shell evacuates staff from major facilities

...towards a better life for the people

N200VOL. 25: NO. 63023

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016**

Shell evacuates stafffrom major facilities

CMYK

Continues on Page 5

Mr & Mrs

COLUMNISTS:

•P.33 •P.32

Marauders,herdsmen andfellowNigerians

A misguidededitorial onBuhari’s refusalto devalueNaira

•More oil facilities to be bombed in N-Delta, other places —Avengers•Tension mounts in Niger Delta over Buhari's directives•Security chiefs, militants in separate meetings to review operations•Niger Delta Avengers does not exist — Ayiri

Abachaneverstole •P.34

N I G E R D E LTA AV E N G E R S :

•P.35

GrowthAccelerated

CEO, Airtel Nigeria

SegunOgunsanya

By Emma Amaize,Regional Editor,

South-South, SamOyadongha, EgufeYafugborhi & Tare

Youdeowei

W A R R I — T H Eactivities of Niger

Delta Avengers, the newmilitant group in the oil-rich region, have forcedRoyal Dutch Shell toevacuate most of its stafffrom its production facility,Eja OML 79.

This came as differentsecurity agencies andmilitants held separateundisclosed meetings tore-appraise their tactics,following a fresh directiveby PresidentMuhammadu Buhari that

PDP MEETING — From left: Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), EmmanuelUdom (Akwa-Ibom) and Ben Ayade (Cross River), during South-South Governors' meeting in Asaba, yesterday.

10 banks pay143 directorsN7.6bn in 2015

Steal, goto jail,Kogi govtells LGbosses

>>42

>>8

OAUTHperformssuccessfulopen-heartsurgeries

Reps raise alarmover missing kidneyof Nigerian in Italianhospital

2016 budgetfaces cash flowemergencies, maylose N1.4trn>>10 >>9>>18

2 — Vanguard, MONDAY MAY 9 , 2016

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016—3

CMYK


CMYK

POCKET CARTOONVanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016—5

IT'S UP TO YOUBY AYO ADIO

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

Shell evacuates staff from majorfacilitiesContinues from Page 1

WHENEVER a man wakes up is his morning, itdoesn’t matter how much time you have lost,

you can start now and make your life count. It's upto you.

HE who kills the native doctor thatprepares charms for him, must not

forget that his enemies are not all dead.

Make it a point to challenge yourself daily whileyou work —Patricia Yankee

IF you stay focused and challenged at what youdo, you don’t become bored with your craft, lose

respect for your talent, or grow complacent with yourskills. Remember, there is always someone out thereas good as you are in your field. You always stay upwith your skills and knowledge when you are onestep ahead of your competitors.

the group, which claimedresponsibility for therecent bombing of oil/gasinstallations in Warri,Delta State, beoverpowered.

Shell evacuation wascarried out by threehelicopters weekend.The evacuation saw 98key personnel airlifted by helicopters from Eja OML79, run by Royal DutchNigerian subsidiary, ShellPetroleum DevelopmentCorporation, SPDC,where production of90,000 barrels of oil perday has been halted.

Sources said that asmall group of staff wasleft on the platform tocarry out skeletaloperations. The staff andfacility are offeredprotection by twogunboats belonging to theMilitary Joint Taskforce.

Close to Eja 79 is theBonga Field, which has alarger production capacityand is operated by anotherShell subsidiary, ShellNigeria Exploration andProduction Company,SNEPCO.

Sources said some staffhad been evacuated fromBonga, while the wider

security implication isbeing reviewed by thecompany.

Last week, Niger DeltaAvengers, blew upChevron Valve Platform inAbiteye, Warri North LocalGovernment Area of DeltaState. They had earlier inthe year, blown uppipelines in the state.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowaof Delta State, who spokeat the Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, South-Southgovernors meeting inAsaba, condemned therecent attack on Chevronfacility, adding that “gaspipeline vandalism is veryunfortunate.”

Meanwhile, formermilitant leader,G o v e r n m e n tEkpemupolo, aliasTompolo, yesterday, saidhe had no apology to offerto the Niger DeltaAvengers, NDA, which,last Tuesday, issued hima three-day ultimatum towithdraw his allegeddenunciation of the groupand its violent activities.

Also, Ijaw YouthCouncil, IYC, apex Ijawyouth organisation, in astatement by itsspokesperson, Mr. EricOmare, threw its weightbehind Tompolo,

maintaining that themilitant group should notforce him to support theirdestructive mission, justas the Centre for thePeace and EnvironmentalJustice, CEPEJ, and IjawPeoples DevelopmentInitiative, IPDI,condemned the resort toviolence by Niger DeltaAvengers.

However, Itsekiri andIjaw leaders, Chief AyiriEmami and JohnnyMichael, who spoke toVanguard on phone,fingered an ex-militantleader for the bombings,saying the militant groupwas acting his script.

Tension in NigerDelta

Also, fresh tensionmounted, weekend, inDelta State, as differentsecurity agencies metover President Buhari ‘sorder to them to crush thenew militant group.

It was gathered thatriverine dwellers inGbaramatu Kingdom,Warri South West LocalGovernment Area of thestate, wary of the dangeractivities of militantsposed to their lives, wererelocating to Warri andother parts of the state,yesterday, to avoid beingtrapped in a cross fire.

On its part, the militantgroup seemed not readyto backtrack from its vowto devastate oilinstallations in the regionand other parts of thecountry.

A source close to thegroup said: “The boysare not afraid of thesecurity agencies, theywill cripple oil and gassupply to the country aslong as governmentremains recalcitrant totheir demands.”

Last month,spokesperson of thegroup, Col. MadochAgbinibo, said: “ThePresidency can set up apermanent security forceas stated by the VicePresident when he visitedthe SPDC, ForcadosTerminal. We are notdeterred by such threatsand shall continueblowing up pipelinesuntil the Niger Delta

people are no longermarginalized by theNigerian actors.”

Vanguard gathered thatthe Chief of Defence Staff,General GabrielOlonisakin, penultimateweekend, paid anoperational visit toBayelsa State as part ofon-going efforts to rid theNiger Delta of pipelinevandals and crude oilthieves.

Efforts to reach theCommander of the JointTask Force, JTF codenamed, Operation PuloShield, Major GeneralAlani Okunlola andCommanding Officer ofNNS Delta, CommodoreRaimi Mohammed on thelatest directive, provedfruitless.

Tompolo

Tompolo, who alsospoke to Vanguardthrough his MediaAdviser and Consultant,Mr. Paul Bebenimibo said:“He (Tompolo) will notapologize to them (NigerDelta Avengers). If not forhis current issues with theFederal Government, he(Tompolo) would havegone after them andexposed them becausethey seem to make thingsdifficult for him, as thegovernment is pointingfingers at him, but hecannot do anything in hiscurrent situation.”

He listed two prominentItsekiri and Ijaw activists,both stalwarts of AllProgressives Congress,APC, in Delta State, whohe said, “are only lookingfor attention from thegovernment, so they usethe development to seekrelevance from thegovernment, they may bebehind these guys.”

The militant group in astatement by itsspokesperson, Col.Mudoch Agbinibo, May3, was angered byTompolo’s advice toservicing companies to goabout their normaloperations, particularlyrepair of the ForcadosTerminal 48-inch pipeline.

The group allegedTompolo had “taken sidewith the Federalgovernment to fight NigerDelta people.”

Two days after theultimatum, the militantgroup on Thursday, May5, bombed the NigerianNational PetroleumCorporation, NNPCcrude and gas lines andWell D25 in Abiteye, a keygas well operated byChevron Nigeria Limited,CNL.

Tompolo did theright thing — IYC

IYC spokesperson, Mr.Eric Omare, however, toldVanguard: “We do not seethe justification in theNiger Delta Avengersembarking on destructionof oil facilities becauseTompolo denounced thegroup. I think Tompolodid the proper thing bycoming out to inform the

entire world that he wasnot part of the Niger DeltaAvengers when there wereinsinuations to the effectthat he was behind them.

“As with other cases ofattack on oil facilities, theNiger Delta environmentand people are theultimate victim and wouldsuffer from these latestattacks. The IYC believethat irrespective of thegrievances, there arebetter ways of expressingthem rather thancontributing to the furtherdestruction of the alreadymassively degradedNiger Delta environment.

On fresh directive byPresident Buhari tosecurity agencies to crushthe militants, he said:“While the IYC does notsupport the attacks on oilfacilities, we hasten to addthat it should not be usedas a justification to attackinnocent Niger Deltacommunities.”

You’re causingmore harm thangood —CEPEJ

National Coordinator ofCEPEJ, Sheriff Mulade,in a statement,condemning thebombings by Niger DeltaAvengers, said: “Thedeadly attacks have cut oiland gas production andcaused attendantdevastation of theenvironment.”

It asked the militants to“lay down their arms astheir activities wereantithetical to the genuineagitation of the peopleand the overalldevelopment of the oilrich region.”

Stop bombing oilinstallations—IPDI

Speaking through itsnational president, AustinOzobo, the IPDI,yesterday, warned theNiger Delta Avengers tostop bombing of oilfacilities to avoid furtherharm to the nation’seconomy.

Faulting the recentattacks on major oilpipelines in the country,he warned: “Thosethreatening formeragitator, Tompolo and thenation’s economy shoulddesist from that."

He advised thosecomplaining ofmarginalization of NigerDelta, particularly the

Niger Delta to lay downtheir arms.

N-Delta Avengersis non-existent

— AyiriItsekiri leader and

activist, Chief AyiriEmami, however, took adifferent position. Whilehe condemned the attacksby the so-called Niger-Delta Avengers, which hesaid does not exist, hesaid: “The attacks are justto create a platform fornegotiation with PresidentBuhari.

“I know that Mr.President is intelligentenough not to fall for justgimmick. Some of usvolunteered to cooperatewith the security agenciesfree of charge to fish outthe perpetrators of thesebombings, but the DeltaState Government did notsee reason with us. Theyheld a state securitymeeting asking whysecurity agencies wereworking with us.

"They know the persondirecting his boys to dothese things and shouldbring them out.”

Stop jeopardizingGbaramatuindigenes— Michael

Ijaw leader, ChiefJohnny Michael, whospoke in a similar vein,said: “There is nothingstrange or new in what ishappening. It is what weare already used to, butmy worry is that thesepeople should stopendangering the life ofGbaramatu people.

“The people causingthis havoc are known, thesecurity agencies shouldnot compromise, theyshould have goodintelligence informationto identify them and bringthem to book. I also wantto say that they shouldstop calling the name ofAPC in this matter. APCis a progressive party,anybody who wants tojoin the party should doso, but they should stopblackmailing us.”

He said that manyGbaramatu leaders knowthose carrying out thebombings, but because offear, they would not beable to speak out andurged the securityagencies to do their work.

BITUMEN—Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr KayodeFayemi, examining sample of bitumen scooped from a site in Agbabu, inOdigbo Local Government Area, during a working visit to bitumen bearingcommunities in Ondo State.


A’Court affirms 25-yr jail term for 3 BokoHaram convicts

Lawyer petitionspolice overthreat to courtbailiff’s life

By Onozure Dania

Prof Adamolekun’s autobiography for launch Thursday

LAGOS—THE Court ofAppeal in Lagos at the

weekend affirmed thejudgment of a Federal HighCourt in Lagos convicting andsentencing three members ofthe Boko Haram terror groupto 25 years imprisonment each.

The Appeal Court, in ajudgment delivered by JusticeY.B Nimpar, rejected theappeal filed by the convictsand upheld the judgment ofthe High Court.

Justice Ibrahim Buba of the

Federal High Court in Lagos,had on September 30, 2014,handed down the verdict afterthe Lagos State Government,through the Ministry ofJustice, successfullyprosecuted the terroristsbefore the court.

The state government had filedcharges against four accusedpersons for conspiracy to commita felony to wit: acts of terrorism,concealing information about actsof terrorism and havingpossession of prohibited firearmsand ammunition contrary tovarious sections of the Terrorism

Prevention Act, 2013 and theFirearms Act, Cap F.28 Laws ofthe Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Out of the four persons charged,three were sentenced to 25 yearsimprisonment each, while thefourth accused was dischargedand acquitted.

Those convicted and sentencedare Ali Mohammed Modu,Adamu Ali Karumi and IbrahimUsman Ali.

Dissatisfied with the verdict,the convicts through theirlawyer, had approached theAppeal Court in Lagos askingthat the verdict be upturned on

the grounds that they werecharged under inapplicablelaws, and that the 25 years termsof imprisonment were excessive.

One of the convicts, IbrahimUsman Ali, had argued that hewas inadvertently convicted andsentenced for a count for whichhe was not charged.

While the Court of Appealagreed that one of the convictswas wrongly convicted under acount with which he was notcharged, the Court howeveraffirmed the judgment of JusticeBuba which convicted andsentenced the three terrorists to25 years imprisonment each.

Commonwealth appointsAmbode InvestmentCouncil’s VP

Meantime, the Commonwealthhas appointed GovernorAkinwunmi Ambode as the VicePresident, CommonwealthEnterprise and InvestmentCouncil, CWEIC.

CWEIC is an interest groupestablished to promote trade andinvestment by facilitatingengagement betweengovernment and the private sectorthroughout the Commonwealth. It was established in July 2014with the support of theCommonwealth Secretariat.

It is a non-profit membershipcompany with a mandate tofacilitate increased trade andinvestment across theCommonwealth.

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

...As Ambode bags Commonwealth job

PROFESSOR LadipoAdamolekun, an

accomplished academic,international diplomat, veteranauthor and one-time politicianhas documented hisexperience as an academic invarious universities and at theWorld Bank in his newautobiography titled; ‘IRemember.’

The book, which will belaunched on Thursday at theNigerian Institute ofInternational Affairs, NIIA, 13/15, Kofo Abayomi Street,Victoria Island, Lagos, is in sixparts covering his early years,educational maturation,academic administration, as

LAGOS—A lawyer andrights activist, Mr Dania

Abdullahi, has petitioned theAssistant Inspector General ofPolice, Zone 2 CommandOnikan, Lagos, on the abuseof office by the DivisionalCrime Officer, DCO, in chargeof the Ago police station, Isolo-Lagos. DSP Abdullai Kasimu.

In the petition dated May 4,2016, the lawyer is seeking theimmediate transfer of a tenancycase file being investigated byKasimu.

He said that his client, MrErnest Nwanoro, a SeniorBailiff/ Sheriff of the FederalHigh Court, is resident at No21, Ajoke Okunsanya Str., AgoPalace way, Okota, Lagos,which is owned by an ex-Comptroller of Custom, ChiefJohn Ogundoju, but managedby his daughter and husband,Mr and Mrs Eniafe Adeola.

He said that Nwanoro wasgiven a notice to quit theapartment by an agent of thelandlord, one Mr Lanre, butbefore the expiration of thenotice, he (Lanre) in companyof some policemen from theAgo Police division stormed hispremises and disconnected,his power and water supplyand also illegally barricadedthe entrance to his premises.

He said that on April 28,2016, at about 10pm, his client(Nwanoro) got a call from thesaid Lanre, asking him toreport at the police station.

He said that his client wassurprised at this call, as he wasaware that such invitationought to be served on him bya serving police officer and alsoought not to be by night.

He said that surprisingly onMay 3, his client got a call fromthe DCO, threatening to shoothim, if he failed to appear atthe station without fail, addingthat his client’s house wasinvaded afterwards, and hehad to relocate his family to afriend's place for safety.

All efforts to get the reactionof the said house managerson telephone provedabortive as they refused tomake any comment.

B R I E F I N G :From left: DeputyGovernor ofOgun State, Mrs.Y e t u n d eO n a n u g a ;G o v e r n o rIbikunle Amosun;Commissionerfor Budget andPlanning, OgunState, AdenreleAdesina andCommissionerfor Commerceand Industry,Ogun State, Mr.Bimbo Ashiruduring a pressconference tounveil the 3rdedition of OgunState InvestorsForum atGovernor's Office,Abeokuta.

well as several national andinternational engagements.

He pulls back the curtains onthe riveting recollections of hisbeautiful family heritage; histransition as a youngpromising lad with a passionfor reading to a fulfilled adultwho, through his doggednessand sheer dint of hard work,blazed the trail as a student atthe University of Ibadan,Obafemi Awolowo Universityand Oxford University andreached the pinnacle ofsuccess in his careers –teaching at Ife, which peakedat a professorship at age 36,and public administrationconsultancy to several Pan-

African and internationalbodies.

This book covers his “IfeYears” devoted to teaching,research and academicadministration, as well as his“World Bank Years” ofm u l t i d i m e n s i o n a ldevelopment work; and hisactivities in retirement as an“Independent Scholar.”

He closes with “A Note forthe Millennials: Nigeria andI” - an overview of what heexperienced in respect ofthree fond memories of hisearly years that are missing inhis early old age: educationalexcellence, meritocracy andstrong institutions.

In recommending the book,Oxford-based Nigerianintellectual, Anthony Akinolasaid the book ‘I Remember’ willoffer guidance to those whoseek to operate at the highestlevel of professional calls.

He noted that aside fromserving as a role model forgenerations, “The book alsoportray his parentalupbringing which has amessage for parents generally,his exploits as a student atschool and university have astrong message for students.”

The second publicpresentation of the bookcomess up in Abuja onTuesday, May, 17, at MeritHouse, Auditorium 1, 22Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama,at 11 a. m. prompt.FRAUD: Global Fund grants still on, NACA insists

THE National Agency forthe Control of AIDS,

NACA, yesterday gave detailsof its own side of the allegedfraud in the Global Fund grantsfor HIV, TB and Malaria toNigeria, insisting that the GlobalFund has not suspended itssupport to the country.

In a telephone chat with

By Sola Ogundipe &Chioma Obinna

Vanguard, the Director Generalof the Agency, Professor JohnIdoko, said that NACA has notbeen indicted by the Office ofthe Inspector General's report.

However, the DG confirmed theweaknesses in the systemearlier pointed out by thereport.

According to him; “NACAdoes not implement, it is theSub-Recipients that implementand there are weaknesses in the

system which we are trying tostrengthen.

''Part of the weaknesses is thatthe Primary Health Centres arenot working.

“Global Fund has notsuspended the grants toNigeria. What has beensuspended is the quarterlydisbursement of funds. Thegrants are still ongoing. We arestill on.”

Explaining further, the

N A C Aboss, whoreacted tot h eallegationspoint-by-point, saidthat theEFCC isa l readyprobingt h ematter.


OAUTH performs successful paediatric openheart surgeries

I received funds from ex-NSA but not Dasuki – Okupe

Court strikes out AMCON’s suit against Capital Oil

By Sola Ogundipe

THE remains of latePrince Ademola Adeniji-

Adele will be buried at AbariCemetery, Lagos Island, onWednesday, May 11, 2016,according to family sources.

Prince Adeniji-Adele, whopassed on last Thursday, May5, in an Indian hospital after abrief illness was a formerChairman of Lagos IslandLocal Government Area, andlater Commissioner of Sports,in Lagos State. He was aged60 years.

According to burialarrangements releasedyesterday, by PrinceBabatunde Adele for the family,events to kickstart the burialwill commence tomorrow, whenhis corpse is expected to arrivefrom India.

Adele said there will belying-in-state overnight at thedeceased residence at No 712Road, A Close, House 29,Festac Town, tomorrow, whilethere will be similar lying-in-state at the family house, 9Idiomo Street, Isale Eko, thefollowing day, Wednesday,between 9am -11am.

Subsequently, the lying-in-state will continue at the CityHall, Lagos between 12 noonto 2.pm before a prayer sessionat Lagos Central Mosque atabout 2.30pm, while intermentfollows by 4pm at AbariCemetery, Lagos Island.

Adeniji–Adelefor burialWednesday

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Ondo JusticeReform Teamfor inaugurationtoday

LAGOS—IN a raremedical feat, the Obafemi

Awolowo University TeachingHospital Complex, OAUTH, IleIfe, Osun State, has carriedsuccessful paediatric open-heartsurgeries on six childrenincluding five with holes in theheart.

The children, who are fromvarious parts of the countryincluding Ilesa and Ikire in OsunState, Akure (Ondo State), Warri(Delta State), Offa (Kwara State)and Port-Harcourt (Rivers State),had the surgeries performed onthem between Tuesday, April 26and Sunday, May 1, 2016.

The Chief Medical Director,OAUTH, Professor VictorAdetiloye, who disclosed this toVanguard said another 20children are already slated forJune-July 2016 for open heartsurgeries, which for now, thehospital hopes to performroutinely, at least quarterly.

“This is an accomplishment ofour dreams and visions seeingthat this is possible in Ile-Ife,”Adetiloye remarked, even as hecommended the medical teamcomprising cardiothoracicsurgeons, led by Drs. AkinOgunrombi and Uvie Onakpoya,a paediatric cardiologist, Dr. JohnOkeniyi, an Open Heart TaskForce, operating theatre nurses,and a host of other departmentalstaff of the hospital including theDean, Faculty of ClinicalSciences, OAU, Ile-Ife, who freelydonated blood.

Adetiloye, who regretted thehigh incidence of cardiacdiseases and its contribution topoor health status and low lifeexpectancy in the country, said itwas in the bid to stem the tide,that the Management of OAUTH,Ile-Ife, over the past yearsinvested heavily in theprocurement of equipment,consumables and the training ofpersonnel to be able to diagnoseand treat heart diseases bothmedically and surgically.

He said the impact of heartdiseases both acquired and

congenital which hitherto wereconsidered as exoteric anduncommon is on the rise.

“In fact, the World HealthOrganization estimates that to beable to treat the heart diseases inany country, at least 400 openheart surgeries need to beperformed for every one millionpopulation yearly.

“Assuming Nigeria’s currentpopulation is 170 million people,this means Nigeria should beperforming at least 68,000 heartsurgeries every year.

“Until this year, the OAUTHruns both adult and paediatriccardiology services and routinelyperform closed cardiac surgeriessuch as Trans-thoracic PDAligations, pericardectomies,pacemaker implantations andvarious other forms of closedsurgical operations on the heart,blood vessels and the chest, butthe desire to move up to startperforming open heart surgeriesspurred the management on theleadership of the current ChiefMedical Director, two years agoto set up a task force for openheart surgery headed byProfessor M.O. Balogun, arenowned adult cardiologist,”Adetiloye remarked.

To this end, the Hospital

entered into a partnership withthe Cardiac Eye InternationalFoundation, a foreign NGOheaded by Prof. Maqsood Elahi.

“An 8½-month-old female infantwith congenital rubella syndromereferred from Delta State was the

THE inauguration ofthe Ondo State Justice

Sector Reform Team,OSJRT, has been fixed fortoday even as a 3 dayretreat programme of thebody will hold till the 11thof this month.

According to a statementby the Commissioner forInformation, Mr KayodeAkinmade, the inaugurationof the team will take placeby 10.00am at the OndoState Development andProperty Corporation(OSDPC) Event Centre,Ijapo Estate, Akure.

The team is in partnershipwith the Justice For AllProgramme J4A and it isbeing put together with aview to addressing some ofthe challenges in theadministration of Justice inNigeria with special focuson Ondo State.

recipient of the first exploratoryinteraction between the Hospitaland the Cardiac Eye InternationalFoundation. In December 2015,she underwent a simultaneousPDA closure and repair of herbilateral cataracts successfully,”

AN aide to ex-PresidentGoodluck Jonathan has

admitted receiving funds from theoffice of the former NationalSecurity Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Doyin Okupe, who served asformer President GoodluckJonathan’s Senior SpecialAssistant on Public Affairs,however denied the funds hereceived were part of the $2.1billion arms fund allegedlymisappropriated by Dasuki. Mostof the funds are believed to havebeen used as slush funds for the2015 elections.

The Ex- NSA as well as othermembers of the pastadministration are currently beingprosecuted for their roles in thescam.

Mr. Okupe, who has been

mentioned as one of thebeneficiaries of the largesse, tookto twitter to state his positionyesterday.

“I was not paid arms deal money.NSA paid for running of my officemonthly from August 2012. Dasuki-gate was in 2014,” he tweeted inthe early hours of Sunday.

He added that “President is

empowered by the Constitution torun his office as he deems fit. NSAis a staff of the president and subjectto his orders.”

In trying to explain his tweet aswell as another where he said, “Idid not take part in campaign,” Mr.Okupe said: “I was not involvedin any aspect of the campaign.Neither was my office.”

AFederal High Courtsitting in Lagos, has

struck out the suit institutedby Assets ManagementCompany of Nigeria,AMCON against Capital Oiland Gas Ltd, holding that thesuit is premature and seeks tocircumvent existing suits indifferent courts on issuesrelating to the allegedindebtedness of Capital Oiland Gas, which is currentlyunder dispute.

Trial judge in the matter,Justice Idris, consequentlystruck out a petition byAMCON for the freezing of

Capital Oil and Gas’accounts and winding up ofCapital Oil and Gas overalleged inability to pay thedisputed debt.

In the ruling delivered inSuit No. FHC/L/CP/506/2016,the judge upheld thecontention of Capital Oil andGas’ counsel, AjibolaOluyede, that the winding upproceedings fi led byAMCON against Capital Oiland Gas was intended tocircumvent the existingactions in suits FHC/ABJ/CS/430/15; FHC/ABJ/CS/514/15and FHC/L/CS/1529/15wherein live issuespertaining to the consent

By Innocent Anaba judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/714/2012 which is the subjectmatter of the winding uppetition are pending in.According to the court, “Untilthe issues raised in thosesuits are determined, it willbe premature to say that thejudgment debt hascrystalized as provided inclause 2.4 of the consentjudgment.”

In its defence, Capital Oilin its counter affidavit inopposition to AMCON’spetition, had contended thatAMCON grossly violated theterms of the consentjudgment entered betweenthe two parties.

A B E O K U TA — T H EOsile of Oke-Ona

Egba, Oba Dr. AdedapoTejuoso has warned GovernorIbikunle Amosun against

signing the creation ofadditional 37 Local CouncilDevelopment Areas billwithout including Orike-Okoas part of Obafemi-Owode andnot Remo-North LocalGovernment.

The monarch, who saidsigning of the amended bill,which had been passed intolaw by the state Assemblycould lead to inter-communalclashes between the people ofOrile-Oko and Remo North,adding that the people inOrike-Oko reject to be putunder Remo local governmentbut, prefer to be with their kinsin Egbaland.

Addressing newsmen at hispalace in Abeokuta, the Oluwoof Oke-Ona , High ChiefAbayomi Jiboku, said the issueof Orile-Oko mergingObafemi-Owode had beensettled in 2002 during theadministration of formergovernor of the state, ChiefSegun Osoba.

One of the hole-in-the heart children operated upon.

LCDAs BILL: Oba Tejuoso asks foramendment before signature

By Daud Olatunji

CMYK


2016 budget faces cash flow emergencies,may lose N1.4trn As oil price reverses gains, output declines further

Losses wipe out 80% of budgeted CAPEX

By Emeka Anaeto,Economy Editor

LAGOS — THE 2016 nationalbudget just signed into law

by President MuhammaduBuhari may have started sufferinga major cash flow set back fromoil revenue as prices shed $5 perbarrel as at last weekend whileoutput dropped further due toChevron facility bombing justbefore the budget was signed,Friday.

The Federal Government hadbased the budgeted revenue onoil production of 2.2 million barrelper day but oil industry reports,last weekend, after the secondattack on oil installations,indicated that output would bearound 1.6 mbpd or even less.

Also, the budgeted oil pricebenchmark of $38 per barrelcame with expectation that in theevent of production shortfall,which had been consistent sincethis year, a premium of at least20 per cent on the pricebenchmark which gives about$45.6 per barrel, would make upfor the losses arising from outputshortfalls.

But oil price receded to $41 perbarrel, or less than 10 per centpremium on budgeted pricebenchmark as against $46.1 perbarrel peak recorded in theprevious week.

With the twin developments inthe oil sector, the FederalGovernment is now losing about$8 million per day on oil pricereversal, while production slumphas resulted in a revenue loss tothe tune of about $22.8 millionper day.

The total loss from date to yearend on annualized budgetaryprovisions would be $7.16 billionor about N1.4 trillion, if the oilprice fails to rebound sometimedown the year and productionlevel remains depressed.

Losses wipe out 80%of budgeted CAPEX

The N1.4 trillion revenueshortfall would wipe out about 80per cent of the total N1.8 trillionearmarked for capitalexpenditure, CAPEX, in thebudget, thereby rendering thereflationary thrust of the budgetineffective from the on-set.

On the possibility of oil priceupwards swing, the InternationalMonetary Fund, IMF, last weeksaid the average price for the yearwould be $41, with occasionaldownward and upward swings,meaning that the losses to pricereversal would likely remain.

Also on the future of productionlevel recovery, various factors thathave combined to depress outputto less than the budgeted 2.2million barrel per day, such asjoint venture hitches as well asmilitancy, appear to be on theincrease rather than beingeliminated.

Latest data from April MonthlyOil Market Report, MOMR, of

the Organisation of PetroleumExporting Countries, OPEC,showed that Nigeria’s crude oilproduction fell by 67,000 bpd inMarch from 1.744mbpd to1.677mbpd, with Nigerianindustry experts saying that Aprildid not do better, while last week’sattack on Chevron brought downoutput to about 1.637mbpd.

With the defiant posturing of the

militants and threats of furtherattacks, it appears the outputchallenges may even get worse,especially as the Nigeriansecurity agencies appeared tooweak to arrest the situation.

Already, reports indicate thatother major oil producers such asShell and Mobil may have startedplans to shut-in productionlocations in volatile areas,

following the threats.Apparently aware of the

implications of these suddendevelopments last weekendwhile signing the budget,President Buhari said: “We areworking night and day todiversify the economy so that wenever again have to rely on onecommodity to survive as acountry.”

....Presidency mulls monitoring team to haltlooting, enforce implementationRestores Calabar-Lagos coastal railway, Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene-Aba highway

By Soni Daniel,Northern Region Editor

ABUJA—IN a deliberate moveto ensure effective

implementation of this year’sbudget and prevent looting offunds, the Presidency plans toengage the services of experts inthe area of monitoring andevaluation, M&E, to track theimplementation.

A top Presidency official toldVanguard, last night, thatPresident Muhammadu Buharidid not want the current budget tobe messed up like previous onesand was, therefore, determined totake whatever measure wasnecessary to make it work in theinterest of Nigerians.

The official said the Presidencyhad learned bitter lessons fromrecent events which had plaguednational budgets and retardednational development and wasdetermined to adopt stringentmeasures to block such leakages.

The official said the M&E teammight be domiciled in the Budgetand National Planning Ministrywhich falls under the purview ofthe Vice President, Prof YemiOsinbajo, who heads the NationalEconomic Team under thePresidency.

“The aim is to make the M&E tohave a robust check on the way the

budget is implemented so as todeliver the change which thepresent administration promisedNigerians,” the official said.

Vanguard learned that giventhe importance which thePresidency attaches to the fullimplementation of the budget, theteam might be put in place assoon as Buhari returns to Abujafrom his official trip to the UnitedKingdom this week.

Giving an idea of how thechange agenda would be driven,the Presidency official explainedthat the government planned togive priority attention to theprovision of critical infrastructureto diversify the economy and takecare of the needs of Nigerians.

The top official disclosed that

as result of the drive, all thekey national projects in thebudget that were removed bythe National Assembly,causing a spat with thePresidency, had been fullyrestored in the budget signedinto law by President Buharilast Friday.

Top on the list of the restoredprojects are the Calabar-LagosCoastal Railway with a vote ofN60 billion counterpart funding.The project is to be funded byhuge cash from the Chinesegovernment.

Vanguard also learned thatthe Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene-Aba highway, which vote wasreduced from N6 billion to N1.8billion, had been restored andthat the the project would take

NNPC remitsN1.118trn intoFederationAccount in oneyear

ABUJA — THENigerian National

Petroleum Corporation,NNPC, said it paid N1.118trillion into the FederationAccount between April 2015and March 2016.

In its monthly financialreport for March, theagency said as part of thetotal, it paid N69.544 billioninto the Federation Accountin March. The money wasfrom domestic crude oil andgas sold as well as otherincome.

It added that NNPC alsorecorded N107.826 billionrevenue in March againstN104.804 in February.

It said that the revenuerose marginally by 2.88 percent, adding that theexpenses of the corporationdipped by 12.92 per cent toN112.368 billion from N129,034 billion recorded inprevious month.

According to the report,the corporation also madea loss of N18.89 billion inthe month under review. Itsaid the loss was animprovement from a deficitof N24.23 billion recordedin February.

A breakdown of thefinancial performance of itssubsidiaries showed thatthe Nigerian PetroleumDevelopment Company,NPDC, Integrated DataServices Limited, IDSL, andNational Engineering andTechnical CompanyLimited posted losses ofN9.874 billion, N469million and N69 million,respectively.

It reported that theNigerian Gas Companyrecorded a profit of N5.155billion.

“Kaduna, Port Harcourt andWarri refining companiesrecorded losses of N1.824billion, N1.971 billion andN845 million, respectively,while the PPMC recorded adeficit of N923 million,” itadded.

