13022020

OLU FASAN 31 

26 

Music 

The parliamentary 

system is a better 

route to political 

stability, government 

effectiveness and 

economic progress 

for this country than 

the current flawed 

system 

KANU'S PARENTS' 

Vanguard, 

Ecobank 

agric summit 

BURIAL: Don't 

trigger armed 

struggle, IPOB 

warns Army, 

Police 

15 holds today 38 

Music 

legend, 

Victor Olaiya 

dies at 89 

BPE to raise N267bn from privatisation of 20 coys 

19 

VOL. 27: NO. 64004 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

Boko Haram hits Maiduguri as 

Buhari visits, runs into storm 

•B-Haram can’t come without knowledge of locals – BUHARI 

•Declare state of emergency, Reps tell Buhari 

•Ooni, Sultan speak against insecurity at summit in Osogbo 

•CAN mourns, blames military for security lapses on Auno attack 

•Govs task security operatives on greater responsibility 9 

BUHARI'S CONDOLENCE VISIT TO BORNO... 

5 

Family of 

11, many 

others 

burnt alive 

as bandits 

attack 

Kaduna 

village 6 

Naira 

appreciates 

to N364.85/ 

$ in I&E 

40 

window 

Mr & Mrs 

President Muhammadu Buhari with Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum and Shehu of Borno, HRM Abubakar Umar El- 

Kanemi at the Shehu's Palace, during a sympathy visit to Borno State over recent terrorist attacks in the state. State House photo. 

CONSTITUTION REVIEW: 

We’ll consider 2014 Confab 

report, says Senate 

Nigeria gets 3 centres to 

test for Corona Virus 

AMAECHI 

17 

8 

9 

Obaseki denies involvement 

in attacks on APC members’ 

residence 

SOWORE: Court orders FG 

to pay N200,000 fine over 

frivolous adjournment 

12 

8 

C 

M 

Y 

K

2 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 — 3


vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguardnews 

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

SOUTH-EAST SECURITY SUMMIT —From left: President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John 

Nnia Nwodo; Bishop of Anglican Communion, Enugu, Emmanuel Chukwuma; Enugu and Ebonyi 

Governors, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Chief David Umahi; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed 

Adamu; Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra; Deputy Governor of Imo, Prof. Francis Njoku; Gov. Okezeie 

Ikpeazu of Abia State and representative of South-East Traditional Rulers, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, 

during South-East Geo-Political Zone Security Summit in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Boko Haram hits Borno as Buhari visits, 

runs into storm 

By Ndahi Marama, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, 

Dirisu Yakubu, Luminous Jannamike, 

Tordue Salem, Shina Abubakar & Ibrahim 

South senatorial district, Ali 

Hassan 

M AIDUGURI— 

Barely hours after 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari left Maiduguri after 

paying a consolation visit 

to the city over killing of 

over 30 persons at Auno 

village on Sunday, the 

insurgents, yesterday, 

launched attack on Jiddari 

Polo general area of the 

metropolis, as residents fled 

their homes into the heart 

of the city. 

President Buhari had ran 

into a storm during the visit, 

yesterday, as some 

residents booed his convoy 

on his way to the Palace of 

the Emir of Borno 

Jiddari Polo General Area 

is a densely populated 

area on the outskirts of the 

metropolis, close to the 21 

Giwa Armoured Barracks. 

A resident, Mallam Yusuf 

Unman, said: “Our 

community is currently 

under Boko Haram attack, 

there are deafening sounds 

of gunshots and 

explosions, but I was lucky 

to have mobilised my 

family and fled into the 

heart of the city to reunite 

with one of my relatives.” 

Although the sounds of 

the gunshots subsided at 

7:12pm, many residents 

who fled into the city were 

still stranded at press time. 

One of the fleeing 

residents, Adamu Garba 

told Vanguard at about 

7:30pm, he sighted a large 

number of armed 

policemen, members of the 

civilian JTF with military 

troops heading towards the 

area of the attack as he 

struggled to enter the town 

with his family in his private 

car. 

This came as the 

President said more 

proactive and decisive 

measures would be taken 

by the Federal Government 

to put an end to the Boko 

Haram menace once and 

for all, saying there couldn’t 

be Boko Haram without 

knowledge of local leaders. 

Also, the House of 

Representatives asked the 

Federal Government to 

declare a state of 

emergency on security in 

the country, while the 

senator representing Borno 

Ndume, asked 

government to engage 

mercenaries to finish off the 

insurgent group. 

President Buhari had 

arrived Maiduguri from 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 

where he attended African 

Union summit since last 

Friday, to condole with the 

people over last Sunday’s 

Boko Haram attack which 

claimed over 30 lives at 

Auno village. 

The attack also left 18 

vehicles, shops and houses 

razed, after food items 

being conveyed to 

Maiduguri by trucks were 

looted. 

As the convoy of the 

President made its way to 

the Palace of the Shehu of 

Borno, His Royal Highness 

Abubakar Ibn Umar Gabai, 

in company of Governor 

Babagana Umaru Zulum, 

some residents, mainly 

youths, shouted in Hausa: 

“Bama so!” “Bamayi!”, 

meaning “we don’t want; 

we’re not interested, 

because you have 

disappointed us.’’ 

Surprisingly, during the 

2015 and 2019 general 

elections, Borno people 

massively voted for the 

President, the area being 

one of his strongholds. 

During his previous visits 

to the state, crowds always 

lined up the streets, 

chanting “Sai baba!” 

‘Security 

improvement’ll 

be pursued’ 

Speaking during the visit, 

the President said the 

Federal Government, 

beyond ensuring that more 

proactive and decisive 

measures would to be taken 

to put an end to the Boko 

Haram menace in the 

country once and for all, 

noted that intelligence 

sharing and synergy 

between law enforcement 

agencies and the civil 

populace were critical 

towards achieving the 

objectives. 

He said: “I assure you 

that improvement in 

security will be pursued 

vigorously. The military will 

work harder and strategise 

with tactics to deal with the 

insurgents. This is, 

however, not possible 

without good intelligence 

and cooperation with local 

community leaders. 

“Boko Haram cannot 

come up to Maiduguri or 

environs without the local 

leadership knowing 

because traditionally, the 

local leadership is in 

charge of security in their 

own respective areas. 

“I want to call on the 

leadership at various levels 

to cooperate with law 

enforcement agencies and 

let us deny Boko Haram 

access to our loyal citizens. 

“We will do our best and 

I hope history will be kind 

to us; to recall what was on 

the ground when we came 

and what will be on the 

ground when we leave.” 

In his remarks, Governor 

Zulum thanked the 

President for identifying 

with the state in these trying 

times. 

He praised the efforts of 

the military so far, 

wondering why some 

Continues on Page 40 

By Bose Adelaja & 

Olayinka Latona 

On clamour for regional security outfits (2) 

I 

am in total support 

of regional policing 

to complement the 

federal policing system 

we currently have. 

Regional security outfits 

will secure each region 

as well as strengthen the 

security architecture of 

the country thereby 

making the country a 

safe place to live and do 

business. 

-Farouk Olaotan Shitta 

Entrepreneur 

In as much as different 

regions are tired of 

relying on the FG for 

protection, the decision to 

start creating regional 

security outfits needs to be 

defined. We cannot keep 

defying the rules and 

expect stability. Policing is 

not the exclusive 

responsibility of the FG by 

virtue of section 153 

subsection 216 of our 

constitution. 

- Jude Oseh 

Youth Advocate 

I 

think it’s a good 

development. Since 

the internal security 

structure is nothing to 

write home about, it is no 

crime if every region 

wants to take an extra 

step to secure their 

people. However, I 

foresee a clash becuase 

the animals used to 

represent the outfits are 

dangerous. May God 

see us through! 

-Tijani Jeff 

Artistic Director 

I personally think the 

plans by the regions to 

form security outfits is a 

good one and they will 

assist the federal 

security. It is obvious the 

federal security outfits 

have not been able to 

meet this challenge. 

Regional security outfits 

might not be the total 

solution to the nation’s 

insecurity but it will go 

a long way. 

-Olaniyan Temiloluwa 

Linguist 

The regions can only try 

to curb crimes but the 

question is, for how long? 

Restoring peace and 

sanity in the country takes a 

whole lot of effort and not all 

the regions will want to take 

up that responsibility. 

They can come up with 

other practicable measures. 

I suggest they leave security 

matters in the hands of the 

government. 

-Iseyemi Elizabeth 

Modupe 

Student 

The establishment of 

Amotekun is a good 

one by Southwest 

governors. Level of 

insecurity in Nigeria is 

high - from Boko Haram 

to bandits, kidnappers 

and herdsman. If the 

police cannot protect the 

people then it is not a 

bad idea if the various 

regions decides to 

protect themselves. 

-Stephen Obawe 

Student

6 — Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

Hit and run 

driver kills 

police officer 

in Imo 

By Chinonso 

Alozie 

OWERRI—A hit and run 

driver of a heavy-duty 

truck, yesterday, crushed a 

police officer along Owerri - 

Okigwe express road in Imo 

State. 

It was gathered, yesterday, 

that the deceased police officer, 

Paul Nwachukwu, was 

attached to Silver Highway 

patrol team, operating within 

the Atta area of Ikeduru Local 

Government Area of Imo State. 

An eyewitness revealed that 

the police officer was seen, 

Tuesday, at his duty post 

stopping and searching 

motorists among other things. 

However, the state Police 

Public Relations Officer, 

PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwu, who 

confirmed the incident said he 

was at the South-East Security 

Summit in Enugu, adding that 

he would give details of the 

event later. 

He further said efforts have 

been put in place by the police 

to apprehend the runaway 

truck driver. 

Anxiety in 

Edo 

community 

over kidnap 

of monarch’s 

wife 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY - THERE 

is anxiety in the palace 

of Onojie of Ewatto in Esan 

South East Local 

Government Area on Edo 

State, HRH Ikhumen II, as 

the traditional ruler’s wife, 

Queen Florence Ikhumen, 

is spending her fourth 

night in the den of her 

kidnappers. 

She was reportedly 

kidnapped on Sunday 

around Jemila area of Benin 

City. 

The incident was reported 

at the Ikpoba Hill police 

station immediately 

It was also learnt that the 

kidnappers have been 

making contact with the 

palace and their close 

family members but the 

amount they are 

demanding was yet 

unknown. 

Contacted, Edo State 

Police Command 

spokesman, DSP Chidi 

Nwabuzor, said he had 

been informed of the 

incident by the DPO, 

Ikpoba Hill Division. 

Family of 11, 10 others burnt alive 

as bandits attack Kaduna village 

By Ibrahim Hassan 

NO fewer than 21 people, 

including a family of 11, 

were reportedly killed by 

suspected bandits in an attack on 

Bakali village, Fika district of 

Giwa Local Government Area of 

Kaduna State. 

It was gathered that local 

guards and hunters in the village 

mobilised to launch an attack on 

the gunmen in their hideout but 

they were attacked on the way. 

The gunmen were said to have 

killed some of the vigilante 

members and pursued others to 

the village. 

A source said the suspected 

bandits started shooting at people 

and burning houses immediately 

they entered the village. 

The bandits reportedly locked 

11 members of a family in a room 

and set the house on fire. 

A community leader in the 

village, Alhaji Sani Bakali, told 

journalist on phone, yesterday, 

that the over 100 bandits raided 

the village, throwing the entire 

village into pandemonium. 

Sani Bakali added that 11 

members of his family were killed 

in the attack. 

He said on phone: “They came 

to our village on Tuesday around 

4pm on several motorbikes 

brandishing AK-47 rifles. 

“Immediately they came, they 

started moving round the village, 

shooting sporadically. In the 

process, they came to our house, 

set the house ablaze with 11 

people inside. 

“All the 11 people are members 

of my family. They include three 

women and eight children, who 

were wives and children of my 

three younger brothers. 

“They also killed two of my 

uncles. While on the bush path, 

we discovered four other corpses 

burnt to death. They equally killed 

two imams, one of my neighbours 

and a close friend of mine. 

“We just performed the funeral 

prayer for the 21 this afternoon 

(yesterday). Initially, it was 20 

corpses we buried , before we 

later discovered one more corpse 

inside the bush, we buried him 

too. 

“Right now, people have fled the 

village. I am the only one left in 

the village now, because I have 

come to pick something. I just 

took my brother and his two wives 

to Zaria. I am about leaving now 

myself. 

“Apart from the people killed, 

there are nine people we are yet 

to see since the incident. As it is 

now, we don’t know whether they 

have been killed or not.” 

Bakali village is now a ghost 

town as the remaining villagers 

have fled to other locations. 

Contacted, Muhammad Jalige, 

spokesman of the state police 

command, confirmed the attack, 

saying: “Yes, there was an attack 

in Giwa, Bakali village, to be 

precise, and we have sent a team 

of Police officers and men there 

to ascertain the situation of 

things. We are going to get across 

to you as soon as we have the 

details.” 

ILLEGALITY: Illegal mining site raided by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence 

Corps, NSCDC, FCT Command, at Sawni in Gwagwalada, Abuja on Tuesday. 

Photo: NAN. 

Fisherman beats wife to death over 

N5,000 

By Peter Duru 

MAKURDI—A 42-yearold 

fisherman, Patrick 

Ejiro, yesterday, reportedly 

beat his wife to death over 

missing N5,000 in Tyomu 

community on Makurdi- 

Gboko Road, Tarka Local 

Government Area of Benue 

State 

Vanguard gathered that the 

fisherman, an indigene of 

Delta State, had been living 

with his Benue wife in the 

community where he ekes out 

a living from fishing. 

According to the source, the 

couple had early in morning 

engaged each other in a 

heated argument over an 

alleged N5,000 realised from 

the sale of fish but was 

unaccounted for by the late 

wife. 

The source said: “The 

argument led to a fight, the 

husband beat her to a pulp 

and she passed out bleeding 

from her mouth and nostrils. 

“Neighbours, who 

intervened, made efforts to 

revive her but it was 

unsuccessful. She was 

eventually rushed to Benue 

State University Teaching 

Hospital, BSUTH, for further 

treatment where she was 

confirmed dead.” 

Confirming 

the 

development, Benue State 

Police Public Relations Officer, 

PPRO, 

Deputy 

Superintendent Catherine 

Anene, said the brawl between 

the couple started “when the 

wife allegedly sold some items 

for the family and failed to 

remit the N5,000. 

“He beat her up to a state of 

coma and she was bleeding 

from the nostrils. She was 

rushed to BSUTH where she 

was confirmed dead. The 

suspect is in police custody 

and investigation into the 

matter is already in progress,” 

she added. 

Police kill kidnapper, arrest 

2 others for robbery in Plateau 

A 

notorious kidnapper at 

Shimakarr village of 

Shandam Local Government 

Area, Plateau State, has been 

killed by Police operatives in 

the state while three other 

suspects were arrested over 

criminal conspiracy and armed 

robbery in the state. 

The Commissioner of Police 

in the state, Mr Isaac 

Akinmoyede, disclosed this, 

yesterday, while presenting 

the corpse and other suspects 

to newsmen in Jos. 

Akinmoyede said the 

kidnapper was shot and killed 

on Tuesday during a gun duel 

with the police, but that his 

colleagues had escaped 

He vowed to decisively deal 

with criminals in the state, 

attributing the feat achieved to 

the commitment and resilience 

of the command’s officers and 

men. 

He said: “Yesterday 

(Tuesday) , at about 7 a.m., one 

Rev. Ganko Istifanus of Church 

of Christ in Nation, COCIN, 

Shimakarr, reported to us that 

at about 5:30 a.m., gunmen 

came to his residence and 

kidnapped his son, Godsave 

Damen, and two others to an 

unknown destination. 

“Immediately, we received 

the information, a combined 

team of policemen, vigilante 

and hunters were mobilised to 

the scene and engaged the 

hoodlums in a gun battle. 

“In the process, one of the 

kidnappers was shot dead, 

while others took to their 

heels. We recovered one AK- 

47 rifle and 21 empty wheels 

of live ammunition.” 

The commissioner further 

said the three other suspects 

arrested over armed robbery 

were nabbed in Nasarawa 

Gwong community of Jos 

North amd Gyel community of 

Jos South local government 

areas. 

“Similarly, we have arrested 

one Sunday Alfa and Uzaifa 

Adam at Nasarawa Gwong 

community of Jos North over 

armed robbery activities.

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 —7 

Father who declined treatment to save daughter 

on religious ground, flees home with baby 

By Paul Olayemi 

SAPELE—THE 37-year-old 

man, Mr Ujemu Omena, 

who refused medical treatment for 

his 22-month-old baby girl 

suffering from hydrocephalus, a 

rare medical condition 

characterised by head 

enlargement in infants, in Sapele, 

Delta State, has reportedly fled 

home with the child. 

A family source told Vanguard: 

“Precious, the child was born with 

hydrocephalus and the parents, 

who were newly married then 

noticed that the baby’s head was 

getting larger. 

“Having noticed this, they 

started running from pillar to 

post, only to find out the illness 

was hydrocephalus, partly 

because of money and religious 

belief, the parents have refused 

to seek medical help, they are 

Jehovah Witnesses and he said 

their faith forbids blood 

transfusion.” 

On Monday, Gwamnishu 

Harrison, an activist, having been 

informed of the child’s condition 

on a Facebook news platform, 

Sapele Unugbragada, stormed 

the home of Mr Ujemu offering 

to foot the child's medical bills but 

to his surprise, Ojemu turned 

down the offer, citing religious 

belief, a decision that has attracted 

condemnations from social media 

users. 

Today, Ujemu was said to have 

fled his Benin Road residence 

opposite Urhiapele Secondary 

School home with the baby. 

The council chairman, Eugene 

The baby 

Inoaghan, who stormed little 

Precious father's residence told 

Vanguard that he was at little 

Precious father’s house to retrieve 

her from them for treatment only 

to find out he has fled his home 

with the baby. 

Kidnapped native doctor kicks against 

spiritual back-up for criminals 

By Eric Ugbor 

ABA—A popular native doctor 

based in Aba, Abia State, 

Chukwuemeka Emeueonu, who 

was released from the den of 

kidnappers last week has kicked 

against the spiritual backup given 

to kidnappers by some native doctors 

Emeyeonu, who was kidnapped 

by gunmen on February 1, 2020, 

warned all the native doctors and 

anybody involved in sponsoring or 

empowering kidnappers to desist 

from it or face the consequences that 

will soon come. 

The native doctor, who was 

rescued by a team of Special Anti 

Robbery Squad, SARS, led by their 

Commander, SP Johnbull 

Obioguru, from the den of the 

kidnappers six hours after his 

abduction, thanked SARS for their 

prompt response. 

Emeyeonu, who is the high priest 

of the popular Chukwuabiama 

Heritage Synagogue in Aba, 

advised those involved in 

kidnapping to repent from such evil, 

stressing that using the bad 

economy as an excuse to perpetrate 

crime is meaningless. 

The kidnap of Emeyeonu was 

widely reported within Aba as two 

“We are doing all we can to get 

her for medication but the father 

said he is far away but we will do 

everything we can to reach him 

and retrieve the baby for 

treatment,” he said. 

kidnappers involved in the evil act 

were killed during the exchange of 

fire with the SARS with some others 

reportedly arrested later. 

In his words: “The experience of 

my kidnap opened my eyes to 

something that is happening 

around us. This issue of kidnapping, 

when you hear it in the news, you 

may not understand, but when it 

happens to you, you’ll become a 

changed person. 

"I must thank the SARS from 

Umuahia for the way they 

responded promptly and during the 

exchange of bullets with the 

hoodlums, I was hearing how their 

leader was instructing them to be 

careful as not to hurt us the victims” 

Commercial driver to die by hanging for killing carpenter 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A Lagos High Court 

sitting in Igbosere, has 

sentenced a 47-year-old commercial 

driver, Akeem Raimi, popularly 

known as an old soldier, to death 

by hanging, for killing a carpenter 

over refusal to refund N3000. 

Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay 

handed down the verdict after 

finding him guilty of the offence of 

murder. 

The convict was arraigned on a 

one-count charge of murder 

preferred against him by Lagos 

State government. 

During the arraignment of the 

convict, sometime in 2016, the Lagos 

State prosecutor, Mr Yusuf Sule, 

had told the court that Raimi 

committed the offence on June 10, 

2011, at about 1: 30pm. 

Sule said the convict murdered 

one Segun Williams, by stabbing 

him with a broken bottle, on his neck, 

which led to his death. 

According to the prosecutor, the 

offence committed is punishable 

under Section 319 (1) of the criminal 

law of Lagos sate 2003. 

However, the convict pleaded not 

guilty to the charge against him, but 

his plea was not taken as he was 

remanded in prison custody, 

pending the hearing and 

determination of the case. 

Plateau United Football Club loses 

head coach 

THE camp of Nigeria Professional 

Football League side, Plateau 

United Football Club of , has been 

thrown into mourning following the 

death of its head coach, Audu Isah 

Pele. 

Pele , who died yesterday 

afternoon at his residence along Ali 

Kazaure , was hospitalised at the 

Bingham University Teaching 

Hospital before he was discharged 

on Monday. 

The deceased, who is survived by 

a wife, five children and many 

relations, joined the services of 

Plateau United as a coach of the 

feeder team in 2014. 

Following a string of poor results 

shortly after returning to the Nigeria 

Professional Football League in 

2016, the management of the team 

headed by Pius Henwan elevated 

Pele alongside other coaches from 

the feeder team to the main team. 

... with Emma'nKen (08163121378) 

The fear of coronavirus, the 

beginning of race of life 

Hmmm! You are not even a 

recognised side guy 

You should have told her!


By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA — THE Senate 

said yesterday it 

would consider recommendations 

of the 2014 National 

Conference, as it began 

the process of another constitution 

review. 

The Upper Chamber, 

which said report of the 

2014 Conference would 

form the working document 

of the current review, said 

the 58-member Constitution 

Committee would also consider 

the recommendations 

of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, committee report 

on restructuting. 

The committee was led by 

Kaduna State governor, 

Nasir el-Rufai. 

Speaking yesterday, 

shortly after the inauguration 

of the Constitution Review 

Committee, Deputy 

President of the Senate and 

Chairman of the Committee, 

Senator Ovie Omo- 

Agege, APC, Delta Central, 

said that the committee 

would also liaise with members 

of the House of Representatives, 

State Houses 

of Assembly, as well as collaborate 

and build consensus 

with all stakeholders to 

ensure synergy. 

It would be recalled that 

former President Jonathan 

had appointed 492 delegates 

to the National Conference 

which held for 151 

days at the National Judicial 

Institute, NJI, on March 

17, 2014. The Conference 

was chaired by late former 

Chief Justice of Nigeria, 

Idris Kutigi, with Professor 

Bolaji Akinyemi as Vice 

Chairman and Valerie Azinge 

as Secretary, with 492 

delegates drawn from all 

sections of the society. 

600 resolutions were 

passed, while such issues 

as true federalism, State 

Police, fiscal autonomy, 

Mayoral status for Abuja, 

among others, were adopted. 

Speaking further, Senator 

Omo-Agege said that the 

committee would also 

brainstorm with development 

partners through 

counsel, workshops, conferences 

and interactions. 

Omo-Agege said: "This 

committee will consider the 

recommendations of the 

2014 Constitutional Conference 

and the Governor 

Nasir el-Rufai-led Committee 

on restructuring. We 

would also liaise with our 

counterparts in the House 

of Representatives, the 

State Houses of Assembly 

and collaborate and build 

consensus with all stakeholders 

to ensure synergy. 

''Development partners 

will also play pivotal roles 

through counsel, workshops, 

conferences and interactions. 

The partnership 

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

Constitution review: We'll consider 

2014 Confab report, says Senate 

....Looks at recommendations of Gov el-Rufai's committee on restructuring 

....As devolution of power, full LG fiscal autonomy, full judiciary autonomy, 

others, top agenda 

•LAUNCHING: From left — Director, Planning, Research & Statistics 

Department, PRSD, Musa Sa’eed Talle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of 

Petroleum Resources, Bitrus Bako Nabasu; Deputy Managing Director, Nigeria 

Enterprise Marketing and Sales, Eason Dongyisong and Director, Energy 

Business Unit, South Africa Region, Leo Zhang at the Huawei's launch of its 

fully digital oilfield IOT solution, at the Nigeria International Petroleum 

Summit 2020 in Abuja. 

roles of the Executive and 

Judiciary and their invaluable 

contributions cannot be 

overlooked as it will enhance 

efficient and successful 

outcomes." 

He said senators will also 

consider the alteration of 

the Sixth schedule to make 

provision for new items, the 

establishment of National 

and State Houses of Assembly, 

Pre-election Matters 

Tribunal, Governorship 

Pre-election Matters Tribunals 

and Presidential Preelection 

Matters Tribunal, 

including time limits for the 

disposal of all pre-election 

matters before the conduct 

of the general elections. 

Omo-Agege said that the 

committee will consider the 

need for devolution of power, 

full local government fiscal 

autonomy, full autonomy 

of the judiciary in the 

area of administration of 

justice, youth inclusiveness 

in governance, gender parity 

or affirmative action. 

He said the committee 

would also consider inputs 

from stakeholders and different 

interest groups 

across the country. 

Omo-Agege said: "Accept 

my congratulations, 

Distinguished Colleagues 

for appointments well deserved 

as members of this 

very important Committee 

saddled with the responsibility 

of amending the 1999 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria in this 

9th Senate. This calls for 

dedication, patriotism and 

selfless sacrifice to our fatherland. 

"The need for Constitutional 

amendment lies at 

the heart of Constitutional 

theory and practice. Constitutionalism 

implies that 

the fundamental rules for 

effective exercise of state 

power and protection of individual 

rights should be 

stable and predictable and 

not subject to easy change 

or the whims of individuals. 

This is most central in 

our noble and continual 

Debts from 19 States delay NECO 

remittances to FG 

By Tordue Salem 

ABUJA — THE National 

Examinations 

Council, NECO, said yesterday 

that the debt owed 

by 19 states has affected its 

remittances to the Federation 

Account. 

NECO Director of Finance 

and Administration, 

Jacob Ekele, made this 

known at an investigative 

hearing before the House 

of Representatives Committee 

on Finance yesterday. 

Ekele said the body conducted 

examinations for 

students in 19 states where 

governors declared free 

registration but have not 

paid as expected, stressing 

that Zamfara topped the list 

with over N1 billion debt. 

"Our major problem as at 

today is that, about 19 states 

are owing NECO, the examination 

was done for 

them on credit especially, 

Zamfara. Some states, the 

government pay for the students 

and they are still owing 

us," he said. 

In his remarks, Chairman 

of the Committee on Finance, 

James Faleke (APC- 

Lagos), recommended that 

status enquiry be placed on 

NECO for a comprehensive 

investigation into the institution’s 

finances. 

pursuit of the General 

Will. It is for this reason 

that the drafters of our Constitution 

deliberately made 

the process of Constitutional 

Amendment very painstaking. 

Yet, the greater 

need to improve democratic 

governance or adjust to 

the ever changing political, 

economic and social realities 

has made it necessary 

for our Nation to embark on 

this journey again. 

"These changing times 

have brought new challenges 

and today in our 

country, we are faced with 

increased insecurity, slow 

economic growth, rising 

poverty, and a poor political 

culture, amongst others." 

These challenges that will 

define the way Nigerians 

will live in the 21st century 

have continued to agitate 

the minds of our people. It 

is against this background 

that the need for constitutional 

reforms has once 

again become necessary. 

Faleke ordered NECO to 

provide all relevant documents 

to show its income, 

expenditure and remittances, 

as well as it's financial 

statements, number of enrollees 

and examination 

fees paid since 2011 to 

2019. 

He said the Auditor-General 

of the Federation report 

indicated that NECO was 

owing the Consolidated 

Revenue Fund the sum of 

N6 billion and asked the 

Council to provide its budget 

since 2011 and documents 

showing reconciliation 

made with the office of 

the Accountant General of 

the Federation. 

Sowore: Court orders FG to 

pay N.2m fine over 

frivolous adjournment 

By Ikechukwu 

Nnochiri 

ABUJA — THE Abuja 

Division of the Federal 

High Court, yesterday, 

awarded a fine of N200,000 

against the Federal Government 

for stalling the trial 

of pro-democracy activist 

and convener of the RevolutionNow 

protest, 

Omoyele Sowore, and his 

co-defendant, Olawole 

Bakare, through frivolous 

adjournment request. 

Trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu 

further berated the prosecution 

over its conduct in 

the trial of the defendants. 

The Judge expressed her 

dissatisfaction with FG for 

its late filing of an amended 

two-count charge 

against Sowore and 

Bakare, as well as the service 

of same on the defendants 

in the open court on 

Wednesday. Though the 

court described the adjournment 

request that was 

made by the prosecution 

as frivolous and uncalled 

for, it subsequently shifted 

further proceeding in the 

case till Thursday. 

Justice Ojukwu warned 

that she would not take further 

step in the case unless 

FG paid the fine or produced 

the money in court 

on the next adjourned date. 

She noted that the prosecution 

failed to serve all the 

necessary documents in the 

case to the defendants, 

though the court ordered it 

to do so about seven weeks 

ago. 

Earlier in the proceeding, 

FG's lawyer, Mr. Aminu 

Alilu, explained to the court 

that the amendment of the 

charge was necessitated by 

the fact that the office of 

the Attorney General of the 

Nigeria, Ethiopia sign visa 

waiver agreement on 

defence cooperation 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — NIGERIA 

and Ethiopia have 

signed a visa waiver agreement 

for diplomatic and official 

passport holders, and 

a Memorandum of Understanding, 

MoU, on cooperation 

in the field of defence. 


Buhari and Prime Minister 

Abiy Ahmed witnessed the 

signing of the agreement 

Tuesday in Addis Ababa by 

their Ministers of Foreign 

Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama 

and Gedu Andargachew, 

respectively, during the 

State Visit of the Nigerian 

leader. 

Earlier, while meeting 

with the Ethiopian Prime 

Minister, President Buhari 

had discussed how to explore 

new areas of collaboration 

to further enhance 

and expand Nigeria-Ethi- 

Federation took over and 

reviewed the case-file that 

was handed to it by the 

Department of State Service, 

DSS. 

He, therefore, applied for 

an adjournment to effect 

the service of the amended 

charge and other accompanying 

documents that included 

proof of evidence, 

on the defendants. 

However, the defence 

lawyer, Mr. Olayinka Olumide-Fusika, 

SAN, urged 

the court to strike out the 

charge for lack of diligent 

prosecution. 

Contending that FG was 

not prepared for the trial, 

Olumide-Fusika, SAN, insisted 

that the adjournment 

request was frivolous. 

Responding, Alilu, opposed 

the application for 

the charge to be struck out, 

even as he relied on Section 

396 (5) of Administration 

of Criminal Justice Act, 

ACJA, 2015, which he said 

allowed parties in a criminal 

case to seek for an adjournment 

for up to five 

times. He argued that FG 

had yet to exhaust the five 

adjournments it was entitled 

to under the ACJA. 

Not persuaded by his argument, 

though trial Justice 

Ojukwu declined to 

strike out the charge, she 

however awarded 

N200,000 cost against the 

prosecution and in favour 

of the defendants. 

Meanwhile, in the 

amended charge that was 

drafted by the office of the 

AGF, Sowore and Bakare, 

were alleged to have attempted 

to illegally remove 


Buhari from office through 

a nationwide protest they 

masterminded on August 5 

last year. 

opia bilateral cooperation 

for the mutual benefits of 

the two countries. 

A statement signed by the 

Senior Special Assistant to 

the President on Media 

and Publicity, Mallam Garba 

Shehu explained that 

"The visa waiver agreement 

is expected to ease travels 

by officials and contribute 

to further strengthening of 

bilateral relations." 

He said that the Memorandum 

of Understanding 

on Defence Cooperation 

was important to both countries 

in the coordination of 

efforts in the fight against 

terrorism and securing 

peace and stability in their 

respective sub-regions, as 

well as on the continent of 

Africa. "The MoU will also 

enhance bilateral military 

cooperation in the areas of 

training and education, 

technical assistance, exchange 

of visits and defence 

technology transfer.

Borno killings: Govs call for 

greater responsibility from 

security operatives 

Nigeria gets 3 centres to 

test for coronavirus 

By Johnbosco 

Agbakwuru 

ABUJA — THE Federal 

Government 

has acquired the necessary 

reagents to test suspected 

patients, as a measure to 

prevent coronavirus from 

entering the country. 

Consequently, the government 

has designated 

laboratories in Lagos, Abuja 

and Irrua in Edo State to 

handle such tests. 

Corona virus, found in 

Wahum, China has spread 

to the US, Thailand, Japan 

, South Korea, Canada, 

Philippines among others; 

is a new strain of virus that 

has not been previously 

identified 

in 

humans.“Minister of 

Health, Dr. Osagie 

Ehanire, who disclosed this 

while briefing State House 

correspondents at the end 

of the weekly Federal Executive 

Council, FEC, 

meeting presided over by 

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo 

at the Council Chamber, 

Presidential Villa, in 

Abuja yesterday, said the 

reagents were acquired 

about eight days ago. 

He, however, assured 

that no case of the virus had 

been detected in the country 

or on the continent. 

The Minister said: “Since 

about eight days ago, we 

obtained the reagents necessary; 

we have the machines; 

they are called Polymerase 

Chain Reaction, 



ABUJA — FOLLOW- 

ING the killing of 

persons and destruction of 

property on Sunday night 

by Boko Haram insurgents 

who invaded Auno, governors 

of the 36 states of the 

federation have condemned 

the dastardly act 

in very strong terms. 

The governors, acting 

under the aegis of Nigerian 

Governors' Forum, NGF, 

called for greater responsibility 

on the part of security 

operatives operating in the 

state. 

In a letter of condolence 

to Borno State governor, 

Professor Babagana Umara 

Zulum, Chairman of 

NGF and Ekiti State governor, 

Dr. Kayode Fayemi, 

in a letter called for the protection 

of the downtrodden 

in the society. 

The letter read: "I, Dr 

John Kayode Fayemi, Executive 

Governor of Ekiti 

State and Chairman of the 

Nigeria Governors’ Forum, 

wish, on behalf of all members 

of the Nigeria Governors’ 

Forum (the 36 Governors), 

to express our sincere 

condolences on the 

recent needless attack on 

travellers last Sunday, in 

Auno town, just outside 

your state capital, Maiduguri. 

"While sympathising with 

you, Your Excellency, the 

Forum wishes to state categorically 

that a situation 

where a large number of 

vehicles loaded with goods, 

shops and houses can be 

set ablaze by suspected 

marauding insurgents, 

who sneak into the town and 

launch attacks on sleeping 

travellers at the town, barely 

24km from a state capital, 

says a lot about the vulnerability 

of local people 

who, for all intents and purposes, 

should enjoy full protection 

from the people they 

put in power. 

"However, your efforts, 

Mr. Governor, in calling for 

greater responsibility on 

the part of security operatives 

in your state are both 

commendable and courageous, 

and, indeed, have 

the support of all your other 

colleagues. 

"Once again, I wish to 

whole-heartedly join the 

government and people of 

Borno State in this grief 

along with all of our colleagues 

and hope that the 

people are protected adequately 

that no further onslaughts 

ever occur again, 

not just in Borno State but 

in the country as a whole. 

Please accept our sincere 

condolences." 

PCR, machines which we 

have here for molecular diagnostics 

but we didn’t have 

the reagents. 

“Because for every pathogen, 

you have a specific 

pathogen that you will use 

to detect it and that one for 

Corona virus, being a new 

disease, was not very much 

available but we acquired 

it about eight days ago. 

“Now, three laboratories 

in Nigeria, including those 

in Lagos, Abuja and Irrua. 

can test Corona virus and, 

in fact, they have tested two 

cases already which were 

negative. 


NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

•SYMPATHY VISIT: President Muhammadu Buhari in a handshake with the Director General of 

DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, as he returned to Abuja from Maiduguri, after the AU Summit in Ethiopia, enroute 

to Borno for a sympathy visit. 

Army kills 5 Boko Haram terrorists, 

lose soldier in gun fight 

•Arrest 11 ISWAP terrorists, rescue women, children 

By Kingsley 

Omonobi 

ABUJA — THE Nigerian 

Army said yesterday 

its troops have killed 

five Boko Haram terrorists 

in a gun fight, and arrested 

eleven members of Islamic 

State's West African 

Province., ISWAP. 

It also said the troops rescued 

nine women and children 

hitherto held hostage 

by the terrorists, recovered 

cache of arms and ammunition, 

but lost a soldier. 

Deputy Director, Army 

Public Relations, Col. 

Aminu Illiyasu, who disclosed 

this in a statement 

yesterday, said: "On February 

9, 2020, troops of 25 

Task Force Brigade deployed 

at Damboa in Borno 

State, in conjunction with 

elements of the Civilian 

Joint Task Force, while on 

a fighting patrol, established 

contact with the remnants 

of Boko Haram/Islamic 

State's West African Province 

criminals hibernating 

within their area of responsibility 

with gun trucks as 

well as motorcycles. 

"During the ensuing engagement 

which occurred 

at Njaba, along Damboa- 

Bale Road, the troops unleashed 

superior and overwhelming 

fire power to 

obliterate the criminals. 

"At the end of the encounter, 

several of the insurgents 

were neutralized, 

while others escaped with 

gunshot wounds. One of 

the Boko Haram fighters, 

named Koise Bulama, was 

captured alive by the valiant 

troops. 

"Additionally, one Buffalo 

Gun Truck, one Anti-Aircraft 

Gun, 3 Machine 

Guns, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 141 

rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 

one suicide vest, one 

Improvised Explosive Device 

Box,10 motorcycles, 

one pumping machine and 

some mechanical tools were 

captured from the marauding 

criminal insurgents. 

'In a related development, 

in the early hours of February 

92020, some elements 

of the remnant Boko 

Haram criminals suffered 

yet another defeat in the 

hands of troops of 121 Battalion 

deployed in Pulka, 

Gwoza LGA of Borno State 

during an apparent failed 

attempt to attack the troops' 

location. 

"The dogged troops repelled 

the attack and neutralised 

one insurgent in 

the process while others 

retreated in disarray under 

the cover of darkness. 

" Earlier on, during the 

night of 5/6 February 2020, 

troops of 112 Task Force 

Battalion deployed at Ngwom 

in Mafa LGA of Borno 

State thwarted an attempt 

by the Boko Haram criminals 

to infiltrate their defensive 

location. 

"In their highly responsive 

and well coordinated response, 

the troops brought 

to bear their superior night 

fighting capability against 

the marauding criminals, 

neutralising one of the infiltrators 

while many of 

them escaped with various 

degrees of gunshot wound 

as evident from the trails of 

blood discovered along the 

insurgents’ withdrawal 

route. 

"During the exploitation 

Tension in Isuikwuato over abduction of travellers 

by suspected herdsmen 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe 

ABIA — THERE is tension 

in Isuikwuato 

council area of Abia State 

over the abduction of travelers 

by gunmen suspected 

to be Fulani herdsmen. 

The incident occurred Tuesday 

evening. 

A source told Vanguard 

that some strange looking 

men suspected to be herdsmen 

were sighted in the 

bush around Onuaku area 

of the council and were confronted 

by the locals. 

They were said to have 

left the vicinity and moved 

towards the gully after Abia 

State University on the road 

towards Isuikwuato town. 

The source added that the 

strangers later waylaid travelers 

around the gully erosion 

site on the road. 

They were said to have 

abducted four travellers and 

escaped into the bush after 

a confrontation with the 

police. "They finally escaped 

with their victims," 

the source said. 

Contacted, the Transition 

Committee Chairman of the 

council, Mr. Osita Igbe, said 

it was a case of kidnapping 

based on the briefing by 

the police but added that the 

matter was still under investigation. 

He said all the security 

agencies were intensifying 

efforts to apprehend the 

fleeing abductors and rescue 

the victims. 

A highly placed police officer 

from the area who 

pleaded anonymity, confirmed 

the incident. 

He said a police team on 

routine patrol ran into the 

scene of the crime and the 

suspects "suddenly opened 

fire " on sighting the police 

van. 

