17102019 - FG cuts travels, estacodes for ministers, other officials

OLU FASAN 31 

The eggheads in 

the EAC must tell 

the president that 

economies do not 

respond to good 

intentions, or presidential 

wish-list, but 

to specific incentives 

XENOPHOBIA: 

Another Nigerian 

killed in S-Africa, 

2 weeks after 

Buhari, 

46 

IMF worries over 

Nigeria's debt burden 

E-DAILY 17 

My husband 

gets angry 

when I try 

to cook 

— Regina 

Daniels 

INSURGENCY: Buhari 

directs service chiefs 

Ramaphosa’s to settle entitlements 

6 

meeting of slain soldiers 

8 

Smuggling: Nigeria needs to fix structural, institutional, other shortcomings — LCCI 

19 

VOL. 26: NO. 63920 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

FG cuts travels, estacodes 

for ministers, other officials 

•MDAs to submit, get approval for travel plans 

•Directive to ensure efficiency, curb leakages in govt resources 

•Size of delegations now limited; more officials to travel economy 

ONITSHA FUEL FIRE.... 

A fuel tanker yesterday fell and tipped its load 

along Iweka Street, leading to Ochanja and Menax 

markets in Onitsha, Anambra State and caught fire. 

The ensuing inferno razed over 40 houses and about 

500 shops in the market town. ABOVE, RIGHT, and 

LEFT, anguished traders watch as the fire gutted 

their shops and wares. Photos by Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu. SEE STORY, MORE PICS ON PAGE 6. 

State-owned enterprises 

gulp $3bn annually 

without appreciable 

returns —BPE 

9 

Why 13.1m children are malnourished in Nigeria — UNICEF 

9 

5 

Why FG 

can’t 

recover 

$62bn from 

int’l oil 

companies 

—SYLVA 49 

Proprietor of 

illegal rehab 

centre, 2 

others 

remanded in 

Prison 

custody 

Mr & Mrs 

13 

C 

M 

Y 

K

2—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 — 3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

President Muhammadu Buhari (R) being decorated with the 2020 Armed 

Forces Remembrance Day Emblem by the National Chairman, Nigerian 

Legion, retired Brig Gen Jones Akpaat the Presidential Villa in Abuja, 

yestersday. Photo:NAN 



•Says RMAFC asked to review govs, lawmakers’ allowances 

•As Buhari slashes travels, estacode for ministers, others 

•Governors' Forum meets next week, takes position — BARKINDO 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA — The 

F e d e r a l 

Government has 

slashed estacodes and 

foreign trips for 

ministers and heads of 

parastatals. Among other 

cost saving measures is 

the restriction of foreign 

travels to two per quarter 

for ministers, heads and 

top officials of Ministries, 

Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs. 

Similarly, first class air 

tickets for some 

categories of officials 

have been cancelled. 

Efforts to get the 

reactions of the Senate 

and House of 

Representatives proved 

futile at press time last 

night, as telephone calls 

to the mobile phones of 

their spokespersons 

rang out without 

response. Text messages 

were also not replied. 

Also, the Federal 

Government will review 

downwards the 

allowances of public 

office holders, including 

governors and 

lawmakers, according to 

the Minister of Labour 

and Employment, 

Senator Chris Ngige. 

Ngige disclosed this 

yesterday during a 

meeting with members 

of the National Union of 

Local Government 

Employees, NULGE, in 

Abuja. 

Spokesman of 

Nigerian Governors’ 

Forum, NGF, 

Abdulrazaq Bello 

Barkindo, said the 

governors would meet 

next week to take a 

realistic position on the 

matter 

However, Ngige said 

the Revenue 

Mobilisation, Allocation 

and Fiscal Commission, 

RMAFC, had been 

directed to review the 

allowances. 

Ngige also decried the 

huge sum of recurrent 

expenditure in the 

proposed 2020 budget, 

insisting that there was 

no option than cutting 

down the cost of running 

the government. 

“We cannot allow the 

government to shut down 

the economy because 

they want to pay salaries 

and wages. The 2020 

budget of N10.3trillion 

has N3.88trillion as 

personnel cost without 

an overhead; a budget 

that is 76% recurrent and 

24% capital, for me, is 

nothing to cheer about. 

“The Revenue 

Mobilisation, Allocation 

& Fiscal Commission will 

also beam the 

searchlight and review 

what they are giving to 

political office-holders. 

Some of the allowances 

in their prescriptions are 

not allowances that 

should be got. 

“What is a governor 

doing with hazard 

allowance? What is the 

hazard about when the 

state is feeding him and 

his family? What is a 

governor doing with 

constituency allowance? 

The whole state is his 

constituency. These are 

things that will be 

holistically reviewed,” 

Ngige said. 

The minister concluded 

that both workers and 

politicians must be ready 

to make sacrifices so that 

more money will be 

available for 

infrastructure. 

Govs to take 

position 

Meanwhile, governors, 

under the aegis of 

Nigeria Governors 

Forum, NGF, said 

yesterday that they 

would meet to take a 

position on the matter. 

Speaking with 

Vanguard yesterday on 

the development, Head 

Media and Public 

Affairs, NGF, 

Abdulrazaque 

Barkindo, said the NGF 

cannot take a position 

until all the governors 

meet, adding that since 

the governor of Ekiti 

State, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, came on board 

as chairman of the 

forum, issues and 

resolutions had been 

democratized. 

According to him, no 

statement is made on 

any policy until all the 

governors meet, 

brainstorm on it and 

take a decision. 

Barkindo, who noted 

that the NGF had been 

carrying out its 

activities along such 

line, said: “Things like 

these are usually tabled 

for discussions and 

since the NGF 

Chairman, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, came on board, 

he democratized every 

process where all the 

governors will meet to 

take a decision that 

would be binding on all 

before any statement 

could be made and we 

have been following 

him this way. 

“The governors will 

probably meet next 

week and the issue will 

be thrown up and at the 

end of the day, a realistic 

position would be taken. 

They will decide 

together as governors. “ 

Continues on Page 49 

By Bose Adelaja & Olayinka Latona 

On Agric Minister's claim that there's no hunger in Nigeria (1) 

This is another 

propaganda from 

the Agric minister and it 

shows us how clueless 

our leaders are. The 

barrier between the FG 

and the grassroots is so 

wide. Moreso, leaders 

are much engrossed in 

wealth acquisition such 

that they feel there’s 

nothing like poverty or 

hunger going on with the 

general public. 

-Ilori Oluwatobiloba, 

Analyst 

T his claim is an 

evidence of 

government’s 

insensitivity. That Nigeria 

is producing enough food 

for itself doesn’t mean that 

the food gets to the right 

quarters. Besides, these 

foods are not free, they 

are bought. People are 

suffering, many are dying 

as a result of hunger in 

the land. He should 

apologise to Nigerians for 

making such an 

insensitive statement.. 

-Evaristus Onwuzurike, 

Journalist 

The statement alone is 

very disturbing. An 

average Nigerian cannot 

afford to eat more than twice 

a day. Making comments 

based on what you see and 

not what is actually 

happening shows just how 

much our government 

cares about us. He’s a 

minister, he doesn’t have to 

worry about what he would 

eat but what about you and 

I that have to worry about 

it every day? 

-Olabanji Grace, 

Entrepreneur 

The Agric minister 

could say there is 

no hunger in Nigeria 

because our politicians 

have distanced 

themselves from the 

masses and it’s very hard 

for them to know what 

we are going through. I 

think he is talking for 

himself because almost 

90 per cent of Nigerians 

find it difficult to feed. 

-Oyelami Habeeb, 

Fashion designer 

To some extent, I will 

say there is no hunger 

in Nigeria. We need to 

understand the concept of 

the border that was closed. 

It is for our own advantage, 

the more we import goods, 

the more we kill our country 

in every way. 

It will take a while for us 

to get used to our local food 

and be able to produce what 

we want to consume. 

-Abdulkareem Zainab, 

Event planner 

The minister’s claim 

is baseless. His claim 

might be true to them in 

Aso Rock who only see 

‘pot bellied people in their 

agbadas and kaftans 

driving exotic cars on good 

roads. How will you come 

out to spit such gibberish 

and mock Nigerians? 

Nigeria is unarguably the 

home of hunger and 

poverty. Go to the streets 

and see how people are 

suffering. 

-Olanrewaju Ibitoye, 

Analyst

6—Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

Another Nigerian killed in South Africa 2 weeks after Buhari, Ramaphosa met 

AS Nigeria and South Africa 

seek ways to end 

xenophobia, the Nigerian 

community in South Africa has 

confirmed the killing of one of its 

members, Ikenna Innocent 

Otugo. 

Mr. Sylvester Okonkwo, Acting 

Chairman of Nigerian Union, 

Man, 46, jailed 

12 yrs for 

killing girlfriend 

By Onozure Dania 

AN Igbosere High Court in 

Lagos, yesterday, 

sentenced a 46-year-old man, 

Tunde Omisakin, to 12 years 

imprisonment for causing the 

death of his girlfriend, Tina 

Toroso. 

Omisakin was charged with 

cutting the right hand of his 

girlfriend with a cutlass, which 

resulted to her death. 

He was first arraigned in 

2010, but re-arraigned on 

February 16, 2016 before 

Justice Adedayo Akintoye, 

when the former judge 

handling the case retired. 

He was charged with a count 

of manslaughter for which he 

pleaded not guilty and was 

remanded in prison. 

The case went for trial and 

the prosecution called four 

witnesses. 

However, at the resumed 

hearing yesterday, Justice 

Akintoye ruled that Omisakin 

was guilty as charged. 

She said the prosecution was 

able to prove the ingredients 

of manslaughter beyond every 

reasonable doubt. 

The judge said the 

prosecution witnesses clearly 

gave evidence establishing 

how the incident happened. 

She held that “the 

prosecution’s evidence directly 

pointed to the defendant as the 

person who caused the death 

of the deceased, Miss Toroso. 

“The defendant did not deny 

that he cut her hand, but said 

he did not intend to kill her. 

“I hold that the ingredient of 

manslaughter has been proven 

by the prosecution beyond 

reasonable doubt.” 

She, however, noted that the 

defence had said the evidence 

of the prosecution witnesses 

was contradictory and that the 

evidence of the investigating 

police officers were merely 

hearsay. 

Her ruling: “The evidence 

adduced by the investigating 

officers during investigations 

cannot amount to hearsay. 

“I hold that the evidence of 

the prosecution is consistent 

and, therefore, reliable. 

“This court, hereby, finds 

Tunde Omisakin guilty of 

manslaughter and is dully 

convicted. 

“He is sentenced to 12 years 

imprisonment; the years of 

remand will be deducted from 

his sentence.” 

South Africa, NUSA, in the 

Kwazulu Natal Province, 

disclosed, yesterday, that the 

deceased was killed at 

Empangeni, in the province on 

Tuesday, October 15. 

He said Otugo, 41, and a native 

of Nimo in Njikoka Local 

Government Area of Anambra 

MANY people were trapped 

and feared dead, 

yesterday, while scores of 

persons sustained injuries in 

Onitsha, Anambra State, as a 

petrol-laden tanker lost control, 

crashed into Toronto Hospital at 

Upper Iweka, along Enugu- 

Onitsha Expressway and burst 

into flames. 

The incident, which occurred at 

about 12 noon, is the second 

tanker accident at same spot, that 

had claimed over 50 lives this 

year. 

The latest victim among others, 

who lost their lives, was a 

pregnant woman and her threeyear-old 

baby strapped to her 

back. 

According to an eyewitness, the 

woman had escaped, but went 

back to her shop to rescue her 

money. 

The source stated that the 

flames, which followed the flow 

of fuel in the drainage, touched 

wooden bridge to her shop and 

as she stepped on it on getting 

out of the shop, the wood caved 

in and she fell into the drainage 

with the child on her back. 

Efforts to rescue her proved 

abortive, as the flames leaping out 

of the fuel-filled drainage scared 

off sympathisers. 

The fire from the explosion also 

consumed about 40 buildings, 

affected over 500 lock-up shops 

along the Iweka Road Street 

Market and spread to Ochanja 

and Menax markets. 

The incident, which sparked 

confusion among residents and 

traders, reportedly occurred when 

the tanker laden with petrol lost 

control opposite Toronto Hospital 

Onitsha, while descending Zik 

Roundabout end of Onitsha- 

Enugu Expressway and veered 

off the service lane, with the fuel 

tanker pulling off the truck head 

and spilling its content, which 

caught fire. 

Damages 

Property and goods worth 

millions of naira were destroyed 

at Ochanja Market, while a 

commercial bank was also 

touched as the fire passed 

through New Auto Spare Parts 

Market, down to Iweka Road and 

to Emodi Street by Zik’s Avenue, 

burning all the shops along the 

road. 

State, was stabbed to death by 

unknown assailants over a 

business disagreement. 

Okonkwo told newsmen on 

telephone from Empangeni that 

Otugo had repaired a cellphone 

for a client in the area. 

He said information available 

to the union indicated that the 

Trading activities were halted at 

Upper Iweka, Ochanaja, Iweka 

Road to Ozomagala Street, as 

traders shut abruptly with the 

flames surging higher, as the fuel 

flowed down the streets. 

But for the intervention of 

youths, who climbed up three 

and four-storey buildings, the 

casualties would have been much 

as trapped old men, women and 

children in most of the buildings 

were rescued before the ravaging 

fire caught up with them. 

‘No fire station’ 

A resident, who spoke with 

Vanguard, said the fire started 

around 10a.m. and for the two 

hours the buildings were on fire, 

there was no fire-fighter around. 

The resident added that none 

of the markets in Onitsha had any 

functional fire service station, as 

people watched helplessly as 

their houses, shops, goods and 

flats got burnt. 

Another eyewitness, Jude 

Okezie, said for the resilience 

and courage of some youths, 

some elderly people including 

children trapped in over 10 

buildings, ranging from two, three 

to four-storey buildings along 

Iweka Road towards Ochanja 

Market, would have burnt to 

death as smoke almost suffocated 

female client was not satisfied 

with the work done by Otugo, 

so she brought some men, who 

stabbed Otugo. 

His words: “Otugo died on 

the way to the hospital following 

the stabbing. We have reported 

the incident to the Police and 

national secretariat of our union, 

them before rescue came their 

way. 

There was mild drama at the 

scene when the youths, chanting 

anti-government slogans, forced 

two sewage tankers taking faeces 

to dump sites to assist in putting 

out the fire, but with little success 

as the fire continued to blaze 

towards Ochanja Market. 

As the youths were chanting 

anti-government songs, a fire 

service vehicle, said to have come 

from Asaba, appeared with water, 

but the angry youths, thinking it 

was from Anambra State, started 

throwing stones at it, destroying 

the wind screens, making the 

driver and two occupants to 

return to their base. 

The crowd became 

uncontrollable as efforts to put out 

the fire manually continued with 

collection of water with buckets 

from a bore hole on the street with 

a pastor, who owns a filling station, 

supplying detergents and fire 

extinguisher for the youths to put 

out the fire moving through the 

gutter. 

At press time, many youths 

were seen putting up spirited 

efforts to put out the fire, with 

many throwing sachets of pure 

water into the heart of the fire in 

a futile, but desperate attempt to 

stop the inferno. 

NUSA. 

“His body is now in the 

mortuary, awaiting autopsy.” 

He said the victim is survived 

by a nine-year-old son. 

Contacted, Mr. Adetola 

Olubajo, President of NUSA, 

said the national secretariat had 

been informed of the incident. 

Petrol tanker fire kills pregnant woman, 

child; razes 540 houses in Onitsha 

•Youths display heroics, as Anambra fire service fails 

By Nwabueze Okonkwo 

& Chimaobi Nwaiwu 

The scene of the fire incident, yesterday. 

Victims 

Some of the victims at Ochanja 

Market, Agbo Romijus, Fabian 

Onah and Jude Nnamani whose 

goods were completely gutted by 

fire, told Vanguard that the fire 

incident took them unawares. 

They rained curses on men of 

the state fire service for not 

making any attempt to visit the 

scene with their equipment, even 

as at 6p.m. 

According to them, they were 

sitting in their shops not 

expecting any danger when 

suddenly the flame burst forth in 

front of the shops and quickly 

spread into their shop from the 

wares displayed outside. 

One said: “We lost everything 

we have laboured for in life. We 

are finished and no hope to 

overcome this incident.” 

Jude Nnamani, who was 

weeping uncontrollably, said: “All 

my goods were gutted by the fire. 

We are passionately appealing to 

Governor Willie Obiano to kindly 

come to our rescue, because we 

have families and dependents 

and now we have no other hope.” 

There is fear that more human 

casualties may be recorded 

following the number of buildings 

affected and their proximity to 

each other along the Iweka Road, 

leading to Ochanja Market.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019—7 

Police shut another 

rehab centre in Katsina 

By Bashir Bello 

KATSINA—BARELY 48 hours 

after the discovery and 

sealing off of an illegal 

rehabilitation center in Daura, 

men and officers of the police have 

again shut down another 

rehabilitation center popularly 

known as Malam Niga in Katsina 

metropolis. 

The owner of the centre, Salisu 

BENIN CITY—GUNMEN 

suspected to be armed 

robbers reportedly killed a Police 

Sergeant identified as Yusuf 

Igoche escorting a school 

principal, who was also shot but 

receiving treatment at the 

University of Benin teaching 

Hospital, UBTH. 

It was gathered that the incident 

happened around 3p.m. on 

Tuesday at Benin By-Pass, while 

Igoche with force number F/ 

462248 was escorting the 

principal to Lagos. 

The gunmen, who were said to 

have come out of surrounding 

Malam Niga and two others were 

allegedly said to have been 

arrested. 

It was gathered that the 

operatives of a Special Team from 

the Inspector General of Police 

from Abuja carried out the 

operation on the centre located in 

Kofar Marusa area of Katsina. 

Stern looking and armed police 

officers were seen stationed in 

front of the facilities with a hilux 

bushes, rained bullets on the 

Lexus GX470 Sports Utility 

Vehicle, SUV, conveying Igoche 

and the school principal. 

The Commissioner of Police, 

DanMalam Muhammed, who 

confirmed the death yesterday, 

said they were on their way to 

Lagos from Enugu, when they 

ran into an ambush. 

He said: “They were coming 

from Enugu. The Police Sergeant 

was on escort with the principal. 

They ran into an ambush of armed 

robbers. He came out against 

them, but unfortunately he lost his 

life.” 

Muhammed said the case is 

under investigation and a formal 

report has been made to the Edo 

State Command on the incident. 

vehicle as at the time when our 

correspondent visited the area. 

The Katsina State Police 

Command is yet to issue official 

statement on the development. 

Recall that the Police in 

Katsina State, Monday, 

uncovered an illegal 

rehabilitation centre, where 

children were chained in Daura 

and inmates alleged they were 

tortured and sodomised. 

Robbers kill policeman, injure school 

head in Edo 

By Alemma Aliu 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A six-year-old 

primary one school pupil, 

Sunday Promise, has been killed 

by a hit-and-run driver in Akoko 

North West council area of Ondo 

State, sparking off protest in the 

town. 

However, the hit-and-run driver 

was later apprehended at 

Agbaluku, in Arigidi Akoko a 

distance of about 15 kilometres 

from the scene of the accident. 

Vanguard gathered that the 

Abuja-Lagos bound commercial 

bus, belonging to a transport 

company with number plates 

Edo 835 BEN, knocked down the 

pupil of Muslim Primary School 

Ikaram-Akoko. 

Reports had it that the primary 

school pupils died instantly, while 

the driver of the bus sped off. 

Residents of the town 

reportedly pursued the driver and 

apprehended him at Agbaluku, 

in Arigidi Akoko and 

subsequently handed him over to 

the Police, while the vehicle has 

been impounded and now in 

police station. 

The Divisional Police Officer for 

Okeagbe Akoko, Johnson 

Akintola, confirmed the incident 

adding that the driver of the 

vehicle is in their custody while 

investigation into the incident had 

commenced. 

The FRSC official in charge of 

the lkare unit, Yinka Akande, 

attributed the accident to over 

speeding by the driver of the 

Sienna bus within the town. 

Akande cautioned motorists to 

always slow down whenever they 

are passing through towns and 

villages. 

The chairman of the school 

Parents Teachers Association, 

Alhaj Basiru Aminu, attributed 

the accident to reckless driving 

on the part of the driver within 

He added: “We are 

investigating. I just sent a 

combined team of police officers 

into the bush now. They followed 

them. 

“The robbers abandoned their 

car and a lot of things were 

recovered from the car. So I told 

them to smoke the forest. They 

used long-range tear gas. When 

they saw our men, they entered 

into the bush but didn’t know the 

road and immediately they 

reached a dead end, they 

abandoned the car there. 

“Our men went there 

yesterday(Tuesday), but I sent 

them back today (yesterday) 

again because there is the 

possibility that the robbers will 

come out.” 

Hit-and-run driver kills 6-yr-old pupil in Ondo 

By James Ogunnaike 

ABEOKUTA—A 28-year-old 

man, Kazeem Yusuf, who 

beat his 26-year-old wife to death 

last month, has been arrested by 

police operatives in Ogun State. 

Spokesman of the state Police 

Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, 

disclosed that the suspect was 

apprehended on Monday by the 

policemen at Enugada Divisional 

Police Headquarters. 

Oyeyemi said on September 23, 

when the incident happened, the 

suspect ran to the station to report 

that his wife collapsed on her way 

to fetch water and gave up the 

ghost. 

He added that upon his report, 

the Divisional Police Officer incharge 

of Enugada Division, 

Baba Hamzat, detailed his 

detectives to the scene, while on 

close observation of the corpse, 

the detectives noticed marks of 

violence on it. 

This aroused their suspicion that 

the victim might not have died a 

natural death. 

Oyeyemi said while the 

detectives were searching for 

the town. 

He appealed to government to 

as a matter of urgency install 

speed breakers on the roads 

within the schools premises to halt 

unnecessary and untimely death 

of school pupils occasioned by 

reckless driving by motorists 

plying the roads. 

Man beats wife to death in Ogun 

more evidence, the suspect 

sneaked out and took to his heels. 

He added that the corpse was 

subsequently taken to the morgue 

of General Hospital, Ijaiye, while 

a manhunt was launched for the 

fleeing “killer-husband.” 

The spokesman said the 

manhunt yielded positive result 

on Monday when his hideout at 

Itori was discovered and he was 

promptly arrested. 

He added that the suspect has 

since made a confessional 

statement that he beat up his wife 

over a minor disagreement and 

that the deceased collapsed in the 

process and eventually gave up 

the ghost. 

The suspect, according to 

Oyeyemi, further stated that it was 

not the first time of beating the 

woman, but he did not know that 

the beating will results to her 

untimely death. 

He said the mother of one has 

been buried, adding that the state 

Commissioner of Police, Bashir 

Makama, has ordered the suspect 

transfered to Homicide Section of 

State Criminal Investigation and 

Intelligence Department. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

We watched BBNaija and did everything 

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LAUNCHING: From left, Associate Director, Clients/Markets, KPMG Nigeria, Egheosa 

Onaiwu; Associate Director, Management Consulting, KPMG, Ayotunde Funsho; Partner/ 

Head, Consumer and Industrial Markets, Goodluck Obi; Partner/Sector Lead, Agribusiness, 

Mohammed Adama; Partner, Deal Advisory, Ijeoma Emezie-Ezigbo, and Partner, Risk 

Consulting, KPMG, Tolulope Odukale, during the launch Nigeria's rice industry report by 

KPMG Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday. 

Insurgency: Buhari directs service chiefs 

to settle entitlements of slain soldiers 

•Explains why Jan 15 was fixed as Armed Forces Remembrance Day 

•Insists Nigeria’s unity not negotiable 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

AMuhammadu BUJA—PRESIDENT 

Buhari, 

yesterday, directed service 

chiefs to take urgent steps to 

settle the entitlements of 

soldiers who have paid the 

supreme price in the 

campaign against 

insurgency. 

Buhari, who gave the 

directive while launching the 

2020 Armed Forces 

Remembrance Day 

celebration emblem and 

appeal fund in Abuja, also 

told the service chiefs to settle 

the welfare packages of the 

soldiers for the benefit of their 

dependents. 

Speaking at the brief 

ceremony at the Council 

Chamber, Presidential Villa, 

before the commencement of 

the weekly Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, meeting, the 

president reiterated that the 

unity of Nigeria was not 

negotiable. 

He said: “The unfortunate 

cost of the war against 

insurgency and other 

internal security operations 

is the loss of lives of some of 

our officers and men in the 

Armed Forces. 

“These very sad 

occurrences create deep 

wounds to loved ones. It is, 

therefore, our duty to ensure 

that the loss of these bread 

winners does not relegate 

the spouses and dependents 

to a life of want and 

deprivation. Government 

will do all in its powers to 

look after the bereaved. 

“Service leaders must take 

urgent steps to settle the 

entitlements of these affected 

citizens as well as the welfare 

packages designed for their 

dependents. 

‘’It is the responsibility of 

government to ensure that 

the families of our fallen 

heroes do not suffer the loss 

of their loved ones and at the 

same time be deprived of 

their due benefits.” 

FG launches 

emblem with 

N10m 

President Buhari, who 

launched the emblem on 

behalf of the Federal 

Government with N10 

million, said: “Today, we are 

once again gathered to 

acknowledge and commend 

the sacrifices of our fallen 

heroes and veterans of First 

and Second World Wars, 

Nigerian Civil War and 

Peace Support Operations 

around the world. 

“We must not forget those 

currently engaged in 

internal security operations, 

particularly the on-going 

war against insurgency in 

some parts of the country. 

“It is, indeed, befitting to 

honour the memory of the 

gallant officers and men who 

paid the supreme sacrifice to 

keep the country united. For 

those who survived with 

varying degrees of 

incapacitation, they require 

our attention and care and 

we will continue to provide 

and cater for them.” 

Why FG fixed Jany 

15 as Armed Forces 


On why the Federal 

Government fixed January 

15 as the Armed Forces 

Remembrance Day, he said: 

“The Armed Forces 


celebration was intentionally 

fixed for January 15 annually 

to commemorate the end of 

our civil war. It reminds us 

of the need to guard 

jealously the unity of our 

country which was won at a 

great cost. 

“This day calls to mind the 

negative impact of strife and 

conflicts and demands that 

as responsible citizens, we 

must at all times avoid 

actions that emphasize our 

differences. 

“There is no doubt that the 

strength of Nigeria lies in her 

diversity. It behoves on us, 

therefore, to engage in 

activities and endeavours 

that feed our diversity as a 

source of strength not 

weakness. 

“The nation is appreciative 

of the gallantry and sacrifices 

of officers and men of our 

Armed Forces in the 



internal security operations. 

“This has led to the return 

of normalcy in affected parts 

of the nation. The Boko 

Haram terrorists have been 

substantially defeated and 

degraded to the extent that 

they are only daring soft 

targets. 

Nigeria’s unity not 

negotiable 

“However, all hands must 

be on deck to check the 

attacks on soft targets, mostly 

innocent Nigerians. The 

peace and security of Nigeria 

is non-negotiable and the 

security agencies must 

continue to do their work 

diligently. 

“As a government, we will 

continue to provide 

necessary logistical support 

to ensure that our Armed 

Forces operate with the best 

modern warfare equipment, 

while at the same time 

adequately addressing the 

issues of their welfare. 

“Similarly, government 

will remain steadfast in 

developing our alliances 

with neighbours and friends 

in the international 

community for the total defeat 

of the insurgents. 

“The task of resettling and 

rehabilitating our citizens as 

well as the reconstruction of 

territories affected by the war 

will continue to be one of 

the priorities of this administration. 

North-East 

Development 

Commission 

“We shall not rest until all 

our displaced persons are 

safely resettled into their 

communities without fear of 

further attacks. It is for this 

reason the North-East 

Development Commission, 

NEDC, and Federal 

Ministry of Humanitarian 

Affairs, Disaster 

Management and Social 

Development were 

established. 

“The executive arm of 

government, hereby, 

commends the National 

Assembly for the passage of 

the bill establishing the 

commission. It is our hope 

that with prudent 

management of limited 

resources and support from 

well-meaning Nigerians 

and corporate bodies, the 

commission, working in 

close collaboration with the 

ministry and friends abroad, 

will be able to deliver on their 

mandate. 

“We are aware that it is the 

business of government to 

provide the enabling 

environment for businesses 

to thrive. We will not fail to 

provide our citizens with an 

atmosphere devoid of 

security threats and 

criminality, where life is 

stable and progress is 

certain. 

“Government is also well 

aware that an insecure 

environment stifles 

businesses and undermines 

growth and prosperity. For 

this reason, we will like to 

commend and reinforce our 

gratitude to our men and 

women in the Armed Forces 

who have risen to the 

challenge of securing our 

nation and providing 

enabling environment for 

national progress." 

Boko Haram: C'ttee 

dismisses allegation of 

rights abuse against army 

•Asks NASS to invite AI, AAH for 

explanations 

By Joseph 

Erunke 

ABUJA—A 

joint 

committee of Non- 

Governmental 

Organisations, NGOs, and 

the House of Representatives 

Committee on Human Rights 

setup to investigate 

allegations of human rights 

abuse against the military by 

some foreign media 

organisations, has absolve the 

country’s troops of wrong 

doing. 

Rather, the committee in its 

report sighted by Vanguard 

in Abuja, yesterday, said the 

military, especially Nigerian 

Army, has demonstrated 

adequate will to recognise 

international standards on 

human rights in its war 

against Boko Haram 

insurgents in the Nort-East. 

The committee, chaired by 

Dr Isaac Dikko, insisted that 

the “Nigerian military 

authorities have always acted 

in the best interest of national 

security.” 

It also recommended that 

the National Assembly 

leadership should 

recommend adequate 

compensation and state 

recognition for troops to 

encourage them in the line 

of national duty to sustain 

their morale. 

The committee equally 

recommended the expulsion 

of erring NGOs from the 

country and the auditing of 

NGOs’ activities in the 

country by security agencies. 

It said Action Against 

Hunger, AAH, and Amnesty 

International be summoned 

to explain why they should 

not be banned from operating 

in the country, considering 

their frequent criticisms of the 

military in the operation 

against Boko haram. 

Chairman of the committee, 

Dr Isaac Dikko, had earlier 

submitted the report to the 

National Assembly, and noted 

that national security 

remained the only motivation 

for the sacrifice of the 

committee. 

Dikko stated: “If not for the 

interest of national security, 

and to fact check if the war 

against insurgency is being 

truly successfully prosecuted, 

nobody would dare to have a 

committee secretariat situate 

in the North-East for 

firsthand information, 

particularly given the low 

and gloomy media reportage 

of the military’s successes in 

the region, especially by 

foreign media organisations. 

“Unknown to us, a lot of 

successes have been made in 

the war against insurgency 

in the North East. The only 

challenge is resettlement, 

rehabilitation and rebuilding 

of infrastructure hitherto 

destroyed. But this is beyond 

military mandate and will 

take time.” 

According to him, the 

committee dared the region 

with double pronged view; to 

validate or invalidate the 

allegations against the 

military authorities and 

censor the activities of the 

non-governmental 

organisations’ operations in 

the North-East in order to 

come up with facts that are 

verifiable. 

Reps hail Buhari on order to 

deny expatriates visas 

By Tordue Salem 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives 

Committee on Nigerian 

Content Development and 

Monitoring has commended 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari for issuing his 

Executive Order 5, which 

restricts issuance of visas to 

foreigners whose skills were 

available within the country. 

According to the 

committee, the executive 

order will help improve local 

content in public 

procurement, with science, 

engineering and technology 

components. 

Chairman of the 

committee, Legor Idagbo 

(PDP-Bayelsa), who 

commended the president at 

the inaugural meeting of the 

committee, yesterday, said 

the Executive Order was 

expected to promote the 

application of science, 

technology and innovation 

towards achieving the 

nation’s development goals 

across all sectors of the 

economy. 

He explained that the 

executive order prohibits the 

Ministry of Interior from 

issuing visas to foreign nationals 

whose skills were 

readily available in Nigeria, 

adding that the president 

had, therefore, directed 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, to engage 

indigenous professionals in 

the planning, design and 

execution of national security 

projects. 

Idagbo revealed that 

following the proclamation of 

the executive order, the 

House has reviewed the 

jurisdiction of the committee 

to accommodate the details 

of the presidential executive 

order, hence the change of 

its name from ‘local content’ 

to "Nigerian content 

development and 

monitoring." 

He observed that there 

was need to amend the 

Nigerian Oil and Gas 

Industry Content 

Development Act, 

NOGICD, 2020 so that the 

successes achieved in the oil 

and gas sector could also be 

achieved in the other sectors 

of the economy in terms of 

job creation and capacity 

building of indigenous 

companies.


LAUNCHING: From left, Associate Director, Clients/Markets, KPMG Nigeria, Egheosa 

Onaiwu; Associate Director, Management Consulting, KPMG, Ayotunde Funsho; Partner/ 

Head, Consumer and Industrial Markets, Goodluck Obi; Partner/Sector Lead, Agribusiness, 

Mohammed Adama; Partner, Deal Advisory, Ijeoma Emezie-Ezigbo, and Partner, Risk 

Consulting, KPMG, Tolulope Odukale, during the launch Nigeria's rice industry report by 

KPMG Nigeria, in Lagos, yesterday. 

Insurgency: Buhari directs service chiefs 

to settle entitlements of slain soldiers 

•Explains why Jan 15 was fixed as Armed Forces Remembrance Day 

•Insists Nigeria’s unity not negotiable 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 


Buhari, 

yesterday, directed service 

chiefs to take urgent steps to 

settle the entitlements of 

soldiers who have paid the 

supreme price in the 


insurgency. 

Buhari, who gave the 

directive while launching the 

2020 Armed Forces 


celebration emblem and 

appeal fund in Abuja, also 

told the service chiefs to settle 

the welfare packages of the 

soldiers for the benefit of their 

dependents. 

Speaking at the brief 

ceremony at the Council 

Chamber, Presidential Villa, 

before the commencement of 

the weekly Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, meeting, the 

president reiterated that the 

unity of Nigeria was not 

negotiable. 

He said: “The unfortunate 

cost of the war against 


internal security operations 

is the loss of lives of some of 

our officers and men in the 

Armed Forces. 

“These very sad 

occurrences create deep 

wounds to loved ones. It is, 

therefore, our duty to ensure 

that the loss of these bread 

winners does not relegate 

the spouses and dependents 

to a life of want and 

deprivation. Government 

will do all in its powers to 

look after the bereaved. 

“Service leaders must take 

urgent steps to settle the 

entitlements of these affected 

citizens as well as the welfare 

packages designed for their 

dependents. 

‘’It is the responsibility of 


the families of our fallen 

heroes do not suffer the loss 

of their loved ones and at the 

same time be deprived of 

their due benefits.” 

FG launches 

emblem with 

N10m 

President Buhari, who 

launched the emblem on 

behalf of the Federal 

Government with N10 

million, said: “Today, we are 

once again gathered to 

acknowledge and commend 

the sacrifices of our fallen 

heroes and veterans of First 

and Second World Wars, 

Nigerian Civil War and 

Peace Support Operations 

around the world. 

“We must not forget those 

currently engaged in 

internal security operations, 

particularly the on-going 

war against insurgency in 

some parts of the country. 

“It is, indeed, befitting to 

honour the memory of the 

gallant officers and men who 

paid the supreme sacrifice to 

keep the country united. For 

those who survived with 

varying degrees of 

incapacitation, they require 

our attention and care and 

we will continue to provide 

and cater for them.” 

Why FG fixed Jany 

15 as Armed Forces 


On why the Federal 

Government fixed January 

15 as the Armed Forces 

Remembrance Day, he said: 

“The Armed Forces 


celebration was intentionally 

fixed for January 15 annually 

to commemorate the end of 

our civil war. It reminds us 

of the need to guard 

jealously the unity of our 

country which was won at a 

great cost. 

“This day calls to mind the 

negative impact of strife and 

conflicts and demands that 

as responsible citizens, we 

must at all times avoid 

actions that emphasize our 

differences. 

“There is no doubt that the 

strength of Nigeria lies in her 

diversity. It behoves on us, 

therefore, to engage in 

activities and endeavours 

that feed our diversity as a 

source of strength not 

weakness. 

“The nation is appreciative 

of the gallantry and sacrifices 

of officers and men of our 

Armed Forces in the 



internal security operations. 

“This has led to the return 

of normalcy in affected parts 

of the nation. The Boko 

Haram terrorists have been 

substantially defeated and 

degraded to the extent that 

they are only daring soft 

targets. 

Nigeria’s unity not 

negotiable 

“However, all hands must 

be on deck to check the 

attacks on soft targets, mostly 

innocent Nigerians. The 

peace and security of Nigeria 

is non-negotiable and the 

security agencies must 

continue to do their work 

diligently. 

“As a government, we will 

continue to provide 

necessary logistical support 

to ensure that our Armed 

Forces operate with the best 

modern warfare equipment, 

while at the same time 

adequately addressing the 

issues of their welfare. 

“Similarly, government 

will remain steadfast in 

developing our alliances 

with neighbours and friends 

in the international 

community for the total defeat 

of the insurgents. 

“The task of resettling and 

rehabilitating our citizens as 

well as the reconstruction of 

territories affected by the war 

will continue to be one of 

the priorities of this administration. 

North-East 

Development 

Commission 

“We shall not rest until all 

our displaced persons are 

safely resettled into their 

communities without fear of 

further attacks. It is for this 

reason the North-East 


NEDC, and Federal 

Ministry of Humanitarian 

Affairs, Disaster 

Management and Social 

Development were 

established. 

“The executive arm of 

government, hereby, 

commends the National 

Assembly for the passage of 

the bill establishing the 

commission. It is our hope 

that with prudent 

management of limited 

resources and support from 

well-meaning Nigerians 

and corporate bodies, the 

commission, working in 

close collaboration with the 

ministry and friends abroad, 

will be able to deliver on their 

mandate. 

“We are aware that it is the 

business of government to 

provide the enabling 

environment for businesses 

to thrive. We will not fail to 

provide our citizens with an 

atmosphere devoid of 

security threats and 

criminality, where life is 

stable and progress is 

certain. 

“Government is also well 

aware that an insecure 

environment stifles 

businesses and undermines 

growth and prosperity. For 

this reason, we will like to 

commend and reinforce our 

gratitude to our men and 

women in the Armed Forces 

who have risen to the 

challenge of securing our 

nation and providing 

enabling environment for 

national progress." 

Boko Haram: C'ttee 

dismisses allegation of 

rights abuse against army 

•Asks NASS to invite AI, AAH for 

explanations 

By Joseph 

Erunke 

ABUJA—A 

joint 

committee of Non- 

Governmental 

Organisations, NGOs, and 

the House of Representatives 

Committee on Human Rights 

setup to investigate 

allegations of human rights 

abuse against the military by 

some foreign media 

organisations, has absolve the 

country’s troops of wrong 

doing. 

Rather, the committee in its 

report sighted by Vanguard 

in Abuja, yesterday, said the 

military, especially Nigerian 

Army, has demonstrated 

adequate will to recognise 

international standards on 

human rights in its war 

against Boko Haram 

insurgents in the Nort-East. 

The committee, chaired by 

Dr Isaac Dikko, insisted that 

the “Nigerian military 

authorities have always acted 

in the best interest of national 

security.” 

It also recommended that 

the National Assembly 

leadership should 

recommend adequate 

compensation and state 

recognition for troops to 

encourage them in the line 

of national duty to sustain 

their morale. 

The committee equally 

recommended the expulsion 

of erring NGOs from the 

country and the auditing of 

NGOs’ activities in the 

country by security agencies. 

It said Action Against 

Hunger, AAH, and Amnesty 

International be summoned 

to explain why they should 

not be banned from operating 

in the country, considering 

their frequent criticisms of the 

military in the operation 

against Boko haram. 

Chairman of the committee, 

Dr Isaac Dikko, had earlier 

submitted the report to the 

National Assembly, and noted 

that national security 

remained the only motivation 

for the sacrifice of the 

committee. 

Dikko stated: “If not for the 

interest of national security, 

and to fact check if the war 

against insurgency is being 

truly successfully prosecuted, 

nobody would dare to have a 

committee secretariat situate 

in the North-East for 

firsthand information, 

particularly given the low 

and gloomy media reportage 

of the military’s successes in 

the region, especially by 

foreign media organisations. 

“Unknown to us, a lot of 

successes have been made in 

the war against insurgency 

in the North East. The only 

challenge is resettlement, 

rehabilitation and rebuilding 

of infrastructure hitherto 

destroyed. But this is beyond 

military mandate and will 

take time.” 


committee dared the region 

with double pronged view; to 

validate or invalidate the 

allegations against the 

military authorities and 

censor the activities of the 

non-governmental 

organisations’ operations in 

the North-East in order to 

come up with facts that are 

verifiable. 

Reps hail Buhari on order to 

deny expatriates visas 

By Tordue Salem 

ABUJA—THE House of 

Representatives 

Committee on Nigerian 

Content Development and 

Monitoring has commended 


Buhari for issuing his 

Executive Order 5, which 

restricts issuance of visas to 

foreigners whose skills were 

available within the country. 


committee, the executive 

order will help improve local 

content in public 

procurement, with science, 

engineering and technology 

components. 


committee, Legor Idagbo 

(PDP-Bayelsa), who 

commended the president at 

the inaugural meeting of the 

committee, yesterday, said 

the Executive Order was 

expected to promote the 

application of science, 

technology and innovation 

towards achieving the 

nation’s development goals 

across all sectors of the 

economy. 

He explained that the 

executive order prohibits the 

Ministry of Interior from 

issuing visas to foreign nationals 

whose skills were 

readily available in Nigeria, 

adding that the president 

had, therefore, directed 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, to engage 

indigenous professionals in 

the planning, design and 

execution of national security 

projects. 

Idagbo revealed that 

following the proclamation of 

the executive order, the 

House has reviewed the 

jurisdiction of the committee 

to accommodate the details 

of the presidential executive 

order, hence the change of 

its name from ‘local content’ 

to "Nigerian content 

development and 

monitoring." 

He observed that there 

was need to amend the 

Nigerian Oil and Gas 

Industry Content 

Development Act, 

NOGICD, 2020 so that the 

successes achieved in the oil 

and gas sector could also be 

achieved in the other sectors 

of the economy in terms of 

job creation and capacity 

building of indigenous 

companies.


AGREEMENT: Professor Osondu Akoma, Director of ICT, Benson Idahosa University 

BIU (left); Professor Gladday Igweagbara, Bursar, BIU (right) and Ejimofor Akah, Project 

Director of Iwemi.com after the agreement for the provision of digitisation, storage and 

publication services to the school was signed with Iwemi.com in Benin City. 