The report said the deficitrecorded by NPDC in Februaryand March 2016 were due toproduction shut–in occasionedby vandalism of ForcadosExport Line.

This, it said, resulted in theloss of its entire revenue fromcrude oil sales of about N20billion.

The report also put thecombined value of output bythe three refineries at importparity price in March 2016 atN22.93 billion, while theassociated crude plus freightcost was N20.02 billion.

Tanker drivers debunk strike rumours

By Chris Ochayi

ABUJA— The PetroleumTanker Drivers, PTD, of

the Nigeria Union of Petroleumand Natural Gas Workers,NUPENG, yesterday,debunked rumours making therounds that its members wereembarking on strike.

National Chairman of PTD,Comrade Salimon Oladiti,while debunking the

purported industrial actionin a statement, described itas false, unfounded and afigment of the imagination ofthe peddlers.

Oladiti explained that theunion was dissociating itselffrom any form of industrialaction and enjoined allmembers to continue in theireffort to effectively distributefuel products across thecountry.

By Mike Eboh

VISIT: Mr.BolaOnadeleKoko,ManagingDirector/CEO, FMDQOTCSecuritiesExchange(FMDQ)(left) and Mr.MounirGwarzo,Director-General,SecuritiesandExchangeCommission(SEC),duringFMDQ’s visitto SEC onNigerianSukukMarketDevelopmentAgenda.

CMYK

10—Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

Reps raise alarm over missing kidneyof Nigerian in Italian hospitalVow to sue Italian govt, Nigerian EmbassyWarn against ill-treatment of Nigerians overseasPatient dumped in mad people’s home

ABUJA — THE House ofRepresentatives Committee

on Diaspora Matters has vowedto take legal action against theItalian government and theNigerian Embassy in Italy overthe disappearance of kidney of aNigerian resident in Torino, Italy,after visiting a hospital withcomplaints of fever.

The House Committee, chairedby Rita Orji, representing AjeromiIfelodun Constituency of LagosState, also frowned on the attitudeof Nigerian government towardsthe welfare of Nigerians livingabroad and called for a change ofheart by the government.

The legal action, she explainedin an interview in Abuja, was inrespect of a female Nigerianresident in Torino, Italy, andmother of one from Edo State,whose name was simply given asMadam Julie, who had gone to ahospital in Torino, complaining offever.

She said after beingadministered drugs, the femalepatient became paralysed, whileher kidney also disappeared in acontroversial manner.

According to the lawmaker,Madam Julie is now bedriddenand cannot even walk with hertwo legs again, while the NigerianEmbassy in Italy felt unperturbedover the predicament of aNigerian national that had goneto Italy in search of greenerpasture.

The ordeal

Explaining the ordeal of thewoman, Orji said: “The outcry

was about a woman namedMadam Julie who is in Italy as alawful Nigerian. She got sick, thesickness is just two percent increasein body temperature.

“Knowing full well that thenormal temperature is 37 degreeFahrenheit, hers was 39 and shemoved to a hospital for a check-up. On getting to the hospital inTorino, she was told that it was aminor fever.

"She took the drugs given to her,after they conducted a test, shereceived her test result and wenthome with the drugs.

“After taking the drugs for oneweek, she came back to report howshe was feeling and on the day inquestion, she was asked whethershe came alone, and she said yesinnocently without knowing thereason that question was put acrossto her.

“As she was given a room to rest,they said they want to give her aninjection that will lead to thecompletion of the healing processof the fever. That marked thebeginning of her paralysis.

“She was asked to lie down.Within two, three minutes, she wasapproached with a mixture in a cupand she drank it, believing thatwas for the fever she complainedof, she drank it and became dizzyand she was telling them, oh myeyes are turning me, they said noproblem.

Her legs andhands tied

“Suddenly, they laid her downand the team of doctors camearound and tied her legs and herhands on the bed and she startedshouting, why are you tying me?

She raised alarm.“One of the doctors responded,

saying 'if you like shout at top ofyour voice, nobody will know whatis happening here.' That washow they laid her face down andgave her injection on her basebone. After giving her theinjection, she passed out.

“When she finally came up, shesaw the lower part of the buttocksopened to where the bones werecracked and pieces of bone werefallen from there. Her bladderwas disengaged from the sourceand urine was passing outuncontrollably.

"That marked the beginning ofthe story. This issue, thisstatement, this action took placeend of 2008.”

More infuriating anddisturbing to the lawmaker wasthat after allegedly causingMadam Julie to be paralysed,she was dumped at a madpeoples home where she wasgiven drugs meant for madpatients, while the NigeriaEmbassy felt unconcerned.

Attitude ofNigerian govt

She said: “Do we really haveprotection as Nigerians abroad?Do we really value life? Do wereally understand the meaningof having an ambassy in anycountry? What is the role of theNigeria Embassy wherever it isestablished?

“A Moroccan died in Italy,within the time I went, it was theking of Morocco that came toverify the fact leading to the deathof the woman. So important, so

critical that they value the livesof their citizens. Wheninvestigations were thoroughlydone that the woman died anatural death, they took thecorpse home.

“Today, how many Nigeriansare being dropped into the sea?How many of them are beingburied without the consent oftheir families? How many ofthem are subjected to thisinhuman treatment as metedout on Julie?

“Somebody that walked intoa hospital for a check-up andended up in a paralytic bed.Allegation of madness and stuffslike that, I want Nigerians toknow that we are not safe.

“If the embassy is not ready towork for Nigerians, we don’thave a reason allocating anyfunds to them; we don’t have areason having them over there.

“Because assuming theyintervened when this poorwoman submitted her result thatthis is what I brought from thehospital before they gave herinjection, we would have savedher from getting this paralysis."

On whether thekidney was removed

On whether the kidney wasremoved, she said: “Well,substances were pulled out fromthe kidney. The scan resultwhich we conducted as we wentthere, proved that. The recordis with us.

"It is not just that somebody isalleging that somethinghappened to her. No, the resultis with us, we are ready totender it anywhere we are calledupon.

“They were pulled from there,the bladder was yanked off inthe process of tampering withthe kidney, that is why the urineis uncontrollable.

‘’At a stage, she was passingblood. This was a healthyperson before visiting thehospital. Even after our visit,Embassy officials have nevergone to see the woman till today.

Remedy

On what should be done toremedy the situation, she said:“The action that will satisfy meis number one, the whole worldwill notice the injustice and Iwant you to know that there isno compensation that isequivalent to what the womanhas passed through.

“The foreign affairs, NigerianPresident, everybody that is inthis country have to rise to thedefence of this young woman. Idon’t think there is anythinganybody can do for me to makeme happy than to see thiswoman walk on her legs againand come back to the humanbeing she is.

“I am saying that there will bea holistic compensation. Andsecond, the team should take amedical analysis of her situationand proffer the best solution totake care of her.

Nigeria bansunauthoriseduse of drones

LAGOS— THE NigerianCivil Aviation Authority,

NCAA, has banned thelaunching of Remotely PilotedAircraft, RPA, in the Nigerianairspace without its permit andthat of the Office of NationalSecurity Adviser, ONSA.

This is contained in astatement issued by theGeneral Manager, PublicRelations, NCAA, SamAdurogboye, in Lagos,yesterday.

The statement said the movewas part of the safetyguidelines issued by theregulatory agency to droneoperators, following theproliferation of the technologyin the country.

According to the statement,“in recent times, RPA/UAV(Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)are being deployed forcommercial and recreationalpurposes in the countrywithout adequate securityclearance.

“Therefore, with thepreponderance of theseoperations, particularly in anon-segregated airspace,there has to be proactive safetyguidelines.

“The development of the useof RPA nationwide hasemerged with somewhatpredictable safety concernsand security threats.”

According to the statement,the International Civil AviationOrganisation, ICAO, is yet topublish Standards andRecommended Practices,SARPs, as far as certificationand operation of civil use ofRPA is concerned.

The statement said theNCAA had put in placeRegulations/Advisory Circularto guide the certification andoperations of civil RPA in theNigerian airspace.

It said this was contained inthe Nigerian Civil AviationRegulations (Nig. CARs 2015Part 8.8.1.33) and theImplementing Standards(Nig.CARs 2015 PartIS.8.8.1.33).

It said: “Therefore, nogovernment agency,organisation or an individualwill launch an RPA/UAV in theNigerian airspace for anypurpose whatsoever withoutobtaining requisite permit fromthe NCAA and ONSA.

“The NCAA wishes toreiterate that all applicants andholders of permits to operateRPA/Drones must strictly beguided by safety guidelines.

“In addition, operators mustensure strict compliance withthe conditions stipulated intheir permits and therequirements of the Nig.CARs.”

By Emman Ovuakporie& Johnbosco Agbakwuru

By Lawani Mikairu

DINNER: National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (left) and APC Woman Leader, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, during a dinner in honourof Odigie-Oyegun by Saint Patrick’s College (SPC), Asaba, Old Boys Association (AbujaBranch), in Abuja, Saturday.


Murder of banker: Late wife feared hubbywould kill her —Source

By Evelyn Usman &Monsuru Olowoopejo

NDICATIONS EMERGED,yesterday, that the late RonkeShonde, the banker that wasallegedly killed, last week, byher husband during a domesticviolence at their Egbedaresidence in Lagos, confided inone of her friends about herhusband’s sudden change ofattitude. She expressed fear forher life.

But, preliminaryinvestigations by the policerevealed that there were marksof violence on the deceasedface.

Vanguard was reliablyinformed that the late bankerhad complained of being beatenby her husband last month,during an argument, to herconfidant (names undisclosed)

Although her confidant keptthe major cause of the quarrelsecret, she was reported tohave attributed one of thecauses to Lekan’s over-bearingattitude.

Meanwhile, members ofRedeemed Christian Church ofGOD, RCCG, where thedeceased worshiped, haveexpressed shock over theincident, stating that there werenever any marks of violence onher before her death, as thiswould have made them tointervene.

When Vanguard visited theRCCG, Destiny Sanctuary,members were seen in groupsdiscussing the fate that hadbefallen one of their own.

Speaking exclusively toVanguard, Pastor of the parish,Pastor Olu Davids, said “on behalfof the church, we are still in shockover her death. This is becauseshe was a member of this greatchurch. I knew Ronke very well.She and her husband attendedour church.

“Though, she had neverdiscussed her marital issues withme, I can tell you that she attendedour church regularly. And beforethe incident of last Thursday, Inever saw any injury on her thatcould have warranted me toascertain the cause.

"Also, there was no sign on herface to portray that all was not wellin the family or that she was ill.As I said earlier, we are in shockbecause we don’t know what musthave led to her death,” Davidsadded.

On their parts, residents of 3Tiemo Crescent, where theShondes reside, disclosed that thecouple moved into the buildingthree years ago.

One of them, who gave hisname simply as Abu, said: “I don’tknow the church the husbandattends, but I know that he oftenwore white garment. But I canconfidently say that his wifeattended RCCG.

"The circumstance surroundingthis ugly situation is a mystery toeveryone. This is because I neversaw them engaged in a fight.

“Lekan usually leaves homeduring the week at about 5a.m.and returns at 8p.m. He wasalways seen with a polythene bagcontaining items for his wife andtwo kids.

“From my discussion with him,

he instructed us to break the key.After several attempts we gainedentrance, only to discover thelifeless body of his wife on thefloor,” he said.

Their two children as gatheredhad been taken into custody byone of their relatives.

However, effort to reach Lekanhad proved abortive as his phonewas still switched off.

But Police sources assured thathe would be apprehended.Already, the nanny as gatheredhad been interrogated by thePolice.

When contacted, the LagosState Police Command, DolapoBadmus said: “We are still on thelook-out for him. Effort is on-going to get him.

Meanwhile the case had beentransferred to the Homicidesection of the State CriminalInvestigation and IntelligenceDepartment,” she said.

I don’t believe that Lekan wouldhave perpetrated that act. This isbecause with my relationship withthe family since they moved intothis community, we have not hadany reason to settle any differencesbetween them.

"Because of their tight schedules,they employed the service of ananny, who resumes by 6a.m.daily, to prepare their children forschool and also attends to theirneeds after they return from school.

"But the nanny told us that onthe day in question, Lekan calledher and instructed that she shouldnot come as usual, that the childrenwould not be going to school thatday.

“It was the screaming of thechildren, who saw their motherlying on the floor that alertedeveryone. And we could not gainentrance into the apartment forhours because the burglary waslocked. When a call was putthrough to her husband (Lekan)

Man allegedly kills elder brother over missing torchlight

TRAGEDY STRUCK at theearly hours of yesterday in

Charity area of Oshodi, Lagos,after a man allegedly stabbed hiseldest brother to death during afight over his missing torch light.

The incident which threwresidents of 6, Adelaja street, offAfariogun Street, into panic,occurred at about 2a.m.

Vanguard gathered that therehad been a lingering quarrelbetween the siblings identifiedas Mayowa Adelaja (50) andAderemi Adelaja who is in his40s. However, yesterday ’ssituation took a violentdimension as it led to the deathof Mayowa.

Trouble started at about12midnight when the allegedkiller, Aderemi, charged at hiseldest brother, Mayowa, who layat the veranda, accusing him ofstealing his torch light.

Apparently regarding theaccusation as an insult from hisyounger brother, Mayowa

reportedly drew the attention oftheir mother , who was sleeping,to the accusation.

Entreaties by their mother toboth aggrieved children to calmdown, fell on deaf ears as theyengaged in fisticuffs whichwoke other tenants from sleep.

Eye witnesses said Mayowa hitAderemi with a rod twice and inretaliation, Aderemi rushed intothe room , brought out a knifeand allegedly stabbed his elder

brother in the stomach.On noticing the magnitude of

his action, Aderemi fled thescene, abandoning dyingMayowa in the pool of his blood.

When Vanguard visited thescene at about 7am , Mayowa’scorpse was still on the ground.Tenants had fled their abodes forfear of possible arrest.

Policemen from Akinpeludivision later visited the sceneto remove the corpse.

Their septuagenarian mother,a bread seller, was sighted at acorner of her one-roomapartment with her chin on herpalm with expression of shockon her face.

She simply identified herselfand also gave identities of herchildren but refused to speakfurther .

However, an eye witness, whosimply gave his name asMojeed, said “the quarrelbetween late Mayowa and hisbrother Aderemi started, whenthe latter with his five children,moved into their parents’ house,after losing his wife.

Butchersstabtaskforceofficials overclamp-downon illegalabbattoirs

Some officials of theLagos State EnvironmentalSanitation and SpecialOffences Unit (Task Force)were weekend attacked byalleged miscreants duringa raid on illegal abattoirs/slabs at Oshodi and Idi-Araba area of the state.

The officials were said tohave been stabbed withcutlasses and broken bottleswhile two Toyota Hiluxvans and a Black Mariabelonging to the agencyseverely vandalized by theassailants.

The Public Affairs Officerof the agency, Mr. TaofiqAdebayo, who confirmedthe incident, saidSuperintendent of Police,Supol, Wilson Alaba and adriver Mr. Adekunle Victorwere among security back-up deployed by the agencyto escort officials of LagosState Ministry ofAgriculture andCooperatives during theraids .The illegal abattoirswere considered not in linewith the statutory standardsas contained in the LagosState EnvironmentalSanitation Laws.

According to Adebayo,the raid was sequel toinformation received ofsome illegal abattoir andslabs in operation aroundOshodi and Idi-Araba.

The enforcementoperations, that hadsuccessfully closed andsealed an illegal abattoirand slabs at Oshodi,however, met a stiffresistance from miscreantsand operators at Idi-Araba.

The rampagingmiscreants and operators ofthe illegal abattoir at Idi-Araba in attempt to stop theteam from carrying out theexercise came out in largenumbers and attackedthem.

By OlassunkanmiAkoni

By Evelyn Usman& Nicolas Esekhile Aderemi and his children

were staying with theirmother in her one roomapartment. Mayowa wasalways angry that theirmother was assistingAderemi and his childreninstead of him (Aderemi)providing for their mother.

On his part, Aderemi wasnot happy with his eldestbrother’s life style. He seeshim as a tout, accused himof stealing his things. Wehave settled severalquarrels between them.Perhaps, if this fight hadoccurred in the day time, nodeath would have beenrecorded because peoplewould have taken theweapons from them.”

Confirming the incident,spokes person for the LagosState Police Command,Dolapo Badmus said thealleged assailant was still onthe run, adding that the casehad been transferred to theHomicide section of the StateCriminal Investigation andIntelligence Department ,SCIID.

LateRonkeShondewith herallegedkiller

husbandduringtheir

'sweet' days

One of the injuredtaskforce officials

The house where the incidentoccurred


CMYK

Odubu: No evidence linking Oshiomhole toAuchi mayhem —Edo APC

Orodje of Okpe, Borgu monarch partner for national unity

Dickson signs Appropriation, ChildRights bills

By Samuel Oyadongha

Hitler laudsmonarch overresolution ofcommunity'scrisis

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—All ProgressivesCongress, APC, in Edo

State, has said that there wasno evidence linking the stategovernor, Mr AdamsOshiomhole, to the shootingthat occurred at Auchi, when hisdeputy, Dr Pius Odubu, visitedthe area to meet with APCdelegates.

In a statement by its PublicitySecretary, Godwin Erhahon,the party commended theintervention of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr SolomonArase, who took over theinvestigation of the case,expressing optimism that theperpetrators will be arrested.

Reacting to the recent changein the leadership of the stateHouse of Assembly, the partydescribed the development asa “spontaneous reaction bymajority of the members to theinternal affair of the House. Itwas not instigated by anyindividual or group outside theHouse.

“There is no proof that thestate government had a handin the recent attack on thedeputy governor's pre-governorship primarycampaign team at Auchi. APC

commends the Inspector-General of Police for takingover the investigation of theincident.

“It was not GovernorOshiomhole who accused hisDeputy, Dr Odubu, ofattempting to hire a voodooist

to kill him. Rather, thegovernor, in good spirit,disclosed to his deputy whatan informant had alleged.

“Attempts to get theinformant to confront Dr.Odubu with evidence of theallegation are yet to yield

results. The aboveclarifications have becomenecessary to diffuse thetension being generated bythe antics of those attemptingto create a gulf between thegovernor and his deputy,”the statement said.

By Daniel Gumm

DESOPADEC 2016 budget: Obitugbo community,ILoT differ on road project

W A R R I —LEADERSHIP of

Obitugbo community in WarriNorth Local Government Area,Delta State, has extolled thespirit and courage of ItsekiriLeaders of Thought, ILoT, overits position on projects listed forthe Itsekiri nation in the 2016budget of Delta State OilProducing Areas DevelopmentCommission, DESOPADEC.

Chairman of the community,Sir Lawrence Ukubeyinje, whospoke in Warri, in a chat withnewsmen, charged ILoT to takea second look at the two-kilometre township road projectfor Obitugbo community in thecommission’s 2016 budgetmeant to open up the fastgrowing and developing butlong abandoned and desertedcommunity ravaged by theinfamous Warri crisis, insistingthat when executed, the roadwhich terminates at the BeninRiver bank and not a tank farm,will be a blessing not only to the

community in particular, but theentire Itsekiri nation in general.

The community chairman andformer Secretary to the thenWarri Local Governmentexplained that throughconcerted efforts of theindigenes, the community hasbeen able to produce amasterplan of the community,which features a network of

well-planned roads withprovisions for health facilities,market, educational institutionsand others, appealing to theSpeaker and members of DeltaState House of Assembly not tobe dissuaded from approvingthe road project that will servenot only Obitugbo people butboth Itsekiri and all other Deltansin general.

YENAGOA—BAYELSAState governor, Mr

Seriake Dickson, has signedthe 2016 Appropriation Bill ofthe state into law.

He also signed the ChildRights Bill into law.

Assenting to the bills inYenagoa, Dickson expressed thehope that the country’seconomic situation wouldimprove to enable thegovernment make projections

in its budgeting provisions.The governor, in a statement,

commended workers in the statefor their patience andunderstanding over the non-payment of salaries, noting thatthe government has beenmeeting with labour leaders onthe way forward.

Dickson expressed delightthat the new Child Rights Billwould offer protection to childrenof the state, stressing that,anyone caught violating therights of children would beprosecuted according to theprovisions of the law.

JettisonGrazingReserve Bill,clergyman tellsFG

By Festus Ahon

UGHELLI—THE Vicarin charge of St Luke’s

Anglican Church, Ofuoma-Ughelli, Delta State, Revd.Canon Godwin Ujevwecha,yesterday, urged the FederalGovernment to jettison theproposed Grazing Reserve billbefore the National Assemblyin the interest of peacefulcoexistence of all parts of thecountry.

Ujevwecha, who gave theadvice in his sermon duringthe thanksgiving service inhonour of Chief IsaacAkpoveta on his appointmentas Chairman, GoverningCouncil of Delta StateContributory HealthCommission, said herdsmenwere into their privatebusinesses and wondered whypoultry and fish farmers arenot being given suchconsideration in a countrywhere the people have equalrights.

In his brief remarks, ChiefAkpoveta thanked God,Governor Ifeanyi Okowa andthe people of the state forgiving him the opportunity toserve as Chairman GoverningCouncil of Delta StateContributory HealthCommission.

A prominent leader inOgulagha Kingdom,

Burutu Local GovernmentArea, Delta State, ChiefBeck Hitler, hascommended the paramountruler of the kingdom, HisRoyal Majesty, Capt.Joseph Timiyan, for hisprompt intervention andpeaceful resolution of theSokubolou communitycrisis.

Hitler, in a statement,yesterday, in Warri, alsothanked the people ofSokubolou community forembracing peace.

He sympathised with thefamily of the victim who losthis life and others whoseproperty were burnt in thecrisis, urging that therestored peace besustained.

He charged oil andservicing companiesoperating in OgulaghaKingdom to maintaincordial relationship withtheir host communities,who are law-abiding.

THE Orodje of OkpeKingdom, HRM Orhue I,

has promised to collaboratewith the Emir of Borgu, HRMAlhaji Mohammed Toro, KitoroIV, to assist government inachieving unity across Nigeria.

The monarch disclosed thisduring a courtesy visit by theEmir of Borgu to his palace inOrerokpe, headquarters ofOkpe Local Government Area,Delta State.

Speaking on the occasion,Alhaji Toro commended theOrodje and his Council ofChiefs for their warmreception, just as he condoledwith the Okpe monarch on thedeath of his successor, HRMOrhoro I, whom he describedas his father.

Toro said that he deemed itfit to seek the royal blessingsof Orhue I to pilot his emirate,adding that his visit also wasgeared toward ensuring theunity of the country in theinterest of the people. Hepoined out that a responsibilitywas placed in the hands oftraditional rulers to resolve andproffer solutions to differencesrather than build walls.

He called on all Nigerians tosupport the presentadministration and seethemselves as one people.

In his welcome speech, theOrodje of Okpe described theEmir of Borgu as a friendly,detribalized man and a trueNigerian that believes in the

unity of his country.He expressed delight at the

Emir's visit to his kingdom,noting that theircollaboration was notnecessarily because of hisrelationship with his

predecessor but because theyhave something in common,so, there was the need towork together to moveNigeria forward.

He advised the visitingmonarch not to associate

himself with any politicalparty, but see everybody ashis child and pray that a bettercandidate wins. He urged theEmir to relate with all openly,as by so doing, he will reignlonger than his late father.

VISIT: The Orodje of Okpe Kingdom, HRM Orhue I (5th right); Emir of Borgu, HRMAlhaji Mohammed Sanni Dan Toro, Kitoro IV (4th left), with other royal fathers during theEmir's visit to the Orodje, in Orerokpe, Delta State.


CMYK

By Simon Ebegbulem

Edo 2016: Obaseki, others escape death as thugsopen fire at campaign venue

B E N I N — G O V E R N -ORSHIP aspirant of All

Progressives Congress, APC, inEdo State, Mr Godwin Obasekiand his supporters escapeddeath, yesterday, when armedmen opened fire on them at Sobe,Owan West Local GovernmentArea of the state.

However, brave youths in thearea pursued the suspectedthugs and apprehended themwith their guns and they werehanded over to the Police.

The state Commissioner forArts and Culture, McDonaldObasuke, who confirmed theincident shortly after ithappened at 5:30p.m., said hesaw a man who went inside avehicle and brought out a gunand shot at the venue whereObaseki was about to addressthe APC delegates.

Obaseki, who spoke toVanguard about 6:30p.m.,expressed shock over theincident, saying that he couldnot continue with the eventbecause of the shooting.

According to Obasuke, “Whilewe were still expectingdelegates, Obaseki was already

inside with the party leaderswhen this boy, who pretendedhe was with us, went inside acar, brought out a gun andfired in our direction.

“We were lucky to dodge thebullet, so we immediatelymobilised our boys andpursued him and othersbecause it seemed they cameto disrupt the event. We

caught them and handed themover to the police. It was reallyshocking but we thank Godnobody was hurt. However,Obaseki could not address thedelegates because of theshooting.”

Obaseki told Vanguard: “Icalled off the meeting with thedelegates because I had to bewhisked off by my security

men. No one was hurt though. Icannot be intimidated. Whoeverdid this has failed because wewill continue with ourcampaign.”

The state Police PublicRelations Officer, Abiodun Osifo,when contacted, said he was yetto be briefed, but promised to callthe Divisional Police Officer atSabongida Ora for details of whathappened.

PDP S-Southgovs meet inDelta, warnagainst violence

By Festus Ahon

A S A B A —G O V E R N O R S

of Peoples DemocraticParty, PDP, in the SouthSouth, yesterday, warnedparty faithful against anyform of violence during theparty’s national conventionslated for May 21 in PortHarcourt, Rivers State.

The PDP governors arealso mapping out strategy toclinch the Edo Stategovernorship seat in theSeptember election. Those inattendance were SenatorIfeanyi Okowa (Delta State),Mr Nyesom Wike of RiversState, Mr Seriake Dickson(Bayelsa), Prof Ben Ayade(Cross Rivers) and Mr UdomEmmanuel (Akwa Ibom).

Fielding questions fromnewsmen after a closed-doormeeting, Governor Okowasaid the essence of themeeting, held atGovernment House, Asaba,was to enable them put theirhouse in order ahead of the

Five killed in Delta communal clashNO fewer than five

persons are feareddead and several othersinjured in Okpolo-Enhwecommunity, weekend,following an attack bysuspected youths of Igbidecommunity in Isoko SouthLocal Government Area ofDelta State.

It was not clear why youthsallegedly from Igbidelaunched the attack onOkpolo-Enhwe communitybut sources at Eyara, a clan inOkpolo-Enhwe communitywhich shares commonboundry with Igbidecommunity, said that a landdispute which had lingered forover four decades, sparked off

the attack which led to deathsand destruction of propertyworth millions of naira.

An eye witness who cravedanonymity for fear of reprisals,said that trouble startedbetween the two communitieson Thursday /Friday whichmade Okpolo-Enwhecommunity lay formalcomplaint against Igbidecommunity at the police stationover the issue of the boundryseparating the twocommunities. Subsequently,policemen were deployed toEyara which shares commonboundry with Igbidecommunity after theintervention of the Chairmanof the local government area

to keep the peace.The source said: “On Saturday,

at about 8a.m., armed youthsfrom Igbide brandishingcutlasses, daggers, battle axes,guns and petrol bombs, invadedEyara, shooting and burninghouses of prominent Okpolo-Enhwe indigenes. Everybodyran for safety. Women, children,the elderly, youths and even thepolice scampered to safety beforereinforcement came from Ughelliand Warri.

“Over 10 houses were burntdawn after they were vandalizedand looted. Five Okpolo-Enhweindigenes have not been foundat press time as they are feareddead," the source added.


A B U J A — A F T E Rmany weeks of

verbal exchanges, theEconomic and FinancialCrimes Commission,EFCC, will today confrontthe spokesman of formerPresident, Dr. GoodluckJonathan’s CampaignOrganisation, Mr. FemiFani-Kayode, over N840million he reportedlyreceived a few days to thepresidential election.

Fani-Kayode, whonarrowly escaped arrestlast Friday when about 10EFCC operatives stormedhis Maitama home inAbuja, is scheduled toappear before thecommission today toexplain why he collectedthe cash and what it wasused for.

The former ministerimmediately raised thealarm that the agents ofthe commission hadinvaded his home andcondemned them fordoing so after he hadgiven assurance that hewould turn in.

The commission is,however, said to bemonitoring his movementto ensure that he keepsthe appointment.

It was not clear at presstime if he would beallowed to go home after

reporting at thecommission forquestioning over themoney he reportedlyreceived from the formerfinance minister, Sen.Esther Nenadi Usman,who served as the Directorof Finance of theJonathan’s campaignteam.

Usman, who had beendetained for some days,only got some reprievesome days ago when shesurrendered to thecommission two Abujahomes and N140 millionout of the N2.5 billion sheis said to have received.

It was, however,learned last night that aspart of the effort by EFCCto recover $115 million(N24 billion) that wasmade available forsharing by topgovernment officials inthe last administration, theEFCC would, this week,make more arrests ofsuspects for questioning.

However, a source, whospoke in confidence,declined to give thenames of the keysuspects likely to betaken in this week by theoperatives, saying theagency was interested inrecovering public fundsfrom the suspects, nomatter how highlyplaced they might be.

Fani-Kayode meets EFCCtoday over N840mcampaign funds

By Soni Daniel

ABUJA—AIDES ofsenators and

members of the House ofRepresentatives, underthe aegis of NationalAssembly LegislativeAides Forum, NASSLAF,have rejected Mr. SamMelaye, younger brotherto Senator Dino Melaye,as their Chairman.

They said Melayewould not lead them,given that he failed inthe election conducted tothat effect.

The forum, in astatement by its PublicRelations Officer, YusufBamidele, yesterday,said allowing Melaye tohead them would alsoamount to violation ofzoning arrangement inits constitution, giventhat he hailed from NorthCentral geo-politicalzone, where the out-going Chairman,Mahmood Muhammed,

Legislative aides rejectMelaye as Chairman

hailed from.The statement said:

“Our elections andleadership are driven byzonal arrangements. Thelast administration ofMahmood Muhammed,who is now a member ofthe House ofRepresentatives, wasfrom the North Central.By so doing, the NorthCentral has had its shotand cannot come again.

“We have North-West,North-East, South-South, South-East andSouth-West, so we cannotallow a particular personor zone to shortchangeus.”

The group, whilenoting that it held itselection on Thursday,April 28, where Mr.Darlington Udehemerged victorious,wondered why a sectionof people in the NationalAssembly managementwas trying to imposeMelaye on it.

By Joseph Erunke

CMYK


S-East govs, PDP chieftains meet overherdsmen attacks, budget

FORMER governor ofAnambra State, Mr. Peter

Obi, has urged state governorsacross the country to returnschools to religious bodies andperform only supportive roles.

Speaking during AnglicanDiocese of Lagos Mainland Pre-Synod breakfast fellowship, Obisaid the success hisadministration recorded ineducation was made possible bythe churches.

He explained that during thefirst two years of hisadministration, the state’s ratingin West African ExaminationsCouncil, WAEC, and NationalExaminations Council, NECO,

GOVERNOR of ImoState and the

chairman of AllProgressives Congress,APC, Governors’ Forum,Owelle Rochas Okorocha,has said he will not contestthe 2019 presidentialelection because ofPresident MuhammaduBuhari, adding that thePresident had so fardisplayed leadership andshould be encouraged.

Governor Okorochaspoke, weekend, whileanswering questions fromnewsmen during a tour ofsome of hisadministration's keyprojects.

Okorocha said: “I havebeen running for thepresidency until God saidI should settle for the Imogovernorship. And thatpassion to become thePresident of the country isnot just borne out of thethirst for the position, buthad arisen out of theeagerness to offer thenation and her people astrong leadership; theessence would be to builda nation of our collectivedreams and aspirations.

“President Buhari camein and, within one year,Nigeria has once againgot the doors of the restof the world opened forher.

“He has shown courage,confidence, maturity andstrong leadership. Thereis now high feelings ofleadership in the country.What he, therefore, needsis to be supported andencouraged.”

Why I won’tcontest 2019Presidency—Okorocha

By FintanIbegwam

Give schools back to religious bodies —Peter Obi

was not encouraging.Obi said: “I could remember

that our state was number 25in WAEC and NECO, whileOyo State was 26. Thefollowing year, we wouldalternate. I looked at itcritically and ordered thatevery school must be returnedto the church. I said anymoney meant for educationshould be given directly to theBishop.

“Between 2011 and 2013,Anambra was number one inNECO. Religious bodies arethe only thing that is savingus in this country, and we needto support them and Nigeriansalso need to be prayerful foreveryone in office; that they

use public money for publicgood.”

Corroborating his view, theDiocesan Bishop andArchbishop, Province of Lagos,Most Revd Adebayo Akinde,said God gave the church thecustody of education asChristianity moved side byside with education.

According to him, nothingwas wrong with presenteducation system and urgedgovernment to desist fromfrequent experimentation.

Meanhwile, Mr. Obi,weekend, said birthdaysshould not be a time of “showoff, but a time to think aboutour lives and ask ourselveshow faithful we have been to

ourselves and God,” andprovide Nigerians time toshare love, “especially thepoor among us.”

