

their arrival at the shores of 

the country. 

He said, “In the past four 

months, we have brought 

you here to showcase 

seizures made by our 

officers. We are here again 

but not so much to 

showcase seizures but to 

appeal to Nigerians to strive 

to do the right thing. Why is 

it that every time, we have 

people travel abroad to buy 

exotic cars, cars that are 

worth millions of naira, and 

they prefer not to pay duty 

on them? We are also having 

other importations that have 

potential security risk. 

“Here we have bullet proof 

Land Cruiser, no document, 

smuggled into the country 

with DPV of N95million. This 

is another one here, Range 

Rover with DPV of 

N81million. These are 

vehicles that are controlled, 

they are supposed to obtain 

End-User-Certificate to make 

it possible to trace, so that 

they do not fall into evil 

hands.” 

Asked if the increasing rate 

of the importation of 

armoured vehicles could be 

linked to the approaching 

elections, he replied, “I don’t 

know. What I know is that it 

is the duty of Customs to 

ensure that no bullet proof 

vehicles without importation 

permit is allowed to come in. 

The importer is supposed to 

go the National Security 

Adviser to request for End- 

User Certificate. If he does 

not have the End-User 

Certificate, he cannot import 

a bullet proof car. Such 

vehicles have special security 

features, its users must be 

known to government 

security agencies so that 

government is able to track 

their uses, so that they don’t 

get into wrong and evil 

hands. 

“Importers should please 

get necessary information on 

cars they wish to buy from 

the Customs website. They 

can also visit any customs 

formation nationwide, 

where you can get any 

information on import from 

Customs Help Desks.” 

ANLCA crisis deepens, as Emenike’s 

faction elects new Western zone exco 

AS the crisis rocking the 

Association of Nigeria 

Licensed Customs Agents, 

ANLCA, deeps with the 

alleged sack of the 

Western zone and chapter 

officials by the Tony 

Nwabudike’s faction, the 

We didn’t seize container full of 

dollars — Customs 

By Ebuka Oko 

THE National Public 

Relations Officer of 

Nigeria Customs Services, 

NCS, Joseph Attah has 

debunked news trending in 

the social media that one of 

the recently seized 40 

containers by Customs 

along Apapa road contain 

United States dollars. 

Attah, who made this 

known to the media during 

* From left: Assistant Compt. Shiaibu O/C Operations, CAC Fed Operations Zone C, Compt. Kayode Olusemire, Dept 

Compt. Mauzu Raji and behind the CAC, O/C Benin Axis, CSC Joseph Adebayo at a press briefing by the unit in Benin 

recently. 

a press briefing in Lagos, 

stated that the falsehood was 

created by some people who 

do not have the real 

information about the 

content of the containers. 

He further explained that 

the container was fully 

loaded with tramadol and 

other pain killer drugs and 

not dollars. 

He stated: “I want to state 

clearly that the 40 containers 

seized in Apapa were 

By Godfrey Bivbere 

containing dreaded tramadol 

and other pain killer drugs, 

not dollars.” 

Attah also warned that this 

false information and 

fabricated lies can bring 

about panic in the country’s 

political system if not tamed. 

“We have never seized any 

container containing 

American dollars. This kind 

of fabrication is false, 

misleading and capable of 

causing unnecessary panic 

on the polity,” he added. 

Emenike Nwokeoji’s 

faction last week 

conducted elections for the 

same offices in the zone. 

Recall that the 

Nwokeoji’s faction weeks 

back announced the 

sacking of the Tony 

Nwabunike as National 

President. 

A statement made 

available to Vanguard 

Maritime Report by 

National Publicity 

Secretary of Nwokeoji’s 

faction, Adumaza Joe 

Sanni, noted that 

elections into the five 

chapters (Apapa, Kirikiri 

Lighter Terminal, KLT, 

Murtala Mohammed 

International Airport, 

MMIA, Port & Terminal 

Multi-purpose Limited, 

PTML and Seme Border) 

was conducted as their 

tenure is expected to 

expire next month. 

Sanni noted that the 

elections was conducted 

by the reconstituted 

Association Electoral 

Commission, ASECO, led 

by Chief Obi Chima, with 

Secretary as Asiwaju 

Bolade Oladipo and five 

other members, was 

inaugurated the previous 

day by the Board of 

Trustees (BOT) led by 

Alhaji Taiwo Mustapha, 

in the office of the Vice 

Chairman- Chief Dennis 

Okafor (since the 

National Secretariat/ 

Board Room was under 

lock and Key) with 

Secretary of the BOT – 

Prince Taiye Oyeniyi, Sir 

Ernest Elochukwu 

(Former National 

President) and Dayo 

Azeez (Former Vice 

President) in attendance. 

ASECO adopted the 

option A4 (which 

involves the voters 

queuing behind their 

preferred candidates and 

counted) to conduct the 

elections, chapter by 

chapter.


4 

Terminals & Ships 


‘28-day turn-around time makes us reject ships’ 


Josepdam Port Services 

Nigeria Limited, operators of 

'terminal A' at the Tin-can 

Island port, is currently 

turning back ships seeking to 

berth at the multi-purpose 

terminal, its Managing 

Director, Simon Travers, has 

said. 

Speaking in an exclusive 

interview with Vanguard 

Maritime Report in his office 

in Lagos, Travers said that 

the absence of critical 

infrastructure at the ports 

has affected the ship turnaround 

time at the terminal 

and has led to delay in the 

evacuation of consignments 

cleared from the facility. 

He stated out that the turnaround 

time for cargo used to 

be seven days but presently 

takes between 27 to 28 days 

to clear consignments from 

the terminal which hinders 

space for discharge of more 

ships and cargoes. 

He stated: ''The local 

infrastructure is primarily the 

problem we are facing because 

of the turnaround time of 

cargo here. The turnaround 

time is supposed to be seven 

days, that is the average, but 

•L-R: Myrta Kaulard, Country Director, Nigeria, World Food Programme; Saheed Lasisi, 

General Manager, Business Development and Strategy, SIFAX Group; John Jenkins, 

Group Managing Director, SIFAX Group and Abdou Dieng, Regional Representative 

for West Africa, World Food Programme during the courtesy visit of the WFP Team on 

Ports & Cargo Handling Services Limited, the flagship business of SIFAX Group. 

at the moment it is 27 to 28 

days and this is reducing our 

throughput ability. 

"The longer the cargo stays 

on the terminal the less cargo 

we can off load from other 

ships, so we are turning away 

ships because we do not 

have space. We had some 

ships few weeks back but we 

had to reject them because 

we have no space. 

'Multiple deep seaports inimical to export growth' - Shittu 

By Eguono Odjegba 

A 

frontline maritime 

stakeholder, Prince 

Olayiwola Shittu, has warned 

the federal government against 

laying too much emphasis on 

establishment of Deep Seaports 

across the nation, saying that its 

proliferation has the potential to 

impede capacity growth of the 

nation's export. 

Shittu, who is the immediate 

past National President of the 

Association of Nigeria Licensed 

Customs Agents, ANLCA, 

advised government to rather 

give priority attention to the 

development of Nigeria's export 

base, and to ensure that only 

economically viable Deep 

Seaports are allowed, to 

forestall repeat of politically 

motivated port infrastructure. 

Shittu, in an interview with 

Vanguard Maritime Report, 

expressed worry about the 

possible failure of the emerging 

deep seaports, which he said 

ordinarily is a welcome 

development based on critical 

indices, even as he tasked 

government to ensure that 

stakeholders are adequately 

carried along at the conception 

level to avoid waste of scarce 

resources and abandonment. 

He stated: "This Lekki Deep 

Sea Port, like the one they are 

talking about at Badagry, Ibaka, 

Gelegele and the rest, when did 

we develop the idea that all we 

need to be doing is to establish 

new ports, because these things 

(new ports) seem to be planned 

to increase our level of imports 

without considering export that 

will turn around our economy, 

andmake our exchange rate 

firm and strong. 

"This Lekki Deep Seaport is 

here, Olokola Deep Seaport is 

there, some people are 

encouraging Deep Seaport in 

Koko and Warri,… do you know 

how much it takes to maintain 

a deep seaport? Deep Seaports 

are not something to be 

dredged like Calabar and Warri 

seaports that have been giving 

us problems because of silting. 

Why do you start thinking of 

establishing other deep 

seaports that will run into 

trouble within five years? 

Nobody thinks of the future, we 

only think of now", he lamented. 

Speaking further, he noted 

that the 2009 port concession 

failed because stakeholders 

were not adequately carried 

along, leaving the critical 

decisions only to the few 

relevant government agencies. 

He stated: "During the port 

concession many things were 

not factored in. I was the 

National Publicity Sectary of 

ANLCA, we kicked against a 

concession that will not involve 

the stakeholders, it was just the 

Bureau of Public Enterprises, 

Nigerian Ports Authority and 

Shippers' Council. Chief 

Adebayo Sarumi, then 

Managing Director of Nigerian 

Ports Authority, NPA, was saying 

it will do well for us; but at what 

cost? he asked. 

"Another reason we do not 

have space is because the 

trucks cannot get here 

because the road is in a bad 

condition and the trucks 

cannot get here because of the 

gridlock. That is the major 

challenge we are having as a 

terminal. 

On the effect of government 

policies on the operation of 

the terminal, he said it does 

not affect them directly. 

In his words, "Not really, no 

government policy is 

affecting us. There was a ban 

on some products coming to 

Nigeria from the United 

Kingdom, but that has not 

come to effect. 

He also disclosed that 

because of inability to get 

foreign exchange, when a 

vessel comes; "they always 

have two bills, a dollar bill 

and a naira bill. So 

concerning the dollar bill, 

there are situations the 

importer cannot access the 

market to get the dollar, they 

have to go to the black 

market which makes the rate 

to go up to between N360 to 

N370 which is obviously 

wasting their money. 

"Since it is not available 

from the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN because they 

cannot go there and get it so 

when they come and say can 

you help us by allowing us to 

pay in dollars or in Naira 

depending on our 

requirements for the Naira 

bill, then we can say yes or 

no. 

We have our obligations 

from Nigerian Ports 

Authority, NPA; we have 

obligations to pay dollar or 

Naira bill for our lease fee.'' 

Lack of financial plan hinders indigenous ship ownership - Prof Ajogwu 

By Ebuka Oko 

An expert in the maritime 

business, Professor Fabian 

Ajogwu, a Senior Advocate of 

Nigeria, SAN, has stated that 

despite the financial plan made 

by the government in funding 

assistance for ship acquisition in 

Nigerian maritime sector, 

indigenous participation in the 

owning of vessels and doing 

business in the sector has not 

improved because local 

shipping companies cannot 

access the requisite funding to 

acquire ship infrastructure and 

do the business. 

Professor Fabian made this 

known at the just concluded 

Nigeria Ship Finance Conference 

and Exhibition, NISFCOE with 

the theme "Advancing Ship and 

Maritime Infrastructure 

Financing in Nigeria: 

Innovative Concepts and 

Sustainable Approaches", also 

pointed out that lack of access 

to loans from banks and other 

financial institutions remains 

the most formidable challenge 

for ship-owners, operators and 

indigenous players. 

He stated: "Few Nigerian 

banks have the capacity and 

sophistication, financially and 

technically, to undertake such 

transactions; and high interest 

rates and liquidity issues keeps 

funding out of the reach of the 

indigenous intending ship- 

owners. Similarly, access to the 

Cabotage Vessel Financing 

Facility, CVFF, has also been 

described as a big challenge for 

indigenous players, having just 

not happened" 

The government funding 

assistance for ship acquisition is 

mainly under the CVFF 

established under the Coastal 

and Inland Shipping 

(Cabotage) Act in 2017 by the 

Federal Government of Nigeria 

through the Nigerian Maritime 

Administration and Safety 

Agency, NIMASA. 

The funds from the CVFF and 

the contribution from the 

financial institutions was to 

help drive down the interest 

rate for ship-owners wishing to 

acquire vessels with borrowed 

funds, which was intended to be 

a major source of ship financing 

in Nigeria. 

While speaking on the issue 

in a paper titled, ''Innovative 

Concepts and Sustainable 

Approaches to Effective Ship 

and Maritime Infrastructure 

Financing in Nigeria: A Critical 

Review", Professor Fabian, a 

director of Kenner Partners, has 

claimed that Nigeria's maritime 

industry is still at its infantile 

stages in terms of funding and 

must source funds in other ways 

aside the federal government. 

Prof. Ajogwu also advised 

NIMASA to be transparent in 

disbursing the CVFF loan and 

bring in other innovative ideas 

to facilitate the local vessel 

ownership. 

"NIMASA in driving 

development in the industry is 

urged as the principal regulator 

to be thorough and transparent 

in its management and 

disbursement of the CVFF and 

proactive in developing a 

regulatory framework, in 

collaboration with other relevant 

regulators, for financing 

solutions to drive investment 

and indigenous participation," 

If there is a fire in Apapa today, nobody will escape 

- Resident 

By Godwin Oritse 

Amidts the stress motorists and port 

stakeholders experience in the Apapa port 

areas, there are also indications that residents 

of the area are leaving under permanent fear of 

fire disaster. 

A resident in an exclusive area of the Apapa 

environ, Mrs Ivie Idike, toldVanguard Maritime 

Report that part of the city has become a 

dangerous place to live due to the large numbers 

of petrol bearing trucks trapped in the traffic. 

Idike who lost her sick mother to the traffic 

gridlock because she could not be transported 

to the hospital timely, also warned about 

consequences of government's inability to 

control the traffic situation saying that ''if there 

is a fire outbreak in Apapa today, nobody will 

escape it.'' 

She called on both the Lagos and Federal 

governments to find a lasting solution to the 

problem and save the residents of Apapa from 

the menace of the tanker and truck drivers. 

She explained that her mother who suffered a 

stroke could not get to the hospital because the 

driver of a truck that block their gate could not 

be found. 

"After several hours of trying to locate the driver 

of the truck, my mother gave up, I lost my mother 

to that traffic," she lamented. 

Besides, she added, ''more than 70 percent of 

businesses have moved out of the area, a 

development that has affected the value of 

properties in and around the port city.''

Apapa traffic: NPA charges port users to 

take advantage of incentives 

... promises improved, efficient service in 2019 


The Managing Director of 

Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms 

Hadiza Bala Usman has called 

on port users to take advantage 

of incentives introduced to ease 

the financial burden following 

the congestion resulting from 

the traffic gridlock in the port 

city of Apapa. 

This is even as the NPA boss 

assured stakeholders in the 

maritime sector of the 

management's renewed vigour 

and determination in 2019 to 

improve its operational 

efficiency 

and 

accomplishments. 

The management told 

terminal operators and port 

users that it would further open 

its doors to all players to 

surmount various bottlenecks 

with a view to providing a 

healthy and smooth 

environment for all 

Stakeholders. 

In a press statement signed by 

the Authority's General 

Manager, Corporate and 

Strategic Communications, 

Adams Jatto, the NPA boss 

assured port users of 

management's renewed efforts 

towards the swift evacuation of 

cargoes from the ports to the 

hinterlands and land locked 

neighbouring countries. 

She recalled that with the 

Ease Of Doing Business 

introduced by the Federal 

Government, NPA had 

partnered with notable 

organizations and the Federal 

Ministry of Works, Power and 

Housing in the reconstruction of 

dilapidated roads within the 

ports vicinity. 

The statement added that NPA 

has put in place structures to 

drive this dream through the 

launch of the Revenue Income 

Management System (RIMS), 

which is a web-based billing and 

revenue collection application 

fully automated. 

It noted NPA's desire to 

improve collaboration with 

sister agencies towards a more 

seamless operation in the ports 

environment with intent to 

reduce human contact. 

In this regard, the statement 

said NPA is partnering with the 

Nigerian Custom Service (NCS) 

for the quick facilitation of the 

Single Window platform aimed 

at simplifying and harmonizing 

formalities, procedures and the 

related exchange of information 

which will be a major priority 

in the coming year. 

Management further assures 

all willing investors of its 

renewed determination at 

attracting investments to the 

ports across the country through 

infrastructural development. 

The statement also said there 

has been constant dredging of 

the channels to attain the 

expected draught level for 

incoming vessels at the nation's 

ports. This, according to the 

statement, is expected to lead to 

an unprecedented revenue 

generation and with the 

expectation that this effort 

would further be surpassed in 

the new-year. 

Meanwhile, cargo owners are 

advised in the statement to take 

advantage of the recent regime 

of incentives including the 

downward review of charges, to 

ameliorate their financial 

burden; these include a regime 

of three (3) free days to twenty 

one (21) free days, for the next 

four months. The demurrage 


Regulations & Policies 3 


Union blocks 

stevedores 

from CBA 

•From left: Bashir Jamoh, ED, Finance & Admin, NIMASA, Mike Igbokwe, SAN (Chairman 

, NISFCOE 2018), Prof Fabian Ajogwu (Lead Speaker) and Aminu Umar (NISA) at NISFCOE 

2018. 

Group accuses EFCC of bias on N13.7bn 

Warri channel dredging contract 

Importers commence collection of levy on goods 


The Importers Association of 

Nigeria, IAN, has 

commenced the collection of 

levy on imported items from its 

members, nationwide. 

Secretary, Board of Trustees of 

IAN, Mr. Kingsley Chikezie, 

who disclosed this recently at a 

press conference held at the 

Maritime Press Centre Lagos, 

named the Managing Director 

of Pintels Nigeria Limited, 

Messrs Prosper Okolo and 

Igwe John Eze, as collectors of 

the levies in the South West 

Zone. 

While assuring that 

arrangements have been 

concluded by all stakeholders 

and approval gotten from all 

By Ebuka Oko 

Cadrell Advocacy Centre, 

CAC, a non-governmental 

advocacy group has accused the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, of 

bias in the handling of the 

controversial N13.7 billion Warri 

Channel Dredging contract 

awarded by the Nigerian Port 

Authority, NPA, to Dredging 

International Services Nigeria 

Limited, DISNL. 

The group in a statement, 

relevant government agencies 

for the commencement of the 

new levy regime, Chikezie said 

the association is on top of a 

reform initiative aimed at 

facilitating clearance of goods 

at the nation's ports. 

He charged members of the 

association to operate within the 

rules of engagement and to 

continue to insist on genuine 

customs documentation by 

clearing agents and freight 

forwarders for all their imports. 

He said IAN has built bridges 

of professional friendship across 

the industry and has in the past 

helped in uncovering and 

arresting illegal imports, in 

addition to ending weeks of 

Customs Task Force siege at the 

Onne port over misleading 

expressed surprise that the anticorruption 

agency absolved the 

parties involved but pointed out 

that the same body that had 

invited them to their office 

countless times for statements 

and interrogation; did not 

oblige them a copy of the report 

before sending it to press. 

Recall that the group had 

earlier petitioned EFCC to 

probe NPA concerning the bid 

which resulted in investigations 

by the House of 

Representatives and Bureau of 

Public Procurement. 

information of consignment of 

arms. 

He stated: "Our members have 

nothing to fear provided they 

are on the side of the law 

because we are doing 

legitimate business. We can 

confidently report to you that 

most of the allegations against 

us that we were the ones 

importing arms and 

ammunitions into the country is 

not true. 

"Severally, we had offered to 

work with the Nigeria Customs 

Service to fish out bad eggs but 

because some persons were 

afraid of their jobs, they didn't 

allow the partnership to work. 

Here we are with the woes of 

illegal importation but it is not 

too late to correct the anomalies". 

free period on the return of the 

empty containers has been 

increased from the current five 

(5) days period to fifteen (15) 

days as well. 

Finally, the Authority 

appreciates the unflinching 

support, collaboration and 

cooperation from all 

stakeholders in its drive 

towards greater service 

delivery and customer 

satisfaction. 

The Group, in a statement by 

its Executive Director, Evans 

Ufeli, stated that there was an 

exclusion of fourteen bidders on 

the basis of none availability of 

Tax documents, deposed 

affidavit, among other 

requirements (as contained in 

their letter to the Ministerial 

Tender Board and also repeated 

in the Permanent Secretary, 

Ministry of Transport's, letter to 

the Bureau of Public 

Procurement dated 6th 

February, 2018 on pages 3 & 4 

of the said letter.) 

The group further stated that 

EFCC and NPA should apply 

the rules across board and not 

hold on to legal technicalities to 

continually award huge 

contracts of such nature to the 

company. 

According to CAC, contrary to 

EFCC's report, its study of the 

incorporation documents of 

DISNL it obtained from the 

Corporate Affairs Commission 

reveals that, DISNL is partly 

owned by Dredging and 

Environmental Services 

Nigeria Limited with 

49,500,000 shares and 

Dredging International NV 

with 500,000 shareholding. 

The Group noted that the 

EFCC report went further to 

state that the companies 

indicted were Dredging 

International Services Cyprus 

(DISC) and Dredging 

International NV." 

•Appoints Nted as 

chairman 


The Maritime Workers 

Union of Nigeria, 

MWUN, has said it will no 

longer accept the middle 

man role of stevedoring 

firms in the negotiation and 

payments of welfare 

packages for dockworkers, 

even as it slammed 

stevedores for shortchanging 

dockworkers. 

President General of the 

MWUN, Comrade Adewale 

Adeyanju, dropped this 

hint after the signing of the 

Collective Bargaining 

Agreement, CBA, between 

his union, terminal 

operators and some 

government agencies in the 

industry. 

Adeyanju said the signing 

of the CBA midwifed by 

Nigerian Ports Authority 

and Nigerian Maritime 


Agency, has effectively 

phased away the necessity 

for stevedores, most of whom 

he described as faceless. 

Speaking while briefing 

members of the 

dockworkers branch of the 

Union on the contents of the 

newly signed CBA in Lagos 

Adeyanju, stated: "Our 

employers are the terminal 

operators and not 

stevedoring companies. We 

don't know them because 

they are not our employers. 

This time around we will 

make sure that all the 

responsibilities are of the 

terminal operators and not 

the stevedoring contractors. 

"We are all working with 

the terminal operators and 

all entitlements and terminal 

benefits will now come from 

the concessionaires and not 

the stevedoring companies 

as it were in the past. 

"Accidents of workers 

aboard vessels which used 

to be handled by 

stevedoring companies are 

no longer there as the 

terminal operators with the 

union and the P&I Club in 

directly now in charge", 

adding "what the stevedores 

were paying dockworkers 

that had accidents were 

nothing to write home 

about." 

In a related development, 

the Adeyanju led executive 

has appointed the 

immediate past President 

General of MWUN, 

Comrade Tony Emmanuel 

Nted as pioneer chairman of 

its newly established 

Advisory Council. A 

statement by the union said 

the council will consist of all 

former president generals, 

presidents and general 

secretaries, across the 

respective branches of the 

union. 

Adeyanju explained that 

the gesture is to foster 

togetherness and 

development, and tap from 

their wealth of experience in 

tackling present challenges.


2 

NEWS 


No amount of regulation can solve Apapa traffic gridlock — Truckers 

By Godwin Oritse 

THE Association Mari 

time Truck Owners, 

AMATO, has said that no 

amount of regulation will 

solve the current traffic gridlock 

around Apapa and it’s 

environs, the group’s President 

Chief Remi Ogungbemi, 

has said. 

Speaking to Vanguard 

Maritime Report on the sideline 

of the press briefing by 

the Nigeria Customs Services, 

NCS, Ogungbemi said that 

it is only an automated system 

of truck call up that can 

bring about a final solution 

to the traffic problem. 

The group’s President said 

that the present call system is 

not working because of human 

interference. 

He said: “No amount of regulation 

can bring sanity to 

Apapa even if the necessary 

infrastructures are in place. 