State-owned enterprises gulp $3bn annually 

without appreciable returns —BPE 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA— THE Senate 

was, yesterday, told that 

the 600 state-owned 

enterprises in the country 

gulped no less than $3 

billion on yearly basis with 

little or no returns into the 

public purse. 

The upper chamber was 

also informed that the N2.28 

trillion deficit in the N10.33 

trillion 2020 budget could 

best be funded by proceeds 

from privatisation of 

moribund national assets 

than borrowing from foreign 

and local financial 

institutions. 

Speaking, yesterday, in 

Abuja during an interactive 

session with the Senator 

Theordore Orji-led Senate 

Committee on Privatisation, 

Director-General of Bureau 

HEALTH TIPS 

By Sola Ogundipe 

Sleeplessness (insomnia) 

To beat sleeplessness, you 

should get up at the same 

time every day to train your 

body to wake at a consistent 

time. 

Eliminate coffee, tea, 

alcohol and all stimulants 

three hours before bedtime. 

Caffeine may not only cause 

difficulty initiating sleep, but 

may also cause frequent 

awakenings. Alcohol may 

have a sedative effect for the 

first few hours following 

consumption, but it can then 

lead to frequent arousals and 

a non-restful night’s sleep. 

Limit daytime naps. While 

napping seems like a proper 

way to catch up on missed 

sleep, it is not always so. It is 

important to establish and 

maintain a regular sleep 

pattern. Napping can affect 

the quality of night time 

sleep. 

Regular exercise can 

improve sleep quality and 

duration. However, 

exercising immediately 

of Public Enterprises, BPE, 

Alex Okoh, said there was 

no reason whatsoever for the 

country to be financing 

budget deficit on yearly 

basis with borrowings from 

foreign and local financial 

institutions when there were 

national assets that could be 

converted into liquid for that 

purpose. 

The BPE boss, who noted 

that the National Theatre in 

Iganmu Lagos and National 

Stadium in Surulere as part 

of national assets that should 

have been concessioned for 

that purpose, said 

privatisation/liberalisation 

had done Nigeria’s economy 

and her people more good 

than bad. 

Okoh said: “It is not good 

to keep borrowing on yearly 

basis to finance deficit 

budget when a lot of very 

before bedtime can have a 

stimulant effect on the body 

and should be avoided. 

Finish exercising at least 

three hours before you retire 

for the night. 

Limit activities in bed. The 

bed is primarily for sleeping. 

Banish phones, laptops and 

other gadgets from the 

bedroom. Avoid watching 

television or listening to the 

radio. Make your sleeping 

environment comfortable. 

Your bed should be 

comfortable and the room 

quiet. 

Do not eat or drink right 

before going to bed. Eating 

a late dinner or snacking 

before going to bed can 

activate the digestive system 

and keep you up. 

Try relaxation therapies and 

stress reduction methods to 

relax your mind and the body 

before going to bed. 

Examples are deep 

breathing techniques, 

imagery and meditation. 

valuable national assets are 

lying fallow and moribund. 

“Proceeds from outright 

privatisation or concession 

of the moribund assets 

should serve as the best 

alternative in funding 

yearly budget deficits since 

the assets are more or less, 

becoming national 

liabilities.” 

Speaking further, he 

promised that the N320 

billion expected as revenue 

from the agency to fund the 

2020 budget would be 

realised by the second 

quarters of next year from 

proceeds to be made from 

some national assets slated 

for privatisation. 

In his remarks, Chairman 

of the committee, Theodore 

Orji (PDP Abia Central), 

directed him to furnish the 

committee with records of 

the agency’s 2019 budget 

performance, ahead of 

consideration of the 2020 

budgetary estimates for the 

agency by the committee 

next Monday. 

ICPC recovers 200 property 

from corrupt Nigerians in 8 

months — Owasanoye 

By Soni Daniel 

A 

B U J A — 

INDEPENDENT 

Corrupt Practices and Other 

Related Offences 

Commission, ICPC, said, 

yesterday, it recovered over 

200 property, including 

plazas, bungalows and 

mansions, from suspected 

corrupt individuals in the last 

eight months. 


commission, Professor Bolaji 

Owasanoye, who made the 

disclosure at a meeting with 

the management of Nigerian 

Institute of Advanced Legal 

Studies, NIALS, in Abuja, 

boasted that the agency was 

on course to recover 

additional 100 houses from 

corrupt elements, adding 

that this would increase the 

number of seized assets to 

300 before the end of the year. 

Owasanoye said the 

commission was working 

with the Federal Ministry of 

Works to map out the 

identified assets, with a view 

to ascertaining their value 

and how best they could be 

put to use by the federal 

government upon final 

forfeiture. 

He said: “ICPC has 

recovered over 200 assets 

under my watch. We are 

working hard to get to 300 

before the end of the year. 

Some of these property are 

under interim forfeiture, while 

others are under final 

forfeiture.” 

Earlier, Director General of 

NIALS, Professor 

Muhammed Ladan, pleaded 

with the commission to help 

the agency to secure a 

temporary office 

accommodation for its staff. 

Ladan while bemoaning 

the lack of office space for the 

over 317 staff of NIALS said 

the institute had been 

squatting at the Supreme 

Court complex in Abuja for 

more than 20 years, and at 

the University of Lagos for 

about 40 years. 

FG deports 7 Koreans ‘for life’ 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA— The Federal 

Government has announced 

the deportation of seven 

nationals of Democratic 

Peoples Republic of Korea, 

DPRK, for life. 

The development was 

disclosed in a statement by the 

Public Relations Office 

ofNigerian Immigration 

Service, yesterday, in Abuja. 

The statement read: “The 

Comptroller-General of 

Nigeria Immigration Service, 

Muhammad Babandede, has 

carried out the deportation of 

the following seven 

World Food Day: Why 13.1m 

children are malnourished in 

Nigeria —UNICEF report 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA—A new report by 

United Nations 

Children’s Fund, UNICEF, 

has said poor diets and a failing 

food system were responsible 

for at least 13.1 million cases 

of malnutrition among 

children in Nigeria. 

According to the report, 

released last night in 

commemoration of the 2019 

World Food Day, Nigeria has 

the second highest proportion 

of children suffering 

malnutrition after the 

Democratic Republic of 

Congo in the West and 

Central Africa region. 

The report, entitled, ‘’The 

state of the World’s Children 

2019: Children, food and 

nutrition," said: “At least one 

in three children under five is 

either undernourished or 

overweight. Almost two in 

three children between six 

months and two years of age 

are not fed food that supports 

their rapidly growing bodies 

and brains. 

Buhari approves 6 aides 

for First Lady 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 


Buhari 

has approved the 

appointment of new aides for 

the First Lady, Dr. Aisha 

Buhari. 

In a statement by Director 

of Information, Office of First 

Lady, State House, Abuja, the 

wife of former Governor of 

Nasarawa State, Dr. Mairo 

Almakura, has been 

appointed Special Assistant 

on African First Ladies Peace 

Mission, AFLPM, 

Democratic Peoples Republic 

of Korea, DPRK, nationals 

from Nigeria for life. 

‘’They are Jo Sun Phil, Hang 

Sung Chol, Che Chun Hyok 

and Pak Yong Gon, Ri Yong Il, 

Ri Hak Su and Ri Tong Nam. 

“They were deported by the 

order of the Minister of Interior 

based on the powers conferred 

on him by the Immigration Act 

2015. 

“They were deported to 

their country of origin on the 

available flight on October 15, 

2019, through Nnamdi 

Azikiwe International Airport, 

Abuja.’’ 

“13.1 million children are 

stunted or too short for their 

age in Nigeria; 2.9 million 

children are wasted or too thin 

for their height. In Nigeria, 

malnutrition remains a major 

public health and 

development concern. 

“As children grow older, 

their exposure to unhealthy 

food becomes alarming, 

driven largely by 

inappropriate marketing and 

advertising, the abundance of 

ultra-processed foods in cities 

but also in remote areas, and 

increasing access to fast food 

and highly sweetened 

beverages. 

‘’Besides failing food 

system, poverty and 

urbanisation, the report also 

noted that climate-related 

disasters cause severe food 

crises in the country. 

“To address the growing 

malnutrition crisis in all its 

forms, UNICEF is issuing an 

urgent appeal to government, 

the private sector, donors, 

parents, families and 

businesses to help children 

grow healthy.” 

Muhammed Albishir is 

appointed Special Assistant 

on Organisation of African 

First Ladies for Development, 

OAFLAD, while Wole 

Aboderin is appointed Special 

Assistant on Non- 

Governmental Organisations 

Aiyu Abdullahi is Special 

Assistant on Media and 

Publicity; Zainab Kazeem, 

Special Assistant on 

Domestic and Social Events 

and Funke Adesiyan, 

Personal Assistant on 

Domestic and Social Events. 

The appointments, 

according to the statement, 

take immediate effect. 

Buhari may sign Peace Corps 

Bill —Presidential aide 

By Philip Nyam 

THERE are indications 

that President 

Muhammadu Buhari may 

give assent to Nigeria Peace 

Corps Bill if passed again by 

the National Assembly. 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on National 

Assembly Matters (Reps), 

Umar El-Yakub, dropped the 

hint yesterday while 

addressing the media about 

the five new bills assented to 

by the President. 

Responding to a question as 

to whether the President 

would assent to the Nigeria 

Peace Corps Bill, if passed 

again and sent to him by the 

National Assembly, El-Yakub 

said: “Of course, with the 

renewed relationship, I’m 

sure there will be more work 

that will lead to the expeditious 

passage of the bill and of 

course, Mr. president will 

assent to all bills passed by the 

National Assembly, which do 

not have conflict or 

reservations. 

Meanwhile, President 

Buhari has assented to five 

bills, namely the Obafemi 

Awolowo University 

(Transition provisions) 

Amendment Bill 2019, 

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa 

University Bauchi 


University of Maiduguri 


National Fertiliser Quality 

Control Bill 2019 and Nigeria 

Council of Food Science and 

Technology (Establishment 

Bill) 2019.

10 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

PRESENTATION—Governor Kayode Fayemi (4th left)with the elderly beneficiaries at the re-launching 

of the Social Security for Elderly Citizens of the state in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. 

N45BN BUS PURCHASE: We acted on 

Ambode’s exco approval — Lagos A-G 

By Ebun Sessou 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

State Accountant- 

General, Mrs. Shukrat 

Umar, has disclosed that the 

State Treasury Office acted 

on the Akinwunmi 

Ambode’s exco's approval 

in the N45 billion bus 

purchase. 

She said this before the 

House committee probing 

the activities of the last 

administration led by 

Ambode. 

Her claim was contrary to 

the allegation by the former 

Commissioner for 

Economic Planning and 

Budget, Mr. Olusegun 

Banjo who also appeared 

before the House 

Committee, on Tuesday, 

that Mr. Ambode indeed 

signed the purchase of the 

820 mass transit buses 

worth N45 billion without 

proper approval. 

Umar said: “The State 

Treasury Office acted on 

Exco’s approval. The buses 

were in line with Exco’s 

approval. I would not know 

whether the Paris Refund 

Club was discussed or 

not.” 

Meanwhile, the Lagos 

State House of Assembly 

has threatened to issue the 

warrant of arrest against 

the former governor for 

failing to appear before the 


the activities of the last 

administration. 

Addressing a plenary 

session after the committee 

submitted its reports, the 

Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru 

Obasa, said the House 

would proceed to invite the 

former governor through a 

newspaper publication or 

face warrant of arrest if he 

fails to appear again before 

Access Bank hits over N1bn 

in digital lending daily 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

L AGOS—ACCESS 

Bank’s expanded 

digital lending portfolio, 

which gives Nigerians 

quick and 24/7 access to 

funds for emergencies 

without any collateral, has 

hit N1 billion daily in loan 

value. 

Executive Director, Retail 

Banking, Access Bank Plc, 

Victor Etuokwu, said: “We 

are at the forefront of digital 

lending across the 

continent. This is a 

deliberate choice we made 

when we introduced the 

first USSD based digital 

lending product in Nigeria 

based on our deep 

understanding of our 

operating environment. In 

the past two years, we have 

disbursed over N3.5 million 

loans to individuals. We 

acknowledge it is no mean 

feat when compared to 

where the market is coming 

from, but this is still a 

scratch in the overall 

potential of this market. 

“This year alone, we have 

disbursed over N45 billion 

in over two million 

disbursements to 

individuals and have 

recently witnessed a spike 

in our volumes hitting 

N1billion daily. This 

achievement and our focus 

on retail lending reiterate 

our commitment to 

democratize access to 

financial services 

leveraging digital 

technology.” 

Also speaking, Head, 

Digital Banking Business 

Development, Access 

Bank, Chinedu Onuoha, 

said: “Our objective is to 

ensure that there is a digital 

loan product for every adult 

Nigerian, who has proven 

means of livelihood 

because we know that 

every individual at one 

point or another requires 

some form of financial 

support." 

the House to defend the 

controversial purchase of 

820 mass transit buses 

worth N45bn. 

Also absent were the 

immediate past 

NAFDAC to shut bakeries over 

illegal, unhygienic practices 

By Chioma Obinna, 

Chinelo Azike & 

Olaide Jejelola 

LAGOS—THE National 

Agency for Food and 

Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, 

yesterday, threatened a 

nationwide clampdown on 

producers of bread and 

other confectioneries over 

what it described as ‘illegal 

and unhygienic’ practices 

against food safety 

standards. 

The Agency noted that 

despite the ban on the use 

of potassium bromate in 

baking, many Nigerian 

bakers have continued the 

nefarious act at the 

detriment of the health of 

Nigerians. 

Similarly, the agency also 

issued a three-week 

ultimatum to bakers to 

comply with its guidelines 

or risk being shut down. 

The Director-General of 

NAFDAC, Professor 

Christianah Adeyeye, who 

handed down the warning 

in Lagos, announced that 

the agency has begun an 

awareness seminar across 

the six geopolitical zones of 

the country as a build-up to 

the nationwide clampdown 

exercise. 

The Director-General, 

who spoke at a One-Day 

workshop for Bread 

Producers on Bread 

Quality and Safety 

Standards, said 

surveillance activities 

revealed a lack of 

commitment by most bakers 

to good hygiene practices. 

Represented by the 

Commissioner for Finance, 

Mr. Akinyemi Ashade and 

a former Commissioner for 

Special Duties, Oladejo 

Seye. 

Director, Food Safety and 

Applied Nutrition, Mr. 

Sherif Olagunju, the 

NAFDAC boss said most of 

the bakeries are infested 

with rats. 

Adeyeye said: “We know 

how dangerous these rats 

can be. Again, some of 

them now put few tablets of 

potassium bromate in their 

pockets even when you 

come for an inspection you 

will not find them because 

they hide them in their 

homes and come with few 

tablets in their pockets. This 

has necessitated the need 

for the agency to collaborate 

with good hygiene 

practices through frequent 

workshops and grassroots 

sensitisation activities. The 

illegal use of dough 

improvers like potassium 

bromate, a potential 

carcinogen in bread has 

been of food safety concern. 

Urging bakers to 

understand the safety 

standards and adhere to 

them, she said: “Bread 

quality intervention 

strategy will ensure that all 

bread producing facilities 

would produce safe bread 

for the Nigeria populace 

because the effective 

protection of over 167 

million Nigeria public 

against cancer requires a 

preventive management 

approach.” 

Also, she said: “Another 

thing we discovered is, if 

somebody is going to make 

like four or five batches of 

bread, he may decide to add 

potassium bromate to like 

two or three batches and 

when supplying he will 

mix them up." 

Jim Ovia’s school acquires 

AIS property in Lagos 

By Adesina Wahab 

LAGOS—THE James 

Hope College, Agbor in 

Delta State, owned by the 

founder of Zenith Bank, 

Mr. Jim Ovia, yesterday, 

acquired the Lagos 

property of American 

International School, AIS, 

for an undisclosed amount. 

The signing ceremony of 

the deal took place in Lagos 

where Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, promised that 

his administration would 

always support the 

facilitation of business deals 

that would improve the 

economy of the state. 

Speaking on why James 

Hope College decided to 

establish a branch of the 

school in Lagos, Ovia noted 

that whatever resonates 

with the people of Lagos is 

always accepted 

nationwide. 

He said: “If you are in 

Lagos, you are taking care 

of at least 50 percent of the 

population of Nigeria one 

way or the other. The 

population is there and 

whatever resonates with the 

people here is regarded as 

being accepted all over the 

country. 

”Also, within the six years 

that we have run James 

Hope College in Agbor, we 

have made a great impact 

that I want us to replicate 

across the country. I have a 

deep passion for education 

and if you come to my office, 

the two prominent logos 

you would see are those of 

Zenith Bank and James 

Hope College. 

”Education is the main 

key. Our first set of 

graduating students got 

100 percent in the last 

WAEC. Moreover, I believe 

in giving back to society 

Ex-judge, firm, drag NAFDAC 

to court over banned chemical 

By Innocent Anaba 

L AGOS—JUSTICE 

Olamide Oloyede, a 

retired judge in Osun State 

and Virtues Unlimited 

Restorative Justice 

Initiative, VURJI, have 

dragged the National 

Agency for Food and Drug 

Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC and 

eight others before a 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Lagos, over alleged 

importation of a banned 

chemical, methyl bromide 

into the country. 

Other defendants in the 

suit are: National 

Environmental Standards 

and Regulations 

Enforcement Agency, 

Nigeria Customs Service, 

Federal Ministry of Health, 

Ministry of Environment, 

the Ministry of Agriculture 

and the Ministry of 

Justice. 

Justice Oloyede, who 

retired from the Osun State 

judiciary and VURJI are 

asking the court to compel 

the defendants to 

investigate, identify and 

destroy any methyl 

bromide, an odorless, 

and the Jim Ovia 

Foundation gave not less 

than 40 percent of our 

students’ scholarships. 

”By the grace of God, 

when the Lagos school 

starts by September next 

year, at least 40 percent of 

the students will be given 

scholarships as well.” 

Sanwo-Olu lauds Ovia 

In his remarks, Governor 

Sanwo-Olu said Ovia had 

been a supporter of his 


He said Lagos has over 

1,057 primary schools and 

over 657 secondary schools 

and that the state 

government would soon 

begin a mass renovation of 

the schools, starting with 

about 300. 

”In the light of the above, 

I am calling on other 

public-spirited individuals 

like Mr. Ovia to support our 

efforts at repositioning 

education in the state,” he 

said. 

Also, the former Vice- 

Chancellor of the University 

of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof. 

Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, 

commended the vision of 

Ovia in setting up the 

school and his Foundation 

through which he assists 

the needy. 

The representative of the 

American Ambassador to 

Nigeria, Ms. Carol Cox, 

expressed the hope that the 

agreement would be the 

beginning of a fruitful 

relationship between the 

Embassy and James Hope 

Schools. 

The Principal of James 

Hope School, Mr. Abraham 

Swart, said the about N9 

billion so far committed to 

the school by Ovia was 

already yielding fruits. 

(See photos on page 14) 

colorless gas used to control 

pests in agriculture which 

has a serious negative effect 

on humans and the 

environment. 

They also urged the court 

to declare that the alleged 

importation of the banned 

chemical substance into 

Nigeria by a Lagos-based 

company, Toon 

Consolidated Company 

Limited according to the 

license issued by the 

Nigeria Agricultural 

Quarantine Services, 

NAQS and without the 

permission of NAFDAC is 

unlawful and illegal. 

In an affidavit in support 

of the suit deposed to by the 

retired judge, she claimed 

that the agro-chemical had 

been banned in Nigeria 

because it was dangerous 

to human health and 

caused environmental 

hazards by depleting the 

ozone layer. 

The VURJI coordinator 

also averred that methyl 

bromide, when used as a 

fumigant and pesticide, 

exposes humans to severe 

injuries, including lung 

damage because it is 

highly toxic.


PRESENTATION — Governor Kayode Fayemi (4th left)with the elderly beneficiaries at the re-launching 

of the Social Security for Elderly Citizens of the state in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. 

N45BN BUS PURCHASE: We acted on 

Ambode’s exco approval — Lagos A-G 

By Ebun Sessou 

LAGOS — THE Lagos 

State Accountant-General, 

Mrs. Shukrat Umar, 

has disclosed that the State 

Treasury Office acted on the 

Akinwunmi Ambode’s exco's 

approval in the N45 

billion bus purchase. 

She said this before the 


the activities of the last administration 

led by Ambode. 

Her claim was contrary to 

the allegation by the former 

Commissioner for Economic 

Planning and Budget, 

Mr. Olusegun Banjo who 

also appeared before the 

House Committee, on Tuesday, 

that Mr. Ambode indeed 

signed the purchase 

of the 820 mass transit buses 

worth N45 billion without 

proper approval. 

Umar said: “The State 

Treasury Office acted on 

Exco’s approval. The buses 

were in line with Exco’s 

approval. I would not know 

whether the Paris Refund 

Club was discussed or 

not.” 

Meanwhile, the Lagos 

State House of Assembly 

has threatened to issue the 

warrant of arrest against 

the former governor for failing 

to appear before the 


the activities of the last administration. 

Addressing a 

plenary session after the 

committee submitted its reports, 

the Speaker, Mr. 

Mudashiru Obasa, said the 

House would proceed to 

invite the former governor 

through a newspaper publication 

or face warrant of 

arrest if he fails to appear 

again before the House to 

defend the controversial 

purchase of 820 mass transit 

buses worth N45bn. 

Also absent were the immediate 

past Commissioner 

for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi 

Ashade and a former 

Commissioner for Special 

Duties, Oladejo Seye. 

NAFDAC to shut bakeries over illegal, unhygienic practices 

By Chioma Obinna, 

Chinelo Azike & Olaide 

Jejelola 

LAGOS—THE National 

Agency for Food and 

Drug Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, 

threatened a nationwide 

clampdown on producers 

of bread and other 

confectioneries over what it 

described as ‘illegal and 

unhygienic’ practices 

against food safety standards. 

The Agency noted that 

despite the ban on the use 

of potassium bromate in 

baking, many Nigerian 

bakers have continued the 

nefarious act at the detriment 

of the health of Nigerians. 

Similarly, the agency 

also issued a three-week 

ultimatum to bakers to comply 

with its guidelines or 

risk being shut down. 

The Director-General of 

NAFDAC, Professor Christianah 

Adeyeye, who handed 

down the warning in 

Lagos, announced that the 

agency has begun an 

awareness seminar across 

the six geopolitical zones of 

the country as a build-up 

to the nationwide clampdown 

exercise. 

The Director-General, 

who spoke at a One-Day 

workshop for Bread Producers 

on Bread Quality and 

Safety Standards, said surveillance 

activities revealed 

a lack of commitment by 

most bakers to good hygiene 

practices. 

Represented by the Director, 

Food Safety and Applied 

Nutrition, Mr. Sherif 

Olagunju, the NAFDAC 

boss said most of the bakeries 

are infested with rats. 

Adeyeye said: “We know 

how dangerous these rats 

can be. Again, some of 

them now put few tablets of 

potassium bromate in their 

pockets even when you 

come for an inspection you 

will not find them because 

they hide them in their 

homes and come with few 

tablets in their pockets. This 

has necessitated the need 

for the agency to collaborate 

with good hygiene practices 

through frequent workshops 

and grassroots sensitisation 

activities. The illegal 

use of dough improvers 

like potassium bromate, 

Access Bank hits over N1bn 

in digital lending daily 


L Bank’s AGOS—ACCESS 

expanded digital 

lending portfolio, which 

gives Nigerians quick and 

24/7 access to funds for 

emergencies without any 

collateral, has hit N1 billion 

daily in loan value. 

Executive Director, Retail 

Banking, Access Bank Plc, 

Victor Etuokwu, said: “We 

are at the forefront of digital 

lending across the continent. 

This is a deliberate 

choice we made when we 

introduced the first USSD 

based digital lending product 

in Nigeria based on our 

deep understanding of our 

operating environment. In 

a potential carcinogen in 

bread has been of food safety 

concern. 

Urging bakers to understand 

the safety standards 

and adhere to them, she 

said: “Bread quality intervention 

strategy will ensure 

that all bread producing facilities 

would produce safe 

bread for the Nigeria populace 

because the effective 

protection of over 167 million 

Nigeria public against 

cancer requires a preventive 

management approach.” 

Also, she said: “Another 

thing we discovered is, if 

somebody is going to make 

like four or five batches of 

bread, he may decide to add 

potassium bromate to like 

two or three batches and 

when supplying he will 

mix them up." 

the past two years, we have 

disbursed over N3.5 million 

loans to individuals. We 

acknowledge it is no mean 

feat when compared to 

where the market is coming 

from, but this is still a 

scratch in the overall potential 

of this market. 

“This year alone, we have 

disbursed over N45 billion 

in over two million disbursements 

to individuals 

and have recently witnessed 

a spike in our volumes 

hitting N1billion daily. 

This achievement and 

our focus on retail lending 

reiterate our commitment to 

democratize access to financial 

services leveraging digital 

technology.” 

Jim Ovia’s school acquires 

AIS property in Lagos 


LAGOS—THE James 

Hope College, Agbor in 

Delta State, owned by the 

founder of Zenith Bank, 

Mr. Jim Ovia, yesterday, 

acquired the Lagos 

property of American 

International School, AIS, 

for an undisclosed amount. 

The signing ceremony of 

the deal took place in Lagos 

where Governor Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, promised that 

his administration would 

always support the 

facilitation of business deals 

that would improve the 

economy of the state. 

Speaking on why James 

Hope College decided to 

establish a branch of the 

school in Lagos, Ovia noted 

that whatever resonates 

with the people of Lagos is 

always accepted 

nationwide. 

He said: “If you are in 

Lagos, you are taking care 

of at least 50 percent of the 

population of Nigeria one 

way or the other. The 

population is there and 

whatever resonates with the 

people here is regarded as 

being accepted all over the 

country. 

”Also, within the six years 

that we have run James 

Hope College in Agbor, we 

have made a great impact 

that I want us to replicate 

across the country. I have a 

deep passion for education 

and if you come to my office, 

the two prominent logos 

you would see are those of 

Zenith Bank and James 

Hope College. 

”Education is the main 

key. Our first set of 

graduating students got 

100 percent in the last 

WAEC. Moreover, I believe 

in giving back to society 

Ex-judge, firm, drag NAFDAC 

to court over banned chemical 


L AGOS—JUSTICE 

Olamide Oloyede, a 

retired judge in Osun State 

and Virtues Unlimited 

Restorative Justice 

Initiative, VURJI, have 

dragged the National 

Agency for Food and Drug 

Administration and 

Control, NAFDAC and 

eight others before a 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Lagos, over alleged 

importation of a banned 

chemical, methyl bromide 

into the country. 

Other defendants in the 

suit are: National 

Environmental Standards 

and Regulations 

Enforcement Agency, 


Federal Ministry of Health, 

Ministry of Environment, 

the Ministry of Agriculture 

and the Ministry of 

Justice. 

Justice Oloyede, who 

retired from the Osun State 

judiciary and VURJI are 

asking the court to compel 

the defendants to 

investigate, identify and 

destroy any methyl 

bromide, an odorless, 

and the Jim Ovia 

Foundation gave not less 

than 40 percent of our 

students’ scholarships. 

”By the grace of God, 

when the Lagos school 

starts by September next 

year, at least 40 percent of 

the students will be given 

scholarships as well.” 

Sanwo-Olu lauds Ovia 

In his remarks, Governor 

Sanwo-Olu said Ovia had 

been a supporter of his 


He said Lagos has over 

1,057 primary schools and 

over 657 secondary schools 

and that the state 

government would soon 

begin a mass renovation of 

the schools, starting with 

about 300. 

”In the light of the above, 

I am calling on other 

public-spirited individuals 

like Mr. Ovia to support our 

efforts at repositioning 

education in the state,” he 

said. 

Also, the former Vice- 

Chancellor of the University 

of Lagos, UNILAG, Prof. 

Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, 

commended the vision of 

Ovia in setting up the 

school and his Foundation 

through which he assists 

the needy. 

The representative of the 

American Ambassador to 

Nigeria, Ms. Carol Cox, 

expressed the hope that the 

agreement would be the 

beginning of a fruitful 

relationship between the 

Embassy and James Hope 

Schools. 

The Principal of James 

Hope School, Mr. Abraham 

Swart, said the about N9 

billion so far committed to 

the school by Ovia was 

already yielding fruits. 

(See photos on page 14) 

colorless gas used to control 

pests in agriculture which 

has a serious negative effect 

on humans and the 

environment. 

They also urged the court 

to declare that the alleged 

importation of the banned 

chemical substance into 

Nigeria by a Lagos-based 

company, Toon 

Consolidated Company 

Limited according to the 

license issued by the 

Nigeria Agricultural 

Quarantine Services, 

NAQS and without the 

permission of NAFDAC is 

unlawful and illegal. 

In an affidavit in support 

of the suit deposed to by the 

retired judge, she claimed 

that the agro-chemical had 

been banned in Nigeria 

because it was dangerous 

to human health and 

caused environmental 

hazards by depleting the 

ozone layer. 

The VURJI coordinator 

also averred that methyl 

bromide, when used as a 

fumigant and pesticide, 

exposes humans to severe 

injuries, including lung 

damage because it is 

highly toxic.



Delta SEC okays N389bn as 2020 

budget proposal 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA —DELTA State 

Executive Council has 

ratified N389 billion as 

budget proposal for the 2020 

fiscal year. 

The state Commissioner for 

Economic Planning, Mr 

Barry Pere Gbe, who made 

the disclosure, said the 

proposed budget is N1 billion 

lower than that of 2019, 

which had N217 billion as 

capital expenditure and 

N171 billion as recurrent 

expenditure. 

Noting that the macro 

economic framework that 

gave birth to the 2019 budget 

was similar to that of the 2020 

proposal, he disclosed that 

the earlier prepared fiscal 

strategy paper for the state 

was re-adjusted to reflect 

what transpired at the 

national level. 

Gbe said: “We also have to 

rely on what happened at 

the federal level, which used 

an indicating figure of $57 

per barrel. As a result, we 

changed what we had in the 

fiscal strategy paper to $57 

per barrel. 

“We had to re-adjust our 

assumptions to capture what 

transpired at the federal 

level. That was what gave 

birth to the movement from 

the N350 billion that we 

initially submitted to arriving 

at N389 billion which got the 

approval of exco. 

“The capital is N217 billion 

and the recurrent is N171 

billion. This indicates that we 

will do more projects than 

spending on operational 

expenditure. Personnel cost 

moved up because we are 

expecting that by 2020, we 

would have started 

implementing the new 

minimum wage.” 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is 

expected to present the 

budget to the state House of 

Assembly anytime soon for 

consideration 

subsequent passage. 

RETREAT: Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr Kingsley Otuaro; former Governor of Anambra State, 

Mr. Peter Obi, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State during the Strategic Executive Retreat 2019, at 

African Institute for Public Policy, Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State. 

A BUJA—AISHA 

Buhari, wife of the 

president, has 

apologised for the 

embarrassment of a video 

where she was seen 

shouting at Aso Rock. 

According to 

Suleiman Haruna, 

her spokesman, the 

first lady tendered 

the apology when she 

played host to wives 

of governors of the 36 

states at the 

presidential villa in 

Abuja. 

“Commenting on 

the videos circulating 

on social networks, 

and 

Aisha Buhari apologises 

to Nigerians over viral 

video 

Daura is the 

(Aisha) Buhari 

extended her apology 

to her children, her 

immediate family 

members and all 

well-meaning 

Nigerians over the 

embarrassment that 

the videos had 

caused,” the 

statement said. 

The video was 

recorded by Fatima, 

daughter of Mamman 

Daura, who alleged 

that the first lady 

attacked her inside 

the presidential villa. 

president’s nephew. 

Confirming the 

video upon her return 

to Nigeria, Aisha had 

said she reacted 

angrily because she 

was denied access to 

parts of the villa by 

Daura and his family. 

She said Daura’s 

family acted the way 

they did because 

Buhari had “sacked” 

them from the house. 

She was quoted as 

saying Fatima 

recorded the video 

while mocking her. 

Unearth killers of Ogofugha, 

Ogbe-Ijoh insists 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

WARRI— Ogbe-Ijoh 

community in Warri 

South-West Local 

Government Area of Delta 

State has condemned the 

murder of a member of the 

community, Mr Taylor 

Ogofugha, on Tuesday, 

saying efforts should be 

made to apprehend the 

killers. 

Addressing newsmen, 

yesterday, in Ogbe-Ijoh, 

Chief Monday Kenneth, 

spokesperson of the 

community, said it was sad 

that the state government has 

not been able to demarcate 

the boundary between the 

community and its Aladja 

neighbour, which he blamed 

for the crisis in the area. 

He alleged that the murder 

of Ogofugha might have 

been carried out by persons 

suspected to be from its 

neighbouring community. 

He said: “Once again, we 

have gathered here to update 

the media on the murder of 

an Ogbe-Ijoh youth, Mr. 

Ogofugha, by suspected 

Aladja assailants on October 

15, 2019. 

“We also recall the series of 

peace accord/agreements 

entered with state 

government and security 

agencies and the flagrant 

violations as well as inaction 

of state government and 

security agencies in this 

regard. Furthermore, we 

recall the numerous attacks 

on Ogbe-Ijoh. At the last 

count, Ogbe-Ijoh has been 

attacked 21 times and all 

documented. 

“The Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom 

had given government all the 

needed support for 

government to resolve the 

lingering boundary dispute 

between Aladja and Ogbe- 

Ijoh. It is sad, however, to note 

that government of Delta 

State finds it difficult to 

demarcate boundary 

between the two local 

government areas, Udu and 

Warri South West as 

recognised by existing 

boundary laws in Nigeria and 

as maintained by successive 

government from 1955 to 

date. 

“It is indeed sad that the 

Delta State government, 

despite having all the facts of 

the matters with specific 

reference to Western Region 

Legal Notice No 176 of 1955, 

instrument establishing the 

boundary line of the two local 

government and others had 

refused to act." 

COOP advises Wike against 

actions capable of undermining 

peace in parts of Rivers 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

The Conscience of 

Ogoni People, COOP, has 

advised Governor Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State against 

actions capable of 

undermining the peace 

enjoyed by people of the 

state. 

This followed the 

installation and issuance of 

certificate of government 

recognition to Chief Hope 

Opusunji as the Opu-Kula 

by the state government, few 

days after the reopening of 

the Oil Mining Lease, 

OML25, in Kula Kingdom, 

Akuku-Toru Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

Coordinator of COOP, 

Chief Gani Topba, yesterday, 

in Port Harcourt, claimed 

that it was wrong for the 

governor to take such action 

at a time when President 

Muhammadu Buhari had 

just resolved a serious tussle 

in the area. 

Topba said: “I had said that 

President Buhari has the 

capacity to resolve issues 

surrounding the OML25 

and he did it. But what the 

governor has done by 

installing a traditional ruler, 

just few days after the 

intervention of the president 

is capable of causing crisis. 

“The action can affect the 

resumption of oil production 

in OML25. They want to 

truncate the peace that the 

president brought to Kula 

Kingdom. I am calling on the 

Department of State Service, 

DSS, to caution the governor 

to allow the peace made on 

OML25 remain." 

...INEC not giving confidence to Bayelsans 

—Dickson 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YENAGOA — 

GOVERNOR Seriake 

Dickson of Bayelsa State, 

yesterday, said 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, has not given a 

convincing reassurance of 

it impartiality in the 

forthcoming election in the 

state. 

Dickson, who spoke on 

political developments in 

the state, especially the 

forthcoming election in a 

live media chat in Yenagoa, 

said: “The activities of 

INEC has not given 

confidence to Bayelsans. 

People were driven away 

from Nembe Bassambiri, 

and they allowed materials 

to go into volatile areas to 

declare manipulated 

results. 

“INEC should do what is 

right rather than colluding 

with undesirable elements 

to perpetrate crime. 

Security agencies should 

do the right thing to return 

the displaced people of 

Nembe Bassambiri to their 

community so that they 

can vote in this election. 

“I condemn the reign of 

brigandage in the Bayelsa 

East senatorial district. 

Those who carry out the 

crimes are not facing trial, 

and that could have a 

multiplier effect on other 

areas.” 

Dickson described the 

APC as a party in distress 

and challenged the 

governorship candidates to 

hold healthy debates on 

issues of governance to 

enable the electorate assess 

their capabilities.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 — 13 

Gov Sule 

recommends 

NUJ 

chairman, 14 

others as 

commissioner 

nominees 

By David Odama 

LAbdullahi AFIA—GOVERNOR 

Sule of 

Nasarawa State, yesterday 

submitted names of 15 

commissioner nominees 

including the state 

Chairman of Nigeria Union 

of Journalists, NUJ, Dogo 

Shammah, to the state 

House of Assembly for 

screening and confirmation 

as members of the state 

executive council. 

The speaker of the 

House, Ibrahim Balarabe 

Abdullahi, announced this 

on the floor of the house 

after the majority leader, 

Alhaji Tanko Tunga (APC- 

Awe North) submitted the 

commissioner nominees on 

behalf of Governor 

Abdullahi Sule, to the 

house in Lafia. 

The nominees are, 

Ahmed Baba Yahaya (Toto 

Local Government Area, 

LGA,) Philip Dada former 

SSG (Karu LGA), Othman 

Bala Adam (Keffi LGA), Dr 

Abdulkarim Abubakar Kana 

(Kokona LGA), Obadiah 

Boyi (Akwanga LGA) Yusuf 

Aliyu Turaki (Awe LGA), Dr 

Salihu Ahmad Alizaga 

(Nassarawa Eggon LGA), 

Others are Dogo 

Shammah (Wamba LGA), 

Prof.Otaki Allahnanah 

(Keana LGA), Haruna 

Ogbole Adamu (Obi LGA), 

Ibrahim Musa Ekye 

(Doma LGA), Mrs Fati 

Jimeta Sabo (Nasarawa 

LGA), Abubakar 

Muhammed Imam(Lafia 

LGA), Hajiya 

Also nominated are 

Halima Ahmadu 

Jabiru(Lafia LGA) and 

Mohammed Bashir 

Aliyu(Lafia LGA).” 

MINIMUM WAGE: Outcome of 

negotiation to enhance workers’ 

pay —Aremu 

Krepresentative ADUNA—LABOUR 

in the 

National Salaries, Incomes 

and Wages Commission, 

and former Vice President 

of Nigeria Labour 

Congress, NLC, Issa 

Aremu, yesterday in 

Kaduna, assured of a 

peaceful resolutions of 

ongoing negotiation on 

consequential adjustment 

arising from the N30,000 

new national Minimum 

Wage that would improve 

workers’ pay and enhance 

the growth of Nigerian 

economy. 

Aremu who is also the 

General Secretary of 

National Union of Textile, 

Garment and Tailoring 

Workers of Nigeria, 

NUTGTWN, and a member 

of the National Executive 

Council, NEC, of NLC, in 

a statement, said the 

ongoing negotiation about 

minimum wage 

implementation in the 

public sector was 

legitimate, expected and 

By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 

LOKOJA—CHIEF of 

Staff to Kogi State 

Governor, Yahaya Bello, 

Chief Edward David 

Onoja, has resigned his 

appointment. 

Onoja is now the running 

mate to governor Bello in 

the November 16 

gubernatorial election. 

In his stead, the governor 

has appointed Mr. 

Abdulkareem Jamiu as his 

new Chief of Staff. 

Jamiu until his new 

not in any way meant there 

was a “crisis”. 


statement “there is already 

a subsisting new Minimum 

wage of N30,000 signed 

into law by President 

Muhamadu Buhari. It was 

an outcome of robust 

negotiations between 

organized labour, 

organized private sector, 

Federal and states 

governments. 

"This is also the 5th National 

minimum wage Act. The first was 

in 1981. What is at stake is not a 

renegotiation but 

implementation. But at the 

saying goes, devil is in the details. 

That God new wage for workers 

is Godliness. The details are 

what we are working towards 

through dialogue with the 

government. 

"I have no doubt that there 

would not be any crisis there 

would be an agreement just the 

way we negotiated the past 

minimum wages. The Joint Public 

Service Negotiating Council is 

working with both the NLC and 

TUC to achieve achieve the goal 

of a just consequential 

adjustment”. 

Onoja, Kogi Chief of Staff Resigns 

appointment was the 

Director General, Protocol. 

The governor in a letter 

by the Secretary to the State 

Government, Dr (Mrs) 

Folashade Ayoade, also 

approved the appointment 

of Dr Gabriel Attah as 

Director General, Protocol. 

Dr. Attah until his new 

appointment was the Head 

of Mass Communication 

Department, Kogi State 

University, Anyigba. 

The statement said, 

“These appointments take 

effect from 14 October 

2019.” 

Proprietor of illegal rehab center, 2 others 

remanded in prison custody 

By Bashir Bello 

K magistrate ATSINA—A 

court in 

Katsina State has 

remanded the proprietor of 

illegal rehabilitation center 

in Daura, Kastina State, 

Malam Bello Abdullahi, 

and two of his accomplices 

in prison custody . 

Abdullahi alongside 

Habibu Bello (28) and a 16 

By Peter Duru 

M F AKURDI— 

O R M E R 

Minister of State for 

Education, Prof. Jerry 

Agada has warned those 

canvassing that the North 

will produce the next 

president of Nigeria in 

2023, are working against 

the unity of the country. 

He also advised those 

leading the campaign to 

desist from claiming that 

they are speaking for the 

people of the north since 

IDAN to hold 5th edition of Guide for Business confab 

LAGOS—THE Interior 

Designers Association of 

Nigeria, IDAN, plans to 

hold a two-day conference 

and networking event in 

Lagos. 

The event, which holds 

between today and 

tomorrow, is now in its 5th 

year. Tagged: Guide forn 

Business, has brosdened 

the spectrum of its 

audience. This edition, 

year alleged accomplices, 

residents of Daura Local 

Government Area, Katsina 

State, were remanded by 

the Presiding Magistrate of 

Court One, Nuradeen 

Abdullahi, till October 22nd 

when the court would rule 

on their bail applications. 

The police arraigned the 

suspects before the court for 

criminal conspiracy, 

wrongful confinement and 

cruelty to children. 

According to the charges 

against them, “On the 

October 13, 2019, 

information was received at 

the Divisional Police 

headquarters in Sabon 

Garin Daura that one 

Mallam Bello Abdullahi 

conspired and open an 

illegal rehabilitation center 

in Daura and continue to 

deceive people from across 

the country and 

neighbouring countries to 

bring their children 

between age 12 - 16 and 

adults under disguise of 

rehabilitating them. They 

confine the children, chain, 

torture and maltreat them. 

The maltreatment made the 

inmates to revolt.” 