Obi spoke when he joinedthe Anglican Bishop ofAmichi, Most Rev. Dr.Ephraim Ikeakor to visitHoly Child Convent School,Amichi, Master VesselsSchool, Osumenyi and theDiocesan Hospital, Amichi,as part of his birthdaycelebration.

The celebrant, BishopIkeakor, expressedhappiness that Obi’s lovefor education and provisionof health care to the peopledid not wane even whenout of office.

By Gabriel Olawale

SOUTH-EAST STAKEHOLDERS: From left—Former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim; Governor DavidUmahi of Ebonyi State; Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Governor OkezieIkpeazu of Abia, and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, at a meeting of South-East governors and stakeholders atGovernment House, Enugu, yesterday.

KINGDOM Lottery hasunveiled Nollywood’s

comedian, John Mr. IbuOkafor as its BrandAmbassador.

Recently licensed by theNational LotteryCommission, the companyrepresentative, Mr. YalonZilberkwit, while unveilingMr. Ibu, said KingdomLottery was poised to takethe sector higher than whatcurrently obtains.

He told newsmen that thedays people saw lottery asfraud were gone, addingthat “Kingdom Lottery isuniquely different, becauseours is a win-win situationfor everyone as losers standa chance to win at the perio-dic consolation draws.”

Elated, Mr Ibu, said:“Kingdom Lottery is veryeasy to win, transparent,genuine and it is mucheasier to collect your cashwithout any form of delayas in case of other lotterycompanies.”

KingdomLottery unveilsMr. Ibu asBrandAmbassador

By Anayo Okoli

ENUGU—THE governorsof South-East geopolitical

zone and leaders of PeoplesDemocratic Party, PDP,yesterday, rose from a meetingin Enugu with a resolution tointroduce a more enduringand sustainable strategy toprotect lives and properties ofthe Igbo.

This was even as thegovernors promised to ensurefull implementation of the2016 budget signed last Friday,to enable the people benefit inthe area of roads, especially forthe reconstruction andrehabilitation of Enugu-Onitsha and Aba-Ikot Ekpeneexpress roads.

Those who met in Enuguincluded Governors IfeanyiUgwuanyi of Enugu State;Dave Umahi, Ebonyi, andOkezie Ikpeazu, Abia.

Other PDP leaders, who metalongside the governors of PDPwere the Deputy SenatePresident, Senator IkeEkweremadu; formergovernors of Anambra and Imostates, Peter Obi and IkediOhakim, respectively.

Ekweremadu, who spoke tonewsmen after the meeting,said they met to appraise thedevelopments in the zone,following the last herdsmenattack on Nimbo in Uzo UwaniLocal Government Area ofEnugu State.

He said: “We intend to putin place endurable measuresso that such attack will nothappen again,” whilecommending PresidentMuhammadu Buhari forsigning the 2016 budget.

He, however, asked theFederal Government toimplement the budget as itaffects the South-East well,especially in the area of roads.

His words: “Most of the

Internally Displaced Persons,IDPs, are back in their places.We reviewed ways of findinga lasting solution for theprotection of our peopleagainst further Fulaniherdsmen attacks. We wantto seize this opportunity tocondole with the victims andare putting measures in placeto forestall a repeat.

“On the Enugu-Onitsha,Aba-Ikot Ekpene expressroads, among others, FederalGovernment had in the past,awarded contracts for thereconstruction andrehabilitation of these toincompetent contractors.

“This time, we will ensurethat competent contractorswill handle the road projectsto give our people a sense ofbelonging.”

... as Umeh advocatesrestriction

Meanwhile, formerNational Chairman of All

Progressives Grand Alliance,APGA, and the party's candidatein the Anambra CentralSenatorial re-run, Chief VictorUmeh, has said cattle rearersshould be restricted to ranchesin the North.

Chief Umeh spoke in Onitshaafter attending thecommissioning of ArchbishopC. J. Patterson InternationalAuditorium Complex.

By Emeka Mamah,Chinedu Adonu &Chimaobi Nwaiwu

CMYK

16 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

OPINIONEdo 2016: A leap back to stone age

By Erasmus Ikhide

•Mr. Ikhide, a political analyst, wrotefrom Lagos.

THE outgoing governor of Edo State,Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has

a date with history for entering the league ofthe tripartite most performed governor ofthe state in living history. Oshiomhole ownsthe unique distinction of being a governorwho brushes aside primordial politicalinequalities and revives a few sectors of thestate economy, against all odds.

It is to the eternal credit of the governor forempowering security concerns to boldlycheckmate feral criminality, indolence andan innate social dysfunction that kept EdoState on the list of one of the most dangerousstates in Nigeria. This is no mean feat. Noone can take that away from him.

There is no doubt that Comrade Oshiomholeholds a large track to the APC nomination onwho succeeds him, but he must resist thepressure on him to rewrite that page in ourhistory book that celebrates openness;popular participation, one-man-one-voteand incremental progress. Better still, heshould denounce miniature surfaces,impostors, imposition, godfatherism andother ancillary vices that reduce ourhumanity. It is a cynic platform on whichdemocratic precedence/institutions shouldnot be built.

That is the much I am demanding, Edopeople and Nigerians are demanding forobvious reasons: Oshiomhole was helped to

the Action Congress, AC, nomination ticketin 2007 by many whose primary missionwas not to have an anointed candidate or asurrogate as governor. Oshiomhole’sgovernorship was meant to derail animminent tradition of dominant elite goingby the name godfathers.

Liberal democracies or its organicinstitutions harshly condemned what thegovernor and his new found friends aretrying to shove down the people’s throats,wholesale. They have taken a wreck ball to

the earliest liberal mantra and matrix of theAC, ACN and now APC; equalising it withthe PDP to an indistinguishable and perilouspoint with known credentials for imposition.This constitutes one of the major drawbacksof the present political engagement. No onecan differentiate party A from party B.

As it were, no one can doubt that banalimposition and unremitting crave forundiluted power suckled PDP’s victory in thelast general election. There may be someprivate reasons why governor Oshiomholesettles for the oily Obaseki but such reasonmust be juxtaposed for the same reason he isbeing loathed by the same people who

constituted themselves into a combat armynearly eight years ago and chased away thegodfather, a position the governor presentlycoveted in all its crudity.

Dr. Sunday Edeko, an associate Professorin the faculty of law, Ambrose Ali University,Ekpoma, Edo State, saw my exposition onMr. Godwin Obaseki’s many after-thoughtsgaffs and missteps on the Benin history andhis primitive middle-of-the-road economictheory for the state as misguided. Dr. Edekowho said Mr. Godwin Obaseki is grounded inthe Benin history as well as a celebratedeconomist merely perceived something inMr. Godwin that was not there!

To date, neither Dr. Edeko nor Mr. GodwinObaseki seek to correct the deliberatefalsehood “that when the British enteredBenin Kingdom and attempted to do ‘business’with Benin, his grandfather advised the thenOba of Benin, Oba Ovonramwen N’ogbaisi,to sign a treaty with the foreigners. Mr.Godwin has yet to contradict all availableevidence which suggest that the British didnot intend to do business with any of theireventual colonies, rather they were on aplundering colonial mission as they did alsowith Jaja, Nana, Attahiru and Kosoko,among others. Edo people are still waitingfor Mr. Godwin to clear the air on thehistorical distortions.

Another point of departure with Mr.Obaseki’s economic myth is his acclaimedcapitalistic daunting qualifications thatseemingly plunged the state into debt from

borrowing homogeneous amount of millionsof dollars by the state government on Mr.Godwin’s auspices. If an economistsuperordinate czar is about junketing forloans in financial markets globally, then Edois in for real trouble.

Dr. Edeko admonished on page 34 ofVanguard newspaper of April 18th, 2016thus: “If Mr. Ikhide ever had confidence inthe governor, this is the time he needs to usehis talents to promote the course ofdemocracy and development in Edo State”.Dr. Edeko intoned further: “The old order isdead and buried. Oshiomhole is apersonification of the new order in Edo State.Whoever he trusts enough to earn hisendorsement is a product of the order”.

For the record, it is worthy of note that in2007 my good friend, Dr. Edeko literallyjoined forces with me and others to fight thescourge of godfatherism in the state againstthe mighty pen of his boss, Prof DominicBadaiki, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, whoseoffice was a few metres from his office. Heearned my respect as Prof OsariemheOsunbor’s uncle, a man that wasmanipulated into the governorship seat bythe godfather. Then, Dr. Edeko resistedOsunbor’s governorship. In retrospect, givenDr. Edeko’s noble antecedent, it is safe to saythat the ebullient law lecturer has nowmisconstrued factual godfatherism for “thenew order”.

Godfatherism is godfatherism irrespectiveof the guise, colour and creed.

Godfatherism isgodfatherismirrespective of theguise, colour and creed

Need to finish abandoned projects

SENATOR Suleiman Nazif, whorepresents Bauchi North in theSenate, gave vent to his concernover the alarming proliferation ofabandoned projects in Nigeria.Most of these projects haveremained abandoned and haveoutlived the various governmentsthat initiated them. Indeed theproblem is as pronounced at thefederal as it is at the state levelsuch that all sections of thecountry and tiers of governmentare heavily burdened withabandoned and uncompletedprojects.

A particular project that has beencrying for attention for years is theAjaokuta Steel Company whosecompletion has remained inabeyance after manyadministrations spanning decades.The senator’s worry derives fromthe fact that abandoned projectshave remained a conduit pipethrough which Nigeria’s resourcesare siphoned with criminal

abandon at heavy costs to thenation. Most of these are well-conceived projects which iffaithfully executed would bebeneficial to the Nigerianeconomy, especially in the area ofcreating more job opportunities.

The plethora of abandonedprojects that dot the country ’slandscape have been traced to theunwillingness on the part ofincoming governments to completethe projects initiated by theirpredecessors for reasons often tiedto corruption. Another major causeis the tendency of politicians towant to deny their predecessors thecredit for projects they inherited.They feel far more fulfilled to

abandon such projects and useavailable funds to start theirswhich they can claim credit for.This is totally petty, uncalled forand a great disservice to thenation. And this is a mistake whichthe present administration at thefederal level can ill afford to make.

We strongly recommend that theMuhammadu Buhari regimeshould take stock of all projects itinherited from the previousgovernments with a view tocompleting them before embarkingon new ones. For instance, theadministration should continuewith the revival of the 117-year oldNigerian rail system whichprevious regimes have been

carrying out considering theimportance of rail to Nigeria’stransportation system.

Happily the Minister forTransportation, Mr RotimiAmaechi, has pledged to completeall ongoing rail projects and extendrail lines to all parts of the country.

Other projects that should bepursued with vigour include theSecond Niger Bridge, the East/West Road , the Abuja/KadunaExpress, the Enugu/Port HarcourtExpress, the Lagos/Ibadan Express,the Lokoja/Abuja Express, theOshodi/Apapa Express and thecompletion of the transfer of thepower sector to private business.

These and others in their class arenot properties of any regime orpolitical party but national assetsthat will boost the economic andsocial development of Nigeria. Theinterests of the nation must remainparamount and must be pursued atall times irrespective of regime.

MAY 9, 2016

CMYK

Continues on page 18

BY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE &PETER EGWUATU

The directors of ten bankscollected N7.6 billion as feesand allowances in 2015,

representing 1.58 percent of thebanks’ profitability during the year.

The ten banks are Guaranty TrustBank, Zenith bank, Access Bank,FirstBank, UBA, Union Bank,Diamond Bank, Sterling Bank, Fidelityand Wema Bank.

Analysis of financial statements of

the banks for the 2015 financial year,reveal that the ten banks increasedtotal money paid to 143 directors by11 percent or N742 million, from N6.84billion in 2014 to N7.58 billion in 2015.The amount paid to the directorsrepresents 1.58 percent of the profitbefore tax of the ten banks, which stoodat N480 billion in 2015. The amountpaid to the directors also represented2.0 percent of total staff salaries(personnel cost) in the ten banks.

Further analysis reveals inadequatedisclosures relating to directorscompensation, fees and allowances to

board chairmen, and salaries of chiefexecutive officers. For example, WemaBank did not specify amount paid ascompensation to executive directors,while Access Bank and Sterling Bankfailed to disclose money paid to theirchairmen and chief executive officers.

Total board expensesGTBank led the ten banks, with N1.25

billion paid to its 14 directors in 2015,up from N1.2 billion in 2014. ZenithBank came second, with N1.145 billionpaid to 10 directors in 2015, up fromN630 million in 2014. Acess Bank andFirstBank came third and fourthrespectively, with N1.08 billion andN1.05 billion paid to 14 and 17 directorsrespectively. The fifth highest boardexpenses was incurred by UBA, whichpaid N603 million to its 16 directors in2015, up from N600 million in 2014.

Others are Union Bank-N983 million,Diamond Bank-N195 million, SterlingBank-N265 million, Fidelity Bank-N766 million and Wema Bank-N235million

Executive CompensationThe ten banks, with the exception of

Wema Bank, paid N4.63 billion to 52executive directors. This representedtwo percent decline from N4.72 billionin 2014. On the average, eachexecutive directors got N89 million in2015, down from N91 million in 2014.FirstBank came first as its six executivedirectors (E.Ds) were paid N784million, up from N694 million in 2014.GTbank came second, with N718million paid to six E.Ds, up from N691million. The seven E.Ds of Access bankwere paid N705 million in 2015, downfrom N1,12 billion in 2014. Union Bankpaid its six E.Ds N625 million in 2015,up from N542 million in 2014, whileZenith Bank paid its four E.Ds N595million in 2015, up from N414 millionin 2014. UBA paid its six E.Ds N547million, down from N555 million in2014. Others were Diamond Bankwith five EDs - 149 million, SterlingBank with six EDs - N156 million, andFidelity with six EDs - N346 million.

Union Bank CEO tops payAnalysis of amount paid to the

highest director, the Chief ExecutiveOfficer (CEOs), by eight banks revealthe CEOs of eight banks were paidN903 million as salaries andcompensations. This was 13 percenthigher than the N798 million paid tothe CEOs in 2014. The CEO of UnionBank received the highest pay withN208 million, representing 36percent or N55 million increase fromthe N153 million earned in 2014.GTBank CEO came second earningreceiving N204.9 million, up by 12percent or N22 million from N183million in 2014. The CEOs of UBA andFidelity Bank came third and fourthearning N125 million and N102million respectively in 2015, up fromN116 million and N94 million in 2014.Others are FirstBank-N90 million,Zenith Bank-N78 million, Wema Bank-N70 million, and Diamond Bank-N25million.

Shareholders call for reviewShareholders however were of the

Executive Directors pocket N4.6bnUnion Bank tops CEOs payShareholders divided

Ten banks pay 143directors N7.6bn in 2015

MTNF HANDOVER: From left, MTN Foundation Field Officer, Alhaji Nura Bello; Commissioner for Basic & SecondaryEducation, Sokoto State, Dr. Mohammed Jabbi Kilgori; Executive Secretary Arabic and Islamic Education, Alhaji AhmedBaba Altine and Principal, Hafsatu Ahmadu Bello Model Arabic Secondary School, Sokoto State, Hajiya Asmau AbdullahiMaikano, at the handing over of furniture donated to the school by the MTN Foundation in Sokoto.

18 —18 —18 —18 —18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

Cover

Continued from page 17

CONFERENCE - From left: Deputy Head of Mission/Counsellor, Embassy of Japan in Niger-ia, Mr. Masaya Otsuka;Executive Vice President, Japan External Trade Organisation (JET-RO), Dr. Katsumi Hirano; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief(Mrs) Nike Akande;Deputy Minister for Construction, Engineering and Real Estate Industry,Government of Japan, Mr. Yasuki Kaibori; and Charge d'Affaires ad interim, Embassy of Ni-geria in Japan, Mr. Bello Kazaure Husseini, during the Nigeria-Japan public-private confer-ence for high quality infrastructure in Lagos.

Wanting to start a business is a common desire, buthow many people are actually born entrepreneurs?

Are you? Test your entrepreneurial capability by knowingwhat type of business to start. Your business shouldsupport your dream of becoming financially independent;but how to start is a different ball game.

After perusing the business ideas or generating ideasthat suit your interests, values and passions, you need todecide which idea(s) is more is more likely to bring yoursuccess. Choosing between five alternatives is usuallymuch easier than choosing between 10 and 20. List allthe ideas, on individual index cards or pieces of paper.If you have got a whole stack of business ideas, it is betterto make some cuts. Go through your ideas and make twopiles; ideas to consider and ideas to discard. Whendeciding what to toss, look first for those ideas that arenot likely to get off the ground. Note that this is a gutcheck, focused on your feelings and instinct - not onaccounting equations or an analysis of supply anddemand.

The following questions may help you decide whichideas to keep and which to discard:

Are you genuinely excited about the business idea?How confident are you that you can make it work?Would you be comfortable telling people about your

business idea?Your best business idea will be the one that aligns with

your interests, goals, values, motivations, and passions.Sure, there are many ideas for new venture opportunitiesfor individuals. Clearly, when you see inefficiency andyou have the resources and capability or at least the abilityto bring together the resources and capabilities neededto correct that inefficiency – then it could be a veryinteresting business idea. In addition, if you see a productor service that is being consumed in one market and thatproduct is not available in your market, you could perhapsimport that product or service, and start that business inyour home country.

Many sources of ideas come from existing businesses,such as franchises, you could licence the right to providea business idea. You could work on a concept with anemployer who, for some reason, has no interest indeveloping that business. You could have an arrangementwith that employer to leave the company and start thatbusiness. You can tap numerous sources for new ideasfor business. Perhaps the most promising source of ideasfor new business comes from customers; listening tocustomers. That is something we ought to do continuously,in order to understand what customers want, they wantit, how they want a product or service supplied, whenthey want it supplied, and at what price.

By so doing, one thing that everyone should go throughis to ask the question, is the market real? In order to doso, the first thing you want to do is to conduct what wecall a customer analysis. You can do that in a very technicalway, by conducting surveys. Or perhaps, in a lesstechnical way, you can attempt to answer the questions,“Who is my customer? What does my customer want tobuy? When does my customer want to buy? What price ismy customer willing to pay? So, asking the “W4questions,” who, where, what, when. At the end of theday, the one thing every entrepreneur is looking for isrevenue and the revenue will come from customers. Thatis why you need to ask yourself, is there a market placehere?

Also, you want to ask yourself who else is supplyingthat particular market? That is what we call competitoranalysis. Ask yourself who else is in this market, andwhat are they doing for the customers. Are they supplyinga similar substitute product or services that you have inmind? That is the second thing you have to establish,and by doing that, you can understand better what needis not met.

For more on this, get my book” Success In YourBusiness”.

How to chooseyour own business

view that the amount paid tobanks directors though hugeand not in sync with economicrealities, is necessary toprevent them from stealingdepositors money, and also inview of the amount of workthey have to do to generateearnings for their banks.

“If the banks’ executivesare well paid, the temptationof stealing depositors’ moneywill not arise,” stated Mr.Boniface Okezie, Chairman,Progressive ShareholdersAssociation of Nigeria, PSAN.

“However, considering theeconomic downturn, I think thebanks can equally cut thepackage they take home toreflect the present economicrealities. If States Governorsand Ministers are cutting theirsalaries, I think the banksshould equally follow suit.There are some allowances forbanks’ executives that need tobe cut down or completely beremoved. It is time forcompanies to tighten theirbelts given the global oil fallwhich had affected thecountry’s income.

So, if the economy picks up,banks can review the packagespaid to their executivedirectors. But under normalcircumstances, the banks’executive should be wellremunerated given the natureof the risk they undertake. Ifthey are under paid, then yoube begin to see all kinds ofstealing and rubbery in thebanks through insidercollaboration”, he said.

Mr. Taiwo Oderinde,Chairman, ProactiveShareholders Association ofNigeria, PROSAN, on his partsaid the huge money paid todirectors was unfair toshareholders. He said, “

“The banks’ executive

compensations is really onthe high side when youcompare it to other countries. The executive directors ofbanks are given all kinds ofallowances at the expense ofdepositors and shareholders.We do react on this issue whenwe attend Annual GeneralMeetings, AGMs. In somecases, we refused to approvetheir remunerations and askthem to go back and review it.

“The problem we are havingas shareholders is that in somecases we don’t haveshareholders’ representationon the board. By the timethey set up committee toreview the remuneration youwill only see executivedirectors taking decisions. Theexecutive directors are reallyfeeding on shareholder’ fundand this has to be checked by

like. I think there should beregulation in this aspect ofemolument to stop thesemouth watering packages.”

According to the Chairman,Renaissance ShareholdersAssociation of Nigeria,Ambassador OlufemiTimothy, “The banks’executive emolument is nottoo much considering theearnings they make for thebank. These are people whotoil all day and night to seethat depositors’ money is keptsafely. So the high riskelement should also beanother great reason whythey should be paid well. Even the so called ForeignExchange, (forex ) are kept bythese banks.

Furthermore, if banks’executives are well paid theissue of stealing or fraudulentpractices would be drasticallyreduced or even eliminated. Ibelieve the packages forexecutive directors are not toomuch given the volume ofwork they do and the incomethey make for the institutions.”

“My position on this issueis that it should be looked aton the contribution they bringto the organisation”, stated,Mr. Nonah Awoh, ashareholder activist. “ It isnot how big or how small thepackages are, the concernshould be on the equityremuneration of employees. What is the disparity betweenthe Chief Executive Directorand other senior management? If the differential is too high,then it is not good for theorganisation. Banks shouldbe careful if fixingremuneration so that it doesnot affect what they are givingto shareholders in form ofreturns on investment”, hesaid.

the regulators in the industry.The executive directors

have access to our funds andmake use of it the way they

TTTTTen banks paid N7en banks paid N7en banks paid N7en banks paid N7en banks paid N7.6bn t.6bn t.6bn t.6bn t.6bn to directo directo directo directo directororororors in 20s in 20s in 20s in 20s in 201515151515

If thebanks’executivesare wellpaid, thetemptationof stealingdepositors’money willnot arise

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016 — 19

Economy

quantities, lamenting thatsuch exports to the EU werecurrently in low quantities.

Ordinarily, the EU head ofdelegation call is a welcomedevelopment but deep downit is an insult to the people ofNigeria for him at this time tocall for a continued export ofprimary commodities to theEU. For over 40 years, Nigeriaand Africa countries have beenexporting primarycommodities to Europe to feedtheir factories and in returnbring back the processedproduct at higher prices. Theyhave not thought of helping totransfer technology toNigerians to enable thecountry process and addvalue to the agriculturalproduce in order to sell athigher prices.

Perhaps the call is coming asa result of the fear that Nigeriais looking more to Chinesetechnology and developing ahigher trading relationship.The Union has every cause toworry because its traditionalsource of cheap raw materialis being threatened by thegrowing trading relationbetween Nigeria and China.All along and in the last fortyyears as it claims, the Unionhas not considered itnecessary to set up localprocessing plants in Nigeriato process agriculturalproduce to either semiprocessed or finished productsthat could command highervalue in their home countries.

Export rubber, cocoa, palm oilto us, EU tells Nigeria?

Last week Wednesday, the European Union (EU) was quoted as askingNigeria government to increase export of agricultural produces like

rubber, cocoa and palm oil to the EU countries. The Head of EU Delegation toNigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Michel Arrion, said this at a press conference oncommemorate the 40 years of EU-Nigeria partnership in Abuja. Arrion saidthere were potential exports, which Nigeria could develop in commercial

Even when Nigerianbusinesses struggle to set upsuch processing plants theyare denied access to Europeanmarket in the name of quality.

It is quite unfortunate that itis at this time that the presentgovernment is trying to refocusthe economy that the EU isasking Nigeria to concentratein producing and exportingprimary commodity to Europe.

In the opinion of the EU“There are potential exportslike rubber for instance for tilesthat Nigeria could certainlydevelop. We will be delightedto import and to buy morerubber from Nigeria; theproblem is that the productionis very small. We will bedelighted to buy more cocoafrom Nigeria. We are buyingmost of our cocoa from IvoryCoast and Ghana, while notfrom Nigeria?” he said.

Is the EU a true friend ofNigeria? Knowing that thecurrent economic crisis thenation is facing arose from thecollapse of commodity pricesin the global market, the EUis still urging Nigeria tocontinue to export primarycommodities to it withoutadding value to them. Thegovernment must be wary of

such advice and take thenecessary measures to ensurethat no commodity is exportedfrom Nigeria without valueaddition in the near future.The current Federalgovernment's policy onagriculture should becomprehensive enough toembrace the entire value chainin each of the commodities itintends to develop fully. TheEuropean Union knows toowell that in the last ten tofifteen years nearly half of thecountry agricultural produceare wasted as a result of lack

of storage facilities andprocessing capability. It hasnot one day attempt to offer asolution.

In recent years farmers in thenorthern part of the countryhad suffered losses of tones oftomatoes as result of lack ofprocessing facilities. In recentmonths thanks to braveNigerian business men likeDangote and the rest that haveto set up tomatoes processingplants to help arrest thecontinued influx of processedtomatoes that were beingdumped into the Nigeriamarket.

Time has come for Nigeriato seek home grown solutionto its economic problems. Inthe case of cocoa while themajority of cocoa is exportedas beans, the processing ofother cocoa-derived productsalso takes place in Nigeria.Cocoa processing consists inthe conversion of beans intococoa butter and cocoapowder, two intermediaryproducts and such conversionis operated by grinders (orconverters). The quantity ofbutter obtained from the beansdepends on the fat content ofthe beans, while powder isnormally considered as a by-

product of processing, asshells and paste. Butter andpowder are subsequentlyrecombined in different sharesto obtain chocolate, with theaddition mainly of milk andsugar. Cocoa powder is alsoused as a component in otherconfectionary products.Instead of setting up chocolatefactories in Nigeria, Europeanfirms prefer to import thebeans into Europe atcheapgate farm prices andprocessed same into finishedproducts as chocolate, cocoabeverage etc that are sold athigher prices as importeditems into Nigeria

Although Nigeria has thecapacity to process locallysome quantities of other cocoa-derived products, such asbutter, the local product isoften tagged of a low qualitywhen exported by Europeanfirms in order to discouragelocal production.

Nigeria does not need theEU to remind it that it has alot of possibilities inagricultural products.Nigerians are aware of thepotentials. What Nigeria needare true friends that will helpit convert the known potentialsto realities that will generateemployment opportunities tothe teaming population.Nigeria has had enough ofgood wishes, it needs freshideas not the same olddiplomatic talk with tongue incheck.

Nigeriadoes notneed the EUto remind itthat it has alot ofpossibilitiesinagriculturalproducts

FirstBank is committedto supporting itscustomers with

customised products andservices designed to ensure acontinuous success story forevery SME.

According to the FirstBank’sspokesperson, Folake Ani-Mumuney, Small andMedium Scale Enterprises(SMEs) are consideredpivotal to nationaldevelopment. "However, towhat extent do they play thisrole in ensuring thesustainable economic growthof the nation, especially at atime when the Nigeriangovernment is looking todiversify its income stream?Presently, there are manySME entrepreneurs with amyriad of unaccomplishedaspirations and deflatedbusiness goals

"First Bank of NigeriaLimited has over the yearsdemonstrated an unwaveringcommitment to the businesssuccess of SMEs in Nigeria.The Bank has a cocktail of

FirFirFirFirFirstBank reitstBank reitstBank reitstBank reitstBank reiterateraterateraterates commitment tes commitment tes commitment tes commitment tes commitment to SMEso SMEso SMEso SMEso SMEsproducts and bespokesolutions, specificallydesigned to help grow andsustain SMEs; enable themplay out their business scriptsas well as fulfill their goals andaspirations. In addition, theBank offers advisory servicesthat are tailored to meet theneeds and aspirations of theirSME customers.

"FirstBank is enthusiasticabout the SME segment as oneof the strategic platforms tostimulate economicdevelopment. Some of theBank’s SME products include:Contract and InvoiceDiscounting Finance – Thisenables the SME seamlesslyfund bigger contracts. Theproduct is designed to financecontractors who needimmediate funding forworking capital requirementswhile awaiting payment forgoods/services supplied orcontracts executed forreputable companies.

"The Import and ExportFinance is another productthat helps the customer finance

imports and exports as wellas track all transactions. TheImport Finance Facility wouldprovide a structured andcontrollable mechanismthrough which the Bank mayprovide finance to tradingcompanies to support theimportation of goods.

"The bank also uses thePayments and CollectionsSolutions to facilitateeffective money collectionfrom distributors andcustomers of SMEs. Withthese solutions, 3rd partypayments can now be madewith ease. The KeyDistributorship Finance isanother vital productdesigned to ensure SMEs

never run out of stock as wellas the timely execution of allcustomer orders.

"With a bouquet of bespokeproducts and services,FirstBank is set to place SMEsahead of their competitionthrough collaborations withthe business owners to provideflexible and dependableservices, helping each SMEfulfill life time dreams for theirbusinesses," she stated.

TruContact CSR Nigeria, organisers of TheSERAS- CSR Awards has extended

entries for the 2016 edition to other Africancountries, calls for 2016 entry.

The award is in its 10th edition, and havingenjoyed nine successful seasons, the organizerspromise that the 2016 edition will be bigger andmore exciting.

The theme for the awards is: SustainableDevelopment Goals and The Future of Africa:Organisations as The Game Changers.

Assessments and categorizations would thebased on the recent globally launched seventeensustainable development goals. Entry forms canbe downloaded at www.theseras.com.

The theme according to the organisers is basedon the launch of an ambitious global mission bythe world leaders to reduce poverty and enhance

SERAS extends entry to other African countrieshuman development.

Africa and Nigeria was only able to attaina little under 15% of expected target impacts.But with the take-off of the SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDG’s) by the UnitedNations, businesses have been urged to takethe driver ’s seat in actualizing this hugeagenda.

According to the UN Secretary General,Ban Ki-moon, business is a “vital partner inachieving the sustainable developmentgoals”.

The UN holds the view that the SDG’scannot succeed without the support ofbusiness to design and scale up sustainablesolutions.

The SDG’s also provides immense platformsfor companies to develop sustainable

CMYK


Business & Economy

Nigeria Breweries Plc has disclosedthat despite tough operating

environment, it paid N16 billion as tax to theFederal Government for the financial year2015 and also created 4,000 direct jobs.

It further disclosed that the beer industry inthe country grew by one percent in 2015, whilebeer consumption per person stood at 11 liters.Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, Managing Director/CEO, disclosed this during the company’s Pre-AGM Media briefing held in Lagos lastweekend.

According to him “ Employment-wise, thecompany has 4,000 Nigerians are on itspayrolls across its 11 beer plants and two maltproduction plants across the country while280,000 people have been indirectly employedby its transporters, distributors and otherancillary businesses. Vervelde said that theslow growth in the economy in terms of loweroil prices, fall in the value of the Naira, scarcityof foreign exchange , low purchasing powerof consumers are some of the economic indicesthat affected the industry like other businessesin the country.

According to him, the beer industry inNigeria has been undergoing slow growth for

NB pays FG N16bn tax , creates 4,000 jobsfour consecutive years, adding that the sectorgrew by 1 percent last year compared to 9-10percent recorded in the years before 2010.

He explained that the slight growth recordedby operators in the sector were in the areas ofproducts innovation and expansions of beerplants driven by acquisition. He said that thecompany is the leading brewer in the industrywith 20 products category, 11 beer plants andtwo malt plants across the country.

Shedding light on per capita beer consumptionin Nigeria, he noted: “Although, 23 percent ofNigeria population is middle class, yet per capitaconsumption of beer is low compared to marketsacross the globe.

“ In Nigeria with a population of over 170million, it 11 liters whereas in Brazil with 200million population per capita consumption ofbeer is 70 liters; Russia 64 liters, Mexico 60 litersand South Africa it is 60 liters per person;Burundi 40 liters, Cameroun 40L and Sub-Saharan Africa 17liters. The last time Nigeriahad high per capita consumption of beer was1984, and it was 17 liters per person.”

Fielding questions on the impacts of theiroperations on the economy, he replied that thecompany has been doing business in Nigeriafor 70 years, adding that government, hostcommunities; shareholders feel their positivesocio-economic impacts.

By PETER EGWUATU, FRANKLINALLI & PRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

Ten companies emergedwinners of the ‘Great

Place To Work (GPTW) Nigeriaawards, over the weekend.These awards include: theBright Spots award, a newcategory of awards which wasintroduced to recognise thoseorganisations that are engagingwith their employees, customersand communities in deep andauthentic ways. Threeorganisations were recognisedfor this award; CourtevilleBusiness Solutions, SANOFIHealthcare and iSON BPO.

