23112022

C 

M 

Y 

K 

The Council of Legal 

Education in Nigeria should 

play the role of a regulator 

that sets the standard for 

the provision of legal 

22 education in Nigeria 

Media chiefs, 

operators adopt 

new co-regulation, 

code of ethics 

Inflation: We will continue to raise MPR until... —CBN 

19 

35 

We’ve not 

shifted ground 

on same-faith 

ticket —CAN 8 

Nnamdi 

Kanu sues 

Malami, 

demands 

N20bn 11 

VOL. 39: NO. 9,929 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

PDP CRISIS: 

IBB, GEJ move to reconcile 

Atiku, Wike 

•Atiku’s meeting with ex-President 

fruitful-PCC source •Pro-Atiku group 

chides Jang, G5 govs over stance on Ayu 

5 

ZENITH TECH FAIR 2.0 IN LAGOS 

Founder and Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, (3rd left) flanked by Founder of Moven and Author of ‘Bank 4.0’, Brett King 

(2nd Left); Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu (1st left); and Deputy Managing Director, Zenith 

Bank Plc, Dame Adaora Umeoji, OON, (1st right) at the Zenith Tech Fair 2.0 held at Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, 

Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. 

20M OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN: 

Another B-Haram looms —OBASANJO 

NNPCL, partners 

begin devt of 1bn 

barrel Kolmani oil 

field 9 

INSECURITY: 

Herdsmen invade Enugu 

community, kill 10, 

injure many, burn houses 

Atiku’s ally, Chidoka replies Kwankwanso, says no party has won Lagos, Kano, Rivers at once 

COLUMNISTS NNANNA 16 OKOH 17 FASAN 17 DEAR BUNMI 28 

11 

35 

54 die in Maiduguri- 

Damaturu; Kwali-Abuja 

highway accidents 

7 

9 

34 

Oil theft: 

Nigeria 

lost over 

$2bn in 

8 months 

—SENATE 36 

Corpse of 

16yr-oldgirl 

found 

in hotel 

Mr & Mrs 

6 

wardrobe 

in Bayelsa

2 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 23, 2022 — 3


PDP CRISIS: How IBB, GEJ, others 

move to reconcile Atiku, Wike 

By Dapo Akinrefon & 

Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

L 

A G O S - 

FOLLOWING 

the frosty relationship 

between the presidential 

candidate of Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, 

and Governor Nyesom 

Wike-led Integrity 

Group, a last-minute 

push by former military 

president, General Ibrahim 

Babangida, retd; 

former President Goodluck 

Jonathan and prominent 

party leaders to 

resolve the crisis is ongoing 

and is expected to 

yield positive results, 

Vanguard has gathered. 

Atiku and the Rivers 

State governor have 

been at daggers drawn 

over demand for the resignation 

of PDP National 

Chairman, Senator 

Iyorchia Ayu. 

However, both camps 

said they were committed 

to resolving the crisis 

before the 2023 general 

elections. 

Atiku and Wike visited 

IBB and Jonathan, recently, 

where the crisis 

rocking the party was 

discussed at length. 

Peace moves 

by IBB, Jonathan, 

others 

A member of the Integrity 

Group told Vanguard 

in confidence that there 

were efforts to get Atiku 

and Wike to reconcile. 

The source said: “A lot 

of people have intervened, 

they have told 

Atiku to go and reconcile 

with those, who are aggrieved. 

''IBB told Atiku and his 

team to go and reconcile 

with Wike and his allies. 

Other party leaders also 

told Atiku that he caused 

Atiku’s meet- 

•Atiku’s meeting with ex-President fruitful-PCC source 

•Pro-Atiku group chides Jang, G5 govs over stance on Ayu 

ing with ex- ing.” 

President fruitful 

- PCC source 

When contacted, a 

the problem and should 

go and solve it.” 

Asked whether Wike 

and his allies were interested 

in making peace, 

the source said: “Honestly, 

there are so many 

people within the Integrity 

Group, who are genuine 

PDP leaders and 

have said that all Atiku 

ought to have done, 

which he can still do, is 

to ask Ayu to go. 

“If Atiku should mount 

pressure on Ayu to resign, 

he will resign. If 

this is done, it will also 

be easy to separate the 

boys from the men. Three 

zonal vice chairmen of 

the party are with the 

Integrity Group; there 

are also several of the 

candidates across the 

geo-political zones that 

are with the Integrity 

Group but they are ready 

for peace if Atiku is ready 

to play the game.” 

member of the PDP Presidential 

Campaign 

Council, PCC, who confirmed 

the peace moves, 

said it was fruitful. 

The PCC member, who 

is privy to the reconciliation 

efforts, said given 

the efforts of the former 

presidents and other 

PDP leaders “Reconciliation 

is not impossible, 

though I cannot speak 

authoritatively on it. 

''I am aware there are 

internal efforts to intervene 

but I cannot speak 

on the terms of it.” 

On whether the meeting 

between Atiku and 

Jonathan hit the brick 

wall, the PCC member 

said: “That is not correct. 

The meeting they held in 

Abuja was very fruitful, 

that is the only takeaway 

I had from their meet- 

Pro-Atiku group 

chides Jang, G5 

govs over stance 

on Ayu 

Meanwhile, a pro- 

Atiku/Okowa group in 

Plateau State, Plateau 

for Atiku Movement, yesterday, 

faulted the continued 

call for Ayu’s resignation, 

saying its 

members were disappointed 

with former 

Governor Jonah Jang of 

Plateau State and the G5 

governors for their insistence 

on Ayu's resignation. 

The group distanced 

itself from the agitation, 

saying that Jang's involvement 

with the Port 

Harcourt/Lagos group 

does not represent the 

thinking of the Plateau 

State PDP. 

Addressing journalists 

in Jos, the group’s 

spokesperson, Istifanus 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 — 5 

POCKET CARTOON 

From left, Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa; Presidential 

Candidate of PDP and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; CAN President, Daniel Okoh; CAN General 

Secretary, Joseph Daramola; PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyochia Ayu and CAN Assistant General 

Secretary, Rev. Mrs. Uzoaku Williams during CAN interactive session with presidential candidates of political 

parties in Abuja. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. 

Resurgence of kidnapping in the S/West 

By Mmesoma Nwafor 

Mwansat, urged Senator 

Jang to return to base in 

Plateau State and engage 

with his constituents 

to shed more light 

on how the position of 

his group affects the 

state. 

According to him, an 

average PDP member in 

the state does not significantly 

understand the 

basis of Jang's decisions 

and actions. 

Mwansat, a former 

speaker of the State 

House of Assembly, said: 

“One of the key demands 

of the G5 governors 

is that the chairman 

of the party should resign 

because he had 

agreed to do so before 

he emerged as the chairman 

if the north produced 

the flagbearer of 

the party. 

''As a movement, we 

have some concerns: If 

the chairman resigns, 

what happens to the 

Deputy National Chairman 

(North), who is required 

by the PDP constitution 

to assume leadership? 

"Shifting the national 

chairmanship of the party 

at this moment will 

affect other positions, 

thereby leading to 

broad-based consultations 

and consensus for 

which time is not available. 

''No serious political 

party will engage in 

leadership change at a 

time other political competitors 

are out in the 

field canvassing for 

votes from the electorate. 

"As critical stakeholders 

working for the victory 

of the PDP, we are 

deeply concerned by the 

involvement and participation 

of one of our 

leaders and former governor, 

senator and member 

of the Board of Trustees 

and founding member 

of the PDP, Dr Jang, 

with the Port Harcourt/ 

Lagos group. 

Continues on Page 35 

THE 

elected 

government of any 

nation has the 

responsibility to ensure 

effective management of 

the security sector is in 

line with democratic best 

practices. All elected 

government officials in 

the Southwest should 

rise to the occasion to 

tackle the problem. 

— Nwankwo 

Chibuzor, Businessman 

V IGILANTE 

groups should 

be set up across the 

various communities 

in the Southwest. 

They should be 

equipped and 

mobilised to patrol 

forests surrounding 

major highways to 

apprehend and fish 

out criminals. 

—Umeh Chigozie, 

Businessman 

INSECURITY has 

become such a big 

threat that we must 

embrace community 

policing. The federal 

government should be 

willing to consider the 

calls for the creation of 

state police. The best 

way to secure the 

region is through 

community policing. 

—Okoye Micheal, 

Student 

THE governors of 

the Southwest 

should be more 

cooperative to ensure 

that the region does 

not become a haven 

for terrorists and 

bandits. A joint task 

force comprising all 

security agencies 

should be established 

by the region. 

—Chinaza Okoye, 

Student 

THE 

Federal 

Government 

should show more 

seriousness in 

tackling the issues of 

kidnapping in Nigeria 

to save more people 

from being enslaved 

by bandits. More 

security operatives 

should be drafted to 

the region. 

— A k u b u e z e 

Chiamaka, Student 

The 

Federal 

Government must 

ensure 

that 

everything is done 

accordingly and that 

Nigeria does not 

become another 

country where 

terrorists reside. 

Terrorists must not be 

allowed to take over 

the region. 

—Chinyere Emeka, 

Student

C 

M 

Y 

6 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

:Vanguard 

News 

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

Pastor, 2 others 

arrested for 

killing 

39-year-old man 

for ritual 

By James Ogunnaike 

ABEOKUTA—A Pastor and 

two others have been arrested 

by the Ogun State Police Command 

for abducting and killing a 39-yearold 

man, Adekunle Muyiwa, and 

dismembering his body for ritual 

purposes. 

The command's Public Relations 

Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who 

revealed this, said the suspects, Idowu 

Abel, Clement Adeniyi and Felix 

Ajadi, were arrested, following a 

report lodged at Owode Yewa 

Divisional Headquarters, on 

November 15, 2022. 

The police image maker noted that 

the elder brother of the victim, 

Oluwaseyi Adekunle, reported to the 

police that his younger brother left 

home on the 10th of November 2022 

and didn't return. 

Upon the report, the DPO of the 

division, CSP Mohammed Baba, 

detailed his detectives to unravel the 

mystery behind the sudden 

disappearance of the man. 

In the course of their investigation, 

it was discovered that Idowu Abel 

was the person who came to pick 

the missing man from his house on 

that fateful day. 

Upon the discovery, the said Idowu 

Abel was traced and arrested. 

On interrogation, Idowu Abel 

confessed that the victim, who 

happened to be his bosom friend, 

was lured out by him and taken to 

his second accomplice, Clement 

Adeniyi's farm, where he was killed 

and butchered to pieces. 

"He confessed further that it was 

one herbalist, who was introduced 

to him by Pastor Felix Ajadi, that 

requested for human head, heart, 

two hands and legs." 

He stated further that the said 

herbalist, who is now at large, 

promised to pay him the sum of 

N200,000 if he was able to get the 

listed human parts for him. 

He explained further that the 

herbalist paid N80,000 as advance 

payment with the promise to pay the 

balance of N120,000 on receiving 

the items. 

After collecting the advance 

payment, Idowu Abel went to his 

bosom friend, Muyiwa Adekunle, 

and asked him to escort him 

somewhere. 

"Being a long-time friend, the victim 

who didn't suspect any foul play 

followed him innocently, and he was 

taken to the farm of Clement Adeniyi 

where they killed him and 

dismembered his body. His head was 

cut off, the heart was also removed." 

The remaining parts were hurriedly 

buried in a shallow grave in the said 

farm. 

His confession led to the arrest of 

Clement Adeniyi and Pastor Felix 

Ajadi, while the herbalist who was 

simply identified as Abeeb a.k.a 

Boko has taken to flight. 

Meanwhile, the State 

Commissioner of Police, Lanre 

Bankole, has ordered the immediate 

transfer of the suspects to the 

Homicide section of the state Criminal 

Investigation Departments for 

discreet investigation. 

He also directed that the fleeing 

herbalist must be hunted for and 

brought to book. 

•The pastor the two others arrested for killing a 39-year-old man, in Ogun State. 

Corpse of 16-yr-old Bayelsa girl 

found in hotel wardrobe 

By Samuel Oyadongha 

YENAGOA—THE coastal town 

of Twon Brass, in Brass Local 

Government Area of Bayelsa State, was 

thrown into confusion, yesterday, 

following the discovery of the corpse of 

a teenage girl in a hotel wardrobe. 

The 16-year-old deceased was 

identified as Miss Nengi Enenimiete, 

an indigene of the area. 

Vanguard learned that the corpse, 

which had started decomposing and 

emitting foul smell, was discovered by 

the manager of the hotel. 

It was, however, learned that the 

deceased corpse showed no signs of 

physical injuries, mutilation or 

strangulation. 

Indigenes of the coastal town are said 

to be demanding an autopsy and arrest 

LAGOS—A 45-year-old man, 

Kayode Abiodun, was, yesterday, 

docked at an Ikorodu Magistrate’s 

Court, in Lagos State, for allegedly 

beating up his mother. 

Abiodun faced a four-count charge of 

assault, wilful damage and threat to life. 

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. 

The prosecutor, Insp. Ahmed Sanni, 

told the court that Abiodun beat his 

mother up on September 5, at her 

residence at No 3, Omobowale Olowu 

Close, in Igbogbo area of Ikorodu. 

of a male guest with the deceased. 

The deceased was allegedly 

introduced to the yet-to-be-identified 

male guest on Saturday by her friend 

and lodged at the hotel. The male guest 

was said to have checked out on Sunday. 

A source from Twon Brass community 

said: "When the manager arrived and 

checked the room. He saw that it was 

messed up and asked the cleaner to tidy 

it up for another guest." 

The cleaner did but they noticed water 

dripping on the tiles from another part 

of the room. While they were checking 

the room, they were perceiving a foul 

smell and started searching for the 

source. They later discover the lifeless 

body of the deceased in the wardrobe. 

The girl identified as the link between 

her and the yet-to-be-identified male 

guest has been reportedly arrested. 

Contacted, Spokesman of the state 

police command, Mr Asinim 

Butswat, confirmed the incident. 

He said: "On 21st November 2022 

the manager of a hotel in Twon Brass, 

reported at the Divisional Police 

Headquarters, Brass, that he 

perceived an offensive odour from 

one of the rooms in the hotel, upon a 

search he discovered a lifeless female 

corpse hidden inside a wardrobe." 

The deceased was later identified 

as Nengi Enenimiete 'f' aged 16. An 

investigation is ongoing to identify 

the suspects who lodge in the hotel 

room on the night of the incident. 

The corpse has been evacuated and 

deposited at the mortuary for 

autopsy. An investigation is ongoing. 

Police arraign man for allegedly beating 

up his mother 

C'River 

By Ike Uchechukwu, 

AT least six persons, including a 

chief superintendent of Customs , 

two medical doctor's, deputy route 

Commander of FRSC, as well as two 

others, have been rescued by tactical 

teams on Anti Kidnapping. 

Vanguard learned that the six persons 

were released due to pressure exerted on 

the kidnappers by the tactical teams, 

forcing them to release their victims 

unharmed around Uyanga rubber 

plantations, in Akampka LGA of Cross 

River state. 

Sanni said he assaulted his mother, 

Mrs Ebun-Oluwa Abiodun by hitting 

her in the face several times with his fist, 

causing her injury. 

He added that Abiodun also conducted 

himself in a manner likely to breach the peace 

by shouting on his mother. 

The prosecutor also told the court that 

while the defendant was beating his mother, 

he wilfully damaged one pair of eye glasses 

valued N25,000 and one Itel phone valued 

N10,000. 

He also damaged one radio set valued at 

2 doctors, Customs officer, others rescued in 

The released victims include Supt of 

Customs, Ekok Emmanuel Agbor , Dr 

Omini Itam, Dr Egon Ekpo Etim , 

Deputy Route Commander FRSC, and 

two others. 

According security source, the victims 

were released in the early hours of 

Tuesday and debriefed at about 03:00 

hours. 

Confirming the release , the Police 

Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, 

said it was true that six persons were 

rescued including two medical doctors. 

She also confirmed that a 

superintendent of Customs and a Deputy 

Route Commander of FRSC and two 

other persons were also rescued. 

N30,000, one refrigerator, valued N66,500 and 

five kegs valued N3,500. 

Sanni said Abiodun also wielded a sharp 

object with which he threatened to kill his 

mother who later reported the assault to the 

police before the defendant was arrested. 

He said the offences contravened the 

Criminal Laws of Lagos State (2015). 

The presiding magistrate, Mrs T.A. Shotobi, 

granted Abiodun bail in the sum of N200,000 

with two sureties in like sum. 

Shotobi ruled that one of the sureties must 

be a blood relation of the defendant. 

She adjourned the case till Dec. 1 for 

mention. 

When contacted, the Chairman of 

Nigerian Medical Association NMA 

Cross River state, Dr Felix Archibong, 

confirmed that the two doctors have 

also been released as he spoke with 

both of them in the early hours of the 

day. 

He commended Governor Ben 

Ayade for the swift response and also 

security agencies including the police 

, Army and the other sister agencies 

for a job well done . 

"I spoke with two of my members , 

Dr Omini and Dr Egon , they have 

been released , they were released at 

about 2 00: 00 am on Tuesday ," he 

said . 

NDLEA raids 

P-Harcourt Golf 

Estate, nabs 2 

Twin sisters bag 

1st class 

degrees at 

university 

convocation 

Adamawa police arrests 52-year-old principal for raping minor 

By Umar Yusuf 

YOLA—A 52-year-old Vice 

Principal of Government Girls 

Secondary School of Abba Murke, 

in Song Local Government Area of 

Adamawa State, Mr. Enoch 

Kwalejin, has been arrested by police 

for allegedly raping a minor. 

The spokesman of the Adamawa 

Police Command, Suleiman 

Nguroje, yesterday, in Yola, disclosed 

that the suspect was alleged to have 

raped his victim, a 13-year-old girl, 

last week, in Sangere Jabbi-Lamba, 

in Girei Local Government Area of 

the state. 

The suspect was said to have lured 

OPERATIVES of National 

Drug Law Enforcement Agency, 

NDLEA, have raided the club house in 

the elite Golf Estate of Port Harcourt, 

Rivers State, following a tip-off. 

Vanguard gathered that two persons 

were arrested at the estate club house, 

operated by a private contractor, after 

an alleged recovery of a cache of a 

dangerous recreational drug, known 

as Ice or Meth or Mkpuru Mmiri, in 

their possession. 

It was gathered that on the same 

night, the Anti-Fraud Unit of the 

Rivers State Police Command 

arrested four young men at an 

apartment, Block B32 within the 

estate on suspicion of fraud. 

An operative of NDLEA, who 

spoke to Vanguard on condition 

of anonymity, explained that the 

once exclusive estate has become 

a safe haven for miscreants, drug 

addicts, fraudsters and prostitutes 

who deploy Block B32 and several 

other apartments within the estate 

as short let accommodation to 

carry out their nefarious activities. 

He hinted that further raids 

would be carried out in the estate 

to rid the once idyllic environment 

of undesirable elements. 

Officials of the estate 

association, were not immediately 

available to comment on the 

development at press time. 

IDENTICAL twins, Taiwo and 

Kehinde Olude, are among seven 

graduands that will be awarded first 

class degrees at the 8th Convocation 

ceremony of Glorious Vision 

University, GVU (formerly known as 

Samuel Adegboyega University), 

Ogwa, in Esan West Local Government 

Area of Edo State. 

The Vice Chancellor of the university, 

Prof. Adewumi Idowu, announced this 

at the pre-2022 Convocation press 

conference, held at the institution, 

yesterday, saying the twin sisters 

achieved the feat in different 

departments — Economics and 

Chemical Sciences. 

“This is the first time we are having 

twins graduate with first class degrees 

in the same academic session. 

“Since inception, GVU has produced 

six sets of graduates with a total number 

of 670 undergraduates, eight 

postgraduates and nine Honorary 

Doctoral Certificates. 