“Automation is the answer to 

the Apapa gridlock, 25 percent 

of trucks operating in 

Lagos have their parks but 

they do not know when to 

come to the port. 

“Automation will regulate 

the movement of trucks, the 

present call up system is not 

•INTERACTIVE PARLEY: From left: CAC Western Marine Command, Benjamin Banga, Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, 

ACG Keyce Ekekezie and Controller in charge of revenue, Lauretter Ogwode, at the interactive session with the 

maritime journalists in Lagos on Monday. 

working because of human interference.” 

Ogungbemi also said that the 

gridlock is adversely affecting 

Catalogue of woes, as maritime stakeholders, 

operators list setbacks 

Continued from page 1 

containers on the road after 

ports maritime police have 

done examination in the port, 

thus duplicating the work of 

Nigeria Customs Service, 

NCS.” 

President of the new faction 

of ANLCA, Emenike Nwokeoji, 

said a major problem faced 

by industry operators this year, 

especially in the Lagos area, 

is the traffic situation at the 

ports access roads and the vicinities. 

Nwokeoji said that there is 

no regulation of the operations 

of truck drivers and as a result 

they have become lords unto 

themselves and have taken 

over the port access roads in 

Apapa. 

He said the truckers now use 

the roads as their parking 

space and in some cases turn 

the roads their workshop for 

repair of the trucks. 

For the Eastern ports, he 

haulage business, adding 

that many directives from 

various government agencies 

has not helped the situation 

in any way. 

Apapa ports gridlock a national 

disgrace – Terminal operators 

Continued from page 1 

blight on port operations in 

Nigeria. 

He argues that the two 

seaports in Lagos handle more 

than sixty percent of goods 

imported into country. While 

the volume of cargoes imported 

into the country has been on 

the rise, increasing from about 

35 million metric tonnes in 

2006 to more than 80 million 

metric tonnes 12 years later, the 

roads through which these 

goods are taken out of the port 

to their final destinations have 

gone from bad to worse. 

“The poor road condition 

coupled with a lack of parking 

lot for trucks and proliferation 

of tank farms in Apapa, means 

these trucks have to spend 

days, sometimes as much as 10 

days, to cover a short distance 

of less than 5km to enter the 

port to drop off, or take 

delivery of cargo. 

“The resultant effect is a 

backlog of cargoes at the port. 

Cargoes that should ordinarily 

exit the port within three days 

after discharge from the ship 

could remain in the port for as 

long as 21 days, waiting for 

trucks. 

“The best solution to the 

Apapa traffic congestion is to 

fix the roads and seek 

alternatives to cargo 

evacuation. The port has 

increased in efficiency and 

capacity but the port access 

roads have deteriorated 

progressively since they were 

built,” Fischer said. 

He said while the Federal 

Government is working to 

address the road condition 

especially as it affects the Wharf 

Road, which is the major road 

leading into the Apapa Port, 

and has also flagged off repair 

of the Apapa-Oshodi 

Expressway, there is need for 

some immediate short-term 

measures to address the plight 

of commuters and ensure free 

flow of traffic on the roads. 

The short-term measures that 

government can take to address 

the gridlock, he said, include 

fixing alternative roads, such as 

the Leventis road, “which many 

now rely on to exit the port city”. 

Also speaking on the gridlock, 

the General Manager of PTML 

Terminal, Tin Can Island Port 

Complex, Tunde Keshinro, 

said, “As Nigerians, we all 

know that for our ports to attain 

the desired efficiency, the roads 

need to be at that great and 

functional level, which 

unfortunately is not so.” 

Recall that the group recently 

said the Nigerian economy 

depends largely on the 

seaports with a large chunk of 

import and export volumes 

being handled daily through 

the Apapa port. 

said they are becoming busier 

as a result of the congestion 

in Lagos, adding, however, 

that this has brought 

some level of pressure to port 

operations there. 

But he said the situation in 

the Eastern ports is nothing 

compared to that of Lagos. 

Also reviewing the year, a 

top executive of one of the terminal 

operators who spoke 

to Vanguard Maritime 

Report on the condition of 

anonymity, complained of the 

chaotic traffic situation that 

made port services almost 

impossible, though there was 

slight increase in cargo 

throughput at the terminal. 

He also complained about 

the activities of some government 

agencies at the port 

which affected smooth port 

operations, stressing the 

need for the roads to be 

speedily addressed to help 

curb the traffic gridlock. 


The Nigeria Customs 

Service, CG Strike Force, 

last week, apparently spoilt 

the Christmas and New Year 

celebration for smugglers, 

following a comprehensive 

raid of Oniko, a village in 

On his part, Charles Okorefe, 

Chief Executive Officer, Kamany 

Marine Services Limited, 

also lamented the traffic gridlock, 

noting that the reconstruction 

of the road alone will not 

bring permanent solution to the 

problem. 

Okorefe called on the federal 

government to pay serious attention 

to linking of the port to 

rail being built across the country. 

He also called on government 

to work at ensuring that the 

ports in the South-east and 

South-south are functional, noting 

that it is only when these 

ports become fully functional 

that the pressure currently 

faced in Lagos would reduce. 

Putting the above into consideration, 

Okorefe explained that 

2018 has been a very bad year 

for maritime business and 

thank God it is coming to an 

end. He expressed hope that 

2019 would be better for business 

in the sector. 

“We have had orders from 

the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian 

Ports Authority, Nigerian Shippers’ 

Council, and other agencies 

all to no avail. 

“The trucks are still there for 

days and weeks, either waiting 

to be loaded or to drop 

empty containers.” 

Smugglers record 

black yuletide 

•As Customs Strike Force Raids Oniko, 

Seize 9 Trailers of Rice 

Moro Local Government 

Area of Kwara State, believed 

to be a major hideout for 

smuggled items, confiscating 

a total of 8,413 bags of 50kg 

smuggled rice. 

The Strike Force Team led 

by CSC Jude Nwagwu also 

impounded a total of 524 

Jerry Cans of contraband 

vegetable oil. 

National Coordinator of the 

Strike Force, Deputy 

Comptroller Abdullahi 

Kirawa, who was on ground 

to supervise the evacuation 

of the items told Vanguard 

Maritime Report in a 

telephone chat that the sting 

operation followed active 

intelligence gathering. 

In a further statement the 

Customs National 

Spokesman, Deputy 

Comptroller Joseph Attah, 

said, “This quantum of 

seizure is coming on the 

heels of seized 59 containers 

of Tramadol and other 

controlled drugs across the 

commands. NCS is ending 

the year 2018 on a very high 

note, making it a black 

Christmas for smugglers.” 

Recall that Federal 

Operations Unit Zone ‘C’ 

Owerri earlier the month 

announced the seizure of 22 

vehicles, including eight 

bullet proof exotic autos and 

1901 x50kg bags of 

contraband rice.


Apapa ports gridlock a national disgrace – Terminal operators 


The Chairman, Seaport 

Terminal Operators 

Association of Nigeria 

(STOAN), Princess Vicky 

Haastrup, has lamented how 

bad roads and the menacing 

Apapa gridlock, which she 

described as a monumental 

national disgrace, is frustrating 

operations at the nation’s 

seaports. 

Haastrup who spoke to 

newsmen in her office in 

Lagos, said that terminal 

operators are working under 

the harshest business 

environment, in spite of the 

huge investments they have 

made towards developing the 

ports. 

The STOAN Chairman 

wondered why successive 

governments in the country 

allowed the port access roads 

to progressively degenerate 

until they became 

impassable. 

She said, “The situation in 

Apapa particularly as it relates 

to access to the port is a 

monumental national disgrace. 

How can a sector that has such 

huge potential and that 

generates billions of naira for 

government be left to so 

degenerate? Government is 

looking for oil revenue but we 

have a sector that has the 

capacity to give you all the 

revenue you need yet the 

sector is suffering. Why has it 

not been attended to?” 

The group’s chairman said 

the large number of tank farms 

located within Apapa has also 

compounded the chaotic 

gridlock, while more licenses 

are still being issued to new 

tank farm owners. 

She also asked the Federal 

Ministry of Works, Power and 

Housing to urgently reopen the 

bridge exiting Apapa at 

Leventis Area B, which has 

been shut down for several 

months without any visible 

sign of work being carried out 

on it. 

“Without reopening that 

bridge, the inflow and outflow 

of trucks will remain a major 

challenge in Apapa,” she said. 

Also speaking, the Africa 

Communication Manager of 

Maersk, Augustine Fischer, 

said the poor condition of roads 

in and out of the Apapa area 

of Lagos State remains a major 

Continues on page 2 


VOl. 1 No. 24 

Operators, stakeholders list woes of 

maritime sector 

*Give kudos to NIMASA, Shippers Council, NPA 


AS 2018 maritime year 

comes to an end, sector 

stakeholders and 

operators have indicated that 

regulatory and operational 

environment worsened 

during the year gone by. 

They highlighted the difficult 

operational environment 

leading to the loss of revenue 

and man-hours, occasioned 

by worse level of congestions 

at the ports in Lagos, leading 

to frustration by importers 

and exporters as well as their 

agents. 

They blamed some of the 

government agencies for their 

contribution to making port 

services more cumbersome. 

National President of the 

Association of Nigeria Licensed 

Customs Agents, AN- 

LCA, Tony Iju Nwabunike, 

speaking with Vanguard 

Maritime Report said, “2018 

has been a tiring year for all 

of us in our industry because 

so many things were not in 

order. 

“Some government agencies 

multiplied themselves in 

so many forms trying to drive 

revenue apparently to meet 

targets federal government 

actually gave them. “So I am 

of the opinion that the Federal 

Government should not give 

target but should focus on 

trade facilitations. It should 

be on the level of where government 

agents should not 

be compelled to do things in 

order to impress the Federal 

Government or to meet their 

target thereby putting so 

much pressure into the industry. 

“So many other government 

agencies in this 

maritime year did some good 

jobs, like Nigerian Maritime 


Agency, NIMASA, which 

has been working a little bit 

better than before, Nigerian 

Shippers Council, NSC have 

been almost excellent, 

Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA 

is improving every day. But 

the NPA needs to checkmate 

shipping companies and terminal 

operators. 

“Every single ministry responsible 

for the regulation 

of their operations need to 

wake up by ensuring the regulation 

of their levies and 

other charges. 

“Then Standard Organization 

of Nigeria, SON, that 

people are still complaining 

about in terms of documentation 

and other part of their 

operations. 

“Then another knock in the 

maritime industry this year 

is the Police that is having all 

the powers to go and block 

Continues on page 2

C 

M 

Y 

K 

By Prince Osuagwu 

(Hi-Tech Editor) 

African financial technology 

startups could pass 

as engine rooms of African 

financial technology transformation 

and developments. 

This is owing largely to 

technological ideas adapted 

from economies that have 

grown putting those ideas to 

test. 

However, to sustain the 

progress so far made with 

those ideas, there is the 

need to properly hatch, recreate 

and innovate on them. 

It is also imperative to create 

and domesticate new 

ideas in line with the peculiarities 

of the African market. 

That could be what led a 

frontline Nigerian technology 

company and system integrator, 

Inlaks, to introduce 

an innovation lab 

dubbed “thehatch.” 

The lab was unveiled at the 

just-concluded Africa Fintech 

festival at the Landmark 

event Centre, Oniru, Lagos. 

With the innovation lab, Inlaks 

prides itself as having 

provided a solution to major 


AfricanFinTechStartups to innovate with Inlaks’ new lab, thehatch 

challenges facing the society. 

The company said that although 

it is in business for 

have returns on investment, 

thehatch was mainly a patriotic 

call considering that it 

has the capability to identify, 

nurture and scale innovative 

technology-driven ideas 

capable of transforming the 

financial service sector in 

Nigeria and Africa. 

The MD/CEO, Africa Operations, 

Mr. Femi Adeoti, 

highlighted critical benefits 

of the innovation lab to include 

fostering relationships 

between Fintech startups 

and several Inlaks clients and 

partners as well as providing 

a stepping stone into the 

marketplace. 


By Emmnauel Elebeke 

It appears telecom operators 

may break out of the 

route of just providing connectivity, 

but face fierce opposition 

in the form of technology interlopers 

in 2019. 

This was revealed in Global- 

Data’s latest thematic research. 

The study reveals that in domains 

like the cloud, artificial 

intelligence, AI, and Software 

Defined Networks, SDN, operators 

globally need to establish 

their relevance and build 

a convincing proposition. 

GlobalData’s Thematic Research 

Team set out to know 

the big themes impacting telecom 

operators globally. It also 

predicted how they will evolve 

over the next 12 months and 

also identified the leading and 

lagging companies in a world 

filled with disruptive threats. 

Senior Analyst for GlobalData, 

Laura Petrone, said: “Telecom 

operators are increasingly 

seeking to move beyond the 

dumb pipe of simple connectivity 

and diversify with the 

cloud, AI and SDN. 

This trajectory, she said, will 

bring them into direct 

competition with technology 

interlopers that are also 

actively targeting segments 

that telecoms operators might 

once have seen as their own.” 

She cautioned that telecoms 

operators should also watch 

out for China’s growing 

influence over technology 

standards as part of the 

country’s ambition to dominate 

next generation technologies. 

“China’s commitment to 

technology leadership is not 

just a matter of record; it is an 

intrinsic part of the country’s 

strategic plan. We expect to see 

China trying to exert greater 

influence over the rules for next 

generation telecom standards 

such as 5G and the Internet of 

Things, IoT, in much the same 

way as Europe dominated 2G 

and the US 3G and 4G,” 

Petrone posited. 

“Already, telecom operators 

have been complaining of the 

activities of OTTs like facebook, 

whatsapp, WeChat, Imo, Viber 

and all others rendering services 

on the back of their networks. 

Operators are short of 

branding them interlopers, critically 

calling on the government 

to either license their 

operations or stop their activi- 

'Telecom providers may face 

tech interlopers in 2019' 

...as activities of OTTs continue to trigger loss of revenue 

ties. 

On several ocassions, the 

Association of Licensed 

Telecommunication 

Operators of Nigeria, AL- 

TON, has flayed the impact 

of over the top, OTT service 

on the telecom operations in 

the country. 

Chairman of the 

association, Engr. Gbenga 

Adebayo has maintained 

that: “In Nigeria OTT service 

providers utilise traditional 

Mobile Network Operator, 

MNO, infrastructure to offer 

social networks, voice and 

instant messaging services to 

retain users' loyalty and drive 

stickiness, with a view to creating 

large on-line communities 

and eventually attract 

huge advertisement revenues.” 

Although he admitted that 

his members neither have 

Telecom 

operators are 

increasingly 

seeking to move 

beyond the dumb 

pipe of simple 

connectivity and 

diversify in the 

cloud, AI and 

SDN 

rights nor control over the 

OTT services, as customers 

have the discretion to use the 

Internet as desired, he 

however said government 

could do something to protect 

and keep the traditional operators 

who pay taxes in business. 

He lamented that increasing 

usage of OTT services by 

customers is adversely impacting 

traditional telecoms 

platforms. 

According to Adebayo, 

"there are displacement 

effects which include declining 

voice minutes due to impact 

of OTT while VoIP has 

been increasing, OTT Data 

flux has been increasing as 

shown with the 2016 data, 

Telcos are losing money due 

to this trend.’ 

“Telecom Operators incur the 

costs while OTT players make 

the money. Telecom operators 

invest a lot on network infrastructure 

in order to provide 

basic and innovative services 

to customers. Core voice and 

SMS revenues are decreasing 

continuously due to impact of 

OTT players who offer voice, 

video and messaging services 

free of charge to their users. 

Telecom operators will 

continue to invest a lot to 

make the networks support 

the data tsunami, with the 

required quality of service 

and numerous innovative 

services. 

Meanwhile, some studies 

have backed the agitation of 

ALTON with statistics which 

tend to show that if the trend 

continues,revenue of the 

operators may experience a 

drastic plunge. 

Some reports predict that 

the growing adoption of OTT 

services by customers instead 

of traditional telecoms services 

will occasion global revenue 

loss of $386bn over a period 

of six years (2012 – 2018) 

for the traditional telecom operators, 

thus endangering network 

development.


MOBILE MARKET 

Quality printers available across 

Nigeria online shops 

By Juliet Umeh 

Despite the popularity of e-newsletters or digital updates, a good number of 

people still appreciate printed documents. But for one to get an appreciable 

document, you need quality printers. Not only would a good printer give you 

sharp black images, it will save you time, money and materials. This week, Vanguard 

Mobile Market presents few of these quality printers available across Nigeria 

online market. 

HP LaserJet Pro 

MFP M130nw 

HP LaserJet Pro MFP M130nw 

is a multi-function printer that can 

print, scan and copy. The device 

is as fast as 7.0 seconds. The duty 

cycle is up to 10,000 pages per 

month. 

Ecosys M3040dn Laser Printer 

HP Envy 4500 Wireless 

With this device, 

you can print from 

your smartphone, 

tablet, and Internetconnected 

PC. 

It is all-in-one colour 

photo printer. Its ISO 

speed is up to 8.8 ppm 

black and 5.2 ppm 

colour. It has hi-speed 

USB of 2.0 and Wi-Fi 

802.11n 

However, to achieve great result, use 

only original HP ink in your HP printer 

with black and colour ink cartridges 

HP LaserJet Pro M12w Printer 


Ecosys M3040dn 

Laser Printer 

This device is made for dynamic 

teams with high demands. It has 

printing speeds of 40 ppm and its 75- 

sheet reversing document processor 

scans at an impressive rate of 40 ipm. 

Its integrated file compression function 

makes it very easy for one to digitise 

and send large data electronically. 

Also, it can achieve the exceptionally 

low running costs as well as the low 

environmental impact. 

HP Envy 4500 


This printer can print directly 

from your mobile device without 

accessing the network. It is a 

dependable printer that uses the 

lowest-priced and smallest laser 

printer from HP.1. It saves space and 

budget. HP LaserJet Pro M12w 

Printer is an easily accessible, print, and 

share resources with wireless networking. 

It can easily print from mobile devices with 

Android version 4.4 or later or Google 

Chrome operating systems. 

Why PayTV coys can’t 

patronise NIGCOMSAT – TSTV 

By Emmnauel Elebeke 

At a time when the Nigerian 

Communication 

Satellite Limited, NIG- 

COMSAT, is aggressively 

soliciting patronage from 

local companies, the Chief 

Operating Officer 

of Telecom Satellite Limited, 

TSTV, Mr. Benjamin 

Zidah, has said the call is 

irrational. 

For him, the Nigerian satellite 

operator would be 

unfair to itself to expect the 

impossible considering that 

most local companies it is 

directing the call to are its 

competitors. 

Zidah said the PayTv 

operators for instance, 

would be shooting themselves 

in the foot to heed 

NIGCOMSAT’s call 

because it would run 

against business sense. 

The 

reason: 

“NIGCOMSAT is putting 

our channels on its platform 

as a teleport, positioning 

itself as our competitor. ” 

He said the call would 

have made meaning if it 

was just only rendering sat- 


The Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC, has assured 

the general public that none of the over 

160million telecoms subscribers in 

Nigeria will be disconnected or suffer 

service disruptions as a result of its 

recent order to permit the 

disconnection of indebted operators 

from other operators’ networks. 

This assurance was given in Abuja 

recently by NCC’s Executive Commissioner 

for Stakeholder Management, 

Mr. Sunday Dare. 

Dare clarified that the approval given 

by the NCC was not for any network 

to disconnect subscribers as being 

wrongly presented in some media, but 

for some creditor networks to restrict 

services to debtor networks. 

He stated that “the NCC is a 

consumer-centric regulator; the 

protection of our consumers and the 

sustainability of the industry are the 

primary drivers of our activities. So in 

this case, even before we granted the 

permission for disconnection, we had 

put some very stringent safety valves 

in place to protect consumers and 

ensure that they continue to enjoy 

uninterrupted service while we 

address the very serious issue of 

indebtedness in the industry.” 

Giving a background to the issue of 

disconnection of networks, Dare stated 

that “over the years, the industry has 

been plagued with the very serious 

problem of interconnect and facility 

indebtedness. Some operators have 

racked up huge debts to others and 

have simply refused to pay. Now, we 

understand that there are ecosystem 

issues affecting all operators and we 

are working with all stakeholders to 

ellite services to the Pay- 

TV operators rather than 

asking individual operators 

to come and put their 

channels on its platform, 

thereby creating direct 

competition. 

He said: “Nigcomsat is in 

competition with HD 

platforms in this country. In 

as much as NIGCOMSAT is 

taking free -to-air channels 

and putting them up themselves 

instead of directing 

them to HTD platforms, or 

platforms that are built for that, 

NIGCOMSAT is in 

competition with us. As a 

teleport, NIGCOMSAT 

should not be involved in 

that." 

He said what 

NIGCOMSAT should do 

is to tell the TSPs to put 

their channels on its 

teleport and not asking 

individual channel 

owners to come and put 

their channels on its 

platform. 

“The way NIGCOMSAT 

is structured with VSAT, 

it will be extremely 

difficult for any PayTV 

operator in Nigeria to patronise 

NIGCOMSAT 

because it is our competitor. 

“As it stands now, we 

have found it necessary to 

look outside for the 

partnership that will help 

us do our business. That 

is why we are partnering 

with Azercosmos, a 

satellite operator based in 

Azerbaijan, which is not 

going to take up a channel 

directly. If they are 

approached by individuals, 

they will refer them to 

partners in Nigeria. For 

that reason, we don’t see 

it expedient to work with 

somebody who is in competition 

with us. 

“The incentives that we 

have been offered by 

Azercosmos are 

unparalleled. For us, customer 

satisfaction is the 

core of business. 

"We want customers to 

be very satisfied with everything 

that we are doing. 

That is why we chose 

them as partners as 

against NIGCOMSAT,” 

he added. 

Interconnect debt: NCC assures no 

telecom subscriber'll be disconnected 

NCC boss, Danbatta 

resolve these issues, but the level of indebtedness 

in the industry is at an 

embarrassingly high level, and the whole 

telecoms industry is at risk of failure if we 

do not act.” 

He regretted that: “This kind of problem 

should ideally not occur in an industry 

where over 90 per cent of consumers are 

pre-paid. We had held several meetings 

with the parties and given several 

deadlines for the debtors to pay, to no avail. 

The Nigerian Communications Act of 2003 

contains very strict consumer protection 

measures which we have continued to uphold, 

such as the requirement that no operator 

can disconnect another operator without 

the written approval of the NCC. But it 

appears that some operators were taking 

undue advantage of this provision by racking 

up millions, sometimes billions of naira 

in debts to other operators, denying their 

creditors of funds to expand their networks 

and putting the industry in peril."


'Telecom challenges require 

govt, stakeholders’ 

involvement' 

No NIN, no access to 

govt services from 

2019, NIMC declares 



By Rotimi Agbana 

To tackle some of the challenges 

plaguing the telecommunications 

sector in Nigeria such as electricity, 

infrastructure maintenance, a telecoms 

service provider CEO, Omnicon Solution 

Limited, Mr. Lanre Olaniyan, 

has said government and stakeholders 

need to sit together and find a way 

out. 

Speaking at the company’s 10th 

anniversary and awards held in Lagos 

recently, Olaniyan noted that although 

telecom operators have invested a lot 

towards improving the quality of services, 

they may still not get effective 

results if government and other 

stakeholders do not key into the development 

agenda. 

He said: “I can assure you that these 

operators are spending a lot of money 

to improve the quality of service. Now 

we look at the networks in such a way 

that everyday people are on it. It’s 

getting degraded because of the 

usage. The weather also adds to it and 

all these things reduce the quality of 

the equipment that they use but I can 

assure you all the operators spend 

hundreds if not billions of naira per 

AfricanFinTechStartups to 

innovate with Inlaks’... 