In his words :"Our men 

were on patrol when they 

ran into a car that was 

stucked in the sand. They 

also saw another tipper in 

front of it. And immediately 

they blew the siren, firing 

came from a particular 

direction and they returned 

fire." 

He said the hoodlums later 

escaped into the bush 

with their victims suspected 

to be occupants of the 

trapped car. The police 

source said a Toyota Yaris 

suspected to belong to the 

victims was later recovered 

at the scene of the incident. 

According to him, the Divisional 

Police Officer, DPO 

in charge of the council was 

sent to visit the area when 

the report came to the police. 

He said that the locals 

had reported that they 

sighted some strange fellows 

in military camouflage 

and decided to raise the 

alarm. 

"When the information 

came, the DPO went there 

and met with the Traditional 

Prime Minister of the 

community. They said they 

saw some men in military 

camouflage but I don't 

know who they saw whether 

it was the army or not. 

phase, the troops recovered 

one Baofeng Hand Held 

Radio, one Rocket Propelled 

Gun bomb, 101 

rounds of 7.62mm NATO 

ammunition and 2 rounds 

of 60mm mortar bombs 

abandoned by the escaping 

criminals. 

"In yet another development 

that occured on 10 

February 2020, the troops 

of 212 Battalion deployed 

at Tungushe in Konduga 

LGA of Borno State made 

contact with some Boko 

Haram criminal elements 

mounted on 6 Gun Trucks 

within their Area of Responsibility. 

"The troops swiftly engaged 

the marauding criminals 

in a fierce fire fight. 

In the aftermath, 3 Boko 

Haram criminals were neutralised 

while one Buffalo 

Gun Truck, one Anti-Aircraft 

Gun, 2 AK 47 Rifles, 2 AK 

47 Rifle Magazines and 60 

rounds of 7.62mm Special 

ammunition were also captured 

from the insurgents 

as they succumbed to the 

superior fire power of the 

troops. 

"Regrettably, one gallant 

soldier paid the supreme 

price during the encounter. 

Similarly, on the same day, 

troops of 3 Battalion (Main) 

deployed at Rann in Kala/ 

Balge LGA of Borno State 

delivered a devastating 

blow on some Boko Haram 

criminal elements. 

"The insurgents attacked 

the troops’ location in 4 Gun 

Trucks alongside a number 

of their foot soldiers. The 

vigilant troops responded 

swiftly, engaging the criminals 

in a brief fire fight that 

lasted for about 20 minutes. 

"At the end of the encounter, 

the heroic troops neutralized 

two of the criminal 

insurgents. Equally, the 

troops captured one General 

Purpose Machine 

Gun, one AK 47 Rifle, one 

Baofeng Hand Held Radio 

and 33 rounds of 7.62mm 

NATO ammunition.



•Vehicles for Operation Amotekun 

Amotekun personnel to bear arms with 

IGP’s approval —S/WEST AGs 

By Dapo Akinrefon, 

Dayo Johnson, 

Evelyn Usman, 

Victoria Ojeme, 

Rotimi Ojomoyela, 

Adeola Badru & 

James Ogunnaike 

L AGOS—THE 

Attorneys General of 

the six South West States 

have agreed that the 

operatives of the Security 

Network Agency 

codenamed Operation 

Amotekun, will be 

allowed to bear licenced 

arms subject to the 

approval of the Inspector- 

General of Police. 

However, the Force 

Public Relations Officer, 

DCP Frank Mba, declined 

to state the kind of 

firearms the Amotekun 

personnel will bear. 

I have not seen it 

(Amotekun Bill) I don’t 

know its content and I 

cannot speak on 

something I have not 

seen, he told Vanguard 

on phone, yesterday. 

Section 18 of the 

Amotekun draft bill states 

that: (1) “The Ekiti State 

Amotekun Corps shall, 

subject to the approval of 

the Inspector General of 

Police have the power to 

bear licensed arms in the 

performance of its duties 

and as may be incidental 

to the operation of its 

objectives under this Law. 

(2) The Ekiti State 

Amotekun Corps shall 

also have power to: 

(a) collaborate with 

similar security agencies, 

particularly in Ogun, 

Lagos, Ondo, Osun and 

Oyo states in the 

enforcement of the 

provisions of this Law; and 

(b) share intelligence, 

equipment and resources 

with similar security 

agencies, particularly in 

Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, 

Osun and Oyo states. 

Fire Arms Act 

According to the Fire 

Arms Act, only the 

President and Inspector 

General of Police are 

authorized to issue 

•I'm yet to see the Bill — FPRO; what the Fireams Act says 

•Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti, Oyo excos approve bill; Lagos, Osun keep mum 

•Bill 'll get accelerated hearing — Ondo, Oyo speakers 

•Amotekun beginning of restructuring—Victor Attah 

license for firearms. 

Part Two of the Fire Act 

states: No person shall 

have in his possession or 

under his control any 

firearm of one of the 

categories specified in 

Part I of the Schedule 

hereto (hereinafter 

referred to as a prohibited 

firearm) except in 

accordance with a license 

granted by the President 

acting in his discretion. 

No person shall have in 

his possession or under 

his firearms control any 

firearm of one of the 

categories specified in 

Part II of the Schedule to 

this Act (hereinafter 

referred to as a personal 

firearm) except in 

accordance with a licence 

granted in respect thereof 

by the Inspector-General 

of Police, which licenses 

shall be granted or 

refused in accordance 

with principles decided 

upon by the National 

Council of Ministers. 

There are, however, 

insinuations that if the 

operational modus of 

Armotekun, in terms of 

issuing firearms to 

members is not in line 

with the federal 

government’s position, it 

may hit the brick wall. 

Again, if its legislation 

clashes with that of 

existing federal 

legislation, there are 

fears that it could be 

rendered void to the 

extent of the 

inconsistency. 

A senior security agent 

who spoke on the 

condition of anonymity, 

said, If their law runs foul 

of the firearms law, then 

it will be void to the extent 

of the inconsistency.” So, 

I wonder how they are 

going to get the license for 

those arms if they don’t 

bring their operational 

modus in line with the 

federal government’s 

position. 

Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, 

Ekiti govts approve 

Amotekun 

Meanwhile, the Ondo, 

Ogun, Oyo and Ekiti state 

governments have 

approved the proposal for 

the creation of 

Amotekun. 

At press time yesterday, 

the Lagos and Osun state 

governments were yet to 

approve the Amotekun 

bill just as the Oyo State 

House of Assembly said it 

will consider the 

operational legal 

framework for the security 

outfit today (Thursday). 

Operatives of the 

outfit cannot be sued 

Meanwhile, as the Ekiti 

State House of Assembly 

considers the bill that 

would give legal backing 

to Amotekun Corps, an 

aspect of the bill stipulates 

that the operatives cannot 

be sued. 

Article 34, Part IV, under 

Miscellaneous provisions 

in, states: Acts done in the 

course of duty by any 

member of the Board, staff 

of the Agency or member 

of the Ekiti State 

Amotekun Corps is, 

hereby, excluded from 

liability and shall not be 

sued in his or her 

personal capacity for any 

lawful act done in the 

course of duty. 

It was gathered that the 

drafters deliberately 

inserted this section to 

insulate officials from the 

encumbrances of legal 

procedures in the course 

of discharging their duty. 

Another part of the bill 

that gives enormous 

powers to Amotekun 

operatives is in article 36 

under the title: 

Obstruction of Amotekun 

Corps Member in the 

performance of his duty. 

This article stipulates: 

“Any person who willfully 

hinders, delays, obstructs 

or assaults a member of 

the Ekiti State Amotekun 

Corps in the course of the 

exercise of his lawful 

duties under this Law 

shall be guilty of an 

offence and liable on 

conviction to 

imprisonment for a term 

of one month or to a fine 

not exceeding N250, 000 

or to both such fine and 

imprisonment.” 

A security expert, Mr. 

James Ajulo, advised the 

lawmakers to whittle 

down the bill granting 

sweeping powers to the 

outfit. 

It’s dangerous to 

insulate operatives 

from prosecution 

—Ajulo 

Ajulo in a chat with 

Vanguard said: 

“Beautiful as this section 

of the bill may look, there 

is a need for the 

legislators to give the 

whole bill a holistic and 

specific review, to reduce 

these powers. Insulating 

them from prosecution 

has removed checks. 

When you give guns to 

people they need constant 

checks. 

Ondo exco approves 

bill 

After the approval by the 

State Executive 

Committee, the Ondo 

State Commissioner for 

information and 

Orientation, Donald 

Ojogo, said the bill will be 

transmitted to the State 

House of Assembly for 

legislative scrutiny and 

passage into Law. 

Ojogo said: “In an 

exhaustive session of 

deliberations, Council 

took time to peruse every 

detail contained in the Bill 

that was presented by the 

Attorney General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Mr. Kola Olawoye, SAN, 

and now it is ready to be 

transmitted to the state 

House of Assembly for 

passage. 

“The Draft Bill has six 

parts and 44 Sections. It 

is also gratifying to 

disclose that every 

apprehension or fear 

expressed has been 

adequately looked into. 

“This is even as 

Traditional Rulers will now 

have roles to play in the 

operations of the security 

outfit pursuant to its 

passage into law by the 

State Assembly. 

“Government finds it 

pertinent to reiterate that 

this laudable initiative is 

aimed at complementing 

the efforts of the Nation’s 

security agencies.” 

Bill‘ll be given 

accelerated hearing 

—Ondo Speaker 

The Speaker of Ondo 

State House of Assembly, 

Mr. Bamidele 

Oloyelogun, said the bill 

would receive accelerated 

hearing and passage. 

Given the importance of 

the bill to the people of the 

state, Oloyelogun said 

the lawmakers would do 

the needful as soon as 

they get the bill from the 

executive arm of 

government. 

Ogun excos 

approve bill 

Also, the Ogun State 

Executive Council after 

an extensive deliberation 

that lasted close 10 hours 

and presided over by 

Governor Dapo Abiodun 

approved the bill. 

At the meeting, the 

Governor went down 

memory lane on how he 

escaped unscathed 

exactly a year ago when 

loyalists of his 

predecessor pelted 

leaders of the All 

Progressives Congress, 

APC, in Abeokuta as the 

party’s flag was being 

handed over to him by 

chieftains of the party 

including President 

Muhammadu Buhari, 

Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo, National 

Leader Asiwaju Bola 

Tinubu among other big 

wigs. 

Abiodun, however, said 

he does not hold any 

grudge against anyone 

that played a part in the 

February 11, 2019 

incident. 

His words: “I have said 

often times that I do not 

bear grudge against 

anybody. You are all part 

of the scriptures that 

needed to be fulfilled. So, 

for all those who fought 

us, stoned us, intimidated 

us, harassed us, beat us, 

they all had their part to 

play so that the scripture 

can be fulfilled. 

Accordingly, we have 

forgiven them, more 

importantly; God has 

crowned us with a victory. 

“I could not believe that 

in this state, in which I am 

a bonafide son of the soil, 

a state of many firsts, that 

such a show of shame was 

taking place before my 

very eyes, in front of the 

Number one and Number 

two persons in this 

country, I could not just 

believe it... that date, 

February 11, 2019 – for me 

marked the turning point 

in the process of us 

getting to this seat. It was 

a defining moment.” 

Amotekun Corp Bill 

Addressing journalists 

at the end of the 

Executive Council 

meeting, the 

Commissioner for Justice 

and Attorney General of 

the State, Mr. 

Adegbolahan Adeniran 

said the presentation of 

the bill before the state 

council followed the 

earlier approval by the 

Attorney Generals and 

Commissioners of Justice 

of the six Southwest 

states. 

Adeniran said: “We 

presented the bill for the 

creation of the Ogun State 

Security Network Agency 

or what many call the 

Amotekun Corp Bill of 

2020. 

“Today, the Executive 

Council of Ogun State 

met and adopted a draft 

as amended of a bill for a 

law to establish the Ogun 

State Security Network 

Agency. This agency is 

the agency that will 

comprise of the Amotekun 

Corp and this bill will be 

transmitted to the House 

of Assembly before the 

end of this week.” 

Why Amotekun 

personnel will bear 

arms 

Similarly, the Oyo State 

Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice, 

Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, 

explained why a provision 

for the bearing of arms 

was included in the 

Amotekun bill. 

The Oyo State House of 

Assembly has promised to 

consider the operational 

legal framework for the 

security outfit today. The 

Speaker, Mr. Debo 

Ogundoyin stated that 

Assembly would set a pace 

by giving speedy 

consideration to the bill 

when presented for 

enactment. 

He also announced that 

the assembly would be 

holding a security summit 

soon to address the issue 

of insecurity, violence 

against women, children 

and other life-threatening 

issues in the state. 

Speaking with 

Vanguard, Prof. Oyewo 

said that the provision for 

bearing arms for the 

Amotekun corps was in 

compliance with the 

extant law in Nigeria to 

bear arms and that it is 

seeking the President’s 

permit. 

His words: “There is a 

law on bearing of arms, 

there is a provision in the 

Amotekun law that is in 

compliance with the 

extant law in Nigeria to 

Continues on Page 11


Continues from Page 10 

:Vanguard 

News 

Amotekun personnel to bear 

arms with IGP’s approval 

bear arms, that is 

seeking the President’s 

permit. You can’t bear 

arms without a permit. 

“Beyond arms, there are 

other security equipment 

that you don’t need such 

rigorous process to bear 

but when it comes to 

bearing of firearms, the 

firearms act and 

prohibition law make 

guidelines and these will 

be complied with in 

seeking the necessary 

permission. 

“So, the Attorneys- 

General of the Southwest 

zone including Oyo, 

Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo 

and Lagos states came 

together with the 

intervention of DAWN 

commission that has been 

piloting the process, and 

we are able to have a draft 

model bill to be adopted 

by each of the states in 

accordance with their 

local circumstances and 

situations as the need 

arises. 

“And this is not the first 

time, for example, the 

extant law in Ogun state 

relating to neighbourhood 

watch has provisions for 

bearing of arms. There 

are even other bodies like 

Joint Task Force, 

Hisbah in the North East 

that are bearing arms. So, 

the case of Amotekun is 

not a peculiar one.” 

“We have a situation 

where this network is 

established to 

complement the police 

and security agencies in 

the light of the insecurity 

incidence not only in the 

Southwest but also all 

over Nigeria. It must be 

noted that the primary 

obligation for policing in 

the constitution is vested 

in the Nigerian Police but 

there are also 

constitutional obligations 

imposed on the state and 

governments at the local 

level to ensure the 

security of lives and 

property and this is what 

is taking place. It is a 

complementary security 

network outfit.’’ 

It’s the beginning of 

restructuring —Attah 

Throwing his weight 

behind the outfit, former 

Governor of Akwa Ibom 

State, Obong Victor Attah, 

said that Amotekun is 

the beginning of the 

restructuring of the 

country. 

Attah blamed the 

insecurity ravaging the 

country on lack of a 

proper system of 

governance adding that 

Nigeria abandoned the 

path of federalism agreed 

upon at independence 

and deviated into a 

unitary system that has 

failed. 

He said: “We started this 

nation as a federal 

assembly of various 

regions, every region was 

to a very large extent 

autonomous and ensured 

that security was 

maintained and then 

suddenly we changed it 

to a unitary system. So 

that is the problem.” 

Attah spoke in an 

interview with reporters, 

yesterday, in Abuja, on the 

sidelines of the 

conferment of the award 

of the Order of the Rising 

Sun, Gold and Silver Star 

by the Emperor of Japan 

on former Minister of 

Budget and National 

Planning, Sen. Udoma 

Udo Udoma, in 

recognition of his efforts 

in promoting trade and 

investment between 

Japan and Nigeria. 

The former governor 

said: “It is a sign that 

when the time for an idea 

has come and one tries to 

resist it, the idea will 

manifest itself. 

Amotekun is the 

beginning of 

restructuring and it will 

continue. Nigerians better 

take warning and do it 

constitutionally and 

properly otherwise it will 

be total havoc and we can 

end up like Somalia. 

“We must restructure this 

country back to a federal 

system otherwise we are 

going to end up with a lot 

of problems. In fact, I 

move on to say that there 

will be no Nigeria even to 

restructure if we don’t do 

it quickly. ” 

Amotekun’s 

unanswered 

questions 

—Efoziem, security 

expert 

Speaking on the 

proposed use of firearms 

by Amotekun, Chairman, 

Chief Executive, Strict 

Guard security, Dr. Bone 

Efoziem, said if the Act 

Bill is signed into law, it 

gives legitimacy to the 

body as a legal segment 

of the security 

architecture of the nation. 

However, it also poses a 

legal threat to the 

federating unit. Now, 

don’t forget that the 

control of this body, its 

leadership will only be 

coming from a segment of 

the Nigerian nation, 

which is the South 

Western states. The 

recruitment, the 

appointment, the posting 

has no federal nature. 

His words: “The question 

will be, to what extent will 

their roles be controlled and 

monitored? Which of the 

federal agencies will be 

playing a supervisory role 

over them? What are the 

limits of their authority in 

the use of arms, arrest and 

all other activities that will 

affect both indigenes and 

non-indigenes of the South 

Western states? 

“If these people are going 

to act in that order, to a 

large extent, it will look like 

either a regional Army or a 

regional Police. 

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

2ND NIGER BRIDGE—Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, flanked on the right by 

Julius Berger Project Manager, Eng. Friedrich Wieser, and other officials of the Ministry of Works 

and Housing, on the completed first deck of the Second Niger Bridge, Tuesday. 

Why we diverted flights to Ghana —NAMA 

By Lawani 

Mikairu, with 

agency reports 

LAGOS—THE Nigeria 

Airspace Management 

Agency, NAMA, yesterday, 

explained that the frequent 

diversions of flights bound 

for Murtala Mohammed 

international airport Lagos 

by foreign airlines to 

neighbouring countries 

were as a result of 

inclement weather in 

Lagos. 

On Monday, British 

Airways was reported to 

have diverted to Accra as 

the weather in Lagos 

continues to fluctuate. 

Speaking about the flight 

diversion, General 

Manager, Public Affairs, 

NAMA, Mr. Khalid Emele, 

said the Instrument 

Landing Systems, ILS, on 

the two runways of the 

Lagos airports are 

serviceable. 

He, however, said the 

agency “notes with 

concern, the inability of 

A 

WKA—MINISTER of 

Works and Housing, 

Mr. Babatunde Fashola, 

SAN, yesterday, walked on 

top of the first deck of the 

Second Niger Bridge 

across under a guided tour 

directed by project 

engineers of Julius Berger 

Nigeria Plc. 

An elated Fashola told 

journalists on tour with him 

that the Buhari 

administration was 

determined to ensure and 

complete the monumental 

project in February 2022, 

with a definite funding 

some international flights to 

land at the Murtala 

Mohammed International 

Airport, Lagos, largely due 

to issues of inclement 

weather and company 

minimas of affected 

airlines. Our position is that 

such diversions are in the 

interest of safety.” 

“The facts on record, 

however, are as follows: 

Lagos has two runways- 18 

Right and 18 Left. The 

Doppler Very High Omni- 

Directional Radio Range 

(DVOR) and the Distance 

Measuring Equipment 

(DME) at the airport have 

successfully been 

calibrated and passed 

100%.” 

Emele also said: “The 

localizer (a component of 

the Instrument Landing 

System) responsible for 

horizontal guidance at 

runway 18 Left has also 

passed 100% calibration 

while the glide slope 

(which is another 

component of the 

Instrument Landing 

System that provides 

vertical guidance) is 

undergoing routine 

maintenance and by 

tomorrow (12/02/2020), the 

maintenance will be 

concluded and the 

equipment shall be fully on 

air. 

“On Runway 18 Right, 

there is Category 3 ILS 

which is still undergoing 

installation. Presently, 

Selex Systems, the 

contractors are working on 

the realignment of its 

parameters, preparatory to 

the calibration and 

commissioning of the 

equipment in the shortest 

possible time.” 

Passengers speak 

One of the passengers in 

the BA aircraft, Mr. 

Olayiwola Zaid, while 

speaking to PRNigeria, 

said the reason why their 

flight was suddenly 

diverted to Ghana was twopronged 

owing to the 

absence of modern lighting 

equipment to clear the 

aircraft for landing. 

He pointed out that 

while some airlines 

touched down at Lagos 

airport successfully, their 

Boeing 747-400 aircraft 

from London could not 

land at MMIA, owing to 

the size of the aircraft and 

absence of good lighting 

equipment. 

Zaid, a UK-based 

business intelligence 

analyst, however, said all of 

them (the passengers) 

onboard the BA075 flight 

were calm amid the 

frightening incident. 

Speaking to 

PRNigeria on the 

incident, spokesperson 

for the Federal Airport 

Authority of Nigeria, 

FAAN, Mrs. Henrietta 

Yakubu, said the flights 

were not diverted to 

Ghana over lack of basic 

navigation and landing 

equipment at MMIA, but 

due to poor weather 

condition in Lagos after 

the aircrafts had arrived 

the country. 

Fashola, others walk on first deck of 2nd Niger 

Bridge ....To be delivered Feb 2022 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

arrangement put in place 

by the Federal Government 

to ensure that there was no 

delay of any kind. 

The Minister said: “This 

is one project that President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

wants to see its early 

completion and we are 

mobilizing funds from all 

sources, including 

Nigeria’s money that was 

stolen and stashed away in 

foreign lands, to ensure 

that it becomes a reality. 

“I want to assure all 

Nigerians that given the 

economic and strategic 

importance of the bridge to 

the country and the states 

on the route, we are 

determined more than ever 

to ensure its early 

completion so that 

Nigerians can derive its full 

benefits.” 

Fashola also disclosed 

that the reclamation of 

seven kilometers of swamp 

areas for the construction of 

access road to link Owerribound 

traffic to the bridge 

was progressing steadily 

while the completion of the 

first deck of the one lane of 

the bridge is scheduled for 

August this year. 

Julius Berger’s Project 

Manager, Engr. Friedrich 

Wieser, told the Federal 

Government delegation 

that the company had so far 

deployed 1,300 workers 

and 425 equipment to the 

site of the 2nd Niger 

Bridge, to ensure that the 

project is delivered as 

scheduled. 

Wieser disclosed that 

work on the project had 

reached a 33 percent 

completion level. 

“We do not have any 

challenge of any kind 

regarding the work on the 

bridge and we want to 

assure that the entire 

project would be completed 

in February 2022,” Wieser 

stated. 

The minister had earlier 

inspected the progress of 

work at the Anambra State 

Federal Secretariat at Awka, 

where he directed the contractor 

handling the project to design 

and incorporate a lift into the 

project for the interest of the 

elderly and handicapped persons 

who may use the facility.


2020: Former deputy governor 

condemns explosives attack in Edo 



BENIN CITY — 

FORMER Deputy 

Governor of Edo State and 

a governorship aspirant in 

the September 19, 2020, 

governorship election, Dr 

Pius Odubu, has condemned 

the attack on the 

residence of the Secretary 

of All Progressives Congress, 

APC, in the state, 

Lawrence Okah and expressed 

shock at the seeming 

lukewarm response of 

the state government to the 

development. 

Odubu in a statement, 

yesterday said, the recent 

attacks on members of the 

party "represents a brutal 

affront on the security of life 

and property." 

He said it was the primary 

responsibility of government 

to provide security for 

the people, which he noted 

"has been totally abandoned 

with the blatant acquiescence 

of the authorities 

over the reckless and 

incessant attacks on officials 

and members of APC in Edo 

State. 

"Under normal circumstances, 

no responsible 

government will tolerate in 

the least without the slightest 

concern, the spate of 

attacks on political opponents 

within the ruling party 

in a state that has hitherto 

enjoyed some modicum 

of peace. 

"The situation in Edo 

State therefore, behooves 

on the security agencies to 

rise to the challenge of securing 

the lives and property 

of helpless citizens 

from the hands of criminal 

elements, who have taken 

their insidious enterprise 

to an intolerable level. ’’ 

Delta community on war 

path with Chevron over land 

reclamation 

By Jeremiah 

Urowayino 

Pensioners of defunct 

NEPA/PHCN appeal to Buhari 

over non payment of N25bn arreas 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase, 

Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN — PENSION 

ERS of the defunct Nigeria 

Electricity Power Authority/Power 

Holding 

Company of Nigeria, 

NEPA/PHCN, have appealed 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari to look 

into the non-payment of 

their N25, 332,295,129.51k 

since 2012 till date by the 

concerned authorities. 

Vice Chairman, South- 

South National Union of 

Pensioners (Electricity Sector), 

Monday Adodo who 

spoke with journalists after 

WARRI — TISUN com 

munity in Warri 

North Local Government 

Area of Delta State have 

issued a quit notice to 

American oil major, Chevron 

Nigeria Limited operating 

in their community 

over alleged illegal land 

reclamation, building of 

concrete structures, nonprovision 

of water, electricity 

and alteration of 

community land structure 

without their consent and 

approval. 

In a letter addressed to 

the Managing Director, 

Chevron, dated February 

5, 2020, by Chairman of 

Tisun Community Management 

Council, Mr Joseph 

Alikpoma and Secretary, 

Mr. David Odeli, 

they said “The community 

argued that Chevron, 

without prior consent and 

approval of the community, 

‘forcefully entered our 

land, bulldoze our economic 

trees and sandfilled 

some portion with 

the intent to carry out 

mess, social hall building, 

workshop and other accommodation 

for the use 

and benefit of Chevron. 

“This is contrary to the 

Oil Pipeline License and 

Oil Mining Lease granted 

to you (Chevron) to 

operate on Tisun Community 

and Dibi Field in 

general which were never 

in your Environmental 

Impact Assessment, EIA, 

report as contained in 

Chapter 5, page 176 of 

your EIA report on Base 

Camp.” 

a protest march in Benin 

City, Edo State, yesterday, 

said their action became 

necessary due to the hardship 

faced by the pensioners. 

He said, "Coming out today 

is due to the non-payment 

of arrears meant for 

us since 2012 when NEPA/ 

PHCN was privatized. 

"At the time of privatization, 

our outstanding benefits 

were N25,330,billion. 

The breakdown is as follows: 

Harmonization arrears 

N14,306,479,450.49k, 

Monetization arrears 

N7,072,029,6074.96k, Year 

2000 retiree/retirement benefits 

N3,037,607,883.08k.” 

NEWS HOTLINES 

018773962, 

08052867058 

VIGIL MASS — 

Former Governor 

Peter Obi, with his 

entire exco members, 

during the 

vigil mass for his 

former commissioner 

for Utilities, 

Dr. Emeka 

Nwankwu, at 

Abagana, yesterday. 

Obaseki denies involvement in attacks 

on APC members residences 


BENIN CITY — AF 

TER a prolonged silence, 

Governor Godwin 

Obaseki of Edo State yesterday, 

denied allegations 

that he and some of his 

officials were aware of the 

recent attacks with explosives 

on the residences of 

some members of his party 

because they were opposed 

to his second term 

bid. 

The most recent attack 

was on the residence of 

suing a proclamation letter 

for the inauguration 

of the House but that he 

was not the one to perform 

the actual exercise. 

According to the commissioner, 

"The bombing 

is a smear campaign to 

say that Governor Obaseki 

is not doing well. 

"They just want to remove 

the governor as 

they removed Ex-Governor 

Joshua Dariye of Plateau 

State. Obaseki does 

not believe in violence, 

EPM is the aggresive 

one. The governor cannot 

be removed by these 

elements," he added. 

NDDC: Senate bows to Buhari, recognises Interim 

Mgt C’ttee 


ABUJA — THE Sen 

ate has thrown its 

weight behind the threeman 

Committee put in 

place to oversee the 

management of the Niger 

Delta Development Commission, 

NDDC, commission 

to create an enabling 

environment for the forensic 

audit ordered by President 

Muhammadu Buhari. 

As part of being on the 

same page with the Federal 

Government on the Committee, 

the acting Managing 

Director of NDDC, Dr 

Gbene Nunieh led her 

team to defend the 2019 

budget estimate of 

N346.388billion based on 

revenue projection, representing 

13 percent decrease 

over the 2018 Revenue. 

Presenting the budget 

before the Senator Peter 

Nwaoboshi PDP, Delta 

North) led Senate Committee 

on Niger Delta Affairs, 

Nunieh told the Senate, " I 

have been under so much 

pressure and blackmail as 

I have been pressurised to 

pay contractors quickly. 

Everyone has complained 

that the people in our region 

are hungry. But we 

belong to those communities 

and the communities 

the Secretary of the All 


APC, in the state, 

Lawrence Okah. 

State Commissioner for 

Information and Orientation, 

Paul Onhonbamu 

yesterday, said the attacks 

using explosive devices 

were designed by those 

opposed to the governor 

and his administration towards 

creating the impression 

of state of insecurity 

to President Muhammadu 

Buhari, so that 

he can declare a state of 

must take ownership of the 

projects. 

"So, I assure that we are 

not going to be under any 

pressure to pay contractors 

that have not performed. 

We have started verification 

exercise. A lot of embarrassing 

things have 

happened." 

According to her, they 

discovered that a particular 

contract was awarded 

55 times, over 55 Interim 

Payment Certificate, IPC of 

a contract awarded in particular 

state, and that some 

emergency in Edo State. 

Ohonbamu said, “In the 

past two weeks, the state 

and its people have been 

inundated with bomb explosions 

orchestrated by 

members of the Peoples 

Movement, EPM, even 

though they pointed accusing 

fingers at us.” 

He traced the origin of 

the crisis rocking the party 

to the inauguration of 

the 7th state House of Assembly, 

insisting that 

Governor Obaseki did his 

constitutional duty by is- 

EFCC denies congestion of Rivers cell, says it 

does not have open cell 

.…Secures forfeiture of 241 arrested trucks to FG 

By Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT — 

THE Economic and 

Financial Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, has denied 

allegations that it 

was maltreating detainees 

in its custody, noting 

that it does not run an 

open cell. 

A particular picture 

showing crowd of detainees 

being maltreated 

had gone viral on social 

media platforms. The 

said picture had referred 

the scene as the custody 

of EFCC in Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State. 

of the projects were not 

properly bidded for. She 

said, "We are calling on 

the NGOs, the local government 

chairmen, members 

of the CDC, the communities 

to out there during the 

assessment exercises. 

"Everyone has a photograph 

of a job that is wellfinished. 

Sometimes, I get 

the same photos for different 

projects. In submitting 

the list to the governors of 

the nine states, we have 

found out duplications. People 

have collected contracts 

Speaking yesterday, 

Usman Imam, the Zonal 

Director of EFCC, Port 

Harcourt Zonal Office, 

noted that the report and 

pictures were strange to 

the commission, noting 

that it was targeted at destroying 

the reputation of 

the commission. 

He said, "We are here 

to correct an impression 

about our detention cell. 

The detention report as 

carried is fake. We do not 

have am open cell. 

"We do not had many 

suspects that our cell cannot 

carry. We provide 

food and treatment for our 

for the same roads from the 

state government. They 

have collected from FER- 

MA and then they come to 

NDDC and collect the same 

road project. 

"If I have a friend doing 

road A at a place and I know 

about it, I will come to 

NDDC and collect funds for 

the same road. We have 

also someone who has over 

55 IPCs or blocs for the 

same contract. I think it is 

in Cross River or Akwa 

IBom State. That contract 

has been awarded 55 times." 

detainees. If we are maltreating 

our detainees, they 

would not have preferred 

our cell to prison. 

"Under my watch, there 

will be no hiding place for 

criminals and oil thieves. 

We feel bad that our hard 

earned reputation is 

smeared. We are doing everything 

to arrest the person 

who generated this 

fake news and prosecute 

him." 

Imam disclosed that the 

commission within the year 

had secured the forfeiture 

of over 241 trucks through 

the courts to the Federal 

Government.


By Boluwaji 

Obahopo 


WATER CONFAB: From left—Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji 

Bello; ED/CEO, Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, Engr. Umar Magashi, 

who represented Minister of Water Resources; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory 

Commission, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, and Director General, Nigeria Employers' Consultative 

Association, Dr. Timothy Olawale, during Lagos State's 2020 Water Conference, held at Muson 

Centre, Onikan, Lagos, yesterday. 

MINIMUM WAGE: Labour assures Kogi 

workers of good deal 

L 

O 

K O J A — 

ORGANISED 

Labour in Kogi State, 

yesterday, said public 

workers in the state would 

soon have reasons to smile, 

as it was determined to get 

a good deal from 

government in the ongoing 

negotiations for the 

implementation of the new 

minimum wage. 

State chairman of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, NLC, 

Onuh Edoka , who spoke 

during the 7th 

Quadrennial state 

delegates conference of the 

Medical and Health 

Workers Union of Nigeria, 

MHWUN, Kogi State 

chapter, informed that the 

state government had set 

up machinery to tackle all 

issues surrounding the 

implementation of the new 

wage. 

While speaking to 

newsmen at the venue of 

the conference, Edoka 

urged civil servants in the 

state to expect a better deal 

from the state government, 

saying “The state 

government has set-up a 

committee to look into the 

payment of 30,000 naira 

LAGOS—THE era of 

lost memories 

including photos, videos, 

music and mails is over as 

the grand masters of data, 

Globacom, has announced 

an application tagged 'Glo 

Cloud', which allows 

subscribers to back-up 

their digital life without 

worries. 

In a statement released in 

Lagos on Monday, the 

company said the app is 

minimum wage for workers 

of the state. We are hoping 

that by the end of the 30 

days the government gave 

the committee expires, they 

will come out with a chart 

that will be the true position 

of the minimum wage in 

Kogi State. We are 

expecting a win-win 

situation” 

Edokah who handed 

over the leadership of 

MHWUN to the newly 

elected leadership after 10 

years, urged the new 

UNICEF partners Borno govt to tackle 

malnutrition 

By Ndahi Marama 

M AIDUGURI— 

UNITED Nations 

Children’s Fund, UNICEF, 

has assured its continuous 

support to the Borno State 

government on the 

provision of preventive and 

curative nutrition services to 

tackle malnutrition in the 

state. 

Chief of Field Office, 

UNICEF Nigeria, Borno 

Field Office, Mr. Geoffrey 

Ijumba, spoke, yesterday, 

at the inauguration of the 

state's Food and Nutrition 

leaders of the union to take 

the welfare of members, as 

priority. 

“Any union executive that 

fails in providing adequate 

welfare for members will 

end up throwing the 

union into unbearable 

situation. I am leaving the 

union with a lot of legacies. 

The workers that I led in 

Health Workers Union 

enjoyed the benefit of 

various structures of their 

salaries. I was the 

Chairman of the union 

Technical and Steering 

Committees in Maiduguri. 

Represented by Kabuka 

Banda, UNICEF’s Water, 

Sanitation and Hygiene 

(WASH) Manager, Ijumba 

said: “Thanks to the 

support from our donors, 

namely, DFID, Japan, 

ECHO, Germany, Canada, 

Italy and others; we will 

continue to support the 

government in the 

provision of preventative 

and curative nutrition 

activities. UNICEF believes 

that one death of a child is 

too many, and that we must 

ensure a healthy start to life 

for all children regardless 

throughout the transformation 

of various salary 

structures and I ensured 

that the government paid 

workers salaries.” 

At the end of the conference, 

Mr. Amari Gabriel 

emerged as Chairman 

through consensus while 

Alilu Adejoh was elected 

Vice Chairman, Kashim 

Abonika Treasurer, Salaudeen 

Yakubu, State Trustee, 

Badams Kadiri, Auditor and 

Ajisafe Oluwatoyin the Public 

Relations Officer. 

of their situation, hence 

our support for the 

activation of this 

committee.” 

According to Ijumba, 

since 1992, UNICEF had 

been supporting the Borno 

State government to 

provide integrated lifesaving 

nutrition services to 

children under-five years 

and pregnant and lactating 

women across the state, 

noting that the support had 

been expanded following 

the declaration of nutrition 

emergency in the northeast 

by the federal government 

of Nigeria in 2016. 

Benue moves to empower 10,000 

youths 

By Peter Duru 

M AKURDI—BENUE 

State government 

has set in motion the 

process of taking 10,000 

youths off the streets 

through its youths 

empowerment and 

development initiative. 

Commissioner for 

Information, Culture and 

Tourism, Mr. Ngunan 

Addingi, disclosed, 

yesterday, while unveiling 

the Benue Youth Got Talent 

quest organized by Face of 

Made in Nigeria, FMN, in 

conjunction with her 

Ministry in Makurdi. 

She explained that the 

partnership between the 

state government and 

FMN was in line with the 

vision of the Governor 

Samuel Ortom led 

administration to usefully 

engage Benue youths to 

help them become 

productive citizens. 

While commending the 

organisation for picking 

Benue State as one of its 

catchment areas for the 

talent hunt, Mrs. Addingi 

said “it will avail us the 

opportunity of exploring 

the reservoir of talents that 

Abuja DISCO to spend N1bn on 

Nasarawa power evacuation 

project 

Glo’s new service, Cloud app, aids subscribers to save memorable moments 

provided to assist Glo data 

users to privately and safely 

store, back-up 

automatically, retrieve and 

share their digital contents 

from their cloud account. 

In the same vein, users 

of Glo Cloud can store their 

digital contents without 

limit to the quantum of their 

subscriptions. “For 

instance, if a customer 

subscribed for 50GB, he or 

she will be able to store up 

to 50GB of content”, Glo 

explained. 

“We are in a digital age 

where people develop 

loads and loads of personal, 

social and business 

contents, which they wish 

to store and retrieve 

whenever and wherever 

they want. Glo Cloud 

provides a safe and secure 

place to store such content. 

Apart from the problem of 

having enough storage 

space on phones or laptops, 

the Glo Cloud customer is 

assured is assured of the 

safety of his documents or 

contents if he loses his 

phone or computer”, the 

company declared. 

Globacom enjoined 

customers to download the 

Glo Cloud application from 

Google Play or Apple store 

by searching application 

'Glo Cloud'. Once 

download is successfully 

By Chris Ochayi 

A BUJA—THE 

management of 

Abuja Electricity 

Distribution Company, 

AEDC, reiterated its 

commitment to the speedy 

completion of the N1.04 

billion Nasarawa power 

evacuation project. 

The project, according to 

the company is designed to 

significantly improve power 

supply across Nasarawa 

State and its environs 

It is to evacuate power 

from the two new 150MVA 

330/132KV and two other 

60MVA 132/33KV 

transmission substations at 

Akurba being built by the 

Niger Delta Power Holding 

Company, NDPHC. 

The Managing Director 

of AEDC, Ernest 

completed, the customer 

can then subscribe to the 

required pack by 

registering for the service. 

Glo Cloud also allows 

subscribers to edit photos 

with special effects and 

stickers as well as make 

movies from their photos 

and albums. The app, in 

addition to the foregoing, 

facilitates retrieval or access 

of digital content anytime 

from all their devices. 

abound in our state. 

“There will be two 

categories in the talent 

hunt. The competition 

which attracts prizes for 

winners, and the non 

competition which targets 

those with unique 

inventions. At the end of 

it all those with the 

inventions will be handed 

over to the Small and 

Medium Enterprise 

Development Agency of 

Nigeria, SMEDAN, for 

further enhancement and 

development.” 

Earlier, the Chief 

Executive Officer of 

FMN, Mr. Rikki 

Nwajiofor, explained that 

“the programme is aimed 

at promoting made in 

Nigeria goods and 

harnessing new talents 

for the Nollywood and 

entertainment industry 

and exposing them to the 

rest of the world.” 

He said the events 

leading to the grand 

finale of the talent hunt in 

Makurdi would 

commence next month 

from the three senatorial 

zones of the state “where 

raw talents would be 

scavenged and eventually 

refined for the local and 

internal audience.” 

Mupwaya, who was at 

the project site to inspect 

the extent of work done 

so far said AEDC was 

preparing its networks 

for the evacuation of the 

load that would become 

available from the 

transmission facility 

slated for completion in 

the 1st quarter of 2020. 

Mupwaya, in a statement 

by the AEDC General 

Manager, Corporate 

Communications, Oyebode 

Fadipe, noted that AEDC - 

as the final leg that ensures 

that electricity gets to the 

homes and offices of 

consumers - is fully aware 

of the need to ensure that it 

plays its own role within this 

laudable project. 

