01032021 - Zamfara abduction’ll be the last, Buhari assures

•Ahmed 

Generating 

more 

revenue for 

economic 

growth 

22 

Presidency 

directs FIRS 

to remit 

NASENI 

8 

statutory 

cash to 

boost 

technology 

COVID-19: 

Frontline health 

workers’ll be first 

beneficiaries of 

vaccines – FG, 

WHO, UNICEF 9 

•Emefiele 

CBN plans to 

strengthen Naira, 

economy through 

$15bn 

Dangote 

Refinery 8 

VOL. 27: NO. 64281 MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

Stock market in 

reverse mode, 

loses N1.36trn 

in February 

•186% rise in TB yields lures away investors 

•Analysts see bleak outlook for Q1 

Zamfara abduction’ll be the 

last, Buhari assures 

5 

•Blame FG — Zamfara Emirs•We’re working with repentant bandits— Gov Matawalle•Says 

schoolgirls’ll be released soon•Pope condemns ‘vile’ abduction of Zamfara schoolgirls•Abductions 

designed to cripple education in Northern region, says CNG•Those whose parents are in the military 

were beaten mercilessly, say Kagara students•Editors condemn incessant abductions, blast Gumi 

Flush out 

hooligans 

blocking 

food items 

to South 

now, MBF 

tells FG 

14 

NDLEA 

nabs 

trafficker in 

Sokoto 

with N1b 

worth of 

cocaine 

6 

ZAMFARA COUNCIL OF CHIEFS VISITS GOV... 

A cross-section of members of Zamfara Council of Chiefs, during their visit to Gov. Bello Matawalle 

on the abduction of the 317 female students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe in 

Talata-Mafara LGA of Zamfara state. 

COLUMNISTS OWEI 16 MAILAFIA 17 SOBOWALE 21 

2020 ADMISSIONS: 

Heads of 

tertiary 

institutions fix 

June 15 as 

deadline 

9 

Mr & Mrs

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021


Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

Former President Goodluck Jonathan (left), Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri (middle) 

and his wife, Dr. Gloria, during a grand reception in honour of Governor Diri by people of his Kolokuma/ 

Opokuma Local Government Area in Kaiama at the weekend 

Zamfara abduction’ll be the last, 

Buhari assures 

•We’re working with repentant bandits—Gov Matawalle•Says schoolgirls’ll be released 

soon•Pope condemns ‘vile’ abduction of Zamfara schoolgirls•School abductions designed 

to cripple education in Northern region, says CNG•Those whose parents are in the military 

were beaten mercilessly, say Kagara students•Editors condemn incessant abductions, blast 

Gumi 

would bring complete end In his response, Minister of Police Affairs, 

By Ibrahim Hassan to all forms of criminality in Governor Matawalle Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, 

the nation. 

appreciated Buhari and the Minister of Humanitarian 

“The President is federal government’s Affairs and Disaster 

saddened by the abduction concern, noting that very Management, Hajiya 

of the students from soon the abductees would Sa’adiya Umar-Faruk and 

Jangebe and reassures you regain their freedom. Minister of Women Affairs, 

that the government has all “I strongly believe in the Mrs. Pauline Tallen. 

the resources and president and his effort in 

wherewithal to contain fighting all forms of 

these criminals. 

Zamfara emirs 

insurgence and urge him 

“Buhari also commended to improve on the nation’s blame FG 

Governor Bello Matawalle security. 

In a related 

of Zamfara’s efforts against “This is by ensuring development, the Zamfara 

armed banditry and synergy among the Council of Traditional 

promised a continued security agencies so that Rulers has blamed the 

support to bringing lasting confrontations with Federal Government for 

peace. 

the abduction of students of 

GUSAU—President 

Muhammadu 

Buhari has 

assured Nigerians that last 

Friday’s abduction of 

female students from 

Government Girls Science 

Secondary School, 

Jangebe, will be the last to 

happen. 

The President’s statement 

was relayed yesterday, 

through Minister of 

Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, 

who led a high-powered 

Federal Government 

delegation to sympathise 

with the people and 

government of Zamfara. 

He said new measures 

had been developed by the 

Federal Government which 

“The Federal 

Government will continue 

its partnership with 

Zamfara government and 

its citizens in resolving the 

security challenges facing 

the state,” Buhari said. 

criminals can be 

coordinated on ground and 

air simultaneously,” the 

governor said. 

The News Agency of 

Nigeria (NAN) reports that 

other members of the 

delegation were the 

Government Girls 

Secondary School, 

Jangebe, last Friday by 

bandits, saying the situation 

could have been averted, if 

Governor Bello Matawalle 

was in control of the 

security architecture of the 

state. 

Sparking when he led 16 

other emirs in the state to 

commiserate with the 

governor on the abduction 

of the schoolgirls, chairman 

of the council and Emir of 

Anka, Alhaji Attahiru 

Mohammed, said: “We 

note that just as you are 

doing your best, others 

elsewhere are doing their 

worst. We also know that 

you do not control the 

security architecture. If you 

did have their total control, 

we know such a thing will 

never happen in the state.” 

The traditional rulers 

described the Jangebe 

incident in the state as an 

irony, considering the 

tremendous successes of 

the peace accord. 

They appreciated the 

commitment and sincerity 

of Governor Matawalle as 

well as his success in the 

last one and half years in 

curbing the menace of 

banditry in the state. 

“As true representatives of 

our subjects, we are here 

to register our sympathy 

with you and to promise 

you that we are solidly 

behind you in your bid to 

secure our communities,’’ 

the Emirs said. 

They called on the 

governor to relieve his mind 

of heavy worry over what 

happened and prayed that 

God returned the girls 

home safely. 

“We urge you to continue 

with your good work which 

we note is the best 

approach that is yielding 

results to our 

communities,’’ the 

monarchs said. 

In his remarks, Governor 

Matawalle assured the 

emirs that in spite of 

everything, he would never 

stop the peace process, 

saying it was still the best 

option for peace in the 

process of finding lasting 

peace in the state. 

“Any sabotage to the 

efforts we are making in the 

state is a sabotage to the 

efforts of the Federal 

Government. The world 

knows our boundaries and 

the world knows our 

successes,” Matawalle 

said. 

He thanked the Emirs for 

their concern and promised 

that his administration will 

do everything within its 

powers to rescue the 

innocent girls and return 

them to the warm embrace 

of their respective families. 

‘We’re working 

with repented 

bandits’ 

He said the state 

government was working 

with repentant bandits to 

facilitate the safe rescue of 

Continues on Page 41 

By Mary Obaebor 

On FG's plan to concession some fed roads to private investors (1) 

I 

don’t subscribe to the 

idea of concessioning of 

federal roads. Take Lekki 

tollgate for instance, it’s the 

ordinary people that suffer. 

Anywhere there’s toll fare, 

commercial buses increase 

transportation fare and the 

poor pay from their pockets. 

What happened to our taxes? 

You won’t believe how much 

I pay as tax; let them use our 

taxes to fix roads please. 

— Dauda Hassan 

Administrator 

Are the private 

investors not part 

of the government that 

is to ensure we have 

good roads? If the 

responsibility is shifted 

to private investors, the 

same people will buy the 

idea and use our money 

to build the roads and 

make huge profits. This 

is scam! 

— Godwin Ekperi, 

Fashion Designer 

These people can be 

funny. This is like 

stylishly abandoning 

your responsibility. This 

means that every road 

user will be paying 

everyday for using the 

road after paying for 

road permit paper which 

is part of the motor 

particulars. This is 

extortion! And who are 

the private investors? Is 

it not their caucus? 

—Daniel Adeyemi, 

Customer Care Rep. 

We should first 

understand the 

system we are running. 

What is the responsibility 

of government? Is it not to 

provide social amenities 

and security? This will be 

simply abdicating their 

responsibility. So should 

we reduce their salaries? 

We have to consider the 

advantages and 

disadvantages. 

—Emmanuel Adepoju, 

Student 

This is a welcome idea 

because there will be 

proper rehabilitation and 

adequate maintenance of 

the roads; proper 

management of public 

funds, professionalism will 

be on display, healthy 

competition from others, 

proper accountability and 

the masses will enjoy good 

roads. 

—Sylvester Matthew 

Clergy 

It's a welcome devt. The 

roads need proper 

maintenance as that is the 

key to economic growth. 

Those saddled with 

maintenance of roads 

haven’t done much over the 

years. Paying toll fee good 

only if it would be used for 

the right purposes. The 

exercise should create jobs 

and generate revenue for the 

operators. 

—Sunday Ademiluyi, 

Graphics Designer

6— Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

Fire razes 

multi-million 

naira health 

project in 

Ondo 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—The National 

Primary Health Centre 

in Ikare Akoko, the 

headquarters of Akoko 

North-East council area of 

Ondo State, has been 

gutted by fire. 

Vanguard learned that the 

inferno that gutted the 

facility reportedly 

abandoned by the Federal 

Government for years was 

caused by bush burning. 

Reports had it that 

residents around the facility 

made frantic efforts to put 

the fire out but the fence of 

the compound housing the 

project prevented them. 

When the officials of the 

fire service in Ikare Akoko 

were contacted, they 

reportedly complained of 

lack of a functional vehicle. 

The facility, according to 

a signboard at the entrance 

of the building, is a 

constituency project of a 

former member of the 

House of Representatives, 

Stephen Olemija. 

Speaking with newsmen, 

a community leader, Chief 

Teddy Ojuolape, described 

the fire incident as 

unfortunate and a colossal 

loss considering the huge 

fund committed to the 

project but which was later 

abandoned. 

Ojuolape, however, called 

for a probe into the incident. 

The residents in the 

community advocated 

legislation against bush 

burning and appealed to 

the state government to 

adequately equip the fire 

service to make them 

perform optimally. 

It would be recalled that 

another Federal 

Government facility, a 

multi-million naira power 

station situated in Oke 

Agbe Akoko was last year 

gutted by fire due to bush 

burning by youths. 

The same facility had 

been abandoned by the 

Federal Government in the 

council for years. 

NDLEA nabs trafficker in Sokoto with N1bn 

worth of cocaine 

By Kingsley Omonobi 

A 

trans-border drug 

trafficker has been 

arrested by operatives of 

National Drug Law 

Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, 

with 62 wraps of substance 

suspected to be cocaine with 

estimated street value of N1 

billion. 

The 36-year-old suspect, 

Nkem Timothy, alias Auwalu 

Audu, was arrested in Sokoto 

while trying to cross to Algeria 

through Niger Republic with 

the hard drug weighing 

1.550kg. 

Acting State Commander of 

NDLEA in Sokoto, Bamidele 

Segun, said the suspect was 

intercepted on a motorcycle 

•Arrests another with 70kg of cannabis in 

Adamawa 

cross to Niger 

Republic with 

his final 

destination as 

Algeria where 

he resides. 

He said: “The 

illicit drug was 

n e a t l y 

concealed 

inside yoghurt 

bottles. He was 

found with an 

E C O W A S 

passport with 

different names 

written as 

The Sokoto suspected drug peddler. 

Auwalu Audu 

but he gave his 

around the baggage area at real name as Nkem Timothy.” 

Illela border while trying to The commander added that 

DEMOLISHED:Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation in 

collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing demolishing shanties 

and illegal structures for the Federal Government Right of Way at Toyota-Ladipo, 

in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN. 

Suspected kidnapper killed, 7 travellers 

rescued in Ondo 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—A 

suspected 

kidnapper was shot dead during 

a gun battle with hunters, vigilante 

group and kidnappers in Akunnu, 

Akoko North-East council area of 

Ondo State. 

It was gathered that seven 

northern state-bound travellers were 

abducted by the suspected 

kidnappers in the town. 

Vanguard also gathered that 

immediately the reports got to the 

Regent of Akunnu, Princess Tolani 

Orogun, she and others in the town 

mobilised the hunters and vigilante 

• As hunters, vigilante groups, 

kidnappers exchange gunshots 

groups and they went after the 

suspects by combing the forest. 

Their effort reportedly yielded fruit 

as one of the kidnappers was killed 

during a shoot-out while others fled 

into the forest. 

The seven victims were said to 

have been rescued by the search 

team. 

Confirming the incident, the 

Regent, Princess Orogun, said aside 

from the local hunters and the 

vigilante groups, the youths in the 

community joined in the rescue of 

the seven travellers. 

Princess Orogun added that efforts 

Police nab robbery syndicate posing as task force 

members in Bayelsa 

By Emem Idio 

YENAGOA—BARELY two days 

after two men posing as 

members of the Bayelsa State 

Environmental Sanitation Task 

Force were arrested for armed 

robbery and kidnapping, the 

Bayelsa police command has 

arrested three more members of the 

notorious gang. 

A statement by the police 

spokesman, Asinim Butswat, 

yesterday, said the suspects were 

arrested at their hideout in Gbarain 

community on the outskirts of the 

state capital. 

According to the police 

spokesman, the gang members 

arrested earlier last week led 

operatives of SWAT to the hideouts 

where the three gang members were 

arrested. 

Butswat said: “Today, February 

28, 2021, at about 0315 hours, these 

suspects led SWAT operatives to 

their hideout at Gbarain community, 

Yenagoa, where the following 

members of the notorious gang were 

arrested. They are Mokubo Sorgwe, 

37; Preye Daniel Agamene, 34, and 

Lucky Okwengo, 30. 

“The suspects have since 

confessed to the crime and will be 

charged to court after investigation." 

of the rescue team yielded fruit 

because they are familiar with the 

terrain. She commended the rescue 

team for their bravery. 

The Police Area Commander for 

Ikare Akoko, Razak Rauf, also 

confirmed that the victims were 

rescued unhurt, adding that the 

remains of the dead kidnapper had 

been deposited in the mortuary. 

Speaking on insecurity in the 

council area, a community leader in 

Akunu Akoko, Ade Aboginije 

appealed to the state government to 

consider the peculiar position of 

Akunu, which shares borders with 

Edo and Kogi states by increasing 

the number of security personnel to 

the area. 

It would be recalled that the border 

community had in recent time 

witnessed security challenges, which 

include kidnapping, banditry and 

armed robberies. 

The wife of a monarch, the Alauga 

of Auga, Oba Samuel Agunloye and 

her driver were abducted on the 

same road 

Farmers in the council area have 

reportedly abandoned their farms 

following the spate of kidnapping, 

raping of their wives and female 

children by the herdsmen. 

his men had commenced 

further investigation to 

unravel his sponsor and other 

members of the trans-border 

drug cartel. 

“This is a ground-breaking 

feat for us in the command as 

the seizure of this magnitude 

of cocaine has never been 

made in Sokoto Command,” 

he added. 

Meanwhile, the Adamawa 

State Command of the agency 

has also arrested one Umar 

Mohammed with 82 blocks of 

compressed cannabis sativa 

weighing 70kg at Lafiya 

Lamurde area of Adamawa 

State. 

In his reaction to the 

seizures, Chairman/Chief 

Executive of NDLEA, Brig- 

Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd) 

commended the two 

commands and charged them 

to remain vigilant and ensure 

no illicit drug goes in or out of 

their areas of responsibility. 

Gunmen 

kidnap cleric, 

4 others in 

Delta 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

UGHELLI — 

UNIDENTIFIED 

gunmen, weekend, 

kidnapped the Station 

Minister of the God’s Kingdom 

Society, GKS, Ughelli branch, 

Eric Oddo, and four others 

between Ogor and Evwreni 

axis of the East-West Road, 

Ughelli North Local 

Government Area, Delta State. 

Sources said the victims 

were abducted on their way 

from a coastal community in 

Bomadi Local Government 

Area where they attended a 

burial ceremony on Saturday. 

A source said the other four 

victims, including a woman, 

are members of the Agbarho 

branch of the church. He 

named some of them as Peter 

Oruweru and Onoyovwere 

Disclosing that the victims 

were travelling in one of the 

church vehicles, the source, 

who craved anonymity, said 

the kidnappers blocked the 

road with a car. 

He said: “When they (the 

victims) drove to that point, 

they were ordered down from 

their vehicle and were taken 

into a nearby bush.” 

The acting Police Public 

Relations Officer of the state 

command, Mr Bright Edafe, 

confirmed the incident when 

contacted. He could not 

ascertain the identity of those 

kidnapped. 

“I cannot confirm the 

identity of those kidnapped, 

but l know from information 

that they kidnapped a full load 

of passengers in a vehicle,” he 

said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021—7 

Police bust car-snatching, drugs gangs in Abuja, 

arrest 40 

By Kingsley Omonobi 

FORTY suspects have been 

arrested by the FCT Police 

Command for car-snatching, 

drug peddling, armed robbery 

and other crimes along Abaji, 

Gwarinpa, Asokoro, Jabi-Daki 

Biyu and Mabushi axis. 

The suspects were arrested 

during coordinated raids and 

patrols between February 18 and 

24, 2021. 

Police Public Relations Officer, 

FCT, ASP Yusuf Mariam, said 

exhibits recovered from the 

suspects are one white Toyota 

Hilux; one ash colour Toyota 

Corolla; one locally fabricated 

rifle; 21 unexpended cartridges 

Bandits raid 

homes, beer 

parlours, abduct 

3 in Niger 

By Wole Mosadomi 

M INNA—THREE 

persons were 

reportedly abducted by 

bandits that stormed some 

villages in Katcha Local 

Government Area of Niger 

State, yesterday. 

It was gathered that the main 

targets of the bandits were 

shops and beer parlours, 

where they could easily get 

cash and other valuables, 

especially edibles, to further 

sustain their mission 

The bandits reportedly 

raided shops on the outskirts 

of the town close to the official 

residence of the Divisional 

Police Officer of the town. 

A reliable source disclosed 

that the bandits, during the 

attack, moved from house to 

house for about three hours 

unabated. 

They were also said to have 

carried out the raid with 

sophisticated weapons 

including AK-47 rifles and 

other dangerous weapons. 

In each of the shops raided, 

the bandits made away with yet 

to be disclosed amount of 

money, valuables and scattered 

bottles of assorted drinks. 

Chairman of Katcha Local 

Government Area, Mohammad 

Nna, who confirmed the 

incident on phone to journalists, 

said: “The incident happened 

in the night and lasted for three 

hours. They went away with 

three persons, including a 

woman and we are yet to hear 

from them. 

“The bandits came with 

sophisticated weapons and I am 

sure that this must have scared 

the policemen from coming to 

the spot on a rescue mission,” 

the Chairman explained. 

He, however, said security 

agents were already notified 

and that they have swung into 

action towards rescuing those 

kidnapped. 

and one fabricated 

marking gun. 

“Among the suspects 

are Olamide Atanda, 

29 and Osas Raphel, 

32, arrested for 

snatching a vehicle 

after attacking and 

trampling their victim 

along Lugbe axis. 

The vehicle was 

recovered by eagleeyed 

Police operatives 

on stop-and-search operations 

along the Abaji axis. One silver 

colour Toyota Corolla was 

recovered. 

All the suspects have been 

arraigned in court except the carsnatching 

syndicate, that will be 

arraigned upon the conclusion of 

the investigation. 

“We enjoin residents to remain 

calm, law-abiding and comply 

with all COVID-19 regulations. 

Some of the suspects 

The suspects with the recovered car. 

Bandits kill 7 in Kaduna communities 

By Ibrahim 

HassanWuyo 

SEVEN people were reportedly 

killed by bandits in different 

parts of Kaduna State, weekend, 

with some sustaining different 

injuries. 

The Kaduna State Commissioner, 

Ministry of Internal Security and 

Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, 

yesterday, said two persons were 

reportedly killed while one 

sustained gunshot injuries when 

armed bandits attacked Kajinjiri 

village, Igabi local government area 

of the State. 

He gave the names of those killed 

as Ibrahim Rabi’u and 

Abdulrahman Mohammad while 

Kamal Murtala, sustained gunshot 

injuries and is receiving treatment 

at a nearby facility. 

He said bandits killed two locals 

identified as Alhaji Ibrahim Iro and 

Muhammadu Rabiu in Rago 

village, Igabi Local Government 

Area. 

Aruwan said in a separate 

incident, gunmen invaded Kutura 

station, Kajuru Local Government 

Area and killed three residents, 

identified as Michael Shadari, 

Clement Aura Bili and Danlami 

Shaban. 

Governor Nasir el-Rufai noted the 

reports with sadness and condoled 

with the families of those killed in 

both attacks while offering prayers 

for the repose of their souls. He also 

wished the injured victim from 

Kajinjiri village a quick recovery. 

Man falls to death from 2-storey building in Lagos 

By Evelyn Usman 

TRAGEDY struck, weekend, 

at 27, Alli Street, Lagos Island 

when a man, who was sleeping 

on the staircase of a two-storey 

building fell while trying to 

change position. 

The 25-year-old victim, 

identified simply as Halidu, was 

rushed to the hospital where he 

was confirmed dead as a result 

of loss of blood from a deep cut in 

his forehead. 

Late Hamidu, a loader at Lagos 

Island, was said to have lived in 

the area for four years. 

One of his colleagues, who 

simply gave his name as Ismail, 

said: “The staircase served as 

home for my friends and many of 

us since we don’t have money to 

pay for house rent in Lagos. We 

load and offload goods for traders. 

"Last Friday, we all retired to the 

building. Halidu took his bath, ate 

and discussed with us before 

retiring to his side of the staircase. 

“By 12.20 am, we were alerted 

by a disturbing noise. Halidu had 

fallen from the staircase when he 

wanted to turn from one side to 

the other. He did not only land 

on the concrete floor, his head 

landed on an iron rod that 

pierced into his forehead. 

“We rushed him to the General 

Hospital but he was not attended 

to. Rather, we were asked to take 

him to the Orthopedic Hospital 

at Igbobi or the Lagos University 

Teaching Hospital, LUTH. 

“By the time we got to LUTH, it 

was about 2.10 am (Saturday). 

The doctor on duty examined him 

and told us to take him back 

because he had lost much blood 

and may give up any moment. 

As we were taking him to Igbobi, 

he died. We had to take him back 

home. 

“When we contacted his family 

in Kebbi State, we were told to 

bring his remains to the village 

for proper burial. They said he 

had a wife and three children. 

"His corpse arrived at Kebbi 

State by 10.30 pm on Saturday. 

He was buried on Sunday 

morning.” 

Youths intercept 

vehicle laden 

with arms, 

ammunition in 

A-Ibom 

By Harris Emanuel 

UYO —Vigilant youths, 

weekend, reportedly 

intercepted a vehicle laden with 

arms and ammunition in Mbo Local 

Government Area of Akwa Ibom 

State. 

The vehicle, a blue colour Peugeot 

307 with number plate: Lagos LND 

133 EU, was said to be heading to 

Uko Nteghe Uda community when 

it was intercepted 

Vanguard gathered that the youths 

handed over the vehicle to the Police 

after the driver reportedly 

abandoned it and ran into the bush. 

Militants from Uko Nteghe Uda, 

last Thursday, invaded Enwang, 

headquarters of the council and 

destroyed several property, 

including the house of former 

Inspector General of Police, late 

Chief Etim Inyang, thus rekindling 

the embers of the simmering crisis 

over the disputed land. 

Responding to the inquiry, the 

Area Commander, Ali Sarbi, 

confirmed that the vehicle belongs 

to a military intelligence officer, but 

denied being used to convey arms 

and ammunition to the crisis-torn 

area. 

Sarbi said: “The vehicle belongs 

to a military officer. Even me, I am 

using my car. The vehicle belongs 

to a military intelligence officer, who 

was on the ground during the 

crisis.” 

Selong wades into 

communal crisis 

Meanwhile, Chairman of council, 

Mrs Precious Selong, has waded 

into the inter-communal crisis 

between Okuko and Umume in 

Urue Offong/Oruko Local 

Government Area. 

The two communities were said 

to have clashed over the harvest of 

palm trees leading to the killing of 

one person while two others were 

injured. 

Selong said she has set up a Peace 

and Conflict Resolution Committee 

to look into the matter and ensure a 

lasting solution to it. 

Trader arrested for raping, impregnating mentally 

challenged woman in Lagos 

By Esther Onyegbula 

OPERATIVES of the 

Lagos State Police 

Command are currently 

investigating a 38-year old 

trader, Ikechukwu Nweze, for 

raping and impregnating a 

mentally challenged woman in 

the Ikorodu area of Lagos. 

It was learned that a few 

months ago, Ikechukwu 

Nweze took advantage of the 

victim’s mental condition, who 

had gone to purchase some 

items from his shop, and had 

carnal knowledge of her. 

However, trouble started 

when the victim’s mother, 

Margaret Adebayo, 

discovered that her daughter 

had become pregnant. 

According to Margaret 

Adebayo, who lives at 26, 

Bolumade Avenue, Omitoro 

area of Ikorodu, “it was after 

my daughter became pregnant 

Ikechukwu, the suspect 

that I knew what had 

happened. 

“When I questioned her, she 

revealed that it was Ikechukwu 

that was responsible for her 

pregnancy. She said that the 

incident happened when she 

went to Ikechukwu;s shop to 

buy something, adding that 

Ikechukwu took her inside his 

shop and had sex with her. 

Confirming the arrest, 

spokesperson, Lagos State 

Police Command, Olumuyiwa 

Adejobi, said on February 22, 

one Margaret Adebayo of 26, 

Bolumade Avenue, Omitoro, 

Ikorodu reported that her 

daughter (name withheld) 

went to Ikechukwu shop at 

Imito. Ikechukwu took her into 

his shop and had unlawful 

carnal knowledge of the 

victim. 

Adejobi further explained 

that immediately the case was 

reported to the police, the 

police swung into action, the 

victim was referred to Mirabel 

Centre for a medical test while 

the suspect has been arrested. 

Meanwhile, the case has 

been taken to Gender Unit, 

Ikeja for further 

investigation.”

8 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

:Vanguard News 

DMO denies receipt of N2.2trn 

2018 budgetary allocation 

•Says it can only account for N721, 251, 

798 •As Reps query accountant-general 

over unaccounted funds 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—DEBT Management 

Office, DMO, has 

denied the receipt of N2.2 

trillion in its 2018 budgetary 

allocation. 

It said the money was not 

released to them but managed 

by the Office of the Accountant- 

General of the Federation. 

DMO’s Director of Finance 

and Accounts, Mrs. Feyi 

Olumide-Akinyemi, gave the 

testimony at the ongoing 

investigative hearings into 

financial activities of 

Ministries, Departments and 

Agencies, MDAs, by the House 

of Representatives Public 

Accounts Commitee, PAC, 

occasioned by audit query from 

the Office of Auditor General 

of the Federation. 

The DMO said although the 

figure was appropriated to 

them, they were only 

accountable for the sum of 

N721,251, 798 allocated to 

them. Olumide-Akinyemi said 

it was the Accountant General 

that was responsible for the 

fund, adding that they had 

made a case that the money be 

separated. 

She, however, added that the 

funds must have featured on 

their account due to a 

projection of cost the office 

made. 

“It does not come to our 

books. It does not come to our 

account. It does not reflect 

anywhere in our books. We do 

not have access to the other one 

and that is why we always say 

it should be separated. 

“During each process, the 

budget office requires the 

DMO to give them a 

projection of interest payments, 

so these are the interest 

projections we made that the 

government will bear on our 

domestic and external debts 

and then a provision to take 

care of local contractors which 

is the sinking fund,” the DMO 

official who appeared with a 

colleague said. 

Giving details of the N721, 

251, 798 the Office received, 

Mrs Olumide-Akinyemi said 

N435, 768, 793 was for 

personnel cost; N110, 883, 005 

for overhead cost, while N174, 

600, 000 was earmarked for 

capital expenditure. 

She added that in the year 

under review, the Office 

received 89.74 percent of the 

personnel cost appropriation 

which she said was released 

through the office of the 

Accountant General. 

She also said that 

N64,000,000, represen-ting 58 

percent of overhead cost was 

received, while the remaining 

amount from both items were 

mopped up automatically at 

the end of the fiscal year. 

Why Buhari should sign 

executive order on 

unexplained wealth —Ndume 

•Says Army must be better equipped with 

sophisticated weapons to stop insurgency 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA —FORMER Senate 

Leader, Senator Ali 

Ndume, All Progressives 

Congress, APC, Borno South, 

has asked President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

urgently sign an executive 

order on unexplained wealth 

as a powerful tool for financial 

investigation in the country. 

According to him, 

Unexplained Wealth Order 

must be domesticated in 

Nigeria as obtained in the 

United Kingdom. 

Speaking with journalists 

yesterday in Abuja weekend, 

Senator Ndume said if the just 

confirmed substantive 

chairman of the Economic and 

Financial Crimes 

Commission, EFCC, 

Abdulrasheed Bawa, must 

carry out his job effectively, it 

was imperative for President 

Buhari to sign the Unexplained 

Wealth Order, UWO. 

Ndume said the President 

should send the Order as an 

Executive Bill to the National 

Assembly for approval, 

subsequent passage and 

signing into law. 

He said: “Unexplained 

Wealth Order must be 

domesticated in Nigeria. 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari should sign an 

Executive Order on 

Unexplained Wealth to enable 

the new Chairman of the 

Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, EFCC, 

Abdulrasheed Bawa, to work. 

‘’If one is in a house more than 

his salary, government should 

go after such a person to 

explain how he got the money. 

Mr. President should send a Bill 

to that effect to the National 

Assembly to work on and pass.” 

It will be recalled that from 

January 31, 2018, new 

powers enabled the UK 

government to query 

“Unexplained Wealth” and 

seize assets whose funding 

source cannot be explained. 

The UK courts can grant 

Unexplained Wealth Orders 

and forfeit property for which 

the owners are unable to prove 

the source of fund. The 

properties will be transferred 

to the UK Government and sold 

to fund their law enforcement 

efforts. 

The senator, who kicked 

against plea bargaining, said 

that he was totally against it 

and anyone in the country who 

steals government money, 

irrespective of his or her 

position, must be brought to 

book and dealt with to serve as 

deterrent to others. 

Ndume said: “ I don’t support 

plea bargain, any one who 

steals Government money 

must be dealt with seriously.’’ 

On the new service chiefs, 

Ndume, who is the Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Army, 

said there would be more 

synergy compared to the 

previous ones, considering the 

fact that the new Chief of Army 

Staff and the Chief of Air Staff 

are professional colleagues, and 

family friends whose 

relationship dated back to their 

days at the Nigeria Defence 

Academy, NDA. 

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

VISIT: From left; Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Group Executive Director, Strategy, Capital 

Projects & Portfolio Development, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, President/Chief Executive, 

Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, during the Central Bank Governor's visit to Dangote Petroleum 

Refinery, Petrochemical Complex, Fertilizer Plant & Subsea Gas Pipeline Projects, Lekki Lagos weekend. 

CBN plans to strengthen Naira, economy 

through $15bn Dangote refinery 

By Udeme Akpan 

THE Central Bank of 

Nigeria, CBN, has 

concluded plans to strengthen 

the Naira, and by extension the 

nation’s economy through the 

$15 billion Dangote Refinery. 

Specifically, the CBN 

governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, 

who visited the Project at Ibeju 

Lekki, Lagos, weekend, said: “We 

have taken the decision to sell 

the crude to the Refinery in 

Naira because we want to impact 

the economy. 

“We also hope that by the 

time the Refinery starts to 

refine, and sell its petroleum 

products in Naira, the local 

currency will be stronger, and 

by extension the nation’s 

economy, which is still oildriven.” 

According to him, this is 

expected to help Nigeria save 

about 41 per cent of its foreign 

exchange that is being 

expended on the importation 

of refined petroleum products. 

Emefiele, who noted that the 

first shipment of Urea from the 

Dangote Fertiliser Plant would 

begin in March 2021, said: 

“Based on agreement and 

discussions with the Nigerian 

National Petroleum 

Corporation and the oil 

companies, the Dangote 

Refinery can buy its crude in 

Naira, and refine it for Nigerians 

in Naira’, said: “That is the 

element where foreign 

exchange saved for the 

country becomes very clear. We 

are also very optimistic that by 

refining this product here in 

Nigeria, all those costs 

associated with either 

demurrage from import, costs 

associated with the freight will 

be totally eliminated. 

“This will make the price of our 

petroleum products cheaper in 

naira. If we are lucky that what 

the refinery produces is more 

than we need locally you will see 

Nigerian businessmen buying 

small vessels to take them to our 

West African neighbours to sell 

to them in naira. 

“This will increase our volume 

in naira and help to push it into 

the Economic Community of 

West African States as a 

currency.” 