However, the offences are 

contrary to Section 97, 257 

sub section B and 238 of the 

penal code laws. 

SUMMIT: From left—Callistus Obatta, Group Executive, Technology & Services; Gbenga Shobo, 

Deputy Managing Director; Victor Asemota, Founder, Swifta Systems & Services; Adesola Adeduntan, 

Chief Excutive Officer, and Abdullahi Ibrahim, Executive Director, Public Sector Group, all of First 

Bank, during the First Bank Fintech Summit, held in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO: Kehinde Shonola. 

2023 PRESIDENCY: Don’t joke with Nigeria’s unity, 

ex-minister warns 

themed: ‘Freedom to 

Design’, is set to provide 

creative professionals and 

entrepreneurs with 

business and career 

development tools from a 

range of industry leaders, 

delivering information in 

areas such as finance, 

taxation, human resources, 

business development, 

project management, 

insurance, health and 

wellness to name a few. 

The president of IDAN, 

Omon Anenih - Mordi 

revealed that this year’s 

edition will afford those in 

attendance the opportunity 

to learn from a broad 

spectrum of speakers in the 

Nigerian 

landscape. 

business 

they are only airing their 

personal views and not 

those of the people of the 

north. 

Prof Agada who is also a 

former National President 

of Association of Nigerian 

Authors, ANA, spoke 

yesterday in Makurdi, 

saying , “In fact if you talk 

of competence, there is no 

zone in Nigeria that you 

cannot get people who are 

competent to be president 

of Nigeria because they are 

all over the place. If the 

North has it this time it 

should move to the south 

the next time. Or do you 

want to say that there are 

no competent people in the 

south who are qualified to 

be president? If you say 

south west, are you telling 

me there are no people 

there that are qualified to 

be president or even in the 

South East or South- South. 

“That is my own 

philosophy of politics 

especially in terms of what 

is trending these days. 

People are saying it must 

go this way or it must not 

go that way. I recently read 

somewhere where 

somebody said the north 

would hold on to the 

presidency for the next 100 

years and I asked, is that 

what we are looking for? I 

just watched on the 

television the pictures of 

malnourished children 

who are from the northern 

part of the country? So what 

does the presidency give us 

in terms of the wellbeing of 

the people that you are 

saying let everybody die but 

you must hold on to the 

presidency. 

“The best thing is to 

ensure that it goes round 

anything outside that is 

anti-unity or against the 

unity of the country. I also 

wrote a book on that matter, 

it is entitled The Successors, 

what I have done in the 

book is to highlight the 

need for rotation. 

“A person from the 

minority group can be 

assisted by the people of the 

majority group to attain 

leadership or emerge the 

Governor. I wrote this book 

as far back as 2007, so I’m 

not just holding this position 

as regards rotation of office, 

this is what I preach and I 

still stand by it. Therefore 

when people are saying it 

must be the north, I cannot 

be part and parcel of that.” 

VerifyMe backs NIMC on 

compulsory NIN for SIM 

registration 

By Prince 

Osuagwu 

IDENTITY management 

and work history 

reporting platform, 

VerifyMe Nigeria, has 

backed the recent directive 

by the National 

Communication 

Commission (NCC) that 

registration for new 

Subscriber Identity Module 

(SIM) cards will now 

require the presentation of 

the National Identity 

Number (NIN). 

The NCC explained that 

the directive was part of 

efforts “towards 

engendering the security of 

lives and properties for the 

economic development of 

the country.” 

CEO, VerifyMe Nigeria, 

Esigie Aguele, said: “The 

NCC directive 

demonstrates that identity 

management is the 

foundation of sustainable 

security that will promote 

growth in all industries. In 

anticipation of this we at 

VerifyMe had developed a 

platform where all Telcos 

can plug their customer 

acquisition processes.” 

“With a population of about 190 

million, the number of active 

telephone lines in the country is 

currently at 175 million 

representing a teledensity of 

91.65 percent. Internet users 

stand at 122.6 million while 

broadband penetration is 35 per 

cent. 

“Overall investment in the 

Nigerian telecoms sector is over 

$70 billion with 11.39 per cent of 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) 

coming from the sector alone. So, 

against the background of such 

significant investment and the 

pervasive impact of the sector on 

both the national economy and 

everyday life of citizens, it is only 

reasonable to put in place 

regulatory interventions that will 

ensure we have credible 

subscriber data.”


SIGNING OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN AMERICA INT'L SCHOOL LAGOS & 

JAMES HOPE COLLEGE, IN LAGOS 

PHOTOS: AKEEM SALAU 

From left, Carol Cox, Deputy Consular Chief, US Consulate General; Mr Ali Safieddine, Chairman, 

Board of Directors, America International School Lagos, AISL; Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank 

Plc/Chairman Board of Trustees, James Hope College Foundation; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of 

Lagos State; Prof Olukonyinsola Ajayi, and Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, former Vice Chancellor, 

University of Lagos, during the signing of agreement between America International School Lagos 

and James Hope College, at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. 

Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, GMD/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc 

(left) and Mr Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc. 

From left: Prof Chukuka Enwemeka, Trustee, James Hope College; Ahmed 

Abdulahi, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Urban Development; Idris 

Salako, Commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning & Urban Development, Lagos 

State and Mr Sam Egube, Commissioner, Ministry of Economic Planning & Budget. 

From left: Amara Ezukanma, Manager, Zenith Bank Assurance; Andrew 

Greewood, COO, Prudential Zenith, and Chuks Igumbor, MD/CEO, Prudential 

Zenith Life. 

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY CONFAB IN LAGOS 

PHOTOS: LAMIDI BAMIDELE 

From left, Mrs Kemi Ogunmefun, member of Board, Access Bank Group; Mrs 

Ayo Olojede, Group Head, Emerging Businesses, Access Bank, and Professor 

Epiphany Azinge, Judge, Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal, London, at Management 

consultancy conference with the theme, 'The evolving economy: The role of 

management consulting practice in public and private sectors,' in Lagos, yesterday. 

From left, Tunde Adekola, Senior Education Specialist, Africa Regional Department, 

World Bank; Mrs Jacqueline Yemi Odiadi, Co-Convener, Management Consultancy 

Conference; Dr Benson Uwheru, Partner/Business Advisory, Ernst n Young and Mrs 

Rita Nwalupue, Deputy Director, Centre for Management Development at the event. 

From left, Hajia Amina Adamu Ikara, Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State 

Universal Basic Education Board, KADSUBEB; Halima Jumare, School's 

Quality Assurance Evaluator, KADSUBEB; Esther Jibji and Lillian Jummai 

Gaura, KADSUBEB. 

From left, Dr Olatunji Daodu, Sir Tunji Tinuoye, and Mr Yomi Adebanjo.


Igbo leaders meet Buhari today 

By Anayo Okoli 

E NUGU—GOVERNORS 

from South-East, select 

Igbo leaders, including 

prominent traditional rulers, 

will meet President 

Muhammadu Buhari in the 

State House today. 

By Chinonso Alozie 

OWERRI—THERE is tension 

in Imo as herdsmen, 

Tuesday night, attacked a hunter, 

Eze Anorue, in Amakohia-Ubi 

community, Owerri West Local 

Government Area of Imo State, 

leaving him with injuries. 

An eyewitness told Vanguard in 

Owerri that Anorue, who was 

attacked at about 9p.m. has been 

rushed to an undisclosed 

hospital. 

The source said before the 

attack, Anorue had been 

confronted and his motorcycle 

collected from him while he was 

on his way to the bush for his 

hunting expedition. 

The herders were said to have 

later ambushed him while he was 

hunting and used matchetes on 

him. He escaped to a nearby 

village where he was helped by 

the residents. 

At the moment, many of the 

villagers, who called on 

Also on the delegation are 

some members of the National 

Assembly from the zone. 

Yesterday, the presidency 

was said to have despatched 

a presidential jet to Imo 

Airport, Owerri, to take some 

of the delegates to Abuja 

ahead of the meeting. 

Vanguard, said they would not 

sleep tonight as the attack have 

taken a dangerous dimension. 

They added that they would keep 

vigil against any further attack. 

Youths of the community were 

said to have mobilised in different 

groups with a view to protect the 

vulnerable ones among them. 

The meeting is expected to 

discuss issues bordering on 

the zone, including the closed 

Akanu Ibiam International 

Airport, the deplorable 

condition of some federal 

roads in the zone, among 

others. 

On Monday, the South-East 

Tension, as herdsmen attack hunter in Imo 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—THE Nigerian 

Army has renamed 

Operation Python Dance to 

Operation Dance for Peace. 

Operation Python Dance, 

otherwise known as 

Operation Egwu Eke, 

which was launched at the 

wake of heightened tension 

in the South-East following 

activities of the now 

outlawed Indigenous 

People of Biafra,IPOB, was 

rechristened, yesterday, 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

A WKA—STAKEHOLDERS 

across the various political 

parties in Anambra State have 

begun a tour of the three 

senatorial zones in the state to 

drive home their campaign for 

Governor Willie Obiano’s 

successor to come from Anambra 

South senatorial zone. 

Members of the forum are 

mainly former political office 

holders, including former 

commissioners, local government 

chairmen, House of 

A source said to Vanguard: “We 

can’t understand what is 

happening now. They have 

started attacking us in the night. 

What it means is that these people 

have come for war. 

“Do you people expect us to 

sleep or remain silent? We must 

protect ourselves. How can they 

Representatives and state House 

of Assembly members, senatorial 

candidates and other notable 

political figures. 

Operating on the platform of 

Great Anambra Forum, 

GAFORUM, facilitator of the 

group, Chief Fabian Ozoigbo, 

told reporters in Awka that they 

were impressed with the response 

of Anambra people from the three 

senatorial zones, irrespective of 

their political leanings. 

According to Ozoigbo, the 

group has been interacting with 

the people at the grassroots to 

governors met with other 

leaders in the region to 

articulate their position ahead 

of today’s meeting. 

The issue of the closed 

airport has been generating 

discussions in the zone, more 

so as the Yuletide is fast 

approaching. 

SMA SHOTS: From left— Stakeholders, Mr. Obinna Ike; Mr. Mike Tomson; Head, Distribution in Nigeria, Mr. Tosin 

Obafemi; CEO, SMA Shots, Mr. Sebastian Gronskov, and Mr. Olasege Marqus, during the launch of SMA Shots in Lagos. 

PHOTO: Akeem Salau. 

plan to kill any of us? I sense a 

midnight attack on our people. 

Anorue has just been rushed to 

the hospital. Who knows the next 

victim? 

“We must stand up and protect 

ourselves. This must be stopped 

and our people must be allowed 

to enjoy their freedom.” 

Stakeholders go South for Obiano’s successor 

Army renames Operation Python Dance 

Operation Atilogwu; 

meaning Operation Dance 

for Peace in Igbo. 

The Army, which 

announced the change in 

the operation’s 

nomenclature through the 

Media Coordinator of the 

operation, Colonel Aminu 

Iliyasu, however, did not 

state the reason for the 

action. 

The operation, 

designated for South-East 

and South-South, 

according to the Nigerian 

Army, begins on November 

1. 

It is expected to address 

the current insecurity being 

experienced in the two 

neighbouring geo-political 

zones. 

The statement by the 

Nigerian Army announcing 

the change in name, read 

in part: ”The authorities of 

the Nigerian Army wish to 

inform the general public 

of the change of name of 

one of its annual training 

exercises codenamed 

Exercise EGWU EKE to 

Exercise Atilogwu Udo. 

“The annual training 

exercise commenced in 

2016 and has consistently 

recorded remarkable 

successes since its 

introduction.” 

The Army’s 

action,Vanguard gathered, 

may not be unconnected 

with opposition trailing its 

planned relaunch of the 

operation in the regions, 

considered by most citizens 

as peaceful. 

sensitise them on the issue. 

He said 12 of the 18 persons, 

who had indicated interest in the 

governorship election, were from 

Anambra South, adding that the 

expectation was that with time, 

aspirants from the other two 

senatorial zones would withdraw 

to join hands in finding an ideal 

person from the South. 

Ozoigbo said equity means 

the same thing as zoning, 

adding that the group was not 

interested in any political party, 

but what was the best for 

Anambra people. 

Ihedioha 

inaugurates 

Ahiajoku 

Lecture c'ttee 

GOVERNOR 

Emeka 

Ihedioha of Imo State has 

inaugurated the 2019 Ahiajoku 

Lecture Series committee 

towards reviving the rich 

cultural heritage of Igbo. 

Governor Ihedioha said the 

Lecture Series had made the 

state unique among other 

states in the federation because 

of its attachment 

to education, scholarly works 

and culture. 

Inaugurating the 2019 

committee at Sam Mbakwe 

Executive Council Chambers, 

Government House, Owerri, 

yesterday, he charged 

members of the committee to 

take cognizance of the 

importance of the lecture in 

rebuilding the state. 

He said: “Ahiajoku Lecture 

has distinguished Imo among 

scholarly states. It has, 

indeed, stood us out as a state 

in love with education, which 

is our mainstay because of our 

very high literacy rate.” 

He noted that the Ahiajoku 

Lecture will continue to 

play significant roles in 

promoting Igbo culture, 

tradition and contribute 

significantly in the rebuilding 

process of Imo State. 

He said members of the 

committee were carefully 

chosen for their track records 

and for the fact that they will 

do the state proud. 

Dr. Fesobi for burial 

LAGOS-based medical 

practitioner, Chief Adekunle 

Fesobi, Otun Baawosan of 

Mushin, Lagos, who died after 

a protracted illness at the age 

of 65, will be buried today at 

St. John The Evangelical 

Catholic Church, Ijebu-Iloti, 

Ogun State.


LAUNCING: From 

left—Former Group 

Managing Director, Access 

Bank Plc., Aigboje Aig- 

Imoukhuede; Head, 

Sustainability, Access Bank 

Plc., Omobolanle Victor- 

Laniyan; and Chief, 

Intergovernmental 

Relations & Africa, United 

Nations Global Compact, 

Olajobi Makinwa, 

launching the Sustainability 

Compendium at the 

United Nations Global 

Compact breakfast 

dialogue held in Lagos. 

Photo: Oscar Ochiogu. 

Edo Councillors, Chairman trade words over 

corruption allegation 

By Alemma Aliu 

BENIN CITY—NINE 

out of the eleven 

councillors in Esan North 

East local government area 

of Edo State have accused 

their council chairman, 

Hon. Augustine Okoibhole 

of involvement in corrupt 

practices to enrich himself 

at the detriment of the 

welfare of the people of the 

local government area, 

abuse of office and 

disregard to the traditional 

institution of the area. 

But the chairman has 

denied the allegations 

saying he has run the 

council in line with 

procedures just as he 

denied any financial wrong 

doing. 

The nine councillors from 

PPP: NCC deploys additional 30,000km optic fiber 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

A Executive 

BUJA—THE 

Vice 

Chairman of the Nigerian 

Communications 

Commission, NCC, Prof. 

Umar says the Commission 

has deployed additional 

30000km of fibre optic 

through the infrastructure 

components project which 

is almost at completion 

stage. 

Danbatta made the disclosure 

yesterday during an 

official visit to the Galaxy 

backbone in Abuja. 

He said the deployment 

was part of the steps being 

put in place by the 

Commission to close the 

120,000km gap of fibre optic 

across the country and that 

the laying of the additional 

30,000km fibre is being 

done through the counterpart 

funding, a Public 

Private Partnership, PPP. 

He, however, noted that 

the project is yet to reach 

completion stage because it 

is currently waiting for 200 

billion naira counterpart 

funding and 65 billion 

counterpart funding on 

NCC’s part all subject to 

the approval of government 

but stated that they are not 

bothered by that delay. 

He said: ‘‘On our part, we 

have deployed additional 

wards 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,20 and 

11in a petition to Governor 

Godwin Obaseki accused 

the chairman of financial 

recklessness and that he 

operates multiple accounts 

in the name of the council 

as against a single account 

policy of the state and 

federal government. 

Speaking on behalf of his 

colleagues, Hon Iluobe 

Christina from Ward Seven 

also accused the chairman 

of not been able to account 

for N13,348,000 remited to 

the account of the council 

by the revenue verification 

committee just as they 

alleged that the sum of 

N144,000,000 realised as 

Internally Generated 

Revenue, IGR, for the past 

16 months has not been 

accounted for. 

30,000km fibre through the 

infrastructure components 

project which is almost at 

completion through the 

counterpart funding. This is 

going to be a PPP and we 

are waiting for 200 billion 

naira counterpart funding, 

65billion counterpart 

funding on our part all 

subject to the approval of 

government we are not 

bothered by that. 

‘‘If all these are done, we 

Partner Okowa to develop Delta, Okoro urges 

kingdoms Presidents General 

By Oscar Ochiogu 

AAdviser SABA—SPECIAL 

to Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa on 

Community and Rural 

Development, Mr 

Emmanuel Okoro, has 

charged kingdoms 

Presidents General to 

partner with the state 

government in the task of 

developing all parts of the 

state. 

Okoro who spoke when 

he played host to the forum 

of Kingdoms Presidents 

General in the State, said 

his office was created to 

bridge the gap between 

community leaders and 

government. 

He said the office is 

The aggrieved councillors also 

claimed that the chairman has 

not been able to account for the 

N116,350,894 Paris Club refund. 

They requested that the 

chairman steps down to enable 

“effective investigation of about 

N313, 698, 894.34 and abuse of 

office” 

But reacting to the allegations 

yesterday, Okoibhole said: “The 

new NFIU (Nigerian Financial 

Intelligence Unit) directive gives 

us room to operate three accounts 

and that is what we are doing, we 

are operating three accounts” 

On not being able to account 

for IGR, he said: “We have been 

paying salaries, we are not owing 

workers salaries, I have done 

many projects, I have build a 

livestock market, I have done 

drainages all these monies did not 

come from my personal pocket. 

What we have done is even far 

will see deployment on annual 

basis that will culminate 

to a total of 30000km, 

that will add to the 42km 

on ground making a total 

of 72000km that in turn will 

transform the digital 

economy of our nation. 

‘‘We are counting on you to 

achieve these feat together so 

that we leave a legacy that Nigerians 

will be proud of because this 

country has never witnessed a 

project of this important, it is a 

saddled with the 

responsibility to articulate 

the needs of the people, 

assuring that the Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa was 

determined to leave 

enduring legacy behind at 

the end of his tenure in 

2023. 

Saying Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa has done well in the 

development of the State in 

terms of roads, education, 

job creation, health and 

otherwise, Okoro who is the 

Pioneer Speaker of the 

State House of Assembly, 

said the Governor is ready 

to listen to the people and 

address their needs. 

According to him, Gov. 

Okowa is determined to 

reach out to both urban and 

more than N144 million naira. My 

wage bill on monthly base is over 

N30m and for the last 25 months, 

I have paid salaries, I have debts 

that we are owing on rented 

properties and several other 

spendings. 

On Paris Club refund he said 

he acted as directed by the state 

governor to pay salary arrears “we 

were owing eight months and 

now we are owing only two and 

half months which means I have 

paid five and a half months.” 

He said the only issue he has 

had with the traditional 

institution as alleged was that he 

has built a new livestock market 

with abattoir and other facilities 

and that while the Hausa and 

marketers from Kogi state have 

moved into the market, traders 

from local government refused on 

the ground that he was trying to 

divide the traditional market in 

Uromi. 

project of transformational significance. 

We commend you in the 

area of complementing what NCC 

is doing in the area of broadband 

penetration this has lessen our 

work. 

On the visit, the NCC boos 

lauded the management of galaxy 

backbone on the achievements 

it recorded, including the 

establishment of that data centre, 

‘which he described as a National 

Asset of significant proportion. 

rural communities in the 

State, thanking the group 

for working hard to deliver 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in 

his first and second term 

elections. 

He said the Governor 

was aware of the existence 

of the body, saying that 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

appreciate the effort of the 

Presidents General in 

assisting to maintain peace 

and order in their respective 

clans and kingdoms. 

Speaking earlier, 

Chairman of the forum, 

Prince Igwe Nzekwe said 

the forum worked hard for 

the re-election of Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa, expressing 

their readiness to assist the 

State Government to reach 

out to Deltans. 

Weak U.S. retail sales heighten 

fears over economy 

U 

.S. retail sales fell for the first time in seven months in 

September, suggesting that manufacturing-led weakness 

could be spreading to the broader economy, keeping 

the door open for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates 

again later this month. 

The signs of a deceleration in consumer spending reported 

by the Commerce Department on Wednesday came 

on the heels of reports this month showing a moderation 

in job growth and services sector activity in September. 

The economy is being hamstrung by a 15-month trade 

war between the United States and China, which has 

soured business sentiment, leading to a decline in capital 

expenditure and a recession in manufacturing. 

“Weaker retail numbers provide further evidence that 

weakness in the manufacturing sector is spilling over into 

other areas of the economy,” said Jim Baird, chief investment 

officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Kalamazoo, 

Michigan. 

Kenya opens $1.5 bn Chinese-built railway 

linking Rift Valley town 

KENYA’S opened a $1.5 billion Chinese-built rail 

way line linking Nairobi to Naivasha on Wednesday, 

despite delays in building an industrial park in the 

Rift Valley town to encourage freight. 

The extension links to another Chinese funded and 

built $3.2 billion line between the port of Mombasa and 

Nairobi that opened in 2017 but is so far underutilised 

for cargo services. Upgrading Kenyan railways has been 

part of Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, multibillion 

dollar infrastructure projects aimed at improving 

land and maritime trade routes between China and 

Europe, Asia and Africa. 

Kenya had planned to open an industrial park in 

Naivasha, offering companies tax breaks for investing 

in manufacturing, and preferential tariffs for electricity 

generated in the nearby geothermal fields. But that has 

been delayed. 

The railway was a pet project of President Uhuru Kenyatta 

who opened the extension on Wednesday. 

OGT seeks reform in Africa's oil, gas sector 

THE Africa oil and gas talent Summit has called for 

clear policy aswell as reforms in Africa's oil and gas 

industry. 

This came as it announced its annual Pan African meeting 

of oil and gas business and human resources leaders. 

The event which is scheduled for October 30th and 31st, 

in Lagos, will see oil and gas leaders discussing means of 

transforming the sector. 

According to Emmanuel Emielu, Summit Director, "the 

abundance of people does not necessarily translate to availability 

of human capital. It is therefore no surprise, that 

Africa's oil sector is heavily challenged with the human 

capacity, skills and expertise to deliver the needed innovation, 

agility and creativity. This focus for this year's event 

will expedite the transformation of Africa's abundant people 

into abundant human capital, for a sustainable Africa 

oil and gas sector." 

Emielu added that "Africa Oil & Gas Talent Summit 

(AOGTS) started in 2015. It aimed to provide a pan African 

platform for prioritising the human capital discourse 

in Africa's oil and gas industry, and as a necessary complement 

to other areas of the industry which focused on 

technology, policy and finance. 

Organizations represented at AOGS 2O19 include, Lagos 

State Government, NNPC, PTDF, Schlumberger, SE- 

PLAT, Midwestern Oll & Gas, Axxela, Pan Ocean, Dangote 

Group,IHS Towers, West Africa Pipeline Co Ltd, Ghana, 

Stanbic IBTC, Falcon Corporation, Lonadek Inc., LASER 

FoodCo’s entry boosts organized retail 

market space 

FOODCO Nigeria Limited has formally entered into in 

Lagos thereby boosting the number of the organized retail 

marker sector. 

The retail shop which was Founded 37 years ago in Ibadan, 

Oyo State is a diversified consumer goods company with interests 

in retail, quick service restaurants, entertainment and 

manufacturing. It is also owners of the largest supermarket 

chain in South-West Nigeria, outside Lagos. 

Speaking during the launch of the company’s first Lagos 

outlet in Lekki, Ade Sun-Basorun, Chief Executive Officer 

(Designate), stated that the brand’s presence in Lagos will 

complement the industry of modern consumer retail already 

active in the city and fully service the needs of consumers. 

He said: “We are a 37-year-old institution and a part of a 

small group of consumer retail companies that created formal 

retail in the country. We are also part of a small group that 

created quick service restaurants in the country; dating back 

to two and a half decades. From very early in our journey, our 

mission statement has always been to be the foremost retailer 

of consumer products in South-West Nigeria and we have had 

quite a lot to do to satisfy the needs of our home state of Oyo 

State and across other areas in the South-West region. When 

you have been around as long as we have, you will constantly 

get questions and requests from customers all over the South- 

West, and especially Lagos, asking when are you coming over 

to us. So, we finally yielded to the numerous requests and we 

are excited today to be opening our first location in Lekki, in 

the great city of Lagos”. 

Some stories credited to Reuters

Why I’ll prefer to 

remain single 

— Juliet Ibrahim 

By Precious Nwokocha 

Actress Juliet Ibrahim has reacted in support 

of Toke Makinwa’s post slamming American 

musician, Snoop Dogg, for encouraging 

women to stick with their partners through 

good and bad times. 

It all started when Snoop Dog shared a 

post praising the union of Keyshia Ka’oir 

and Gucci Mane which has gone 

through lots of ups and downs. 

Reacting to the post, Toke 

Makinwa stated that Snoop Dogg’s 

post appears like something 

promoting low self-esteem. She 

went on to ask how many men will 

be advised to stay with a woman 

who did all the things Gucci did 

to Keyshia. 

Juliet Ibrahim, whose marriage 

have also ended, after which her 

husband started making 

derogatory comments about her 

in public, also slammed Snoop 

Dogg’s narrative. 

Juliet told people to work on 

themselves and “stop promoting 

negativity and bad behaviour” 

yet expecting their partners to 

deal with all of that and stick with 

them. 

She added: “I’ll remain single than 

suffer any form of disrespect from any 

man in this world… Till I meet someone 

whose mother raised him right and wasn’t 

taught that cheating is a “normal thing” 

I’ll stay single and enjoy living my best 

life while loving myself right.” 

Halima Abubakar slams lady who called her 

‘shapeless amoeba’ 

Nollywood diva, Halima 

Abubakar has taking a 

swipe at a troll, who slid into 

her DM to insult her. The troll 

referred to her as a shapeless 

amoeba, who has refused to 

develop a nice 

b o d y 

physique, 

despite body 

training. 

Reacting 

to this, Halima posted a 

screenshot of the troll’s 

messages, saying she doesn’t 

need people who wish her bad 

on her followers list, and 

everyone who has nothing good 

to offer should kindly unfollow. 

The troll also accused Halima 

of copying Tonto Dikeh. 

In her words; “I have been 

in Nollywood for 17 years off 

and on. Please darling 

unfollow me if you wish me 

dead, but calling me old, I pray you don’t 

die young. Calling me old is a prayer and 

copying is not my style. I don’t copy, people 

copy me and I can tag all of them. I respect 

you. Respect me no matter who you are. I 

don’t need all this monitoring spirits on my 

page. I don’t need followers with no 

interaction on my page, so unfollow me 

thank you all.” 

I’m bringing a bit of Fela 

into Felabration – Rex Suru 

By Blessing Eboigbe 

As the stage is set for another Felabration, a weeklong 

music festival, initiated by the children of 

the late Afrobeat creator, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, to 

immortalized the legendary, iconic musician, many 

artistes of different genres are bracing up to strut 

their stuff to be part of the annual event. One of 

such artistes is San-Francisco, US-based, Nigerian 

artiste, known as Rex Suru. 

Rex Suru, who was born Rex Olisuru Ogunniyi, 

arrived the country days ago, to be part of the iconic 

event. He said though he has other events lined 

up, but Felabration is the major reason he’s back 

in the country to honour one of his musical mentors. 

“All I have to give to the people is positive messages 

and you know the state of the country right 

now. I’m not here to condemn any establishment 

or entity but I still think the people need a lot of 

enlightenment, especially spiritual and economical. 

All kinds of enlightenment is what you can 

give to the people, so through music I intend to 

deliver that on Thursday and Saturday at the Felabration 

at Freedom Park and The New Afrikan 

Shrine respectively. 


Tacha turns new leaf, shuns 

controversy 

Ex-Big Brother Naija 2019 

housemate, Tacha, began 

her media tour yesterday and 

her first stop was Cool FM 

Lagos. Hosted by OAP Dotun 

and Kemismallz, Tacha debuted 

a never-seen-before attitude 

that no-one expected. 

Recall that a few days 

ago, Dotun threatened to 

boycott the interview, after 

getting death threat from fans 

of Tacha, who were apparently 

angry that he agreed to 

interview Tacha who he 

criticized during the show. 

However, he decided to go 

ahead with the interview after 

receiving an apology from 

Tacha’s management. Despite 

the huge buzz the interview got, 

with lots of people anticipating 

more controversy when it finally 

holds, it fell short of 

expectations as Tacha failed to 

come through with her 

controversial nature. She 

sidestepped most of the 

questions thrown at her during 

the interview, which a lot of 

people expected her to 

address. 

Earlier in the show, she 

revealed that she’s the 

kind of person who says 

her mind and not the 

opposite. It was 

surprising however, 

that she sidestepped 

some pertinent issues 

raised by Dotun. 

Many believe she has 

changed from the 

controversial character 

which made her 

popular on TV. 

My husband gets angry 

whenever I try to cook 

– Regina Daniels 

Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels, has re 

vealed that her husband, Ned Nwoko, does 

not like it when she steps into the kitchen to cook, 

because they have chefs. 

Daddy Freeze, caught up with the couple in 

Dubai and during a dinner conversation and for 

the first time since they got married, Regina 

Daniels and her billionaire husband, Ned Nwoko 

opened up about their marriage. 

The Nollywood actress disclosed that her 59-yearold 

billionaire husband doesn’t allow her cook, 

as he gets angry whenever she tries to do so, reminding 

her that they have chefs. 

“I cook, but he has stopped me. I cannot enter 

the kitchen. If I do, he’ll say stupid girl why are 

you cooking, you have cooks” she said. 

Her husband, Ned Nwoko, justified why he 

doesn’t allow her cook, saying that he needs her 

time for other things.

Core agenda for Diaspora 

Commission 

18 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

With the recent turn of events 

around the world, the relevance of the 

Nigerian Diaspora Commission, NID- 

COM, Establishment Bill signed into 

law on June 30, 2017 by Prof. Yemi 

Osinbajo as the Acting President, has 

continued to be justified. 

As expected of any sample population, 

these Nigerians are showing 

their true colours – the good, the bad 

and ugly. It is estimated that over 15 

million Nigerians live outside the 

country’s boundaries, particularly in 

the Western world (Europe and 

America). On the good side, Nigerians 

have been cited as the most educated 

immigrant group in the West, 

having signed their golden signatures 

across the professions due to their 

high education quotient. 

It is also established that Nigerians 

remit at least $23 billion (N8.3 trillion) 

into our local economy annually, 

which is at least 80 per cent of the 2020 

Federal budget presented to the National 

Assembly last week Tuesday by 

President Muhammadu Buhari. Besides, 

our students and professionals 

are breaking old records and setting 

new ones in all fields of knowledge 

and human endeavour. If we can find 

a way to link up productively with this 

group as the Indians do, Nigeria’s 

development will be greatly boosted. 

On the other side are those who are 

giving Nigeria a bad name; those who 

have made the Nigerian passport 

highly suspect. These are the fraudsters, 

crooks, drug dealers, human 

traffickers and gangsters. They are 

also giving their foreign counterparts 

a big run for their money, to the detriment 

of our national image. 

Thousands of Nigerians are languishing 

in foreign jail houses, and 

many are on death row. In many African 

countries (especially South Africa) 

Nigerians are regularly targeted 

for xenophobic violence and hostile 

attitudes by indigenes and law enforcement 

agencies. 

The failure of our numerous embassies 

and high commissions to connect 

with the needs of both segments of 

our Diaspora communities makes the 

establishment of NIDCOM a welcome 

idea. 

By its core mandate, NIDCOM is to 

connect directly with the Nigerian 

Diaspora Organisations, NIDOs, 

worldwide and advise governments 

at all levels on the best ways to get 

the best out of Nigerians living abroad 

while proffering solutions that will 

minimise the impacts of the bad eggs. 

In doing its work, the NIDCOM 

must see all Nigerians living abroad 

– the good and bad ones – as Nigerians 

first and foremost. The blunder 

of ethnic profiling committed by 

some top officials of NIDCOM when 

some Nigerian criminals were apprehended 

by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, 

FBI, must not be repeated because 

it widened our ethnic divisions. 

The Nigerian Diaspora communities 

are more united than their homebased 

counterparts and this must be 

encouraged and emulated. 

The blunder notwithstanding, NID- 

COM must ramp up efforts to build a 

productive bridge to our Diaspora 

communities. 

OPINION 

Social media, fake news and a botched presidential wedding 

BY TAYO OGUNBIYI 

IT is no longer news that the muchhyped 

social media-induced ‘wedding 

of the year’ between President Muhammadu 

Buhari and Hajia Sadia Umar 

Farouq, the current Minister for 

Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster 

Management is nothing but a hoax. 

Recall that social media promoters of 

the said event had made elaborate plans 

for the nuptial. Colorful invites had been 

produced and carefully distributed via the 

social media to selected guests. In order 

to give the event a presidential touch, the 

Aso Rock Villa mosque was chosen as the 

preferred setting for the ‘wedding’. Notable 

Imams and other charismatic clerics 

were placed on the red alert to officiate at 

the ‘wedding’. 

However, as near perfect and elaborate 

as the plans for the ‘wedding’ were, its 

social media sponsors committed a major 

blunder that made a mess of all the 

efforts they have put into the whole venture. 

They failed to secure the consent 

of the groom and the bride. How awful! 

No event planner that worth his salt does 

that. 

So, the wedding turned out to be yet 

another social media scam. From the outset, 

the President’s men had clearly denied 

knowledge of any such event. Also, 

the would-be bride, Hajia Farouq, had 

vehemently disclaimed the whole arrangement. 

In order to really demonstrate that her 

husband was not part of the entire phoney 

affairs, wife of the President, Aisha 

Buhari, who was on vacation outside the 

country, is back at the villa. Her return to 

the rocky lodge has, at least for now, signified 

that there is no vacancy in the ‘oth- 

er room’. 

But then, the fact that Hajia Buhari had 

to hurriedly find her way back home to 

protect her grip on the ‘other room’ is a 

proof of the far-reaching damage that fake 

news engenders. What if the First Lady was 

yet to fully complete her business abroad? 

Without a doubt, the social media accelerates 

conversations in a more interactive 

way that makes communication 

more effective and worthwhile. It takes 

communication beyond the limitations 

of the traditional media, which most often 

delivers content but doesn’t permit 

readers, or as the case may be, viewers or 

listeners, to participate in the formation 

or development of the content. 

In short, social media offers an opportunity 

to be seen and be heard without any 

restriction, which the traditional media 

does not give. Today, our world has been 

radically transformed courtesy of the social 

media. Information dissemination is 

now faster and easier while genuine business 

transactions can be promoted through 

the medium for a vast global market. Certainly, 

the social media has made our 

world more exciting. 

But then, that is where it all stops. The 

social media has unfortunately become 

an avenue for the display of unconcealed 

acts of boundless social madness. In the 

social media, there is little or no regard 

for the truth. Indeed, the advent of the social 

media has given rise to the incidence 

of fake news. 

A few years back, fake news was not a 

familiar term, but globally it is now seen 

as one of the greatest threats to democracy, 

security, free debate and unity. Aside 

being a favourite term of President Donald 

Trump of the United States of America, 

fake news was also named 2017’s Word 

of the Year. 

Fake news is as wicked as terrorism. It 

divides the people. It poisons the mind of 

an unsuspecting public. It promotes falsehood 

and celebrates deception. 

Unfortunately, fake news spreads like 

wildfire on the social media; getting 

quicker and longer-lasting attention than 

the truth. For instance, a deep dive into 

Twitter shows that fake news was re-tweeted 

more often than true news was, and carried 

further. 

The outcome of a research led by Sinan 

Aral of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 

has shown that fake news diffused 

significantly farther, faster, deeper 

and more broadly than the truth in all categories 

of information, and the effects 

were more pronounced for false political 

news than for false news about terrorism, 

At the end of the day, the 

victims of such misleading 

information are faced with 

the task of responding to 

issues that never really 

existed 

natural disasters, science, urban legends, 

or financial information. According to the 

research, it took the real news about six 

times as long as fake news to reach 1,500 

people. 

On many occasions, the genuineness of 

information posted on the social media is 

suspicious. While the conventional media 

processes and scrutinises news gathering 

and dissemination and, thus, exer- 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

cises control in addition to operating a 

feedback mechanism which gives room 

for refutation when practitioners erred, the 

social media affords faceless individuals 

the space to send conniving and spurious 

information. Sadly, promoters of fake 

news usually get away with it, since there 

is no compelling process or law to insist 

on confutation. 

The result is unlimited madness on the 

social media space. Someone with no concrete 

substantiation comes up with a carefully 

crafted fake story or video, puts it on 

the social space and before you could say 

Jack the whole space becomes animated, 

discussing and sometimes freely passing 

judgements based on the ‘strength’ of an 

unsubstantiated story. 

At the end of the day, the victims of such 

misleading information are faced with the 

task of responding to issues that never really 

existed. 

Sadly, some youth have become so addicted 

to social networking sites that 

you wonder if they do any other productive 

thing throughout the day. They spend 

hours using these sites, thereby harming 

their performance in other fields. Some 

of them have made a mess of their lives on 

the account of this uninhibited addiction 

to social networking sites. 

Thus, as valuable as the social media is, 

its abuse can be menacing. The use of a 

tool largely depends on the users. For instance, 

a doctor operates with a knife 

while a murderer could also kill with a 

knife. For users of the social media, especially 

the youth, the watchword, therefore, 

is caution. 

Though, it might not be feasible to impose 

barriers on the cyberspace, the fact 

that, unlike the traditional media, the social 

media have no gatekeeper should be 

of great concern to all well-meaning individuals. 

*Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information 

& Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos

Smuggling: Nigeria needs to fix structural, 

institutional shortcomings — LCCI 

... Says distributive 

trade estimated at 

N20trn 

THE Lagos Chamber of 

Commerce and Industry, 

LCCI said unless Nigeria fixes 

the structural, institutional and 

policy shortcomings it will be 

difficult to put an end to the 

problem of smuggling. 

In a statement obtained by 

Vanguard yesterday, the Director 

General of LCCI, Mr. Muda 

Yusuf said: “There is need to fix 

the structural, institutional and 

policy shortcomings that perpetuate 

the phenomenon of smuggling 

and increases vulnerabilities.” 

He noted that some of these 

shortcomings include: “Weak 

institutional capacity to police 

the country’s vast borders across 

the country; Porosity of the 

nation’s borders because of the 

expansive nature of the borders 

stretching over four thousand 

kilometres of land borders and 

853 kilometres of coastline; Failure 

to deploy technology to 

manage our borders and international 

trade processes; Weak 

productivity in the domestic 

economy which aggravates production 

and operating costs, 

thus impacting adversely on 

domestic prices and competitiveness; 

High transportation 

costs and weak domestic connectivity 

which affects domestic 

prices. 

"High poverty incidence which 

makes majority of citizens crave 

for cheap products, including 

food items; High and prohibitive 

import tariffs which creates 

daunting compliance and enforcement 

challenges for the 

Nigerian Customs Services and 

also perpetuates corruption; 

Foreign exchange policy which 

incentivizes imports and penalizes 

domestic production and 

exports; Unsustainable subsidy 

regime on petroleum products 

and high transaction costs; 

High charges, corruption, inadequate 

equipment at the nation’s 

ports making the cost of 

clearing cargo at the ports very 

prohibitive". 

According to him, Nigerians 

should not underestimate the 

contribution of trade and commerce 

to the economy of the 

country, adding that, 

the distributive trade sector 

accounts for about 15 percent of 

the nation’s GDP, which is estimated 

at N20 trillion. 

“Traders play a major role in 

the value chain of the real sector 

activities in the economy. 

The trade sector is perhaps the 

largest employer of labour in 

the Nigerian economy. Mean- 


Wife of the VP, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo (Middle), Julius Berger AFP Sales Manager Mr 

Uchenna Uzoewulu and Exhibition Organizer Titi Ogufere at the AFP Stand, Made-By-Design 

Exhibition in Lagos. 

FG to create nationwide database for MSMEs 

By Yinka Kolawole 

The Federal Government is 

set to initiate a national 

database to capture all Micro, 

Small and Medium Enterprises 

(MSMEs) in Nigeria. 

Chairman, Governing Board of 

Small and Medium Enterprises 

Development Agency of Nigeria 

(SMEDAN), Mr. Femi Pedro said 

the database is to enable 

the government allocate 

$96.80 -2.85 

resources to grow the 

sector with a view to 

2,328.00 -17.00 

reduce unemployment. 

Pedro made the 

$12.09 -0.12 

disclosure at an event 

organised by SMEDAN 

to review the national 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

By Naomi Uzor 

$63.43 -1.62 

$56.77 -1.81 

305.85 306.35 306.85 

372.2806 372.8892 373.4978 

341.0228 341.5803 342.1378 

309.033 309.5382 310.0434 

2.8168 2.8214 2.826 

0.5009 0.5109 0.5209 

420.0142 420.7009 421.3875 

44.3644 44.4374 44.5104 

81.547 81.6803 81.8136 

420.6967 421.3844 422.0722 

45.6608 45.7355 45.8101 

. 21.4862 21.5214 21.5565 

CBN Exchange rate as at 01/08/2019 

policy on MSMEs in Lagos 

He stated: "This year, 

SMEDAN is embarking on a 

project very important to us and 

already has the support of the 

federal Government. We are 

starting a mass registration of 

MSMEs in Nigeria. We don't 

want to rely on surveys alone. 

"We want to have a database of 

every business so we can focus 

policies directly on different 

sectors and different goods in 

different parts of the country." 

According to him, the database 

will be available to lenders, 

funders, people who are ready 

to provide support, state 

governments, policy holders and 

policy makers. He added that the 

programme cuts across a wide 

range of vocational skills, including 

plumbing, masonry, welding, 

iron bending, auto mechanics 

and electrical works. 

Addressing the graduands, Gov. 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos 

State promised to employ the 200 

youths, who graduated from various 

skill acquisition in the Lekki 

Free Trade Zone. 

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented 

by Dr Tunde Sodade, the Managing 

Director of Lekki Free 

Trade Zone Worldwide said he 

was passionate about employing 

the youths. 

He said: "We will ensure that 

while, this is not to diminish the 

importance of security in the 

border management process. 

It is also true that neighbouring 

countries have been sabotaging 

government efforts to 

curb smuggling and check insecurity. 

The government has a 

duty to manage the situation 

and deploy appropriate 

responses", he stressed. 

review of the national policy on 

MSMEs guiding document 

would be ready and sent to the 

presidency for approval by the 

end of the year or by January next 

year at the latest. 