“And by the grace of God, this year, 

we are producing 101 with seven (7) 

graduating with First Class honours, 

33 with Second Class (Upper Division), 

46 with Second Class (Lower Division), 

seven with 3rd Class and four 

Postgraduates. 

“One of the uniqueness of 2022 

graduating class is the set of twins from 

the Olude family, both graduating with 

First Class honours. 

“Taiwo Abigail Olude emerges the 

best graduating student from 

Economics Department and Kehinde 

Mary Olude also emerges the second 

best student from Department of 

Chemical Sciences.” 

Idowu said the institution has 

continued to maintain high academic 

standards, emerging recently as the best 

among the private universities in the 

South South. 

his victim to an uncomplicated 

building and forcefully had carnal 

knowledge of her. 

He said the case was reported to 

the police in Jabbi-Lamba by the 

victim's mother.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


:Vanguard 

News 

:@vanguardnews :@vanguardnewsNEWS HOTLINES: 

Social Media Conversation 

•Scene of the Abuja accident. 

ROAD CRASH: 54 die in 2 separate 

auto accidents 

By Charly Agwam, 

Ndahi Marama & 

Fortune Eromosele 

IT was a harvest of death, 

yesterday, as about 54 people 

died in two separate accidents 

along Maiduguri-Damaturu 

road in Borno State and Kwali- 

Abaji highway, Abuja, while 

many were injured. 

About 37 people were 

reportedly burnt beyond 

recognition in the road accident 

that involved two Toyota Hi-Ace 

buses and one VolksWagen 

Golf saloon car along 

Maiduguri-Damaturu road, 

close to Jakana village in Borno 

State. 

Zonal Commander of Federal 

Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Zone 

12 (Bauchi, Yobe and Borno 

States), Assistant Corps Marshal 

•37 burnt to death along Maiduguri- 

Damaturu road •17 dead, 4 injured 

in Kwali-Abaji highway crash 

Rotimi Adeleye, who disclosed 

this in Bauchi, said: "This is to 

intimate you of very fatal crashes 

at about 10am today (22/11/22) 

that occurred this morning along 

Maiduguri to Damaturu road, 

very close to a village called 

Jakana. 

"Three vehicles were involved 

(Toyota Hi-Ace buses and a 

VolksWagen Golf saloon car). 

So far, 37 persons have been 

confirmed dead, eight injured 

and most of them burnt beyond 

recognition." 

The FRSC deployed men for 

the rescue and has also liaised 

with the Borno State 

Commissioner of Police to obtain 

a court order for the mass burial 

of the victims, who were burnt 

beyond recognition. 

"The Fire Service were also 

alerted, as one of the three 

vehicles involved was still 

burning, as of this time. The 

injured have been taken to the 

General Hospital in Maiduguri 

and the University of 

Maiduguri Teaching 

Hospital, UMTH. 

"The Toyota Hi-Ace buses 

were coming in opposite 

directions. One had its tyre burst 

and had a head-on collision, 

which resulted in the fire. The 

Golf, coming from behind, ran 

into them. 

"Excessive overspeeding is the 

major cause. This was very 

avoidable." 

Also, yesterday, the FRSC 

confirmed that 17 persons were 

killed, while four others were 

injured in an auto crash on Kwali- 

Abaji Road, before Awawa in the 

FCT. 

The Corps Public Education 

Officer, Bisi Kazeem, in a 

statement in Abuja, said the crash 

which occurred at about 6:30 

a.m. involved two vehicles – a DAF 

Trailer and a Toyota Bus. 

He said that the 22 persons 

involved in the accident were all 

males, adding that the injured 

victims were provided first aid 

treatment by rescue workers 

before being taken to the hospital. 

“Out of 22 victims, four persons 

sustained various degrees of 

injury, 17 died while one was 

rescued without any injury. 

Meanwhile, the Borno Police 

Command, yesterday, also 

confirmed the death of two 

policemen in an auto crash in 

which 17 others were injured on 

Monday along Hawan Kibo 

road in Plateau while the 

policemen were en route Uyo for 

the 2022 Police Games. 

The command Public 

Relations Officer, Sani 

Shatambaya, said that the 

contingent was to represent Zone 

15 comprising Borno and Yobe 

commands at the Biannual 

Police Games in Uyo, Akwa 

Ibom. 

The spokesman said that the 

accident occurred due to brake 

failure, adding that those who 

died were female constables. 

"The Commissioner of Police, 

Borno Command, regrets the 

unfortunate accident, noting that 

the persons who lost their lives 

and the injured victims have been 

conveyed back to Maiduguri,” 

he added. 

So far, 37 persons have been 

confirmed dead, eight injured 

and most of them burnt 

beyond recognition. Four 

persons also sustained 

various degrees of injuries, 

while 17 died and one was 

rescued without any injury, 

in another auto crash on 

Kwali-Abaji road 

...And what about your own mother? 

They will...after the elections! 

You're handsome o'jare! 

But you also give ‘something'!

C 

M 

Y 

K 


:Vanguard News 

We've not shifted grounds on 

same-faith ticket —CAN 

•Says 'we won't endorse any candidate' •As Atiku, Obi, Adebayo 

meet body, unfold restructuring, security agenda, others 

By Luminous 

Jannamike 

A BUJA—CHRISTIAN 

Association of Nigeria, 

CAN, yesterday, said it had not 

changed its position on samefaith 

ticket. 

''If we want to change any 

position, we'll let the Nigerian 

public know,'' the Christian body 

said on a day the presidential 

candidates of Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar; 

Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, and 

their Social Democratic Party, 

SDP, counterpart, Adewole 

Adebayo, met with its leadership 

to discuss issues of concern to 

Christians in the country, ahead 

of the 2023 elections. 

The three candidates also 

unfolded their agenda on 

restructuring, insecurity, 

economy, power and corruption. 

While Atiku shared how he 

planned to address the age-old 

issue of restructuring and 

devolution of power to the 

federating units, if elected in the 

2023 election, Obi highlighted his 

vision for the economy and 

wealth creation, as Adebayo said 

he would prioritise food security, 

housing, educaEtion and 

infrastructure development. 

CAN, however, presented an 

11-point demand entitled, 

'Charter for Future Nigeria' to the 

presidential candidates which 

outlined key areas of interest for 

the good of the common man. 

The religious body also added 

that a holistic amendment of the 

1999 Constitution was a 

necessity for justice, peace, 

unity, prosperity and progress of 

the nation. 

At the interactive session were 

leaders of CAN and 

representatives of various 

Christian blocs; Atiku's running 

mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa 

of Delta State; and the PDP 

national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia 

Ayu. 

Others include Governor of 

Taraba State, Dairus Ishaku; 

former Senate President, Bukola 

Saraki; former Vice President, 

Alhaji Namadi Sambo; former 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tom 

Ikimi; and Chairman Emeritus 

of Daar Communications Plc, Dr. 

Raymond Dokpesi. 

Also present were a former 

governor of Cross River, Liyel 

Imoke; Senator Philip Aduda, 

Senator Dino Melaye, Timi 

Alaibe, Kenneth Imasuagbon, 

Dele Momodu, former Governor 

Boni Haruna of Adamawa State, 

and other PDP, LP, and SDP 

chieftains among others. 

We won't endorse 

any candidate —CAN 

In his remarks, the CAN 

President, Archbishop Daniel 

Okoh, said CAN is very careful 

not to be partisan, insisting that 

its position on same-faith ticket 

remains same. 

He said: “We have not changed 

our position (on same-faith 

ticket). If we want to change any 

position, we'll let the Nigerian 

public know. And so, when 

people read insinuations in the 

social media, I will advise that 

people to come verify, and to be 

sure that what you see out there 

is truly the position of CAN. 

"This year, CAN has decided 

to expand this interactive 

session to include the media and 

and other leaders so that the 

conversation will be seen to be 

as open as possible, and that the 

people will see that there is no 

secret. There are no secret 

meetings and there is nothing 

hidden at all in any 

conversation. 

"We gave two dates and we 

wrote to all the 18 presidential 

candidates and we invited all to 

interactive session on November 

15 and November 16. 

"We are not going to endorse 

any political party. And we also 

want to let you know that 

Christian Association of Nigeria 

has taken the stand on a number 

of political issues in this country, 

not for the church alone, but for 

the well being of the people and 

future of our country. And we 

are not about to change those 

positions we have taken because 

it took us a long time to arrive at 

those positions and decisions.'' 

Atiku addresses 

CAN 

Atiku Abubakar assured the 

Christian leaders of devolving 

power to the component regions 

and states of the federation, 

noting that restructuring of the 

country is imperative for Nigeria 

to make progress in 2023 and 

beyond. 

Broaching the issue which has 

been a sensitive and contentious 

subject between the Northern 


COMMISSIONING: From left, Balogun Alanamu, Dr. Usman Abubakar Jos; Inspector General of 

Police, Usman Alkali Baba; Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Commissioner of 

Police, Kwara State, Paul Odama, during the commissioning of a model police station and ultra modern 

barracks, in Ilorin, yesterday. 

and Southern regions, the PDP 

flag bearer agreed with CAN that 

state police and fiscal 

restructuring are constitutional 

matters requiring the urgent 

attention of the country's next 

president. 

He took a swipe at the ruling 

All Progressives Congress, APC, 

saying it deceived Nigerians in 

2015 by promising to restructure 

the country which it didn't till 

date. 

He said: "My brothers and 

sisters, I stand before you here 

not to campaign but to tell you 

the honest truth. What you have 

presented to us is what I have 

always believed in and if I have 

the opportunity. I swear to God I 

will do it. 

"We cannot have state police 

without having a constitutional 

amendment, so we will go into 

constitution amendment where 

we will have different levels of 

police. These are our plans to 

tackle the security challenges 

facing the country. 

"For sure, we need a judicial 

amendment, first of all, there are 

poor wages for Judges, very poor 

working conditions. Again, the 

judiciary has levels, federal 

judiciary, state, but we will 

attempt as much as possible to 

have a judicial reform where we 

will improve dispensation of 

justice and also the welfare of 

Judges." 

He vowed to expunge the 

sections of the 1999 Constitution 

that reinforced indigeneship at 

the expense of citizenship. 

"I am a supporter of the removal 

of clause of definition of 

indigeneship in our constitution. 

Once you reside in any part of 

the country, and you pay your 

taxes, you should be entitled to 

indigeneship," he noted. 

Obi takes the stage 

Speaking when he took the 

centre stage, the Labour Party 

presidential candidate, Peter 

Obi, said he would rescue Nigeria 

from its status as a failed state if 

elected president in 2023. 

Like Atiku, he reiterated that 

insecurity would be a thing of 

the past under his 

administration, declaring that he 

was committed to unlocking the 

greatness of the country and 

lifting her from a consuming 

country to a producing one. 

The former Anambra governor 

said all the 18 presidential 

candidates would make same 

promises, but asked Nigerians to 

check the sincerity of their 

promises and support who they 

could trust. 

Obi said Nigeria had met the 

qualifications to be characterised 

as a failed state, because the 

country is no longer in control of 

its territory and economy. 

"All presidential candidates will 

tell you the same story, 

everybody's story will be as sweet 

as the other ones. What you are 

going to do is to check the 

sincerity and the truth and the 

one you can trust. 

"It is now who among these 18 

presidential candidates can you 

trust, because there is no 

promise that we are going to 

make that has not been made in 

the past, that promise has 

always been there. 

"What I want to do is to move 

the country from consumption 

to production, it is not a 

productive country, our priority 

is to secure and unite the 

country, it is the number one 

thing you need to do. 

"Nigeria has hit the two most 

critical things that qualifies a 

country to a failed state, number 

one, when you are no longer in 

control of your territory, we are 

no longer in control of our 

territory, number two, is when 

you are no longer in control of 

your economy, nobody can tell 

you today how much they are 

going to sell a bag of rice 

tomorrow. No country can 

function like that. 

State, religion like 

Siamese twins 

—SDP candidate, 

Adebayo 

When it was his turn to speak, 

the SDP presidential candidate 

stated that it was wrong to 

separate the state from religion 

in the pursuit of common good 

for all. 

According to him, both are like 

Siamese twins and mutually 

reinforcing each other for the 

peace and progress of nation, but 

regretted that unscrupulous 

politicians seek to break that 

bond between the two. 

"That is why leaders when they 

are doing wrong, I mean political 

leaders, and religious leaders 

come out to talk, rhey will say, 

separate religion from state. 

"But when the state is in 

trouble, we'll call religious leaders 

to come and explain. When we 

have failed in our credibility, 

because we have no provided for 

the people, and they're not 

listening to us. We go to religious 

leaders for help," he explained. 

Nigerian Prisons record zero 

COVID-19 case since outbreak 

—CGP 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE 

Nigerian 

Prisons Service, NPS, has 

again scaled up its environmental 

and health surveillance systems, 

as part of its mandate to provide 

good health services for the 

wellbeing, protection and 

reformation of inmates. 

Declaring open the 2022 

service-wide training of frontline 

health and medical officers 

organized in conjunction with the 

International Committee of the 

Red Cross ICRC in Abuja, 

Controller General of Prisons, 

Haliru Nababa, explained how 

the agency was able to keep at 

bay the COVID-19 pandemic 

which reared its head in Nigeria 

in February 2020. 

He said: "Globally there is 

erroneous impression on African 

penitentiary health delivery 

system. The NCoS has put on 

global record a historic health 

service tribute that herald the 

defeat of dreaded diseases such 

as the HIV/AIDS, Ebola Virus, 

Lassa Fever, cholera, COVID-19 

pandemic, etc in Prisons. 

"For the umpteenth time, I am 

glad to announce that there is no 

single case of COVID-19 recorded 

in custodial centres in Nigeria 

right from when it was officially 

declared a pandemic till date! 

"This feat underscores the rich 

culture of health practices within 

the Nigerian Correctional Service 

to the credit of the Federal 

Government of Nigeria. Indeed, 

such achievements does not come 

by accident. First of all, 

Professional Correctional 

Management with focus on 

inmates protection play vital 

role. 

"Secondly, a broad based 

synergy of Correctional Service 

health staff and the entire health 

emergency preparedness 

response mechanism of Nigeria 

contributes richly to this globally 

2023: Court refuses to order 

INEC to resume CVR 

A 

FEDERAL High Court, 

Abuja, yesterday refused to 

direct the Independent National 

Electoral Commission, INEC, to 

resume the continuous voter’s 

registration, CVR. 

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a 

judgment, held that going by the 

date of thie verdict, INEC would 

have had “just a few days away 

from 90 days before the general 

elections. 

Justice Ekwo, however, declared 

that INEC “is expected pursuant 

to the provisions of Sections 76 

(2), 77 (2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) 

& (5) and 178 (2) and (5) of the 

1999 Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 

as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 

(1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Acts, 

2022, to continue voters 

registration, update and revision 

of voters register until 90 days 

before the General Election billed 

to take place on Feb. 25 and March 

11. 

“It is the constitutional 

responsibility of the defendant 

(INEC) to make sure that every 

prospective Nigerian voter who 

have shown desire to register to 

vote are not deprived, their civil 

right to register and participate in 

the forthcoming general elections 

scheduled to teke place on 25th 

February, 2023 and 11th March, 

2023.” 

According to Justice Ekwo, “this 

court is unable to grant relief 

number 3 of the plaintiffs because 

going by the date of this 

judgement, from the date of this 

judgement, the defendant will 

have just a few days away from 90 

celebrated health delivery status. 

''Furthermore, the government 

of President Muhammadu 

Buhari, especially, plays important 

role in seeing to the seemingly 

wonderful health performances of 

the Nigerian Prisons Service." 

Represented by the Controller 

of Prisons in charge of Water and 

Sewage at the National 

Headquarters, Mr RY Jatau, the 

Prisons Controller-General 

added that the problem of drug 

supply was being tackled through 

special fund allocation for 

monthly pharmaceutical 

procurements. 

According to him, the drug 

compounding centre at the 

Medium Security Prisons in Kuje 

is another strategic government 

investment towards ensuring 

timely provision of quality drugs 

for inmates. 

"Better days lie ahead as the 

Service embraces the Public- 

Private-Partnership for 

production of drugs to meet the 

demand of the increasing inmates' 

population. 

"Worth mentioning is the 

hygiene promotion programme 

instituted at diverse Correctional 

Centres. The production of 

hygiene materials at Maximum 

Prison, Kirikiri, was initiated by 

ICRC but currently being 

sustained by Water and Sewage 

Unit. 

''The products assessed fit by the 

Health Directorate, are approved 

by CGC for Pharmaceutical unit 

to procure relevant items for 

redistribution to inmates 

nationwide. 

"In the same vein, I have 

approved the production of 

quality table water in Custodial 

Centres for inmates use and 

rehabilitation programming. Hair 

hygiene and general sanitation 

is also on the saddle of strategic 

plan for the Service towards 

achieving health for all inmates. 

Health service in NCoS is gender 

sensitive across all correctional 

commands as ICRC can confirm." 

days before the general elections 

of 25th February, 2023 and 11th 

March, 2023.” 

The News Agency of Nigeria 

(NAN) reports that four plaintiffs; 

Anajat Salmat, Mr Earnest 

Stanley, Charles Okafor and Mr 

Samuel Oluwakemi had sued 

INEC for discontinued the voter 

registration exercise on July 31. 

INEC was the sole defendant in 

the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 

1343/2022. 

The plaintiffs had prayed the 

court for three reliefs which include 

“a declaration that the defendant 

is expected pursuant to the 

provisions of Sections 76 (2), 77 

(2), 116 (2), 117 (2), 132 (2) & (5) 

and 178 (2) & (5) of the 1999 

Constitution of the Federal 

Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 

as well as Sections 9 (1), 9 (6), 10 

(1) and 12 (1) of the Electoral Acts, 

2022, to continue voters 

registration, update and revision 

of voters register till 90 days before 

the general election. 

“A declaration that it is the 

constitutional responsibility of 

the defendant to make sure that 

every prospective Nigerian voter 

who have shown desire to 

register to vote are not deprived 

their civil right to register and 

participate in the forthcoming 

general elections. 

“An order of court directing the 

defendant to resume 

immediately the registration of 

new voters, updating and 

revision of the register of voters 

until at least 90 days to the 

general election slated to hold 

on 5th February, 2023 and 11th 

March, 2023.”

C 

M 

Y 

K 




FLAG-OFF—From left: GMD, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc., Ravindra Singhvi; Chief of Staff 

to Adamawa State governor, Prof. Maxwell Gidado; Minister of Industry, Trade and 

Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Crowder Seth, and 

President/CE, Dangote Industries Ltd., Aliko Dangote, during the flag-off ceremony of 

2022/2023 Crushing Season and Outgrower Scheme Awards, at the refinery, in Numan, 

Adamawa State, yesterday. 

NNPCL, partners begin devt of 1bn barrels 

Kolmani oil field 

By Obas Esiedesa 

B Muhammadu 

AUCHI—PRESIDENT 

Buhari 

yesterday flagged off the Kolmani 

Integrated Development Project 

in Bauchi State, marking the 

commencement of effort to 

commercially exploit oil in 

Northern part of Nigeria. 

The Kolmani oil field, estimated 

to have a reserve of about one 

billion barrels of crude oil, OPL 

809 and 810, lies in the Gongola 

Basin of the Upper Benue Trough, 

straddling Bauchi and Gombe 

states. 

The oil blocks are owned by the 

Nigerian National Petroleum 

Company Limited, NNPCL, as 

concessionaire with New Nigeria 

Development Company Ltd, 

Africa Oilfield movers Ltd, and 

SEEPCO as partners. 

The well is expected to produce 

50,000 barrels of oil per day during 

the first phase. 