Gbenga Adebayo 

He also noted that the innovation lab will build and 

scale Fintech solutions through collaboration with the 

Technological industry, private sector, government, investors, 

academia and the digital workforce. 

Adeoti said: “Most of the startup entrepreneurs do 

not have the experience and capability to reach the 

quality of customers available to Inlaks. It is our goal 

to take these startups wherever we go so they can interface 

with some of our global clients and partners, 

and thereby take advantage of the opportunities that 

are possible.” 

According to him: “Inlaks built thehatch to encourage 

start-up entrepreneurs to be creative and serve as 

solution providers to major challenges facing the society. 

“Meanwhile, it’s our pleasure to host Africa Fintech 

Festival Start-Up Fair in Nigeria at our business 

incubator, thehatch,” Adeoti added. 

annum to help improve the network. 

“No telecommunication company can 

solve the problem of power. In developed 

or developing countries, power is the 

responsibility of the government; the 

telecommunication companies are just 

users. Now in this part of the world, telecom 

industries spend billions every year, 

fuelling generators to make sure the 

network stays up and there’s really not 

much we can do until the government and 

other stakeholders show necessary interest 

in solving this problem. 

“The government has to encourage 

infrastructure, either they put it in place or 

attract investors/stakeholders that are interested 

in putting it in place and 

government has the power, will and ability 

to do that more than any service provider 

in the industry. The least any service 

company can do is to buy generator and 

fuel it. Believe me, that is very expensive 

and unsustainable,” he added. 

Olaniyan believes telecommunications 

will still become one of the fore drivers of 

economic growth in Nigeria. 

He, therefore, called for introduction of 

most things done in the industry in school 

curriculum so that young people that are 

technology inclined can be produced. 

Nov, 2018 telecom subscriptions: Glo tops 

chart with 1.6m new subscribers 

Mike Adenuga 

By Prince Osuagwu 

T elecommunications 

operator, Globacom, 

has made a strong showing 

on the recent industry 

The National Identity 

M a n a g e m e n t 

Commission, NIMC, has 

issued an ultimatum that 

beginning from January 

1, 2019, (yesterday) no 

citizen of Nigeria or legal 

occupants will access 

government services if he 

or she does not provide a 

verifiable National 

Identification Number, 

NIN. 

According to NIMC, 

NIN becomes compulsory 

for all citizens to access 

any government services 

across Nigeria 

The directive followed 

the approval of new 

National Digital Identity 

Ecosystem Strategic 

Roadmap for the 

enrolment of Nigerians 

and legal residents into 

the National Identity 

Database, NIDB, at a 

Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, in 

September 2018. 

Director-General of 

NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, 

said: “All Federal 

Government Ministries, 

Agencies 

and 

Departments that take 

records of personnel/ 

provide services 

requiring 

the 

identification of a person, 

shall from January 1, 2019 

mandatorily demand NIN 

from citizens to offer any 

of such services.” 

He reiherated that: 

“Ministries and agencies 

such as Education, 

Aviation, Office of the 

Head of Service of the 

subscriber acquisitions chart 

for November 2018 with a total 

of 1,691,133 new 

subscribers. 

The Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC, 

monthly report, indicated that 

Globacom now has 26 per cent 

of the nation’s subscribers on 

its network, taking it from 

41,582,055 subscribers in October 

to 43,273,188 in November, 

2018. 

The report explained that 

Globacom gained 1,691,133 

subscribers in November, 

2018, with MTN grossing 

1,323,282 and Airtel 849,173 

new subscribers. On the other 

hand, 9mobile failed to garner 

new subscribers during the 

month under review. 

Eng. Aliyu Aziz 

Federation, Office of the 

Accountant General of the 

Federation, National 

Population Commission, 

National Independent 


Corporate Affairs 

Commission, Federal 

Inland Revenue Service, 

the 

Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, National 

Health Insurance 

Scheme, Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, Joint 

Admissions and 

Matriculation Board, 

Nigeria Police Force, 

Security and Exchange 

Commission among 

others, must request and 

verify the NIN as already 

adopted by the Nigeria 

Inter-Bank Settlement 

System, Nigeria 

Immigration Service, 


Commission and the 

National Pension 

Commission have been 

notified.” 

The total number of active 

subscribers in the country has 

thus increased by 3.86 million 

telephone users, from 

165,239,443 in October to 

169,104,830 in November 

2018. 

Globacom’s subscriber surge 

may not be unconnected with 

the recent network upgrade, 

modernisation and optimisation 

it carried out. 

The company also says its 

growth has something to do 

with new product offerings 

like OgaSIM, which offers 

125 per cent data bonuses to 

all new data customers and 

Glo Yakata, which rewards 

customers with amazing data 

and voice bonuses.


Rich or poor, refresh your 

home in the New Year 

Wow! It's a New Year 

again!What a good 

thing to look around and see 

your family enjoying the 

good environment you have 

consciously arranged for 

them. 

I tell you, there is no better 

way to make your family 

happy than this. 

No matter the prayers you 

have offered to God to make 

your family wealthy and 

healthy in the New Year, 

healthy family is still in your 

hands as homemakers. 

Healthy life is not about 

being rich or poor, the rich 

also cry if careless with his 

or her environment. So, 

decide to make a statement 

with your home in the New 

Year and inculcate thesame 

conciousness in your 

children. 

How to make a statement 

with your home 

It depends on an 

individual’s plan. 

Everywhere in the home is 

important. Some may plan to 

change the outlook of their 

living room; some may prefer 

to make a statement at the 

entrance of the home while 

some may want to make a 

statement at the kitchen or 

the dining room. Whatever 

your choice is, you have to 

plan for it and don’t forget 

that you can’t make a 

statement without, first of all, 

decongesting the whole 

house. No matter the 

decoration or the painting, if 

the house is filled with 

cobweb, unused clothes and 

shoes, it kills the beauty. 

Make a list of what and 

what to change, start by 

allotting day and time to 

everything you want to do. 

•Add a little glitz to your lving room 

Cleaning the house is not a 

day’s task. Also get prices 

early for all you want to 

change to know the amount 

you are looking at. Oftentimes 

it is difficult to know where to 

begin, or where to go next 

once you have started. But by 

planning ahead, you’ll be 

able to safe your home from 

unnecessary health issues in 

the New Year. 

Enjoy your New Year 

CONSUMER WATCH A place that makes you plan ahead 

Items Prices Items 

Prices 

Items Prices 

Basket of Tomatoes 

N11,000-N14000 A bag of Garri (Yellow) N5,000-N8,000 Tomatoe paste (Medium) N600-N650 

Ghana / Cameroun Tomatoes 

A paint bucket 

N400 

Tomato paste(small) 

N270 

(small basket) N4,000- N6,000 A bag of Ijebu Gari 

N5,000 - N8000 

Tomato sachet (a roll) 

N250 

Bag of Bawa N5,000- N8,000 A paint bucket 

N500 

Pack of toilet roll (48pieces) N1800-N2,400 

A Satchet of milk 

N30-N50 

Bag of Pepper (Rodo) N6,500 - N10,000 25 Litres of Vegetable Oil N10,500-N11,000 

A Sachet of beverage 

N45-N50 

A bag of Long pepper N14,000 – N15,000 10Litres N4,800 

Toothpaste 

N270-N300 

A bag of Onions (white) N24,000 – N32,000 25 Litres of Palm Oil N6,000 

5 Litres of Kerosine N1,200 

A bag of Onions (Red) N22,000- N28,000 5Litres of Palm Oil N1,200 

12.5kg. Cooking gas N4,000 

50kg of long grain Rice N14,500 -N15,000 Salt 

N50-N200 

Yam (1 tuber). 

N400- N1000 

A derica of long grain Rice N250 

Noodles- 70g 

N1500- N1970 Ugu Leaf (a bundle) N3, 000 – N4, 000 

50kg of short grain Rice. N14,500 

Spaghetti (1packet) N200 

A dozen of tied Ugu Leaf N750 

A derica of short grain Rice N250 

Macaroni(1packet) N200 

Moin-Moin Leaf (a dozen) N1000, 

A crate of eggs N950 - N1,200 Semovita (10kg) N2,800- N3,000 1 pack- N150 

A bag of Olotu beans N51,000 

Diapers (cartons of 8) N1680- N4000 Carton Titus ice Fish N19,500 

A bag of Oloyin N34,000 

Seasonings N110 – N500 1 Carton of Kote ice fish N14,500 

A bag of Yam Flour (Elubo) N80,000 

Tomato paste (2,200g) N1500-N1800 1 Carton of Croacker ice Fish N20,000,

VOL. 2 NO. 42 

How Igbo Day was celebrated 

in Owerri . As Ndigbo cry over unfair treatment 

By Chinonso Alozie, Owerri 

It was endless 

lamentations as Igbo leaders 

called for an end to what they described 

as unfair treatment in the 

Nigeria project. The call was 

made during the Igbo Day celebration 

held in Owerri recently. 

The two-day event started with 

an award night by the Imo State 

Government, "Grand Commander 

of Order of Imo State" 

GCOI, given to 15 Igbo sons of 

Igbo as well as outside Igbo land. 

The awardees included the 

Governor of Kano State, Abdulahi 

Ganduje; Chief Jim Nwobodo; 

Chief Francis Arthur Nzeribe; 

former President of Ohanaeze 

Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo 

Igariwey; former Chief of Army 

Staff, Azubuike Ihejirika and 

Ndubuisi Kanu. 

Others included John Nnia 

Nwodo; Dr Paul Unogo and 

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu. 

For posthumous awards, former 

governor of Imo State, the late 

Sam Onunaka Mbakwe; the late 

Akanu Ibiam; the late Maitama 

Sule; the late Dick Tiger Ihetu; 

and the late Chukwuemeka 

Odumegwu Ojukwu were honoured. 

The awards ceremony also witnessed 

the presence of the representatives 

of Afenifere, Ayo 

Adebanjo; PANDEF, Francis 

Doukpola; as well as the Middle 

Belt Forum led by Jonathan 

Asagie. 

According to the President of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nnia 

Nwodo, “with restructuring, the 

issue of agitation will be addressed. 

"Igbos are meeting in Imo to celebrate 

and appraise themselves 

and to see if there were things they 

needed to do that were not done 

and then take the needed actions 

to see those things done. 

“Ohanaeze is interested in seeing 

how our people who are in 

government have fared. We owe 

it to our people to tell them who 

has done well and who has not. 

"Restructuring Nigeria will end 

the marginalisation of the 

SouthEast and South-South parts 

of this country. 

"This problem which started for 

decades has not been addressed 

by successive governments and it 

is the reason for which we are experiencing 

this level of agitation 


"Ndigbo have had and are still 

having unmitigated hatred from 

other tribes in Nigeria as a result 

of their industry and perseverance." 

He added that it was a moment 

for the Igbo to look into how they 

have been treated and to know if 

there were things they should do 

that they did not do. 

The representative of Afenifere, 

Ayo Adebanjo agreed that the 

*Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and a cross section of leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, 

PANDEF and Middle Belt Forum at the Igbo Day celebration in Owerri. 

Igbo have not been properly carried 

along in the scheme of things 

in the country, adding that Igbo 

have been marginalised. 

According to Adebanjo: "Never 

in the history of this country has 

Ndigbo been so marginalised, denied 

their fundamental human 

rights and traumatised as they are 

today. In fact, never at any time has 

Nigeria been at crossroads as it is 

today.Ndigbo are feeling the main 

brunt of it." 

It was his view that, "Ndigbo 

have been completely emasculated 

and dehumanized in their 

fatherland." Adebanjo felt that 

such treatment "has made the 

Igbo third class citizens, a little 

short of the slave trade era." 

Jonathan Asagie, the representative 

of the Middle Belt Forum 

said that, "the end to these 

issues and challenges is to have 

the country restructured for better. 

This is the solution to our problems 

and that is what Nigerians 

are demanding for. 

Marginalisation will end and Nigeria 

will be better for it." 

Chairman of traditional rulers of 

Imo State, Eze Samuel Ohiri who 

spoke in support of restructuring 

said that it would bring about even 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

ONITSHA - No fewer than 

800 graduands of Nwafor 

Orizu College of Education 

Nsugbe, NOCEN were conferred 

with the Nigeria Certificate in Education, 

NCE and Professional 

Diploma in Education, PDE at the 

19th convocation ceremony of the 

institution. In her convocation address, 

the Provost of the college, 

Dr Ifeyinwa Osegbo said: "704 

graduands received NCE and 96 

others were awarded teaching certificates. 

Osegbo urged the graduands 

to see their convocation as a call 

distribution of the resources in the 

country as well as address the issue 

of marginalisation. But another 

traditional ruler in Imo State, Eze 

Oliver Ohanwe of Ihim Autonomous 

community in Isiala Mbano 

said that for restructuring to work, 

the Federal Government should 

give the South-East region one additional 

state. 

However, the host of the Igbo Day 

celebration, Imo State Governor, 

Rochas Okorocha, said that the time 

has come for Igbo people to take a 

bold step and change their story for 

the better. 

He said: "Ohanaeze means the 

people and their kings, hence they 

should carry the Ezes along in whatever 

they do towards having one 

voice and achieving their aim. 

"Let me say this, restructuring of 

this country is long overdue. We 

have to know that restructuring Nigeria 

will bring about even distribution 

of appointments at the federal 

level among the six geopolitical 

zones. We wish to have a Nigeria 

where all citizens will be treated 

equally irrespective of tribe, religion 

and ethnicity." 

According to Ohanwe: "We should 

have a united force to ask for what 

we want. The issue of restructuring 

did not start with the present ad- 

ministration it has been there for 

long. We have not approached the 

matter with passion. 

When South-East Voice asked 

Ohanwe if restructuring will end 

Igbo marginalisation, he said: "Restructuring 

will create a new face 

of Nigeria, restructuring means 

that you give every zone that which 

is due them. 

"Now that the Senate has passed 

the South-East Development Commission 

into law, this is part of 

what we have been talking about. 

Also the constitution of Nigeria 

must be a democratic constitution 

and not carried over from the military 

regime to civilian regime. 

"Now for you to talk about restructuring, 

there is need to have one 

more state so that there will be a 

balance. If you restructure when 

we have not gotten one more state 

like others, then we will still remain 

marginalised. 

"So, getting one more state is 

what this present administration 

can do for us. 

"You remember that the South- 

East Development Commission 

was thrown out by the lower House 

and I was among those who 

pleaded with the South-East Caucus 

at the National Assembly not 

to allow it fail and finally, it was 

passed by the Senate." 

Imo State Governor, Okorocha 

said: "Ohanaeze could relate with, 

and marry these organisations and 

use them to launch the campaign 

that would truly make other parts 

of Nigeria to see Igbos as fellow 

Nigerians in whom they should 

be well pleased. We are highly 

misunderstood and until you come 

to an Igboman’s house, you will 

not know how hospitable he is. 

"We are highly misunderstood. 

This is why we must use 

organisations like these ones I 

mentioned to tell our story so that 

other tribes may understand us. 

“It is a privilege for any leader to 

host the leadership of his people. 

My joy knows no bound for the 

fact that we still have an Ohanaeze 

today. Few years ago, it was a different 

story and that’s why I must 

salute the immediate past President-General 

of Ohanaeze, Dr. 

Igariwey and Chief Ralph 

Obioha. 

"When it looked like Ohanaeze 

will be in pieces because of crisis, 

they honoured me and came to 

Imo State. What we thought was beyond 

fixing, surprisingly both parties 

agreed and today, we have 

Ohanaeze of our dream. 

“Many people have wondered 

why I should build such a gigantic 

building for Ohanaeze. It was easily 

interpreted to be either for political 

reason or social reason, but 

believe me, I did so because I truly 

understand the people, that Igbos 

are not good beginners but good 

finishers. 

"When others start, Igbos don’t 

start but once they start, they can 

defeat any other person. Understanding 

this, I thought it would 

be good to build that edifice for my 

people to help them come together. 

I am happy the building is nearing 

completion and will soon be 

handed over to the Igbo nation. 

"There is a lot of difference between 

the Imo State of today and 

Imo State of 2011 in all spheres of 

human existence. You have just attested 

to what you have seen but I 

don’t think you have seen it all. 

"That goes a long way to explain 

why cultural organisations like 

yours should hold your governors 

accountable because when funds 

come to those states, it is indirectly 

given to those cultural organisations 

because they are among the beneficiaries 

of those funds. I urge all 

of you to set up a special committee 

to go round and assess what your 

leaders are doing with the funds allotted 

to them." 

Nwafor Orizu Education College churns out 800 teachers at 

19th convocation 

to duty and a mark to the end of 

dependence on their families, adding 

that they should use the knowledge 

acquired as weapon of 

survival and excellence in their 

various fields of human endeavour. 

She commended Gov. Willie 

Obiano of Anambra State for his 

commitment to the welfare of the 

staff and students of the college, especially 

for the construction of roads 

within the institution.and appealed 

to him to construct hostels to 

reduce accommodation problems 

faced by students and to convert 

the college into a University of Education, 

to help boost the strength of 

the institution, staff and students, 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2019 — 29 

Never in the history 

of this country has 

Ndigbo been so 

marginalised, denied 

their fundamental 

human rights and 

traumatised 

as well as increase the Internally 

Generated Revenue, IGR of the 

college. In his address, Gov. 

Obiano represented by the state 

Commissioner for Tertiary and 

Science Education, Prof. 

Theresa Obiekezie assured that 

his administration was 

committed to providing equal 

educational opportunity for all, 

adding that education remains 

a pillar and an enabler in his 

administration to ensure that all 

citizens receive equal opportunity 

in education. 

The governor disclosed that 

more roads would be 

constructed within the institution 

as contracts have been awarded 

while perimeter fencing would 

soon commence to further provide 

security to the college. 

While commending the staff 

and students of the college for 

their dedication, Obiano 

pledged to provide scholarships 

to indigent students in the 

college. 

Highlight of the event was the 

award of college prizes to six deserving 

graduates, just as Miss 

Marycynthia Mmaduchebe, a 

graduate of Biology/Chemistry 

emerged the overall best 

student for 2018 academic 

session.

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2019 

Land dispute: Youths 

desert Anambra 

community, houses 

destroyed 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

Awka- THE sleepy town of 

Igbariam in Anambra East 

Local Government Area of Anambra 

State has become a ghost 

community as youths of the area 

have run to neighbouring villages 

for fear of mass arrests by security 

operatives, who invaded the area 

following land dispute. 

No fewer than 16 persons, 

including an 84-year-old man, are 

still being detained in the federal 

capital, Abuja following arrests by 

people suspected to be members 

of police special squad. Over 

seven houses were torched by 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

ONITSHA - About 1,000 

families of Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDPs in 

various parts of Anambra State who 

were affected by the recent flood 

disaster in the state received relief 

materials estimated at over N500 

million from the state chapter of the 

Nigerian Red Cross Society, 

NRCS. 

Flagging off the distribution 

exercise at the Crowther 

Memorial School, Onitsha IDP 

camp recently, the State Vice- 

Chairman of NRCS, Prof. Peter 

Emeka Katchy noted that the relief 

materials, both consumables and 

non-consumables, including rice, 

beans, cereal, vegetable oil, salt, 

wrappers, kitchen utensils, 

detergents, tarpaulins, blankets, 

mats, among others, were to 

cushion the effects of the flood 

disaster. 

Katchy disclosed that although 

about 9,000 families were affected 

by the flood in the state, the relief 

materials donors, International 

Federation of Red Cross, IFRC, in 

collaboration with the International 

Committee of Red Cross/Red 

Crescent, ICRC and the European 

THE TEAM 

SUPERVISING EDITOR: 

Chioma Gabriel, Lagos 

(08052201257) 

EDITOR: 

Emeka Mamah, Enugu 

email: 

emekemamah@yahoo.com 

Anayo Okoli, Umuahia 

Vincent Ujumadu, Awka 

Chidi Nkwopara, Owerri 

Peter Okutu, Abakaliki 

Chimaobi Nwaiwu, 

Nnewi 

Nwabueze Okonkwo, 

Onitsha 

Ugochukwu Alaribe, Aba 

Denis Agbo, Enugu 

suspected hoodlums allegedly 

aided by some security operatives 

and among the houses torched was 

that of a permanent secretary in 

Anambra State, Dr. Edwin 

Emenike. 

A visit to the community 

showed that only elderly women 

walk freely and only few 

volunteered information about 

what was happening in the area. 

Mrs. Agnes Atomba, 80, whose 

son’s house was among those 

destroyed, said the hoodlums, 

after shattering the glass 

windows in her house, collected 

N200,000 sent by her son for her 

upkeep. 

•Some of the houses torched following land dispute at Igbariam 

She said: “I was sleeping at night 

and suddenly, I heard some noise 

in the compound. They were 

shouting and asking everybody 

in the house to come out. They 

came into my room and dragged 

me out and searched the entire 

house. 

“When I asked why they 

stormed my compound, they said 

they were looking for my son, 

Lambert and I told them he was 

not at home. My son, who they said 

they were looking for, lives in 

Lagos and has not come home for 

a long time.” 

Another woman, Mrs. 

Catherine Ogini said in addition 

to destroying her house, the 

youths collected N30,000 

belonging to her church and her 

women group in the community. 

She also claimed that they 

collected a plasma television from 

her house and threatened to deal 

with her if she screamed. 

Red Cross distributes N500m relief materials to 1,000 

flood devastated IDPs in Anambra 

•Prof. Katchy handing over one of the materials to the flood victims 

Union, EU decided to provide the 

relief materials to 1,000 families who 

were mostly affected by the disaster. 

In his own speech, the state 

Secretary of NRCS, Kingsley 

Okoye, explained that out of the 

1,000 benefitting families, 414 were 

By Peter Okutu 

Abakaliki-THE National 

Directorate of Employment, 

NDE, in Ebonyi State, weekend, 

stated that it has put modalities in 

place for the training of 6,200 

unemployed graduates and nongraduates 

across the three 

senatorial zones of the state. 

To achieve this goal, the agency 

in collaboration with the state 

government flagged off the Basic 

and Advanced National Open 

Apprenticeship Scheme and the 

Environmental Beautification 

Scheme under the Special Public 

Works Department of the NDE 

both at the main bowl of Unity 

Square and its conference hall in 

Abakaliki. 

According to the Director- 

General of NDE, Dr. Nasiru 

Mohammed Ladan Argungu 

represented by the State 

Coordinator, Mr. Marcel 

Igboanude, 300 youths would be 

trained in Vocational Skills 

from the Iyi-Owa Odekpe camp of 

Ogbaru Local Government Area of 

the state, while 115 families were 

from Omor camp of Ayamelum 

area, just as 320 families from 

Anambra East and West who 

camped at Umueri General 

Hospital and 150 families from 

Onitsha North and South who 

camped at Crowther Memorial 

School, Onitsha, were among the 

beneficiaries. 

Okoye therefore urged the 

beneficiaries to apply 

prudence in the management 

of the items, as according to 

him, the items are expected to 

last three months for them, 

adding that the donors are still 

collating data for the 

rehabilitation of the IDPs in 

the near future. 

Responding, some of the 

beneficiaries, Benedette Uzor, 

Blessing Ojadi and Jude 

Emeka families commended 

the Red Cross and the donor 

agencies for remembering 

them and urged them not to 

relent as it is only God that can 

reward them abundantly for 

their work of mercy. 

Mr. Nnalue Iloegbune, whose 

house was also destroyed, called 

for government intervention in the 

matter, adding that the entire 

community was living in danger. 