"We have already started but we 

are looking for more funding 

particularly from outside sources 

and we are putting together the 

parameters. Hopefully the 

registration should start by 

January. We are appointing 

consultants who would advise us 

as we do not have the resources 

to do this alone. So the 

consultants would drive the 

process for us and advice how to 

go about it," he said. 

Dangote graduates 200 youths in Ibeju-Lekki 

About 200 youths 

from Ibeju-Lekki 

community in Lagos State 

have graduated from skill 

acquisition programme 

organised by Dangote Petroleum 

Refinery. 

The programme, organised 

by Dangote Petroleum 

Refinery and facilitated 

by the National 

Directorate of 

Employment (NDE), 

aims at transforming the 

society and providing 

employment opportunities 

for them. 

The skills acquisition 

all of you that graduated today, 

will be employed at the free zone 

because we believe that what you 

learnt will be useful for the development 

of the zone. I urge you 

all to be good examples to others 

and always demonstrate better 

character and integrity in what 

you do." 

In his remarks, Dangote Group 

Executive Director, Strategy, 

Capital Projects and Portfolio Development, 

Mr Devakumar 

Edwin said the initiative was a 

demonstration of Dangote Refinery’s 

commitment toward 

capacity-building and youth 

empowerment in the country. 

Budget 2020: 

Be guided by 

contract portal, 

FG tells 

procurement 

officers 

Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau 

Chief 

The federal government 

has directed procurement 

officers in the various Ministries 

Departments and Agencies 

(MDAs) to be guided by the 

Nigeria Open Contract Portal 

(NOCOPO) in their award of 

contracts. The Director-General 

of Bureau of Public Procurement 

(BPP), Mr Mamman Ahmadu, 

gave the directive at the 

on-going workshop for the officers 

in Abuja. 

Stressing that the portal was 

designed to enhance transparency, 

accountability and increased 

citizens participation in 

the country’s procurement process, 

he said, ``The bureau in 

utilising improvements in modern 

technology developed NO- 

COPO which would ensure 

improved transparency, competition 

and accountability, prevent 

corruption and enhance 

active citizen participation in 

procurement, thereby ensuring 

better service delivery and improved 

ease of doing business. 

``The technical session and 

group discussions are expected 

to educate participants on all 

the steps in creating procurement 

plans and records. 

``It is expected that at the end 

of the workshop, participants 

will be well equipped and can 

prepare and submit procurement 

plans and records in line 

with the provisions of the Public 

Procurement Act, 2007.’’ 

Also speaking at the workshop, 

the Director, Regulations, 

Database and Information Communication 

Technology, Dr Aliyu 

Aliyu, urged MDAs to key 

into the portal and take advantage 

of the latest technology 

in the discharge of their duties. 

He said: “This portal is the 

driver of open government partnership, 

which is a partnership 

between government and the 

civil society. Essentially, we are 

trying to make everything to be 

transparent so that everything 

the MDAs are doing could be 

seen by the citizens. So people 

can visit the portal and see 

what the MDAs are actually 

doing. 

Chevron, Pan Atlantic 

University conclude 

AWARES ’19 

The Chevron Nigeria Limitedsponsored 

Advanced Writing 

and Reporting Skills program, 

2019 edition, (Awares19), has 

ended at the School of Media and 

Communication, Pan Atlantic 

University (PAU), Lagos. 

The programme, which started 

in June successfully came to an 

end on in September, with many 

well-trained students equipped to 

become better professionals. 

Before leaving, the students expressed 

their appreciation to the 

managements of Chevron and 

PAU, promising to make their contributions 

to the development of 

journalism and society. 

Earlier, Mr. Esimaje Brikinn, 

General Manager, Policy Government 

and Public Affairs Department, 

tasked them to abide by the 

ethics of journalism. The Director 

of Professional Education, School 

of Media and Communication, 

PAU, Mr. Isaac Ezechukwu, also 

commended Chevron for sponsoring 

the students to participate in 

the programme.













Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

P 

R E S I D E N T 

Muhammadu Buhari 

recently constituted a highcalibre 

Presidential Economic 

Advisory Council, EAC, 

chaired by Dr Doyin Salami, 

former adviser to the IMF and, 

for eight years, a member of 

the Central Bank’s monetary 

policy committee, with other 

members, including Professor 

Chukwuma Soludo, former 

CBN governor. For a president 

who largely shunned economic 

technocracy in his first term, 

and who only recently appointed 

an entirely political 

cabinet for his second term, 

this was a pleasant surprise. 

So, how did we get here? 

Well, given the president’s 

long standing antipathy towards 

economists, it’s difficult 

to say that his decision to establish 

what he calls an “independent 

body” of economic 

advisers was borne out of a 

Damascene conversion to economic 

technocracy. Surely, he 

hasn’t suddenly fallen in love 

with the use of technical economic 

knowledge and analysis 

to address policy problems, 

rather than reliance on personal 

predilection or ideological 

whim as it’s his wont! 

Therefore, the only plausible 

explanation for President Buhari’s 

decision to constitute the 

EAC is that it was forced on 

him by the harsh reality of 

Nigeria’s continuing economic 

decline. As the president 

himself said when inaugurating 

the EAC, “our reported 

growth rate is still not fast 

enough”, although in other 

climes many would be 

alarmed that after more than 

four years in power he’s still 

blaming “the mess we inherited” 

for Nigeria’s anaemic 

economic growth rather than 

his poor management of the 

What Buhari’s eminent economic 

advisers should tell him 

economy. 

Furthermore, it’s a massive 

understatement to say that the 

economy is not growing “fast 

enough”. Truth is, it has flatlined 

at under two per cent! 

The president said his government’s 

“goal is to lift 100 million 

Nigerians out of poverty 

in ten years”. But to achieve 

that, the economy must be 

growing productively and consistently 

at about seven or 

eight per cent annually. Yet, 

short of another oil boom, 

which creates jobless growth, 

there is little possibility of that 

happening because of Nigeria’s 

anti-growth economic 

model. 

Notwithstanding that reality, 

President Buhari has tasked 

members of the EAC to “come 

up with home-grown ideas” to 

turn the situation around. But 

can they pull off that miracle? 

Well, it’s a tall order!That 

said,it’s their job, as economic 

technocrats, to judge which 

institutions and policies are 

needed to turn Nigeria’s ailing 

economy around. But to 

succeed in that task, they must 

start by telling the president 

some home truths. 

Indeed, as a first task, the 

EAC must organise tutorials 

The eggheads in 

the EAC must tell 

the president that 

economies do not 

respond to good 

intentions, or 

presidential wishlist, 

but to specific 

incentives 

for the president on economic 

fundamentals or what you 

might call “Economics 101”. 

And the first module should be 

on the universality of economic 

principles. They should tell 

President Buhari that there 

are no “home-grown economic 

ideas”, but universal economic 

laws. They should let 

him know that economics is 

based on theories that, while 

not perfect, have strong predictive 

powers. 

Take, for instance, the simple 

law of demand and supply. 

If a country doesn’t have 

enough supply of foreign exchange 

and yet faces a high 

domestic demand for foreign 

exchange, the value of its currency 

would fall relative to other 

currencies. And if that country 

then decides to fix or peg 

its exchange rate, rather than 

allow it to adjust to its marketdetermined 

level, the country 

would haemorrhage foreign 

exchange as investors take 

money out of the economy or 

refuse to bring money into it. 

So, the EAC members must tell 

the president that there is wisdom 

in having a flexible exchange 

rate system rather than 

operating multiple foreign exchange 

windows, which distort 

the market and discourage 

foreign investments. 

Another thing the EAC members 

should tell President Buhari 

is that a good economy 

must promote business and 

jobs while also protecting the 

most vulnerable. To date, his 

government has only prioritised 

supporting the most vulnerable 

through social interventions. 

But unless an economy 

is generating growth and 

creating jobs, more people 

would fall into the “most 

vulnerable”category and the 

government would never have 

enough money to protect 

them. So, it’s absolutely important 

that the government 

creates a hospitable environment 

that boosts business confidence, 

investment and jobs. 

Sadly, Nigeria’s economy is 

asphyxiated by excessive state 

control rather than oxygenated 

by openness and competitiveness, 

which are needed to 

attract significant private capital 

and investments, both local 

and foreign. Few foreign 

investors think of Nigeria as 

one of the best places in the 

world to do business because 

its economy lacks the institutional 

and policy incentives to 

attract a significant amount of 

foreign capital. 

Think of it. President Buhari 

has repeatedly said that the 

“underlying philosophy” of 

his government’s economic 

policy “is to promote importsubstitution 

and self-sufficiency”. 

But the policy tools for 

achieving such objectives are 

exchange controls, import 

bans, prohibitive tariffs and 

excessive regulations and interventions 

– all elements of a 

closed economy that stifle innovation, 

productivity and 

competitiveness. The EAC 

should tell the president that 

these are recipes for economic 

disaster. They should tell 

him that import-substitution 

industrialisation destroyed 

the Latin American economies 

in the 1950s and 1960s, and 

that collective or state-led agriculture, 

designed to achieve 

self-sufficiency, proved in the 

old Soviet Union and elsewhere 

to be catastrophic experiments. 

In sum, the eggheads in the 

EAC must tell the president 

that economies do not respond 

to good intentions, or presidential 

wish-list, but to specific 

incentives. And the best incentive, 

the best model, for creating 

wealth, reducing poverty 

and raising living standards 

is free enterprise capitalism, 

based on strong institutions, 

market reforms and 

the rule of law. 

The EAC members certainly 

have a historic task, but unless 

they succeed in changing 

President Buhari’s economic 

world view and altering his 

government’s dirigiste policy 

direction, they can’t revive 

Nigeria’s comatose economy. 

Good luck to them! 

Of our tertiary schools and their sexually-transmitted degrees 

BY PETER CLAVER OPARAH 

Against the background of the recent 

sting reportage of sexual harassment in 

Nigerian universities, with special focus 

on the University of Lagos, I am 

surprised that many Nigerians are feigning 

ignorance of the ravaging scourge 

of sex-for-mark practice which infests 

our tertiary institutions. There was nothing 

new or too salacious about the BBC 

report. There was nothing more fundamental 

revealed in the report than what 

we had all been noticing and what had 

been hitherto reported in both the mainstream 

and social media for a long time 

now. Sexual harassment is as old as the 

university system itself and awarding 

grades for sexual gratification has been 

an age-old reality that had dogged the 

university system in Nigeria. So there 

was nothing new revealed in the sting 

report by BBC. There was nothing to 

elicit the kind of societal commotion the 

BBC report elicited. 

Lest we walk away with a façade, sexual 

predation is not restricted to the 

university system alone. It is not a malaise 

that happens only in the tertiary 

institutions. In fact, increasing predilection 

to trade sex for one favour or the 

other traverse all human sectors. It is a 

disease that does not select its victims. 

It inflicts every sector, every age range, 

every gender, every strata of the society 

and it is not restricted to Nigeria alone. 

What becomes abhorrent and the reason 

why its debilitating effects in the 

tertiary sector of the country’ educational 

system is generating so much furore is 

that it goes to churn out graduates that 

hawk what someone derisively calls sexually 

transmitted degrees and these 

hawkers go on to seize the critical sectors 

of the country’s life and permeate 

such decay and rot that have plagued 

the Nigerian society. 

But there are so many misnomers about 

our most recent concern about sexual harassment 

in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. 

Apart from the mistake we make 

by thinking that sexual harassment is 

restricted to our educational sector, we 

are collectively misled into thinking that 

it is about male lecturers preying on female 

students. That is a gargantuan 

mistake. Female lecturers also prey on 

male students and most importantly, 

with the upsurge of same-sex relationships 

sweeping through the country, 

female lecturers also prey on female students 

to curry sexual favour in exchange 

for marks. Even at that, in many cases, 

it is the students that hawk sex to get 

grades from lecturers and this is very 

important in trying to deal with this 

anomie. The tertiary institutions in Nigeria 

are heavily padded with students 

who ought not be in the university but 

who, one way or the other, find their 

ways in our institutions and depend on 

hawking sex for grades. So in most of 

the cases, female students generously 

trade sex for marks and we should take 

this into cognizance in dealing with this 

issue. 

Again, it is surprising that, because the 

University of Lagos was employed for 

the sting reportage, many Nigerians 

wrongly feel it is a scourge restricted to 

UNILAG. That is a naïve reasoning. The 

malaise is much more entrenched in 

universities that do not hug the kind of 

exposure and limelight UNILAG enjoys. 

We also note that many parents are 

aware and encourage this dastardly act 

from their wards as they share the noxious 

belief that the end justifies the 

means. 

Then also, the sex-for-grade vice operates 

alongside cash-for-grade monster 

where students are equally required to 

trade cash for unearned grades. Both 

combine to deal ruthlessly with the quality 

of the academia and the emergent 

products of tertiary schools in Nigeria. 

The attendant calamitous damage this 

deals with the society where these products 

are unleashed is there for all to see. 

Having said these, we, as a nation, 

A situation where illqualified 

students and 

lecturers predominate our 

schools makes trading sex 

for marks inevitable 

must take the challenge the BBC sting 

reportage presented us to start putting 

down durable measures to curb the menace 

of sexual predation in our tertiary 

institutions, even if it is for the purpose 

of safeguarding our degrees from being 

rightly seen as sexually transmitted degrees 

with its attendant deleterious effects 

on our educational system and the 

corrosive damage to our nation. It is apt 

to say that sexual predation where lecturers 

prey on students and students 

prey on lecturers has become an accepted 

norm in Nigerian tertiary schools 

because there had been literally no measures, 

laws or statutes trusted to deal 

with this. With time, university authorities 

have come to accept this as normal 

and have been lax in dealing with the 

very few cases that get reported. This 

has made this vice to flower to the extent 

that a lecturer makes indecent proposition 

to someone he is meeting for the 

first time, as the BBC sting reportage 

revealed. Denying that it is exists or that 

it is widespread is the hypocritical way 

authorities and staff employ to trivialize 

the issue. 

If we are desirous of dealing with this 

cankerworm, it is my honest opinion that 

the government must come up and enforce 

stricter laws and back it up with 

institutions, present n all campuses 

where cases could be reported, investigated 

and quickly prosecuted to ensure 

that culprits; both lecturers and students 

are adequately punished with strict sentences 

that involve rustication and jailing. 

An agency should be created for 

the purpose of tracking such cases and 

this agency should have presence in all 

tertiary institutions. 

Also, there should be greater attention 

to the quality of academe that prevail in 

our tertiary institutions. Both lecturers 

and students need to go through rigorous 

examinations both at the point of 

entry and in the course of their duties to 

ensure that only those who qualify to be 

at tertiary institutions both as lecturers 

and students find their ways to these 

instructions. A situation where ill-qualified 

students and lecturers predominate 

our schools makes trading sex for marks 

inevitable. 

*Oparah, a public affairs commentator, 

wrote from Ikeja, Lagos.


YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 22)It is good to pay good attention 

to future related issues but, that should not translate 

to refusal to take the needed action concerning your 

present state. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21)When it comes to playing 

games about secretive deal not many can outdo you. Yet 

you are advised not to allow your strong will power to be 

broken or weakened. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec21)Although you may 

find it relatively difficult to get things done without the 

support of other people, you should not be persuaded to 

jettison your own Identity. 

CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)Many of you will remain 

in enterprising mood. You can go ahead trying to 

execute your plans provided such will not affect your 

health negatively. Be moderate. 

AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)It is good to remain a 

family minded person. Review your new ideas for some 

times before jumping into conclusion that they worth the 

risk. Be very practical. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

“Do not dwell in the past, or worry about 

the future, concentrate the mind on the 

present moment.” 

-Take Heart Quotes- 

A big part of happiness and success is letting 

go of what you assume your life is supposed 

to be, and sincerely appreciating it for everything 

that it is in the moment. 

- Ella Randle - 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

When a oncebeautiful 

piece 

of cloth has 

turned into 

rags, no one 

remembers that 

it was woven by 

Ukwa master 

weavers. ~Igbo 

Proverb 

By Kola Fayemi 

PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 19)Think of what your action 

and reaction will be in the near future concerning your 

love life ; it is better to be very sure of your feelings before 

giving your words. 

ARIES ( Mar 21 – Apr 19)You will need to review recent 

happening concerning your financial affairs. Unnecessary 

argument should be avoided. Exhibit maturity and 

be very patient. 

TAURUS ( Apr 20 – May 20)You will not have cause to 

worry if you manage matters-of-the heart carefully. This 

is the wrong time to invite stranger to your base for 

familiarity purpose. 

GEMINI (May 21 – June 20)Nobody doubts your talents 

but many will just start to take you more seriously 

the way you would be pleasantly surprised. Express yourself 

gracefully. 

CANCER (June 21 – July 22)You will be in the right 

frame of mind and assert yourself positively to the admiration 

of other people. Socially inclined ones among 

you are in for a nice evening. 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” By A.O.OLAIDE 

LEO (Jul23 – Aug 22)Your LEADERSHIP endowment 

is truly GREAT. And you will need to guard against anything 

and/or anybody capable of staining your image to 

get unnecessarily closer to you. But you should not run 

away from your good, tried, tested and trusted friends. 

VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)Unexpected travelling and/ 

or movement from one community to another can bring 

you into contact with hard to ignore members of your 

opposite sex. 

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 

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CANCER 

RULER = EMOTIONAL AND FAMILY MINDED 

MOON. QUALITY =CARDINAL.ELEMENT = WA- 

TER. SYMBOL = THE CRAB.GROUP = 

FEMININE.ZODIACAL NUMBER = 4TH 

Cardinal quality means leadership and love of action; 

endless promises without concrete action will bore you 

easily. Natives of water signs are naturally endowed 

with powerful intuition and you are not an exception. 

Influence of the Moon makes the natives of Cancer 

emotional set of people. Your feelings are truly profound. 

And you are more sensitive than many people 

around you. Cancer is the star sign of home and family 

related issues. Thus you attach strong importance to 

your family tree. 

Being a maternal sign, Cancer makes it’s natives to 

respect mother-hood institution the more. Cancer is one 

of the kind hearted star signs, that is why both your 

feelings and sympathy can easily be touched especially 

by those less fortunate or under unusual pressure. 

However, it is important for you to guard against over 

sensitivity which can make you a victim of dupe who 

knows how to play on kind hearted people’s emotion. 

You are a mysterious creature to some people who find 

it difficult to understand the force behind your being 

confident and joy radiating person one moment but 

become moody the next. The reason is the phases of the 

Moon; new Moon makes you look like a beginner while 

the full Moon makes you feel your normal self. Thus, 

you are confident and become much more confident and 

rearing to go during the full Moon. The crab which 

serves as the symbol of Cancer will go into hidden 

during the new Moon and when there is darkness but 

will come back around the full Moon and whatever it 

grabs will rarely let go. That is why you will need to learn 

how not to let go whatever good things you have won. 

Always let good/cool music be your companion once you 

are in bad mood. 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa


Guns, drugs stockpiled ahead of Bayelsa gov poll— Monarch 

I BENANAOWEI 

Dakolo, the traditional 

ruler of Ekpetiama 

Kingdom in Bayelsa State, 

has alleged that weapons 

are being stockpiled in the 

state ahead of the 

November 16 governorship 

election in the state. 

He raised the alarm when 

the traditional rulers in the 

state met with officials of 

Independent National 

Why fishermen turned farms to 

oil bunkering camps—Militant 

•...says Niger Delta youths ‘refine’ better than imported fuel 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South-South 

YENAGOA—A militant 

group, 21st Century 

Youths of Niger Delta and 

Agitators with Conscience, 

has said that fishermen 

affected by the pollution of 

rivers and lands, which has 

made the fishing business 

no longer lucrative, were 

turning their fish farms to 

crude oil bunkering camps, 

as a means of survival. 

Leader of the militant 

assembly, “General” Izon 

Ebi, in a statement to 

Vanguard, said the group 

found that most of the 

affected fishermen lost their 

fishes because of oil spill 

and burning of impounded 

crude oil by security agents, 

A’Court hears Ikoyi Club rights suit today 

By Onozure Dania 

THE Court of Appeal 

sitting in Lagos will, 

today, hear the appeal in 

the N100 million 

fundamental rights 

enforcement suit by former 

Entertainment Chairman of 

Ikoyi Club 1938, Mr. 

Gbenga Gbadesire, against 

the Registered Trustees of 

the club. 

Gbadesire had appealed 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, in Yenagoa. 

Dakolo said: “There are 

a lot of loose weapons and 

drugs out there. These are 

not made in Bayelsa. 

“There are weapons that 

are around here because 

either Customs or security 

agents did not do their job. 

“Electioneering is a 

conflict, where someone 

wants a party to win and 

who empty the harmful 

content into the river. 

“The last aspect of our 

findings also reveals that 

the non-inclusion of host 

communities in the oil 

industry is also a very strong 

reason for people to set up 

crude oil bunkering camps 

(Kpo fire in the local 

parlance), rather than set 

up camps for fishing 

activities. 

“Even the fishing camps 

are now converting to Kpo 

fire camps since the rivers 

and lands are polluted and, 

as a result, the fishing 

business is no longer 

sustainable for survival. 

“Our findings into the root 

cause of the endless oil 

bunkering in the Niger 

Delta show that poverty, the 

Joint Task Force, JTF, and 

the judgement of Justice K. 

Dawodu of the Lagos State 

High Court in Igbosere, 

which dismissed his suit 

against the club, in 2015. 

The plaintiff, who served 

as the Entertainment 

Chairman of Ikoyi Club 

1938 between February 

2006 and February 2008, 

had in his suit argued that 

his suspension from the 

club for one year, which was 

turned to expulsion, 

someone else wants the 

other to win. When a winner 

emerges, some will be 

jubilating while others will 

kick. So, can these weapons 

be removed? 

“The IGP announced that 

even if you have registered 

weapons, return it. With the 

gunshots I heard yesterday, 

I know they have not been 

returned and most were 

not even registered.” 

non-inclusion of host 

communities in the oil 

industry are major 

contributors. 

“JTF and highly-placed 

Nigerians that are into the 

oil industry are the real 

cause and beneficiaries of 

the oil bunkering in the 

Niger Delta. 

“Our findings reveal that 

JTF and some corrupt 

Navy officers give clearance 

to the oil bunkerers to bring 

in their vessels at night to 

load and turn around to 

victimise the impoverished 

youths of the Niger Delta.” 

How youths developed 

‘illegal’ refineries 

The militant leader added 

that “it is hardship and 

poverty that motivated 

these youths to critically 

through a letter dated 

October 2, 2008, was 

unprocedural and 

breached Rule 9 of the Ikoyi 

Club 1938 Rules 2007. 

He argued that he was 

not given fair hearing by 

the club before he was 

expelled and urged the 

court to declare that his 

right to fair hearing and 

principle of natural justice 

under Section 36 of the 1999 

Constitution were violated. 

administration was 

taking giant steps 

towards the promotion of 

the state’s comparative 

cost advantage on 

investment, and also for 

the state’s business hub 

to promote locallydriven 

state 

investments, such as 

Asaba Mechanic 

Village, Ogbeogonogo 

Modern Market, the 

state gas plant, industrial 

parks and others to 

ensure that government 

businesses survived. 

He said: “Singapore’s 

Infrastructure 

Development Agency 

has commended us for 

taken such a giant 

decision on partnership 

with an assurance of 

security in the state.” 

INEC Chairman, 

Professor Mahmood 

Yakubu, had said the 

commission was meeting 

with traditional rulers to 

seek their support to ensure 

a hitch-free election. 

On his part, Dibal Yakadi, 

Assistant Inspector- 

General of Police, in charge 

of Zone 5, said the Police 

are prepared to ensure the 

election was peaceful. 

TBG BOOKS: From left—Immediate past Governor of Thursday Business Group, TBG, Mr. Demilola 

Shittta; members, Mr. Olayinka Junaid; Mr. Gbolahan Dixon; Mr. Niyi Oyedeji; current Governor, Mr. 

Dare Adewumi; Chairman, Ikoyi Obalende LCDA, Mr. Fouad Lawal; Mr. Femi Adeyeye; Mr. Tukur Akinola 

and past Governor, Mr. Temitope Akande, all of TBG, at the presentation of books by TBG to Obalende 

Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos. 

think and develop their 

technology to refine crude 

oil, even better than NNPC 

and other multi-national oil 

companies. 

“It is real and a proven 

fact that the local diesel 

refined by the youths of the 

Niger Delta is better than 

the one refined outside and 

imported into the country. 

“Therefore, we call on the 

Minister of Petroleum, 

Minister of Niger Delta and 

other personalities from the 

region vested with the 

responsibility of presiding 

and taking decisions 

concerning the oil sector 

and the development of the 

Niger Delta, to do the 

needful by retraining these 

youths and ensuring the 

establishment of modular 

refineries. 

“We appeal to them to 

think inwards and create 

the enabling environment 

for our youths to excel in 

the oil sector. 

“They should tap into the 

outstanding discovery of 

our own technology to 

contribute to the oil sector 

and immediately start the 

building of the modular 

refineries and training of 

the Niger Delta youths to 

create jobs and stop the 

importation of refined 

crude to defraud the nation 

in the name of subsidy.” 

Delta govt, Singaporean 

firm partner on Asaba devt 


ASABA—DELTA State 

government has 

signed a Memorandum of 

Understanding, MoU, 

with a Singaporean firm, 

Meinhardt Ltd., as part of 

efforts to boost 

investments, infrastructure 

development in the state 

and promote comparative 

cost advantage. 

Chairman, Delta State 

Investment Development 

Agency, Mr. Paul Nmah, 

who disclosed this in 

Asaba, said the MoU was 

to promote adherence to 

Asaba City Master Plan by 

developing a new city of 

world class standard from 

the state capital territory. 

Nmah said the Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa’s 

PRESIDENT of Ijaw Oil 

and Gas Producing 

Communities has charged 

the Board of Delta State Oil 

Producing Areas 


DESOPADEC, to 

continue to champion the 

course of oil and gas 

producing communities. 

He also congratulated 

the Board and Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa for his effort 

in ensuring the town hall 

meeting, which was 

organised for all ethnic 

nationalities in the state. 

President of the 

body, Ambassador Bishop 

Samson, said the town 

hall meeting was a 

welcome development 

because it afforded the 

commission the chance to 

know the needs of oil and 

gas producing 

communities, adding that 

By Harris 

Emmanuel 

UYO—AKWA Ibom 

State Police 

Command has warned 

child traffickers and 

thieves to steer clear of the 

state, even as he tasked 

parents to be security 

conscious and see the 

security of their wards as 

paramount. 

State Commissioner of 

Police, Zaki Ahmed, stated 

this while lauding one Ini 

Stanley for recovering a 

four-year-old boy, Victor 

Asuquo, who got missing 

on October 13, and 

handing him over to the 

nearest police station. 

Ahmed, who spoke 

through the Command’s 

Public Relations Officer, 

Odiko MacDon, explained 

DESOPADEC tasked on 

decisions of town hall meeting 

such a meeting, which 

has not been held over 

the years, was what the 

people truly deserve. 

His words: “I wish to 

congratulate the Board 

of DESOPADEC for 

organising such a 

thought-provoking town 

hall meeting that 

allowed us to inform 

them of our needs. 

“I will advise the Board 

to implement decisions 

reached at the meeting. 

With this kind of meeting 

which DESOPADEC 

executive had organised, 

no doubt, the newlyconstituted 

Board means 

well for us.” 

He thanked God and 

congratulated Governor 

Okowa and his Deputy, 

Deacon Kingsley Otuaro 

for their victory at the 

tribunal. 

Police warn child 

traffickers off Akwa Ibom 

that “the four-year-old 

attended a church 

service at Deeper Life 

Bible Church, IBB Way, 

Uyo, with his cousin, 

Michael Godswill, who 

resides at Afaha Ikot 

Obio Nkan in Ibesikpo 

Asutan Local 

Government Area. 

He said: “After service, 

the whereabouts of 

Godwin could not be 

determined. A good 

Samaritan, one Ekemini 

Stanley, found the child 

on his street, and took 

him to ‘C’ Division Police 

Station, Aka/Etinan. 

“The child was seen at 

the station on same day, 

at 9p.m., by the Police 

Public Relations Officer 

of the Command, Odiko 

Macdon, who visited the 

Division.”


Aba roads need attention, 

Umu-Aba writes Ikpeazu 

UMU-ABA Connect, a 

social-cultural group 

in Abia State made up of 

intellectuals, businessmen 

and community leaders, 

and spread across the 

world, has called on 

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu 

to pay attention to roads 

and other infrastructure in 

Aba. 

The group called on 

Governor Ikpeazu to act 

immediately as Aba is 

speedily declining in road 

infrastructure, saying the 

once busy city is now 

steadily losing its famous 

reputation as the industrial 

capital and the 

entrepreneurial centre of 

A WKA—ANAMBRA 

State House of 

Assembly’s Committee on 

Public Accounts has 

invitated ministries, 

departments and 

agencies, MDAs, for 

verification of their audited 

reports for January 1 to 

December 31, 2018. 

A statement issued by 

the chairman of the 

committee, Mr. 

Somtochukwu Udeze, said 

the meeting would run 

from October 28 to 

November 29 at the 

Committee Room 1, 

Assembly Complex, Awka. 

Traffic authorities 

partner on tow-help app 

Amobile app, GoTug, 

has been launched to 

make towing of vehicles 

easy in Lagos State, with 

a user-friendly interface 

and GPS that makes 

locating stranded 

motorists easy. 

Launched in 

collaboration with National 

Towing Vehicles Owners 

Association, NTVOA; 

Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC, and Lagos 

State Traffic Management 

Authority, LASTMA, the 

app has equipped and 

professional tow drivers 

on the platform. 

Nigeria. 

In a letter by its 

Publicity Secretary, the 

group lamented that 

“with huge amount of 

waste dumped inside 

drainage and on walkways 

across the 

previously prosperous 

city, we are concerned 

that the situation in Aba 

may get worse.” 

The roads the group 

highlighted as needing 

intervention included 

Eziuku, Osusu, Omuma, 

Cemetery, Ngwa, 

Teaching Hospital, 

Okigwe, Immaculate, St. 

Eugene Street and 

Akalama Street. 

Anambra Assembly audits MDAs 

By Abdulmumin 

Murtala 

K ANO—IGBO 

community in Kano 

State has condemned the 

trafficking of nine children 

from the state and called for 

stiff punishment for those 

arrested in connection 

with the crime, to serve as 

deterrent to others. 

This is contained in a 

statement by the 

President-General of Igbo 

It noted that MDAs are 

to furnish the committee 

with 15 copies of 

detailed capital releases 

and recurrent expenditure 

for the period. 

Other documents 

expected include 

contract agreement /bill 

of quantity for projects, 

payment vouchers and 

cash books for the 

period. 

The statement also 

requested that all MDAs 

must submit the 

documents to the 

committee secretary on 

or before October 21. 

Speaking at the 

launch, GoTug Co- 

Founder, Mr. Kedinuwa 

Okedei, said the app 

pinpoints users’ 

location, picks towed 

vehicle’s destination, 

tracks the closest tow 

driver, estimates 

service charge, and 

shows payment 

notification. 

He said the initiative 

will reduce traffic, 

preserve useful man 

hours and thereby 

increase profitability and 

productive capacities of 

Lagosians. 

Igbo community in Kano seeks 

stiff punishment for kidnappers 

Community Association, 

Kano, Chief Ebenezer 

Chima and the Eze 

Ndigbo of Kano, His 

Highness, Dr. Boniface 

Ibekwe, yesterday. 

The statement read: “We 

condemn the trafficking of 

nine children of Kano 

origin by some 

unscrupulous persons 

from the South-East. 

“We want to commend 

the Police and other 

security agencies for their 

Anambra govt rushes medical team, 

supplies to IDP camps, as epidemic looms 

By Vincent Ujumadu 

AWKA—WORRIED by 

the looming epidemic 

at the internally-displaced 

persons, IDP, camps at 

Atani in Ogbaru Local 

Government Area and 

Otuocha in Anambra East 

Local Government Area, 

Anambra State government 

has sent a team of medical 

personnel and materials to 

the camps. 

CHAKA LAUNCH: From left— Head of IT, Tunde Fajimi; Chief Executive Officer, Seun Oluwole, 

both of Citi Investment Capital Ltd.; Chief Executive Officer, Tosin Osibodu, and Growth Manager, Feranmi 

Akeredolu, both of Chaka, at the launch of the global trading platform, Chaka, which gives Nigerians 

access to the NASDAQ, New York Stock Exchange and the Nigerian Stock Exchange, in Lagos. 

AWKA—NO fewer than 

25 civilians and 20 

policemen have been 

trained by Anambra State 

government to man the 

newly-acquired 

sophisticated Closed- 

Circuit Television, CCTV, 

Smart City security 

equipment across the state. 

Governor Willie Obiano 

launched the new security 

device last week in Awka 

under the second phase of 

the state’s security outfit, 

proactive investigation 

and synergy that led to 

the release of the victims. 

“We recommend stiff 

penalty for the culprits to 

serve as deterrent to 

others.” 

They also thanked 

Governor Abdullahi 

Ganduje, the Agunechemba 

I of Igboland; Emir 

of Kano, His Highness 

Muhammadu Sanusi II, 

and the entire people of 

Kano for their cooperation. 

Although government 

officials believed that the 

response to the needs of the 

IDPs, who were victims of 

this year’s flood disaster, 

was swift, the health 

situation at the camps was 

frightening, forcing the 

state Commissioner for 

Health, Dr. Vincent 

Okpala, to lead a 

delegation of health 

personnel and necessary 

medicaments to the affected 

Operation Kpochapu by 

deploying super smart 

surveillance cameras 

procured from Boston, 

Massachusetts, United 

States-based Industrial 

Video and Control. 

There were also 101 

vehicles and 79 hi-tech 

motorcycles. 

The equipment were 

distributed to the Police, 

Army, Navy, Department of 

State Services, DSS; 

National Security and Civil 

Defense Corps, NSCDC; 


NCS; Nigerian 

Correctional Service; 

Nigerian Immigration 

Service, NIS; National 

Drug Law Enforcement 

Agency, NDLEA, and 

Federal Road Safety 

Corps, FRSC. 

Addressing reporters on 

the workings of the security 

device in Awka yesterday, 

Special Adviser to 

Governor Obiano on 

Creative Security, AVM 

Ben Chuobi (retd) 

explained that with the 

training, the state 

government had put 

everything in place to flush 

out criminals in the state. 


areas. 

Addressing the IDPs, 

Okpala said the medical 

supplies were to 

complement what the local 

governments, the National 

Emergency Management 

Agency, NEMA, and the 

State Emergency 

Management Agency, 

SEMA, had provided for 

them. 

From the Ogbaru holding 

centre located at the local 

civilians would essentially 

man the control rooms, 

which would have direct 

link with the field operators 

consisting of security 

operatives, adding that the 

training would also be 

extended to other security 

operatives to guarantee 

availability of adequate 

manpower. 

Chuobi said the gadgets 

have the capacity to capture 

images and footages of 

criminals in any part of the 

state simultaneously, 

advising those with 

criminal tendencies to turn 

a new leaf. 

He said: “To avoid 

vandalism, we decided to 

mount the gadgets on 

trailers so that we can move 

them about. We should 

expect teething challenges 

initially, because we are not 

copying from anywhere 

and I am sure that other 

states will eventually come 

to learn from us.” 

... audits financial mgt 

Meanwhile, the state 

government is set to ensure 

auditing of all financial 

commitments of the World 

Bank in community and 

social development projects 

government council hall, 

Atani, which houses about 

600 IPDs, materials were 

distributed to other centres 

located at Osamalla, 

Ogwu-Ikpele, Ogwu- 

Aniocha and Atani. 

Materials supplied to 

them were medicines for 

malaria, pains, elegies and 

other ailments, with various 

cadres of medical personnel 

and Red Cross on 

hand to attend to the IDPs. 

Operation Kpochapu: Anambra 

trains 45 on hi-tech surveillance 

By Vincent 

Ujumadu 

in the state. 

Governor Obiano said 

this when he received the 

staff of World Bank-assisted 

community and social 

development programmes, 

who paid him courtesy visit. 

The team, led by Igwe 

Roland Odegbo, intimated 

the governor on the levels 

of interventions of World 

Bank in reduction of 

poverty within the focal 

communities of the state. 

Recall that World Bankassisted 

community and 

social development 

programmes were 

introduced in Anambra in 

August 2018. 

The agency is currently 

intervening in more than 80 

communities and had 

completed 37 projects 

within the poorest 

communities. 

Obiano commended the 

agency for replicating 

similar initiative of his 

administration’s 

Community Choose Your 

Project scheme. 

He ordered property 

auditing of the financial 

commitments to the project 

to ensure that standard 

procedures were followed 

in all processes.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 —35 

ENGAGEMENT: From left, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Oshodi-Isolo Federal Constituency 2, Jude 

Idimogu; Member, Board of Trustees, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, Popoola Ajayi; Acting Executive 

Secretary, LSETF, Mrs. Teju Abisoye; Chairman, Isolo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Shamsudeen Olaleye 

and member, Board of Trustees, LSETF, Pastor Olufunmi Dawodu, during LSETF W-Initiative Grassroots Stakeholders' 

Engagement, in Isolo LCDA, Lagos. 

Northern CAN blasts MURIC over 

statement on 9 abducted children in Kano 

•Says it's reckless, irresponsible, derogatory, provocative 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

ABUJA— 

Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, Northern Region, has 

faulted statements credited to 

Muslim Rights Concern, 

MURIC, over nine children 

recently abducted in Kano 

State, alleging that the 

abduction was done with 

intention of forcefully 

converting the children to 

Christianity. 

MURIC’s Executive 

Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, 

while reacting to the rescue 

of the abducted children in 

Anambra State from a couple, 

Paul and Mercy Onwe, 

alleged that kidnappers had 

taken over the house of God. 

“The phenomenon of 

kidnapping for Christ has 

now rented the air. It is such 

a big shame that some 

Christian fanatics will live 

among us only for the 

purpose of abducting our 

children, converting them to 

Christianity and selling them 

into slavery,” he said. 

However, a statement in 

Abuja by Vice Chairman of 

Northern CAN, Rev. John 

Hayab, the body did not only 

dismiss MURIC’s claim, but 

described Akintola’s 

comment as “reckless, 

irresponsible, derogatory and 

provocative utterances.” 

The umbrella body of 

Christians in the 19 northern 

states and Abuja further 

called on the Federal 

Government to investigate 

and prosecute those 

responsible for the abduction 

alongside their accomplices. 

The statement reads in part: 

"While we condemn the 

abduction of the children in 

very strong terms, we wish 

to state that we take very 

strong exception to the rash 

and disparaging comments 

by MURIC. There is nothing 

like kidnapping for Christ. 

“Criminals abound 

everywhere and in every 

religion. For MURIC to say 

a crime was perpetrated for 

Christ, is sheer mischief 

aimed at provoking 

Christians. We have had 

many instances where 

Christian girls were 

abducted, forcefully 

converted to Islam and 

married off by criminals in 

Northern Nigeria. 

“We also have the case of 

Leah Sharibu, who is still 

being held by Boko Haram 

insurgents for refusing to 

denounce her Christian faith 

and convert to Islam. No 

Christian has associated 

Muslims with such criminal 

acts. We only cry for our own 

who are victims. 

"We Northern Christians 

are calling on Nigerian 

authorities to investigate and 

prosecute the culprits 

involved in the abduction of 

the children in Kano." 

Don't join issues with Oshiomhole, 

Obaseki tells govt officials 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

BENIN CITY— AS 

the relationship 

between Governor 

Godwin Obaseki of Edo 

State and Mr Adams 

Oshiomhole, National 

Chairman of All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, worsen, the governor 

has ordered government 

officials in the state not to 

join issues with 

Oshiomhole, whose media 

aides, he said, were 

spreading extremely 

hostile, malicious and 

incorrect statements in the 

media. 

In a statement by 


Communication and 

Orientation, Mr. Paul 

Ohonbamu, and Special 

Adviser to the Governor on 

Media 

and 

Communication Strategy, 

Mr. Crusoe Osagie, in 

Benin City, yesterday, the 

governor warned those 

intent on disrupting public 

peace that he was 

determined to maintain 

law and order and protect 

lives and property as the 

chief security officer of the 

state. 

The statement said: “The 

Edo State government has 

again taken notice of 

extremely hostile, 

malicious and incorrect 

statements attributed to the 

National Chairman of 

APC, Oshiomhole, by his 

media aides in various 

newspapers and media 

outfits. 

“This continuous 

spewing of invective and 

purposely distorted 

accounts is aimed at 

creating a sense of 

tension and crisis in and 

around the state and the 

country when none 

actually exists. 

“Governor Obaseki has, 

therefore, restated that on 

no account should any 

government official in Edo 

State join issues on the 

continuous, unwarranted 

vitriolic comments on the 

person of the governor and 

the government by 

Oshiomhole’s media aides 

purportedly acting at his 

behest. 

“The position of 

government is to pursue the 

path of peace in dealing 

with ensuing issues for the 

good of all Edo people. 

“As governor and leader, 

Governor Obaseki is in firm 

control of APC in Edo State 

and there is no reason 

whatsoever to even moot the 

idea of leaving the party 

where he enjoys 

tremendous support and 

goodwill both at the state 

and the national levels." 

Youths urged to brace up for 

more taxation 

By Jane Onozore 

NIGERIAN 

youths 

have been advised to 

brace up for higher taxation 

as they will form a large 

chunk of the 45 million tax 

payers by December 2019, as 

alleged by Federal Inland 

Revenue Services, FIRS. 

A tax consultant and social 

commentator, Mr Agu 

David, gave the hint while 

highlighting the importance 

of tax payment to some 

selected youths at an event 

in Lagos. 

Recall that President 

Muhammadu Buhari had 

informed a joint session of 

lawmakers during the 

presentation of the 2020 

appropriation bill, that the 

budget would be funded 

partly through Value Added 

Tax, VAT. 

Agu argued that there was 

need for Nigerian youths to 

understand what the 

concept of tax is all about as 

it plays a significant role in 

the socio-economic 

development of the country. 

“Tax is a compulsory 

financial charge imposed 

upon a taxpayer by a 

governmental organisation 

to fund various public 

expenditures. Failure to pay, 

along with evasion of or 

resistance to taxation, is 

punishable by law. 

"The money you pay in 

taxes goes to many places. 

Tax money helps to ensure 

the roads you travel on are 

safe and well maintained. 

Taxes fund public libraries 

and parks. 

“The laws are being finetuned 

to ensure that more 

taxes or levies are generated 

as seen by the proposed 

increase in the Value Added 

Tax VAT, from five percent to 

7.5 per cent. The proposed 

increase is at present before 

the National Assembly. 