Speaking shortly before the 

official groundbreaking, President 

Buhari said the successful 

discovery of the Kolmani Oil and 

Gas field by NNPC and its 

partners had finally broken the 

jinx record by confirmation of 

huge commercial deposits of 

hydrocarbons in Kolmani River 

field. 

The President said: 

"Considering the land locked 

location and the huge capital 

requirement, the economics of 

the project is a challenging 

proposition. Consequently, from 

the onset, I instructed NNPC 

Limited to utilize and leverage 

their vast asset portfolio across 

all corridors of its operations to 

de-risk the project to attract the 

much-needed investment. I have 

directed NNPC to continue along 

these lines. 

"It is therefore to the credit of 

this administration that at a time 

when there is near zero appetite 

for investment in fossil energy, 

coupled with the location 

challenges, we are able to attract 

investment of over USD 3 billion 

to this project." 

On his part, the Minister of 

State for Petroleum Resources, 

Timipre Sylva, said Buhari’s 

government was determined to 

end energy poverty in the 

country, while creating shared 

prosperity for all Nigerians. 

In their separate remarks, the 

governors of Bauchi and Gombe 

states, Sen. Bala Mohammed and 

Muhammad Yahaya respectively, 

assured investors of security of 

the project. 

The governors also assured 

that the mistakes made in the 

exploration and exploitation of 

oil and gas in the Niger Delta 

would be avoided. 

To this end, the governors held 

that they would continue to 

collaborate to ensure 

harmonious relationship among 

the host communities. 

On his part, the Group CEO, 

NNPCL, Mele Kyari, disclosed 

that being an integrated project, 

the first phase would entail an 

in-stu oil refinery of up to 120,000 

barrels per day capacity, a gas 

processing plant of up to 500 

•Buhari flags off project, attracts $3bn 

investment •North joins oil production, targets 

50,000bpd •Plan 0.12mb/d refining facility 

million standard cubic feet per 

day, a power plant of up to 500 

Megawatts capacity, and a 

fertilizer plant of 2,500 tons per 

day. 

He also disclosed that in 

another phase of the project, 

"there will be a downstream oil 

terminal/depot for offtake and 

distribution of the white products 

coming out of the refinery and 

further development of the 

integrated project." 

Kyari added the financing for 

the project had been secured, 

stating that when completed, the 

project would ensure energy 

security for the country. 

The event, attended by the 

Senate President, Ahmad 

Lawan, and APC presidential 

candidate in the 2023 general 

elections, Bola Tinubu, was also 

graced by governors of several 

northern states. 

Digital vote buying: CUPP's allegation senseless, 

sign of fatigue —APC PCC 

•Pack up your campaigns if... —Keyamo 

•Opposition parties have weaponised fake 

news because they can’t match APC 

—Lai Mohammed 

By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—THE Presidential 

Campaign Council, PCC, of 

the ruling All Progressives 

Congress, APC, yesterday 

described allegations of digital 

vote buying levelled against it by 

the Coalition of United Political 

Parties CUPP as senseless and a 

sign of fatigue. 

The PCC was reacting to 

allegations by the Coalition of 

United Political Parties CUPP that 

APC and Tinubu had concluded 

plans to transfer cash to voters 

via harvested bank accounts, a 

digital vote buying method, 

following their inability to 

continue the usual cash-for-vote 

as a result of the new Naira design 

policy. 

It had earlier accused the 

opposition Peoples Democratic 

Party, PDP, of spreading wicked 

rumours to portray the APC 

standard bearer, Bola Tinubu, in 

bad light. 

The PCC's reaction came on a 

day Minister of Information and 

Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, 

said some opposition political 

parties had weaponised fake news 

because they could not match the 

APC in a free and fair election. 

Describing CUPP as a 

subsidiary of the opposition PDP, 

trhe Minister of State for Labour 

and Employment, Festus 

Keyamo, who doubles as chief 

spokesperson of the APC-PCC, 

advised the opposition to pack up 

their campaigns if they had 

nothing more to tell Nigerians. 

"That is the subsidiary of PDP. 

These wild allegations are already 

a sign of fatigue. They should 

pack up their campaigns if they 

have nothing more to tell 

Nigerians", Keyamo said. 

On his part, National Publicity 

Secretary of the APC, Felix 

Morka, said the allegation was 

another evidence of illpreparedness 

of the PDP. 

He said: "The allegation is yet 

another evidence of the 

opposition’s zero confidence in 

their competitive capacity, and ill 

preparedness for next year’s 

general election. We are a serious 

Party and will not be distracted by 

vain, senseless and baseless 

gibberish by the the opposition". 

Earlier on Monday, Bayo 

Onanuga, Director, Media and 

Publicity at the APC -PCC, had 

accused the PDP of using CUPP 

as its surrogate to attack Tinubu. 

"If you believe this, you will 

believe anything. This is a mere 

rumour concocted by the PDP 

and surrogate CUPP to malign 

our candidate. We are working 

hard to win this election by 

landslide," Onanuga had said. 

CUPP had alleged that over 20 

APC states have harvested 10m 

bank accounts to transfer money 

on election day to voters. 

Addressing journalists in Abuja 

on Monday, CUPP's 

spokesperson, Ikenga Imo 

Ugochinyere, had said the new 

plot of digital vote buying, termed 

operation Wire-Wire, would see to 

the APC harvesting names, 

account numbers, and Voters 

Identification Numbers, Bank 

Verification Numbers of citizens, 

arranged in tables for each polling 

unit on the understanding that 

money would be sent to each 

person by electronic means to 

purchase their votes. 

Opposition parties have 

weaponised fake news because 

they can’t match APC – Lai 

Mohammed 

Meanwhile, the Minister of 

Information and Culture, Alhaji 

Lai Mohammed, said yesterday 

that some opposition political 

parties had weaponised fake news 

since they coudn't match the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, in a 

free and fair election. 

Speaking at the fourth edition 

of the federal government’s 

scorecard in Abuja, Mohammed 

said the trend was dangerous and 

must be stopped. 

He said: “In recent times, we 

have all witnessed how a letter 

purportedly from INEC was used 

to cast aspersions on the 

candidate of the ruling“APC. 

“Shortly after that, the death of 

an innocent man was turned into 

a political tool to further attack 

the same APC candidate. 

“Of course, there have been 

other cases similar to the two I 

have just enumerated. This is a 

dangerous development which 

must be nipped in the bud. 

“If the opposition has suddenly 

realised that they cannot match 

the ruling party in a free and fair 

election, and have thus decided 

to weaponise fake news and 

disinformation, the media should 

not allow itself to be used for that 

nefarious purpose.” 

The minister lamented that 

there were those bent on using 

fake news as a strategy to win 

elections. 

“We have all seen the damage 

done to elections in other climes 

by fake news and disinformation,” 

he said. 

“No government will sit by and 

allow anyone or any organization 

to use fake news and 

disinformation to sow the seeds 

of discord. 

“We are therefore compelled to 

warn the purveyors of fake news 

and disinformation, especially in 

the run-up to next year’s 

elections, to stop forthwith. 

Enough is enough,'' he added. 

NSMP: Dangote Sugar upscales 

its $700m Investment 

•Increases sugar plantation by 179% to 

24,200 hectares has spent billions of naira in 

PRESIDENT of the Dangote 

Group, Aliko Dangote has 

announced that the Dangote 

Sugar Refinery, DSR, Plc is 

significantly scaling up its 

investment in the sugar sub-sector 

in line with the requirement of the 

Nigeria Sugar Master Plan, NSMP. 

Speaking at the Flag off 

ceremony of the 2022/2023 

Crushing Season and Outgrower 

Scheme Awards in Numan, 

Adamawa State, Dangote said the 

company is making massive 

investments in Adamawa State 

through the expansion of DSR 

Numan sugar refining capacity 

from 3,000 tonnes of cane per day 

(tcd) to 6,000 tcd, 9,800 tcd and to 

15,000 tcd. 

Noting that increasing the sugar 

refining capacity will require a 

corresponding increase in 

sugarcane production capacity, he 

revealed that the company has 

concluded plans to increase its 

sugar plantation from the current 

land area under cane production 

of about 8,700 hectares in 2022 to 

about 24,200 hectares within the 

next 7 years. He also assured that 

the company will double its 

scholarship and empowerment 

schemes in its host communities. 

“We will continue to introduce 

more initiatives to support our host 

communities. Through these 

initiatives and our numerous 

Corporate Social Responsibility 

activities, DSR Numan will be able 

to touch the lives of the people, 

bringing social, economic, and 

infrastructural development to our 

host communities.” 

He said: “We are thus 

committing over $700 million to our 

investment in the Backward 

Integration Programme (BIP) to 

enable us put in place needed 

infrastructure for the eventual 

commencement of full-scale 

production." 

Dangote further assured that 

Dangote Sugar will change the 

trajectory by making Nigeria selfsufficient 

in the sector. 

Already, the company, he noted, 

developing infrastructural facilities 

for host communities. 

Speaking also at the event, the 

Minister of Industry, Trade, and 

Investment, Otunba Adeniyi 

Adebayo described the Dangote 

Sugar Refinery as the biggest 

contributor to the sugar 

development stride of the Federal 

Government. 

The Minister also commended 

Aliko Dangote and the 

Management staff of Dangote 

Sugar for their massive support 

through the company’s corporate 

social responsibility scheme, which 

he said should be highly 

commended. 

He said agencies under his 

ministry will partner the company 

to provide the technical know-how 

that will support the Dangote 

empowerment schemes in the host 

communities. 

In the same vein, Governor of 

Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri 

who was represented by his 

Deputy Crowther Seth said he was 

amazed by the social-economic 

transformation carried out by the 

Dangote Group, adding that it is 

monumental. He assured the 

company of the support of the state 

government and enjoined other 

corporate bodies to imbibe 

Dangote’s spirit of job creation 

across the country. 

Speaking on behalf of the 

traditional rulers, Hama Bachama, 

Dr. Daniel Shaga Ismail described 

Dangote as God-sent and pledged 

that his people would continue to 

support the company. 

Aliko Dangote further 

announced a Free Education 

boon for all the students of 

Dangote Sugar Refinery High 

School, among other scholarship 

winners announced. 

The overall best Outgrower 

farmer, Christiana Rufus thanked 

the company and promised not to 

relent in her effort. 

Six farmers, mostly women 

emerged as overall best farmers in 

the contest, and were given 

various attractive prizes. 

Atiku’s ally, Chidoka replies 

Kwankwaso, says no party has 

won Lagos, Kano, Rivers at once 

By Juliet Umeh 

FORMER MINISTER of 

Aviation, Osita Chidoka, 

yesterday replied presidential 

candidate of New Nigeria Peoples 

Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa 

Kwankwaso, over commends that 

the Presidential candidate of 

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had lost 

out of the race, since he had no 

control of votes in Lagos, Kano 

and Rivers states. 

Recall that Kwankwaso had at 

the commissioning of a project 

executed by Rivers State governor, 

Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt 

on Monday, made such inference. 

But speaking in an interview on 

Channels Television's breakfast 

programme, Sunrise Daily, 

yesterday, Chidoka, who is also an 

ally of Atiku and a PDP chieftain, 

described Kwankwaso’s analysis 

as “not mathematically correct”. 

While acknowledging that the 

three states deliver millions of 

votes during elections, Chidoka 

said no party had won the three 

states in the history of Nigeria’s 

Fourth Republic. 

He said: “It is the party that 

wins across all segments that wins 

the election and no party has won 

the three states at the same time 

– most times, two out of three. In 

2019, APC won Kano and Lagos 

was marginal – it was 45 per cent 

to 55 per cent split between PDP 

and APC. PDP won Rivers.'' 

Chidoka, who noted that his 

party, PDP, had won at least three 

presidential elections since 1999, 

despite losing Kano, said: “As there 

is Kano, there is Katsina. As there 

is Lagos, there is Delta, there is 

Akwa Ibom, there is Jigawa, a state 

that doesn’t have high numbers 

but high voter turnout if you look 

at historical data.' 

''Kano had over 1.8 million 

cumulative votes, the highest by 

any state in the 2019 presidential 

election, while Lagos had over one 

million total votes and Rivers about 

600,000 total votes. Kano and 

Lagos are currently controlled by 

the APC whilst PDP is the party in 

power in Rivers.'' 

However, there are fears that 

the intra-party squabbles between 

Governor Nyesom Wike and Atiku 

over the chairmanship of Iyorchia 

Ayu would affect the chances of 

the PDP presidential candidate at 

the polls next February. 

Chidoka explained that PDP 

wouldn't remain a viable party 

without winning the bulk of votes 

in northern Nigeria as it did to 

govern Nigeria from 1999 to 2015 

before it lost to Muhammadu 

Buhari of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC. 

“What we have in the PDP now 

is what I call a ‘Northern Strategy’; 

restoring PDP as a national 

platform that cuts across its base 

in the South-East, South-South 

and take it to the north again.“



Osun poll didn't comply with 

INEC guidelines Oyetola's 

witness tells court 

•Adeleke's certificate not in our 

custody —REC 

By Shina Abubakar 

OSOGBO—THE 

State 

collation agent for Governor 

Adegboyega Oyetola and the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

Adeosun Rasaki, yesterday, told the 

Justice Tertsea Kume-led Osun 

state election petition tribunal that 

though he appended his signature 

on the July 16 governorship 

election, the exercise was not 

conducted in compliance with the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, guidelines in 

749 polling units. 

Adeosun, a Special Adviser to the 

Governor on Local Government 

and Chieftaincy Affairs, in his 

evidence before the tribunal said 

he received reports of happenings 

from all the polling units from party 

agents but was not aware if they all 

signed the election results in their 

respective units. 

Adeosun, who was crossexamined 

by Counsels to the 

second respondent, Senator 

Ademola Adeleke, Onyeachi 

Ikpeazu, SAN, said evidence before 

his party showed that the Bimodal 

Voter Registration System, BVAS, 

was not used in 749 polling units 

the governor challenged. 

He said: "My party engaged 

experts to analyse the results of 

the election. The election was held 

in partial compliance with INEC 

guidelines. The evidence showed 

that BVAS was not used in 749 

polling units. BVAS machine was 

used in my polling unit. 

"INEC did not comply with 

guidelines in 749 polling units to 

the best of my knowledge. The 

INEC server cannot be at the 

polling units but receiving 

information from all the units. BVAS 

machine transmits results/data 

subject to the availability of a 

network." 

Responding to Professor Paul 

Ananba, INEC's counsel 

questions, Rasaki said he did not 

operate the BVAS machine on 

Election Day but knows how it 

works. 

Adeleke's certificate 

not in our custody 

—REC 

Earlier, the Resident Electoral 

Commissioner, REC, in Osun State, 

had told the panel that the state 

office of the commission was not in 

the custody of Adeleke's certificates. 

The REC was billed to appear 

before the panel in line with a 

Subpoena issued on him to produce 

form CF001 of Adeleke which 

contained his credentials used for 

the 2018 governorship election. 

Mr Sheu Mohammed, a Deputy 

Director of Election and Party 

Monitoring, who represented the 

REC, when asked to produce the 

document required of him, said: "We 

are not in the custody of the 

documents; the documents were 

submitted to the National 

Headquarters. We were only given 

photocopies by the National 

Headquarters for display. After we 

might have done with litigations, 

the only records we kept in our office 

are the form EC8A Series." 

Asked by the tribunal to 

produce the said photocopies 

given to the state office, the 

witness said: "We don't have the 

photocopies again. We have 

decongested our system." 

Counsel for Oyetola, Chief 

Akin Olujinmi (SAN) 

subsequently argued that the 

attitude of the REC was mainly 

not to obey the tribunal order 

issued to REC to produce the 

documents. 

Olujinmi said: "The REC is 

representing INEC here and he 

must obtain the said documents 

at their National Headquarters. 

He has not said that the National 

headquarters cannot find that 

document. So, he cannot excuse 

the duty of obedience to that 

Subpoena by his lame 

explanation that it was 

submitted to the national 

headquarters. 

"I will apply that your Lordship 

should direct the REC to approach 

the national headquarters and 

obtain the said documents. They 

had disobeyed the first order and 

if they like they should disobey 

the second order." 

Responding to the arguments, 

counsel for INEC, Professor 

Ananaba said: "The 

representative of REC is here and 

REC is different from INEC. So, 

the Subpoena has been complied 

with because the representative 

of REC is here to tell the court he 

is not in the custody of the said 

documents." 

But counsel for Adeleke, 

Ikpeazu said since the documents 

requested to be produced by the 

INEC are Certified True Copies, 

CTC, it can be applied and paid 

for, without necessarily bringing 

the REC to the court. 

The Tribunal adjourned the 

ruling on the argument of 

counsels on the failure of INEC 

to produce the said documents 

by Friday, November 25. 

Indian community, Rotary 

Club honour Gandhi 

LAGOS—TO celebrate the 

birth anniversary of the father 

of the Indian nation and peace 

icon, Gandhi Jayanti, the Indian 

Community in Lagos, in 

conjunction with the Rotary 

Club of Lagos Island, recently 

organised a blood donation camp, 

where pints of blood were 

generously donated at the 

Consulate General of India, 

Lagos. 

Describing the event as a 

momentous day, the Consulate 

General of India, Lagos, Mr 

Chandramouli Kern, said: 

"Indian community generally 

shows its gratefulness by 

organising such blood donation 

camps at regular intervals, and it 

has been the Rotarian culture to 

donate selflessly to society. A 

person in need of blood will 

understand that one pint can 

save lives." 

President of the Rotary Club 

of Lagos Island, Rotarian Anant 

Sabat, said: "We have conducted 

many blood donation camps 

before now."Over 100 persons 

turned out for the blood donation. 

President of the Indian 

Cultural Association of Nigeria, 

Sanjay Jain, whose members 

were predominantly donors at 

the blood donation camp, 

explained that the association, 

which clocked 50 years last year, 

is the apex of the Indian body in 

Nigeria. 


CONFERENCE: From left, Ondo State Governor and Chancellor of Owo Diocese, Arakunrin 

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Bishop of Owo Diocese, Revd Dr. Stephen Fagbemi; and his wife, Mrs Florence 

Fagbemi, during a press conference to announce the activities lined-up for the 40th anniversary of the 

Diocese. 

Kudirat Abiola killed on 

Al-Mustapha's order —Children 

•Al-Mustapha keeps mum 

LAGOS—THE children of the 

late Kudirat Abiola, yesterday, 

maintained that their mother 

was killed on the orders of the 

presidential candidate of the 

Action Alliance, Major Hamza 

Al-Mustapha (retd). 

Khafila Abiola, in a statement 

on behalf of Kudirat's children, 

was reacting to a statement 

attributed to Al-Mustapha, 

where he claimed that Vice 

President Yemi Osinbajo coerced 

Sergeant Jabila Mshiola, aka 

Sergeant Rogers, to implicate 

him (Al-Mustapha) during the 

1998 Oputa panel. 

Kudirat, the wife of late MKO 

Abiola, was assassinated on June 

4, 1996. 

At the panel, Sergeant Rogers 

confessed to have taken part in 

the assassination under Al- 

Mustapha's orders. 

Though Al-Mustapha was 

sentenced to death by hanging 

in 2012, he was later released by 

a court of appeal in Lagos. 

However, in a recent interview 

published by Sahara Reporters, 

Al-Mustapha had claimed that 

Osinbajo, the then Attorney 

General of Lagos, coached 

Sergeant Rogers on what to say 

to incriminate him (Al- 

Mustapha). 