“The TCN project will 

provide a massive boost in 

power supply potentials to 

Nasarawa State up to 

southern Kaduna and even 

parts of Plateau state. There 

will be more hours of 

electricity available on the 

network and a significant 

improvement in the voltage 

profile of the state. 

“However, if we do not 

play our own part, that 

power will not get into 

people’s homes. We are 

putting all efforts at 

ensuring the project is 

completed in good time. 

We will leave no stone 

unturned.”

14—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 


LEADERSHIP SEMINAR: From left— Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc., Dr. Demola 

Sogunle; singer/songwriter, Sadiq Onifade (aka WurlD); Head, Marketing and 

Communication, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc., Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami; Co-Founder, Wilson’s 

Lemonade; Seun Abolaji, and Head, Personal, Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc., Ruby 

Onwudiwe, during the Stanbic IBTC Youth Leadership Series in Lagos, yesterday. 

Udo Udoma bags highest Japanese 

honour for promoting trade, investment 

By Victoria Ojeme 

& Alice Ekpang 

A BUJA—FORMER 

Minister of Budget 

and National Planning, 

Udoma Udo Udoma, has 

been conferred with the 

''Order of the Rising 

Sun, Gold and Silver 

Star'' by the Emperor of 

Japan in recognition of 

his efforts in promoting 

trade, investment and 

bilateral relations between 

Japan and Nigeria 

over the years. 

The former minister 

became the first Nigerian 

to be decorated with 

the award in a ceremony 

supervised by the 

Ambassador of Japan to 

Nigeria, Kikuta Yutaka 

in Abuja, yesterday. 

The Order of the Rising 

Sun, Gold and Silver 

Star is one of the 

highest orders under the 

Order of the Rising Sun, 

established in 1875 by 

Emperor Meiji. 

Yutaka said “his outstanding 

role contributed 

to the advancement 

and expansion of Japanese 

companies’ presence 

and investment in 

Nigeria. As the immediate 

past Minister of Budget 

and National Planning, 

he was responsible 

for bringing Japan’s 

Official Development 

Assistance, ODA, into 

Nigeria, which is in 

many ways encouraging 

Nigerian people for their 

development. 

“As a minister, Udoma 

again closely engaged 

himself in communicating 

with the Japanese 

business circles, which 

LAGOS—THE Lagos 

government, yesterday, 

placed hotels and resort 

centres in the state on 

surveillance as part of its 

measures to prevent 

coronavirus. 

The Commissioner of 

Health, Dr. Akin Abayomi, 

disclosed this while 

dismissing the rumour that 

some Chinese nationals who 

recently returned to 

Alimosho local government 

area of the state from their 

country, had severe 

symptoms of coronavirus 

disease. 

Abayomi said 

investigations revealed that 

there were no Chinese 

nationals residing or 

conducting any business in 

Osoba close of Gowon Estate 

where people speculated that 

the incident occurred. 

He said the surveillance 

team set up by the ministry 

of health also interrogated 

the chairman of Gemade 

Estate known to have 

affiliation with Chinese 

expatriates but discovered 

that the Chinese nationals 

resulted in necessary investment 

stimulus incorporated 

in the Economic 

Recovery and Growth 

Plan (ERGP) of the federal 

government of Nigeria. 

It made an immense 

help for Japanese companies 

and their investments 

in Nigeria.” 

Yutaka noted that considering 

the numerous 

contributions of Udoma 

in strengthening relations 

and good friendship 

between Nigeria 

and Japan, it was indeed 

not a difficult task for the 

government of Japan and 

the Japanese Imperial 

Household to select him 

as one worthy of recognition 

by Japan. 

“Thus, Udoma has 

carved his name in history 

as the very first Nigerian 

to receive an Order 

of the Rising Sun in 

the name of His Majesty 

the Emperor of Japan,” 

he said. 

Speaking , after receiving 

the award, Udoma, 

said among others, “I 

believe that it is a sign 

of friendship from Japan 

that it is not just for me 

personally; it is also for Nigeria 

that they have selected 

a Nigerian for this 

award. I think it is a sign of 

goodwill, fellowship and it 

means that Japan plans to 

increase bilateral relationship 

with Nigeria.” 

Lagos places hotels, resort t centres on 

surveillance over corona 

onavirus 

who had worked in his 

factory at Igbesa, Agbara, 

Ogun State, had returned to 

China in 2019 when their 

work permit expired. 

Abayomi said: “There are 

no suspected or confirmed 

cases of Coronavirus in 

Lagos State contrary to fake 

news being circulated in the 

media. 

“In a bid to further 

investigate the rumour, the 

surveillance team of the 

Lagos State Ministry of 

Health and the Alimosho 

community stakeholders 

were in Gowon Estate and 

its environs – the alleged 

scene of the suspected 

cases, on February 9, 2019. 

“The team interrogated 

residents living in and 

around Osoba Street in 

Alaguntan Ward, Segun 

Majekodunmi Street and 

other randomly selected 

houses in Alimosho but 

there were no Chinese 

nationals residing or 

carrying on business in and 

around any of the streets 

and communities visited. 

“The team expanded its 

search to hotels around 

Alimosho and Gowon 

Estate where a Taiwanese 

lady was identified to have 

visited one of the hotels but 

nothing concrete linking her 

to China was found. 

“Three Egyptian 

nationals, who were sighted 

buying drugs at a particular 

pharmacy were also 

interrogated but were found 

to be businessmen who had 

no link whatsoever with 

China. 

“The State surveillance 

team has scaled up its 

search by placing hotels and 

other resort centres on 

active surveillance to 

closely monitor visitors, 

travellers and non-nationals 

especially those of East 

Asian and Chinese 

origin.”The commissioner 

added that phone numbers 

of Alimosho LGA disease 

surveillance notification 

officer were given to 

relevant stakeholders in the 

area in case they come in 

contact or have knowledge 

of any Chinese national 

living around the area or 

anyone arriving from China 

into the state. 

Safer Internet: Google announces 

$1m Panan-African 

Fund for 

Innovation 

By Prince Osuagwu & 

Emmanuel Elebeke 

Aengine, BUJA—SEARCH 

Google has 

announced a $1 million 

fund for African start-ups 

who have innovative ideas 

on privacy, trust and safety 

of families online. 

It also announced a 

landmark child online 

safety programme, “Be 

Internet Awesome” in the 

Netherlands, Nigeria, 

South Africa and Kenya 

simultaneously. 

The programme seeks to 

help minors explore the 

internet safely and confidently. 

Google made the announcements 

yesterday 

in Abuja during this 

year’s Safer Internet Day 

celebration. 

Safer internet day is an 

annual celebration created 

by Google to showcase 

ideas and activities aimed 

at helping kids to be safe, 

confident explorers of the 

online world. 

It ensures that kids 

grow smart, alert and cautious 

of activities that can 

pharm them. 

The fund which will be 

administered by a trusted 

partner will support initiatives 

across Sub Saharan 

Africa 

Google said criteria and 

details of how to apply for 

the fund would be available 

next week. 

Head of brand & reputation, 

Google Africa, 

Mojolaoluwa Aderemi- 

Makinde said Google’s 

commitment to safer internet 

for Nigerian children 

would only continue to 

grow as efforts to also 

equip them to compete 

with their foreign counter- 

parts also grows. 

She said: “Google is 

committed to a safe internet 

for children, as well 

as the empowerment of 

organisations who share 

this commitment. The 

fund will be administered 

by a third-party 

partner on behalf of 

Google.org, and we will 

be sharing details on application 

criteria and 

deadlines soon.” 

Aderemi said “Be Internet 

Awesome” teach 

kids important skills for 

surfing the internet, like 

how to recognise potential 

online scams. 

In his remarks, DG, 

National Orientation 

Agency, NOA, Dr Garba 

Abari, said, Google 

through Safer internet 

day, provided a great opportunity 

to promote internet 

safety across a 

range of audiences, 

which is why NOA 

strongly supports the 

event. 

Abari who was represented 

by the Director, 

Special duties, Mrs 

Mette Edekobi, said: “ 

In this internet age, parents 

should strive to 

know as much as their 

children know, so they 

will be able to checkmate 

the activities of the kids. 

“We are really glad to 

be collaborating with 

Google and our reliable 

partners, private Public 

development Centres, 

PPDC, to launch. The 

Digital Parenting Initiative” 

a programme aimed 

at educating guardians, 

teachers and families on 

online tools that bring 

families together to 

learn, have fun and be 

safe online.”

Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020—15 

By Anayo Okoli, 

Chimaobi 

Nwaiwu, 

Ugochukwu 

Alaribe & 

Chinedu Adonu 

THE Indigenous People 

of Biafra, IPOB, 

yesterday, warned that it 

should not be provoked into 

carrying arms by the Federal 

Government and its armed 

forces by firing gun shots in 

Afaraukwu Umuahia, 

tomorrow, during the burial 

of the parents of their leader, 

Eze Israel Okwu Kanu and 

his wife, Sally Mmeme. 

This came as 

South-East governors, 

traditional rulers and other 

stakeholders, yesterday, 

arose from a security summit 

in Enugu with the Anglican 

Archbishop of Enugu 

Diocese, Dr. Emmanuel 

Chukwuma, asking the 

Inspector General of Police to 

tell President Muhammadu 

Buhari to declare herdsmen 

as terrorists, saying they are 

dangerous. 

IPOB's Warning 

Warning the army against 

pushing it to armed struggle, 

IPOB said it had remained 

peaceful in the face of attacks 

by the Nigerian Army and the 

Police, but has been receiving 

daily threats from the 

Nigerian Army and Police, 

on their planned massacre of 

innocent mourners on Friday 

February 14, 2020. 

It said: “We are, therefore, 

placing the world on notice 

that the floodgates of hell will 

be opened should the Army 

or Police appear anywhere 

around Afaraukwu on the day 

of the burial. We noticed that 

Nigerian government is hellbent 

on provoking us into 

armed struggle that will 

inevitably start the violent 

disintegration of Nigeria. 

“We equally discovered a 

grand plan by some 

politicians and socio cultural 

leaders, offering financial 

support to soldiers in Obinze, 

Imo State; Ohafia and Asa, 

Abia State; Abakiliki and 

Onitsha in Ebonyi and 

Anambra States, respectively 

in readiness for their deadly 

deployment to Umuahia. 

“We are, however, not 

worried about the plan, 

because the era of Nigerian 

Army and Police shooting 

innocent mourners in 

Biafraland has come to an 

end, and if they try it again, 

they will see the sterner stuff 

IPOB is made of. 

“Were are aware that the 

Nigerian Army and Police 

have perfected plans to 

disrupt the burial of Eze 

Kanu and his wife, but if they 

go ahead to carry out any 

disruptive activity at that 

burial, it will set-off a chain 

reaction from IPOB, that 

Nigeria will never recover 

from." 

In a statement by its Media 

and Publicity Secretary, 

Emma Powerful, the pro 

Biafra group said the 

presence of Army and Police, 

and what they have been 

doing in Afaraukwu 

Umuahia, Abia State, since 

A cross section of participants at the South-East Security Summit, in Enugu, yesterday. 

Insecurity: Don’t push us into armed 

struggle, IPOB warns Army, Police 

•Tell Buhari to declare herdsmen terrorist group, Chukwuma tells IGP 

•Police, army extorting Ndigbo at checkpoints—Ohanaeze 

•S’East govs endorse NPF community policing model 

the announcement of the date 

for the burial of the parents of 

their leader is provocative, 

and capable of pushing them 

into carrying arms. 

IPOB warned that “simple 

arrest of any mourner on 

Friday, February 14, 2020, is 

capable of inciting a 

disproportionate reaction 

from angry mourners.” 

Declare 

herdsmen 

terrorists 

Speaking at the South- 

East Security Summit, 

Archbishop Chukwuma said 

President Buhari had been 

pampering herdsmen 

despite atrocities they have 

been committing across the 

country. 

Chukwuma spoke on a day 

the President-General of 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief 

Nnia Nwodo, lamented the 

level of extortion police and 

army carry out on the people 

of South-East at the 

numerous check points 

mounted across Igboland. 

Nwodo also asked the 

Inspector General of Police 

why no commissioner of 

police of Igbo extraction 

would not be posted in any 

of the South-East states and 

called on him to re-examine 

his postings in the zone. 

Both Chukwuma and 

Nwodo spoke in Enugu at the 

South-East Security Summit 

organised by the Inspector 

General of Police towards 

commencing community 

policing, which the IGP said 

was the best way to tackles 

the nation’s security 

challenges. 

Walk-out 

The summit was earlier 

threatened when 

Chukwuma protested how 

the monarchs and other Igbo 

leaders and stakeholders 

invited to the summit were 

abandoned at the venue for 

over four hours while the 

governors and the Inspector 

General of Police were 

holding meeting at the 

Enugu State Government 

House without anybody 

informing them of what was 

going on. 

The protest made Nwodo 

to lead many of the 

dignitaries, including the 

monarchs to walk out of the 

summit. However, words got 

to the governors about the 

situation at the venue and 

they quickly rounded off and 

came to the venue, 

apologised and called 

backed the aggrieved 

leaders. 

His grouse 

Addressing the summit, 

shortly after the IGP had 

made his speech, Bishop 

Chukwuma who was flanked 

by other religious leaders, told 

the Inspector General of Police 

and the gathering: “Please, 

help us tell Mr. President to 

declare the herdsmen 

terrorists in this country. He 

has pampered them enough. 

They are dangerous. Our 

people cannot go to farm 

again. 

“We are religious leaders 

and we are saying that what 

is happening in our country 

today is very much 

devastating. Before now, 

internal security was in the 

hands of police and external 

for the soldiers. 

"Before, you don’t see 

soldiers on the street but 

because security has gone 

out of hand and police was 

becoming inefficient and 

inadequate, soldiers are 

coming in to help. 

“The worst of it now is that 

today, Rev Fathers are being 

kidnapped; religious leaders 

are in danger and church 

premises are now in trouble, 

we begin to ask ourselves: 

why is it so? 

“If this should continue this 

way and we pray and God 

sends his angels down, 

Nigeria will be in confusion. 

So we want to appeal to you 

to help us in this strategic 

effort for peace to reign in our 

community. 

“Because of the inadequacy 

of the situation, I wish that 

the community policing will 

address the issues. Again, 

this issue of a rich man having 

20 policemen in his home 

because he is rich should 

stop; it is making them 

inadequate to provide 

security for the masses. 

Road blocks 

“The number of roadblocks 

in the South-East is alarming. 

From Enugu to Awka, you will 

meet over 17 checkpoints 

with police and soldiers and 

you cannot find such in other 

zones. Why is our own 

different from others? 

“We are ready to partner 

with you but you must 

recognise the traditional 

rulers and religious leaders 

to help you out and make 

your strategy a successful one 

and stop people from being 

violent. 

“Tell the herdsmen to stop 

harassing and kidnapping 

our leaders. We don’t have 

money but the grace of God. 

I want to make it clear, if the 

so-called herdsmen continue 

this way, we are not going to 

take it lightly with them, we 

will take our own measure 

and deal with them spiritually 

and physically.” 

Police, army 

extorting Ndigbo 

at checkpoints 

—Ohanaeze 

In his remarks, the 

President-General of 

Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief 

Nnia Nwodo, also lamented 

the number of checkpoints in 

the zone, which he said exist 

for the sole purpose of 

extorting the people. 

“We welcome you to your 

home, South-East, where you 

were once a commissioner of 

police. I must commend you 

that during your tenure, some 

aspects of intellectuality have 

come back to police because 

in the time past, no one had 

given it a thought. 

“We are not happy with 

how you kept us for over four 

hours without hearing from 

any of you concerning the 

security summit. Our 

traditional rulers and other 

stakeholders have been here 

waiting. I know it is not in your 

character but unfortunately 

your protocol treated us this 

way. 

“I think what you are 

planning to do is good but 

your assumption may not 

work. In this zone, our people 

have little or no confidence 

in the police. Because I once 

travelled from Enugu to 

Onitsha and recorded 17 

checkpoints with soldiers and 

police. 

“The former GOC 

dismantled one at Oji River 

axis. In all these checkpoints, 

they are using children at the 

ages of 14,16,17 to collect 

money from the motorists 

while they are there playing 

draft. Why is our own like 

this? There is another one at 

Ozalla in Igbo Etiti Local 

Government Area." 

Farmers trouble 

“Our farmers are 

devastated and the herders 

carry AK-47 openly without 

being persecuted by police. 

The one that happened at 

Benue Catholic Church was 

done openly. They danced 

with the heads of those they 

killed and was recorded, 

transmitted to all the social 

media with everything to 

recognise them but nothing 

was done. 

“Our people believe that 

there is one law for us and 

another law for the others. If 

there is anything you can do 

for us, it is to give instruction 

that any one you get 

exploiting people, collecting 

bribe from them, that you will 

expel him/her. 

Restive youths 

“The restiveness of our 

youths has reached its limit. 

The situation now is that Igbo 

peopole are conquered 

people. There is a limit you 

will push a man to the wall 

and he will retaliate. There is 

not one commissioner of 

police in the South-East that 

is Igbo man. How can you 

talk about community 

policing while the people you 

want to use to work with our 

people do not know the 

language or know the terrain. 

“We have many officers in 

the Nigeria police, army, civil 

defence or what have you. 

Why is our place targeted for 

posting of non indigenes to 

head every security agency? 

“I want to plead with you, 

re-examine the posting you 

make here. All our leaders are 

finding it difficult to stop the 

anger of our people. I am 

happy that when you were 

mentioning our problems, 

you made mention of 

restiveness of our youths. Our 

children have reached their 

limit. Our governors are the 

chief security officers of their 

states because Section 14 of 

the constitution gives them 

right to protect the lives and 

property of their people. 

“When you start sharing the 

heads of security with 

commanders, controllers and 

whatever, and you do not 

include the governors, heads 

of communities, religious 

leaders; the exercise is dead 

on arrival. These 

commanders and controllers 

are coming to dilute our local 

security." 

S’East govs endorse 

NPF community 

policing model 

Meanwhile, Governors of 

the South-East, yesterday, 

endorsed the new 

community policing model of 

Nigeria Police Force, NPF, for 

effective security in the zone. 

Rising from the South East 

Geo-Political Security 

Summit, initiated by the 

Inspector General of Police, 

IGP, Mr. Mohammed 

Abubakar, the governors in a 

communiqué read by the 

Governor of Ebonyi State and 

Chairman of the South East 

Governors’ Forum, David 

Umahi, said contents of the 

new community policing 

strategies of the police were 

not different from their security 

measures already in place in 

the zone. 

Umahi disclosed that South 

East governors, before the 

summit, had a closed-door 

meeting with the Inspector 

General of Police, at the 

Government House, Enugu, 

where the police chief 

explained to them 

extensively the concept and 

effectiveness of the 

community policing in 

addressing security 

challenges in the zone. 

Other governors at the 

event include the host 

governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, 

Governor Willie Obiano of 

Anambra State, Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State 

and the governor of Imo State, 

represented by his deputy,


WORKSHOP: From 

left— Milot Kelmendi, 

Commercial Management 

Advisor, Nigeria Power 

Sector Programme, 

NPSP; Tena Galloway, 

Sales Support Manager, 

Armese Consulting; 

Angella Ajere, MAP 

Project Manager, Port 

Harcourt Electricity 

Distribution Company, 

PHED, and Francis 

Jakpor, Marketing 

Communications 

Manager, Armese 

Consulting, at the 

inaugural USAID Meter 

Asset Provider, MAP, 

stakeholders' workshop in 

Abuja. 

Ondo APC crisis: Unity Forum rejects 

Akande as Reconciliation c'ttee chair 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE crisis 

rocking the All 


APC, in Ondo State 

deepened, yesterday, as a 

group within the party, the 

Unity Forum, rejected and 

passed a vote of no 

confidence on Chief Bisi 

Akande as the Chairman of 

the National Reconciliation 

Committee of the party. 

They alleged that Chief 

Akande “is on the payroll 

of Governor Rotimi 

Akeredolu.” 

Chief Akande, a former 

Osun State governor 

replaced the Senate 

President Ahmed Lawan as 

the new chairman of the 

reconciliation committee. 

Rising from its meeting 

in Akure, the group led by 

the former deputy governor 

of the state, Alhaji Ali 

NIPS: Samsung wins Technological 

Breakthrough award 

By Ediri Ejoh 

A BUJA—SAMSUNG 

Heavy Industries 

Nigeria, SHIN, was 

honoured with the “Award 

for Technological 

Breakthrough” at the 

Nigeria International 

Petroleum Summit, NIPS. 

SHIN had also been 

nominated for awards in the 

categories: “Award for 

Excellence in Corporate 

Social Responsibility” and 

“Award for Project of the 

Year ”. 

The summit took place 

Olanusi said Chief Akande 

would be biased in 

resolving the over three 

years crisis within the party 

in the state. 

A communiqué by Alhaji 

Olanusi said: “The meeting 

reviewed the replacement of the 

Senate President with Chief Bisi 

Akande as the Chairman of APC 

National Reconciliation 

Committee and passed a vote of 

no confidence on Chief Akande 

as the Chairman of the Committee. 

“This is because the said Chief 

Bisi Akande is on the payroll of 

Industrial court orders reinstatement 

of dismissed ICPC personnel 


BRNIN 

CITY— 

JUSTICE Oyebiola 

Oyewumi of the National 

from February 9 to 12 in 

Abuja. 

The conference brought 

together key Nigerian 

political decision-makers, 

government officials and 

experts from the Federal 

Ministry of Petroleum 

Resources, Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation, NNPC, and 

other relevant 

governmental bodies along 

with representatives from 

national and international 

companies operating in the 

oil and gas sector, 

multinational and 

Ondo State Governor and he was 

part of the reconciliation committee 

that met with the party leadership 

in Ondo State in July 2019 

at Heritage Hotel in Akure. 

“There it was agreed that the 

Party Executive in Ondo State 

be dissolved but up till this 

moment, the Governor through 

some of our Leaders have been 

blocking the dissolution that was 

jointly agreed on in the presence 

of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 

our National Leader, Aremo 

Segun Osoba, Chief Bisi Akande, 

Chief Pius Akinyelure, Governor 

Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and 

Industrial Court, Abuja has 

ordered the Independent 

Corrupt Practices and 

Other Related Offences 

Commission and the 

multilateral organisations, 

academia and other 

relevant stakeholders. 

SHIN got the award for 

technological breakthrough for 

the innovations introduced 

during the construction of the 

Egina, the world’s largest FPSO 

which was built for the Egina oil 

field, the deepest offshore oil and 

gas field in Nigeria. 

During the construction phase 

3D scanner technology and 

software was used, which 

simulated how the modules could 

be integrated in advance. 

The use of these innovations 

improved quality, optimised 

planning and significantly spedup 

construction. 

Huawei launches Digital Oilfield IOT 

solution in Nigeria 

By Emmanuel 

Okogba 

LAGOS—HUAWEI has 

launched its fully digital 

oilfield IOT solution at the 

Nigeria International 

Petroleum Summit 2020. 

Huawei,during its 

workshop presentation to 

customers and partners at 

the NIPS2020,said this 

solution which uses 4G 

eLTE broadband and 

Artificial Intelligence 

technology provides full 

wireless network coverage which 

can enhance the operational 

transparency and safety of the Oil 

& Gas sector in Nigeria covering 

the oil fields, depots and pipelines. 

Huawei Nigeria Enterprise 

Managing Director (Abuja office), 

Mr. Tank Li, explained that with 

this solution, stakeholders can 

recognize issues of Health, 

Safety and Environment as well 

as prevent vandalism before it 

happens. 

“Operationally, there are a lot 

of activities which take place at 

the depot locations. With the 

Huawei Digital IoT Solution, all 

stakeholders will be able to 

monitor activities by installing our 

Artificial Intelligence surveillance 

cameras which can detect 

unusual movements around the 

premises. This AI technology 

which records video uses 

surveillance cameras that 

communicate with each other 

and then passes the information 

to the operational team. For 

example, the AI surveillance can 

prevent unauthorized entrance 

into the premises,” he said. 

The solution is also expected 

to take real-time data of daily oil 

production in the country which 

will enable full transparency for 

the sector. 

Pastor Oluwajana, the South 

West Chairman of the party.” 

The group condemned “the 

setting up of an Advisory Council 

in APC Ondo State.” 

They alleged that: “The 

composition of the council did not 

reflect the real membership 

spread of the party in Ondo State 

but the “yes men” and cabinet 

members of the Governor of Ondo 

State except in one or two Local 

Governments.” 

The group, however, “called on 

our party leadership at the 

National level to do justice first to 

the party in Ondo State instead 

of searching for peace." 

Commission Chairman to 

immediately reinstate Edo 

State born Albert 

Osarumwense who was 

wrongfully dismissed by 

the Commission in October, 

2015. 

In the suit number NICN/ 

BEN/01/2016 handled by 

Barrister Simon Ezeh 

Ezenwa of Olayiwola 

Afolabi Chambers in Benin 

City, Justice Oyewumi 

ruled that the nature of 

employment of Albert 

Osarumwense is one with 

statutory flavour. 

He further ruled that 

Osarumwense is entitled to be 

paid all his salary and other 

allowances from the month of 

October, 2015 when his 

employment was determined till 

the day of his reinstatement. 

He "In sum, I find that 

claimant's case succeeds in the 

most part, thus I make these 

declarations and orders that the 

termination of claimant's 

appointment by the defendants 

is unlawful. 

"That the letter of termination 

dated 6th of October, 2015 is 

hereby set aside, that the claimant 

is entitled to be reinstated to his 

erstwhile position forthwith. 

"That the claimant is entitled 

to the payment of his salary and 

other emoluments from the 

month of October, 2015 when his 

appointment with 1st defendant 

was purportedly terminated to 

the time of his reinstatement." 

The counsel told Vanguard in 

Benin City that the court ordered 

that its directives should be 

complied with within 30 days, 

others that the refunds would attract 

10 per cent interest. 

AfDB approves $1m grant for 

Uganda to stem Ebola 

transmission 

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has 

released a $1 million grant to Uganda to help 

the East African country tackle an outbreak of the 

Ebola virus. 

The grant to support Uganda’s National Ebola 

Viral Disease (EVD) Preparedness and Response 

Plan, was approved in January. Funds have been 

disbursed through the World Health Organization 

(WHO), which is the implementing agency. 

The grant follows a request by the Government of Uganda 

to the African Development Bank to support the country’s 

efforts in containing the Ebola scourge that has so far killed 

three people in the East African nation. The Bank is working 

with Uganda’s Ministry of Health, and the WHO, a 

specialized agency of the United Nations on health-related 

issues. 

The agreement was signed by the Bank’s Uganda Country 

Manager, Kennedy Mbekeani, Uganda’s Minister of 

Finance Planning and Economic Development, Matia 

Kasaija, and Dr. Rebecca Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO’s 

Regional Director for Africa. 

FG directs NCC to revise policy 

on SIM 

The Federal Government via the Minister of 

Communications and Digital Economy, has 

issued a directive to the regulator of the 

telecommunications sector, the Nigerian 

Communications Commission (NCC), to revise the 

policy on SIM card registration and usage. 

The Minister stated that the policy update was 

based on the need to combat the spate of 

insecurity in Nigeria. In our view, this will have a 

neutral effect on telecoms companies (telcos) 

earnings in the near-term. However, there are 

risks to the long-term earnings potential of the 

telcos. 

Reacting Cordros Research stated: “We note that 

the first stipulation is not new, with NCC stating 

this as far back as October 2019. However, 

enforcement has been weak, with customers still 

given the option of using any of the range of 

“National IDs” to register.” 

South Africa’s MTN flags 

2019 profit jump of up to 50% 

South Africa’s MTN Group expects full-year 

headline earnings to rise as much as 50 

percent, even after the payment on interest on 

regulatory fines in Nigeria. 

MTN has been touted as one of South Africa’s 

biggest corporate success stories, but clashes with 

regulators have distracted management and 

crimped growth. 

Oil-rich Nigeria accounts for nearly a third of 

MTN’s core profit, but it has posed a raft of 

problems for the firm in recent years. 

MTN Nigeria has been dealing with a 330 million 

naira ($1.1 million) fine for failing to cut off more 

than 5 million unregistered SIM cards, a 

substantial reduction from the original 1.04 trillion 

naira penalty handed down in 2015. 

Algeria’s public debt rises to 

45% of GDP, economy 

“delicate”- Prime Minister 

Algeria’s public debt rose to 45 percent of 

Gross Domestic Product, GDP at the end of 

last year from a level of 26 percent in 2017, and 

the country’s economic situation is “delicate”, 

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad has said. 

Addressing lawmakers, Djerad blamed 

mismanagement and corruption during the past 

years for worsening financial problems in the 

OPEC-member nation, pledging to overcome the 

situation through reforms. 

Algeria has been under financial pressure after 

a fall in energy earnings and foreign exchange 

reserves amid growing demands from the 

country’s 43 million people to improve living 

standards. 

Some stories credited to Reuters

When a PFA goes beyond 

the call of duty 

WHEN the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, 

Pensions Limited came on board six 

years ago, the idea was to have a Pension Fund 

Administrator, PFA, exclusively responsible for 

pension assets of all police personnel, 

according to the Pension Reform Act, PRA 

2014. Coming after 20 other PFAs had been 

up and running, it was not going to be easy. But 

it was a child of necessity. Before 2014, 

policemen were scattered in all the other 20 

PFAs before the police authorities requested 

exemption from the contributory pension 

scheme. But the Federal Government 

demurred, insisting that the police institution 

was so big that it was not in the best interest of 

the country to let policemen out of the pension 

loop. So, NPF Pensions Limited was a 

compromise whereby instead of letting the 

police exit the pension scheme, the National 

Pension Commission (PenCom) in 2014 

licensed a PFA exclusively dedicated to serve 

the police with a vision “to be the benchmark 

in Pension Fund Administration in Nigeria”. 

Its mission: “To provide quality customer and 

financial advisory services to stakeholders and 

adopt investment strategies that would yield 

the best possible returns on their pension 

assets”, was even more ambitious. Tapping Dr. 

Hamza Bokki, a man with decades of 

experience in investment banking, corporate 

governance and human resource 

management, to be the pioneer managing 

director was, in itself, a bold statement. 

It was going to require a team prepared to 

think out of the axiomatic box to successfully 

manage the pension assets of about 370,000 

policemen. Six years after, the jury is in that 

despite the constraints, NPF Pensions has 

largely delivered on its mandate. Prior to its 

establishment, a large number of policemen 

on the contributory pension scheme were 

neither receiving statements on their 

Retirement Savings Accounts, RSA, nor had 

any communication with the PFAs, and, 

therefore, didn’t know what was happening to 

their accounts. 

So, the first task of the new PFA was to get in 

touch with their clients by locating policemen 

wherever they were in Nigeria. Offices were 

set up in all the 56 police formations and 

commands across the country. Working also 

through the police pension 

offices and six regional 

offices with pension desk 

officers, NPF Pensions 

took their services directly 

to the officers wherever 

they are located. 

To ensure that issues are 

addressed instantly, all the 

62 offices are online, real 

time. The result is that 

whatever 

the 

management is doing at 

the head office, the 

Many 

policemen 

tend not to 

give a 

thought to life 

after 

retirement 

when they 

are still in 

service 

representatives can 

equally do on the field. It was a strategic move 

that not only eased the access of police officers 

to information, but also dramatically eased 

the stress of documentation by creating 

awareness. Any other PFA would have been 

contented with the structures already put in 

place but not one to which going above and 

beyond the call of duty in satisfying its clients 

has become an article of faith. Thus NPF 

Pensions initiated annual pre-retirement 

seminars for retirees. The 2020 edition kicked 

off in Lagos (South West) on Monday February 

3, and later moved to Port Harcourt for the 

South South zone. Next week, the train will 

move to Kano (North West) and Owerri (South 

East) before anchoring in the North East and 

North Central. Going by the response from 

the audience in Lagos, the seminars will 

achieve the purpose. Retiring police officers 

asked the questions that most concentrate their 

minds. The idea, Dr. Bokki explains, is to 

prepare police officers that are due to retire in 

2020 by interacting with them physically to 

acquaint them with their rights, entitlements 

and obligations before and after retirement. 

To access their pension funds after retirement, 

they must have completed Data Recapture 

are still issues, the main 

elephant in the room being the delay in the 

payment of pension to retired officers due to 

the inability of the government to release the 

accrued benefits of the retirees since January 

2019. The contributory pension scheme 

comprises 7.5 per cent deducted from the 

salary of a public servant and the counterpart 

7.5 per cent contributed by the employer, 

which in this case is the government and the 

accrued rights, derived from the service such 

an officer rendered from before the time of 

enrollment in the pension scheme. So, while 

the deductions and contributions are paid 

monthly into the RSA and officers get their 

statement of account every month, the accrued 

rights is only paid by the government when 

an officer serves notice of retirement. 

The Board of NPF Pensions Limited 

approved a N400 million annual Retiree 

Resettlement Support Scheme in 2017 to cater 

for retirees while awaiting their pension. 

Colossal as this sum is, it was still scaled up to 

N450 million in 2018 and it is paid retirees 

gratis to alleviate their suffering. Explaining 

the reason behind the move, Dr. Bokki said, 

“It is a corporate social responsibility scheme 

that NPF Pensions has instituted. It is coming 

from our own internal funds. From the income 

we make, we expend N450 million and give 

it free to police officers. 

“No other PFA is doing that and this is 

because we have a unique constituency. Most 

of the police officers live in the barracks and 

if there is any delay in the payment of accrued 

rights, they go into distress as soon as they 

leave service.” But even when the pension is 

eventually paid, the amount is so paltry. Most 

of the officers at the pre-retirement seminar 

in Lagos lamented very low balances in their 

accounts. Dr. Bokki said it is because 

“historically, police salaries have been low”. 

And since pension is a function of 

contribution, it has to be paltry because the 

salaries from which the contributions are 

taken are low. 

Culture 

of savings 

Exercise, DRE, and 

other National Pension 

Commission (PenCom) 

verification exercises. 

Many policemen wait 

until after their exit from 

service before 

embarking on the 

documentation. Of 

course, this delays 

payment of pension. But 

despite all these 

proactive moves, there 

Here again, NPF Pensions, going above and 

beyond the call of duty, has appealed to the 

government to pay police retirees a separate 

gratuity for services rendered to country so 

that they can be brought at par with 

colleagues and peers in the public service. 

The appeal, fully supported by the police 

apparatchik, is pending before the Presidency. 

But NPF Pensions is doing a lot more than 

advocacy. Many policemen tend not to give a 

thought to life after retirement when they are 

still in service. There is no preparation for the 

day which will surely come after either 35 

years in service or on attainment of 60 years 

of age. 

Living in the barracks, most policemen lack 

the culture of savings and while in service, 

they hardly can afford the time to develop 

other competencies that will put them in good 

stead when they drop their uniform due to 

demands of the profession. The consequence 

is that life after retirement becomes a 

drudgery at best, or at worst a death sentence, 

literally. Here again, the PFA steps in. The 

seminar partly addressed this fundamental 

issue. “We have been trying to prepare the 

policemen to say, retirement is real, start early 

to prepare for it. At least five years, ten years 

before retirement, you should start planning. 

“Where do you plan to live after retirement? 

What are you going to do in retirement? You 

cannot just sit down doing nothing because 

after retirement, you are still useful to your 

country, you are still useful to your 

community. You can engage in a lot of lawful 

things in retirement. You can engage in 

farming, in training, in consultancy services, 

whatever you want to do,” Dr. Bokki said in 

Lagos. That message will resonate across the 

country in the coming weeks as the preretirement 

train moves nationwide. 

The good thing, as Bokki noted, is that the 

message is beginning to sink in. “Most of them 

are listening now,” he enthuses. 


Hunger stalks Southern Africa 

as climate crisis deepens 

THE spectre of want 

is haunting Zimbabwe, 

Zambia and South 

Africa as they grapple 

with a long and devastating 

drought. 

AFP reporters who travelled 

across the three 

countries saw widespread 

suffering in rural areas 

where successive harvests 

have been hit by 

lack of rain or shortened 

rainfall seasons. 

Across the 16-nation 

southern African region, 

45 million people are 

“gravely food insecure,” 

the World Food Programme 

(WFP) said on 

January 16. In some re- 

Brexit: EU Parliament makes tough 

demands for talks 

THE European Parlia 

ment has approved a 

tough opening position for 

talks with the UK on its future 

relationship with the 

EU. 

MEPs called on the UK 

to follow EU policies in a 

host of areas as the price 

for an ambitious free trade 

deal. 

These range from chemicals 

regulation to climate 

change, food labelling and 

subsidies for companies. 

This should be with “a 

view to dynamic alignment” 

- code for the UK 

adopting European rules as 

they are introduced. 

The wide-ranging resolution 

also called for measures 

to ensure that Brexit does 

not cause gender discrimination, 

for a crackdown on 

tax havens with links to the 

UK, and for a joint UK-EU 

position at the upcoming 

UN climate conference in 

Glasgow in November. 

It’s an attempt to influence 

the detailed instructions 

for the EU’s chief ne- 

gions, the drought is 

three years old — in others, 

five. 

In the Zambian village 

of Simumbwe, hundreds 

waited for food to be distributed 

by the NGO 

World Vision and the UN. 

“The children ask me: 

‘What are we going to 

eat?’” said Loveness Haneumba, 

a mother of five. 

“I answer: ‘Just wait. Let 

me look around’.” 

A teacher, Teddy Siafweba, 

said about 15 children 

in his class were 

absent that day because 

of hunger. In the classroom 

next door, about 30 

were missing — nearly 

THE UN human rights 

office has issued a 

long-awaited report on companies 

linked to Jewish settlements 

in the Israeli-occupied 

West Bank. 

The report names 112 business 

entities the office says 

it has reasonable grounds to 

conclude have been involved 

in activities related to settlements. 

They include Airbnb, 

Booking.com, Expedia 

Group and Motorola Solutions. 

The Palestinians said 

the report was a “victory for 

Nissan files $90m suit against 

former chairman Ghosn 

JAPANESE car giant 

Nissan yesterday filed 

a civil lawsuit to reclaim 

some 10 billion yen ($90 

million) from former chairman 

Carlos Ghosn for 

what it called “years of his 

misconduct and fraudulent 

activity”. 

The 65-year-old faces 

multiple charges of financial 

misconduct in Japan 

but fled to Lebanon before 

he could face trial. He denies 

any wrongdoing. 

Nissan said the damages 

had been calculated on the 

basis of the cost to the firm 

of Ghosn’s “corrupt practices”. 

It accused Ghosn 

of “the use of overseas residential 

property without 

paying rent, private use of 

corporate jets, payments to 

his sister, payments to his 

personal lawyer in Lebanon”. 

It said the amount was 

likely to rise and added that 

the company would also 

half of the rollcall of 70. 

In South Africa’s Northern 

Cape province, at the 

gateway of the Kalahari 

desert, the wild animals 

are used to extreme temperatures 

but even they 

are succumbing to the 

conditions. 

According to Wildlife 

Ranching South Africa, 

two-thirds of wild animals 

in the province have died 

in the last three years. In 

two years, half of the 

4,500 buffaloes, hippopotamuses 

and kudus at the 

Thuru Lodge game farm 

near Groblershoop have 

disappeared. 

gotiator Michel Barnier - 

“the mandate” - currently 

being discussed by the 

European Commission 

and the governments of 

the EU’s 27 member states. 

It’s also the latest example 

of the mandate being 

toughened up as it passes 

from institution to institution 

in the EU. 

When Mr Barnier published 

a first draft in early 

February, there was no 

mention of alignment and 

definitely not the automatic 

kind. Then a new version 

emerged that had 

been tweaked by diplomats 

from national governments. 

UN lists 112 businesses 

linked to Israeli settlements 

seek to sue Ghosn for 

“groundless and defamatory 

remarks” he made 

when he briefed the media 

in Lebanon. 

Once hailed as a corporate 

saviour for rescuing 

Nissan from the brink of 

bankruptcy, Ghosn was 

facing a trial in Japan over 

a series of alleged crimes, 

including under-reporting 

his compensation to the 

tune of around $85 million. 