Eight organisations made it tothe list of Best Companies toWork for in Nigeria 2016. Theorganisations include: EMCInformation System NigeriaLimited, which came tops,Courteville Business Solutions,which also won in the BrightSpots Award category, camesecond in the Best Companiesto Work for in Nigeria. Othercompanies that made the listinclude: Guinness Nigeriawhich emerged in the thirdplace position, SC Johnson tookthe fourth position; MicrosoftNigeria, Poise Nigeria;Konga.com, and Chemicaland Allied Products, in thatorder. This year’s edition, thefourth in the series, also had the“Best Practices Awards”. Theseare companies that deliveredexcellence in Corporate SocialResponsibility (CSR), PeopleLeadership, EmployeeWellness, and introducing anew category under this, theorganisation that caters to theneeds of Millennials.

iSON Group, one of thewinners in the Bright SportAwards category, also won theaward for excellence in CSR,Konga.com, which cameseventh in the Best Companiesto Work for in Nigeria, smiled

AWARD - From left: Chief Marketing Officer, iSON Technologies, Opemipo Alebiosu, receivingaward from Board Member, Great Place To Work, Mr Kunle Malomo, during Great Place ToWork Award night in Lagos.

Ten great companiesto work

Nigerian MaritimeAdministration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA) haswarned International OilCompanies operating inNigeria of dire consequences iftaxes and levies are not paidas at when due.

Speaking at the ongoingOffshore TechnologyConference (OTC) currentlytaking place in Houston, Texas,NIMASA’s Director- General,Dr. Dakuku Peterside, said thatthe agency will no longertolerate a situation where IOCsrenege on the payment oflevies due the agency asenshrined in its enablinginstruments.

Peterside also said thatNIMASA is ready to enforce itsstatutory responsibilitiesespecially in the area ofpreserving and protecting themarine environment from theadverse impact of oilexploration and othercommercial activities.

He explained that NIMASAas a strategic agency ofgovernment has been grosslymisunderstood over time andassured stakeholders of themanagement’s commitment tothe development of localcontent in the maritime industryadding that a review of theCabotage Act was long overdueso as to make it more beneficialto Nigerians.

NIMASA warnsoil firms overunpaid taxes,dues

By GODWIN ORITSE &GODFREY BIVBERE

home with the Best Companyto work for Millennials. Again,Courteville Business Solutionsgot the award for excellence inPeople Leadership whileGuinness Nigeria Plc won theaward for delivering excellencein Employees’ Wellness.

The Minister for Industry,Trade and Investment, Dr.Okechukwu Enelamah, whowas keynote speaker at theevent, described the award as“a welcome initiative and anavenue for inspiring greatness,”and challenged organisationsto” rise beyond the ordinary topursue excellence.”

While commending GreatPlace To Work Nigeria for the

initiative, Enelamahcongratulated all the winnersand awardees, pointing out thatit was his desire that theawardees will see the awards,not as an excuse to bask in theiraccomplishment, but as achallenge to do more and evenbetter and to be role models forothers. “Individuals, brandsand even governments rise andfall on the strength of the trustthat people repose in them. Theworld’s most valuablecompanies hold much of thatvalue to what experts call brandequity, which in lay man’s termis simply a reflection of thequality of trust they engenderin their stakeholders,”Enelamah said.

Accion MicrofinanceBank has disbursed

about N57 billion asloans to 227,000 peoplesince it was licensed bythe CBN in 2007.

The Managing Directorof the bank, MrsOlubunmi Lawson, madethe disclosure in aninterview with the NewsAgency of Nigeria (NAN)on Friday in Lagos.

She said the companyhad embarked on branchexpansion to take itsservices to more cities inthe country.

Lawson said theexpansion was designedto deepen financialinclusion for the poorsegment of thepopulation.

According to her, twobranches of the bank areto be inaugurated inOgun on May 19 towardthe realisation of the goal.

Lawson said thebranches to be opened atSango Ota and Akutewere in fulfillment of thepromise made by thebank during its 2015annual general meeting.

She said the bank,which had 31 branches inLagos State, would openmore branches in eightadditional states beforethe end of the year.

Lawson said the bank’starget was to empowerover 500 poor but activepeople in the newbranches to support theFederal Government’spoverty alleviation drive.

“The bank plans tobring all the adultsfinancially excluded inSango Ota and Akute intothe banking system.”

She said the bankwould also extendfinancial aid to Small andMediums Enterprises(SMEs) within the newareas.

“The bank is set to offervariety of financialservices and products,ranging from savings,current, fixed depositaccounts and micro loans.

“It’s our hope that thebranches will deliver abrighter future to itsteeming and growingclients,” she said.

AccionMicrofinanceBankdisbursesN57bn loans

CMYK


Banking & Finance

CBN bans discriminatorye-payment services

BY BABAJIDEKOMOLAFE

The Central Bank ofNigeria (CBN) hasbanned all forms of

discriminatory practices in theprovision of electronicpayment service.

This was one of thehighlights of two revisedguidelines relating to e-payment services issued bythe apex bank on Friday. Theguidelines are: Guidelines onTransactions Switching inNigeria; and Guidelines onOperations of ElectronicPayment Channels in Nigeria

Among other things theCBN stated, “According to theguidelines on transactionswitching, “

Among other things theguidelines on transactionswitching prohibited Abuse ofdominant position by anyoperator. It stated, “No partiesto Switching Services shallabuse its dominant position bydirectly or indirectly imposingunfair or discriminatorycondition and fees in theprovision of its services;Equally, no parties toSwitching Services shall limitor restrict the provision ofswitching services or marketthereof or technical orscientific developmentrelating to switching servicesto the prejudice of consumers;No parties shall indulge inpractice or practices resultingin denial of market access.

The guidelines also bannedNigeria Interbank SettlementSystem (NIBSS) fromcompeting with any e-payment service firm in thecountry. It stated, “NigeriaInter-Bank Settlement SystemPlc (NIBSS), the NigeriaCentral Switch (NCS) and anycompany, person or group ofpersons performing the roles,duties or functions of theNigeria Central SwitchSHALL NOT under anycircumstance whatsoever orhowsoever engage incompetition with any PaymentCard Industry Scheme,Operator or Service Provider.Accordingly, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc(NIBSS), the Nigeria CentralSwitch (NCS) and anycompany, person or group ofpersons performing the roles,duties or functions of theNigeria Central Switch shallnot: Be or engage in anybusiness as: Card Scheme,Issuer of Payment Cards,Issuer-Processor, Acquirer,Acquirer-Processor.” It alsobanned NIBSS fromsupporting or promoting anycard scheme as well as fromowning, deploying,maintaining, installing andacquiring devices such asPoint of Sale.

Under the guidelines onoperations of electronic

payment channels in Nigeria,the CBN staed, “No cardscheme shall discriminateagainst any ATM owner oracquirer. Every card-schememust publish for the benefit ofevery ATM owner or acquirerand the Central Bank ofNigeria, the requirements foracquiring ATM transactionsunder the card scheme.”No

ATM owner or acquirer shalldiscriminate against any cardscheme or

issuer. Stand-alone orclosed ATMs are not allowed.

“To achieve interoperability,all POS terminals deployed inNigeria shall accept alltransactions arising from anycard issued by any Nigerianbank. Accordingly, Acquirers

and other service providersshall be card neutral entitiesthat have no reason topromote or favour any cardbrand over the other.

“ Every acquirer must beable to accept all cards issuedby Nigerian Banks, whetherthrough a direct license or viaan arrangement with anyother acquirer that is licensedunder the relevant cardscheme/association.”

Davodani MFB targets ten branches with state license

By Babajide Komolafe

DavoDani Microfinance Bank (MFB) isset to open ten branches across Lagos

State, in line with its new status as a stateMFB.

Chairman of the Bank, Prince AustinEnajemo-Isire disclosed this at a pressbriefing held at the bank’s head office inLagos. He said that the Central Bank ofNigeria (CBN) has granted and upgradedthe bank to a State MFB.

He said, “We wish to announce theupgrade of Davo Dani MFB to state MFBstatus through approval conveyed to us byCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in theirletter of 3rd May 2016, having satisfied allthe necessary conditions attached thereto.By this new state microfinance bank license,we can now commence branchestablishment across the entire Lagos StateLocal Government Council/Areas to enableus achieve the vision and mission of thebank as well as the National Policy objectiveon Micro, Small and MediumEntrepreneurs (MSME).

“The bank focuses its businesses ontraditional and specialized savings, currentaccounts and investment products as wellas risk assets, carefully designed toempower Micro, Small and MediumEntrepreneur. Its core values and qualitiescentre on products innovation and excellentcustomer service.” He said that with thisdevelopment, “The bank is positioned tocarve a niche for itself in the market space,having just joined the group of State

Microfinance Banks to create jobs andempower Micro, Small and MediumEntrepreneurs (MSME) throughunhindered access to our financial services,as clearly spelt out in our mission statement.We will do this with a balance of financialsustainability and the social impact inpoverty alleviation as well as createemployment to a number of unemployedNigerian population residing in Lagos State.The breath of outreach in our first phase ofaction will cover branches in Ikorodu, LadipoMushin, Alaba International and Boundary,Apapa in addition to the Head Office inOgudu Road, Ojota.” He disclosed that themanagement of the bank is poised to targetclients not less than 500,000 in this firstphase of action plan representing 50 percentof the bank’s medium term plan. He addedthat the management will also explorepartnership with relevant governmentagencies to facilitate support for Micro Smalland Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Hesaid, “Micro, Small and MediumEntrepreneurs (MSMEs) and individuals atthe bottom of the pyramid constitute thebedrock for economic development of anation and the state in particular. Therefore,we are open to partner with the Lagos StateGovernment and other government agenciesin the implementation of the National Policyon Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs.Our channels of distribution will be deployedthrough which the state can effectdisbursement of micro credits and financialawareness training to her citizen in theLagos areas.”

The Association of AssetsCustodians of Nigeria

(AACN) will hold its fifthannual investor conferencethis week 2016 in London.

The theme of theconference is NigerianEconomy: Identifying thesilver linings. The purpose ofthis event is to provide expertinsight on Nigeria’s currentmarket conditions,developments and prospects.The conference is anopportunity for significantinteraction among thevarious Nigeria capitalmarket operators andinvestors. This year ’sconference is co-sponsoredby FMDQ OTC PLC, CentralSecurities Clearing SystemsPLC (CSCS) and FirstRegistrars & investorServices Limited.

The 2016 investorconference will host thefollowing speakersrepresenting the regulatorsand key market operators:The Director General of theSecurities and ExchangeCommission (SEC), MallamMounir Gwarzo, theExecutive Director, CapitalMarkets, Nigerian StockExchange (NSE), Mr.Haruna Jalo-Waziri, the CEO,NASD Plc, Bola Ajomale, theCEO FMDQ OTC Plc, BolaOnadele KOKO, theChairman, WACMIC andDirector BRVM, Dr. EdohKossi Amenounve. and theChief Economist, AfricanGlobal Research, StandardChartered Bank – the highlyregarded and respectedRazia Khan as well as theManaging Director of theCSCS, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar.

Other speakersparticipating in paneldiscussions include MathewPearson of Standard Bank,Seher Sagizli of Citibank, thepresident of Institute ofCapital Market Registrars(ICMR), Bayo Olugbemi,Chairman Lafarge Africa,Bolaji Balogun, KoredeAdenowo of StandardChartered Bank, OlubunmiAsaolu CFA, Head, EquityResearch FBN Quest, as wellas major foreign portfolioinvestors and globalcustodians. The 2016investor conference willprovide a platform tofacilitate dialogue betweenForeign Investors andNigerian capital/financialmarket operators, whilekeeping participants abreastof Nigerian securities marketdevelopments andachievements over the lastyear.

Gwarzo, RaziaKhan to addresscustodians’conference

ROUNDTABLE: From Left: Mr Johnson Ivase, Marketing Manager, Mrs Efe Obiomah, Pub-lic Relations Manager, both of GOtv and Mr Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, StrategicOutcomes Limited during the GOtv Media Round Table, Friday, Lagos, On Friday 6-5-2016,PHOTO: Kehinde Gbadamosi

CMYK


Banking & Finance

VISIT - From left: Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen, Chairman, House Committee on Capital Market &Institutions; Mr. Bola Onadele. Koko, Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC SecuritiesExchange (FMDQ) and; Hon. Tony Nwulu, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on CapitalMarket & Institutions, FMDQ’s visit to the House of Representatives Committee for CapitalMarket and Institutions, in Abuja

Decline in external reserves weakens Nairain futures marketBY BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE

The Naira weakened inthe foreign exchangeforwards market due to

declining confidencetriggered by persistentdecline in the nation’sexternal reserve.

The forwards market is forforeign exchange transactionsto be delivered at agreeddates in the future.

Last week the externalreserves dropped by $104million from $27.12 billion onApril 29th to $26.919 billionon Thursday may 5th.Cumulatively the externalreserve has fell by $2.15billion from $26.92 billion atthe beginning of the year.

This continuous slide in theexternal reserves, according toCowry Assets ManagementCompany led to depreciationof the naira in the forwardssegment of the foreignexchange market.

For the One month forwardcontract, the naira depreciatedby 0.44 percent to N201.32per dollar, while itdepreciated by 1.61 percent toN206.95 per dollar for theThree months forward. Sixmonths and 12 monthsforward depreciatedrespectively by 3.19 percentand 1.37 percent to N215.77per dollar and N224.17 perdollar.

This trend, according toCowry Assets might persistthis week. “We anticipatepressure on the nairaexchange rates followingweakened external sectorenvironment”.

Meanwhile cost of fundsremained stable in theinterbank money market lastweek due to stability in thelevel of liquidity in the market.

Though the Central Bank ofNigeria (CBN) mopped upN150 billion from the marketthrough sales of treasury bills,the market also experienced

inflow of N150 from paymentof matured treasury bills.Hence market liquidityremained between N391billion and N380 billionduring the week. As a resultshort term interest ratesremained stable at 3.0 percentduring the week.

Afrinvest Plc howeverprojected that interest ratesmovement this week will bedictated by liquidty infow andoutflow from the market. Thecompany in its weekly marketupdate stated, “The financialsystem liquidity opened theweek at about N300.1 billionon Tuesday (being the firsttrading day of the week dueto Monday’s public holiday).Open Buy Back (OBB)remained at last week’sclosing levels of 3.1 percentwhile Over Night rates

declined 0.2 percent to 3.5percent by the end ofTuesday’s trading session.However, OBB and ON ratesrose 0.2 percent and 0.3percent to 3.3 percent and 3.8percent on Wednesdayconsequent on DepositMoney Bank’s FXprovisioning, rising to 3.6percent and 4.2 percent at theend of Thursday’s tradingsession. As expected, therewas a T-bills maturity of aboutN150.6 billion on Thursdaybut the impact of this onliquidity was offset by arollover of the same netamount. OBB and ON settledat 3.6 percent and 4.1 percenton Friday, up 0.5 percent and0.4 percent Week-on-Week (W-o-W.)

In the T-bills market,average rate started the week0.1 percent higher than lastweek’s average closing rate of8.2 percent. There was a T-

bills auction on Wednesdaywhere N45.2 billion, N23.4billion and N82 billion worthof the 91-days, 182-days and364-days T-bills were issuedat stop rates of 8.0 percent, 9.0percent and 11.1 percent.Consequently, average T-billsrate rose to 8.4 percent by theend of Wednesday’s tradingsession. However, average T-bills rate declined 0.1 percentto 8.3 percent by Thursday,eventually settling at 8.1percent, down 0.1 percent W-o-W.

In the week ahead, barringany unexpected mop-ups, weexpect money market rates tomove in tandem with marketliquidity dynamics as dictatedby the foreign exchangeprovisioning by DMBs andrefunds by the CBN, as wellas OMO maturities andauction (about N32.0bnexpected to hit the systemnext week Thursday).

BY GABRIEL OLAWALE

OGUN State government has said thatthe state attracted over N690 billioninvestments in 2014, signaling its

emergence as the nation’s number destinationfor private sector investment.

Governor of Ogun State, Senator IbikunleAmosun, disclosed this while addressing apress conference ahead of this year's OgunState Investor’s forum.

He said that over 90 companies haveinvested in the state within the space of fiveyears that his administration opened the statefor business, adding that more than 10additional companies are waiting forcommissioning with each investing not lessthan $100 million, “When we start this InvestorsForum in 2012, it was like a test case, butprecisely on 14th of February, 2014 prior tothe second edition we took drastic action andapproached World Bank.”

“If you remember, in term of doing businessin Nigeria, Ogun State was number 35, butwhen we adjusted in those areas where there

Ogun SOgun SOgun SOgun SOgun Stattattattattate attracte attracte attracte attracte attracted oed oed oed oed ovvvvver N690bn iner N690bn iner N690bn iner N690bn iner N690bn invvvvvestments in 20estments in 20estments in 20estments in 20estments in 201111144444were complaints, we moved from 35to number third.”

“In 2014 alone, new investment ofabout N514.87 billion came in to thestate and before the end of that year,it eventually rose to N691. 77 billion.As at this year, we have close to 2000people who have applied for landamong other thing, but we are veryconscious because we want genuineinvestors.” Amosun hinted that someof these developments have made thestate ranked fourth in area ofInternally Generated Revenue, “Toencourage these investors, we createdOne-Stop Shop Investment Centre,OSSIC, to assist potential investorswith procedure for investment anddocumentation processing. We areglad to announce that, the largestAmerican investment in Nigeria issituated in Ogun State.”

He explained that all theachievement and success story did notcome as a magic, but through creation

of enabling environment, “Weconstructed more than 14 link bridges,rehabilitated Ota Akute road, MoweIbafo road, Agbara Industrial Estateand reduced rates of access tocommercial and agricultural land. Wehave also improved in area ofsecurity.” Speaking on the focus ofthis year Investor Forum, theChairperson, Organizing Committeeand Honourabe Commissioner Budgetand Planning, Ms Adenrele Adesinasaid that the renewed focus is to makeenvironment friendly, movement ofgoods more easier and creation oftransformation through agriculturewere the focus of this year gathering.

“As we are having more companies,we need to look at environmentalimpact, analysis and carry outassessment. Also all these companiesneed to transport their goods andservices, that is why we are focusingon transportation, and our agriculturalagenda needs to be moving on.”

Sterling Bankbacks OgunS t a t eI n v e s t m e n tForum

As part of its drive topartner with

stakeholders in the growth ofthe nation’s economy both atthe state and national levels,Sterling Bank has announcedits sponsorship of the thirdedition of the Ogun StateInvestment Forum.

The theme of the two dayevent starting on May 9, 2016is “Ogun State: Open forBusiness- EmergingEconomic Powerhouse”.

It would be recalled that theBank also sponsored the2014 edition of theprogramme and stands out asa major partner with otherstate governments especiallyin the area of education andeconomic development. Lastyear, the Bank presented ane-library to the College ofEducation, Ikere Ekiti in EkitiState and commissioned co-branded verve/identitycards which serve as accesscontrol system and identitymanagement solution forstaff and students of theBenue State University inMakurdi.

Also, in line with the plan ofthe Federal Government todiversify the economyoccasioned by the decliningrevenue generated fromcrude oil exports, SterlingBank has remainedcommitted to supportingproduction and consumptionof locally made goods andservices by supporting localmanufacturers with theintroduction of the “made inNigeria” week and itspartnership with InnosonMotors; the first in themanufacturing of locallymade vehicles.

The Bank, in a statementsigned by its Group Head,Strategy & Communications,Mr. Shina Atilola explainedthat the involvement of theBank in the Forum wasinformed by the need forpublic - private partnershipto achieving rapid economicdevelopment in Nigeria.

While commending theOgun State government foropening the state fordomestic and internationalinvestors, Mr. Atilola notedthat the step taken by thegovernment wouldaccelerate the desired growthand development of thestate’s economy curtailingthe challenge ofunemployment andimproving the standard ofliving of her citizens.

CMYK


CMYK

CMYK


Corporate Finance

•Mr. Ladi Balogun, MD, FCMB •Godwin Emefiele, CBN Governor

Local shareholders andcustomers of First

City Monument Bank(FCMB) Limited haveexpressed their supporttowards its managementdrive to build a valuablefranchise in the retail space.

The center point of attractionincludes the firm’s innovativeproducts and service offeringsthat resonate with the needsand lifestyles of the marketwith an excellent customerservice strategy that iscurrently generatingcustomers’ commendationsand accolades.

Some of the shareholdersand customers who spoke toVanguard stated that the sconscious drive by the bankto carve a niche for itself inservice delivery can be seenin its team of friendly,courteous and professionalstaff carefully positionedacross the bank’s branchesnationwide.

According to Mr. LivinusAkanda, a customer of FCMB“They are usually willing togo the extra mile to meet theneeds of their existing andpotential customers. Added to

Investors, customers okay FCMB’sretail banking drive

By PETER EGWUATU

this is the strategic locationof the Bank’s over 220branches nationwide and itsfast growing portfolio ofalternate channels, whichare designed to provideprompt and convenientbanking services, whilepromoting financialinclusion.”

Group Managing Directorand Chief Executive Officerof First City Monument Bank(FCMB), Mr. Ladi Balogunwas recently quoted to have

assured ‘’We will remainfocused on improvingoperating efficiency, whilstalso continuing with our

steady customer acquisitiondrive and consolidation inalternate service channels inorder to provide a moreconsistent and convenientcustomer experience.Overall, we are confident ourprogress will be sustained, aswe continue to grow ourmarket share, and improveour margins and efficiencyratios”.

Indeed, thesedevelopments have impactedsignificantly on the profile ofFCMB helping the Bank toconsolidate its position as thelargest retail lender in thecountry, granting over240,000 loans a year. Thecorporate players –telecoms, oil and gas,manufacturing, agribusinessand allied firms, amongothers are also constantlybeing financed by the Bank aspart of its support for theeconomic revival and growthof the country. In the samevein, the Bank’s customerbase has been on the rise;moving from 1.8 million in2013 to 2.5 million in 2014with a target to further growthis to 4 million by the end ofthis year, 2016. FCMB nowhas 689 Automated TellerMachines (ATMs), 12,000Point of Sale (PoS) terminalsand 71 agent banking outlets(with a plan to grow to 800agents), across the country.

On product offering, FCMBhas an array of innovativeproducts that cuts acrosssocio-economic anddemographic segments.These products (current andsavings accounts), which areeasy to open and affordableto operate, include nairawise,kids account, Flexx account,(a youth product that meetsthe needs of this veryimportant segment of thepopulation) as well as the e-savings account.

Shareholders of Wema Bank Plc haveapproved the bank’s bid to either

acquire or merge with any financial/non-financial institution to expand its business.

They also authorised the bank’s directors toraise additional capital in readiness to pursuethe acquisition plan. The shareholders gavethe approval at the bank’s Annual GeneralMeeting, AGM, in Lagos.

Addressing shareholders at the meeting, theChairman, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun, explainedthat the approval for the capital raising exercisewould allow the bank to take advantage of anymerger/acquisition opportunity that may arisein the course of the year.

He explained that the bank would seekstrategic partnerships with during the year,adding that it commenced relationship with keyplayers in various business segments and therelationships are expected to add value to thebank in terms of brand equity and bottomline.“As we go into 2016, I am confident that we arewell positioned for better success. Our nationalauthorisation will allow us to significantly scaleup our operations across the country.

However, our investment decision will belong-term in order to achieve more efficientoperations, which will enable us deliversuperior returns to the shareholders.”

Continuing, he said: “The impact of TSA andthe harsh monetary environment for large partof 2015 financial year significantly impactedthe industry with large government funds

Shareholders approve Wema Bank’sacquisition, merger bid

By NKIRUKA NNOROM sterilised from the banking sector. In spite ofthis, the bank recorded improvement in overalldeposit volumes with a growth rate of 10 percentwell ahead of inflation.”

Laying the financial results before theshareholders, Asekun said: “The bank’s earningcapacity remained robust during the yeardespite the constraints on assets growth in 2015due to the sustained restrictive operatingenvironment. Gross earnings increased by eightper cent to N45.9 billion in 2015.

The headline performance reflects thesimultaneous growth in interest and non-interest income, which grew by 4.6 per cent and26 per cent respectively.”

He, however, stated that profit before taxdeclined marginally by 1.6 per cent to N3 billionfrom N3.1 billion, given the impact of the TSA,depressed international crude market, everthinning margins and rising costs of operations.

Throwing more light on the M&A plan, thebank’s Chief Finance Officer, CFO, Mr. TundeMabawonku, said that Wema is simplypositioning to take advantage of any M&Atransaction that could occur during the year.

He assured that the bank would dividend atthe end of 2016 financial year, saying that theprocess for paying dividend is on-going.

“If you look at the bank’s balance sheet, thereis what is called negative retained earnings.Very soon, we will be coming back ton seek somescheme of re-arrangement, to move somenegative retained earnings to the sharepremium, so until we do that, the bank will bein a position to pay dividend.”

Goldlink Insurance Plchas revealed plans to

raise N8 billion from the capitalmarket to enhance itsshareholders’ fund and tostrengthen its balance sheet.

The Ag. Managing Director,Mrs. Olufunke Moore, whodisclosed this at the FactsBehind Restructuring on theNigerian Stock Exchange,NSE, said the fund either byway of rights issue or publicoffer.

She stated the fresh capitalinjection was part ofrecommendations by theInterim Management Board,IMB, inaugurated by theNational insuranceCommission, NAICOM in2012 to audit the accounts forthe years ended 2011, 2012,2013 and 2014 .

She added that the fundraising exrecise would enablethe company to meet up withthe share capital requirementsof the 2003 Insurance Act, ascomposite insurer, whileexpressing optimism that itwould return the company tosolvent position in orderundertake big tickettransactions.

According to her, stated thatproceeds from the offer woulddeployed in upgrading itsinformation technology, whilesome parts of the proceedswould be invested in fixedinstruments and real estate.

She further stated thatGoldlink would reinvigorate itsmarketing strategy in 2016 inpursuit of its objective ofreclaiming its market shares inthe insurance industry.

She explained that thecompany would grow its grosspremium income from the settarget of N5.2 billion in 2016to N10.5 billion in 2019 onsuccessful conclusion of theoffer. Moore noted that InterimManagement Board, IMB,reconstituted by NAICOM inFebruary 2016 with themandate of assumingoversight responsibilities andperforming normal duties ofBoard of Directors for soundmanagement and growth of thecompany, was able toreorganize the managementwith resultant return ofvibrancy and efficiency inmanaging the company.

The IMB also took steps toreinforce budgetary control asan effective tool for financialand expenditure managementand also commenced thereview of past financial andemployment policy andpractices of the company.

Goldlink Insuranceplans N8bn freshcapital injectionBy NKIRUKA NNOROM

We areconfident ourprogress will besustained, as wecontinue to growour marketshare

CMYK

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016—A1

A2—VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

VIRGINIA

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman

[email protected]

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” By Lanre Kehinde

HOME & ABROAD By Lawrence Akapa

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGSend ySend ySend ySend ySend your datour datour datour datour date and place of bire and place of bire and place of bire and place of bire and place of bir th tth tth tth tth to the Aso the Aso the Aso the Aso the Astrtrtrtrtrologicalologicalologicalologicalological

Counselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, P.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 100000000007, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos

YOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYBy Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

A8— Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

L E I S U R ETHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard EromoseleSCORPIO: Better than yesterday. And the more co-operative you are today the better for you. Those of youtravelling for love are in for an exciting day.

SAGITTARIUS: Those of you willing to let go hardfeelings at work are for a progressive day to the better-ment of your finances. Let go yesterday, move ahead.

CAPRICORN: Once again, you’ll have the neededopportunity to assert yourself to the administration ofothers. Both love and financial success can be yours withefforts. Reason with your tried and trusted friends.

AQUARIUS: You can make it a successful day withpositive approach on your part. You will be in a betterposition to defuse tension within your working arena. Tryto be more ambitious.

PISCES: Yes! You’re not scared a bit even, when oppo-sition and/or competition come your way but, if you givein to diplomatic approach, you’ll fare better today.

ARIES: Pressure that came your way suddenly will giveway unexpectedly, today, to the betterment of your course.The more financially ambitious you are today, the betterfor you. Be steadfast.

TAURUS: You sincerely believe in intelligent argumentor discussion. And if you allow your ability to be diplo-matic come to play today, you’ll be better for it. Enjoyyour love life.

GEMINI: You’ll tend to become both creative andpersuasive to the administration of others. Then thosewho’ve been resisting secret love may slip suddenly andbecome excited.

CANCER; Even if opposition persists, supports youare getting from the influential people will be enough tosee you through. Yet, the more cooperative you are thebetter.

LEO: Your creativity quotient within your working arenawill today be enhanced. You’ll be blamed if you keep offi-cial issues secrets from your challenges at work.

VIRGO: After a few tension soaked days, you’ll havethe needed opportunity to look through windows of theworld and have your way as well. Magnetic and/or magicdays is predicted for lovers today..

LIBRA: Even if you continue to work under pressurevia increased workload, you will have good results toshow for your efforts today. Be steadfast.

Dear Joshua,I am interested in knowing character of Libra Star Signs.

Muyiwa, Ikeja.

Dear Muyiwa,Here-under are the basic characteristics of Libra-the Star of

money, marriage and justice.

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF LIBRALibra is the 7th Zodiac sign related to public spiritedness

partnership, marriage, rival, close associates, open opponents,justice, harmony and/or care for peace and concord.

Through Venus - the ruler of Libra, Librans are artistic inclinedand as Venus rules money, money, music and comfort are trulyimportant to all Librans and you are not an exception. Libra is acardinal star sign which induces it’s natives to desire action andimportance in a peaceful manner. Things ruled by Libra as statedabove must be taken seriously by you.

You see, if a Libran makes mistake while trying to make apartnership choice either of business or emotional type, it willprofoundly affect many other areas of his/her life. Equally, busi-ness rival and/or open opponents must not be treated with levity.

Element of Libra is air. Natives of air Star signs are naturallyintelligent and must think twice of their ideas before trying todiscard them. Because their ideas are truly brilliant and most ofthem can lead to success both for themselves and others.

Libra is the social butterfly of the Zodiac and the issues ofjustice, fair-play and equity are very important to the natives ofVenus ruled Libra. Some people who need to know better erro-neously believe that Librans’ love of peace makes them a weakset of people but Librans can revolt, if and when injustice is doneto them.

Some other times however, the desire for peace in your inner-self at times get the better off-you, to the point that you seekothers’ approval before you do anything. And this your weakpoint can be taken advantage of by some dubious people whowill not hesitate to do so.

But as peace loving as Librans are if a Libran discovers real orimaginary injustice against self, he/she will feel cheated espe-cially, if the matter at hand concerns RELATIONSHIP, few ofthem will then react violently but many will sulk.

Yet, influence of Libra makes you a socially developed personand if you care, you can commercialise your sparkling personal-ity. Social activities management courses and/or workshop onsuch w ill help bring out your ability along this line.

Public spiritedness partnership in Life

man. He wantscompanionship,yet, no one isready to offer himany, because, ev-erybody sees himas self-sufficientin everything.

ONE of thegreatest fal-

lacies mankind issaddled with isthe belief that therich don’t cry. Butmy questions are:why should the

rich cry? Is the richnot a human be-ing? Has he nofeelings? Does henot eat? Does hegot not go to the

toilet? has he noblood running inhis vein? Does hehave more thanone head?I pity the rich

So, The Rich Also Cry?


CMYK


Coporate Finance

BRIEFING: From left: Ugochi Kanu, GM, Operations; Mrs Ifeyinwa Ighodalo, CEO; and Mr.Kola Ademuwagun, Head, Accounts & Finance, all of DO.11 at a maiden press conference toannounce the commencement of company expansion plan in Lagos.

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

Total domestic investors’participation on the

Nigerian Stock Exchange,NSE, fell by approximately 17per cent in the month of Marchas apathy continues to greetequity investment in thenation’s capital marke

According to figures releasedby the NSE, weekend at theend of the month of March ,domestic investors reducedtheir stake to N61.87 billion,indicating 63.52 per centparticipation from N74.49billion they committed in themarket in February this year.This represents a total declineof 17 per cent during theperiod.

Similarly, foreign portfolioinvestors’ participation took adownward trend falling fromN42.78 billion, representing36.48 per cent participation toN34.44 billion, whichrepresents 35.76 per centparticipation level.

Generally, total transactionsat the nation’s boursedecreased by 17.87 per centfrom N117.27 billion recordedin February 2016 to N96.31(about $0.49 billion) in March2016. In comparison to thesame period in 2015, totaltransactions decreased by47.66 per cent from theN184.02 recorded in March2015.

Analysts have said thatinvestors are increasinglyfinding investment in riskyassets (equities) moreunattractive following the

' T r a n s c o r p ’ se x p a n s i o ndrive tob o o s ts h a r e h o l d e r s ’v a l u e '

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

Transcorp Plc, withinterests from hotels,

agriculture, powergeneration and oilexploration, has said that thevarious expansion initiativesit is currently undertakingwill enhance the company’searnings and therefore boostshareholders’ returns.

The company alsoreiterated its resolved tocontinue to improveoperational and costeffectiveness as well asexplore opportunities toexpand product offering.

Speaking at an interactivesession with journalists inLagos, the President/CEO,Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom,said that following majoracquisitions in power andagribusiness, new initiativesin its hotel and tourismbusiness and the on-goingexploratory activities from itsexisting oil block,shareholders have alreadystarted reaping rewards.