But reacting to the interview, 

Kudirat Abiola's children, in a 

statement, said "Our attention 

has been drawn to a recent 

Ekiti Assembly crisis unacceptable 

—Elders, Olanipekun 

By Rotimi 

Ojomoyela 

ADO-EKITI—THE Ekiti 

Council of Elders and 

chairman, Body of Benchers, 

Wole Olanipekun, yesterday, 

condemned the crisis rocking the 

State Assembly saying it is 

unacceptable. 

They also urged the warring 

parties to sheath their swords and 

allow peace to reign. 

Recall that Mr Olugboyega 

Aribisogan was elected Speaker 

of the Ekiti State House of 

Assembly, last week, following 

the death of Mr Funminiyi Afuye 

but four days after his election, 

Aribisogan was impeached, while 

Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba was 

elected speaker. 

Reacting to the Assembly crisis, 

the Council, in a statement by 

its President and Secretary 

General, Messrs Joseph 

Oluwasanmi and Niyi Ajibulu, 

decried the unnecessary power 

tussle in the state legislature. 

The statement reads: "The 

Elder's Council implores the 

Assembly members to be 

peaceful and honourable in their 

dealings in the interest of the 

government and people of Ekiti 

State. 

"The Council, therefore, 

appeals to all interest parties and 

power brokers to allow 

democratic process in all their 

activities, that the installation of 

a new speaker should be done in 

a sombre manner rather than the 

needless imbroglio. 

"The Elders call on all Ekiti 

sons and daughters to always be 

Akungba chieftaincy tussle: 

Ole Ruling House tackles Ondo 

govt for disregarding court orders 

By Dayo Johnson 

AKURE—THE Alale of 

Akungba Chieftaincy tussle 

in Akoko South West, area of 

Ondo state, took a new 

dimension as the Ole Ruling 

House, yesterday, described the 

appointment of Oba Isaac Ajimo, 

by the state government as 

flagrant disobedience to a court 

order. 

The Alale stool became vacant 

in 2007. 

Counsel to the Agure and 

Mokun branch of the Ole ruling 

house, Mallam Gani Asiru, said 

that Oba Ajimo was appointed 

when the matter "was pending 

at the Court of Appeal, Akure, 

by the immediate past 

administration in the state." 

Asiru noted that the former 

governor, Olusegun Mimiko "in 

flagrant disobedience to the order 

of the court, went ahead to appoint 

Oba Isaac Sunday Ajimo 

as the Alale of Akungba. 

"It is this violation of rule of law 

that we are inviting and praying 

your Excellency to correct. The 

law is clear until set aside; the 

judgement of the court remains 

sacrosanct and must be obeyed. 

"However, the Ajimoh branch 

of the Ole ruling house went to 

court by the institution of Suit 

No. AK/195/2007 praying the 

court to stop the approval. 

"The Agure and Mokun 

counter-claimed. At the end of 

the trial, Ajimo's claims were 

dismissed and the reliefs 

contained in the counterclaim of 

our clients granted. 

"The court ordered that the 

government should not consider 

any list other than the one 

which produces Prince Isiaka 

Adu. " 

•Sue for peace 

guided by the ethos of 

Omoluwabi by which Ekiti is 

known for." 

Similarly, a former President of 

the Nigeria Bar Association, 

NBA, Mr Wole Olanipekun 

urged the warring factions to 

sheath their swords and embrace 

peace. 

Olanipekun described the 

ongoing conflict in the State 

Assembly as a threat to peace, 

order and good government of 

the state. 

His words: "As an elder and 

stakeholder in the state, I plead 

to all the feuding parties and their 

sponsors qua backers to sheath 

their swords. They should be 

reminded that the state does not 

belong to them alone but to all of 

us. The politicians are in the 

minority, hence they should stop 

seeing, taking and treating the 

State as their fiefdom, property 

or estate. 

"Now, my proposal to end this 

self-imposed crisis: Let the 

Speaker, freely elected by the 

legislators, Olugboyega 

Aribisogun be, while the Deputy 

Speaker, who was elected 

alongside the late Funminiyi 

Afuye retain his position. 

"To me, this is a win-win 

approach, and in my private 

discussions with some principal 

actors in the unwelcome drama, 

I have made this proposal, but 

politicians always, but wrongly 

believe that they possess the 

monopoly of wisdom. 

"Although the politicians 

behind the ongoing 

parliamentary fiasco in Ekiti may 

see it as business as usual, they 

should be told in no 

unmistakable language that it is 

a veritable threat to the peace, 

order and good government of 

the State, and unless nipped in 

the bud now or immediately, the 

consequences may be farreaching." 

statement made by Major 

Hamza Al-Mustapha. 

"In it, he accused the current 

Vice-President, Professor Yemi 

Osinbajo, SAN, of instigating 

Sergeant Rogers to falsely claim 

that he, Al-Mustapha, was 

behind the assassination of our 

mother, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola. 

"First of all, we all watched the 

proceedings of the Oputa Panel 

where Sergeant Rogers freely 

stated that he assassinated our 

mother and attempted to murder 

Senator Abraham Adesanya and 

Alex Ibru, late Publisher of The 

Guardian newspaper, based on 

the instructions given to him by 

Major Al-Mustapha. 

"The evidence of Sergeant 

Rogers was not challenged by Al- 

Mustapha and his lawyers at the 

Oputa Panel. 

"Second, the Lagos High 

Court convicted and sentenced 

the armed agents of Al- 

Mustapha to imprisonment for 

the attempted murder of Senator 

Abraham Adesanya. 

"Third, the Lagos State High 

Court also convicted and 

sentenced Al-Mustapha and his 

accomplices to death for the coldblooded 

murder of our mother. 

"Their subsequent acquittal by 

the Court of Appeal was most 

likely politically motivated. The 

appeal filed against the judgment 

is currently pending at the 

Supreme Court. 

"However, Al-Mustapha may 

be counting on the pervasive 

culture of impunity in Nigeria to 

not only attempt to deny his 

dastardly role in the 

assassination of a defenceless 

woman; but to also now 

contemplate running for office, 

along with Mohammed Abacha, 

who was alleged to have 

provided his driver to convey the 

assassins to carry out the 

mission. 

"Impunity lays waste to the 

promise of the democracy for 

which our dear mother paid the 

ultimate price. 

"As those that oversaw her 

assassination now seek to rewrite 

the history of what they did, we 

are forced to seek justice for our 

beloved mother within a 

jurisdiction not susceptible to the 

political games that hold sway in 

Nigeria. 

"Justice may be delayed but it 

must not be denied." 

Al-Mustapha keeps 

mum 

Efforts to get Al-Mustapha to 

react to the allegations proved 

abortive. 

C 

M 

Y

Y 




RENAMING: From left, Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun 

and Chairman, Governing Council of the Tai Solarin College of Education, Yemi Adefulu, during the 

renaming of the Tertiary institution after the monarch, Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science 

and Technology in Ijebu-Ode, yesterday. 

Insecurity: Herdsmen invade Enugu community, 

kill 10, injure many, raze houses 

•Ugwuanyi releases N10m for victims 

•Ebubeagu operatives shoot 2 youths in Ebonyi 

•Gunmen kidnap Imo APGA state Assembly candidate 

By Our Reporters 

E NUGU—SUSPECTED 

killer herdsmen, Monday, 

invaded Agu-Amede community 

in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local 

Government Area of Enugu State 

and unleashed an attack which 

left at least ten persons dead and 

many others wounded. 

The killer herders were also said 

to have ransacked the community 

and set houses on fire. 

This came as men of the South 

East Security outfit code-named 

Ebubeagu were last Saturday 

alleged to have shot two youths, 

Samuel Okam and Micheal Oji 

at Ekoli Edda of Afikpo South 

Local Government Area of 

Ebonyi State. 

Meantime, gunmen yesterday 

at about 08:45 Am, abducted the 

candidate of the All Progressive 

Grand Alliance, APGA, for 

Ahiazu Mbaise State 

constituency in Imo State, Nduka 

Anyanwu. 

Killer herdsmen 

invade Enugu 

community, kill 10 

Vanguard gathered that two of 

the victims who were farmers 

were killed on Saturday, while 

eight were killed Monday. 

It was further learned that 

about 25 members in the 

community sustained various 

degrees of injuries. 

Among those killed, according 

to sources from the community, 

were two daughters of a church 

cleric in the community. 

A community leader, 

Augustine Odoh, who confirmed 

the attack, explained that it 

happened on Monday around 

1pm. 

Odo said that all the members 

of their community living outside 

the community had been 

summoned home, adding that by 

Tuesday, (yesterday), the 

community would convey the 

corpses of the deceased to the 

Enugu State Government 

House to meet Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi, alleging that the 

government has abandoned 

them. 

According to Odo, "They 

(herdsmen) invaded first on 

Saturday, killed two people. Today 

(monday), they invaded the 

community again and killed eight 

people including our women and 

children. So many other people 

about, 25 of them were equally 

wounded. They are in the hospital; 

we don't know how many people 

are going to survive." 

He said that residents were 

now deserting their houses over 

the renewed attacks. 

Lamenting the incessant attack 

by herdsmen, Odo claimed that 

in all the attacks, no government 

security came to their aid. 

"Our people cannot confront 

them with bare hands. They came 

in their numbers with AK-47 rifles 

and other dangerous weapons, 

shooting and destroying houses 

for hours unchallenged. 

"The government will only 

deploy soldiers in communities in 

other South East states to hound 

and kill members of pro-Biafra 

groups especially the Indigenous 

People of Biafra, IPOB, but same 

soldiers cannot be deployed to our 

communities to stop herdsmen 

and terrorists attacks. 

"That is the hypocrisy in this 

government. In my community, 

people see soldiers and other 

security agents as sympathisers 

and collaborators of the terrorists 

masquerading as herdsmen who 

are trying conquer our lands". 

Another member of the 

community, who pleaded for 

anonymity, however, said that 

soldiers and other security 

operatives have moved into the 

bushes from where the marauders 

gained access into the 

community to comb for them. 

Efforts to get reaction of the 

Enugu State Police Command 

were not successful as the 

spokesman, DSP Daniel 

Ndukwe, did not take his calls. 

Ugwuanyi releases 

N10m for Eha-Amufu 

victims in IDPs camp 

However, Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has 

released the sum of N10 million 

for the immediate needs of the 

affected victims of the attack in 

the Internally Displaced Persons 

(IDPs) camp. 

Speaking after a closed-door 

meeting with Gov. Ugwuanyi at 

the Government House, 

Enugu, Bishop Olinya, the 

Anglican Bishop of Eha Amufu 

Diocese, said that he was 

impressed with “the prompt 

interventions of Enugu State 

Government on the crisis in the 

place,” adding: “I want to thank 

especifically, the Governor of 

Enugu State for bringing out ten 

million naira for the people 

affected. 

“I am very happy this evening 

for the prompt intervention of 

Enugu State Government in the 

crisis in our place, Eha Amufu in 

Isi-Uzo Local Government Area 

of Enugu State.” 

The Anglican Bishop disclosed 

that the governor “has given us 

ten million naira to go and see 

the people and to meet their 

immediate needs and I am very 

sure that this will make them 

have a sense of belonging, make 

them feel that the state has 

heard their cry and has really 

come to help them.” 

Ebubeagu operatives 

allegedly shoot 2 

youths in Ebonyi 

The incident happened when 

the convoy of a Peoples 

Democratic Party chieftain, in 

Ebonyi State, Chief Julius Oji (aka 

Ochiri Edda) was attacked in 

Ekoli Edda community of the 

state. 

The bodies of the two victims 

were riddled with bullet wounds 

even as they are presently 

receiving treatment in the 

hospital. 

Vanguard gathered that trouble 

had ensued Saturday evening, 

when a convoy of vehicles 

conveying the PDP chieftain and 

other dignitaries, was halted 

following a roadblock that was 

mounted by the Ebubeagu men. 

Narrating his ordeal, Chief Oji 

said it took God's intervention for 

him to escape the mayhem 

plotted against him by the 

Ebebeagu operatives, alleging 

that the state has become 

insecure for the people. 

He said, "I went to see Sen. 

Sonni Ogbuoji in his house in 

Ebunwana Edda community and 

while returning to Ekoli Edda 

community, just between the road 

that connects Letu from Ekoli 

Edda, that was where the incident 

happened. And if not for God, I 

don't know what would have 

become of me, because these 

people plotted evil for me. 

"It was at this particular place 

in Ekoli, that the Ebubeagu men 

blocked the road on seeing us, 

and they started shooting. They 

kept shooting as they blocked the 

road. But what saved me was that 

the particular PRADO Jeep that I 

came to the village in, was new 

and I have never taken it to the 

village before and so, none of them 

knew the very vehicle I was in. 

"That was when one of the 

policemen in our convoy got 

down to check what was going 

on. Their very target was me 

because if they knew the very 

vehicle that carried me, it would 

have been a different thing 

altogether. Thank God this was 

the very first time I brought that 

Jeep to the village because I 

wanted to keep it in the village. 

Recently and usually each time I 

come home, I do use Hon. Chidi 

Ejem's car, being my younger 

brother. So, this very car is new 

in the village and nobody knew I 

was in it. 

"Another miracle was that the 

policeman I had used for a very 

long time which these people 

know, was not with me in that car. 

He was in another car behind us. 

That was how all of a sudden, my 

driver zoomed past the Ebebuagu 

people. And it was then that the 

policeman radioed the one with 

me in the car to speed off and 

take me straight to the house that 

there was danger. I was hearing 

them. But I kept wondering what 

would happen to the people with 

me that were left behind." 

Gunmen kidnap 

Imo APGA state 

Assembly candidate 

The Imo State Chairman of 

APGA, John Iwuala, confirmed 

the ugly development to 

newsmen in Owerri. 

However, Iwuala later 

confirmed that the Anyanwu was 

later freed by his captors after 

security surveillance was 

mounted on the abductors. 

According to the APGA State 

Chairman: "He was kidnapped at 

Ahiazu Mbaise local government 

area of Imo State and the 

kidnappers drove him towards a 

thick forest in Ehime Mbano local 

government area. He was 

kidnapped in the morning and 

he was later freed in the 

afternoon. 

"They collected so many of his 

belongings before they allowed 

him to go. We knew about it 

when our people called us from 

Ahiazu Mbaise and we moved 

into action and reported the 

incident to the security agencies. 

We started gathering intelligence 

to track them and by God's grace 

he was released in the 

afternoon." 

Reacting, the State Public 

Relations Officer, PPRO, Mike 

Abattam, said: "Please, let them 

make a formal report for police to 

commence an investigation." 

Nnamdi Kanu sues Malami, 

demands N20bn 

NNAMDI KANU, the leader 

of the Indigenous People of 

Biafra, has slammed another N20 

billion suit against the Attorney- 

General of the Federation, 

Abubakar Malami. 

Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy 

Ejimakor, stated that the AGF 

defamed the IPOB leader when 

he claimed that the latter jumped 

bail, and had asked for N20bn for 

damages. 

This is coming barely four days 

after the initial N20bn suit filed 

by Kanu against Malami was 

discontinued. 

The first suit dated September 

23, had sought “a declaration that 

the defendant's arrest and 

imprisonment of the plaintiff 

(Kanu) at a location in Kenya and 

the subsequent imprisonment of 

the plaintiff in the aircraft that 

conveyed him from Kenya to 

Nigeria amounted to false arrest 

and false imprisonment.” 

However, in the latest suit dated 

November 21, Kanu demanded 

compensation following alleged 

defamatory and libellous claims 

against him. 

The suit was contained in a 

letter sent to Malami titled, “RE: 

Pre-action notice and formal 

demand for settlement of the claim 

of defamation/libel of the character 

of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu grounded 

on your false, defamatory and 

libelous publications that Mazi 

By Chidi Nkwopara 

OWERRI—NIGERIANS have 

been reminded that the task 

of rebuilding and reclaiming the 

country, "which has derailed from 

its mandate, is the responsibility of 

all and not that of the government 

alone". 

The Archbishop of Owerri 

Ecclesiastical Province, Anglican 

Communion, His Grace, Dr. David 

O. C. Onuoha, stated this in his 

address at the second edition of 

Imo Prays, Owerri. 

While assuring the state 

government of the preparedness 

of the church in making society 

better, the cleric however said that 

the battle is not yet over. 

His words: "As the battle is not 

yet over, we are persuaded to 

continue the onslaught against 

the kingdom of darkness. 

"We ask that all bloodthirsty 

demons that have opened their 

mouths to drink the blood of 

Nigerians through insurgency, 

militancy, banditry, terrorism, and 

accidents should bow. 

Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail.” 

Sharing copies of the document 

on his Twitter page yesterday, 

Ejimakor said: “Yesterday, I served 

on AGF Malami a Legal Notice 

(as required by law), notifying him 

of my intention to take legal action 

against him for his defamatory & 

libelous statements that #MNK 

jumped bail.” 

Kanu, through his lawyer, said 

Malami’s claim that he jumped bail 

despite a court order clearing him 

was libellous. 

Condemning Malami’s remark, 

Ejimakor said in the letter, “Given 

the said judgment of the Abia State 

High Court, your above 

utterances were false, malicious, 

and reckless and they were read 

and heard worldwide and 

portrayed our Client in light.” 

According to the letter, Kanu 

demanded “the sum of 

N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty 

Billion Naira only) being general 

and exemplary damages; 

“An unreserved personal letter 

of apology, to be prominently and 

boldly published full-page in two 

Nigerian Newspapers of national 

circulation, namely: Guardian 

Newspaper and Sun Newspaper. 

“You shall write and deliver to 

your superior officer(s) and/or your 

employer(s) a Legal Opinion to the 

effect that our Client did not jump 

bail given the 19th January 2022 

Judgment of the High Court of 

Abia State.” 

We must rebuild, reclaim Nigeria 

—Archbishop Onuoha 

THE PEOPLES Democratic 

Party, PDP, Abia State, has 

said that Gov. Nyesom Wike of 

Rivers State and members of the 

G-5 Governors will grace the 

official flag-off of the party's 

campaign on Thursday. 

PDP Vice Chairman, Abia 

North, and the Acting Publicity 

Secretary of PDP, Elder Abraham 

Amah who disclosed this at a press 

briefing, yesterday in Umuahia, 

said that the presence of the G-5 

Governors at the event would be 

in honour and solidarity with Gov 

Okezie Ikpeazu who is one of them. 

Amah, who was flanked by 

former Secretary to State 

Government, SSG, Elder Ralph 

Egbu; and the Secretary of the 

PDP Campaign Council, Chief 

Stanley Ojigbo, said Abia remained 

the stronghold of PDP in the South 

East. 

"The Integrity G5 PDP 

governors namely; Nyesom Wike 

of Rivers State; Dr. Samuel Ortom 

"We have come to ask that all 

those who sabotage the economy 

of this nation through massive 

stealing and looting of the public 

treasury, thereby occasioning 

hardship and untold suffering and 

pain on the generality of the 

citizens, should bow. 

"We are here to demand that all 

those who directly or indirectly 

perpetrate, encourage, or promote 

any form of criminality in Imo State 

should bow. In addition to our wellbeing, 

we demand that the next 

general elections in Nigeria shall 

be peaceful, credible, free, and fair. 

"Any person, group, power or 

force working, planning, and 

scheming to go against the will of 

God for the good of this nation 

must bow." 

Archbishop Onuoha remained 

optimistic that 2023 holds a great 

future for the country, stressing 

that "God has heard the cry, pain, 

and anguish of Nigerians and is 

set to deliver us from the grip of 

those who have mercilessly dealt 

with us". 

Wike's G-5 to witness Abia PDP 

campaign flag off 

By Steve Oko 

of Benue State; Chief Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Mr. 

Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; and 

the host governor Dr. Okezie Victor 

Ikpeazu would grace the occasion 

in person as a mark of respect and 

solidarity with their brother 

governor", he said. 