"Paying taxes will save you 

from the wasted time and 

energy of being called in to 

pay, penalising you for late 

or non-payment, even jail 

time for not paying taxes.” 

Delta govt approves Okonjo 

II as Obi of Ogwashi-Uku 


ASABA—DELTA State 

government has 

approved the appointment 

of Ifechukwude Okonjo II as 

the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku 

Kingdom, Aniocha South 

Local Government Area of 

the state. 

Making the disclosure 

while briefing journalists on 

the outcome of the State 

Executive Council meeting, 


Information, Charles 

Aniagwu, said the approval 

was in line with extant laws 

and procedures. 

Ifechukwude, who is a 

younger brother to the 

former Minister of Finance, 

Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 

was traditionally coronated 

last month following his 

father’s passage. 

Aniagwu said: “Following 

the death of the former Obi, 

the traditional rulers in 

Aniocha South council met 

and endorsed Ifechukwude 

Okonjo as the next king. This 

was also endorsed by the 

executive chairman of the 

Manager, Ossai, Peretomode 

bag ABEN awards 

SENATOR representing 

Delta South senatorial 

district, Senator James 

Manager; member 

representingNdokwa/ 

Ukwani federal constituency, 

Nicholas Ossai, and Vice 

Chancellor of Delta State 

University, DELSU, Abraka, 

Prof. Victor Peretomode, 

have bagged the national 

merit award of Association of 

Business Educators of 

Nigeria, ABEN, for their 

contributions to business 

education in the country. 

Others who bagged same 

award are Provost, Federal 

College of Education, Asaba, 

Dr, Josephine Anene- 

Okeakwa; Bayelsa State 

Commissioner for Culture, 

Austin Dressman, while the 

wife of the VC, Dr. 

Otaroghene Peretomode, 

bagged the ABEN honorary 

fellowship award. 

Peretomode in his keynote 

address during the opening 

Coy launches network 

against depression 

IN commemoration of 

World Mental Health 

Day, Joy, Inc., a human 

flourishing company, has 

launched Mad Against 

Depression and Anxiety, 

MADA, a network of 

professionals and 

influential personalities 

combining their resources 

and experiences to fight 

depression. 

The event, held in Lagos 

was organised in 

partnership with Y!TV and 

The Make It Happen 

Productions. 

The gathering also saw 

the screening of Kemi ‘Lala’ 

Akindoju’s short film, 

‘FINE,’ created to address 

council. 

“Those who should give 

that endorsement have done 

so in accordance with the 

extant laws. And at the 

moment, there is no 

injunction or law prohibiting 

exco from approving the 

appointment of 

Ifechukwude. 

“We did not coronate him, 

he was coronated since 

September 13, and since that 

time, we have not heard any 

protest in terms of judicial 

decision stopping the exco 

from taking this decision. So, 

we took this decision in line 

with the law.” 

He stated that Johnbull 

Ogonla I was approved as 

Pere of Ogbolubiri Kingdom 

in Burutu Local Government 

Area of the state. 

He also disclosed 

approval of the recognition 

of Beneku in Ndokwa East 

Local Government Area of 

the state as a clan in 

preparation for the 

appointment of a traditional 

ruler should the state House 

of Assembly give its nod to 

the recognition. 

ceremony of the 31st annual 

ABEN national conference 

with the theme, “Business 

Education: Issues, Trends 

and Strategies,” lamented 

the continuous dearth in 

business education in 

Nigeria. 

The vice chancellor 

represented by Deputy Vice 

Chancellor, Administration, 

Prof S. O. Asagba, cited 

inadequate investment by 

stakeholders as one of the 

major challenges bedeviling 

business education in the 

country. 

Earlier, ABEN national 

chairman, Prof. Chika Ile, 

explained that the mandate 

of business education in 

Nigeria was to ensure that 

students were guided 

through "carefully planned 

experiences that offer them 

the opportunity to master the 

knowledge, skill and 

competency needed to 

succeed in business." 

the challenge of depression 

and anxiety. 

The film, co-written by 

Odenike Odeleye, tells the 

story of a young successful 

woman who seems to have 

her life under control but is 

battling with mental health 

challenges. 

Speaking during the 

panel session, ‘Lala‘ 

Akindoju said: “Producing 

the movie was an 

opportunity for me to raise 

awareness about 

depression, anxiety, and 

suicide across Africa. It is 

really important to know 

that the role we play in each 

other’s lives can help 

improve physical and 

mental health.”




08052202308 (sms only) 

Nigeria in minimum wage strike frenzy 

•Media hype, labour gains, govt loss 

BY VICTOR YOUNG 

FOR a while, the nation has 

been on the edge over 

planned nationwide strike by 

Organised Labour to force implementation 

of the N30,000 

new national minimum 

wage. The planned strike is 

being anchored by the 

Nigeria Labour Congress, 

NLC and its Trade Union 

Congress of Nigeria, TUC, 

counterpart. 


Buhari had on April 18, 

2019, signed the N30,000 

new national Minimum 

Wage Act into law, repealing 

the 2011 act that brought 

about the current N18,000 

minimum wage. 

The implementation of the 

new minimum wage has 

however been stalled due to 

disagreement between 

Labour side and government’s 

side in Joint National 

Public Service Negotiating 

Council, JNPSNC, over the 

consequential adjustment 

arising from the N30,000 for 

workers on levels seven to 17. 

Following the quagmire, 

*Protest by Nigerian workers over the new 

minimum wage 

NLC and TUC had on October 

2, 2019, in a joint statement, 

among others, told the 

federal government that “the 

leadership of organized labour 

in Nigeria wishes to categorically 

state that the leadership 

of labour cannot guarantee 

industrial peace and 

harmony in the country if our 

demands are not met at the 

close of work on Wednesday, 

16th October, 2019.” 

The joint statement by 

NLC and TUC was amplified 

and interpreted by a 

section of the media to mean 

that a nationwide strike 

would commence Thursday. 

Unfortunately, the government 

bought into the media 

creation of strike and became 

apprehensive triggering tension 

in the country. As 

expected, leaders of NLC 

and its TUC counterparts 

have taken full advantage of 

the situation to push for better 

bargain. 

ULC bombshell 

In the midst of this, the 

leadership of United Labour 

Congress of Nigeria, ULC, on 

Tuesday dissociated the 

group and members from the 

planned strike, saying 

among others, that members 

and other critical stakeholders 

were not being carried along 

ahead of the planned action. 

ULC in a statement by its 

President, Joe Ajaero said 

among others, “the proposed 

nation-wide strike is designed 

to fail or at best 

watered down to achieve 

nothing but to bring few 

Nigerian workers on the street 

to dance and wave flags 

without shutting down the 

economy which is the effect 

a nation-wide strike ought to 

have. Markets will be 

opened, Road, Maritime and 

Air transports will work, 

Filling stations and Depots 

will operate, banks will work 

and generally, the economy 

will go about its business as 

if nothing has happened. So, 

where is the effect of such 

action? 

“Unfortunately, this strike 

will not have the desired impact 

and would not achieve 

the intentions Nigerian 

workers would want as it is 

seemingly; dead on arrival as 

programmed by the hidden 

interests pushing the 

agenda. 

“ULC will not therefore be 

part of an exercise designed 

to hoodwink Nigerian workers 

and masses into believing 

that their interests were being 

championed while the contrary 

may be the case. We will 

not be part of this ruse neither 

will we partake in a complete 

jamboree that makes a 

mockery of the genuine 

struggle by Nigerian workers 

to begin to enjoy the new 

national minimum wage.” 

No date for strike 

Never the less, the truth is 

that NLC and TUC never 

planned to begin a nationwide 

strike today, October 

17. 

In fact, the leadership of the 

two bodies did not fix any day 

to commence a nationwide 

strike outside saying they 

would not guarantee industrial 

peace after the close of 

work of October 16, 2019. 

Strike is not a tea party. 

Though there is no doubt that 

Labour could declare a strike 

to force implementation of the 

new national minimum wage 

should government continue 

to show unwillingness to implement, 

it is yet to do so. 

Investigations by Vanguard 

uncovered that the leaderships 

of NLC and TUC 

have not even called, briefed 

and convinced the private 

sector unions why they 

should go on strike and 

cripple the private sector for 

a strike that will not have any 

direct benefits to private sector 

workers. 

The history of any successful 

nationwide strike in Nigeria 

in recent times show 

that every stakeholder; 

especially informal sector 

workers such as market 

women, traders, commercial 

bus drivers, civil society organisations, 

among others, 

must be carried along. 

Besides few states that have 

issued statements on the 

planned strike, many of the 

states are not ready because 

neither NLC nor TUC has 

given them a date to 

commence strike. 

The closest directive has 

been for state councils to mobilize 

and prepare for strike. 

Whenever a date is given, 

it takes not less one week to 

mobilize and get critical 

stakeholders deeply involved 

to achieve result. In fact, in 

this case where the issue in 

contention affects only a segment 

of the workers, the public 

sector especially the federal 

workers, it will require 

longer time and strategy to 

carry critical stakeholders 

including the informal 

workers along. 

Irrespective of what critics 

may say about ULC's position, 

the truth is that Labour is not 

prepared for a nationwide 

strike today. 

The question is. why was 

the ULC sidelined after NLC 

and TUC joined the fray in 

the negotiations following the 

breakdown of negotiations 

between Trade Union Side, 

TUS, and government side 

JNPSNC? Agreed that most 

of ULC's members are private 

sector workers that will not 

directly benefit from the 

negotiations, but for Labour 

solidarity, and judging by the 

influence some of its affiliates 

in the potency of a strike of 

this magnitude, ULC ought 

to be carried along. Above all, 

having been part of the 

struggles to achieve the 

N30,000 new minimum 

wage, sidelining the group 

was a serious blunder that 

may hunt the movement for 

a long time to come. 

However, it would have 

been better for ULC 

leadership to remain mute on 

the issue no matter the 

pressure or reasons to avoid 

misinterpretation by critics. 

In-fighting in NLC 

Meanwhile, sources within 

NLC informed that there is 

in-fighting among public 

sector unions over the consequential 

adustment negotiations 

as some feel sidelined 

in the entire process. 

Among the alleged 

aggreived unions that feel excluded 

are Judicial Staff Union 

of Nigeria, JUSUN, Nigeria 

Union of Local Government 

Employees, NULGE, 

and other non-core public 

sector unions. 

In all, the government 

should be blamed for the 

quagmire over the protracted 

negotiation on the 

consequential adjustment. 

Governmnet is said to be 

using mostly same negotiating 

team it used during the 

negotiations that gave rise to 

the N30,000 new national 

minimum wage for negotiating 

the consequential adjustment. 

This, observers believe contributed 

in no small measure 

to the alleged insincerity of 

government side in 

JNPSNC. 

According to the sources, 

the government side was to 

have worsened the situation 

by preparing and including 

budget for the payment of the 

new minimum wage in the 

budget when negotiations for 

the consequential agreement 

have not been concluded. 

No alternative to organizing, 

labour tells Telecom workers 

THE importance of 

organising the unorganized 

workers was again brought 

to the fore at the maiden delegates' 

conference of the Private 

Telecommunications 

and Communications Senior 

Staff Association of Nigeria, 

PTECSSAN, few days ago 

in Lagos union. 

Labour leaders at the conference 

made it clear to the 

PTECSSAN that massive organising 

for new members 

remained the only way to get 

more members. 

It was a consensus among 

the speakers that 

PTECSSAN needed to 

widen its membership to 

remain afloat to service 

members as well as the Nigerian 

public. 

Speaking, President of 

United Labour Congress of 

Nigeria, ULC, Joe Ajaero, reminded 

leaders of 

PTECSSAN that they had a 

very wide sector to organise 

and that they should not be 

discouraged by the few companies 

at the union’s fold at 

present. 

He said “Some unions 

have just one company as 

their employers. You can 

have only MTN as your 

employers in this sector. For 

years the union that I am the 

General Secretary : National 

Union of Electricity 

Employees, NUEE, had 

only NEPA and NESCO (Nigerian 

Electricity Supply 

Corporation) for years, unti 

recently. The union which 

you a little attachment to; 

National Union of Postal Telecommunications 

Employees, (NUPTE), was 

having only Nigeria Telecommunication 

Company, 

NITEL, and NIPOST. So, if 

you are having MTN, with 

Nokia and others, you are 

starting very well. What you 

need to do now is to further 

deepen the membership of 

PTECSSAN for it to be alive 

and succeed.


EMPOWERING NIGERIAN WOMEN: FBN gives FG 

condition for speedy economic devt 

L-R: Oyinkan Adewale, Independent Non-Executive Director at FBN Quest Merchant; Mrs. Osaretin 

Demuren, Chairman, Guaranty Trust Bank; Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; 

Mr. Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director SPDC & Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria; Mrs. Mosun 

Belo-Olusoga, Chairman, Access Bank Group; Otunba Adebola Osibogun, Non-Executive Director, FBN 

Holdings, at the recent Women Corporate Directors (WCD) Foundation, Nigeria Chapter meeting, globally 

sponsored by KPMG and hosted by First Bank of Nigeria Limited. 

BY MICHAEL EBOH & 

GABRIEL EWEPU 

Chairman of First Bank 

Nigeria, FBN, Mrs. Ibukun 

Awosika, has disclosed 

that for Nigeria to record any 

Reinforcing 

its 

determination to improve the 

lot of the girl child in Nigeria, 

members of the board of 

trustees of the Ajesola Solarin 

Majekodumi Foundation, 

ASMAF rose from a closed door 

meeting with which to usher 

in the 10th anniversary 

activities of the nongovernmental 

organization, 

Friday. 

Presiding, Emeritus professor 

Soga Sofola said the team was 

meaningful economic growth, it 

must maximize the value of its 

female population, alongside all 

its human resources. 

In a statement by the bank in 

Abuja, Awosika who was speaking 

during a breakout session tagged, 

‘empowering Nigerian women,’ at 

ernment to include Nigerian 

women in its economic growth 

plan, stating that this was critical 

to guaranting comprehensive 

economic and national development. 

She said, “The statistics of Nigeria’s 

population says that 

women are about 48.5 per cent 

and men are 49.5. To save any 

argument, let us say it is 50-50 

statistically. And if you are a 

business person, imagine that 

you have 50 per cent of your assets 

locked up and not utilised at 

all, and you expect to compete 

with your neighbors and excel. 

You are already disadvantaged. 

“When we are talking about 

women, it is a business and national 

development issue. It is 

not gender issue. We will have a 

balanced life when women get 

to deliver their share of what is 

required to build a nation. 

“There are lots of talk shops 

about funds that are provided 

and structured for women to access 

but there are structural defects 

that make it impossible for 

women to effectively access 

those funds.” 

She argued that it poses serious 

economic challenges in a situation 

where women do not have 

clear property rights, especially 

in a structure where collateral 

is required. 

“We educate and empower her 

to become an asset to the nation 

and not a liability. If we want to 

achieve the 2050 goals, we need 

to turn every single citizen into 

an asset for their ability to create 

value for the nation and help 

the just concluded 25th Nigerian 

Economic Summit, NES, advised 

government at a levels 

finding out ways to take out the 

limitations that held women 

back from actively participating 

in economic development. 

She called on the Federal Govachieve 

the 2050 goals.” 

To this end, Awosika disclosed 

that as part of strategies to address 

the challenges of the womenfolk, 

First Bank Nigeria, FBN, 

has empowered 71,253 women 

under its First Gem initiative, 

through building the capacity of 

the women to mobilize resources 

for wealth creation. 

Awosika said through the initiative, 

the women were nurtured 

to skillfully manage their 

finances, engage in repaying investments 

as well as access structured 

capitals around Nigeria to 

grow their businesses. 

She stated that the bank had 

identified and was gradually 

clearing out challenges that hindered 

women in Nigeria from 

becoming economically productive. 

She noted that from October 

2016 till date, women in the 

First Gem network had gathered 

multiples of billions of naira, 

adding that majority of the 

young women who had worked 

with the bank had set up investment 

clubs. 

She said, “At First Bank, we 

launched First Gem in 2016, 

between October 2016 and now, 

we have had 71,253 women 

locked into the system. Women 

who never thought they had 

any capacity on building 

wealth, but simply by investing 

capacity on information, explaining 

to them how money 

works and how to manage resources, 

and to consciously understand 

the value of each penny 

they spend, we were shocked as 

much as I knew this was what 

we had to do.” 

Support girl child education, trustees tell Nigerians as ASMAF clocks 10 

Prof. Yetunde Adesanya 

driven all the time- organizing 

meetings, looking at programs 

and implementing policies 

with a view to actualizing the 

aim of the Foundation, which 

is to award scholarships to 

needy female students 

pursuing professional courses. 

The 10th anniversary 

ceremonies are slated for 

November. Fielding questions 

from WO, he revealed that the 

major criteria is that candidates 

must be academically sound. 

Another trustee, Hon Justice 

Yetunde Adesanya added that 

though it has not been easy to 

keep up with the assignment, it 

was nonetheless a worthy cause 

for which she has had to make 

herself available. 

The day to day affairs of the 

Foundation are overseen by its 

secretary, Barr Olukayode 

Aribaba , who handles the 

administration and paperwork. 

According to him, it is 

“challenging but exciting” 

working with very senior high 

achievers who would naturally 

set very high standards who also 

set the agenda. 

As the world last week marked 

the International Day of the Girl 

Child, it appeared to be 

lamentations across board 

without a commensurate display 

of the will to attempt to upturn 

her dire fate. This has not been 

the case with ASMAF 

Foundation which has put no 

fewer than young women 

through tertiary education in 

Nigeria. 

A selection committee, headed 

by a Gender Specialist Uche 

Udeani, a professor of 

Education, screens the 

candidates, who represent the six 

geo political zones of the 

country. During the process and 

ceremonies, scholars have an 

interface with the trustees but 

according to the Justice 

Adesanya, they are not 

intimidated.“During their 

courses, we make sure they 

attend leadership programs. for 

mentoring and so on”, Justice 

Adesanya explained. 

For most of the scheme’s 

Emeritus Prof. Soga Sofola 

beneficiaries, a fate that would 

have seen them stuck in the 

vicious cycle of poverty and 

ignorance might have been their 

lot as most are from indigent 

backgrounds, though brilliant. A 

typical example is Zainab, a 

citizen of Gombe statewho had 

already been given in marriage 

as third wife to an elderly man 

before clinching an ASMAF 

scholarship. Zainab, who 

emerged a First Class graduate 

of Accountancy from Gombe 

state university now works as a 

lecturer in her alma mata. 

“This is why it is gratifying, 

exciting and fulfilling”, said a 

happy Justice Adesanya, “We 

cannot take the credit for 

Zainab’s success. She is also 

physically handicapped, but now 

a lecturer. Imagine her lot 

without education.” 

When Zainab won the 

scholarship it was the first time 

she would be going to Lagos. 

ASMAF Secretary, who took her 

on a tour also expressed his 

fulfilment, “moreso from a 

humanitarian perspective, 

making contributions in your 

own small corner”. 

Professor Sofola further 

revealed that in the course of 

screening scholars, the trustees 

have heard many heart breaking 

stories. Another beneficiary 

who currently studies 

Veterinary Medicine at the 

University of Ibadan was the 

daughter of a vulcanizer who 

used to run a pepper grinder 

every morning before attending 

her lectures. This was a major 

distraction. 

Like for most non-profit 

establishments, funding is an 

issue and public response to 

calls has been very 

discouraging, apart from the 

seed funding from the Founder 

at inception, according to 

ASMAF trustees. 

In our society, according to 

Justice Adesanya, “a lot of 

people do not like to do good 

that the world would not see”. 

Professor Sofola decried a 

situation where Nigerians were 

ready to part with billions of 

naira in order to vote for their 

favourite candidates in the 

recently concluded Big Brother 

Nigeria reality television show, 

saying that most of the big 

brands are more interested in 

sponsoring Music and 

Entertainment.. He challenged 

Nigerians to put their money 

where their mouths are. “In one 

of the universities in the North, 

the Vice Chancellor was asking 

the female students what they 

wanted to be. Some of them 

wanted to be First Ladies”, he 

added. ‘They actually think it is a 

profession. Why not the Governor 

or the President?”. 

Founder, 

Professor 

Majekodumi expressed deep 

gratitude to God for His 

protection over the last 10 years, 

while lauding the trustees whom, 

according to her, had shown 

great sacrifice and commitment. 

The Foundation also plans to 

inaugurate an alumni association 

in order to spread the word, which 

the scholars do by speaking to the 

public during ceremonies. 

The Foundation’s 10th year 

anniversary coincides with the 

80th birthday anniversary of its 

Prof Ajesola Solarin 

founder, Professor Ajesola 

Majekodumi; as well as the 

launch of a 100 million appeal 

fund with which to build a 

befitting secretariat as well as to 

sponsor more girls. “We hope to 

raise a lot of money”, Sofola 

concluded. 

Continues on page 41


Our laws inadequate, obsolete to 

protect girl-child—-Baiyewu 

What is the International 

Day for the Girl-Child to you 

and your organization? 

The commemoration of the 

International Day of the Girl- 

Child is a very important 

event because of the issues 

facing girl-children around 

the world. If we are to focus 

on Nigeria, issues on 

development we realize that 

women make half of our 

population. They start as 

girls in our communities, and 

women in the face of poverty 

in Nigeria, but you also think 

of their childhood as why 

poverty has a gendered face 

that most out of school 

children are actually girls in 

Nigeria and most victims of 

trafficking, sexual 

exploitation, domestic 

violence, domestic childworker 

are mostly girlchildren. 

It is very important 

highlighting the issues 

affecting the girl-child and by 

the same time not only talk 

about the negatives but talk 

about the positives that we 

have made some progress in 

the past decade when it 

comes to issues on the girlchild. 

The incident female 

genital mutilation has 

drastically reduced even 

thought there are places 

these are happening. The 

uptake of girls going to 

school has improved in some 

communities even though we 

still struggle with other 

communities. 

So is important to recognise 

that and it is also important 

to remind our government 

that they owe obligation to 

our 50 per cent to our 

communities and our people 

and make sure they become 

productive member of society 

whose rights are protected 

and whose contributions are 

appreciated. 

From all indications, there 

are government agencies 

not really doing their job to 

protect the girl-child from 

some of the challenges you 

mentioned, what is your 

advice to them? 

I think it is important for 

agencies to realise that their 

primary role is to ensure the 

welfare and security of all 

Nigerians that is the primary 

purpose of government and 

that is what the constitution 

says in Section 14 and when 

they fail to do this they lose 

their legitimacy as 

government agencies and 

basically to fulfill their 

constitutional mandate. 

Taking you to the issue 

of the kidnapped schools 

girls in Chibok, recently 

the kidnapped girls in 

BY GABRIEL EWEPU 

The Country Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun 

Baiyewu, in this interview on commemoration of 2019 

International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, raised concerns 

about the inadequate and obsolete nature of laws protecting 

the girl-child in Nigeria, and advocated for removal of Value Added 

Tax, VAT, on sanitary pads, hence good water supply and sanitation 

in schools including other issues affecting the girl-child. Excerpts: 

Kaduna and Leah Sharibu’s 

issue still hanging, what is 

message to President 

Muhammadu Buhari on this 

International Day of the 

Girl-Child? 

Again I will remind the 

President of Section 14 (2b) 

of the constitution that says 

the primary purpose of government 

is the ensuring of the 

security and welfare of all 

Nigerians that the Chibok 

girls have been in captivity 

for more than 2000 days. The 

Chibok girls are just the icon, 

face and postal child of girls 

in captivity in our country. 

There are a lot of girls in the 

North East, middle belt when 

you come to think of what is 

going on in Kaduna State of 

kidnapping, and the spate of 

kidnapping that is gone on 

in Zamfara, Jigawa, Kastina 

State, and Jigawa more recently 

and across the country. 

I think it is such a shame 

that we have weakened our 

internal structure by emphasising 

on the wrong side of 

security. For example the Police’s 

job is for internal security 

and the military is to repel 

external aggression and 

insecurity. But we have inverted 

this and rendered the 

Police useless. Across communities 

we have do not have 

sufficient number of Police 

officers in our country. 

If you look at the huge investment 

for example we are 

willing to make in security 

more than a hundred billion 

Naira for security but we are 

only willing to invest N47 billion 

for education. It doesn’t 

speak of a country that is serious 

or realizes that it has a 

So we need to 

think deeper 

to be a girl in 

Nigeria and 

how Nigeria 

protects her 

and ensures 

her welfare 

serious problem in that. Most 

of the kidnappings and violence 

going on in Kaduna from 

the almanjiri children we 

have abandoned years ago we 

are now paying the consequences 

for it. We will pay the 

consequences in the North 

East because the number of 

unaccompanied children that 

are roaming the streets of the 

country and we are not catering 

for them. So the President 

has a lot to do and I ad- 

Abiodun Baiyewu 

vice that he gets to work immediately. 

What about those who 

abuse the girl-child, are 

you comfortable with the 

laws? 

Current framework of the 

laws are inadequate, one, is 

still hard to convict for sexual 

violence or for any crime 

against the child. I think one 

of the most ignored crimes we 

do not convict at all is failure 

to allow a child to develop. 

For example if you do not 

send your children to school 

no penalty for it. We have not 

of any one sentenced for refusing 

a child education in Nigeria 

which is a crime because 

you refusing that child 

and right of development. 

Sexual violence is rife and as 

you heard even though our 

journalists have time and 

again published stories of 

sexual harassment in our secondary 

schools and universities 

till the BBC published an 

exposé. The one in Ekiti State 

where a lecturer impregnated 

a 16 year old girl in August 

and you would have expected 

uproar from our government. 

We had nothing happen in 

that regard. So it is the punishment 

and regime of investigating 

like I said the Police 

needs to be empowered, our 

laws needs to strengthened 

and reformed. We received 

the English law and they have 

reformed their law time and 

again Nigeria is failing to do 

the same. We need to face up 

to our realities and begin to 

reform our laws and institutions 

to these realities. 

Do you advocate a special 

fund for the girl-child? 

I do not advocate a special 

fund for the girl-child, all I 

want is we mainstream issues 

surrounding all children in 

Nigeria; male and female 

and particularly recognize 

the vulnerability of the girlchild 

in that dynamic. For example, 

you want to increase 

Value Added Tax, VAT, it is 

hard enough for a lot of girls 

to afford sanitary pads and 

he wants to increase VAT on 

sanitary pads. That in itself is 

a major disadvantage. So I 

am not advocating a special 

fund for them, I am saying 

sensible laws should help. 

Are you saying they should 

subsidise the cost of sanitary 

pads? 

I will say not just to government 

I will say to everyone 

the cost of sanitary pads 

should be highly subsidized 

and in the instances if they 

can be given for free. I do 

know that for a number of 

girls during their periods do 

not go to school. If they do 

not go to school for five days 

in a month which is a week and 

then the possibilities they will 

not do well in school, especially 

in courses that is built 

in themselves like Mathematics 

and sciences then the girlchildren 

will continue not to 

do very well in school, and if 

they do not well in school the 

human resource potential will 

reduce and they will get married 

to men and will become 

liabilities rather than assets to 

their families. So we need to 

think deeper to be a girl in 

Nigeria and how Nigeria protects 

her and ensures her welfare. 

So what is Global Rights 

doing to do to improve 

situation of the girl-child 

in Nigeria? 

We are doing a lot and done a 

lot. One of our projects is 

‘Rape is a Crime’. We continue 

to point out that one out of 

four girls will be a victim of 

sexual violence before they 

turn 18 in Nigeria. Except we 

all stand as a society and our 

government stands as well 

then these issues will 

continue to pester in our 

society. We will continue to 

point out how policies and 

laws protect and impact girlchildren 

as well. Then 

beyond Global Rights, we all 

have responsibility as 

Nigerians and as a 


the girl-child is protected. 

Int’l day of Girl Child: Nimi 

Akinkugbe, Julie Okah-Donli, Linda 

Ikeji to speak on teenage girl 

empowerment 

By Luminous Jannamike 

ABUJA - As part of activi 

ties marking the Interna 

tional Day of the Girl 

Child celebration on October 11, 

the reigning Miss Nigeria, 

Chidimma Aaron, has said she 

will host the maiden edition of 

the Raising Girl Summit, under 

the umbrella of the Green Girl 

Company Ltd (GGCL). 

Briefing journalists, the beauty 

queen said the summit aims to 

explore ways to promote the participation 

and inclusion of girls 

in the discourse of women’s empowerment. 

According to her, confirmed 

speakers at the summit include: 

Nimi Akinkugbe (founder, 

Bestman Games), Linda Ikeji 

(Entrepreneur and blogger), 

Julie Okah-Donli (Director General, 

NAPTIP), amongst others. 

“The international Day of the 

Girl Child focuses attention on 

the need to address the challenges 

girls face and to promote 

girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment 

of their human rights. 

“Adolescent girls have the right 

to a safe, educated, and healthy 

life, not only during these critical 

formative years, but also as 

they mature into women. 

“If effectively supported during 

the adolescent years, girls have 

the potential to change the 

world,” Miss Nigeria said. 

Speaking also, the CEO of 

GGCL, May Ikeora, said: “A lot 

has been done towards empowering 

women, but we need to 

catch them young, in order to 

guarantee a better future for 

them as women. 

“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable 

Development and its 17 

Sustainable Development Goals 

(SDGs) embody a roadmap for 

progress that is sustainable and 

leaves no one behind. Only by 

ensuring the rights of women 

and girls across all the 17 goals 

will we get to justice and inclusion, 

economies that work for all, 

and sustaining our shared environment.”


School seeks support to educate 

children with special need 

By Josephine Agbonkhese 

School of Grace, the 

educational arm of the 

Engraced Ones, a nonprofit, 

has called on spirited 

Nigerians to support its 

vision towards ensuring 

access to education for every 

child with special need by 

adopting at least one child 

under its ‘School of Grace 

Scholarship Programme.’ 

According to Biboara 

Yinkere, Founder, Engraced 

Ones, School of Grace which 

recently began operation for 

its first session had, during 

the last summer holiday, 

successfully operated an 

inclusive summer camp 

which witnessed the 

education of 14 children, 

comprising seven regular 

children and seven children 

with special needs such as 

Autism, Cerebral Palsy and 

learning disabilities. 

She said: “To keep more of 

these children in school, we 

need people to ‘adopt’ at 

least one child with a token 

of a hundred thousand naira, 

N100, 000.” 

Speaking on the summer 

camp, she said: “It was a 

great learning and bonding 

experience for everyone as it 

featured academics, dance, 

arts and craft, games, sports 

and more. 

“What was more beautiful 

about the experience was the 

fact that there were parents 

who served as volunteers 

during the programme. The 

idea behind that was to equip 

those parents with the requisite 

skills to extend the edu- 

cation of their wards to the 

home front.” 

Speaking on the rationale 

behind establishing a mixed 

school, Yinkere said: “It is 

hoped that the interaction 

and friendships the children 

The New Faces New 

Voices (NFNV) 

Women in Finance 

built during the summer 

camp would continue to 

thrive and break the walls of 

discrimination and rejection, 

and also foster love and 

acceptance. 

“Although, running the 

NFNV to enhance opportunities for 

trade expansion, growth for women 

By Naomi Uzor 

Increasing proportion f women 

in mgt position, good for 

businesses 


Big corporations and 

indeed, many other 

small businesses, 

stand a chance of achieving 

improved productivity and 

profitability if more women 

are given the opportunity to 

showcase their skills and proportion 

of women in the management 

is improved upon. 

This was the position of 

speakers at the first DiveIn 

Festival, an annual festival in 

the insurance sector aimed at 

supporting the development 

of inclusive workplace. 

In her remarks at the event, 

Egbe Oyegun-Adeoye, Executive 

Director, Navigate 

Consulting Africa Limited, 

said the less companies bring 

out feminine voices in the 

Board room, the more they 

miss out on opportunities. 

She advocated policy 

changes to break the barriers 

that militate against women 

and increase inclusiveness 

in workplaces, while calling 

for what she termed adoption 

of ‘soft and hard’ ap- 

Children with Celebral palsy 

proaches. 

“Soft approach include 

mentoring, advocacies and 

sponsorships; the hard approaches 

are the most structural 

things and they include 

laws, organisations 

changing policies, regulations 

and even legislation 

from government perspective. 

The reason we must do 

this is because what we have 

now is hit and miss approach. 

“We need to move from hit 

and miss approach to inclusion 

and a more systemic approach 

because when we 

recognise people for who 

they are and we value their 

contribution, we open them 

up to do their best work. At 

the end of the day, that is 

what we want. We want winwin 

situation for employers 

and their companies where 

people feel safe enough and 

valued enough to do their 

best work. 

“When we work in an environment 

where feminine 

traits are not encouraged, we 

are not creating space for the 

skills we have to thrive,” 

Oyegun-Adeoye said. 

Network, Tuesday, said it is 

evolving mechanism that 

will enhance opportunities 

for trade expansion and 

growth for women entrepreneurs 

in the country. 

Disclosing this at a press 

conference, the Country Director 

of NFNV-Nigeria, 

Hajiya Aishatu Aminu, said 

the association will assist 

women entrepreneurs with 

initiatives and partnerships 

aimed at bridging the access 

to finance and market gaps 

faced by women in Small and 

Medium Enterprises (SMEs) 

sector. 

She said NFNV-Nigeria will 

through its Women in Business, 

Export and Finance 

(WIBEF) Summit proffer solutions, 

networking and capacity-building 

opportunities 

for women entrepreneurs. 

She disclosed that the summit 

which would hold on 

Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 in Lagos 

would expose women entrepreneurs 

to vital information 

and contacts that would position 

them strategically to 

advance their businesses in 

a competitive world. 

“Our aim is to assist more 

women get into the formal 

market, boost their competitiveness 

and trade level and 

advance their access to finance. 

There are lots of 

funds out there but the chal- 

camp that way was financially 

tasking due to the high cost of 

special education programmes. 

Bearing the cost 

was worth it because most of 

the children had not been in 

school”, she said. 

lenges of bureaucracy and 

its bottlenecks discourage 

many women entrepreneurs, 

and makes them 

doubt the sincerity of the 

government and the financiers” 

“We will leverage on our 

contacts and expertise to enhance 

access to finance for 

women and expose them to 

multiple funding options in 

the marketplace,” she 

stated. 

According to her, some of 

the experts expected at the 

forthcoming summit would 

include: Mrs Cecilia 

Akintomide, former AfDB’s 

Secretary General, Ms 

Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO, 

Tony Elumelu Foundation 

(TEF) and Mrs Graça 

Machel, Founder of GMT/ 

NFNV, amongst others. 

Aminu stressed that collaborative 

efforts involving 

women entrepreneurs, government 

agencies and 

stakeholders were key to 

achieving a sustainable and 

inclusive economy. 

She urged the Federal 

Government to increase its 

engagement with 

stakeholders in the business 

community to enhance 

formulation of business 

friendly policies and initiatives 

that would serve as 

catalyst to economic 

growth. 

Out-of-school 

girls in five 

Lagos slum 

communities 

acquire 

vocational 

skills 

By Gabriel Olawale 

Communication for 

Development 

Specialist, Adeola 

Olunloyo has empowered 

out-of-school girls from five 

Lagos slum communities as 

part of activities to 

commemorate her 40th 

birthday anniversary. 

The empowerment 

programme which ranges 

from baking, soap making, 

hair dressing and make up, 

tie and dye among others 

draw participant from Iwaya, 

Ilaje, Makoko, Bariga, Otto 

slum area of Lagos State. 

Speaking during the 

presentation of certificate 

and start-up kits, Adeola said 

that the “40 for 40 girls’ 

project” was a way of giving 

back to the society, “I have 

benefitted a lot from people 

am not in any way related to, 

so in celebration of my 40th 

birthday I feel like replicate 

the gesture by uplifted 40 

girls. 

“In the process of selection, 

over 150 young out of school 

girls with some of them 

already mothers applied but 

with support from Action 

Health Incorporated, AHI 

and my friends, we are able 

to fund skill acquisition of 44 

girls and each of them will 

go home with start up 

business kit worth N40, 000 

and also N5,000 cash price. 

Adeola disclosed that her 

decision was to be a voice for 

girls, “Majority of the 

selected girls were out of 

school with some not finish 

primary or secondary school 

and the issue is that they are 

not doing anything, some are 

from broken homes with no 

support from family which 

make them soft tools for 

sexual abuse. 

“When we are talking about 

youth development we talk 

of those that finished school 

that are looking for job while 

out of school girls are often 

neglected. But they also are 

Nigerians that need to be 

uplifted out of their present 

situation. 

“They need help, they want 

assistant to be free and 

contribute to the 

development of this country. 

They want second chance 

and you will be surprise as 

to the quality of talent and 

gift they have.” 

Executive Director of Action 

Health Incorporated, 

Adenike Esiet urged the 

beneficiaries to make good 

use of the skills and start up 

kits, “you can become 

anything you can dream of if 

you believe and ready to pay 

the price by working hard, 

consistence and dedication.”


Innovation can help 

solve Nigeria’s economic 

challenges — IPBIM boss 

*The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, UNILAG, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe (5th 

from left), flanked by dignitaries at the maiden edition of UNILAG International Week. 

Knocks for FG over 

allocation to education 

By Adesina Wahab and 

Elizabeth Uwandu 

THE Federal Government 

has been criticized for the 

allocation it gave the education 

sector in next year’s budget, respondents 

told our correspondents 

that it fell short of their expectations. 

Recall that President 

Muhammadu Buhari last week 

Tuesday presented a budget 

proposal of N10.3 trillion to the 

National Assembly out of which 

N82 billion was allocated to 

education and N112 billion 

given to the Universal Basic 

Education Commission, UBEC. 

UBEC is an intervention 

agency of the government. 

It is like zero allocation 

According to a lecturer in the 

Department of Mass Communication, 

University of Lagos, 

UNILAG, Prof. Ralph 

Akinfeleye, it was like the FG 

prepared a zero budget for the 

sector. He wondered why Nigeria 

would continue to fall behind 

in the treatment of education 

as a critical sector. 

“To me, it is like we are budgeting 

zero for education. The 

standard the world over is to allocate 

at least 26 per cent to the 

sector. This is the recommendation 

of UNESCO. By my estimation, 

what we have now is 

even not up to 10 per cent of 

the budget. 

“We must be serious. Nations 

that are more developed than 

us are not toying with 

education and here we are behaving 

as if education does not 

count. All the monies being recovered 

here and there could 

be channeled to the sector. If we 

have poorly trained medical 

doctors, and provide them with 

the best of facilities they are not 

able to use, what gain do we 

have? Not to even go at least 

15 per cent is not good at all.” 

It will affect teaching 

Another university lecturer, 

Head, Department of Educational 

Foundation, Olabisi 

Onabanjo University, Ago 

Iwoye, Prof. Taiwo Edun, said 

poor funding is a great disservice 

to the education sector. 

“The percentage budgetary 

allocation to education in Nigeria 

is three times lower than 

what is recommended for developing 

nations by UNESCO. In 

actual fact, among the nine 

nations housing over half of the 

world’s population and 70 percent 

of the world’s illiterate 

adults allocate less than 20 per 

cent of their annual budget to 

education. 

"When there is not enough 

funding for the sector, how are 

we going to attract young people 

to teach? We are saying 

young teachers are the future 

of the profession, but it may be 

difficult to get the young ones 

to come in,” he said. 

In the same vein, the Lagos 

State Chairman of the Nigeria 

Union of Teachers, NUT, Otunba 

Adedoyin Adesina, said with 

increasing enrolment in schools 

across the country, funding the 

sector ought to be improved on. 

“We must not fall below the 

minimum level and anything 

short of that is not good for the 

sector. If the government is finding 

funding the sector difficult, 

it could launch endowment 

fund. At least such funds have 

been launched to help sustain 

a sector like security. We must 

not toy with our future,” he said. 

THE reigning Most Elegant Girl in 

Nigeria, Mary Ukoli, has charged the 

nation’s leaders to put more efforts in the 

education of the girl-child so as to speed up 

the development of the country. 

She stated this in Lagos when she organised 

a Spelling Bee competition and debate 

for some schools in Apapa and Ajegunle areas 

of the state. 

According to her, educating a girl would 

not only reduce illiteracy and its attendant 

ills, but would accelerate the development 

of the nation. 

She pointed out that whether it is formal or 

informal education, the girl-child would 

surely pass such to coming generations. 

Ukoli added that even the Holy Books had 

records of women who inspired the generations 

that came after them, as they were 

lauded for passing good legacies to their 

children. 

The beauty queen, who is also the founder 

of the Save A Girl’s Education, SAGE, said 

there was nothing too big to be invested in 

the education of the girl-child. 

“I have a deep passion for the education of 

the girl-child. We must not relegate that to 


THE President of the 

Institute of Productivity 

and Business Innovation Management, 

IPBIM, Mr Remi 

Dairo, has said applying the 

necessary innovation into how 

we do certain things in the 

country can help solve the 

national economic challenges 

being faced now. 

He stated this in Lagos during 

a seminar held for some 

members and prospective 

members of the institute. 

Dairo, who explained that 

some innovation methods may 

not necessarily involve application 

of technology, charged Nigerians 

to be innovative in 

whatever they do, as doing 

things the same way that have 

been done for donkey years 

would not yield any good results. 

Dairo added that the aim of 

the institute was to make people 

challenge tradition and 

drive them to do things differently 

and be able to compete 

globally. 

“The institute came into being 

when we noticed that some people 

feel they would be seen as 

productive only when they work 

and begin to sweat profusely, but 

in the end, nothing has 

changed. For instance, being 

innovative in the packaging of 

a product could turn it to a market 

leader. We have to devise 

ingenious ways of doing things 

that would make our products 

acceptable globally. 

“Our certification does not involve 

you coming to sit for an 

exam, you just have to show 

how innovative you are by your 

skills and we are affiliated to 

similar institutes and universities 

in Europe and America,” he 

said. 

One of the guest speakers, Mr 

Olayinka Oni, opined that flexible 

working hours would soon 

take over the work place going 

by the current trend. 

Oni explained that most business 

chiefs and top corporate 

players agree that innovation 

was crucial to them and that innovation 

was not static. 

He said innovation was what 

made a company like Amazon 

become a world leader. 

Another speaker, Rufai Oseni, 

charged the leadership of the 

country to adopt the Singapore 

model where ministers are 

given targets to meet and given 

incentives when they meet 

them 

The President of the World Innovators 

Forum, Mr Axel 

Schultze, commended the leadership 

of the IPBIM and expressed 

his support for the institute. 