Going down memory lane, 

Iloegbune, who also ran away for 

fear of being arrested, said: “The 

land in question was part of the 

Igbariam Farm Settlement which 

our community donated to 

government during the Michael 

Okpra administration of the old 

Eastern Nigeria. After the civil 

war, 360.085 hectares of the land, 

which was part of the farm 

settlement, was given back to 

Igbariam community. The 

community decided to share it 

among the seven villages and to 

keep one share for capital project. 

“We have been making use of 

the land, but in 2014, our presidentgeneral, 

Mr. Ikechukwu Orizu said 

we should keep part of it for him. 

When we objected and called for 

the survey of the entire land for 

proper demarcation, our traditional 

ruler, Igwe Nneli Kelly refused and 

threatened to banish Ubaru village, 

which was in the forefront of the 

demand.“ 

Although the villagers claimed 

that the hoodlums destroying 

people’s houses were aided by 

security operatives, the Police 

Public Relations Officer in Anambra 

State, Mr. Mohammed Haruna, 

appears not to be aware of the 

situation as he said he was yet to 

be briefed on the matter. 

Unemployment: NDE begins training of 6,200 youths, 

women in Ebonyi 

Acquisition, 50 in Environmental 

Beautification Scheme, EBTS, 150 

in Agricultural skills while 5,000 

would be trained in 

Entrepreneurship Skills in 

preparation for loan collaboration 

with the Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN under the Agriculture, Small 

and Medium Enterprises 

Investment Scheme and 700 in 

Cosmetology in the state. 

He called on the beneficiaries 

who were drawn from the three 

senatorial zones of the state to make 

judicious use of the trainings to 

impact positively on their families 

and the society at large. 

"These trainings are for all 

Nigerians irrespective of state of 

origin. The purpose is to curb the 

menace of unemployment 

affecting our youths. It is expected 

that certain percentage of the 

youths will be resettled after the 

training. Attendance to the training 

will constitute 70 per cent of the 

evaluation or yardstick to be used 

•Unemployed youths queue up for NDE programme. 

during the exercise." 

In his remarks, the Director, 

Special Public Works Department 

of NDE, Abuja, Mr. Cyril Offiong 

represented by a Deputy Director 

in the Department, Engr. Anthony 

Okum stated that vocational skills 

were central to human survival as 

it is a vehicle for one to reassert one's 

dignity, occupy a productive place 

and feel useful and contribute 

positively to the family and society 

at large. 

"Don't joke with these trainings. 

They will help you become selfreliant 

and useful economically. As 

you are empowered, you stand the 

chance of equally empowering 

others in your locality and even 

your family members. Your future 

is now. Don't waste it on frivolities."


2019 and the prospects of 

a better Nigeria 

WELCOME to 2019. Let 

us thank God for 

granting us the grace of 

entering into the new year. 

Thank God we are not in the 

statistics of those killed by Boko 

Haram insurgents, militant 

cattle herdsmen, kidnappers, 

armed robbers, police/military 

stray bullets and sundry 

marauders who combined to 

turn Nigeria into a killing field 

in 2018 particularly. 

We thank God that we did not 

die on the road, on the sea, or 

in the air. We really must thank 

God that there was no fatal air 

crash, despite several reported 

near misses, including aircraft 

doors opening in mid-flight or 

cabins being decompressed in 

flight. I am starting this way, 

because it is normally necessary 

to thank God for crossing from 

one year to another but every 

Nigerian, including the military, 

must give more thanks for 

surviving 2018. It was a bloody 

year from the first week of 

January starting in Benue State 

and concluding in the last week 

of December in Zamfara State. 

Importantly also, we must 

continue to pray, first for the 

comfort of the family of the 

bereaved. Except you have 

been through similar 

experience, it is difficult to truly 

understand how it feels to lose 

a family member through brutal 

human violence. It is extremely 

distressing to go to sleep and 

wake up in the morning to see 

your home ablaze and 

sometimes watch family 

members who are running away 

from danger being cut down 

with guns and knives as 

happened in several parts of the 

Middle Belt during the 

outgoing year. What is worse, 

is when no meaningful effort is 

made by the authorities to arrest 

and punish the perpetrators of 

the heinous crimes. 

Then some busybodies arrive 

to preach peace to you asking 

you to live at peace with your 

neighbours, only for them to 

depart and the attackers return, 

sometimes under the watch of 

security agents, to kill and 

destroy what was left from the 

earlier attack. That is the 

burden, some of our country 

men and women are carrying 

today and largely everyone else 

gets on with their lives, 

oblivious of the deep pains in 

the hearts of these victims. 

Secondly, we need to pray with 

greater intensity for the mercy 

of God on Nigeria and its 

leaders. The blood of the 

2019 is our 

year of 

manifest 

destiny 

innocent shed all over Nigeria 

continues to cry for judgement, 

justice and appeasement. 

Unless God shows mercy, there 

will neither be sleep nor rest for 

the perpetrators of the crime, 

their agents, collaborators or 

those who failed to exercise the 

duty of protection over the 

innocent. 

Thus, we arrive 2019, a year 

that is already pregnant. What 

shall it deliver? A child of 

destiny or a child of perdition ? 

Me, I think a child of destiny, 

though the signs indicate it will 

be otherwise. In 2015, the world 

predicted that Nigeria would 

walk down the road of perdition. 

It was widely predicted that 

Nigeria would split. But 

Nigeria disappointed the 

world. That was essentially 

because the church prayed. Is 

the church praying for 2019? 

True, the church is praying 

hard. In addition, 2019 elections 

is not between the North and 

South, neither is it a contest 

between Islam and Christianity. 

For the real first time in 

Nigerian political history, 

religion and region will play 

very minimal role 

in influencing voting 

preferences at national level. 

And for me that is a good thing. 

For instance, the two principal 

contestants for the presidency 

are from the North and they are 

both Muslims. Thus, other 

critical criteria will play 

significant roles in determining 

who wins. The first criterion in 

my view is believability. 

Which of the principal 

candidates do Nigerians believe 

most? Making promises is the 

forte of politicians, but living up 

to promises is what 

differentiates one politician from 

another. I am persuaded that 

most Nigerians can differentiate 

between facts and propaganda. 

Luckily both leading 

candidates have been in the 

public space and Nigerians can 

assess who is best able to fulfill 

promises or political campaign 

manifestos. I believe that 

Nigerians have been 

disappointed too many times 

that they must be wise enough 

to interrogate all political 

promises. They must now be 

wise enough to separate 

propaganda from reality. 

I will like to believe that 

Nigerians can predict what a 

politician can do in the future 

from what he did in the past. If 

you promise buoyant economy, 

is there evidence that the 

economy was buoyant when 

last you were in power? If you 

promise a secure and safe 

nation, what was the situation 

last time you influenced 

national security. If you promise 

employment, how much jobs 

did you create at the last 

opportunity. If you promise 

democratic freedom, how much 

freedom did we see at your last 

opportunity? If you promise a 

nation free from corruption, 

what was the situation the last 

time? If you promise peace and 

unity, how peaceful and how 

united was Nigeria when last 

you were in position to influence 

both? 

I truly believe that Nigerians 

have never had a better 

opportunity to make rational 

decisions as to who governs 

them at state and Federal levels 

this time than they ever did in 

the past. That is what gives me 

hope that 2019 will be truly 

a year of destiny. My prayer, 

therefore, is that Nigerians must 

take the opportunity and 

responsibility with both arms. If 

we miss it, then we must blame 

ourselves not ethnicity or 

religion. 2019 is our year of 

manifest destiny. Happy New 

Year Nigerians! 

The assassination of Alex Badeh, 

insecurity and privatisation of the police 

THE images from the scene of attack, what 

political mourners and others of their 

ilk have variously described as a ‘dastardly 

act’ and other words to that effect, are not only 

graphic but are as gory and disturbing as they 

could possibly be. This episode harks back to 

the murder in 1976 of then Head of State, 

General Murtala Ramat Muhammamed, by 

renegade soldiers of the Nigerian Army during 

a botched attempt at a forceful takeover of 

government. 

But the victim of this vicious attack, Alex 

Badeh, was a four-star general in the Nigerian 

Airforce and until three years ago Nigeria’s 

Chief of Defence under the Goodluck 

Jonathan administration. It was during his 

time in the saddle that the murderous Boko 

Haram insurgents were at the peak of their 

offensive against the Nigerian state. Although 

the administration would under his watch 

gradually push back the insurgency without 

achieving full victory but the fight in the North 

East was tough enough for the man to use his 

position as the joint chair of military defence 

to evacuate his extended family from the war 

zone. 

With Boko Haram showing better gravitas 

and military strength on the war front even as 

our soldiers took themselves out of action with 

self-inflicted injuries and yet others became 

instant deserters at the approach of the almost 

ragtag army of insurgents, Nigerians asked 

questions about what happened to the billions 

of dollars voted for the procurement of 

weapons for the campaign in the North East. 

Nigerians didn’t have to wait too long for 

answers to their questions. Reports from the 

war front were not at all flattering to the 

government or the brass hats in charge of 

Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram. Soldiers 

on the verge of mutiny spoke of abandonment 

at the war front, severe shortage of food supplies 

and modern weaponry, late or non-payment 

of salaries and general indifference to their 

plight by their commanders - all of which 

translated to very low morale. In a word, reports 

from the field were a solid indictment of the 

service chiefs virtually all of whom, like now, 

had become too comfortable and could no 

longer distinguish between their roles as 

military or police chiefs or being the military 

arm of the governing Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP. 

Following the loss of the 2015 election by 

the PDP, the Muhammadu Buhari-led 

government of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, began series of investigations that 

unearthed grievous crimes against the 

Nigerian state, to say nothing of the young 

soldiers that were deployed almost barehanded 

to confront murderous groups of insurgents 

The assassination of Badeh 

and his investigation for 

fraud are different issues and 

the determined effort to draw 

a link between the two may 

not help investigations at all 

that are not at all schooled in and were 

unmoved by the modern strategies and rules 

of military engagement. 

Alex Badeh was one of the officers implicated 

in the misuse and pilfering of public funds to 

the tune of billions of naira. His older children 

were also fingered in this crime of diverting 

public funds to purchase choice properties in 

different parts of the country or simply starched 

away in hidden accounts. He was yet on trial 

as at the point of his unfortunate murder. So, 

just to keep the records straight, the narratives 

surrounding Alex Badeh were, therefore, far 

from the heroic yarns and sentimental drivel 

that are now being spurned by interested 

parties and erstwhile acquaintances of the 

Airforce chief in 

the PDP. 

N o b o d y 

deserves to die in 

the manner that 

Alex Badeh was 

killed and his 

death beyond the 

rhetoric of a 

presidential order 

for the arrest of his attackers should be 

investigated and his murderers brought to 

justice. But asking questions and demanding 

answers about this particular assassination in 

the context of countless crimes and murders 

that go uninvestigated begs the question of a 

permanent and general solution to the 

insecurity that has taken over the country even 

at the time Badeh was chief of defence. 

To build castles of conspiracy theories around 

his death in the manner the PDP and their 

sympathisers have been doing in an obvious 

bid to demonise the Buhari administration 

would neither go far nor would it move us 

forward in our drive towards addressing the 

insecurity that has made Nigeria a wild outpost 

of brigand militias. It amounts to seeking a 

private solution to a general problem which 

takes us back to the very territory we should be 

running away from- giving privilege to a few 

at the expense of the vast majority. 

What is worse is that it dilutes official 

narratives concerning the activities of Alex 

Badeh and others like him, conflating issues 

in a manner that defrauds our commonwealth. 

The assassination of Badeh and his 

investigation for fraud are different issues and 

the determined effort to draw a link between 

the two may not help investigations at all. 

Indeed, the attempt to link his murder to his 

being in possession of some earth-shaking 

secrets about the present administration and 

Boko Haram is a yarn that is shot through 

with politics and deserves scorn. Except the 

investigation of his murder leads inexorably 

to anything connected to Boko Haram a willful 

and premeditated link should not be drawn 

between the two. What happened to Badeh 

happens to scores of Nigerians daily without 

anyone in authority batting an eyelid. 

Nigerians are randomly killed, military-style, 

by armed robbers and kidnappers that are now 

constantly on the prowl. Many Nigerians even 

people not easily associated with wealth, not 

having held any public office, are fair game to 

armed kidnappers and robbers. Today 

teachers, lecturers and health workers are 

indiscriminately abducted and their families 

are made to pay millions of naira to secure 

their freedom. This even when nobody, neither 

the family nor the police, would admit to giving 

ransom to placate their abductors. Nobody 

asks questions when an entire neigbourhood 

is barricaded, the inhabitants held hostage and 

robbed, raped and brutalised for hours without 

any response by the police to the distress calls 

of the affected people. 

Traditional rulers in parts of the country have 

been abducted as we saw recently in parts of 

Lagos. School children have been abducted 

well before and since the infamous abduction 

of hundreds of Chibok girls. Some of the 

Dapchi girls are still in captivity. The families 

of these girls have borne their pain silently and 

nobody is losing sleep over the time-wasting 

negotiations for the release of the girls, 

especially the pathetic case of Leah Sharibu 

that is spending yet another Christmas in 

captivity. But special commentaries are being 

made by politicians bent on making cheap 

political mileage from and about the murder 

of Alex Badeh. They are condemning the police 

and pouring insults on the Buhari 

administration as it serves their political 

interest for now. Tomorrow they will sing a 

different tune and move on to other political 

matters. 

C 

M 

Y 

K



Be decisive, vote out oppressive govt—Delta monarch 

By Onozure Dania 

HRM 

Godspower 

Oporomo, Taraeza I, 

Pere of Kerebiri-Mein, 

Delta State has called on 

his subjects to be decisive 

in the forthcoming elections 

and vote out oppressive 

government that does not 

mean well for the kingdom. 

The monarch said the 

kingdom would speak 

through its votes, urging 

the people of the kingdom 

to unite and kick against 

authorities that want to 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi 

PORT HARCOURT— 

SPECIAL Adviser to 

the President on the 

Presidential Amnesty 

Programme, PAP, Professor 

Charles Dokubo, has said 


Buhari deserves mass 

support from Niger Delta 

on his second term bid for 

shunning advice to scrap 

the amnesty programme. 

Professor Dokubo, who is 

on vacation in his home 

town, Abonema, Akuku 

Toru Local Government 

Area of Rivers State, said 

Niger Delta’s support for 

Buhari in February polls 

would further demonstrate 

the people’s appreciation 

for what the region had 

benefited under the 

President through the 

programme. 

According to him, “there 

was advice by some persons 

that PAP should be 

terminated as it was an adhoc 

programme. But the 

President insisted that the 

programme should go on. 

Government has done a lot 

with the programme. It has 

not relented in its support 

for the programme. 

subjugate them. 

He stated this during end 

of year/thanksgiving 

ceremony at his palace 

playground in Bomadi, 

headquarters of Bomadi 

Local Government Area of 

The state, calling on his subjects 

to be firm with their 

voting rights and kick out 

government with 

unfriendly, lopsided and 

parochial policies. 

Oporomo explained that 

since he ascended the 

throne three years ago, the 

struggle for the recognition 

“With the type of vocational 

centres that have now 

been developed in Kaiama 

and other places, I 

strongly believe that the 

next level the President is 

bringing, which I know 

of the kingdom had been 

ongoing, affirming that 

Kerebiri-Mein has been a 

conquered kingdom and 

maintained a unique 

historical background from 

Ogobiri in Bayelsa State. 

He thanked God for the 

peace enjoyed by the 10 

communities under his 

domain and called on 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to 

take advantage of the 

scenario and expedite 

action on the ongoing 

construction of the Bomadi 

High Tension tower project. 

will come, will even be 

better for this 

programme.” 

He said since the 

inception of PAP, a lot of 

Niger Delta youths had 

benefited from numerous 

Oporomo lamented that 

the pace of work on the 

project was low, urging the 

governor to complete the 

project before the general 

election. 

He also called on the 

government at the state 

and federal levels to save 

the lives of the Kpakiama 

people from coastal 

erosion that had eroded 

45 percent of the 

community shoreline, by 

awarding and executing 

shoreline protection 

projects. 

Fun seekers besiege Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park, Alausa, in celebration of the New Year, yesterday. 

PHOTO: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

Buhari rejected advice to scrap 

amnesty programme—Dokubo 

By Emma Amaize 

FORMER Minister for 

Education, Olorogun 

Kenneth Gbagi, yesterday, 

insisted that there was an 

unwritten agreement to 

alternate governorship position 

in Delta State and 

called on his Delta Central 

district (Urhobo) tribesmen 

to respect the compromise 

by allowing Delta North 

(Anioma) complete its two 

tenures of eight years. 

Gbagi, who spoke to 

Vanguard at his country 

home, Oginibu, Ughelli 

South Local Government 

Area of the state, said: 

“Urhobo should reciprocate 

the good gesture of 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by 

supporting his quest for 

second term. 

“Nobody should see us as 

mischief-makers; we are 

not. Agreement is agreement. 

“They should defend this 

agreement to prove that 

they are people of integrity.” 

He dismissed the 

contention that there was 

no agreement, saying “it is 

the system that had put that 

situation in place. That was 

why Urhobo had to take the 

first shot. 

“So Urhobo started it. The 

South had done theirs, the 

Anioma started their own 

and they just have to 

complete it. 

“One of the problems that 

we, Urhobo, have had is this 

issue of integrity. Urhobo 

must stand firm; we would 

have had a common 

understanding just as Ijaw, 

Isoko and Itsekiri from the 

South have a duty to 

defend it too. 

“This is what we have put 

scholarships and 

vocational skills, adding 

that he was mobilising his 

Akuku Toru kinsmen to 

stand out as first to return 

the President in this 

elections. 

We’ve an agreement to rotate 

governorship in Delta, says Gbagi 

in place for 20 years; we 

will not throw it away for 

nothing. 

“I supported Okowa with 

everything to become a 

governor. As a lawyer, I will 

be a stupid lawyer if I do 

not follow through what was 

agreed. It means my 

Urhobo people and I have 

no integrity and I call on 

Deltans to forget rivalry 

and do the right thing. 

“Urhobo must go back to 

the drawing board and 

should not give room to 

anybody in the world to call 

them rascals. There is an 

agreement which made 

other Deltans to give 

Urhobo and then South 

senatorial eight years shot 

each. 

“We are giving Delta 

North, which is part of 

Delta, its eight years shot. 

We must support Okowa .” 

Delta PDP Campaign 

Council holds vigil 


A SABA—DELTA 

State Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP 

Campaign Council will 

hold prayer vigil to 

dedicate the campaign to 

God ahead of Friday’s 

campaign flag-off for the 

re-election of Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa. 

The party in a 

statement by Dr. Ifeanyi 

Osuoza, Director of 

Publicity of the Delta 

State PDP Campaign 

Organisation, said all 

stakeholders connected 

with the campaigns, 

including members of 

Council, Directorates 

and Committees; 

chairmen, coordinators 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN—THE Edo 

State All 


APC, House of 

Representatives 

candidate for Ovia 

Federal Constituency, 

Mr. Dennis Idahosa, has 

promised to use 50 per 

cent of his salary to 

empower members of 

the constituency if he 

was elected in the 

February elections. 

In a chat with 

journalists in Benin 

City, yesterday, 

Idahosa former Edo 

State commissioner 

during Adams 

Oshiomhole’s tenure, 

said women and youths 

would be the 

beneficiaries of the 

and secretaries of all local 

government campaign 

committees as well as the 

Speaker and members of 

the state House of 

Assembly are expected to 

attend. 

The pre-campaign 

prayer vigil, which will 

hold at the Chapel of the 

Government House, 

Asaba today will have all 

commissioners and all 

PDP's candidates in attendance. 

Speaking, Deputy Director 

of Publicity in the campaign 

organisation, Prince 

Obaro Unuafe said: “It is 

to reinforce the stance of 

our candidate, Governor 

Okowa, that campaigns 

should be issue-based and 

peaceful.” 

MOSOP President rekindles 

hope for Ogoniland 

PRESIDENT 


Movement for the 

Survival of the Ogoni 

People, MOSOP, Fegalo 

Nsuke, has rekindled 

hope for a free Ogoni. 

Nsuke, in his New Year 

address to the Ogoni 

people, said freedom for 

the Ogoni people in 

Nigeria must be 

pursued vigorously. 

His speech followed 

his assumption as new 

MOSOP President at the 

expiration of the tenure 

of the previous 

executives on December 

31, 2018. 

In a New Year message 

to the Ogoni people, 

Nsuke said: “Today, the 

Ogoni struggle is 

reborn, our hope for a 

better tomorrow is 

rekindled and we must all 

be prepared and 

determined to change our 

history and let the Ogoni 

star shine.” 

He addressed a crowd 

in Yeghe, Gokana Local 

Government Area of 

Rivers State, yesterday. 

He said: “When in 

1990, our progenitors 

launched the Ogoni 

struggle with the 

publication of the Ogoni 

Bill of Rights, it was a 

collective move to rewrite 

our history and 

give us hope. 

“That hope is rekindled 

as we turn a new page 

and together decide to 

match on so we can win 

together.” 

I'll use half of my salary 

to empower constituents 

—Idahosa 

scheme. 

He said, “It is not 

going to be a new thing 

for me because I did 

exactly the same thing 

when I was a 

commissioner. Even 

without holding any 

political position, I have 

been trying in my little 

way to empower my 

people,” adding that it 

was my desire to do more 

for my people that made 

me to seek elective position. 

According to him, as a 

businessman, I was able 

to support my people, but 

it was not enough to carry 

majority of their 

challenges and I felt that 

venturing into politics 

would give me room for 

more opportunities to meet 

their needs.”


3 hospitalised as thugs 

abduct, brutalise SDP 

members 

By Clifford Ndujihe 

POLICE have waded 

into the reported 

illegal arrest, abduction, 

brutalisation and 

humiliation of some Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, 

members by political 

thugs at Nnobi, Idemili 

South council and 

Abatete, Idemili North 

council areas for 

displaying posters of their 

party candidates side by 

side those of a candidate 

of the leading political 

parties in the state. 

Narrating the ugly 

experience, an SDP 

chieftain Mr Cheta Okafor 

at a media briefing at 

Awka, noted that a team 

of six SDP members who 

were pasting posters at 

Nnobi late evening on 

December 28,2018 at 

about 10pm were accosted 

by thugs numbering 25 

who arrived the scene in 

a convoy of vehicles. 

Wielding dangerous 

weapons, he said the 

thugs in a commando 

fashion seized and 

brutalised the rattled SDP 

members who were too 

Passage 

MADAM 

Ezinne 

Anene, (aka 

Egbeyiugo) nee Iwuobi 

has passed on, aged 88 

years. 

She died on August 27, 

2018, and will be buried 

at the Iwuobi family 

compound, Ibolo, Oraifite, 

Anambra State, tomorrow. 

She is survived by many 

children and 

grandchildren. 

•Late Madam Anene 

Death 

•Late Chief Okoh 

THE death has been 

announced of Chief 

Theresa Okoh, aged 70. 

She will be buried at her 

residence, 5 Ukpai/Ute- 

Erumu Road, Ali-Egboh 

Quarters, Idumuesah, via 

Agbor, Ika N-East LGA, 

Delta State on January 5, 

2019. 

She is survived by 

children and other 

relatives. 

surprised to understand 

what was happening. 

Thinking it was armed 

robbers, they ran into the 

bush while three of them 

were abducted, 

brutalised, injured and 

commandeered the SDP 

branded vehicle, bundles 

of posters and other 

personal and party items. 

According to one of the 

victims, Mr Paul 

Onwughalu, they were 

mercilessly beaten up and 

ordered into the van or 

‘we set it ablaze’. 