Amah said that the party's 

governorship candidate, Professor 

Uche Ikonne; his running mate, 

Hon. Okey Igwe; and other PDP 

candidates for the 2023 elections 

would be formally unveiled at the 

event slated for the Umuahia 

Township Stadium. 

The PDP Spokesman who said 

that his party had done well in the 

key sectors of the state economy 

expressed optimism that PDP would 

retain power in Abia State next year. 

His words: "It's an article of faith for 

us that they will choose the PDP 

that rescued them from the shackles 

of poverty in the past seven years 

despite the economic decline foisted 

on them by the APC government at 

the centre due to its inability to 

formulate sound economic policies 

for the growth and prosperity of 

Nigerians." 

C

C 

M 

Y 

K 


:Vanguard 

News 


BRIEFING—From left: Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Olisa Ifeajika; 

Commissioner for Finance, Fidelis Tilije, with Commissioner for Special Duties, Government 

House, Henry Sakpra, during the briefing with journalists on the update and activities 

in Delta State. 

2023: Wike proposes N550.6bn 

budget 

By Egufe 

Yafugborhi, Davies 

Iheamnachor 

PORT HARCOURT— 

Governor Nyesom Wike 

of Rivers State has presented 

the 2023 Appropriation Bill of 

N550.6 billion to the state 

House of Assembly for 

consideration and approval. 

The budget, christened 

‘Budget of Consolidation and 

Continuity', has 

N350,977,495,537 for 

Capital Expenditure for the 

2023 fiscal year, representing 

about 63.2 per cent of the total 

budget, and Recurrent 

Expenditure 

of 

N175,249,692,497, 

representing about 31 per cent 

of the spending proposal. 

Obaseki inaugurates 2 new Airbuses for 

Ibom Air 

....Describes A-Ibom as Nigeria's pride 

By Harris Emanuel 

& Chioma Onuegbu 

U YO—GOVERNOR 

Godwin Obaseki of 

Edo State has described 

Akwa Ibom State as a pride to 

Nigeria, given its exploits in 

the aviation sector. 

Obaseki stated this while 

inaugurating two Airbus 

A320-200 recently acquired by 

the state government to 

increase the number in the 

fleet of Ibom Air to nine planes. 

Performing the 

inauguration at Victor Attah 

International Airport, Uyo, 

yesterday, Obaseki applauded 

Governor Udom Emmanuel 

for the giant strides in the 

aviation sector. 

"Even Nigeria as the 

biggest country in Africa 

cannot run an aviation sector 

successfully. Ibom Air is 

always fully booked. Let me 

thank you on behalf of 

Nigerians. Don't be deterred 

by insult, focus on your goal,” 

he said. 

In his welcome remarks, 

Governor Emmanuel said his 

administration has 

committed huge resources to 

the development of the 

aviation sector in the state. 

He said he had committed 

more funds than received 

from the Federal Government 

to the development of the 

state, even as he is at the verge 

of commissioning a world 

class Terminal Building and 

a Maintenances, Repair and 

Overhaul facility at the 

airport. 

"We did not come to give 

excuses, we came to do 

governance. Look at what we 

have done in the aviation 

sector, if it is not more than 

what we have collected, then 

you can challenge me 

anywhere. 

"Our terminal building 

there is world class in Africa, 

our MRO is world class. If 

you find one today in the 

entire Gulf of Guinea, tell me 

I will break down this one and 

construct another. This MRO 

can take 24/47 800 series, will 

service eight of the CRJs that 

we are flying at the same time. 

This is the only MRO in this 

part of the world. People are 

coming, asking us to lease this 

MRO. 

"I invest in areas we can 

have return on our investment. 

Airbus is on us to come and 

use our MRO for all their 

regional flights. We are going 

to open up this place from 

January next year for 

commercial activities and we 

are going to earn in dollars, 

not Naira,” he said. 

Bayelsa utilising derivation funds prudently —Diri 

Y 

E 

By Samuel 

Oyadongha 

N A G O A — 

GOVERNOR Douye 

Diri of Bayelsa State has said 

the 13 per cent oil derivation 

funds accruing to the state 

were being prudently spent, 

mostly on infrastructure 

development. 

Diri stated this, yesterday, 

when the Interim 

Administrator, Presidential 

Amnesty Programme, PAP, 

Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu 

....Vows to complete ongoing projects 

Under capital expenditure, 

N114,264,480,208 is 

proposed for infrastructure, 

N36,999,486,717 for 

education 

and 

N31,500,002,023 for health. 

Wike, while presenting the 

spending proposal to the state 

law makers, said: “The sum 

of N114,264,480,208 is 

provided in the 2023 capital 

budget estimate to fund the 

completion of all ongoing 

roads and other physical 

infrastructural projects 

awarded by our 

administration." 

He explained that his 

administration proposed a 

recurrent expenditure of 

N175,249,692,497, as 

N73,460,278,307 would be 

spent on salaries (Ministries/ 

Departments/Parastatals), N 

(retd), called on him in 

Yenagoa. 

The governor, in a 

statement by his Chief Press 

Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, 

insisted that the 

administration had nothing to 

hide and that the state’s 

monthly allocations from the 

Federation Account had 

always been made public 

through its monthly 

transparency briefings. 

He explained that what the 

state received as 13 per cent 

derivation refund from the time 

7,758,772,851 on new 

recruitment, N33.6bilion on 

monthly pensions as well as 

N12billion on gratuities/ 

death benefits. 

Wike said the fiscal year 

2023 budget is targeted at 

delivering economic growth, 

additional infrastructure and 

prosperity for citizens. 

He said: “We have, 

therefore, resolved to continue 

with the existing fiscal 

measures for the year 2023. 

This means that there would 

be no increase in tax rates. No 

new taxes will also be 

introduced. 

“However, we will continue 

to intensify our drive to 

significantly improve IGR by 

expanding opportunities for 

more investments, 

industrialization and efficient 

of the previous administration 

was being paid in instalments, 

after it had been discounted. 

Diri also stated that the 

amount did not make much 

impact in terms of development, 

noting that the income and 

expenditure of the state were 

accounted for on a monthly basis 

through the transparency 

briefings. 

He added that the cost of 

construction in a difficult terrain 

such as Bayelsa was three or 

more times than elsewhere, 

adding that the cost of 

tax collection," he added. 

He disclosed that the state 

remains determined to reduce 

its dependence on statutory 

federal allocations to finance 

its budget and development. 

To this end, he urged other 

sister states to join Rivers in 

the struggle to secure the right 

to impose and collect VAT at 

the sub-national level. 

Wike while reviewing the 

2022 budget performance, 

said N420, 485,053,736 was 

only approved. 

He opined that by the end 

of October 2022, total revenue 

receipts of the state stood at 

N321, 250,781,228.91, only 

about 70 percent 

performance, while, the total 

receipts from internally 

generated revenue (IGR) was 

N112.099 billion. 

constructing a road project in the 

state was more than three or four 

flyovers in some other states 

even in the Niger Delta. 

On PAP, the governor called 

on the Federal Government not 

to end it as it contributes 

significantly to the peace and 

security of the Niger Delta 

region. 

Diri congratulated Ndiomu on 

his appointment and urged him 

to write his name in gold as he 

had the capacity to ensure that 

Niger Delta youths benefit from 

the programme. 

Edo APC challenges Obaseki 

on 13% derivation, others 

By Ozioruva Aliu 

BENIN CITY—EDO 

State chapter of the All 

Progressives Congress, APC, 

yesterday, came hard on the 

government of Governor 

Godwin Obaseki, accusing him 

of not disclosing how much the 

state received from the arrears of 

13 per cent derivation paid by the 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

administration, as recently 

revealed by Governor Nyesom 

Wike of Rivers State. 

The party also accused the 

state government of not 

disclosing the financial position 

of the state and hoarding the 

derivation fund to 'buy votes’ 

during the 2023 election, 

'particularly the election into the 

House of Assembly'. 

Addressing newsmen at the 

party’s Secretariat, state chairman 

of the party, Col David 

Imuse (retd) claimed that the 

activities of Obaseki was because 

there was no properly 

constituted state House of 

Assembly. 

He said: “Obaseki should 

explain why he has deliberately 

refused to specify amounts 

received as 13 percent derivation 

fund in his 2023 budgets 

estimates. 

“Mr. Obaseki has been busy 

maligning the Federal 

Government, accusing it of 

printing paper money to fund 

statutory allocations and 

mismanagement of the national 

economy, whereas as a 

deliberate policy, he has been 

pocketing Edo State monies by 

mismanaging the derivation 

funds. 

LP chair urges supporters to 

vote for Peter Obi 

By Gabriel 

Enogholase 

B ENIN—NATIONAL 

Chairman of Labour 

Party, LP, Mr. Julius Abure, has 

called on supporters of the 

presidential candidate of the 

party, Peter Obi, to ensure that 

their current huge and 

committed support is 

translated into vote that would 

guarantee victory for the party 

in next year's general elections. 

Abure also reminded them 

to bear in mind that there is 

much work to be done to 

achieve the party's desires of 

winning the next year's 

election by moving from 

house to house to convince 

voters on why they should elect 

Obi as the next president of 

the country. 

He made the call, while 

addressing the party’s support 

group Coordinators, LGAs, 

Wards, Units Chairmen and 

Secretaries at a dinner party 

in Benin City, organised by 

him to appreciate them for the 

successful presidential rally 

in Edo State a fortnight ago. 

Expressing gratitude to 

them and all Peter Obi 

supporters, who turned out 

enmasse for the Labour Party 

rally without inducement or 

any payment of any kind, 

Abure said: "The Edo Labour 

Party rally is the talk of the 

town despite the state 

government's refusal to allow 

us access to public space for 

the presidential rally." 

He revealed that Edo State 

government ensured that they 

blocked the use of Ogbe 

Stadium, Uniben Sport 

arena, UBTH Ground and a 

host of others but was unable 

to block the Baptist ground, 

which was eventually used by 

the party to flag off its 

presidential rally in Edo 

State. 

2023: Poverty now 

unbearable in Nigeria 

—Delta PDP guber candidate 

By Festus Ahon 

A 

S A B A — 

GOVERNORSHIP 

candidate of the Peoples 

Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta 

State and Speaker of the state 

House of Assembly, Sheriff 

Oborevwori, has lamented 

that poverty in Nigeria has 

reached unbearable level 

between 2015 and 2022, 

under the All Progressives 

Congress, APC-led Federal 

Government. 

Oborevwori, who stated this 

during the continuation of his 

ward-to-ward campaign in Sapele 

wards 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 11, 10, 9, 7 

Communities laud Kalanama 

over scholarships for flood 

victims 

By Chancel Sunday 

C chairmen, OMMUNITY 

under the 

umbrella of Community 

Chairmen's Forum, CCF, 

Bomadi Local Government 

Area of Delta State, have 

lauded the Pere of Akugbene- 

Mein Kingdom, HRM Pere 

Luke, Kalanama VIII, for the 

award of scholarships to 

students/pupils and 

empowerment of indigenes in 

the kingdom. 

The community leaders, 

and 1, decried that Nigerians are 

living in abject poverty, adding 

that the only option left for 

Nigerians is to vote for the PDP 

for a positive change. 

Insisting that PDP is the only 

party that has the solution to 

the problems currently 

bedeviling the country, he said; 

"what you have been enjoying 

in Sapele are done by the PDP". 

Oborevwori who is also the 

National Deputy Chairman of 

the Conference of Speakers of 

State Legislatures of Nigeria, 

decried the poor state of federal 

roads in Delta State. He said 

they were in the wards to solicit 

for votes and on a need 

assessment of the area. 

also lauded the monarch for 

the cash gift to communities 

to cushion the effect of the 

recent flood in the areas. 

Speaking after an enlarged 

meeting at Akugbene, 

chairman of CCF, Theophilus 

Omoro, noted that 

Bomadians were ever 

grateful for his human 

empowerment initiatives in 

Bomadi council. 

"We, community chairmen 

in Bomadi, hereby thank Pere 

Kalanama VIII for all his 

efforts towards human 

empowerment, peace and 

security in kingdom."



Strike: Taraba varsity ASUU alleges 

victimisation of members 

•As group says nation's education in disarray over FG/ 

ASUU face -off 

By Peter Duru & 

Femi Bolaji 

MAKURDI—MEMBERS of 

the Academic Staff of 

Universities, ASUU, Taraba 

State University, TSU, Chapter, 

yesterday protested perceived 

victimization of its members by 

the state government for 

participating in the just 

suspended eight months 

nationwide strike. 

This came as Campaign for 

Equal Rights and Opportunities 

for all Nigerians, CERON, urged 

the Federal Government to end 

its lingering face off with ASUU 

by paying members' withheld 

salaries, saying the crisis has 

thrown the nation's education in 

disarray. 

TSU's ASUU in a statement 

by its chairman, Dr. Shikaa 

Samuel, among others, said "The 

Governor claims that he has 

solved all local issues in the 

Branch; hence, the participation 

of ASUU-TSU in the strike was 

purely on "sympathy" grounds, 

on the basis of which he decides 

to withhold the salaries of our 

members to serve as a deterrent 

in the future. 

"Our participation in the 

nationwide strike was not on 

sympathy grounds. The issues 

that necessitated the strike such 

as the renegotiation of the 2009 

ASUU-FGN agreement 

pertaining to the salary structure 

and welfare of our members, 

revitalization funds for all public 

universities, deployment of 

University Transparency and 

Accountability Solution, UTAS, 

against the obnoxious 

Integrated Payroll and Personnel 

information system, IPPIS, to 

ensure university autonomy 

among other issues affected us 

too, hence, the need for us to 

join in the struggle. 

"On this basis, our 

participation in the strike was not 

on sympathy grounds. As a 

committed Branch of the Union, 

we participated in the strike to 

press home issues that equally 

affect us for our own good and 

the benefit of TSU generally, and 

so did every other state 

university in the country. The 

benefits of our participation in 

national strike so far are 

everywhere in TSU for everyone 

to see." 

The statement added that "the 

academic staff of the university 

have not received salaries since 

February 2022. At the moment, 

no mention is made as to precisely 

when the withheld salaries will 

be paid. It is worth noting that, 

the salary for October 2022 is also 

withheld even as the nationwide 

strike was suspended last 

month." 

Stagnated 

education sector 

Meanwhile, CERON in a 

statement accused the Federal 

Government of being unfair to 

Nigerian youths who are bearing 

the brunt of the dispute, 

stressing that the crisis has 

stagnated education in the 

country. 

The Secretary of CERON, Mr. 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

ABUJA—HOUSE 

of 

Representatives yesterday 

at the plenary, gave nod to 

President Muhammadu 

Buhari's N27.8 billion promissory 

notes' request to pay some 

outstanding claims and liabilities 

of the Yobe, Kebbi and Taraba 

states governments. 

Recall that President buhari 

had in September wrote to the 

House, requesting that the 

payment be made through Debt 

Management Office, DMO. 

These included N6.706 billion 

for Kebbi State and N2.706 

billion for Taraba State arising 

from reconstruction of some 


SUMMIT—From left: Head, Regulatory and Procurement, Lekki Port, Daniel Odibe; Chief 

Commercial Officer, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Kehinde Olubineye; COO, Lekki Port, Laurence 

Smith, and Key Account Manager, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Essien Nsidibe, during the 

2nd edition of the International Maritime Summit, which ended yesterday, in Lagos. 

Francis Odiir in the statement, 

among others, said "After the 

intervention of the Speaker of 

the House of Representatives 

that gave all Nigerians hope of a 

peaceful resolution of the crisis 

given the promises made on the 

side of government, we are 

surprised to see what is going on 

now. 

"We all had expected that the 

government would pay the 

lecturers as agreed so that our 

public universities can fully come 

alive again with students and 

their lecturers going about their 

academic work with all 

seriousness given the lost time. 

"It is therefore shocking to see 

that the government has 

resorted to frustrating all efforts 

at getting ASUU members back 

to work so that students can fully 

return to classes. The Federal 

government by its actions seems 

not to be disposed to having its 

issues with ASUU resolved to 

enable students go back to 

school. 

"The fact of the matter is that 

the education sector is currently 

in disarray because of this crisis. 

That is why we are appealing to 

the Federal Government to save 

the sector by paying ASUU 

members their accumulated 

salaries so that we can have 

peace and also have the 

universities up and running 

again. 

Debt: Reps approve Buhari's N27.8bn 

promissory notes' request for Yobe, others 

By Victor Ahiuma- 

Young 

THE ASSOCIATION of Senior 

Civil Servants of Nigeria, 

ASCSN, has accused some former 

officials of the union of wanton 

destruction and looting of the 

national secretariat, threatening 

to press criminal charges against 

them alongside others who 

recently invaded national 

secretariat. 

This is as the Association 

suspended and set up a five-man 

committee to investigate its 

National Treasurer, Rahab 

Maigari, for alleged anti-union 

activities. 

Vanguard gathered that not less 

than N24.2 million cash including 

cooperative dividends of members 

and staff of the Association, 

Cheque books of different banks, 

Computer items, laptops, 

stationeries and other valuable 

documents were carted away 

federal roads in both states. 

Similarly, the President also 

asked for the approval of N18.623 

billion for Yobe State. 

The House gave the approval 

after the consideration and 

adoption of the report presented 

by the Chairman House 

Committee on Aids, Loans and 

Debts Management, Ahmed 

Safana Dayyabu at the plenary. 

Dayyabu while presenting the 

report said, "That the House do 

consider the Report of the 

Committee on Aids, Loans and 

Debts Management on the 

Issuance of a Promissory Note 

to Yobe, Kebbi and Taraba state 

governments for road projects 

executed on behalf of the federal 

government and approve the 

recommendations therein. 

"Approve the issuance of a 

Promissory Note to settle 

outstanding claims and liabilities 

of the three State Governments 

in the sum of Twenty-Seven 

Billion, Eight Hundred and 

Forty-Two Million, Three 

Hundred and Four Thousand, 

Three Hundred and Forty-Four 

Naira, Five Kobo only 

(N27,842,304,344.05) as 

approved by the Federal 

Executive Council for each State 

as follows: Yobe State 

N18,663,943,119.39, Kebbi State 

N6,707,835,495.12 and Taraba 

State N2,470,525,729.54." 

ASCSN accuses ex-officials, others of looting, 

destruction of secretariat 

when some former officials of the 

Association among others invaded 

and occupied the Association's 

national secretariat last month. 

They were eventually flushed 

out by operatives of Nigeria Police 

and the bailiff from Federal High 

Court, Lagos on Wednesday 16th 

November 2022. 

Briefing journalists after the 

National Executive Council, 

NEC, meeting in Lagos, President 

of the Association, Dr Tommy 

Okon, lamented that those that 

invaded the secretariat inflicted 

wanton destruction on the 

union's headquarters, insisting 

they would be prosecuted for the 

massive destruction and looting. 

Okon also informed that a new 

substantive Secretary- General, 

in the person of Joshua Apebo, 

has been appointed effective, 

January 2023, explaining that the 

tenure of the incumbent 

Secretary-General, Alade Bashir 

-Lawal, would end on December 

31, 2022, ending the one-year 

•Suspends national treasurer 

contract given to him to stabilize 

the Association after retirement. 

Among others, he said "The 

NEC looked at the issues 

surrounding the association and 

the truth is there is no crisis in 

the association because those 

who run the affairs of the 

association originally have taken 

over their duties and the 

secretariat has been opened. We 

have also discovered items that 

were looted by the impostors. 

NEC has also decided to press 

criminal charges against them 

and to access the role played by 

the national treasurer which is 

inimical to the development of the 

association. 

"NEC has decided to suspend 

her and set up a five-man 

committee that will look at the 

action taken by those people and 

report back. We are grateful to the 

IGP for his intervention and the 

media for being factual in their 

report. We have taken over the 

secretariat." 