Expressing confidence that 

the refinery would be 

completed by the first quarter 

•As fertilizer plant comes on stream March 

of 2022, Emefiele, said: “I am 

saying that by this time next 

year, our cost of import of 

petroleum products for 

petrochemicals or fertilizer will 

be able to save that which will 

save Nigeria’s reserve. It will 

help us so that we can begin to 

focus on more important items 

that we cannot produce in 

Nigeria today.” 

Emefiele said the CBN had 

given a N100 billion 

intervention to the projects, 

adding that the apex bank is 

ready to support Nigerian 

busines-ses set up to uplift the 

country economically. 

Also speaking Aliko Dangote 

said that the fertilizer and 

petrochemicals plants are 

capable of generating $2.5 

billion annually while the 

refinery would serve Nigeria 

and other countries across the 

world. 

Dangote, who expressed 

gratitude to President 

Muhammadu Buhari and the 

CBN Governor for their support 

toward the completion of the 

projects, said they would create 

additional jobs for Nigerians. 

“He said: “I will like to thank 

the president personally for 

helping us and assisting us in 

making sure that we are now 

back on track. “Mr President 

personally wrote a letter to the 

president of China and asked 

Presidency directs FIRS to remit NASENI 

statutory cash to boost technology 

AS part of steps to boost 

Science and Technology 

development in the country, the 

Presidency has directed the 

Federal Inland Revenue Service, 

FIRS, to remit the statutory 

deductions accruable to the 

National Agency for Science and 

Engineering Infrastructure, 

NASENI. 

The agency may soon get one to 

two per cent of the Federation 

Account as contained in its 

establishment law. 

The directive followed the 

upholding of the decision of the 

Governing Board of NASENI, 

which is headed by President 

Muhammadu Buhari as the 

chairman. 

The directive has also been 

communicated to the Minister of 

Finance, Budget and National 

Planning, Mrs. 

In the NASENI Establishment 

Act 2004, FIRS is statutorily 

expected to deduct and remit to it a 

quarter per cent of the levy on 

turnover of firms earning over 

N100million and above. 

Although NASENI was 

established in 1992, the law guiding 

its funding has not been complied 

with by successive governments. 

But in January, President 

Muhammadu Buhari decided to 

ensure total compliance with 

NASENI Act. Buhari has also 

approved the placement of 

NASENI directly under the 

supervision of the Presidency 

instead of the Ministry of Science 

and Technology. 

According to a letter from the 

Presidency, signed by the Chief of 

Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the 

FIRS has been directed to remit the 

deducted levy on turnover as 

approved by Buhari. 

The letter said: “I write to inform 

you that on 24th January 2021, Mr. 

President approved the prayers of 

the Executive Vice Chairman 

(EVC) of the National Agency for 

Science and Engineering 

Infrastructure (NASENI) on the 

funding of NASENI activities. 

“In accordance with the 

NASENI Establishment Act, one 

of the prayers of the EVC relates to 

the funding of the agency via a levy 

on income or turnover of commercial 

companies and firms with turnover 

of N4million (later increased to 

N100million) by the NASENI 

Governing Board) at the rate of a 

quarter per cent( 1/4 %) of turnover. 

“Accordingly, you are kindly 

requested to act on the 

implementation of this provision of 

the NASENI Act as soon as 

possible.” 

PFN condemns abduction of 

students in Zamfara 

By Sam Eyoboka 

THE Pentecostal Fellowship 

of Nigeria, PFN, has 

condemned the abduction of 

students of Government Girls 

Secondary School, Jangebe, 

Zamfara State, by bandits. 

In a statement signed by 

Simbo Olorunfemi on behalf 

of Rev. Felix Omobude, 

National President, the PFN 

stated: “We are disturbed that 

this incident is coming on the 

heels of the abduction in 

Kankara, Katsina state and 

Kagara, Niger State. 

“The PFN empathises with 

the students, their families, 

the government and people 

of Zamfara state. “We urge 

all Christians to pray fervently 

them to bring the expatriates 

that we don’t have so that we 

can continue work. 

“During the coronavirus, you 

will remember that we had one 

or two cases when it started 

and everybody ran away from 

site but right now we are 

beginning to bring people back 

and we have about 30,000 

people now.” 

He added: “The good part of 

it is that we have learnt a lot 

also and there are a lot of 

Nigerians that just need small 

training and they are doing 

extremely well. So now, we 

only need a small number of 

people coming from abroad just 

to give that training.” 

for the release of the students 

and for an improvement in the 

security situation in the 

country. 

“We call on government to 

intensify efforts at 

strengthening the level of 

security all over the country, with 

a worrisome upsurge in all sorts 

of criminal activities, with 

bandits, kidnappers and 

terrorists running riot. 

“The Pentecostal Fellowship 

of Nigeria urges the Federal 

Government to decisively 

step up efforts to guarantee 

that all Nigerians are 

protected, irrespective of 

faith, ethnicity or location, as 

security of lives and property 

is the primary responsibility 

of government.’’




SYMPATHY VISIT: From left: Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello; Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 

III; Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara; and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, at the Government House, 

Gusau, weekend, when the duo from Sokoto came to commiserate with Zamfara state government over 

the abduction of 317 female students of the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe. 

COVID-19: Frontline health workers’ll be first 

beneficiaries of vaccines — FG, WHO, UNICEF 

By Joseph Erunke 

ABUJA—AS Nigeria 

expects to receive 

about four million doses of 

the AstraZeneca COVID- 

19 vaccines, the federal 

government, World Health 

Organisation, WHO, and 

United Nations Children’s 

Fund, UNICEF, have said 

frontline healthcare 

workers would be the first 

beneficiaries. 

A statement jointly signed 

yesterday by the National 

Primary Healthcare 

Development Agency, 

NPHCDA, the World 

Health Organisation, 

WHO and the United 

Nations Children’s 

Fund,UNICEF, said the 

country planned to 

vaccinate at least 70% of 

eligible Nigerians aged 18 

years and above in four 

phases within two years. 

Nigeria is scheduled to 

take delivery of 3.92 million 

doses of the COVID-19 

vaccine tomorrow, 

according to chairman of 

the Presidential Taskforce 

on COVID-19 and 

Secretary to Government of 

the Federation, SGF, Boss 

Mustapha. 

The delivery will mark 

the first arrival of COVID- 

19 vaccine in the country 

and make Nigeria the next 

West African country to 

benefit from the COVAX 

facility after Ghana, and 

Cote d’Ivoire. 

The statement, signed by 

the Executive Director and 

Chief Executive of 

NPHCDA, Dr. Faisal 

Shuaib, read: “The arrival 

of the vaccine will enable 

the National Primary 

Health Care Development 

Agency, NPHCDA, to 

commence the vaccination 

of Nigerians in priority 

groups, starting with the 

frontline healthcare 

workers. 

“The arrival of this 

vaccine is the result of the 

commitment of the Federal 

Government, under the 

leadership of President 

Muhammandu Buhari, the 

support of the Presidential 

Task Force on COVID-19 

and the guidance of the 

Minister of Health, Dr. 

Osagie Ehanire. 

“We are fully prepared to 

receive and deliver the 

vaccine to eligible 

Nigerians as we have 

commenced the training of 

health workers and 

ensured that cold chain 

facilities are ready at all 

levels. 

“We have a robust cold 

chain system that can store 

all types of COVID-19 

vaccine in accordance with 

the required temperature. 

We are, therefore, confident 

that we will have a very 

effective roll-out of the 

vaccine, starting with our 

critical healthcare workers, 

2020 ADMISSIONS: Heads of tertiary 

institutions fix June 15 as deadline 

By Joseph Erunke 

A BUJA—ALL 

admissions in the 

nation’s tertiary institutions 

for the 2020/2021 academic 

session would end by June 

15, 2021, the Joint 

Admissions and 

Matriculation Board, 

JAMB, said yesterday 

Head, Media and 

Information, JAMB, Dr 

Fabian Benjamin, who 

disclosed this in a 

statement, said: “The 

decision was collectively 

taken at a virtual meeting 

with Heads of Tertiary 

Institutions in the country 

on February 24, 2021. 

“In his remarks on the 

occasion, the Registrar of the 

Joint Admissions and 

Matriculation Board, 

JAMB, Prof. Is-haq 

Oloyede said the meeting 

with the institutions was 

aimed at knowing the level 

they had reached on the 

2020/21 admissions scale. 

“According to him, the 

essence of the interactive 

meeting was to forestall an 

who are in the frontline in 

providing the care we all 

need.’’ 

Also co-signing the 

statement, Peter Hawkins, 

UNICEF Nigeria Country 

Representative, said: “The 

delivery of the AstraZeneca 

vaccine is part of an overall 

16 million doses planned to 

be delivered to Nigeria in 

batches over the next 

months by the COVAX 

facility, as part of an 

unprecedented global effort 

to ensure equitable access 

to COVID-19 vaccines. 

“The COVAX facility is 

co-led by Gavi, the Vaccine 

Alliance, the World Health 

Organization, WHO, and 

the Coalition for Epidemic 

Preparedness Innovations, 

CEPI, with UNICEF as a 

key implementing 

partner.’’ 

On his part, WHO 

Representative in Nigeria, 

Walter Kazadi Mulombo, 

said: “The COVAX facility 

has worked exceptionally 

hard to ensure that Nigeria 

gets the vaccine as soon as 

possible so it can start its 

vaccination programme to 

the largest population in 

Africa. 

“Vaccines are a critical tool 

in the battle against 

COVID-19. In the 

meantime, Nigerians must 

continue to take steps to 

contain the virus, as the 

vaccination programme 

will take at least a year 

before it is fully effective.'' 

•JAMB urges compliance to advisories on transfer, change of 

programmes, institutions 

endless admission regime 

generated by the series of 

disruptions to daily life 

occasioned by COVID-19 

pandemic. 

‘’He said the meeting 

would enable the Board put 

necessary machinery in 

place for the 2021/2022 

UTME/DE Registration 

Exercise. 

“The Registrar had earlier 

informed the gathering of 

eminent scholars that only 

30% of institutions had 

started admissions into the 

2020/2021 academic 

session. 

“He stated there was the 

need to collectively decide 

when to close the 2020/ 

2021 Admission Exercise. 

He added that the proposal 

was for Public Universities 

to end admissions four 

weeks ahead of Private 

Universities, the 

Polytechnics, Colleges of 

Education and IEIs. 

“After a robust and 

insightful deliberation, 

members collectively 

agreed that all public 

universities are expected to 

finish their admissions on 

or before 15th May, 2021, 

while the private 

universities and all IEIs, 

polytechnics and COEs 

would complete theirs at 

the agreed date of 15th 

June, 2021. 

“Prof.Oloyede reiterated 

that the chosen deadlines 

remained sacrosanct and 

binding on all institutions 

as the Board would not 

tolerate any breaches of the 

collective decision reached 

at the meeting. 

Mete out sanctions on erring 

truckers, Amaechi tells NPA 

By Dirisu Yakubu 

A 

B U J A — 

MINISTER of 

Transportation, Rotimi 

Amaechi, has charged the 

Nigerian Ports Authority, 

NPA, to punish truckers 

who fail to comply with 

government’s directives 

when the rail end of 

Apapa Port spur line is 

completed. 

The Minister, who 

gave this charge during 

the inspection of the 

Lagos-Ibadan rail line 

project weekend, added 

that President 

Muhammadu Buhari 

has issued a directive on 

the tonnage of cargo that 

should be allowed on 

roads, saying the 

directive would be 

complied with. 

According to him, the 

directive has not been 

implemented as there are 

no viable alternatives yet to 

the current situation. 

Eric Ojiekwe, Director 

Press and Public Affairs 

Federal Ministry of 

Transportation, said in a 

statement that the Minister 

took the train to the 

completed southward 8.72 

km of Apapa Port Spur 

Line end of the Lagos- 

Ibadan rail line, where he 

expressed displeasure at 

the outrageous number of 

trucks parked on the rail 

tracks, making the job 

difficult to complete. 

According to him, 

Amaechi has, therefore, 

directed the management 

of NPA to ensure trucks 

were moved out. 

He added that only 

registered trucks 

conveying goods imported 

or to be exported would be 

allowed into the ports. 

He was accompanied on 

the inspection exercise by 

the Permanent Secretary, 

Federal Ministry of 

Transportation, Dr. 

Magdalene Ajani, the 

Managing Director, 

Nigerian Railway 

Corporation, NRC, Engr. 

Freeborn Fidet Okhiria, the 

Board Chairman, NRC, 

Alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan 

and management staff of 

the Ministry. 

Katsina reopens boarding 

schools tomorrow 

Mines, steel devt minister delivers ICM lecture 

MINISTER 

of 

Mines and Steel 

Development, Mr. 

Olamilekan Adegbite, 

will be the keynote 

speaker at the quarterly 

webinar series of the 

Institute of Change 

Management (ICM). 

A statement by the 

President of the 

Institute, Mr. Nat 

Osewele, on behalf of the 

Governing Council, 

announced that the theme 

of the webinar is Unlocking 

KATSINA 

State 

yesterday directed 

the reopening of boarding 

schools in the state with 

effect from tomorrow. 

The Commissioner for 

Education, Associate 

Professor Badamosi Lawal, 

gave the directive shortly 

after he met top officials in 

his Ministry including the 

Permanent Secretaries and 

the twelve zonal inspector 

of education,among others. 

The commissioner 

clarified that boarding 

students in the four 

command schools in the 

state are to resume fully on 

Tuesday. 


schools are Government 

Secondary Command 

School, Faskari; 

Government Secondary 

Command School, 

Musawa; Government 

Girls Command school, 

Barkiya and Police 

Secondary School, Mani. 

He added that male 

students in the 

remaining boarding 

schools should report at 

any nearest secondary 

school to their places of 

abode to continue their 

studies while their 

opportunities in disruptive 

times - The Mining Sector 

As The Game Changer For 

Nigeria. 

The event which will hold 

on Thursday March 18, 

2021 at 3pm, will 

expectedly, afford the the 

minister the opportunity to 

make some policy 

pronouncements about his 

ministry, particularly the 

much talked about 

economic diversification 

plan of the Federal 

Government and the 

female counterparts 

should await further 

instruction from 

government,declaring “All 

girls boarding secondary 

schools should hold on a 

little until security situation 

improves.” 

The Commissioner said 

the state had “about 38“ 

boarding schools. 

Professor Lawal said: “ We 

want to see that schools 

reopen and the students 

back in classes to recover 

the lost grounds in the 

school curriculum. At the 

same time,we are not 

toying with their safety and 

we have the assurances of 

the support and 

cooperation of security 

operatives in this regard. 

“We also seek for the 

prayers of our Emirs, 

religious leaders and other 

stakeholders to make 

Katsina safe.“ 

Recall that day schools in 

the state resumed for 

academic activities last 

January from a forced 

vacation following 

December 11 abduction of 

344 students of 

Government Science 

Secondary school, 

Kankara by bandits. 

contributions of the mining 

sector in this effort. 

The webinar series is part 

of the Institute’s social 

responsibility initiative to the 

change management 

community and Nigeria as a 

whole. 

The event which usually 

attracts large participation will 

be attended by ICM members 

and other professionals, 

including members of the 

business community, the 

academia, media and 

foreign participants.


By Ola Ajayi, 

Adeola Badru, with 

agency reports 

I FOLLOWING B A D A N his 

— 

botched arrest last Friday, 

Yoruba freedom fighter, Mr. 

Sunday Adeyemo, 

popularly known as 

Sunday Igboho, yesterday, 

disclosed that some Yoruba 

people in Oyo State 

connived with security 

agents to effect his arrest, 

just as he clarified that the 

police were not among the 

combined team of security 

agents that accosted him on 

the Lagos-Ibadan 

expressway. 

He also that the Federal 

Government should be 

held responsible, if 

anything untoward 

happens to him. 

This came on a day he 

threatened to eliminate 

politicians of Yoruba 

extraction, who solicit the 

support of South-West sons 

and daughters, in the buildup 

to the 2023 general 

elections. 

Adeyemo, who spoke in 

the Yoruba language 

with Vanguard but 

interpreted by one of his 

aides, Dapo Salami, noted 

that he could not be 

intimidated by anybody, as 

much as he is fighting a 

noble cause for the freedom 

of the Yoruba race. 

His words: “It is a pity that 

some elements, within the 

Yoruba race, are colluding 

with these evil people to 

threaten my life. 

“Should we be fighting 

for the cause of the Yoruba 

race and some elements, 

within us, are threatening 

me? 

“I am a lover of Yoruba 

race and I am fighting a 

noble cause. We have much 

been cheated and this is the 

time to fight for our rights. 

Yoruba should be treated 

with love, not with disdain. 

“This fight is not for my 

personal gain, but for the 

emancipation of the Yoruba 

people. 

“I might not have 

occupied any important 

position, but I am a force to 

be reckoned with. I am a 

noble leader that the 

governor should appreciate 

what I am doing. 

“I have reported to the 

appropriate quarters, I have 

:Vanguard 

News 

Sunday Igboho, securitymen in 

botched arrest drama 

Corruption responsible for banditry, 

kidnappings in Zamfara, N-West —CSOs 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

LAGOS—A coalition of 

Civil Society 

Organisations, yesterday, 

attributed the banditry and 

kidnappings in Zamfara 

and the North-West part of 

the country, to corruption by 

previous administrations. 

Speaking at a press 

conference in Lagos, the 

coalition expressed dismay 

over the insecurity in 

Zamfara State, saying it 

poses threat to the country 

at large. 

Executive Director, 

Centre for Public 

Accountability, Mr. Olufemi 

Lawson, who addressed 


• Says, ‘Yoruba people connived with security agents' 

• Threatens S-West politicians with death over Oduduwa Republic, polls in Nigeria 

• Igboho (middle) during a press conference. 

filed a petition to the 

Inspector General of Police 

and I must surely get 

justice. I should be 

appreciated by all and 

sundry in Yorubaland and 

not to be intimidated. 

“I am not doing this for 

money; I am rich, I have 

everything I want in life, 

but the love I have for the 

Yoruba masses led me into 

this. 

“I can lay down my life to 

ensure that Yorubaland is 

peaceful.” 

Threatens S-West 

politicians with 

death over 

Oduduwa 

Republic 

Similarly, in an undated 

video obtained and 

translated by PRNigeria, 

Igboho while addressing 

Yoruba leaders and youths 

berated the politicians for 

not identifying with the 

agitation for the Oduduwa 

Republic. 

But when contacted on the 

video threat of Sunday 

Igboho, the spokesperson 

of the Department of State 

the press conference, called 

on the new Chairman of 

the Economic and Financial 

Crimes Commission, 

EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, 

to beam searchlight on activities 

of past administrations in Zamfara 

State. 

Lawson said: “As we gather 

here, we are all are aware of the 

heightened threat of insecurity, 

occasioned by the activities of 

armed bandits particularly in the 

northwest of our country, the 

recent being Thursday’s 

abduction of about 317 school 

girls in Zamfara. 

“We are sad, that the issue of 

insecurity in Nigeria is becoming 

a threat to everyone and we must 

not fold our arms while some 

Security Service, DSS, Dr. 

Peter Afunanya told 

PRNigeria that the 

intelligence agency would 

continue to discharge its 

duties within its statutory 

mandates. 

In the video, Igboho said: 

“If not that you (Yoruba 

political officer holders) are 

all unfortunate 

representatives, you should 

be leading us in the 

secessionist struggle. 

But you are busy 

campaigning for the next 

Presidential election. You 

must be mad. 

“You should know that 

you are not supposed to 

seek election to the office of 

the President, you are 

supposed to identify with 

our (Yoruba) agitation and 

lead us in the secession 

activities. 

“I will not allow you to 

campaign because I will kill 

you all (Yoruba politicians) 

before campaigns start (in 

2023), I swear by God. 

“I will not allow you to 

campaign because we will 

kill you all (Yoruba 

politicians) before their 

campaigns for elections. I 

elected public officials elected to 

serve us continue to deprive us 

of the basic needs because of their 

irresponsibility. 

“We have discovered that if we 

are to make progress, there’s 

need to re-evaluate our 

leadership recruitment process 

with the view to set an irreducible 

minimum standard,” he added. 

On his part, Shina 

Loremikan of the 

Campaign Against 

Impunity, said insecurity in 

Zamfara is not an isolated 

case, saying no part of the 

country is safe. 

Loremikan said: “This is 

why we are pleading that 

everybody should show concern 

to happening in Zamfara State.” 

swear by God. It is either 

they go elsewhere or we 

will shoot them with guns 

from the back 

“If you support our 

secession plans, we will 

suffer for less than two 

weeks only and later enjoy 

the Eldorado. Why are you 

(politicians) selfish, asking 

us to campaign for you to 

become Nigerian President 

in 2023? Are you mad? 

“Let your campaign be 

limited to your family 

members. If you 

(politicians) campaign in 

the public, I will fight you.” 

“Last October, I gave an 

early warning to some of our 

elders and leaders before 

they were embarrassed and 

humiliated by protesters. 

That was just the beginning 

more will soon come. 

“I am calling on my 

followers to go and prepare 

charms for a decisive 

struggle/battle for the 

Oduduwa Republic. We 

must divide this country. We 

don’t want to stay (in 

Nigeria) again. 

“Our traditional rulers are 

cowards and obeying 

orders from local 

councillors. Recently I 

learned that a Yoruba 

monarch threatened a 

female secessionist living in 

Germany not to come back 

to the country. 

“I am now appealing to 

the lady to come and I will 

be glad to receive and 

defend her at the airport. 

“Probably on that day, we 

may change the name of 

Murtala International 

Airport (Lagos) to Awolowo 

Airport. Some of our useless 

elders were behind the 

renaming of our Airport to 

Murtala Airport instead of 

naming it after themselves 

rather than Fulani’s name. 

The Yoruba elders behind 

the naming of the airport are 

insane and crazy people. 

“The real war that will end 

everything will happen on 

the day I will receive the 

female secessionist at the 

airport. Let’s them dare me." 

Yoruba people 

connived with 

security agents 

Igboho, who spoke on 

a private radio 

programme anchored by 

Dr. Reuben Abati, 

insisted that the police 

were not among the 

combined team of 

security agents that 

accosted him on the 

Lagos-Ibadan 

Expressway on Friday. 

His words: “Just as I 

had told my boys, the 

security agents, 

numbering over 40, 

swarmed round my 

vehicle. I saw a deputy 

director asking where is 

the criminal, Sunday 

Igboho? It was then I 

alighted from the car and 

asked him, who is a 

criminal? 

“I pulled off my cloth 

because one of the 

security operatives held 

on to my shirt violently. 

So, I decided to put off 

the cloth and gave it to 

him and we dragged the 

matter. I saw the Deputy 

Director. It is possible 

that Abuja did not 

instruct him to do so. 

“I know that some 

Yoruba people connived 

with the security agents 

to arrest me. I asked the 

security man, can anyone 

arrest god? Thank God it 

was impossible for them. 

“They started shooting 

when we began to drag 

the matter. The whole 

episode was an 

embarrassment to me. It 

was Mr. Odumakin that 

called me for a peace 

meeting. I was heading 

to Lagos when they 

waylaid me on the road. 

“How can they be 

calling me a criminal? I 

am a responsible man, I 

am a Yoruba citizen, and 

I am fighting for the 

rights of the Yoruba 

people. They don’t have 

to embarrass me. 

“I’m a businessman. I 

pay my tax to the Federal 

Government every 

month and I have 

evidence of tax payment. 

Should I be going on the 

road and some people 

will attempt to kill me? 

What for? Why do they 

want to kill me because 

their plan on Friday was 

to assassinate me? Why? 

“There is insecurity in 

the country. Fulani 

people are raping our 

people and killing our 

people in the forests but 

the security operatives 

are not going there to 

confront them. Instead, 

they are offered ransom. 

It is just sad that the 

government is 

threatening a common 

man living peacefully in 

the country. It should not 

be so.” 

Insecurity in Nigeria, a perennial 

problem —Oluwo 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—OLUWO of 

Iwo, 

Oba 

Abdulrosheed Akanbi, 

weekend, said insecurity in 

Nigeria is a perennial 

challenge that requires a 

linear process to be tamed. 

He also advised the 

government, at all levels, to 

overhaul the security 

architecture to 

systematically eradicate 

social menace in the society. 

Oluwo spoke when the 

Osun State team on Civic 

Engagement, led by Mr. 

Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, 

paid him a courtesy visit at 

his palace in Iwo. 

His words: “The issue of 

insecurity has long been a 

part of human existence 

which is detrimental to the 

general wellbeing of the 

people with its resultant 

effects on the economy, 

peaceful coexistence 

among other touching 

areas. 

“It has become an issue 

of deep concern; hardly a 

day goes by without a report 

of one security challenge or 

the other. Unfortunately, 

ordinary citizens are at the 

receiving end of its wanton 

destruction; we have cases 

of kidnapping, banditry, 

militancy, bombing, drug 

abuse, to mention but a 

few.” 

While commending the 

Governor on his giant strides 

within two years in office, Oba 

Akanbi described Oyetola as a 

rare breed, role model who has 

made significant turnaround 

worthy for others to emulate.


:Vanguard :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

AWARD—From left: Adeoye Basirat, Head, Nursing Department, Mainland Hospital; Dr. 

Bowale Abimbola, MD, Mainland Hospital, Yaba; Dr. Ayodeji Falana, receiving an award 

as Most Outstanding Health Worker in the fight against COVID-19; Chineze Amanfo, 

Corporate Communications Lead, 9mobile; Dr. Mutiew Bamidele, Director, Lagos State 

Bio-Bank, and Dr. Adesola Adegoke, Head of Department, Medical Services, Mainland 

Hospital, Yaba, during an event by 9mobile to recognize health workers at the frontline 

of the current COVID-19 pandemic. 

RIGHT OF WAY: FG demolishes shanties, illegal 

structures along Oshodi-Apapa expressway 

By Kingsley Adegboye 

LAGOS—THE 

Federal 

Ministry of Works and 

Housing, yesterday, carried 

out the demolition of shanties 

and illegal structures on the 

right of way at Toyota Bus 

Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa 

expressway, in Lagos. 

Giving reasons for the 

demolition, the Federal 

Controller of Works in Lagos 

State, Mr. Kayode Popoola, 

said: “The continued 

occupation of the right of way 

by spare part dealers and 

traders had delayed the 

beautification of the right of 

way and the reconstruction of 

the Toyota section of the busy 

expressway. 

"With the reclamation of the 

right of way now, works on the 

beautification of the way and 

reconstruction of the Toyota 

section of the dual carriageway 

are expected to commence 

immediately by contractors.” 

Asked if formal notice was 

served on the alleged illegal 

occupants of the right of way to 

vacate, Popoola said: “The 

Minister of Works and Housing, 

Mr. Babatunde Fashola, held a 

meeting with them on January 

14, 2021, over their illegal 

occupation of the right of way, and 

gave them time to vacate the place 

for reconstruction works.” 

Assuring spare part dealers 

whose wares seized by the task 

COVID-19: SERAP probes missing funds in ministry, 

agencies 

By Olasunkanmi Akoni 

LAGOS—THE 

Socio- 

Economic Rights and 

Accountability Project, SERAP, 

yesterday, urged the Minister of 

Water Resources, Mr. Suleiman 

Adamuo, to explain steps his 

ministry has taken to address and 

find the alleged billions missing 

from the ministry and its agencies. 

SERAP noted that if there was 

relevant admissible evidence of 

corruption and mismanagement, 

the allegations should be 

referred to appropriate anticorruption 

agencies for 

investigation and prosecution. 

The organisation also urged 

him to “ensure the full recovery 

of any missing public funds, 

revealed in the 2017 annual 

audited report by the Office of the 

Auditor-General of the 

Federation.” 

In the Freedom of Information, 

request, dated February 17, 2021 

by SERAP Deputy Director, 

Kolawole Oluwadare, the 

organization said: “Allegations of 

corruption and mismanagement 

in the Ministry and its agencies 

can cause serious harm to the 

socially and economically 

vulnerable. Satisfactorily 

addressing these allegations and 

recovering any missing public 

funds is a critical matter of public 

health, human rights, 

transparency and accountability. 

The COVID-19 crisis makes this 

action all the more urgent.” 

SERAP said: “Knowing how the 

Ministry has responded to the 

queries from the Auditor-General, 

and ensuring a thorough 

investigation and prosecution of 

these allegations would end 

impunity for corruption in the 

water sector, serve the public 

interest, as well as help to 

improve access of Nigerians to 

clean water and sanitation 

services.” 

Telecom workers give Huawei Tech 

14-day strike notice 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

LAGOS—THE 

Private 

Telecommunications and 

Communications Senior Staff 

Association of Nigeria, 

PTECSSAN, weekend, has 

issued a 14-day ultimatum to 

Huawei Technology Nigeria 

Limited, over alleged unfair labour 

practices. 

At a briefing in Lagos, 

PTECSSAN, an affiliate of 

Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, 

listed some of the alleged unfair 

practices to include 'intimidation, 

harassment and verbal assaults; 

poor and discriminatory 

remuneration; abuse of 

expatriates quota policy; 

increasing spate of precarious 

work; breach of freedom of 

association and right to organise; 

going against International 

Labour Organisation, ILO, 

convention on leave days and 

leave allowance; 24 work hours; 

restrictive career path; disregard 

for occupational health and safety 

force because they were not 

around to move their wares away, 

Chairman, Task Force, 

Governor’s Office, Mr. Shola 

Jejeloye, said: “If the dealers sign 

an undertaking that they will not 

return to the place, their seized 

wares will be returned to them.” 

Speaking on the demolition, 

Martins Obidiozor, Manager, 

Unity Warehouse, said they were 

served notice to vacate the place, 

but he had nowhere to move his 

wares to, that was why he left 

them outside. 

Obidiozor said: “We want the 

government to allow us to make 

use of the right of way because 

when we offload our goods, 

everything does not enter our 

warehouse.” 

The letter reads in part: “According 

to the Auditor-General’s 

Annual Report for 2017, Federal 

Ministry of Water Resources 

spent ¦ 343,957,350.60 without 

any documents. The Auditor-General 

is concerned that the money 

may be missing. The Ministry also 

reportedly spent ¦ 14,993,950.00 as 

advance cash to staff to buy store items 

and for services without due process." 

of employees, and no exit package 

structures, even for long 

term staff'. 

In his remarks, PTECSSAN’s 

General Secretary, Okonu 

Adeniyi, said: “All our efforts in 

the past to address all the labourrelated 

issues confronting the 

workers in the company have 

been rebuffed by the 

management. Ultimate of which 

is gross disregard and denial of 

the workers their fundamental 

Right to Freedom of Association 

as enshrined in Section 40 of the 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria as well as 

Section 12(4) of the Trade Unions 

Act of 2004 and ILO Conventions 

87 and 98. 

“For the umpteenth time, we 

reiterate that if our demands are 

not fully and appropriately 

complied with by Huawei 

Technologies Nigeria Limited on 

or before Friday, March 12, 2021, 

we shall withdraw every 

guarantee of industrial peace 

within the company." 

It's like you learned about food only, in all 

your ‘schooling'...how did you make it?! 

In baffroom, if ur soap falls, forget am!



Oil spill shuts down fishing in 10 

Delta communities 

By Emma Amaize, 

Regional Editor, 

South-South 

WARRI—A devastating oil 

spill has grounded fishing 

activities in 10 oil communities 

in Gbaramatu Kingdom, 

Warri South-West Local 

Government Area in Delta 

State. 

Some of the affected communities 

are Benikrukru, 

Kokodiagbene, Oporoza, 

Azama, Inikorogha and Kurutie 

and the leak was weekend, 

reported being spreading 

to more communities in the 

area. 

Thousands of fishermen in 

the communities, their families 

and buyers from different 

parts of the state and beyond 

have been stranded as a result 

of the spill. 

Villagers, who spoke to Vanguard, 

complained that there 

was palpable fear in the affected 

communities, as some people 

have fallen sick due to pollution 

of rivers, which are 

major sources of water supply 

to the people. 

A fisherman, Paul Okoni, 

stated: "I noticed the spill that 

occurred, February 18 night, 

on the Abiteye flow station 

pipeline belonging to Chevron 

Nigeria Limited, CNL, two 

days after the incident and that 

was February 21." 

President of the Gbaramatu 

Youth Council, GYC, Worldwide, 

Shadrach Ebikeme, 

who corroborated the claim, 

told Vanguard: "American oil 

giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, 

CNL, which owns the facility 

has not admitted responsibility 

for the oil spill. 