He said they were 

taken to the home of one 

of the candidates for the 

Idemili Federal 

constituency, who ordered 

another round of beating 

and flogging with water 

hoses. “He actually 

blamed the thugs for not 

setting us ablaze with our 

party vehicle. He said he 

will teach us and our 

leaders whose posters 

were used to challenge 

him - Tony Chukwuelue, 

SDP senatorial candidate 

and Uche Annie- 

Okonkwo (the SDP 

candidate for Idemili 

Federal Constituency) a 

lesson. 

Burial 

• Late Mrs Ndibe 

THE burial of late Mrs. 

Elizabeth Ndibe, who 

died on November 18, 

2018 at the age of 93, has 

been slated for January 7, 

2019 in Amawbia, Awka 

South LGA, Anambra 

State. 

A funeral mass in her 

honour will hold 10 a.m. 

at St. Matthew’s Catholic 

Church, Amawbia. 


children and other 

relatives, among whom is 

Okey Ndibe, an author 

and columnist. 

Passage 

MADAM Magret 

Ezendiokwele, is 

dead, aged 125. She will 

be buried, January 8, 2019 

at Ezendiokwele’s 

compound, Achina, 

Anambra State. 


children, grand-children 

and great-grand children. 

• Late Madam 

Ezendiokwele 

NEW YEAR MASS: Father Cajetan Apeh (middle), flanked by the Parish Priest, St Joseph’s 

Parish, Imufu, Enugu State, Rev. Fr. Rufus Achinike (left) and Rev Father Johnson 

Nwanonenyi (right) celebrating the new year Mass yesterday. 

How we survived on half a loaf of bread, 

medications. His blood 

‘pure water’ for 4 days 

pressure became very high 

and he was very weak . 

—Kidnapped Catholic priests 

“They 

were 

By Emeka Mamah 

ENUGU—A Catholic 

priest, Rev Fr Cajetan 

Apeh, yesterday, relieved 

his experiences in the den 

of kidnappers. 

Apeh, who was ordained 

priest on August 11, last 

year at Enugu, was 

kidnapped along with his 

parish priest at Anam in 

Anambra State while 

returning to their station. 

The Catholic priest said 

he was serving in Abuja but 

was transferred to Anam 

in November following a 

vacancy occasioned by the 

transfer of members of their 

Carmelite profession in 

the church. 

Narrating his ordeal 

shortly after celebrating a 

New Year mass at St 

Joseph’s Catholic Church, 

Imufu Enugu Ezike 

yesterday, Rev Fr Apeh 

said that he had taken his 

parish priest to hospital, 

from where they went to 

buy some items to be used 

during the visit of Cardinal 

Francis Arinze from Rome 

to his new parish on 

Christmas day when they 

were kidnapped by four 

herdsmen armed with AK 

47 Rifles and taken through 

the bush parts into a very 

thick forest in the area. 

“I was transferred from 

Abuja to Anam in Anambra 

state in November, but 

barely a month later on 

December 24, 2018, my 

parish priest told me that 

he was sick and could not 

drive himself to be hospital 

and asked me to drive him 

to see a doctor. 

“When we finished from 

the hospital, we went to buy 

some things that would be 

used during the visit of 

Cardinal Arinze to our 

parish the next day, being 

Christmas Day. 

“However, as we were 

returning, we were 

suddenly stopped at a very 

bad portion of the road 

leading to Anam. A Fulani 

herdsman armed with AK 

47 rifle, jumped out from 

the bush and pointedhis 

gun at us, threatening to 

shoot if we didn’t stop. It 

was really an ambush. 

“Initially, we thought it 

was just robbery, but after 

searching and taking all our 

possessions, including 

some loafs of bread; they led 

us into the bush where two 

of us were given half a loaf 

of the wheat bread they took 

from us for four days before 

our release to our superior, 

who drove from Enugu to 

Anam on the instruction of 

the herdsmen. 

“During the period, we 

were not allowed to talk to 

ourselves even as two of us 

drank one sachet of water 

per day. On the second day 

in the night, (Christmas), 

we were shivering as the 

harmattan cold was two 

much, so one of them made 

fire for us in a bid to keep 

us warm. I wore a a pair of 

trousers and a T-shirt. 

“Apart from the cold, 

mosquitoes bit us 

throughout the period. We 

slept in the open farms 

without anything to cover 

ourselves while our captors 

wore jackets to protect them 

from the cold. 

‘On December 26, the 

condition of my parish 

priest deteriorated, 

because, although we were 

given some drugs in the 

hospital, he was not 

allowed to take his 

communicating with our 

superiors, telling them that 

they wanted big, big money 

as ransom but when after 

all these days of our kidnap, 

nobody offered them any 

money they became 

disappointed. 

“They asked us our bank 

account numbers and we 

told them that we had no 

personal bank accounts, that 

everything belonged to the 

church. They asked if I was 

married, I said no, because 

I am a Catholic priest. They 

said that if I was married, 

my wife or members of my 

family would have been 

calling them and running 

around for ransom. 

“Due to your prayers and 

those of others throughout 

the world, we were released 

to our superior who 

travelled to Anam from 

Enugu, unaccompanied by 

any policeman or security 

agent,” he added. 

Apeh said that 

throughout their days in 

captivity, they never stood 

up except while going to 

ease themselves with the 

permission of their captors 

as they were only allowed 

to lie or sit down. 

Ugwuanyi donates cash to Enugu fire victims 

•His good heart, works assure his re-election —Victims 

E NUGU—Governor 

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of 

Enugu State has assisted 

victims of the recent fire 

outbreak that gutted a petrol 

station, three shops, a 

commercial bus and two 

tricycles, among others, 

along Nike Lake Road by 

Penoks Junction, Trans 

Ekulu, Enugu, to 

ameliorate their pains. 

Ugwuanyi who had 

earlier directed the State 

Emergency Management 

Agency, SEMA, to meet 

with the victims, when he 

visited the scene shortly 

after the inferno was put out 

by the State Fire Service, 

thereafter met with them at 

the Government House and 

gave them financial 

assistance. 

One of the victims, whose 

boutique was burnt and 

who spoke on behalf of 

others, Mrs. Esther 

Okpara, disclosed that the 

governor gave the three 

affected shop owners the 

sum of N500,000 each; 

N250,000 to another shop 

owner with less damage 

and agreed to replace the 

burnt commercial bus and 

two tricycles for the owners. 

A mobile food seller and 

two tenants, according to 

her, got N100, 000 each from 

the governor while two 

okpa sellers, a vulcanizer 

and one other victim got 

50,000 each. 

Okpara, who could not 

hold back her tears of joy, 

thanked Ugwuanyi for his 

benevolence and 

compassionate disposition 

to them, saying: “We have 

never had it so good”. 

Narrating her ordeal, she 

said: “In fact, I pray that all 

the days of my life, I will 

never live to witness such 

incident again. It was so 

terrible that we ran out of 

our homes but after the 

whole thing, we were 

surprised to see our 

governor immediately. 

“He came to see us and 

to see what happened. We 

thank God no life was lost. 

We give God the glory in 

Jesus Name. Amen. Above 

all, the governor took care 

of us. When he came, he 

saw our shops, the things 

that were affected in our 

shops. He didn’t stop at 

that; he invited us here to 

the Government House. He 

saw us one after the other 

and gave us cash gifts. 

“I remember the day we 

voted for him in 2015. It was 

drizzling but we went all 

the way to vote for him and 

he has never disappointed 

us."



NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

NGO to drag Police to UN over Melaye 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA— A nongovernmental 

organisation, Justice 

Helpline Foundation, has 

threatened to drag the 

Nigeria Police to the United 

Nations over what it 

described as constant 

intimidation of Senator 

Dino Melaye by the Police. 

The Director of Litigation 

of the group, Ayo Jonathan, 

who made this known in 

Lokoja yesterday, 

cautioned the Inspector 

S OKOTO—THE 

Northern Traditional 

Rulers Council Assembly 

(NTRCA) has urged 

politicians at all levels to 

honour the various peace 

accords for the 2019 

general election. 

They said honouring the 

accords would reciprocate 


Buhari’s pledge to ensure 

free and fair elections for 

continued peace and unity 

of the country. 

The call was made in a 

communique from the 

concluded Northern 

Traditional Rulers 5th 

General Assembly signed 

by Coordinating 

Committee Chairman and 

Emir of Gummi, Justice 

Lawal Hassan, yesterday, 

in Sokoto. 

The traditional rulers’ 

resolution described the 

election year as crucial, 

noting that all over the 

world, people were 

watching Nigeria, being 

the country with the highest 

population in Africa. 

They commended the 

Independent National 


General of Police, Ibrahim 

Idris against what it termed 

victimisation of the senator. 

He also said it was wrong 

for President Muhammadu 

Buhari not to call the police 

leadership to order. 

His words: “In a country 

where several members of 

the ruling party were 

alleged to have been 

involved in corrupt 

practices, Mr. President 

found it convenient to 

protect such persons, yet 

the police find it convenient 

to harass, intimidate and 

infringe on peoples' rights. 

INEC, on its preparations 

and resolved to assist the 

electoral body in every way 

to achieve the desired 

goals. 

The council appealed to 

the executive and 

legislative arms of 

government to ensure 

adequate funding and 

other relevant 

arrangements and support 

towards the successful 

conduct of free and fair 

elections. 

They decried the rising 

level of hate speeches, 

bickering, do-or-die 

political campaigns, vote 

buying, and money 

politics, noting that it was 

sad and unfortunate to use 

innocent youths as political 

thugs. 

They appealed to parents 

to always monitor their 

wards and also urged 

politicians to change tactics 

and honour decorum, to 

avoid consequences of their 

electoral misconduct. 

The assembly noted that 

cases of kidnappings, 

banditry, insurgency, 

farmers/herder clashes and 

other forms of crimes might 

“Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and 

the Governor Ganduje 

saga, are cases of corruption 

which Mr. President 

allegedly provided cover for 

such persons. 

“The laying of siege to the 

house of Senator Dino 

Melaye, the disconnection 

of electricity and water 

supply to the Senator’s 

residence as well as 

constantly firing of tear gas 

into the residence are 

wrong. 

“There will be severe 

consequences if anything 

happens to the Senator. 

affect the successful 

conduct of the general 

election. 

They called on the 

Federal Government to 

continue doing everything 

possible to curtail the 

menace and provide 

enough grazing reserves 

and livestock routes, while 

states should support 

peaceful moves on the 

development. 

They further lauded 

President Buhari’s efforts to 

diversify the nation’s 

economy, poverty 

alleviation and fight against 

unemployment. 

They assured of frequent 

consultations to encourage 

good ideas towards 

promoting mutual 

understanding among 

citizens and national 

integration. 

The event featured a 

lecture entitled: “Pervasive 

Insecurity in an Election 

Year”, which was discussed 

by different personalities. 

The event was attended 

by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji 

Sa’ad Abubakar and three 

representatives from 

traditional councils of 19 

“We urge the police to be 

more civil in its approach. 

We will not hesitate to drag 

the police to the UN if any 

harm befalls the senator. 

“Having followed the 

activities of the Nigeria 

Police, and with the 

unfolding event, we have 

every reason to be 

concerned about the real 

motive behind the new 

attempt to arrest Senator 

Dino Melaye considering 

the spate of strange and 

unresolved deaths of 

persons in police custody 

in recent past.” 

Representative of 

the wife of the 

President, Dr. Hajo 

Sani(right); Dr. 

Pauline Tallen 

(middle) and others, 

cutting the cake to 

mark the Christmas 

and New Year 

children's party with 

some children at the 

State House Banquet 

Hall, Presidential 

Villa, Abuja, 

yesterday. PHOTO: 


Northern monarchs raise the alarm: 

Insurgency, farmers/herder clashes, 

others can affect general election 

•...urge politicians to honour peace accord 

states. 

Other participants 

included Chairman of 

INEC, Prof. Mahmud 

Yakubu, who led five other 

INEC Commissioners and 

Chairman of Presidential 

Advisory Committee on 

Elimination of Drug Abuse. 

By Peter Duru 

SUSPECTED armed 

herdsmen have 

reportedly razed a 250- 

hectare of rice farm valued 

at more than N100million 

in Gbajimba, Guma Local 

Government Area Benue 

State, belonging to the 

Governor, Samuel Ortom. 

The invaders were said to 

have stormed the farm, 

known in the state for 

massive production of rice, 

from neighbouring 

Nasarawa state. 

Conducting newsmen 

round the burnt farm 

Tuesday, the Manager, Mr. 

Kena Iordzua said the 

herders came to the farm 

with a large number of 

cattle during the day and 

New Year: Lalong 

pardons four prisoners 

By Marie Nanlong 

J OS—GOVERNOR 

Simon Lalong of 

Plateau State has 

pardoned four prisoners 

as part of his New Year 

goodwill, with a call on 

them to turn a new leaf 

and add value to their 

lives. 

A statement by the 

Senior Special Assistant 

on Media and Publicity 

to the governor, Mr. 

Mark Longyen, said: “In 

exercise of the powers 

Legacy Pension 

Managers becomes 

FCMB Pensions Limited 

AS part of the strategy 

to harmonise its 

global brand and 

identity, FCMB Group 

Plc has announced a 

change of name in the 

pension management 

arm of its business. 

Formerly known as 

Legacy Pension 

Managers Limited, the 

leading financial 

services holding 

company’s fund 

managers firm will now 

be known as FCMB 

Pensions Limited. 

The Group said in a 

statement that the 

change of name followed 

the acquisition of 

majority shareholding in 

the company by FCMB 

Group Plc and the 

approval of the Board of 

Directors at its meeting 

of October 17, 2018, 

adding that the name 

change will positively 

enhance the company’s 

marketing and 

distribution activities. 

FCMB increased its 

stake in its pensions 

business between 2017 

set the farm on fire at three 

different points. 

He said:”When we 

realised what had 

happened we made effort 

to put out the fire but due 

to the wild nature of the fire 

as a result of the harmattan, 

the inferno could not be put 

off despite concerted efforts 

by those who were 

working on the farm. 

“We alerted security 

agents, who mobilised and 

went after the herdsmen 

who were shooting 

sporadically in the air as 

they retreated towards the 

Nasarawa border. 

“From our findings, the 

estimate of the burnt 

portion of the rice farm is 

about 250 hectares and the 

market value of the rice is 

conferred on him under 

Section 212 of the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 1999 

(as amended), Granting of 

Amnesty Order, the 

Governor of Plateau State, 

Mr. Simon Lalong, after 

consultation with the State 

Advisory Council on 

Prerogative of Mercy, and 

in exercise of his power of 

Prerogative of Mercy and 

to commemorate the New 

Year day, has approved the 

granting of pardon to some 

prisoners.” 

and 2018 from 28.3 percent 

to 91.6 percent. The 

acquisition is expected to 

engender sustainable and 

diversified low-risk growth 

momentum. 

Commenting, Mr. 

Misbahu Yola, Managing 

Director, FCMB Pensions 

Limited, (formerly Legacy 

Pension), said: “What has 

happened is expected and 

an important alignment of 

our marketing message. 

“There has been a 

comprehensive 

integration of the pensions 

business into FCMB 

Group, which is known for 

its culture of excellence, 

resilience and customer 

focus. It is another way of 

welcoming it to a group 

that has endured and 

enjoyed stability and 

sustainable growth in the 

last 41years”. 

Also speaking, Mr. Ladi 

Balogun, Chairman, 

Board of FCMB Pensions 

Limited and Group Chief 

Executive, FCMB Group, 

said: “the change of the 

company’s name will 

entrench a single brand.” 

... as herdsmen raze Ortom’s N100m rice farm 

over N100 million.’’ 

Also speaking on the 

development after touring 

the farm, Principal Special 

Assistant to the Governor on 

Special Duties, Mr. 

Abrahams Kwaghngu, 

described the act as barbaric 

and a threat to food security. 

“We all know that a law 

prohibiting open grazing of 

cattle in Benue State is still 

in force and should be 

obeyed by all. The federal 

government needs to act fast 

to stop the impunity by the 

herders.” 

Mr. Kwaghngu lamented 

that after displacing the 

people from their ancestral 

homes for over a year, the 

herdsmen would not allow 

the little that had been 

cultivated to be harvested.



BABY OF THE YEAR 2019 ACROSS SOME STATES 

From left; Wife of Deputy Governor, Ekiti State, Chief Margaret Egbeyemi; 

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; parents of the baby, Mr (TOP): Wife of the Speaker 

and Mrs Tope Akilo, during the presentation of gift to First baby of the of Ogun State, Mrs. 

year at the Comprehensive Health Centre, Ido-Ekiti yesterday. 

Oluwaseun Adekunbi; Wife 

of the Governor/President, 

UPLIFT Development 

Foundation, Mrs. Olufunso 

Amosun; Mr. Abdulrasaq 

and Yusroh Salaudeen; and 

the Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Babatunde 

Ipaye, during the 

governor's wife's visit to the 

First Baby of the Year 

delivered at State Hospital, 

Ijaiye in Abeokuta. 

Wife of Ondo State governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (flanked by the 

parents) carrying the first baby of the year at Arakale Health Centre in Akure. 

(RIGHT): Mother of 

Oyo State first Baby-ofthe-Year, 

Mrs Esther 

Olaoke (left), with 

representative of the 

wife of Oyo State 

Governor, Mrs Atinuke 

Osunkoya, carrying the 

first baby Olaoke, born 

12:01a.m. at the Nigeria 

Police Medical Centre, 

Eleyele in Ibadan 

yesterday.


I’ll make Nigeria Africa’s most innovative 

economy — Ezekwesili 

By Olayinka Ajayi 

THE Presidential Can 

didate of the Allied 

Congress of Nigeria, 

ACPN, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, 

has notified Nigerians 

of her plans in the new 

year, one of which is to 

make Nigeria’s economy 

the most innovative in Africa, 

if elected President. 

She said that if well-managed, 

Nigeria’s economy 

would outshine that of its 

contemporaries in Africa. 

The ACPN presidential 

candidate said that this was 

achievable through the creation 

of a special fund for 

science and technology and 

reformation of key financial 

institutions. 

She said: “We will be creating 

a $1bn Science, Technology 

and Innovation fund 

to ensure that science, technology 

and innovation becomes 

the enabler for socio-economic 

development 

and structural transformation. 

“The goal is to kick-start 

the process of becoming Africa’s 

number one innovation 

and knowledge economy. 

¬The STI fund will support 

the building of a robust 

national innovation 

system, carry out reforms 

The goal is to kickstart 

the process of 

becoming Africa’s 

number one innovation 

and knowledge 

economy. ¬The STI 

fund will support the 

building of a robust 

national innovation 

system, carry out 

reforms and reorganisation 

of existing 

institutions 

and re-organisation of existing 

institutions, and fund 

the scale-up of Small and 

Medium-scale Enterprises 

Dr. Ezekwesili 

and start-ups in the technology 

space, research and development, 

knowledge transfer, 

among others. ¬The fund 

will function as a partnership 

between the government 

and the private sector.” 

Ezekwesili also said policies 

that would ensure increase 

of technology startups 

in the country by at least 

500 per cent in the next four 

years would be designed and 

implemented. 

“We will set up an Information 

and Communications 

Technology programme with 

a focus on ensuring Nigerians 

are growing in the remote 

working and outsourcing 

global market. ¬The plan 

will be to create centres of 

ICT advancement in all 

states with a focus on an average 

of 10,000 developers in 

each state,” the presidential 

candidate said. 

“Simultaneously, a group of 

technology ambassadors will 

be engaging global sourcing 

centres, providing them with 

comparative advantage of 

opening or expanding current 

operations in Nigeria. 

Th¬e ICT programme will 

partner the private sector in 

investing in real estate that 

allows remote tech workers 

involved in tech development, 

data science, Artificial 

Intelligence and emerging 

technologies to comfortably 

work,” she added. 

Gov. Okowa 

ONE thing the Delta State 

chapter of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP 

has been noted for is its early planning 

for elections. For the past 19 

years, the PDP has been in power 

in Delta State. 

The PDP has produced three 

governors since 1999, two of whom 

have served two terms of four years 

each. The current Governor, Dr. 

Ifeanyi Okowa is preparing for his 

second term as his first term will 

expire in May 2019. 

The PDP is the only party in 

Delta State that has presence in 

every ward in the State. It was no 

surprise therefore that when the 

campaign council was recently 

inaugurated in Asaba, the capital 

of Delta State it was a carnival of 

sort as every notable PDP stakeholder 

and politician gathered to 

witness the epoch-making event. 

The current PDP campaign organization 

in Delta State has some 

distinctive features that were crafted 

to produce effective results. The 

campaign structure has 13 directorates 

peopled by seasoned politicians/technocrats, 

12 committees 

with time tested political technocrats 

and 25 Local Government Campaign 

Chairmen, Coordinators and 

Secretaries. 

The Director-General of the PDP 

campaign organization, Rt. Hon. 

Funkekeme Solomon, noted that 

2019: PDP’s strategy to retain 

power in Delta 


one distinctive feature of the campaign 

organization is that several 

tested Senior Politicians have been 

drafted to their local government 

areas to do grassroots campaign. Solomon 

vowed that the current campaign 

organization will work hard 

to justify the confidence reposed in 

it. 

It should be noted 

that the only 

guarantee for 

electoral success is 

hard work, any 

political party that 

places propaganda 

and mudslinging 

ahead of effective 

campaign is bound 

to lose elections 

Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, the publicity 

director of the campaign organization, 

who also commented on the 

composition of the campaign organization, 

rated it as the best ever 

in the history of PDP in Delta 

State. Osuoza noted that every 

ethnic nationality in Delta State 

was ably represented in the campaign 

team and this would give 

all shades of people a sense of 

belonging. Ifeanyi Osuoza also 

commended Barrister Kingsley 

Esiso for drafting old politicians 

to the local government areas for 

effective campaigning. 

One major thing can be 

gleaned from this unique campaign 

organization is that PDP is 

an organized political party that 

plans ahead for its victory at the 

polls. At a time when the main 

opposition party seems to be 

sleeping or are occupied by intra-party 

wrangling, the PDP is 

at work consolidating on its structures. 

At the end of the elections while 

PDP will be coasting home to victory, 

other lazy opposition parties 

will be giving excuses for their 

failure. It should be noted that the 

only guarantee for electoral success 

is hard work. Any political 

party that places propaganda and 

mudslinging ahead of effective 

campaign is bound to lose elections. 

The Governor of Delta State 

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has done very 

well in office as governor and the 

duty of the campaign organization 

is to sell the governor’s 

achievements to Deltans. 

More importantly, Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa is doing the turn of Delta 

North which should be for eight 

years. Delta central did eight years 

under Chief James Ibori and Delta 

South also did eight years under Dr. 

Emmanuel Uduaghan. The campaign 

organization is expected to 

harp on the principle of power shift 

which is a guarantee for peace and 

order in Delta State. It is a principle 

which Barrister Kingsley Esiso, the 

Delta State PDP Chairman referred 

to as the principle of ‘turn by turnism’ 

On his part Prince Obaro Unuafe, 

the deputy director of the publicity 

Directorate commended the 

Governor of Delta State Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa for making their work easy 

as the governor has a lot of achievements 

to show in his first term. Also, 

Prince Unuafe noted that Dr. Ifeanyi 

Okowa is a man who will never 

say an ill word of his political opponents. 

Prince Unuafe believes that 

Dr. Okowa is too busy about the 

business of governance to worry his 

head over his political opponents or 

detractors. To this end, Prince Unuafe 

affirmed that the PDP campaign 

is going to be issue-based. 

In conclusion, the Chairman of the 

Publicity Committee, Dr. Timi Tonye 

applauded the Delta State Chairman 

of PDP, Olorogun Barrister 

Kingsley Esiso for putting together 

a formidable campaign team that 

would drive the process of re-electing 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for a 

second term.