Masari weeps as he presents 

final budget 

By Ogalah Ibrahim 

K ATSINA—GOVERNOR 

Aminu Masari of Katsina 

State , yesterday wept while 

presenting the final budget 

N288.63 billion of his 

administration to the state House 

Assembly for approval. 

The proposal tagged, 'Budget 

of Transition', earmarked 63.77 

percent as capital expenditure and 

36.23 percent for recurrent 

services. 

Presenting the budget before 

the lawmakers, Masari said, "In 

aggregate terms, the 2023 budget 

is lower than that of the 2022 

revised budget by N34, 662, 962, 

998.00. The 2023 budget is 

structured with a total recurrent 

expenditure of N104, 

580,485,996.28, which is 

equivalent to 36.23 per cent of 

the total budget. And capital 

expenditure 

of 

N184,052,771,966.72, which is 

63.77 per cent of the total budget." 

He said the budget would be 

financed from the Opening 

Balance of N12.06 billion, N62.59 

billion Internally Generated 

Unemployment: ITF seeks 

harmonization of certificates 

to remove dichotomy 

By Marie-Therese 

Nanlong 

JOS —To tackle the rising level 

of unemployment in the 

country, the Director-General of 

the Industrial Training Fund, 

ITF, Joseph Ari, has called for the 

harmonization of certificates to 

remove the dichotomy between 

general education and Technical 

and Vocational Education and 

Training, TVET. 

While delivering a paper titled, 

"Technical Education and 

National Development in 

Nigeria: Leveraging Human 

Capital Development for 

Technological Resilience," at the 

National War College Abuja, Ari 

insisted that there was an urgent 

need to strengthen collaboration 

between technical institutions 

and industries, to ensure the 

skills acquired meet labour 

market demand. 

In a statement issued in Jos 

by the ITF's Director of Public 

By Henry Umoru 

ABUJA—MOVES by the 

Senate to establish the 

Nigerian Police Special Forces, its 

training school and Governing 

Council at Gwoza, Borno State, 

got a boost yesterday as it passed 

second reading. 

A bill for an Act to establish the 

school was sponsored by former 

Senate Leader, Senator Ali 

Ndume, APC, Borno South. 

The Deputy President of the 

Senate, Senator Ovie Omo- 

Agege, who presided over 

yesterday's plenary, thereafter, 

referred the bill to the Senate 

Committee on Police Affairs, led 

by Senator Dauda Jika, Bauchi, 

to report back in four weeks. 

In his lead debate on the 

general principles of the bill, 

Ndume, who is the Chairman, 

Senate Committee on Army, 

noted that the bill was read the 

first time on Wednesday, 

November 10, 2021. 

Ndume said: "It also seeks to 

train the required manpower for 

the Special Forces in order to 

enhance effective national 

security through provision of 

professionalised training and 

Revenue, and over N119 billion 

expected from the Federation 

Account. 

According to him, "It is important 

to note that the 2023 recurrent 

revenue has increased by 7.33 

percent over that of the 2022 

revised budget. And the capital 

expenditure in the 2023 budget 

has decreased by 20.92 percent 

due to a drop in capital receipts." 

He explained that N138.163 

billion of the capital estimates 

would finance projects under the 

government restoration plan. 

The governor said that the plan 

was in the area of Education, 

Health, Water Resources, 

Agriculture, Environment, Works, 

Housing and Transport sectors. 

"As a result, therefore, the 2023 

budget has provided adequate 

allocation of funds to the priority 

sectors of the state government 

(Capital) as follows: 

" E n v i r o n m e n t 

N31,748,186,500.00, Water 

Resources N29,207,394,335.00, 

Health N23,974,614,962.00, 

Works N20,995,858,882.00, 

Education N18,632,987,897.00, 

and 

Agriculture 

N13,604,292,049.00." 

Affairs, Suleyol Chagu, Ari 

among others, "It is pertinent for 

all stakeholders in the TVET 

ecosystem to understand their 

roles. Indeed, across the globe, 

countries that successfully 

deployed TVET for job creation 

and technological resilience did 

so on account of the synergy 

among its various institutions. 

"However, in our dear country, 

rather than collaboration and 

cooperation, turf protection and 

the tendency to indulge in the 

blame game have firmly taken 

hold in most institutions that 

have bearing on the capacity 

building of Nigerians. 

"I say this taking in cognizance 

of recent declarations by persons 

that ordinarily should be familiar 

with the respective mandates of 

individual organisations involved 

in the manpower development 

in Nigeria but chose 

conveniently to display appalling 

ignorance. 

Senate moves to establish 

Nigerian Police Special Forces, 

training school at Gwoza 

knowledge. 

"It will also award certificates 

to deserving and qualified officers 

on successful completion of 

training. Engage in information 

and intelligence gathering 

activities, provide advanced 

training in anti-terrorism, drills, 

counter-insurgency, espionage 

and disorder management for 

serving police officers and other 

security agents from in and 

outside Nigeria,'' the lawmaker 

added. 

In his contribution, Senate 

Minority Whip, Chukwuka Utazi 

,who opposed the bill, said "it 

doesn't connect." 

Utazi, who noted that there 

were police institutions already 

in the country, said: "I don't see 

any reason we will be bringing 

up this bill which is already taken 

care of." 

On his part, Senator Smart 

Adeyemi, said "We must move 

with the trend of development 

globally. Nigeria Police deserve 

all the support that is needed. 

Not just in the area of 

establishing more institutions for 

them to be able to compete with 

other police forces across the 

globe but indeed even in their 

pay package,'' he said.


4th industrial revolution: Teachers get empowered on digital literacy 

By Juliet Umeh 

A 

number of secondary school 

teachers across the country 

recently got the opportunity to 

better equip their students for the 

4th industrial revolution, as they 

benefitted from the critical digital 

training made possible with the 

collaboration of the National 

Senior Secondary School 

Education Commission, NSSEC 

and Coderina Education and 

Technology Foundation. 

The partnership is primarily 

By Prince Osuagwu, 

Hi-Tech Editor 

Africa's Large-Ticket Trade 

market is faced with a severe 

cash crunch. In sectors like Fuel 

forecourt, this has influenced 

results across three key areas; 

credit, utilization and ownership. 

For Credit, given the severe cash 

crunch, most operators source 

products on credit through trustbased 

supplier relationships. Most 

of this credit remains informal. 

On Utilization, Most trading 

outlets under-utilize their facilities 

due to difficulties in sourcing 

products and maximizing margins 

to cover working capital costs 

Similarly, on ownership, most 

trading outlets are being operated 

on leases as operators embrace a 

more cash-flow friendly model over 

direct ownership 

Meanwhile, Operators need 

access to swift product supply and 

formal credit systems that can be 

leveraged to meet their product 

demand while being 

environmentally responsible. 

Tradegrid, a business to 

business, B2B marketplace 

platform had grown to become the 

largest network of independent 

retail stations by solving this 

problem through a seamless 

application of their proprietary 

technology. 

Its solutions come in four benefit 

packages that allow customers 

achieve: 

aimed at unlocking Nigeria's 

human capital development by 

enabling teachers to prepare 

students for the fourth industrial 

revolution, 4IR. 

The selected teachers from all 36 

states and the Federal Capital 

Territory, FCT Abuja, participated 

in the SAP Africa Code week, with 

over 300 teachers trained in one 

week. 

The Executive Secretary of 

NSSEC, Prof. Benjamin Abakpa, 

said that repositioning the 

education system starts with 

Low-cost credit; a formalized and 

easily accessible credit option 

which will allow traders and 

operators purchase as much 

product as they need and pay back 

as they sell. 

Increased margins: Traders need 

to increase the margins on their 

products by cutting out flagship 

Non-Fuel Revenue product. 

Reduced order fulfillment time: 

This is greatly important considering 

that efficiency and value is lost in the 

current long waiting time it takes for 

traders and operators to join long 

queues at the depot for new products 

offtake. Reducing this time will 

optimize their operations and 

cashflow 

Transition to a cleaner Energy mix: 

One of TradeGrid's Boost product is 

providing teachers with the proper 

education and tools to prepare 

students adequately. 

He noted that the partnership is 

a huge step toward fulfilling the 

commission's mandate to reposition 

the country's education system in 

alignment with the future of work 

requirements. 

He said: “Therefore, teacher's 

education is one key area that the 

NSSEC will focus on, among other 

necessary initiatives, to help fulfil 

its mandate. 

“As we work to raise a tech-savvy 

As Cash crunch hits SMBs 

Tradegrid helps with seamless 

trade solutions, boundless 

growth mechanisms 

We have 

bootstrapped 

operations since 

first transaction 

in January 2022, 

rapidly growing 

adoption and now 

recording over 

$1.5Mn in 

Quarterly Gross 

Sales 

transforming the forecourt experience 

from simple fueling stations to holistic 

multi-experience centers. Making it 

robust with alternative energy mixes 

like natural gas, EV charging among 

others., wholesome retailing like 

grocery marts, spare-parts e-stores 

and all, while also monetizing its high 

footfall traffic and other latent assets 

through LED advert boards. 

The company launched just last year 

in Nigeria and expanded into East 

African markets like Kenya, later this 

year. It has rapidly become the largest 

network of forecourt retailers on the 

continent. 

Tradegrid is backed by global 

investors including U.S based Fluna 

Capital, as well as numerous other 

investors from SoftBank, PwC and 

Harvard Business Review. 

It is run by a team of professionals 

comprising trade and e-commerce 

veterans with strong operations 

experience from giants like Jumia. 

Managing Director Tradegrid, Mr 

Paul Adeyoyin said Trading is the 

largest profession on the continent, 

and the company is geared to 

becoming the Number one solutions 

partner to the continent's 

exponentially growing trade SMBs, 

by providing modern business tools 

that help them thrive in today's digital 

age. 

Adeyoyin said: "We have 

bootstrapped operations since first 

transaction in January 2022. We are 

delivering strong growth at our core, 

while rapidly building defensible 

moats and enhancing our eco-system 

of offerings. 

generation of students, we must 

also raise a generation of techsavvy 

teachers. Coding should be 

part of the education curriculum, 

like other literacy and numeracy 

subjects. Coding is as much about 

creativity as it is about math, 

science, and problem-solving.” 

Also, Coderina BOT Chairman, 

Mr. Femi Niyi, explained: "In 

response to the future of work, 

education must evolve to support 

teachers in developing individual 

student's potential and preparing 

students to become lifelong 

WAPI 2022: How tech'll make real 

estate industry seamless 

Stories by Juliet Umeh 

eal estate investors have called 

Rfor more technology adoption in 

their business, to leapfrog the 

bottlenecks which bogged the industry 

in the past. 

They used the opportunity of West 

African Property Investment, WAPI, 

summit in Lagos recently, to express 

their desire to advance the real estate 

business with technology. 

They contended that only focused 

tech adoption in the real estate 

ecosystem in Nigeria will usher 

seamless processes. 

The 8the annual WAPI event, held 

to identify investment opportunities 

across multiple subsectors, was 

sponsored by hospitality firms like 

Radisson Hotel Group and real estate 

firms like Pennek, Spleet, Novare, 

BuyLetLive among others. 

Speaking to some of the experts who 

decried poor adoption of technology in 

the sector, they noted that Nigeria is 

coming up but that there is room for 

an improvement as adoption is still far 

below compared to developed 

countries. 

For instance, Chief Operating 

Officer at an online real estate 

company, BuyLetLive.com, Modupe 

Agbolahan, said although the adoption 

of technology has been good because 

people now see technology as the way 

they can post their property online. 

However, she said: “Nigeria is far 

back when it comes to technology, 

especially in the real estate industry. 

She said: “Unlike before, to rent a 

house you go through an agent, you 

go around inspecting the property but 

with technology it’s easier and cheaper 

with N200 you can get data, browse 

the houses, and check their prices. 

“So, our technology and 

engineering team have the best 

features that will ensure that the real 

estate industry and Nigeria at large is 

well positioned when it comes to tech. 

“Our mission is simple, to ease and 

simplify the process of selling and 

buying in the real estate market, 

building a product that will simplify 

the process for all the parties, the 

users, agent, developers and everybody 

in the real estate eco system. We build 

a platform to simplify the process. 

Also, Head, Marketing and 

Communications at Spleet, another 

proper technology company, Tofunmi 

Alo, said Spleet introduced innovative 

ways to transform real estate. 

She said: “It provides people the 

opportunity to pay monthly. You can 

come online on SPLEET, find your 

house, and connect to the landlord or 

tenant, then pay monthly not yearly.” 

Speaking at the WAPI Summit, she 

said: “We want to build a Spleet 

community. The event is an 

opportunity to meet with people and 

introduce our product to them. We 

will demo the product, answer 

questions and get feedback and meet 

others in the ecosystem. 

“We began five years ago with a 

marketplace connecting landlords to 

tenants, but now we have a product 

called Verify and another product 

coming up next year. 

She added, “Spleet is also with the 

aim to provide tools for landlords and 

agents, not just provide houses for 

tenants, but financing their rent for 

them. We plan to expand our product 

and service to other countries like 

Kenya, Ghana, and other African 

countries. 

Pantami, others honoured for 

positive leadership in ICT sector 

he Minister of Communications 

Tand Digital Economy and the 

Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian 

Communications Commission, NCC 

Prof. Umar Danbatta, were among the 

individuals who were honoured at the 

Africa Tech Alliance Forum, AfriTECH 

recently. 

Africa Tech Alliance Forum awards 

ceremony aims to celebrate and reward 

companies and individuals on the African 

continent that have demonstrated 

excellence in the areas of innovative 

product/service development, policy/ 

regulations, among other areas. 

Pantami who received Digital 

Economy Hero of the Year Award was 

recognised for his resilience and 

leadership excellence leading to 

Nigeria’s digital economy progress. The 

areas include the National Identity 

Database, Commercial 5G Rollout, 

enactment of the Nigeria Start-up Act and 

the global branding his personality 

brought to Nigeria as the Chairman of 

UN-WSIS 2022. 

Similarly, Prof. Danbatta bagged 5G 

learners so that they can innovate 

tomorrow's world and solve reallife 

problems in their communities. 

“The SAP Africa Code week, the 

most extensive digital literacy on 

the continent of Africa, is designed 

to demystify coding and make it a 

learned skill for students. 

However, achieving this would 

require teacher training and 

transformation from traditional 

teaching styles to pedagogy that 

supports the acquisition of 21st 

century skills and competencies 

necessary in the 4IR. 

Core Leadership Award in recognition 

of his outstanding leadership in the 

African Telecommunications industry, 

especially the outstanding performance 

during the cause of commercial 5G 

launch in Nigeria. 

Other special honourees at the award 

ceremony include Director General, 

National Information Technology 

Agency, NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa 

Abdullahi; General Manager, Fixed 

Broadband, MTN Nigeria, Onyinye 

Ikenna-Emeka and Faculty Member, 

Institute of Humanities, Pan-Atlantic 

University, PAU, Lagos, Dr. Ruth Oji. 

PAN-Africa CyberSecurity Excellence 

Award was conferred on Co-Founder/ 

Chief Visionary Officer, CVO, Digital 

Encode Limited, Dr. Adewale Peter 

Obadare, for his exceptional 

achievements and contributions to the 

development of cybersecurity in Africa, 

while Co-Founder/Chief Technology 

Officer, CTO, Digital Encode Limited, 

Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, 

bagged Blockchain Technology 

Mastery Personality Award. 

ngPIF forum: Stakeholders move to achieve 

internet connectivity to underserved 

T 

he need to get critical services to 

the underserved and far flung areas of 

the country dominated discussions at the 

2022 Nigerian Peering and Interconnection 

Forum, ngPIF, recently. 

The reason was not farfetched. 

Connectivity is at the centre of extending 

services to where they are needed and 

stakeholders who attended the event, 

including Lagos state gover, Babajide Sanwo 

Olu, felt nobody should be left out of the 

critical services in a society that aims to play 

big in the comity of nations. 

As a result, the two day event, organised 

by Nigerian Network Operators Group, 

ngNOG, and the Internet Exchange Point 

of Nigeria, IXPN, mainly centred on the 

practical knowledge and advanced network 

interconnectivity offerings that can benefit 

the underserved. 

Taking the first shot, Sanwo-olu said that 

2022 ngPIF was very relevant and of 

national significance. 

He said: “Today, I am pleased to be 

among experts in the Infrastructure, Digital 

Content Provision, Network Services and 

Policymaking, as they engage, share 

experiences, and learn from experts in 

their fields.” 

The Governor, who was represented 

by Mr. Hakeem Fahm, Commissioner for 

Science and Technology, added that no 

one can ignore the vital role of technology 

in improving infrastructural facilities and 

enhancing economic growth and 

development, saying: “The forum has 

focused efforts on strengthening 

cooperation and communication with all 

stakeholders in the utility infrastructure 

sector, particularly considering the huge 

challenge currently faced by the industry 

and the world.

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 —15


Send Opinions & Letters to: 

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No negotiating the Presidency 

THE Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, 

has said it as it is, as usual. At a public 

lecture in Lagos on Monday, he chided the 

North for insisting that the South East must 

"negotiate" with it for support to produce the 

president of Nigeria next year. Saying that 

Afenifere is a principled organisation that 

believes in equity, justice, and fair play, Pa 

Adebanjo affirmed correctly that it is the turn 

of the South East to produce the next president 

of Nigeria, contrary to the false assertion of 

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that it is his turn. 

He chided the North for claiming to have a 

superior population that is able to decide who 

gets to be president of Nigeria, as there is no 

credible evidence to prove such an assumption. 

As I have observed in earlier articles, our 

fathers and leaders, like Pa Adebanjo and Chief 

Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, are beacons of hope 

that Nigeria may still survive. 

These are the real nationalists. Adebanjo and 

Clark are saying: our ethnic groups have been 

favoured by the rotation and power-sharing 

principles, even when we were at great 

disadvantage. The Igbo nation supported us 

with their votes, they also supported the North. 

It is unfair and antithetical to the national 

spirit to deny them of their right, or place 

impossible hurdles in their way now that it is 

their turn to lead. You cannot beat the message 

and the logic driving it. 

The word: "negotiation" has become a 

football that some of us play the way we want, 

to satisfy our selfish desires. Merriam-Webster 

dictionary defines "negotiate" as: "to confer with 

another to arrive at the settlement of some 

matter." There is no doubt, this word is relevant 

in a diverse Nigeria that has not achieved 

harmony like other great ethno-religious 

diversities such as the United States of America, 

India, Brazil and others. The Bible says two 

cannot walk together unless they agree. 

Nigerians have not agreed. That is why the 

country is crisis-riddled. That is why the system 

is not working. The South calls for a renegotiation 

of Nigeria. Nigeria was negotiated 

before independence, but the departing British 

colonialists used the sudden delimitation of 

constituencies just before the federal elections 

of 1958 and 1959 to give unmerited 

constituency advantages to the North. 

Similarly, the North-controlled military 

political class also split Nigeria into 36 states 

and Abuja in a manner that gave the North 19 

or 20 states and the South 17. The number of 

federal electoral constituencies was also 

configured to give the North a commanding 

edge over the South. Successive population 

censuses have been used to justify an incredible 

claim of a northern majority over the South. 

All these were concocted to empower the North 

and enable its tiny oligarchy and its crumbscollecting 

janissaries in the South to parasite 

on the wealth of the South. 

The South’s calls for a renegotiation are 

greeted with the refrain, "Nigeria’s unity is nonnegotiable." 