Ghosn spent more than 

100 days in detention in Japan 

after his sudden November 

2018 arrest, but 

launched an audacious escape 

plan while out on bail 

in Tokyo and managed to 

travel to Lebanon appar 

He believes Nissan 

turned on him because executives 

there were concerned 

he was moving the 

firm closer to French partner 

Renault, part of a threeway 

alliance with Mitsubishi 

Motors. 

international law”, but Israel 

called it “shameful”. 

About 600,000 Jews live in 

about 140 settlements built 

since Israel’s occupation of 

the West Bank and East 

Jerusalem in 1967. The settlements 

are widely considered 

illegal under international 

law, though Israel has 

always disputed this. 

The Palestinians have long 

called for the removal of the 

settlements, arguing that 

their presence on land they 

claim for a future independent 

Palestinian state makes 

it almost impossible to make 

such a state a reality. 

Last month, US President 

Donald Trump unveiled a 

peace plan that may pave 

the way for Israel annexing 

the settlements. 

In an address to the UN 

Security Council on Tuesday, 

Palestinian Authority President 

Mahmoud Abbas reiterated 

his rejection of Mr 

Trump’s plan, describing the 

proposed Palestinian state as 

looking “like a Swiss 

cheese”. 

But Israeli Prime Minister 

Benjamin Netanyahu 

said it was “the best plan 

that exists for the Middle 

East... and for the State of 

Israel and for the Palestinians, 

too”. 

In 2016, the UN Human 

Rights Council mandated 

the Office of the High Commissioner 

for Human Rights 

(OHCHR) to produce a database 

of companies involved 

in specific activities 

relating to settlements.


ONCE again, Nigeria is reminded 

that she is one of the most backward 

countries in the world. 

Our rankings in such areas as 

education, healthcare, electricity, 

infrastructure, human development, 

food security, poverty/prosperity, 

human rights and what have you, 

show we are either at the bottom of 

the scale or very close, even in the 

world’s poorest zone: sub-Saharan 

Africa. 

In 2017, the International Police 

Science Association, IPSA’s, World 

Internal Security and Police Index, 

WISPI, ranked the Nigeria Police 

Force, NPF, 127th out of 127 countries 

in the world. That was during the 

regime of Inspector General of Police, 

Ibrahim Idris. 

Then Police spokesman, Jimoh 

Moshood, dismissed the ranking, saying 

that the IPSA survey did not take 

into account the “reforms” the NPF 

had been undergoing. 

The 2019 WISPI ranking is out, and 

the situation has remained unchanged. 

Our police world ranking 

As in 2016, Singapore came tops 

followed by Nordic countries - Finland 

and Denmark. Botswana, one of 

Africa’s best examples in good 

governance, came 47th in the world 

and tops in Africa followed by Rwanda, 

50th; Algeria, 58th; Senegal, 68th; and 

Tunisia, 72. 

The WISPI ranking examines the 

four domains of internal security, 

capacity, process, legitimacy and 

outcomes. No one in Nigeria will 

argue that Nigeria is heavily 

challenged by internal security as we 

are hostages to terrorists, armed 

robbers, bandits, herdsmen militias, 

militants, kidnappers, economic 

saboteurs (pipeline vandals), cultists, 

human traffickers, ritualists, election 

robbers and every kind of lawbreaking. 

Our Police are so backward that in 

recent years the Federal Government, 

rather than correct the ills of that noble 

institution, has compounded the 

situation by resorting to the 

deployment of the armed forces to do 

purely police duties. 

Nigeria, with over 200 million population, 

is the most under-policed entity 

in the world (219 policemen for 

every 100,000 Nigerians, well below 

the Index Median of 300 and the 268 

sub-Saharan average). 

Virtually abandoned to its fate by a 

system still being governed with 

military mentality, the Nigeria Police 

personnel descended on the populace 

they are supposed to secure with 

vengeful brutality and extortion. About 

81 per cent of Nigerians who 

responded to the Global Corruption 

Barometer admitted bribing the Police 

in 2017. 

Due to loss of faith in the Police and 

the nation’s justice system, only 0.06 

per cent of thefts were reported to the 

Police in 2017. 

Against this background, it is 

obvious that the President 

Muhammadu Buhari administration 

has not done enough to fulfill its 

pledge to restore the nation’s security. 

The neglect of the Police continues. 

This ugly situation must be arrested. 

A nation that paints a picture of itself 

as lacking the ability to provide 

security, safety and justice to its 

citizens and visitors alike will never 

be taken seriously by international 

development partners, except those 

with rogue intentions. 

OPINION 

Hospitality as key driver of Africa’s economic growth 

By GEORGE UKADIKE 

THE tourism sector is expected to 

drive Africa’s economic growth 

following the African Continental Free 

Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, through its 

travel and hospitality subsectors. 

This can be attributed to the 

progressive contribution of the two 

sectors to the continent’s GDP, from 7.8 

per cent in 2016; 8.1 per cent in 2017 to 

8.5 per cent (about $194.2 billion) in 

2018). This impressive growth made 

African region the second fastest 

growing tourism industry in the world, 

with a growth rate of 5.6 per cent in 2018. 

In 2018, there were 67 million visitors 

to Africa on business and leisure. This 

showed a seven per cent increase from 

63 million recorded in 2017 and a 

significant increase from 58 million in 

2016. 

This figure is expected to rise in 

astronomical proportions in the coming 

years when the AfCFTA becomes 

operational. There are 55 countries on 

the African continent with about 1.2 

billion people, and with a combined 

GDP of $2.4 trillion. The expectation is 

that AfCTA would create the world’s 

largest free trade area. This will 

hopefully promote intra-African trade 

that currently stands at a paltry 16 per 

cent. 

The free movement of people and 

goods within the continent will 

expectedly open up new vistas in the 

tourism industry, creating business 

opportunities for investors. 

A few years ago, Pricewaterhouse 

Coopers, PwC, predicted that the 

hospitality sub sector would be one of the 

key drivers of economic growth on the 

continent. The prediction was premised 

on the fact that an increase in both 

domestic and international travels would 

lead to an expansion of hotel chains on 

the continent, which would in turn 

reinforce the growth potential of the subsector. 

PwC named five countries in Africa 

where the hotel sector is going to 

experience growth, with significant 

increase in room revenue, namely: South 

Africa, Nigeria, Mauritius, Tanzania and 

Kenya. The company expected Nigeria 

to be the fastest growing hotel market in 

Africa over a five year period, ending 

2022. 

Indeed, the forecast is that Nigeria will 

become the fastest growing tourism 

market on the continent, with a projected 

12 per cent compound annual increase. 

This forecast is predicated on Nigeria’s 

growing affluence which would make 

consumer tourism a more important 

sector. Adventure tourism is becoming 

more popular and the growing interest 

in experiences is allowing the country 

to attract visitors interested in the local 

culture. 

International hotel brands have 

apparently recognised the potential of 

the African hospitality industry, which 

explains why some of them are currently 

embarking on expansion programmes 

on the continent. In 2017, the Hyatt hotel 

chain announced plans to double its 

presence in Africa by 2020. Marriot 

started an expansion programme that 

would increase its portfolio on the 

continent by 50 per cent by 2023. It is the 

same year the Hilton group intends to 

double its presence in Africa, while 

Radisson will reach the same goal in 

Francophone countries on the continent 

by 2022. 

A number of African hotel brands are 

establishing strong footholds on the 

continent, though without the spread of 

their international counterparts. The 

spread has started, all the same. The big 

Job creation is expected 

to receive a boost in the 

coming years, a direct 

fallout of the growth in 

the tourism industry 

ones are predominantly South Africanowned, 

like Tsogo Sun under which are 

Southern Sun and Sun International, 

Protea as well as Laico Hotels and 

Resorts. 

The expected growth of the hospitality 

sub-sector is going to impact on many 

other sectors in the value chain – the 

reason it is predicted to be an economic 

growth driver. Such sectors include 

agriculture, garment, civil, mechanical 

and electrical engineering; furniture, 

manufacturing, etc. 

Hotels will rely on local farmers for 

sources of agricultural produce, 

including poultry, beef and fish, thereby 

creating jobs and enhancing those 

businesses, with the ultimate benefit of 

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improving the quality of lives of people 

in those sectors. They will also rely on 

local manufacturers of agro-allied 

products like fruit juice and dairy as well 

as alcoholic and non-alcoholic 

beverages. 

Establishment of more hotels means a 

boost to the garment sector that provides 

the source for the supply of curtains, table 

clothes, bedsheets and staff uniforms. 

There will be something for interior 

decorators as well. The economic 

benefits for producers and suppliers in 

the entire chain are quite enormous. 

Job creation is expected to receive a 

boost in the coming years, a direct fallout 

of the growth in the tourism industry. In 

2018, the industry provided direct and 

indirect employment for about 24.3 

million people in 2018, accounting for 

approximately 6.7 per cent of total 

employment on the continent. 

The expected boom in the industry is 

one that will create a healthy 

competition, which would enable hotels 

to bring out their best in terms of service 

delivery. This is an opportunity for 

highly skilled and specialised workers 

such as managers, chefs, waiters and 

porters – the category of workers that may 

also benefit from regular training by 

hotels intent on maintaining the highest 

standards. All these will contribute to 

improving the quality of service delivery. 

The emerging scenario is one that 

holds high hopes for African hotel 

brands, though it will also task their 

ingenuity and resourcefulness in the 

face of stiff competition from 

international brands. 

•Ukadike, a hospitality consultant, wrote 

from Abuja.

BPE to raise N267bn from privatization 

•Warns against re-nationalisation of electricity assets 

of 20 coys 

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau 

Chief 

The Director-General of the 

Bureau of Public Enterprises, 

BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, has advised 

against re-nationalisation of the 

nation’s electricity power assets. 

He also projected that the 

bureau would raise N266.9 billion 

from privatization of 20 companies 

in order to fund the 2020 federal 

government budget. 

He spoke at a breakfast meeting 

where he presented the bureau’s 

2020 Work Plan, Revenue and 

Expenditure Projections to the 

media in Abuja, yesterday. 

Responding to concerns over the 

fate of the privatised power 

companies, as the National 

Economic Council, NEC, 

committee on the review of the 

sector’s privatization commenced 

work, Okoh stated: “What I will 

not advocate, as an individual, is 

the re-nationalisation of the power 

sector. I think it will be a 

fundamental error to go in that 

direction.” 

He added, “The problem, as far 

as I am concerned, is not the 

privatization of the DisCos 

(Electricity Distribution 

Companies) or the entire value 

chain. The problem essentially 

is in the design of the reform of 

the power sector for privatization. 

“Recapitalising the DisCos, will 

it solve the problem? Maybe, 

maybe not.” 

He said that the electricity sector 

had to be taken more seriously, as 

according to him, Nigeria, the 

largest economy in Africa has a 

mere Electricity per Capita of 

about 150 KWh, compared to South 

Africa, the continent’s second 

largest economy, with a record 

of Electricity per Capita of 4,437 

KWh. 

He said: “We have not started to 

even scratch the issue of resolving 

the problem of power in Nigeria 

and if we don’t resolve the problem 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

SDR 

DANISH 

RAND 

$ 100.45 0.05 

$2,895.00 23.00 

$15.72 0.31 

$55.67 1.66 

$51.27 1.33 

305.9 306.4 306.9 

397.2112 397.8604 398.5097 

333.8287 334.3743 334.92 

313.6792 314.192 314.7047 

2.7817 2.7862 2.7908 

0.4892 0.4992 0.5092 

418.333 419.0167 419.7005 

43.8822 43.9543 44.0265 

81.5581 81.6914 81.8247 

418.9912 419.6761 420.3609 

44.6687 44.7417 44.8147 

20.6885 20.7223 20.7561 

CBN Exchange rate as at 12/02/2020 

of power, then we are not going 

anywhere in terms of economic 

growth in the country. I think we 

have to be more concerted on 

resolving the power issue.” 

Okoh said that the major 

problem with the sector was the 

transmission and distribution, as 

there was excess capacity in the 

generation segment of the 

industry. 

Budget funding 

Okoh projected that the bureau 

would raise N266.9 billion from 

the privatization of 20 companies 

in order to fund the 2020 

federal government budget. 

The sum of N3.9 billion is expected 

to be spent on the 

privatization exercise this 

year. 

He projected a revenue of 

N268 billion from nine power 

enterprises including the Yola 

Electricity Distribution Company; 

Afam Power Plant; and 

the Nigeria Integrated Power 

Plants (NIPPs). 


The Post Transaction management 

unit of the bureau is expected to 

yield the sum of N1. 987 billion; 

while Infrastructure and Public Private 

Partnership sector would be 

expected to generate N626. 2 million. 

According to him the Development 

Institutions and Natural Resources 

sector would yield N440 

million; while another N220. 136 

million would come from the Industries 

and Communications sector. 

From left, the Head Recruitment, CSR & Sustainability, Fidelity Bank Plc, Chris Nnakwe exchanges 

pleasantries with the Commissioner of Youth & Sport Development, Aminu Bala 

Bodinga at the opening ceremony of the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Programme (YEA 7) 

held in Sokoto State for undergraduates and other selected participants Sokoto State University 

Monday while the Regional Bank Head (RBH), North west 2, Salihu Jibrin, and the 

Founder/CEO, Gazelle Academy, Muna Onuzo look on. 

Access Bank N15bn Green Bond sets for 

cross listing 

•As bank makes exciting offers to customers atValentine 

By Peter Egwuatu 

The Access Bank’s 

proposed listing of 

its N15 billion Green 

Bond on the 

Luxembourg Stock 

Exchange (LuxSE) has 

created some excitement 

in the fixed income 

market. 

This comes as the bank 

sets to unveil exciting 

offers to celebrate its 

customers this 

Valentine season. 

The 15.5 percent fixed 

rate green bond with 

five-year maturity is the 

first-ever climate bonds 

standard certified 

corporate green bond to 

be issued in Africa, and 

was first listed on the 

Nigerian Stock 

Exchange, NSE, in 

2019. 

Vanguard gathered 

that if the Bank’s 

application to the LuxSE 

is successful, it will be 

the first cross listing of a Green 

Bond born out of the 

partnership between NSE 

and LuxSE. 

At the time of signing, the 

chief executive officer, NSE, 

Mr. Oscar Onyema, said the 

partnership would deliver 

increased visibility for issuers, 

as well as deepen the 

Nigerian capital market 

through the mobilisation of 

the foreign green capital 

needed to fund sustainable 

projects in Nigeria. 

... unveils exciting offers to 

celebrate customers this 

Valentine 

Meanwhile, the bank has 

unveiled a series of great 

deals and exciting offers to 

celebrate its customers this 

Valentine season. The 

campaign, tagged “It’s a Love 

Thing” is the 4th edition 

and will kick off from February 

11 to February 29, 2020. 

Speaking at the launch of 

the campaign in Lagos 

yesterday, Victor Etuokwu, 

Executive Director, Retail Banking, 

Access Bank plc said, “Valentine 

season is another opportunity to 

show love to our customers by 

rewarding their loyalty and 

enabling them achieve their 

valentine wishes. We are using this 

opportunity to thank our customers 

for their loyalty to Access Bank. We 

are grateful to our customers and 

non-customers who depend on our 

banking services and products to 

achieve seamless banking 

transactions and wish everyone a 

happy valentine celebration”. 

Commenting further on the 

campaign, Adaeze Umeh, Group 

Head, Consumer Banking, Access 

bank Plc, said, “In the spirit of the 

love season, we are going to reward 

customers who finance the 

purchase of a Suzuki car through 

us with free vehicle registration, 

free servicing for a year and 

N100,000 fuel allowance. We will 

also reward 30 lucky customers with 

a 5–star dinner experience when 

they perform a minimum of 5 

transactions on their mobile app, 

POS & Web and USSD (*901#) 

platforms. 

NSE to complete 

demutualisation 

process, April 24 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

All is now set for the final 

conversion of the Nigerian 

Stock Exchange, NSE, to a public 

liability company as the process 

for the demutualisation of the 

Exchange would be concluded 

on April 24. 

This follows the Court-Ordered 

Meeting and Extra-Ordinary 

General Meeting scheduled to 

hold on March 4, 2020, where 

members of the Exchange are 

expected to sanction the planned 

demutualisation and also 

approve the appointment of the 

inaugural Board of Directors. 

According to the scheme of 

arrangement for the 

demutualisation, the final 

approval for the demutualisation 

would be obtained from the 

Securities and Exchange 

Commission (SEC) on April 22, 

2020. 

If the proposed exercise is 

approved, the Exchange would 

become the 57th exchange to 

demutualise among the 70 

members of the World Federation 

of Exchanges. 

According to the Scheme of 

Arrangement between the 

Exchange and the shareholders/ 

dealing member firms, each 

dealing member would get 6.01 

million ordinary shares, while 

each ordinary member would get 

2.44 million units postdemutualisation. 

Following the 

demutualisation, N1.25 billion 

comprising 2.5 billion ordinary 

shares and 2.0 billion ordinary 

shares of 50kobo each, 

representing the issued share 

capital of newly demutualised 

Nigerian Exchange Group Plc 

would be registered with the 

Corporate Affairs Commission 

(CAC) and the Securities and 

Exchange Commission (SEC) 

respectively. 

The Scheme of Arrangement 

showed that a total of 40.83 

million ordinary shares, 

representing two percent of the 

issued shares of Nigerian 

Exchange Group, would be set 

aside for allotment to parties who 

are adjudged as being entitled 

to shares in the demutualised 

Exchange, pursuant to the 

provisions of the 

Demutualisation Act 2018. 

“The apportionment of two 

percent as the Claims Review 

Shares is based on an analysis 

of the probable quantum of shares 

that would be required to settle 

each claim. This was determined 

given the rigorous and robust 

process undertaken to verify and 

confirm the names on the 

Register,” the Exchange said. 

Additionally, 1.96 billion 

ordinary shares representing 

about 98 percent of the issued 

shares and the balance of the 

issued shares following the 

reservation of the Claims Review 

Shares would be distributed 

between the dealing and ordinary 

members on the basis of a ratio of 

78:22 respectively allotted on 

equal basis between the dealing 

and ordinary members. 

Post-demutualisation, the 

Exchange will be better positioned 

to implement commercial 

strategies to improve its role as a 

trading arena and undertake 

improvements to facilitate more 

competition. 

Improvements will allow for 

efficient, effective and more 

competitive trading, while 

improved global trading facilities 

will maximize economies of scale 

and scope and increase the 

Exchange’s accessibility and 

market reach.


From left: Mrs Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma, Chairperson, Capital Market Correspondents 

Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) and Mallam Kasimu Garba Kurfi, MD/CEO, APT Securities 

& Trust Funds Limited during the CAMCAN review of the capital market in 2019 and the 

2020 outlook 

Nigeria’s downstream business, 

economy suffers setbacks 

•Operators decry low margins on PMS 

By Michael Eboh, Ediri Ejoh & 

Prince Okafor 

Operators in the down 

stream sector of the Nigerian 

petroleum industry, yesterday, 

lamented the dwindling fortunes 

of the country downstream 

sector, stating that the challenges 

in the sector are stifling their 

margins and impacting their 

businesses negatively. 

These were the issues raised 

at a panel session at the Nigeria 

International Petroleum Summit, 

NIPS, held in Abuja. 

The Director, Petroleum Resources, 

Department of Petroleum 

Resources (DPR) Mr Sarki 

Awuwalu, stated that there was 

need for new thinking from operators 

to drive the expected development 

in the sector. 

He said, “The downstream oil 

sector will witness changes in few 

years with government’s commitment 

to drive business in the sector. 

The sector requires new thinking 

to achieve the goals needed 

to drive the sector for growth and 

development.” 

He said that with the upcoming 

of the modular refineries and 

mainstream refineries, local refining 

would be imminent thus 

bringing change to the downstream 

stream oil sector. He 

added that government was looking 

at ways of making domestic 

refining of crude in country possible. 

“The effort of the DPR as a 

regulator to reduce import of 

crude can be seen in the upcoming 

of some refineries and modular 

refineries. Domestic refining 

in two years from now will 

supersede the consumption in 

country.” 

He stated that government was 

supporting all efforts to ensure 

that business in these areas thrive 

with creating enabling environment. 

He added that the closure of 

the nation’s border had helped 

to know the actual daily consumption 

rate in the country. 

“The Ministry is also looking 

at alternative source of energy 

with the Compressed Natural 

Gas (CNG) to bring a change on 

energy demand.” This year has 

been declared the year of Gas by 

the Minister for State, Petroleum 

resources and we know that gas 

is cheaper. It will help to bring 

about change on the value 

1 billion barrels of crude oil 

discovered in North-East — FG 

By Michael Eboh, Ediri Ejoh & 

Prince Okafor 

THE Federal Government, 

yesterday, disclosed that so 

far, one billion barrels of crude oil 

has been discovered in the North 

East region of the country. 

Speaking at the closing ceremony 

of the Nigerian International 

Petroleum Summit, NIPS, 

Minister Of State for Petroleum 

Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, 

also stated that negative comments 

about Nigeria are hindering the 

inflow of capital into the country. 

Sylva stated that exploration was 

continuing in the north east region 

of the country and when completed, 

the actual volume would be determined. 

He said, “The figure we are 

getting, the jury is not totally out 

yet but from the evaluation results 

we are getting, the reserve 

that has been discovered in the 

northeast is about a billion barrels. 

Those are the kind of figures 

we are seeing and we are 

beginning to understand the 

geological structure of the region.” 

He further stated that the Federal 

Government would soon 

commence the rehabilitation of 

the country’s refineries, noting 

that the government was committed 

to ensuring that the refineries 

returned to production. 

He said, “We are going to start 

the rehabilitation of the Port 

Harcourt refinery which is the 

biggest refinery in Nigeria. If we 

are able to finish the Port 

Harcourt refinery we would have 

achieved a lot as a government. 

Meanwhile we are also continuing 

with studies around Warri 

refinery, we are also continuing 

discussions around Kaduna refineries. 

chain.” 

He noted that East-West gas 

pipeline expansion project and 

the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano 

(AKK) gas pipeline project were 

among the government’s project 

that would also help drive the 

downstream oil sector. “The Nigeria 

gas transportation code 

launched few days ago will help 

open access to the downstream, 

create opportunities and wealth.” 

He further assured that government 

would continue to look at 

major issues like uncertainty in 

pricing and multiplicity of regulations 

and ways to resolve them, 

as this would help to drive the 

downstream sector for change. 

In his view, CEO, OVH Energy, 

Huub Stokman said petrol 

margin remains the lowest in 

other oil countries, “Of all countries, 

Nigeria has the lowest margins 

on PMS and the most fragmented 

market. 

“We must understand what the 

customer wants. I think we sometimes 

forget that the customer 

wants good service, quality and 

quantity that he can trust, wants 

constant availability to be able to 

get the product whenever 

needed and wants it at the right 

price and wants the product delivered 

in a safe manner. I think 

Nigeria is struggling with these 

areas.” 

He calls for continuous investment 

in the downstream saying 

without which development may 

not be realized.” 

Also speaking, Managing Director 

of 11 Plc, Mr. Tunji 

Oyebanji, warned that the country 

may not enjoy the benefits and 

opportunities of upcoming refineries 

projects if it does not create 

the right environment for investment 

to thrive in the country. 

According to Oyebanji, who is 

also the Chairman of Major Oil 

Marketers Association of Nigeria, 

MOMAN, “Efforts must be 

directed by the government at 

creating environments that would 

unleash investments in the 

downstream, else operators of 

modular and traditional refineries 

would end up exporting their 

refined petroleum products outside 

of the country.” 

Capacity utilisation bane of oil 

sector local content — Stakeholders 

By Sebastine Obasi 

The local content policy 

of the Federal Government 

may not achieve the expected results 

if the issue of capacity 

utilisation is not urgently addressed, 

oil industry stakeholders 

said. 

Speaking at the Nigerian International 

Petroleum Summit, 

NIPS, Professor Wumi Ilebare, 

African Region Director, Society 

of Petroleum Engineers, stated 

that Nigeria is not suffering from 

lack of capacity but local capacity 

utilisation. 

He said, “Nigeria is not suffering 

from lack of capacity. What 

Nigeria is suffering from to derive 

benefits from local content, 

is local capacity utilisation. We 

need to move away from 

equalisation of everything. You 

cannot pay a professor of petroleum 

engineering the same 

amount you pay a professor of 

history. You have to look at so 

many things. You need to move 

away from centralisation of most 

of things we are doing if research 

and development are to take us 

to the next level. You must find 

a way to create incentive to make 

people to study more difficult 

subjects that are required to fill 

the gap. “There must be partnership 

if Nigeria wants to get the 

full benefits of local content 

policy. Local content is not about 

local pockets. It is not about my 

people. It is about who is there 

that has the capacity to provide 

the necessary and needed services. 

“All over the world, Nigeria’s 

local content has been a banner. 

I have had the privilege of travelling 

to many oil producing African 

countries. They said they 

have learnt something from 

Nigeria’s local content policy and 

they have fast. When it comes to 

research and development, the 

place for cheap labour is the university. 

If the universities are not 

fully developed, to be able to produce 

capable hands to fill the 

gap, all the conferences and the 

events we organise are mere jamborees.” 

Food, tech security: Sanwolu, Canadian 

mayor parley on bilateral cooperation 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

Lagos State Governor, Mr 

Babajide Sanwo-Olu and 

Mr. Patrick Brown, the Mayor of 

Brampton City in Ontario, 

Canada have expressed readiness 

to boost bilateral cooperation 

between the two cities in the 

areas of cyber, food security and 

technology, among others. 

The duo sealed the deal when 

the latter led a delegation to the 

Governor on a courtesy visit at 

the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja. 

Sanwo-Olu stated that the 

ongoing infrastructural development 

programme of the state 

government was a deliberate effort 

to make the state attractive 

to Diasporan investment. 

The governor noted that there 

would be no point requesting 

Nigerians abroad to come back 

home to invest if the local business 

environment was not made 

to support their aspirations. 

Sanwo-Olu said the Canadian 

city shared similar history with 

Lagos, stressing that both cities 

had grown over the decades to 

become the hubs of commerce 

and Information and Communi- 

cation Technology (ICT). 

He said: “It feels great to know 

how much effort you, as a Mayor 

of Brampton, are investing in 

driving more development in 

your city and this is similar to 

what we have been doing in 

Lagos. 

“All these efforts will sustain the 

position of Lagos as the first destination 

for business and keep 

our economy growing at a steady 

pace. Lagos is the tech hub in 

the sub-Saharan Africa and there 

are many collaboration we can 

seal with Brampton in the area 

of cyber security. 

“Only yesterday, (Monday), 

the state cabinet passed the development 

of 3,000-kilometre 

metropolitan fibre initiative all 

around the city. 

“When this is done, we will be 

able to leapfrog on this to build 

several capabilities using technology. 

It means that we are 

transforming Lagos to a smart city 

and city of the future driven by 

technology. 

“This will also enhance our 

Ease of Doing Business Policy, 

which foreign investors and 

Diaspora can tap into.” 

Nigeria LNG signs 10-year LNG 

deal with Galp 

Nigeria Liquefied Natu 

ral Gas (NLNG) has 

signed a deal with Galp Trading 

SA for the supply of one 

million tonnes of LNG per year 

The company is a statement 

said that the volumes will be 

supplied on a delivered ex-ship 

basis for 10 years from Trains 

1, 2 and 3 of a six-train NLNG 

production facility on Bonny 

Island. 

The transaction follows a similar 

deal with Italy’s Eni and 

France’s Total announced last 

month and a 0.5 million tonnes 

per year deal with commodity 

trader Vitol signed in December. 

NLNG has been remarketing 

some volumes from its existing 

trains as some contracts approach 

expiry. 

In another development, 

NLNG, yesterday said it has 

concluded plans to sign the 

Engineering, Procurement and 

Construction, EPC contract for 

its $10 billion Train 7 project 

with Saipem, Chiyoda and 

Daewoo E&C (SCD) on or before 

the end of April 2020. 

Investigations by Vanguard at 

the Nigeria International Petroleum 

Summit, NIPS, Abuja, indicated 

that the expected signing 

of the contract would enable 

the contractors to mobilise 

to site, thus creating many multiplier 

effects, including jobs 

and award of subcontracts to 

indigenous companies.




Women and Girls in Science: Equal access to and 

participation in science is key, say stakeholders 

•UN says SGD5 will increase participation of women and girls in STEM 

•Experts, lecturer, students decry low involvement 

Girls in Science on duty 

By Ebunoluwa Sessou & 

Oreoluwa Somuyiwa 

FEBRUARY 11 was cele 

brated as the United 

Nations International Day of 

Women and Girls in Science. 

The focus is geared towards 

ensuring full and equal access 

to and participation in 

science for women and girls. 

When the resolution was 

adopted by the UN General 

Assembly on December 22, 

2015, it was expected that the 

participation of women and 

girls in science and technology 

will be increased especially 

with the United Nations 

Sustainable Development 

Goal, SDG5, which focuses in 

achieving gender equality 

and empower all women and 

girls.The SDG5 is proposed to 

end all forms of discrimination 

against all women and girls 

everywhere. Women and 

girls, everywhere, must have 

equal rights and opportunity. 

Women’s equality and empowerment 

is one of the 17 Sustainable 

Development Goals, but 

also integral to all dimensions 

of inclusive and sustainable 

development. In short, all the 

SDGs depend on the achievement 

of Goal 5. 

To this end, gender equality 

by 2030 requires urgent action 

to eliminate the many root 

causes of discrimination that 

still curtail women’s rights in 

private and public spheres. For 

example, discriminatory laws 

need to change and legislation 

adopted to proactively advance 

equality. 

Getting the views of some of 

students especially girls on the 

significance of the day, those 

who spoke with WO expressed 

divergent views as well as their 

expectations. 

According to Blessing 

Ojikare, a student of Chemistry 

in the Lagos State University, 

LASU, women need to be 

more courageous to take on 

science courses. “Science is 

not a place for babies so, getting 

girls who are fully ready 

to take up high courses in science 

are few and I think that 

is the major challenge. If women 

are encouraged, they will 

take over the science world if 

we are fully ready”. 

In her view, Adeniyi Semilore, 

a student of Biochemistry 

who told that, the day is an 

avenue to recognize and motivate 

the participation of female 

gender in the development 

of science observed that 

the reason the present percentage 

of female taking up 

courses in science is low is on 

the premise that, most women 

want to become self employed, 

thereby preferring 

management courses to science 

related courses. Adding 

that the percentage might not 

be higher in the next 10 years 

compared to what is happening 

now. Even those in science 

department end up becoming 

entrepreneurs after their graduation. 

Another student of Botany, 

Deborah Omodunni, said, “I 

do not see ladies embrace science 

compared to boys. I think 

it depends on family background, 

mentality and personal 

vision. Even in industries, 

the population of men is 

higher than women, therefore, 

I feel the day is a step in the 

right direction so as encourage 

women and girls to participate 

more in science because 

I see smart girls everywhere. 

A lecturer of the Department 

of Botany, Lagos State University, 

Mrs Ebunoluwa Ajose, in 

her view explained that, “The 

current percentage of girls in 

the science faculty is within 

the range of 40 and 60 percent. 

Although this can be increased 

compared to the 

present percentage as their 

performances are improving 

daily. 

On the challenges involved 

in getting women take their 

place in science she said, 

“Getting good and dedicated 

girls in sciences is not very 

common. Most of these girls 

find themselves in science either 

by force or chance but not 

by choice. 

“Therefore, it is the responsibility 

of all stakeholders to increase 

the pace of teaching 

and impacting knowledge into 

the students, making them develop 

a mindset that they can 

actually succeed in science. 

“Despite all these, there is a 

conviction that there will be 

great improvement in the nearest 

future considering the eagerness 

on the parts of some 

women and girls to take up the 

acclaimed masculine profession. 

Limitation on productivity 

and opportunity 

In his contribution, Mr. 

Tope Fashua, an Economist 

and former Presidential candidate 

in a chat with WO explained 

that, “The day signifies 

a focus on women and 

girls and it is very important 

especially for African countries 

and Nigeria in particular 

even as we have held 

women and girls down for too 

long. 

He lamented that, the productivity 

and opportunity of 

women and girl have been 

limited especially in the area 

of science. 

Women Smarter than Men 

“My personal opinion is that 

women are smarter than 

men. If you go to primary and 

secondary schools, you will 

see that girls are doing better 

than boys but then, something 

happens at some point 

and that advantage goes 

down. 

Government at all levels 

should know that involvement 

of women and girls is 

very low and it is very unfortunate. 

Naturally girls are 

more organized then boys 

and they are able to learn 

faster and better. 

Aims to end bias 

In his speech, the UN Secretary-General, 

António 

urged all to end bias and 

support greater investments 

in science, technology, engineering 

and math education 

for all women and girls as 

well as opportunities for their 

careers and longer-term professional 

advancement so 

that all can benefit from their 

ground-breaking future contributions,” 

Women in Science on duty 

Fewer Women in Science 

According to a study from 

14 countries, the probability 

for female students graduating 

with a Bachelor’s degree 

in science is 18 percent, while 

the male equivalent is 37percent. 

The resolution states that 

women continue to be excluded 

from participating fully 

in the economy even 

though representing half of 

the world’s population and 

that women have a vital role 

to play and a right to participate 

in sustainable development 

policies, programs, and 

decision-making at all levels. 

STEM 

Science, Technology, Engineering, 

and Mathematics, 

STEM, is a term that is often 

used when referring to 

the academic disciplines of 

science. STEM education 

starts with young pupils in a 

blended learning environment, 

and the curriculum 

shows students how the scientific 

method can be applied 

to everyday life. It is often 

aimed to attract women and 

girls. 

Encouragement for 

girls in primary and 

secondary schools 

In his own contribution, 

Fashua said, girls should be 

encouraged at the primary 

and secondary school levels, 

if the world is made of 50 percent 

men and 50 percent 

women, it will be a taboo to 

deliberately minimize the 

contribution of all gender. 

You have to ensure that, you 

maximize all gender. Education 

is required so that people 

will discrimination 

against girls and women. 

Even in the instances that 

parents believe that only 

boys should be trained in academics. 

Science and Technology 

is central especially 

with the situation of this 

country.


APWEN calls for equality of 

women and girls in science 

•Says women and girls play critical role in STEM 

By Ebunoluwa Sessou 

By Princewill Ekwujuru 

C Nigeria OCA-COLA 

alongside 

its Bottling partner, Nigerian 

Bottling Company, 

(NBC) have expressed their 

commitment to economically 

empowering women 

through its Public Affairs, 

Communications & Sustainability 

Manager, Nwamaka 

Onyemelukwe. 

Onyemelukwe who spoke 

at a 2-day summit in Lagos 

on the opportunities for 

women in entrepreneurship 

showcased the work the 

company has done in creating 

more jobs here in Nigeria 

and their commitment to 

achieving more by the end 

of the year. 

2020 marks the end of the 

company’s global 

5by20commitment to economically 

empowering 

5million women. Onyemelukwe 

expressed the company’s 

resolve to wrap it up on 

a high note, especially in 

Nigeria. So far, a total of 

3.8million women have 

*Engr. Funmilola Ojelade, FNSE 

PRESIDENT, Asso 

ciation of Professional 

Women Engineers 

of Nigeria, APWEN, 

Engr. Funmilola Ojelade 

FNSE, has called on the 

international community, 

States and individuals to 

work together to ensure 

equality of women and 

girls in the sciences and 

other fields become a reality. 

Ojelade said humanity 

has everything to gain if 

equality in the involvement 

of women and men 

in science is acheived. 

Speaking on the occasion 

the mark the United 

Nations International 

Day of Women and 

Girls in Science 2020, 

she said, the association 

joined her voice to 

UNESCO in calling 

equal participation of 

women and girls in science 

related studies. 

She revealed that the 

association has lined up 

activities for the Day including 

the presentation 

to secondary school students 

in Enugu; open 

science fair in Kano in 

collaboration with IHS 

Towers, a telecom infrastructure 

company. This 

will include a career talk 

to students on the subject 

of on STEM and 

Engineering, coding, robotics, 

and programing 

workshop and a site visit 

to a telecoms company. 

In Abuja, APWEN 

will be joining the Women 

in Aerospace to mark 

the day. 

While celebrating the 

outstanding achievements 

of women and girls 

in science will strengthen 

more girls to consider 

Engineering as a career, 

she disclosed that 

there are unique women 

who, despite all odds 

against them, have made 

excellent achievements 

just as their male counterparts 

in various fields 

of the Sciences. Adding 

that the male dominated 

space, the women have 

carved a niche for themselves 

and have made 

tremendous achievements. 

According to her, the 

day, by resolution of the 

United Nations, is an 

opportunity to promote 

full and equal access to 

and participation in science 

for women and girls 

and further achieve gender 

equality and the empowerment 

of women 

and girls. 

With the theme “Investment 

in Women and 

Girls in Science for inclusive 

green growth.” it is 

a reminder that women 

and girls play a critical 

role in science and technology 

communities and 

that their participation 

should be strengthened. 

She however lamented 

that, there still exists a 

significant gap in the 

number of girls in 

schools compared to that 

of boys, especially in 

many developing countries 

like Nigeria. 

“The gap is even wider 

when it comes to girls 

in the field of science 

and technology. Only 

about 30 percent of world 

researchers are women 

from a recent data released 

by the United 

Nations Education, Science 

and Cultural Organization, 

UNESCO. 

Adding that the United 

Nations, science and 

gender equality are critical 

to the achievement 

of the Sustainable Development 

Goals 5 and 9. 

CSR: Coca-Cola reinforces commitment to 

women economic empowerment 

been impacted as at the end 

of 2018 with over 330,000 

women beneficiaries coming 

from Nigeria. 

Coca-Cola launched the 

5by20 Initiative in 2010, 

with an audacious goal to 

economically empower 5 

million women across its 

value chain by the year 

2020. Every year since then, 

the company has launched 

different programmes 

aligned with this strategic 

objective to create shared 

value across different communities. 

Sharing some of the successes 

and key strategies of 

the initiative, Onyemelukwe 

highlighted the train and 

equip model as one of the 

reasons they have recorded 

much success, as Coca-Cola 

has been able to not only 

provide their women beneficiaries 

jobs of their own, 

but have also turned them 

into job creators. In 2018, 

onyemelukwe led the Coca- 

Cola team to sign an MoU 

with the LSETF to economically 

empower 1000 women 

across various local governments 

in Lagos State. Today, 

over 900 women have 

been impacted under this 

programme. We express our 

profound thanks to LSETF 

for their contributions so far 

as we are confident that we 

are on track to ensure we 

deliver on this commitment. 

The Sustainability Manager 

went on to explain in 

detail other laudable women 

empowerment initiatives 

Coca-Cola has been involved 

in. Among them is 

the Educate Nigeria Girls 

in New Enterprise ( EN- 

GINE)- A partnership between 

The Coca-Cola Company 

and the UK Department 

for International Development 

(DFID). EN- 

GINE program improved 

the learning outcomes and 

economic status of more 

than 21,000 marginalized 

adolescent girls in the 

Northern Nigerian states of 

Kano and Kaduna, the Federal 

Capital Territory (FCT) 

and the metropolis of Lagos, 

Nigeria.


Why Sanwo-Olu is 

empowering women 

— WAPA Commissioner 

Mrs, Cecilia Bolaji Dada is the Lagos State Commissioner for Women 

Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA. In this brief interview with Morenike 

Taire, Woman Editor, Vanguard Newspapers and Olasunkanmi Akoni, an 

Assistant News Editor, speaks on various topics bordering on female, male 

gender and how the state Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is lifting women 

out of poverty. She stressed that women are supposed to be peace agents at 

home and the society. Excerpts: 

THE essence of the annual 

workshop on women’s peace 

and security in Lagos State 

In October 2000, the United 

Nations Security Council adopted 

Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 

1325) on Women Peace and Security, 

which was an important step 

in bringing Women’s Rights and 

Gender Equality to bear on the 

U.N Peace and Security Agenda. 

This agenda was tailored towards 

involving women in peace building, 

reconstruction and gender 

mainstreaming efforts for gender 

equality in international peace 

and security work. 