BOKO HARAM: Buhari’s defeat claim 

makes mental test of presidential 

candidates logical — Atiku 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP presidential 

candidate, Atiku Abubakar 

has said that President Muhammadu 

Buhari’s denial of 

the continued threats of the 

Boko Haram insurgency has 

made the demand for mental 

test for all presidential 

candidates imperative. 

Atiku in a statement on 

New Year’s Day, also faulted 

Buhari’s declaration at 

the Uyo All Progressives 

Congress, APC rally that 

he had fulfilled all his 

election promises as he 

drew to light the fact that 

under the APC administration 

the number of Nigerians 

living under extreme 

poverty had 

reached an alarming 90 

million persons. 

In the statement issued 

by his media adviser, Mr. 

Paul Ibe, the PDP candidate 

said: “The most blatant insult 

from the President was 

his assertion at Uyo that ‘we 

have defeated Boko 

Haram.’ It was most insensitive 

of the President to 

have said such on a day that 

foreign and domestic media 

reported the entrapment 

of our gallant troops 

by Boko Haram/ISWAP in 

Baga, with as much as 700 

reported missing. 

“Even more indicting is 

the statement from the USbased 

International Strategic 

Studies Association, 

which revealed that the 

Boko Haram insurgency 

was lingering due to the 

massive corruption around 


Buhari. How would those 

soldiers feel, how would 

their families feel, how 

would their colleagues in 

the barracks feel when they 

are facing a life and death 

situation and their commander-in-chief 

is impervious 

to reality? 

“Faced with such delusions 

and obvious denial of 

reality by President Buhari, 

it has become expedient to 

revisit the demand by the 

Coalition of United Political 

Parties, CUPP, for all Presidential 

candidates to submit 

themselves for a mental 

health test because clearly 

someone has badly lost 

touch with happenings 

around him. 

“We declare that Atiku 

Abubakar is prepared to 

undergo such test and 

challenges President Muhammadu 

Buhari to accept 

CUPP’s challenge. 

“And, for the umpteenth 

time, we call on President 


come clean on the faceless 

people behind Keystone 

Bank and Etisalat. Nigerians 

deserve to know how 

people who used to beg for 

Alhaji Abubakar 

¦ 2000 transport money, as 

revealed by Buhari’s right 

hand man, Buba Galadima, 

are now suddenly wealthy 

enough to acquire multi billion 

dollar investments. 

“Finally, we cannot wait 

for the Presidential Debate 

where Atiku Abubakar will 

talk about his plans to reduce 

the unemployment 

rate from 23.1% under Buhari 

to single digits, because 

Atiku means JOBS 

and Buhari means EX- 

TREME POVERTY.” 

The most blatant 

insult from the President 

was his assertion 

at Uyo that ‘we 

have defeated Boko 

Haram.’ It was most 

insensitive of the 

President to have 

said such on a day 

that foreign and domestic 

media reported 

the entrapment 

of our gallant 

troops by Boko 

Haram/ISWAP in 

Baga 

Pooh poohing Buhari’s 

claim in Uyo that he had 

fulfilled all his election 

promises, Atiku said: 

“Ironically, a day before 

the President made that 

statement, it was revealed 

that the number of Nigerians 

living in extreme poverty 

had increased from 87 

million to 90 million in just 

four months. Going by that 

sharp rate of increase, the 

whole country will be in extreme 

poverty if Nigerians 

make the mistake of reelecting 

Buhari. 

“Except the President 

made a vow to impoverish 

Nigerians, it is hard to see 

how he could have fulfilled 

his promises with such pervasive 

poverty and hunger 

in the land. This is even as 

the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics 

revealed a week to the 

President’s unfortunate 

statement that unemployment 

had doubled from the 

14% he met it in May 2015 

to 23.1% in December of 

2018.” 

Buhari’s New Year 

broadcast shows he 

has conceded defeat 

Also, the PDP, Presidential 

Campaign Organization, 

PPCO, described President 

Buhari’s 2019 New 

Year speech as empty, saying 

it is an indication that 

he has conceded defeat 

even before actual voting 

by Nigerians. 

In a statement issued, 

yesterday, by Director of 

Media and Publicity, Kola 

Ologbondiyan, the PDP- 

PPCO said: “President 

Buhari could not articulate 

any concrete commitment 

on any sector of our 

national life, not only that 

he is bereft of ideas, but 

also because he has lost 

projections, having realized 

that Nigerians are 

not ready to give him a 

second term in office.” 

The PDP-PPCO 

stressed that “even when 

he (the President) admitted 

in his opening that the 

turn of the New Year is a 

time for stock-taking and 

unfolding of new prospects, 

Nigerians are invited 

to note that Mr. President, 

in his entire speech, 

could not point to any single 

achievement he made 

in the out-going year, neither 

could he unfold any 

development prospect for 

the New Year.” 

The statement read in 

part: “Any discerning 

mind could see that President 

Buhari has finally 

switched into valedictory 

mode, having realized 

that Nigerians have seen 

through the falsehood, 

lies and deception that 

have characterized his incompetent 

and corrupt 

presidency for almost four 

years.'' 

PDP, a nest of evil — APC 

*We’ve created more jobs 

By Omeiza Ajayi 


It is obvious 

that the PDP has 

found itself in a 

fix. Many in the 

leadership of the 

main opposition 

party are finding 

it difficult to 

identify with a 

character like 

Atiku and many 

of the charlatans 

running the PDP 

campaign are 

unsellable. 

try. 

“As frustrating as their 

activities were in 2018, they 

met more than their match 

in President Muhammadu 

Buhari. Their Dubai-made 

strategy has collapsed like 

a pack of cards. The plan 

was to recreate the 2014/ 

2015 scenario when APC 

pilloried them for their 

crimes, which woken the 

electorate to the reality of 

the disaster we were headed 

under the PDP government. 

PDP, led by their discredited 

presidential candidate, 

Alhaji Abubakar 

Atiku paid huge sums of 

money to some foreign con 

men in Dubai who posed 

as strategists. They began 

to spurn daily fake news 

and make spurious and 

unsubstantiated allegations 

against our President, 

the family members of our 

President, the Vice President, 

the APC national 

chairman, notable government 

officials, and public 

institutions to deceive Ni- 

THE ruling All Progressives 

Congress APC has 

described the opposition 

Peoples Democratic Party 

PDP as a goat that ate the 

country’s yams for the 16 

years it spent in power. 

Speaking at a news conference 

Tuesday in Abuja, 

National Publicity Secretary 

of the party, Mallam Lanre 

Issa-Onilu said that the 

PDP frustrated efforts of the 

ruling party to enhance the 

fortunes of Nigerians for the 

over three years it has governed 

so far. 

He also alleged that the 

leaders of the PDP are now 

ashamed to identify with 

the party’s presidential candidate, 

Atiku Abubakar, 

hence the abrupt halt of its 

electioneering campaigns. 

“The year 2018 was significant 

in many ways. Importantly, 

we witnessed in 

this past year the shameful 

attempt by the political 

predators to launch themselves 

back into reckoning. 

Those who were roundly 

rejected by Nigerians in 

2015 for their grievous 

crimes of corruption, impunity, 

and maladministration 

once again struggled to rise 

up from the dungeon the 

people of this country had 

dumped them... 

“The actions from these 

elements who have raped 

our nation for close to two 

decades were disruptive to 

the course of progress being 

vigorously pursued by 

the President Muhammadu 

Buhari-led administration. 

The year 2018 particularly 

was a tough year for the 

APC government as we 

had to confront the monsters 

who have found their 

way into the ruling party 

during the merger in 2014, 

pretending to have cured 

themselves of their insatiable 

greed and callous selfish 

disposition. These enemies 

of our country found 

out that the beats have 

changed and their strenuous 

efforts to steer the APC 

administration towards 

their ignominious ways, as 

they practised under the 

People’s Democratic Party, 

had become impossible 

under President Buhari. 

Predictably, the forces of 

evil finally gravitated towards 

themselves and are 

now ensconced in their 

wicked nest, called the 

PDP”, he said. 


PDP however did a lot of 

damage to the determined 

efforts of the APC to restore 

the lost primacy of the nation. 

He said: “Unfortunately, 

they did a lot of damage to 

our determined efforts in 

the last three and half years, 

by constituting themselves 

into a stumbling-block, using 

their vantage position 

in government in conjunction 

with their associates 

outside of government 

who have been deploying 

their ill-gotten wealth to 

pervert justice, create a 

state of insecurity, propagate 

falsehood and promote 

dissent. It was a callous 

strategy designed to 

pull the wool over the eyes 

of the people of this coungerians. 

Their strategists 

did not tell them that such 

would not work when the 

allegations cannot be proven. 

Unlike in 2015 when 

the APC allegations were 

based on facts, which have 

been validated by revelations 

upon revelations of 

heist committed during the 

inglorious 16 years of PDP 

rule, the opposition’s disgraceful 

recourse to false 

alarm as a campaign strategy 

this time is a wrong approach. 

Facts are sacred... 

''It is obvious that the PDP 

has found itself in a fix. 

Many in the leadership of 

the main opposition party 

are finding it difficult to 

identify with a character 

like Atiku and many of the 

charlatans running the 

PDP campaign are unsellable. 

It is worthy of note 

that a few of the PDP leaders, 

with some residual 

credibility, are battling with 

their conscience as they are 

increasingly becoming uncomfortable 

with the level 

of immorality that underlines 

the PDP’s politics. 

Anyone with a modicum of 

decency cannot be proud 

of the odious reputation of 

PDP. When this is added 

to the fact that the PDP 

campaign has failed to 

present any programme to 

Nigerians, we can see 

clearly why the party’s 

campaign has become a 

stillborn. Like a lion, PDP 

roared, but it didn’t last. It 

has joyfully ended up as 

the bleating of a goat. Perhaps, 

the pun is intended 

as PDP is actually a goat 

that spent 16 years eating 

our yams. 

What has the PDP to offer 

Nigeria? Or rather, why 

does the party want to return 

to power? It is simply 

to return Nigeria to the 

past. The past when our 

collective wealth was being 

stolen by a few wicked 

elites. The past when monies 

meant for the development 

of our economy were 

being pocketed. The past 

when no road, no railway, 

and no power plant were 

ever completed, even 

though huge sums of money 

were being allocated 

and released every year. 

The past when labour was 

stripped of dignity; when 

the harder you worked, the 

poorer you became."


LAST week I discussed the 

rising state of poverty 

and how the poor attitude of 

Nigerians to giving continues 

to contribute to it. I stated how 

government alone cannot 

reasonably be expected, 

particularly in the light of the 

world’s current economic 

realities, to improve the quality 

of life of everyone to the level 

which most people expect and 

how wealthy individuals can 

aide government in the 

provision of amenities of life 

to the less privileged. 

Modern day philanthropists 

It is in recognition of this that 

philanthropy as a concept has 

been utilized by many, 

individuals and corporate 

institutions in other parts of 

the world to help in wealth 

distribution or re-distribution 

as the case may be. These 

persons have made it a duty 

to distribute their wealth to 

various causes in their 

lifetimes. 

As Andrew Carnegie put it, 

“the man who dies rich dies 

disgraced” To achieve this they 

have either set up foundations 

to carry out their objectives or 

chosen to be directly involved 

themselves in charity work. At 

present the most notable of 

these individuals are; 

(1) Pierre & Pam Omidyar 

Pierre Omidyar applies a 

venture-capital approach to 

recipients ranging from 

microloans to Wikipedia. The 

Omidyar Network operates 

more like a venture-capital 

outfit, investing in business 

and nonprofits that aim for 

social change. 

Huge multiplier 

effects 

The network and other efforts 

have huge multiplier effects: 

A $100million fund the couple 

established at Tufts University 

is set to produce $1billion 

microloans in developing 

countries while also turning a 

profit for Tufts, Pierre’s alma 

mater. 

(2) Chris and Jamie 

Cooper-Hohn 

As the manager of one of 

Britain’s largest activist hedge 

funds, Chris Cooper-Hahn 

has earned the label 

“ruthless”. The children of 

India and Sub-Saharan 

African may not know it but 

Chris sends a good chunk of 

the fund’s profits and fees to 

a foundation run by his wife 

Jamie, swelling it to $2.5billion 

in assets. The foundation then 

uses leverage of another kind, 

aiming, for instance, to save 

kids by saving their mothers. 

(3) Eli & Edythe Broad 

For Eli Broad to pursue a 

philanthropic cause, it has to 

survive one test: “Is it 

something that no one else is 

doing?” The Broads find 

plenty of ideas - from starting 

the Broad Art Foundation, a 

lending library to thousands of 

galleries and museums, to 

Rising state of poverty and the Nigerian 

attitude to giving (2) 

training superintendents to 

run more efficient schools. 

They also fund young doctors’ 

medical research that isn’t yet 

for grants from the National 

Institutes of Health. All those 

projects add up; the Broads 

have given away more than 

$400million since 1999. 

The challenge 

remains how to 

mobilize these 

resources to achieve 

development, and help 

save local resources 

from being lost in 

endless circles of 

charity that on the 

long run create 

dependency and do 

not achieve 

development 

(4) Thomas Siebel 

Thomas Siebel launched a 

program to eradicate meth 

abuse in the heartland. Tech 

billionaire Siebel zeroed in on 

methamphetamine after a 

friend in Montana, who 

happens to be a sheriff, 

showed him how the 

homemade drug was 

devastating rural America. 

Siebel, 57 years old, 

bankrolled a massive ad 

campaign in Montana –2,000 

billboards across the state, 

61,000 TV spots-to warn teens. 

Result: Montana dropped 

from its No. 5 ranking in the 

country for meth abuse to No. 

39. 

(5) Donna & Philip Berber 

After Philip Berber sold his 

only trading firm, CyBerCorp, 

to Charles Schwab in 2000 for 

$100million, he and his wife 

Donna focused their 

philanthropic firepower on just 

one country: Ethiopia. So far, 

they have financed 3,600 water 

wells, 400 schools and 6,500 

microloans, reaching an 

estimated two million 

Ethiopians. “We’ll spend our 

lifetime going deep. The 

longer we spend in the 

country, the more effective we 

can be”. 

(6) Richard Branson 

After launching his own 

airline to challenge the giants, 

the British magnate is taking 

on some of the world’s most 

intractable social and 

environmental problems. His 

Carbon War Room, for 

instance, rewards individuals 

and scientists for coming up 

with new ways to control global 

warming. The entrepreneurial 

approach is vintage Branson, 

who in 2006 pledged all his 

profits from transportation 

businesses over the next 10 

years – perhaps $3billion - to 

developing green energy. 

(7) John Wood 

John Wood inspired by an 

understocked Nepalese 

library, now works to get books 

to poor children. Wood’s 

mission – get books into the 

hands of as many kids as 

possible – “started as a hobby 

that turned into a passion that 

became an obsession fairly 

quickly” he says. 

Stocking entire 

libraries 

The former Microsoft 

executive moved from 

donating books to Nepalese 

schools to building and 

stocking entire libraries in nine 

countries, from Zambia to 

Laos. By now his programmes 

have reached more than three 

million children; he 

distributes a new book every 

three minutes. 

(8) Arpard Busson 

“Arki” Busson, a Londonbased 

financier, runs his 

philanthropic group just like 

a hedge fund, promising 

“absolute return” for donors. 

To that end, he takes a cue 

from one-time boss Paul Tudor 

Jones II and makes sure 

patrons cover all costs, so 

100% of donations go to kids. 

He demands measurable 

results and gets them: The 

group has freed 1,700 kids in 

Eastern Europe from 

institutionalized care, and 

ensured that 50,000 children 

of AIDS patients in South 

Africa can attend school. 

(9) Bill & Hilliary Clinton 

Clinton amplifies his voice 

through partnerships; the 

Clinton Global Initiative 

challenges governments, 

business, academics and other 

leaders to develop innovative 

solutions to lingering 

problems. That’s brought 

about access to schooling for 

10 million children, safe 

drinking water for 12million, 

and a reduction of 40million 

metric tons of carbon-dioxide 

emissions. Without a doubt, 

the activities of these persons 

have improved the lives of 

those who had the opportunity 

or privilege to benefit from 

their donations. 

What should be the direction 

of philanthropy? 

What has, however, been the 

subject of some debate is how 

and whether these acts of 

philanthropy have any real 

effect on the overall economic 

development of mankind and 

whether such development is 

in any event sustainable. 

Central to this is the issue 

whether philanthropists 

should just be concerned and 

content with the donation of 

money or items which improve 

the immediate lives of their 

recipients or whether all that 

philanthropic work would not 

have better effect if directed at 

charity work which on the long 

run would bring about 

widespread economic benefit 

to a generality of people. 

Economic 

benefit 

In this scenario it is arguable 

for example that a 

philanthropist rather than 

donate some specific items to 

one individual should direct 

the resources meant for those 

items to the provision of a 

means of self employment for 

the proposed recipient of the 

items. 

If this is done, more persons 

who on the long run may be 

employed by the recipient as 

his business grows would have 

indirectly benefitted from a 

single act of philanthropy. It 

would have had a multiplier 

effect. The recipient himself 

would have shed the toga of 

dependency. 

In one study on 

Philanthropy in Egypt, it was 

found out that the majority of 

Egyptians give to charitable 

causes with a minimum 

percentage (0.6%) to activities 

that would lead to human 

development as helping 

people to start projects and 

depend on themselves. 

Although philanthropy is 

high, and there is a promising 

giving culture in Egypt, the 

challenge remains how to 

mobilize these resources to 

achieve development, and 

help save local resources from 

being lost in endless circles of 

charity that on the long run 

create dependency and do not 

achieve development. 

Next week I will focus on 

how philanthropy can be 

utilised as a tool for economic 

development in Nigeria. 

To be continued…


NEW YEAR SERVICE—The Bishop of Kaduna Anglican Diocese, Rt. 

Rev. Timothy Yahaya (M); the Sub-Dean of the Cathedral, Ven. Gabriel 

Sedemogun (L) and others during the 2019 New Year Service at the Cathedral 

of St. Michael in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

2019: Buhari, 33 governors 

budget N15.737 trillion 

•33 states unveil 6.907 trn budgets 

•Capital projects get N5.818 trn, recurrent expenditure, N9.285 trn 

•Cross River, Lagos, Zamfara begin year without proposals 

•S/South, S/West emerge top spenders, S/East, N/Central, least spenders 

By Clifford Ndujihe, 

Deputy Political 

Editor 

LAGOS—TO 

make 

2019 a better year for 

Nigerians, President 

Muhammadu Buhari and 

33 of the 36 governors of 

the country have promised 

to implement budgets that 

will cater for their socioeconomic 

well-being, 

provision of infrastructure 

and amenities among 

others. 

Altogether, the president 

and the 33 governors have 

proposed a combined 

N15.737 trillion budget, 

which is N109 billion less 

than the N15.846 trn they 

budgeted in 2018. Most of 

the budgets are yet to be 

passed by the legislators. 

Only a few states’ proposals 

have been passed. 

Lagos, Cross River and 

Zamfara states are yet to 

present their budgets. 

Cross River and Lagos were 

the heaviest spenders in 

2018, with each passing a 

budget of over one trillion 

naira. 

Of the N15.737 trillion 

budgets, N5.818 trillion was 

earmarked for capital 

expenditure while 

recurrent expenditure got 

N9.285 trillion. 

Most states prioritise 

capital expenditure 

Most of the states 

allocated more funds to 

capital expenditure. 

The exceptions, which 

joined the Federal 

Government in proposing 

more money for recurrent 

projects are Bayelsa, 

Enugu, Ekiti, Kwara, 

Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, 

Kogi, Yobe, Gombe, Borno 

and Taraba states. 

S/South, S/West zones 

emerge as top spenders 

On zonal basis, South- 

South (N2.001 trillion) and 

and South-West (N1.158 

trillion) are the biggest 

spenders while South-East 

(N870.313 billion) and 

North-Central (N895.909 

billion) are the least 

spenders. The remaining 

two zones – North-West 

(N1.059 trillion) and 

North-East (N922.951 

billion) are in the middle 

of the pack. 

Lower budgets for 2019 

Like the Federal 

Government, 15 states 

have proposed lower 

budgets for 2019 compared 

to what the spent in 2018 

in view of the dwindling 

fortunes of the country on 

account of unsteady price 

of crude oil, Nigeria’s main 

revenue earner. The states 

are Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, 

Anambra, Ebonyi, Kwara, 

Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, 

Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, 

Sokoto, Yobe and Borno. 

Higher 2019 budgets 

States that upped their 

budgets in the 2019 are 

Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, 

Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Ogun, 

Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Benue, 

Niger, Jigawa, Katsina, 

Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, 

and Taraba. 

Big spenders 

Pending 

the 

announcement of Cross 

River and Lagos budgets, 

the highest spenders as of 

now are Akwa Ibom 

(N670.718 billion), Rivers 

(N480.644 billion), Ogun 

(N400 billion), Delta 

(N390.3 billion), Oyo 

(N285 billion), Imo (N276 

billion), Bayelsa (N275 

billion), Adamawa (N244 

billion), Kano (219.7 

billion), and Katsina 

(N200.741 billion). 

Least budgets 

Those with smaller 

budgets are Nasarawa 

(N86.643 billion), Yobe 

(N91.6 billion), Enugu 

(N109.199 billion), Borno 

(N125.82 billion), Ekiti 

(N129.9 billion), Abia 

(139.542 billion), Taraba 

(N146.074 billion), Kogi 

(N146.736 billion), and 

Plateau (N148.7 billion). 

Why we are pursuing 

socio-welfare budgets 

— Governors 

Presenting Akwa Ibom 

State’s N670.72 billion 

“Budget 


Industrialisation for Poverty 

Alleviation" to the state 

House of Assembly, 

Governor Udom 

Emmanuel, said the 2019 

budget was intended to 

establish more industries 

and attract more direct 

foreign investments. 

Mr Emmanuel said the 

preparation of the budget 

was guided by the 

International Public Sector 

Accounting Standard 

(IPSAS). 

He said the policy 

objectives of the 2019 

budget were to broaden 

and diversify the state’s 

resource base through 

improvements in the 

collection of Internally 

Generated Revenue (IGR). 

The budget would also 

boost production of local 

Continues from Page 5 

to ensure free, fair and 

violence-free elections, 

monitoring the electoral 

processes and, not least, 

blowing the whistle on 

perceived or identified 

plans to subvert the 

people’s will. 

“Voter education is 

particularly critical. 

Nigerians need to be 

encouraged not to 

mortgage their future on the 

altar of immediate and 

ephemeral gratifications. 

“We need to understand 

that our lives and the lives 

of our children and future 

generations are at stake in 

these elections and we 

must therefore vote our 

convictions. 

“In the succeeding days, 

we would unfurl the 

concrete steps that the NBA 

would take, in a nonpartisan 

manner, to 

contribute to the success of 

businesses through the 

promotion of trade, 

commerce and tourism 

between the state and the 

rest of the world, he said. 


policy objectives of the 

budget will also aim to 

develop agriculture 

through the supply of 

improved agricultural 

inputs, credits and 

extension services. 

For Delta, Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa said his 

N367.1 billion “budget of 

sustainable growth” would 

enable his administration 

consolidate on its 

achievements in the past 

three years. 

Details of the budget 

showed that the sum of 

N209.9 billion would be 

spent on capital 

expenditure while the sum 

of N157.1 billion was 

proposed for recurrent 

expenditure. 

The governor pledged to 

ensure stable growth that 

would position Delta State 

as a dynamic economy. 