He noted that the companyhas already made significantprogress in key sectors of itsbusiness, especially in thehotel and power sectors, adevelopment that is alreadyimpacting positively on thecompany’s performance

According to him, theexpected higher utilisationand availability of power inthe 2016 financial year, aswell as the higher tariff forelectricity business now inplace are all expected to revup the company’sprofitability.

Continuing, he said: “Thisyear, we expect business inthe hotel will run steady; wehave already seen that inthe first quarter. Comparedto last year, our hotelbusiness is almost 20 – 30 percent better than the previousyear in terms of where thefirst quarter is and the trendis still continuing. We expectthat to run at N15 billion ofrevenue this year,” hestated.

‘’Transcorp, has madeseveral important businessdecisions which will havesignificant impact on itsfortunes. Some of theseinitiatives include additionalturbines for powergeneration, increase in theoutput of the plant from160MW to 650 megawatts in2015 and being on track todeliver 850 megawatts ofavailable capacity in 2016.Our target is to beresponsible for at least 25 percent of the total powergenerated in Nigeria.”

Total domestic investors participation on NSE down 17%

delayed take-off of the newgovernment’s economicpolicies, depletion in theforeign reserve occasioned bydwindling crude oil price andthe exchange rate crisisamong others.

According to them, investorsare also shying away from theequity market due to not-too-good financial result beingreleased by majority of thequoted companies.

However, domestic investorsoutperformed foreigninvestors by 28.48 per cent in

the review period. Monthlyforeign outflows outpacedinflows which was consistentwith the same period in 2015.Foreign outflows decreasedby 40.20 per cent from N31.84billion in February 2016 toN19.04 billion while foreigninflows increased by 40.77per cent from N10.94 billionin February 2016 to N15.40billion in March 2016.

Meanwhile, a turnover of910.659 million shares worthN6.409 billion in 15,023 dealswere traded by investors on

the floor of the Exchange incontrast to a total of 1.210billion shares valued atN7.115 billion that exchangedhands in 15,973 deals in thepreceding week.

The Financial ServicesIndustry (measured byvolume) led the activity chartwith 757.354 million sharesvalued at N3.180 billion in8,853 deals; thus contributing83.17 per cent and 49.62 percent to the total equityturnover volume and valuerespectively.

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

NASD OTC SecuritiesExchange Plc has

said that over N50 billiontransaction was executed onits platform in 2015 financialyear, even as it targets freshcapital injection to bridge itsfinancial position.

The chairman, Mr. OlutolaMobolurin, who addressedthe shareholders at the 3rd

Annual General Meeting,AGM, in Lagos, said themarket witnessed an extra-ordinary trade in excess ofN40 billion, the first of its kindsince inception and over 140days of continuous trading uptill the end of 2015.

He attributed the feat to therelease of the rules on tradingin unlisted securities by theSecurities and ExchangeCommission, SEC, during theyear, while expressingoptimism that the marketwould experience moreactivity from both local andforeign investors as they tapinto the transparency andvalue offered by the platform.

“The Securities andExchange Commissionshowed its commitment to

NASD executes over N50bn trades, targets fresh capital injection

strengthening the OTCmarket by the release of therules on trading in unlistedsecurities in April 2015. Therule ensures that all securitiesof unlisted public companiesare to be traded only on a SECregistered securitiesexchange.

The release of this ruleeffectively made illegal theinformal market where these

securities were hithertoexchanged withoutsupervision. The rules andpenalty provision hassignificantly increasedinvestors’ confidence andmade the Nigerian capitalmarket more attractive forboth local and foreigninvestors,” he said.

Mobolurin said though2016 poses uncertainties for

the economy and the capitalmarket, the NASD remainedoptimistic of attracting newsecurities during the year.

On the the financialperformance, he explained hecompany earned N242.8million as trading commissionin the year under review incomparison to to N11.6million achieved in thepreceding year.

BY PETER EGWUATU

Shareholders of Fidelity Bank Plc haveunanimously endorsed the N4.6 billion

dividend proposed by its Board of Directorsfor the financial year ended December 31,2015.The dividend translates to 16 kobo perordinary share payable to shareholders whosenames appeared on the bank’s Register ofMembers as at the close of business on April18 - 22, 2016.

Speaking the bank’s Annual GeneralMeeting (AGM) in Lagos, the ActingManaging Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc,Mohammed Balarabe, said the bank’s 2015performance reflects the disciplined executionof the management’s medium term strategyand the resilience of evolving business modelsdespite the extremely challenging businessenvironment in 2015.

A glimpse of the financial results show that

Shareholders okay Fidelity Bank’s N4.6bn dividend payout

gross earnings for the period ended December31, 2015 grew to N146.9 billion from N136.1billion recorded in 2014 Financial Year (FY).Profit after Tax (PAT) for the period endedDecember 31, 2015 rose marginally to N13.9billion as against N13.8 billion in thecomparable period in 2014. Whereas totalequity increased by 6.0 percent to N183.5billion from N173.1 billion in 2014 , netoperating income stood at N83.9 billion, amoderate 12.5 percent rise from N74.6 billionin 2014.

Balarabe pointed out that the financial yearunder review was challenging due to anumber of factors; the difficult operatingenvironment, the tight monetary stance of theCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN),implementation of the Treasury SingleAccount (TSA) and currency devaluationconcerns which culminated in negativeearnings headwinds in the banking industry.

CMYK


Homes & Housing Finance

How to expand access toaffordable housing in

Africa will be the focus ofstakeholders in the builtenvironment as participantsfrom 10 countries and 200indigenous companies gatherat the 10th Abuja HousingShow scheduled for 18th to20th July, 2016.

The Abuja Housing Show isan annual one stop-shop forreal estate stakeholderspresenting new products,innovative services andtechnology. It is a uniqueforum where practitioners inthe housing and constructionindustry meet to exchangeideas and proffer solutions tohousing problems.

The forum offers an idealplatform for networking,meeting visitors who havebuying capacity face to faceand sealing deals. Over theyears, the event has been ableto generate not only highquality audience and sale forexhibitors but also greatbargains for attendees.

Participants are expectedfrom Turkey, China,Netherlands, UK, USA,Ghana, South Africa, Ireland,Kenya and Brazil. The eventis organised yearly byFESADEB CommunicationsLimited, producer of HousingProgramme on AIT Abuja andHousing Time on RaypowerFM will also showcase topbuilding materials producersand housing financecompanies. The theme of the

Experts to parley on expandingaccess to affordable housingAbuja Housing Show hosts participants from 10 countries

event, “Expanding Access toAffordable Housing inAfrica” will be declared openby Vice President YemiOsinbajo. Speakers fromSpain, South Africa, USA,Gambia and Nigeria havebeen carefully selected todeliver lectures on diversetopics.

According to theorganisers, Minister ofPower, Works and HousingBabatunde Fashola is theChief Host while the Ministerof the Federal CapitalTerritory (FCT) MuhammadBello is Guest of Honour.Guest speakers are the MD ofHydraform from SouthAfrica, Mr Robert Plattner ,MD of Global Green Built

from Spain, Mr AlejandroPons ,Mr Mustapha NJIEMD/CEO TAF Homes,Gambia, Hakeem OgunniranMD of UPDC, Loren Zanin ofLafarge , Prof. MustaphaZubairu , FUT Minna andProf. Charles Inyangete MDof NMRC.

Other eminent speakersinclude Richard Esin ActingMD of FMBN, Kunle Faleti,Mortgage Consultant NHFP,Abiodun Oki Special Adviserto the minister of Power,Works and Housing, Surv.Ugochukwu Chime,President, Real EstateDevelopers Association ofNigeria, Prof. Mohammed Al-min, MD Federal HousingAuthority, Sa’adiya Aminu,COO of Urban Shelter, Dr.Chii Akporji, ExecutiveDirector NMRC and Sen.Osita Izunazo, ChairmanSungold Group.

Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of FESADEBCommunications, Barr. FestusAdebayo, at a press briefing,said there will be lottery andaward dinner to mark the 10thanniversary of the show andappreciate stakeholders fortheir efforts in the industry.He said the star prize for thelottery is a vast piece of landto be won through a raffledraw.

According to Adebayo, theAbuja Housing Show which issimilar to the AmericanBuilders Show hascontributed immensely tohousing development inNigeria. He said theprogramme has led tocreation of stand-aloneMinistry of Housing inJigawa, Rivers and Bayelsastates.

Partners in this year’s showinclude: AFP Furniture, asubsidiary of Julius BergerPlc; Dangote Group; cementmanufacturer Lafarge, woodpreservative producerSolignum; West AfricaCeramics; Haven Homes;UPDC; Platinum MortgageBank; Nigeria MortgageRefinance Company(NMRC); Rock of AgesProperties Limited; and RealEstate DevelopersAssociation of Nigeria(REDAN).

The forumoffers an idealplatform fornetworking,meeting visitorswho havebuying capacityface to face andsealing deals

Estate surveyors and valuers havecalled on the Federal Government

to ease land administration in Nigeria byreviewing and enacting title registrationlaws in the country. This is in a bid totackle the challenge of the dearth ofhousing supply amidst rising demand.

In a proposal to the Minister of Power,Works and Housing, Mr. BabatundeFashola, the surveyors, under theumbrella of the Nigerian Institution ofEstate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV),said that the Land Use Act has impededefficient land administration in thecountry.

They urged the minister to approve theregulation proposed by the PresidentialTechnical Committee on Land reforms andthe National Council of States, which willnecessitate the title and register of land

Estate surveyors seek review of landadministration laws

both in the urban and rural areas.NIESV also considered as poor or

inadequate inventory of public orgovernment fixed assets. “It isimpossible at the moment to find acomplete record of all FederalGovernment fixed assets in one locationor lands department, which ideally isgovernment’s repository of such records.

“Apart from the loss or damage ofrecords sites, government has notconsciously invested in inventory of itsfixed assets, and creating a reliabledatabase there from is money well spent.Not only will it minimise the loss ofgovernment property, it will makeportfolio management easier and criticaldecisions on rationalisation of non-coreassets can be taken transparently,” hestated.

FCTA to partnerFMBN on low-income housing

The Federal CapitalT e r r i t o r y

Administration (FCTA) hasdeclared readiness to partnerwith the Federal MortgageBank of Nigeria (FMBN) todevelop low-income housesfor low-income workers inthe territory.

FCT Minister, MallamMuhammad Musa Bello,stated this when a delegationof FMBN led by its ActingManaging Director, Mr.Richard Essien, visited hisoffice. He noted that FCTAhas the highest number ofemployees in the FCT.

“What we need today inAbuja is low income houseswhich low income earnerscan afford, and that is whatmy administration wouldfurther encourage to takecare of the less privilegedpeople in the society. Wehave too many highbrowhouses in Abuja which haveremained vacant despite thehousing deficit the workersare experiencing in the city,”he stated.

The minister decried asituation where estates werebuilt in the past withoutprovision for recreationalfacilities; children playground as well as conversionof green areas to buildhouses. He directed that allnew estates henceforth mustmake provision for suchessential facilities.

Sokoto NLC tobuild 3,050housing units

Nigeria LabourCongress, NLC,

Sokoto State Chapter, hasrevealed plan to build 3,050housing units for civilservants in the state.

According to News Agencyof Nigeria (NAN), the StateChairman of the NLC,Aminu Umar, disclosed thisin Sokoto during the 2016May Day Celebrations.

Umar, who wasrepresented by his deputy,Abubakar Malami, said thatthe houses will be built inpartnership with someprivate estate developers.“So far, about 100 hectaresof land had been acquiredon which the houses wouldbe built including otherfacilities like clinic, minimarket and schools, amongothers. Therefore, I will liketo solicit your continuedcooperation in order to helpus achieve the set goals ofimproving the welfare ofworkers,” he said.

•Some exhibitors’ stands at 2015 Abuja Housing Show

Stories by YINKAKOLAWOLE

CMYK


Advertising & Media

good intentions. WhenPresident Buhari, late lastyear, offered a bail-out to statesto enable them payaccumulated salaries andwages, most economists andfinance experts realized that itwas a stop gap measure andwould turn out to be thebeginning of more requests ordemands for more relief fromthe states to the FederalGovernment. Two weeks ago,the Minister for Financeannounced a one month waiverof monthly deductions for theloans taken by states as part ofthe bail-out agreement in late2015. She also made it clearthat the Federal Governmentmight not extend the waiverbeyond one month. Poor MrsAdeosun, she obviously hasnever heard about the story ofthe ‘Traveler and His Camel inthe Desert’.

As the story went, onenight, when it got very cold,as it often does in the desert,the traveler set up his tent tosleep and tied the camel to atree nearby. A few hours after,the camel poked its head intothe tent and said, “Good master,you are warm in the tent, I amcold outside. Can you at leastallow me to warm my rightear?”. “Ok, go ahead, butplease, let me sleep”. Shortlyafter, the camel again called.

Bailing out:FG’s exercise in futility

We are looking asking for an eighteen-month moratorium before we can start paying, so that we will be able to strategise…To develop the IGR is not overnight, it is

a long term programme that one has to plan for…and we cannot say we are going to cutsalaries and wages.” Governor Yari, Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, April 28,2016, in Abuja.

The road to hell, whether for governments or individuals, is sometimes paved with

“Beloved master, one ear iswarm, the other is cold. Bymorning I will be deaf in oneear. Can I put my head in thetent so both ears can bewarm?” “No problem, but,please let me sleep.” Soon, thecamel said again. “My legs arenumb with cold; I will not beable to carry you tomorrowunless I warm the two frontlegs.” “For God’s sake, warmthem, but, let me sleep. I havea busy day tomorrow.” By then,the traveler was alreadypushed to one small end of thetent. At last, the camelannounced. “What is the useof two warm legs, when I needfour to move, I must warm thehind legs as well.” Withoutwaiting for an answer, thecamel stepped into the tent;and kicked the traveler out inthe cold.

The FG provided onemonth’s forbearance inresponse to the pleas by someof the most desperate states.While Buhari and Adeosunwere indulging in self-congratulations for their

generousity, governors wereplanning to make the next setof requests. They are nowasking for eighteen-monthmoratorium on payments,sharing of the balance in theExcess Crude Account, ECA,now at $2.259bn [N451.80bn]and review of the sharingformula on account of whichthe FG collects 52% of revenuesand states 26 per cent.Naturally, like the camel, theywant to use more of the “tent”. And just in case, Buhari hasnot got the point of their (is itnon-negotiable?) demand, Yarisaid flatly, “we cannot say weare going to cut salaries andwages” – as if the FG is underconstitutional obligations tohelp states pay salaries andwages. In other words, thegovernors want to avoid thetough decisions that wouldultimately have to be made. The incumbent governors, wantto pass the bucks to the FG andtheir successors – whilepretending to forget that theFederal Government has its

own financial problems. WhenBuhari humbly pleaded that“You all know the problems wehave found ourselves in. Youhave to bear with us”, hemight as well be speaking tothirty-six deaf people. The lastthing the governors want to dois to bear with the FG. As muchas possible, they want tocontinue to operate the statesin the same reckless manner towhich they were accustomed.

Yari had removed from thediscussions one of the causesof the problems of states whenhe announced that “we are notgoing to cut salaries andwages”. Perceptive Nigerianswould recall the appointmentof several hundred SpecialAssistants in Adamawa Stateunder Nyako and onethousand people in Osun stateas Special Assistants. Each ofthose initiatives was advertisedas “Job Creation” when it wasin reality political give-away.All the states of Nigeria had,since 1999, employed SpecialAdvisers or Assistants toperform duties which were left

to career civil servants underthe parliamentary system.Ahmadu Belo, Awolowo andAzikiwe never Advisers togovern the old Eastern,Northern and Western Regions— same territories now under36 governors each engagingdozens of political vultures asAdvisers.

Additionally, none of thefounding fathers needed aprivate plane. Militarygovernors also had no need ofplanes and helicopters. But,from 1999, nothing less than sixstate governors have acquiredplanes even when there is noairport in their states. Themaintenance cost of one ofthose expensive Executive toysremains unknown.

That is not the end ofprofligacy. No Premier, in theFirst Republic had a fleet ofmore than six cars. Governorsof the poorest states in Nigeriawould make any car dealer grinwith envy. I once countedforty-five (45) vehicles in oneGovernor’s Lodge in Imo State.

There is no need to listseriatim, all the financialirresponsibility of stategovernors when the price ofcrude was over $100 per barrel,as well as the dereliction ofduty of the state legislatures.

“

HP mulls 3D printing innovation in futureSTORIES BY PRINCEWILLEKWUJURU

Hewlett Packard, HP Incsays it’s planning

innovation in 3D printingwhich will lead the market inthe nearest future.

The Managing Director ofthe company, Mrs. IfeyinwaAfe, made this revelationduring a conversation in heroffice in Lagos. She said thatHP’s focus had been alwayson Personal Computers, PCs,printing and mobile devices,stating that 3D printing is aninnovation HP intends to beleader in the nearest future.

She went further to say, “It’simportant we appreciate andre-invent tomorrow. We mustthink about what kind oftechnology that is better forany one. That is the only waywe can always remain first.We must always rememberthat we need thesetechnologies. We must alwaysneed these innovations.”

Continuing,” we want to letyou into what we have beencooking in our oven. What wehave been planning, what weare coming forward with.”

“Consumers are familiarwith our devices, ourproducts and services. We arenumber one globally in terms

of the PC and printingbusiness and we intend toremain that way. She noted.

The Managing Directorfurther stated that the Nigeriainformation technologymarket has a lot of untappedpotentials. The PCpenetration in this market isstill under 11 percent, so wehave a long way to go.

Now, HP is quite strong inthis market and we haven’teven started the brand yet.We have a long termstrategies as well as shortterm strategies for this marketand we intend to remain inthis market as long aspossible. I think we are theoldest so far, HP has been inthis market much longer thana lot of companies we havetoday and that shows ourpower and our intent toremain in this market.

She also said that there arelots of untappedopportunities within theeducation segment. “I thinkeducation is very keybecause that is the onlymedium for us to improve onthe lives of the youth and weare dividing the youth intovarious segments becausesome of them are alreadyexposed to computer to somedegree and some have little

or no exposure yet. So, I willsay that education is very keyarea for us to continue toimprove. We want to take ourHP Life running programmeto a lot of schools here. Weplan to do a lot of school raceand activities where weactually go there, be part ofthem, understand what they

need and we will go back andbuild the software on theproduct that will reallyaddress them better and thatis the key area for us now.That is one area we are reallyfocusing on.”

According to her, “I think ifwe start within the Africancontinent, Nigeria is a very

strong market to Africa andthen we move to globaleconomy. I think one of thekey things we have in Nigeriais that we have a lot ofstrength pace and strengthstarter in the country. Wehave a lot of people that areexposed and open to thistechnology we talk about andso we have a strong adoptionof these services we stillpush.

ASUS has unveiled its first ever brandexperience center at the Computer

Village, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria’s InformationTechnology hub.

In a statement, Simplice Zaongo, ASUSNigeria Country Product Manager, Notebook,disclosed that the new ASUS brand center isan exclusive store that will stock only ASUScertified devices and accessories.

It is the first of its kind in Nigeria, withothers planned in major cities across thecountry in the coming months.

“Given our growing presence in Nigeria,ASUS is glad to announce this initiativegeared at bringing top-notch technology toend-users in Lagos. The market is alreadyresponding positively to the best-in-classquality that ASUS guarantees and we assureend-users that the new brand ASUS exclusivestore will satisfy their yearnings for authenticbrand engagement in the Nigeria IT space,”Zaongo added.

He said: “We are pleased to announce the

ASUS opens exclusive store in Nigeria

opening of the first ASUS brandexperience center in Nigeria. The shop isan exclusive store where end-users canexperience the ASUS brand firsthand.

“Currently Asus is ranked as the Number1 Laptop Brand in Europe and a Top 3Global Laptop Brand,we believe that theASUS brand exclusive store will drivedeeper awareness about the brand,provide a credible avenue for authenticengagement with end-users as well asserve as a ready repository for thepurchase of genuine ASUS productofferings.”

In December last year, ASUS introducedits innovative offering of ZenFonefamilyof smartphones into Nigeria. Thisincludes:Zenfone Selfie, Zenfone Laser,Zenfone Go 5.0 and ZenfoneGo 4.5.Remarkably,, the ZenFone Selfie made itsanglophone West Africa debut during thelaunch.

CMYK


Aviation

30 injured as turbulencehit Etihad flightMore than 30 people

were injured when anEtihad Airways flight hit“severe and unexpectedturbulence” flying intoIndonesia. According to theairline, “The flight from AbuDhabi was about 45 minutesaway from Jakarta,yesterday,(Wednesday) whenthe turbulence hit.

The plane, an Airbus A330-200, landed safely after theincident, but nine people weretaken to hospital. The UnitedArab Emirates’ national airlinesaid the cabin luggage binswere damaged and passengerssaid oxygen masks werereleased during the shaking.

In a statement, the airlinesaid 22 people had been“treated by paramedics forminor injuries at the airport.Nine other passengers havebeen taken to a local hospital”.

Indonesian transport ministryspokesman Hemi Pamuraharjosaid at least eight Indonesianpassengers and a foreign flightattendant were hurt, withseveral suffering broken bones,the Associated Press newsagency reports.

A number of those on boardwere Muslim pilgrimsreturning from Saudi Arabia. “Ithappened when I wasperforming prayer,” passengerNenden Nurhaini told theJakarta-based news websiteOkezone.

Emirates wins threeawards at BusinessTraveller Middle EastAwards 2016Emirates has won three

awards at the recent Business Traveller Awards2016. The airline took homethe coveted ‘Best AirlineWorldwide’ title, and twofurther awards includingAirline with the Best EconomyClass, and Airline with the BestCabin Staff.

The Business TravellerMiddle East Awards 2016 werepresented at a gala dinnerattended by travel industryprofessionals, and were chosenthrough a voting process opento the readers of thepublication.

Representing the airline atthe Business Traveller MEawards, Thierry Antinori,Emirates’ Executive VicePresident and ChiefCommercial Officer, said:“Customers have always beenat the heart of whatever we do.That is why we continuallyinvest in developing highquality products on board, andour cosmopolitan cabin crewput in every effort to deliverexceptional service.

TOUR - Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, Director General, SMEDAN; flanked by Chinyere Nwoke,Coordinator, Industrial Development Centre (IDC) of Small and Medium Enterprises Devel-opment Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Ikorodu (right); Eng. Abu Ozigi, Head, Engineeringand Technology, SMEDAN and other members of staff during the Director General tour ofthe IDC in Ibese Ikorodu, Lagos.

Nigeria Civil AviationAuthority, NCAA, has

said the regulatory authority isnot aware of any reported caseof foreign airlines operatingin Nigeria charging Nigerianpassengers dollars instead of

NCAA denies knowledge of foreign airlinesdemanding dollars from Nigerian passengers

By LAWANI MIKAIRU Naira the official currency ofthe country.

Investigations by Vanguardrevealed that most of the Publicrelation consultants of theforeign airlines operating inNigeria are not aware of thisdevelopment also. The MediaExecutive, JSPCommunications, Ijeoma

Okolie, media consultants toEmirate Airlines, said she isnot aware of the airlinecharging fares in dollars andcompelling Nigerianpassengers to also pay inforeign currencies.

Reacting to Vanguardenquiry, Manager, Public Relation, NCAA, Muhammed

Jimoh, said the agency was not aware of foreign airlinesdemanding dollars as air farefrom Nigerian passengers. Andthere has not been any reportedcase

It will be recalled that therehas be speculations that someforeign airlines haveconcluded plans to quote andreceive payment for ticketsonly in the United Statesdollars.

The speculation is fueled by the inability of the foreignairlines to repatriate funds outof the country due to scarcityof the US currency.

They claimed that over $2billion of foreign airlines’ debtshave been trapped in thecountry since October last year,a situation that has affectedtheir operations. The airlineshinted that the new policy onforex by Nigeria could hinderthem from transferring theirsalaries to their respectivehome countries.

However, according tostakeholders, a weeklyclearance plan for the blockedfunds has been put in place bythe authorities. This, they said,has had very limited impact onthe backlog of funds trapped inthe country. Consequently,some of the airlines’ bookingand payment platforms,particularly, that of Delta andUnited Airlines’ could not beaccessed as intendingpassengers could only paydirectly in the airline’s officesor pay outside the shores ofNigeria.

This development , accordingto the speculation, has rattledTravel ManagementCompanies (TMCs) who saidpassengers, who usuallypatronise them for their travelneeds, called endlessly forassistance. “For instance,passengers in Nigeria, whointended to travel to New Yorkvia Delta Air, made franticefforts to make payment, but allto no avail.”

The Managing Director ofthe Federal Airport

Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,Engr Saleh Dunoma hasdisclosed that paucity of fundsis responsible for the slow paceof work at the cargo airports under construction across thecountry and that someequipment for the airports havearrived.

Engr Dunoma made thisdisclosure while speakingwith aviation correspondentsshortly after commissioning theaviation white houseconstructed by the Air TransportServices Senior Staff AssociationATSSSAN as part of activitiesmarking the May Daycelebration. He also said that a lot has been done to improveon safety of both the airlinesand passengers at airports.

According to the FAAN MD,the agency will commence workby prioritizing six of those cargoairports and completing themas soon as fund was availablestressing that the revenuegenerated from the airports will

Paucity of funds slows down paceof work at cargo airports

By LAWANI MIKAIRU& DANIEL ETEGHE

be channeled to completeothers.

He also said work on the airside in some airports have been completed which can beattested to by the pilots that usethe facilities. He furtherexplained that passengers willsoon start experiencing betterfacilities as soon as the newterminals were put into usenoting that work has reachedadvanced stage.

On the Labour management

relationship, Engr Dunomacommended Labour for thepeaceful co existence betweenthem. He congratulatedATSSSAN on the great feat byerecting the edifice andpledged his support towardsthe development of the Union.

On debts owed the agency byvarious organizations, Dunomasaid both FAAN and agenciesinvolved were discussing witha view to ensuring that the debtswere paid.

The President of the Nigerian Society ofAeronautical Engineers, Engr Bola

Bido has called on Engineers to brace upfor greater challenges ahead as the engineeringprofession is expected to bring out its best duringeconomic downturn by sustaining the criticalaviation infrastructure with minimal resources.

Bido said the call became necessary as a resultof the present dwindling economic activities inthe country. And therefore challenged engineersin the aviation sector not to rest on their oars asthere was a great task of transforming the sectorthrough ingenuity adding that the era of

Aeronautic engineers told to brace up for challenges ahead

By LAWANI MIKAIRU &DANIEL ETEGHE

analogue was over as every sector has beendigitilised. While lamenting the high rate ofageing workforce in the aviation sector, he saidit remained a source of worry to the associationand stakeholders and appealed to various stategovernment across the country to embark on thetraining of Aeronautical engineers in aviationcolleges to replace the old ones.

He reiterated his call on the need to imbibemaintenance culture as a norm adding that lackof maintenance culture has been attributed asreason responsible for the poor state of somecompanies in the country.

Bido urged engineers to continue to playleading roles in all agencies in the aviation sectoras the industry was being driven by technologymanned by engineers.

CMYK


Economy

Inflationary pressures to continueas international prices rise

STORIES BY EMEKAANAETO, ECONOMYEDITOR

Ahead ofnext

w e e k ’ sscheduledreleaseof April2 0 1 6

inflation reading, economistsat FSDH Merchant Bankhave predicted a continued

spike in the headlineindex.

According tothem the

April 2016inflationr a t e(year -o n -year) isexpectedt oincreaseto 13.7

per centfrom 12.77

per centrecorded inthe month of

March

2016.“We expect the increase in

the inflation rate to come fromincrease in food andtransportation cost”, theystated in their latest inflationresearch report.

The National Bureau ofStatistics, NBS, would releasethe inflation rate for the monthof April 2016 on May 18, 2016.

FSDH alluded to the FoodPrice Index, FPI, that theFood and AgricultureOrganization, FAO, releasedlast week which shows the FPIcontinuing its upward trendfor the third consecutivemonth.

The Index increased by 0.7per cent in April from Marchlevel on account of increasein vegetable oil pricescoupled with a modest gainin the prices of cereals.

The increases in bothvegetable oil and cerealswere more than enoughto offset the decline indairy and sugar prices.

The FAO VegetableOil Price Index wasup by 4.1 per cent

from March. The increase inthe Index was primarily drivenby palm and soy oil prices, asweak production outlook andgrowing world demand trailsproduction.

The FAO Cereal Price Indexwas up by 1.5 per cent, drivenby the weaker U.S Dollar. Theprices of maize quotationlargely impacted on theIndex.

Wheat and rice prices on theother hand droppedmarginally. The FAO MeatPrice Index was up by 0.8 percent, the notable increase wasrecorded in bovine meat priceswhile prices of pig andpoultry remained steady.

On the flip side, the FAODairy Price Index was down2.2 per cent due to a build-upof stocks in the majorexporting countries.

Also the FAO Sugar PriceIndex fell by 1.7 per cent inApril 2016 reflecting largeexport availabilities in Brazil,supported by expectations ofa drop in demand.

According to FSDH “ouranalysis indicates that thevalue of the Naira remainedstable at the inter-bank marketwhile it appreciated at the

parallel market by 0.41 percent to close at US$/N320.70from US$/N322.00 at the endof March.

“The appreciationrecorded at the parallelmarket between the twomonths under reviewmoderated the impact of theincrease in the importedconsumer good prices in thedomestic market”.

The report also stated thatthe prices of most of the fooditems that FSDH Researchmonitored in April 2016increased.

“The prices of tomatoes,garri, onions, sweetpotatoes, Irish potatoes,meat, yam, rice, fish,vegetable oil and palm oilincreased by 337.5%,16.67%, 12.5%, 10%, 10%,10%, 8.33%, 7.69%, 3.13%,2.63% and 2.22%respectively”, according tothe report.

“The movement in theprices of food items duringthe month resulted in 2.0percent increase in our Foodand Non-Alcoholic Index to198.07 points.

“ We also noticed increasesin Transport, Housing,Water, Electricity, Gas &Other Fuels divisionsbetween March and April2016.

The World Bank has raisedits 2016 forecast for

crude oil prices to USD41 perbarrel from USD37 per barrelearlier forecast in its January2016 report.

This followed increase incrude oil prices from anaverage of USD25 per barrelin January 2016 to aroundUSD46 a barrel in April owingto intermittent supplydisruptions in places likeNigeria as well as slowingproduction in the UnitedStates.

In its latest CommodityMarkets Outlook, the Banksaid an oversupply in marketsis expected to recede.

“We expect slightly higherprices for energy commoditiesover the course of the year asmarkets rebalance after aperiod of oversupply. Still,energy prices could fall furtherif Organization of thePetroleum ExportingCountries (OPEC) increasesproduction significantly andnon-OPEC production doesnot fall as fast as expected,”John Baffes, Senior Economistand lead author of theCommodities MarketsOutlook said.

The crude oil marketrebounded from a low ofUSD25 per barrel in mid-January to USD46 per barrelin April following productiondisruptions in Iraq andNigeria and a decline in non-

World Bank raises crude oil price forecast to USD41 in 2016OPEC production, mainlyUnited States shale.

The World Bank forecast wascoming at the backdrop of thepresidential accent to the2016 Nigeria’s nationalbudget 2016 on oil benchmarkof USD38 per barrel,indicating that a premium ofUSD3.0 per barrel may beunderway for excess crudeaccount.

“Nigeria’s 2016 budgetassumes oil production of 2.2million barrels per day at 38dollars a barrel”, the Ministerof National Planning, SenatorUdo Udoma, said on Friday,shortly after President

Muhammadu Buhari signedthe delayed Appropriation Billinto law.

But the assumptions appearthreatened by the continuedattack on oil productioninfrastructure by somemilitant groups in the NigerDelta region of the country.

In continuation of theironslaught on oil facilitiesacross the Niger Delta,suspected gunmen last weeksimultaneously blew up therecently repaired NigerianNational PetroleumCorporation, NNPC, crudetrunk line supplying both theWarri and Kaduna refineries

crude.An oil flow station fielding

the Chevron Tank farm in WarriSouth West Council Area ofDelta State was also reportedlyattacked.

Chevron has taken some90,000 barrels per day of oiloffline following the attack which may have forcedNigeria’s upstream sectorproducing at its lowest levelsof about 1.7 million barrels perday, with attacks likely tointensify.

Chevron’s Okan offshoreplatform feeds crude gas intothe massive Escravos exportfacility, which is jointly owned

by Chevron and NNPC.The militants have launched

at least three attacks recentlyon Niger Delta oilinstallations, including aFebruary attack on theForcados export pipeline runby Shell. After the attack,Shell declared force majeureto stop shipments withoutbreaching contracts, as thisattack put some 200,000 bpdoffline.

Though the repairs onForcados would be completedlater this month, the losses toNigeria will already be aboutUSD1.0 billion, according toBloomberg’s calculations,based on data from theInternational Energy Agency(IEA).