"We are, therefore, calling 

on Chevron to rise up to its 

responsibility in the aftermath 

of an oil spill which resulted 

from its pipeline in 

Abiteye flow station. 

"The said Chevron oil spill 

occurred on the night of February 

18, 2021, but was noticed 

by the people on February 

21, from the Otunana to 

Kenyangbene / Abiteye pipeline. 

The company has been 

denying the occurrence of the 

spill. 


COMMISSIONING: Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, Goddy Jedy-Agba, Minister of State for 

Power, Ahmad Salihjo Ahmad, MD/CEO, REA and Hon. Francis Waive, member representing Ughelli North/ 

South and Udu Federal Constituency, during the commissioning of the 1.35mw Solar Hybrid project at the 

Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Ugbomro in Uvwie LGA, Delta State. Photos: Akpokona. 

Why we named varsity after Dennis 

Osadebe —Delta govt 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—DELTA State 

Government has said one 

of the new universities, the 

Delta State University of Agriculture 

was named after the 

first Premier of the defunct 

Mid-Western Region, Chief 

Dennis Osadebe so as to immortalise 

him in recognition 

of his struggle and contribution 

to the region. 

State Commissioner for 

Higher Education, Prof 

Patrick Muoboghare, who 

made an explanation while 

briefing journalists on the 

outcome of the State's Executive 

Council meeting 

presided over by Governor 

•Fear grips residents as outflow 

pollutes rivers, seeps to more 

villages 

"Presently, the whole kingdom 

is impacted. Benikrukru, 

Kokodiagbene, Oporoza, 

Azama, Inikorogha, Kurutie 

and a host of other communities 

in the shoreline and inside 

the creeks of Gbaramatu 

have all been severely impacted, 

as the spill continues to 

spread with the occupation of 

fishing and other water-related 

trade seriously hampered. 

"We, the youths of Gbaramatu 

Kingdom are calling on 

Chevron to rise to the task and 

live up to its responsibilities, 

•Clarifies Airport concession, approves 

construction of more roads 

Idahosa backs Obaseki's decision to probe N30bn 

Edo Storm Water Project 

By Dapo Akinrefon 

BENIN CITY—A chieftain 

of the Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, in Edo State, Chief 

Charles Idahosa, yesterday, 

advised former Governor Adams 

Oshiomhole; Minister of 

State for Budget and National 

Planning, Clem Agba and 

the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, not to panic over moves 

by the current Edo State government 

to probe the 

N30billion Benin Storm Water 

project. 

Governor Godwin Obaseki 

had last week said that the 

N30 billion Benin stormwater 

project embarked upon by 

the Oshiomhole administration 

was a ploy to defraud Edo 

people. 

He said the storm water 

project, conceived by the Oshiomhole 

administration, was 

designed not to work for the 

benefit of Edo people, adding 

that his administration 

would probe the project and 

recover all the money stolen 

through it. 

Speaking with newsmen, 

yesterday, Idahosa, a former 

Commissioner for Information 

in Edo State said, he welcomed 

the decision by 

Obaseki to investigate the 

controversial project. 

He said: "On the N30 billion 

storm water project, this 

is a very strange development 

on the side of Oshiomhole 

and his minister. As a sitting 

governor, you have a right to 

look into any issue that is not 

clear which Governor Obaseki 

is doing. I think the people 

involved in that project should 

exercise patience and let the 

governor do what he wants to 

do. 

"I read the letter of the Minister 

of State for Budget and 

National Planning, Clem 

Agba, who supervised the 

project as the then Commissioner 

for Environment and 

Sustainability in the state. I 

also read the letter of APC in 

Edo State. I don't think there 

is any need for them to panic. 

"If the governor decides to 

look into the storm water 

project, they should allow him 

to do it, at least, they will be 

represented legally at the panel 

set up to look into it. 

instead of denying that it was 

not the cause of the spill. 

"The company should as a 

matter of fact do the needful 

required of it by the host communities 

and other relevant 

communities that are affected, 

as what is currently happening 

is not funny and is not 

something to be joked with. 

"The people's means of livelihoods 

have been severely 

impacted and many are even 

reported to be falling sick due 

to the contamination of the 

ecosystem they rely on for sustenance," 

he added. 

Ifeanyi Okowa, said the 

University was not named 

after Chief Dennis Osadebe 

as a way of compensating his 

family. 

Muoboghare who was 

flanked by the state Commissioner 

for Information, 

Mr Charles Aniagwu and 

the Senior Policy Adviser to 

the Governor, Prof Sylvester 

Monye, said: "What are 

we compensating his family 

for? There is nothing to 

compensate anybody for. 

The man Dennis Osadebe is 

the one we are immortalizing, 

we are not compensating 

anybody. 

"Real immortalization 

does not bring money to anybody 

but we must recognise 

his struggle as the first and 

only Premier of the Mid-Western 

region. Before now, there 

is only one University in the 

state and that is Delta State 

University, Abraka. Dennis 

Osadebe University has been 

established, the Anwai Campus 

of the Delta State University 

is hereby pronounced 

dead. 

"Obafemi Awolowo University, 

Ife, was the University of 

Ife, when the occasion arose, 

there was a name change. 

There are many Universities 

like that. Abubakar Tafawa 

Balewa University was also 

changed. 

The state, the owner can 

decide if there is somebody 

they want to honour or localize 

by naming the University 

after him." 

On the signing of bills for 

the upgrade of three tertiary 

institutions in the state to universities, 

he said the signing 

of the bills by Governor 

Okowa was a boost to the 

take-off of the institutions, explaining 

that the schools were 

meant to create space for 

Deltans to acquire tertiary 

education. 

On concessioning of the 

Asaba International Airport, 

Commissioner for Information, 

Aniagwu said the Airport 

was not sold but only concessioned 

for 30 years to make 

for its adequate upgrade into 

a world-class airport by the 

concessionaire. 

Aniagwu said that under the 

concession agreement, the 

concessionaire would inject 

about N30 billion into the upgrade 

of facilities at the airport. 

He said the State Executive 

Council approved 

the construction and rehabilitation 

of some roads 

across that state. 

Why my administration focused 

on education —Jonathan 

•Laud Diri's developmental strides 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

YPresident 

ENAGOA—FORMER 

Goodluck 

Former VP, Sambo hails Igbinedion 

varsity on quality service delivery 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—FORMER 

Vice President, Namadi 

Sambo has commended Igbinedion 

University, Okada, 

Edo State for distinguishing 

itself in academic excellence 

and value driven education 

for over two decades. 

Speaking at the 22nd Matriculation 

ceremony of the 

University held weekend with 

both physical presence and 

online participation of some 

dignitaries, Sambo said that 

the feat achieved by the institution 

in creating entrepreneurs 

instead of job seekers is 

an indication of the urge for 

the excellence of the founder 

and chancellor of the Institution, 

Gabriel Igbinedion. 

The former Vice President 

said, while the security challenges 

in the country have 

some direct relationship with 

Jonathan, has described education 

as the key to nationbuilding 

and manpower development. 

He spoke weekend, at Kaiama 

during a grand reception 

in honour of Governor 

Douye Diri, by the people of 

his Kolokuma/Opokuma Local 

Government Area of the 

state. 

His words: "Education is key 

to development. If you read the 

history of Singapore, you will 

see that Lee Kuan Yew that 

transformed his country from 

third World to the first World 

focused on education. 

"When you liberate the mind 

of the people, they will be so 

enlightened and be able to do 

the right thing. So, Governor 

Diri, I assure you that we will 

work with you to see how to 

improve the quality of education 

in the state. 

"Bayelsa is relatively young 

being one of the states created 

by the late Gen. Sani Abacha 

in 1996. But a lot of changes 

have taken place and we believe 

that Diri would continue 

to add more. 

"Before Bayelsa was created, 

there was no major tertiary 

institution in the state. But 

today, we have universities 

and other educational infrastructure." 

Commending the governor's 

performance in his first 

year in office, Jonathan restated 

his call on politicians 

to put aside hatred and embrace 

peace for the overall 

good of the people and the 

development of the state. 

Responding to the honour 

by his kinsmen, Diri 

thanked them for coming 

out en masse to receive him. 

He described Kolokuma/ 

Opokuma council as the epicentre 

of the struggle of the 

Ijaw people and of justice 

and equity in Nigeria. 

He recalled the bitter experience 

of the Odi massacre 

when in the name of 

searching for criminals, 

people were killed and houses 

burnt and destroyed by 

the military. 

Diri thanked Jonathan for 

releasing funds for the rebuilding 

of Odi while in office 

as president. 

the massive job deficit, the 

school has set the pace by 

breeding skilled graduates 

with the ability to handle high 

skilled jobs. 

In his speech, Vice Chancellor 

of the university, Prof 

Lawrence Ezemonye said, the 

institution is setting new standards 

in producing futureready 

and innovation-driven 

graduates in line with the institution's 

smart campus and 

entrepreneurial inclusive vision. 

Guest Speaker and Technical 

Adviser on Gas Business 

and Policy Implementation to 

the Minister of State Petroleum 

Resources, Engr Justice 

Derefaka, who also joined via 

zoom spoke on the topic: "Refocusing 

Value-Driven Education 

in the Digital Age 

Through the lens Entrepreneurship, 

Enterprise and global 

competitiveness: lessons 

for Nigeria.". 

Calabar-Itu Road funding: 

No effort from A'Ibom/CRS NASS, 

Gov Emmanuel —Enang 

By Chioma 

Onuegbu 

UYO—SENIOR Special 

Assistant to the President 

on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator 

Ita Enang, has expressed 

disappointment that Governor 

Udom Emmanuel and all 

members of the National Assembly 

from Akwa Ibom and 

Cross Rivers States have not 

made any effort towards getting 

money to fund the controversial 

Calabar-Itu Road. 

Enang who spoke, weekend, 

in Uyo, while fielding questions 

from Akwa Ibom State 

citizens and residents who 

were not happy that he failed 

to keep to his promise on fixing 

the Calabar-Itu, noted that 

it was only Governor Ben Ayade 

of Cross River State that 

so far made effort along with 

him to get money to fund the 

road. 

He regretted that this year, 

there was no reasonable provision 

in the budget for any of 

the aspects of that road despite 

all the efforts he has 

made, and asked for God's 

help to deliver on his promise. 

He explained that he had 

started the struggle in 2015 

and got the first N6billion in 

the 2015/2016 budget, but unfortunately, 

when the road was 

to be awarded, it was advertised 

for rehabilitation from 

Ikot Ekpene to Calabar 

which he rejected. 

Enang added, "So I took 

the budget to the Minister 

and to the Bureau of Public 

Procurement that this is not 

what is in the budget. By the 

time I was able to overcome 

that fight, the budget had 

lapsed, the year had gone, 

and the N6billion was gone. 

Now I struggled in the following 

year to get 

N4.7billlion.

C 

M 

Y 

K 




LAUNCHING: From left; Celebrity hair Stylist, Mr. Idowu Oluwatosin; Public Relations Manager, Tolarams 

Group, Mrs. Omotayo Abiodun, Marketing Executive, Lush Hair, Folashade Oluwafemi; Director, Lagos State 

Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Olufunke Shyllon, during the official launch of Lush 

Hair Academy, in Lagos. 

Assets recovery: Okorocha, Uzodimma 

bicker over APC stakeholders'resolution 

•No APC member at stakeholders' parley —Okorocha 

•Soon we'll know who owns the land —Uzodimma 

Killer herdsmen: Igbo council asks 

Nigerians to boycott cow meat 

By Chinonso Alozie 

O HOLDERS WERRI—STAKE 

at the Igbo 

Nation Political Summit, yesterday, 

called on Nigerians to 

boycott the buying and eating 

of cow meat. 

This was contained in a 

communiqué issued after the 

summit held in Owerri, Imo 

State by the Igbo National 

Council, INC, signed by the 

president, Chilos Godsent and 

the National Secretary, Zulu 

Ofoelue. 

They said that the call for 

boycott of cow meat was to 

serve as economic sanctions 

against killer herdsmen ravaging 

the country. 

They also threatened that if 


OGovernor WERRI—FORMER 

of Imo State 

and Senator representing Imo 

west Senatorial district, Senator 

Rochas Okorocha, yesterday, 

claimed that those who 

attended the stakeholders' 

meeting in the state, which resolved 

that all stolen properties 

belonging to Imo people 

must be recovered, were not 

members of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

Speaking through his Special 

Adviser on Media, Sam 

Onwuemedo, Senator Okorocha 

said he did not see any 

APC member in the meeting. 

According to Okorocha, 

"Aside Prof. Marince Iwu who 

was there because his Junior 

brother is the Secretary to the 

State Government, no other 

prominent citizen of the state 

was there, including those in 

business, in politics and so on. 

Anyone in doubt should see 

the media publications on the 

list of those in attendance. 

"With the much orchestrated 

stories of recovery, the governor 

has only embarked on 

blackmail trip and vendetta 

against Okorocha, otherwise 

the petitions for which EFCC 

and ICPC investigated Okorocha 

and the matters are in 

Court, were written by the 

State Government. Then, why 

not wait until the courts find 

Okorocha guilty. Why the hurry? 

Sooner than later, the reason 

for this needless vendetta 

against Okorocha which is 

bound to fail would manifest. 

"The governor had deceived 

the court last Wednesday to 

grant him interim order of 

forfeiture after agents of government 

had invaded and 

looted the properties in question. 

And the order was granted 

because they never informed 

the court that there is 

a judgment on the same properties 

by Justice T.N. Nzeukwu, 

and pending cases on the 

same properties before Justice 

J.K. Omotosho of Federal 

High Court Port-Harcourt; 

and Federal High Court Owerri, 

and High Court in Abuja 

Judicial Division, the reason 

we described the order of forfeiture 

as belated and an afterthought. 

"We know well meaning citizens 

of the state. When they 

meet, we shall know that Imo 

stakeholders have met and not 

members of the governor's 

faction of APC who are very 

few in number. They only held 

their factional meeting, last 

Saturday." 

In a short response, the state 

commissioner for Information 

and Strategy, Hon. Declan 

Emelumba, said: "Okorocha 

is a perennial liar. This 

government will no longer 

dignify him by joining issues 

with him. The day of reckoning 

is here and there is no escape 

route. Imo people have 

spoken and sooner than later 

we shall know who owns the 

land." 

the political class in the country 

did not give the presidency 

to the South-East region in 

2023, they would begin the 

process for self-determination 

in line with the African Charter 

on Human and Peoples 

Rights and the United Nation 

Declaration on Human 

Rights. 

The summit was themed: 

"Fostering Partnership for 

National Reintegration" 

while "Igbo Nation Participation 

in the Nigerian Political 

System: Challenges 

and Prospects" 

"The Summit condemned 

in strong terms the wanton 

and reckless destruction of 

properties and killing of 

Nigerians by the rampaging 

Fulani Jihadists herdsmen 

and bandits. 

"In view of the above, we 

demand the immediate review 

and overhaul of the Nigerian 

security architecture 

for efficient service delivery. 

The summit calls on Nigerians 

to boycott the buying and 

eating of cow meat as a minimum 

measure of economic 

sanctions against the killer 

Jihadist herdsmen. 

"The Summit strongly demand 

that the Federal Government 

of Nigeria should 

declare the Miyetti Allah Cattle 

Breeders Association of 

Nigeria, MACBAN, as a terrorist 

group for their open and 

brazen support and participation 

in terrorism in Nigeria 

through the Jihadist Killer 

herdsmen," INC said. 

They said: "The Summit after 

critical x-ray of the challenges 

and prospects of the 

Igbo Nation participation in 

the present Nigeria political 

system frowned at the pathetic 

situation the Igbo Nation 

found herself within the 

present political configuration 

of the Nigerian state orchestrated 

by the tiny Nigeria 

ruling cabal. 

As a result, they resolved 

"that it is sacred obligation for 

the major political parties in 

Nigeria to cede their Presidential 

Ticket to the South-East 

zone in the 2023 Nigeria 

presidential election and 

that all determinant Nigeria 

political kingpins and 

major actors should respect 

and adopt the permutation. 

"On the foregoing, the 

Summit posited that it is a 

matter of urgent necessity 

that Nigeria must be liberated 

from the present high 

state of insecurity, abject 

poverty, economic turmoil 

and political backwardness 

Inter-alia." 

Eziukwu/Cemetery road'll be 

recovered under my watch 

—Ikpeazu 

By Steve Oko 

UNOR MUAHIA—GOVER 

Okezie Ikpeazu 

has assured that the on-going 

Eziukwu Cemetery Road 

which had been abandoned 

for close to three decades 

would be fully recovered under 

his watch. 

Speaking when he paid a 

working visit to the project at 

the Eziukwu Road by Ehi 

Road end of the road, the governor 

stated that his resolve to 

re-write the history of infrastructure 

in Aba was fully on 

course. 

The governor noted that the 

target is to push the project to 

terminate at the Cemetery 

Market, Aba because of the 

critical role played by the 

market in the economy of Aba 

and Abia State. 

He tasked the contractor to 

strictly adhere to all laid down 

specifications in the design of 

the project. 

The governor further asked 

the contractor to expand the 

scope of the project to include 

fixing all adjoining junctions 

terminating at Eziukwu Road. 

Imo dissolves community devt 

boards of oil areas 


OWERRI—THE Imo State 

Government, yesterday, 

said that it had dissolved the 

Community Development 

Boards, CDBs, of the Shell Petroleum 

Development Corporation, 

SPDC, of no fewer than 

four communities in Ohaji/Egbema 

Local Council of the 

state. 

The state government announced 

this in Owerri, 

through the office of the Special 

Adviser/Coordinator Petroleum, 

Oil and Gas Matters, 

Goodluck Opiah. 

The government said that a 

new board would be reconstituted 

and that the members of 

the public and security agencies 

had been told to be wary 

EEDC laments customer's poor 

payment culture in S-East 

By Chinedu Adonu 

ENUGU ELECTRICITY 

Distribution Company, 

EEDC, has expressed worry 

over poor payment culture by 

its post-paid customers across 

the South-East, despite improvement 

in the quality of its 

services. 

The Head, Corporate Communications, 

EEDC, Emeka 

Ezeh made this known to 

pressmen in Enugu, yesterday, 

after a Cash-Drive exercise by 

the company across its network, 

last week.. 

Ezeh lamented the huge collection 

loss the company is 

grappling with while striving 

to improve on the quality of 

Lawyer charges group to respect 

constitution 

By Onozure Dania 

A 

LAWYER, Mr Anthony 

Okechukwu, has charged 

the new executive of the Old 

Aguata Union, OAU, in 

ASPAMDA, Lagos, to always 

respect their constitution by 

following its provisions to provide 

good and successful administration 

for the association. 

He stated this after administering 

the oath of office to 

the newly elected officers of 

the union at the Motel, Trade 

fair complex, Lagos. 

The chairman elected, Nze 

Umerioha thanked past leaders 

of the union and promised 

to sustain their good programmes. 

.…Gives reason for 

relocating Abia 

College of Health 

The affected adjourning 

junctions include Market 

Road, Cameroon Road, and 

Ehi Road 

Ikpeazu assured of his 

readiness to accommodate 

variations in the contract for 

the purpose of these additions. 

Meanwhile Governor Ikpeazu 

has explained that the 

reason his administration 

decided to relocate the Abia 

State College of Health and 

Management Technology, 

Aba currently at the heart of 

Enyimba to a new site at 

Umuobiakwa, was to help 

decongest the City centre. 

The governor who made 

the explanation while laying 

the foundation stone for the 

construction of the permanent 

site at Umuobiakwa, 

said that the current location 

of the institution at the heart 

of the Aba City Centre "has 

become unsustainable owing 

to increasing commercial 

activities in the area which 

impede smooth academic 

work". 

of dealing with the dissolved 

board. 

He said: "This is to inform 

the General Public that the 

Imo State Government has 

dissolved the members of the 

Community Development 

Boards, CDBs, of the Shell 

Petroleum Development Corporation, 

SPDC, for Awarra, 

Obile, Ochia and Assa Communities 

in Ohaji/ Egbema 

LGA of Imo State. 

"Sequel to this, oil producing 

companies in the area 

and the people of the oil producing 

communities of Ohaji/ 

Egbema LGA are therefore 

warned to desist further relationship 

with the Godswell 

Uho Uzomba led CDBs as 

doing so amounts to flagrant 

disobedience to the Government 

of Imo State." 

services, and at the same time 

meet up with its regulatory 

obligations to the Market 

Operator and other players 

within the electricity value 

chain. 

"The fact that customers are 

so comfortable consuming 

our supply and not paying remains 

a matter of concern to 

us as an enterprise, as this attitude 

negatively impacts on 

our overall performance. This 

situation informed the need 

for us to embark on the Cash 

Drive exercise, to enable us 

meet with these customers 

one-on-one to know why they 

are not paying their bills. 

Ezeh emphasized that cash 

is key in running the operations 

of the company, as it 

enables it attend to the barrage 

of network challenges, 

as well as carry out some network 

expansion projects targeted 

at improved performance 

and service delivery. 

According to the company's 

spokesman, on monthly basis 

the company imports and 

distributes energy to its customers, 

but end up struggling 

to recover the revenue, thereby 

leaving the company with 

a rising debt profile.


C 

M 

Y 

K 




Court to NURTW: TruckerS 

engaged by clearing, forwarding 

agencies belong to MWUN 

THE 

National 

Industrial Court, NIC, 

sitting in Port Harcourt, has ruled 

that the Maritime Workers Union 

of Nigeria, MWUN, is the sole 

Union to unionise and collect 

fees, dues, tolls or any payments 

whatsoever of all workers or 

persons engaged by clearing and 

forwarding agencies for the 

purpose of haulage of 

containerised goods. 

The ruling followed a suit 

instituted by MWUN against 

National Union of Road Transport 

Workers, NURTW, seeking 

among others, a perpetual 

injunction restraining NURTW 

either by itself, agents, privies, 

officers, staff, workers or 

whosoever and by whatsoever 

name so called acting or 

purporting to act on its behalf from 

demanding fees, dues, tolls or any 

payments whatsoever from the 

claimant’s members, whether of 

its haulage unit or otherwise, or 

in any manner whatsoever 

coercing or doing any act 

consistent with compelling the 

members of the claimant 

aforesaid to pay any dues to the 

defendant. 

In a judgment delivered by 

Justice Z.M Bashire, the court 

granted all the prayers of the 

MWUN against NURTW on union 

membership and the payment of 

levies or union dues. 

According to the judgment 

“the court makes a declaration 

that the claimant’s members 

whether of its haulage unit or 

otherwise, not being members of 

the defendant, are not within the 

control of the defendant’s trade 

union and thus not liable to pay 

union dues, fees, tolls, or any fee 

of whatsoever nature to the 

defendant or its members.'' 

“A declaration that the 

defendant cannot in law compel 

members of the claimant 

(whether of its haulage unit or 

otherwise) to become members 

of the defendant. An order of 

perpetual injunction restraining 

the defendant either by itself, 

agents, privies, officers, staff, 

workers or whosoever and by 

whatsoever name so called acting 

or purporting to act on its behalf 

from demanding fees, dues, tolls 

or any payments whatsoever 

from the claimant’s members 

(whether of its haulage unit or 

otherwise), or in any manner 

whatsoever coercing or doing any 

act consistent with compelling 

the member of the claimant 

aforesaid to pay any dues to the 

defendant. 

APC sweeps council polls in Yobe 

M THE AIDUGURI— 

All Progressives 

Congress (APC) party in Yobe 

State has won all the 17 Local 

Government Chairmen elections 


Announcing the council 

elections result at the week end 

in Damaturu, the Executive 

Secretary of Yobe State 

Independent Electoral 

Commission (YBSIEC), Dr. 

Mamman Mohammed disclosed 

that; “Out of the six political 

parties that contested for the 

elections, only the APC fielded 

its candidates; while five other 

parties fielded for only the 

councillorships. 

“It’s only APC that fielded 

candidates for the chairmanship 

and councilors.” 

Oil palm growers, CBN 

brainstorm to boost production 

BENIN CITY—Oil Palm 

Growers Association of 

Nigeria, OPGAN, yesterday 

converged at the Nigerian 

Institute for Oil Palm Research, 

NIFOR, to proffer solutions to the 

dwindling fortune of the oil palm 

sector in Nigeria. 

The association also 

inaugurated its liaison office in 

the premises of NIFOR as part of 

efforts to properly liaise with the 

research institute to boost the 

production of oil palm in the 

country. 

Speaking at a town hall 

meeting, National President of 

the association, Mr Joe Onyiuke 

said: "We are in NIFOR today to 

strategise on the way forward on 

the ANCHOR Borrower's 

Programme of the Central Bank 

of Nigeria, CBN. 

"More importantly to 

commission our new liaison office 

in NIFOR which is key to us as 

oil palm farmers. 

"With this office our farmers will 

be able to get all the benefits and 

training required for the 

cultivation of oil palm. 

Also speaking, the CBN 

Governor, Godwin Emiefele 

represented by Mr. Anthony 

Ufechukwu, the Special Adviser 

on Development Finance to the 

Governor said the CBN was 

committed to reviving the oil 

palm sector to stop importation. 

Emiefele said "the CBN is very 

emphatic about reviving the oil 

palm sector. In doing this, we 

started by reaching out to large 

companies with a view to 

ensuring that they plant and 

assist small scale farmers but we 

are not getting the results. 

"So we are going down to the 

roots to interact with small scale 

farmers who cultivate about one 

to five hectares to have a strong 

union to promote themselves in 

the oil palm industry.'' 

Insecurity: CAN, JNI, others blame hypocrisy, 

misinterpretation of religious messages 

By Marie Nanlong 

JAssociation OS—CHRISTIANS 

of Nigeria, 

CAN, Jama’atul Nasril Islam, 

JNI, among others, have blamed 

hypocrisy by religious leaders, 

misrepresentation and 

misinterpretation of religious 

messages for some of the major 

conflicts leading to the breakdown 

of law and order among followers 

of the two major religions in the 

country. 

At a peace dialogue organized 

by African Centre for Media and 

Information Literacy, AFRICMIL, 

in Jos, Plateau State to address 

increasing social unrests linked 

to religion and ethnicity, CAN and 

JNI, contended that it would be 

difficult to correct misled followers 

referring to others as infidels. 

Speaking, Chairman Kaduna 

State Chapter of CAN, Reverend 

John Hayab, said: “There is so 

much hypocrisy and politicization 

of religion that it is 

increasingly difficult to know 

the truth about what is 

happening. Nigerians, especially 

religious leaders sjould be wary 

of politicians because of their 

penchant for using clerics to 

instigate violence in society.'' 

Similarly, Chairperson of the 

women wing of JNI, Benue State, 

Hajiya Hauwa Isa, noted that 

''misrepresentation and or 

misinterpretation of religious 

messages have caused so much 

harm that it is difficult to correct 

followers when they refer to 

others as unbelievers who must 

either follow their way or suffer 

the consequences.” 

Another speaker, Imam Sani 

Isah, said the “problem of Interreligious 

and Intercultural 

Dialogue is often compounded by 

the misrepresentation or 

misinterpretation of holy books 

by religious leaders. Some clerics 

interprete some chapters of the 

holy books in such a way that 

indicates superiority over others 

which makes followers of a 

particular religion look down on 

others and treat them as inferior.” 

In a welcome address, 

Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Dr. 

Chido Onumah, represented by 

AFRICMIL’s Senior Programme 

Officer, Godwin Onyeacholem 

said: “It is important that religious 

leaders, who are known to 

shape opinions and attitudes 

in their communities, are able 

to critically analyze information 

and news media content, 

understand risks and 

opportunities associated with the 

internet, and become responsible 

and informed consumers and 

transmitters of information and 

opinion.” 

Flush out hooligans blocking food items to South now, MBF tells FG 

By Chris Ochayi 

A Middle BUJA—THE 

Belt Forum, 

MBF, has called on the Federal 

Government and the relevant 

security agencies to quickly 

flush out hooligans involved in 

illegal blocking of movement of 

food items to the South from 

the North at a Jebba village in 

Niger State. 

The MBF, in a statement 

yesterday by its National 

President, Dr. Bitrus Pogu, 

among others, said ‘’The 

attention of the Middle Belt 

Forum has been drawn to a 

video clip showing the illegal 

blocking of food items to the 

South from the North at a 

Allied Air receives B737-800 

cargo aircraft at Abuja Airport 

NIGERIA’S 

Allied 

Air, a Lagos-based and 

the only International Air 

Transport Association (IATA) 

designated cargo airline in Africa 

has acquired a modern B737- 

800SF aircraft. 

The Minister of Aviation, 

Senator Hadi Sirika, the Central 

Bank of Nigeria Governor, Mr. 

Godwin Emefiele and the Access 

Bank Group Managing Director, 

Mr. Hubert Wigwe along other 

government officials received the 

newly acquired aircraft at the 

Nnamdi Azikiwe International 

Airport, Abuja 

The freighter (MSN 36846) is 

the youngest 737-800 in the 

world converted to date and 

Allied Air is the first airline in 

Africa to own and operate a B737- 

800SF on the continent. 

The new acquisition puts the 

airline atop other cargo operators 

in the continent. The airline is also 

the first cargo airline in Africa to 

attain the IOSA certificate and has 

continued to renew it since 2016. 

Speaking about the aircraft, the 

Managing Director of Allied Air, 

Captain Val Tongo said : "B737- 

800SF Cargo Conversion 

consists of the installation of a 

86" x 137" cargo door on the left 

side of the fuselage, and 

modificationn of main deck to a 

Class E cargo compartment. 

" After conversion the aircraft 

can carry eleven 88" x 125" AAA 

full height containers or pallets 

plus one AEP/AEH, with pallet 

weights up to 9,000 lbs. It can 

accommodate eleven 88"x125" 

AAA full height containers or 

pallets plus one AEP/AEH Up to 

52,700 LB (23,904 KG) Main 

Deck Payload (depending on 

Model & Aircraft Weight Limits)." 

Jebba village in Niger State by 

some yet to be identified 

persons. 

‘’We are not only stunned by 

this act which we believe is 

orchestrated by some 

unpatriotic elements, but also 

shocked at this despicable action. 

‘The Forum wishes to 

categorically state that as an 

organisation that represent 

ethnic nationalities in the Middle 

Belt Region, we are irrevocably 

opposed to such an act which we 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

A President, 

BUJA—FORMER 

Chief 

Olusegun Obasanjo has tasked 

the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji 

Yahaya Bello on the need to 

sustain his current onslaught 

against criminality in the state. 

Obasanjo gave the charge 

yesterday in Abuja at a closeddoor 

meeting with the Kogi state 

governor. 

Chief Press Secretary CPS to 

the governor, Mohammed 

Onogwu in a statement said his 

principal and the former president 

had fruitful discussions. 

According to him, “Obasanjo 

urged the governor to sustain his 

efforts in providing security for his 

state noting that Kogi is central 

to the nation’s peace and 

development. Former President 

Obasanjo noted that the fight 

against insecurity should have 

everybody on board, stressing 

that governors should involve 

everyone to ensure insecurity is 

curtailed in Nigeria”. 

While appreciating the 

governor for his developmental 

believe is capable of creating a 

rift and widening the fragility of 

our corporate existence. 

‘’For such persons to block food 

items being transported to the 

South from the North is not only 

criminal, but also intended to 

throw the entire nation into 

chaos. ‘We call on the Federal 

Government and other relevant 

security agencies to flush out 

these hooligans to discourage 

retaliation from the southern 

part. 

PRESENTATION: From 

left: Mr. Oludaisi 

Olubunmi, Executive 

Director of Operation, 

Avila Naturalle Ltd, Mrs. 

Hafsah Balogun 

Omotoso, MD. Hafbam 

Global and winner of 

Diamond Partner of the 

Year 2020 and Mrs. 

Oluwakemi Fafiyebi, 

Business Development 

Manager, during the 

Avila Naturalle Ltd 

Distributors prize 

presentation ceremony, 

at the company's office in 

Ikotun, Lagos. Photo: 

Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. 

‘’Amidst the ongoing banditry in 

various parts of the country, the 

deliberate blockage of food items 

is nothing short of waging another 

form of terrorism on Nigerians. We 

cannot as a nation afford to deal 

with these urchins and bandits 

with kid gloves. ‘The Federal 

Government needs to do 

something drastic to send clear 

signals that outlaws who threaten 

the country would never have it 

easy with the government.'' 