N79.6 billion was also 

proposed for road 

construction while the 

education sector would 

gulp the sum of N26.8 

billion 

To Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, 

his N109b ‘’Budget of 

Peace, Equity and 

Prosperity’’ will continue 

from where the 2018 

budget stopped and 

improve development of 

urban and rural areas. 

Reeling 

out 

achievements of his 

administration in the last 

three years which include, 

massive rehabilitation of 

roads both in urban and 

rural areas as well as in 

health facilities, agriculture 

and education, Ugwuanyi 

said Enugu remains one of 

the most peaceful and safest 

states in Nigeria. He said 

his administration has 

invested heavily in 

agriculture noting that this 

was to ensure that no family 

in the state goes to bed 

without food. 

“We want to make sure 

that no family goes to sleep 

without food, this is why 

the 2019 elections. 

“In all of these, we must 

not lose sight of our core 

responsibility and 

obligation to promote, 

protect and uphold the rule 

of law in our land." 

We're vindicated 

—PDP 

Reacting, the opposition 


PDP, and the President 


Campaign Organisation, 

had different views on the 

NBA president’s remarks 

on the Buhari 

administration over alleged 

degradation of the rule of 

law and comments that the 

bar would blow whistle on 

any attempt to rig the 2019 

general elections. 

While the PDP said it has 

been vindicated by the 

comment, spokesman of the 


Campaign Organisation, 


this administration has 

mapped out various 

agricultural programmes to 

ensure adequate food 

production,” he said. 

In Kwara, Governor 

Abdulfatah Ahmed said 

the objectives of the state’s 

N157.8 billion Budget 

“include expanding the 

Internally Generated 

Revenue (IGR) capacity of 

the state through land 

administration and 

electronic collection for 

sustainable development; 

creating an enabling 

environment for investors 

through improved 

infrastructural 

development; developing 

human capital 

development and job and 

wealth creation.” 

Gov. Ahmed maintained 

that the overall objective of 

the Budget is to consolidate 

on the gains of the past 

years and to ensure 

completion of all on-going 

projects across to ensure 

good welfare of the 

citizenry. 

In like manner, Governor 

Aminu Tambuwal said 

Sokoto State’s N169.65 

billion “Budget of 

Consolidation for 

Sustainable Growth and 

Development,” would focus 

on completion of projects 

started in 2018 and 

execution of new ones. 

Tambuwal stated that 

2019 would be the fourth 

year of his administration, 

thereby stressing the need 

to consolidate on all the 

administration’s 

achievements. “This is to 

set such achievements into 

motion so as to improve the 

living standard of our 

people. For the fourth year 

running, the education 

sector got the highest 

allocation of over N47.4 

billion, representing 27.9 

per cent of the total 

estimates,” he added. The 

governor explained that the 

policy thrust of the budget 

was to ensure sustainable 

economic development 

through substantial 

investment in critical 

sectors. He said that the 

sectors included education, 

agriculture, healthcare 

delivery, exploration of 

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018773962, 

08052867058 

mineral resources, 

investment in renewable 

energy and infrastructure. 

“We will prioritise effective 

resources management 

and seek intervention in 

areas with high potentials 

to create job opportunities, 

generate income and 

improve revenue 

generation,” he said. The 

governor gave the 

assurance that the 

government would 

continue to work to 

strengthen capacity 

building of scheduled 

ministries for better service 

delivery. “We will continue 

to promote our partnership 

with the private sector in 

areas of strategic 

importance to our 

development objective.’’ 

Governor Abiola Ajimobi, 

who thanked God for being 

the first person to present 

eight budgets in Oyo, 

noted that it was 

challenging to rule the 

state. 

While presenting a 

budget of N285 billion to 

the state’s House of 

Assembly for the 2019 fiscal 

year, out of which 

N100,535,047,409.14 

(61.50%) was allocated to 

the economic sector, 

Ajimobi noted that the 

budget took into 

consideration the 

challenges in the outgoing 

year arising from almost 

complete reliance on 

Federal Allocation, which 

be said, had grave 

consequences as Federal 

Statutory Allocation itself 

was dependent on 

extraneous factors. 

He added that more 

efforts shall be geared 

towards harnessing all 

available sources of 

internal revenue to the 

state. 

“It is to be emphasized 

that capital receipt shall be 

ring-fenced in line with the 

Federal Governments’ 

fiscal sustainability plan. 

The preparation of this 

proposed Budget Estimates 

has therefore been as 

realistic as is practicable, to 

ensure a more pragmatic 

and productive 

performance in the budget 

implementation.” 

NBA tackles Buhari over rule of law abuse 

Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, 

said the current 

administration is not 

degrading the rule of law 

in any way. He however, 

welcomed the NBA’s vow 

to blow the whistle on any 

attempt to rig the election. 

National Publicity 

Secretary of the PDP, Mr. 

Kola Ologbondiyan, in a 

chat with Vanguard on the 

issue said: "The NBA has 

now re-echoed what the 

party has been saying in 

the past three and a half 

years that the ruling party 

was planning to 

manipulate the electoral 

process in order to 

perpetuate President 

Buhari in power beyond 

2019. 

“The party is vindicated. 

Since President Buhari 

took over, he has been 

involved in disobedience of 

court orders and we insist 

that disobedience of court 

orders is a threat to rule of 

law and democracy. 

President Buhari is not 

interested in the rule of law. 

When you randomly select 

which rulings to obey and 

disobey, you can’t be said 

to be working towards the 

progress of your country. 

We support NBA on 

whistle-blowing, 

says Keyamo 

On his part, Keyamo 

said: "I appeal to the NBA 

not to look at national issues 

from personal perspectives. 

We welcome whistleblowing 

and urge them to 

blow the whistle on plans 

to rig the election in their 

role as a watchdog. 

Rigging of election is not 

exclusive to the ruling 

party. Opposition parties 

also rig election. We too will 

blow the whistle; in fact we 

will be the first to blow the 

whistle against any attempt 

to rig the election."


a 

Democrats to end shutdown without 

funding wall 

* To vote on new plan tomorrow 

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to reporters, after announcing she has formed an exploratory 

committee to run for president in 2020, outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. PHOTO: 

REUTERS/Brian Snyder 

A 

WEEK and a half 

into a partial government 

shutdown, 

House Democrats released 

their plan to reopen 

the government 

without approving money 

for President Donald 

Trump’s border wall. At 

the same time, the president 

struggled to find 

leverage to break the 

stalemate before the 

GOP’s monopoly on 

Washington power ended. 

Democrats in the 

House unveiled two bills 

to fund shuttered government 

agencies and 

put hundreds of thousands 

of federal workers 

back on the job. They 

planned to pass them as 

soon as the new 

Congress convened 

Thursday, one of the first 

acts after Democrats took 

control, according to an 

aide who was not authorized 

to discuss the plan 

and spoke on condition 

of anonymity. 

Whether the Republican-led 

Senate, under 

Majority Leader Mitch 

McConnell, would consider 

the bills or if Trump 

would sign either into 

law was unclear. McConnell 

spokesman Donald 

Stewart said Senate Republicans 

would not take 

action without Trump’s 

backing. 

“It’s simple: The Senate 

is not going to send 

something to the president 

that he won’t sign,” 

Stewart said. 

Even if only symbolic, 

the passage of the bills 

in the House would put 

fresh pressure on the 

president. At the same 

time, administration officials 

said Trump was in 

no rush for a resolution 

to the impasse. 

After early threats to 

shut down government 

over the wall, Trump now 

believes he’s public opinion 

on his side and, at 

very least, his base of 

supporters behind him, 

the officials said, speaking 

on the condition of anonymity 

because they were 

not authorized to speak 

publicly.Trump spent the 

weekend saying that Democrats 

should return to 

Washington to negotiate, 

firing off Twitter taunts. He 

then revised his aides’ comments 

to state that he really 

still wants to build a border 

wall. “An all concrete Wall 

was NEVER ABAN- 

DONED,” Trump tweeted 

Monday. “Some areas will 

be all concrete but the 

experts at Border Patrol 

prefer a Wall that is see 

through (thereby making it 

possible to see what is 

happening on both 

sides).” 

EU, US denounce Bangladesh election violence, irregularities 

WESTERN powers 

condemned election 

day violence in 

Bangladesh and described 

a range of other 

irregularities that 

marred a vote in which 

Prime Minister Sheikh 

Hasina’s alliance secured 

more than 90 percent 

of parliamentary 

seats. 

The strongly worded 

assessments of the election 

from the United 

States and European 

Union could hurt the 

image of Hasina, who 

has been in power since 

2009 and also ruled from 

1996-2001. 

Police say at least 17 

people were killed in 

election day clashes between 

supporters and 

opponents of Hasina’s 

Awami League. The two 

sides, which have competed 

for power often violently 

for decades, traded 

blame for the election 

day unrest. 

Hasina’s opponents 

have rejected the election 

result, citing what they 

describe as widespread 

rigging and voter intimidation. 

She has denied 

ELECTION RESULTS: Congo cuts internet for 

second day to avert chaos 

DEMOCRATIC Re 

public of Congo’s 

government cut internet 

connections and SMS services 

across the country for 

a second straight day on 

Tuesday as the country 

nervously awaited results 

from the weekend’s chaotic 

presidential election. 

Both the opposition and 

ruling coaltion said on 

Monday they were on 

track to win after a turbulent 

election day on Sunday 

in which many Congolese 

were unable to vote 

due to an Ebola outbreak, 

conflict and logistical problems. 

Barnabe Kikaya bin 

Karubi, a senior adviser to 

President Joseph Kabila, 

said internet and SMS services 

were cut to preserve 

public order after “fictitious 

results” began circulating 

on social media. 

“That could lead us 

straight toward chaos,” 

Kikaya told Reuters, adding 

the connections would 

remain cut until the publication 

of complete results on 

Jan. 6. 

The signal to Radio 

France Internationale 

(RFI), one of the most popular 

news sources in Congo, 

was also down, and the 

government withdrew the 

accreditation of RFI’s main 

correspondent in the country 

late on Monday for having 

aired unofficial results 

from the opposition. 

Political trends that will define 

2019 

By Stephen Collinson 

THE 

polit 

ical forces that are likely to shape a turbulent 2019 

are already in play. 

President Donald Trump, worried about spurning his 

most loyal supporters who bonded with him over his 

2016 demands for a border wall, is digging deeper into 

a partial government shutdown that is stretching into 

an 11th day with no clear way out. 

The Democratic presidential race is already firing up 

following Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s announcement 

in the dying hours of 2018 that she is launching 

an exploratory committee, the first step toward a 

campaign for the party’s nomination. 

There was an ominous feel to the holidays given the 

dark cloud hanging over Trump because of special counsel 

Robert Mueller, whose findings could take the nation 

down the bitter road to impeachment in the year to 

come. 

But the President doesn’t just have to worry about 

Mueller. Democrats are days away from taking control 

of the House of Representatives and inaugurating a novel 

challenge for Trump’s presidency — congressional oversight. 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 265 points 

to close 2018, in a sleepy session compared to the stomach-wchurning 

instability that produced the worst year 

for stocks in a decade and could fuel economic uncertainty 

that could play into the 2020 race. 

And as always, there are signs of instability and chaos 

in the White House, with confusion over Trump’s exact 

position on a border wall and his planned Syria troop 

withdrawal, while key staff vacancies were unfilled. 

Shutting government 

Trump stayed at home, often largely alone in the White 

House over the Christmas and New Year’s break, tweeting 

at Democrats but with no real political movement 

evident over the shutdown. Often the aim seemed to be 

to talk solely to his political base — a trend that is likely 

to go on all year. 

“I’m in the Oval Office. Democrats, come back from 

vacation now and give us the votes necessary for Border 

Security, including the wall. You voted yes in 2006 and 

2013. One more yes, but with me in office, I’ll get it 

built, and Fast!” Trump tweeted on Monday afternoon. 

It’s unclear how Trump plans to get out of the partial 

shutdown that has hit hundreds of thousands of federal 

workers, since Democrats are disinclined to grant funding 

for his border wall. 

He could have avoided the shutdown altogether had 

he agreed to sign on to a stopgap measure that passed 

the Senate last month and would have kept government 

open in the short term, but would not have funded the 

wall. 

But the President backtracked under pressure from 

conservatives in the House and right-wing media commentators 

like Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh. 

So to climb down now would risk similar condemnation 

and the possibility of a weakening of support among 

base voters on whom he depends for political viability, 

given his decision not to try to broaden his 2016 coalition. 

With a weak but stable political standing between 40% 

and 45% approve of the job he’s doing in most polls , the 

President clearly understands that he needs to engineer 

a series of base-pleasing fights this year to keep his 

political foundation intact. 

But as Democrats take over the House, they have little 

incentive to bail the President out at least until there is 

evidence that his tactic of branding them weak on border 

security is causing them political damage. 

After all, Trump won election by saying Mexico, not 

US taxpayers, would pay for the wall. And he said he 

would be proud to shut down the government over the 

wall in a notorious Oval Office clash with Democratic 

leaders. 

The next move in the saga will come later in the week, 

when Democrats put the ball back in the Republican 

court. 

The soon-to-be Democrat-controlled House is expected 

to vote on six Senate spending bills and a stopgap 

measure to reopen the Homeland Security Department 

at its current funding levels until February 8, a Democratic 

aide told CNN.Although the temporary measure 

would maintain the current $1.3 billion in border 

security money, Senate GOP Majority Leader Mitch 

McConnell says he won’t move any legislation until 

Trump signs off.So both sides are staring at a dead end. 

It’s already 2020 

Warren took the first plunge of the front-running Democratic 

pack, giving her a head start on the first quarter 

fundraising race that will be used to assess the viability 

of the top contenders. She is likely to find the field crowded 

very soon. 

The Massachusetts senator carved out populist economic 

ground with her opening message,stressing her 

humble roots and wholesome family background and 

accusing billionaires and corporations of attacking the 

middle class. 

Warren’s strengths include long crusades against big 

banks and Wall Street titans, as Democrats seek a candidate 

that can loosen Trump’s hold on working-class 

*Culled from CNN

I didn’t know he was a kiss-andtell! 

Dear Bunmi, 

I have so fancied this man a 

long time that when I ran into 

him at a friend’s birthday 

party, I made a play for him. 

He invited me to his flat and 

we made passionate love— it 

made me fall in love with him 

more. 

To my greatest shock, he 

doesn’t want to have 

anything to do with me in 

spite of the fact that we've 

been intimate. He told all his 

friends that I was cheap and 

easy; this hurts me a lot. I still 

love him and would do 

anything to have him back. Do 

you think there’s any hope for 

us? 

Kelechi, by e-mail. 

Dear Kelechi, 

Which “us” are you talking 

about? The “us” that lasted 

for only one passionate rump 

in the sack? It’s a shame that 

you not only made a play for 

the man, you belittled 

yourself by thinking that the 

only way you could hold him 

was to have sex with him 

without getting to know him 

first. If that’s the way you’ve 

been handling your 

relationships, you’re better off 

putting a stop to it or there 

would be plenty of men who 

will be happy to take up such 

a generous offer. 

Forget this man who’d been 

running you down and tell 

yourself that there are many 

decent men out there, you just 

haven’t met the right one yet. 

Then, do yourself a favour 

and wait for him to show up. 

You’ll recognise him as the 

one who keeps his mouth shut 

after you sleep together and 

who only opens it to tell people 

how wonderful you are. 

All he wanted was sex 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m 21 and an 

undergraduate. I’ve never 

really had a boyfriend, just a 

few male friends. I’ve never 

been able to go through with 

having sex. 

So, don’t have sex just 

because you feel you 

should or because you’re 

being pressured; hang on 

for someone you get along 

with, who goes at your 

pace when it comes to 

making love 

Should I go for sex toys? 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m in my late 60s and lost 

my husband two years ago. I 

haven’t had sex since his 

death and I miss having 

orgasms. I’m now toying with 

the idea of using a dildo — I 

have even visited a few sex 

apps abroad just to have a 

look. 

Do you think I’m a bit too 

old for this sort of thing? I 

wouldn’t want to do myself 

any physical damage. 

Philo, by e-mail. 

Dear Philo, 

You’re absolutely not too old 

for this sort of thing! As for 

doing yourself any harm, the 

opposite is the case. A dildo 

will massage your vagina, 

keeping you healthy down 

there, plus having orgasms 

will help you stay fit. So just 

do it! 

As you haven’t had sex for 

a while, you may need to take 

things slowly and gently like 

any muscle, your vagina can 

suffer from lack of use. And, 

if you feel a bit dry, add some 

lubrication— you can use 

your own saliva, a specially 

designed lubricant from a 

I recently met a great guy 

but I would only let him kiss 

me, and in the end, he got fed 

up that we couldn’t have sex. 

I’m now scared I might never 

have a relationship. Please, 

help! 

Rukky, by e-mail. 

Dear Rukky, 

If a guy leaves you simply 

because you won’t go to bed 

with him, be rest assured he’s 

only interested in you for the 

sex. And, that’s not the kind 

of guy you should be having 

a relationship with. 

So, don’t have sex just 

because you feel you should 

or because you’re being 

pressured. Hang on for 

someone you get along with, 

who goes at your pace when 

it comes to making love, and 

who can guide you through 

losing your virginity when it 

feels right! 

chemist, or any unperfumed 

body oil. 

Should I wait till he leaves 

his wife? 

Dear Bunmi, 

I have always admired 

the matured way you 

tackle problems on your 

page. Now in your 

experience, if a man says 

he loves you, but that 

he’ll never leave his kids, 

no matter how unhappy 

his wife makes him, does 

he ever change his mind? 

I just turned 20 and I love 

my man so passionately I 

am prepared to wait. 

Lilian, by e-mail. 

Dear Lilian, 

Forget my experience. In 

the experience of a 

million mistresses, if a 

man says he’s staying put 

- he does. And even if he 

promises to leave one 

day, he’ll generally stay 

put too. What would 

change his mind? What 

would change yours? 

Imagine him having cosy 

evenings with his family! 

If you’re not matured 

enough to care about his 

wife and kids, consider 

what it would be like to 

have these hurt and 

angry children staying 

with you from time to time. 

You’re only 20. There will 

be other men. Don’t waste 

time on this one - he’s 

taken and all he wants is 

having fun with you. 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2 , 2019 — 43 

Religious view on sex 

confusing 

Dear Bunmi, 

I used to belong to a 

charismatic religious sect with 

very strict views on sex. When 

I was 20, I broke away and 

went back to the orthodox 

church I once belonged to. 

Unfortunately, I now have a 

problem with my beliefs. 

Some girls in my church 

dress very sexily and, being 

a hot blood male, I really 

fancy them. My old religion 

said this was lust and very 

wrong, but my orthodox 

church assures me it is okay 

and part of one’s emotional 

outlook. 

I’m comforted by this, but 

feel guilty as I’m not sure I’m 

right. I’ve been tempted to 

go back to my old religion, 

but I don’t really want to. Can 

you help in any way? 

Chris, by e-mail. 

Dear Chris, 

You are pulled between two 

religions with different beliefs 

and, are not sure which to 

follow. I honestly believe that 

there is a difference between 

what religion says and what 

God says. God is God but 

religions are often influenced 

by ordinary men and women. 

I suggest you don’t worry so 

much about the beliefs of 

either of the religions you’ve 

been involved with. Trust God 

and your instinct to find an 

answer. 

Would he really change? 

Dear Bunmi, 

I’m currently dating a guy 

who knows some of my 

friends. They all describe him 

as a total player who never 

stays too committed to a girl. 

But whenever we went out, 

he seemed sweet and said 

things that made it sound like 

he was interested in the 

relationship. 

How can I tell if he’s just 

feeding me lies only to add 

me to the list of his 

‘conquests'? Or is it that he is 

now a reformed man? 

Lolade, by e-mail. 

Dear Lolade, 

For a start, you should look 

at the hard evidence. When 

you were together, your 

husband kept promising to 

change - and didn’t. What 

does this tell you about the 

likelihood of things being 

different if you go back to 

him? 

If you’re still dithering, why 

not give him one more 

chance? Set some targets for 

him like, getting a good job 

and doing a place up for you 

to come back into. And set a 

time limit within which to fulfil 

these goals. 

If he fulfils these aims within 

the time limit, then, you have 

the necessary proof that he’s 

different, he’s capable of 

caring for his family and is 

now worth the risk of moving 

back with him. 

However, if he just keeps 

talking about fulfilling these 

aims, then, he’s no different 

than he ever was, and you 

should run for your life. 

I need my life back after 

childbirth 

Dear Bunmi, 

I had a beautiful daughter 

three months ago and I’m so 

besotted with her. 

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to 

get rid of the excess fat that’s 

still hanging around my 

tummy and bottom. 

Looking after my daughter 

has taken its toll on my health. 

I haven’t done any real 

exercise since giving birth 

and I’ll be starting work soon. 

I feel such a lump. Is it too 

late to try some exercise? 

Bimbola, by e-mail. 

Dear Bimbola, 

It is never too late to star 

getting in shape. The months 

after having a first baby are 

so busy and stressed that 

women often don’t have the 

energy to exercise. What you 

need is time and space for 

yourself. 

It’s obvious you love your 

daughter to bits and want to 

spend every minute of the day 

with her, but, it would be 

better for you both if you took 

a little time for yourself every 

week. 

If you have help, then, let 

your house-help, partner, 

family and friends help with 

some of the chores so you 

could look after yourself. Visit 

the gym if you can or take 

regular walks and do mild 

exercises. Not only will that 

get you into shape, it’ll also 

help you de-stress and ready 

to face work when you 

eventually resume. 

Share your problems and release your 

burden. Write now to Dear Bunmi, 

Vanguard Newspapers, P.M.B 1007, 

Apapa, Lagos, or bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk


Edited by Emeka Aginam 

chimezie 

I don’t quite agree with 

the NLC. We are all very 

aware of the political clime 

in Nigeria in 1983 when 

Shagari was overthrown, 

infact it was a relief to all. 

As at the time that 

administration was settling 

for the second term, 

corruption and 

embezzlement of public 

fund has become the order 

of the day and every body 

was yearning for a change 

in government. Shagari was 

a humble person and had 

integrity but was not able to 

control affairs of the 

government effectively to 

check corruption at that 

time. 

Truthman 

Just the way it is now. 

President Buhari can’t 

control those working with 

him. He even defends them 

when they steal. 

Jasper simplelike chuck 

We don’t speak ill of the 

dead. But I need to remind 

you that Workers could no 

longer get salaries as at the 

time late Shehu Shagari 

(former President) was 

removed by the military 

Juta. Some states were as 

much as 4 to 6 month’s 

unpaid salaries. Everything 

was at stand still while most 

of his political appointees 

were living in excessive 

opulence with stolen 

money! 

Say Thetruth 

•Shagari 

Shagari would have been industrialized 

Nigeria if not t 1983 coup – NLC 

President Buhari truncated 

the second term of former 

late President Shehu 

Shagari. On the day Buhari 

officially started his 

campaign for second term, 

President Shehu Shagari 

died. 

Debaptist 

Short memory! No one 

seems to remember where 

politicians landed the 

nation before the coup. I 

won’t say more than that. 

Mathew simplelike 

chuck 

President Shagari and his 

vice Dr Ekwueme died 

under President Buhari’s 

administration has a very 

big undertone. 

logic Mathew 

It is the most evil of 

irony’s. Nigeria is in a dark 

place right now, but may 

the souls of the two men 

President shagari and vice 

president Alex Ekwueme, 

rest in peace. 

Alleged corruption 

in military: Repor 

eport 

vindicates our 

position – PDP 

kingschinwe 

During PDP’s reign, there was 

corruption and we knew that it 

existed; the then government 

admitted that it existed and set 

up institutions and policies to 

fight it- ICPC, EFCC, TSA, BVN, 

Public Procurement Acts, etc. But 

in this government, there is 

massive corruption and they 

cover it up with lies and 

propaganda. 