•Kemi Adeosun

CMYK

Microfinance


Visa has been in Nigeria forquite some time, what areyour plans for the Nigerianmarket

Visa’s vision is to bring morepeople into the formal bankingsystem through access toelectronic banking systemsand services to provideNigerians with a safer, moreconvenient and reliable meansto pay and be paid. Electronicpayments are critical whendeveloping a strong, moderneconomy. Visa products canpromote transparency andaccountability, reducetransaction costs and decreasethe size of the grey or informaleconomy, all of which helps tostimulate economic growth andemployment.

All evidence points to thefact that the more people whojoin the banking system, themore stable it becomes. Thisin turn has a positive andlasting effect on an economy,social reform and governmentefficiency. Visa remainscommitted to finding newways to enable its clientfinancial institutions to deliverimproved services to thebanked and unbanked. We willcontinue our market supportby extending our products,services and paymentsexpertise; providing extensivefinancial literacy tools andresources; and developing keypartnerships focused onfinding new ways to reach thefinancially underserved.

What is the future of

CBN's cashlesspolicy, card

schemes drivinggrowth in Nigeria’s

paymentslandscape— JONES

By Providence Obuh

The introduction of cardschemes as well as the CentralBank of Nigeria ‘s (CBN)cashless policy and otherregulation are core driver ofgrowth in Nigeria’s paymentlandscape, said, Visa Head ofProducts, Anglophone WestAfrica, Ms. Holly Jones, stating,“I have been working in theNigerian market for almost adecade and I have seen hugeevolution in the paymentslandscape.”

The biggest challenge that I seetoday in e-payments in Nigeriais that we have not solved for theinformal sector where themajority of retail is done

cashless policy in NigeriaI have been working in the

Nigerian market for almost adecade and I have seen hugeevolution in the paymentslandscape. This has beendriven by the card schemes aswell as the Central Bank ofNigeria not only through thecashless policy but also byregulation intended to helpshape the industry as a whole.Looking ahead, the nextdecade should yield a periodof even more rapid changesparticularly if we can createan enabling environment fornew technologies. The aimhas to be on not only gettingthe banked population tomove more of their spend toelectronic payments but alsoon how to solve thechallenges of the unbanked.Only then will we really havea cashless policy for Nigeriaas a whole.

What would you say is themajor challenge of e-payments in Nigeria

In the past, I would havesaid the reliability in terms ofnetworks is a major challengeas without a network, thepayments simply cannot gothrough. This remains achallenge however we haveseen dramatic improvementsin this space.Fundamentally, the biggestchallenge that I see today ine-payments in Nigeria is thatwe have not solved for theinformal sector where themajority of retail is done.

Until we have acceptance inthe markets across Nigeria,we will not truly be able tocapture a large percentage ofconsumer spend. Thetechnology is there to solvefor this and I am very excitedto be in payments in Nigeriato be able to witness thechanges that are coming.

The initiative called “VisaLocal Offers” what about it

The Nigeria local offers isan initiative aimed atbringing more value to Visacardholders and to encouragepoint-of-sale usage in

alignment with the CBN’scashless policy.

What mechanism have youput in place to make theinitiative work

We have a wide variety ofdiscounts and exclusive offersat over 100 locationsincluding grocery shops,restaurants, cafes, health andbeauty and electronics. Theoffers cut across Lagos, Port

Harcourt and Abuja but weare looking to expand thisfurther. We are very excitedat the adoption rates of theoffers, even in the first fewweeks, particularly in healthand beauty as well as generalretail segments, includingBM Pro, House of Tara,Medplus, MophethPharmacies, among others.

What are the participationprocesses and duration ofthe initiative

It is very simple, as long asyou have a Visa card (credit,debit or prepaid) you canaccess the discounts orexclusive offers every timeyou pay with your Visa cardat participating locations. Inorder to find out where thediscounts apply, you candownload the Visa Exploreapp or visit our local offerswebsite for a full list ofmerchants, stores where thediscounts/offers apply andfull terms and conditions. TheNigerian local offers areintended to be a long-termfocus. We do not see theoffers as a short-termcampaign but rather a value-added benefit that we intendto continue to refine andimprove over the months andyears to come. We intend tomonitor the redemption of theoffers and use this data toinform us which offers arereally appreciated by ourcardholders so that more ofthe same can be added.

Asides initiatives like this,what are your plans tocontinue growing debitusage and acceptance inNigeria

We continuously work withour client banks to developstrategies across the lifecycleof payments – fromacquisition (obtaining a newcardholder) and activation(getting the cardholder toactivate the payment card) to

usage (driving the cardholderto use the card at point-of-sale) and retention (keepingthe customer an activecardholder of the bank). Wealso drive improvements inthe acceptance space. Thiswork helps us to collectivelydevelop the right strategies togrow usage and acceptance.Our focus for now is more onhow we overlay newtechnologies to drive the

changes that are required tomake the impact that we allaspire to make.

Despite the increasingnumber of transactionsthrough ATMs, Point of Sale(POS) transactions remainquite low.

What is responsible for thisI think there are two main

points to address here, thefirst is that there are notwidespread POS machines inthe places where the averageNigerian spends the majorityof his money (markets, manyfuel stations, informal eateriesetc). This is one thing thatwe are looking to fix and thiswill undoubtedly drive achange in behaviour awayfrom cash. The secondchallenge is that even wherethere is acceptance, people donot always use their paymentcards. There are manyreasons for why this happens– perception of reliability,habit, lack of confidence toname a few – but we mustaddress this as an industry.Initiatives such as the Visalocal merchant offers will startto give cardholders anotherreason to take the step to tryusing their card over cash.

New mediaconference2016 holds

The second conferenceon New Media –

applications and technologybilled for May 27, 2016 inLagos to bring together keynew media practitioners,corporate brands and digitalmedia agencies for acomprehensive overview ofthe rapidly expandingdigital media space.

In a statement, theorganisers said that the theconference themed,“Business Unusual:Nurturing a more VibrantNew Media industry inNigeria,” would be agathering of New Mediastakeholders aimed atcharting growth in marketingand advertising standards inthe Nigerian online/digitalmedia space.

Meanwhile, theconference will feature akeynote speaker, industryexperts, well moderatedsessions, brand exhibitionsand key takeaways,attracting over 300participants.

According to ConferenceOrganizer, Ms. TosinAjibade, “This year ’sconference is particularlyimportant, we areconverging to articulateinterests and inputs fromstakeholders in the Nigerianonline/digital media spaceand seeking to turn theresults of that conversationto real-world uses.

CMYK


(0805 220 1997)

Business & Economy

Omoh Gabriel - Group Business Editor

Babajide Komolafe - Deputy Business Editor

Clara Nwachukwu - Energy Editor

Peter Egwuatu - Asst. Business Editor

Yinka Kolawole - Snr Bus. Correspondent

Favour Nnabugwu - Insurance Correspondent

Godwin Oritse - Maritime Correspondent

Godfrey Bivbere - Maritime Correspondent

Michael Eboh - Energy Reporter

Franklin Alli - Industry/Agric. Reporter

Ifeyinwa Obi - Maritime Reporter

Rosemary Onuoha - Insurance Reporter

Nkiruka Nnorom - Capital Market Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS

Princewill Ekwujuru - Media/Marketing

Jonah Nwokpoku - E-Commerce

Naomi Uzor - Industry

Providence Obuh - Micro Finance

LAYOUT - Graphics Department

It is common practice in theprint media for aNewspaper to identify

and evaluate an issue of publicsignificance and then makesensible recommendations thatwould be socially beneficial.Ultimately, after presumedexhaustive debate of the subjectby a seasoned team ofjournalists and externalconsultants, a statement isdistilled and published as theNewspaper’s Editorial opinion.

It is therefore not unusual thata dispassionate and incisiveEditorial could strike the rightchord with the reading publicto ultimately instigate decisionsand or actions by appropriateauthorities.

Consequently, Newspapersput a high premium on theirEditorials, as wrongconclusions from poorlyresearched or partisan opinionscould equally be wrapped inpopulist and powerfulnarratives that couldunwittingly instigate adoptionand implementation of policiesand processes which workagainst our common good.Interest groups, particularlypolitical and businessassociations, clearly recognisethe potential value of thepositive impact, on theiraspirations and activities, of afavourable well crafted Editorialin a popular Newspaper.

Indeed, with the prevailingdepth of self interest and fiscalimpunity, made possible withcollaboration from inebriateregulatory agencies, and a rentseeking rogue financialsubsector, it is not unusual tofind seemingly innocuousnewspaper opinions whichappear superficiallyprogressive, but on closerscrutiny, will be found to beclearly divisive or anti social;ultimately, suchrecommendations may in factcircuitously serve the selfishends of a target, elite interest

A misguided editorial on Buhari’s refusal to devalue Nairagroup, regardless of theoppressive impact on the restof us.

For example, despite theserious danger in presentlyallocating 35kobo out of everyNaira of earned income tonational debt service, someeditorials still call for increasedgovernment spending whichwill evidently be funded withfurther debt, despite the clearlyoppressive cost of such loans;such editorials which advocateincreased spending, generallyargue that Nigeria’s nationaldebt to GDP ratio still remainvery modest! Similarly, someeditorials call for an urgentneed to increase spending anddiversify our economy, as ifmerely wishing will transformour fortunes, regardless of theprevailing double digit inflationrates which constrict consumerdemand and deepen poverty;furthermore expandingbusiness activities andincreasing job opportunities,will certainly also remainrestrained so long as businessesare compelled to borrow at over20%. Nonetheless, such mediamisinformation seems perfectlyfine, for example, withcommercial banks, whose maincustomer base invariablybecome the CBN and otherdepartments and agencies ofgovernment, whichunexpectedly enjoy the lion’sshare of available bank credit.Ironically, these hugegovernment loans are indirectlyfunded primarily from the cashreserves of the same bankswhich benefit from thehumongous slush funds, whichare often stolen from the publictreasury and warehoused inprivate bank accounts;nevertheless, the hollow criesfrom the media, fordiversification of our economy,would persist even when thedilemma of the verytroublesome and catalytic issuesof unreasonably high inflation

and interest rates, which cannotpromote robust inclusiveeconomic growth remainunresolved.

In this regard, the PunchNewspaper Editorial of May2nd titled “Buhari on Nairadevaluation debate”, may haveprobably, unwittingly alsoplayed into the hands of thepredators of increasinggovernment debt and the rentseeking opportunities thatevolve from an unrepentantmonopolist forex market.However, despite this odiousreality, the editorial, underreference, however, appears‘innocently’ cofounded andtherefore wonders why “Buhariis spurning the devaluation ofthe Naira?” According to thepaper “the President’s logic isfaulty, because, the fact thatNigeria never gained fromdevaluations of the past doesnot necessarily mean that asubsequent policy move in thisdirection may beget a disastrousoutcome”.

Unfortunately, the editorialgives no reason for the optimismfor another major Nairadevaluation, this time around,when nothing has changed.

Curiously also, although theeditorial acknowledges thatcurrency pegs allow nations tokeep inflation and export pricesstable, it nonetheless hastilycondemns “the present fixedexchange rate of N197-$1”,together with the “limiting ofdollar sales at the forex market,and the barring of 41 items fromthe official forex market.”

It is not clear if the editorial ishereby suggesting that importcontrols were inappropriate inthe face of our rapidly dwindlingdollar reserves. Nonetheless,both real and speculativedemand would haveundoubtedly driven ourreserves to crisis levels if CBNhad not quickly imposed theseexchange controls.

Furthermore, if the Naira ratewas left unpegged, and importcontrols were also removed, asobviously preferred in theeditorial, the resultant acuteshortage of dollars in just threemonths, would have pummeledthe Naira exchange well beyondN1000=$1 before year end.Thus, fuel prices (without anysubsidy) would sell for close toN900/litre; if however,Nigerians resist such ahorrendous spike in fuel pricewith its severe inflationaryconsequences, government maycompulsively once againoppressively spend over N450/litre (50% of market price) assubsidy on the daily fuelconsumption of 40 million litres;unfortunately, in such event,over 20% of total subsidy valueswill be lost to cross border fuelsmuggling annually, because ofa weak Naira exchange rate.

Indeed, President Buharishould in fact be commended,for recognizing and saving usfrom the tortuous reality thatwould have manifested if the

Naira was further devalued;however the writer of the Puncheditorial, regrettably seemsrather uncomfortable thatBuhari’s refusal to devalue theNaira also “enjoys the supportof” in the words of the writer,“the likes of Emeka Anyaoku, aformer Secretary General of theCommonwealth”, particularly,when, presumably otherlettered and knowledgeablelocal and international experts,according to the editorial, haverecommended that the Naira bedevalued.

The editorial also appearsunusually concerned, forexample, that the call by a localscholar and member of theMonetary Policy Committee foran exchange of N220/$ wasrebuffed. If thisrecommendation wasimplemented, however, it isunlikely that such a marginaldepreciation wouldsignificantly reduce dollardemand, especially if theparallel market rate still hoversas high as N300=$1.Conversely, if crude oil remainsaround $40/barrel, any attemptto bring the official rate abreastwith the current parallel marketrate will invariably propelderegulated fuel price aboveN250/litre; ironically, however,higher crude oil prices will‘unfortunately ’, similarlyinstigate market price of petrolwell beyond N300/litre, even ifNaira rate remains stable.

Incidentally, Buhari hasrepeatedly assured critics thathe is willing to consider Nairadevaluation if any benefit canbe realized by so doing.Consequently the Puncheditorial should haveendeavoured to identify anyone of such possible benefits tosupport its advocacy for Nairadevaluation. Regrettably, thePunch editorial failedunconscionably in this respect.

See www.Lesleba.com ,Devaluation: IMF Vs Buhari.

By FAVOUR NNABUGWU

BoI, Sokoto seal N2bn MSMEs funds dealBoI, Sokoto seal N2bn MSMEs funds dealBoI, Sokoto seal N2bn MSMEs funds dealBoI, Sokoto seal N2bn MSMEs funds dealBoI, Sokoto seal N2bn MSMEs funds deal

The Bank of Industry andSokoto State

government have signed anagreement to establishN2billion matching fund foronward lending Micro Small,Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)in the state.

Acting Managing Director,BoI, Mr. Waheed Olagunju inSokoto on Wednesday saidthe state would be required toprovide N1billion whichwould be matched in like sumby the bank for on lending toentrepreneurs in the state.

Apart from Sokoto, the bankis already having a subsisting

matching funds arrangementdeal with 18 stategovernments across Nigeria.

Olagunju noted that thebank came up with the financemodel because the bank couldnot single handedly financeindustries in the countrywithout collaboration withthe states who are thecustodians of lands. Hechallenged entrepreneurs inthe state to come up withviable business plans, addingthat once they are bankable,the bank would finance them.

Olagunju explained thesynergy between the bankand the state government,”We look at our mandate of

transforming Nigeria’sindustrial landscape and werealise that we cannot do italone. Finance is just one ofthe factors of production.There are other things thatneeded to come into the forebefore we can supportentrepreneurs across thecountry.

“Entrepreneurs are locatedin the states. They must havea piece of land before they cando business. And under theLand Use Act, land is vestedin the governors. That makespartnership with the stategovernments an indisputablepart of our business.”

Despite theserious danger inpresentlyallocating35kobo out ofevery Naira ofearned incometo national debtservice, someeditorials stillcall for increasedgovernmentspending whichwill evidently befunded withfurther debt

CMYK


CMYK

Send Opinions & Letters to:[email protected]

Oil: Ef: Ef: Ef: Ef: Effffffects on Nigeria (2)ects on Nigeria (2)ects on Nigeria (2)ects on Nigeria (2)ects on Nigeria (2)By Patrick Cole

*Dr.Cole, OFR, a formerambassador, wrote from Lagos.

THERE is anger in the land.The horrific massacre of

people in the Ukpabi NimboCommunity in Uzo-Uwani, EnuguState has put country on the boil.Coming on the heels of similarattacks in other parts of the country,Fulani leaders in the area had alertedthe inhabitants that some herdsmenwere camped nearby ready to attack.The Uzo-Uwani Local GovernmentCaretaker Chairman, Mr. CornelOnwubuya told the press “SomeFulani leaders told us that theherdsmen were camped very closeto our community.” He took thelogical steps of informing theGovernor who is the chief securityofficer of the state and the State PoliceCommissioner. Governor IfeanyiUgwuanyi in turn convened ameeting of the State SecurityCouncil where the heads of thesecurity services assured him thatthe attack will not take place. But itdid.

There are two primaryconclusions I draw from thisscenario. First is the failure of theNigerian state which despite beingput on notice, could not defend itscitizens against a handful of

Marauders, herdsmen andMarauders, herdsmen andMarauders, herdsmen andMarauders, herdsmen andMarauders, herdsmen andfellow Nigeriansfellow Nigeriansfellow Nigeriansfellow Nigeriansfellow Nigerians

marauders. The second is that theinvaders are external as the localFulani community spied on them,and provided timeous and usefulinformation that could have led toapprehending the criminals beforethey struck. So we may be dealingwith two sets of Fulani; the peacefuland law abiding who owe theirloyalty to the community, and theexternal invaders.

There are three basicassumptions in the attack; that thecriminals are herdsmen, Fulaniand Nigerian; all threesuppositions can have margins oferror. Unfortunately, the emotionallycharged reactions have not givenmuch room for critical analysis, andthe insensitive statements credited tothe Northern State Governors andSenators have further complicatedmatters.

While our attention is focused onthe Nigerian Fulani herdsmen, wemight be missing clues that thesemarauders might be a trainedinsurgency force, like the defeatedChadian rebels who in the 1990soperated along the Lafia-Makurdiroad. This might also be true of thebandits operating today on the

Lokoja-Okene road who once putOkene in a lockdown and werestrong enough to attack a longmilitary convoy.

It is historically true that cropfarmers settle and cultivate theland while herdsmen are mobile and

Nigeria is not a failed State, but it isfailing in providing some of thebasic services of a State. For instance,it is incapable of policing its bordersthereby leaving the country open toa deluge of foreigners fleeingconflicts in Libya, Mali, Darfur andCentral Africa. Nigeria virtuallydoes not produce arms, yet illegalarms flow freely like the River Niger.How do so many arms flow into acountry that has Customs,Immigration and a massive tribe ofsecurity agencies? It is a failure ofthe State.

The Lake Chad has virtuallydried up and Chadians,Cameroonians, Nigeriens andNigerians who farm and graze inthe Chad Basin are propelledsouthwards in order to survive.The failure of the Nigerian stateto envisage and tackle this, andthe increasing challenges ofdesertification and climatechange, is palpable.

For decades there have beencontinuous bloody battlesbetween pastoralists and cropfarmers from Zamfara to Sokoto,Taraba to Benue. It is the failureof the Nigerian state to checkthese widespread massacres thathas led to the spread of masskillings to the South.

The loud cry for people to armand defend their homes againstmarauders is logical andunderstandable, but it is nosolution. At best, we can achievea balance of terror. The rise orproliferation of armed ethno-religious militia will be a greaterdanger. Already, some statesespecially in the South are in thegrip of cultists and thugs to theextent that it is virtuallyimpossible for simple electoralcontests to take place. In somestates, we have the hegemony of

the armed and dangerous, thegreedy and the unprincipled; thesupremacy of the bullet over theballot. This, from Bayelsa to RiversState has bred a culture ofinconclusive elections. Electionsare due in Edo State nextSeptember, and the unfoldingscenario points to another bloody,and possibly inconclusiveelection. To mix this with the riseof armed communities andmilitia, is to endanger the peoplethemselves.

The Government has theprimary duty to disarm and bringto justice, invading maraudersand local cultists, armedpastoralists and armed localthugs. We cannot express outrageagainst invaders while dressinglocal war lords in legislative,gubernatorial and ministerialtogas.

Those who shout ‘To your tents,oh Israel!’ or ask each Nigerianto paddle his canoe, may notunderstand that there is no partof our country that is monolithic.In fact, the North is morefractious than the South which hassome ethnic cohesion in the West,East and large parts of the NigerDelta. But even these are notimmune to internal conflicts,including bloody ones. There isalso a tendency for countries thatbreakup, to face bloody internalcontradictions like we arewitnessing in South Sudan. Sowhat we need is to build a strongNigerian State.

Nigerians need to clear anycobwebs in their heads, put ontheir thinking caps and plot a theway forward. What is clear in mymind is that we must put an endto impunity whether bymarauders or thieving politicians;cultists or religious bigots.

tend to live off the land, however,humanity has since transformed intoranching, but we are stuck in thepast. There is nothing inherently evilin the herdsman; some of myfavourite Biblical figures; Abel, KingDavid who wrote beautiful poetry ina collection titled PSALMS and, theThree Wise Men to whom the birthof Jesus was first revealed, were allherdsmen.

To me, the wanton killings andthe sway of criminals is reflectiveof the Nigerian state which isunwilling and incapable ofchecking impunity. A State existsto provide security of lives andproperty, and deliver basic needsand services to the citizenry. Inreturn, the people cede part of theirsovereignty and even pay taxes.Where a State fails to meet its basicobligations, it becomes a failed state.

SOME say that oil has always been acorrupt business. It started with

corruption; it grew with corruption, itdominates through corruption; its DNA iscorruption: it cannot and does not existwithout it. Oil is dirty business literally andfiguratively. It would be tedious to cataloguethe corrupt practices of oil companies fromthe very beginning. Now that the Chinesehave come into the business, their activitiesspeak volumes about corruption.

Oil activities in Persia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq,Syria, Jordan, and the rest of the MiddleEast were characterised by corruption.Right from the outset, the Anglo Persian Oilcompany was born at the beginning of the20th century on Oil corruption. The Oilcartel used its position to topple a lawfullyelected government in Persia sending its ownPrime minister to exile.The West then carvedthe oil producing areas into states of theirown liking. Oil was important and strategic,it was used to drive the navy; and the westernindustry oil was needed at any cost, theexploitation in the US saw unprecedentedcorruption from scions of the Rockefellers,Du Ponts, etc .There was too much moneyin it for it not to be corrupt. There is more USlegislation against oil companies than evenagainst the mafia: Anti trust laws had toattempt to break up Standard OilCompanies, even then, the breakup wasmerely cosmetic but it took the United Statesseveral decades before waking up to the factthat this monster, oil, had to be tamed. It hasstill not quite succeeded even today.

The ethos of oil (a misnomer) is corrupt; itis like the Railways Barons in the US, withgutter morality, all based on corruptentrepreneurs; skillful and born liars,dissimulators who never intended to keep totheir contracts, who diddled and fiddled anddeceived land owners and stole their landfrom them and consequently, their wealth.

In the US, in the Middle East, in Africa –everywhere, the story is the same.

No honest man ever made money from oil.Every single oil entrepreneur we know -Standard oil, Texaco, Esso, BP, Total and allothers were ruthless double dealers. Whathas oil done to Nigeria?

Oil pushed everything else to secondaryplace: this was detrimental to all Nigerians,both the oil producing states and the rest of“Nigeria – oil enjoying states”, in the latter,agriculture suffered. They farmed less andless; lost the ability to get income from theirfarms, the expertise in that enterprise andall the auxiliary benefits of farming, goodnutrition, hides and skin leather factories,

growth of cotton, groundnuts, millet, sorghumetc. vanished. Manufacturing became lessimportant as everybody depended onimportation of goods; our own industries couldno longer cope; resulting in loss of technicalknow–how, growth in unemployment while atthe same time the existence of extravagantconspicuous consumption of foreign goods.

More people wanted to be educated – moreschools were built, more went there to usethat education in the pursuit of oil. The beliefis that education opened the gateway to jobsand related interests in oil. Unethicalactivities were encouraged to acquire lessthan good education: All wanted certificatesand would pay for them. Universitiesadapted to the new demands.

In politics to rule Government is a life anddeath affair: to govern is to have or controloil revenues and therefore all else. Young“graduates” became political thugs – thefirst rung of the political ladder. No crimewas too heinous to achieve success. Norwould the desire for success allow the law

enforcement authorities to work. They weresimply subdued and bought over tosmoothen their ambitions.

The pay of National Assembly membersis US$ 1.5 million per annum, StateAssembly is US$ 1.0 million per annum;Chairmen of Local Governments receiveUS$750,000 – US$1000,000 per annum, othercouncilors were equally richly rewardeddirectly by salaries or other non-ethical means.If National Assembly and State Assemblymembers, Local Governments Chairmen earnover US$ 1.0 million annually, what do youpay doctors, lawyers, civil servants, everyoneelse?

How can the society maintain any rulesor values in such an atmosphere? How dowe see ourselves? Is Nigeria a country whereyou can succeed to the highest of yourpotential regardless of class, gender, tribe,and religion? This is the US model and idea:to succeed you must take powers (which arethe Nigerian reality) - i.e. oil – whether youare a civilian or in the military?

So you must be a Northerner or Westerner,or a “politically useless and powerlessminority”, occasionally propped up by theNorth and the West to have powers inNigeria. This paradigm has no place forservice of the people, their freedom ordevelopment.

How about the Igbos? Are they notNigerians? They have used their undoubtedabilities to carve a niche for themselves inthe oil business. What has oil done for Nigeria?Many books have attempted to answer thisquestion – “This House Cannot Stand”, “ASwamp Full of Dollars”, “Thieves of State”,“The Looting Machine” etc.

Oil sets up national appetites and mentalitywhich is more like a gambler’s mentality: withthe concomitant inability of the gambler tostop himself. He must go; he is propelled to goon because he believes his luck will change,despite the clear indication, scientificallyproved, that the gambler has the odds stackedagainst him, he cannot beat the house.

In the South-South there is resentment;jealousy, youth anger: whereas theimpoverishment of the North, it’s underdevelopment, is blamed on the South-South.

The South-South claims all the wealth hasgone to the North and the West. People arenow beginning to compare who exactly ismaking money from oil – the debate betweenArewa/Emir of Kano and Alabo George isheating up.

The truth is that everybody is a loser. Butthose who live where the oil is produced haveadded losses. Compare the aborigines ofAustralia who occupy land where minerals aredeveloped: they are poor, neglected and a merecuriosity in the Australian landscape. Noaborigine has any mines or interest in thesemines. The native people in America whoinhabit landwhere gold, silver, oil weredeveloped suffered a similar fate. The glare ofoil wealth, the pursuit of it will never give thosein whose land it exists any chance; that glare islike a light in darkness: it attracts insects mostof which carry diseases and kill off theinhabitants.

Maybe if oil is found in North EasternNigeria, there may be a change. I doubt it: thesame will happen to the indigenouspopulation who may not be Kanuri where theoil is located. Even if they are Kanuri theywould not be able to escape the destiny ofpoverty so evident in the South-South as wecan see even now in Southern Sudan andAngola. A few corrupt people would makemoney: the people will remain poor just asthey are in Cameroons.

There was Arabia before the House of Saud.There was Persia before the House of Pevlavi.There was Jordan before the House ofHashemite. Oil would continue to destabilizethese states and no one can or is willing to stopthat. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is aconstruct – all these are glued by the highestglue of all – religion. What would happen whenthe glue begins to disintegrate? Morefundamentally the present day Middle Eastwas the creation of Britain, France, Germanyand the United States – i.e. the West – becauseof oil. Its chronic instability is because of oil.Nigeria cannot escape its fate. The knob ofthe argument here is that the oil is doing harmto all of us.

There are threebasic assumptionsin the attack; thatthe criminals areherdsmen, Fulaniand Nigerian; allthree suppositionscan have marginsof error

Oil isdoingharm toall of us


OPINION

CMYK

Abacha never stole

Nigeria, MTN & bungled regulationBy Gabriel Zowam

I MAKE this submission because the NigerianCommunications Commission, NCC, is trying to

railroad the government of President MuhammedBuhari into a major policy blunder that could setNigeria back by many decades!

It all has to do with some frightening developmentson the whopping $5.2 billion (N1.04 trillion) fine thatNCC slammed on Nigeria’s telecoms operator, MTN,in October 2015, for failing to deactivate about fivemillion unregistered subscribers on its network. Thetrend of events since then has become quite alarming!

They All SinnedBefore visiting NCC’s performance on this matter,

which is inflicting a worsening damage on the nation,let us clear the air! If there was a “grave” sin (such asany security implications of the long years of non-compliance) then MTN was not the only sinner! Allthe operators would have been guilty! According toreports, NCC originally gave the operators a deadlineof June 2013, to deactivate ALL their unregisteredsubscribers; but as at September 2014 (over one yearafter the deadline) NONE of them had complied. Butinstead of being decisive, NCC continued to extend thedeadline – to October 2014, to July 2015, to August11, 2015, and so on. Reports also suggest that evenafter the August deadline, NCC continued to holddiscussions with ALL the network operators, aboutcompliance.

Indeed, the greatest guilt could go to NCC, for beingrather casual in enforcing the deactivation. As a goodregulator, NCC should have known that the operators

Mr. Zowam , a reform & governance expert, wrotefrom [email protected]

“Nigeria is awaiting receipt from SwissGovt. of $320 million, identified as illegallytaken from Nigeria under Abacha” –Buhari @NGR President, 5:09 PM –27 APR 2016

WHEN Twitter-addictedNigerians stumbled on this

posting on President MuhammaduBuhari’s Twitter handle last week, thewhole Internet went abuzz, with mostpeople expressing their dismay atBuhari’s refusal to call a spade by itscorrect name.

Before we go on, let us try to reasonout the meaning of this statement,especially against the backdrop of itsnexus to our history where Abacha andBuhari’s paths crossed.

It is obvious why the President or theoperator of his Twitter handle chose todescribe this amount (which is overN100 billion, a third of what the Federal,State Local governments shared inFebruary 2016) as money “identified asillegally taken from Nigeria underAbacha”, rather than the usual “Abachaloot”. The answer is simple. Buhari, longbefore he was elected president,stubbornly insisted that Abacha “neverstole”, and that he was not corrupt.“Illegally taken from Nigeria” is a ployto sidestep the word: “stolen”. “UnderAbacha” portrays it as if other people,not Abacha himself, committed the“illegality” without Abacha’sknowledge.

Some unknown individuals weretaking money from Nigeria and lodgingit in Abacha’s Swiss bank accounts? Forwhat purpose? Perhaps, they knew thatour economy would be in trouble in thefuture and decided to “save” for thisrainy day for us? If that is whatPresident Buhari wants to say, let himsay so openly, so that we all will join himin congratulating the Abacha family forthe sacrifices their patriarch made forNigeria.

In the past sixteen years, series of sumsof money in foreign currency have beenbrought back from Western countries,especially Switzerland, where formermilitary Head of State, the late GeneralSani Abacha stashed funds which helooted from the Nigerian treasury. Thesemonies have always been called“Abacha loot”. Abacha is the only formerruler boldly ascribed, even in officialcircles, to have “stolen” or “looted” ourpublic funds. He certainly was not theonly one who did so. And most of us

believe that he was probably not thebiggest looter. Then, how come it is onlyhis loots that are being “identified” andrepatriated? Is it because he is dead?

If he were still alive like most of hisfellow former rulers, would there be anysuch thing as “Abacha loot”? I doubt it,since his predecessors and successors whoprobably took more have never even

because he is dead?More questions: if Abacha had not

arrested, tried and jailed GeneralOlusegun Obasanjo for his part in the1995 coup attempt to unseat him, wouldObasanjo have launched the campaignto recover Abacha loot? If Abacha hadnot died and he played a role in theelection of Obasanjo as President in 1999as Generals Ibrahim Babangida,Abdulsalami Abubakar, TheophilusDanjuma and their civilian Northerncohorts had done, would Obasanjo havestarted the campaign to retrieve theAbacha loot?

Still more questions: if Buhari had beenthe one elected as the civilian presidentof Nigeria in 1999, would he even betalking about receiving money fromSwiss Government “illegally takenaway” under his regime since hemaintains, against all concreteevidence, that Abacha never stole ourmoney? So, is it only when a person dealswith us and dies that he becomescorrupt, but when he treats us nicely(as Abacha did to Buhari) he becomes a“saint”? If Abacha had not rehabilitatedBuhari after being jailed by Babangida;If Abacha had not appointed him as theExecutive Chairman of the defunctPetroleum Trust Fund (PTF), where hewas given unlimited powers to spendbillions of Naira between 1996 and1998, would Buhari have stuck out hisneck for him and say he was not corrupt?

Is this the mentality we take with usin fighting corruption, making sure thatthose who helped us are regarded asclean, while those who wronged us arepursued with a single-minded quest toretrieve their loot and sent to jail? Is thisour national standard for integrity?How are we sure that retired Col.Ja’afaru Isa, a close Buhari acolyte whowas reluctantly arrested, briefly

would naturally delay the deactivation for as long asthey could get away with it, because deactivationwould cost them the revenues from those subscribers.The appropriate regulatory response was to ensurethat no operator profited from non-compliance. If forexample, 20% of an operator’s subscribers wereunregistered, and NCC simply imposed a 20% fine onthe operator’s total revenue, with a progressivelyincreasing percentage penalty as the non-compliancecontinued, it would have triggered a rush by theoperators to comply! But NCC seemed not to be decisive,which would have encouraged the laxity of theoperators!