And we are trying to cascade this 

by enjoining other counterparts of 

the World to sensitize Security Personnel’s 

on the need to align with 

the UN’s resolution which reaffirms 

the importance of equal participation 

and involvement of 

women in all processes of peace 

keeping, conflict resolution and 

management within their environments. 

Therefore, bringing together security 

personnel to collaborate 

with the ministry will ensure the 

prevention of conflict and all forms 

of violence against women and 

girls, further institute coping mechanisms 

and systems for averting 

and mitigating disaster. Affirmative 

action will be initiated which 

include a plan to strengthen the 

Women’s Political Trust Fund, technical 

capacity building activities 

and provisions for enhanced cooperation 

with civil society. 

What about regular women on 

the streets 

That is why we are targeting 

heads of departments across councils 

so that they can cascade it to 

the women at the grassroots to 

talk to them on how to relate it. 

Security personnel are respected 

figures in any society and their 

roles in societal development cannot 

be overemphasized. 

I like to appreciate the Heads of 

Department-WAPA (HOD WAPA - 

LGAs/LCDAs) who also, have been 

a source of great support to the 

ministry in disseminating information 

on gender based violence 

matters to its citizenries at grass 

root levels. 

However, their continual collaboration 

with the ministry would 

help to curb gender inequality, 

take effective measures to eradicate 

harmful traditional practices 

such as child or forced marriage, 

discriminatory inheritance 

laws, widowhood practices and 

those customs that justify and perpetuate 

them for a greater Lagos. 

It is my sincere hope and belief 

that this workshop will inspire creative 

ideas and proffer innovative 

ways on how our Security Personnel 

can help collaboratively to 

combat gender inequality and 

women’s participation and representation 

in decision making processes 

in their different domains 

within the state. 

Relationship of women, peace, 

security in a society, because it’s 

a big issue in Nigeria today 

There is a saying, an hungry man 

is an angry man, When somebody 

is poor, he is bound to be angry 

and violent. So relatively, there is 

relationship between poverty, security 

and peace. 

Women are supposed to be peace 

agents and that’s one of the reasons 

we are bringing them together 

to talk about peaceful co-existence 

among the people of in Lagos 

and we as women are the supposed 

to champion the cause as 

peace agents. 

There is a saying, an hungry man 

is an angry man, When somebody 

is poor, he is bound to be angry 

and violent. So relatively, there is 

relationship between poverty, security 

and peace. 

Women are supposed to be peace 

agents and that’s one of the reasons 

we are bringing them together 

to talk about peaceful co-existence 

among the people of Lagos 

and we, as women are the supposed 

to champion the cause as 

peace agents. 

As women, we should always tell 

ourselves the truth by saying, you 

refuse to be a fool. Anger lies in 

the bosom of fools. So when you 

are provoked, angered, always tell 

yourself you will refuse to be a fool. 

We women, whether we agree or 

not, we are the molders of our families 

and the family is a unit in a 

state and the community. When 

there is peace in the home-front, 

when a man is at peace at home 

when he goes to work, he will be at 

peace. When there is any level of 

provocation around the neigbourhood, 

women are supposed to 

peace agents 

Why did you give grants to 

NGOS 

We gave the grants because it is 

the proper things to do. It’s what 

the government has decided to do 

to encourage NGOs, because we 

see ourselves as partners in 

progress. We have thousands of 

NGOs in the state. And there are 

some you can see that they are really 

helping people out of poverty 

and needs. So, that stipend we gave 

is just an encouragement for these 

NGOs. 

How are you integrating women 

into THEME’s agenda of the 

state government 

Our main focus as a ministry is 

to empower our women. We heard 

all sort of stories about domestic 

violence, we have stories of women 

killing their husbands out of 

frustration. Women are frustrated 

because they do not have means 

of livelihood. They depend solely 

on their husbands. And the husbands 

talk down on them, violates 

their rights and there is nothing 

they can do about it. They bottled 

*Bolaji Dada 

up so much. So, Sanwo-Olu government 

has decided to empower 

our women 

Just recently, 4,880 women graduated 

from our 18 skills acquisition 

centres across the five divisions of 

the state. Also, we do four weeks 

short time skill acquisition training 

for women from different spheres. 

Last week, in Badagry division, 

about 250 women graduated on 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

HE Lagos State Govern- 

has appealed to res- 

Tment 

idents of the state particularly 

the leisure and entertainment 

business operators to be compliant 

with environmental laws 

guiding their operations during 

the forth coming Valentine’s 

Day celebration, urging them to 

“spread love and not noise.” 

The state government made 

the appeal on Monday, in a joint 

statement by the duo of General 

Manager, GM, Lagos State 

Environment Protection Agency, 

LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo 

Fasawe and her Safety Commission 

counterpart, Mr. Lanre 

Mojola. 

They urged the public particularly, 

the owners of event centers, 

leisure, hospitality and 

entertainment facilities who 

plan to organise or host events 

to consider the environment and 

safety of the people by obtaining 

necessary permits which allows 

them to operate in a friendly and 

safe environment. 

Recalling that the Valentine’s 

day is celebrated all over the 

world as a day specifically set 

aside for expressing love, the 

government warned against 

activities that could be harmful 

or sow seed of hate rather than 

love.. 

various skills. Also, we were in 

Epe, Eredo to perform graduation 

for such women as well. We don’t 

just train them we also give them 

start-up grants to start their own 

business. And when they start 

such businesses, we do what we 

call entrepreneurship training for 

some of them after graduating 

they do not know how to run their 

businesses. So, we give them the 

“The message of St Valentine 

is to spread love, friendship 

with motive to promote harmony, 

unity and peaceful relationship 

through love, perseverance, 

tolerance and selfless 

actions. if our deed contradicts 

the reason for the celebration 

and impose unnecessary hardship 

on our supposed friends 

and allies, then we have failed 

to observe the tenets of St 

Valentine. 

“We cannot separate noise 

from celebrations but we can do 

the needful by operating within 

approved decibels thereby 

reducing the negative effects 

of noise pollution on everyone. 

“As a matter of fact, noise and 

mega cities are interrelated, for 

our social life and economic 

development, Leisure business 

owners are advised not to 

cut corners but to obtain permit 

and operate within the prescribed 

noise standard, failure 

to abide attract serious consequences 

“, Fasawe reiterated. 

it has been observed that the 

annual celebrations of Valentine’s 

day had in recent time 

been characterized by jamborees, 

concerts and parties, 

which if not regulated could 

cause serious havoc on the 

environment and innocent citizens 

of the state. 

Permits are no licence to make 

training that will help them move 

their business forward and in returns 

help in boosting the state’s 

economy. 

Moreso, we have a governor who 

has been very supportive. The 

structure the state government is 

running has made our jobs easier. 

How many cases of domestic 

violence have you treated in the 

last one year 

We have over 2,500 cases of domestic 

violence, excluding unreported 

received in the last one year 

in Lagos. Most of them, as women, 

they always come back to withdraw 

most of the cases. But a few 

of them we followed to the end. 

There was a particular case of a 

woman, who had gone to the court 

and the court ruled that the man 

should take custody of the two boys 

while the woman takes custody of 

the girl child. And the man later 

requested for the little girl to come 

and visit him and later refused to 

let go the girl. The woman went 

back to court and the court ordered 

that she should go in company of 

policemen from the nearest police 

station to take over the girl. But, 

surprisingly, the man had already 

bought over the police in the area. 

WAPA, as a ministry, stepped in to 

take repossession of the girl. 

Do you have cases of domestic 

violence from men as well 

Men are not bold enough to 

come out for them to say they have 

been violated by their wives. We 

had one case recently. 

Do you encourage men coming 

out to report 

Yes, we do. Because when you talk 

about gender inequality, it goes 

both ways, it just that more women 

are the ones coming out. 

Valentine’s Day: LASG urges residents 

to spread love not noise 

noise and there is always a 

provision for revocation, 

where the noise exceeds the 

permissible standards, she 

added. 

On his own part, Mojola 

expressed displeasure with 

the nonchalant attitudes of 

entertainment business operators 

to the safety concern of 

their clients especially during 

celebrations and fiestas. 

”Since safety doesn’t go on 

holiday and accidents occur 

unannounced , hence, the 

need to ensure the safety of our 

clients and customers while 

within our premises and this 

can only be achieved if we put 

adequate safety measures in 

place and ensure total compliance 

with all safety regulations. 

According to him , “Most 

event centres have less capacity 

for the multitude of guests 

invited with little or no arrangement 

for safety measures, 

electrical infractions 

especially with no provision for 

escape routes for emergency 

incident. 

“ Obtaining safety permits 

reduce risk of unforeseen accidents 

or fatalities; Our officials 

are well trained to plan 

alongside with you to ensure 

a hitch free event,” Mojola 

added.


Goodnight! The doyen 

of Highlife music 

•I’m devastated by the news 

of Olaiya’s demise —2face 

• Late Olaiya 


By Benjamin Njoku & 

Sylvester Kwentua 

It was another day of grief, when 

the news of sudden demise of 

Nigerian Highlife maestro, Dr. 

Victor Olaiya went viral on social 

media, sending shockwaves 

throughout the Nigerian music 

industry with many entertainers 

mourning and expressing their 

condolences. 

Dr. Olaiya passed away at the age 

of 89. 

Breaking the sad news in a 

statement, Bimbo Esho, the 

Managing Director of Evergreen 

Music Company, said the veteran 

singer died while on admission at 

the Lagos University Teaching 

Hospital (LUTH). 

“The entire music world wish to 

announce the death of a Legend of 

Highlife music, one of the last men 

standing, the original Dr. Victor 

Abimbola Olaiya OON,” Esho said. 

“This untimely incident happened 

at LUTH, Lagos State, at exactly 12 

noon.” 

“We pray that the doyen of highlife 

music finds repose with the creator 

while wishing the family and entire 

music community the fortitude to 

bear this irreplaceable loss.” 

According to the Ariya Eko music 

festival, it will take a long time 

before the country can replace the 

highlife legend. 

“Olaiye’s death will create a big 

vacuum in the music industry. He 

was one of the last of the originals. 

He used his stadium hotel as a base 

to support the growth of music in 

Nigeria as many of the popular acts 

today got popular using his base.” 

“He contributed immensely to the 

growth of highlife music in Nigeria 

and Ghana. Today, his songs will 

continue to remain evergreen in our 

hearts,”Esho said, while in a 

WhatsApp chat with Vanguard E- 

Daily yesterday. 

Born in December 1930 to Alfred 

Olaiya and Bathsheba Olaiya, the 

late musician was the 20 th child of 

a family of 24. 

Olaiya was one of the legendary 

foundation stones of modern 

Nigerian music. His music bridges 

between Ghanaian highlife and 

what has today become Afro beat. 

Just as his musical style was 

influenced by James Brown, with 

horn parts harmonized in Brown’s 

style, as opposed to the mostly 

unison lines of Afrobeat. The music 

includes the swinging percussion of 

Tony Allen, but not the syncopated 

style that Allen later pioneered. 

Olaiya released an album with 

Ghanaian highlife musician E. T. 

Mensah. Both the drummer Tony 

Allen and vocalist Fela Kuti played 

with Olaiya and went on to achieve 

individual success. 

In July 2013, Victor Olaiya 

released a music video remix of 

Baby Jowo(Baby Mi Da)with 2face 

idibia and was received with much 

acclaim. 

A trumpeter who plays in the 

highlife style, though extremely 

famous in Nigeria during the 1950s 

and early 1960s, Olaiya received 

little recognition outside his native 

country. 

Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the 

Daily Times described him as “The 

Evil Genius of Highlife.” 

Mourning the big loss are some 

celebrities who expressing their 

grief on social media. 

A sad day for Nigerian Music – 

Don Pedro Agabi 

Don Pedro Aganbi, the national 

coordinator of the Nollywood 

mandate group, describes the death 

of highlife legend, Victor Olaiya as 

a sad day for Nigerian music. 

“Sad day for Nigeria music as the 

last of the last high life iroko 

departs.No doubt he has written his 

name in gold. He has also left shoes 

behind difficult to fill. I appeal to 

government to turn the Stadium 

Hotel into a national monument in 

memory of this music cum highlife 

legend...He will be greatly missed” 

Don Pedro said. The Nigerian 

entertainment scene and music 

lovers were thrown into great 

mourning over news of the death of 

veteran highlife singer, Victor 

Olaiya,passed on at the age of 89 at 

exactly 12pm on Wednesday, 

February 12, 2020. The music 

maestro took his last breath at 

LUTH in Lagos state. 

He is a living legend 

even in death 

—Ara, the drummer 

Leading female Nigerian talking 

drummer, Ara has described 

Victor Olaiya as a living legend 

who will continue to remain a 

legend, even in death. 

“The celebrated drummer, who 

was in tears while speaking to 

Vanguard on the telephone, said 

“He was a role model and a music 

legend. His kind of music is rare to 

find in Nigeria. I was in shock when 

Bimbo Esho, the Managing 

Director of the Evergreen music 

company broke the news. He was 

an artist who knew how to re-invent 

himself. The remix of his song 

featuring Tuface, is an example of a 

great artist who knew how to flow 

with the events of the current time. 

I pray God gives the family the 

strength to carry on now that he is 

dead. Death is a no respecter of 

anybody and no matter the age one 

dies, it is a painful thing.” 

Good night a rare 

legendary, Nigerian 

music icon 

—Emma Ugolee, 

filmmaker 


Also, paying tribute to the late 

musician, film maker, Emma 

Ugolee wrote: “This one hit home 

for me. Dr Victor Olaiya was among 

the first musicians in the world I 

came to know while growing up. 

Thanks to my Dads vinyls, Dr Olaya 

and Victor Uwaifo are in my top 10 

greatest musicians in the world ...of 

all time. I would remain his huge 

fan forever. I remember reading 

about how he stunned everyone in 

the arena when the queen visited 

in 1959/60. His held on the trumpet. 

Genius, even Louis Armstrong 

acknowledged. In a class of his 

own. Never to be replaced. Good 

night a rare legendary, Nigerian 

music icon. 

I’m devastated by 

the news of 

Olaiya’s demise 

—2face 

I 

am devastated by the 

news of the passing away 

of Dr. Victor Olaiya, the 

Highlife maestro, mentor 

and legend. Thanks for the 

beautiful music. Thanks for 

the inspiration. Blessed for 

the honour of sharing a mic 

and stage with you. Rest in 

peace. 

No one can wear 

Olaiye’s shoes 

— Righteous man, 

musician 

Olaiya was an icon, a colossus 

and an institution that just 

passed away. For me, I don’t that 

such a man has passed away 

because of so many things he 

had accomplished in the 

industry. I think I am one of the 

most privileged young 

musicians then that opened 

show for him whenever he was 

performing. There was a think 

when I was on tour with him 

alongside Tony Gray and other 

artistes. We don’t have values for 

our own, we celebrate other 

people. But we don’t celebrate 

our own. There is no one that can 

wear his shoes.



De-registration of political parties: Is it constitutional? 

By Justice Usman Bwala 

So much dust was raised 

over the de-registration of 

parties done recently by 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC. 

So much arguments and 

counter arguments for and 

against the de-registration of 

the parties. What is the true 

position and effect of the 

deregistration of the parties, 

was it legal or not? To answer 

these questions being legal 

questions requires looking at 

the relevant laws. 

The constitutionality of deregistration 

will have to be 

viewed viz-a vis the Electoral 

Justice Bwala 

Act 2010 as amended.Section 

78 (7a) of the Act reads as 

follows: The Commission shall 

have power to de-register 

political parties on the 

following grounds – (i) breach 

of any of the requirements for 

registration; and (ii) for failure 

to win Presidential or 

Governorship election seat or 

a seat in the National or State 

Assembly election. 

The INEC can therefore deregister 

a registered political 

party on two grounds only. The 

first ground is breach of the 

provisions in regard to 

registration of a political party. 

Thus, not every breach of the 

Electoral Act qualifies or is a 

sufficient reason to de-register 

a political party, it is only a 

breach which relates to 

provisions of the section 

dealing with registration of a 

party which is section78 supra. 

The provision of the Electoral 

Act dealing with registration of 

a party is contained in PART V 

headed Powers of the 

Commission to register 

Political parties in S78 of the 

Electoral Act. Section 78 of the 

Electoral Act as amended read 

as follows: 

1. Any political association 

that complies with the 

provisions of the Constitution 

and this Act for the purposes 

of registration shall be 

registered as a political party. 

Provided however, that such 

application for registration as 

a political party shall be duly 

submitted to the commission 

not later than six months 

before a general election. 

2. The commission shall on 

receipt of the documents in 

fulfillment of the conditions 

stipulated by the Constitution 

immediately issue the 

applicant with a letter of 

acknowledgement stating that 

all the necessary documents 

had been submitted to the 

commission. 

3. If the association has not 

fulfilled all the conditions 

under this section, the 

commission shall within 30 

days from the receipt of its 

Continues on page 29 

08152060944 

Precedents: When S-Court is asked to reverse itself 

By Henry Ojelu 

THE decision of the Supreme 

Court, upturning the 

election of Governor Emeka 

Ihedioha of Imo State last 

month has been greeted with 

mixed 

reactions. 

While many believe that the 

decision had some coloration 

of political bias, especially 

when the figures which the 

seven justices based their 

decision appeared not to have 

added up, others argue the 

apex court was right in view of 

the facts before it. 

Since the judgment, there has 

been series of pro and anti 

protests with calls on the apex 

court to re-visit its decision. 

Meanwhile, Ihedioha 

through his lawyers, last week 

formally filed a brief before the 

apex court requesting a review 

of the judgment. While the apex 

court, is expected to hear and 

determine what was filed 

before it, Law and Human 

Rights takes a look at some 

similar applications before the 

apex court and how the justices 

treated them. 

Johnson v Lawanson. 

One of the earliest cases in 

which the Supreme Court was 

asked to reverse itself dates 

back to 1971 in the suit filed 

by Kobina Johnson and other 

vs Irene Lawanson and other. 

This case is often referred to 

as the locus classical on 

Supreme Court power to 

reverse itself on earlier 

decisions. The contention then 

was about the application of 

section 129 of the evidence act 

with regards to duration within 

which a deed of assignment 

can be valid and competent. 

Before the request for a review 

of the matter, the apex court 

had held and promoted a 

precedent that for a deed to be 

competent and relied on as 

contemplated by section 129 of 

the evidence act, it must be 20 

years old at the date of 

proceedings. This was the law 

until February 12, 1971 when 

the Supreme Court decided to 

reverse itself. The court which 

regretted its earlier position 

held that for a deed to be 

competent for the 

presumption contemplated by 

section 129 of the Evidence Act, 

•A cross session of Supreme Court in session. 

it must be 20 years old “at the 

date of the contract” in which 

the deed is sought to be relied 

upon and not 20 years old at 

the date of the proceedings in 

which such a deed is being 

offered in evidence. 

Coker J.S.C. delivering the 

court’s judgment held that 

“when the court is faced with 

the alternative of perpetuating 

what it is satisfied is an 

erroneous decision which was 

reached per incuriam and will, 

if followed, inflict hardship 

and injustice upon the 

generations in the future or of 

causing temporary 

disturbances of rights 

acquired under such a 

decision, I do not think we 

shall hesitate to declare the 

law as we find it.” The court 

then ordered that the appeal 

be re-heard de novo by 

another panel of Justices of 

the Supreme Court. 

Olorunfemi v Asho 

This is yet another case in 

which the Supreme Court 

took the bold position to set 

aside its earlier decision. The 

Supreme Court set aside its 

judgment delivered in 

January 8, 1999 on the ground 

that, it failed to consider the 

respondents cross–appeal 

before allowing the appellant’s 

appeal. The judgment relates 

to an appeal and a crossappeal 

from the decision of the 

Court of Appeal (Kolawole, 

Tobi and Ubeazonu, J.JCA. 

The respondents (“the 

plaintiffs”) sued the appellants 

(“the defendants”) in the High 

Court of Lagos State claiming 

damages for trespass allegedly 

committed by the defendants 

The judge told 

counsel to advise 

his client to take 

his case to 

heaven if he was 

not satisfied with 

the court’s ruling 

on land at Akesan village 

sometime in December 1983 

and injunction. The 

defendants, on their own, 

counterclaimed against the 

plaintiffs for a declaration of 

customary right of occupancy 

to the land in dispute, damages 

for trespass and injunction. 

The High Court (Onalaja, J., 

as he then was) after taking 

evidence on the claim and the 

counterclaim, dismissed the 

plaintiff’s claim in its entirety. 

He granted the declaration 

sought by the defendants and 

restrained the plaintiffs from 

further acts of trespass on the 

land claimed by the 

defendants. He rejected the 

defendant’s claim for damages 

for trespass. The plaintiffs filed 

an appeal which went all the 

way to the Supreme Court. 

Amaechi vs Omehia 

In December 2006, Rotimi 

Amaechi contested and won 

the Rivers State Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

governorship primaries. 

Following inter party 

squabbles; his name was 

substituted with Celestine 

Omehia before the 

governorship election. 

Early in 2007, Amaechi filed 

a suit challenging the alleged 

injustice. The matter went all 

the way from the lower court 

to the Supreme Court. In its 

judgment on October 25, 2007, 

the Supreme Court held that 

Amaechi was wrongly 

substituted with Omehia by 

PDP and that in the eyes of 

the law, Amaechi who didn’t 

contest the election was at all 

times the legal candidate of 

PDP at the elections, and 

proceeded to declare him as 

Governor of Rivers State. But 

Omehia re-appealed insisting 

that the Supreme Court 

judgment contradicted some 

provisions of the 1999 

Constitution. On November 2, 

2009, the apex court dismissed 

Omehia’s application seeking 

for review of its judgment. 

The seven-man panel led by 

Justice Alloysius Kastina-Alu 

described the suit as frivolous 

and an act of judicial rascality. 

They accordingly dismissed 

the case with N100, 000 cost, 

saying even if it was a mistake; 

Continues on page 29


Precedents: When S-Court is asked to reverse itself 

Continued from page 28 

the apex court has a right to 

make a mistake. They insisted 

that Amaechi remained the 

legitimate governor and that 

the decision was final 

regardless of whether it was 

rightly or wrongly entered. 

Ubah v INEC 

After he was sacked by the 

Supreme Court as the 

Governor of Anambra State, 

Senator Andy Uba twice 

approached the apex court to 

reverse its judgment. On the 

first occasion, Uba filed his 

application alongside INEC 

and the governorship 

candidate of the Nigeria 

Advanced Party, NAP, in 2007, 

Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, 

seeking to set aside its earlier 

judgment delivered on June 

14, 2007 which declared Mr. 

Peter Obi as the legal 

occupant of the Anambra State 

Government House. 

Reasoning that it was an 

effrontery to ask it to reverse 

itself in a case it had 

determined, the apex court 

descended heavily on the 

plaintiffs with vituperations. In 

a unanimous judgment, the 

court did not only dismiss the 

applications filed by the trio, 

but the panel of justices 

presided over by Justice 

De-registration of political parties: Is it constitutional? 

Continued from page 28 

application notify the 

Association in writing stating 

the reasons for nonregistration. 

4. Any political association 

that meets the conditions 

stipulated in the Constitution 

and this Act shall be registered 

by the Commission as a 

political party within 30 days 

from the date of receipt of the 

application and if after the 30 

days such Association is not 

registered by the commission 

unless the commission informs 

the Association to the contrary 

it shall be deemed to have 

been registered. 

5. Any association which 

through the submission of 

false or misleading 

information pursuant to the 

provisions of this section 

procures a certificate of 

registration shall have such 

certificate cancelled. 

6. No application for 

registration as a political party 

shall be processed unless there 

is evidence of payment of 

administrative fee as may be 

fixed from time to time by the 

Commission. 

7.The Commission shall 

have power to de-register 

EDITORIAL 

Innocent Anaba 

( Editor) 

Ikechukwu Nnochiri 

Henry Ojelu 

Onozure Dania 

Jane Ochewendoo 

Iyorgher Katsina-Alu 

concluded that hearing the 

applications would amount to 

chasing shadows or 

“embarking on a wild goose 

chase.”The second time Uba 

attempted to push his luck 

again at the apex court was 

through his lawyer, Mr. 

Joseph Daudu, SAN, who 

was then the President of the 

Nigerian Bar Association, 

NBA. Of course, he received 

some serious bashing. 

INEC v Zamfara APC 

In a more recent case, 

involving candidates of the 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC in Zamfara and the 

Independent National 

Electoral Commission, 

INEC, the Supreme Court 

was again asked to reverse 

its earlier decision nullifying 

the election of all candidates 

of the party. Precisely on May 

24, 2019, the Supreme Court 

in a unanimous judgment of 

the five-man panel led by 

then Acting CJN, Justice 

Tanko Muhammad, declared 

the first runners-up in the 

2019 general elections in the 

state as the winners of all the 

posts earlier declared to have 

been won by the APC and its 

candidates. 

Justice Paul Galinje, who 

read the lead judgment, 

political parties on the 

following grounds:- i) breach 

of any of the requirements for 

registration; and ii) for 

failure to win Presidential or 

Governorship election or a 

seat in the National or State 

Assembly election. 

A breach of S 78 supra 

attracts de-registration of the 

offending party. Thus 

submission of false or 

misleading information 

which led to the registration 

of a party, whenever the false 

or misleading information 

later becomes known can lead 

to de-registration of that 

party S 78 (5) supra. 

The second ground for deregistering 

a party is when a 

political party fails to win 

even a single seat in 

Presidential, Governorship, 

National or State elections. 

Once a party fails to win even 

a single seat in all the 

elections it shall be deregistered. 

Failure for a party 

to win a single seat in any 

election seals the party’s fate, 

it shall be de-registered. In 

legal parlance shall means 

mandatory or compulsory 

Gen Muhammadu Buhari vs 

INEC 2009 All FWLR (Pt 459) 

427 at 6610 as opposed to 

upheld the decision of the 

Sokoto Division of the Court of 

Appeal to the effect that the 

APC did not conduct any valid 

primary election and as such 

had no candidate for any of the 

elections in the state. 

He described the votes polled 

by the APC candidates in the 

elections as wasted. He then 

ordered that the party and the 

candidates with the second 

highest votes and the spread in 

the various elections were the 

valid winners. With that, the 

APC lost the 36 elective 

positions comprising the 

governorship, deputy 

Reasoning that it 

was an 

effrontery to ask 

it to reverse 

itself in a case it 

had determined, 

the apex court 

descended 

heavily on the 

plaintiffs with 

vituperations 

grammatical meaning of 

futurism. The usage of shall in 

section 78 (7) supra makes its 

compliance mandatory by 

INEC. 

When a political party fails to 

win a single seat in any election 

of President, Governorship, 

National and State elections 

INEC has only one duty that is 

to de-register that party. Failure 

to de-register such a party can 

invite somebody to ask for 

mandamus to compel INEC to 

perform its public duty by the 

de-registering that party. As 

INEC has been given powers 

to register a political party, it has 

been given also powers to deregister 

a party both on 

sufficient grounds. 

The recent de-registration of 

some parties was not only 

proper and valid the action was 

backed by the constitution and 

the Electoral Act section 78 

supra. It also highlights INEC 

as living up to its duty by 

discharging its constitutional 

responsibility. Once a party is 

de-registered it ceases to be a 

legal party or entity and can no 

longer carry out any function or 

contest any election. The deregistered 

party is a dead party 

which cannot perform or take 

part in any activity of any type. 

governorship, three 

senatorial, seven House of 

Representatives and 24 House 

of Assembly seats to the PDP. 

Still not satisfied with 

decision of the court, the party 

filed an application asking the 

Supreme Court to review the 

judgment. But the Court 

threw away the appeal. Justice 

Rhodes-Vivour in his lead 

judgment held that the 

application was incompetent 

and time-barred, adding that 

the court had no jurisdiction 

in the matter. Justice Rhodes- 

Vivour further held that the 

consequential orders made 

were part and parcel of the 

pre-election matter and it was 

an abuse asking the apex 

court to review its judgment 

or orders. “We don’t seat on 

appeal over our own decision. 

We have no jurisdiction over 

this matter,” he said. 

Ogboru v Uduaghan 

The court also made it clear 

that no amount of antics and 

trickery by counsel and their 

clients will ever make it revisit 

a case it had earlier decided 

in May 2014 when it ruled on 

an application filed by Dr. 

Dickson Osuala, the counsel 

to the governorship candidate 

of the DPP, in Delta State, 

Chief Great Ogboru, against 

the election of Governor 

Emmanuel Uduaghan of the 

PDP. It used the opportunity 

also to send a very strong 

signal to lawyers that it would 

Mr Olumide Akpata, a 

Senior Partner at 

Templars and immediate past 

Chairman of the Nigerian Bar 

Association, NBA, Section on 

Business Law, SBL, has 

condemned the attack on a 

no longer tolerate abuse of 

court processes. 

In the matter, which had 

twice been dismissed by the 

court and refiled by Osuala, he 

premised his action on Section 

285 (7) of the Constitution 

which he claimed was 

fraudulently inserted by the 

National Assembly. He 

argued further that since due 

process was not followed by 

the National Assembly in 

enacting section 285 (7) into 

law, it was wrong for the apex 

court to have relied on it to 

dismiss his client’s case. 

Justice Onnoghen who 

presided over the matter, 

talked down on Osuala and 

advised him not to ever come 

to the apex court with any 

application in respect of the 

case. He blamed the counsel 

for not properly guiding his 

client and embarking on a 

clear case of gross abuse of the 

courtý process. The judge told 

counsel to advise his client to 

take his case to heaven if he 

was not satisfied with the 

court’s ruling. 

Dingyadi v Wamakko 

Another instance where the 

apex court refused to review 

its verdict was in the case 

between Muhammadu 

Dingyadi of the Democratic 

Peoples Party,DPP and Aliyu 

Wamakko of the PDP over the 

Sokoto State governorship 

tussle. 

Akpata condemns police brutality 

*Mr Olumide Akpata (left) with Augustine Alegeh, SAN 

(right) at the opening of the 17th division of the Court of 

Appeal in Asaba, Delta State. 

lawyer, Ibangah Goodness, by 

policemen in Enugu. 

He said, “It is quite a 

disheartening occurrence 

and one indeed which should 

cause all concerned to cover 

their faces 

in shame. I 

r e a d 

through a 

r e p o r t 

made by 

Prof. J. N. 

Ezeilo, 

regarding 

the horrible 

a n d 

inhumane 

a b u s e 

exhibited 

on of our 

d e a r 

colleague 

in the Bar, 

Ibangah 

Goodness. “The report stated 

that the victim was rascally 

abused and beaten to a critical 

condition where she nearly 

lost consciousness. The report 

also depicts that this ill act 

was done to the victim while 

she was on official duty for 

WACOL, a non-government 

organisation in Enugu, by 

some men who are believed 

to be officers of the Nigerian 

Police Force. 

“It is said that the police is 

meant to protect lives and 

properties but it seems that 

the reverse has been the case 

considering the facts of the 

abuse heralded by these 

police officers on our dear 

female colleague. Lawyers are 

ministers in the temple of 

justice, lawyers are 

stakeholders in the justice 

system of our country. On no 

account should acts of this 

nature or acts in any kind be 

done to dissuade lawyers or 

intimidate lawyers from 

performing their parts in 

attaining justice in our 

society. "


WHY do most countries have 

prime ministers and not 

executive presidents? Of the 193 

member states of the United 

Nations, only about 46 have a 

presidential system, where full 

executive powers are vested in one 

person. 

Out of the 50 sovereign states in 

Europe, 34 are parliamentarian; so 

are nearly 40 of the 54 member states 

of the Commonwealth, including the 

most successful ones, such as 

Canada, Australia, India and 

Singapore. So, which one is better 

for Nigeria: executive president or 

prime minister? 

Of course, at independence in 

1960, Nigeria practised the 

parliamentary system until the 

military terminated it after a coup 

d’état in 1966. About thirteen years 

later, when General Olusegun 

Obasanjo decided to return Nigeria 

to civil rule, he set up a constitutional 

drafting committee to fashion a new 

Constitution for the country. But he 

so loathed the oppositional politics 

associated with the parliamentary 

system that he effectively instructed 

the “49 Wise Men” tasked with 

drafting the 1979 Constitution to 

shun the system. 

In truth, the committee itself was 

minded to adopt the presidential 

system. One of its key reasons was 

that Nigeria needed a strong and 

powerful president to bring the 

country together and act as the 

symbol of national unity. But that 

was utterly naïve. You can’t govern a 

multi-ethnic country with a 

strongman mentality by vesting 

excessive powers in one person. 

That’s why most ethnically-divided 

countries favour the parliamentary 

system, which is representative, 

consultative and collegial. 

Nigeria needs a collegial prime 

minister, not a buccaneering president 

Let’s face it, which president has 

united this country or really been the 

symbol of national unity? Instead of 

authoritarian utopia, where strong 

leaders bring people happily 

together, what we’ve had is 

totalitarian dystopia, where 

supposedly unifying leaders use 

excessive military force to suppress 

ethnic agitations, as with the Odi 

massacre under President Obasanjo 

and “Operation python dance” 

under President Buhari. 

But that’s what happens where 

there is a mismatch of power and 

identity. Where excessive powers are 

vested in one person at the centre, 

while identities reside at the subnational 

levels, you are bound to have 

such tensions. Which is why, the 

parliamentary system, based on its 

collegiality and distribution of 

power, is the commonest form of 

government in multi-ethnic states. 

In The Republic, Socrates 

proposed that in the ideal city-state, 

executive power should rest solely in 

the hands of a philosopher-ruler. But 

there are two things to note about 

Socrates’ proposal. The first is that 

his ideal city-state was a selfcontained 

and ethnically 

monochrome society, not a 

heterogenous multi-ethnic state. The 

second is that the philosopher-ruler 

must have a specialised form of 

knowledge (gnosis); in other words, 

a captain with adequate knowledge 

of navigation to steer the ship of 

state! 

So, at the risk of belabouring the 

point, an all-powerful executive 

The parliamentary 

system is a better route 

to political stability, 

government 

effectiveness and 

economic progress for 

this country than the 

current flawed system 

president, that sees himself as the 

embodiment of the national interest, 

is not suitable for ethnicallypolarised 

nations like Nigeria. 

Secondly, even if Nigeria were to 

have a strong executive president, 

this country has never produced, and 


is incapable of producing, visionary 

and competent leaders. 

Tell me, which Nigerian president 

can be described as a captain with 

adequate knowledge to steer this 

country’s ship-of-state? Why would 

you vest so much executive power in 

someone who can’t govern the 

country well, but is likely to abuse 

the power? 

Yet, that’s how the Nigerian 

Constitution, by implication, 

prescribes that this country should 

be governed. Section 5(5) gives that 

president “executive powers”, which 

he can exercise either “directly or 

through the vice president and 

ministers”. Section 148 reiterates 

that the President “may, in his 

discretion”, assign any state 

responsibility to the vice president 

or any minister. So, even though 

under section 148 (2), the president 

is obliged to form a cabinet, he may, 

if he wishes, not allow any minister 

or even the vice president to exercise 

any executive power. 

Indeed, last year, President Buhari 

stripped Vice President Yemi 

Osinbajo of virtually all the key 

responsibilities he had during their 

first term. So, despite his relative 

youth, intellect and energy, Osinbajo 

functions almost entirely at the 

behest of the president and the cabal 

around him. 

The ideal constitutional 

arrangement is for President Buhari 

to be the ceremonial head of state, 

which suits his well, while Osinbajo 

is the prime minister and head of 

government. With that arrangement, 

Buhari can make the overseas trips, 

which he seems to enjoy, and be as 

laid-back as he wants, while 

Osinbajo, as prime minister, gets on 

with running the government, as he 

did effectively on the two occasions 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

President Buhari was on long 

medical vacations. 

At the moment, even though the 

president is at home, no one seems 

to be running the country. The 

situation in Nigeria is adrift, 

confused, chaotic. A mess! So, let’s 

face it, an executive presidency is not 

good for this country. Academics talk 

about the “perils of presidentialism” 

in terms of political gridlock due to 

competing claims for legitimacy by 

the president and the legislature. 

That’s true. But the biggest 

problems are the tendency towards 

authoritarianism and the lack of 

accountability or effective checks 

and balances. 

I mean, who can really hold 

President Buhari to account? A few 

years ago, even a minister refused to 

appear before a committee of the 

National Assembly, saying that she 

was only answerable to the 

president! That’s unthinkable in a 

parliamentary system. 

In their empirical study, based on 

data from 119 countries across the 

period 1950 to 2015, economists 

Gulcin Ozkan and Richard 

McManns found that parliamentary 

systems' consistency feature higher 

scores of democracy, more extensive 

media freedoms, a stronger rule of 

law and better economic 

performance. What’s more, 

according to the IMF, 

parliamentarism is less prone to 

corruption and, of course, less 

expensive than presidentialism! 

The parliamentary system is a 

better route to political stability, 

government effectiveness and 

economic progress for this country 

than the current flawed system. 

Which is why part of restructuring 

Nigeria must include returning it to 

the parliamentary system. 

Akpabio and new vision for Niger Delta 

By ANIETIE EKONG 

THE appointment of Senator Godswill 

Akpabio as the Minister of Niger Delta 

Affairs on August 20, 2019 was greeted by 

great enthusiasm by people across the Niger 

Delta region. President Muhammadu 

Buhari was widely hailed for the 

appointment described as putting a square 

peg in a square hole. 

The excitement of the people was not 

misplaced. As Governor of Akwa Ibom State 

for eight years (2007 – 2015) Chief Akpabio 

unleashed a development model never 

experienced in Nigeria which the people 

aptly termed “Uncommon Transformation”. 

The state within the period witnessed 

unprecedented infrastructural renaissance 

that a once largely civil service state became 

a destination of choice among Nigerians. 

This was possible because of the 

impeccable infrastructural facilities that 

Chief Akpabio built in the state. The roads 

he built over 10 years ago have stood the 

test of times as there are no potholes in them. 

The airport he built has made access to the 

state as a destination possible. 

The stadium he built, fittingly named after 

him as Godswill Akpabio International 

Stadium, is the only FIFA approved stadium 

in Nigeria, according to the Minister of 

Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare. 

The former Minister of Health, Prof Isaac 

Adewole was so amazed at Ibom Specialist 

Hospital built by Akpabio when he 

embarked on a tour of the hospital that he 

declared that Nigerians had no reason to 

embark on medical tourism abroad with the 

facilities he saw at the hospital which he 

described as world class. One can go on 

and on. 

It was because of the footprints that 

Senator Akpabio had left on the sands of 

Akwa Ibom State as governor that there was 

a general consensus that his appointment 

as minister was widely received as well 

deserved and the people commended 

President Buhari for his choice to man the 

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. 

The Niger Delta is a region that has 

contributed so much to the nation’s treasury 

but gets underdevelopment in return. The 

creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta 

Affairs and the Niger Delta Development 

Commission, NDDC, was a direct response 

to the series of agitations by the people of 

the Niger Delta flowing from the deep sense 

of exclusion, environmental degradation, 

lack of development, poverty and 

unemployment facing the region. 

NDDC as an interventionist agency was 

meant to address the developmental 

challenges in the Niger Delta region but 

instead the agency has allegedly enriched a 

few people while shortchanging the majority 

of the people of the Niger Delta. 

Faceless contractors have pocketed 

money for phantom projects that were never 

meant to be executed. To put it mildly, NDDC 

has been a cesspool of corruption and bad 

corporate governance. 

This was why President Buhari ordered 

that a forensic audit of the Commission be 

carried out to unravel why so much money 

was sunk into the Commission without 

commensurate result. 

Under the supervision of Senator Akpabio 

the process of forensic audit has started and 

when completed it would reposition the 

Commission and set a governance structure 

that would enable the NDDC to deliver on 

its core mandate instead of being a conduit 

for politicians to siphon the resources meant 

for the collective good of the people of the 

region. This, in itself, is a commendable 

initiative of the administration of President 

Buhari. 

Already the fear of forensic audit by 

contractors is the beginning of wisdom. 