Sani 

You’ve been vindicated on a 

report by US based organization, 

but refused to be vindicated and 

believe the indictment of your 

presidential candidate by a US 

institution. 

MinorityFront@minorityfront 

MinorityFront Sani 

Of what effect is the 

indictment of PDP candidate by 

a US institution to the masses 

that are been killed and 

slaughtered daily including our 

soldiers across Nigeria? Which 

of the reports would you give 

priority? There can only be 

political parties if there’s a 

country 

Buharin daji 

Everyone knows there is 

tension not only in the military 

but also members of the ruling 

Apc they’re sure of rigging the 

February 2019 elections but not 

certain if it would be acceptable 

or throw Nigeria into anarchy 

because of what is playing on. 

N-Delta militant groups end ceasefire agreement with FG, Pandef 

TOBBY777 

When Buhari won the 2015 

general elections those that 

felt every government in 

power must give them 

position did not get it and 

they encouraged their boys 

to start blowing up pipe 

lines and destroying the 

little development in their 

place, while doing that they 

felt they were fighting 

Buhari not knowing they are 

destroying their land and 

causing problems to the 

masses. Elections are by the 

corners again, these agents 

of darkness having realised 

they can’t have their way, 

they have decided to use 

their tools to issue reckless 

threat they know Buhari 

won’t answer. Anybody that 

is interested in 

restructuring this country 

should direct same to the 

national clowns who call 

themselves assembly men 

Muhammadu Buhari@MBuhari 

I mourn the departure of a patriot, who served 

Nigeria with humility, integrity and diligence. 

Nigerians held him in the highest esteem even 

when he was out of office, until his demise, and 

will forever miss his wise counsels. 

Ibrahim B. BabangidaIbrahim B. 

Babangida@General_Ibbro 

Former President, Shehu Shagari was really a 

man of integrity, substance and sense; his 

services to this great nation is worth admiring, 

mostly the role he played in bringing more 

Shelter (Shagari Estate) to Nigerians. Rest in 

Peace, Your Excellency. 

cause it is their 

responsibilities to amend 

the constitution to reflect 

what they are talking 

about. 

papred06 

Those terrorists should 

not mess with us. We will 

crush them like ice.A 

possible mass invasion of 

the Niger Delta will follow. 

The crocodile smile is 

returning. Don’t mess with 

our troops. 

tbt 

There is no justice in 

Nigeria, perhaps that’s why 

we are having all this, Boko 

Haram in North East 

TRENDING ON TWITTER 

Atiku Abubakar@atiku 

President Shehu Usman Shagari was a 

completely detribalized Nigerian. He 

served Nigeria from his youth to the 

evening of his life, as a teacher & moulder 

of minds and later as a leader and moulder 

of nations. 

Opeyemi BabalolaOpeyemi 

Babalola@CACCOT1 

When Nigerians are analysing Nigeria’s 

problems and solutions on national TV 

programs, you keep wondering how we 

always end up with those who are RULING 

us! Fantastic analysis on all social media 

platforms, on electronic media, in print 

killing people for selfdetermination, 

militants in 

South South asking for selfdetermination, 

IPOB in 

South East asking for selfdetermination, 

and others, 

yet government is keeping 

quiet on restructuring. 

Some people must be 

making something out of 

this refusal to restructure 

Nigeria. Can someone 

please answer me, if a man 

comes to your land take 

your resources, pollute your 

land, water, air, he gave you 

no electricity, no clean 

water, no road, no school 

etc, yet continue to milk 

your resources, what will 

you do? Mine is that he who 

looks for equity must come 

with clean hand. 

Powerlessconscious 

logmein2nite 

Their bomb will not stop 

President Buhari reelection. 

That is the 

ultimate goal. 

GEO 

Much of the demands 

listed can be the 

responsibility of the state/ 

regional government if 

Nigeria is simply 

restructured. I urge the 

group to demand immediate 

restructuring of the country 

that would give their people 

the perpetual control of 

their resources and 

development of their region. 

media and we always end up with mofos! 

Senator Dino Melaye@dino_melaye 

To God alone be the glory. I shall not die but 

live. Nigeria is my only country I cannot and 

will not run away bc of frivolous lies and 

charges. We all own this country and justice 

must reign. I will never be afraid if him who 

can only kill and injure the flesh and not the 

Spirit 

Liam Young@liamyoung 

94 people desperately attempting to cross 

the channel into the 5th richest nation of 

nearly 70 million people - who refuse to help 

them - is not a migrant crisis. It’s a moral one.

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LIBRA; This is not the right time to rely on promises 

made by others. Continue to take matters-of-the-heart 

seriously. Reason with your reliable associates. 

SCORPIO; Tension within the domestic scene will 

start to ease off. Yet you will need to watch what you 

do within your base till after 10.15pm tonight. 

SAGITTARIUS; Both yourself and other important 

personalities to you are beginning to see things from 

same point of view making it easy for you to eliminate 

unnecessary rift. 

CAPRICORN; Venus moves into a positive angle to 

your Star and encourages peaceful settlement. 

Exhibition of maturity on your part will favour you 

better. 

AQUARIUS; Gradually you are dropping aggressive 

approach you have adopted in the last few days to the 

betterment of your cause. Remain practical till after 

10.15pm. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 


Let gratitude be the prayer upon which you kneel to 

say your nightly prayer.” -Maya Angelou- 

To consciously practice gratitude in the moment is something 

to do at all times. Also, random acts of kindness and compassion. 

It uplifts, turns you inside out and brings out the light. 

Just think of all the reasons to be grateful today, cause they are 

a lot. No matter what one is experiencing.There is always a 

silver linings.-Ella Randle- 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

A single 

stick may 

smoke, but it 

will not burn. 

~ African 

proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

PISCES; Better than yesterday; however that is not to 

say you should throw caution to the wind. 

Improvement on your love life indicated. Try to 

comport yourself. 

ARIES; After a few days of fun you may need to settle 

down to serious business. Those of you working till 

very late evening will need to be more careful till after 

10.15pm. Reason with your tried and trusted old 

hands(friends). 

TAURUS; Venus moves into a positive angle and boost 

your sparkling personality to the betterment of your 

cause. Could be a nice day for the-young-at-heart. 

GEMINI; It is important you don’t allow your mind 

to wander unnecessarily so that minor but costly 

mistakes would be averted. Avoid late evening 

confusion. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O. OLAIDE 

CANCER; Recent tension generated by controversy 

over money will start to ease off. Be more vigilant if 

you are working late in the evening. 

LEO;. Other people will continue to have their says 

and if you try to indoctrinate them tensed atmosphere 

will be aggravated. Be patient. 

VIRGO; Entrance of romantic Venus into your Star 

Sign will enhance your prospects. Both financial and 

love related success are possible. 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

Send your date e and place of birth th to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, 7, Apapa, Lagos 

WHAT’S MY FINANCIAL STANDING? 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

Dear Joshua, 

I want to know about my future, especially what I should 

expect from my love life both in the immediate and far 

future. However that is not to say I am not interested in 

good financial standing. 

Kayode, Jos, 

Dear Kayode 

The challenge here is inability to hold on to your gains 

(profits) partially, by the contact made between your natal 

Saturn and Venus as stated under your career and some 

other times by your love of easy life. Although the Saturn 

influence can be mitigated as I said under your career, 

the love of luxury comes from your stallion Taurus which 

must not be totally discouraged but should not be allowed 

to go beyond your control. Yes envy and jealousy can creep 

in as indicated by the oppositions between your natal 

Venus/Saturn in Taurus and Jupiter in Scorpio, but that 

is not enough excuse for either failure or manipulation of 

occult powers against you. Whatever anybody says and/ 

or does GREAT FINANCIAL SUCCESS is your portion. 

The most influential planet during your birth hour is 

Venus-the planet of MONEY and LOVE. You are the 

romantic type whose magnetic personality and open 

handedness are sources of big trap to his members of 

opposite sex. As handsome as you are you truly crave 

stability in your love life/home. The happiness you desired 

will be yours. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa


Everton 0 - 1 Leicester City 

Acrobatic Vardy downs Everton 

VARDY was in no 

hurry to leave the 

pitch. He shuffled slowly 

to the sidelines after 

being substituted, shaking 

hands with his teammates 

before turning to 

applaud Leicester’s exultant 

fans. 

2019 had started in the 

best possible manner for 

Vardy, with a goal and a 

summersault for good 

measure, so who could 

blame for wanting to 

savour the moment? All 

around Goodison Park, 

however, Evertonians 

were in a hurry, darting 

for the exits after another 

wretched day. 

Vardy’s seventh goal of 

the season had proved 

decisive and completed 

what has been a hugely 

successful Christmas period 

for Claude Puel, 

who has masterminded 

wins over Chelsea and 

Manchester City to go 

with this flattening of 

Everton. 

For Marco Silva, 

though, the picture 

could not have been 

more miserable. Everton 

were abject, lifeless and 

toothless, and they look 

a far cry from the team 

that was threatening to 

bustle up the top six at 

the end of November. 

Vardy had ensured what 

they deserved – nothing. 

‘I’ve had that in the 

locker for a while and 

saved it for a special occasion,’ 

said Vardy, referring 

to the gymnastics 

he displayed after scoring. 

‘What better occasion 

– a new year, a new 

me! It’s been a great 

Christmas, now we need 

to push on and get the 

points to keep us where 

we are in the table.’ 

Man City Vs Liverpool 

Aguero desperate to extend scoring streak 

against Liverpool 

Aguero 

SERGIO Aguero will 

look to continue his 

excellent scoring run 

against Liverpool at the Etihad 

when the title contenders 

meet on Thursday. 

The Argentinian has 

scored in all six of his previous 

home Premier 

League matches against 

the Reds - although he has 

never found the net at Anfield. 

Aguero said on 

mancity.com: ‘I’m not the 

type of guy who keeps a 

tally of that kind of thing. 

‘Of course, I want to score 

as much as I can to help the 

team win and, if that’s the 

way it panned out against 

Liverpool so far, then I 

hope I can keep the streak 

going at the Etihad in this 

meeting - and dispel it 

when we next face them at 

Anfield. Football always 

gives a chance to even the 

score.’ 

With Manchester City 

heading into the match 

seven points adrift of Liverpool, 

the encounter is 

being seen as one that 

could potentially decide the 

title. 

But if City can win then it 

is game on again as Pep 

Guardiola’s side look to 

make it back-to-back successes. 

City responded to shock 

Ronaldo: I’m not crazy about awards 

JUVENTUS star Cris 

tiano Ronaldo has 

insisted he is not obsessed 

with individual 

awards after enjoying 

another stellar year in 

2018. 

Ronaldo, 33, guided 

Real Madrid to a third 

straight Champions 

League success before 

his move to Juve, where 

he has scored 15 goals in 

24 games. 

But he was denied a 

Rashford 

sixth Ballon d’Or, finishing 

second to Madrid 

star Luka Modric, whose 

exploits for the Liga giants 

and Croatia saw him 

claim numerous individual 

honours. 

Ronaldo said those 

prizes were not something 

he worried about, 

adding they often came 

if you led your team to 

success. 

“I’m not obsessed with 

individual prizes”, he 

told Record. 

“The important thing is 

helping the team, always, 

and therefore the 

rest arrives naturally. 

“I don’t hide that I’m 

happy when I win but 

it’s not the end of the 

world if it can’t happen.” 

The Portugal captain 

registered 49 goals in 53 

appearances for both 

club and country in the 

calendar year of 2018, 

and currently sits top of 

the Serie A goalscoring 

charts. 

losses against Crystal Palace 

and Leicester by beating 

Southampton on Sunday, 

and Aguero believes 

they must focus on their 

own strengths rather than 

the threat of Liverpool. 

He said: ‘Liverpool’s 

growth as a team can be 

tracked from a few years 

back. Their showing in the 

Champions League was a 

testament of that, and they 

are performing very well 

this Premier League season. 

‘But our focus should be 

on our own game. We are 

confident in our playing 

style and we believe it’s the 

most effective to lead us to 

victory." 

Rashford to snub Real Madrid move 

MARCUS Rashford 

is ready to snub 

any interest in Real Madrid 

after seeing his fortunes 

and form improve at 

Manchester United. 

The England international 

has struggled to hit the 

early heights scaled under 

former manager Louis van 

Acrobatic Vardy 

Gaal, who gave him his 

debut, following the Dutchman’s 

departure and the 

appointment of Jose Mourinho 

as manager. 

Under the Portuguese the 

21-year-old was one of 

many first-team stars who 

became shackled by tactical 

constraints, as well as a 

Ronaldo 

loss of playing time, leading 

to a loss of form and 

confidence. That led to interest 

from Real Madrid 

back in November who had 

approached Rashford’s 

representatives with a view 

to bringing him to the Bernabeu 

heading into this 

summer. 

Ozil to ‘reject January loan 

move away from Arsenal’ 

MESUT Ozil will 

reject all offers of 

a loan move away from 

Arsenal in January in 

favour of fighting to win 

back his place in the 

team, according to reports. 

The German playmaker 

appears to have fallen 

out of favour at the 

Emirates Stadium in recent 

months, and has 

been in and out of the 

team under manager 

Unai Emery. 

Speculation mounted 

after Ozil was omitted 

from the match-day 

squad for the recent 

crunch match with Liverpool, 

though Arsenal later 

came out to state a 

knee injury was the reason 

for absence. 

With a host of clubs believed 

to be eager to loan 

the World Cup winner in 

January, Ozil will turn 

down all such opportunities, 

report ESPN. 

Ozil is determined to 

become a permanent 

starter for the Gunners 

once more and win his 

place back, according to 

the report. 

Between various injuries, 

Emery has also left 

Ozil out of his starting 

line-ups for ‘tactical reasons,’ 

though did recently 

recall the player for 

the 3-1 victory over 

Burnley - during which 

he picked up the man of 

the match award. 

Lazio offer Liverpool’s 

Adekanye 5-year contract 

Adekanye 

IBADAN-born winger 

Bobby Adekanye might 

end his association with Liverpool 

at the end of this season. 

Corriere dello Sport informs 

that Italian Serie A club 

Lazio have been negotiating 

with Adekanye and his entourage 

since November 

and are hoping to sign the 

player on a pre-contract 

when the transfer window 

opens for business tomorrow. 

The winger’s contract with 

Premier League pacesetters 

Liverpool expires in June 

2019 and he’s set to leave on 

a free transfer as he has declined 

to sign a new deal. 

I underestimated 

Mayweather – Nasukawa 

JAPANESE kickboxer 

Tenshin Nasukawa 

says he “underestimated” 

Floyd Mayweather but that 

he had “concerns” before 

his defeat in an exhibition 

boxing match on Monday. 

American former fiveweight 

world champion 

Mayweather, 41, needed 

only 140 seconds to beat 

Nasukawa in Tokyo. 

Nasukawa, 20, was 

knocked down three times 

and ended the fight in 

tears. 

“The days since the fight 

was confirmed have been 

enjoyable but with concerns,” 

Nasukawa said. 

Nasukawa 

Ozil 

He wrote on Instagram: 

“I am disappointed at myself 

since I thought I could 

have done better. 

“But I will face the facts 

and will continue to take 

on any challenge. I 

learned that I didn’t work 

hard enough to earn this 

opportunity, and I will use 

this defeat to improve myself 

and move forward this 

year.” 

Mayweather had a 4kg 

(9lb) weight advantage for 

the contest, which was 

worth a reported $9m and 

was widely criticised.


Crystal 

Palace 

0 -1 

Chelsea: 

*Iwobi *Ordega *Kgatlana 

Salah set to retain Africa player of the year award 

EGYPT 

and 

Liverpool top 

striker, Mohamed Salah 

is in line to retain his 

African Player of the Year 

award after being named 

on a three-man shortlist 

along with Liverpool 

team-mate Sadio Mane of 

Senegal and Arsenal’s 

Gabon striker Pierre- 

Emerick Aubameyang. 

Salah, who was named 

*Onyekuru 

*Iwobi fails to make final list 

*Ordega, Oshola battle Kgatlana 

the BBC’s African 

Footballer of the Year for 

a second time in 

December, won the 

Confederation of African 

Football (Caf) award last 

year. 

In the women category 

Nigerian duo Francisca 

Ordega and Asisat 

Oshoala are up against 

South Africa’s Thembi 

Kgatlana. 

Oshoala has won the 

last two Caf awards and 

Onyekuru linked with Dortmund, Valencia 

GALATASATRAY of 

Turkey striker, Henry 

Onyekuru faces a stiff test in his 

loyalty from the Turkish Super 

Lig club, as he has received 

tempting offers from Borussia 

Dortmund of Germany and 

Valencia of Spain. 

With the Nigerian 

international in top form since 

arriving at Gala on loan from 

Everton of England in the 

summer, the Super Eagles’ 

rookie should feel at home in 

Istanbul, but transfer offers are 

rolling in. 

However, in the wake of 

reports at the weekend that 

Galatasaray have moved to sign 

Fernando Llorente from 

Tottenham, Onyekuru could be 

tempted to consider his options 

as well in January. 

The odds are now against the 

former KAS Eupen and RSC 

Anderlecht of Belgium to either 

stay put or move, as additional 

reports indicate that Valencia 

plan to replace Michy Batshuayi 

with Onyekuru. 

Aside Los Che, whose 

Ndidi cherishes making Leicester’s first 11 

L EICESTER 

midfielder, Wilfred 

Ndidi said he was 

delighted making the 

Foxes starting line up and 

playing in the Premier 

League week, in week out. 

Leicester bounced back 

from a shocking home 

defeat to Cardif City by 

claiming all three points at 

Everton yesterday, and 

Ndidi said he was happy 

to contribute to Leicester’s 

run. 

“The Premier League is 

quite competitive, so 

playing every weekend is 

really something I cherish. 

“Playing week in, week 

out, I have to respect my 

job, that is the more reason 

why I usually put my very 

best each time I am on the 

field of play.” 

Jamie Vardy’s secondhalf 

strike for Leicester 

handed Everton their 

fourth defeat in five games 

in an error-strewn Premier 

League encounter at 

Goodison Park. 

Amuneke tips Chukwueze to make huge impact 

in Europe 

FORMER Super Eagles 

winger and Golden 

Eaglets coach, Emmanuel 

Amuneke has tipped former 

Nigerian youth international, 

Samuel Chukwueze to achieve 

top level football in Europe. 

Amuneke who coached 

Chukwueze in the 2015 class of 

the Golden Eaglets said the up 

and coming Villarreal of Spain 

winger has huge potentials and 

he has to work harder to be one 

of the best in the world. 

“From the first time I saw him 

I knew he was going to be a 

great player. I’m happy I was 

part of his foundation to success. 

My advice to him is to remain 

calm and not be carried away. 

“We have seen a lot of good 

players emanate but due to bad 

company and influence, they 

fail to live up to expectations. 

But for Chukwueze, if he 

continues like this he can be 

GOtv Boxing Night 17: Oladosu 

thrilled by N3m cash prize 

NATIONAL and West 

African Boxing Union 

(WABU) lightweight 

champion, Rilwan “Real 

One” Oladosu, has expressed 

delight over his emergence as 

best boxer at GOtv Boxing 

Night 17, which held at the 

Tafawa Balewa Square, 

Lagos, on Friday. The best 

boxer award fetched him 

N3million in cash prize along 

with the Mojisola Ogunsanya 

Memorial Trophy. It is the 

one of the best players in the 

world,” said Amuneke who is 

now coach of Taifa Stars of 

Tanzania. 

second time the flamboyant 

boxer would be winning the 

prize. His previous one earned 

him N2.5 million. Speaking in 

Lagos on Monday, Oladosu, 

thanked Mr. Adewunmi 

Ogunsanya, Chairman, 

MultiChoice Nigeria and 

GOtv Boxing, for increasing the 

prize money from N1.5million 

to N3million. According to 

him, the cash prize for the best 

boxer has had the effect of 

changing the lives of winners. 

Nigerian tradition started with 

Sunday Stephen (Sunny) eight 

years ago, Dortmund, who once 

had ex-international, Victor 

Nosa Ikpeba on their cards, are 

also said to be hunting 

Onyekuru. 

three in total, and along 

with Ordega helped the 

Super Falcons win the 

Women’s Africa Cup of 

Nations in 2018. 

Kgatlana was the Most 

Valuable Player and topscorer 

at the Nations Cup 

Men’s African Player of the Year: 

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) 

Sadio Mane (Senegal) 

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) 

Women’s African Player of the Year: 

Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa) 

Francisca Ordega (Nigeria) 

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) 

*Happy New Year .... Neymar welcomes 2019 with 26 fine ladies 

Neymar welcomes New Year with 26 

WOMEN at wild party 

NEYMAR saw in the 

New Year in style 

as he partied at an 

exclusive beachside resort 

alongside 26 stunning 

women all wearing white. 

The PSG ace is currently 

enjoying the Ligue 1 

winter break back in his 

native Brazil. 

After an up-and-down 

year in which the striker 

won the French league 

title with PSG but was 

vilified at the World Cup 

for diving, the 26-year-old 

ensured 2018 ended on a 

high. 

Neymar partied in Barra 

Grande, an exclusive resort 

on the coast of Brazil, north of 

Rio de Janeiro. 

He was joined by Barcelona 

ace Athur Melo, fellow Brazil 

international Lucas Lima and 

champion surfer Gabriel 

as Banyana Banyana 

narrowly lost out to 

Nigeria on penalties in 

the final. 

This year’s ceremony 

will be held at an awards 

gala on January 8 in 

Dakar, Senegal. 

Medina. 

But more eye-catchingly 

were the throng of women 

who posed for a picture with 

the PSG ace. 

Arsenal 4-1 Fulham: 

Gunners begin 2019 with a bang 

ARSENAL eased their way 

into the New Year with a 

nervous but much-needed victory 

at the Emirates. 

Goals from Granit Xhaka, 

Alexandre Lacazette, Aaron 

Ramsey and Pierre-Emerick 

Aubameyang were enough to see 

off relegation-threatened Fulham 

and narrow the gap to the top four. 

But their anxious defence still 

managed to make hard work of 

what should have been a 

straightforward three points by 

allowing Aboubakar Kamara to 

briefly reduce the arrears. 

The Gunners could have 

been ahead as early as the 

second minute but 

Aubameyang was unable to 

keep his shot down after 

beating Maxime Le 

Marchand to Alex Iwobi’s 

low cross.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

ACROSS 

1 Tepid (8) 

6 Baby’s bed (3) 

9 Aquatic mammal (5) 

10 Liverpool racecourse 

(7) 

11 Quick look (7) 

13 Fit out (5) 

14 Dismal (6) 

15 Common, crude (6) 

19 Forbidden (5) 

21 Loss of memory (7) 

22 Afternoon show (7) 

23 Be of use (5) 

24 Lair (3) 

25 Fielding position (4-4) 

DOWN 

2 Disentangle (7) 

3 Go astray (3) 

4 Astounded (6) 

5 Fashion model (9) 

6 Greek island (5) 

7 Bind (3,2) 

8 Counterfeit (6) 

12 Staff (9) 

16 Nazi police (7) 

17 In truth (6) 

18 Inn (6) 

19 Faint-hearted (5) 

20 Conductor’s stick (5) 

23 Dolt (3) 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no 

number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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08027767834; 01-4544821. Abuja office: 7, Dambata Close, Area 7, Garki, 09-2921024. Ikeja office: 73, Awolowo Way. V.I. Office: Murplus Plaza, 27, Sanusi Fafunwa Street. Asaba: 21, Anwai 

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

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