Obasanjo urges Bello to sustain fight against 

criminality 

strides in the state, especially in 

the areas of infrastructure, 

health, education as well as youth 

and women inclusion in 

governance, Obasanjo charged 

Bello to continue to be an 

advocate for youth involvement 

Lush hair launches free 

hair academy 

LUSH Hair, in 

collaboration with the 

Lagos Ministry of Women Affairs 

and Poverty Development and 

Make-Me Professional Institute 

Surulere, has launched a hair 

styling academy at zero cost to 

both existing stylists and aspiring 

Nigerian youths who have picked 

up interest in professional hair 

making and styling. 

The Academy is designed for 

all Nigerian youths who want to 

sharpen their skills and learn 

about ways to enhance their 

creativity in professional hair 

making/styling from experts who 

already have made remarkable 

impact in the industry. The 

programme aims at keeping 

potential students updated on 

in governance. 

Responding, Governor Bello 

thanked President Obasanjo for 

his statesmanly role and fatherly 

disposition, saying young leaders 

have a lot to tap from the expresident’s 

wealth of wisdom. 

the latest hair styles, trends, 

products, equipment-handling, 

and styling techniques among 

others. 

According to the brand 

Manager, Lush Hair, Ritambhara 

Kakkar, the initiative was borne 

out of the realization that lots of 

Nigerian youths that are 

unemployed still have the zeal 

to become entrepreneurs but 

due to some constraints they 

cannot start on their own. “In 

view of this, we decided to 

encourage youths whom we 

recognize as the future of the 

nation, with a vocational training 

opportunity to start up a 

profitable business. 

On the other hand, existing 

stylists who may want to sharpen 

their skills to build on previous 

knowledge are equally welcome 

to participate at no cost.


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for 

beginners 

THE abduction of 317 school 

girls of the Government 

Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, 

Zamfara State, last Friday, 

February 26, is even more tragic 

because we as parents and adults 

once again failed to protect the 

Nigerian child. It is distressing 

that this is the fourth mass 

abduction of children in their 

schools within three months: 

Katsina, Kankara, Kagara and 

now Jangebe. 

All these children have done is 

to be caught in their dilapidated 

and rundown schools in their 

pursuit of priceless education 

which after 60 years of 

independence we have deprived 

most of our citizens. 

The frustration expressed by 

members of the Jangebe 

community who attacked police, 

security and even media vehicles 

to stop them from assessing the 

community in the wake of the 

abductions, is an indication of a 

loss of faith in the Nigerian state 

and system. 

How can they have faith when 

they knew that 42 persons, 

including students, staff and 

their families from the 

Government Science College, 

Kagara, Niger State abducted 10 

days earlier, were at the time, 

despite vows by the federal and 

state governments and 

duplicitous ‘negotiators’, still in the 

hands of their abductors? 

How dare we blame these 

hapless people whose state 

governor, Bello Matawalle, 

exactly eight days before the 

abductions, had lectured 

Nigerians during his visit to 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

that these terrorists who have 

murdered hundreds of persons 

are not criminals? 

Governor Matawalle had told 

the world: “Not all of them are 

criminals… some of them, 

sometimes were cheated by socalled 

vigilante groups. They 

normally go to their settlements 

and destroy property and take 

their animals. They did not have 

anyone to speak with, so 

sometimes they go for revenge. 

When the vigilante group attacks 

them, they go for reprisals. That 

is exactly what happened.” So if 

the killers are engaged in 

“revenge” and “reprisals”, why 

would the victim-communities 

trust the same state to protect 

them and their children? 

Yet, these terrorists are not 

without their strong advocates 

like Sheikh Ahmad Gumi who 

presents the murderous bandits 

- who kidnap, steal, rape, maim 

and kill - as the victims, and the 

ordinary Nigerians who are 

kidnapped in villages and towns, 

Deregulating Nigeria's oil sector: 

Travailing to bring forth 

BY DAN AIBANGBE 

OIL exploration commenced in Nigeria 

as far as 1903 under licence given to 

Nigeria Bitumen Company and later to 

Shell BP (1908). A series of realignments 

and some 6million British Pounds worth of 

exploration expenditure culminated in the 

discovery of the first active oil well in 

Oloibiri in 1956 and production in 1958, 

some 50 years later! 

Incidentally, the first three refineries built in 

Nigeria were of the ‘Complex’ Class. It is 

worthy of note that the three were built by 

government rather than private/ commercial 

ventures. These are among the possible 

reasons for their current decrepit states and 

the refusal of international oil companies, 

IOCs, to invest in that sector. The fear of 

competing directly with government! 

Another historical element worthy of 

exploration is the history of Oil (PMS) price 

adjustment in Nigeria. From the regime of 

General Yakubu Gowon, right through to the 

current administration of President 

Mohammadu Buhari, there have always been 

price increases, except for during the short 

regime of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. 

Most recently during this present 

administration, precisely at the end of May, 

2020, the current administration reduced 

fuel price by an unprecedented 16.55%, 

from N145 to N121! During that space, the 

Group Managing Director of NNPC , Mr 

Mele Kyari, indicated that government had 

decided to scrap the subsidy regime, 

recently nicknamed ‘under-recovery’ by 

the NNPC. The fact that this government 

reduced fuel price at all is an indication of the 

good intentions and the hope that we may yet 

experience another reduction if and when the 

parameters are right. 

What was not made clear then, is whether 

government has commenced total 

privatisation. It now appears government has 

been checkmated from the prodigal subsidy 

regime by a number of factors such as 

declining revenues from crude oil exports and 

worsening Naira-Dollar exchange rate, both 

caused by the COVID-19 economy. In 

addition, the Bretton Woods ‘Big Brothers’ 

have been watching and warning the nation 

of the unsustainability of the Nigerian 

economic anathema called oil price subsidy. 

It is a grotesque economic phenomenon that 

government would ever consider subsidising 

consumption of a generic utility (energy) in 

an economy suffering acute underdevelopment. 

This evil has been sustained 

Government has not really 

increased the price of PMS, but 

merely reflected the current 

reality of the increasing 

weakness of the dollar 

footpaths and highways, as the 

predators. Gumi argues: “I think 

it is a population that is pushed 

by circumstances into 

criminality…They are peaceful 

people. But something happened 

that led them to this.” 

Gumi, who campaigns for 

amnesty for the terrorists and 

their empowerment with state 

funds, is so passionate that he 

even advises the criminals on 

how to present a better public 

image by avoiding the 

kidnapping of women wearing 

hijab. 

So the bandits can either 

release such women or yank 

their hijab off before video-taping 

them. In other words, as far as 

Gumi is concerned, it is in order 

to kidnap non-Muslim women. 

He made wild, unsubstantiated 

claims that the Nigerian Army 

has been carrying out genocide 

against the bandits and tops it 

How can Gumi claim 

to be a peacemaker 

when he is the chief 

spokesperson and 

negotiator-in-chief of 

the bandits? 

by the warped logic that uncontrolled fuel 

(PMS) prices will cause untold hardship for 

the common man, when, in fact, it is the subsidy 

of the widely consumed product that actually 

fuels corruption, mis-allocation of scarce 

government revenue and most importantly, 

vital foreign exchange to the detriment of the 

development of vital infrastructure and the 

real sector. 

The case for complete removal of subsidy 

is extensive. Firstly, subsidies on fuel 

consumption are unbudgeted and cannot be 

budgeted for in a scientific manner that would 

with wilder claims that only non- 

Muslim soldiers kill them. When 

Gumi met the abductors of the 

Kagara school children, he told 

them: “What I want you people 

to understand is, soldiers that are 

involved in most of the 

criminalities (fighting them) 

are not Muslims. You know, 

soldiers have Muslims and non- 

Muslims. The non-Muslims are 

the ones causing confusion just 

to ignite a crisis.” 

The implication of his claims is 

that Muslim soldiers spare the 

killer-bandits. If this were so, it 

would be manifest treason 

because he is accusing such 

soldiers of colluding with the 

bandits to attack innocent 

Nigerians. When Gumi, a former 

Captain in the Nigerian Army, was 

asked on AIT if in his knowledge, 

soldiers are deployed on 

operations based on their religious 

faith, he could provide no answer 

as this would defeat his claims that 

in combat, only non-Muslim 

soldiers fight bandits. 

If Gumi, an Ahmadu Bello 

University-trained medical doctor, 

can advocate that the bandits 

should attack or kidnap only non- 

Muslims and kill only non- 

Muslim soldiers, I have no doubt 

that despite his Hippocratic oath, 

non-Muslim patients would be 

dead meat under his scalpel. 

Gumi’s vile narrations try to 

side-track the fact that the victims 

of the bandits are not selected 

based on their religion. In fact, that 

the bandits are interested in 

ransom payment not the religion 

of their victims. 

Sadly, most of the victims of the 

bandits, especially in the hotbeds 

of Katsina, Zamfara and Niger 

states, are Muslims. The innocent 

children they are kidnapping enmasse 

whether in Jangebe, 

Katsina, Kankara or Kagara, are 

predominantly Muslim. How is 

it difficult for a Sheikh to 

understand that a criminal is a 

criminal irrespective of his 

religion? 

How can Gumi claim to be a 

peacemaker when he is the chief 

spokesperson and negotiator-inchief 

of the bandits? He also 

makes a laughable claim that the 

bandits are actually some 

liberation fighters engaged in an 

“ethnic” war. 

He said: “When I listened to 

them, I found out that it is a 

simple case of criminality which 

turned into banditry, which 

turned into ethnic war, and some 

genocide too behind the scene; 

people don’t know.” Who told him 

the Fulani are engaged in an 

ensure expenditure is controllable. That is a 

perfect recipe for extensive corruption. 

Secondly, there is no doubt as to the need for 

complete deregulation or privatisation of the 

fuel supply sector of the economy. Privatisation 

magnetizes foreign direct investment and 

creates jobs in a sustainable manner. This 

midstream and downstream sectors of this our 

God-given natural resource should have been 

the largest employer of layer in the last six 

decades! 

Thirdly, considering that the PMS consumed 

in Nigeria is virtually 100% imported, it carries 

with it imported inflation due to the declining 

exchange rates of the naira to the dollar. This 

phenomenon is apparent to a basic student of 

accountancy. If fuel price is N145 per litre when 

a dollar exchanges for N360, then the price 

must be automatically adjusted to N156.6 now 

that the exchange rate has become N387 to a 

dollar! What I am saying here is that 

government has not really increased the price 

of PMS, but merely reflected the current reality 

of the increasing weakness of the dollar, which 

is a result of our reducing export earnings, 

increasing external borrowing and reducing 

foreign reserves. All these would have been 

needless, had Nigeria been refining her own 

crude for domestic consumption! 

A fourth reason for the necessity of 

increasing the fuel price is the need to dump 

this economic anathema of subsidising the 

consumption of a foreign good. Yes, PMS is a 

foreign product in Nigeria as of today, a big 

shame. It is even far worse than rice 

importation. I had argued on another 

platform that government did not fully 

maximize the rice project. It would have 

been better to use the rice project to solve the 

petroleum issue (one stone to kill two birds). 

Fifthly, there must be something compelling 

about fuel price deregulation if all but one 

regime since Gowon to date have embraced 

it. Military, civil-military, civilian, PDP, APC 

and any other will always return to this 

crossroad, unless the present regime finds the 

ethnic war against the rest of the 

country? 

I am not taken in by Gumi 

flaunting his Sheikh regalia 

about forests claiming to seek 

freedom for the masses being 

ceaselessly abducted; when a cat 

is claiming piety, he is simply 

looking for food. 

Also, I do not begrudge him 

selling himself to state and 

federal governments as an 

experienced freelance 

negotiator. But the governments 

should properly assess him. It is 

not just the huge holes in Gumi’s 

narratives and child-like claims 

that are glaring, some bolts also 

appear to be missing. 

In this matter of banditry and 

mass kidnapping in the North, it 

is quite in order for the state 

governors to privatise their 

responsibility as chief security 

officers of their states and award 

the contract to Gumi as 

ambassador plenipotentiary to 

traverse bandit hideouts and 

negotiate the release of the 

victims. The only thing is that 

in picking a chief negotiator, they 

need to subject him to some test. 

Gumi is like a fat cat 

advocating for the rat race; 

claiming humans are inhuman 

towards them, intent to wipe 

them out and that rats have the 

fundamental right to roam around, 

especially in the kitchen and eat 

whatever they find without fear of 

being poisoned. 

The agenda of Gumi is clear, 

therefore, he cannot be speaking 

in the interests of the victims of 

kidnapping and banditry. 

Even if the wolf claims to be the 

spokesperson of the sheep, its 

interests and those of the sheep 

are not the same; for the wolf, 

both the sheep and other animals 

it can pounce on, are game. So, it 

is not difficult to decipher Gumi. 

courage to go the whole hog of privatising the 

sector. The maxim that government has no 

business in business may be roaring here. 

A sixth reason is that the recurring error in 

idea that there is any benefit in maintaining a 

unitary price of fuel across the Nigerian 

jurisdiction is desirable or beneficial to any 

part of the country is a mirage. For simple 

illustration, assuming fuel price in the North 

is 15% higher than in the South, economic 

arbitrage will even out the negative impact 

on the North with the positive impact in the 

South within six months, max. The reason is 

that the goods in the North required in the 

South will import the excess price to the South, 

while the goods and services in the South will 

export the reduced fuel price to the North. That 

is the power of allocation of resources, a basic 

economic principle! 

Seventh, government subsidies are 

disincentive to the real sector from 

providing a lasting and sustainable solution 

to local production of fuel and derivative 

refinery products. By my experience in 

value-chains, about 60% value is created 

between harvest of the raw or crude product 

and delivery of the final product for 

consumption. Of this 60%, Nigeria losses at 

least 50% to the external refineries in the 

fuel sector. 

The eight reason why fuel prices need to go 

up is to discourage smuggling. You may ask 

whether smuggling is still going on with the 

border closure. The answer is blowing in the 

wind! But outside the direct smuggling, there 

is indirect smuggling, the mechanics of which 

will be explained in later serials of this article. 

I will rest this article at this point with a 

ninth reason why the current fuel price 

increase is a necessary travail for Nigeria to 

emerge unhurt from the impending doom. 

Continues online. www.vanguardngr.com 

•Dan Aibangbe, a media and public relations 

consultant, wrote from Lagos. 

C 

M 

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Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021— 17 



Men in dark times (2) 

By OBADIAH MAILAFIA 

THE American diplomat 

John Campbell observes that 

Nigeria is always “dancing on the 

brink”. Constantly tempting fate 

may be a good plot in a 

Dostoevskian novel or in a 

Brechtian drama. But in real life, 

it can lead to irreversible trauma. 

Human systems can only take so 

much. Some people are beating the 

drums of war today. If there is one 

war we must avoid at all costs, it is 

this one. It is easy to fan the embers 

of hatred. But to experience the 

horrors of war is a different matter 

altogether. 

As a child, I remember how my 

father, a churchman, harboured 

a dozen Igbo families in our modest 

home a few months before the 

outbreak of war in July 1967. One 

woman had given birth on the day 

they arrived. I had never seen such 

fear in the eyes of grown men. Igbos 

were being hunted down like wild 

game throughout the cities and 

towns of the North. After several 

weeks, we were threatened with 

death. With sorrow and tears, 

Baba had to let them go. I 

remember distinctly that it was in 

the thick of midnight that they set 

out on that long trek into the bowels 

of the primeval savannah. None ever 

came back. I am still haunted by 

those memories to this very day. 

Someone recently sent me an SMS 

about the real implications of war: 

“War is starvation; war is rape; war 

is deprivation of movement; war is 

fear; war is lack of access to health 

care…war is diseases; war is 

hopelessness; war is losing children; 

war is losing parents; war is losing a 

spouse; war is losing loved ones; war 

is not going to school; war is not 

going to work; war is creating an 

entire generation who will be 

illiterates; war is so much more than 

just shooting guns and ending lives.” 

Emeka Nnolim sent me excerpts 

from his manuscript on his 

experiences of childhood in Biafra: 

“We were now all refugees….lack of 

food introduced a new disease – 

kwashiorkor. Children, adults 

walked about with oversized heads 

and or stomach on spindly legs with 

owlish eyes. Their hair is dirt brown 

and all are accompanied by flies. 

Hovering above are vultures. It was 

not uncommon to see corpses at the 

primary school, church, along the 

road or on the way to the stream. 

They were quickly buried. No one 

wailed or mourned anymore. I lost 

count of bodies quickly wrapped in 

cloth, mat or palm fronds before 

burial. Babies, toddlers, children, 

adults, male or female. Parents 

abandoned children who could be 

seen opening their mouths full of flies 

without a sound coming out, 

dropping dead along the road.” 

Sir Winston Churchill, historian, 

statesman and warlord, warned 

that war never follows a straight, 

unilinear path: “The statesman 

who yields to war fever must realise 

that once the signal is given, he is no 

longer the master of policy but the 

slave of unforeseeable and 

uncontrollable events. Antiquated 

war offices, weak, incompetent or 

arrogant commanders, 

untrustworthy allies, hostile 

neutrals, malignant fortune, ugly 

surprises, awful miscalculations – 

all take their seat at the council 

board on the morrow of a 

declaration of war. Always 

remember, however sure you are 

that you can easily win, that there 

would not be a war if the other man 

did not think he also has a chance.” 

Unlike many, I have never 

believed that the Amalgamation 

of 1914 was an accident. Albert 

Einstein famously observed that 

God does not play dice with the 

universe. God is engaged in a great 

thought experiment to see if we can 

forge out of our multifarious 

ethno-religious communities a 

prosperous democracy that can 

become the beacon of hope for our 

benighted continent. 

We need nothing less 

than a new covenant of 

hope; in the arduous task 

of rebuilding our country, 

we must be ready for the 

enemies who would want 

to thwart our efforts at 

every turn 

But there are no guarantees. The 

world does not owe us a living. All 

depends on the collective choices 

we make today. We will survive 

and flourish if we muster the 

requisite courage and vision to 

build a New Nigeria. We will 

surely perish if we continue on the 

path of folly. The future is an open 

book. 

In the rebuilding of our country, 

we must place women and the 

youth at the centre of all our 

national development efforts. The 

dialogue of the generations and of 

gender must begin today. We need 

a proper dialogue that is anchored 

on honesty, social justice and human 

dignity. 

Far from being lazy, Nigerian 

youth are hardworking, creative 

and brave. The aura and energy 

around them is extraordinary. If 

you are in doubt, look at Nollywood 

and the music scene. If you are in 

doubt, ask Facebook Chairman 

Mark Zuckerberg who visited our 

country and was awed by what 

our young people are doing in 

technology. The EndSars protests 

were their shiniest hour. 

I am reminded of Fanon’s famous 

dictum:“Each generation must, 

out of relative obscurity, discover 

its mission, fulfill it or betray it”. 

The mission of our generation is to 

salvage our country from the jaws 

of catastrophe. The clarion call for 

re-engineering of the federation 

can no longer be ignored. We must 

devolve power to the regions and 

redesign our system to ensure that 

it guarantees the welfare, security 

and the common good of all. 

Nations that flourish are those 

that continually reinvent 

themselves in light of domestic and 

changing world conditions. Those 

that fail to reform will atrophy and 

die. 

The Old Testament tells us that 

when the exiles in Babylon were 

told how Solomon’s Temple had 

been sacked and the golden vessels 

of the House of the Lord had been 

carried away by foreign 

conquerors, Nehemiah, a cupbearer 

to King Artaxerxes in the 

Persian capital of Susa, asked of the 

king that he might be permitted 

to go back and rebuild the fallen 

walls of Jerusalem. The king 

granted him approval. 

Nehemiah was a man with a 

plan. He created an investment 

fund. He conferred with the elders. 

He drew up a bill of quantities; 

sourcing for building materials of 

the highest quality. He gathered a 

team and began the work. They 

inevitably encountered enemies 

who were hell-bent on sabotaging 

the project. Sanballat of Samaria. 

Tobiah the Ammonite. And Geshem 

the Arab. He got Prophet Ezra and 

the Levites and all the elders to agree 

on a strategy to defeat the enemies 

of Israel. The project was a 

resounding success. After 12 years, 

we are told, Nehemiah returned to 

the king’s palace in Susa. 

Nigeria is in dire need of nationbuilders. 

We need nothing less than 

a new covenant of hope. In the 

arduous task of rebuilding our 

country, we must be ready for the 

enemies who would want to thwart 

our efforts at every turn. Those who 

have benefitted from the current 

iniquitous system will fight 

ferociously to protect their 

privileges. We must face up to them 

with boldness and courage. We 

must never surrender. 

We have all sinned and fallen 

short of the glory. Christians and 

Muslims are all the children of 

Abraham. We are in the deep hole 

we are today because of a collective 

failure of leadership; because of the 

path-dependence of corruption, 

grand larceny and lawlessness.In 

all matters of politics, the Jewish- 

Dutch philosopher Baruch de 

Spinoza observed: “I have striven 

not to laugh at human actions, not 

to weep at them, nor to hate them, 

but to understand them.” 

The Swiss historian, Jacob 

Burckhardt, in his magisterial 

study of the state in renaissance 

Italy, described the state as a “work 

of art”. Great states are not 

products of chance. They are 

products of imagination, creativity 

and purpose-driven leadership. 

Great states are built with the 

same vision, passion and 

determination with which 

Michelangelo painted the Sistine 

Chapel and Beethoven composed 

his great symphonies. It calls for 

men and women of singular 

courage. It calls for patriots who 

have conquered the fear of death. 

*Being the concluding part of the 

Second Goke Omisore Voice of 

Reason Annual Lecture, Delivered 

on Friday February 19, 2021. 

Between Labour and the opposition to 

deregulation 

By OLU TAYO 

LAST week, the price of crude oil rallied 

to $66 per barrel, the highest in 13 

months. This was after oil price sank to subzero 

level in the wake of the COVID-19 

pandemic in 2020. Ordinarily, for a country 

like Nigeria that is heavily dependent on 

revenues from oil, the price rally ought to be 

good news as it portends more money for the 

government to provide social amenities for the 

welfare of the citizens. 

But the cheery news of oil price rally is 

dampened by the prospect of a rise in the pump 

price of petrol. In March 2020, the Federal 

Government finally took the bull by the horns 

and deregulated the downstream by taking 

advantage of the low oil prices induced by the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Petroleum Products Marketing 

Company, PPMC, a subsidiary of the Nigerian 

National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, had 

announced that petrol prices would henceforth 

be determined by market forces. It had 

explained that the new price regime with its 

cost-reflective nature was expected to help to 

improve product availability and attract 

investments to the sector as marketers now 

have increased margin. 

Since then, the Petroleum Product Pricing 

Regulatory Authority, PPPRA, has been giving 

monthly guidance on petrol prices through 

price modulation method, meaning that when 

crude price goes up, petrol price would go up, 

and when it comes down, petrol price would 

follow suit. 

Owing to this, during the launch of the 

Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation 

Programme, NUCOP, recently, both the 

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, 

Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing 

Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, had 

hinted at the prospect of a rise in the pump 

price of petrol in the country in line with the 

deregulation regime in operation in the 

downstream, following the rise in the price of 

crude oil. 

Since then, the leadership of organised 

labour have been beating drums of war, 

contending that a pump price increase would 

impose more hardship on Nigerians who are 

already battling the effect of a sluggish 

economy. 

Deregulation of the downstream and pump 

price increase have been very testy issues that 

have generated a lot of conflict between 

government and labour for close to two 

With the current rise in the 

price of crude oil, it is inevitable 

that the price of petrol would go 

up in the local market 

decades. 

Indeed, since 2004 when the Federal 

Government started the policy of selling the 

crude oil earmarked for local refining/ 

consumption at international price, it 

created a situation where the landing price 

of petroleum products was higher than the 

regulated pump price of petroleum products 

in the country. 

The old system where crude oil earmarked 

for local refining/consumption was sold to 

the NNPC at a subsidised rate was able to 

take care of price differential between 

landing cost and regulated pump price. 

With the new policy, a system of subsidy 

payment was introduced to take care of the 

price differential. 

But over time, the subsidy system became 

cumbersome and the Federal Government 

began to find it unwieldy and unsustainable. 

For instance, the Federal Government had 

disclosed that the nation spent N10.413 trillion 

on fuel subsidy between 2006 and 2019, even 

as the country consistently grappled with low 

revenue generation over same period. 

The various attempts to end the subsidy 

regime by deregulating the downstream 

became a constant subject of bitter conflicts 

between government and labour, sometimes 

resulting in debilitating strikes. 

Therefore, with the current rise in the price 

of crude oil, it is inevitable that the price of 

petrol would go up in the local market. 

More so when there is no provision in the 

2021 Appropriation Act for subsidy 

payment. The deregulation of the 

downstream is supposed to bring about some 

sort of liberalisation of the sector which 

would make it possible for all petroleum 

products marketers to source their products 

from anywhere and sell at any price dictated 

by prevailing market forces. 

The competition arising from that would 

have helped to force pump prices down to 

the benefit of the citizens. 

But the scarcity of foreign exchange has 

made it difficult for the marketers to import 

products, thereby making NNPC the sole 

importer in keeping with its statutory role 

as marketer of last resort. 

With the agitation of labour to roll back 

the deregulation, NNPC is inadvertently 

being made the fall guy to absorb the cost of 

the price differential between landing cost 

and pump price. 

This would put NNPC in a very bad spot 

financially and eventually lead to a 

situation where it would be difficult to further 

import products. The obvious implication of 

that is fuel scarcity and the return of fuel queues. 

The same people who are resisting the 

deregulation would be the same people who 

would turn around to castigate NNPC for not 

supplying enough fuel to guarantee zero fuel 

queues and for not making a profit at the end 

of its financial year. 

To analysts at CSL Stockbrokers, the 

removal of the subsidy on petrol remains a 

critical free-market reform. 

“In our view, and we believe it is beneficial 

to the finances of the government and the 

overall economy,” the Lagos-based firm 

added. To the Chief Executive Officer of 

Financial Derivatives Company Limited, 

Mr. Bismarck Rewane, the removal of 

subsidy would boost investments in the 

downstream sector of the oil and gas 

industry. Rewane said subsidy removal 

would encourage investments in private 

refineries such as the Dangote Refinery, the 

BUA Refinery, among others springing up 

in the country presently. 

According to him, petrol subsidy would 

free revenues for government to provide 

essential services and at the same time boost 

investments in the downstream sector. 

“Investments will increase. It will boost 

investments in private refineries such as 

Dangote Refinery, while those who will buy 

our dilapidated refineries will also come,” 

he added. 

The Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc and 

former Managing Director of the Asset 

Management Corporation of Nigeria, 

AMCON, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, Nigeria 

can no longer afford the subsidies that it had 

been paying. 

Also, the Chairman of the Major Oil 

Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, 

Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, said fuel subsidy 

removal would give operators the opportunity 

to recover their costs, adding that it would in 

the long run, encourage investment and create 

jobs. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Tayo, a petroleum marketing consultant, 

wrote from Lagos 

C 

M 

Y 

K

18—Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

Last week, President 

Muhammadu Buhari came out 

with a clear and resounding 

message on the current debate as 

to what best to do to end the 

menace of insecurity across the 

country by armed hoodlums: there 

will be no amnesty for them from 

the Federal Government. 

In a message he sent to the 

meeting of the Northern State 

Governors’ Forum, Northern 

Traditional Rulers Council, a 

delegation of the Federal 

Government in Kaduna, Buhari 

said: “The government shall 

continue to deal with insurgents, 

bandits, kidnappers and other 

criminals who constitute a threat 

to innocent citizens across the 

county”. 

This debate would not have 

arisen at all if not for the 

surprising visits that Sheikh 

Ahmad Gumi paid to the “bandits” 

terrorising states in the North 

West and parts of the North 

Central (especially Niger State) 

Buhari’s disavowal of amnesty 

for terrorists 

after which he called for 

negotiations with them and also 

an amnesty. Indeed, governors of 

many of the states embattled by 

the rampaging terrorists, such as 

Zamfara, Katsina and Niger states 

have embraced some kind of 

conciliatory strategies to pacify 

the hoodlums. 

Governor Bello Matawalle of 

Zamfara and Sheikh Gumi have 

been at the forefront of this call 

for amnesty. It seemed the 

president initially appeared to be 

somewhat inclined towards 

negotiation with the North West 

terrorists after Matawalle 

appeared to have made some 

progress last year when he 

engaged the Zamfara bandits. 

Some of the outlaws even 

appeared to surrender their arms 

in exchange for amnesty. This had 

even encouraged Governor Aminu 

Masari of Katsina State to 

personally lead his security 

officials into the bushes for a wellpublicised 

meeting with the 

criminals. The effort eventually 

collapsed. 

We are glad that the President 

has declared the mindset of this 

administration on his matter in 

favour of strict maintenance of 

law and order, though we would 

have preferred for him to have 

been at the meeting given the 

strategic urgency of the issue. We 

strongly believe that the President 

should be seen as leading the war 

against insecurity in the country 

from the front, being the 

Commander-in-Chief. 

Anybody who picks up arms to 

kill, kidnap, rape, displace or 

terrorise innocent and lawabiding 

citizens must be treated 

as a terrorist irrespective of their 

excuse for becoming outlaws. 

Even armed robbers, cultists, 

fraudsters, ritual killers and other 

hoodlums who are routinely 

paraded by the law enforcement 

agents blame bad governance and 

neglect for going rogue. But no 

excuse is permitted under the law 

for criminality. 

With this declaration, we 

expect the Federal Government to 

work with the state governments 

and community leaders to mobilise 

the people against all forms of 

violent criminality without 

favouritism or condonation based 

on ethnicity or religion. 

To succeed, the Federal 

Government must eschew 

favouritism in fighting terrorism. 

By CHARLES ONUNAIJU 

THE World Trade Organisation, WTO, 

rule-maker for the global trading system 

which started life on January 1, 1995, has just 

had its glass ceiling shattered, with the first 

woman climbing to the apex of its structure. 

To add to the significance of the first, the 

woman in question, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, 

Nigeria’s former two-time finance minister 

and foreign minister, is the first of African 

descent to be appointed to oversee the rules of 

the world trading system. Though she has 

recently acquired American citizenship, having 

studied, worked and lived in the United States 

of America for nearly four decades, she is 

strongly rooted in Africa where she was born 

65 years ago and had her early education. 

The world trade organisation is a critical 

fabric of the international system since the 

emergence of the post-world war II 

international order. Its predecessor was the 

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, GATT, 

which since 1948 when it was founded 

provided the rules for the world trade system. 

Though GATT mainly dealt with trade in 

goods, the mandate of the WTO and its 

agreements now cover more comprehensively 

services and trade in inventions, creations and 

designs (intellectual property). 

The origin of the world trading system was 

against the backdrop of the horrors of the two 

world wars and the terrific economic 

depression, and the establishment of GATT 

was to institute a legal mechanism for tariff 

negotiation and to provide rules that would 

discourage countries from erecting barriers 

through non-tariff means. The various 

negotiations, including the legendary Uruguay 

and the Doha Rounds, which culminated in 

the formation of the world trade organisation, 

were critical roadmap in establishing the 

infrastructure of contemporary global trading 

architecture. 

It is the making of this complex web of 

trading rules, especially at a time when trade 

has emerged as the life-blood of the 

international system, that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala 

would be stepping into the leadership of the 

world trading body of more than 150 countries. 

Dr. Iweala, who had a 25-year career at the 

World Bank in Washington DC as a 

development economist, is no stranger to 

multilateralism. Rising to the number two 

position in the bank as managing director, she 

had the responsibility to oversee the World 

Bank $81 billion operational portfolio in 

Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has to 

marshal all compelling reasons 

on why free and fair trade is in 

the best interest of all 

Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, who was first 

appointed as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance in 

the late 1990s, over-saw negotiations with the 

Paris Club that culminated in the wiping out 

of $30 billion of Nigeria debt, after paying a 

whopping $12 billion at once to the creditors. 

She had argued that paying the debt would 

free the country of the burden of interest 

payments which, according to her, would free 

funds for addressing the country’s huge 

infrastructure deficit. 

Critics of the huge payment which she 

engineered with the huge $12 billion payment, 

OPINION 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the challenge of WTO 

insist that after the debt repayment and 

cancellation, there was nothing of substance 

that happened in the improvement of the 

country’s infrastructure to justify massive 

capital flight, the only one of its kind from a 

developing country in all history of 

international credit. 