Contractors who had been mobilised with 

no intention of doing the jobs have returned 

to site. With all the financial inflow from 

the Federal Government, the International 

Oil Companies, development partners and 

other sources, the current debt profile of 

NDDC stands at about N2 trillion. This has 

led to the littering of the region with over 

12,000 uncompleted and abandoned 

projects. 

Typically, jobs done by the NDDC 

contractors are shoddy and sub-standard. It 

is the vision of Senator Akpabio that the 

Commission should be repositioned to 

complete ongoing and abandoned projects 

while its liabilities are reduced to make the 

interventionist agency “bankable” and 

Akpabio envisages a peaceful 

and prosperous region with 

clusters of small and medium 

industries where the people 

are engaged to contribute to its 

development 

deliver quality projects. It does not make 

sense doling out politically induced 

contracts that are not funded. 

In almost 20 years after its establishment, 

the NDDC is still operating from a rented 

headquarters building. The headquarters 

building started since the days of the Oil 

Mineral Producing Areas Development 

Commission, OMPADEC, the progenitor of 

NDDC, has remained uncompleted while 

the commission pays about N300 million 

as rent every year. 

In his first meeting with the management 

of the commission, Senator Akpabio put it 

succinctly that it was a shame that a 

commission which so much funds has passed 

through was still a tenant and gave them a 

marching order to complete the permanent 

headquarters building. 

The building which is almost completed 

now, would be commissioned and put to use 

in the next few months. The Ministry of 

Niger Delta Affairs would soon complete 

the construction of nine housing estates as 

well as the construction of one skills 

acquisition institute in each of the Niger 

Delta States. The building of the housing 

estates and skills acquisition institutes have 

meaningfully engaged the youths of the 

region. During a recent visit to the projects, 

Senator Akpabio assured the communities 

that the Federal Government would 

complete the projects so that they can be put 

to use. 

Senator Akpabio has realised the 

importance of peace in the development of 

the Niger Delta region. Famously known as 

“the man who turned boys into men” during 

his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State, 

he has prioritised youth empowerment to 

achieve peace in the region. 

To this end, Senator Akpabio had in the 

first 100 days as minister empowered about 

1600 youths with different skills through the 

youth empowerment programme of the 

Ministry. And just recently, he secured 

the commitment of the Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, for strategic alliance for 

improved agricultural development and the 

provision of employment opportunities for 

the teeming youths of the Niger Delta. 

The ministry is embarking on a pilot 

programme on rice production in the nine 

states of the region which would also help 

to provide employment opportunities for the 

people, check hostilities and youth 

restiveness and improve the living standard 

of the people. 

Senator Akpabio as minister of Niger 

Delta Affairs envisages a peaceful and 

prosperous region with clusters of small and 

medium industries where the people are 

engaged to contribute to the development 

of the region. 

This is the mandate that President Buhari 

has handed down to the minister and there 

is an agreement that he has started well and 

would also accomplish these onerous tasks. 

* Ekong, Chief Press Secretary to the 

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, wrote from 

Abuja.

32 — VANGUARD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

YOUR LUCK TODAY 

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139 

TAURUS: Mercury will start to go on backward motion 

soonest, therefore you will need to re-examine both your 

personal ideas and advice given to you by other people. Be 

family minded. 

GEMINI: Avoided you don’t allow others to mislead 

you, things will not go wrong. The more willing you are to 

take the initiative the better for you. Take your love life 

more seriously. 

CANCER: Although you will need to be as secretive as 

you can, your success will attract others’ attention to you 

to the betterment of your cause. Be ambitious. 

LEO: People who more influential than you will be willing 

to support your cause but you will need to 

make the necessary move. The more self assertive you 

are the better. 

L E I S U R E 

TAKE HEART — ELLA RANDLE 

Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you 

have not; remember that what you now have was 

once among the things you only hoped for.” - 

Epicurus- 

Be content in the moment, see the beauty in everything 

and be grateful for ‘Now’. When you have Now! 

There is beautiful imagination, creativity, awareness. 

spontaneity and gratitude, which leads to more of 

everything. -Ella Randle- 

SAYINGS OF 

OUR PEOPLE 

By labor 

comes 

wealth. 

~ Yoruba 

VIRGO: Challenges of yesterday will today bring you 

good opportunities along your career/business 

lines to the betterment of your finances seek supporters 

of powerful ones. 

LIBRA: Think of the best way to improve on your working 

pattern in order to enhance your career 

prospects if you listen to your creative self, things will 

work out fine for you. Be more loving. 

SCORPIO: Success is boldly printed on your cards today. 

Think of both immediate and far future while you are 

savouring goodies offered you but mother nature. 

SAGITTARIUS: You should not have it tough while trying 

to win the needed supports of others. Take good advice 

from some of your friends who are creatively gifted. 

CAPRICORN: Your creativity ...... is enhanced today and 

if you demonstrating this within your working arena, you’ll 

earn success and consolidate on your recent progress. 

AQUARIUS: As mercury prepares to go on backward 

motion it is important you don’t take things for granted. 

Watch carefully what you agree to do. 

PISCES: Better than yesterday. Others will be willing to 

give you the needed co-operation both at home and within 

your working arena. This is a good day for lovers. 

ARIES: Those of you who are more enterprising will 

have much to show for your efforts. The more cooperative 

you. Don’t neglect love. 

ASTROLOGICAL ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING 

COUNSELLING 

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” 

DUDU in “ROLLING HOT” 

“HOT” 

By Kola Fayemi 

By A.O.OLAIDE 

Send your date and place of birth to the Astr 

trological 

Counselling, P.M.B 100 

007, Apapa, Lagos 

WHAT DOES FUTURE HAVE FOR ME 

Dear Joshua, 

I don’t want you to publish my data. However, I want to know 

how the planets lined up when I was born. And which day of the 

week was I born, would I record success in life ? When would my 

success come? 

Victor, Lagos. 

Dear Victor, 

You were born on a Jupiter ruled day - Thursday. 

You’ll succeeded earlier than you think. 

VIRGINIA 

dadadekola@yahoo.com 

Your Horoscope Data 

DAY OF BIRTH: THURSDAY 

SUN SIGN = PISCES: SUN IN 25TH DEGREE OF PISCES 

MOON SIGN: PISCES: MOON IN 21ST DEGREE OF PI- 

SCES 

MERCURY IN 28TH DEGREE OF AQUARIUS 

VENUS IN 28TH DEGREE OF ARIES 

MARS IN 7TH DEGREE OF CANCER 

JUPITER IN ZERO DEGREE OF AQUARIUS 

SATURN IN 27TH DEGREE OF CAPRICORN 

URANUS IN 22ND DEGREE OF LEO 

NEPTUNE IN 11TH DECREE OF SCORPIO 

PLUTO IN 6TH DEGREE OF VIRGO 

NORTH NODE IN 6TH DEGREE OF PISCES 

CARDINAL AND MUTABLE STAR SIGN HOSTED THREE 

PLANETS EACH, FIXED AND WATER FOUR EACH, FIRE 

EARTH AND AIR HOSTED TWO EACH. 

PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 40% 

NON-PUSHFUL INFLUENCE = 60% 

HIGHLY HIGHLIGHTED STAR SIGN = AQUARIUS 

FINAL DISPOSITOR = SATURN 

ANALYSIS OF THE HOROSCOPE DATA 

Saturn as the final dispositor-the most influential planet at 

home when you were born, pointed to you as an ambitious person 

who must have a well developed career. You are a disciplined 

person with higher degree of leadership quality in yourself. 

Although, you can be emotional, you are stable and reliable. 

Less than 50 per cent of push-full influence in you is an indication 

of your being an amiable person. Both your natal sun/moon in 

Pisces and Aquarius are indications of characteristic of star signs 

are highly pronounced in your inner-self Having your hands on 

public pulse will always bring you unexpected success and 

fulfilment. 

Around your 30th birthday an endless cycle of great success 

and achievements will start for you. Oil-petrol chemicals will 

feature in your life when the predicted great cycle gets started for 

you. 

Congratulation. 

HOME & ABROAD 

By Lawrence Akapa



HIV/AIDs TEST: From 

left — Rhoda Robinson, 

Executive Director, 

HACEY Health Initiative; 

Omobolanle Victor- 

Laniyan, Head, Sustainability, 

Access Bank Plc 

and Oyetola Oduyemi, 

Africa Regional Adviser, 

The EndFund during the 

free HIV/AIDs test and 

sensitisation on neglected 

tropical diseases in 

Nigeria & Africa to all 

Marathoners and attendees 

sponsored by 

Access Bank Plc at the 

Lagos City Marathon. 

Photo: KEHINDE SHO- 

MOLA. 

Lawmakers reject proposed A'Ibom 

nuclear plant project 

My legacy projects'll be reference point in 

Bayelsa — Dickson 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—GOV 

ERNOR Seriake 

Dickson of Bayelsa State, 

has said that the execution 

of various legacy projects 

by his administration 

would remain a reference 

By Harris Emanuel 

U YO—CRITICISMS 

have continued to 

trailed the proposed nuclear 

power facility planned 

for the oil rich in Akwa Ibom 

State as the State House of 

Assembly, has also kicked 

against the establishment 

of the project in the state. 

The project is to be sited in 

Oku Iboku community, Itu 

Local Government Area of 

the state. 

But the House in a resolution 

vehemently rejected 

plan and called on the state 

government not to release 

any parcel of land in the 

state for it. 

This followed on a motion 

tabled by a member representing 

Itu State Constituency, 

Kufreabasi Edidem 

who said that the project 

was not in tandem with international 

standards guiding 

the implementation of 

civil nuclear programmes 

across the globe. 

Accordibg to him, despite 

warnings from the International 

Atomic Energy Agency 

(IAEA) that Nigeria 

lacks the technical competence 

to handle nuclear issues, 

the National Atomic 

Energy Commission 

(NAEC) has not relented in 

its decision to proceed with 

the nuclear project in Itu 

LGA. 

He added that the 6th 

House of Assembly also 

kicked against the project, 

yet the regulatory body was 

point in the history of the 

state development. 

Dickson, who spoke when 

he commissioned the Multi 

Door Court House at the 

State High Court Complex 

in Yenagoa, also commissioned 

some high profile 

internal roads within the 

still adamant on it's establishment 

in the state. 

He said, "The 6th Akwa 

Ibom State House of Assembly 

through a motion 

moved by Mr. Nse Essien, 

member representing 

Onna State Constituency, 

rejected the planned nuclear 

power plant, urging the 

Federal Government to instead 

of the dangerous venture, 

explore other available 

and harmless sources of 

power in the state, including 

increasing the capacity 

of the Ibom Power Plant." 

He further cited constant 

emission of radioactive radiations, 

discharge of 

non-biodegradable radioactive 

wastes, absorption 

into ecosystem and food 

chain, as some dangers 

Akwa Ibom people would 

.... Commissions Multi Door Court House, roads 

state capital as well as the 

Ijaw Heroes Park. 

Dickson described the 

Multi Door Court House as 

one of the restoration government's 

main signature 

project that would stand tall 

to his credit. 

He said, "I thank God for 

Ambakederimo urges FG to order forensic audit of 

N'Delta Ministry .... Says Akpabio should leave NDDC alone 

By Jimitota 

Onoyume 

W ARRI—CONV 

ERNER, South 

South Reawakening 

Group, Mr Joseph Ambakederimo, 

has called on 

the Federal G overnment to 

order a forensic audit of the 

Niger Delta Ministry since 

its creation in 2007, saying 

the activities of the Ministry 

has been seemingly 

shrouded in secrecy. 

Ambakederimo who spoke 

to Vanguard in Warri, Delta 

State, also called on the 

Minister of Niger Delta, 

Senator Godswill Akpabio, 

to leave the Niger Delta 

Development Commission, 

NDDC, alone, stressing 

that his frequent intervention 

in the operations of 

the commission was causing 

distraction for those 

running the place. 

“We are also calling for 

audit of the Niger Delta 

Ministry. What have they 

done since 2007, when 

they created the ministry? 

We want to know. We 

want the Minister for Niger 

Delta, Senator Akpabio 

to sit down to work. 

“The Niger Delta Ministry 

is as guilty as NDDC. 

Since the creation of the 

Ministry, what have they 

done, what can they pinpoint 

to us as achievements? 

How much has 

been expended? You 

leave your ministry to be 

talking about NDDC, is 

it altruistic?” 

He said the Minister 

should pay more attention 

to ssues in his Ministry, 

noting that Nigerians 

were disturbed by 

the way he had continued 

to focus all his energy 

on the NDDC as 

though it was the only issue 

under his Ministry. 

“We want to see development 

in the region, virgin 

forest being pulled 

down for roads, houses, 

bridges, not just the 

Minister gallivanting 

from one place to the other 

shouting about 

NDDC.” 

be exposed to, if the nuclear 

power plant was cited 

in Itu LGA or any other 

part of the state. 

The Speaker, Aniekan 

Bassey while responding, 

commend Edidem for the 

timeliness of the motion 

and urged the Clerk to 

communicate the resolution 

of the House to the 

appropriate quarters. 

At plenary also, the 

House passed the Bill to 

Eliminate Violence in Private 

and Public Life, Prohibit 

All Forms of Violence 

Against Persons and to 

provide maximum protection 

and effective remedies 

for victims and punishment 

for Offenders 

and Other Matters Connected 

Therewith into 

law. 

the enablement, vision and 

strength to initiate this 

project that bears our restoration 

government's signature. 

I thank God that 

we led a government that 

has affected our development 

in a positive manner. 

"Long after we have done 

our time, this Multi Door 

Court House initiated and 

completed by our government 

and other key projects 

would serve as a reminder 

to the hard work my team 

and I were able to put in 

place during our service to 

the people of the state." 

According to him, the establishment 

of the imposing 

edifice among other key 

infrastructure was indicative 

of his desire to expedite 

the overall process of 

development of Bayelsa 

State. 

Expressing appreciation to 

the leadership and members 

of the state judiciary 

for their collaborative efforts 

in bringing about some 

landmark achievement, 

Dickson said, his administration 

had undoubtedly 

tried its best in the service 

of the state in the last eight 

years. 

Reps member handsover newly 

constructed classroom blocks 

to Bayelsa community 

By Emem Idio 

Y ENAGOA—THE 

member representing 

Sagbama/ Ekeremor 

Federal Constituency in the 

House of Representatives, 

Mr Fred Agbedi, has donated 

a newly constructed 

classroom blocks to Konou 

Community Primary 

School in Ekeremor Local 

Government Area of Bayelsa 

State. 

Presenting the newly constructed 

classroom blocks to 

the community during the 

formal handing over ceremony 

in the community, 

Agbedi, commended the 

pupils and people of the 

community for their desire 

for basic education, adding 

that he had also contacted 

Court reserves ruling on N350m 

suit against DSS, expatriate 

Delta monarchs laud NPDC/FHN 

on free medicare 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

OZORO—THE Ovie of 

Ozoro kingdom, 

HRM, Uvietobore Ogbogbo 

and his Ellu kingdom 

counterpart, HRM Murphy 

Urugbezi, Isoko North 

Local Government Area, 

Delta State, have commended 

the Nigeria Petroleum 

Development Company, 

NPDC, and it’s Joint 

Venture Partner, First Hydrocarbon 

Nigeria Limited, 

FHN, for embarking on free 

medical treatment for indigenes 

of OML 26 host communities. 

Making the commendation 

when a team of NPDC/ 

FHN26 and medical officers 

from CECY Health Consult 

paid a courtesy visit to 

their palaces to intimate 

them of the free health programme, 

the traditional rulers 

noted that the health 

the state Ministry of Education 

to deploy teachers to 

school to meet the needs of 

community. 

He said, he was moved to 

construct the new classroom 

blocks when the community 

contacted him to 

demand for a school building 

after the only mud 

school structure built in 

1954 collapsed some few 

years ago. 

According to him, the 

classrooms blocks project 

was constructed under the 

2018/2019 zonal intervention 

constituency project, 

adding that the conducive 

learning environment provided 

by the new structure 

will motivate and encourage 

the pupils academic 

pursuit. 


BENIN CITY – A 

Federal High Court sitting 

in Benin City, Edo 

State, yesterday, reserved 

judgment on a N350million 

suit instituted by a single 

mother, Ms Happy Okojie 

against the Department of 

State Services, DSS, and a 

Lebannese businessman 

over her illegal detention 

and infringement on her 

fundamental human 

rights. 

Odegua claimed she was 

first taken into DSS facility 

in Benin City, before she 

was whisked to Abuja without 

her knowing the offence 

she committed. 

In the suit, Okojie is claiming 

that she was detained 

for nine days first at the security 

outfit's facility in Benin 

City, Edo State and later 

in Abuja and denied access 

to her lawyer and family 

members while her telephone 

was also seized. 

Besides, she said her 

daughter who was in 

school when she was 

picked had to be rescued 

from the streets by her 

teacher after crying all day 

and night till the following 

morning. 

Joined in the suit as respondant 

are the Director General, 

DSS, Director, Edo 

Command of the DSS and 

Charles Makhoul, a Lebanese 

business man 

She said at the DSS facility 

in Abuja, under video recording, 

she was forced to 

accept the sum of N6 million 

as compensation for 

the atrocities meted on her 

by the Lebanese business 

man, who she had lived 

with as a minor to her adult 

age. 

care scheme would have a 

huge impact on indigenes 

of the communities. 

Ofagbe, Ovrode, Ellu, 

Ozoro communities in Isoko 

North and Idheze, Isoko 

South Local Government 

Area of the state, were 

among communities that 

benefited from the programme 

in which hygiene 

packs, mosquito nets, medical 

kits to aid child birth 

were given to pregnant 

women alongside the free 

medical treatment. 

Declaring open the programme, 

the GSC Manager, 

NPDC/FHN 26 AMT, 

Mr. Blessyn Okpowo, said 

the initiative was conceived 

to “provide quality health 

services to the people of 

OML 26 host communities 

free of charge and to put 

them in good state of 

health,” noting that the 

health of the people comes 

first on the community care 

agenda of NPDC/FHN26.


GRADUATION: From left, Zonal Director, National Industrial Skill Development 

Programme, Hajia Hussaina Zubairu; Kaduna State Commissioner for Bussines Innovation 

and Technicology, Idris Nyam; Area Manager, Kaduna Industrial Training Fund , Yahaya 

Manu, and District Head of Makera, Alhaji Shehu Tijjani, during the graduation and 

clossing ceremony of Trainees 2019 Natonal Industrial Skills Development Programme, in 

kaduna, yesterday. Photo: :Olu Ajayi. 

IMO: How contractors were paid 

between 2011 and 2019 —Witnesses 

By Chidi 

Nkwopara 

O startling WERRI—More 

revelations of 

how Imo State government 

businesses were run between 

2011 and 2019, surfaced 

again, during the sitting of the 

judicial commission of 

inquiry on contracts awarded 

between May 2011 and May 

2019. 

The witnesses that took their 

turns in the witness box, at 

the last sitting, included Mrs. 

Gladys Mbagwu, a Deputy 

Director and Head of 

Accounts, Ministry of 

Health;Mrs. Ijeoma 

Nkemakolam, a retired 

Government House cashier; 

Mr. C. I. Ugbaja, Secretary 

of the State’s Tenders Board, 

and Uchenna Mgbenani, a 

member of the Government 

House Tenders Committee. 

Speaking from the witness 

box, the Head of Accounts, 

Ministry of Health, Mrs. 

Gladys Mbagwu, gave a 

graphic account of how N15 

million, which was received 

from the Accountant 

General’s Office, for the 

fencing of the new General 

Hospital at Abo-Umulolo, 

Okigwe, was paid into the 

ministry’s Zenith Bank 

account, and later withdrawn 

from the account and paid 

into the personal account of 

the Transition Committee 

Chairman of Okigwe Local 

Government, Mr. Bennett 

Ilochuonwu. 

Asked to confirm if that act 

was right, even when the 

local government had an 

official account where the 

money could have been paid 

into, Mbagwu said: “The act 

was not right, but I had to 

obey my superior’s 

instructions.” 

She affirmed that apart from 

the fencing project, there 

were other payments made 

by her office. 

Before adjourning her 

matter to another date, the 

commission’s Chairman, 

Justice Benjamin Iheka, 

ordered her to produce 

before the commission within 

seven days from today 

(yesterday), all documents of 

payment made by her in 

respect of contracts in the 

state between 2011 and 2019. 

The commission also 

ordered her to produce the 

names of those she 

transferred money to, on 

behalf of the companies, the 

amount transferred, the banks 

and the account numbers to 

which the transfers were 

made, within seven days. 

In her testimony, a former 

cashier in Government 

House, Ijeoma Nkemakolam, 

said her duty was to make 

payments as directed by her 

superior, the governor’s 

Principal Secretary, Dr. 

Paschal Obi. 

Nkemakolam, under cross 

examination, affirmed 

making payments in respect 

of contracts, while in service, 

adding that she paid 

contractors via e-payment 

instructions. 

The commission also 

ordered her to produce full 

names of the persons, their 

banks and account numbers 

she made e-payments to, on 

instructions, when she was in 

office as cashier in 

Government House, within 

seven days. 

When a member of the 

Government House Tenders 

Committee, Mr. Uchenna 

Mgbenani took his turn, he 

told the commission that the 

committee was not 

established by law but via the 

resolution of the state House 

of Assembly. 

Asked if their committee 

interviewed contractors while 

they served, Mgbenani said: 

“We deal with papers and not 

the contractors physically.” 

Although the commission 

was not particularly happy 

that Mr. Stan Dara was 

absent at the day’s sitting, 

despite being served with the 

subpoena, Justice Iheka, 

however, adjourned the 

matter till February 18, 2020, 

“for the witness to appear.” 

Tears, encomiums as slain Lagos 

bizman, Odunukwe, is buried 

By Nwabueze 

Okonkwo 

ONITSHA — Oraukwu 

community in Idemili North 

Local Government Area of 

Anambra State was 

yesterday, thrown into 

mourning as the remains of 

their late kinsman and 

billionaire businessman, 

Chief Ignatius Odunukwe, 

who was murdered by 

bandits in Lagos on 

December 1, 2019 were 

buried amidst tears and 

tributes. 

The interment took place 

shortly after a burial mass 

officiated by the Catholic 

Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, His 

Lordship, Most Rev. Hillary 

Okeke, at Godwin 

O d u n u k w e ’ s 

compound, Ibenabo village, 

Oraukwu. 

In his homily at the funeral 

mass, Bishop Okeke urged 

Christians to shun quest for 

materialism, greed and 

inordinate ambition, even in 

the face of joblessness and 

unemployment crisis in the 

country. 

Okeke also reminded 

Christians that no amount of 

wealth can take a man to 

heaven. Rather, it is only 

good works, faith and 

distance from sin that can 

qualify a person to heaven. 

According to him, good is of 

the Lord, while bad is of the 

devil. 

Efforts to hear from the late 

Odunukwe’s immediate 

younger brother, Charles, 

proved abortive as he 

declined to talk to the press 

over the killing of his elder 

brother. 

However, the late 

Odunukwe’s uncle, Afam, 

described him as a mentor 

and insisted that all his killers 

must not go unpunished. 

Afam, a Lagos-based 

lawyer, commended the 

police, particularly officers 

and men of Zone 2, Lagos 

for their efforts in arresting all 

the suspected killers of the 

deceased and explained that 

justice must surely take its 

course at the end of 

investigations. 

The deceased’s youngest 

brother, Chukwujekwu, who 

also spoke to newsmen at the 

ceremony, noted that the 

bereaved family would leave 

no stone unturned until all 

the masks behind the scene 

were unveiled and 

prosecuted to logical conclusion. 

Chukwujekwu who 

described Odunukwe’s 

death as very devastating to 

the family said the family is 

still battling to overcome the 

trauma associated with his 

murder. 

Ndokwa youths pass vote of 

confidence on Okowa, Ezechi 

IKOLOBIE 

Ndokwa 

(Ndokwa youths) have 

passed a vote of confidence 

on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

of Delta State on his 

inclusion of Ndokwa youths 

in his government and 

Nnamdi Ezechi, Executive 

Assistant on Youths 

Development for 

appointments, job creations 

and employment 

opportunities for Ndokwa 

youths. 

The youths met at the 

country home of Mr Ezechi, 

Okpai, Ndokwa East Local 

Government Area, Delta 

State to deliberate on issues 

to move Ndokwa nation 

forward. 

Speaking after the 

Alleged N525bn fraud: 

Abia APC demands justice 

By Ugochukwu 

Alaribe & Eric 

Ugbor 

UMUAHIA—The All 

Progressives 

Congress, APC, Abia 

State chapter, has tasked 

the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, to 

ensure the prosecution 

of the former governor of 

the state, Senator 

Theodore Orji, and his 

son, Chief Chinedum 

Orji ,who is the Speaker 

of the state House of 

Assembly, if found guilty 

of the alleged N525 

billion fraud against 

them. 

The party, in a 

statement by its state 

Publicity Secretary, Ben 

Godson, called on the 

EFCC to prove to Abia 

people that nobody is 

above the law, stressing 

that it will not keep calm 

until justice is served on 

the matter. 

It said: “The amount 

we’re talking about is 

outrageous and we must 

not keep calm until 

Maiden edition of W-Africa 

Agribusiness show holds in 

Lagos 

By David Royal 

ALL is set for the maiden 

edition of West African 

Agribusiness Show later in 

February. 

According to the 

Managing Director, Agri 

Supplies Limited, Idowu 

Asenuga, who is the 

convener of the show, the 

event was conceptualised 

based on the need for West 

African countries to come 

together to showcase the 

rich agricultural heritage of 

their subcontinent and 

contribute to its Gross 

Domestic Product, GDP. 

meeting, Nwogor 

Chukwutem, the group’s 

Public Relations Officer 

hailed the progress of 

Ndokwa youths led by the 

Executive Assistant to the 

Governor in the areas of 

appointments, job creations 

and employment 

opportunities. 

He commended 

Governor Okowa on his 

inclusion of Ndokwa youths 

in his government and the 

relationship he has created 

with the Executive Assistant 

on youth Development, Mr 

Ezechi, adding: “Ezechi is 

the best thing that has 

happened to Ndokwa 

youths.” 

justice is done. We 

cannot just allow things 

to end at investigation 

and revelation. Abians 

will want to know what 

will actually happen at 

the end. 

“The senator 

representing Abia 

Central and his son, the 

Speaker of Abia State 

House of Assembly, 

should be made to face 

the music if found guilty 

of the outrageous crime 

because Abians are 

waiting. 

"One person cannot 

steal the money meant to 

feed his fifth generation 

and expect to go free. We 

urge the EFCC to please 

make Abians see that 

Nigeria belongs to all of 

us and nobody is above 

the law. 

“Many persons may 

politicize our stand on 

this matter as either too 

early, political or even 

late as the case may be. 

But the reality of the 

matter is that we can’t 

play politics with Abia 

State. Enough is 

enough.” 

Idowu, while addressing 

the media said submission 

recently made by the United 

States Agency for 

International Development, 

USAID, the West African 

sub-region has an 

abundance of natural and 

human resources. 

He said: "The maiden 

edition of the West Africa 

Agribusiness show (WAAS) 

is, therefore, a radical 

development as 

stakeholders connect to 

share ideas, see and 

experience the latest in 

equipment and technical 

know-how as well as 

supplies and services 

deployed in the production 

and processing of 

agriculture-related 

products. 

“It is my pleasure to inform 

you that farmers, product 

research organizations, 

agriculture equipment and 

product suppliers and 

buyers, agric innovators 

and other stakeholders and 

decision-makers in the 

industry are expected from 

15 countries in the subregion." 

The countries include 

Benin Republic, Burkina 

Faso, Cape Verde, Niger, 

Liberia, Sierra Leone, 

Senegal, Ghana, Gambia, 

Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, 

Ivory Coast, Togo and 

Mali. 

Nigeria is the host 

country for the event which 

is billed for landmark 

centre, Victoria Island, 

Lagos.



LAUNCHING: From left — Mr. Isreal Amuzie, Co-Founder, Isrina Schools; Mr. Okewole Lawal, PTA 

Chairman, Isrina Schools; Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability 

Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited; Alexander Akhigbe, Chief Environmental Officer, African 

Clean Up Initiative; and Emeka Mbah, Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola, during the Recycles 

Pay Launch, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, Lagos. 

AbdulRazaq, breath of fresh air — Kwara 

PDP leaders 

Asset Declaration: Coalition chides Kukah 

over comment on Buhari 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

LAGOS — HUMAN 

rights groups, under 

the aegis of Coalition for 

Good Governance and Justice, 

CGGJ, yesterday, berated 

the Catholic Bishop 

of Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Matthew 

Hassan Kukah over 


Buhari’s alleged failure to 

publicly declare his assets. 

The group, in a statement 

by Emmanuel Umohinyang, 

said such weighty 

allegation, from a man of 

Kukah’s stature was most 

uncharitable. 

The statement reads: 

“Most of those who read or 

listened to the statement 

credited, Fr. Matthew Hassan 

Kukah on public declaration 

of assets by President 


would definitely be wondering 

where got his facts 

• Suspended council chairmen laud Gov’s tolerance 

ILORIN — SOME lead 

ers of the opposition People’s 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

in Kwara State, have 

pledged loyalty to Governor 

AbdulRahman Abdul- 

Razaq of the state, saying 

his leadership style, humility 

and attachment to the 

poor have brought a breath 

of fresh air to the state. 

The PDP leaders, who 

also comprised at least six 

suspended council chairmen, 

women and several 

youth leaders, spoke when 

they visited AbdulRazaq in 

Government House in Ilorin, 

the state capital. 

“We can see a difference 

and people can feel that 

they have a government. 

The situation has changed 

in the area of road construction, 

water, health. You 

have also brought unmatched 

humility to governance,” 

Obalola Suleiman, 

a top PDP chieftain from Ifelodun 

local government 

area, said at the meeting. 

“You have started very 

well and our people are 

happy. We urge you to continue 

along that path. We 

are willing to work with you 

for the overall interest of our 

state.” 

Ben Duntoye, a former 

commissioner and PDP 

chieftain from Irepodun local 

government area of the 

state, aligned with Obalola. 

“You are a silent achiever. 

We can see things for 

ourselves and we want to 

be a part of this success story. 

We can see that you are 

doing more work than talk. 

This is evident in our various 

communities,” Duntoye 

said. 

Yahya Yinusa, a prominent 

PDP chieftain from 

Kwara North popularly 

called ‘Bulldozer’, also 

commended AbdulRazaq’s 

leadership and said the 

next few months would 

record influx of thousands 

of opposition figures into 

the ruling APC on account 

of the Governor’s sterling 

effort to reposition Kwara. 

“I am not surprised at the 

positive turn of things in 

Kwara. We were in CPC 

together and I can tell the 

great roles you played in 

assisting many of us who 

were contesting at the time. 

from. For a man who holds 

such a high office, one 

would have expected him 

to check his facts before 

going public on sensitive 

issues. How can Fr. Kukah 

claim that President Buhari 

promised to publicly declare 

his assets, when the 

old man never said so? 

“This is falsehood from the 

pulpit and it is most regrettable 

that a man of God 

would publicly accuse a fellow 

citizen of something he 

never promised to do, even 

before the entire world, 

without proof. It is sickening 

that he even made 

statement like “Nigeria was 

not worth dying for, at a time 

patriotic Nigerians are daily 

putting their lives on the 

line, at the risk of losing 

such. 

“This is most uncharitable 

and has very serious 

implications for us as a nation, 

especially coming from 

a man like Kukah. That 

Kukah is partisan and in 

bed with opposition, is not 

in doubt, but he should not 

drag this nation to the edge 

of precipice, as he is now a 

priest in a political garment. 

“At a time when the likes 

of Clergy should be supportive 

of government, all 

we have been hearing 

from him are words of hate. 

“In fact, the allegation that 

this President has not confronted 

Boko Haram frontally 

is far from the truth, 

going by investments in the 

security sector in the last 

few years, though we still 

have challenges, which the 

administration is confronting 

to the best of its ability. 

“It is in the best interest 

of all Nigerians, including 

Fr. Kukah, to support 

all efforts at making Nigeria 

better than beating 

the drums of war.” 

Your work is really speaking 

for you,” Yinusa said. 

Garba Labaka, suspended 

chairman of Ifelodun 

local government area, 

commended the Governor 

for his “unrivalled tolerance 

and political maturity”, saying 

the Governor has neither 

stopped their salary 

nor subjected them to harassment 

as was the case 

in some other states. 

“This clearly sets you 

apart as a great leader. We 

are very grateful to you for 

your tolerance and largeheartedness,” 

he said, adding 

that he has the mandate 

of all his colleagues to 

thank the Governor as well 

as appeal to him to return 

them to office. 

Bilikisu Sanni, a retired 

permanent secretary and 

PDP chieftain, said the Governor 

has made history as 

the most gender friendly 

leader in the history of the 

state. 

“We will continue to be 

grateful to you for this singular 

honour you’ve done 

to us as women. You have 

also changed the face of 

governance. It’s an entirely 

new pleasant experience 

for the people of Kwara a 

State,” she said. 

AbdulRazaq, for his part, 

commended the opposition 

leaders for the visit and 

said he sees everyone as 

critical stakeholders for a 

greater Kwara. 

“The situation we have 

found ourselves in Kwara 

is such that all hands 

must be on deck to move 

the state forward. We need 

everybody on board in 

this task. That is why I 

treat everyone as fellow 

Kwaran. From the civil 

service to other sectors, 

my concern has been how 

to stabilise our state for 

posterity,” he said. 

Lack of data, bane of rising 

unemployment in Nigeria 

— PIND 

By Cynthia Alo 

LAGOS —A non-govern 

mental organisation, 

Foundation for Partnership 

Initiatives in the Niger Delta, 

PIND, has attributed lack 

of available data on unemployment 

as the bane of increasing 

unemployment in 

Nigeria. 

Deputy Executive Director, 

PIND, Mr Tunji Idowu, 

who stated this at the maiden 

edition of Lagos State 

Employment Trust Fund, 

LSETF, called on the federal 

and state governments to 

invest in data to address 

unemployment in Nigeria, 

while advocating partnerships 

to solve the problem 

of unemployment. 

Idowu said: “Data will let 

you know what is happening 

in the market, how 

many people are gainfully 

Delta Assembly approves 

differential increase of N2.5 

billion facility for contractors 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—DELTA State 

House of Assembly, 

yesterday, approved differential 

of N2.5 billion to increase 

the global facility 

limit guaranteed by the 

state government for select 

contractors from N15 billion 

to N17.5 billion. 

The approval was sequel 

to a request by Governor Ifeanyi 

Okowa in a letter to 

the House and read at plenary 

by the Speaker, Chief 

Sheriff Oborevwori during 

plenary of the House. 

The governor in his letter 

to the House, said the 

approval was to vary and 

increase the facility limits 

assigned to participating 

banks in respect of the state 

government’s guaranteed 

global contractors finance 

Youth leader seeks unity amongst 

Bayelsa oil communities to 

fast track devt 

employed, how many are 

not, how many are unemployed, 

what kind of 

skills do the market requires, 

what needs to 

happen and what you 

need to pay attention to. 

Data helps to plan and 

design interventions so 

that they are relevant to 

the market space.” 

He stressed that the National 

Bureau of Statistics, 

NBS, that looks at things 

from the national and regional 

point of view was 

not doing enough, adding 

“State governments either 

individually or collectively 

should invest in data to 

ensure there is valid data 

from their areas because 

when data exists, they 

themselves will be able to 

benefit from better quality 

decision making and 

better analysis to form 

their own decisions. 

and invoice discounting 

support facility from deposit 

money banks to major 

contractors. 

Okowa said some Deposit 

Money Banks were unable 

to meet the term loans 

offer of the major contractors 

in the state earlier 

pegged at N15 billion as 

approved by the Delta State 

House of Assembly. 

He said that the need to 

increase the guaranteed 

loan became necessary due 

to accruing interests and 

unavailability of funding 

banks, noting that in the 

course of executing the 

transaction, it became apparent 

that some of the 

Deposit Money banks were 

unable to meet the term 

loans offer to the major contractors 

in the state. 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

Y ENAGOA—THE 

Youth President of 

Agbidiama community, 

Ekeremor Local Government 

Area of Bayelsa 

State, Mr Torke Ekpetun, 

has sued for peace 

amongst oil communities 

to attract development 

and improve standard 

of living. 

Ekpetun yesterday, in 

Yenagoa said, the greatest 

problems facing oil 

communities were disunity 

and selfish community 

leadership agenda 

which made development 

elude oil rich communities 

across the state. 

The youth leader, who 

was recently inaugurated 

in office said, he 

would pursue a policy of 

unity among the people 

and ensure that international 

oil companies in 

the area would work with 

community leadership 

for the common good. 

He said: "Disunity 

among the oil communities 

is an ill wind that 

does no good to anyone 

and provides opportunity 

for selfless leaders to 

emerge and usurp the 

commonwealth of the 

people for selfish ends."

36 — Vanguard, THURSSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

:Vanguard 

News 

By Onozure Dania 

LAGOS—A Federal 

High Court, sitting 

in Lagos, yesterday 

remanded four men -- 

Richard Edemdem, 

Samuel Okpapi, 

Nelson Ojovbo and 

Bamigbade Olushola - 

- who were contract 

staff with a 

telecommunication 

firm, in the custody of 

Nigerian Correctional 

Services, NCS, over 

alleged cybercrime 

and N36,837,438.20 

million fraud. 

Justice Mohammed 

Liman made the 

remand order, after the 

defendants had taken 

their plea. 

The defendants are 

facing a three-count 

charge of conspiracy, 

unlawful tampering 

w i t h 

telecommunications 

gadgets and fraud, 

preferred against them 

by the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC. 

Justice Liman said 

:@vanguardnews 

:@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

4 telcos contract staff remanded 

over alleged N38.8m fraud 

the defendants would 

remain in the NCS’s till 

February 26, 2020, 

when their bail 

application would be 

heard and determined. 

The defendants, 

alongside a limited 

liability company, ISD 

Technology Limited, 

were arraigned before 

Justice Liman’s Court. 

Arraigning the 

defendants before the 

court today, the 

prosecutor, Anselem 

Ozioko, said the 

defendants committed 

the offences sometimes 

in 2017 and 2018. 

Ozioko also told the 

Court that the 

defendants conspired 

among themselves to 

tamper with some 

critical parts of the 

M o b i l e 

Telecommunications 

Network System, 

which were used in 

d e f r a u d i n g 

unsuspecting victims 

of the sum of 

N36,837,438.20 

million. 

The 

offences, 

according to Mr. Ozioko, 

are contrary to sections 

27(1)(b), 10 and of the 

Cybercrime (Prohibition, 

Prevention etc.) Act 2015 

and punishable under 

the same section of the 

Act. And section 15(2)(d) 

and (6) of the Money 

Laundering Prohibition 

Act 2011, as (Amended) 

and punishable under 

some Section at the Act. 

The defendants, 

however, pleaded not 

guilty to the charges. 

Following the not 

guilty plea, the 

prosecutor, Mr. Ozioko, 

asked the court for a trial 

date. 

Upon the submissions 

made by both parties, 

Justice Liman, while 

ordering that the 

defendants be remanded 

in the custody of 

Nigerian Correctional 

Services, NCS, 

adjourned the matter till 

February 19 and March 

4 and 11, 2020, for 

hearing of the 

defendants’ bail 

applications and trial, 

respectively.


AU SUMMIT: Director, Forfeitures Unit, Economic and Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, Mr Aliyu Yusuf; Acting Chairman, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim 

Magu, and President, Liaison Officer, PLO, Mr Usman Bello, during the 

33rd African Union, AU, Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 

Forbes 2020 World's Richest ranking: 

Only 4 Nigerians make Billionaires' list 

FORBES recently 

released its annual 

exclusive billionaires 

ranking with only four 

Nigerians, Aliko 

Dangote, Mike 

Adenuga, Abdul Samad 

Rabiu and Folorunsho 

Alakija making the 

highly coveted list. 