They kick against any move to 

reform our federalism and make it more 

equitable. But on the other hand, the same 

North is fond of insisting that any part of the 

South billed to produce the president must 

come and "negotiate" with it. The question is, 

what dividend came out when the North and 

South negotiated for president? The defunct 

Northern People’s Congress, NPC, in 1959 

negotiated with the National Council for 

Nigerian Citizens, NCNC, yet their 

government ended in a bloody, revolutionary 

coup that produced the Civil War. Alhaji Shehu 

Shagari’s National Party of Nigeria, NPN, 

negotiated with the Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s 

The North never kept to the 

pacts; what guarantees do you 

have that the North will abide 

by the terms of the negotiations 

if the South East agrees to 

negotiate the presidency? 

Nigerian People’s Party, NPP, in 1979 to share 

power in an accord government. It ended in a 

coup in 1983. 

In addition, retired Major General 

Muhammadu Buhari negotiated with Alhaji 

Bola Tinubu in 2013 and produced the 

incumbent government in 2015, which is 

ending in disaster. On the other hand, General 

Abdulsalami Abubakar not only barred 

Northern politicians from contesting for the 

presidency in 1999, he also virtually imposed 

General Olusegun Obasanjo on Nigerians. Yet, 

Obasanjo emerged as the most successful 

president since 1999. I am not saying that the 

negotiation of the presidency is bad per se, or 

that it, on its own, was responsible for 

government failures. I am saying that even the 

negotiated governments still failed. The reason 

for that was simple. The elite negotiated to 

share political posts and loot our 

commonwealth. They did not negotiate for 

development. Even if they did, they jettisoned 

it once in power because it was not really their 

move for negotiating. 

Secondly, all negotiated governments 

favoured the North, because their southern 

counterparts were more willing to share. Those 

governments still failed because the North’s 

"dominative tendencies" later always showed 

up due to their disdain for equity. The North 

never kept to the pacts. What guarantees do 

you have that the North will abide by the terms 

of the negotiations if the South East agrees to 

negotiate the presidency? Thirdly, the issue of 

the North’s perceived game-changing 

population remains a ruse. It has been proven, 

time and time again, that no section of the 

country can produce a president to the 

exclusion of another. The North’s "majority" 

which is padded with millions of child voters 

and foreigners, still failed to give Buhari the 

presidency until the South (Tinubu, Chibuike 

Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and others) 

supported him. The North alone cannot 

produce 25 percent of voters in 24 states, since 

it has only 19 states. 

If there is to be a negotiation, it should be for 

mutual purposes, not one-sided. It must also 

be people-centred, and the pacts must be 

implemented to the letter. It should not be for 

elite consumption. What we really need is a 

renegotiation of our federalism. Meanwhile, 

let’s give the candidates a free hand to 

campaign. Let’s not use ethno-religious and 

regional platforms to harass or blackmail 

them for selfish gain. 

ASUU, Ngige and the parapet of labour laws 

By IBRAHIM JIBIA 

EVEN if the Minister of Labour 

and Employment, Senator 

Chris Ngige, has gone personal in 

mediating the dispute between 

ASUU and the Federal Government, 

it can be successfully argued that all 

he has done is meticulously engage 

the relevant provisions of the Trade 

Disputes Act and the Trade Union 

Act to bring discipline and decorum 

to labour administration. ASUU, it 

must be stated unambiguously, is 

fighting a cause that cannot be punctured 

on the scale of patriotism but 

counterproductive, which must be 

accepted, given the manner and way 

it has lately pursued this. Social dialogue 

was effectively displaced, and 

social distemper enthroned, degenerating 

to cross-party name-calling 

and "panjandrum," the Zik of Africa 

would say. 

In the midst of it, was dissension 

over the place of law in the entire 

conundrum. But every progressive 

and prosperous society thrives on triumph 

of laws. In our peculiar clime, 

unfortunately, arguments still 

abound whether the problem of the 

country is the inadequacy of laws or 

the weakness of political authority 

to enforce laws despite their shortcomings. 

And just as the argument 

goes on, the quest for a better country 

where our children will suffer less 

than we currently face, gives no respite. 

The minister of labour must 

have chosen to prove there are 

enough laws in labour statute book 

to put restiveness on the back foot 

and ensure equable production milieu. 

But God continues to love Nigeria. 

While the strike lasted, over 

two million youths were dispatched 

to loiter at home, adding to the army 

of unemployed others, whose percentage 

was put at 34 percent by the 

National Bureau of Statistics. This 

is amidst galloping inflation, runaway 

prices of goods and services, 

amidst terrorism, banditry, kidnap- 

ping and armed robbery. 

Sadly, terrorism, thought to be resident 

of the ungoverned far-flung national 

periphery, surfaced in the nation’s 

centre. Kuje prison was disemboweled, 

hardened scorpion elements 

diffused, still at large. The 

chilly Kaduna train attack, became 

a prized trophy for terrorists, emboldened 

to even issue a threat to the 

President, further staging saber-rattling 

at Abuja suburb. Uprising capable 

of engulfing the entire nation 

would have snapped with the restiveness 

in the mass of idle youth 

population. Luckily, ASUU is back 

to school but skirmishes continue 

between it and the government over 

unresolved issues, accentuated lately 

by the pro rata payment of October 

salaries to university teachers. 

Ngige as usual is a constant factor 

at the receiving end of ceaseless 

blames. The no work-no pay protest 

organised by the University of 

Lagos chapter of ASUU was a lead 

op-ed on the bursting thoughts 

among members nationwide. It was 

literally gloves off for the chapter 

chairman, Dele Ashiru, who is as 

combative as his president, Emmanuel 

Osodeke. 

"Ngige is the agent provocateur; 

he is the one instigating the government 

against ASUU. He has inexplicable 

hatred against our union 

and that is the reason he turned our 

struggle to a personal fight." The allegations 

are long. "It was Ngige 

who poisoned the FEC against our 

union. Ngige started the campaign 

of "no work, no- pay" against our 

union. Ngige dragged ASUU before 

the court; Ngige wrote the Ministry 

of Finance to stop our salary and 

make it prorated. He registered two 

stinking unions to weaken our union, 

which was against the Trade Union 

Act. Ngige also wanted our union to 

be proscribed, suggesting that we 

have not been submitting our aaccounts 

Ngige is out there to destroy 

public universities." I partly agree 

with Ashiru. The Minister of Labour 

is not known for taking prisoners. 

His precedent is that once he is within 

the legal boundaries, all paws are 

out. However, the legality or otherwise 

of the track he walks to make 

ASUU earn its pay, time-proven tripartite 

social dialogue having collapsed, 

is in focus to prove ASUU or 

vindicate Ngige. But there is some 

bad news. The crisis in the public 

universities is festering like a wildfire 

fueled by harmattan wind. A 

source, I can’t place right out, had 

argued that Nigerian universities are 

hardly in the news for scientific research 

break through or academic 

excellence. It is always about doomscrolling 

that tethers the system 

to decadence. Does it shock that 

only the University of Ibadan and 

Lagos could make the list of 600 best 

world universities released by the 

Times Higher Education Global 

University in 2022? 

Did you know that 

education is classified as 

an essential service for 

which a strike requires 15 

days' notice under Section 

7 of the Trade Disputes 

Act, Cap. 9? Available 

records only recall 

ASUU complied last with 

this in 2017 

The report further highlighted lack 

of political will and financial commitment 

to lift higher education from 

the doldrums. Political commitment 

and financial will are key operative 

phrases that may explain the reason 

federal budget on education dwindled 

from 11 percent in 2015 to 5.3 

percent in 2021. But while the issue 

of funding remains cardinal in repositioning 

the university system, 

proper management of scarce resources 

becomes an albatross in a 

system accused of corruption. While 

the report of the visitation panels set 

up by the Federal Government, one 

of the demands of ASUU, gathers 

dust, guided information reveals 

high scale misappropriation. The 

President had raised the issue of corruption 

in the universities while addressing 

ASUU in August, but the 

riposte from the union raises doubt 

as to who is responsible. Since 

ASUU dared government to release 

the report and prosecute the bad 

eggs, the dial back from government 

raises further questions. Nigeria is a 

mystery, true! On the other hand, 

there is hushed allegation that for 

every one naira released to the universities 

as earned allowances,10 

percent goes to ASUU as a booty for 

the struggle! Allegations and 

counter allegations confront each 

other. And the decay in the system 

doubles down. 

Anyway, back to Ngige's role as a 

provocation in the ASUU crisis. Did 

he go beyond the bounds of the law 

to chastise the union in his capacity 

as the competent authority on labour 

matters? With ASUU on strike 

for eight months, rejecting all entreaties 

even from tripartite-plus 

bodies, Ngige looked inwards and 

front loaded the elaborate provisions 

of the law, tucked away in a country 

of laissez-faire to ‘chastise’ the union. 

Ngige simply scraped around the 

recess of labour laws to resolve 

the phenomenon that is doomscrolling 

the university environment 

and desensitising ASUU to the torturing 

negativities of strikes. He simply 

said No to building a Potemkin 

that succumbs to perennial strikes. 

This is what must have disunited 

Ngige who used to tug the heartstrings 

of ASUU members. Now, the 

laws. Did you know that education 

is classified as an essential service 

for which a strike requires 15 days' 

notice under Section 7 of the Trade 

Disputes Act, Cap. 9? Available 

records only recall ASUU complied 

last with this in 2017. And to keep 

circumventing this, ASUU claims its 

strikes are roll-overs, which in the 

purview of the above section has no 

basis as strike has no other qualifier 

than being a strike. 

The similar interpretation of Section 

17 of the Trade Disputes Act, Cap. 

T8, makes ASUU accuse the Minister 

of Labour of taking the union to 

court, whereas transmitting a dispute 

to the National Industrial Court 

is the next stage in a collapsed conciliation 

process. Before further insight 

into section 17, let’s upload section 

18 which provides that once any 

union fails to settle dispute with its 

employer and goes on strike, the 

Minister, acting under the section, 

apprehends the action by convening 

conciliation for the two parties. 

Once apprehension is in place, the 

concerned union and the employer 

goes back to status quo antebellum. 

However, this is observed more in 

breach, otherwise, ASUU would 

have called off the February 14 strike 

on the 22nd of the same month when 

the Minister summoned a conciliation 

meeting. This section was a subject 

of intense discussion at the National 

Labour Advisory Council, 

which sat in Lagos on March 7, 2022. 

As it is, section 17 ties the hands of 

the Minister by providing he should, 

within 14 days of collapse of talks, 

transmit the dispute to the higher 

body which is either the Industrial 

Arbitration Panel or the National 

Industrial Court. That is exactly what 

the Minister did. In fact, he was in 

breach of the law by delaying the 

transmission from 14 days to 8 

months! Hence, rather than stating 

incorrectly that Ngige took ASUU 

to court, it is the union that made 

conciliation difficult to warrant 

transmission to the industrial court. 

Similarly, the vexed issue of no 

work, no pay as contained in section 

43 of the Trade Disputes Act has rarely 

been used. The present administration 

first invoked it on JOHESU 

in 2018 as well as ASUU and NARD 

in 2020 and 2021 respectively. 

Continues online: 

www.vanguardngr.com 

•Dr. Jibia is former Director of 

Skills and Certification, Federal 

Ministry of Labour and Employment 

and a member, National Labour 

Advisory Council.

Popular reactions to Charles Soludo’s 

comments on Peter Obi 

CHARLES Soludo, former governor of 

the Central Bank and current governor 

of Anambra State, has of late incurred the 

anger of many Igbo among other supporters 

of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the 

Labour Party. This for his blunt assessment of 

Obi’s stewardship as governor of Anambra 

State and his chances in next year’s election. 

As is now customary with the so-called 

obidients, the attack of Charles Soludo, 

spawned mostly by emotion than sound 

reason, has not surprisingly generated more 

heat than light on the points at issue. All 

Soludo did to incur the anger of his attackers 

followed his offhanded response to a question 

on Channels that the investments ascribed to 

Obi during his time as governor of Anambra 

were presently worth next to nothing. This 

rather blithe remark that could have been 

allowed to pass did not escape the attention of 

Obi’s supporters, the usual suspects, in so many 

cases of virulent social media attacks on real 

and perceived enemies of Peter Obi. 

They unleashed a torrent of both slanderous 

and libelous bile on Soludo so much that he 

could have been taken for a rogue caught 

poisoning the communal stream. The namecalling 

did not stop at attacks on his person. 

His tormentors somehow managed to put 

words in the mouth of his apparently selfpossessed 

musician-son who was reported to 

have registered his support for Peter Obi even 

as he distanced himself from his father’s 

comments on the aspirant president. A 

spokesperson for Soludo has now debunked 

the false attribution to the younger Soludo and 

exposed it for the forgery it is. So much for 

those celebrating and encouraging a son to 

openly defy his father even as they cannot 

stomach the father’s right to express an opinion 

or even a view in a matter that he appears far 

more qualified to comment on than the critics 

taking him to task. 

Or whose voice sounds more credible and 

should carry more factual or truthful valence 

than the other in matters of governance or 

economic(s) investment in this instance- that 

of Charles Soludo’s, a respected economist, 

former Central Bank governor, self-confessed 

friend and one of Peter Obi’s successors to the 

governor’s seat in Awka, or the voice of his 

many uninformed but high-strung critics? 

These are the “meddlesome interlopers” who 

know far less about Obi than the man they are 

attacking. Is it not instructive that Soludo’s 

critics are not the known or prominent Obi 

supporters aside members of his campaign 

council? Why did Pat Utomi saddle obidients 

with the task of responding to Soludo when he 

could have more credibly done it as an 

economist? But the rabble would rather rush 

in where angels fear to tread, hurling insults 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 —17 

intention to, from a historical perspective, set 

the record straight in terms of the deliberate 

convolution and misrepresentation of his view 

of Peter Obi. It means nothing whether you 

agree with him or not what counts is that 

Charles Soludo has spoken his truth and shown 

himself to be a man of his own conviction. We 

know and he has admitted that he is not an 

angel and is susceptible to errors like any other 

man. But he has the right to make his stand 

known without necessarily having to explain 

to anyone or fear recrimination from others. It 

is the privilege of the herd in this era of 

suffocating intolerance to join the bandwagon 

of popular opinion even if only tongue in cheek. 

It takes people of conviction to beat a different 

path. 

For the most part, Soludo’s critics have had 

nothing more substantial to say in response to 

him than to engage in ad homineminsults and 

labelling him a saboteur out to truncate the 

2023 presidential aspiration of the Igbo. There 

will always be a motive to every human action 

whether grossly self-centered or less so but that 

does not in itself transform truth claims into 

their opposites or undermine objective reality. 

Even non-Igbo commentators, highly educated 

and exposed, posturing as supporters of Obi 

and impartial arbiters in this supposed familycum 

national feud,have only sought to unlock 

the tap of self-pity by calling the Igbo their 

own worst enemy. For them, if anyone is 

critical of Obi it should not be another Igbo. 

Their apparently disinterested comments 

feed into and uncover the tribal angst that 

informs their action. Tomorrow they would 

with a different side of their mouth express 

their collective wish for and heap praises on a 

“detribalized” Nigerian leader while accusing 

Muhammadu Buhari of being partial to the 

Fulani. Peter Obi’s response to Soludo, 

delivered at the Lagos Business School, in part 

satiric, in part self-deflating, has been far more 

sober, intelligent and appropriate than that of 

his supporters. He admits he is no saint and 

accepts some of the failings ascribed to him, 

even of the diminished value of the investments 

he made. This is the response of a leader and 

potential president. 

and invectives at Soludo’s person, his 

household and generations after him. He’s got 

their goat and they would not quit until he has 

been dragged into their court of (in)justice and 

found guilty as charged. All of which rather 

than quench the fire in him has only spurred 

Soludo to pen a left-handed love letter to his 

“obedient” critics and their kith and kin, home 

and abroad- “just for the records”, he says. For 

their refusal to let a mere comment slip by, 

obidients now have to contend with a fullbodied, 

unflattering testimonial of their idol. 

In this first part response titled “History 

Beckons and I will not be Silent”, Charles 

Soludo offers a sober, defiant and, it would 

seem from his own perspective, unvarnished 

and relatively far more granular version of his 

initial comment that got the cyber horde baying 

at him. Having gone as far as they have in 

attacking Soludo and others who have dared 

to express a dissenting opinion about Obi, the 

question now is what more weapon do the 

obidients have left in their arsenal other than 

the now-familiar bullying, cusses and vitriol? 

Are there any more invectives to hurl? What 

further climbdown the murk of insults and 

Soludo’s critics have had 

nothing more substantial to say in 

response to him than to engage in 

ad hominem insults and labelling 

him a saboteur out to truncate the 

2023 presidential aspiration of 

the Igbo 

uneducated bullying are Nigerians to expect? 

Or would things take more sinister dimension 

as Soludo alluded to in his love note about the 

gun men that attacked a security post in his 

village? It is in the nature of the intolerant to 

seek sinister byways in the expression and 

imposition of their will on others. What are the 

options left after the muckraking that has 

trailed Charles Soludo’s comments? 

This moment must be galling for his critics 

but Soludo came prepared and apparently 

meant his essay to achieve just such feeling 

and probably more. This is beside his main 

WITH the Stakeholders’ 

Consultative Forum held in 

mid-November and the publication 

of the final Information 

Memorandum (IM) on the website 

of the Nigerian Communications 

Commission, NCC, it is no longer in 

doubt that the 5G Auction scheduled 

for December 19, 2022, will hold. 

All initial doubt and public 

apprehension pale into 

insignificance except that they help 

to incident a huge process that could 

still be up for questioning in the 

future. 

At the Stakeholder's Forum, which 

held in Lagos, healthy concerns were 

raised. The Reserve Price, RP, of 

US$273,600,000 for one Lot of 

100MHz TDD for a ten-year license 

tenure, was on the high side, they 

observed. Having participated in 

the last auction which was held last 

December, Airtel, who participated 

in that process, canvassed to be 

offered one Lot through an 

administrative process, meaning it 

would not have to be part of the 

auction process again but allowed 

to pay the RP. MTN, who was one of 

the winners and has commenced 

limited 5G service roll out, the other 

being Mafab, made a case to be 

allowed to participate in the 

December 2022 Auction. 

Ikenna Ikeme, General Manager, 

Regulatory Affairs at MTN, 

explained that his organisation 

08055069060 (SMS Only) 

5G Spectrum Cap, spectrum 

auction, and other issues 

participated last year because it had 

the understanding that it would be 

an open auction going forward. Of 

course there was an outrage because 

that would confer the status of a 

dominant player on MTN in the 

nascent 5G sector in Nigeria. The 

outrage was rooted in the draft IM 

which pegged the Spectrum Cap at 

100MHz per operator. The Cap is 

the spectrum upper limit that an 

operator could not exceed. When the 

regulator auctioned two lots of 100 

MHz each in the 3.5 GHz band, 

ranging from 3500 to 3600 MHz 

and 3700 to 3800 MHz last year, 

they were won by MTN and Mafab. 

That success ironically rendered 

them unsuitable for the current 

process that will peak on December 

19, 2022. 

Sensing the complexity of 

responses, the regulator had to do a 

quick rethink and take immediate 

action. The RP stays, like words 

carved in stone, except that this is 

liquid cash. To even get a little sniff 

at 5G services, Airtel must go to the 

auction and show its financial 

strength. Then there was the big one 

that seemed impossible. MTN will 

be part of the auction. This became 

manifest in the final IM. Not that it 

was stated explicitly, but a little 

magic wand to save the regulator 

from a certain headache The 

Commission places a cap of 200 

MHz as the maximum amount of 

spectrum an applicant can acquire 

in the 3.5 GHz band. "A licensee with 

an existing assignment in the 

3.5GHz band is eligible to bid for 

only one lot of 100 MHz. However, 

applicants without spectrum 

holdings in the 3.5 GHz band are 

eligible to bid for the two lots on 

offer," the IM stated. Like shifting the 

goalposts when the game is already 

on? Not at all. There was an 

immediate need to apply cooling 

balm to a business process that was 

expected to heat up if decisions were 

made incorrectly. 