However, she made enormous efforts to 

improve Nigeria’s macroeconomic 

management, which included, among others, 

the implementation of an oil price based fiscal 

system where revenues accruing above 

reference benchmark oil price were saved in a 

special account, called “the Excess Crude 

Account”, which helped to reduce 

macroeconomic volatility. She also instituted 

a key transparency governance measure, 

whereby each of the local or state monthly 

financial allocation from the Federal 

Government of Nigeria were published in the 

newspapers. 

In 2011, under another President, Jonathan 

Goodluck, she was reappointed as Minister of 

Finance with the expanded portfolio of the 

Coordinating Minister for the Economy which 

is well acknowledged to have brought 

considerable stability in the macro-economic 

management, and even oversaw the rebasing 

of the country’s economy which saw it as the 

largest economy in Africa, though poverty and 

staggering unemployment, leading to violent 

crimes and insurgency, remain open wound 

for which Nigeria is still struggling to contend 

with, even up to now. 

Nonetheless, she comes to the apex of the 

world’s trade ruling making body with lot of 

experiences and broad international exposure 

that will serve her well in navigating through 

the negotiating crucibles that would stabilise 



the international trading system. In the era of 

multilateralism with isolated pockets of threats 

to it, she would have to marshal all compelling 

reasons on why free and fair trade is in the best 

interest of all. 

With the China-US trade impasse, mostly 

stoked by Washington, she must weigh in to 

enhance impartial mechanism for tradedispute 

resolution that does not pander to 

hegemonic power designs. As trade in goods 

has evolved to complex web of trading beyond 

goods only to intellectual property, the WTO 

under the director-generalship of Dr. Ngozi 

Okonjo-Iweala must up its game to point in 

the direction of a fair and equitable trading 

system that leaves no member state behind. 

Though, bilateral trading agreements 

remain as the key component of the 

contemporary international system, the WTO 

would remain the guarantor and rule maker 

and the last port of call in dispute-resolution 

over international trade matters and, therefore, 

has enormous responsibility to provide the 

enabling roadmap in sustaining one of 

human’s key activities that easily replace the 

thought of war that has twice plunged 

humanity into the agonising depth of bestiality. 

An accomplished African woman, long 

dedicated to international public service, 

reflecting the reality saw much earlier by the 

revered Chinese leader Mao Zedong who 

asserted that “women hold up half the sky”, 

beyond the razzmatazz of contemporary 

feminism, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is enjoined to 

use her new office to advance the objective 

trajectory of the human prospects which clearly 

converge around the construction of a 

community of shared future for all humanity. 

Continues online via:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Onunaiju is director, Centre for China 

Studies, Abuja Nigeria.

C 

M 

Y 

K 

By Babajide Komolafe & 

Elizabeth Adegbesan 

The volume of dollars 

traded (turnover) in the 

Investors and Exporters 

(I&E) window of the Nigerian 

foreign exchange market 

rose by 43 percent, month- 


Forex: Turnover in I&E rises 43% to $1.3bn in February 

•As naira depreciates by N16.25 kobo 

•External reserves shed $1.28bn 

on-month, to $1.3 billion in 

February from $906.44 

million in January 2021. 

Vanguard analysis of 

weekly turnover in the 

window showed that $258.19 

million was traded in the first 

week February. 

Turnover rose by 44 percent 

to $372.2 million in the 

second week and dipped by 

42 percent to $214.71 million 

in the third week. 

The turnover rose by 108 

percent to $446.18 million in 

the fourth week of February. 

However, the naira 

depreciated by N16.25 kobo 

in the window during the 

month as the indicative 

exchange rate rose to 

N410.25 kobo per dollar on 

February 26th from N394 per 

dollar on February 1. 

Analysts however opined 

that the naira will enjoy some 

stability this week in 

response to the continued 

rise in crude oil price. 

"In the new week, we 

expect Naira/USD to 

stabilise at the I&E FX 

Window as crude oil prices 

sustain the bullish 

momentum", said analysts at 

Cowry Assets Management 

Limited. 

After falling below $25 per 

barrel in April, due to the 

severe impact of the COVID- 

19 pandemic, crude oil prices 

went through a bumpy 

recovery which accelerated in 

Continues on page 20 

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

Stock market in reverse mode, loses 

N1.36trn in February 

By Nkiruka Nnorom 

The stock market ended 

last month in a full 

reverse mode, losing 

N1.38 trillion as investors' 

preference shifted to the 

fixed income market in 

response to an 186 per cent 

increase in yields on treasury 

bills. 

Financial Vanguard 

analysis showed that average 

yields on primary market 

treasury bills (TBs) rose to 

3.67 percent at the end of 

February from 1.28 per cent 

in January. This translated to 

186 per cent increase. 

Consequently, the stock 

market was dominated by sell 

pressures for most part of 

February, prompting the 

market capitalisation of all 

listed equities to fall by 

N1.364 trillion or 6.15 percent 

to N20.823 trillion at end of 

the month from N22.187 

trillion at end of January. 

Similarly, the benchmark 

All Share Index (ASI) fell by 

6.16 per cent to 39,799.86 

points from 42,412.66 points 

in January, indicating a 6.16 

percent decline. 

This is in sharp contrast to 

the upward performance of 

the stock market in January 

when the benchmark All 

Share Index (ASI) rose to 

42,412.66 points from 

40,270.39 points at the 

beginning of the year as a 

result of low yields on TBs. 

Though, investment 

analysts opined that the 

release of the 2020 full year 

financial report could temper 

the downward trend recorded 

in February, they, however, 

warned that further rise in 

yields would continue to hurt 

the market going into March 

and for the rest of first 

quarter (Q1) 2021. 

•186% rise in TB yields lures away investors 

•Analysts see bleak outlook for Q1 

Meanwhile, the breakdown 

of activities in the month of 

February showed that 

performance across sectors 

was also negative with the 

insurance sector leading with 

17.82 percent decline, 

followed by the banking 

sector (-9.73%), industrial 

goods (8.80%), consumer 

goods (8.12%) and the oil 

and gas sector, which fell by 

4.36 percent. 

Analysts' opinion 

Investment analysts 

explained that apart from the 

rising yields in fixed income, 

profit taking by investors also 

played a part in dragging the 

local bourse down. 

David Adonri, Managing 

Director/CEO, Highcap 

Securities, explained that the 

equities market responds to 

macroeconomic realities, 

saying: "Declining yield in 

debt and high 

macroeconomic liquidity 

drove the equities market up 

in January, but in February, 

the situation is different." 

Though he said that the 

main driver is now corporate 

disclosures, he asserted that 

many investors are 

apprehensive that corporate 

fundamentals may not justify 

the rally in equities. 

"As a result, investors are 

adopting defensive strategies 

until proved otherwise by 

stocks which will meet or 

surpass expectations." 

He observed that the 

market may also be 

experiencing some 

correction, arguing that the 

last appreciation was too 

excessive." 

Speaking in the same vein, 

Mallam Garba Kurfi, 

Managing Director/CEO, 

APT Securities and Fund, 

attributed the bearish trend 

to profit taking activities, 

saying that February has 

eroded gains made in 

January in the last three 

consecutive years in 2019, 

2020 and now 2021 despite 

changes made by the 

Nigerian Stock Exchange 

(NSE) in its financial reports 

filling rule where companies 

are made to release their 

management account for the 

fourth quarter before 

declaration of audited 

accounts. 

Agreeing with them, Mrs. 

Toyin Sanni, Group CEO, 

Emerging Africa Capital 

Group, said: "The 

increasingly attractive yields 

in the fixed income market 

were definitely a huge factor 

in the downturn of the equity 

market. 

The next most important 

factor is profit taking. 

Considering that the NSE 

was the best performing 

stock market in the world in 

the year 2020, it is only 

natural that investors will 

begin to realise some of their 

profits. 

"Also, the release of not-soimpressive 

companies' full 

year performance reports for 

2020 characterized by the 

COVID-19 pandemic is also 

a major factor." 

Outlook for Q1 

Speaking on the outlook for 

the rest of the first quarter 

(Q1) 2021, Adonri said: "If the 

results and dividends 

announced by major 

companies are impressive, 

and if the rally in crude oil 

price is sustained, and if yield 

on debt does not go higher, 

demand for equities may 

increase and stem the tide of 

decline." 

Ayodeji Ebo, Senior 

Economist/Head, Research & 

Strategy, Greenwich 

Merchant Bank, said: "Rising 

fixed income yields will 

continue to suppress the 

performance of the equities 

market, however, influx of 

impressive financial 

performance and corporate 

actions will reduce the 

impact. 

"Investors will cherry pick 

stocks with good 

fundamentals. However, as 

Continues on page 20


FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

Ecobank Nigeria lists $300m bond on London 

Stock Exchange 

By Babajide Komolafe 

Ecobank Nigeria has listed 

its $300 senior unsecured 

bond on the London Stock 

Exchange (LSE). 

The bank on Thursday 

opened the market at the LSE 

NB records 4.3% increase in revenue to N337bn 

By Peter Egwuatu 

Nigerian Breweries, NB Plc 

has recorded revenue of 

N337 billion for the year ended 

December 2020, representing an 

increase of 4.3 per cent from 

N323 billion recorded in the 

corresponding period of 2019. 

The company however 

recorded a 53 per cent fall in its 

profit after tax to N7.52 billion 

in 2020 from N16.1 billion in the 

corresponding period of 2019. 

In the statement signed by the 

Company Secretary/Legal 

Director, Uaboi Agbebaku, the 

Board of Directors of NB 

commended the company's 

management for its efforts in 

mitigating the impact of the 

COVID-19 pandemic on the 

business, as well as the prudent 

management of its resources as 

reflected in the reduction in 

expenses incurred on 

marketing, distribution, and 

administration. 

The statement further revealed 

that the Board of Directors will 

be recommending to the 

company's shareholders at the 

forthcoming Annual General 

Meeting, AGM, the declaration 

of a total dividend of N 7.52 

billion, at 50k per share 

representing a hundred percent 

dividend payout ratio. 

Recall that the company had 

earlier in 2020, paid an interim 

dividend of N1.999 billion which 

translated to N0.25k per share. 

The final proposed dividend of 

N5.52 billion at N0.69k per share 

will be payable to shareholders 

upon approval on 23d of April 

2021. 

The statement further noted 

that only qualifying 

shareholders whose names 

appear on the company's 

Register of Members at the close 

of business on 10 March 2021 

will be paid the final dividend. 

Stock market in reverse mode, 

lose N1.36trn in February 

Continues from page 19 

full year corporate actions 

releases wind down, we 

expect the equities market 

to dip presenting new entry 

opportunities." 

On the outlook for this 

month, Toyin Sanni, said: 

"For the month of March, 

there is likely going to be a 

rebound in the market as 

investors buy back at 

discounts and also position 

themselves to meet the 

closure of register 

deadlines for dividend 

payment which have been 

announced. 

"Listed companies are 

positioned to record 

positive performances in 

the first quarter of the year 

via a virtual ceremony to mark 

the listing of the bond. 

The bank in a statement 

announcing the development 

said: "The bond carries a 

coupon rate of 7.125%, 

significantly below its Initial 

Price Thoughts of 7.75%. The 

successful launch was three 

Directors would also be 

recommending to shareholders 

for their approval at the 

forthcoming AGM, a right of 

election for qualifying 

shareholders to receive new 

ordinary shares in the company 

as against the final dividend in 

cash. 

Despite the negative impact 

on its operations, it is 

noteworthy that Nigerian 

Breweries made various 

donations in cash and kind 

valued at about N531 million out 

of a phased commitment of N600 

2021 as the COVID-19 

recovery kicks in and 

economic activities return 

to normal. This could 

contribute to a significant 

uptrend in the market as a 

response. 

"However, if the yields in 

the money market and 

fixed income space 

continue to increase at 

their current pace, it could 

lead to outflow of funds 

from the stock market in 

the longer run, leading to 

a bearish performance. 

"The recent improvement 

in the rate environment in 

the USA could also lead to 

foreign capital flowing out 

of the Nigerian markets to 

a more stable 

environment." 

times oversubscribed and is 

the lowest coupon/yield by a 

Nigerian financial institution 

for a benchmark bond 

transaction since 2013. 

"It has an Issuer Rating of B- 

from Fitch Rating Agency and 

S & P. Citi, Mashreq, 

Renaissance Capital and 

million to the Federal and seven 

state governments' COVID-19 

Task Forces Relief Funds. 

According to Mr Agbebaku, 

the Board of Directors expressed 

confidence that the company is 

well-positioned to continue to 

deliver return on investment to 

shareholders. The statement 

adds that the company remains 

committed to not only keeping 

its balance sheet strong but 

ensuring that the health, safety 

and welfare of its employees, 

customers and partners are 

protected. 

Seplat harps on gas as catalysts for 

sustainable economic devt 


Seplat Petroleum Development 

Company Plc, an indigenous 

energy company, has identified its 

fast growing gas business as a 

strong catalyst for sustainable 

development in Nigeria. 

Mr. Roger Brown, Chief 

Executive Officer, SEPLAT, 

described the drive as a 

revolution, indicating that the 

direction is laudable and highly 

rewarding to Nigerian people and 

the economy at large. 

Brown said this at the Nigerian 

Gas Association (NGA) Industry 

Multilogues 2, its 12th biennial 

International Conference themed: 

"Powering Forward: Enabling 

Nigeria's Industrialisation via 

Gas" held virtually. 

Meanwhile, the company has 

been honoured with the NGA 

Special Recognition Award for it's 

strong and outstanding support to 

the Nigerian Gas Industry and the 

Nigerian Gas Association. 

Speaking on the company's 

contributions to the Nigerian gas 

industry, Brown said: "Our new 

Sapele gas plant processing 

capacity (PC) is 75MMscfd, 

increasing PC in the West to 

540MMscfd (Oben and Sapele). 

"SEPLAT currently contributes 

about 30 percent of gas to power 

generation in Nigeria. Its ANOH 

Project is to add 300MMscfd 

capacity and unlock over 

1,200MW of gas constrained 

power generation capacity." 

He, however, stressed the need 

to build institutional capacity to 

drive and sustain the transition, 

which is critical to attaining value 

and wealth advancement. 

Speaking in a panel session 

titled, "Nigeria's Decade of Gas: 

The Industry Leadership 

Outlook", Brown said SEPLAT is 

strategically positioned to access 

Nigeria's main demand centers, 

with its current well stock 

delivering 300 - 350MMscfd 

(Gross). 

Commenting on some of the 

challenges bedeviling the gas-topower 

drive, the SEPLAT CEO 

said capital intensity, underinvestment, 

delayed delivery of 

planned gas infrastructure, poor 

pipeline network, lack of cost 

reflective tariffs and huge debts 

in the power sector as well as 

delay in passage of the Petroleum 

Industry Bill (PIB), amongst 

others, were issues to be 

addressed. 

Commending SEPLAT and 

other players for their dedication 

Turnover in I&E rises 43% to 

$1.3bn in February 

Continues from page 19 

December. 

For example, the price of 

Nigeria's Bonny Light crude 

oil rose steadily to $66.26 per 

barrel at the close of 

business on Friday from 

$46.67 per barrel on 

November 30th, indicating a 

42 percent percent increase 

in three months. 

However, this upward 

trend in dollar revenue from 

oil is not reflected in the 

fortunes of the nation's 

external reserves. 

Data from the Central 

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) 

showed that the reserves fell 

by $1.28 billion in one month. 

The reserves fell to $35.225 

Standard Chartered Bank 

acted as Joint Lead Managers 

and Bookrunners. 

"The proceeds will provide 

medium term funding and 

help to enhance the capacity 

of the bank to support 

international trade and service 

across Africa." 

Commenting, Patrick 

Akinwuntan, Managing 

Director, Ecobank Nigeria, 

said: "The strong demand for 

our bond shows the 

international appetite for the 

Ecobank franchise in Nigeria, 

its unique positioning for 

facilitating pan-Africa trade 

and the attractive opportunity 

for the many investors 

seeking to back world-class 

Nigerian corporates." 

Ecobank Nigeria, a 

subsidiary of Ecobank 

Transnational Incorporated, 

the parent company of the 

Ecobank Group, provides the 

full suite of banking products, 

services and solutions 

through multiple channels to 

retail, commercial, corporate 

and public sector customers. 

to the growth of the sector, Audrey 

Joe-Ezigbo, President, NGA, said 

there is the need to continuously 

project and leverage the 

potentials of gas towards 

enabling and reinvigorating 

Nigeria's industrial sector. 

Speaking at the event, Mallam 

Mele Kyari, Group Managing 

Director, 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Corporation (NNPC), said the 

Corporation was committed to 

fulfilling President Muhammadu 

Buhari's directive to boost 

domestic gas supply. 

Represented by the Chief 

Operating Officer, Gas and Power, 

Mr. Yusuf Usman, Kyari stated 

that progress was being made on 

several of the projects, including 

the NLNG Train 7, with a foreign 

direct investment of between $3 

billion and $5 billion; and the 

ANOH gas project, with a fully 

completed financing 

arrangement. 

In his address also, the Lagos 

State Governor, Mr. Babajide 

Sanwo-Olu, harped on the need 

to have a cleaner, more liveable 

environment, noting that he is 

planning well for the state's huge 

population, guaranteeing green 

jobs, reducing carbon emissions 

and working towards a healthy 

environment. 

billion on Tuesday February 

23rd from $36.508 billion on 

Thursday January 21st. 

While attributing the 

decline to CBN's increased 

intervention in the forex 

market to support the naira, 

analysts at Financial 

Derivatives Company 

however expressed 

optimism that the continued 

upward trend in crude oil 

price will lead to increase in 

the reserves. 

They said: "Gross external 

reserves are expected to 

increase on higher oil prices. 

Brent is currently trading at 

pre-pandemic levels ($63pb) 

and this would strengthen 

the government's buffers." 

NEWS 

Norrenberger 

unveils Islamic 

fund, promotes 

ethical 

investment 

By Peter Egwuatu 

As part of the company's strategic 

efforts to improve financial 

inclusion in Nigeria, Norrenberger, 

has launched its Islamic Fund, an 

ethical investment aimed to meet 

the diversified investment needs of 

clients in alignment with ethical 

beliefs and practices. 

The Norrenberger Islamic Fund, 

registered by the Securities and 

Exchange Commission (SEC) is an 

open ended mutual fund designed 

to provide investors with a low-risk 

investment option with stable and 

competitive returns in short, 

medium and long term Shariah- 

Compliant securities, whilst also 

ensuring preservation of capital 

and maintenance of liquidity. 

Subscribers can expect halal profits 

on the growth of their capital over 

the long-term in accordance with 

the principles of Islamic finance. 

Commenting on the launch of the 

product, Mr Tony Edeh, the 

Managing Director/Chief Executive 

Officer, Norrenberger Investment 

and Capital Management Limited 

stated: "The Fund is targeted 

primarily at investors who have a 

short, medium to long-term 

investment horizon with a 

consciousness for belief in the 

Shariah principles and are seeking 

higher returns than the typical 

Shariah fixed deposits, but averse 

to the risks associated with directly 

investing in equity." 

"The objective of the Fund is to 

provide investors with the 

opportunity to invest in a 

professionally managed portfolio of 

Shariah Compliant Assets. I am 

confident in our team of highly 

qualified and experienced financial 

advisors to guide our clients on the 

right path to financial freedom", he 

said. 

CRC Credit Bureau 

wins best credit 

bureau award 

CRC Credit Bureau Limited 

(CRC) has been named the 

Best Credit Bureau, Nigeria 2021 

by Capital Finance International 

(CFI.co) a print journal and online 

resource reporting on business, 

economics and finance with its 

Headquarters in London, United 

Kingdom. 

In a statement, the CFI.co 

judging panel stated in their report 

that "CRC Credit Bureau helps 

lenders make informed decisions 

with a nationwide repository of 

consumer and corporate credit 

information that covers more than 

95 percent of the domestic credit 

industry. 

"CRC has weathered COVID-19 

with steely resolve, achieving 

returns on par with expectations 

and is anticipating continued 

improvement. The Bureau is 

grateful for lessons learned in 2020 

and for the impetus to propel its 

digital transformation. 

"It now serves clients more 

through digital channels, which 

has created greater market access. 

CRC has become more data 

focused with the ability to add 

value in multiple segments and 

drive markets with better products 

and stronger analytics". 

The report showcased CRC's 

mission to make every individual 

living in Nigeria stay on top of their 

credit history through their various 

products/services and digital 

platforms that make access to 

credit information easier than ever. 

CRC has developed a range of 

membership products to assist 

credit-granting clients with the 

screening of prospective customers, 

investors, and employees. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

Exit from recession 

much ado about nothing 

“Nigeria's GDP in the fourth quarter of 2020 grew by 0.11 per cent in 

real terms in the fourth quarter of 2020. this follows, if you will recall, 

two consecutive negative growth in the third quarter and second quarter 

of 2020, which saw the country going into recession. As a result of this 

fourth quarter positive growth, the total growth for the year 2020 is - 

1.92 per cent. It would be recalled that we had ourselves reported that 

we will be going into a negative growth at the end of 2020 at -4.0 per 

cent…” 

Nigeria's Mínister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, February 24, 2020 

The minute the National 

Bureau of Statistics, NBS, 

announced the economic 

results for 2020, it was clear to 

me what to expect from the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria. They would trumpet 

another disaster as a major 

achievement worthy of 

national celebration. What in 

more sane societies would be 

regarded as a setback would 

be promoted as victory. That is 

what is happening now. It is 

not surprising. 

"Existence determines 

consciousness; where you 

stand determines what you 

see" - Herbert Marcuse, 1898- 

1979. 

Marcuse was once labeled 

the Father of the New Left 

during the mid-1960s when 

Socialism was still regarded in 

some quarters as superior to 

Capitalism. He made that 

pronouncement at a lecture 

delivered in Boston in 1967. I 

was deeply struck by its profundity 

and have since discovered 

how true it is. Failure 

and success are relative 

to what your original position 

was. I should have 

known that from my primary 

school days. 

In the same school with me 

and living in the same area 

were two boys - Jimi and 

Demola. Jimi was brilliant, he 

almost always came first in 

every examination. Each time 

Jimi came second or third, he 

received a tongue-lashing 

from his parents. Demola was 

the opposite. He was mostly 


The Boston Consulting 

Group (BCG), a global 

management consultancy 

firm, has proposed the 

promotion of financial 

inclusion, equitable 

distribution of resources, 

infrastructural development 

and formulation of requisite 

fiscal policies as initiatives 

that will drive Nigeria's 

post-COVID-19 economic 

recovery. 

The measures were 

highlighted in a recent BCG 

report titled "How to Forge 

an Inclusive post-COVID-19 

Recovery in Nigeria". 

The report stated that the 

initiatives, which form part 

of Nigeria's sustainability 

plan, are critical in staving 

off the COVID-19 induced 

economic contraction which 

could further compound the 

poverty situation in the 

country. 

According to 2021 World 

Bank projections, Sub- 

Saharan Africa will 

experience a severe 

economic slump. It is 

predicted that the negative 

impact on Nigeria, being the 

continent's largest economy 

and most populous country, 

will be grave, especially 

amongst the poor. A steep 

last in the class of forty. Each 

time Demola managed to 

escape coming last, and 

passing the examination for 

the term, he received extra 

piece of meat. For Jimi's 

parents, coming second was a 

defeat; for Demola's parents 

coming second to the last was 

worthy of celebration. At least, 

their son beat somebody. 

The Chinese President 

would be livid with rage if the 

Gross Domestic Product, GDP, 

growth dropped as low as 2 

per cent - because Xi is like 

Jimi's parents. He demands 

excellence and would not 

tolerate failures. He will 

certainly sack the minister 

who reports 0.11 per cent GDP 

growth. Buhari is leading the 

parade to celebrate Nigeria's 

0.11 per cent growth because 

the Nigerian President, like 

Demola's parents, is 

contented that there is 

something positive to report - 

however insignificant and 

misleading it is. 

Jimi went on to become a 

Dentist; Demola struggled to 

finish primary school and 

ended as a drug dealer and 

addict. President Xi's China 

took over 100 million out of 

poverty in ten years and still 

managed to grow by more 

than 5 per cent in COVID-19 

driven 2020. Buhari's Nigeria, 

by growing at -1.92 per cent 

during the same period has 

sent an additional 5-6 million 

below the poverty line. The 

Chinese are not bringing out 

drums and violins to celebrate 


Firm prescribes post-COVID-19 recovery roadmap for Nigeria 

drop in per capita income 

could lead to an increase in 

the number of vulnerable 

Nigerians. An estimated 83 

million Nigerians, about 40 

percent of the population, 

already live below the 

poverty lines in the country. 

Tolu Oyekan, a partner at 

5 per cent because for them 

it is not good enough. FGN is 

asking Nigerians to put on our 

dancing shoes on account of - 

1.92 per cent. That ordinarily 

should have been the end of 

commentary on the absurd 

the firm's Lagos office, posits 

that a financial inclusion 

drive through infrastructural 

intervention projects will 

reduce Nigeria's poverty 

population and also have a 

positive multiplier effect on 

the Nigerian economy. He 

listed the electrification of 

commendation. Why, for 

instance should Nigerians be 

happy that instead of their 

self-projected -4.0 per cent, we 

ended with only -1.92 per 

cent? Does it mean more 

money in our pockets or more 

employment opportunities for 

the jobless? Certainly not. 

What Zainab Ahmed is saying 

amounts to "thank us for all 

the damage we could have 

done but didn't." Small comfort 

that is to us. 

Furthermore, it is surprising 

that the Minister has not 

learnt that the fourth quarter 

is always more active than all 

the others. Starting from 

November 1, preparations for 

Christmas and New Year 

increase the economic tempo 

- irrespective of what 

governments do or don't do. 

Up to seventy per cent of the 

sales of some products and 

services occur at year end. 

People travel more; spend 

more and generally push Q4 

GDP up above those of Q2 and 

Q3. These FGN is so lacking 

in any demonstrable 

economic achievement, it 

might even ask us to say 

"thank you" because the sun 

was shining. Still, that is not 

all to this nonsense. 

REMEMBER ERGP AND 

THE 2020 BUDGET FIGURES 

"Better by far you should 

forget; than that you should 

remember and be sad" - 

Christian Rosseti, VBQ p 63. 

Area Boys know the trick. It 

is all about selective 

remembering and selective 

forgetting. You tell your 

listeners what would make 

them happy; and keep those 

likely to bring the roof down 

on you. When the Minister 

repeated twice "if you recall" 

and "it would be recalled", she 

was setting us up for what 

would make us feel good. 

Nobody knows better than her 

Ex-IFC staff now Berger Paints director 

Berger Paints Nigeria Plc 

has appointed a former 

staff of International Finance 

Corporation (IFC), Mr 

Victor Adeniji as an 

independent Non-Executive 

Director effective February 

16, 2021. 

In another development, 

two of the company's 

directors, Chief Musa 

Danjuma and Chief Nelson 

Nweke, would be retiring 

from the Board effective from 

the 2021 Annual General 

Meeting (AGM). 

A statement signed by the 

Company Secretary and 

Legal Adviser, Mr Ayokunle 

Ayoko stated that Adeniji's 

appointment would be 

ratified at the company's 

AGM. 

"The Board has approved 

the appointment of Mr. 

Victor Olusegun Adeniji as 

The GDP 

growth for 

2020 is of 

particular 

interest now. 

We were told 

to expect 7 per 

cent growth in 

2020. We got 

-1.92 per cent. 

And Buhari's 

government 

want us to start 

dancing 

0.11 per cent growth in 

Q4'2020 for which Buhari and 

his gang are losing their 

heads in joy. But there is more 

to the 0.11 per cent and -1.92 

per cent which reveal to what 

extent these people would go 

to promote propaganda. 

"Oh what a tangled web we 

weave when first we practice 

to deceive" - Sir Walter Scott, 

1771-1832, VANGUARD 

BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, P 

35 

Ėven on the face of it, what 

the Finance Minister released 

could not by any stretch of 

imagination be regarded as 

something worthy of 

an Independent Non- 

Executive Director effective 

February 16, 2021. 

"Adeniji will be bringing on 

board, almost four decades 

of extensive financial 

services sector experience 

encompassing multilateral 

development finance, 

investment banking and 

asset management at topflight 

institutions, most 

notably The World Bank/ 

International Finance 

Corporation (IFC). 

"He is the Chief Executive 

Officer of TechnoFuture 

Nigeria Limited, a Lagosbased 

technology skills 

training company and West 

Africa franchisee for an 

innovative Canadian e- 

learning product. He 

recently co-founded 

Communities United to 

Remove Epidemics (the 

rural households through a 

pay-as-you-go solar service 

and cashless transactions via 

telco induced mobile money 

platforms, as examples of 

such infrastructural 

intervention projects. 

The Nigerian government 

has a target of installing new 

CURE Initiative), a nonprofit 

that operates in the public 

health space. He is the coauthor 

of "Economies of 

Help: The Concept Behind 

the Consortium for 

Humanitarian Intervention 

(International Psychology 

Bulletin, June 2015)". 

"Adeniji studied Economics 

at Pembroke College, 

Cambridge University, 

where he earned BA and MA 

degrees in 1986 and 1990, 

respectively. In 2002 he 

served as a member of the 

Nigerian Securities and 

Exchange Commission 

Committee on Corporate 

Governance that drafted a 

muscular corporate 

governance code for listed 

companies. In 2001 he was 

nominated as one of the 100 

Global Leaders for Tomorrow 

by the World Economic 

Forum," Ayoko said. 

that there are other things to 

recall which should make us 

tremble with fear. The 

promises made when 

launching the Economic 

Recovery Growth Plan, ERGP, 

and the 2020 budget are two 

that can be accommodated 

today. Get your handkerchief 

ready - if you have tears to 

shed. 

ERGP was launched in April 

2017 by Vice President 

Osinbajo with loads of empty 

promises and illusions. It was 

supposed to cost $245 billion; 

create 15 million jobs, last four 

years, grow GDP by 4 per cent 

in 2017 and 7 per cent in 

2020. Except for the fact that 

four years have elapsed, 

which of the other promises 

were fulfilled? 

The GDP growth for 2020 is 

of particular interest now. We 

were told to expect 7 per cent 

growth in 2020. We got -1.92 

per cent. And Buhari's 

government want us to start 

dancing. 

Even the 2020 Budget 

promised 3 per cent GDP 

growth by December 2020. 

See what we got. How can a 

government which recorded 

such negative variances - 

Budget 2020 -4.92 per cent, 

ERGP -8.92 per cent - have the 

nerve to be celebrating all 

these calamities and ask us to 

join? 

Jimi and Demola stand as 

metaphors for Xi and Buhari. 

One insists on excellence and 

his nation moves millions out 

of poverty each month. The 

other gathers those who 

cannot possibly deliver on 

promises and he is happy with 

0.11 per cent Q4 GDP growth. 

He creates more bandits who 

will kidnap more school 

children and send more kids 

away from school. The spiral 

of worsening poverty and 

violence has been unleashed. 

And, they clap? 

Hell is here. It requires 

commonsense to understand 

that a nation cannot condone 

poor performance for a long 

time and survive. Where is 

common sense? 

home solar power systems 

and mini-grids for over five 

million low-income 

households by the end of 

2023. Many of these 

households either have no 

source of power, or rely on 

small, inefficient generators 

for electricity. These families 

will need to use PAYGo, an 

instalment financing option 

offered with mobile money 

bank accounts, to purchase 

the installation kits for these 

systems. Customers who 

have an existing mobile 

money account have a higher 

chance of accessing the 

facility than others who 

don't. 

Speaking on the impact of 

the project, Oyekan said: 

"Our analysis shows that a 

PAYGo loan would make 

solar kits affordable for 

about half of the 31 million 

households that do not have 

reliable electricity and may 

also be considered to be in a 

low-income bracket. What's 

more, we found that 3.2 

million out of 17 million 

households currently using 

kerosene and candles as 

their lighting source could 

afford the monthly PAYGo 

payments based on their 

current spending on lighting, 

plus about 10 percent of their 

non food budget." 

C 

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FINANCIAL VANGUARD 

By Zainab Ahmed 

I 

am highly honoured and 

delighted to be here and to 

give a goodwill message at 

this summit which is being 

organized by the Vanguard 

Newspapers in association 

with the Central Bank of 

Nigeria (CBN) and the 

Bankers committee. I wish 

to commend the organizers 

for gathering top policy 

makers and operators in the 

banking and finance industry 

here today for this allimportant 

summit which is 

focused on the banking 

sector in Nigeria. The theme 

of this summit "Bankers 

Initiative for Economic 

Growth" is indeed topical, 

and couldn't have come at a 

better time, considering that 

the banking sector in 

Nigeria is passing through a 

critical and decisive path in 

terms of reforms to 

reposition it to effectively 

impact on different sectors of 

the economy and the need to 

generate a more revenue for 

economic growth. 