National devt: Why Nigeria must do more 

on girl-child education — Ukoli 


the back and whatever is committed to that is going 

to pay the society back in many folds. When 

a girl grows and becomes a mother, she spends 

more time with the children than the father, then 

you can imagine the influence she has over the 

children. 

“If she is well trained, that will reflect on the 

society at large and many women that have held 

public positions globally have done well. That 

is the reason that the topic for the debate is: 

Gender equality as a catalyst for development 

in Nigeria, she said. 

Ukoli said the presentation of motivational 

video clips was also to let the girls know that they 

were not too young to make positive impact in 

the society and that they should not see themselves 

as pushovers. 

She canvassed special incentives for the promotion 

of the education of the girl-child. 

She also appealed to corporate bodies and philanthropists 

to support the education of the girlchild. 

During the competition, Topfield School came 

first in both the Spelling Bee competition and 

debate. 

Marvir School and Rybeka Model College 

came second and third in the Spelling Bee competition 

and debate. 

10 schools took part in the event.


Without education, people 

remain oppressed and 

suppressed — Ituah Ighodalo 

By Ebele Orakpo 

Knowledge, they say, is 

power and a nation, 

having majority of its citizens 

uneducated, cannot rise to its 

full potential. Currently, the 

number of out-of-school children 

in Nigeria is alarming. 

Reports say Nigeria has the 

highest number of out-ofschool 

children in the world 

and this needs urgent attention. 

In this chat with Vanguard, 

Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, 

Senior Pastor, Trinity House, 

and Managing Partner, SIAO, 

speaks on what Nigerian 

leaders must do to get 

education system right and lift 

people out of poverty. 

Excerpts: 

Education, a must 

Every child in Nigeria must 

go to school up until secondary 

at the minimum. Then 70% 

of them must go to technical 

school or the university until 

we have 100% literacy then 

they can go ahead and do what 

they want with themselves as 

they now know right from 

wrong, good from bad and can 

have better hygiene. 

Every woman must be educated 

Every woman must be educated, 

empowered and enlightened 

because they are the 

ones who are going to train the 

children and they spend more 

time with the children. An 

illiterate mother looking after 

a child going to school may 

weigh the child down so there 

should be adult education for 

those who are interested. 

For those who are below 50 

years, it is compulsory. You will 

be given five years within 

which to get your school certificate 

otherwise certain 

benefits will not accrue to you. 

These are the sort of policies 

we must have as a nation to 

lift ourselves out of poverty. 

Will it be free education? 

Yes, as much as possible. It 

should be free or largely subsidized 

education so that 

people will know their left 

from their right, they can read 

and write and can take certain 

decisions. 

It’s been alleged that the 

elite in the North don’t want 

the masses to be educated 

because that would mean 

empowering them... 

I wouldn’t want to believe 

that but if it is true, it’s very 

unfortunate. It is in the 

interest of the elites that the 

people are educated; 

otherwise if they are not 

careful, the repercussions will 

be very serious in the future. 

Not only that, you can do the 

Dubai example. 

Dubai example 

In Dubai, most of the people 

are educated; not only that, 

they are empowered, not only 

are they empowered, they are 

exposed, comfortable and they 

leave their elite alone to 

continue to run the country. So 

what the Northern elite should 

be doing is to empower, 

expose and encourage their 

people, make sure they are 

comfortable and living decent 

It is in the interest 

of the elites that the 

people are 

educated; 

otherwise if they are 

not careful, the repercussions 

will be 

very serious in the 

future 

•Pastor Ighodalo 

lives. There is more than 

enough resource in the North 

to cater for every single 

northerner. 

There is no uprising in Dubai, 

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia why? 

Even when Ghaddafi was then 

head of state of Libya, there 

was no uprising because the 

people were educated, enlightened, 

and comfortable; 

they were looked after. If 

people are looked after and 

well governed, they will keep 

voting back their people into 

power; nobody wants any 

stress or hassle. 

If we have good government 

in Nigeria, what do I care? All 

I want is to do my business 

and pursue my purpose and 

add value to society. There are 

no uprisings in a lot of places. 

Singapore and Hong Kong are 

reasonably peaceful, even 

India to a large extent, 

because somehow, the 

government is trickling down 

to the people so a lot of people 

are minding their business but 

it is the elites that are killing 

themselves in India, fighting 

one another over small pieces 

of power. That is what the 

northern elite should do. If 

people can cope in India with 

their population, and the 

place is relatively safe, why not 

Nigeria? We shouldn’t shoot 

ourselves in the foot and it is 

every person’s right. We 

shouldn’t use ignorance to 

deny people their rights, 

people should put themselves 

in the shoes of others. That’s 

why the Bible says ‘do unto 

others as you would want them 

to do unto you.’ People don’t 

obey that simple law. 

There's no need to gag our students — FUNAAB VC 

By James Ogunnaike, 

Abeokuta 

The Vice-Chancellor of the 

Federal University of 

Agriculture, Abeokuta, 

FUNAAB, Prof. Felix Kolawole 

Salako, has said there is no 

reason to gag students of the 

institution or stop them from 

expressing their views on 

issues relating to their welfare. 

He also debunked a report by 

an online publication alleging 

that the management of the 

institution banned its students 

from protesting after robbers 

invaded some students’ 

hostels three times in one 

week. 

Kolawole, while stating the 

position of the institution’s 

management at a press 

conference held at the 

institution’s Senate Chambers, 

said no robbery incident took 

place within the university 

premises in recent times, 

describing the publication as 

malicious and defamatory. 

The Vice-Chancellor said: 

“ The attention of the Federal 

University of Agriculture, 

Abeokuta has been drawn to 

a malicious and defamatory 

publication by an online 

publication; Sahara 

Reporters," stressing that the 

publication was aimed at 

smearing the image of 

FUNAAB, its management, 

students’ populace and the 

entire university community. 

“Regrettably, there were 

some unfortunate robbery 

incidents that were reported to 

have occurred during the 

week at some off-campus, 

privately-owned hostels 

located some kilometers away 

from the university campus 

and by the university statute, 

are outside the jurisdiction of 

the university management. 

The university management 

have duly reported the ugly 

incident to relevant security 

agencies particularly the 

Police who have taken 

proactive measures to forestall 

any re-occurrence.” 

The Vice-Chancellor added 

that the management of the 

institution “at no time banned 

students from protesting 

neither were they requested to 

sign indemnity forms either 

before of after the incidents.” 

He challenged Sahara 

Reporters or any other media 

outfit that has any information 

to the contrary to produce copy 

of the indemnity form signed 

by any student. 

He noted that the university 

management maintained a 

cordial relationship with the 

students and had no reason to 

gag the students from 

expressing themselves or 

denying them their 

fundamental human rights as 

free citizens of Nigeria. 

He noted that the publication 

was on the “heels of two earlier 

ones released through the 

social media by source closely 

JAN organises NCOY competition 

JUNIOR Achievement Nigeria, JAN, a non-profit economic 

education organisation has approved 13 student-run companies 

across the nation to compete for this year’s National 

Company of the Year,NCOY, in Lagos. 

The goal of NCOY is to create a signature showcase for JAN 

and the students who benefit from the impact of the JAN company 

programme. 

Funke Smith, representing the CEO of First Bank, Adeshola 

Adeguton, said: "The children are drawn from 12 secondary 

schools across the nation and I am hopeful and glad that these 

young talents are willing to take this challenge and move the 

nation forward. They have also come up with brilliant financial 

statements." 

Executive Director, JAN, Simi Nwogugu, used to volunteer 

for Junior Achievement in New York when she lived there; and 

thought it would be interesting to bring it to Nigeria, so she 

brought JA to Nigeria in 1999. JAN has been in Nigeria for 

20years. 

*Winners of the JA competition, TC Achievers – Gas Leakage 

Detector (Taidob College, Ogun State). They will represent JAN 

at the JA Africa Company of the Year competition. 

Flour Mills donates bus to Yabatech 

THE Flour Mills of Nigeria, FMN Plc recently donated a 

brand new Toyota Hiace bus to the School of Technology, 

Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) to mark the school's Annual 

Lecture/Exhibition/Fundraising event. 

The Group Managing Director of FMN, Mr. Paul Gbededo, an 

alumnus of the College was ably represented by General Service 

Manager, FMN, Mr. Olalekan Adebekun who presented the 

bus to the College. 

He said that the donation was part of the company’s Corporate 

Social Responsibility, CRS, to the school. 

During the opening remarks, the Rector of the institution, Engr. 

Obafemi Omokungbe commended the School of Technology for 

being a pacesetter; living up to expectation in the College, and 

for organising 2019 Annual lecture titled: Restructuring Education 

and Research Systems for Technological Advancement in 

Nigeria which is relevant and timely even at a time our dear 

country is yearning for improvement in every aspect of her national 

development. 

According to him, the goal of our founding fathers for establishing 

the College in 1947 was to achieve national development 

related to Sahara 

Reporters that were 

targeted at undermining 

the security, peaceful coexistence 

of the 

university and making 

attempt to incite the 

student populace against 

the management and as 

well disrupt the relative 

peace on the campus." 

Answering question on 

efforts made by the 

management to ensure 

the security of the 

students, Salako said 

similar incident that 

happened in 2016 

prompted the 

management to build 

Harmony Police Station. 

He described most 

landlords of the private 

hostels around the 

campus as ‘absentee 

landlords, whom he said 

were not known by the 

institution’s management 

and students living in 

those hostels. 

using technology education as a 

veritable tool. 

“As a responsible management, 

we would continue to support activities 

and programmes that will 

enhance academic standard and 

qualitative lecture delivery. We 

have redirected our energy to replicating 

the industry in the classroom. 

The Central Research Laboratory 

was for this reason re-energized 

and commissioned for research 

purpose. I want to assure 

you that the management will continue 

to provide support to the departments 

and schools in pursuit of 

their mandate.” 

While receiving the bus, 

Omokungbe expressed appreciation 

to FMN for the donation, he 

congratulated the Dean of the 

School, Dr. Peter Okolie for using 

his influence to bring developmental 

projects to the school. He promised 

on behalf of the management 

to renovate 20 classrooms in the 

School of Technology as their contribution 

towards the fundraising, 

while Adebekun on behalf of FMN 

pledged to equip offices in the 

school with good furniture.


Our character is destiny 

— School Director 

By Tope Adegbola 

While congratulating the 

graduands of De Stars International 

School, the Director 

and Proprietor of the school, Elder 

Abiola Odudimu advised the 

graduands to aim at nothing but 

success. He said they should never 

allow themselves to be intimidated 

by failure. 

In his speech he tagged "Character 

and Obedience", he said a 

man’s character is his fate. Quoting 

the third President of the USA, 

Heraclitus Thomas Jefferson, 

"Nothing can stop a man with the 

right mental attitude from achieving 

his goals and nothing on earth 

can help a man with the wrong 

mental attitude". 

He continued, "What shapes destiny 

is character, therefore destiny 

is character and character is destiny. 

Sometimes, we need character, 

not necessarily prayer to go far 

in life". 

He stated that people go about 

finding solutions to character-related 

issues, thinking that spirituality 

would help them get all they 

want through prayer, leaving out 

character. 

"There is no amount of prayer 

that can substitute for the character," 

he emphasized. De Stars is a 

school that has impacted greatly 

on students", says Mr. Oladehinde 

David Adekunle, the PTF chairman. 

He identified the school as one 

that teaches values and characters. 

It’s not limited to schools alone to 

mold a child, parents also have a 

part to play in the lives of the children, 

they should be close to their 

children in such a way that the 

child will begin to look up to them. 

They should be their children’s best 

friends and be open to them at all 

times. This is not something that 

should be left to mothers or fathers 

alone. They both must work hand 

in hand for a better result. The first 

lesson a child will get is from 

home. They should lay a legacy for 

their children so that when they 

grow up they’ll be able to stand 

for themselves when the time 

comes.“ 

Meanwhile, Mr. Quadri, the 

former PTF chairman and also the 

chairman CEO of Olakem & Co, 

shared his experience raising his 

children in De Stars. He said: 

"Throughout the period when my 

children were in this school, they 

performed excellently well. They 

sat for external exams and cleared 

all their papers. De Stars is indeed 

a school with great standards. 

"Though my children are no 

longer here, I can't leave them 

alone due to the great work done 

in the lives of my children. They 

have impressed me and that is why 

even before my wife passed away, 

we were always giving the best students 

an amount of money to encourage 

them. It’s a continuous 

thing and though my children are 

no longer here, I’ll never forget 

these good works." 

The school director, Elder 

The School Director of De' Stars School, with SS 3 Students of the school, during the end of 

session/graduation ceremony of the De'Stars International School, Ikorodu, Lagos. 

Odudimu, further appealed to the 

parents to keep up the good work 

of publicizing the school as he appreciated 

the dedicated teachers, 

students, sponsors and parents accordingly. 

Appreciation went out to former 

PTF chairman Mr. Quadri who 

presents cheques to the best students 

at SS3 WAEC, Junior WAEC, 

and the school every year. 

The best student in 2018/2019 

WAEC results was Lawal Samuel 

who had 4A’s (including English 

and Mathematics), 4B’s and 1C. 

He advised parents that due to the 

unstable security situation in the 

country, they should continue to 

look after their wards very well, 

especially during the holidays stating 

that they are more important 

than any other thing parents pursue.“ 

The Principal of the School, Mr. 

Odudimu Ajibola Emmanuel, who 

was also a pioneer student of the 

school, stated that as many students 

that passed through the 

school are doing excellently well 

in all spheres of life, they find themselves. 

"The school has been in me, I 

went through the school and I can 

never forget the impact it had on 

me. I came back to work or assist 

before I got admission but could 

not leave just like that. After I 

graduated, I had to come back to 

work as a teacher, and later became 

the principal of the school". 

He advised parents to keep 

guarding and securing their children. 

His words, "Keep an eye on 

them so that they won’t derail. We 

should never joke about the issue 

of security in this country. No one 

should be trusted. People can say 

whatever they like as being overprotective. 

It’s better than biting 

your finger in regret. He advised 

that parents should train them well 

so that at the end of the day, they’ll 

make them proud".“He urged the 

graduands to know that their lives 

are in stages. 

"Keep determining to be better, 

never give up on yourself. Standout 

in every form. Anything your hands 

find to do, do well." 

During the graduation ceremony, 

parents and guests were entertained 

by the students who also 

displayed their talents in drama 

presentations, songs, choreography 

and lots more.

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 — 45 

japhdave@yahoo.com 

08066625505 

2019 Booker Prize, Atwood shares prize with Evaristo 

By Japhet Davidson, 

with agency reports 

THE judges of this year’s Booker 

prize have “explicitly flouted” 

the rules of the august literary award 

to choose the first joint winners in 

almost 30 years: Margaret Atwood 

and Bernardine Evaristo. With this 

Atwood and Evaristo become the 

first authors to jointly win the Booker 

Prize since 1992. 

Atwood’s The Testaments, the Canadian 

writer’s follow-up to The 

Handmaid’s Tale, was recognised 

alongside Londoner Evaristo’s novel 

Girl, Woman, Other. 

The pair will split the literary 

award’s £50,000 prize money 

equally. 

The Booker rules say the prize 

must not be divided, but the judges 

insisted they “couldn’t separate” the 

two works. 

Atwood, 79, is the oldest ever 

Booker winner, while Evaristo is the 

first black woman to win. 

After their names were called, the 

pair stood arm-in-arm on stage and 

Atwood joked: “I would have 

thought I would have been too elderly, 

and I kind of don’t need the 

attention, so I’m very glad that 

By Elizabeth Uwandu & 

Onyinyechi Onyekwe 

BADAGRY, a coastal town in 

the suburb of Lagos played 

a major role in the history of the 

contact between Nigeria, Europe 

and the Americas, It was a 

major slave outpost and market 

during the centuries of slave 

trade. Now Badagry is a thriving 

tourism site that attracts 

people of African descent from 

all over the world, but many do 

not know much about this ancient 

city. It was the need to 

explore and educate some culture 

writers that 

TravelNextDoor went there. 

The leader of the team and the 

founder, TravelNextDoor, Pelu 

Awofeso, a tourism journalist with 

a team of about 40 companies in 

the tourism business during the 

visit stated that the often lack of 

appreciation of the dominant role 

Badagry town played in Nigeria 

independence and in Africa 

freedom from the claw of colonial 

imperialists, and the inability 

to appreciate our local heritage, 

prompted the visit. 

The team were taken to various 

sites and some of the monumental 

structurse that defined 

Badagry. The participants could 

not help to feel ewe at the travails, 

pains and struggles of 

their forebears whose efforts culminated 

in the liberation of the 

black man race from slavery. 

Among significant persons 

whose role they wish Nigeria 

and the world should celebrate 

include King Jaja of Opobo, 

Bishop Ajayi Crowther among 

others. 

Aside the above, the tourists 

called on government and key 

stakeholders to revamp and 

refashion historic sites in 

Badagry such as the first primary 

school in Nigeria and the 

first story building in Nigeria. 

Other sites they said should be 

well preserved to enable future 

generations understand the 

struggle of our forefathers in 

bringing freedom to Africa included: 

The point of no return 

insignia; makeshift Barracoon 

cells, etc. They also called for 

•L-R: Game Changer, Margaret Atwood and Bernardine Evaristo , joint winners of 

the 2019 Booker Prize 

you’re getting some. 

“It would have been quite embarrassing 

for me… if I had been alone 

here, so I’m very pleased that you’re 

here too.” 

The award’s rules were changed 

Why we chose Badagry to mark 400th anniversary of slavery 

in Africa 

the completion of the Museum 

in the area in order for it to serve 

as a veritable attraction centre 

and as a means of revenue generation 

for the country. 

Awofeso said “Despite, the 

huge role Badagry played in Nigeria 

independence and in Africa 

freedom from the claw of colonial 

imperialists, we are yet to 

fully tell the story of this town and 

also appreciate the splendor of 

one of Africa’s heritage. 

“ So, sometime in August, I 

came up with the idea to take a 

tour to Badagry on October 1, to 

mark Nigeria’s 59th Independence 

as well as the 400th anniversary 

of slavery in Africa. 

“I am a travel journalist who 

promotes domestic tourism and 

I run TravelNextDoor a tour company. 

So when the idea occurred 

to me, I decided to involve other 

travel practitioners in the project. 

after the last tie in 1992, and organisers 

told this year’s judges they 

were not allowed to pick two winners. 

But after five hours of deliberations, 

Peter Florence, the chair of 

the judges, said: “It was our decision 

to flout the rules.” 

He told reporters: “The more we 

talked about them, the more we found 

we loved them both so much we wanted 

them both to win.” 

Evaristo said winning was “a real 

game changer”, adding: “It means my 

work gets out there to a much wider 

audience around the world. 

“There are lots of prizes which people 

from certain communities don’t win, 

certainly black people don’t win lots of 

literary awards. No one seems to notice, 

but it’s really important. 

“A black woman has never won [the 

Booker before]. Only four black women 

have ever been shortlisted and there 

have been about 300 books shortlisted. 

“Hopefully this signals a new direction 

for the Booker and the kind of 

judges they have. This year there were 

four women judges and one male. 

“I hope more black women win this 

prize.” 

Atwood, who is from Ottawa, said: 

“It’s great to be sharing with 

Bernardine… and I certainly hope 

you’ll come to Canada, bring your warm 

clothing!” 

She told Evaristo: “What you have 

done is to make it possible for more 

black women to consider that writing 

is something they can do.” 

*Some 

of the 

participants 

at 

t h e 

Badagry 

Slave 

route 

a l s o 

known 

as Point 

of No 

Return 

The plan was that we collectively 

plan and sell a single destination 

on the same day, primarily 

to promote Badagry as a mustvisit 

destination. 

“So 40 companies (comprising 

Name National Theatre after Fela ---- Eno Louis 

By Japhet Davidson 

A 

Benin based Afro Jazz 

rock master, Eno Louis 

Enobakhare has called on the 

federal giovernment to name 

the National theatre after the 

legendary Afro beat king, Fela 

Anikulapo-Kuti. Eno who was 

reacting to the recent take 

over of the national edicice by 

CBN said that such action is 

good as it help bring back the 

lost glory of the moribund 

monument, however is of the 

view that based on the contributions 

of the Afrobeat king to 

the arts and culture industry, 

naming the national theatre 

after him is well deserved. 

According to him, “Fela Kuti is 

the most popular Nigerian musician 

worldwide. In America,a 

movie has been made about his 

life, his afrobeat music has inspired 

a new army of afrobeat ambassadors 

and the young musicians 

all identify with him. The 

yearly ‘Felabration ‘attests to this”. 

Eno who went down memory 

lane pointed out what Fela did 

during the FESTAC 77, “in 

1977 during the FESTAC, he opposed 

government spending of 

such a colossal sum to have a ‘festival’ 

as he felt the private sector 

could have footed the bill. For 

that, he refused to perform at the 

festival and all the popular musicians 

like Stevie 

wonder,Osibisa, Mariam 

Makeba etc went to his ‘African 

shrine’ to watch his mesmeric 

performances. 

Immediately after FESTAC, the 

‘Unknown soldiers’ burnt down 

the entire space that housed his 

residence and nite club popularly 

known as KALAKUTA republic”. 

Eno whose personal relationship 

with Fela was established in 

the mid seventies stated his 

encounter with Fela. “I met 

his first cousin from America who 

introduced me to him. He always 

had his sax by his side while listening 

to Miles Davies or John 

Coltrane, two great traditional jazz 

musicians. Wild as the people of 

his ‘kalakuta Republic’ were supposed 

to be,the rule was ‘first 

touch’.You can ‘yab’ the much you 

wanted,but don’t touch. There was 

a fine for any one who started a 

fight. 

“Fela encouraged gossiping 

amongst his wives with that, he 

had a grasp of all that happened 

in the ‘Republic’. He knew the 

*Fela Kuti 

thieves, lesbians,etc. No musician 

could play any other music with 

any of his instruments except his 

Afrobeat. This provided a steady 

flow of musicians for him. Apart 

from the wind session, he had two 

or three instrumentalists attached 

to every other instrument. His 

songs were lengthy,so a guitarist 

for instance would play one 

song a night. 

“To engage him outside his 

‘Shrine’ was an uphill task. All 

the money must be brought in 

cash and passed through mercury 

light to ensure that non was fake. 

A luxury bus must be stationed 

in front of his abode at an agreed 

tour operators, travel agencies, 

destination marketing companies 

and other relevant stakeholders) 

signed up to the project. And for 

five weeks, we all promoted the 

tour tagged “Badagry Independence 

Hangout” on our respective 

social media platforms. 

“The result was the tour of October 

1. One of our objectives was 

also to showcase Badagry, not just 

as a destination for slavery but 

also for its other interesting attractions, 

including its culture, its 

people, its food and its attractive 

beaches. 

We’re all happy to have been 

able to achieve that feat and look 

forward to doing more projects 

like that in the near future to promote 

local tourist attractions.” he 

said. 

time. One minute lateness will 

lead to the loss of any money 

paid. My troupe left ‘kalakuta’a 

few hours before it was burnt. 

If Chief M.K.O Abiola who was 

arrested and imprisoned for treason 

could have the national sports 

stadium Abuja named after 

him,there is no reason the National 

arts theatre, Iganmu, Lagos cannot 

be named after Fela. 

Everything complained about in 

his songs have remained with us 

and have even become worse. The 

powers that be could only be chased 

out by a resilient civil rights movement. 

With democracy now fashionable 

in Africa, it is time to right some of 

the wrongs. The first is to recognize 

Fela by naming the National 

theatre after him. The President of 

a world power -France, breached 

protocol and went to his residence 

decades after his demise. 

The Federal government 

should do the needful. Nigerians 

applauded the recognition of 

Abiola as a former president of 

Nigeria. The world will also applaud 

the naming of the National 

theatre after this great son of African.


IMF worries over 

Nigeria’s debt burden 

THE International 

Monetary Fund, 

IMF, has raised 

a red flag over Nigeria’s 

debt burden even 

as the country braces up 

for further borrowings 

in both 2019 and 2020 

fiscal year. 

At the budgeted N2.1 

trillion deficit for 2019, 

borrowings are expected 

to tip total debt stock 

to over N26 trillion from 

N24.9 trillion reached in 

the first quarter of 2019, 

while additional borrowings 

are expected 

over the next one year 

to finance 2020 

projected N2.8 trillion 

deficit. 

Speaking at the ongoing 

World Bank/ IMF 

Annual Meeting in 

Washington DC, United 

States of America, 

Cathy Patillo, Assistant 

Director, Fiscal Affairs 

Department of the IMF 

gave a warning over 

debt sustainability in 

emerging economies 

and low income countries. 

She was addressing 

the media on the Fund’s 

Fiscal Monitor report 

which indicated that 

some countries are vulnerable 

to exchange 

rate and interest rate 

shocks. 

She noted that in 

emerging markets and 

low income economies 

such as Nigeria, public 

debt ratios are high and 

rising, adding that the 

cost of servicing debts 

is also increasing, 

unlike in advanced 

economies when low interest 

rates have 

compensated for high 

debt levels. 

She advised fiscal 

authorities to adjust 

borrowings against 

capacity to pay by 

increasing independent 

revenue. 

Specifically on 

Nigeria, she stated: 

“The priority is a comprehensive 

reform to 

increase non-oil 

revenue and there are 

a number of reasons 

that will contribute to 

providing space for important 

spending on 

infrastructure and social 

spending. 

‘’‘For Nigeria, this is 

very important for a 

couple of reasons , one 

because right now, 

interest payments as a 

share of tax are very 

high; around a third for 

overall and two-thirds 

for federal government 

and that is not all the 

payments. They are 

particularly high. It’s 

because 

the 

denominator is incredibly 

low; Nigeria has one 

of the lowest tax to GDP 

ratio in the world. 

“It is not because 

Nigeria does not have 

big development 

problems, Nigeria has 

a large need for education 

and health 

spending. It has some 

very low indicators in 

that area. 

“In the demographic 

projections, Nigeria is 

projected to be the third 

most populous country 

in the world by 2050. So 

addressing those challenges 

is really 

important.” 

Speaking further she 

said fiscal policy has a 

very important role to 

play in the development 

agenda of many 

countries, which needs 

to substantially raise 

spending to meet the 

S u s t a i n a b l e 

Development Goals by 

2030, particularly, the 

low income developing 

economies. 

According to her, the 

spending must be 

framed in the context of 

a comprehensive 

growth and development 

strategies. 

She also said that 

building tax capacity is 

necessary to enable the 

governments to deliver 

on its functions in 

inclusive and 

sustainable development 

programme. 

She added that 

efficiency in spending is 

a crucial aspect of good 

governance, adding that 

it is very necessary to 

e n s u r e 

complementarities between 

public finance, 

private investments and 

official development assistance. 

Patillo stated further: 

“The African continent 

is very exposed to the 

effects of climate change 

and on the other hand, 

it is not yet a contributor. 

When you look at 

some of the reports in 

the numbers given in 

the Fiscal Monitor, the 

emissions are not really 

coming much from 

Africa although that 

may be the case later on 

in the century. 

“There are instance, 

for example, in the case 

of South Africa, there 

will be 89% of increase 

in electricity prices if we 

have a large carbon tax. 

Part of the reason is that 

a lot of coal is used in 

South Africa. “Yes, everybody 

has to do their 

part, there are some 

countries that can 

contribute to reducing 

carbon emissions significantly 

but I don’t think 

that the real action will 

take place in Africa at 

the global level. 

“There are important 

decisions to be made on 

which kinds of infrastructure 

is the 

continent going to 

choose and the 

decisions that are made 

today will have 

implications for decades 

to come. So it is important 

that African countries 

choose the green 

kind of energy and 

transportation. It is not 

so crucial at this 

moment.” 

•Kristalina Georgieva, IMF MD 

From left, Deputy Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF, Paolo Mauro; 

Assistant Director and chief of the Fiscal Policy and Surveillance Division, 

Catherine Pattillo and the Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, IMF, Vitor 

Gaspar at a press conference on Global Fiscal Monitor during the 2019 

IMF/World Bank Meetings in Washington DC. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 

EMEKA ANAETO & BABAJIDE 

KOMOLAFE REPORTING 

...advises on debt management 

strategy 

AGAINST 

the 

backdrop of its 

concerns over Nigeria’s 

debt burden, Executives 

of the International Monetary 

Fund, IMF, have 

made some recommendations 

on how to tackle 

the challenges. 

Speaking to the media 

at the on-going World 

Bank/ IMF Annual 

Meeting in Washington 

DC, United States of 

Ameria, USA, Mr Tobias 

Adrian, Financial 

Counsellor and Director 

of Monetary and Capital 

Markets Department 

Department of the Fund, 

and Mr Evan 

Papageorgioun, the 

Deputy Division Chief in 

the Monetary and 

Capital Markets 

•Patience Oniha, D-G, DMO 

From left: The DG West Africa Institute for Financial and Economic Management, 

Dr. Baba Musa; Director Strength in Diversity Development Centre, Tajudeen Uzamot; 

Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Uba Sani; Zonal Coordinator, 

Strength in Diversity Development Centre, Muhammed Faruk; State Coordinator, 

Strength in Diversity Centre, Abdulakeem Nowoola and State Coordinator, Strength 

in Diversity Centre, Abdulsalam Ose discussing shortly after the International 

Monetary Fund presented the 2019 World Economic Outlook at the World Bank Headquarters, 

Washington DC. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida 

Department said key to 

effective borrowing and 

management strategy is 

prudence. 

They were speaking to 

the Global Financial 

Stability Report released 

by the Fund yesterday in 

the face of growing 

uncertainties over debt 

sustainability and 

economic stability in low 

income regions. 

According to Adrian, 

“both domestic and 

external debts market 

are important for 

economic growth and 

economic development 

and both markets should 

be well developed but of 

course any borrowing 

has to be managed in a 

responsible manner that 

at both costs and 

benefits so borrowing 

can be helpful for 

economic growth and investment 

but it can also 

be dangerous when negative 

shocks arise. 

“So we have done a lot 

of work in the IMF on 

debt sustainability and 

debt management and 

we have a host of recommendations 

of how to 

manage debt in a 

responsible manner.” 

However, speaking on 

same issue with specific 

reference to Nigeria, 

Papageorgiou stated: 

“Nigeria has a large 

exposure to domestic 

debt particularly from 

Central Bank bills. There 

are a lot of higher 

redemption and more 

roll-overs going forward. 

“So those risks, 

especially with respect to 

local currency debts 

managing debts and 

behaviour of non-resident 

debt is very 

important.” 

But Adrian sees a silver 

lining for Nigeria’s debt 

portfolio arrangement. 

He stated: “Flows in 

investment in sub-Saharan 

Africa has been 

strong and expected to 

reach record high this 

year. 

Global financial 

conditions are favourable 

to countries such as Nigeria, 

at the moment. 

“Issuing bonds in hard 

currency and the 

domestic currency is 

possible because of 

favourable global 

financial conditions. And 

of course it is key what 

countries such as 

Nigeria are doing with 

those borrowed funds. 

Undertaking structural 

reforms to develop economy 

is key.”


NDIC: 30 years after 

BY SANI MOHAMMED 

GONE are the days 

in Nigeria when 

depositors suddenly lose 

money due to crisis in 

the global financial 

market or distress in 

banks. The advent of the 

Nigeria Deposit 

Insurance Corporation, 

NDIC, could be 

described as that of a 

child born of necessity. 

Birthed 30 years ago, 

the NDIC is primarily 

tasked with ensuring financial 

system stability 

in the country through 

efficient and effective regulation 

of banks for the 

overall well-being of the 

economy and the safeguard 

of depositors’ fund. 

Atypical of a government’s 

regulatory agency, 

the corporation has 

applied itself to the job of 

policing deposit funds in 

ways that has led to 

heightened confidence in 

Nigerian banks by investors, 

depositors and operators 

alike. It has 

equally succeeded in its 

onerous task of building 

and sustaining safe, 

sound and stable financial 

system that that today 

offers strong support to 

the country’s strive for 

economic prosperity. 

In the beginning 

The NDIC was established 

in March 1989 following 

the promulgation 

of Decree No. 22 of 1988, 

now repealed and replaced 

with NDIC Act 16 

of 2006, with a mandate 

to confront multi-faceted 

quagmire in the banking 

sector that sent many Nigerian 

families into penury 

due to the sudden 

erosion of their hardearned 

savings in 1988. 

The coming on board of 

the regulator at a time of 

grave financial stress in 

the economy did not faze 

the agency. The corporation 

hit the ground running 

and, within the 

space of a few months, 

sufficiently calmed the 

troubled banking sector 

through ingenious dose 

of cutting-edge solutions 

to the existential financial 

problem made possible 

by the solid vision of its 

founding fathers coupled 

with the ingenuity of 

those who piloted its affairs 

at infancy. 

The agency did not only 

demonstrate an uncommon 

understanding of 

the issues but boldly administered 

solutions 

which led to an immediate 

turnaround of a catastrophic 

situation in some 

Nigerian banks. Since 

then, the Corporation has 

waxed both nuclear and 

seminal in meeting the 

laudable objectives for 

which the agency was set 

up. 

Notwithstanding the 

attendant difficulties, the 

corporation has remained 

committed to its primary 

objectives which are to 

“contribute to financial 

system stability as well as 

protect small, uniformed 

and less financially sophisticated 

depositors by 

providing an orderly 

means of resolution and 

compensation in the 

event of failure of their 

insured financial institutions.” 

To create the right 

motivation for the attainment 

of its crucial objectives, 

the corporation 

evolved and adopted an 

holistic and all-encompassing 

vision, which is: 

“To be one of the leading 

The corporation 

has succeeded in 

its core mandate 

of deposit guarantee, 

banking 

supervision, 

distress resolution 

and bank 

liquidation 

deposit insurers in the 

world”; and an unambiguous 

mission: “To protect 

depositors and contribute 

to the stability of the financial 

system through 

effective supervision of 

insured institutions, provision 

of financial/technical 

assistance to eligible 

insured institutions, 

prompt payment of guaranteed 

sums and orderly 

resolution of failed insured 

financial institutions”. 

Added to this are 

its core values of honesty, 

respect and fairness, 

discipline, professionalism 

and teamwork. 

The journey so far 

As a deposit guarantor, 

the mandate of the NDIC 

covers all deposit taking 

financial institutions licensed 

by the Central 

Bank of Nigeria, CBN. 

These include Deposit 

Money Banks, DMBs, 

Microfinance Banks, 

MFBs, Primary Mortgage 

Banks, PMBs, Non-Interest 

Banks, NIBs and 

the emerging Mobile 

Money Operators, 

MMOs. The corporation 

currently provides deposit 

insurance cover to the 

27 DMBs, 888 MFBs, 38 

PMBs and one NIB in 

operation today in the 

country. 

Unarguably, the corporation 

has succeeded in 

its core mandate of deposit 

guarantee, banking supervision, 

distress resolution 

and bank liquidation. 

It is worthy to note that 

under the guidance and 

leadership of its successive 

leadership and staff, 

the Corporation had in 

the last 30 years achieved 

monumental success, set 

records, contributed immensely 

to the financial 

system stability in the 

country. 

To sustain its vigilance 

over depositors’ fund and 

continuously enhance 

public confidence in the 

banking system, the 

NDIC has a knack for intermittently 

assessing its 

coverage level for all insured 

financial institutions 

in the country, taking 

into consideration the 

macroeconomic environment 

and the deposit 

structure of the industry, 

etc. 

The corporation had 

ensured that majority of 

bank depositors are covered 

in compliance with 

Principle 8 of the International 

Association of Deposit 

Insurers, IADI, Core 

Principle for Effective 

Deposit Insurance. Towards 

this end, it twice 

increased the maximum 

deposit insurance coverage 

from N50,000.00 per 

depositor per DMB at inception, 

to N200,000.00 

in 2006 and 

N500,000.00 in 2010. 

Similarly, the maximum 

coverage per depositor of 

PMBs and MFBs was increased 

from 

N100,000.00 in 2006 to 

N200,000.00 in 2010. To 

reflect the increased deposit 

structure in the subsector, 

it also increased 

coverage per depositor 

per PMBs to 

N500,000.00. 

Besides, the NDIC as a 

risk minimiser, has over 

the years maintained strategic 

synergy with relevant 

agencies of government 

to oversee banks in 

order to ensure that the 

institutions remain 

healthy at all times and 

to detect and promptly 

nip risk factors in the bud. 

This supervision work 

ethic has guaranteed stability, 

integrity, soundness 

and efficiency in the 

nation’s banking system. 

As a deposit insurer, 

NDIC has also employed 

banking supervision as a 

major arsenal for the protection 

of depositors’ interest. 

As the NDIC rolls out 

the drums in a few days 

to mark its three decades 

of existence, it is trite to 

say that it would no doubt 

be a celebration of excellence 

in building and sustaining 

safe, sound and 

stable financial system 

that offers strong support 

to the nation’s drive for 

economic prosperity. 

Most stakeholders in the 

financial sector, including 

depositors, banks and 

other financial institutions, 

can look back with 

pride on the Herculean 

task the agency has undertaken 

in reshaping 

and realigning banking 

operations in the country 

to the benefit of all. 

·MOHAMMED, a public 

affairs analyst, wrote 

from Abuja 

APC, PDP bicker over election 

violence, disrupts INEC 

stakeholders’ meeting 

*INEC boss warns against hate speech, 

vote-buying 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

& Emem Idio 

THERE was a heated 

verbal squabble between 

some chieftains of 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, and Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in 

Bayelsa State, yesterday 

during the Independent 

National Electoral Commission, 

INEC, stakeholders 

meeting which forced the 

meeting to an abrupt end. 

The bone of contention 

was the issue of Internally 

Displaced Persons, IDP, 

who were displaced during 

the 2019 general elections. 

Chief Francis Doukpola, 

the chairman of the PDP 

Bayelsa Elders Forum; and 

Barr. Dennis Otiotio, a representative 

of the APC engaged 

in the rowdy session 

that started at about 1 pm 

during the second round of 

comments/discussion by 

leaders of political parties. 

The peaceful event, 

which had started for over 

two hours, took new turn 

when Chief Doukpola was 

making his remarks and 

touched on issues of IDPs 

arising from the violence 

that rocked the Presidential 

and National Assembly 

elections in the state. 

He said: “For me the 

worst election we had in 

Bayelsa was the 2019 Presidential 

and National Assembly 

elections. We had 

very better experience, as 

a result of that election. I 

regret to inform you that 

half of the communities in 

Bayelsa now are in IDP; 

they are no longer in their 

communities simply because 

they belong to a certain 

political party. Efforts 

to return those people to 

their communities so that 

they can exercise their franchise 

in the forthcoming 

election is not yielding result. 

The name of the community 

is Nembe-Basambiri.” 

He was immediately interrupted 

by Barr. Dennis 

Otiotio, who had earlier 

spoken at the meeting on 

behalf of the APC, for mentioning 

the name of a community. 

Thereafter a rowdy session 

ensued and led to the 

sudden closure of the 

meeting with national anthem. 

The Deputy Inspector 

General of Police, Abdulmajeed 

Ali, who represented 

the Inspector-General of 

Police, Mr Muhammad 

Adamu, in a chat with 

newsmen said it was a normal 

thing. He assured that 

the police would do everything 

to ensure that the 

Prof. Yakubu 

forthcoming election was 

free and fair. 

“We want to advise political 

parties and their candidates 

to warn their supporters 

and ensure that everybody 

conduct themselves 

in peaceful manner. 

The Nigeria Police will ensure 

that we provide enabling 

environment for everybody 

in the election,” he 

said. 

Earlier, the National 

Chairman of the INEC, 

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, 

had charged all political 

Let me remind 

candidates and 

their supporters 

that attack on 

commission officials 

at the polling 

units or through 

the collation processes 

will this 

time attract sanctions 

parties participating in the 

November 16 Bayelsa governorship 

election to conduct 

themselves and their 

supporters to ensure a violence 

free and credible 

election. 

According to the INEC 

boss, Bayelsa and Kogi 

states are major elections 

for INEC as well as the 

nation as a whole, saying 

that is why INEC is somehow 

breaking most traditions 

by holding the meeting 

with stakeholders one 

month to the election instead 

of a few days to the 

election. 

He further disclosed that 

45 political parties are 

fielding candidates for the 

governorship election as 

against 20 political parties 

that fielded candidates in 

2015, adding that the purpose 

of the meeting was to 

assure of the commission’s 

readiness to conduct a free, 

fair and credible election. 

“The smart card readers 

will be deployed as usual 

but learning from the experience 

in 2019, we have 

ample arrangement including 

getting additional 

smart card readers from one 

of the neighbouring states 

to be used for training. All 

non-sensitive materials for 

the election have been delivered 

to Bayelsa State. 

The only material outstanding 

is the sensitive materials 

which we normally deliver 

close to the election. 

“However, we have a few 

areas of concern that I want 

to share with the stakeholders. 

Number one is 

the actions and utterances 

likely to lead to violence 

during electioneering 

campaign, during voting 

on election day and 

during collation of results 

and declaration. 

“Let me remind candidates 

and their supporters 

that attack on commission 

officials at the polling 

units or through the collation 

processes will this 

time attract sanctions. We 

will not tolerate attack on 

INEC officials to force 

them make a declaration 

and once we receive that 

report that the declaration 

was made under duress by 

the officers we have appointed 

then we will not 

issue the certificate of return. 

In his address, the Resident 

Electoral Commissioner, 

Bayelsa State, Pastor 

Monday Udom Tom 

said the Voter Education 

Department of the commission 

has been involved 

in massive sensitization of 

the electorate particularly 

those at the grassroots to 

desist from selling their 

votes. 

He said: “One area that 

gives me a lot of concern is 

the issue of void votes. The 

Voter Education Department 

is working round the 

clock to reduce or eliminate 

this mistake by voters. This 

is where your responsibility 

comes in as stakeholders; 

please enlighten your 

constituents, members and 

voters on how to fix their 

thumb print mark on the 

ballot paper.’’


By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

A DO-EKITI— 

GOVERNOR 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti 

State, yesterday, relaunched 

the Social 

Security Scheme for elderly 

citizens in the state, 

pledging to commit more 

resources to social 

investments and human 

capital development. 

The Social Security 

Scheme, which pays 

N5,000 stipends to indigent 

elderly citizens of the state, 

was introduced in 2012 

during Governor Fayemi’s 

first term but was scrapped 

by the immediate past 


The re-launch of the social 

security scheme was the 

highpoint of activities 

commemorating the first 

anniversary of the 

administration in Ado- 

Ekiti. 

The beneficiaries, who are 

65 years and above, got 

N20,000 each as the 

Governor insisted they be 

paid the three months 

arrears, dating back to July 

when the he re-introduced 

the scheme. 