Amongst the four, Aliko 

Dangote, President of 

Dangote Group retained 

his spot as the World’s 

richest black person with 

a fortune of USD10.1 

billion. Mike Adenuga, 

Chairman of Globacom 

came in as second in 

Nigeria and third in 

Africa with a fortune of 

USD7.7billion whilst 

Abdul Samad Rabiu of 

BUA Group was 3rd in 

Nigeria and 8th in Africa 

with a fortune of 

USD3.13bn - moving up 

8 places from last year’s 

ranking. Folorunsho 

Alakija of Famfa Oil 

completes the list of 

Forbes billionaires from 

Nigeria with a fortune of 

USD1bn dollars coming 

in at #20 in Africa. 

Of the four Nigerians 

on this year’s Forbes 

list, only BUA’s Abdul 

Samad Rabiu saw an 

increase in his fortunes 

from the previous year. 

Abdul Samad in January 

merged his Obu Cement 

Company with the 

publicly listed Cement 

Company of Northern 

Nigeria (CCNN) where 

he had controlling 

shares. The new entity 

listed as BUA Cement 

Plc on the Nigeria Stock 

Exchange became the 

third largest entity on the 

exchange with N1.18 

trillion market 

capitalization. 

According to Forbes, 

only eight of Africa’s 54 

nations have billionaires 

in the list of Global 

billionaires. Egypt and 

South Africa are tied 

with five billionaires 

each, Nigeria four; 

Morocco has two, while 

Zimbabwe and Tanzania 

have one billionaire 

each. In the list, Africa’s 

20 wealthiest people are 

richer in 2019 than 2018 

with combined worth at 

$73.4 billion. 

The magazine said the 

list was generated after 

the billionaires’ net 

worth were calculated 

using stock prices and 

currency exchange rates 

from the close of 

business on Friday January 

10, 2020. “To value 

privately-held businesses, 

we couple estimates 

of revenues or 

profits with prevailing 

price-to-sales or priceto-earnings 

ratios for 

similar public 

companies. Some list 

members grow richer or 

poorer within weeks or 

days of our measurement 

date.” Forbes statement 

further added. The 

current list shows that 

Nassef Sawiris of 

Egypt’s came second in 

Africa withhis fortunes 

rising to 8billion dollars 

from $6.3billion. 

Others on the list from 

AWARD: From left— Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and 

Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote (left) and Chief Executive Officer, 

SHI-MCI, Mr. Jaebeom Kim, during the collection of ‘Award for Technological 

Breakthrough' won by Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria, SHIN, Ltd., at the Nigeria 

International Petroleum Summit, NIPS, in Abuja, yesterday. 

Africa are: Nicky 

Oppenheimer $7.7 billion; 

Johann Rupert $6.5 

billion; Issad Rebrab $4.4 

billion; Mohamed 

Mansour $3.3 billion; 

Naguib Sawiris $3 

billion; Patrice Motsepe 

$2.6 billion; Koos Bekker 

$2.5 billion; Yasseen 

Mansour $2.3 billion; 

Isabel dos Santos $2.2 

billion; Youssef Mansour 

$1.9 billion; Aziz 

Akhannouch $1.7 billion; 

Mohammed Dewji $1.6 

billion; Othman Benjelloun 

$1.4 billion; Michiel Le 

Roux $1.3 billion; Strive 

Masiyiwa $1.1billion and 

Folorunso Alakija $1billion. 

WHO names new coronavirus ‘COVID-19’ 

By Sola Ogundipe 

THE World Health 

Organisation, WHO, 

has announced that the 

novel coronavirus will be 

known as “COVID-19” 

henceforth, noting that it 

was careful to find a name 

without stigma. 

“We had to find a name 

that did not refer to a 

geographical location, an 

animal, or an individual or 

group of people,” said the 

WHO Director-General, Dr. 

Tedros Adhanom 

Ghebreyesus said during a 

media chat on Tuesday. 

“Having a name matters 

to prevent the use of other 

names that can be 

inaccurate or stigmatising. 

It also gives us a standard 

format to use for any future 

coronavirus outbreaks.” 

Tedros who spoke on 

Tuesday during a meeting 

of more than 400 scientists 

from around the world, said 

WHO is bringing the world 

together to coordinate the 

response. 

“A research roadmap is 

also important for 

organisations that fund 

research to have a clear 

sense of what the public 

health priorities are, so 

they can make investments 

that deliver the biggest 

public health impact.” 

According to Tedros, the 

disease presents a very 

grave threat for rest of the 

world, but the world is not 

defenceless even though 

there are no vaccines 

against COVID-19. 

“The development of 

vaccines and therapeutics 

is one important part of the 

research agenda – but it is 

only one part. They will take 

time to develop, but in the 

meantime, we are not 

defenceless. There are 

many basic public health 

interventions that are 

available to us now, and 

which can prevent 

infections now. 

“The first vaccine could be 

ready in 18 months, so we 

have to do everything 

today using the available 

weapons to fight this virus, 

while preparing for the 

long-term. 

“We’ve sent supplies to 

countries to diagnose and 

treat patients and protect 

health workers. We’ve 

advised countries on how 

to prevent the spread of 

disease and care for those 

who are sick. 

“We’re strengthening lab 

capacity all over the world. 

We’re training thousands 

of health workers. And 

we’re keeping the public 

informed about what 

everyone can do to protect 

their own health and that 

of others. 

“It’s when each and every 

individual becomes part of 

the containment strategy 

that we can succeed. That’s 

why reaching out to the 

public directly and telling 

them the precautions they 

should take. 

“It’s also important to 

remember that while we 

need investment in 

research and development, 

we also need investment in 

stopping this outbreak 

now,” he noted. 

SON certifies Innoson 

Vehicles, issues MANCAP 

Certificate 

The Standard 

Organization of Nigeria 

today, Wednesday, 

February 12th 2020, 

presented the Mandatory 

Conformity Assessment 

Programme (MANCAP) 

certification to Nigeria first 

indigenous vehicle 

manufacturing company, 

Innoson Vehicles 

Manufacturing. The 

MANCAP certificate was 

presented to the 

Chairman/CEO of 

Innoson Vehicles, Chief 

Dr. Innocent Chukwuma 

OFR by the Director 

General of Standard 

Organization of Nigeria, 

SON, Osita Aboloma Esq. 

Delivering his keynote 

address, Osita Aboloma 

said that the award 

certificate to Innoson 

Vehicles shows that the 

company went through 

rigorous process of 

LAGOS—PHILIP Morris 

Nigeria has been 

recognized for the fourth 

time in succession as an 

employer of Choice in 

Nigeria. The Top Employers 

Institute, a globally 

renowned organization, 

announced the results 

following its annual 

research into a large number 

of employers and 

investigations into 

employee conditions across 

Nigeria and many other 

countries across Africa and 

the entire world. To become 

recognized as a Top 

Employer, an organization 

has to go through a 

thorough evaluation 

process. This includes 

taking part in the HR Best 

Practice Survey which looks 

at employee offerings such 

as talent strategy, workforce 

inspections and quality 

assurance in the last five 

years or even more and also 

demonstrated compliance to 

the relevant product 

standards and is providing 

products that meet consumer 

expectations and offer value 

for money among other 

benefits. 

Stating further, he said: 

“With the award of 

MANCAP’s certificate to 

Innoson brand of vehicles, 

we are demonstrating how 

standardization and 

conformance to standard 

offer strategic opportunities 

for increased efficiency, set 

bench marks and help 

promote Made-In-Nigeria 

products to the international 

market, as this award will 

boost Innoson’s brand 

across borders. We are in 

effect saying that Innoson 

brand is fit to be used in 

Nigeria and beyond." 

Philip Morris Nigeria receives 

official recognition by Top 

Employers Institute 

Planning, Onboarding, 

Performance Management, 

Career and Succession 

Management, talent 

acquisition, performance 

management and 

leadership development all 

the way to benefits and 

corporate culture. 

In addition to the awards, 

Philip Morris International 

became the first 

international company to be 

certified globally for equal 

pay by the independent 

third-party EQUAL- 

SALARY Foundation 2019. 

The certification verifies that 

we pay women and men 

equally for equivalent work 

which serves as another 

important building block on 

the road to creating an 

inclusive, gender-balanced 

workplace.


Vanguard, 

As its contributions towards a better 

life for the people, Vanguard 

Newspaper in partnership with 

ECOBANK will today hold an 

Ecobank 

Agriculture Businesses Summit with 

the theme: Unlocking productivity 

and investment opportunities across 

agric 

the Agribusiness value chain. 

This maiden edition of the Ecobank 

Agribusiness Summit is to stimulate 

summit 

discussions, examine critically the 

opportunities with the intent of 

unlocking the growth potentials in the 

holds today 

entire value chain of the Agric sector. 

The full-day event will include 

keynote speakers, panel discussion 

sessions and exhibition of Agro and 

Agro-allied products where marketplace 

experience will be created for buyers 

and sellers to interact and make sales. 

Between 400 and 450 companies, 

regulators and other stakeholders in 

Agric-business are expected to attend 

and participate at the event that will 

create an opportunity for networking 

among the industry players. 

Notable participants expected at the 

summit include the Minister of 

Agriculture & Rural Development, 

Alhaji Sabo Nanono as Special Guest 

of Honour, Dr Andrew S Nevin, Chief 

Economist and Partner, Financial 

Services Sector, PwC as Keynote 

Speaker. Other speakers and 

Panelists are Patrick Akinwuntan 

MD/CEO Ecobank Nigeria, 

Abdulhameed Aliyu MD/CEO 

NIRSAL, Mr Emmanuel Ijewere Vice 

President Nigeria Agribusiness 

Group (NABG), Ayodeji Balogun, 

Country CEO AFEX Commodities 

Exchange amongst others. 

Nigeria's role in 

agric important 

to West Africa 

—Minister 

As the Vanguard/ 

E c o B a n k 

Agricbusiness Summit 

holds today with the theme 

unlocking Productivity and investment 

opportunities across 

Nigeria’s agricbusiness value 

chain, the Minister of Agriculture, 

Alhaji Mohammed Sabo 

Nanono, has said that what 

Nigeria does in agriculture is 

not only important for the country 

but also for the sub-region. 

Speaking during a familiarisation 

tour of Nestlé Nigeria 

Plc’s headquarters at Ilupeju, 

Lagos State, the minister said 

“Nigeria controls over 70 per 

cent of the regional Gross Domestic 

Product (GDP), so what 

we do in the agricultural sector 

is not only critical but also 

important to our country and 

neighbouring countries,” 

Nanono said. 

He added: “With the population 

of Nigeria said to be about 

200 million people today and 

projected to reach about 400 

million people in the next three 

decades, we must find a solution 

to the challenge of feeding 

the ever-growing population. 

“Subsistence farming is not a 

solution to being self-sufficient 

as a nation. What is important 

is linking up the agricultural 

sector with the agro-allied industry 

to increase productivity, 

while helping to address the 

unemployment challenges we 

are faced with. 

“Without these linkages, we 

will not make much progress. 

This is why I am happy to have 

selected Nestle, a key player 

in this sector, as the first company 

I will visit and I have a 

reason for doing this. 

“It (Nestle) is a key agro-allied 

industry that I think can 

save the country from the huge 

unemployment gap.” 

The minister explained that 

the government sought to embark 

on the mechanisation of 

the agricultural value chain 

from input to harvest and from 

the farm gate to market. 

He said this would be the first 

step toward addressing the 

current challenges in the agricultural 

sector. 

Nanono noted that the intention 

was for this to be a private 

sector-driven initiative to ensure 

that it worked and then 

solicited Nestle’s involvement 

in this project to ensure its success. 

“The next step will be to create 

a platform for long-term 

sustainable value chain development, 

which is what Nestle 

is doing right now with value 

chain focused local sourcing 

and farmer capacity building 

programmes. 

CBN unveils livestock development programme in Borno 

The Central Bank of 

Nigeria (CBN) says it has 

initiated a livestock 

development facility to 

accelerate beef and milk 

productions in the country. 

Mr Mahmood Nyako, the 

Head of Finance Development 

Office (DFO) of the CBN in 

Maiduguri, disclosed that the 

bank had initiated viable 

programmes to encourage 

production, transform value 

chain and enhance financial 

inclusion for sustainable 

development in the sub sector. 

He said that the apex bank 

adopted practical measures to 

finance the whole value chain 

in livestock production to 

encourage enterprising skills 

and specialisation to achieve 

self-sufficiency. 

Nyako noted that the livestock 

intervention fund could be access 

under various programmes initiated 

by the bank to encourage 

The African Development 

Bank’s Department of 

Agriculture and Agroindustry 

and the Africa Fertilizer 

Financing Mechanism will 

convene a forum on Fertilizer 

Financing next week in Cape 

Town, South Africa. 

The forum taking place during 

the 11th Annual Argus Africa 

Fertilizer Conference will be 

under the theme, “Supporting the 

fertilizer value chain to improve 

agricultural productivity and 

Managing Director of Nestlé Nigeria, Mr Mauricio Alarcon with Minister of Agriculture, 

Alhaji Sabo Nanono during a familiarisation tour of Nestlé Nigeria Plc’s headquarters at 

Ilupeju, Lagos State by the minister. 

•CBN governor, Emefiele 

productivity, enhance employment 

generation and wealth creation 

in the society. 

The CBN official listed the 

programmes to include Anchor 

Borrower Programme (ABP); 

Agriculture Credit Guarantee 

African Development Bank holds forum on fertilizer financing 

economic growth in the region.” 

Participants apart from 

exploring ways to build strategic 

partnerships between the private 

and public sectors to improve 

value chain efficiency for 

fertilizer use and distribution, 

will discuss Financing options 

for the fertilizer supply chain in 

Africa 

The one-day forum is expected 

to provide the opportunity to 

discuss and share best practices 

on the implementation of the 2006 

Abuja Declaration objectives. 

The Africa Fertilizer Financing 

Mechanism (AFFM), was 

established by the 2006 Abuja 

Declaration. 

Through the Declaration, 

African Union Member States 

committed to an initiative to 

improve agricultural productivity 

by providing financing required 

to boost fertilizer use in Africa to 

achieve the target of 50 kg of 

nutrients per hectare. 

Scheme Fund (ACGSF), and 

Agri-Business Small and Medium 

Enterprises Investment 

Scheme (AGSMEIS), among 

others. 

He revealed that the apex 

bank targeted big and small 

holder farmers as well as 

youths under the livestock programme. 

Nyako added that: “Under the 

various intervention programmes 

of the CBN, we have 

the livestock programme which 

focused at the whole value chain 

including meat, milk, hides and 

skin as well as leather. 

“We have various intervention 

such as AGSMEIS; ABP 

which has been implemented 

for cereal farmers, rice, maize, 

sorghum and other crops. We 

have got approval to do livestock 

value chain under the 

ABP scheme. 

“We also have the ACGSF 

whereby an individual can apply 

to do ranching, the loan is 

a single digit and money is disbursed 

to livestock farmers.” 

According to him, the bank 

targeted over 50,000 farmers 

under the ABP and 500 big 

holder farmers under ACGSF 

while 17,000 youths and businesses 

would be supported under 

Accelerated Agriculture 

Development Scheme (AADS) 

and AGSMEIS, respectively. 

Nyako explained that the 

bank had so far registered eight 

farmers’ associations, a number 

of private and prime anchors 

to provide inputs and other 

support services to farmers 

during the wet and dry season 

activities under ABP. 

“The bank also initiated a 

fund to support up takers under 

the Paddy Aggregation 

Scheme (PAS) and Maize Aggregation 

Scheme (MAS) to set 

up mills. 

“The fund is designed to encourage 

agricultural processing, 

value addition and create 

market for the agricultural produce,” 

he said. 

According to him, the apex 

bank will also provide loan facilities 

to about 7,000 youths 

and businesses under the AGS- 

MEIS scheme in the state. 

Nyako urged the state and 

local government councils as 

well as organisations to sensitise 

their people to mobilize 

participation in the programmes.


Our agenda for 

cocoa in Kwara, 

by Governor 

AbdulRazaq 

By Demola Akinyemi 

Ilorin...Kwara State 

Governor AbdulRahman 

AbdulRazaq has said his 

administration has raised 

50,000 hybrid Cocoa seedlings, 

which will 

be distributed to 

farmers at affordable 

prices 

once they mature 

in 18 

months. 

“This is being 

done with a view to 

ensuring the prompt and 

effective rehabilitation and re- generation 

of the aged Cocoa plantations 

or farms existing in the State,” Governor 

AbdulRazaq disclosed at the 

recent Cocoa Farmers’ Roundtable 

Conference held at Cocoa House, 

Oke Onigbin, in Isin Local Government 

Area of the State. 

Represented by the State Commissioner 

for Agricultural and Rural Development, 

Mrs Adenike Afolabi-Oshatimehin, 

AbdulRazaq said the government 

would establish a Cocoa 

nursery in the State to serve as the 

genuine source of planting materials 

for the farmers. 

“In this fiscal year, we plan to resuscitate 

the training and retraining 

of cocoa farmers on good agricultural 

practices through the Farmers Field 

School (FFS) and Farmers Business 

School (FBS) respectively. 

“This is being done with a view to 

enhancing the quality of the cocoa 

beans being produced in the State. In 

addition, we also intend to look into 

prospects of being able to possibly 

address extant challenges associated 

with some of the critical input requirements 

of cocoa farmers in the state,” 

he added. 

Farmcrowdy moves into livestock value chain 

FARMCROWDY has 

acquired Best Foods 

(L&P) to to grow its Livestock 

value chain with an improved process 

for livestock production. 

Announcing the acquisition in 

Lagos, the Founder & CEO of 

Farmcrowdy, Onyeka Akumah, said 

the acquisition of Best Foods L&P 

Limited is a major milestone for the 

entire team knowing as it offers a 

wider livestock production and 

processing solution to the meat 

market. 

The acquisition will see Farmcrowdy 

owning majority stakes in Best Foods 

L&P Limited including its assets, team 

and customer contracts to supply meat 

across Nigeria. 

Best Foods is an agribusiness group 

of over 16 years focused on the 

processing of livestock (Best Food 

Livestock and Poultry), farming (Best 

Food Fresh Farms), and marketing of 

agricultural produce. 

Best Foods L&P Limited was 

established to provide wholesome 

livestock and agricultural produce 

grown in Nigeria at affordable prices 

within and outside the country. The 

company is credited as one of the 

largest meat processors in Lagos, 

Nigeria with a capacity to process 120 

- 200 bulls every day. 

In this light, the acquisition of Best 

Foods L&P Limited will provide 

Farmcrowdy the opportunity to 

continue to grow its Livestock value 

chain with an improved process for 

livestock production and processing to 

reach the desired high standards fit 

for local consumption and export were 

necessary. 

The expansion of the business will 

also enable Farmcrowdy to become the 

most preferred source of processed 

livestock across Nigeria starting from 

Lagos. 

The expanded business will serve 

over 50 meat markets (including beef 

and poultry) across the south-western 

zone in Nigeria and will manage over 

100 consumer endpoints. 

Known for its prowess in adapting 

technology to agriculture, this 

acquisition will see Farmcrowdy enter 

the meat retail market with the launch 

of Farmcrowdy Meat Hubs across 

Governor 

AbdulRazaq 

explained that the 

present administration understands 

that lack of basic social amenities, 

physical infrastructure, et al, could constitute 

disincentives for farming in 

agrarian communities in the State, saying 

“it is for this reason and more that 

we are committing significant resources 

to road construction, healthcare, 

water and basic education in the 2020 

budget, which has just been passed and 

assented to.” 

“Agriculture occupies a vantage position 

under this administration. We have 

invested a lot of money to reposition the 

sector, beginning with the N200m counterpart 

fund for RAAMP III and another 

N49.78m FADAMA counterpart fund, 

among others. 

“We have also made appreciable budgetary 

provisions for agriculture 

this year, 

while also engaging the 

Federal Government and 

private investors on how to 

grow the sector in the State.” 

He assured the farmers that the administration 

remains firmly committed 

to rebuilding and reconstructing the 

state for the good of all and for the benefit 

of children yet unborn. 

“Since we came on board, our administration 

has given so much attention 

to Cocoa because of its extensive value 

chain — just as we are doing with 

sugarcane and other essential crops 

and agricultural produce that can be 

successfully cultivated in the State,” he 

said. 

“Kwara is currently grouped as a 

minor Cocoa state in Nigeria, owing 

in part to the perennial migration of 

cocoa farmers to other states and the 

seemingly unabated trend of rural-urban 

migration. This is a narrative that 

we want to change and as soon as possible.” 

Lagos in Q2 2020 to provide quality 

meat produced and traded by 

Farmcrowdy for everyday consumers 

using Technology. 

Reports show that Lagos alone 

consumes 6,000 cattle every day while 

Nigeria processes over 1.2 billion 

chickens annually. 

Kenneth Obiajulu, Managing 

Director of Farmcrowdy, added that 

“Best Foods offers an exciting 

opportunity for Farmcrowdy to 

strengthen and expand its service 

offering in livestock production, 

processing, and supply. 

“With a range of high profile clients, 

the acquisition supports Farmcrowdy’s 

strategy to lead the market and meet 

the requirements necessary to process 

approximately 45 cattle every day for 

meat consumption in Lagos.” 

Emmanuel Ijewere, Founder of Best 

Foods, said, “This deal with 

Farmcrowdy is a welcome 

development for us as it provides a 

major growth opportunity for both 

businesses. We are excited about the 

many possibilities.” Ijewere will be 

joining Farmcrowdy as a member of 

the advisory board. 

Firm targets 

30,000 acre 

maize farmland 

with 120,000 

tonnes Yields 

An agro-based firm, H.O 

Corn, has revealed plans to 

cultivate 30,000 hectare of land 

with expected yield of 120,000 

tonnes of maize to meet 

households and industrial demand 

this year. 

Chief Executive Officer of the 

firm, Mr Harrison Andrew, stated 

that the 120,000 tonnes would be 

produced in two farming seasons 

— six months per season within 

the year — at 60,000 tonnes each. 

Andrew explained that maize 

production in the country has 

increased from 7.2 million metric 

tonnes between 2016 and 2017 to 

10.2 million metric tonnes between 

2018 and 2019. 

He added that maintaining a 

steady increase in maize 

production will have a huge 

positive impact on the country’s 

GDP. 

“Over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s 

production goes into animal feed, 

especially for poultry; 10 to 15 

percent is directly consumed 

roasted, boiled or prepared as 

porridge by individuals in 

households. The balance is 

consumed by food manufacturing 

industries as raw material. This 

means that the demand for maize 

would continue to rise in the 

country,” he said. 

According to Andrew, the 30,000 

acres production capacity can 

accommodate 30,000 investors with 

a minimum investment of 

N100,000 per lot and assurance of 

50 per cent return on investment. 

“An investor can pay for one lot 

or more, depending on his or her 

financial strength and is assured of 

getting 50 per cent of his 

investment as profit. 

Speaking on growth and 

development, Andrew said the 

company began maize cultivation 

in 2017 on a farmland located at 

Iseyin Local Government Area in 

Oyo State, adding that the firm has 

increased its cultivation capacity to 

30,000 acres, making it the largest 

maize farm in Nigeria. 

Andrew further explained that 

the company would increase the 

cultivation capacity to 50,000 acres 

next farming season to increase 

opportunities for investors and 

contribute to mitigating the 

eminent hunger crisis in the 

country. 

The initiative, he said, will 

contribute to the country’s 

agricultural industry and provide 

massive employment opportunities 

to Nigerians and ensure 

sustainable wealth creation 

through farming and education on 

wise investment. 

“H.O CORN produces and 

processes fresh and dry corn and 

supply to the local market, whose 

domestic consumption has continued 

to experience phenomenal growth over 

the years. 

“We believe that food should be 

of high quality, locally sourced, 

readily available and sustainable. 

Our passion is to pursue corn 

farming as a solution to the hunger 

crisis in Africa and become a 

contributor to the continents 

Agricultural industry,” he said

40— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 


people would be 

comparing the security 

situation now with what 

obtained before the Buhari 

administration came on 

board. 

He said: “Roads were 

closed, there were sporadic 

bombings everywhere even 

within the metropolis. 

Close to 20 local 

government areas were 

under Boko Haram. We are 

surprised that there seems 

to be resurgence in 2019.” 

He tasked the military to 

borrow from their 

successes, especially 

between 2015 and 2017, 

take the battle to the 

insurgents and push them 

to the fringes of Lake 

Chad. 

He also urged the 

security agencies to be 

patient with the civilian 

populace and give 

opportunities to the 

Internally Displaced 

Persons, IDPs, to access 

their communities in order 

to return to their 

occupations. 

Declare security 

emergency, Reps 

tell Buhari 

While the President was 

on his consolation visit in 

Borno, the House of 

Representatives was at its 

plenary in Abuja, asking 

the Federal Government to 

declare a state of 

emergency on security in 

the country. 

This formed part of the 

resolution reached, 

following a motion on the 

need to investigate the 

circumstances surrounding 

the killing of 30 travelers at 

Auno by Boko Haram 

insurgents. 

After the lawmakers 

deliberated on the motion, 

the House also resolved to 

mandate its Committee on 

Army to investigate the 

super camps set up by the 

Nigerian Army. 

The Chief Whip, Tahir 

Monguno, moved the 

motion while it was 

seconded by Rep 

Mohammed Jega who 

represents Gwandu/Aliero/ 

Jega Federal Constituency 

in the House. 

Naira appreciates to N364.85/$ in 

I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The naira yesterday appreciated to N364.85 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window dropped to N364.85 

per dollar yesterday from N364.90 per dollar on 

Tuesday, translating to five kobo appreciation of the 

naira. 

The volume of dollars (turnover) traded in the 

window yesterday dropped by 78 percent 

to $104.98 million from $484.38 million on 

Tuesday. 

However, the naira, yesterday, was stable at 

N358.5 per dollar in the parallel. 




Leading the debate, 

Monguno decried the fact 

that women were 

kidnapped, commuters 

were attacked and goods 

were stolen by the 

terrorists. 

He added that the attack 

was due to the imposed 

curfew by the military and 

urged the House to ask the 

military to stop the curfew. 

Another lawmaker, 

Robert Tyough, on his part, 

proposed that 

technological devices be 

employed for surveillance 

in the North East. 

In their contributions, 

Abubakar Fulata and Aliyu 

Magaji Dau believe the 

practice of imposing a 

curfew on commuters by 

the military has created soft 

targets for insurgents. 

They condoled with the 

families of the victims and 

called for sanctions on the 

perpetrators of the evil act. 

Also condemning the 

attack, the House Minority 

leader, Ndudi Elumelu, 

decried the fact that there 

had been debates and 

resolutions on insecurity in 

the hallowed chamber but 

lamented that nothing had 

been done to nip it in the 

bud. 

He, therefore, called on 

the executive arm of 

government to relieve the 

service chiefs and ensure 

soldiers’ entitlements were 

paid. 

On his part, the Majority 

Leader of the House, 

Alhassan Doguwa, said 

the revitalization and 

review of the nation’s 

security apparatus were 

critical to tackling crime in 

the country. 

Presiding over the 

plenary, speaker of the 

House, Femi 

Gbajabiamila, called for a 

vote on the motion after 

which it was adopted by 

the lawmakers. 

Use 

mercenaries to 

fight insurgents 

— Ndume 

Also yesterday, Senator 

Ali Ndume urged the 

Federal Government to 

engage foreign 

mercenaries in the fight 

against insurgency if that 

would bring an end to the 

Boko Haram crisis. 

He spoke on the British 

Broadcasting Corporation, 

BBC, Hausa Service, 

monitored yesterday in 

Kaduna. 

The senator, who 

represents Borno South, 

begged the Buhari-led 

government to do all it could 

to end the killings and 

wanton destruction in Borno 

State which, according to 

him, had deprived his 

people of peace and 

harmony in the last 10 

years. 

“Please, we are begging 

in the name of Allah,even if 

it will entail the use of 

foreign mercenaries, please 

our people are dying, please 

do something fast to end 

these killings,” Ndume 

cried. 

Ooni, Sultan 

speak against 

insecurity at 

summit 

Similarly, the Sultan of 

Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad 

Abubakar, said yesterday 

that without good 

governance and justice, it 

would be difficult to have 

peace and security in the 

country. 

This is even as the Ooni 

of Ife, Oba Adeyeye 

Ogunwusi, urged political 

leaders who cannot protect 

the lives and properties of 

the populace to allow 

competent hands take over. 

They spoke at a security 

summit with the theme, 

“National Security and 

Insecurity: Roles of 

Traditional Institutions, 

organised by the Centre for 

Black Culture and 

International 

Understanding,” in 

Osogbo, yesterday. 

The Sultan maintained 

that some security issues are 

the product of corruption on 

the part of political leaders 

across Nigeria. 

He also emphasized that 

the nation’s elite were the 

problem of the country by 

manipulating the common 

man to achieve their selfish 

aims, saying the elite had 

the capacity to resolve the 

crisis confronting the 

country if it resolved to do 

so 

Ḣe berated the nation’s 

political system that 

relegated traditional 

institutions to the 

background, saying 

monarchs had been 

running their territory 

peacefully before the advent 

of colonialism, which took 

away their powers. 

He said: “Some security 

issues were not brought by 

weapons but by corruption 

of our political leaders. You 

cannot have peace and 

security when you don’t 

have good governance and 

justice. 

“Without justice, you can’t 

have good governance. 

That is what our forefathers 

said. We need to rise to the 

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018773962, 

08052867058 

PETROLEUM SUMMIT 2020 —From right: Chairman of Major Oil 

Marketers Association of Nigeria, Tunji Oyebanji; Chief Executive of Oilata 

Inc., Emeka Ene; Representative of Executive Director of Dangote Industries 

Limited, O. Soyode; Managing Director (Downstream), Total Nigeria PLC, 

Imrane Barry; Technical Assistant (Downstream) to the Minister of Petroleum 

Resources, Prince Abner Ishaku; Representative of Executive Secretary, 

Petroleum Equalization Fund, Goddy Nnadi, during Downstream and 

Investment Forum at the ongoing Nigeria International Petroleum Summit 

2020 in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

occasion,things are really 

bad. If you keep quite and 

don’t get up to see how we 

can help our political 

leaders on this issue, then 

we are part and parcel of 

the problem when you keep 

quite in the face of injustice. 

“The Almighty Allah 

would ask you on that day 

when you have nobody, 

how you have used your 

position to help the 

common man. And if you 

have no answer, God has a 

way of rewarding you and 

I don’t pray for that for 

anyone. 

“So we should speak out 

the truth all the time without 

being afraid of a governor 

or local government 

chairman or chairman of 

Traditional council 

threatening you. If you are 

convinced, speak out and 

stand by it. 

“I have always said it that 

the problem of this country 

are us, the elite. If we want 

to deal with these problems 

we can do it. We have 

always used the common 

man who doesn’t have 

anything to get what we 

want and lord it over them. 

“I urge elite to visit 

graveyards to see their rich 

predecessor and 

understand that no one 

would depart this world 

with anything,” he said. 

He stressed the need for 

traditional institutions to 

hold political leaders 

accountable for their failure 

to provide social 

infrastructure which could 

stem the tide of social 

problems. 

“We should speak with 

one voice on issues that are 

social that could lead to 

security problems. I spent 

five hours from Lagos to Ile- 

Ife because since 1999, the 

road has been under 

construction and it seems to 

be taking eternity to 

complete. 

“If any mad man throws 

a bomb at a car, so many 

lives would perish on that 

road. We should collectively 

put pressure on 

government to complete the 

road this year,” the Sultan 

said. 

In his remarks, Oba 

Ogunwusi said government 

must provide adequate 

security to enhance socioeconomic 

development of 

the country, stressing that 

its high the regular and 

stop the regular rhetorics 

about insecurity. 

He added that anarchy 

always loomed in any 

society there was 

breakdown of law and 

order and which leaders 

had lost grip, saying any 

leader that lost grip of 

societal control didn’t 

deserve to be accorded any 

respect. 

“If there is breakdown of 

security, obviously anarchy 

will set in and that is how 

communities and nations 

usually lose grip. The most 

important thing is our 

security and that is why we 

have a common means of 

governance in Nigeria. 

“We have our governors 

as the chief security officers 

of various states and our 

President as the chief 

security officer of the entire 

country. It is very important 

that if any government 

should lose that grip, that 

leader shouldn’t even be 

worthy to be a leader. 

“A leader that cannot 

secure lives and property 

of his people should just 

surrender and allow 

capable hands to take over. 

It about time we knew the 

real role of the natural 

rulers across the entire 

county. 

“We traditional rulers 

should now come together 

to support what the 

governors of the South- 

West are doing. They are 

trying to set an example 

with Amotekun. All 

traditional rulers are being 

carried along. 

“We know our people. 

Nobody is breaking 

Nigeria, we don’t even 

pray for such and it will 

never happen. All we are 

doing is to set good 

leadership and example on 

how to secure our people 

and try to see how we can 

re-engineer the ways 

things are done,” he said. 

All hands must 

be on deck 

— Gov Oyetola 

In his remarks, Osun 

State Governor, 

Adegboyega Oyetola, 

called for holistic approach 

in the quest to end security 

challenges in the country. 

He said for the country to 

overcome the menace, 

security agencies must 

collaborate with the 

traditional rulers, sensitize 

and encourage their 

subjects to provide 

intelligence and expose 

criminals in their domains. 

In the same vein, former 

governor of Osun State, 

Prince Olagunsoye 

Oyinlola, said it was not too 

late to pull Nigeria back 

from the brink and save the 

country from Boko Haram, 

banditry and the myriads of 

other security problems 

threatening its corporate 

existence. 

Oyinlola, who is the 

chairman of the Board of 

Trustees of the CBCIU, 

lamented the present 

precarious security 

situation in the country, 

saying the country had 

almost become the modern 

version of the Hobbesian 

state “where life is nasty, 

brutish and short.” 

CAN restates 

call for security 

rejig 

Reacting to Auno’s attack 

yesterday, Christian 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, in a statement by 

Pastor Bayo Oladeji, CAN 

President’s media aide, 

blamed the military for the 

security breaches that 

made room for the terror 

attack to succeed. 

CAN reiterated its calls on 


Buhari to overhaul the 

security architecture of the 

country. 

The statement read: 

“While commiserating with 

families of the bereaved, the 

people of Borno State, our 

Muslim brothers and 

sisters including the Borno 

State Government, we 

found it rather shocking and 

unfathomable the reported 

policy of the military that 

Continues onPage 41


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@vanguardnews 

@vanguardnews 




necessitated closing the 

only entry gate against 

civilian citizens commuting 

from security risk roads and 

areas into Maiduguri only 

to become cheap preys for 

blood-thirsty terrorists to 

slaughter. 

“If the road must be 

closed, why is the security 

protection not made 

available for the travelers 

who would arrive there after 

the closure? Was there any 

evidence that a thorough 

check was carried out on 

the travelers and their 

vehicles to confirm if they 

were armed? 

“The military authorities 

should investigate the 

circumstances that led to the 

emergence of the gate 

instead of adequate 

provision of security on the 

road in order to stop the 

incessant invasion of 

Maiduguri and terror 

attacks in the area. That is 

why we salute the popular 

position of the state 

governor, Prof Babagana 

Zulum who has been 

consistently critical of the 

failure of the Army in 

stopping the menace of 

terrorism in the state. 

“The Army and Federal 

Government had 

severally told us that 

terrorists had been 

decimated, technically 

defeated and chased away 

from the country; yet, the 

terrorists have become 

even more daring in their 

deadly operations, 

consistently attacking 

communities, killing, 

maiming, abducting and 

burning property with 

minimal or without any 

resistance from the frontline 

troops. This is totally 

unacceptable and it is 

condemnable. 

“CAN has consistently 

maintained that the security 

arrangement in the country, 

especially in the Northeast, 

has been 

compromised and except 

the security system is 

completely overhauled, 

Nigerians will remain 

helpless and Federal 

Government may never be 

able to contain the current 

nightmarish security 

situation. 

“There is no doubt that 

sabotage and compromise 

are largely responsible for 

the prolonged terrorism, 

banditry, kidnappings and 

herdsmen killings in the 

country, an allegation that 

has been confirmed by 

authoritative voices in the 

country’s security circle at 

the highest level. It is 

however sad that Federal 

Government nay the 

Commander-in-Chief is 

still turning a deaf ear to the 

desperate calls for the 

rejigging of the security 

architecture by Nigerians. 

“Our position is very 

clear: Federal Government 

is not ready to overhaul the 

security agencies despite 

their poor performances just 

to maintain the status quo 

ante and sustain the widely 

acclaimed suspicious 

regional agenda. 

“We once again call on all 

well-meaning Nigerians to 

put the needed pressure on 

Federal Government to let 

go of heads of all security 

agencies and the service 

chiefs. For he alone takes 

full responsibility for the 

failure and success of 

governance and national 

security situation in the 

country. 

“This unending killings, 

bloodshed and upsurge of 

criminal activities in the 

country must be arrested by 

government decisively 

immediately so as not to 

plunge the country into 

another pogrom.” 

Sympathy visit 

not enough, 

PDP tells Buhari 

On its part, leading 

opposition party, the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, has urged President 

Muhammadu Buhari to go 

beyond his sympathy visit 

to Borno state and take 

decisive steps to end the 

killings across the country. 

This is even as the party 

described the alleged 

booing of President Buhari 

in Borno state on 

Wednesday as a clear 

message to him that 

Nigerians hold him 

responsible for the 

escalated insecurity in the 

country. 

A statement signed by the 

party’s spokesman, Kola 

Ologbondiyan read: “The 

PDP demands that Mr. 

President should not limit 

his visit to Borno state but 

also visit other parts of the 

country, including Kaduna, 

Kano, Benue, Plateau, 

Yobe, Adamawa, Zamfara, 

Kogi, Niger, Taraba and 

other states to face the 

feelings of Nigerians as 

well as view the national 

devastation his poor 

handling of security and 

infrastructure has caused 

our nation. 

“The party hopes that the 

visit to Borno state, which 

came only after the PDP 

and Nigerians criticized Mr. 

President for his aloofness, 

particularly over the Auno 

killing on Sunday, is not 

part of the usual 

presidential media stunts 

that will not be followed 

with a corresponding action 

to track down killers and 

end terrorism. 

“It (booing) shows a loss 

of confidence in the Buhari 

Presidency and the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, 

APC. 

“The PDP further charges 

Mr. President to endeavour 

to go on subsequent visits 

by road in order to see and 

feel the agony Nigerians 

are being subjected to with 

the parlous state of our road 

infrastructure and security 

network under the 

incompetent and 

unresponsive Buhari 

Presidency and APC. 

“Our party holds that 

Nigerians do not deserve a 

distant President, who sits 

in the comfort of the 

Presidential villa and 

luxury jets, remaining 

indifferent to the pains, 

anguish and torments that 

compatriots suffer on daily 

basis. 

“The PDP hereby calls on 

Mr. President to quickly 

embark on these visits and 

monitor, on first hand basis, 

the damage which his 

administration has caused 

and for which Nigerians are 

demanding that he resigns 

and allow more competent 

hands to manage the affairs 

of our nation. It is only after 

these visits that the Buhari 

Presidency will appreciate 

that those calling on him to 

rejig the nation’s security 

architecture mean well for 

our dear country.” 

Jiddari Polo 

residents in 

Maiduguri flee 

homes in fresh 

Boko Haram 

attacks after 

Buhari's visit 

Hundreds of residents of 

Jiddari Polo general area of 

Maiduguri metropolis have 

fled their homes into the 

city, following sporadic 

shootings suspected to 

have been masterminded 

by Boko Haram sect. 

Jiddari Polo General Area 

is south at the outskirts of 

the metropolis with dense 

population, not far away 

from the 21 Armoured 

Barracks. 

The incident which 

started at about 6:30pm on 

yesterday, is coming barely 

few hours after President 


visited the state for 

sympathy visit. 

According to one 

resident, Mallam Yusuf 

Unman said” Our 

community is currently 

under Boko Haram 

attack, there are 

deafening sounds if 

gunshots and 

explosions, but I was 

lucky to have mobiilzed 

my family and fled into 

the heart of the city to 

reunite with one if my 

relatives”. 

Although the sounds of 

the gunshots subsided as 

at 7:12pm, many 

residents who fled into 

the city are still stranded 

at press time. 