Let me, at this juncture, 

specially appreciate the 

presence of the Vice 

president of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria, 

Professor Yemi Osinbajo, I 

also acknowledge the 

Governor of the Central 

Bank of Nigeria Mr. Godwin 

Emefiele. Likewise, I 

appreciate the leadership of 

the Chartered Institute of 

Bankers of Nigeria led by its 

President, Mr. Bayo Williams 

Olugbemi. Special thanks 

also go to the Editor-In-Chief 

of Vanguard Newspaper Mr. 

Gbenga Adefaye and other 

senior management of the 

Bank who are present here 

today. And to everyone at 

this event whether in person 

or virtually, I acknowledge 

you. 

and the fact that the ability 

of bankers to effectively 

impact on economic 

development hinges largely 

on their initiatives and 

efficiency. 

Intervention programmes 

Ladies and Gentlemen 

recall that after the outbreak 

of the novel coronavirus, the 

Federal Government of 

Nigeria introduced a Fiscal 

Stimulus Package to address 

the economic challenges 

orchestrated by COVID-19 

(The Pandemic) and the 

slump in crude oil prices. It 

would be recalled that the 

Central Bank of Nigeria 

(CBN), as well as other 

regulatory agencies, had 

earlier introduced various 

intervention measures, 

ranging from welfare 

packages to the interest rate 

reduction, amongst others. 

The Fiscal Stimulus Package 

was to ensure that the 

country's economy, fiscal 

position and healthcare 

systems are sufficiently 

supported to withstand the 

impact of both COVID-19 

and the declining oil price. 

The Fiscal Stimulus Package 

comprised various measures 

such as: 

•N500billion COVID-19 

Crisis Intervention Fund 

(The Fund). 

•Access to the USD90 

million Regional Disease 

Surveillance Systems 

('REDISSE') facility 

•Availability of the sum of 

N102.5billion for direct 

interventions in the 

healthcare sector 

•Planned release and 

enhancement (where 

necessary) of hazard 

allowances to Federal health 

workers 

•USD150 million 

intervention fund from 

Nigeria Sovereign 

Investment Authority 

Stabilization Fund 

•Debt and Interest 

Moratorium for States 

•Restructuring of Treasury 

Single Account (TSA) 

•Amendment of the 2020 

Appropriation Act 

Strategic Revenue Growth 

Initiative (SRGI) 

Ladies and Gentlemen, you 

will recall also that prior to 

the outbreak of the 

coronavirus pandemic in late 

December 2019, the Nigerian 

economy was already fragile 

and vulnerable as the nation 

strived to address different 

challenges ranging from 

insecurity in some parts of 

the country, dwindling crude 

oil prices amongst others. 

The fragility and 

vulnerability of the Nigerian 

economy necessitated the 

revision of the Strategic 

Revenue Growth Initiative 

(SRGI) which aimed at 

strengthening revenue 

generating agencies to 

enable them live up to 

expectations of increasing 

revenues to fund the budget. 

As a government, one of the 

proactive measures taken 

immediately after the 

outbreak of the COVID-19 

pandemic was to reposition 

the economy and cushion the 

ripple effects was to revise 

the 2020 budget, slashing 

revenue projection by about 

forty percent (40%) and 

seeking emergency support 

from development partners 

such as the International 

Monetary Fund (IMF), the 

World Bank and the African 

Development Bank to be able 

to execute the 2020 budget. 

Furthermore, the 2021 

Budget of the Federal 

Government christened 

Budget of "Economic 

Recovery & Resilience" gives 

top priority to Security, 

Human 

Capital 

Development, and 

Infrastructure in the nation. 

BANKS’ CEOS SUMMIT 

Generating more revenue for economic growth 

Economic Growth 

Bankers play a crucial role 

in economic development. 

However, the impact of the 

banking system on the rest 

of the economy depends on 

how it mobilizes savings, 

allocates the savings, 

monitors the use of the funds 

by firms and individuals, 

pools and diversifies risk, 

including liquidity risk, and 

eases the exchange of goods 

and services. When the 

banking system performs 

well, it tends to promote 

growth and expand economic 

opportunities.Economic 

growth is about enhancing 

the productive capacity of an 

economy by using available 

resources to reduce risks, 

remove impediments which 

otherwise could increase 

costs of doing business and 

hinder investment. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

highlighting the central role 

that bankers play in the 

growth of every economy by 

mobilizing resources for 

productive investments and 

being the channel for the 

enactment of monetary 

policy.On account ofthe 

critical nature of these roles, 

•Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget & National Planning 

Most emerging 

market economies 

have been known 

to use the domestic 

financial 

institutions to 

execute real sector 

big ticket projects 

and financial 

institutions in 

Nigeria should not 

be an exception if 

we hope to achieve 

our developmental 

objective 

The aggregate revenue for 

the 2021 budget was 

N7.99trn (36.9% higher than 

2020 which was N5.84trn). 

Seventy percent (70%) of the 

revenues would come from 

the non-oil sector while the 

oil sector is estimated to 

provide the remaining thirty 

percent(30%).This 

represents one of the efforts 

towards reducing 

government's dependence on 

oil as her major source of 

revenue. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, in 

all of these, the country 

needs more revenue to 

finance its obligations to the 

citizens in the areas of 

critical infrastructure, and 

other socioeconomic 

programmes. There is no 

doubt that the country cannot 

longer rely on oil as the 

major source of revenue 

generation. Hence, there is 

an urgent need to focus more 

attention on non-oil revenue 

sources. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, as managers 

of the economy, we have a 

collective responsibility to 

come up with strategies on 

how to steadily grow the 

nation's revenue base amidst 

the current global challenges 

orchestrated by the COVID- 

19 pandemic. Maintaining a 

safe and sound banking 

sector is essential, given the 

key role that banks play in 

facilitating economic growth 

and financing developmental 

projects, particularly 

infrastructure, agriculture 

and other sectors. Most 

emerging market economies 

have been known to use the 

domestic financial 

institutions to execute real 

sector big ticket projects and 

financial institutions in 

Nigeria should not be an 

exception if we hope to 

achieve our developmental 

objectives. 

While COVID-19 has 

brought on a handful of 

challenges to our economy 

not excluding the banking 

sector, it however provides a 

unique opportunity for us to 

build a more resilient 

economy that is better 

positioned to withstand 

external shocks, whilst 

supporting economic growth 

and wealth creation in key 

sectors of the Nigeria 

economy. 

I urge you all to examine 

the issues dispassionately in 

the best interest of the 

economy. I am confident that 

given the array of 

professionals gathered here 

today, implementable 

recommendations will 

emerge from your 

deliberations on strategies 

for strengthening the 

economy of our great Nation. 

•Ahmed, Minister of 

Finance, Budget And 

National Planning, gave this 

as Goodwill Message on 

Bankers Initiative For 

Economic Growth at the 

Banks' CEO Summit last 

Friday in Lagos

Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 — 23









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This is Lagos of my dream 

By BABAJIDE SANWO- 

OLU 

A 

year ago when we were at 

the Baptist Shepherd Hill 

Church where our CAN President, 

Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, 

admonished us and challenged us, 

the first index case of COVID-19 

had not happened in Nigeria. A 

year ago, we hadn’t seen the 

unprecedented security 

challenges facing our dear 

country. A year ago, we hadn’t 

seen the huge destruction that 

came out of the peaceful EndSARS 

protests that we witnessed in 

Lagos. A year ago, we hadn’t seen 

the recession that has culminated 

in the economic crises in our 

country and the world. And so, 

everyone of us here today has 

every reason to thank the 

Almighty God who has kept us because it has 

been a difficult year. 

The last one year has been a difficult year for 

us as a government. In the last one year, Nigeria 

has had to test over one million for COVID- 

19. Nigeria has been hit by over 150,000 

infected patients. Your Lagos, our Lagos, has 

remained the epicenter of the virus, with over 

40 per cent of all of the national statistics. 

Globally, the virus has taken over 2.5million 

people; it has infected over 10 million. 

Lagos also witnessed an unprecedented 

protest that started peacefully.Our youths, 

the leaders of today, voiced their grievances 

to all of us in government and this led to the 

destruction that we have never seen before 

in this part of the world. We were asking 

ourselves: “how did we get here?” We have 

also seen that within that one year, Nigeria’s 

economy had been hit by recession. We have 

seen high numbers of unemployment. We 

have seen huge security challenges that 

have shaken the foundation of our 

country. We have seen all of the economic 

challenges that have not only hit Nigeria 

but have hit the bigger parts of the entire 

world. But we thank God that we are 

standing and we are seated today with the grace 

that the Most High has given to each and every 

one of us. 

And so, if we reflect back and also listen to 

the gospel this morning; I will read part of it: 

“And he says, why do you eat and drink 

with the collectors and the sinners?” Who are 

the collectors and 

the sinners? 

Probably 

politicians, 

including me, 

standing in front of 

you; government 

officials standing 

in front of you. 

Why? But our Lord 

Jesus answered 

and said: “Those 

We need to be 

very careful not to 

turn the security 

issues in our land 

into an ethnic, 

religious or tribal 

war 

who are well have 

no need of a physician but those who are sick. 

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners 

to repentance.” I think if that passage did not 

hit all of you, it hit me because it is time for 

sober reflection. It is a time that the topic we 

have taken here today: “A new beginning, a 

new dawn and a new glory”, cannot be better 

imagined and cannot be better put forward. Is 

it the security situation in our country? It calls 

for prayers now more than ever before. It calls 

for our intercession. It calls for all of us to 

come together, stronger, bigger and better. Our 

father, the CAN President, spoke last year; it 

was as if he predicted it. He was crying at the 

top of his voice then that the security situation 

of the country was going down. We all did not 

take it serious. 

We have all witnessed the challenges of our 

country. We don’t have any other place that we 

can call home. We need to be very careful not 

to turn the security issues in our land into an 

ethnic, religious or tribal war. We need to be 

careful to ensure that we bring out and we 

isolate criminally-minded people in our 

community. Let’s avoid tribalising it, giving it 

an ethnic coloration or turning it into a 

religious issue. We are the largest country in 

Africa; where will we go to? Who will take us? 

Where can we get on to? We have no other land 

than here and that is why I said that, indeed, 

Nigeria needs a new beginning. Nigeria needs 

a new dawn. Nigeria needs a new glory. 

We are fighting not only health and medical 

wars because, like I told us, COVID is still 

around; all of us are masked up; we cannot 

even identify ourselves. We can’t hug ourselves. 

We can’t greet ourselves and we can’t even shake 

ourselves. So, we have a health issue that is 

•Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu 

bothering all of us. We have an economic issue 

that is challenging us. The country is just 

coming out of a recession - let us hope that it 

really comes out of it- when people find it 

difficult to earn a living, when people find it 

difficult to eat three decent meals a day. We are 

confronted with security challenges. We cannot 

afford to add political instability to it. 

Are we saying that God Almighty is not 

aware? Are we? Certainly not. God 

Almighty is aware and He doesn’t shake from 

where He is. So, the challenge is for all of us 

as leaders in our various spheres of endeavor; 

be it religious leaders, be it political leaders, 

economic leaders, health or medical leaders, 

office leaders, church leaders to take up the 

responsibility and ask ourselves: “what can I 

do differently to make sure that we all have a 

better tomorrow?” “How will I leave this place 

better for our children and grandchildren than 

we have met it?” 

I am not going to attempt to preach a 

sermon because my father in the Lord is most 

competent to do that. I am just here to 

challenge us, to encourage us and to say to 

us because we are sons and daughters of the 

MostHigh, that our tomorrow, working 

together and collaboratively, will be better 

than our today. And so, I want to first 

congratulate the immediate past chairman 

of Lagos CAN, a very good senior friend and 

father of mine, Apostle (Prof) Alex 

Bamgbola, who had heldthat leadership for 

six years, so graciously. Baba, thank you 

very much. But the baton has changed; it is 

about the new leadership that has been 

sworn in today. We know that he is 

capable,but he needs each and everyone of 

us for his tenure to be bigger, greater and 

mightier than his predecessor’s. 

Today, more than ever before, we need to 

come together as a nation. We need to come 

together as the body of Christ. Our leadership 

in the Christian faith needs to come stronger 

together, irrespective of your individual 

differences, and let us hold the beacon and 

the light of the nation together and pray to 

the Almighty that during our time, greater 

and better things will happen. Not under 

your watch, will we see a crumbling nation 

or crumbling state. It will never happen and 

it will never happen in your time. 

For my government and me, we will continue 

with all our strength to serve you and serve you 

well. We will continue to use every breath that 

God has given to us. Transparently and 

truthfully, we will continue to push all the 

economic pillars that we have set for ourselves. 

For traffic management and transportation, I 

will come here some day and say to you that 

our railways have started working. I will come 

here some day and I will declare to you that we 

have opened up 16 brand new jetty terminals 

that you can use for water transportation. I 

will come here one day and I will tell you new 

bridges have been built, like the one we opened 

yesterday to connect various parts of the city. 

On health and environment, I will come here 

one day and I will declare to you that we have 

built the biggest children hospital in West 

Africa. 

I will come here one day and I will tell you 

that we have built an Infectious Disease 

Research Centre, the biggest in Africa, so that 

when another pandemic comes, we can begin 

to produce vaccines in Nigeria, in Lagos. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Excerpts of Lagos State Governor Sanwo- 

Olu’s speech at the Interdenominational 

Divine Service organised by the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, at the Apostolic 

Church,Ketu on February 20.


What you should know about COVID-19 

vaccination 

By Sola Ogundipe 

ON Tuesday, March 2, 

2021, Nigeria is set to 

take delivery of four 

million doses of the 

AstraZeneca-Oxford 

vaccine from the Serum 

Institute of India. 

The delivery will make 

Nigeria the next West 

African country to benefit 

from the COVAX Facility 

after Ghana, and Cote 

d’Ivoire. 

The doses are part of the 

16 million doses allocated 

to the country by the 

COVAX Facility. Nigeria 

plans to vaccinate at least 

70 percent of eligible 

Nigerians aged 18 years 

and above in four phases 

within two years. 

Following the arrival, the 

National Primary Health 

Care Development 

Agency,NPHCDA, will 

commence the vaccination 

of Nigerians in priority 

groups, starting with the 

frontline health care 

workers. 

An effective vaccine will 

protect a person who 

receives it by lowering their 

chances of getting 

COVID-19 if they 

encounter the coronavirus. 

Widespread vaccination 

for the coronavirus means 

that the virus will not infect 

as many people. This will 

limit spread through 

communities. 

According to the World 

Health Organisation, 

WHO, that priority be 

given to health workers at 

high risk of exposure and 

older people, including 

NAFDAC threatens package water 

producers over poor GMP 

By Chioma Obinna 

THE National Agency for 

Food and Drug 

Administration and Control, 

NAFDAC, on Sunday 

vowed to shut down 

packaged water production 

facilities that fail the Good 

Manufacturing Practice, 

GMP, requirements even 

as it pledges to collaborate 

with the various 

associations to sanitise the 

packaged water sector of 

the economy. 

The Director- General of 

NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola 

Adeyeye who spoke 

recently in Abuja with 412 

packaged water producers 

in Nigeria, appealed to 

them to always maintain 

the level of compliance with 

NAFDAC regulatory 

requirements for which 

their products were 

registered . 

Adeyeye expressed 

dismay that shortly after 

procuring registration 

approval, many of the over 

16,000 registered 

COVID-19 vaccination set to take off in Nigeria after vaccines arrive 

those aged 65 or older. 

Vaccination is 

recommended for persons 

with comorbidities that have 

been identified as 

increasing the risk of severe 

COVID-19, including 

obesity, cardiovascular 

disease, respiratory disease 

and diabetes. 

The benefits of getting a 

COVID-19 vaccine are 

numerous. The vaccine can 

prevent you from getting 

COVID-19, spreading the 

virus to others or from 

becoming seriously ill or 

dying due to the virus 

infection. 

When you are vaccinated, 

you help to increase the 

number of people in the 

community who are 

protected from getting 

COVID-19 — making it 

harder for the disease to 

spread and contributing to 

producers of packaged 

water across Nigeria lower 

standards and produce the 

essential commodity under 

despicable conditions, 

putting the health of the 

Nigerian consuming public 

at risk. 

“Today we are gathered 

on this platform as 

producers of packaged 

water and we all know that 

the situation in Nigeria 

today is such that the entire 

Nigerian populace 

(including the healthy, 

elderly, pregnant women, 

children and the weak with 

low immunity) depend on 

packaged water for 

sustenance, as many 

believe falsely or rightly 

that the municipal water, 

where available, may 

hardly be safe for 

drinking’’, she said. 

Describing water as a 

unique product because it 

has no alternative, 

Adeyeye said everybody 

needs water or at least 

water based product for 

hydration, proper digestion 

herd immunity 

Vaccination also 

prevents the COVID-19 

virus from spreading and 

replicating. Safety of the 

vaccines has been studied 

extensively and the 

incidence of adverse 

effects is very low. 

The side effects to the 

vaccines are very mild, 

including injection site 

reactions, fevers, chills, 

and aches and pains. 

It will take a few weeks 

for your body to build 

immunity after getting 

vaccination, persons with 

history of allergic 

reaction to any component 

of the vaccine should not 

take it. 

The WHO currently 

recommends the use of 

the Astrazeneca-Oxford 

vaccine even if virus 

variants are present in a 

of food, drugs and other 

human needs to sustain 

life. ‘’Water is life’’. 

The NAFDAC boss 

however posited that water 

can only sustain life when 

it is available for drinking 

in the safe and potable form 

otherwise, it could cause 

health complications and 

even lead to death. 

‘’You are in the noble 

business of providing 

Nigerians with safe 

drinking water; but if you 

engage in activities that fall 

short of standards and 

regulatory requirements, 

you may be responsible for 

illness and even death of 

innocent Nigerians.’ 

She maintained that 

packaged water must meet 

requirements of NAFDAC 

regulations and provisions 

of the Nigerian Industrial 

standards for packaged 

water, noting that the 

Agency would intensify its 

routine monitoring to 

ensure consistent 

compliance on GMP and 

other requirements; and 

apply appropriate 

sanctions on defaulters and 

violators. 

country. 

After vaccination, you 

must maintain the 

recommended public 

health measures including 

masking, physical 

distancing, handwashing, 

respiratory and cough 

hygiene, avoiding crowds, 

and ensuring good 

ventilation. 

J&J’s one-dose COVID-19 

vaccine safe, effective 

JOHNSON 

& 

Johnson’s one-dose 

COVID-19 vaccine 

appeared safe and 

effective in trials, the 

U.S. Food and Drug 

Administration said 

Wednesday, paving the 

way for its approval for 

emergency use. 

The vaccine was 66% 

effective at preventing 

moderate to severe 

COVID-19 in a 44,000 

person global trial, the 

FDA said in documents 

ahead of a Friday 

meeting of independent 

experts who will advise 

the agency on emergency 

authorization. 

New data provided by 

J&J showed the vaccine 

was 64 percent effective 

at stopping moderate to 

severe cases of COVID- 

19 after 28 days in 

thousands of trial 

participants in South 

Africa where a worrying 

new variant has swept 

across the country. 

Overall, the vaccine 

was 100 percent effective 

at 

stopping 

hospitalization 28 days 

after vaccination, 

compared with 85% at 14 

days, and there were no 

COVID-19 deaths 

among those who 

received the shot rather 

than a placebo. 

J&J also said data 

suggested its vaccine cut 

down on asymptomatic 

infections. 

“Most encouraging to 

me were the data in 

South Africa,” said Paul 

Offit, director of the 

Vaccine Education 

Center at the Children’s 

Hospital of Philadelphia 

and a member of the FDA 

advisory committee that 

will make its 

recommendation on 

Friday. 

“That you could still 

get protection against 

medically attended 

illnesses - meaning 

hospitalization, ICU 

admission and deaths 

from that vaccine against 

the South African strain, 

I thought that was really 

encouraging.” 

C 

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EGHIANRUWA 

I, formerly known as Eghianruwa 

Edoghogho Blessing, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Obazee 

Edoghogho Blessing. All 

documents bearing my former names 

remain valid. All authorities to 

whom it may be concerned to note 

for official and record purposes. 

VICSON 

I, formerly known as 

Eliyagbor Asunny Vicson, 

now wish to be known as 

Prince Asunny Az Unor 

Iwebema. Former documents 

remain valid. General public 

pls take note. 

EDOM 

I, formerly known as Miss 

Edom Chinwe Theresa, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. 

Soligbo Chinwe Theresa. 

Former documents remain 

valid. General public pls take 

note. 

EDEH 


Edeh Ngozi Augustina, now 

wish to be known as Mrs 

Okonkwo Ngozi Augustina. All 

former documents remain 

valid. General public please 

take note. 

BALOGUN 

I, formerly known as Prince 

Tunde Balogun, now wish to 

be known as Balogun 

Babatunde Olanrewaju. All 


valid. Public please take note. 

ULOLORUDI 

I, formerly known as Ulolorudi 

Sonia Oghenerume, now wish 

to be known as Okoro Sonia 

Oghenerume. All former 

documents remain valid, 

general public please take note. 

OKWUCHI 

I, formerly known as Mrs. Obi- 

Nwachukwu Doris Okwuchi, 

now wish to be known as Mrs. 

Nwachukwu Doris Okwuchi. 

All former documents remain 

valid. The general public 

should please take note. 

ADEBAYO AI 


Adebayo Elizabeth Omolola, 


Ogunronbi Elizabeth Omolola. 


valid. The general public should 

take note. 

AJIBODE OG 

I, Miss Ajibode Quyumot Titilope, 

am the same person as Miss Ajibode 

Koyumot Titilope Is One And Same 

Person, but now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Waheed 

Koyumot Titilope. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

public please take note. 

OBI 

My name was wrongly written 

as Obi Chidera Desmond, 

instead of my correct name as 

Iroele Chidera Desmond. 



note. 

OMEGOR 

I, formerly known as Omegor 

Nnenna Annastesia, now wish 

to be known as Ugwuoke 

Nnenna Annastesia. Former 

documents remain valid. 

General public pls take note. 

OKORO 


Okoro Cecilia Frank, now wish 

to be known as Mrs. Udo 

Cecilia Chinazaekpere. Former 



ADEKOYA 


Adekoya Adebanke 

Adebimpe, now wish to be 

known as Mrs. Ogunbiyi 

Adebanke Adebimpe. Former 



EVBUOMWAN 

ODEGO 

I, formerly known as Miss This is to confirm that the name 

Evbuomwan Senorita Otasowie, Odego Stella Okeoghene and 

now wish to be known as Mrs. Obaroakpo Stella Okeoghene refer 

Inegbedion Senorita Otasowie (Nee 

to me. I now wish to be known as 

Evbuomwan). All former documents 

Odego Stella Okeoghene. Former 

remain valid. The authorities to whom 

documents remain valid. General 

it may concern and the general public 

public pls take note. 

to take note. 

NDUBUISI 

AKPOGUMA 

I, formerly known as Ndubuisi I, formerly known as 

Chidinma Margaret, now wish Akpoguma Vivian, now wish 

to be known as Ogbonna to be known as Pamela Vivian 

Chidinma Margaret. All former Duke Akpoguma. All former 

documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 

General public please take Banks authorities concerned 

note. 

and general public take note. 

JIMO ENEGIDE BASSEY 

I, formerly known as Miss Jimo I, formerly known as Bassey 

Wakilat Adenike, now wish to Mercy Chidinma, now wish to 

be known as Patrick Mercy 

be known as Mrs. Hammed 

Chidinma. All documents 

Wakilat Adenike. All former 

bearing my former 

documents remain valid. name remain valid. General 

Public please take note. public please take note. 

GODDEY 

EFEDJAIRE 

I, formerly known I, formerly known as Miss 

as Isimhanleonkha Goddey Efedjaire Blessing, now wish to 

Onoseta, now wish to be 

be known as Mrs Ehimiaghe 

known as Isimhanleonkha 

Blessing. All former 

Godsday Onoseta. All former 



general public please take note. general public please take note. 

OZOKOYE 

UYIH OBIE 

I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Miss 

Ozokoye Ngozi Augustina, now Uyih Ehizuwa Prisca, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Agu wish to be known as Mrs. 

Ngozi Augustina. All former Ehizuwa George Ilebor. All 

documents remain valid. The former documents remain 

general public should please valid. The general public 

take note. 

should please take note. 

ADEYINKA 

UZOR 

AI 



Osunkoya-Adenugba Balikis 

Uzor Adaku Veronica, now 

Adeyinka, now wish to be 

known as Mrs Alli Balikis 


Adeyinka. All former Ikenna Adaku Vera. All former 

documents remain valid. The documents remain valid. The 

general public should please general public should please 

take note. 

take note. 

ABRAHAM 

NWOKOLO 

Mr. Ervihi Nengen Abraham. My date I, formerly known as Miss 

of birth was wrongly captured by Nwokolo Obiageli Kate, now 

Access Bank PLC As 15/3/1984, wish to be known as Mrs. 

instead of my correct date of birth as Obiageli Kate Chukwuma. All 

27/07/1999. All former documents former documents remain 

remain valid. Access Bank PLC and valid. General public please 

general public take note. 

take note. 

OSUSU 

I, formerly known as Osusu 

Happy, now wish to be known 

as Doghor Happy Aghogho. 



note. 

FAROUNBI 

I, formerly known as Farounbi 

Omolara Motunrayo, now wish 

to be known as Bamise 

Omolara Motunrayo. Former 



COLLINS 

This is to confirm that the 

name; Collins Judith Nnenna 

and Ekwueme Judith Nnenna 

refer to me. I now wish to be 

known as Ekwueme Judith 

Nnenna. Former documents 

remain valid. Banks and 

general public pls take note. 

OBINTA 

I, formerly known as Obinta 

Sophia Chidimma, now wish to 

be known as Ezema Sophia 

Chidimma. AII former 


General public please take 

note. 

OLA 

I, formerly known as Shoks 

Ola, now wish to be known 

as Shokunbi Olaoluwa 

Fawaz. All former documents 

remain valid. Public please 

take note. 

EKPO 


Emediong Ekpo, now wish to 

be known as Mrs Emediong 

Ukeme Amana. All former 


General public take note. 

OKOH 

I, formerly known as Chinedu 

Okoh, now wish to be known 

as Chinedu Alexander 

Chukwuma. All former 



note. 

ADEYEMI ABIODUN IB 

OJIKE OJO 

I, formerly known as Adeyemi I, formerly known as Hassan I, formerly known as Miss I, formerly known as Ojo 

Oluwayemisi Abiodun, now Ojike Ijeoma Agatha, now Omolola Rejoice, now wish to 

Queen Giye, now wish to be 

wish to be known as Hassan wish to be known as Mrs. be known as Adegboyega 

known as Nuhu Queen Gospel. 

Yemisi Temitayo. All former Adimekwe Ijeoma Agatha. All Omolola Rejoice. All former 


documents remain valid. former documents remain documents remain valid. 

valid. General public please General public please take valid. General public please General public please take 

take note. 

note. 

take note. 

note. 

CHIME 


Eunice Ezinne Chime, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Eunice 

Chime Mgbanwa. Former 



OKOLIE 

I, formerly known as Okolie 

Ifeanyi Victor, now wish to be 

known as Okolie Victor Obi. 



note. 

OKEY 


Okey Catherine Enene, now 


Catherine Enene-Abung 

Agbama. Former documents 

remain valid. General public pls 

take note. 

OKPO 

I, formerly known as Ugo 

Ebisindo Okpo, now wish to 

be known as Mrs. Burutolu 

Wisdom Ebisindo. All former 



note. 

OTOYO 


Agnes Oritsetimeyin Otoyo, 

now wish to be known as Mrs 

Agnes Oritsetimeyin Madugu. 


valid. Banks general public take 

note. 

HAMMED 

I hereby confirm that my 

name was wrongly captured as 

Hammed Afeez Abiola, instead 

of my correct name as Ahmed 

Afeez Abiola. All former 


General public take note. 

DANIEL 

LAWSON 

I, formerly known as I, formerly known as Mr 

Akingbayi Ayobola Daniel, Osawe David Raheem Lawson, 


now wish to be known as Mr 

Olorunyomi Aduragbemi 

Osawe David Ohenhen 

Rachael. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

Raheem. All former documents 

general public should please remain valid. The general 

take note. 

public should please take note. 

KENNETH 

We, formerly known and addressed as Mr Kolade 

Matthew Onifade and Miss Ngozi Grace Robinson now 

wish to be known and addressed as Mr. Kolade Matthew 

Kenneth and Mrs. Ngozi Grace Kenneth. All former 

documents remain valid. General public, please take note. 

BALA 

I, formerly known as Bala Musa 

Habibat, now wish to be known 

as Adaji Aishat Yakubu. All 



take note. 

ISAH 

I, formerly known as Audi Isah, 


Muhammed Audi Isa. All former 

documents remain valid. First 

Bank PLC and general public 

please take note. 

OREFUWA 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Orefuwa 

Bukola Esther, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs 

Ajumobi Bukola Esther. 



take note. 

OSEMEN 


Ejemhebare Maria Osemen, 


Ikechukwu Abundance 

Osemen. Former documents 

remain valid. General public pls 

take note. 

OLUGBADE 


Olugbade Elizabeth Funbi, now 


Okediji Elizabeth Funbi. All 


valid, all authorities concerned 

and general public to take 

note. 

AILOJE 

I, formerly known as Ailoje, 

Oluwafunmilayo Biodun now 

wish to be known as Mrs Upe 

Oluwafunmilayo Ayeni. All 


valid. Public please take note. 

JAIYEOLA 

I, formerly known as Jaiyeola 

Yetunde Magret, now wish to 

be known as Oladipo Yetunde 

Magret. All former documents 

remain valid. Banks general 

public take note. 

SOLOMON 

I, formerly known as Solomon 

Uyime, now wish to be known 

as Solomon Uyime Oduok. All 



take note. 

HENRY 


Henry Adiaha Abigail, now 

wish to be known as Mrs. Ikpe 

Adiaha Abigail. All former 

documents remain valid. The 

general public should please 

take note. 

EBHODAGHE 


Ebhodaghe Oseanor Abumere, 


Okouromi Oseanor Abumere. 



take note. 

USMAN 

I, formerly known as Omale 

Usman, now wish to be known 

as Omale Osman Sammu. All 



take note. 

OFOWINOR 

OJONUGWA 

I, formerly known as Lucky Michael 

Ojonugwa, Michael Lucky 

Ojonugwa and Joseph Lucky Enyojo, 

now wish to be known as Joseph 

Luckystar Enyojo. All former 

documents remain valid. UBA PLC, 

Keystone Bank PLC, Sterling Bank 

PLC and general public please take 

note.


L AGOS—STERLING 

Bank Plc has added rotation 

savings and peer-to-peer 

lending feature to the available 

options on OneBank, its 

digital banking platform. 

The new feature, known as 

Ajo Scheme, is the digital construct 

of Ajo, Esusu and Adashe, 

the oldest informal means of 

collecting and saving money 

through a savings club or partnership 

for big-ticket transactions 

such as a down-payment 

on a house, car, gadgets, 

school fees, and overseas trips. 

The Ajo Scheme will allow 

members that are OneBank 

users to make an agreed 

monthly contribution with 

funds accessed on an agreed 

rotating basis. 

In a statement by the Group 

Head, Digital Banking of Sterling 

Bank, Oladipo Alabede, 

explained that the Ajo Scheme 

could be initiated by an interested 

customer who will invite 

family and friends to join the 

scheme, just as he noted that 

all participants must be regis- 



Onebank introduces Ajo scheme for big-ticket 

savings through peers 

OREWA 

I, formerly known as Magdalen 

Bamidele Orewa, now wish to 

be known as Magdalen 

Bamidele Eboma. Former 



MUSA 

I, formerly known as Patience Musa 

Bahago or Patience Neta Musa, now 

wish to be known as Mrs Patience 

Musa Bekenawei. All former 

documents remain valid. GT Bank 

and general public please take note. 

OMATSEYIN 


Omatseyin Opetoritse, now 


Omatseyin Opetoritse 

Esiategiwa. All former 



note. 

FASINA 

My name was wrongly rearrange as 

Fasina Temipoe Olubunmi, instead 

of Fasina Comfort Temitope Olubunmi & 

my date of birth was wrongly written as 7/ 

07/1866 instead of 7/07/1966. All former 

documents remain valid. ECO BANK, 

FIRST BANK, general public & whom it 

may concern should take note. 