Earlier, in his state of the 

State Address, Fayemi 

disclosed that his 

:Vanguard 

News 

UI sets up c’ttee to curb 

sexual abuse on campus 

By Ola Ajayi 

I BADAN—VICE 

Chancellor of the 

University of Ibadan, Prof 

Abel Idowu Olayinka, 

yesterday, set up an ad-hoc 

committee to address cases 

of sexual assault in the 

institution. 

Olayinka stated this on 

his Facebook page. 

The VC stated that claims 

would be processed 

through disciplinary 

organs of the university 

using our extant 

regulations and 

guidelines. 

Olayinka vowed that 

maximum sanctions would 

be imposed if the claims are 

substantiated and there will 

be no sacred cows. 

On his Facebook page, 

the VC said: “The recent 

exposé of sexual 

misconduct in Nigerian 

Universities is deeply 

disturbing and necessitates 

a reminder that the 

University of Ibadan 

maintains the tradition and 

standard of zero tolerance 

for sexual harassment and 

misconducts as contained 

in our Staff and Students 

Information Handbooks, 

the recently revised Gender 

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY: Fayemi 

re-launches social security to 

elderly citizens a massive commissioning of 

administration had 

d e f r a y e d 

N31,105,658,370.89 

amounting to 26 per cent 

of the total debt inherited 

by the Ayodele Fayose 


Fayemi, however, 

assured that despite the 

burden of inherited debts, 

the year 2020 would witness 

Policy and Sexual 

Harassment Policy, and 

other allied documents as 

earlier approved by both 

the Senate and Council. 

“Consequently, in order 

to ensure that the 

University is proactive in 

preventing incidences of 

sexual misconducts and be 

assured that the University 

of Ibadan is a safe space for 

staff and students, 

members of the University 

community are hereby 

notified that an ad-hoc 

committee has just been 

inaugurated by the Vice- 

Chancellor to among 

others, investigate claims of 

sexual misconducts.” 

To assist with their task, 

kindly communicate all 

relevant information on the 

subject matter, he 

promised, “that all claims 

will be processed through 

disciplinary organs of the 

University using our extant 

regulations and 

guidelines.” 

Besides, he assured that 

“maximum sanctions will be 

imposed if the claims are 

substantiated and there will 

be no sacred cows, even 

while we ensure that there 

will be no witch-hunting. 

projects 

and 

institutionalizing of more 

life-changing programmes. 

He said: “You are aware 

that the past administration 

owed salary, pension, 

gratuity, subvention and 

contractual claims. Since 

we came on board, despite 

economic challenges, our 

administration has, to some 

extent, fulfilled most of our 

promises. 

“We have also offset part 

of the arrears and debts 

owed by the past 

administration. We have so 

far defrayed a total sum of 

N31,105,658,370.89 in 

salary, pension, gratuity 

and subvention arrears, 

and contractual claims and 

obligations, which 

represent about 26% of the 

total inherited debt.” 

“We have been consistent 

with the payment of salaries 

and pensions of our 

workers. It is a violation of 

fundamental human rights 

for people to labour in vain. 

"Our focus now is on how 

to gradually offset the 

remaining backlog of 

salary, pension and 

subvention arrears and 

contractual debts. Just like 

I assured the civil servants 

at the maiden edition of the 

resuscitated interactive 

session with them, I want 

to restate again that your 

arrears are not bad debts.” 

Distributing the cheques 

for N20,000 each to the 

beneficiaries Governor 

Fayemi said his mission 

was to make Ekiti a place 

where the cycle of 

generational poverty can 

be broken and in which 

elderly citizens can live a 

more decent and healthy 

life. 

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

VISIT: From left—Oyo State Governor and Kogi State Chairman, PDP Campaign Council, Engr. 

Seyi Makinde; Kogi State PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Musa Wada, and his running mate, 

Sam Aro, during their visit to the governor's office, in Ibadan. 

World Food Day: There’s hunger in Nigeria, 

food vendors blast Agric Minister 

By Shina 

Abubakar 

O Association SOGBO—THE 

of Food 

Vendors in Nigeria, Osun 

State branch, yesterday, 

described the comment 

attributed to the Minister of 

Agriculture, Mohammed 

Nanono, that there was no 

hunger in the country as 

being far from the truth. 

The group urged the 

Federal Government to 

ensure that food was 

sufficiently available in the 

country, insisting there is 

hunger in the country. 

Speaking with 

Vanguard during a walk 

held to commemorate the 

World Food Day in major 

streets of the Osogbo 

metropolis, the Coordinator 

of the group in Osun, Mr. 

Muideen Alao, said the 

federal government should 

embark on initiatives and 

policies that would make 

food abundant in the 

country. 

Alao said: “The Minister 

for Agriculture recently said 

there is no hunger in the 

country. This is far from the 

truth. The government 

should work to ensure that 

food is sufficiently available 

in the country. They should 

come up with initiatives 

and policies that will 

ensure this as soon as 

possible.” 

On the President’s 

Oyetola tasks cabinet members on state devt 

By Shina 

Abubakar 

O 

S O G B O — 

GOVERNOR 

Gboyega Oyetola of Osun 

State, yesterday, charged 

the Commissionersdesignate 

to quickly swing 

into action as soon as they 

are inaugurated. 

Speaking at the ongoing 

Four-Day State of Osun 

Executive Council Retreat, 

held at MicCom Golf 

Hotels and Resorts, Ada, 

Boripe Local Government 

Area of the state, he 

reaffirmed the 

administration’s 

determination to deliver a 

state that works and can 

compete with any other 

globally in terms of basic 

amenities and provision of 

modern facilities that will 

enable citizens to live 

happily and productively. 

Oyetola, who spoke on 

the paper, My 

Development Agenda for 

the State of Osun, said: 

“We shall do more to invest 

in the education that 

adequately empowers our 

people to realise their full 

potentials. We know that 

equitable public education 

is central to a healthy 

democracy and a thriving 

economy. Therefore, 

building on the strong 

foundation laid by the last 

administration, we will 

challenge our children with 

high expectations from a 

rich, well-rounded 

education curriculum that 

will provide them hope in 

a time of despair and help 

them thrive and become 

useful adults. 

“We are also fully 

committed 

to 

strengthening and 

enhancing technical and 

vocational education while 

also improving on the 

welfare of our hardworking 

teachers. My goal is to 

make Osun known as the 

state for employment and 

jobs in the country.” 

decision to close all land 

borders, he said: “The 

decision of government to 

close borders is a welcome 

development. If we can all 

be patient with them and 

grow what we eat with the 

support of all and sundry, 

there will be food in much 

more quantities in the next 

three to four years. We 

should join hands to 

embrace what we produce 

locally.” 

STRUCTURAL DEFECT: I’ll demolish Amosun’s 

Model College —Gov Abiodun 

*Offers best graduating student automatic employment 

By James 

Ogunnaike 

A GOVERNOR BEOKUTA— 

Dapo 

Abiodun of Ogun State, 

yesterday, vowed to 

demolish the Model 

College at Ilaro in Yewa 

South Local Government 

Area of the State 

constructed by the 

immediate past 

administration of Senator 

Ibikunle Amosun, due to a 

structural defect. 

Similarly, the governor 

offered the best graduating 

student of the Federal 

Polytechnic, Ilaro, Miss. 

Akintola Esther Modupe, 

an automatic employment. 

Abiodun, who disclosed 

this at the town hall 

meeting for the 2020 

Budget of the Ogun West 

Senatorial District held at 

Ilaro, said the demolition 

followed a recommendation 

by the committee set up to 

review contracts awarded 

by the Amosun 

administration that the 

Model College has some 

structural defects. 

He disclosed that the 

school would be 

reconstructed and 

converted to Vocational and 

Technical College to boost 

human capital 

development in the state. 

He said: “That is why we 

are committed to ensuring 

that the commonwealth 

used in building capital 

projects does not waste, 

irrespective of who made 

that investment. 

, 

“Those investments were 

made on our behalf with 

our sweat, with our money. 

This is not about trying to 

witch hunt anybody. You 

did not vote for me to witch 

hunt anybody, you voted for 

me to give you good 

governance. 

“Unfortunately, the 

Model school in Ilaro is the 

only one that has been classified 

as being structurally 

defective. It has been recommended 

for demolition 

and reconstruction. We are 

going to do something 

about that but we will also 

make sure that you have 

something like that here 

that will serve the purposes 

of technical and vocational 

education training centre.” 

Abiodun offers best 

graduating student 

automatic 

employment 

Meanwhile, Governor 

Abiodun has offered the 

best graduating student of 

the Federal Polytechnic, 

Ilaro, Miss. Modupe, an 

automatic employment. 

Ms. Akintola graduated 

with a cumulative average 

grade of 3.90 out of the 

maximum 4. 

She would commence 

work immediately after her 

mandatory one year 

National Youth Service 

Scheme, NYSC. 

Prince Abiodun made this 

known at the 40th anniversary 

and 19th convocation ceremony 

of the polytechnic, held in the 

school premises on Wednesday. 

The governor said: “Our 

administration remains 

committed to give education the 

priority it deserves. We remain 

committed to providing 

qualitative education for children 

in the State, irrespective of their 

location, gender or social status."

Continues from Page 5 

Why FG 

slashed estacode 

for ministers, 

others 

On estacode and 

foreign travels, 

Secretary to the 

Government of the 

Federation, SGF, Boss 

Mustapha in a 

statement by the 

Director, Information in 

his office, Willie Bassey, 

said the decision was 

“in a bid to curb 

leakages and ensure 

efficiency in the 

management of 

resources 

of 

government.” 

He said President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has approved for 

i m m e d i a t e 

implementation of 

additional cost-saving 

measures aimed at 

instilling financial 

discipline and 

prudence, particularly, 

in the area of official 

travels. 

The directive read: 

“Henceforth, all 

M i n i s t r i e s , 

Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, are 

required to submit their 

yearly travel plans for 

statutory meetings and 

engagements to the 

Office of the Secretary 

to the Government of 

the Federation and/or 

the Office of the Head 

of Civil Service of the 

Federation for express 

clearance within the 

first quarter of the fiscal 

year, 

before 

implementation. 

“They are further 

required to make their 

presentations, using the 

existing template and 

also secure approvals 

on specific travels as 

contained in the plan 

from the appropriate 

quarters. 

“On the nature and 

frequency of travels, all 

public-funded travels 

(local and foreign) must 

Naira appreciates to 

N362.36/$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE Naira, yesterday, appreciated to N362.36 

per dollar Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window dropped to N362.36 

per dollar yesterday from N362.63 per dollar on 

Tuesday, translating to 27 kobo appreciation of the 

Naira. However, the volume of dollars (turnover) 

traded yesterday in the window rose by 168 per 

cent to $207.57 million from $77.57million on 

Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Naira yesterday was 

stable at N358 per dollar in the parallel market. 

vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 



be strictly for official 

purposes, backed with 

documentary evidence. 

“In this regard, all 

foreign travels must be 

for highly essential 

statutory engagements 

that are beneficial to the 

country. Except with 

the express approval of 

Mr. President, 

ministers, permanent 

secretaries, chairmen of 

extra-ministerial 

departments, chief 

executive officers and 

directors are restricted 

to not more than two 

foreign travels in a 

quarter. 

“Also, when a minister 

is at the head of an 

official delegation, the 

size of such delegation 

shall not exceed four, 

including the relevant 

director, schedule 

officer and one aide of 

the minister. Every 

other delegation below 

ministerial level shall 

be restricted to a 

maximum of three. 

“For class of air 

travels, the President 

has approved that 

ministers, permanent 

secretaries, special 

advisers, senior special 

assistants to the 

President, chairmen of 

extra-ministerial 

departments and chief 

executive officers of 

parastatals are entitled 

to continue to fly 

business class, while 

other categories of 

public officers are to 

travel on economy 

class. 

“Also, travel days will 

no longer attract 

payment of estacode 

allowances as duration 

of official trips shall be 

limited to only the 

number of days of the 

event as contained in 

the supporting 

documents to qualify for 

public funding. 

“The Auditor-General 

of the Federation has 

been directed to treat 

all expenditures that 

contravene 

guidelines 

these 

as 

ineligible.” 

Meanwhile, the SGF 

said his attention had 

been drawn to 

unrelenting activities of 

faceless persons using 

the social media and 

other platforms to lure 

unsuspecting members 

of the public to submit 

their curriculum vitae at 

a fee, to a non-existing 

desk at the Office of the 



Federation for Federal 

G o v e r n m e n t 

appointments. 

The Office said it was 

similarly aware of 

inaccurate information 

being peddled around 

regarding constituency 

projects being executed 

under its supervision. 

“For the avoidance of 

doubt, the Office of the 



Federation neither 

executes nor supervises 

constituency projects. 

“Also, the Secretary to 

the Government of the 

ABUJA — 

Minister of 

State for 

Petroleum Resources, 

Mr. Timipre Sylva, said 

yesterday that it was 

impossible for the 

Federal Government to 

recover a total $62 billon 

from International Oil 

Companies, IOCs, being 

revenue lost to oil 

exploration since 2003. 

The minister stated this 

while fielding questions 

from State House 

correspondents at the 

end of the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, 

meeting presided over 

by President 

Muhammadu Buhari at 

the Council Chamber, 

Presidential Villa, 

Abuja. 

Recall that the Federal 

Government, through 

the Office of the 

Attorney-General of the 

Federation, AGF, had 

written to oil companies, 

demanding various 

sums of money from them 

on the basis of an 

October 17, 2018, 

judgment of the Supreme 

Court. 

The apex court had in 

the said judgment, 


NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

L-R: General Manager; Eastern Region Operations; MTN Nigeria; Innocent 

Entonu; Director; MTN Foundation; Honourable; Reginald Okeya; Director; 

MTN Foundation; Mr. Dennis Okoro; and MTN Nominator; WCWDT; 

Aniekan Joshua Stephen at the Eastern Region Nominators appreciation 

event of the MTN What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) Initiative held in 

Port-Harcourt Rivers -State Yesterday. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke 

Federation has become 

aware of numerous 

forged introductory 

letters purportedly 

issued from his office 

seeking diverse favours 

from individuals and 

corporate entities for 

personal gains. 

“The general public is 

by this notice, advised to 

beware of the 

clandestine activities of 

these dubious and 

fraudulent persons and 

their cohorts going about 

to fleece unsuspecting 

members of the public. 

“Assuredly, government 

has evolved measures to 

track these unpatriotic 

and faceless persons and 

will bring to justice 

anyone found engaging 

in these unwholesome 

activities,” the statement 

added. 

Why FG can’t recover $62bn 

from int’l oil companies —SYLVA 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ordered the Federal 

Government to 

immediately take steps 

to recover all revenues 

lost to oil-exploring and 

exploiting companies 

due to wrong profitsharing 

formula since 

August 2003. 

About five suits are 

currently before the 

Abuja and Lagos 

divisions of the Federal 

High Court stalling the 

Federal Government’s 

move to recover about 

$62billion from 

international oil 

companies. 

Speaking on the 

development as it relates 

to the judgment, the 

Minister said the federal 

government had started 

discussions on the 

matter. 

He said: “Well, we have 

started discussions. Let 

us consider that as a lost 

opportunity, the money 

was not in a cupboard, 

they have taken it. 

Nobody can bring out 

that kind of money, I 

mean we can’t get 

$62billion. 

“We can maybe get 

something from them but 

not $62billion. It’s an 

opportunity we have 

lost. We have already 

started discussions with 

them but what is clear is 

that it is a lost 

opportunity really.” 

Sylva further explained 

that the existing Deep 

Offshore Act in the 

country which is very 

old, was part of the 

problem and needed to 

the repealed if the 

government could get it 

right in terms of 

Production Sharing 

Contracts with the oil 

majors. 

“Most of these laws are 

old already and they 

need to be amended. 

The amendment of these 

bills really portends a lot 

for us. There are a lot of 

missed opportunities 

already. The previous 

law provided that when 

oil prices went beyond 

twenty dollars, we are 

supposed to negotiate 

and get some additional 

revenues. 

“We didn’t take 

advantage of that and, 

of course, when we 

approached the oil 

companies, they said 

look, this is a lost 

opportunity, it’s not lost 

money because this 

money is not just there, 

it is not being kept in 

some cupboard. 

“So, it is a lost 

opportunity, we have to 

do something quickly to 

ensure that we don’t lose 

this opportunity in the 

future. That is why we 

have to ensure that this 

bill is passed. With this 

bill now, there will be 

some adjustments in the 

fiscal regime and we 

believe that the 

government will get a lot 

from the oil companies, 

especially their deep 

shore exploration 

activities. 

“You know that the 

PSCs means that they 

invest the money, they 

recover their cost before 

the government begins to 

get some revenues from 

it. Unfortunately, each 

time they keep 

investing, they keep 

recovering. 

“So, if you don’t take 

time, you never really 

get to the point where 

you benefit at all because 

the oil companies are 

perpetually recovering 

cost. So, with the Deep 

Offshore Act 

Amendment, all those 

things are taken care of.” 

Asked if such laws will 

take a retroactive 

measure, the minister 

explained: “The 

amendment of the bill 

cannot be retroactive. 

Laws cannot be 

retroactive, we have to 

look forward.”

50—VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

08152060944 

Independence of judiciary programmed 

to fail ——Adegboruwa, SAN 

By Henry Ojelu 

Mr 

Ebun-Olu 

Adegboruwa is one 

of the lawyers recently 

conferred with the rank of 

Senior Advocate of Nigeria. 

In this interview, he shares 

his view on why the fight for 

the independence of the 

judiciary would be tough. 

He also spoke on other 

sundry issues. 

Excerpt: 

World Day Against 

Death Penalty was 

marked last week. 

Considering the fact that 

governors are reluctant 

to sign death warrant, 

shouldn’t there be some 

form of respite for death 

row inmates in the 

country? 

Well, I have become 

sympathetic to the plight of 

condemned prisoners 

especially those awaiting 

sentence- to be hanged or to 

be shot according to how the 

judge directed. I have met 

with a death row inmate who 

was later pardoned. He 

narrated to me the trauma of 

awaiting death every day. 

For him every day is death. 

Once it is 2:00am, he will 

wake up because the worst 

thing that can happen to you 

is for them to wake you up 

and take you to hang. What 

those people go through can 

never be imagined and this 

was what led Dr Olisa 

Agbakoba, SAN to go to 

court. His contention was 

that keeping people awaiting 

execution is a form of 

torture. Of course the court 

didn’t agree with him up to 

this point, what they said is 

that they still have a right. 

I totally accept the view of 

many of our colleagues who 

says that the people who are 

been kept in prison awaiting 

execution are under serious 

torture. Their rights are been 

validated every day, by the 

state while they are awaiting 

execution. And I think 

something should be done to 

ensure that, correctional 

strategies are employed to 

see that if they truly change, 

if the society can still benefit 

from them before they are 

executed. 

FG recently changed 

the name of our prisons 

to Correctional Services 

Centres. Is this the 

solution to the problems 

with our prisons? 

I don’t think transiting 

from Nigeria Prison Service 

to Correctional Service 

Centre is sufficient to 

ameliorate the problems we 

have within the prison 

system. The challenge we 

have in the prison is the 

infrastructure. These are 

*Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN 

prisons that were built by the 

colonial masters. The mind 

set then was to subjugate and 

punish the locals who are 

clamouring 

for 

independence. Those prisons 

were built for the purpose of 

punishing. The second issue 

is congestion. Most of those 

prisons have exceeded their 

maximum capacity three 

times. What is required in the 

prison is not all about 

documentary reforms. We 

should talk about the real 

infrastructure. How do you 

ensure that people who leave 

that place don’t go back to 

crime? 

The greatest reform that 

you can achieve in a prison is 

through judiciary because the 

problem of Nigeria prison is 

awaiting trial cases. They 

constitute 80% of the 

population of the prisons. The 

people who have been 

convicted surprisingly are 

less than 30%. Some have 

been going to court for more 

than 9 to 10 years such that 

even if they had been 

convicted the period which 

they will spend will be lesser 

than that which they have 

spent awaiting trial. 

So many factors combine 

together to make it 

impossible to achieve any 

reform in the prison system. 

So if really you want to reform 

the prisons, you should start 

with the court, to ensure that 

courts are decongested. This 

way, those cases can be heard 

and then those who are free 

can be discharged. Those who 

want to be convicted can be 

convicted, when you finish 

with the court then move to 

the prison proper to rebuild 

it 

Ẏou can’t have correctional 

prison facilities in the middle 

of town. At the time they built 

Ikoyi prisons, to the British, 

Ikoyi was a bush at that time. 

That location cannot achieve 

any expansion today because 

there are commercials 

buildings everywhere. There 

T h e 

greatest 

reform that 

you can 

achieve in a 

prison is 

through 

judiciary 

because the 

problem of 

Nigeria 

prison is 

awaiting 

trial cases 

is nothing you can 

do. You can’t 

d e m o l i s h 

people’s houses. 

Government 

should look for 

other areas where 

there is land and 

build proper 

correctional 

facilities with 

recreation 

facilities and 

opportunities for 

learning. There 

should be schools 

there and small 

s c a l e 

empowerment 

system. You 

can’t retain this 

old structure and 

expect to 

continue to 

reform peoples 

mind. It can’t 

work. So I believe 

that when you 

really want to 

reform the prison 

system, it goes 

beyond name 

change. 

Since his 

assumption of 

office, the 

Chief Justice of 

Nigeria has 

b e e n 

clamouring 

for 

independence of the 

judiciary. Is there any 

other way that the 

judiciary can forcefully 

regain its independence? 

I doubt it for many reasons. 

Talking can help but not in the 

way that we are currently 

doing it. The judiciary 

deserves to be put in a state 

of emergency. Judges are 

actually weeping. Judges are 

unofficial members of the Bar 

Association so it is the 

responsibility of lawyers to 

take up the fight for the 

independence and autonomy 

of the Judiciary. The judge is 

a civil servant, and civil 

servants are only to be seen 

not heard. 

I have never seen any civil 

society where judge take up 

the struggle for 

independence, autonomy or 

issues of welfare. It is always 

the lawyers that pursue that 

course. Unfortunately, the 

Nigerian Bar Association is 

factionalized. The problems 

in the general polity have also 

found itself into the Bar. Take 

for instance, the Justice 

Onnogen’s incident. The NBA 

met and took decision to 

embark on a strike. The strike 

was not successful in states 

that were sympathetic to the 

then CJN, but states 

especially in the North that 

were sympathetic to the 

president did not comply with 

strike. The problem will 

probably continue since the 

politicians have also found 

themselves into the Bar. But 

what must we do? I think that 

is becoming clearer. Senior 

lawyers must find a way to 

engage with those who are in 

power. Take this regime for 

instance; there are very many 

senior lawyers in the cabinet. 

They can actually work with 

the bar to achieve a society 

where the judiciary is 

independent. Unfortunately, 

independence of the judiciary 

cannot be achieved because 

there is a deliberate policy of 

the executive not to allow the 

judiciary to function. It is 

deliberate so it is not a matter 

of this Buhari’s 


The reason is very simple. 

In any society, the executive 

is responsible for formulating 

and executing policies; the 

judiciary to interpret and the 

legislature to formulate and 

make laws. But the executive 

come in contact with the 

people all the time. It is their 

actions that people feel all the 

time. So invariably, 80% of 

the cases that find themselves 

up to the court are 

challenging the actions of the 

executive. 

So in that regard, the 

executive takes it as a point 

of duty to starve the judiciary 

of fund such that those who 

are challenging the executive 

impunity are been sent a 

message to say it does not pay 

you to go to court. They are 

invariably saying, ‘You 

cannot reverse what I have 

done. I control the court. If I 

cannot get through to them 

by giving direct instruction, 

I will frustrate them by 

showing that your case is not 

heard on time. There will be 

no electricity; I will not 

appoint enough judges. That 

actually is the underlining 

factor why the executive is 

not interested to allow the 

judiciary to have true 

independence. 

So where lies the 

solution to all this? 

It is rare for me to commend 

the president but I believe we 

should support his policies 

that all monies meant for state 

judiciaries should no longer 

go through the governors. So 

what am saying is that, if we 

team up with the president 

and ensure that, that law 

becomes effective and the 

judges have hold on their 

money, we have freed them 

from that dominion of the 

executive and that is the first 

responsibility of the bar to 

ensure that the judges gets 

their money. 

The second solution is this; 

we must open a register and 

interact with the judges. The 

bar must rise up and speak 

with one voice for any judge 

who is a victim of any form of 

executive intimidation. As 

we are trying to force the 

executive to respect the 

judiciary, lawyers should 

respect the judiciary by 

refusing to partake in any 

corrupt. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Harassment, intimidation of 

journalists: Lawyers raise concern 

By Innocent Anaba, Onozure 

Dania 

REACTIONS 

have 

continued to trail 

Amnesty International 

Monday’s 

report, 

Endangered Voices, released 

at a briefing on state of 

freedom of expression and 

media freedom in Abuja, 

detailing harassments, 

intimidation, sometimes 

physically assault and 

arbitrary arrests by Nigerian 

authorities of Journalists, 

bloggers and activists, 

simply for doing their job or 

expressing dissenting 

opinions, which it noted was 

on the increase. 

In this edition of Law and 

Human Rights, we bring to 

you the view of lawyers, as 

they expressed concern over 

the development. 

Excerpt: 

Prof Ernest Ojukwu, 

SAN. 

The report of harassment, 

Legal History Society of Nigeria inaugurated in Lagos 


LEGAL History Society of 

Nigeria, has been 

inaugurated with its maiden 

conference with the theme: 

“Does Legal History Matter?” 

held in Lagos. 

The body, boast of imminent 

personalities as members, 

which include Chief Anthony 

Idigbe, SAN, Prof. Fabian 

Ajogwu, SAN, Prof. Fidelis 

Oditah, QC, SAN, Mr. Tayo 

Oyetibo, SAN, Chief Bayo Ojo, 

SAN, for Attorney General of 

the Federation and former 

President of Nigerian Bar 

Associattion, NBA, Richard 

Akinnola, Mr. Nduka 

Obaigbena, Thisday Newspaper 

Publisher, Mr Supo Shasore, 

former Attorney General of 

Lagos State, Prof. Philip Girard 

of Osgoode Hall School, Canada 

among others. 

They noted at the event that 

preserving the legal history of 

the country in such a manner 

that it could be easily retrieved 

when needed, would assist 

future generations in terms of 

understanding the reasoning 

behind every piece of 

legislation. 

Stressing the importance of 

legal history, Idigbe, SAN, who 

is President of the body, 

explained “If legal history is not 

preserved, we may be doing 

things the wrong way in the 

future or do them differently. 

“So, it is not just the issue of 

preserving legal history, it is 

about the ability to recall or 

retrieve it and use it. You 

should not work for what has 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Editor) 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

Henry Ojelu, 

Onozure Dania 

arrest and detention of 

journalists in Nigeria by 

government agents is a 

disturbing trend that 

challenges our hope for 

democracy and freedoms. It 

a cause for concern. In all 

history, the introduction of 

dictatorships commenced 

with the harassment of 

journalists and citizens who 

spoke out against governance 

wrongs. 

“Once there is a successful 

clamp down on freedom of 

speech and freedom of 

information all other human 

and people’s rights become a 

mirage. I hope that all well 

meaning person’s will 

continue to speak out on this 

issue and keep calling out our 

leaders and agents who think 

that they themselves would 

be safe in a country without 

freedoms.” 

Solomon Akuma SAN, 

said “It is unfortunate. It is a 

sign to gag the press and 

freedom of expression and a 

Left: Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Mr. ED Emeka Keazor, Prof. Philpi 

Girard, Chief Tony Idigbe, SAN and Supo Shasore, SAN,after the 

presentation of Sourvenir to Prof. Girard at the event. 

been worked for in the past. We 

should be building on what has 

been worked for instead. In a 

situation where there is a gap 

between what we do today and 

what was done in the past, it 

will result in doing the things 

all over again and that will 

limit our experience. The more 

experienced you are, the easier 

it is to do things,” he said. 

According to him, the society 

is trying to identify where the 

history can be found, retrieve 

it, and store it in a manner that 

it can be recalled, be it in the 

manner of electronic format, 

books and oral history. 

Ajogwu, who 

chaired a panel on 

Legal History and 

Politics said, “If you 

don’t know the 

reason why certain 

laws are passed or 

what led to some 

reforms, the next 

time you are about to 

do it, you might not 

know how to proceed. 

“If you listen to the 

debate on how 

certain laws are 

made, they aid in 

adjudication and 

deciding what was 

the mischief it 

sought to cure. We 

felt that it is 

clear indication of 

intolerance to opposing 

views.” 

Prof Sam Erugo, Dean, 

Faculty of Law, Abia State 

University 

There’s general clampdown 

on those critical of this 

government, it’s not limited 

to journalists. The spate of 

harassment, arrests and 

detention of innocent citizens 

is worrisome. The journalists 

are usually victims in 

situations such as the present 

in Nigeria. There’s is apparent 

impunity and abuse of 

executive powers by agents 

of the executive arm; and this 

can only be addressed by the 

executive. The rule of law 

should dictate the course of 

action of every agent of 

government. Baton will 

always change, and today’s 

agent-supremo could 

become the hunted 

tomorrow. 

Mrs Ethel Nwabuzor 

important not just to be quoting 

English laws, we need to 

document our own legal 

history.” According to him, the 

case of Ahmed Tijani and 

Adesugba, a 1920s matter dealt 

with ownership and integrity 

of the judiciary at that time 

and specifically the politics of 

that time because the country 

was than a protectorate. 

He further said, “If you drive 

around Ikoyi, Lagos, you will 

see Bourdilion and McPherson. 

Those are our history. We 

cannot just assume that future 

generations will know. They 

deserve to really know what our 

legal history was. That is what 

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019—51 

It’s not just illegal but also 

unconstitutional, A flagrant 

violation of their 


enshrined under the 1999 

Constitution. It is also an 

assault on the Freedom of 

Information Act. 

Olanrewaju Ajanaku 

One evil that can be 

catastrophic if allowed to 

fester is the gag of the realm 

of journalism. They can make 

or mar the government. Woe 

betides that government that 

makes or attempts to gag the 

watchdog of the society. 

On the basis of seeing 

journalism and journalists as 

the prism of our ‘sights.’ It is 

unfortunate that there seems 

to be an unwitting 

clampdown on journalists in 

this era and this should not be 

so. Some would argue that 

with the state of infringements 

on fundamental rights of 

people, particularly, 

journalists, that the 

government of the day is 

becoming despotic. 

“Some others would argue 

that if the government of the 

day does not put its feet 

down, certain individuals or 

certain professionals like 

journalists would not know 

that there is a limit to freedom 

of speech. By and large, one 

would begin to wonder if there 

should not be a meeting and 

Legal History 

Society is 

doing - 

showing the 

n e x u s 

between laws 

and society, 

laws and 

religion as 

well as laws 

and politics. 

It touches 

every other 

thing because 

a lawless 

society is not a 

society.” 

Speaking as 

a panelist on 

legal history 

and the role of 

newspapers, 

publisher of 

Thisday 

Newspapers, 

M r . 

Obaignena said: “If you run a 

good company, you can attract 

investment from anywhere. 

We have to determine our 

future in 2023. It is how we 

build that future that will 

determine our development. 

And in doing that we need a 

strong legal institutions and 

services as well as a robust 

media.” 

Akinnola, a media expart 

decried what he described as 

lack of research and in depth 

investigation among 

journalists and expressed 

optimism that the society would 

help to deepen learning in that 

area. 

melting point between the 

government and the 

journalists to warrant a 

balance and avoid 

unnecessary arrests, 

batteries, assault of all sorts 

and even confinements in 

very extreme cases as has 

been brought to the fore by 

Amnesty International. 

“I begin to wonder the type 

of advisers and the advises 

that the government is getting 

that is making them react to 

all sorts of ‘barrages’ and 

seeming ‘attacks’ at a time and 

policies of government. By 

and large, I do believe that 

the government really needs 

to tread carefully. The 

damnation that would follow 

such acts as we are seeing now 

would be unprecedented. I 

sincerely do think that the 

government of the days needs 

betters advisers in this 

regard. 

Report of Amnesty 

International cannot just be 

wished away. It’s high time we 

looked critically at the claims 

and address the issues that 

brought these journalists into 

objects of oppression and 

address the situation 

immediately. 

David Fadile 

Freedom of Expression is 

constitutionally recognised 

in any sane climes. Sec 39 of 

the 1999 constitution as 

amended guaranteed the 

freedom of expression of 

every person be it Nigerian 

citizen or non citizen 

however, subject to tort of 

libel and defamation. In 

furtherance of the above the 

government of Nigeria 

enacted Freedom of 

Information Act so as to 

enable Nigerian citizens 

access to vital information. 

Tragically, the same 

government of Nigerian 

enacted another legislation 

known as Cyber Crimes Act 

2015. This act has taken away 

the freedom of expression of 

the same every person 

through the backdoor. 

“The journalists both print 

and media are against the 

letter of the constitution 

often issue a disclaimer saying 

the information is the view of 

xyz and not that of the media 

organisation. This is 

completely unwarranted in a 

democracy. The assault on 

the media is avoidable if the 

practitioners rather than 

bemoaning their current 

travails can muster courage 

with the support of the civil 

societies engage the 

government of the day on the 

need to protect the 

practitioners otherwise the 

entire nation is in trouble. 

“Additionally, there is the 

urgent need to challenge any 

legislation 

that 

surreptitiously takes away 


every person in Nigeria such 

as the Cyber Crimes Act. I 

want to appeal to APC led 

government to be tolerant of 

opposition, critics etc.

Harassment, intimidation of 

journalists: Lawyers raise concern 

By Innocent Anaba, Onozure 

Dania 

REACTIONS 

have 

continued to trail 

Amnesty International 

Monday’s 

report, 

Endangered Voices, released 

at a briefing on state of 

freedom of expression and 

media freedom in Abuja, 

detailing harassments, 

intimidation, sometimes 

physically assault and 

arbitrary arrests by Nigerian 

authorities of Journalists, 

bloggers and activists, 

simply for doing their job or 

expressing dissenting 

opinions, which it noted was 

on the increase. 

In this edition of Law and 

Human Rights, we bring to 

you the view of lawyers, as 

they expressed concern over 

the development. 

Excerpt: 

Prof Ernest Ojukwu, 

SAN. 

The report of harassment, 

Legal History Society of Nigeria inaugurated in Lagos 


LEGAL History Society of 

Nigeria, has been 

inaugurated with its maiden 

conference with the theme: 

“Does Legal History Matter?” 

held in Lagos. 

The body, boast of imminent 

personalities as members, 

which include Chief Anthony 

Idigbe, SAN, Prof. Fabian 

Ajogwu, SAN, Prof. Fidelis 

Oditah, QC, SAN, Mr. Tayo 

Oyetibo, SAN, Chief Bayo Ojo, 

SAN, for Attorney General of 

the Federation and former 

President of Nigerian Bar 

Associattion, NBA, Richard 

Akinnola, Mr. Nduka 

Obaigbena, Thisday Newspaper 

Publisher, Mr Supo Shasore, 

former Attorney General of 

Lagos State, Prof. Philip Girard 

of Osgoode Hall School, Canada 

among others. 

They noted at the event that 

preserving the legal history of 

the country in such a manner 

that it could be easily retrieved 

when needed, would assist 

future generations in terms of 

understanding the reasoning 

behind every piece of 

legislation. 

Stressing the importance of 

legal history, Idigbe, SAN, who 

is President of the body, 

explained “If legal history is not 

preserved, we may be doing 

things the wrong way in the 

future or do them differently. 

“So, it is not just the issue of 

preserving legal history, it is 

about the ability to recall or 

retrieve it and use it. You 

should not work for what has 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Editor) 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

Henry Ojelu, 

Onozure Dania 

arrest and detention of 

journalists in Nigeria by 

government agents is a 

disturbing trend that 

challenges our hope for 

democracy and freedoms. It 

a cause for concern. In all 

history, the introduction of 

dictatorships commenced 

with the harassment of 

journalists and citizens who 

spoke out against governance 

wrongs. 

“Once there is a successful 

clamp down on freedom of 

speech and freedom of 

information all other human 

and people’s rights become a 

mirage. I hope that all well 

meaning person’s will 

continue to speak out on this 

issue and keep calling out our 

leaders and agents who think 

that they themselves would 

be safe in a country without 

freedoms.” 

Solomon Akuma SAN, 

said “It is unfortunate. It is a 

sign to gag the press and 

freedom of expression and a 

Left: Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Mr. ED Emeka Keazor, Prof. Philpi 

Girard, Chief Tony Idigbe, SAN and Supo Shasore, SAN,after the 

presentation of Sourvenir to Prof. Girard at the event. 

been worked for in the past. We 

should be building on what has 

been worked for instead. In a 

situation where there is a gap 

between what we do today and 

what was done in the past, it 

will result in doing the things 

all over again and that will 

limit our experience. The more 

experienced you are, the easier 

it is to do things,” he said. 

According to him, the society 

is trying to identify where the 

history can be found, retrieve 

it, and store it in a manner that 

it can be recalled, be it in the 

manner of electronic format, 

books and oral history. 

Ajogwu, who 

chaired a panel on 

Legal History and 

Politics said, “If you 

don’t know the 

reason why certain 

laws are passed or 

what led to some 

reforms, the next 

time you are about to 

do it, you might not 

know how to proceed. 

“If you listen to the 

debate on how 

certain laws are 

made, they aid in 

adjudication and 

deciding what was 

the mischief it 

sought to cure. We 

felt that it is 

clear indication of 

intolerance to opposing 

views.” 

Prof Sam Erugo, Dean, 

Faculty of Law, Abia State 

University 

There’s general clampdown 

on those critical of this 

government, it’s not limited 

to journalists. The spate of 

harassment, arrests and 

detention of innocent citizens 

is worrisome. The journalists 

are usually victims in 

situations such as the present 

in Nigeria. There’s is apparent 

impunity and abuse of 

executive powers by agents 

of the executive arm; and this 

can only be addressed by the 

executive. The rule of law 

should dictate the course of 

action of every agent of 

government. Baton will 

always change, and today’s 

agent-supremo could 

become the hunted 

tomorrow. 

Mrs Ethel Nwabuzor 

important not just to be quoting 

English laws, we need to 

document our own legal 

history.” According to him, the 

case of Ahmed Tijani and 

Adesugba, a 1920s matter dealt 

with ownership and integrity 

of the judiciary at that time 

and specifically the politics of 

that time because the country 

was than a protectorate. 

He further said, “If you drive 

around Ikoyi, Lagos, you will 

see Bourdilion and McPherson. 

Those are our history. We 

cannot just assume that future 

generations will know. They 

deserve to really know what our 

legal history was. That is what 

VANGUARD, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019—51 

It’s not just illegal but also 

unconstitutional, A flagrant 

violation of their 


enshrined under the 1999 

Constitution. It is also an 

assault on the Freedom of 

Information Act. 

Olanrewaju Ajanaku 

One evil that can be 

catastrophic if allowed to 

fester is the gag of the realm 

of journalism. They can make 

or mar the government. Woe 

betides that government that 

makes or attempts to gag the 

watchdog of the society. 

On the basis of seeing 

journalism and journalists as 

the prism of our ‘sights.’ It is 

unfortunate that there seems 

to be an unwitting 

clampdown on journalists in 

this era and this should not be 

so. Some would argue that 

with the state of infringements 

on fundamental rights of 

people, particularly, 

journalists, that the 

government of the day is 

becoming despotic. 

“Some others would argue 

that if the government of the 

day does not put its feet 

down, certain individuals or 

certain professionals like 

journalists would not know 

that there is a limit to freedom 

of speech. By and large, one 

would begin to wonder if there 

should not be a meeting and 

Legal History 

Society is 

doing - 

showing the 

n e x u s 

between laws 

and society, 

laws and 

religion as 

well as laws 

and politics. 

It touches 

every other 

thing because 

a lawless 

society is not a 

society.” 

Speaking as 

a panelist on 

legal history 

and the role of 

newspapers, 

publisher of 

Thisday 

Newspapers, 

M r . 

Obaignena said: “If you run a 

good company, you can attract 

investment from anywhere. 

We have to determine our 

future in 2023. It is how we 

build that future that will 

determine our development. 

And in doing that we need a 

strong legal institutions and 

services as well as a robust 

media.” 

Akinnola, a media expart 

decried what he described as 

lack of research and in depth 

investigation among 

journalists and expressed 

optimism that the society would 

help to deepen learning in that 

area. 

melting point between the 

government and the 

journalists to warrant a 

balance and avoid 

unnecessary arrests, 

batteries, assault of all sorts 

and even confinements in 

very extreme cases as has 

been brought to the fore by 

Amnesty International. 

“I begin to wonder the type 

of advisers and the advises 

that the government is getting 

that is making them react to 

all sorts of ‘barrages’ and 

seeming ‘attacks’ at a time and 

policies of government. By 

and large, I do believe that 

the government really needs 

to tread carefully. The 

damnation that would follow 

such acts as we are seeing now 

would be unprecedented. I 

sincerely do think that the 

government of the days needs 

betters advisers in this 

regard. 

Report of Amnesty 

International cannot just be 

wished away. It’s high time we 

looked critically at the claims 

and address the issues that 

brought these journalists into 

objects of oppression and 

address the situation 

immediately. 

David Fadile 

Freedom of Expression is 

constitutionally recognised 

in any sane climes. Sec 39 of 

the 1999 constitution as 

amended guaranteed the 

freedom of expression of 

every person be it Nigerian 

citizen or non citizen 

however, subject to tort of 

libel and defamation. In 

furtherance of the above the 

government of Nigeria 

enacted Freedom of 

Information Act so as to 

enable Nigerian citizens 

access to vital information. 

Tragically, the same 

government of Nigerian 

enacted another legislation 

known as Cyber Crimes Act 

2015. This act has taken away 


the same every person 

through the backdoor. 

“The journalists both print 

and media are against the 

letter of the constitution 

often issue a disclaimer saying 

the information is the view of 

xyz and not that of the media 

organisation. This is 

completely unwarranted in a 

democracy. The assault on 

the media is avoidable if the 

practitioners rather than 

bemoaning their current 

travails can muster courage 

with the support of the civil 

societies engage the 

government of the day on the 

need to protect the 

practitioners otherwise the 

entire nation is in trouble. 

“Additionally, there is the 

urgent need to challenge any 

legislation 

that 

surreptitiously takes away 


every person in Nigeria such 

as the Cyber Crimes Act. I 

want to appeal to APC led 

government to be tolerant of 

opposition, critics etc.


Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives to deliver her annual policy address, as pro-democracy 

lawmakers protest, at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China. 