Regulatory ArbitrarinessMore seriously, NCC has projected Nigeria as a nation

of regulatory arbitrariness! How on earth did it arriveat the titanic rate of N200,000 (or $1,000) for everyunregistered subscriber that was not deactivated? Ifaccording to reports, the average revenue per Nigeriansubscriber is only $5, what impression are we creatingto the global investing public with such a draconianarbitrariness? Was NCC effectively saying to theoperators, “You have already invested, there is nothingyou can do now”?

What has particularly baffled the global communityis that NCC should have, as a responsible regulator,considered the implication of a humongous $5.2 billionfine on MTN! If the fine exceeded MTN’s net asset valueof about US$900 million, it was effectively makingthe company technically insolvent – for an offencethat should even have been handled routinely! Theglobal community can’t help being perplexed aboutthe regulator’s goal! To kill MTN? As Nigeria’s

Mohammed Haruna pointed out, “Penalties aremeaningful and sensible only if they serve asdeterrence to the culprit and to others. They areuseless, or worse still, they amount to cutting one’snose to spite one’s face, if they serve only to kill theculprit and risk discouraging investors at home andabroad from betting on Nigeria’s future.” Besides, therewas no precedence for such a whopping fine in Nigeria’stelecoms history, which prompted Simon Kolawole ofThisday to ponder: “If poor service quality to 120million subscribers attracts a fine of N5m, failure todisconnect five million subscribers should not attractN1.04trillion”! A good regulator is predictable, noterratic. Regulatory arbitrariness is the worst thingglobal investors want to face!

Again, look at how we went about granting discountsto MTN on the fine. First, NCC announced a 35%reduction. Even before analysts could figure out howit arrived at 35%, it reversed itself, and changed thediscount to 25%! To a perplexed global community, itwas all just like playing God to a defenceless foreigninvestor!

Enormous International DamageAll these have been disastrous to our nation’s

investment prospects! From the highly influentialForbes we have got “a huge red flag”! For David Lercheof Avior Capital Markets, “The incident has broughtto light the high level of risk when doing business inAfrica”. Forbes, still in another piece: “a state-sanctioned mugging … almost 40 times larger thanthe next-biggest fine imposed anywhere in the worldon a telecoms operator”!

detained by the Economic and FinancialCrimes Commission,EFCC, and releasedafter a couple of days for allegedlyreturning part of his share of Col. SamboDasuki’s bonanza, actually returnedanything?

Everybody calls President Buhari a“man of integrity”, in spite of certainthings we read and hear which do notadd up to conclusively justify thatbranding. Buhari made his declaredassets public. But he never disclosedtheir financial worth, nor did he let usknow where they could be found as latePresident Umaru Yar’Adua voluntarilydid. He never followed Yar’ Adua’sexemplary footsteps of including theassets of his wife. And from the look ofthings, ever-smiling Madam AishaBuhari is very well-to-do, what with herreported donation of N135 million todisplaced persons in Adamawa duringthe campaigns last year, which has notbeen denied.

I still cannot reconcile the fact thatBuhari, as the presidential candidate ofthe All Progressives Congress (APC) hadto borrow N25 million from banks to payfor his form in October, 2014 when hiswife could so easily have given it to himfrom her own resources. There wereeven some reports that Buhari was onceejected from his “rented” mansion, No11, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Asokoro,Abuja in 2012. That report was neverdebunked. Elaborate efforts have alwaysbeen made to brand Buhari as a retiredgeneral who lived on his militarypension before he became electedPresident.

Yet, when he became President and theforeign exchange crunch set in, he toldparents who have their children inforeign schools that they should look forforex wherever they could find it as theFederal Government could no longerafford to provide it. When reminded thathe had his own children in foreignschools, he simply retorted:

“I can afford it”.These conflicting signals about our

President and his true mindset oncorruption as well as his real standingfinancially, is being noticed, and nobodyis a dummy. Even the youngergeneration of Nigerians are watching,reading and taking note of this confusionand wondering what “integrity”actually means here in Nigeria.

It is not only the youth that areconfused. I am certainly no longer ayouth, but I am confused!

been officially accused or made to returntheir own “loots”. In fact, one of themmajestically struts over the landscapecalling other people corrupt withoutjustifying his own obvious affluenceafter his long stint in the Presidency.Are we a nation of cowards and dastards,mobbing Abacha and his estate simply

Abacha is the only formerruler boldly ascribed, evenin official circles, to have“stolen” or “looted” ourpublic funds. He certainlywas not the only one whodid so. And most of usbelieve that he wasprobably not the biggestlooter. Then, how come it isonly his loots that are being“identified” andrepatriated? Is it becausehe is dead?

Continues tomorrow on pg 18


CEO, Airtel Nigeria

CMYK

Segun Ogunsanya

Growth Accelerated

Education:Bachelors Degree in Electrical & ElectronicsEngineering from University of IfePrevious Work:*Eco Bank Transnational Inc,*Nigerian Bottling Company*Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company Inc.

BIO BRIEFS

ACERTAIN globalcommunity of CEOs

believe that they possess theunlimited capability to learn andto develop themselves. Theirultimate goal is to shareknowledge and experience andthus create a better world. Inthat league belongs SegunOgunsanya, the helmsman ofAirtel Nigeria.

In his spacious and sparselyfurnished office on BananaIsland overlooking the Lagoslagoon, Ogunsanya told me: “Ilearnt very early from my fatherthat one of the key elements ofgrowing is your capacity tolearn.His key principle is:‘Knowledge is weightless. Youcan carry it anywhere you go.’

He also observed:“Knowledge is perishable. If youdon’t keep renewing yourknowledge, it’s going to go outof date”. The strategy ofrenewing knowledge at everykey turn in life has indeed beenmanifest in his seamlessapproach to the navigation of hiscareer. Ogunsanya started outas an electrical engineer beforeventuring into accountancy.

Profitablebusiness

Prior to his current role at AirtelNigeria, he had been CEO ofCoca-Cola in three countries –Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria.Ogunsanya exudes enthusiasmand versatility. He finds thatchange has been seamless forhim as he moved from sellingCoca-Cola beverages totelecoms airtime “That’s becauseof my capacity to learn. And Ireally don’t care where thelearning is coming from. I justthink that if you’re ashamed oflearning you’re not going togrow,” he asserted.

On his assumption of office asAirtel CEO in November 2011,his mandate was to create a goodenvironment for “employees todeliver their best”, create a viableand profitable business and beamong the key operators in themarket place. He elaborated: “Toa very large extent, we’vedelivered on those objectives.

And I would like to salute mycolleagues and my leadershipteam who all supported me inachieving almost all the coreobjectives that were given to mewhen I took over the leadershipof this company.”

In the past year, the greatmilestone for the company wasthe acquisition of a 30 millionsubscriber base in Nigeria. Withthis feat, Airtel now enjoys a hugeslice of the mobile subscribers’market in Nigeria, controlling 20%of the total market share. Airtel’sprecursor company, EconetWireless,pioneered the GSMrevolution in Nigeria. This reasonlargely accounts for its strongpresence in the Nigerian telecomsspace. Statistics from theNigerian CommunicationsCommission showed that the

networks soared from 181,625 inMay 2015 to 182,643 within thesame period. “Crossing the 30million mark is a major thresholdfor us,”Ogunsanya says, “andof course, we are veryappreciative of all our customerswho made it possible.” On theheels of the company’s milestoneachievement came a number ofcomplementing awards. Theyinclude the highly covetedCustomer Friendly Operator ofthe Year Award.

The award was bestowed on thecompany for the fourthconsecutive time for its consistentrobust service platforms thatboosts customer experience, inaddition to its bespoke, innovativeand affordable value-offerings.The company was alsorecognized by the Association ofTelecoms Companies of Nigeriawhen it bagged a merit award forits pioneering investment in theNigerian telecommunicationindustry. Airtel’s winning streakis also brought to the fore by itsCorporate Social Responsibilityreputation. Since inception,the company hasrecognized theimportance ofbeing sociallya n denvironmentallyconscious.Consequently,it has oftentaken oncharitable

initiatives. Chief amongst its CSRinitiatives is the Airtel TouchingLives programme whose aim isto “enrich Nigerians and providesuccour to under-privilegedmembers of society”. TouchingLives proclaims what thecompany is, what it believes in,and how it is doing business.“Touching Lives is unique andvery different from what has beendoing in the past”, Ogunsanyasays of the initiative.

“It’s not so much about moneyfor exposure but about doingthings for those who can’t payus back. What we do is to askdifferent stake holders to selectcommunities, individuals andcauses that are very important tothem. And then, we step in bymitigating the pains of the peopleand community involved so asto make that cause veryproductive, recounting a case-in-point, he says: “One of the firstcauses we supported was that ofa man whose son was crippled”.

“He is a vulcanizer, so eachmorning before resuming hiswork routine; he would carry hisson to and from school on hisback. We stepped in by providinga wheel chair for the crippledson, making it easier for the manto ferry his son to school”

Providing awheel chair

“These are the kind of thingswe do through the TouchingLives Initiative. We cannotalways completely transformlives, but we simply make it easierfor people and communities tocope with their problems withgreater ease. I must alsocommend my good-heartedcolleagues for also supportingcauses voluntarily”

“They take money from theirsalaries, donate clothes and theirtime. And for you to be a goodcompany, you must initiate goodprogrammes for yourcommunities. I’m very excitedabout the positive things we’ve

been doing to supportpeople and communities.”

Winning is not just asudden occurrence forAirtel. LikeOgunsanya, thecompany has beenthrough several

learning curves.Starting outin 2001,

the company has morphedthrough name changes –Econet, Vodafone, V-Mobile,Zain and now Airtel. Sincereaching its current position,Airtel has had to deal with manyproblems.

Ogunsanya explains that thecompany is grappling with anumber of industry issues whichare not unique to his company:“We have issues of multipletaxation at different levels (localgovernment, MDAs, stategovernment, federalgovernment) and we are workingwith all the stakeholders tominimize the pain of having topay different taxes to differentauthorities at the same time.That’s a major issue for theindustry,” he explains.

Backlash andimplications

The advent of Global Systemsfor Mobile Communication(GSM) in 2001 came with greateconomic benefits as well as somebacklash and implications.Nigerian state governmentsbelieved that Telecoms weren’tgiving enough back to a societyfrom which they made hugeprofits. This led to the impositionof multiple taxation. In recentmonths, there has been a hueand cry from Nigerian telecomsoperators. This resulted in theNigerian Governors Forum(NGF) and the NigerianCommunications Commissionmeeting to explore ways to checkmultiple regulation and taxationin the telecommunicationindustry.

The Convener of the meeting,the boss of the NigerianCommunications Commission,Professor Umar Garba Danbatta,is himself optimistic that othergovernment agencies are beingcarried along in order to improvethe relationship withtelecommunication serviceproviders who are the victims ofmultiple taxes and regulations.On this, Ogunsanya expressessatisfaction. “We are workingwith government in terms ofmultiple taxation as there aredifferent bodies set up bydifferent key players in theindustry to engage all theauthorities. We now have aunified taxation mechanism thatis still a work in progress”

“Faced with all thesechallenges, the company stillfinds ways to continue to expandthe network and invest in qualitypeople”

Ogunsanya sees this as “a keyindices driving growth”. Drivinggrowth also means prioritizingrural markets by way of roll-outs.Though he admits Voice revenueremains stable, most of thegrowth he sees in the industry iscoming from data. “It’s alreadyhappening in many othereconomies but it’s very slow heremainly because we don’t yethave a sufficiently expansivefiber network that can create agood data quality experience.But as we evolve and put moreinvestment into the fiberinfrastructure, I’m very optimisticthat data will begin to drive mostof the things we do in thiscountry,”he said.

•Segun Ogunsanya

Our keyindices fordriving growthincludespriortizingrural marketsby way of roll-out

number of mobile subscribersspiralled from 144 million in Mayof that year to 146 million in June2015. Following this lead, Mobileoperators upped their newsubscribers by 2.1 million in June2015. The subscriptions to fixed

36—VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

YOU appear to be lyinglow

I am a legal practitioner I waspresident of the CLO until 2003,that is 13 years ago. When I wasCLO president, I personallydidn’t issue press releases. TheCLO did. It is not a matter of lyinglow, if you go to Falomoroundabout, Lagos, anySaturday, you are likely to findme there campaigning for thereturn of our Chibok girls. Eventhen, it is not a matter of saying,‘look at me, I am the person. It isa matter of going there to supporta cause.

It is alleged that the Bring BackOur Girls Group, has becomesoft under PresidentMuhammadu Buhari comparedto what it was under PresidentGoodluck Jonathan?

That is a lie that somenewspapers have been pressingand falsely pushing.

Rescuing theChibok girls?

It was two weeks after theJonathan government didnothing about the Chibok girls’kidnap that we said let us set upa committee. We asked ourselveswhy we didn’t do anything torescue the Chibok girls? That washow 59 school boys wereslaughtered at Buni Yadi, YobeState, we all did nothing andmoved on. Then the Chibok girlswere kidnapped. We said, ‘arewe going to move on again?’ So,since that time, everyday inAbuja, somebody has beensitting out in respect of theChibok girls, and we gatherevery Saturday at Falomo.

It did not stop when Jonathanstopped being president. Butsome people who are Jonathan’ssupporters kept pushing the lie:

Why anti-corruptionwar is selective— Ayo Obe

•Obe: Chibok girls must be brought back

By Clifford Ndujihe

Continues on page 37

NIGERIAN born, British citizen, Ms Ayo Obe (née Ogunsola) wasunarguably the most outstanding lady in the pack at the advent of themodern day civic society movement, a point that was consolidated by herelection as president of the Civil Liberties Organisation in 1995.

Obe, a partner with the Lagos law firm, Ogunsola Shonibare; followingher stint as president of the CLO was in 2006 appointed to lead theElections Programme of the National Democratic Institute in Nigeria.

A trustee of the International Crisis Group, ICG, she is also a member ofthe board of the Centre for Law Enforcement Education (CLEEN). Shehas in the past served on the board of the Open Society Initiative for WestAfrica, OSIWA (2006 – 2010) and was appointed by President OlusegunObasanjo as a member of the board of the Police Service Commission,from 2001 to 2006.

In an interview with Vanguard, Ms Obe who is a leading advocate for theBring Back Our Girls, BBOG movement speaks on what she describes asthe shame of the continued abduction of the girls, the anti-corruption warof the present administration, sectarian violence in the country amongother issues. Excerpts:

‘They have stopped, they are nolonger pressing.’ To say that thecampaign waned after Jonathanlost the election is a complete andutter lie. The people, who insistthat the only purpose of the Bringback our girls campaign was toget President Jonathan out needto apologise to the parents ofthose girls and the bring back ourgirls campaigners. We have metthe parents from time to time. Wehave met the people of theChibok community. And we askthe same question: Are yousaying that not a single girl hasmanaged to escape in all thistime?

Some of the girls escaped …That was during the kidnap.

That is why we have 219 stillmissing. During the kidnap,some of them managed toescape. Then, there was a girlwho was supposed to be marriedto one of the Boko Haram fightersand she said ‘let me go home andtell my parents after all marriageis a family affair.’ So, she wenthome and did not return. But theBoko Haram insurgents went tothe village, raided the place andcarried her off again.

As far as we know, the Chibokgirls are not being used forsuicide bombing. We don’t knowwhat they are being used for.When we hear stories that theyhave been raped, pregnant, etc;it does a disservice to us asNigerians.

We must not just bring back ourgirls physically; we must bringthem back socially, mentally,emotionally, culturally and totallyrehabilitate them. When BringBack Our Girls started it was totell the President, bring back ourgirls. That was in 2014. We didn’teven know who would be thepresidential candidate. Theopposition was still forming itscoalition. So the only person wehad to call on was the president.

By July 2014 when MalalaYousafzai came to Nigeria tospend her 16th birthday with theChibok girls, I remembered thatat that time the president had notreached out to the Chibokparents. I was in Abuja and cameout of the hotel to buy newspapersand I saw the picture of thepresident side by side withMalala grinning.

I said to myself, don’t thepeople around him understandhow bad this looks? And then henow met with the Chibokparents. Why couldn’t he meetsome of these parents beforehand and be seen with them sothat by the time Malala came itwasn’t that it was this young girl

him and for him. It wasn’t theBring Back Our Girlscampaigners.

The Jonathan administrationfelt the Bring Back Our Girlscampaigners were taking moneyfrom the opposition. Even if itwere so, it should have been areason for the government to pre-empt the opposition, go the extramile and bring back our girls.

Challenge torise to the occasion

The Jonathan administrationdid not see it as a challenge torise to the occasion. The currentadministration, unlike theprevious government, is notpretending that they don’t knowit is their job. The President hassaid, I can’t say I have defeatedthe insurgency if I don’t bringback our girls.

On fears that the girls may nolonger be rescued

We have to account for them.We know the names of thesegirls, we have their photographs,and we know their number. Sincethe army started beating backBoko Haram, we discovered thatthere are thousands of people wedidn’t even know were missing.That is a terrible indictment onus as a country.

Anti-corruption crusadeThe Buhari administration

should not just go after people,who have corruptly taken thenation’s money but should alsoinstitute systems that will defeatcorruption. I believe that theBuhari administration shouldhave made Nigeria a veryattractive destination forinvestors and all of us.

Now, we have the Treasury

workshop that was to hold inAbeokuta and learnt that theAbacha government had stoppedit.

Freedom ofInformation

But the Freedom of Informationcontinued, and we eventuallyestablished the Media RightsAgenda, MRA, to pursue it, andit became a coalition andeventually it was PresidentJonathan that signed thatlegislation into law.

When Obasanjo came to powerand was talking about fightingcorruption, we said, ‘wonderful,we have a beautiful tool that willhelp you.’ We had somelegislators in the United States,who had enjoyed Freedom ofInformation and they said weneed sometime like that inNigeria. Obasanjo’s responsewas you can present it.

We felt if it were presented asan executive bill, it would getspeedy passage but Obasanjowas more interested in setting upICPC and then EFCC. Insteadof our having a holistic approachthat makes it harder for peopleto be corrupt in the first place,what we have allows people tobe corrupt and we start going tocatch them.

Selective anti-corruption battle,resistance of the corrupt

As we have seen at every singlestage, every time we havepeople being arrested or chargedwith corruption, we hear theexpression, ‘yes, what about MrA or Mr B?’ The whole design isif we cannot do everything at

Some say thefight is selective.What isselective? Thepeople, whowere ‘chopping’were in a party

Single Account,TSA, and the useof BankVe r i f i c a t i o nNumber, BVN.When a newg o v e r n m e n tcomes into power,people sit upbecause theydon’t know thebody language ofthe new ruler. Butafter some timethey go back tothe old ways. Weneed a system thatwill make itdifficult for peopleto revert to the oldways.

During the timeof late GeneralSani Abacha, theCLO came upwith the idea thatwe need twoapproaches. Onewas Freedom ofaccess toInformation andthe second wasEthics inGovernment. Westarted the firstbut the secondnever really tookoff. I remembergoing to a

from Pakistan, who lives inBritain, who has reminded ourpresident that he has anobligation to his citizens? I didn’tlike it at all. Those were thethings that President Jonathandid or people around him did to

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016—37

government does not need the EFCCbecause the state laws against corruptionare there. If you are saying the FederalGovernment is using the EFCC, thestate government has the attorneygeneral and director of publicprosecutions. As a state government, ifyou examine what your predecessorfrom another political party did, they willsay it is selective.

Personally, I don’t expect it not beselective in that sense. As a generalmarching into battle, I will, first of all, dealwith the enemy in front of me before I startfighting the troops that are supposed tobe supporting me. I don’t believe we arerunning a government of saints. I don’tbelieve we are running a government thatis not composed of hypocrites.

We all have our double standards, and Idon’t expect that these people are goingto be super-human. That is why I agreewith Jonathan that we should make itimpossible for our face to be a factor in thefight against corruption and I expect thatthis will be implemented as we go forward.

What she makes of the crises ravagingthe country on account of the BokoHaram insurgency, Fulani herdsmenmenace and the IPOB agitation for BiafraRepublic

In a way, none of these is new. You didn’t

Grazing reserves "ll cause war— Ayo ObeContinues from page 36

comfortable not having its demand forEl-Zakzaky produced before it met.

On IPOB, you don’t expect me to havea lot sympathy for establishing a separatestate of Biafra. It is one thing to say peopleshould not separate but to say that peoplecannot talk about separating I don’t seehow that is compatible with our right tofreedom of expression.

What was even worse was this recentstatement by the DSS about the killing ofpeople they identified them as Fulaniherdsmen. They now said they were killedby IPOB supporters, and yet nobody hasbeen charged to court.

It tells us how bastardised the securityservices are. What is their business inmaking such a statement? Is it not a policematter? To just come and make acategorical statement and then there is noarrest, no charge, nothing is not goodenough. The outcry against thedepredation of the Fulani herdsmen isvery large. The concerns of people whereherdsmen are bringing their cattle wherethey never used to bring them, in mycapacity as the vice chairman of theInternational Crisis Group, I wrote anessay on the future of conflict and Iidentified the situation in Lake Chad as acause of conflict because what we call LakeChad in Nigeria, we don’t have any lakeagain. And the steps we ought to be takingto restore the lake we have not taken them.

Symbol ofclimate change

It is a symbol of climate change in ourbackyard. People who should be able tolive from Lake Chad, are not able to live.The areas where cattle used to graze aregone. You find that there are pressures,and it has been missed. Why are we havingthat issue of cattle roaming becausealways, from Cain and Abel there is alwaysconflict between the farmer who is farmingcrops and the farmer who is rearing cattle.So the question is how are we going totackle it in this modern day and age?

There are Fulani, who are not roamingaround. There are Fulani, who keep cattle.In fact, if anything, you hear from peoplein the North, how they suffer from cattlerustlers – people who come to steal theircattle. So what is that we should do? If weare going to have grazing reserves whereshould the grazing reserves be? I used tothink it would be a good solution but nowI can see that it would be the cause of thegreatest conflict.

•Obe...grazing reserves won't work

once, we should not doanything at all. Peoplewould say they were beingprosecuted because of theirethnic group or politicalparty. Some say the fight isselective. What is selective?The people, who were‘chopping’ were in a party.Again, you are always goingto pick the people, but theFederal Government has itsbooks. You come into office;you inherit the books. Youlook at the books and say, forinstance, this money hasbeen paid for a helicopter,where is the helicopter, etc?You are examining yourbooks. State governments arealso coming to examine theirbooks.

By the way, the state

even mentionthe ShiiteMoslems issue.In terms ofwhere thes e c u r i t yagencies are atfault, there isnothing new inthat. What weexpect to see isa governmentthat respondsand doesn’tallow issues tobe swept underthe carpet.

For us to hearthat 357 people,Nigerians, werekilled and buriedafter a clash withthe military issomething that we cannot just brushaside. It is a terrible indictment. I waitfor the outcome of the panel of inquiry,but I don’t think that it should end atthe panel of inquiry particularly whenthere are perceptions about the abilityof that panel to do its job when it is

For us tohear that357 people,Nigerians,were killedand buriedafter a clashwith themilitary issomethingthat wecannot justbrush aside


CMYK

VANGUARD, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016—41

Trump says tax onrich may go up

SYRIA: Kidnapped Spanishreporters return homeTHREE Spanish

j o u r n a l i s t s ,kidnapped whileworking in Syria lastyear, have been releasedand have arrived inMadrid to a rapturousreception from friendsand family.

Antonio Pampliega,Jose Manuel Lopez andAngel Sastredisappeared from thenorthern city of Aleppo 10months ago.

The three were flownon a Spanish defenceministry jet from Turkey.

They appear to havebeen captives of al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate,the al-Nusra Front.

Al-Nusra was in chargeof the part of Aleppofrom which they werekidnapped nearly a yearago. However thecircumstances of their

release have not beendisclosed.

A statement from theprime minister ’s officesaid that “allied andfriendly” countries hadhelped to secure thejournalists’ release,highlighting the role ofTurkey and Qatar whichhad provided assistance

“especially in the finalphase”.

PM MarianoRajoy posted aphotographHYPERLINK“https:/ / twitter.com/marianorajoy/status/729232342296973313” ofthem arriving beneaththe caption “Welcome!”on his Twitter account.

PRESUMPTIVE USRepublican nominee

Donald Trump has saidtaxes for rich people mayhave to go up in anapparent reversal of hisstated policy.

“On my plan they’regoing down. But by thetime it’s negotiated,they’ll go up,” Mr Trump

told ABC’s This Week.He also apparently

reversed his position onthe minimum wage,telling the programme:“I’m allowed to change.”

Mr Trump is all butcertain to become theofficial Republicancandidate for theNovember presidentialelection.

Several topRepublicans have saidthey will not vote for him.

On the DemocraticParty side, HillaryClinton has a substantiallead over BernieSanders.

Mr Trump’s tax plansays the wealthiestindividuals would get atax break. But he toldABC his “optimum plan”would be negotiated withDemocrats, but not beapproved as such.

Fight against AIDS threatened by

lack of money, leadership— UN

GLOBAL progressfighting AIDS could

be lost becauseprevention programmesare suffering from a lackof leadership,accountability andfunding, the head of theUnited Nations warnedon Friday. Headway intackling the epidemic has

been “inspiring,” with a42 percent decline inAIDS-related deaths sincea peak in 2004, U.N.Secretary-General BanKi-moon said in a report.

The progress hascaused life expectancy incountries most affected byHIV to rise sharply, headded.

Afghanistan hangs six Taliban prisoners

AFGHANISTAN hashanged six Taliban

inmates in the firstexecutions since AshrafGhani became presidentin 2014.

The group “perpetratedgrave crimes againstcivilians and publicsecurity”, the presidentialpalace said.

President Ghani haspledged a tougherresponse to the Talibanafter an attack in Kabul lastmonth left 64 dead.

Meanwhile Talibanfighters have attackedpolice checkpoints on theoutskirts of Lashkar Gah,the main city in Helmand

province. The assaultsbring to an end a lull infighting during theannual opium harvest inHelmand, a Talibanstronghold.

The Taliban said itoverran two checkpoints,killing 15 security officers.But police said 14 fighterswere killed before thegroup was driven off.

N/Korea will use nuclear arms if

attacked— Kim Jong-un

NORTH Korean leaderKim Jong-un has said

his country will not usenuclear weapons unless itssovereignty is infringed on byothers, state media reported.

Speaking spoke inPyongyang on Saturday tothousands of delegatesgathered for the first Workers’

Party congress in more than35 years.

“As a responsible nuclearweapons state, our republicwill not use a nuclear weaponunless its sovereignty isencroached upon by anyaggressive hostile forces withnukes,” the KCNA newsagency quoted him as saying.

Egyptian court recommends deathpenalty for journalists

AN Egyptian court onSaturday sought the

death penalty for threejournalists and threeothers charged withendangering nationalsecurity by leaking statesecrets and documentsto Qatar.

The final ruling isexpected on June 18,after the sentence hasbeen referred to the topreligious authority, theGrand Mufti, for a non-binding opinion.

The verdict againstformer PresidentMohamed Morsi, who ischarged in the samecase, was postponed tothe same day.

The three journalists,one Jordanian, weresentenced in absentia.Two of them work forQatar-based broadcasterAl Jazeera. They canappeal.

The sentence is the

latest since a crackdownon the MuslimBrotherhood after anarmy takeover strippedMorsi of power in 2013following mass protestsagainst his rule. Mursiand other Brotherhoodleaders, as well asleading figures from the2011 popular uprisingthat toppled autocrat

Hosni Mubarak, many ofthem secular activistsand journalists, are nowin jail.

Morsi has beensentenced in three othercases, including thedeath penalty for a massjail break during the2011 uprising and a lifesentence for spying onbehalf of Hamas.

Congo captures seniorcommander of Rwandangenocide rebels

AUTHORITIES inDemocratic Republic

of Congo said they hadarrested the deputycommander of a rebelgroup linked toRwanda’s genocide, in ablow to a militia at theheart of two decades ofconflict in the region.

But in a reminder of

ongoing violence inCongo’s conflict-torneast, suspected rebelsfrom another grouphacked at least ninepeople to death near theboundary between NorthKivu and Ituri provinceson Friday.

General LeopoldMujyambere, the chief ofstaff of the DemocraticForces for the Liberationof Rwanda (FDLR), wasarrested earlier thisweek in the eastern cityof Goma during aroutine police stop,government spokesmanLambert Mende said.

“He was recognised(by) the security serviceswho were there,” Mendetold Reuters.

Mujyambere has beentransferred to the capitalKinshasa, where themilitary justice systemwill decide whether totry him in Congo orextradite him to hisnative Rwanda, Mendeadded.

Death toll in Kenya buildingcollapse rises to 49—police

KENYAN authoritiessaid on Sunday the

number of people killedwhen a multi-storeyresidential buildingcollapsed in the capitalNairobi more than aweek ago had risen to 49after more bodies werepulled out of the rubble.

The six-storey buildingin Huruma, a poorneighbourhood in thecity, was constructednear a river and hadbeen condemned by theauthorities but it is

unclear why it remainedoccupied.

It tumbled down in aheavy downpour on thenight of April 29.

“Seven more bodieswere retrieved at thecollapsed building overthe weekend, bringingthe death toll to 49,”Japheth Koome, Nairobipolice commander, toldReuters. He said thenumber of those rescuednow stood at 140 and thata rescue operationcontinued at the site.

African countries deeply divided overivory trade

MEMBER states of theU.N. Convention on

International Trade inEndangered Species(CITES) are not meetinguntil September, but someAfrican countries havealready drawn their battlelines on divisive issues suchas the ivory trade.

Proposals for the meetingin Johannesburg were

made public this week,pitting bids by Namibia andZimbabwe to open up thetrade in elephant ivory,against initiatives led byKenya for a complete globalban on the covetedcommodity.

Those seeking to open upthe trade of wild animalproducts argue it will raisebadly-needed funds forconservation, but others say

it would provide cover topoachers and makeproducts that can endangerspecies socially acceptableto consumers.

“In all of these issues wehave two competing views.They are all aiming for thesame objective which isensuring the survival ofspecies in the wild,” CITESSecretary-General JohnScanlon told Reuters.

•Egyptian Judges and other officials at the sentencing of Aljazeera journalistsin Egypt

•Three Spanish journalists who were kidnapped last year in Syria by al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate, the al-Nusra Front upon arrival yesterday in Spainafter they were released by their abductors.

CMYK


Army clears insurgents from 7more villages in Borno…500,000 displaced families to receive N17,000 each

Soldiers, policemen take over communities over killing of12 persons by herdsmen

NIGERIAN ARMY,yesterday, said it had

cleared seven more villagesoccupied by suspected BokoHaram insurgents in Borno Statein its bid to end terrorism in theNorth East.

Col. Sani Usman, the ActingDirector Army Public Relations,stated this in a statement issuedin Maiduguri.

“As the ongoing clearance andrescue operations gainedmomentum, troops of 28 TaskForce Brigade have successfullycleared enclaves of Boko Haramterrorists along Galtha Baba,Galtha Musa, Bulakurma,Shatimari, Chukruk, Bulangaje,and Disa villages. During theoperation, one Boko Haramterrorist was captured alive,”Usman said.

According to him, threemotorcycles, bags of grains,terrorists’ flags and uniforms hadalso been recovered.

He listed other items recoveredto include: suicide bomber’s hijab,a cell phone and one dane gun,as well as foodstuffs and cookingutensils. The troops also rescued15 persons that were held hostageby the Boko Haram terrorists inthe area,’’ Usman said.

He said unfortunately, twoArmoured Fighting Vehicles,AFVs, ran over an ImprovisedExplosive Device, IED, buthowever, said the formation didnot sustain any human casualtyas the damage to the AFVs wasminimal.

Meanwhile, no fewer than500,000 households displaced bythe Boko Haram insurgency willbenefit N17,000 each from theWorld Food Programme in 2016,an official has said.

The World Food Programme isa project of the United Nationsthat addresses hunger andpromotes food security.

The Chairman of Borno State

Emergency Agency, AhmedSatomi, yesterday in Maiduguri,said 35,000 households had sofar benefited.

He said the agency plannedto reach out to 1.4 millionInternally Displaced Persons(IDPs) taking refuge in othercommunities.

“We are targeting the mostvulnerable couples, widows andthose who have passed throughgreat hardship as a result of theinsurgency. Apart from our IDPsin the 28 camps, we also haveabout a million of them takingrefuge in host communities ofJere and MaiduguriMetropolitan Council. The tokenwould be given to them toencourage them to start upsomething that would enablethem cater for their families toalleviate their suffering,” he said.

Mr. Satomi also spoke of theprocedure for giving out themoney.

By Emeka Mamah

ARMED SOLDIERS andriot policemen have taken

over Coromo, Dan- Anacha andMutum Biyu communities inGassol Local Government Areaof Taraba State where herdsmen

reportedly killed 12 personsincluding seven men, twowomen and children, andseriously wounded about 18others.

Altogether, 13 houses wereburnt.

Information about the attack

was sketchy, but it was said thatthe Fulani herdsmen reportedlylaunched the attack Friday night,following a long standingdispute over farm lands.