OKOYE 

I, formerly known as Okoye 

Linda Tochukwu Anthonia, 


Okafor Linda Tochukwu 

Anthonia. All former 



note. 

OGUNBE 

I, formerly called, known and 

addressed as Chief Mrs Grace 

Ogunbe, henceforth wish to be 

called and addressed as Chief 

Mrs Grace Adejisola Mayaki- 

Ogunbe. All former documents 

remain valid. General public 

take note. 

tered users on OneBank and 

must accept the invitation request. 

Oladipo stated that debiting 

participants' accounts 

and remittance to beneficiaries 

is automated, adding that 

the process runs daily and 

will debit participants on the 

day he/she has selected. 

Oladipo noted that disputes 

relating to unfunded accounts 

will not be handled by 

the bank, saying that participants 

would have to sort out 

the dispute outside the App. 

He said: "Someone can be 

added without his/her knowledge 

if the creator knows the 

email address. Still, such an 

added person will have to accept 

before he can become a 

valid participant. 

"Once the Ajo Scheme 

starts; it cannot be dissolved 

until its cycle is completed. 

He added that there are terms 

and conditions of the Ajo 

Scheme that participating 

members should accept and 

that the bank will not guarantee 

payments. 

"Participants would see the 

details of collections like the 

number of paid participants, 

number of unpaid participants, 

and the number of participants 

that contributed in a 

particular month. Same for 

the total amount contributed, 

the current cycle of contributions, 

and the cycle of disbursed 

amounts is available 

on the App." 

Dangote grooms Nigerian engineers to manage 

refinery complex on completion 

THE MANAGEMENT of 

Dangote Oil Refinery is 

preparing young Nigerian 

graduates to take over the 

management of its 650,000 

barrels per day single train refinery 

when it becomes operational 

in 2022. 

Already, the company has 

trained several Nigerian engineers 

in some of the world’s 

biggest refineries in India and 

other parts of the world to gain 

first-hand experience on how 

to manage a refinery of this 

magnitude. 

The President of the 

Dangote Group, Aliko 

Dangote, who made this disclosure 

on Saturday during 

the tour of the Dangote Refinery 

by the Central Bank 

of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, 

Mr. Godwin Emefiele, affirmed 

that the country is 

blessed with great talents 

that are capable of running 

a refinery of this size, if given 

the necessary encouragement. 

“According to him, the 

outbreak of Corona Virus in 

2020, which forced many 

expatriates out of the Construction 

site made it possible 

for the company to identify 

great talents that exist 

within Nigeria. 

Dangote stated: “One 

thing that gladdens my heart 

is the young Nigerians we 

have trained to take over the 

operation of the Dangote 

Refinery. These young Nigerians 

are the ones that are 

going to run the refinery 

when it becomes operational. 

We want a situation 

whereby the operation of the 

refinery will be the sole responsibility 

of Nigerian graduates. 

We can start the process 

by bringing in team leaders 

to keep giving them that training 

they require to run a world 

class refinery. However, we 

will ensure that Nigerian engineers, 

welders and others 

are the ones running the refinery. 

We have created that 

capacity, human capacity, 

equipment capacity and every 

other thing to ensure the 

successful operation of the refinery 

by Nigerian engineers.” 

Speaking also after the 

tour of the refinery, the CBN 

Governor, Godwin Emefiele 

said that arrangement is 

being made to enable the 

Dangote Refinery sell refined 

crude to Nigeria in 

naira when it commences 

production. 

The CBN governor noted 

that the $15 billion projects 

being constructed by the 

Dangote Group would save 

Nigeria from expending 

about 41 per cent of its foreign 

exchange on importation 

of petroleum products. 

Emefiele said: ”Based on 

agreement and discussions 

with the Nigerian National 

Petroleum Corporation and 

the oil companies, the 

Dangote Refinery can buy its 

crude in naira, refine it, and 

produce it for Nigerians’ use 

in naira. 

“That is the element 

where foreign exchange 

saved for the country becomes 

very clear.‘‘ 

Ighrakpata hails establishment 

of 3 new varsities in Delta 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA—THE Deputy 

Chief Whip of the Delta 

State House of Assembly, 

Chief Solomon Ighrakpata 

has applauded the 

foresight and wisdom in 

the establishment of three 

new Universities in the 

State. 

Ighrakpata, representing 

Uvwie Constituency in the 

House, while reacting to 

the development, commended 

the vision behind 

the upgrades of three existing 

higher institutions in 

the state to full fledged universities. 


University of Delta, Agbor, 

Dennis Osadebe University, 

Anwai-Asaba and University 

of Science and Technology, 

Ozoro, would revolutionize 

university education 


The Deputy Chief Whip 

who doubles as the Chairman, 

House Committee on 

Special Duties, particularly 

paid glowing tributes to 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

for the enviable milestone 

recorded by his administration 

in the education sub 

sector, saying “the initiative 

and courage to establish 

three new universities 

in Delta State, was remarkable, 

and Governor Okowa 

must be commended in that 

regards”. 

Ighrakpata explained 

that it is on record that only 

20% of the total number of 

students that apply yearly 

for admission into Delta 

State University, get admitted, 

as the institution could 

not admit above the number 

approved for it by the 

National University Commission, 

NUC. 

He held that the three 

new universities have provided 

the teaming youths 

of Delta State the opportunity 

of university education, 

emphasizing that it 

was gratifying that infrastructure 

and personnels 

required for smooth take 

off of the universities were 

on ground in the various 

institutions. 

While commending the 

quick assent to the bills establishing 

the three universities 

as passed by the 

State House of Assembly 

by the Governor, Ighrakpata 

expressed optimism 

of early necessary approvals 

by the NUC to enable 

the institutions commence 

academic activities in 

2021/2022 session. 

He said: “Four universities 

would no doubt advance 

the course of learning 

in Delta State and beyond. 

I can tell you that 

Okowa’s administration is 

on the verge of making the 

state stronger through 

strengthening of the education 

sub sector”.



Zamfara abduction’ll be the last, says Buhari 

Continued from page 5 

the schoolgirls. 

“We are using the leaders 

of the repentant bandits to 

rescue the schoolgirls from 

the kidnappers. Very soon, 

we are going to witness the 

release of the abductees,” 

NAN quoted him to have 

said. 

Matawalle added that his 

administration “is going to 

continue with peace process 

with bandits, considering its 

impact in addressing 

security challenges facing 

the state.” 

He commended 


Buhari for sending the 

delegation to symphathise 

with the state over what he 

described as an “ugly act”. 

On the rumoured release 

of the students, Zamfara 

State Government said the 

students have not been 

released, saying such 

rumours might endanger 

release of the girls. 

Press Secretary, Office of 

Zamfara State Governor, 

Gusau, Jamilu Illiyasu 

Birnin Magaji, who stated 

that the state government 

will be excited to announce 

to the world news of the 

girls’ release, said: Some 

online media outlets have 

claimed the release of the 

female students of Govt. 

Girls Science Secondary 

School, Jangebe, from 

unsubstantiated sources. 

Governor Bello 

Mohammed, Matawallen 

Maradun and his aides 

have since Friday, when the 

girls were abducted by 

gunmen, not rested but 

have been working round 

the clock, making frantic 

efforts that will lead to the 

safe release of the girls. 

We are not happy that 

someone who does not 

know the details of the 

situation will try to further 

hurt the victims’ parents, 

government and the 

security by ridiculing the 

effort with falsehood. 

Zamfara 

abduction, a vile 

act — Pope 

Francis 

In his reaction to the 

kidnap of the 317 students, 

Pope Francis described it as 

“vile” in a post via his 

official Twitter handle 

yesterday. 

The Pope added that he 

was praying for the safety 

of the girls, so they could 

return home soon. 

“I join my voice to that of 

the Bishops of Nigeria to 

condemn the vile 

kidnapping of the 317 girls, 

taken away from their 

school in Jangebe. I am 

praying for these girls so 

they might return home 

soon. I am near to their 

families,” he wrote. 

Northern leaders 

should 

interrogate 

federal levity 

— CNG 

Reacting to the spate of 

kidnapping in schools in 

the north, the CNG in a 

statement signed by the 

spokesman, Abdul-Azeez 

Suleiman, said: We call on 

northern leaders to 

interrogate the extent of 

levity of the federal 

authorities in not being able 

to anticipate and 

checkmate the manoeuvres 

of marauding bands of 

criminals that roam 

Northern communities and 

operate at will, targeting 

such soft spots as schools. 

“We see the recent 

escalation of kidnap of 

school children as a grand 

design to cripple the 

educational viability of the 

northern region after 

having messed up its 

economy and mutual 

cohesion.” 

Noting its excitement 

over the return of staff and 

students of Government 

Science College Kagara, 

Niger State, the group 

warned that it is not yet 

celebration time, adding 

that President 

Muhammadu Buhari owes 

it a duty to explain why 

there is high level of 

insecurity in the northern 

part of Nigeria. 

It noted that the past few 

days would have been 

difficult for the kidnap 

victims, their families and 

the people of Niger State. 

“The situation is also 

difficult for absolutely 

everyone as we wonder 

about the future and worry 

about each other, our 

neighbours, our friends, 

our families and ourselves. 

“The CNG, which has 

been on the ground in 

Minna and addressed a 

press conference Friday 

afternoon, calling for urgent 

action to rescue the 

captives, feels proud today 

that it has once again 

played a major role in 

getting authorities to act. 

“While we’re still on the 

ground waiting to verify the 

release and the condition 

of the captives, we share in 

the joy of the parents and 

the Kagara community and 

Niger State generally.” 

‘Children of 

military personel 

beaten 

mercilessly’ 

Meanwhile, students of 

Government Science 

College, Kagara, Niger 

State, who were released 

last weekend by bandits, 

have continued to recount 

their ordeals in the hands 

of their kidnappers. 

Recounting his ordeal, 

one of the students, 

Abubakar Sidi, said the 

bandits inquired about the 

occupation of their parents, 

adding that those whose 

parents were military 

personnel were beaten 

mercilessly. 

“We didn’t get food to eat 

till night on the first day but 

they later fed us, and after 

feeding us, they asked us 

about our parents’ 

occupation. 

“If you father is a 

policeman, come here;” “If 

your father is a soldier, 

come here.” They beat us 

seriously but the beating 

was based on the 

occupation of our fathers. I 

wished I could die because 

the beating was too much. 

It was really tough in the 

forest.” 

Another student 

identified as Suleiman 

Lawal said given the kind 

of suffering he experienced 

in captivity, it was unlikely 

he would return to the same 

school. 

“We suffered so much. I 

had never faced this kind 

of situation in all my life. I 

don’t think I will like to go 

back to that school again,” 

Lawal said. 

Editors condemn 

incessant 

abductions, blast 

Gumi 

The Nigerian Guild of 

Editors, NGE, has 

condemned the incessant 

abduction of students by 

bandits in parts of the 

country. 

Rising from a meeting in 

Lagos weekend, the NGE 

in a statement signed by 

the President, Mustapha 

Isah, and General 

Secretary, Mary Atolagbe, 

said: “The Guild is worried 

that the spate of abductions, 

if not checked, could 

discourage parents from 

sending their children to 

school and thereby lead to 

a further increase in the 

number of out-of-school 

children in Nigeria. 

“We strongly believe that 

children have the right to 

education and schools 

should be made safe for 

them to learn. Therefore, a 

comprehensive security 

plan should be put in place 

by all levels of government 

to prevent further 

abductions of students. 

Going to school to acquire 

knowledge is not a crime. 

“In the same vein, the 

Guild calls on the Nigerian 

government to urgently 

revisit the Safe Schools 

Initiative, with a view to 

implementing it for the 

benefit of Nigerian 

children. 

“The body of editors 

believes that dialogue and 

amnesty for bandits have 

not been positively 

impactful and therefore, it 

should be discouraged. 

“The Guild aligns with 

the advice of President 

Muhammadu Buhari to 

state governors, to stop 

giving cash and other 

materials, such as vehicles 

to bandits, because such 

overtures could empower 

them to carry out more 

abductions. 

“The Guild condemns a 

statement credited to an 

Islamic scholar, Sheikh 

Abubakar Gumi, describing 

journalists as criminals. 

Sheikh Gumi had accused 

media professionals of 

adding to insecurity in the 

country by the names used 

in describing bandits. 

“He levelled the 

accusation when he 

featured on Arise Television 

station, suggesting that 

‘nice’ words should be 

used to describe bandits, if 

the nation desired that they 

surrender. 

“Sheikh Gumi and others 

of like minds are hereby 

reminded that journalists 

don’t create events, they 

merely report them. Also, 

journalists should not be 

expected to eulogise a 

group of people that 

abducts innocent children 

and others at will. 

“The Guild also 

denounces the choice of 

words by some governors 

who commented on the 

state of insecurity in the 

country. They are reminded 

that holding a public office 

comes with enormous 

responsibilities. Those who 

do not have solutions to the 

current security situation 

should not aggravate it with 

irresponsible public 

comments. This is no time 

to play to the gallery. 

“The Guild calls on the 

government to live up to its 

fundamental responsibility 

of securing the lives and 

property of Nigerians. The 

new service chiefs should 

devise a new strategy to rid 

the nation’s forests of 

bandits and other criminal 

elements. 

“The Guild also believes 

that the anti-corruption 

fight of the Federal 

Government should be 

sustained in a credible 

manner. The new 

Chairman of the Economic 

and Financial Crimes 

Commission (EFCC), 

Abdulrasheed Bawa, 

should ensure that 

investigations are wellconducted 

before arrests 

are made. 

“The practice of arresting 

suspects, parading them for 

corruption-related offences 

and then looking for 

evidence to nail them 

should be discarded.” 

Insecurity: N-Delta agitators oppose amnesty for bandits 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA — A 

coalition of Niger 

Delta agitators has 

opposed amnesty for 

bandits, saying it is 

uncharitable to make 

comparison to the one 

given to Niger Delta exmilitants. 

In a statement, yesterday, 

the coalition said it was yet 

to understand the cause the 

bandits were pursuing, 

stressing those whose stock 

in trade were kidnapping, 

killing and maiming 

deserved to be arrested and 

brought to justice instead 

of compensating their acts 

of criminality with 

amnesty. 

The statement by John 

Duke as the Convener of 

the coalition; Ekpo Ekpo, 

Osarolor Nedam, Henry 

Okon Etete, Asukwo 

Henshaw, Ibizabo 

Horstall, Duke 

Emmanson, Inibeghe 

Adams, Abiye Tariah, 

Joshua Ebere, Jeremiah 

Anthony, Francis 

Okoroafor, and Nelson 

Okochi called for the 

immediate arrest of 

Islamic cleric, Sheikh 

Ahmad Gumi, and Bauchi 

State Governor, Bala 

Mohammed for their 

utterances and their 

mediatory role in the 

unhealthy development 

respectively. 

According to the 

coalition, Gumi should 

have acted like President 

Muhammadu Buhari, who 

rejected a mediatory role 

for Boko Haram in 2012. 

The statement read: 

“Rising from a joint 

Emergency General 

Meeting of the Coalition of 

Niger Delta Agitators, 

CNDA, comprising all the 

major militant groups in 

the Niger Delta, the 

Coalition has called for the 

immediate arrest of 

Islamic cleric, Sheikh 

Gumi, and Bauchi State 

Governor, Mohammed. 

“The coalition also 

condemned all forms of 

negotiation with bandits, 

gun-carrying herdsmen, 

kidnappers and boko 

haram leaders who have 

been terrorizing innocent 

citizens across the country 

in recent times, declaring 

that such acts amount to 

nothing short of 

criminality. 

“The coalition has also 

frowned at recent outbursts 

and suggestions by some 

prominent figures from the 

northern part of the 

country, calling on the 

northerners to be well 

armed with guns to defend 

themselves. 

“The coalition considers 

it very erroneous to 

compare bandits, Boko 

Haram members and 

herdsmen who are not 

pursuing any just cause 

other than to kill, maim 

and destroy lives and 

properties in the country, to 

Niger Delta militants who 

have over the years been 

subjected to suffering, 

discrimination and 

deprivation in their own 

land, while their resources 

are exploited and used for 

the development of other 

regions in the country. 

“It is therefore, out of 

place to seek amnesty for 

killers and abductors of 

innocent school children 

and citizens simply 

because some militants in 

the Niger Delta had been 

given some form of 

amnesty. And despite all 

the negotiations for the 

release of the kidnapped 

persons and payments of 

ransom, kidnappings seem 

to be on the increase. 

“For Sheikh Gumi to 

accept in the first place to 

negotiate with “terrorists” 

who are enemies of the 

Nigerian state, and also 

recommend that 

government should grant 

the criminals amnesty for 

no just or reasonable cause, 

means that he is an 

integral part of the group. 

It is quite appalling to 

learn that Sheikh Gumi 

was even very furious with 

journalists for reporting 

the nefarious activities of 

these bandits and even went 

on to brand journalists 

“criminals” for stressing 

on the criminality of the 

bandits. 

“Interestingly, since the 

acclaimed leader of the 

bandits, Kachalla Halilu 

Subibu Seno has 

consistently addressed 

himself as the “leader of all 

terrorists,”, hich other 

names need to be given to 

a group of self-styled 

terrorists who have been 

involved in high-profile 

kidnappings, raping, 

killings and destruction of 

properties of innocent 

citizens across the nation, 

other than being regarded 

as criminals and enemies 

of the state? 

“After carefully watching 

this “naked dance” 

displayed by the likes of 

Sheikh Gumi, Bauchi State 

Governor, Bala 

Mohammed, Bauchi ex- 

Governor Isa Yuguda, and 

some other northern elites, 

the coalition of Niger 

Delta Agitators is 

compelled to believe that 

Northerners are using the 

kidnappings of innocent 

citizens to make money. It 

is very clear that the 

northerners are using the 

Federal Government 

which is led by a northerner 

to rape the country’s 

commonwealth which 

belongs to all citizens of 

the country. 

“Recommending that the 

bandits who have no just 

and concrete demands for 

government to meet, apart 

from receiving ransoms 

for kidnappings, means 

that this is a conduit pipe 

developed by the bandits to 

siphon the country’s 

treasury. 

“Recall that in October 

2012, following the Chibok 

girls kidnapping, the 

current President Buhari 

was named by the Boko 

Haram leadership as one 

of their mediators with the 

Jonathan government, but 

he (Buhari) promptly 

refused, citing the reason 

that he did not know the 

Boko Haram group, and 

what they were fighting for. 

This is exactly what Sheikh 

Gumi would have done if he 

was contacted to mediate 

for the bandits, and not to 

speak for and support 

them.” 

Reacting to the reports of 

cutting food supplies to the 

south, the coalition said it 

may be forced to also cut off 

the major oil and gas 

pipelines connecting the 

North if the threats were not 

withdrawn in 30 days time. 

“In a more civilized 

society administered by true 

democrats and those who 

do not pay only lip service 

to the governance of the 

nation, these culprits would 

have been immediately 

arrested and prosecuted for 

these crimes. 

“We wish to state here for 

the avoidance of any doubt, 

that “no ethnic group or geopolitical 

area in this country 

has the monopoly of 

violence.”


Chief Guy 

Ikokwu 

*Dr Olisa Agbakoba 

KILLING FIELDS: 1,525 Nigerians 

killed in six weeks of 2021 (2) 

*Chief Mumakai Unagha 

•We can’t afford to lose 34 persons daily, 12,370 yearly to 

insecurity’ 

•Ikokwu, Agbakoba, Okorie, Osuntokun, Unagha, Shonibare, 

others speak 

•Nigeria records 358 deaths in 10 days 

By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics 

Editor 

A host of eminent of Nigerians have 

decried the dangerous trend the wave 

of insecurity has taken in Nigeria and 

urged decisive actions to halt the 

trend. 

Reacting to Vanguard’s exclusive 

report, last Monday, which showed 

that from reported cases no fewer than 

1,525 people were lost to insecurity 

in the first two weeks of 2021, the 

eminent Nigerians lamented that the 

figure is humongous. 

The figure shows that every day 

Nigeria loses 34 persons to insecurity 

and if the trend continues the country 

may lose 12,370 persons by the end 

of 2021. 

Indeed, the country has lost no fewer 

than 358 persons between February 

15 and February 24, Vanguard’s 

tally of reported cases showed. 

Eminent Nigerians who decried the 

trend and proffered solutions to the 

debilitating insecurity snarl include 

Elder statesman and Second Republic 

Politician, Chief Guy Ikokwu; 

former Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, 

President, Dr Olisa Agbakoba; a 

chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, 

APC, Chief Chekwas Okorie; 

National Chairman of the Social 

Democratic Party, SDP, Chief Supo 

Shonibare; former Presidential Aspirant 

and APC chieftain, Chief Mumakai 

Unagha; and Mr Akin Osuntokun, 

former Political Adviser to 

former President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

We’re faced with peaceful 

separation, restructuring or 

implosion —Ikokwu 

Quoting Robert F. Kennedy, who 

said: ‘Every time we turn our heads 

the other way when we see the law 

flouted, when we tolerate what we 

know to be wrong, when we close 

our eyes and ears to the corrupt because 

we are too busy or too frightened, 

when we fail to speak up and 

speak out, we strike a blow against 

freedom, decency and justice,’ Ikokwu 

said Nigerians must do the needful 

urgently to avoid imminent disaster. 

Ikokwu said: ‘’Security of lives and 

properties in our clime and ethnic 

?nationalities are the existential precepts 

and rights of all peoples world 

wide. It was recognized in the British 

Magna Carter, the French Revolution, 

the Bill of Rights in the United 

States of America and by the United 

Nations. The ICC Commission 

in Hague Europe was set up as a 

World Court to arrest, try and punish 

officials and citizens of countries 

who commit crimes against humanity 

like extra judicial killings. Even 

in times of War there are systemic 

rules of engagement the defiance of 

which are punishable and there institutions 

like Amnesty International 

with very credible members who 

monitor the engagements. 

“These and other credible media 

and activist organizations monitor 

and report any infringements in 

countries and areas of conflict in 

countries defying the above rules of 

law and democratic norms. Nigeria 

in the periods after the Civil War 

has been under the watchful eyes and 

investigations of the outside World 

and the gruesome insecurities and 

killing pandemic all over Nigeria 

have been documented internally 

and externally identifying those responsible 

for such acts of impunity 

and disdain for such lawlessness and 

killings which should not go unnoticed 

and unpunished. Such depravity 

has had a terrible effect on the 

developmental capabilities of Nigeria 

in all ramifications. It is a comatose 

and egregious situation which 

must be remedied by a reversal of 

our existential precepts and template 

for the continued existence of the Nigerian 

Union of over 300 Ethnic nationalities 

and diverse religions cultures 

and standards of morality and 

education. It is either we peacefully 

dissolve, reorganize or Restructure 

our existential template in order to 

reverse the Inanities which have 

wrecked the country.” 

Govt radicalized the crisis 

—Osuntokun 

Also speaking, Osuntokun said: 

“The signal I can decipher is that for 

whatever reason, the government 

has chosen to radicalise rather than 

alleviate the crisis. A responsive government 

would have seized the opportunity 

presented by the replacement 

at the EFCC, civil defence corp, 

prisons to redress the yawning lopsided 

appointments gap especially 

in the security sector. In the circumstance 

it now devolves on Nigerians 

to continue to reach out to one another. 

The tragedy is that for such 

initiatives to stand a chance of success, 

the president has to buy into the 

effort.” 

Security architecture needs 

overhaul 

— Agbakoba 

Dr Agbakoba canvassed overhauling 

of Nigeria’s security system to 

address the issue. 

“We need to overhaul the security 

We need to overhaul the 

security architecture to resolve 

this unfortunate issue 

now acknowledged by 

government and my contribution 

is to suggest review 

of military doctrine to 

take into account that we 

are engaged in irregular 

war and conventional 

strategy now in place may 

need review 

architecture to resolve this unfortunate 

issue now acknowledged by government 

and my contribution is to 

suggest review of military doctrine 

to take into account that we are engaged 

in irregular war and conventional 

strategy now in place may 

need review. Lessons from Ho Chi 

Mi in North Vietnam and Che Guevara 

in Bolivia and Cuba will help,” 

he said. 

We need State police, 

restructuring — Shonibare 

in like manner, Shonibare said: 

“”We have been advocating for the 

Restructuring of our security architecture 

to be more representative of 

the various catchment areas residents 

within the Federation. The 

Federal government does not have 

the capacity or manpower resources 

to deploy to enable this increasingly 

seemingly uncontrollable state 

of insecurity abate. 

We need State and Local Government 

Police to be the first point of 

resistance to these security challenges. 

The Federal Police should be 

complimentary, in instances of incapacity 

of a State, when invited by 

the State Governor. Apart from the 

President’s inertia, the National Assembly 

too cannot absolve itself from 

the responsibility of proffering a 

panacea. It is the body responsible 

for exercising legislative functions of 

government. Creating State Police 

entails amending our incurable defective 

Constitution in parts that can 

address that emergency security imperative. 

We are sliding towards a 

justifiable but uncoordinated selfhelp 

cells, which will inevitably entail 

proliferation of even more firearms 

all over the Country. 

“It’s unfortunate that the National 

Assembly cannot introduce a bill for 

State Police, in concerto with States. 

“A State Police in my view, should 

be devoid of any political influence. 

There should be a Police Service 

Commission at the State & Local 

government level. It’s should be comprised 

of a nominee from the State 

Bar Association( NBA), nominee 

from the State National Medical Association( 

NMA), nominee from the 

State of a member from the Islamic 

Affairs Council, a nominee from the 

State of the Christian Association of 

Nigeria, the Attorney- General of the 

State, a retired Senior Police Officer 

of not less than the rank of a Commissioner 

of Police, with a retired 

Judge from the State as Chairman. 

This will need to be replicated at the 

Local Government level. The Police 

Commission will be responsible for recruitment, 

supervisory role for training, 

confirmations of promotions from the 

rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, 

operational oversight and disciplinary 

responsibility of the Police. The Police 

Commissioner in the State shall have 

responsibility of operational decisions 

& strategy. The buck must stop at his 

table, with regard to operations of the 

Police in the State. 

“The functions of the State Legislature 

will be screening and confirmation 

of nominees, as well as oversight functions. 

The Governor would also perform 

oversight functions, as well as allocation 

and provision of funds. The Governor 

not being responsible for operational 

functions will remove the scepter of 

political influences, as far as possible, 

on policing. Without completely devolving 

the security architecture, I am afraid 

our security challenges will continue to 

deteriorate.” 

Nigeria’s in a state of war 

—Chekwas Okorie 

To Chekwas Okorie, “The spate of killing 

of defenceless Nigerians, wanton 

destruction of property across the Country 

and the displacement of millions of 

citizens from places they were originally 

domiciled point to the fact that Nigeria 

is unarguably in a state of war. President 

Muhammadu Buhari admitted 

as much when he deployed the new 

Service Chiefs to their offices. 

“Two discernible aspects of the raging 

war can be isolated. The external 

invasion represented by the heavily 

armed foreign herdsmen and the Boko 

Haram Islamic Army with the openly 

stated agenda of islamizing Nigeria. 

Added to this is the unprecedented 

widespread activities of bandits, kidnappers 

and armed robbers. 

The aspects of the foreign invasion 

of Nigeria and the religious war 

waged by Boko Haram and its allies 

fall within the purview of the 

Nigerian Armed Forces. Defending 

Nigeria’s territorial integrity should 

be total. Nothing should be spared 

in terms of highly motivated and 

mobile armed forces with superior 

fire power and technology to defeat 

the enemy forces. On the other hand 

the internal insecurity ravaging every 

nook and cranny of the Country 

is the primary responsibility of a 

properly structured Nigeria Police 

and allied Security Agencies. Nigeria 

is too large in terms of space and 

population to be effectively and efficiently 

policed by a central police 

command. I align with all well meaning 

Nigerians who have recommended 

the establishment of State 

Continues on page 43


KILLING FIELDS: 1,525 Nigerians 

killed in six weeks of 2021 (2) 

Continued from page 42 

and Community police Systems 

to operate in collaboration 

with Federal Police as is 

the best practice in democratic 

nations. The National Assembly 

must prioritise the 

amendment of the Nigerian 

Constitution to usher in a restructured 

Nigeria Police architecture. 

It is not enough for 

them to move a motion urging 


Buhari to declare state of 

emergency on the security situation 

in Nigeria.” 

Also speaking, Mumakai 

said: “The security challenges 

in this country has no doubt 

been a major concern to all 

including my very self. I keep 

asking, at what point in time 

did we get it wrong that we no 

longer value human lives. Nigeria 

as a nation has turned a 

theatre ground where Human 

beings are wasted and slaughtered 

without looking back. 

“The security challenges befalling 

the nation, particularly 

in the Northern region, 

Northern leaders especially 

the elites should be held responsible. 

They were the ones 

using those youths from Niger 

Republic. Chad and Mali 

for election and now it has 

back fired. 

“Unless urgent steps are taken, 

the situation will be worse 

in the nearest future. Most of 

these herdsmen and bandits 

have not seen the four walls of 

either primary school let alone 

secondary. They carry out orders 

by their instructors or 

*Chief Supo Shonibare 

leaders. There is an agenda 

which the Fulani herdsmen 

and bandits have not disclosed 

but I’m optimistic that 

in no distant time, they will 

unfold it especially with the 

comment made by the governor 

of Bauchi State. This goes 

to show that there is an agenda 

to be carried out. My only 

regret is the huge investment 

of Southerners in the North. I 

can recall, when Boko 

Haram just started, some of 

the Northern leaders were in 

support, thinking that it would 

be to their advantage. Now it 

is a different ball game. 

“Some persons in certain 

quarters have suggested that 

every Nigerian should be allowed 

to carry arms, others 

suggested that the country be 

restructured, etc. These arguments 

are in order but to me, 

the immediate solution we 

need is restructuring. The restructuring 

should not be 

merely state police but total 

such that there can be easy 

monitoring of movements. 

As it is now, the country is very 

loose. You wouldn’t know who 

is Mr. Black or White. On a 

very critical note, the free 

movement policy of West Africa 

states should be revisited 

and reviewed. It has caused 

much damage rather than 

good. Several wanted criminals 

in other countries have 

found their ways into Nigeria 

unquestioned because of the 

policy. I saw it coming 10 

years ago when I raised an 

alarm that our borders are too 

loose. You see different people 

moving into the country without 

valid documents. I can tell 

you that most of these bandits 

are mainly from neighbouring 

countries.” 

TIME LINE OF KILLINGS, FEBRUARY 14 TO 24 

•February 14: Gunmen 

killed one police officer at 

a church in Ughelli North, 

Delta. 

•February 14: Kidnappers 

killed three and abducted 

30 in Rafi, Niger 

State. 

•February 14: Herdsmen 

killed four in Bassa, 

Plateau. 

•February 14: Nigerian 

troops killed 81 Boko 

Haram militants in Sambisa 

forest and lost one soldier 

to a landmine in Gwoza, 

Borno. 

•February 14: Herdsmen 

killed four in Egbado 

North, Ogun. 


killed a business man in 

Aba, Abia State and collected 

his sack-load of 

money. 

•February 15: A man 

stabbed his brother to 

death at Ughoton community, 

Okpe LGA of Delta 

State 

•February 15: Four 

youths were killed by suspected 

herdsmen at Rikwechongo 

and Zirshe villages 

of Irigwe chiefdom, 

Bassa LGA, Plateau State. 

• February 15: 

Gunmen suspected to be 

cultists killed a female Benue 

State University at her 

Gyado villa residence adjacent 

the university. 

• February 15: A 

man stabbed his wife to 

death over alleged infidelity 

in Remo Ogun State 

• February 15: Seven 

children were killed by 

a leftover explosive device 

in Maradun, Zamfara. 


Boko Haram killed 10 Nigerian 

soldiers in Marte, 

Borno. 


Herdsmen attacked Oke- 

Akanni and Oke-Imala villages 

in Ogun State and 

killed eight persons. 

February 16: Bandits 

killed 11 in Rafi, Niger 

State including the village 

head and kidnapped 20. 


Boko Haram killed five 

police officers and two civilians 

in Bursari, Yobe. 

• February 16: Suspected 

cultists killed six 

children in Idemili North, 

Anambra. 

• February 16: Nigerian 

troops killed two 

Boko Haram militants in 

Bursari, Yobe. 