Dark web child abuse: Hundreds arrested 

across 38 countries 

Turkey-Syria offensive, not our 

problem — Trump 

PRESIDENT Donald 

Trump has said it is 

“not our problem” if Turkey 

enters Syria, adding that the 

Kurds are “no angels, by the 

way”. 

His comments come as the 

US faces intense criticism for 

withdrawing its forces from 

Syria, which some say gave 

Turkey the green light to 

launch a cross-border offensive. 

Mr Trump told reporters 

at the White House the 

US is “not a policing agent”. 

“It is time for us to go home,” 

he said. 

Air pollution ‘caused 400,000 premature 

European deaths in 2016’ 

POOR air quality 

caused about 

400,000 premature deaths 

in Europe in 2016 - the 

most recent year data is 

available - and almost every 

city-dwelling European 

is exposed to pollution 

levels that exceed healthy 

levels, according to a new 

report. 

“Air pollution is currently 

the most important environmental 

risk to human 

health,” the European 

Environment Agency 

(EEA), the EU’s health 

agency, said in the report 

released on Wednesday. 

The report’s author, EEA 

air quality expert Alberto 

Gonzalez Ortiz, said that 

while the level of dangerous 

particles in European 

cities was dropping, it was 

not dropping quickly 

MORE than 300 peo 

ple have been arrested 

following the takedown 

of one of the world’s 

“largest dark web child 

porn marketplaces”, investigators 

said. 

The site had more than 

200,000 videos which had 

collectively been downloaded 

more than a million 

times. 

It was shut down last 

year after a UK investigation 

into a child sex offender 

uncovered its existence. 

But on Wednesday, officials 

revealed that 337 

suspected users had been 

arrested across 38 countries. 

US officials unsealed 

nine indictments against 

the site’s owner Jong Woo 

Son, 23, from South Korea 

– where he is currently 

in prison. 

The UK’s National 

Crime Agency said arrests 

had been made in 

the UK, Ireland, America, 

South Korea, Germany, 

Spain, Saudi Arabia, the 

United Arab Emirates, the 

Czech Republic and Canada 

- among others. 

The site, named Welcome 

to Video, was run 

from South Korea and had 

nearly eight terabytes of 

content involving child 

abuse - enough to store 

hundreds or even thousands 

of hours of video 

footage. 

Prosecutors said the site 

had offered videos of sex 

acts involving children, 

infants and toddlers – 

and specifically asked 

users not to upload videos 

featuring adults-only 

pornography. 

The site was “one of the 

first to offer sickening videos 

for sale using the 

cryptocurrency bitcoin,” 

the UK’s National Crime 

Agency said. 

It was taken down by an 

international task force 

that included agencies 

from the UK, the US, 

South Korea and Germany 

after operating for 

three years. 

It was discovered during 

an investigation into 

enough. “We have not yet 

reached the EU standards 

and of course we are far 

from reaching the WHO 

(World Health Organization) 

standards,” Ortiz 

said. EU law currently requires 

countries to assess 

the level, notably in urban 

areas, of a range of pollutants, 

including ozone and 

particulate matter, and take 

action if certain limits are 

hit. 

paedophile Matthew 

Falder from England, 

who was jailed for 25 

years for sharing abuse 

tips and images on the 

dark web. 

In the UK, seven men 

have already been convicted 

in connection with 

the investigation, including 

Kyle Fox who was 

jailed for 22 years last 

March for the rape of a 

five-year-old boy and who 

appeared on the site sexually 

abusing a threeyear-old 

girl. 

Turkey launched the offensive 

in northern Syria a 

week ago to push back from 

its border members of a Syrian 

Kurdish militia called the 

People’s Protection Units 

(YPG) and create a 32km 

(20-mile) deep “safe zone” 

along the Syrian side of 

the border, where up to two 

million Syrian refugees can 

be resettled. The Turkish operation 

came after Mr 

Trump ordered the withdrawal 

of US forces from the 

area. 

Mr Trump made the comments 

during a meeting 

with Italian President Sergio 

Mattarella at the White 

House. The president said 

he saw the situation on the 

Turkey-Syria border as “strategically 

brilliant” for the US. 

“Our soldiers are out of 

there. Our soldiers are totally 

safe. They’ve got to 

work it out. Maybe they can 

do it without fighting,” he 

said. 

“We’re watching and 

we’re negotiating and we’re 

trying to get Turkey to do the 

right thing, because we’d 

like to stop wars regardless.” 

The president also said that 

the Kurds are “not angels”. 

“They fought with us. We 

made a lot of money for them 

to fight with us, and that’s 

okay,” he said. “They did 

well when they fought with 

us. They didn’t do so well 

when they didn’t fight with 

us.” 

Mr Trump did not elaborate 

on his comments about 

the Kurds, who only days 

ago he called “wonderful 

people”. 

At the same press conference, 

Italy’s President Mattarella, 

said that Italy condemns 

the Turkish offensive. 

US ‘concerned’ over 

untrackable China ships 

carrying Iran oil 

THE White House has warned Chinese ship 

ping companies against turning off their ships’ 

transponders to hide Iranian oil shipments in violation 

of United States sanctions, two senior administration 

officials said. 

“We’ve been messaging very heavily to the shipping 

companies, you don’t want to do this, it’s not 

worth it,” said one official, who spoke to Reuters 

news agency on condition of anonymity. 

“It’s incredibly dangerous and irresponsible behaviour.” 

China is the largest remaining buyer of Iranian 

oil after US President Donald Trump reimposed 

sanctions on Tehran’s main export. 

Trump tightened US sanctions in May in an effort 

to drive Iran’s oil sales to zero. 

The sanctions are aimed at quashing Iran’s nuclear 

ambitions, ballistic missile programme and influence 

in Syria, Iraq and other countries. Its oil 

exports have fallen to less than 400,000 barrels per 

day from about 2.5 million. 

EU lawmakers postpone start of 

new commission 

THE European Parliament expects the new EU 

Commission to start work with at least a month’s 

delay after MEPs rejected three candidate-commissioners, 

the institution’s spokesman said Wednesday. 

“Parliament willing to vote on time to allow new 

Commission to start December 1,” spokesman Jaume 

Duch tweeted. The new Commission had been due 

to take office on November 1. 

Duch added a call for the “rapid appointment of 

the new three commissioners-designate”. The effective 

delay means that outgoing EU president 

Jean-Claude Juncker’s commission will remain in 

power for at least a month longer than expected. 

The postponement came as the new Commission’s 

incoming president, Ursula von der Leyen, cast 

around for new candidates from France, Hungary 

and Romania to be put forward to join her 27-strong 

executive team. 

‘Miracle’ baby survives after 

being buried for days 

DOCTORS on Wednesday hailed as a “miracle” the 

survival of a newborn girl found several days after 

being buried alive, as police hunted for her parents who 

have been charged with attempted murder. 

The nearly eight-day-old baby was found in a clay pot 

by a father Thursday when he was digging a grave for 

his own newborn daughter, who had died the day before, 

in a village in northern Uttar Pradesh state. 

The premature infant weighing just 1.1 kilogrammes 

(2.4 pounds) was taken to a government hospital in a 

critical condition with severe dehydration and blood infections 

before being transferred to a private hospital. 

“It’s a miracle that she survived being buried for so 

long,” her doctor Ravi Khanna said. 

“The baby must’ve remained buried for 2.5 to three days 

because she was very emaciated from her cheeks to her 

neck, her stomach and legs. The girl, who is in an incubator, 

was now “out of danger” and responding to antibiotic 

treatment, he said. 

French National Assembly approves 

IVF for lesbians, single women 

FRANCE’s lower house of parliament has ap 

proved a sweeping bioethics bill to give single 

women and lesbians access to fertility treatments, 

a move which critics pledged to fight as the 

legislation moves to the Senate. 

National Assembly members voted 359 to 114 on 

Tuesday, with 72 abstentions, in favour of the first 

major social reform of President Emmanuel Macron’s 

term. 

During his 2017 election campaign, Macron 

pledged to support the bill despite deep resistance 

among right-wing opponents as well as conservative 

Roman Catholics and other religious groups. 

“These measures, while respecting our ethical 

principles, recognise the family in all its diversity,” 

France’s health, justice and research ministers said 

in a joint statement after the vote. 

But the text now heads in January to the Senate, 

where Macron’s centrist party is far outnumbered 

by the right-wing Republicans. 

Tuesday’s vote “does not in any way mean this is 

done”, said Ludovine de la Rochere, president of 

the Protest for Everyone association which has spearheaded 

opposition to the bill.


Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives to deliver her annual policy address, as pro-democracy 

lawmakers protest, at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong, China. 

Dark web child abuse: Hundreds arrested 

across 38 countries 

Turkey-Syria offensive, not our 

problem — Trump 

PRESIDENT Donald 

Trump has said it is 

“not our problem” if Turkey 

enters Syria, adding that the 

Kurds are “no angels, by the 

way”. 

His comments come as the 

US faces intense criticism for 

withdrawing its forces from 

Syria, which some say gave 

Turkey the green light to 

launch a cross-border offensive. 

Mr Trump told reporters 

at the White House the 

US is “not a policing agent”. 

“It is time for us to go home,” 

he said. 

Air pollution ‘caused 400,000 premature 

European deaths in 2016’ 

POOR air quality 

caused about 

400,000 premature deaths 

in Europe in 2016 - the 

most recent year data is 

available - and almost every 

city-dwelling European 

is exposed to pollution 

levels that exceed healthy 

levels, according to a new 

report. 

“Air pollution is currently 

the most important environmental 

risk to human 

health,” the European 

Environment Agency 

(EEA), the EU’s health 

agency, said in the report 

released on Wednesday. 

The report’s author, EEA 

air quality expert Alberto 

Gonzalez Ortiz, said that 

while the level of dangerous 

particles in European 

cities was dropping, it was 

not dropping quickly 

MORE than 300 peo 

ple have been arrested 

following the takedown 

of one of the world’s 

“largest dark web child 

porn marketplaces”, investigators 

said. 

The site had more than 

200,000 videos which had 

collectively been downloaded 

more than a million 

times. 

It was shut down last 

year after a UK investigation 

into a child sex offender 

uncovered its existence. 

But on Wednesday, officials 

revealed that 337 

suspected users had been 

arrested across 38 countries. 

US officials unsealed 

nine indictments against 

the site’s owner Jong Woo 

Son, 23, from South Korea 

– where he is currently 

in prison. 

The UK’s National 

Crime Agency said arrests 

had been made in 

the UK, Ireland, America, 

South Korea, Germany, 

Spain, Saudi Arabia, the 

United Arab Emirates, the 

Czech Republic and Canada 

- among others. 

The site, named Welcome 

to Video, was run 

from South Korea and had 

nearly eight terabytes of 

content involving child 

abuse - enough to store 

hundreds or even thousands 

of hours of video 

footage. 

Prosecutors said the site 

had offered videos of sex 

acts involving children, 

infants and toddlers – 

and specifically asked 

users not to upload videos 

featuring adults-only 

pornography. 

The site was “one of the 

first to offer sickening videos 

for sale using the 

cryptocurrency bitcoin,” 

the UK’s National Crime 

Agency said. 

It was taken down by an 

international task force 

that included agencies 

from the UK, the US, 

South Korea and Germany 

after operating for 

three years. 

It was discovered during 

an investigation into 

enough. “We have not yet 

reached the EU standards 

and of course we are far 

from reaching the WHO 

(World Health Organization) 

standards,” Ortiz 

said. EU law currently requires 

countries to assess 

the level, notably in urban 

areas, of a range of pollutants, 

including ozone and 

particulate matter, and take 

action if certain limits are 

hit. 

paedophile Matthew 

Falder from England, 

who was jailed for 25 

years for sharing abuse 

tips and images on the 

dark web. 

In the UK, seven men 

have already been convicted 

in connection with 

the investigation, including 

Kyle Fox who was 

jailed for 22 years last 

March for the rape of a 

five-year-old boy and who 

appeared on the site sexually 

abusing a threeyear-old 

girl. 

Turkey launched the offensive 

in northern Syria a 

week ago to push back from 

its border members of a Syrian 

Kurdish militia called the 

People’s Protection Units 

(YPG) and create a 32km 

(20-mile) deep “safe zone” 

along the Syrian side of 

the border, where up to two 

million Syrian refugees can 

be resettled. The Turkish operation 

came after Mr 

Trump ordered the withdrawal 

of US forces from the 

area. 

Mr Trump made the comments 

during a meeting 

with Italian President Sergio 

Mattarella at the White 

House. The president said 

he saw the situation on the 

Turkey-Syria border as “strategically 

brilliant” for the US. 

“Our soldiers are out of 

there. Our soldiers are totally 

safe. They’ve got to 

work it out. Maybe they can 

do it without fighting,” he 

said. 

“We’re watching and 

we’re negotiating and we’re 

trying to get Turkey to do the 

right thing, because we’d 

like to stop wars regardless.” 

The president also said that 

the Kurds are “not angels”. 

“They fought with us. We 

made a lot of money for them 

to fight with us, and that’s 

okay,” he said. “They did 

well when they fought with 

us. They didn’t do so well 

when they didn’t fight with 

us.” 

Mr Trump did not elaborate 

on his comments about 

the Kurds, who only days 

ago he called “wonderful 

people”. 

At the same press conference, 

Italy’s President Mattarella, 

said that Italy condemns 

the Turkish offensive. 

US ‘concerned’ over 

untrackable China ships 

carrying Iran oil 

THE White House has warned Chinese ship 

ping companies against turning off their ships’ 

transponders to hide Iranian oil shipments in violation 

of United States sanctions, two senior administration 

officials said. 

“We’ve been messaging very heavily to the shipping 

companies, you don’t want to do this, it’s not 

worth it,” said one official, who spoke to Reuters 

news agency on condition of anonymity. 

“It’s incredibly dangerous and irresponsible behaviour.” 

China is the largest remaining buyer of Iranian 

oil after US President Donald Trump reimposed 

sanctions on Tehran’s main export. 

Trump tightened US sanctions in May in an effort 

to drive Iran’s oil sales to zero. 

The sanctions are aimed at quashing Iran’s nuclear 

ambitions, ballistic missile programme and influence 

in Syria, Iraq and other countries. Its oil 

exports have fallen to less than 400,000 barrels per 

day from about 2.5 million. 

EU lawmakers postpone start of 

new commission 

THE European Parliament expects the new EU 

Commission to start work with at least a month’s 

delay after MEPs rejected three candidate-commissioners, 

the institution’s spokesman said Wednesday. 

“Parliament willing to vote on time to allow new 

Commission to start December 1,” spokesman Jaume 

Duch tweeted. The new Commission had been due 

to take office on November 1. 

Duch added a call for the “rapid appointment of 

the new three commissioners-designate”. The effective 

delay means that outgoing EU president 

Jean-Claude Juncker’s commission will remain in 

power for at least a month longer than expected. 

The postponement came as the new Commission’s 

incoming president, Ursula von der Leyen, cast 

around for new candidates from France, Hungary 

and Romania to be put forward to join her 27-strong 

executive team. 

‘Miracle’ baby survives after 

being buried for days 

DOCTORS on Wednesday hailed as a “miracle” the 

survival of a newborn girl found several days after 

being buried alive, as police hunted for her parents who 

have been charged with attempted murder. 

The nearly eight-day-old baby was found in a clay pot 

by a father Thursday when he was digging a grave for 

his own newborn daughter, who had died the day before, 

in a village in northern Uttar Pradesh state. 

The premature infant weighing just 1.1 kilogrammes 

(2.4 pounds) was taken to a government hospital in a 

critical condition with severe dehydration and blood infections 

before being transferred to a private hospital. 

“It’s a miracle that she survived being buried for so 

long,” her doctor Ravi Khanna said. 

“The baby must’ve remained buried for 2.5 to three days 

because she was very emaciated from her cheeks to her 

neck, her stomach and legs. The girl, who is in an incubator, 

was now “out of danger” and responding to antibiotic 

treatment, he said. 

French National Assembly approves 

IVF for lesbians, single women 

FRANCE’s lower house of parliament has ap 

proved a sweeping bioethics bill to give single 

women and lesbians access to fertility treatments, 

a move which critics pledged to fight as the 

legislation moves to the Senate. 

National Assembly members voted 359 to 114 on 

Tuesday, with 72 abstentions, in favour of the first 

major social reform of President Emmanuel Macron’s 

term. 

During his 2017 election campaign, Macron 

pledged to support the bill despite deep resistance 

among right-wing opponents as well as conservative 

Roman Catholics and other religious groups. 

“These measures, while respecting our ethical 

principles, recognise the family in all its diversity,” 

France’s health, justice and research ministers said 

in a joint statement after the vote. 

But the text now heads in January to the Senate, 

where Macron’s centrist party is far outnumbered 

by the right-wing Republicans. 

Tuesday’s vote “does not in any way mean this is 

done”, said Ludovine de la Rochere, president of 

the Protest for Everyone association which has spearheaded 

opposition to the bill.


DONATION: From left—DVC, Academics and Chairman, Governing Board, Prof. A. B. 

Ekanola; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka; old student, 

Engineer and Builder, Kayode Adelekun, former principals, Mrs. Esther Smith and Dr. 

Oyelola, with incubent Principal, Mrs. Phabenan Olowe, during the unveilling of a 

block donated by the I989 Set of International School. UI. 

DONATION: From left—Omotayo Azeez-Abiodun, PR Manager, Tolaram Group; Niyi 

Ajibade, Branch Manager, OANDO, Lawanson Station; Mrs. Folake Mabawonku, a 

beneficiary; Oyeyemi Fagbemi, Marketing Manager, Minimie, during the official donation 

of a kiosk to Mrs. Mabawonku, in partnerships with OANDO filling stations. 

MEDIA BRIEFING: From left—Professor of Heamatology, Lagos State University Teaching 

Hospital, Prof Sulaimon Akanmu; General Manager, Country Chair, Nigeria and 

Ghana, Sanofi, Folake Odediran, and Head of Business Operations Support, Sanofi, 

Mr. Abimbola Oshin, during the media briefing on World Thrombosis Day, organized 

by Sanofi, in Lagos. 

LAUNCH: From left—Group Marketing Director, The LaCasera Company, Mr Emmanuel 

Agu; Head, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Lagos 

office, Mrs. Susie Onwuka; Managing Director, The La Casera Company, Mr Chinedum 

Okereke, and Portfolio Marketing Manager, Mr. Onyekachim Okoli, at the media 

launch of LaCasera Refresh and Connect promo, in Lagos. 

Lagos Open Tennis 2nd Leg: Nigeria’s Quadre, 

Blessing through to seecndd round 

By John Egbokhan 

Two Nigerian players 

survived first round scare 

when the main draws of 

the second leg of 2019 Lagos Open 

Tennis served off on Wednesday at 

the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, 

Onikan. 

Barakat Oyinlomo Quadre was 

too much for her opponent from 

Denmark, Dasam Divine Nweke, 

who she beat in straight sets of 6- 

0,6-0 to qualify for the second 

round in the women’s singles. Also 

Blessing Samuel made it to the 

second round after she beat 

compatriot Muhammed Jumai in 

another straight sets of 6-2, 6-1. 

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Aziz 

Ouakaa made a surprised 

performance on Day One of the 

Main draws as he stopped 

opponent from Ukraine, in a three 

sets thrilling game. Quakaa, 

Maritime Cup 2019: 

NPA begins title 

defence, 

defeats HPI 4-0 

By Blessed Evans 

he 11th Annual Ships & Ports 

TMaritime Cup Competition 

kicked off in Lagos on Tuesday, with 

defending champions, Nigerian Ports 

Authority (NPA) defeating Higher 

Pacific International (HPI) 4-0. NPA 

top striker, Mustapha Ashiru scored 

a hat-trick while Bello Haruna scored 

the fourth goal in the 65th minute of 

the match. Ashiru’s goals were scored 

in the 10th, 40th and 60th minutes. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony 

of the competition, which attracted 

notable industry stakeholders, the 

Chief Executive Officer of Ships & 

Ports, Bolaji Akinola, said the idea 

behind the tournament, which has 

recorded huge success since 

inception, is to foster unity and 

cooperation among industry 

stakeholders. 

He urged the participating teams 

to ensure fair play and decency in 

the course of the competition, stating 

that the tournament is not only about 

playing to win but also as an avenue 

to build friendship. 

“The Maritime Cup competition is 

like the Olympics. The joy is more in 

participation and not just the laurels 

at stake. The idea behind it is to bring 

the maritime industry together and 

foster healthy recreation among 

workers,” Akinola said. 

Akinola, announced a N1million 

cash prize for the winner of the 

competition and said the first and 

second runners-up will win 

N300,000 and N200,000 respectively. 

The participating teams in the 

competition this year include NPA, 

HPI, ENL Consortium and Dangote 

Ports Operation in Group A and the 

Nigerian Maritime Administration 

and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Tin 

Can Island Container Terminal 

(TICT), Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited 

(ABTL), and Josephdam Port 

Services (JPS) in Group B. 

By Jacob Ajom 

Super Eagles team B 

goalkeepers trainer, 

Coach Etta Egbe has 

declared war on Togo, 

saying the Eagles have 

done enough to ensure 

victory in the second leg 

of the 2020 CHAN 

Qualifier against them. 

The match comes up on 

Saturday, October 19 at 

the Agege Stadium, Lagos. 

Speaking in a chat with 

Sports Vanguard, Egbe 

acknowledged that with a 

4-1 goal advantage from 

the first leg, the Togolese 

could be tempted to 

believe it was all over. 

“But we will give them 

the shocker of their lives 

a first timer in the Lagos Open 

Tennis defeated tournament’s 7th 

seed, Eric Vanshelbosim 5-7,6-3,6- 

3. Nigerian Joseph Imeh Ubon 

could not complete his match 

against top seed in the men’s 

singles, Tunisian Mausouri 

Skander as the game was stopped 

3-0 in the first set. Zimbabwe’s 

Garanganga Takanyi had a 

smooth ride over Nigeria Paul 

Emmanuelin a game that ended 

6-1,6-3. Seventh seed Camry 

Hemery from France, who was the 

champion of the first leg, won his 

first round game on Wednesday. 

Hemery beat Nigerian Sylvester 

Emmanuel 7-6 (4), 3-0. 

Emmanuel retired in the second 

set of the match. Top seed in the 

women’s singles, Mendez Seone 

from Austria beat Swedish Fanny 

Ostlund in straight sets of 6-2,6- 

2. South African teenager, Kruger 

Isabella defeated Tunisian Chiraz 

Bechri 6-4, 7-5. 

First Bank/Kaduna Georgian Cup Polo: 

Emir of Katsina, Umar hail First 

Bank on Georgian Cup Centenary 

By Solomon Nwoke 

The huge involvement of First 

Bank Nigeria in the 

development of the noble game in 

Nigeria has received official 

commendation from the 

Traditional Council of Katsina 

State. 

Chairman of Katsina State 

Traditional Council and Emir of 

Katsina, HRH Alhaji (Dr.) 

Abdulmumuni Kabir Usman who 

made the commendation, praised 

First Bank for partnering Kaduna 

Polo Club in the promotion of the 

noble game and for positively 

touching the lives of Nigerians in 

so many ways. 

The Royal father, who is also the 

Life Chairman of the Nigerian 

Polo, made this declaration at the 

legendary Murtala Sqaure Polo 

Ground, venue of the ongoing 

Georgian Cup Centenary Polo 

Tournament in Kaduna, 

noted that the partnership with 

the noble game of polo has 

By Rahman Zainab 

The Chairman, Technical 

Committee of the ongoing 

Zenith Bank/Delta Principals’ 

Cup football competition, Lucky 

Sunday, has declared that the 

screening process of the 

tournament will not end until 

the final day. 

Sunday said the Technical 

and Verification Committee 

(TVC) of the competition has 

made so much progress in the 

2019 edition which started last 

month. 

He revealed that some 

schools were disqualified at the 

Local Government preliminary 

stage while some players were 

individually expelled as well. 

In the final stages of the LG 

prelims, about five players from 

different schools were expelled. 

The Tech Committee boss said: 

“We are determined to avoid 

any team an undue advantage 

We’ll shock Togo – Egbe 

positively impacted the promotion 

of sports generally around the 

country. 

He stated that the unequalled 

involvement of First Bank in the 

promotion of polo and sports 

spanning a century in Kaduna and 

other states of the country has 

helped in redirecting the energies 

of the youth and engaging them 

positively. 

He expressed happiness at the 

commitment of the banking giant 

to achieving this milestone of a 

century long sponsorship and 

urged First Bank to do more, given 

the unifying and the diplomatic 

credentials of sports in Nigerian 

political history. 

“We the entire Nigerian polo 

family are happy with First Bank 

for engaging our youths positively 

in the area of polo and I would urge 

them not to relent in this highly 

commendation partnership that 

turns our people 

away from negative tendencies,” 

the royal father stated. 

Zenith Bank/Delta Principals’ Cup: 

Screening continues till final 

— Lucky Sunday 

By Jacob Ajom 

because we are condemned 

to win. It’s qualification or 

nothing,” Egbe said in very 

strong terms. 

The Eagles who returned 

from the WAFU Cup of 

Nations that held in 

Senegal empty handed last 

weekend, have been 

training in Abuja since 

Saturday under the 

watchful eyes of Coach 

Imama Amapakabo. 

Egbe said the boys will 

be ready for the Togo 

challenge, saying the 

catastrophic result of the 

first leg would not play a 

part in the second leg. 

“The first leg was a 

different ball game. The 

team was hurriedly 

assembled and we had 

over the other. There are 

various means we use aside 

the mandatory birth certificate 

and school identification 

documents. 

“The TVC officials visit the 

schools unannounced to verify 

and ask questions accordingly. 

I personally visited nine 

schools. In the committee, we 

have 10 people that are 

seasoned football 

administrators and we are all 

working hard to ensure a true 

winner emerges.” 

For the zonal eliminations 

which started only on 

Wednesday in eight cenres, 

Sunday added that the TVC 

would still be on duty. 

The commissioner for basic 

and Secondary School 

Education in Delta State, Chief 

Patrick Ukah, said he was 

impressed with the process so 

far. 

fewer days to train than 

now. We have no excuse 

this time.” 

He said that the 

delayed commencement 

of the Nigeria 

Professional Football 

League made it more 

difficult for the players to 

adjust to competitive 

football. “Pre-season 

friendly matches cannot 

be compared to 

competitive league 

matches. It was evident 

that the players lacked 

stamina and their fitness 

level was poor. 

Everything about the first 

leg was poor. But we have 

worked on the worrisome 

areas of the team and we 

are better prepared now 

than ever. We are ready 

for them,” Egbe assured.


Real 

Madrid eye 

Chukwueze 

Real Madrid are 

considering a 

swoop for Samuel 

Chukwueze to replace 

Wales star Gareth Bale if he 

leaves the capital outfit in 

the upcoming transfer 

windows. 

Bale has been regularly 

linked with a transfer to 

Manchester United in 

recent months and saw a 

move to Chinese club Jiangsu Suning fall through at the last 

minute in the summer transfer window. 

Spanish transfer market website Fichajes has claimed that 

Los Blancos are combing the market for a winger and 

Chukwueze has emerged as a low cost alternative to replace 

Bale. 

The Niche honours NFF 

president, Amaju Pinnick 

A 

fast rising media outfit, 

The Niche, on Tuesday 

in Lagos bestowed the 

President of Nigeria Football 

Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin 

Pinnick, with the Excellence 

in Sports and Youth 

Development in Nigeria 

award. 

While acknowledging the 

efforts of the Amaju Pinnick – 

led NFF to reposition the 

game of football in Nigeria, 

the Managing Director/ 

Editor-in-Chief of the 

respected media organization, 

Mr. Ikechukwu Amaechi said 

Pinnick was selected for the 

prestigious award because he 

has shown capacity on his job. 

“The Niche has followed the 

activities of Amaju Pinnick 

and found him deserving 

because he has discharged his 

duties with uncommon zeal 

and efficiency. He has 

provided good quality 

leadership and laid a good 

foundation for football 

administration in Nigeria, 

with the efforts himself and 

members of his board have 

made at ensuring that the 

Nigeria Football Federation 

Bill is passed by the National 

Assembly. 

FIFA to foot Uzoho’s wages 

Football’s governing body, 

FIFA will pay Francis 

Uzoho’s wages during his 

spell on the sidelines, reports 

have said. 

The Deportivo de La 

Coruña-owned goalkeeper 

could be out of action for a 

minimum of six months after 

suffering a fracture of the 

meniscus and the anterior 

cruciate ligament of his left 

knee during Nigeria’s 1-1 

draw with Brazil on Sunday. 

The Brazil vs Nigeria 

friendly is recognized by FIFA 

as it was played on a date on 

the FIFA international match 

calendar and both teams did 

Onazi returns after 

lengthy injury layoff 

Super Eagles midfielder 

Ogenyi Onazi is close to 

returning to action after being 

sidelined for the last ten months 

with career threatening injury. 

Onazi has been out of action 

since December 2018 after 

tearing his cruciate ligaments 

in Trabzonspor’s 4-1 home win 

against Rizespor. 

The former Lazio man 

recently returned to full training 

and is currently working his 

way back to full fitness. 

“When I see my people 

happy I am motivated. I see all 

your messages I am working 

hard to come back stronger to 

achieve our goal for the season. 

Almost ready,” he wrote on his 

social media handle. 

The 26-year-old missed 2019 

Africa Cup of Nations Cup in 

CHAN 2020: Eagles Team B 

intensify preparations for Togo 

not field more than six 

substitutes each. 

Under FIFA’s Club Protection 

Programme, clubs whose 

players suffer injuries whilst on 

international duty are 

compensated and the 

maximum daily compensation 

has been set at •20,548. 

The compensation payable is 

based solely on the fixed salary 

that the club pays directly to the 

player as his employer and the 

temporary total disablement 

(TTD) suffered by the player 

has to prevent him from 

representing his club for more 

than 28 days before a claim can 

be processed. 

Egypt as well as the Super Eagles 

last two friendlies against 

Ukraine and Brazil respectively. 

Ronaldo earns more on 

Instagram than at Juve pix 

Ron 

Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly 

makes more money being an 

influencer on Instagram than he 

does playing soccer for Juventus. 

The 34-year-old pockets an 

annual $47.8 million from paid 

Instagram posts, according to a 

study by social media firm 

Hopper HQ on Buzz Bingo. 

In contrast, his salary at 

Juventus is reportedly $34 

million, according to Goal.com. 

Ronaldo’s reported income 

from Instagram makes him the 

platform’s highest earner, ahead 

of Lionel Messi and Kylie 

Jenner. 

The 

Home–based 

Senior Men National 

Team, Super Eagles B, have 

intensified preparations for 

Saturday’s 2020 African 

Nations Championship 

qualifying battle with the 

Sparrow Hawks of Togo in 

Lagos. 

Imama Amapakabo and the 

players have been training at 

the FIFA Goal Project, National 

Stadium, Abuja since returning 

from their expedition at the 

WAFU/FOX Cup of Nations in 

Senegal last week. 

Barcelona forward 

Lionel Messi picked 

up a record-extending sixth 

- and third consecutive - 

European Golden Shoe 

The former international 

goalkeeper realizes that they 

have a mountain to climb, 

having lost the first leg in Lome 

4-1 and then overwhelmed by 

the same team at the WAFU/ 

FOX Cup of Nations in 

Senegal. 

“We have a big job at hand, 

and I have been drumming it 

into the ears of the players that 

we cannot afford to fail. The 

Togolese won 4-1 on their home 

ground; nothing says we 

cannot do better on our own 

home ground. 

Messi extends 

European 

golden shoe 

dominance 

award yesterday following 

his outstanding individual 

2018-19 domestic 

campaign. 

The award is presented to 

the top goalscorer in league 

football across Europe, with 

the Argentine finding the 

net 36 times last season as 

Barca retained their La Liga 

title. 

Messi was three ahead of 

nearest rival Kylian 

Mbappe, who scored 33 

times for Paris St Germain 

as they won France’s Ligue 

1. 

The award is presented to 

the top goalscorer in league 

football across Europe, with 

the Argentine finding the 

net 36 times last season as 

Barca retained their La Liga 

title.

Ronaldo better 

than Pele – Mendes 

Cristiano Ronaldo is the 

'greatest player of all 

time' and is 'better than 

Pele', according to his agent 

Jorge Mendes. 

Ronaldo scored the 700th 

goal of his career in Portugal's 

2-1 defeat 

against Ukraine 

on Monday - to 

become the 

sixth player in 

history to 

reach that 

landmark. 

The 34- 

year-old - now playing his club football 

in Serie A with Juventus - still 

has some way to go to beat the alltime 

record of 800 goals set by former 

Czech Republic forward Josef Bican, 

but Mendes insists Ronaldo is not 

done with breaking records just yet. 

Speaking to Italian outlet 

Tuttosport, Mendes said: 'The numbers 

do not lie. The overwhelming 

way in which Cristiano Ronaldo 

shatters records elevates him to the 

category of the best player in the history 

of football and with a big difference 

compared to the second. 

'For all that he has achieved in 

the services of the different clubs 

which he has represented, either in 

England or in Spain or now in Italy, 

but also with the Portuguese national 

team. 

'The fact is that with Cristiano 

Ronaldo, Portugal has already 

played three finals, winning two,' 

Real Madrid preparing 

2021 bid for Mbappe 

Real Madrid will play the long 

game with Kylian Mbappe and 

move to sign the Frenchman from 

Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. 

The youngster, who moved to 

the Parc des Princes in 2017 for 

£167m, has been linked with a 

move away from the French capital. 

It is claimed that Mbappe will 

push for a move to the Bernabeu 

next summer should PSG once 

again fail to go far in the Champions 

League. 

According to Marca, Real are 

prepared to play the long game 

with Mbappe, whose current deal 

expires in 2022, and will allow his 

contract to run down before making 

a bid. 

Real president Florentino 

Perez, who is 'obsessed' with 

Mbappe, hopes that the 

same tactic which led to 

Thibaut 

•Mourinho 

•Pele and Ronaldo 

Mendes explains in reference to Portugal 

winning Euro 2016 and this 

year's inaugural UEFA Nations 

League, as well as being runnersup 

at Euro 2004. 

Mendes also described the moment 

he first spotted Ronaldo as a 

16-year-old, seeing straight away 

his scary talent alongside his determination. 

Ronaldo's great rival Lionel 

Messi currently trails the Portuguese 

superstar in the all-time scoring 

tally on 672, though the Argentine 

is two years Ronaldo's junior. 

Internationally, Ronaldo will now 

set his sights on the all-time international 

goalscoring record, held by 

Ali Daei. 

The former Iran forward scored 

109 times in 149 games for his country, 

while 34-year-old Ronaldo is 

currently on 95 from 162 caps. 

Courtois and Eden Hazard 

moving to Spain will 

also work when it 

comes to the 

striker. 

Other reports 

in Spain state 

that PSG, now 

resigned to 

l o s i n g 

Neymar, 

w e r e 

willing 

t o 

m a k e 

Mbappe 

the world's 

best-paid 

player should 

he sign a new 

contract with the 

club. 

Anderlecht fined for hiring 

diploma-less Kompany 

Belgian giants Anderlecht 

were fined the maximum 

•5,000 ($5,516.00) on Tuesday 

for allowing Vincent 

Kompany to coach their team 

without the required diploma, 

the Belgian football 

association said. 

"The club violated the regulations 

for a long time and despite 

that it being against the 

rules did not hesitate to publicly 

unveil a coach without a diploma," the association's 

licensing committee said in a statement. 

Belgium requires the head coach at all its topflight 

clubs to hold a UEFA Pro licence, which 

Kompany does not have. 

He was appointed player-coach in May in a bid 

to revive the ailing fortunes of the country's most 

successful team. 

Anderlecht argued that Simon Davies, the 

former Manchester City academy chief who followed 

Kompany to Brussels, was actually the head 

coach but the commission used the club's own media 

statements and video clips of the unveiling of 

Kompany to refute this. 

Anderlecht were also given a strong reprimand 

for "insufficient respect for compliance with the 

regulations." 

Anderlecht have won only two of 10 league 

games under Kompany, who has also played but 

was then injured. They are in 13th place in the 16- 

team league. 

La Liga ask Real Madrid, 

Barcelona to MOVE October 

26 Clasico to Bernabeu 

Tottenham step up 

Mourinho's pursuit 

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly made contact with Jose 

Mourinho amid uncertainty surrounding Mauricio Pochettino's 

future. 

The incumbent Spurs boss finds himself under serious 

pressure following a miserable run of results this season, 

including a 7-2 defeat to Bayern Munich 

and a loss on penalties against Colchester 

United in the EFL Cup. 

Mourinho, meanwhile, has been out of a 

job since being sacked by Manchester United 

in December 2018. 

According to Soccerlink, Spurs have 

reached out to the Mourinho camp as the 

North London club plans for life after Pochettino. 

It is claimed that Mourinho rejected the offer to become 

Lyon manager because he wants to take the Spurs job once it 

becomes available. 

Pochettino, who became Spurs boss in 2014, has been heavily 

linked with taking the Manchester United job even before 

Mourinho was sacked by the Old Trafford hierarchy. 


Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold 

enters Guinness World Records 

LIVERPOOL FULL-BACK Trent 

Alexander-Arnold has officially 

entered the 

Guinness World 

Record book for 

his haul of 12 assists 

in the Premier 

League last 

season. 

The 21-yearold 

became an 

undisputed 

starter at rightback 

in the 2018- 

19 campaign, 

featuring 29 

times as the Reds 

narrowly missed 

out on the Premier 

League title 

to Manchester 

City. 

Alexander- 

Arnold’s performances 

earned him a 

place in the Professional 

Footballers’ 

Association 

(PFA) Pre- 

LaLiga have reportedly asked Real Madrid and Barce 

lona to agree a Clasico switch so the October 26 game 

takes place at the Santaigo Bernabeu, rather than the Nou 

Camp, due to fears over the impact of Catalan protests 

Ṡpanish publication AS are reporting that the 

turbulent situation in Catalonia has thrust the 

league into action with the huge clash arriving 

in 10 days. A 'large demonstration' is planned in 

Barcelona on the day of the game and the report 

details how the league are looking to avoid security 

being compromised for one of the 

biggest fixtures on the calendar. 

A statement from LaLiga on 

Wednesday read: 'We have requested 

the competitions committee 

of the RFEF to meet and 

change the location of El 

Clasico to Madrid because of 

exceptional circumstances 

beyond our control.' 

They went on to add that 

while it is short notice ahead 

of the eagerly-anticipated 

first Clasico of the league 

season, these are 'exceptional, 

unforeseeable and unavoidable 

circumstances'. 

AS went on to add that bosses at 

Real Madrid had not held discussions 

•Mbappe 

•Kompany 

with LaLiga about a switch prior to the 

league's plea and 

feel any switch at 

this stage brings 

complications. 

Bulgaria legend Hristo Stoichkov 

broke down in tears while speaking 

about the disgusting racial abuse 

England players suffered during a 

match against his country on Monday 

night. 

The Euro 2020 qualifier in Sofia 

was halted twice as England's black 

players were subjected to shocking 

racist chants and monkey noises 

from the home supporters. 

UEFA have since opened disciplinary 

proceedings against Bulgaria 

for a number of charges and it 

remains to be seen how severe their 

punishment will be. 

Stoichkov, Bulgaria's greatest 

ever player, was asked how to tackle 

racism during a television appearance 

on TUDN, an American Spanish 

language sports channel, and got 

emotional when he delivered his 

response. 

'What is the solution?', the presenter 

asked before Stoichkov replies: 

'That fans are not allowed in 

the stadium or even heavier punishments. 

'Like in England for years. Five 

mier League Team of the Year and 

he has also become a regular at international 

level for England. 

His effectiveness in the final 

third has drawn most acclaim and 

his remarkable haul of 12 assists 

is a new record for a defender in 

the Premier League, going one better 

than his team-mate Andy 

Robertson, who managed 11 in the 

same season. 

Alexander-Arnold, who also 

shone in Europe to help Liverpool 

win the Champions League, described 

it as “an unbelievably 

proud moment” to have surpassed 

the record previously held jointly 

by Everton duo Andy Hinchcliffe 

(1994-95) and Leighton Baines 

(2010-11). 

“He (Robertson) probably 

thought he had the competition 

wrapped up! Near the end of the 

season we both hit really good 

form, we were both getting lots of 

assists and it was good to help the 

team in those games that we 

needed to win,” Alexander-Arnold 

said after being presented with his 

accolade. 

•Alexander-Arnold with his Guniness Book 

Zidane's son Luca has no 

regrets leaving Real Madrid 

Luca Zidane insists he is happy with his decision to 

join Racing Santander on loan in the summer despite 

seemingly missing out on playing 

time at Real Madrid. 

Zidane signed for the Spanish 

second-tier club in search of firstteam 

football but Madrid No 1 

Thibaut Courtois missed out last 

time out against Granada due to illness. 

The son of manager Zinedine 

Zidane has made two previous 

appearances for Real and at 21 

years old could have been in line 

to stand in for the former Chelsea 

stopper. 

Fellow goalkeepers including 

Keylor Navas and 

Andriy Lunin also left the 

club over the summer, 

paving the way for 

Alphonse Areola to 

join from Paris Saint- 

•Luca 

Germain. He has 

since stepped in to 

replace Courtois. 

Stoichkov breaks down in 

TEARS over Bulgaria racism 

years without going to stadiums. 

People don't deserve to suffer.' The 

53-year-old then leaned forward and 

appeared to start to cry as the conversation 

moved on to the other 

guests. 

It is believed Stoichkov is talking 

about a similar punishment to 

that imposed by UEFA in the aftermath 

of Heysel. 

English club sides were banned 

from European club competitions for 

five years after 39 people were killed 

before the start of the 1985 European 

Cup final in Belgium. 

•Stoichkov

Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2019 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

Across 

1 Popular newspaper size (7) 

5 Trembling poplar (5) 

8 Wear away (5) 

9 Supplement to a will (7) 

10 Gland in the neck (7) 

11 Prickle (5) 

12 Intemperance (6) 

14 Overseas (6) 

18 Disrobe (5) 

20 Hermit (7) 

22 Type of crossword (7) 

23 Mythological abode of 

the dead (5) 

24 Bright, cloudness (5) 

25 Hang (7) 

Down 

1 Playhouse (7) 

2 Plunder (5) 

3 Burdensome (7) 

4 Make up one’s mind (6) 

5 Inspect accounts (5) 

6 Small flute (7) 

7 Synthetic fabric (5) 

13 Continue (5,2) 

15 God of wine (7) 

16 Wearing clothes (7) 

17 Summary (6) 

18 Religious factions (5) 

19 Trivial (5) 

21 Excessive (5) 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

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

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

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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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.

17102019 - FG cuts travels, estacodes for ministers, other officials

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