One of the fleeing 

residents, Adamu Garba 

told our correspondent at 

about 7:30pm that they 

sighted a large number 

of armed policemen, 

members of the civilian 

JTF with troops heading 

towards the area of the 

attack as they struggle to 

enter the town with his 

family in his private car. 

Meanwhile, Borno 

governor, Professor 

Babagana Zulum has said 

there was need for change 

of strategies in the ongoing 

fight against Boko Haram. 

08052202308 (sms only) 

Labour draws battle line with 

emplo 

ployer 

ers over anti-Labour 

practices 

Stories by Victor 

Young 

A 

B U J A — 

ORGANISED Labour 

has drawn a battled 

line with employers of 

labour in Nigeria over 

alleged increasing cases 

of indecent employment, 

termed anti-labour 

policies and practices 

undermining labour 

solidarity among 

others. 

For labour, the indecent 

employment is 

characterised by 

casualisation, 

outsourcing, contract 

staffing, and denial to 

allow workers to freely 

form or join union. 

At a meeting, the National 

Administrative 

Council, NAC, of Nigeria 

Labour Congress, 

NLC, said labour movement 

will soon descend 

on employers with penchant 

for unfair labour 

practices across the 

country. 

In a communiqué 

NLC President and 

General Secretary, 

Ayuba Wabba and 

Industrial court t strikes es out 

suit against NULGE 

O WERRI—THE 

National Industrial 

Court, Owerri Division, 

has struck out a case filed 

by some alleged members 

of the Nigerian Union 

of Local Government 

Employee, NULGE, 

against the national officers 

of the Union. 

The Presiding Judge, 

Owerri Division of NIC, 

Justice Ibrahim 

Galadima, in a judgment 

declared the matter as an 

abuse of judicial process. 

According to Justice 

Galadima, instituting the 

action as representatives 

of the union and seeking 

for the same declaration 

with the issue that had 

already been put to bed 

and was purportedly one 

of the issues raised on 

appeal amounts to relitigating. 

The case was instituted 

by one Ekwem Chinedu, 

Onwuachu Henry and 

Ughala Ugoezi (claimants) 

against NULGE 

and its national officers. 

The claimants instituted 

the action by way 

of originating summons, 

questioning the tenure 

of the Union President 

along with the other National 

Officers which purportedly 

commenced in 

2015, and the propriety of 

the elongation of the tenure 

of the officers of the 

union at all levels, from 

the constitutional four- 

Emma Ugboaja, at the 

end of the maiden NAC 

meeting in 2020, said 

the NAC observed that 

in spite of the provisions 

of the Labour Act Section 

7 (1) that, “not later 

than three months after 

the beginning of a worker’s 

period of employment, 

the employer shall 

give to the worker a written 

statement 

specifying...the name of 

the employer or group of 

employers, the undertaking 

by which the 

worker is employed” 

and other terms of employment, 

the practice 

in some sectors of the 

economy is to employ in 

violation of the provisions 

of the law. 

The NAC ascribed “the 

frequent violations of 

the law to the disdain of 

some employers for the 

Labour Law, penchant 

for denying responsibility 

by some employers, 

conspiracy, lack of capacity 

to enforce the law 

by the appropriate regulatory 

body, and fawning 

over foreign direct 

investment by authorities 

which sometimes 

year term to six years. 

They sought for a declaration 

that their tenure 

as national union officials, 

ended in 2019 in 

accordance with the 

NULGE Constitutions. 

The Defendants filed 

preliminary application 

and argued that the suit 

was an abuse of judicial 

process being that the 

subject matter was similar 

to the one instituted 

against them in the 

Abuja division of the 

Court and that there was 

an appeal against 

Court’s previous judgment. 

They urged the Court 

to strike out the case in 

the interest of justice. 

Counsel to the Respondents 

submitted that 

the said suit in Abuja had 

been withdrawn and 

struck out and further 

that the earlier suits were 

filed by different parties 

to redress different grievances. 

The counsel 

thereby urged the Court 

to dismiss all the grounds 

of the preliminary objection 

in the interest of justice. 

Delivering Ruling after 

evaluation of the submissions 

of both counsels, 

the trial Judge, Justice 

cede away the rights of 

workers at the point of 

investment. 

''The NAC notes that 

casualisation of work or 

workers, flexibility of 

some types work notwithstanding, 

is a violation 

of the law as well as 

runs counter to the principles 

of decent work. 

Casual workers are 

highly vulnerable as 

they cannot belong to 

unions, neither can they 

benefit from collective 

agreements nor other 

workplace benefits including 

job security, social 

protection, promotions, 

leave, safety and 

health, 

etc. 

Casualisation is shortsighted 

and counterproductive, 

as in the long 

run, it creates workplace 

hostility, industrial 

disharmony and threat 

to economic development.” 

The communiqué 

added “in consideration 

of this, the NAC resolved 

to continue fighting 

casualisation where ever 

it rears its head. NLC 

Committee on Organising 

is already mobilised.” 

Galadima expressed 

thus: “Although I concede 

that the Defendants 

have filed a notice of appeal, 

it is yet to be duly 

entered, having not yet 

compiled and transmitted 

the records of proceedings. 

The question 

here is resolved against 

these Applicants the implication 

of which is that 

the existence of a pending 

appeal cannot impugn 

on the Claimants’/ 

Respondents’ rights to 

institute this action, and 

I so pronounce. 

“Therefore, for the 

Claimants/Respondents 

to now institute this action 

as representatives of 

the said union and seek 

for the same declaration, 

amounts to re-litigating 

the issue which had already 

been put to bed by 

this Court and is purportedly 

one of the issues 

raised on appeal. 

“However, in order to 

enforce the portion nullifying 

the resolution of the 

SDC which is declaratory 

in nature, the Claimants 

must come by way of a 

writ of complaint to enforce 

the rights which 

they believe inured to 

these Claimants from the 

Court’s previous declarations. 

“Giving the foregone 

opinions, therefore, striking 

out this suit is for the 

time being, with prejudice 

against these Claimants’ 

rights to re-institute 

same, and I so declare.”


•LASU Main Gate 

LASU, national ASUU on war path over 

election of new officers 

By Adesina Wahab 

AFTER two years of being in 

limbo and a new executive 

elected for the Academic Staff 

Union of Universities, ASUU of 

the Lagos State University, LASU, 

Ojo, many members thought a new 

dawn has begun. 

Barely 24 hours after the 

inauguration of the new executive, 

the National President of ASUU, 

Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, not only 

verbally dissociated the National 

Executive Council, NEC, of the 

union from the new leadership, but 

sent a letter to the Vice-Chancellor 

of LASU, Prof. Olanrewaju 

Fagbohun, SAN, saying the new 

leadership was not recognised by 

the NEC. 

Genesis of the matter 

Actually, the Dr. Oyewunmi 

Isaac Akinloye-led ASUU LASU 

executive was to be in office till 

February 2018, but in 2017, he 

and some members of the 

executive were dismissed from the 

service of the university over some 

issues (the matter is still in court). 

Some other members of the 

executive were still hanging on till 

their tenure expired in February 

2018 and no new election was 

held. 

The Secretary, Dr Tony Dansu, 

and two other members of the 

executive also had some issues 

with their employers and in 2019, 

they were also dismissed from the 

service of the institution. In all, five 

members of the union were 

sacked. 

Apart from Oyewunmi and 

Dansu, others affected were Drs 

Adeyemi Suenu, Oyekan Adeolu 

and Aboderin Shonibare. Suits 

challenging their dismissals are 

pending in court. 

In the course of the trouble, the 

NEC of ASUU sent a team to the 

univeristy early 2019 to assess the 

situation, the team did its work, 

but findings yet to be made public. 

ASUU NEC’s grouse 

In his letter to the VC, titled: 

Election of new ASUU LASU 

Branch Executives dated January 

27, 2020, Ogunyemi said both the 

election and the new officers were 

illegal and therefore not 

recognised by the national body. 

According to him, all the 

immediate past executive 

members of the branch whose 

appointment had been terminated 

by the university over various 

allegations levelled against them, 

are still in charge of the 

association in the university. 

His two main areas of 

disagreement are that it is the 

tradition of the union that any 

member sacked as in the cases of 

Oyewunmi and others would be 

assumed to still be members and 

occupying their positions until the 

suits are done with. Also, that a 

representative of the NEC must be 

on ground when a branch wants 

to conduct an election. 

He, therefore, faulted the 

election of Dr Ibrahim Bakare 

from the Department of 

Economics as chairman; Dr 

Babafemi Babatope as vicechairman; 

Dr Sylvester Idowu as 

secretary and Dr S. A. Adebanjo 

as Assistant secretary; Dr S.O 

Olabode as treasurer; Dr S.A. 

Oladosu as Investment officer; Dr 

Adeola Ajibade as Internal auditor 

and Dr Ayodele Awotundun as 

financial secretary of ASUU 

LASU. 

LASU VC’s response 

In a letter dated February 4, 

2020 and sent in response to 

Ogunyemi’s letter, Prof. Fagbohun 

wrote: “I acknowledge with 

thanks your letter dated January 

27, 2020 on the above subject as 

well as on the issue related therein 

with respect to some former 

academic members of staff of the 

Lagos State University. 

Please be informed that: 

“1. The affected former staff 

namely: Drs Oyewunmi Isaac 

Akinloye, Adeyemi-Suenu 

Adebowale, Dansu Tony and 

Aboderin-Shonibare Adebisi 

Oluwakemi were dismissed from 

the service of the Lagos State 

University in accordance with the 

university regulations guiding the 

conduct of staff and in line with 

global best practices. 

“2. In the circumstance, the 

dismissal of the four (4) 

aforementioned persons from the 

service of the Lagos State 

University subsists. 

“3. Regarding the legality of the 

newly-elected executive members 

of ASUU-LASU, please find 

attached herewith their 

comment.” 

ASUU LASU’s response 

In a letter dated 29th January 

2020, and signed by Drs Bakare 

and Idowu, titled: Re: Election of 

new ASUU - LASU Branch 

Executives, the new executive 

stated: “Reference to the subject 

matter above, the new ASUU - 

LASU executives respond as 

follows: 

“1. We need to state 

unequivocally that the tenure of 

the immediate past executives 

lapsed in February 2018. Between 

2017 and 2019, five members of 

the past executives were 

disengaged from the service of the 

Lagos State University. 

“In other words, the former 

Chairman, Dr Oyewunmi Isaac, 

and his vice, Dr Adeyemi Suenu 

were disengaged in 2017, while the 

former secretary, Dr Tony Dansu, 

his assistant, Dr Oyekan Adeolu 

and the treasurer, Dr (Mrs) 

Aboderin Shonibare were 

disengaged in 2019. 

“The National President in his 

letter to the Vice- Chancellor 

claimed that in line with ASUU 

tradition, “until the case of the 

dismissal of the five members of 

the former executives of ASUU- 

Continues on page 43 

Unbundling of Mass Communication will create more admission 

spaces, others — Prof. Akinfeleye 

Despite the various explanations given for breaking Mass 

Communication into seven core disciplines by the National 

Universities Commission, NUC, some Nigerians are yet to 

understand the reason behind the decision. In a chat with one of 

Africa’s leading teachers in the field, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye, the 

erudite scholar sheds more light on the unbundling and more. 

According to Akinfeleye, who recently became the first African 

to be elected into the prestigious Council of the World Journalism 

Education Congress, WJEC, for a period of three years, the 

development was in line with global practices and its advantages 

are enormous and could change the media landscape in Nigeria. 

Excerpts: 

By Elizabeth Uwandu 

CAN you shed more 

light on the unbundling of 

Mass Communication? 

Well, the first assessment of the 

unbundling is that it is long 

overdue. Again, the 

misconception that Mass 

Communication is about to be 

phased out is not true. What we 

did is to divide Mass 

Communication into seven 

component departments which is 

the current trend worldwide; 76 

of us worked on this document 

for two years before we presented 

it to the NUC last year. 

Among us were professors from 

the universities, practitioners 

from the industries and members 

of the regulatory bodies; 

representatives of the Nigerian 

Guild of Editors, Nigeria Union 

of Journalists, Advertising 

Practitioners of Nigeria, APCON, 

professional associations like 

Broadcasting Organisation of 

Nigeria, BON; Newspapers 

Proprietors Association of 

Nigeria, Press Council; editors of 

major newspapers and owners of 

broadcast stations. International 

representation from UNICEF 

was with us throughout. In fact, 

they were the ones that supervised 

and supported Development 

Communication Studies. 

The implication is that these 

programmes will now have their 

School or Department on their 

own and not be housed under 

Faculty of Social Sciences; Art 

or Management Science who do 

not speak the same language 

with them. They will now have 

College, School or Faculty of 

•Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye 

Communication Studies 

depending on the school. 

Advantages of unbundling 

Mass Communication 

We want to bridge the gap 

between the town and gown. And 

the decision is in line with global 

best practices. We now have a 

provision where the practitioners 

from newspapers, radio, and 

Continues on page 43


Stanbic IBTC renovates facilities 

at Olambe Community School 

By Mary Obaebor 

STANBIC IBTC Bank Plc, 

a subsidiary of Stanbic 

IBTC Holdings Plc, as part of 

its CSR activities, recently 

renovated buildings and 

upgraded facilities at the 

Community Comprehensive 

High School, Olambe in Ogun 

State. 

Stanbic IBTC’s CSR activities 

at the school involved reroofing 

and painting of the 

school’s buildings, provision of 

a standard library furnished 

with books, provision of flip 

chart kits as well as provision 

of 100 desks and chairs, 

amongst others. 

Dr. Oladipupo Oyefuga, 

Head, Market Risk, Stanbic 

IBTC Bank Plc, led the staff of 

the Internal Control 

Department of the bank to 

commission the projects. 

Oyefuga described Stanbic 

IBTC as being passionate 

about contributing to the 

growth of education in the 

country. 

Speaking in the same vein, 

Head, Internal Control, 

Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Taiwo 

Ala, said that the bank 

embarked on the project as part 

of activities for the 2019 

Ekiti Attorney-General visits 

EKSU VC, Faculty of Law 

By Glory Ojojo 

THE Attorney-General and 

Commissioner for Justice 

in Ekiti State, Mr. Olawale 

Fapohunda and his team from 

the Ministry of Justice, 

alongside some members of the 

Ekiti State House of Assembly 

have paid a working visit to the 

Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State 

University, Professor Edward 

Olanipekun and other top 

management staff of the 

university. 

The Commissioner, while 

speaking during the visit, said 

he had the directive of Ekiti 

State Governor, Dr. Kayode 

Fayemi, to visit the university 

on the need to develop the 

university’s Faculty of Law and 

improve on the Faculty of Law 

students’ yearly intake to the 

Nigerian Law School by the 

Council of Legal Education. 

Fapohunda, while 

addressing the university’s 

management team, 

emphasized the need to sign 

a Memorandum of 

Understanding between the 

Ministry of Justice and the 

university, especially with the 

Faculty of Law on the 

internship of students, staff 

exchange, publication of Palace 

Court Judgement, 

development of web-based or 

online journal publication and 

publication of Ekiti State High 

Court judgements among 

Internal Control Awareness 

Week. 

He noted that the project 

would support effective 

teaching and learning of the 

students especially against the 

background that the school is 

a community secondary school 

majorly financed by 

community donations. 

Mrs. Fakunle Adenike, 

Principal, Community 

Comprehensive High School, 

expressed her profound 

gratitude to the management 

of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc for 

renovating and upgrading 

facilities in the school. 

She said: “This kind gesture 

has enlisted this school 

amongst the best schools in 

Olambe community.” 

Speaking on behalf of the 

Ministry of Education, Science 

and Technology and the Ogun 

State Government, Mr. Lasilo 

Temitope, Zonal Education 

Officer, Ifo, noted that the 

recipient school could only 

show gratitude to Stanbic 

IBTC by proper utilisation of 

the facilities. 

He further pledged that the 

school would use them as 

instruments for propelling the 

school into a citadel of 

academic excellence. 

others. 

According to him: “There is 

need for progress so that we 

can compete with our 

counterparts across the globe.” 

He, however, stressed the 

need for academic staff of the 

Faculty of Law to shun all 

forms of strife and 

disagreements which were 

capable of impeding or 

reversing the progress made 

over the years. 

While responding, the Vice- 

Chancellor of EKSU, Prof. 

Edward Olanipekun, 

appreciated the commissioner 

for the visit and assured him that 

there was no cause for alarm, 

promising to do the needful to 

ensure the university and its 

Faculty of Law develop. The 

Registrar, Mr Akin Arogundade, 

on his part, appreciated the 

Attorney-General for the 

structural framework targeted at 

developing the Faculty of Law 

put in place by the Ministry of 

Justice. 

In another development, the 

Attorney-General and his team 

visited the management and 

staff of the Faculty of Law. 

The Dean of the Faculty of Law, 

Prof. Isaac Olutoyin Babatunde, 

while welcoming the team to the 

faculty, appreciated the role of 

Governor Fayemi in the last 

accreditation exercise of the 

faculty by the National 

Universities Commission. 

*From left: Chairman, Waltersmith Petroman Oil Limited, Mr. Abdulrazaq lsa Kutepa; Ogun 

State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and General Manager, Operations, Katchey Company, Mr. 

Sam Nwogu during the inauguration of Waltersmith Science Laboratory Complex donated to Muslim 

College by the oil company at the 70th Anniversary & Luncheon/Awards of the college organised 

by the Old Students Association in ljebu Ode. 

LASU, national ASUU on warpath over election of new officers 

Continues from page 42 

LASU is determined by a court of 

competent jurisdiction, they 

remained the recognised 

executives of ASUU-LASU. 

“Sir, there is no portion of the 

ASUU constitution that supports 

this claim. Rather, Article 3 

subsection (1) and (3) categorically 

state - (1) Any person who is 

engaged full- time in a university 

as a lecturer, researcher, fellow or 

academic librarian in a university 

shall be deemed to be a member 

of the union and (3) Every member 

of the union shall belong to the 

branch of the union established for 

the university or institution in 

which he or she is employed. 

“2. With this development, a 

vacuum has been created and 

according to Article 9 subsection 

(5) and (6), the National Executive 

Committee ought to have called 

the branch congress with a view to 

establishing a caretaker 

committee to fill the vacuum, but 

never did. 

“Furthermore, subsection (7) of 

the same Article 9 notes that each 

branch shall hold at least three 

general meetings every year. Such 

meetings, ASUU- LASU never held 

in the past two years. Yet, the NEC 

remained silent on it, thereby 

Abiodun lauds IMCOSA’s contributions to alma mater 

By Elizabeth Uwandu 

OGUN State Governor, 

Prince Dapo Abiodun, 

has praised members of Ijebu 

Muslim College Old Students 

Association, IMCOSA, for their 

contribution towards the growth 

of Western education and 

indeed, the development of 

their alma mater. 

Abiodun said this at the 

commissioning of a N50 million 

worth Science Technology 

Engineering and Mathematics 

(STEM) 3-D Science laboratory 

donated by Waltersmith 

Petroman Oil Limited to 

commemorate the 70th 

anniversary of the college. 

The governor, who applauded 

IMCOSA on the school’s 70th 

anniversary and the Chief 

Executive Officer, Waltersmith 

Petroman Oil Limited, Mr. 

leaving ASUU-LASU to its fate. 

“3. We wish to state that the 

branches make up the NEC. If 

there are no branches, the NEC 

cannot exist. NEC has abandoned 

ASUU-LASU for about two years, 

leaving the corporate interest of 

our members unattended to and 

the local developments stagnated 

as a result of leadership vacuum. 

“The question arises, does NEC 

expect ASUU-LASU Congress to 

keep her fingers crossed 

indefinitely without taking into 

consideration the interest and 

welfare of her members? 

“4 Sir, we recall that at the peak 

of the crisis early 2019, the NEC 

sent a delegation on a fact-finding 

mission. The delegation 

acknowledged that the branch was 

truly heated up and that they ( 

members of the delegation) had 

taken inventory of the crisis 

involved. They promised to get 

back to the branch, but never did, 

thereby keeping ASUU - LASU in 

limbo. 

“5. Consequent upon 1-4 above, 

congress members of ASUU- 

LASU converged on Tuesday, 21st 

January, 2020 to put in place a 

caretaker committee that 

inaugurated the new executive 

members for the branch on Friday 

Abdulrasaq Isa, a member of 

IMCOSA, for donating a 

science laboratory to the school, 

explained that the donation 

showed that development of a 

society was an inclusive affair. 

“This is no doubt a big 

celebration. Today’s event goes 

beyond physical building that 

represents the school or the 

additional structure, it is a 

validation that building the 

future together is a mantra of 

administration and an inclusive 

development of any society. 

"The celebration of today and 

many successes associated with 

Ijebu Muslim School, are 

contributed by committed 

individuals who value the 

importance of Western education 

and are determined to expand 

access to it for Muslim children. 

“Why I commend the founders 

of this school for making it a duty 

24th January, 2020 to lead and 

conduct the affairs of the congress. 

“6 In conclusion, we hereby state 

that if the National Chairman of 

ASUU is convinced enough that 

the new ASUU - LASU executive is 

illegal, we charge him to lead a 

delegation of NEC to LASU to cite 

the portion of the constitution of 

ASUU that supports his claim that 

the dismissed staff of a university 

remain leaders of conscientious 

academics. The branch will be 

willing to entertain such a visit. In 

our own opinion, there is nothing 

of that nature in ASUU 

constitution.” 

Apart from the Bakare-led 

executive, some members of the 

union are wondering how long the 

branch would wait for cases in 

court to be determined, bearing in 

mind the slow pace of the wheel of 

justice in the country. Some are 

saying if the affected lecturers win 

their matters in court, the 

management would be compelled 

to pay all their entitlements but 

what now happens to the union if 

it has to wait till that time or is it 

that the tenure of an officer of the 

union has become an open ended 

one. ASUU LASU and the national 

leadership must find a mid 

course. 

to work hand in hand for the 

speedy development of the 

college which has produced 

great people in the society; and 

the old students for their 

continuous initiatives; our 

government is pledging to 

participate in the developmental 

projects in the school. 

“We have listened to the 

complaints of the school and I 

have asked the relevant 

agencies to look into the issue 

of encroachment and erosion 

without further delay. To 

encourage the old students of 

the school, the government of 

Ogun State will be contributing 

a dining hall for the students. 

This is not the only contribution 

that we will make towards the 

development of this prestigious 

institution, but just one of the 

many,” he said.

44— Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

Sancho to leave Dortmund, 

Man Utd on alert 

Jadon Sancho will leave 

Borussia Dortmund this 

summer and Manchester 

United are keen to take him 

to Old Trafford, according to 

Sky in Germany. 

The young forward, who 

turns 20 next month, has 

become a full England 

international since joining 

Dortmund from Manchester 

City in 2017. 

He is expected to feature at 

the Euro 2020 finals this 

summer and has regularly 

been linked with a move to 

the Premier League. 

Sky in Germany reporter 

Jesco von Eichmann told 

Sky Sports News: “He will 

leave Dortmund this 

•Ziyech 

Chelsea agree 

deal for £38m 

Ziyech 

Chelsea have an 

agreement to sign 

Ajax star Hakim Ziyech, 

with the move to take place 

at the end of this season 

The report was published 

by Dutch news outlet De 

Telegraaf on Wednesday 

and states that an ‘oral 

agreement’ has been 

reached by both clubs for 

around 45 million euros. 

Manager Frank Lampard 

had wanted to do business 

with last season’s 

Champions League semifinalist 

during the January 

transfer window for the 

former Moroccan player of 

the year, but that proved to 

be impossible. For this 

reason, fans of the Blues 

will have to wait until next 

season before they see their 

new star, with hopes that 

they can secure a top four 

finish without him. 

•Martiniello 

summer, that’s for sure. 

“It’s not clear to which club 

he will change. 

“Manchester United is one 

of the big clubs that are 

interested, that I’ve heard. 

“Michael Zorc, the director 

of Dortmund, said last week 

in an interview that he 

hasn’t had an offer for Jadon 

Sancho yet. Today, 

I asked him 

again, and 

he just 

smiled. 

“There will 

be some 

offers for 

Sancho in the 

future. He is 

improving. 

•Sancho 

Ref gets 1-year ban 

for head-butting 

goalkeeper 

An Italian soccer referee 

has been banned for 

one year after he lost his 

cool and head-butted a 

goalkeeper he had sent off 

during a minor league 

game earlier this month. 

In a match between Borgo 

Mogliano and Montottone 

in Macerata on February 1, 

the referee Antonio 

Martiniello had given 

Borgo Mogliano’s 

goalkeeper Matteo Ciccioli 

his marching orders as the 

hosts won 3-1. 

But Martiniello was 

not done meting out 

punishment and 

when the pair faced 

off outside the 

changing room after 

the game as the 

goalkeeper sought 

an explanation, 

the referee headbutted 

Ciccioli, 

who was taken 

to hospital to 

treat his 

injuries. 

Wilder warns 

Fury to expect 

blood, cuts 

Deontay Wilder has 

threatened that Tyson 

Fury will have “blood in 

his face” and will need to 

be rescued in their world 

heavyweight 

championship rematch. 

WBC champion Wilder 

explained his plans to reopen 

the cut that Fury 

sustained in his previous 

fight against Otto Wallin 

when they meet on 

February 22 in Las Vegas. 

Wilder said about Fury’s 

bloody win over Wallin: “I 

feel like the fight should 

have been stopped, with a 

cut so wide and deep. But 

I understand he had a 

major fight with me 

coming up. He was saved 

•Fury and Wilder 

Pogba hopes 

to be fit for 

Chelsea clash 

Paul Pogba has stepped up his 

strength and conditioning training 

and is “feeling good” in his recovery 

efforts, a month after ankle surgery. 

The Manchester United midfielder 

has been working his way back to full 

fitness in England, missing the club’s 

warm-weather training camp in Spain 

to continue his rehabilitation. 

Pogba has not featured since Boxing 

Day and will hope to be match-fit for 

the upcoming clash at Chelsea on 

February 17. 

He posted an update on his 

Instagram account, in which he can be 

heard saying: “Four weeks after 

surgery, feeling good.” 

The 26-year-old played every game in 

August before suffering ankle problems 

which kept him out for three months, 

and suffered a fresh setback on his 

return in December which forced him 

into an operation at the turn of the year. 

Olympics 2020: Salah commits to playing for Egypt 

Egypt Under-23 head coach Shawky 

Gharib has revealed that he plans to 

select Liverpool star Mohamed Salah for 

the Olympic Games in 2020. 

The tournament takes place in Tokyo in 

July and August later this year, with Egypt 

one of 14 national teams that will be taking 

part. 

As part of FIFA’s rules for the 

competition, teams are permitted to select 

three players over the age of 23, with the 

rest of the squad made up of players born 

on or after January 1, 1997. 

The likes of Neymar, Serge Gnabry and 

Manchester United’s January signing, 

Bruno Fernandes all played in the 

tournament in 2016 - with Brazil 

claiming the gold medal after beating 

Germany on penalties in the final. 

Salah has had little rest since the 

start of the 2017-18 season, with the 

Liverpool forward having played at 

the World Cup in the summer of 

2018 as well as the Africa Cup of 

Nations a year later and facing 

Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup 

fourth-round replay on February 4. 

“Out of the three senior players we’ll 

call up, Salah is the only one we’re 

settled on so far because he’s simply 

one of the top three players in the 

world,” Gharib told ON Sport. 

•Salah 

because of the fight that is 

happening right now. 

“I’ll be exploring the 

things that Wallin did. I 

look forward to recutting 

open his eye. 

“Once it’s open and blood 

is in his face, I might get 

some on me as well. That’s 

alright. I’ll embrace it. 

We’ll see if they keep the 

fight on because I’m 

already dangerous. 

“With that eye cut open 

again, and blood in his 

face, it’s up to the doctors 

to take protocol. We 

already know my 

demeanour, my 

mannerisms, what I come 

to do. I don’t play around 

at all.” 

•Pogba 

Cole tips 

Ighalo 

to succeed 

Manchester United 

great Andy Cole 

believes new signing Odion 

Ighalo will be desperate to 

prove he is worthy of a 

permanent deal at Old 

Trafford. 

The Nigerian moved to Old 

Trafford on deadline day, 

completing a six-month loan 

switch from Chinese Super 

League side Shanghai 

Shenhua, to provide cover 

for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 

side after Marcus Rashford’s 

injury. 

Ighalo is no stranger to the 

Premier League following a 

two-year spell in England’s 

top division with Watford. 

United could hand the 30- 

year-old his United debut 

following the conclusion of 

their winter break when they 

face top four rivals Chelsea 

at Stamford Bridge on 

Monday. 

Ighalo has already 

expressed his desire to 

perform for his new side - 

the club he supports - and 

Cole believes he will be 

playing with a point to 

prove. 

•Ighalo 

Tokyo 2020 organisers 

to refund marathon 

fans’ tickets over 

venue switch 

Tokyo 2020 has announced the refund process 

for fans who bought tickets for the relocated 

Olympic marathons. 

Both the men’s and women’s races have been 

moved more than 800 kilometres north to Sapporo 

due to fears about high temperatures. 

The races would have been free to watch on the 

streets of Tokyo but a ticket guaranteed a seat in 

the New National Stadium for the finishes. 

Fans have now been e-mailed about applying 

for a refund. 

For the men’s event this should be a simple 

process as tickets only covered the finish of the 

race. It is more complicated for the women’s race 

as the finish was due to be part of a full session of 

track and field, which the tickets still cover. 

Fans affected by this can opt to receive a full or 

partial refund on what they paid. 

Race walking events were also moved to 

Sapporo due to the concerns about heat, but the 

decision to move events prompted a backlash 

from athletes and officials. 

Critics included Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, 

who called the decision “unprecedented”. 

She said heat-prevention measures were in 

place in the capital, with the city now set to lose 

money and miss out on exposure. 

The Japan Association of Athletics Federations 

called the move “regrettable” and many athletes 

claimed the change of plans would impact their 

training.


NFF appoints Yobo as Eagles’ 

assistant coach 

•To replace Amapakabo 

The Nigeria Football Federation 

has appointed former Super 

Eagles’ defender and captain 

Joseph Yobo as assistant coach of the 

team. He replaces Imama Amapakabo 

in the three –time African champions’ 

technical crew. 

Yobo, who played for the Nigeria U20 

boys - Flying Eagles – during the FIFA 

World Youth Championship (now known 

as FIFA U20 World Cup) in 1999, won 

his first cap for the the senior team in an 

Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match 

away to Zambia in Chingola in April 

2001, and played in three FIFA World 

Cup finals in 2002, 2010 and 2014. 

The attack –minded defender also 

played in six Africa Cup of Nations finals 

in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013, 

capping it with leading the Super Eagles 

to their third continental title in South 

Africa in 2013. He played a total of 100 

matches for Nigeria at senior level. 

A thoroughbred and dedicated 

professional who played his club football 

in five countries, including sterling 

appearances for Olympique Marseille 

in the French top flight, Fenerbahce in 

Turkey and Everton FC in the English 

Premiership, Joseph Yobo scored several 

crucial goals for the Super Eagles in 

important qualifying matches for the 

FIFA World Cup and the Africa Cup of 

Nations. He was also among the scorers 

when the Eagles 

thrashed South Africa’s 

Bafana Bafana 4-0 in a 

group phase match in 

Tunisia 16 years ago. 

Born Joseph Michael 

Yobo on 6th September 

1980, the flamboyant 

stopper also played club 

football in Belgium with 

Standard Liege, Tenerife 

in Spain and Norwich 

City in England, having 

started out with 

Michellin-Harcourt in 

Rivers State in 1996. 

Rohr: Omeruo, Osimhen, Ndidi 

will be available for Sierra Leone 

•Omeruo •Osimhen •Ndidi 

Coach Gernot Rohr is 

confident of his key 

players’ availability for next 

month’s 2021 Africa Cup of 

Nations qualifying fixtures 

against Sierra Leone. 

Over the weekend, some Nigeria 

internationals were stretched off 

while in action for their respective 

clubs in Europe, including Kenneth 

Omeruo in Leganes’ La Liga defeat 

while Lille forward Victor Osimhen 

and Nantes’ Moses Simon were 

withdrawn after scoring a goal each 

in Ligue 1. 

The Super Eagles are 

scheduled to play Sierra Leone 

at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium 

on March 23 followed by a 

reverse fixture in Freetown eight 

days later, and Rohr has 

provided an update on his 

players’ injuries. 

“I’m very confident that our 

injured players will come back 

soon. There is only one big injury 

which is Uzoho because he is out 

for several months but the other 

ones like Osimhen will be okay 

very soon and is already better. 

Omeruo has only a knock on the 

head, Kalu whom I saw, is 

already nursing a comeback this 

weekend,” he told Aoi Football. 

“For Moses Simon, we have to 

wait to know the extent and for 

Ndidi, he is resting very well and 

will be fit very soon and then we 

have a little injury for Etebo but 

it’s not a big one, and he couldn’t 

play over the weekend.” 

Nigeria sit at the summit of 

Group L’s qualifying group for 

the 2021 Afcon, with six points 

after two matches while the 

Leone Stars are rooted at the 

bottom with a point after the same 

number of matches. 

•Yobo 

No going back on Edo 2020 

National Sports Festival –Dare 

Minister of youth and 

sports Development 

Mr. Sunday Dare has 

cleared all doubts on the state 

of readiness of the Samuel 

Ogbemudia Stadium to host the 

20th edition of the National 

Sports Festival billed to kickoff 

on 20th March in Benin City. 

Speaking after an on the spot 

assessment visit to the Samuel 

Ogbemudia Sports Complex in 

Benin, he declared “I am 

impressed with what I have seen 

at the Samuel Ogbemudia 

Sports Complex, it shows clearly 

that consistent work has been 

going on here. 

“There has been huge 

commitment on the part of his 

Excellency Governor Godwin 

Obaseki and his Deputy Mr . 

Philip Shaibu to ensure that this 

place is completed in a record 

time. 

I have seen progress and I can 

say this stadium is about 85% or 

90% ready for the National Sports 

Festiva” he declared. 

Governor Obaseki also reassured 

that the stadium will be ready by 

the first week of March. 

It would be recalled that the last 

edition of the National Sports 

Festival was held in Abuja, with 

Delta State emerging as the overall 

winner. 

We’ve no money to bury coach Toblow, widow 

cries out 

•Toblow 

Widow of late renowned 

athletics coach, Tobias 

Igwe cried out yesterday that his 

family has been left in the lurch 

as the March 5, 2020 burial date 

is fast approaching. 

According to Jane Igwe, the 

family has not received any form 

of assistance from any quarter 

adding that coach Toblow 

continues to suffer after he died 

on December 18, 2019. 

“His burial is fast approaching; 

it’s three weeks from now and we 

haven’t got any money to give him 

a befitting burial. 

“He was owed a lot of money by 

the Abia State government, 

despite all our efforts to make 

them pay us something, at least 

ATTF lists fields for Olympic Qualifiers 

Being the final opportunity for 

African players to be part of 

the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in 

Japan, the African Table Tennis 

Federation (ATTF) has released the 

list of players that will compete in 

the singles and mixed doubles 

qualification event scheduled for 

February 27 to 29 in Tunisia. 

Eight players made up of four 

men and four women in singles 

including one mixed doubles pair 

will qualify for Tokyo 2020 

Olympic Games in Tunisia. 

Already, Egypt as African 

champions in men and women 

team event has picked the African 

sole slot in team event while two 

men and two women from the 

Egyptian team will feature in the 

singles event of Tokyo 2020. 

Nigeria’s duo of Segun Toriola 

and Olufunke Oshonaike will be 

eyeing history as Toriola will be 

TORIOLA 

aiming for eighth Olympics 

appearance as the first African 

athlete while Oshonaike will be 

targeting seventh outing as the 

first African female player. 

Each national association is 

expected to present two players 

each in the singles event of men 

and women and one team in the 

mixed doubles event 

•Dare 

for us to bury him, nothing has 

been forthcoming,” said Mrs. Igwe. 

It was gathered that attempts by 

some concerned sports officials to 

raise money for the burial of the 

coach and upkeep of the family did 

not materialise. 

“We are only appealing to the 

government and the sports ministry 

to come to our aid. Toblow has done 

a lot for athletics in Nigeria and he 

doesn’t deserve to go down like 

this,” Mrs. Igwe added. 

Oliseh backs Ndidi for 

Man City move 

Former Nigeria manager 

Sunday Oliseh says 

Wilfred Ndidi needs to 

complete a move away from 

Leicester City, who he has 

branded ‘average’. 

And he says he is surprised 

that no other club has come in 

for the Nigeria midfielder as he 

backs him for a move to 

Manchester City. 

Ndidi, signed from Genk in 

2017, has become crucial to 

City’s midfielder over the past 

few years. 

The defensive-midfielder has 

made 26 appearances in all 

competitions this season as 

City chase a return to the 

Champions League. 

He is currently struggling 

with a knee injury and City boss 

Brendan Rodgers is hoping he 

Edo sports 

festival: Owan 

West takes the 

lead as 

competitions 

hot up 

Owan West Local 

Government Area, the 

domain of former 

Chairman of the Lagos state 

chapter of the Sports Writers 

Association of Nigeria, SWAN, 

Hon. Frank Ilaboya has taken the 

lead at the ongoing 3rd Edo Sports 

Festival after winning the first gold 

medal in shot put before going 

ahead to rake in seven more gold 

and one silver in cycling. 

The council also picked gold in 

Pole Vault and four more in other 

events to be in front of the rest 17 

participating Local government in 

Edo games with a total of 13 gold, 

3 silver and 1 bronze medals to stay 

atop the medal table as at 

Wednesday afternoon. 

The elated Council Chairman, 

Hon Ilaboya, in an interview said 

that the best is yet to come. 

“First, I want to congratulate the 

athletes and their officials for 

starting on a high note. I feel excited 

that Team Owan West is doing well, 

we just have to maintain the 

momentum and remain focused till 

the Games are over. 

“It is too early to celebrate as 

more events are still on the cards 

and we have spoken to the team not 

to lose focus till the final day. 

“We must keep our eyes on the 

ball as we compete fairly in all the 

events we entered for. We hope to 

continue our winning streak in these 

events. The good thing is that we 

have carefully selected the events 

we entered for;the events that will 

give us the medals we need to win. 

“We are expecting medal haul in 

swimming, kick-boxing, chess and 

gymnastics. So, we have high hopes 

of doing well at the end of the day,” 

Hon Ilaboya, enthused. 

The sports loving Owan West 

council boss disclosed that there is 

a reward from his council for their 

victorious athletes apart from the 

prizes announced by the state 

government. 

will be fit to face Wolves. 

Ndidi has won plaudits for 

his performances at the base 

of City’s midfield, with 

Arsenal linked with a move for 

the 23-year-old in December. 

“The point is that in the past 

three or four years, maybe five, 

he has been the best 

midfielder we have,” Oliseh 

said. 

“And he has not just been the 

best we needed to run with, 

he has been the best we have. 

“When you see him doing 

what he’s doing in a club that 

is average; with all due 

respect, like Leicester, imagine 

what Ndidi will do if he was 

playing at Manchester City. 

“He is the man that is not so 

tall like me, but look at the 

heart, he has a big heart.”

46 —Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020


Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

THURSDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1 Not liable (6) 

4 Each one (6) 

8 Under (5) 

9 Game played on a lawn (7) 

10 One who vacillates (7) 

11 Relating to sight (5) 

12 Yearning for the past (9) 

17 Proposition assumed to be selfevident 

(5) 

19 Fate (7) 

21 American cattleman (7) 

22 Paris rail system (5) 

23 Illegible handwriting (6) 

24 Infertile (6) 

DOWN 

1 Arm joints (6) 

2 Invigorate (7) 

3 Might (5) 

5 Spin out (7) 

6 Burst forth (5) 

7 Attract (6) 

9 Carried on (anag.) (9) 

13 One way or another (7) 

14 Airman (7) 

15 Cavalry swords (6) 

16 Business magnate (6) 

18 Interior (5) 

20 Brazilian dance (5) 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

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

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

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

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13022020

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