ISWAP killed four policemen 

and seven villagers at 

Bayamani, Yobe State. 


Gunmen killed one and 

kidnapped 42 at a school 

in Rafi, Niger State. 

• February 17: Nigerian 

troops killed “several” 

(estimated at 10) bandits 

who kidnapped four in 

Birnin-Gwari, Kaduna. 

•February 17: Suspected 

herdsmen killed seven in 

Ovia North-East, Edo. 


killed one and kidnapped 

30 in Shiroro, Niger State. 

•February 17: A housewife 

killed her husband 

with a plank for allegedly 

receiving a phone from another 

woman in Omotosho, 

Okitipupa LGA, Ondo 

State. 

* A vigilante operative 

stabbed a man to death at 

Otokutu community, 

Ughelli South LGA, Delta 

State. 

•February 17: No fewer 

than seven soldiers attached 

to the 153 Task 

Force Battalion, Marte 

LGA of Borno State were 

killed by Boko Haram 

•February 18: Kidnappers 

abducted 17 in 

Faskari, Katsina. 

* February 18: Gunmen 

killed two persons at Sedeco, 

Uvwie LGA, Delta State 

•February 19: Boko 

Haram killed “many” (estimated 

at 20) civilians in 

Dikwa, Borno. 


killed one and kidnapped 

“several” (estimated at 10) 

in Rafi, Niger State. 

•February 19: Four were 

killed during protests in 

Billiri, Gombe. 

* February 19: A man 

stabbed his sleeping Neighbour 

to death for abusing 

his wife at Messiah School 

street, Akure, Ondo State. 


kill Okiemute Sowho, special 

adviser to Governor 

Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta 

State 

* February 20: A cult 

clash at Agwa Secondary 

School, Oguta LGA, Imo 

State claimed the life of a 

23-year old man, Tobechi 

Duru 

read 

on. 

www.vanguardngr.com 

Trump proclaims himself ‘future of 

Republican party’ 

Former President Donald 

Trump on Sunday declared 

himself the dominant 

figure in the fractured Republican 

Party and attack President 

Joe Biden in his first 

major appearance since leaving 

the White House nearly 

six weeks ago 

“I stand before you today to 

declare that the incredible 

journey we began together 

four years ago is far from over,” 

Trump will tell the Conservative 

Political Action Conference 

in Orlando, Florida, according 

to speech excerpts released 

by his team. 

“We are gathered this afternoon 

to talk about the future 

—the future of our movement, 

the future of our party, and the 

future of our beloved country,” 

he added. 

Trump’s tumultuous final 

weeks in office saw his supporters 

launch a deadly attack 

on the U.S. Capitol on 

Jan. 6 in an attempt to 

block Congress from certifying 

Biden’s election victory, 

a win that Trump falsely 

claimed was tainted by 

widespread fraud. A civil 

war has erupted within the 

Republican Party with establishment 

figures like 

Senate minority leader 

Mitch McConnell eager to 

put Trump in the rear-view 

mirror and others, like 

Trump ally Senator Lindsey 

Graham, believing the party’s 

future depends on the 

energy of the pro-Trump 

conservative base. 

“The Republican Party is 

united. The only division is between 

a handful of Washington 

D.C. establishment political 

hacks, and everybody else 

all over the country,” Trump 

said. 

Trump fervor at the four-day 

CPAC event has been so strong 

that Trump’s son Donald 

Trump Jr. declared it “T-PAC” 

and participants rolled out a 

golden statue of the former 

president. 

Trump has discussed privately 

running again for president 

in 2024, according to 

advisers, but the speech excerpts 

gave no hint of what he 

might do. 

“That’s going to be a decision 

he makes down the road,” 

Republican National Committee 

Chair Ronna 

McDaniel told CBS’s “Face 

the Nation.” 

Hong Kong charges 47 activists under new 

security law 

Police in Hong Kong have 

charged 47 activists with 

“subversion”, in the largest use 

yet of the territory’s controversial 

security law. 

The 47, among a group of 

55 arrested in dawn raids last 

month, were told to report to 

police stations for detention 

ahead of court appearances on 

Monday. 

Beijing enforced the law 

criminalising “subversive” 

acts last year, saying it was 

needed to bring stability. 

Critics say it has silenced dissent 

and stripped Hong Kong 

of its autonomy. 

The law came into force after 

a series of mass pro-democracy 

protests in 2019, some of 

which turned violent. 

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic 

Raab condemned the 

move as “deeply disturbing”. 

Those ordered to report to 

the police are pro-democracy 

activists who had helped run 

an unofficial “primary” election 

last June to pick opposition 

candidates for 2020 legislative 

elections, which were 

then postponed. 

Chinese and Hong Kong 

officials say the primary was 

an attempt to overthrow the 

government. 

Hong Kong police said in a 

statement: “Police this afternoon 

laid a charge against 47 

persons... with one count of 

‘conspiracy to commit subversion’.” 

The 39 men and eight women, 

aged between 23 and 64, 

are scheduled to appear before 

West Kowloon Magistracy 

on Monday. 

They are some of the territory’s 

best-known democracy 

campaigners. 

They include veterans such 

as Benny Tai and Leung Kwokhung, 

and younger protesters 

like Gwyneth Ho, Sam Cheung 

and Lester Shum. 

Jimmy Sham, 33, a key organiser 

of the 2019 protests, 

remained defiant as he went to 

the police station. 

“Democracy is never a gift 

from heaven. It must be earned 

by many with strong will,” he 

said. “We will remain strong 

and fight for what we want.” 

Before turning herself in, 

Gwyneth Ho posted: “I hope 

everyone can find their road to 

peace of mind and then press 

forward with indomitable 

will.” 

Sam Cheung said: “I hope 

everyone won’t give up on 

Hong Kong... fight on.” 

The charges carry a maximum 

term of life imprisonment. 

Bail is unlikely. Benny 

Tai said his chances were “not 

too great”. 

Kremlin critic Navalny moved to penal colony to 

serve jail term 

Kremlin critic Alexei Na 

valny has been transferred 

to a penal colony outside 

Moscow to serve his prison 

sentence, a public commission 

said on Sunday, weeks after 

he returned to Russia after 

being poisoned. 

Navalny’s whereabouts had 

been unknown since Thursday 

when his allies learned that he 

was transferred out of one of 

Moscow’s most infamous jails 

to an undisclosed location. 

Navalny, 44, was arrested on 

his return from Germany last 

month and has been sentenced 

to more than 2-1/2 years for 

parole violations that he said 

were trumped up. 

He has been transferred to a 

penal colony in the Vladimir 

region, the Moscow Public 

Monitoring Commission that 

defends the rights of prisoners 

and has access to people in custody, 

said on its website. 

The state news agency TASS 

specified that Navalny will 

serve his term in penal colony 

number 2 in the town of Pokrov, 

about 100 km (60 miles) 

east of Moscow. 

Reuters pictures showed metallic 

grey buildings behind a 

grey fence and barbed wire inside 

the colony, as well as the 

gold domes of a church. A guard 

at the gate asked reporters to 

keep a distance of at least 100 

metres (yards) if they wanted to 

film it. 

Ruslan Vakhapov, a local activist 

of the prisoners’ rights 

group Jailed Russia, described 

conditions as particularly severe. 

“In short, it’s a bad colony,” 

Ruslan Vakhapov told Reuters 

by phone. 

Many prisoners cooperate 

with the colony administration 

and help them to control other 

inmates closely, abusing them 

if they violate a strict daily schedule, 

Vakhapov said. 

“If there is a need to prevent 

Navalny from communicating 

with others, nobody would talk 

to him,” the activist said. 

“(If anything happens), he 

wouldn’t be able to ask for help 

Six dead as Myanmar junta intensifies 

crackdown protests 

Myanmar security forces 

shot dead at least six protesters 

Sunday in the bloodiest 

action so far to smother opposition 

to the military coup four 

weeks ago. 

The junta is battling to contain 

a massive street movement 

demanding it yield power and 

release ousted civilian leader 

Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained 

along with top political 

allies at the start of the month. 

Police and soldiers had already 

fired rubber bullets, tear gas and 

water cannon on demonstrations 

in recent weeks in an effort 

to bring the civil disobedience 

campaign to heel, with live 

rounds used in some isolated 

cases. 

Large numbers were again 

mobilised on Sunday morning 

until his lawyer arrives,” he added 

Ȧ duty officer who took a call 

at the prison declined to answer 

questions about Navalny. 

Navalny will be quarantined 

as a precaution against the spread 

of coronavirus before joining other 

prisoners in the colony, the 

monitoring commission said, according 

to the RIA news agency. 

Earlier on Sunday a Navalny 

ally, Leonid Volkov, called on 

Twitter for authorities to provide 

official information about his 

whereabouts and access to him 

by his lawyers. 

to scatter crowds in several parts of 

the country, after online calls for protesters 

to once again flood the streets. 

Three men were killed and at least 

20 others injured when security forces 

moved on a rally in the southern 

coastal hub of Dawei, a volunteer 

medic and a media outlet based in 

the city said. 

Rescue worker Pyae Zaw Hein 

said the trio were “shot dead with 

live rounds”, while the injured were 

hit by rubber bullets. 

“More wounded people keep 

coming in,” he told AFP. Two teenagers 

were also gunned down in 

Bago, a two-hour drive north of 

commercial capital Yangon. 

Ambulance driver Than Lwin 

Oo told AFP he had sent the bodies 

of the 18-year-olds to the mortuary 

at Bago’s main hospital. The deaths 

were confirmed by media based in 

the town.


Art as tool for freedom 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

FOR most individuals, 

nothing offers more 

satisfaction than their 

ability to create something. Even 

at the conception of idea stage, 

there’s a satisfying feeling that the 

idea is the person’s brain child 

and that is why many will stop at 

nothing to protect their 

intellectual properties. 

Creativity especially as it relates 

to art, gives much more 

satisfaction when there are 

massive commendations and 

soaring patronages. But we know, 

art offers more than satisfaction 

and money in the pocket. Of all the 

roles art plays across the globe, 

freedom is most outstanding; 

freedom of expression and 

contribution to the emancipation 

of a people as well as nationbuilding, 

through addressing 

topical issues. 

Nigeria has reached a point in 

history where it could use more 

hands belonging to protest artists. 

While contributions of all creatives 

within and in the Diaspora are of 

utmost importance, additional 

protest artists with daring 

demeanour would help push for 

freedom from the cabal that has 

laid siege on the country. 

The politicians have failed 

woefully. Those who hitherto 

spoke out for the masses have long 

joined the band wagon or become 

dumb after selling their souls to 

the devils tormenting Nigeria. 

Many are ever ready to sell their 

kinsmen for a pot of porridge, 

damning the consequences such 

action has on their people. In a bid 

to survive, most youth have either 

taken to crime or helplessly 

Winners emerge @ Goje 

Africa art & winning contest 

oge Africa during the week, 

G hosted winners of the art 

and writing competition, tagged: 

Goge Africa 20th Anniversary 

Contest, organised as part of the 

activities marking its 20th 

anniversary. 

The event, which was held at 

Maryland, Lagos office complex 

of the company was attended by a 

number of the winners of the 

contest, media and other guests. 

Speaking at the event, the Chief 

Executive Officer of Goge Africa, 

Isaac Moses, expressed delight at 

being able to finally host the event. 

According to him, the event was 

met to hold last year but put on 

hold as a result of Covid-19 and 

that the event has to be tempered 

and low keyed. 

The Managing Director of the 

company, Mrs. Nneka Isaac– 

Moses, said it was a fulfillment of 

a dream and commitment that the 

grand finale of the competition, 

which commenced in 2019 held 

despite the challenges faced in 

hosting it. Aside the issue of 

Covid-19, she disclosed that all the 

sponsors pulled out of the event, 

failing to meet their commitments. 

However, she said that Goge 

Africa had to solely fund the event 

and the prizes for the finalists, 

saying that it was necessary to do 

so in order to protect the image and 

integrity of the company. 

The idea behind the contest, she 

said, was to develop and promote 

African art and culture, as the 

theme of the art and writing 

competitions was: Our culture and 

heritage, adding that: “The contest 

positioned themselves as slaves 

preferring to continue feeding from 

crumbs that fall from the tables of 

their oppressors. Creatives are 

therefore, saddled with an 

enormous role to help end 

corruption, anti-people 

government, violence, bloodshed 

etc, and salvage what is left of 

Nigeria. 

The case of Valentino Dixon, is 

a beautiful example of how art 

could transform an ugly situation, 

change an existing law and birth a 

completely new individual. Dixon 

who was born on October 20, 

1969, grew up in downtown 

Buffalo. He was talented as a child 

and loved to draw. 

Dixon was wrongly convicted of 

murder and shooting at three other 

persons in 1991 following a late 

night fight in downtown Buffalo 

that led to the murder of Torriano 

*From left: Moses, Lillian Amah-Aluko, Nollywood actress and Nnana. 

is geared at showcasing young 

and enthusiastic creative talents 

around Africa, promoting and 

exposing them to opportunities 

through the platform of Goge 

Africa.” Besides, Isaac Moses 

added that it was also to discover 

new talents, nurture and promote 

as well as expose them and inspire 

the youths to cherish and promote 

African art and culture. 

She further disclosed that the 

contest generated widespread 

interest beyond their imagination, 

with entries received from across 

Africa, as entries received for the 

short story were 1, 438 while entries 

received for the art category were 

1, 062. Judges for the contests were 

mainly drawn from across Africa 

while all the winners were 

Nigerians. This, she said, was an 

Jackson. While he pleaded not 

guilty, someone else, Lamarr Scott 

confessed to committing the crime 

but police refused to arrest him or 

release Dixon. Not even the 

accounts of eyewitnesses who later 

recanted, revealing that the police 

pressured them to frame Dixon, 

could save the artist. He was jailed 

for life. 

Valentino obtained freedom 

even while serving his term, as 

soon as he reconnected with his 

passion for art. On the 

encouragement of his uncle who 

began sending him some work 

tools, Dixon began drawing and 

painting again. “If you reclaim 

your talent, you can reclaim your 

life”, were words of 

encouragement from his Uncle. 

interesting development, as it 

shows how talented and motivated 

Nigerian youths are. 

“The entries were all 

enthralling. We had a tough time 

selecting the finalists. But at the 

end of a contest, a winner must 

emerge. We really wish we 

could award all. 

“We are quite joyful,” she said 

of the event, adding that: “Our 

joy stems from the smiles on the 

faces of the participants, the 

bolster that this contest has 

given them to chase their creative 

pursuits further, and the fact that 

some of these creatives, 

predominantly the writers, are 

looking at expanding these 

stories for publishing. 

Continues 

@www.vanguardngr.com 

At one point, the warden at 

Attica Correctional Facility asked 

Valentino to draw the 12th hole of 

the legendary Augusta National 

Golf Club. Valentino, even without 

prior knowledge about golf, began 

drawing images inspired by 

photos in the magazine, Golf 

Digest. He later declared that golf 

art gave him freedom from the 

cruel reality of prison. 

After featuring Valentino and his 

amazing artwork in his “golf 

saved my life” column on Golf 

Digest in 2012, Editorial director, 

Max Adler researched Valentino’s 

case, and concluded the artist was 

truly innocent of the murder 

charge that has kept him in prison. 

Adler’s efforts were joined by 

those of three Georgetown 

University undergraduate 

students who during a research 

project in 2018, re-investigated 

the case and also discovered 

Valentino’s innocence. Eventually 

in 2018, (27 years later) “Lamarr 

Scott pleaded guilty to the murder 

of Torriano Jackson, and Valentino 

walked out of prison a free man”. 

“I walked out of prison at 49 but 

I was determined to hang in there 

and make something of myself. 

That was why I walked out of there 

with thousands of drawings 

because I pushed myself every 

day. 

I’ll stick with the drawing and 

let the golfers golf.” That’s the 

power of art! 

Based on his experiences, 

Valentino is campaigning for 

prison reform and a reduction of 

prison sentencing, which he 

claims is “ridiculous and 

excessive and a violation of human 

rights.” 

Dearth of protest music in the 

country is not helping matters. 

Everyone knows how Afrobeat 

pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti 

through his music, became a thorn 

Umonye tells what happens when 

the wicked rules 

By Chukwuma Ajakah 

This thrilling novella, Jewel of 

Sorrow, rekindles an 

atmosphere akin to that created in 

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth 

when “the king murdered sleep” 

and therefore could not sleep. The 

author, Umonye Monday Virgil, 

an educationist, narrates how the 

peace-loving community of 

Uragon gradually metamorphosed 

into a theatre of war after the 

enthronement of a pretentious 

dictator as king. 

Jewel of Sorrow is set in a rural 

African society, Uragon, where the 

visit of some white men triggers 

mixed reactions, prompting the 

king to summon his subjects for an 

urgent meeting. The monarch 

deploys his oratorical skills in 

persuading the people to listen to 

the august visitors. The guests led 

by Capelini, a small statured 

Italian, unveil their plan to build 

an amphitheatre and provide 

other modern facilities that will not 

only make life pleasurable for the 

people, but position them as 

pacesetters to surrounding 

communities. Having been 

placated by King Edobah, the 

people agree to let the project 

commence. However, the choice of 

the shrine of their revered deity, 

Awicha Oka, as the site for the 

amphitheatre sparks off another 

row which lingers until the 

sudden outbreak of a strange 

disease brings the work to a halt. 

The epidemic masquerades as a 

messenger of the gods, targeting 

in the flesh of despots. If Fela 

were to be alive, he would have 

released countless earth quaking 

albums on this APC-led 

government. Eedris 

Abdulkareem’s ‘Nigeria Jaga 

Jaga’ we can recall, didn’t go down 

well with ex-President Obasanjo’s 

government. Also the impact of 

African China’s ‘Mr President’ 

and other songs advocating for 

good governance cannot be 

forgotten in a hurry. 

Like Fela, Ras Kimono, Majek 

Fashek, Mandators, Isaac Black 

etc, encouraged heavy resistance 

to bad government. Sadly, most of 

what we have today are songs with 

meaningless lyrics. Today’s crop 

of musicians appear completely 

detached from the reality of the 

situation on ground. Most of them 

sing for the stomach and not to 

inspire change. Just very few 

like Fela’s sons, Ade Bantu, Falz, 

are still relevant in efforts to stir 

up change in the polity. 

Nigeria must begin to take art 

more seriously. In the visual art 

stage, works by protest artist, Bob- 

Nosa Uwagboe are quite 

commendable but we need more 

of his kind in the field. Nigerian 

writers are doing incredible jobs 

and it doesn’t matter whether the 

political elite are reading or not. 

The stage and screen are on course 

too and it’s heart-warming 

knowing that more stage 

producers like Duke of Shomolu, 

are coming onboard with fresh 

voices. 

This is no time to relegate art to 

the background. The media must 

change its undesirable attitude 

towards art and stop yanking art 

pages off at the slightest excuse. 

While funding for the creative 

industry has remained a mirage, 

somehow, it looks like the best 

because anything government 

comes with a price; freedom dies. 

the principal proponents of the 

project. 

The primary plot revolves 

around King Edobah who ascends 

the throne after studying overseas. 

The king’s fame anchors on his 

“knowledge of the white man’s 

ways” which he demonstrates in 

turning Uragon into an enviable 

community with modern facilities 

unheard of in other communities. 

However, in his inordinate quest 

for power, the once likeable king 

transforms into a brute with an 

insatiable thirst for what belongs 

to others. Although he drives 

socio-economic development in 

the land, he sends his men to 

plunder others’ farms and 

whatever he fancies. 

The secondary plot centers on 

Enosa, the village belle, who 

Continues on page ...



•Okoye 

KOP COMEBACK 

Liverpool line up Gerrard as next boss if Klopp quits 

IVERPOOL are lining-up club 

Llegend Steven Gerrard to replace 

Jurgen Klopp as doubts increase 

over the Kop boss’ long-term future. 

The German has done a 

remarkable job at Anfield, lifting the 

Champions league and ending the 

Kop’s 30-year wait for the title. 

However, there is a ‘growing 

belief’ that Klopp ‘will say yes’ 

to succeeding Joachim Low as 

Germany’s national manager. 

Their report states the DFB 

will make an approach for the 

ex-Borussia Dortmund man, 

who was recently unable to 

attend his mother’s funeral 

due to travel restrictions, once 

Low’s situation is sealed. 

Having taken charge in 

2006, he led his country to 2014 

World Cup success but has 

oversaw their poor nightmare 

Omotayo sets African record 

at WTT in Qatar 

•Omotayo 

lajide Omotayo has set a new 

OAfrican record at the first 

official World Table Tennis (WTT) 

events after the 2019 African Games 

champion became the first Nigerian 

and African to win a match at the 

WTT Middle East Hub holding in 

Doha, Qatar. 

Omotayo who is competing in his 

first international tournament after 

qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic 

Games at Tunis in February 2020 

began his campaign from the 

preliminary alongside other 

African players from Egypt and 

Algeria. 

I feel guilty for Lampard’s sacking —Werner 

imo Werner has admitted feeling 

T“guilty” over the sacking of 

Frank Lampard, who he believes 

would still be at Chelsea if he had 

delivered the goals. 

Lampard was relieved of his 

managerial duties at Chelsea on 

January 25 after a disastrous run of 

results that saw the club slip out of 

•Werner 

Eagles goalkeeper Okoye 

suffers home defeat against 

Willem 

Super Eagles goalkeeper, 

Maduka Okoye pulled off a 

string of fine saves, but it was 

not enough to prevent ten-man 

Sparta Rotterdam from falling to a 

disappointing 2-0 loss at home to 

Willem II in an Eredivisie face-off 

yesterday. 

Featuring in his 17th league game 

of the season, Okoye did his bit to 

help the home side go into the break 

with a clean sheet against fellow 

strugglers Willem II. 

Both teams had won none of their 

last ten matches combined, but it was 

the visitors who showed more 

quality in attack to open the scoring 

in the 68th-minute; Che Nunnely 

doing well to head home a decent 

Mike Tresor cross that caught the 

Sparta defence sleeping. 

attempt at retaining the prize in 

2018. 

Following a miserable Nations 

League campaign, many fans are 

calling for Low to be sacked, but he 

remains under contract until the 

2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

•Gerrard 

•Klopp 

Pitched against Kazakhstan’s 

Alan Kurmangaliyev in the first 

round of the preliminary and the 

Nigerian showed his stuff against 

the European to become the only 

African player to record a victory on 

the opening day of the tournament 

taking place at the Lusail Sports 

Arena in Doha. 

Omotayo who is among the 298 

players representing 66 countries 

taking part in the $200,000 prize 

money which is one of the Hub 

(Contender) at the Middle East 

Hub, which serves as return to the 

international stage for most of the 

players. 

Despite winning the first game 

11-7, Omotayo fell in the second 

game to 7-11 while in the next two 

games, he showed his class with 12- 

10, 11-1 win to record a 3-1 win and 

set up a second round against the 

best player in the German 

Bundesliga, Sweden Anton 

Kallberg on Monday March 1. 

An excited Omotayo described his 

return to the international 

tournament as awesome having 

been away for more than a year. 

the title race. 

Werner, who joined the Blues from 

RB Leipzig last summer, was guilty 

of squandering clear chances 

during that period and has now 

taken a portion of the responsibility 

for Lampard’s dismissal. 

“When you come here to play as a 

striker and be the man to score the 

goals, of course, I felt a little bit 

guilty that I missed so many 

chances,” the German striker told 

Sky Sports. 

“For the club, for the old manager 

but also for me because I want to 

score all the time and as much as I 

possibly can. 

“Of course, if I’d scored four or five 

more goals maybe the old manager 

would still be here because we’d 

maybe have won two or three games 

more but you can’t look too much 

into the past because there are too 

many games ahead of us.” 

Barely ten minutes later, Henk 

Fraser’s charges then shot themselves 

in the foot when they got reduced to 

ten men after Jeffry Fortes was sent off 

for pulling Evangelos Pavlidis by the 

shirt, with the referee awarding Willem 

II a spot-kick. 

Mike Tresor outwitted Okoye from 

12 yards out to make it two-nil to the 

visitors. 

It could have gotten worse for Sparta 

moments later when Kwasi Okyere 

Wriedt looked certain to score but 

Okoye pulled off an excellent save to 

keep the scoreline respectable. 

It has not been the best of time, 

though, for Okoye who has not kept a 

clean sheet for his club since January 

28 in his side’s 0-0 draw with FC 

Twente. 

The Super Eagles goalkeeper has 

conceded goals against ADO Den 

Haag, Fortuna Sittard, and cupped four 

against Ajax last week. 

However, a poor performance at 

this summer’s Euros could make 

the pressure untenable and may 

prompt the DFB to make their move 

for Klopp sooner. 

‘A well placed Liverpool source’ 

claims the opportunity ‘would be 

one Klopp would find difficult 

to resist’ - despite him still 

enjoying his time with the 

Premier League champions. 

And that fear of losing him is 

why Liverpool owner John W. 

Henry and chairman Tom 

Werner have been monitoring 

their iconic former captain’s 

work north of the border at 

Ibrox. 

Gerrard is on the verge of 

securing his first title with the 

Gers still unbeaten in the 

Scottish Premiership and 

riding high in the Europa 

League. 

National Principals 

Cup back to stay 

—Dare 

he Minister of Sports, Sunday 

TDare, at the weekend declared 

that the revived National Principals 

Cup has come to stay this time to 

boost the development of football in 

Nigeria. 

The competition is a 

developmental grassroots event for 

all secondary schools in the country. 

Dare was speaking at the kick-off 

ceremony of the Principals Cup on 

Friday at the Agege Stadium, Lagos. 

The minister said: “I am so elated 

that a competition like this which 

engages our youths and prepares 

them for the future is back. 

“When you look at at the likes of 

Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, 

Daniel Amokachi, Adokie 

Amesimaka, Stephen Keshi, Dosu 

Joseph, Henry Nwosu, Victor 

Ikpeba and a whole lot of others 

who took part in this event, one will 

realize the magnitude of this big 

revival. 

“I want to assure everyone that 

this competition will outlive all of 

us and will not go down again. It 

will be a brand with sponsors in 

place so that it will be sustained in 

many years to come. 

“It is important to use this event 

to boost the age grade national 

teams and to give the young ones a 

chance to attain their full potential.” 

Deputy Governor of Edo State, 

Philip Shuaibu, Minister of State for 

Education, Emeka Nwajuba, the 

first and second Vice Presidents of 

the Nigeria Football Federation - 

Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko 

- were at the event. 

The match itself between Igbobi 

College, Lagos and Government 

College Kaduna ended 1-1 with 

state preliminaries expected to start 

immediately nationwide. 

Dare also enjoined the 

participants of the competition to 

combine education effectively with 

sports. 

“Today, Adokiye is a Justice, 

Odegbami an engineer, Owolabi, a 

PHD holder and a host lot of others. 

Football did not affect their 

education,” Dare added. 

Lagos SWAN Electoral Committee 

commences sale of forms 

T 

he 2021 Electoral Committee of 

the Sports Writers Association of 

Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State 

Chapter, has commenced the sale 

of forms for intending members 

who are eligible and interested in 

administrative positions of the 

executive committee of the 

association. 

Good 

According to the committee, 

elections will hold on Friday, 

March 26, 2021. 

A statement signed by the 

Chairman of the Electoral 

Committee, Femi Solaja noted that 

there is need to ensure that all 

members were carried along in the 

transition process for the 

forthcoming Elections. 

The positions available are: 

Chairman, Vice Chairman, 

Secretary, Financial Secretary, 

Beckham: I want to bring Messi, Ronaldo 

to Inter Miami 

D 

avid Beckham is taking his 

side Inter Miami into their 

second season in MLS. 

After already bringing in some top 

names such as Gonzalo Higuain 

and Blaise Matuidi, the English 

football legend is looking to 

strengthen further 

“I have said from day one that our 

Adarabioyo snubs Super Eagles 

efender Tosin Adarabioyo will 

Dnot consider playing for the 

Super Eagles like his fellow 

Fulham teammates Ola Aina and 

Josh Maja. 

•Adarabioyo 

Osimhen trains alone 

•Osimhen 

•Beckham 

Simon Moses in relegation battle 

uper Eagles winger, Simon 

SMoses was in the starting 

lineup as Nantes held Nimes to a 

1-1 draw in yesterday’s Ligue 1 

clash. 

The Nigerian international, who 

was making his 21st appearance for 

his team, gave the host a nightmare 

with his move and pace from the 

right flank. 

Nantes took the lead through 

Ludovic Blas with a brilliant finish 

before Moussa Kone leveled the 

score for the home team with a 

sublime left-foot shot. 

Moses was, however, substituted 

in the 72nd minutes for Kader 

Bamba after his handwork on the 

field of play. 

The result didn’t change Nantes’ 

position on the log as the team sit 

19th on 24 points and are in a 

relegation dogfight. 

Treasurer, Assistant Secretary and 

the Internal Auditor. 

However, the collection of forms 

will commence today (Monday) the 

1st March, 2021 from 10.00am at 

SWAN Secretariat, National 

Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, from the 

Admin. Secretary. 

March 15-19 will serve as a 

period of collation, screening, 

verification and receiving of 

objections/petitions. 

The positions available for 

election are the office of the 

Chairman, Vice Chairman, 

Secretary, Assistant Secretary, 

Financial Secretary, Treasurer and 

Internal Auditor. 

Aspirants for Chairman’s position 

have to part with N30,000, forms for 

the vice chairman and the secretary 

will be sold for N25,000 while forms 

for the remaining offices attract 

N20,000 each. 

academy system is a massive part 

of this club and if we can bring 

players through here that have 

lived and breathed Inter Miami 

then that is the goal, but we also 

know that, being in Miami, our fans 

want to see the big stars,” Beckham 

said at the launch of a new kit. 

“We already have players like 

Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise 

Matuidi, who add to the glitz and 

glamour, but also going forward we 

want to have the opportunity to 

bring some great names in.” 

He also spoke specifically about 

Lionel Messi and Cristiano 

Ronaldo. 

“Of course, we always want to 

bring in great players,” he said. 

“Miami is a great pull for anyone 

and those kinds of players [Messi 

and Ronaldo] are who we aspire to 

bring here. 

Rather he has his sights fixed on 

playing for England, where he was 

born. 

And he has already set a personal 

target to gate crash into the final 

squad of the Three Lions for the 

Euros later this year. 

“We know it’s the Euros this 

summer, so hopefully if I keep on 

doing well, who knows I could be 

looking to push myself in that 

squad,” the one-time England U19 

star Adarabioyo told The Telegraph. 

Adarabioyo is a smart-playing 

central defender who has stabilised 

the Fulham defence since his arrival 

in summer so much that the London 

club now boast the strongest defence 

after leaders Manchester City. 

This month the 23-year-old ace 

clocked 100 career appearances in 

England. 

V 

ictor Osimhen has resumed 

training after a head injury at 

Atlanta that required a night in 

hospital. Osimhen trained on his 

own Saturday. 

He suffered a head injury in the 

loss at Atalanta and missed Napoli 

Europa League tie against Granada, 

which the Italians won 2-1 but 

crashed out of the competition 3-2 

on aggregate. 

It is most likely the 22-year-old 

striker, who has scored twice in 10 

appearances, could be involved in 

Wednesday’s league match at 

Sassuolo. 

Before last night’s clash, Napoli 

were seventh on the table with 40 

points from 22 matches. 

•Simon


Vanguard, MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

FRIDAY’S SOLUTION 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

Sudoku 

FRIDAY’S ANSWER 

ACROSS 

1 Plot (10) 

7 Organised group of devotees (3,4) 

8 Pound (4) 

10 Frozen sweets (4) 

11 Final (8) 

13 Reply (6) 

15 Consume (6) 

17 Instances (8) 

18 Fair (4) 

21 Uninteresting (4) 

22 Spare time (7) 

23 Heavy projectile (10) 

DOWN 

1 Small boat (5) 

2 Invalid, not binding (4) 

3 Small smooth rounded rock (6) 

4 Needed (8) 

5 Large city in Illinois (7) 

6 Boer (9) 

9 Rued (9) 

12 Airship (8) 

14 Broad-bladed kitchen implement (7) 

16 German capital (6) 

19 Customary (5) 

20 Former Italian currency (4) 

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. 

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

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

Road. Benin City: 4E, Arusa Street. Port Harcourt: 50, Ikwerre Road; Warri: 102, Efurun-Sapele Road. Advert: advertproduction@yahoo.com; E-mail: editor@vanguardngr.com, 

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

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