The Fulani herdsmenreportedly stormed the threecommunities and started

attacking Tivs who had returnedto their farm lands.

It was said that hundreds of thenatives of the area had fled toother neighbouring villages whileothers ran to the Gassol B PoliceDivisional headquarters forsafety.

As at the time of this report, Tivpeople were fleeing the localgovernment for fear of furtherattacks, despite the presence ofarmed security men just as therewas tension in the Fulaniherdsmen settlements over fearof reprisal attack by the Tivs inboth Benue and Taraba states.

Steal, go to jail,Kogi gov tellslocal counciladministrators

By Victor Ahiuma-Young GOVERNOR YAHAYA Bello of

Kogi State, has warned newlyappointed administrators of localgovernment councils in the stateagainst looting of councils’ funds,saying anyone caught in corruptpractices would face the full wrath ofthe law.

Inaugurating the administrators, thegovernor called on them to key intothe New Direction Policy, NDP, of hisadministration by improving the livesof their people.

He said: “This is a position of trustgiven to each of you to impact on thelives of your people. Ouradministration is committed toempowering the people and today,you have been appointed as agents ofthis initiative. The funds that come tothe local government councils belongto the people and should be used to

improve education, health,agriculture and ruralinfrastructure. The era ofstashing away local governmentfunds in foreign and local bankaccounts of private individualsis over. Under my watch, theresources of the people willwork for them.”

Governor Bello said hisadministration had granted fullfinancial autonomy to localgovernment areas in the state,warning the administratorsagainst being arm-twisted byofficials of his government.

According to him,“I will notdemand a dime from you. Anyof my officials who demandmoney from you should beexposed. We are serious aboutfighting corruption, in line withthe policy of President Buhari’sadministration.

"We will beam our searchlighton the operations of yourrespective local governmentareas to ensure you act in linewith the rule of law. Nobodyinfluenced your appointments.I considered you as partners inmy onerous task at developingthe state."

Kwara gov approves payment of salaries, pension to 24, 000 workers

ILORIN—GOVERNORAbdulfatah Ahmed of

Kwara State, has givenapproval for the payment ofMarch and April salaries andpensions of 24, 042 workersand pensioners, who have beencleared in the ongoing Staff

verification exercise in the state. This was contained in a

statement by the Secretary to theState Goveernment, SSG, IsiakaGold.

According to SSG who is alsothe Alternate chairman of the StateCommittee on Personnel DatabaseDevelopment, the approval

followed the final clearance of theaffected workers and pensionersby the Nigerian InterbankSettlement System, NIBSS.

Alhaji Gold, explained that theMarch and April salaries andentitlements of the workers andpensioners would be paid thisweek.

He however said that 1, 427workers and pensionersfound to have submittedinvalid Bank VerificationNumbers, BVN, wouldhowever have theirentitlements withheldpending furtherinvestigation.

NULGE decries10-monthunpaid wagesfor councilworkers

NIGERIA UNION ofLocal Government

Employees, NULGE ,hasclaimed that councilsworkers are owed not lessthan 10 months salaries inmany of the states of thefederation.

NULGE President,Ibrahim Kahleel said inAbuja that from statisticsavailable many states hadnot paid salaries to the localgovernment workers,lamenting that councilsworkers were the mostaffected by the issue of non-payment of salaries.

According to him, despitethe hardship and sufferingthese workers were passingthrough, President Buhariand the state governorsseemed not to be bothered ,rather, their attentions wereonly on workers at the statelevel.

“There are nocorrespondent efforts to settlethe issue of non-payment ofsalaries at the localgovernment like that of stateworkers by the President.The President should alsofocus attention at the localgovernment and ensure thatthe governors also extend theusage of the bail outs to thelocal government,” he said.

Kahleel said theimmediate problem facingthe local government was“the inability of some stategovernments to meet thepayment of salaries of localgovernment employeesacross the country. In manyof the local governmentsacross the country; workershave not been paid salariesfor up to 10 months. It is avery terrible situation. Ourexpectation is forgovernment to address theissue of non-payment ofsalaries, regularize it, so thatevery worker will be sure ofgetting his or her salaries atthe end of every month.”

On the issue of localgovernment autonomy, hesaid: “The biggest demandof local employees is how tostrengthen the institutionalframework of localgovernment democraticallyand financially."

As it is today, democracy

From left, Guest Speaker, and Executive Director, Human Rights Monitor, Mr. FestusOkoye; former Managing Director, New Nigerian Newspapers, Mallam HarunaMohammed, representative of the Minister of Information, Asst. Director HMR NOA,Kaduna, Mallam Hamza Audu, and the chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists,NUJ, Mr. Garba Mohammed, at the rally and launching of 'Advocacy AgainstCorruption at the Grassroots,' by the NUJ, Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi

By Demola Akinyemi

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, May 9, 2016 — 43

CMYK

Almaty G ValentineOur enemies see us as

terrorist. But God sees us asfreedom fighters. We don’t killinnocent people neither do wekill our own people. They can’ttake what belongs to us byforce neither do they think weare fools or blind. We shallprotect our land.

Common senseI am in full support of the

Niger Delta people. They need

to start their militancy andcripple the oil industry andNigerian economy. Theirdemands are reasonable. TheNiger Delta people own the oilland.

ReaganIf the International oil

companies and federalgovernment of Nigeria thinkthat the Niger Delta militantsare criminal as they claimedand fail to meet our demands,

the militants are going toactivate its elite unite the NigerDelta Force code name striketeam 1. The International OilCompanies will be our firsttarget including oil facilities.

Meon Kimi reganNiger Delta is

underdeveloped because ofone Nigeria. The region isinfinitely exploited withnothing to show for it. Theyouths are tired. It is enoughto form an army or strike force.

AVENGERS: The new face ofNiger-Delta militancy

Condemnation trails militants’attack on Chevron’s oil facility

PDP Crisis: We are disappointedin Jonathan’s support for Sheriff—Ex–Ministers

OkpiaInspector General of Police, sir, did I hear you state

clearly that you banned police road blocks? Pls sirthere is police road blocks everywhere and they collectmoney in broad daylight with impunity. During thetime of IG Muhammed the road blocks were not therebut they are now back on the road in your time. Youneed to check this out sir. Weldone.

Mike OlanihunHow many foreigners have you arrested? You are

supposed do your job by protecting the President ‘skinsmen.

Okolie OlisaThe problem Nigeria is having is the police. Every

sector of the police need retooling.. What are youdoing about the killings?

Tukur LadanWhere were you when Boko Haram were killing

innocent peole? Are the Boko Haram saints thatdeserve his sympathy?

Olayinka Richard Are those people kidnapped Christians only? If

all terrorists are not Muslims, why did they haveto dress or act as one before they could carry theaction?

John A dolinmaSir, please pray also for electricity, good roads,

potable water, humility among our policemen andwomen, among others.

Herdsmen killings:Blame foreigners — IGP Arase

Pastor Adeboye declares ‘holy war’ againstkidnappers, killer-herdsmen

•Niger Delta militants

SheriffJonathan

Herdsmen

McRemmy Myk OgnobThank God as PDP continues to disintegrate. The more this

type of news occur, the more PDP disappears from Nigeria’saffairs and the better for everyone.

Ikedichukwu EmmanuelThe so called ex-ministers were the major problem PDP

had and that made the party lost elections. Most of you arenot politicians and had not even attended political meetingsin your respective wards and local governments.

James-grim-teacherBuhari is a very good leader. The Fulani herdsmen invasion

was caused by Biafra posture. They sensed weakness in thearea and hoping that the FG will be too angry with the region.

Umar Babuga AbubakarNigeria is bigger than Niger Delta. Government is playing

with time. Act of sabotage will not be condoled any more.They should note that government of today is not the samewith government of yesterday.

Lenin IwakaIt is a pity to read and hear our educated Niger Delta

brothers throwing their support behind the Niger Deltamilitants. Some of them are direct beneficiaries of the lootand some are sponsors. Nearly all of them will not allow theirchildren, brother or friend to carry guns or get involved. Othershave flown their families out of the country. Let’s sit back andreflect. What have we really achieved so far by blowing uppipelines?

Nonyelum LouisUntil Nigerians understand that there is hidden agenda in

this administration. And if we are afraid to voice it out,thenNigeria is doomed. This administration won’t achieve anythingfighting with the militants.

John Esiri If I have my way, I will join the militants . This nation as

it is, belongs to a few They deceive themselves by calling usone Nigeria.

44—Vanguard,44—Vanguard,44—Vanguard,44—Vanguard,44—Vanguard, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MAY 9, MAY 9, MAY 9, MAY 9, MAY 9, 20162016201620162016

Extreme heat, rainfall linkedto severe asthma

THERE are fears that extremeheat and heavy rainfall may

increase risk of hospitalisationfor asthma. Meanwhile, nofewer than 15 million Nigeriansare suffering from asthma.

According to findings byscientists at the University ofMaryland School Of PublicHealth, extreme heat and heavyrainfall are related to increasedrisk of hospitalization forasthma.

The findings published in theJournal Environmental Healthrevealed that the increases inrisk were particularly highduring summer months.

"Previous scientific studieshave shown that extremeweather events are becomingmore common, more intense,and longer lasting in responseto changing climate. Our studyshows is that increases in thenumber of extreme heat andextreme precipitation events,particularly during summermonths, lead to more asthmahospitalisations.

Meanwhile, experts haveraised alarm over theincreasing number of Nigeriansliving with asthma.

At an event to mark WorldAsthma Day in Nigeria,Nigerian Thoracic Society(NTS), warned that a large

number of them stand a highchance of dying from thedisease due to inadequateeducation.

In his submission, Presidentof NTS, Prof. Peter Etete, saidthat currently in Nigeria, 75 percent of hospital admissionsfrom asthma and as many as 90per cent of the deaths from thedisease are avoidable.

Etete who is also the ChiefMedical Director of

Currently in Nigeria,75 per cent ofhospital admissionsfrom asthma and asmany as 90 per centof the deaths from thedisease are avoidable

Asthma is one of the most common chronic lung diseases

collaborate with Governments inconducting epidemiologicalstudies to determine the exactburden of the disease andimplementation of evidencebased approach to managingthe disease.

Moses, 33, seeks N7m for kidney transplant

Sick Moses on a Dialysis machine at the Cardiac and Renal Centre,Gbagada, Lagos.

‘I AM dying slowly even as I speak to you. My strength

is failing me. Where do I go fromhere? All my money, efforts havegone down the drain. My familyis starving. My children havedropped out of school. We nowlive hoping that God will send ahelper every seconds of the day."These were the lamentation of a33-year-old Kidney patient, Mr.Moses Ezeolisa while atVanguard Media LimitedCorporate head office Tuesday in

Lagos.Father of three children, who

tried to fight his emotions couldnot but broke down in tears. Onlya man with stone-heart couldresist his (Moses) batteredemotions. Moses is battling withEnd Stage kidney disease, alsocalled chronic kidney failure.Chronic Kidney Disease, CKD,according to experts is a gradualloss of kidney function. Kidneysfilter wastes and excess fluidsfrom the blood, which are then

excreted in the urine. Whenchronic kidney disease reachesan advanced stage, dangerouslevels of fluid, electrolytes andwastes can build up in the body.Cardiologists at the Cardiac andrenal Centre Gbagada handlinghis case confirmed that Moses iscurrently faced with suchchallenge.

Life-savingprocedure

In a medical report signed bythe Medical Officer at the centre,Dr. O.A Alli who confirmed thatthe patient has been on dialysisin the last one year said Mosesneeds urgent Kidney Transplantto live again.

Alli who expressed fearsapparently due to Moses inabilityto proceed with the life-savingprocedure due to financialconstraints said about N7 millionis urgently needed to save his life.

Narrating his ordeal tovanguard, Moses who betrayedall emotions in a laden-voice said:"I can no longer afford to pay formy dialysis." It all began last yearwhen I discovered that I washaving consistent malaria whichdefiled all medications. At a pointI travelled back to my village Orluin Imo state and my mother took

NO fewer than 29Nigerians a n d

organizations would berecognised at the upcomingAwards of the 3rd NigerianHealthcare Award.

Nigerian HealthcareExcellence Awards, the Oscarof the Nigerian healthcare isan annual event taimed atcelebrating individuals andorganizations who havecontributed to thedevelopment of the healthcaresector through innovative,efficient and qualitativehealthcare delivery servicesthat have significantlyimpacted the health andwellbeing of the citizens.

Among dignitaries to gracethe occasion billed to hold24th of June, 2016 are theGovernor of Lagos State, Mr.Akinwunmi Ambode, theMinister of Health, Prof. IsaacFolorunsho Adewole,Minister of State for Health,Country Director, RachidBenmessaoud, World Bank,Nigeria, Dr. Rui Miguel Vaz,Country Representative forNigeria, World HealthOrganisation.

NHEA is an initiative ofGlobal Health Project andResources in collaborationwith Anadach Group, USA.

Ambode,ministers,for 3rd NHEA

people worldwide, adding thatdespite, the availability ofdifferent asthma drugs, theunderlying reason for many ofthe deaths is inadequateeducation.

He further called for astronger patient education toensure that Nigerians knowthat although, the disease maynot be cured, it can becontrolled.

"Globally, people with asthmawill grow by more than 100

By Chioma Obinna

me to University TeachingHospital, Nnewi where it wasdiagnosed.

"Since then, life has not beeneasy. Initially I was takingtreatment at St Nicholas Hospital.Then I was spending about N100,000 every week because I wasexpected to dialyse three times aweek. Now, I am using theGbagada cardiac and RenalCentre where I diagnosed twiceweekly. Unfortunately, I cannotafford the cost for one sessionwhich is about N25, 000 anddrugs of about N8, 000.

Moses who was once asuccessful business man isappealing to Nigerians, ImoState Governor, RochasOkorocha and the Lagos StateGovernor, Akinwunmi Ambodeto come to his aid.

"I have no connection to mystate governor or the stategovernor; I am appealing toNigerians to please save mylife. My children are stillyoung. Please help me savethe future of my children," hepleaded.

If you are touched by Mosesplight, please contact07080259583 or send yourdonations to account number,2008511869, Name: OnyejiakuAdaeze Maria, Zennith Bank

Universality of Uyo, AlkwaIbom State, lamented thatNigeria has lost many giftedand illustrious people toasthma.

Etete said asthma is one of themost common chronic lungdiseases affectingapproximately 400 million

million by 2025, adding that thecondition was typicallycharacterised by recurringrespiratory symptoms such ascoughing, wheezing, shortnessof breath and chest tightening.

Etete encouraged patientsand relatives of individuals withrecurrent cough, noisybreathing, and breathlessnessto report to the nearest healthfacility for necessary tests to ruleout asthma. He declared theassociation's readiness to


CMYK


MEETING: President, African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina (right),and Executive Director/CEO, NEPC, Olusegun Awolowo, during a strategic meeting andpresentation of zero oil plan initiative at Abidjan.

ABUJA—ELECTRICITYDistribution Companies,

DISCOs, have cried over thehuge debt owed them by theministries, departments andagencies, before and after theprivatisation of the powersector, which they put at N78.6billion.

The Executive Director ofAssociation of NigerianElectricity Distributors, ANED,Sunday Oduntan, whodisclosed this in Abuja, put theNigerian military as top on thelist of 166 customers with adebt of N22.4 billion.

Oduntan stated that thedistribution companies hadalready perfected debtrecovery plan to go after theirdebtors to recover them.

He said: “We are targetingour historical debtors, with aview to recovering our money.MDAs debtors from pre- andpost-privatisation, at the endof April, stands at N78.6billion.

“We plan to carry out theexercise in a very careful,safety and efficient mannerand we must succeed.”

Of all the Discos across thecountry, the ANED boss saidAbuja Electricity DistributionCompany, AEDC, has thehighest debt record of aboutN18.6 billion, followed by EkoElectricity DistributionCompany, EEDC, with N8.6billion.

He pointed out that theagreement at the point of saledid not allow them to sell more

than five percent of theirshares in five years.

“Even if they wished to, thereare legal constraints that theycannot circumvent,” he added.

He said since governmentowns 40 percent of the shares,government could considerdivesting part of its own to helpraise the needed liquidity inthe sector.

Mr. Oduntan, who notedthat the event of last month,regarding the power outage,was challenging, pleadedwith customers to bear withthe DISCOs.

Oduntan blamed theoutage being experienced onrecent attacks on oil and gaspipelines, but assured thatthe nation would get over it.

N78.6bn: MDAs, military biggestelectricity debtors—DISCOs

By Chris Ochayi

Execution ofrailwayprojects apriority— APC

THE NationalChairman of All

Progressives Congress,APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has disclosed thatthe execution of railwayprojects contained in therecently passed N6.06trillion 2016 budget remainsone of the priorities ofPresident MuhammaduBuhari’s administration.

While recalling that 30percent of 2016 budgetaryprovision had beencommitted to capitalprojects, the APC NationalChairman identified therailway projects as one ofthe critical infrastructuralfocuses of theadministration.

Odigie-Oyegun made thedisclosure in Abuja at adinner held in his honourby Saint Patrick’s College,Asaba, Old BoysAssociation, Abuja branch,on Saturday night.

The APC NationalChairman graduated fromthe school in 1957.

He said in the comingmonths, the safety netcreated by theadministration to cater forthe poorest and vulnerableNigerians and othereconomic initiatives aimedat diversifying andboosting the economy,would be implemented.

A B U J A —FOLLOWING

renewed militants’ attackson oil facilities andherdsmen's activities, theDefence Headquarters,DHQ, yesterday,reiterated its warning thatit would not condone actscapable of causing abreakdown of law andorder in any part of thecountry.

Acting Director ofDefence Information,Brigadier General RabeAbubakar, said in astatement: “Citizens areadvised to refrain fromtaking laws into theirhands and avoid actionsthat may cause a breachto harmonious co-existence.”

By KingsleyOmonobi

VANDALS,HERDSMEN:DHQ warns‘mischiefmakers’

A B U J A — S E N A T ECommittee on

Agriculture said, yesterday,that it was supportingPresident MuhammaduBuhari’s order to importgrasses for grazing fromBrazil.

According to the Senate, themove to support the action ofthe Federal Government hasbecome imperative as theimportation of grazingpastures for cattle atdesignated places across thecountry will proffer permanentsolution to the protracted crisisbetween farmers andherdsmen.

The committee also hailedPresident Buhari’s directive forthe release of 10,000 tonnes ofgrains.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja,Chairman, Senate Committeeon Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, SenatorAbdullahi Adamu, dismissedcriticism of the move by some

professors of agriculture.He criticised the inability of

the professors to proffersolutions to the problem ofgrazing over the years,adding that they lacked anymoral right to criticise thegovernment’s move.

Senator Adamu, who notedthat importing grazinggrasses and making themavailable to cattle rearerswould stop the movement ofcattle from one place toanother, stressed that themove would also stop thegrowing spate of killings byherdsmen.

He said government willprovide pasture to curtail thecontinuous movement ofcattle by herdsmen.

He noted that in the UnitedStates, pastures and waterwere provided to grownutritious grasses for cattle,adding that governmentmust face the reality of themoment by taking painfuldecisions to end the herds-men and farmers’ clashes.

Senate backs FG’s plan to importgrazing grasses from Brazil

By Henry Umoru

FEDERAL governmentcontractors, who have

been waiting to be paid,can now heave a sigh ofrelief as the Ministry ofFinance is set to pay sothey could return to sites.

Mr. Festus Akanbi,Special Adviser (Media)to the Minister, Mrs.Kemi Adeosun, toldVanguard yesterday thatcontractors handlingvarious roads and otherinfrastructure projectswould be one of the firstbeneficiaries of the N350billion to be immediatelypumped into theeconomy, after PresidentMuhammadu Buharisigned the 2016 budget.

His words: “The FederalGovernment isdetermined to reflate theeconomy by stimulatingvarious activities that willbring about jobs andwealth creation.

“One critical group isthe contractors, who areundertaking variousroads and otherinfrastructure projectsacross the country.

“Recall that most ofthese contractors have leftsites and laid off theirworkers because theywere not being paid.

“What the governmentswants to do is to pay thesecontractors; but we willget a commitment fromthem that they must re-engage their workers andreturn to sites.

“By so doing people willwork, get paid and havemoney in their pockets tospend. It is when theyhave the purchasingpower and makepurchases that we canhave many other activitiesgoing on in the economyto strengthen theeconomy.”

Mr. Akanbi also said thatpower sector wouldreceive urgent attentionnow that the budget hadbeen signed, in order toincrease electricity supplyto consumers.

According to him, withbetter power supply, a lotcould be achieved in themanufacturing sector andamong the medium andsmall entrepreneurs,whose activities revolvearound electricity.

He added government,working with the twoother tiers of government,will create the enablingenvironment for farmproduce to reach markets.

FG setto paycontractors

By Emma Ujah,Abuja Bureau Chief

CMYK


Celtic

week’s victory at Heartsand came into the gamenine points clear ofAberdeen with threematches to play, as well ashaving a goal differencethat was superior by 35.

Only a point was neededto officially seal thePremiership title with twomatches to spare and itappeared as though theywere coasting to victory asPatrick Roberts’ first-halfdouble and MikaelLustig’s strike early in thesecond half gave them athree-goal lead.

The Dons made a fightof it, though, as two goalsin seven minutes fromNiall McGinn and AndrewConsidine brought themback to within one, but

Celtic held firm to begin thetitle celebrations.

Celtic - knocked out of theScottish Cup by rivalsRangers - now only haveleague matches against StJohnstone and Motherwellto round off their season.

Manager Deila will thendepart the club after twoseasons at the helm havingannounced he will stepdown following the semi-final loss to Rangers.

This is Celtic’s 47th top-flight title in their history,placing them sevenbehind their Old Firmrivals in the all-time table.

Celtic need to winanother four if they are tomatch Rangers’ famousrun of nine-in-a-row from1989 to 1997, a mark theyalso achieved themselveswith nine successesbetween 1966 and 1974.

Continues from BP

point ahead of second-placed Kano Pillars withAbia Warriors a close third.

Chisom Egbuchulam putRangers ahead from thepenalty spot after 80minutes after he wasupended inside the box.

However, Tope Orelope,who came close to signingfor Rangers in the closeseason, drew ShootingStars level in stoppage timealso from the penalty spotafter Matthew Etimhandled the ball inside hisown box.

In other matches, PlateauUnited were held to agoalless draw by SunshineStars and Lobi Stars pippedMFM FC 1-0 at home.

RangersContinues from BP

then missed the secondpenalty in the 41st minute,when the game was 2-0.

He has scored just oncethis season.

He scored 15 goals lastseason to help Carpi gainpromotion to Serie A.

Ogenyi Onazi, who ispreparing for his wedding,was an unused substitutefor Lazio.

Nigeria strikerContinues from BP

La Liga

powerfully headed aMauricio Cuero cross intothe back of Jan Oblak’s net.

And just a minute fromtime, the home side founda shock winner. GiuseppeRossi completed a swiftcounterattack with a coolleft-footed finish to endAtleti’s hopes of a secondleague title in threeseasons.

Meanwhile, Barcelonakept their La Liga dreamalive with 5-0 defeat ofEspanyol in the Catalanderby. A Lionel Messi freekick in the eighth minutecalmed any early nerves atthe Camp Nou — theArgentine’s left footed effortfrom just outside the boxfinding the near-post top

corner despite a slighttouch from Espanyolgoalkeeper Pau Lopez.

Luis Suarez then put thegame out of reach sevenminutes after the break —the Pichichi leader slottinghome a Messi pass fromfrom close range. Suarezadded further insurance —and his 37th La Liga goal— just after the hour markwith an unstoppableheader past Lopez from aNeymar corner. Rafinhathen scored with an easytap-in after a Lopezblunder, before Neymarcapped the day with oneof his own on 83 minutes.

Real Madrid took care oftheir business with a 3-2win against 10-manValencia at the Bernabeu.

Continues from BP

PSV

Eredivisie title for PhillipCocu’s PSV and the 23rdin the Eindhoven club’shistory.

Ajax went into the finalday of the season ahead ofPSV on goal difference andonly needed to beat DeGraafschap to seal their34th Dutch league title.

Amin Younes gave Ajaxthe lead in the 16th, butBryan Smeets leveled thescores 10 minutes after thebreak and Ajax could notbreak through for awinning goal in theremainder of the secondhalf.

Continues from BP

Lobi 1 MFM FC 0Plateau 0 Sunshine 0Warri 0 Rivers Utd 1Wikki 2 Nasarawa 1

Continues from BP

Khan falls in sixAMIR Khan’sdream of unique

British boxing glorydisappeared like amirage into the Nevadadesert and into the mistsof semi-consciousness.

The skies outside thenew T-Mobile Arenawept, perhaps partlywith sympathy for abrave but fallen worldmiddleweight titlechallenger from acrossthe pond, on a strangelyrain-swept night in LasVegas.

The storm also sweptaway the notion that atwo-time world lightwelterweight championfrom Bolton could riseup to shock amiddleweight as strongof body, forceful of mindand heavy of punch asMexico’s heir to thelegendary Julio CesarChavez.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvareztook just under sixrounds to come to termswith Khan’s lightningstart, shudder him to thebody, find his range tothe head and then fell

him with a blow ofdynamite impact that itstarted somewhere nearthe ringside seats anddetonated on his chinand not only sent himinto a stupor but crashedhis head against thecanvas.

Referee Kenny Baylesshad hardly beguncounting when he waved

his arms, first over theprostrate figure of Khan,then to summon medicalassistance.

The immediate concernwas not for Khan’s futurebut the time it took tocome round and behelped to his feet.

Power conqueredquickness. Strengthderailed an expresstrain.

Khan was taken to

hospital immediatelyafter leaving the ring.

However, Golden Boypromoter Oscar De LaHoya said: ‘Amir’s justbeen taken for a checkup. He is alright but itis right to take thisprecaution.’

Khan sent thismessage from hospital:‘I’m OK. That’s boxing.Congrats to Canelo.Love to all the fans.’

Zenith Bank WBL: Dolphins,First Bank begin well

ZENITH womenbasketball league

defending champions,Dolphins Basketball club ofLagos were off to a finestart at the weekend whenthey defeated hard fightingDelta force of Asaba 83-65in defence of the title theywon last year therebyopening a good campaignfor the 2016 Zenith bankwoman basketball leaguefinal 8 play off.

The OchukoOkworogun, tutored girlsalso went ahead to inflictthe first defeat to IGPqueens yesterday to set uptoday’s match-up againstPlateau Rocks of Jos.

Ochuko Okworogunsaid their mission is todefend the title they wonlast year, without actuallyfocusing on any particular

team.In other matches played

so far, Nigeria Customs teamout dunked Ahip Queens ofKano 68-44, while formerchampions First Bankdefeated Benue Princess.Plateau Rocks lost 37-45 toIGP Queens. Captain ofPlateau Rocks, Gloria Umehblamed their loss to fatiguehaving travelled by road toLagos for the games “Wetravelled long way from Josand arrived late. We did nothave enough rest beforefacing the Police ladies. Wehope to make it up in theremaining matches.” Buther opposite numberHannah Makanju, captainof the Police team dismissedher opponents excuseswhile insisting that theyactually worked hard fortheir victory.

Djokovic wins Madrid OpenNOVAK Djokovic

defeated AndyMurray, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, inthe Madrid Open final onSunday to win a record29th career Masters title.

Djokovic saved sevenbreak points in the finalgame and converted on histhird match point of thenight to secure the win overthe defending champion,moving one victory aheadof Rafael Nadal inMasters tournamentvictories.

It was Djokovic’s secondtitle in Madrid, and fifth ofthe year this season. Hereached 33 wins, the most

on tour in 2016.The loss allows Roger

Federer to surpassMurray for No. 2 in theworld on Monday. It alsokept the British player fromwinning his 12th Masters1000 title, and second onclay.

Djokovic dominated thefirst set but it was even fromthen until the end, withboth players faltering ondecisive moments.Djokovic hit 25 winners buthad as many unforcederrors, while Murray had10 aces in the match thatlasted 2 hours, 6 minutesat the “Magic Box” centercourt in the Spanishcapital.

The thrilling last gamefinally ended whenMurray sent a forehandinto the net, givingDjokovic his 15th straightwin against top-10opponents, a streak inwhich he has lost only two

of 35 sets.The top-ranked Serb has

won four of the last fiveMasters titles, includingthree this year. He hadalready won in IndianWells and Miami, and hadalso clinched the Australian Open in a finalagainst Murray.

The nine Masterstournaments of the seasonare elite tournamentsranked just below the fourGrand Slams.

It was Djokovic’s firstclay-court tournamentsince being upset by 55th-ranked Jiri Vesely in thesecond round in MonteCarlo last month.

•Djokovic

•GOOD NIGHT: Amir Khan on the canvass after receiving a viciousright hook from Alvarez

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Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

How to Play Sudoku

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line canhave two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (alsonine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within abold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1through 9. This means that no number can appear twicein any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, divisionor multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

YESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERYESTERDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSDAY'S ANSWERSTTTTTODODODODODAAAAAY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLE

Vanguard, MONDAY, MAY 9, 2016

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

ACROSS: 4, Padre 7, Amazed 9, Led 10, Per12, Rinse 13, Itch 15, Eerie 17, Hearse 19, Ugly20, Creep 22, Cad 24, Defiled 27, Den 28, Least31, Opus 33, Addled 35, Water 37, Mode 38,Under 39, Dog 41, Act 42, Patent 43, Death.

ACROSS1 Rogue (6)5 See-saw (6)9 Parrot (5)10 Attic (6)11 Repaired (6)12 Fresher (5)14 Gap (4)17 Colour (3)18 Rage (4)20 Fear (5)22 Female (5)23 Relative (7)24 Respond (5)26 Adjusted (5)29 Inactive (4)30 Sphere (3)32 Lake (4)33 Booby-trapped (5)35 Nuptial (6)36 Rota (6)37 Spree (5)38 Required (6)39 Ball-game (6)

DOWN1 Respect (62 Fighting (6)3 So be it (4)4 Subsequently (5)5 Domesticated (5)6 Pitcher (4)7 Boredom (6)8 Blush (6)13 Occidental (7)15 Irritated (5)16 List (5)18 Market-place (5)19 Manufacturer (5)21 Parched (3)22 Damp (3)24 Tape (6)25 Fish (6)27 Tidy (6)28 Wreckage (6)30 Lubricated (5)31 Cap (5)33 Horse (4)34 Distribute (4)

DOWN: 1, Maniac 2, Gauche 3, Pep 4, Peri5, Adieu 6, Restless 8, Deer 11, Rescinded14, Heed 16, Real 18, Aped 21, Response23, Dell 25, Feat 26, Deem 29, Adored 30,Treaty 32, Sweet 34, Drop 36, Arch 40, Gap.

Khan falls in six

La Liga: Atletico crashout; Barca, Real win

PSV Eindhoven clinchEredivisie title

Rangers draw, top NPFLNigerian strikermisses two penalties

Celtic win 5th consecutiveScottish title

EFE AmbroseScottish club, Celtic

have been crownedScottish champions for afifth consecutive year afterholding off an Aberdeen Continues on Page 47

RANGERS are backon top of the Nigeria

league despite droppingtheir first points at home thisseason on the back of a 1-1draw with Shooting Starson Sunday.Rangers now have 28points from 15 matches, aContinues on Page 47

Continues on Page 47

ATLETICO Madridcrashed out of La

Liga’s title race with a 2-1loss at relegation sideLevante yesterday, whilewins by Barcelona and RealMadrid ensured thechampions will be decidedon the final matchday.

Fernando Torres had put

Atletico in front after twominutes with a deliciouschip over Levantegoalkeeper Diego Marinoafter being played intospace. Levante found anequaliser on the half-hourmark through VictorCasadesus, whoContinues on Page 47

NIGERIAN strikerJerry Uche

Mbakogu failed to lift hisItalian Serie A side Carpi

when it mattered most onSunday as he missed twopenalty kicks in a 2-0 homeloss to Lazio.

Carpi are 18th on the 20-team Serie A table and deepin the relegation zone with35 points from 37 games.

Mbakogu missed a spotkick in the 15th minutewhen the game wasgoalless.

The 23-year-old strikerSUCKER PUNCH: Alvarez lands with a potent overhand right to put Khanon the canvas and ends his hopes of snatching the WBC middleweighttitle

•Messi •Ronaldo

PSV Eindhovens u c c e s s f u l l y

defended their Eredivisieleague title by beating PECZwolle 3-1 on Sunday as

Ajax could only manage a1-1 draw at second-last DeGraafschap.

It was the second straightContinues on Page 47

ResultsNPFLAkwa Utd 2 Ifeanyi Ubah 0Rangers 1 Shooting 1Enyimba 2 Tornadoes 1Heartland 2 El Kanemi 1Pillars 2 Ikorodu Utd 1

Continues on Page 47

fightback in a thrilling 3-2victory on Sunday.

Ronny Deila’s men hadall but won the ScottishPremiership title with last

shell evacuates staff from major facilities

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