How? This writer was informed by 

a source within the Commission that, 

based on decisions and promises 

made last year, MTN would have 

had a good reason to go to court if it 

was pressed to. There is no need for 

NCC should give 

licenses to those who can 

pay, those who can roll 

out service,; it should 

forget about market 

dominance and 

platitudinous innuendos 

any litigation now. There is yet 

another angle to this story. What is 

the real purpose of this auction? The 

regulator tried to provide an 

answer. "I want to disabuse the 

minds of those who feel that the 

objective of the NCC to auction the 

first and second rounds of the 5G 

spectrum bands is to generate money 

for the federal government. This is 

not correct. The overriding 

consideration is not to generate 

money for the Federal Government, 

but principally to ensure the 

deployment of 5G services that 

enhance a better life for Nigerians 

and the growth of the nation’s 

economy as a whole through 

provision of qualitative high-speed 

Internet services that increase 

productivity and efficiency across 

sectors," the Executive Vice 

Chairman, Prof. Umar Garba 

Danbatta, explained at the Forum. 

There is no need for disputation 

here. His sense of patriotism is duly 

recognized. But three things, we 

insist, seem to be at play here in this 

order - cash, desperation to satisfy 

some interests, and efficient service 

delivery. We also want to observe 

here that in doing an auction, the 

regulator must look out for 

organisations and individuals that 

can validate the process through 

their participation and their ability 

to raise the cash. MTN is one of such 

organisations. The organisation’s 

sense of patriotism and commitment 

to the country and her economy, no 

matter the political uncertainties, 

cannot be faulted. In nearly every 

Spectrum Auction, MTN 

participates and pays up 

immediately. A source within the 

regulatory authority gave this 

testimony. "If not for the likes of 

MTN, we would have been in a mess 

right now. MTN has a good 

corporate structure. And in terms of 

corporate governance, they are 

number one." 

A long story has been told in so 

few words. MTN is paradigmatic of 

what is good in the 

telecommunications industry, but 

such corporate sprucing up, has also 

attracted a streak of envy that earns 

it a bad report. What does the 

regulator want this time? One of the 

5G licenses given out last year went 

to Mafab for $273.5m. The money 

was quickly paid by the winner. But 

for Mafab, 5G remains a greenfield, 

which is perhaps the reason it is still 

struggling to roll out services. 

Summary: The people don’t have 

any service from Mafab yet. If the 

regulator wants to emphasise cash 

and service delivery over patronage, 

we urge it to provide this cautionary 

support by telling the India story 

again. When the country concluded 

her 5G spectrum sales on August 1, 

2022, a bouquet of spectrum bands - 

600MHz, 700MHz, 800MHz, 1.8 

GHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3GHz, 3.3GHz and 

26GHz, were on offer. At the final 

sound of the bell, Reliance Jo had a 

lion's share of the sales, shelling out 

a humongous $11.15bn, Bharti 

Airtel followed with $5.45bn, 

Vodafone Idea (Vi) came in third 

with $2.37bn, and wireless service 

provider Adani Group, kept a distant 

fourth with $26.84m. 

The entire package was about $19 

billion, which is a very huge amount 

coming from just a sector of the 

economy within a few days. There is 

no doubt that the emphasis was on 

money, but they also ensured that the 

licenses went to those who could 

afford them and had the proof of 

ability to roll out services. This is what 

I will suggest to the NCC. Give 

licenses to those who can pay. Those 

who can roll out service. Forget 

about market dominance and 

platitudinous innuendos. Finally, let 

me state very clearly that I support 

the transparency claims of the NCC 

in executing its regulatory 

responsibilities. But the time has 

come to remove legacy blinkers from 

the eyes and face up with the reality 

that certain things are not going well 

in the telecommunications industry. 

Competition is impaired, services are 

growing increasingly worse, and 

there are loud complaints of an 

overbearing external influence on 

the Commission. 

I can observe that President 

Muhammadu Buhari is struggling 

to at least have one legacy to point 

to after May next year. 5G obviously 

is an easy pick. The NCC should 

make his job easy by conducting a 

good auction that will yield results 

in cash and in service delivery.


SUNDAY, November 20, 2022, 

passed, rather quietly, in Nigeria, 

though the world out there celebrated 

the 2022 edition of World Children’s 

Day. Yes, we do celebrate our own 

Nigerian Children’s Day on May 27 

every year, yet we still need to 

respond to the universal day because 

we are part of it. 

The World Children’s Day, WCD, 

which was established in 1954 as the 

Universal Children’s Day, had a 

humble, distant beginning. It was 

founded as "Rose Day" on June 2, 

1857, by Dr. Charles Leonard, the 

pastor of the Universal Church of the 

Redeemer in Massachusetts, USA. 

The Republic of Turkey, under its 

legendary President, Mustafa Kemal 

Ataturk, officially declared it a special 

day in 1929. 

When the UN General Assembly 

adopted it under the mandate of the 

United Nations Children’s Fund, 

UNICEF, it also enacted the Universal 

Marking World Children’s Day 2022 

Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 

which established the minimum basis 

for the care and protection of the 

child anywhere in the world. 

The primary requirements under 

this charter were: the child must be 

given all it requires for normal 

physical, material, and spiritual 

development. A hungry child must 

be fed; a sick child must be nursed; a 

backward child must be helped; a 

delinquent child must be reclaimed; 

and the orphan must be provided for. 

It also stressed that in times of 

distress, the child must get the first 

relief and be protected from every 

form of exploitation. Also, the child 

must be prepared to be able to earn a 

livelihood in adulthood and 

conditioned to acquire skills to be 

able to serve fellow humans. 

These rights were later developed, 

and on November 20, 1989, the UN 

General Assembly adopted the 

Convention on the Rights of the 

Child, CRC. 

It was a compendium treaty of the 

human rights of the child that covered 

the social, political, economic, health, 

and cultural rights of children to 

prepare them as well-rounded future 

leaders. 

This charter has been followed as 

closely as possible, especially in the 

advanced Western world, where the 

rights of children are extensively 

secured by law. But the situation is 

different in the backward nations. 

These include Nigeria, where over 20 

million children are out of school. 

Many are orphaned by jihadist 

terrorism, banditry and general 

insecurity. 

Child labour, street hawking, child 

marriages, child trafficking, "baby 

factories," and other heinous crimes 

against children still prevail despite 

the Child Rights Act, CRA, adopted 

in 2003. 

The Universal Children’s Day 

politely` reminds us of our 

obligations to develop policies and 

programmes that will protect 

Nigerian children, especially the girl 

child, who is still culturally relegated. 

For a better future, we must invest in 

our children. If we keep neglecting 

them, we are stoking a Hobbesian 

future for our society. 

OPINION 

Women, quality of life and sustainable development 

By FATIMA ALI BUSUGUMA 

WOMEN are the pioneers of any 

nation. The Nigerian culture 

attaches great importance to women, who 

comprise half of the world’s population. 

According to a report by the UN Secretary 

General, women account for 50 percent 

of human resources, making them the 

second-largest human resource after men 

in terms of potential. 

Women are the key to sustainable 

development and quality of life in the 

family. The variety of roles the women 

assume in the family are those of wife, 

leader, administrator, manager of family 

income, and last but not least, the most 

important, mother. 

As a wife, a woman is a man’s helpmate, 

partner, and comrade. She sacrifices her 

personal pleasure and ambitions, sets the 

standard of morality, relieves stress and 

strain, on the husband, and maintains 

peace and order in the household. 

Thereby, she creates a necessary 

environment for her male partner to think 

more about the economic enlistment of 

the family. She is the source of inspiration 

for men's high endeavours and 

worthwhile achievements in life. 

She is by his side in all crises and shares 

all of his successes and accomplishments. 

Likewise, she is the person to whom he 

turns for love, sympathy, understanding, 

comfort, and recognition. 

She is the symbol of purity, faithfulness, 

submission, and devotion to her husband. 

A well-ordered, disciplined household is 

essential to normal family life. The 

woman in the family assumes this 

function. She is the chief executive of an 

enterprise. She assigns duties among 

family members according to their 

interests and abilities, and provides 

resources in-term of equipment and 

materials to accomplish the job. 

Furthermore, she is responsible for meal 

preparation and serving, clothing 

selection and care, laundering, and house 

furnishing and maintenance. As an 

administrator, she organises various 

social functions in the family for social 

development. She also acts as a director 

of recreation. She plans various 

recreational activities to meet the needs 

of young and old members of the family. 

The woman acts as the humble manager 

of the family income. It is her 

responsibility to secure the maximum 

return from every penny spent. She always 

prefers to prepare a surplus budget instead 

of a deficit budget. When it comes to 

spending money, she is very calculated 

about her losses and gains. She distributes 

judiciously the income among different 

categories, such as necessities, comforts, 

and luxuries. 

The woman in the family also 

contributes to the family income through 

her own earning within or outside the 

home. She has positive contribution to the 

family income by the work. She herself 

performs in the home and uses waste 

products for productive purposes. 

The whole burden of childbearing and 

a greater part of the child rearing task are 

carried out by the woman in the family. 

She is primarily responsible for the child’s 

habit of self-control, orderliness, 

industriousness, theft, or honesty. Her 

contacts with the child during the most 

formative period of his development sets 

up his behaviour pattern. She is thus 

responsible for the maintenance of utmost 

discipline in the family. 

She is the child's first teacher. 

Furthermore, she passes on her social 

heritage to the child. It is from the mother 

The mother is the central 

personality of the home and 

the family circle; all the 

members turn to her for 

sympathy, understanding, and 

recognition 

that the child learns the laws of the race, 

the manner of men, moral code and ideals. 

The mother, because of her intimate and 

sustained contact with the child, she is able 

to discover and nurture the child’s special 

traits aptitudes and attitudes which 

subsequently play a key role in the shaping 

of his personality. 

As a mother, she is the family health 

officer. She is very much concerned about 

the physical wellbeing of every member 

of the family, the helpless infant, the sickly 

child, the adolescent youth, the senescent 

parent. She organises the home and its 

activities in such a way so that each 

member of the family has proper food, 

adequate sleep and sufficient recreation. 

Send Opinions & Letters to: 

opinions1234@yahoo.com 

Not only that, but she made the home a 

place of quite comfortable and 

appropriate setting for the children 

through her talent. Besides, she cultivates 

taste in interior design and arrangement, 

so that the home becomes an inviting, 

restful and cheerful place. 

The mother is the central personality of 

the home and the family circle. All the 

members turn to her for sympathy, 

understanding, and recognition. A woman 

devotes her time, labour and thought for 

the welfare of the members of her family. 

The woman performs the role of wife, 

partner, organiser, administrator, director, 

re-creator, disburser, economist, mother, 

disciplinarian, teacher, health officer, 

artist and queen in the family at the same 

time. Apart from it, a woman plays a key 

role in the socio-economic development 

of the society. 

They should act as social leaders, 

speaking out against women's violence, 

domestic and workplace exploitation, 

dowry prohibition superstition, and other 

social atrocities. They should be members 

of religious institutions, delivering 

spiritual messages to adolescent boys and 

girls in order to eradicate juvenile 

delinquency from society. Furthermore, it 

is women who have sustained societal 

growth and shaped the future of nations. 

In the emerging complex social 

scenario, women have a vital role to play 

in different sectors. They can no longer be 

considered mere harbingers of peace, but 

are emerging as a source of power and a 

symbol of progress. 

•Busuguma, a corps member with 

PRNigeria, wrote from Wuye

Inflation: We will continue to raise MPR 

level.” 

until... — CBN 

IN a sustained fight against 

inflationary pressures, the 

Central Bank of Nigeria, 

CBN, yesterday, further raised the 

Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, by 

100 basis points to 16.5 per cent 

from 15.5 per cent. 

CBN Governor, Mr. Governor 

Emefiele, who disclosed this while 

speaking to the media on the outcome 

of the apex bank’s Monetary 

Policy Committee, MPC, meeting 

concluded yesterday, added that 

the apex bank will continue to 

raise the MPR until the inflation 

rate abates. 

Meanwhile, he also disclosed 

that the redesigned N1000, 

N500, and N200 notes will be unveiled 

today by President 

Mohammadu Buhari at the Federal 

Executive Council, FEC, adding 

that there is no going back on 

the January 31st deadline for end 

to the use of the existing currency 

notes as legal tender. 

The MPC, however, retained the 

Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, at 32.5 

per cent, Liquidity Ratio at 30 per 

cent, with the asymmetric corridor 

at +100/-700 basis point around 

the MPR. 

Inflation hurting economy 

The rising prices of goods and 

services had pushed triggered the 

inflation rate to 21.09 percent in 

October, 2022, in a nine consecutive 

months rise from 15.6 per cent 

in January, prompting the CBN to 

raise the MPR by 500 basis points 

within four consecutive MPC 

meetings from 11.5 percent in 

April 2022. 

Explaining the rationale for the 

further hike in the MPR, Emefiele 

said that the persistent rise in inflation 

is hurting economic growth 

and the driving factors are still 

existing. 

He stated: “We believe that at 

21.9 percent inflation is already 

hurting economic growth. If we 

did not see this high level of inflation 

in the last seven months we 

would have been damned optimistic 

that growth would have hit 

close to 4.0 percent. But because 

of the aggressive rate of rise in inflation, 

it is hurting economic 

growth at this level in Nigeria and 

that is the reason you would see 

that we are taking this very seriously 

because whether you would 

even try to either loosen or hold 

rates low what you would find is 

that inflation rate at this kind of 

levels of above from 14 to 15 percent 

into 21 percent, economic 

growth would either decelerate or 

at best will be very very weak, 

would not be at a moderated 

INAUGURATION —— From left: Chairperson, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Betty Apiafi; 

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Yusuf Tanko Sununu; UniAbuja Teaching Hospital 

(UATH) Chief Medical Director, Professor Bissallah Ekele; NLNG’s MD/CEO, Dr. Philip Mshelbila; the Aguma of 

Gwagwalada, HRM Alhaji Mahammadu Magaji; and NLNG’s Deputy MD, Olalekan Ogunleye at the inauguration 

of a modern maternity centre as part of the NLNG Hospital Support Programme in Abuja. 

Finance Minister inaugurates container 

scanners for ports Customs decries under-utilisation 

CURRENCY BUYING SELLING 

US 

DOLLAR 

POUNDS 

EURO 

FRANC 

YEN 

CFA 

WAUA 

RENMINBI 

RIYAL 

RAND 

Danish 

Krona 

164.05 +3.65 

89.60 +2.15 

19.80 -0.06 

89.60 +2.15 

82.03 +1.99 

442.63 443.13 443.63 

522.6132 523.2036 523.7939 

453.4744 453.9867 454.4989 

461.9391 462.4609 462.9827 

461.9391 462.4609 462.9827 

0.6795 0.6895 0.6995 

579.6684 580.3232 580.978 

61.7594 61.8296 61.8998 

117.7646 117.8976 118.0306 

25.4593 25.488 25.5168 

59.0766 59.1438 59.211 

CBN Exchange rate as of 22/11/2022 

By Godfrey Bivbere & 

Gideon Nnaemezia 

THE Minister of 

Finance and 

National Planning, 

Zainab Ahmed, 

yesterday, inaugurated 

three new scanners at the 

nation’s seaports. 

This was even as the 

Comptroller General of 

Customs, CGC, Hameed 

Ali, decried the underutilisation 

of the scanners 

at Apapa ports. 

Ahmed said the 

deployment of the 

scanners would reduce 

importation of 

unwholesome goods as 

well as increase 

government revenue 

collection. 

She also disclosed that 

additional 135 scanners 

were still expected for 

full automation of cargo 

clearing system across all 

ports of entry in the 

country. 

She stated: “The 

inauguration of the three 

new scanners today, is a 

MARITIME 

milestone in the Service 

efforts to expedite Customs 

operations, achieve ease of 

doing business, facilitate 

trade, prevent Port 

congestion, increase revenue 

generation to government and 

improve national security. 

“Furthermore, the current 

process of physical 

examination of cargoes is time 

consuming, causing loss of 

revenue to the government 

and cannot be compared with 

the Scanning of cargoes which 

is carried out in minutes and 

having the capacity to detect 

prohibited imports that are 

concealed in cargoes”. 

Ali had earlier warned 

terminal operators to 

cooperate with the Customs in 

the positioning of containers 

for scanning so as to prevent 

conflict between both bodies. 

He explained that the 

scanner at Apapa port has the 

capacity to scan between 400 

and 500 containers daily but 

it is only scanning about 130 

presently. 


Buhari unveils new naira notes 

Announcing the unveiling of the 

Naira note by President Buhari, 

Emefiele stated: “We would not 

shift any deadline, what we have 

done is not against the law, it is in 

tandem with the law. 

“We announced this program on 

October 26, 2022 and we said 

upon release of the new currency, 

the legal tender would run concurrently 

with the old currency till 31, 

January 2023, that is almost 100 

days. 100 days is enough for any 

person in any part of Nigeria to 

deposit his money in the bank and 

get ready to withdraw cash when 

the new notes are released. 

“Indeed we are no longer waiting 

till December 15th to unveil 

and begin to release the new notes. 

By the special grace of God tomorrow 

the 23rd of November 2022, 

the President has graciously accepted 

to unveil the new currencies”. 

Petrol price now N230 as 

scarcity bites harder in 

Lagos, environs 

By Ediri Ejoh 

THE price of petrol at the 

independent marketers 

segment of the petroleum 

products downstream market 

has gone up to about N230 in 

Lagos areas at the backdrop of 

heightened supply shortages. 

While the official pump price 

remained around N170 per litre, 

the independent marketers had 

sold at about N200 in the past 

one month before the just 

effected increase. 

Some of the operators told 

Vanguard that the depot and 

transportation cost have gone 

up to more than N220 as against 

the government approved price 

of N148.17 per litre forcing 

them to sale at N230 per litre. 

The national president of the 

Independent Petroleum 

Marketers Association of 

Nigeria (IPMAN), Elder 

Chinedu Okoronkwo, who 

confirmed the hike in prices, put 

the blame on private depot 

owners. 

He said: “The real cause of the 

price hike is the incessant 

increment in price by private 

depot owners. A litre of fuel is 

being sold to us at the rate of 

N210 and N214 per litre. When 

you add transport and logistics, 

you can imagine what the figure 

INDUSTRY 

ENERGY 

will amount to. 

“This is blackmail. The major 

marketers can sell at a lower 

price because they have depots 

but they sell to us at a higher price 

and expect us to dispense at the 

official price. How is that 

workable and possible? 

“We cannot cope with the harsh 

environment of doing business, 

caused by private depot owners. 

We are calling on the federal 

government to revive our various 

NNPC depots and remove us 

from these depot operators. Until 

the NNPC monitor and sell 

directly to us availability cannot 

be guaranteed.” 

A source at Depots and 

Petroleum Products Marketers 

Association of Nigeria 

(DAPPMAN) insisted that there 

was enough products at the 

depots to meet demands, adding 

that members of the association 

have their products sold at the 

official price at their various 

filling stations. 

He said: “I can tell you that the 

situation is confusing to me. Last 

week we had a meeting with 

NNPC who confirmed to have 

had enough products to last for a 

long time. Certainly that is true 

as there are products at the depots 

to meet demand.” 

Tech drives economic devt, 

SDGs accomplishment 

The 

Sustainable 

Development Goals 

(SDGs) which are at the centre 

of economic development for 

people at the grassroots will be 

achieved through the support of 

technology, analysts at the 2022 

Sustainability Table Series have 

said. 

Convener, Sustainability Table 

Series, Kayode Olaniyan, said 

there is need to leverage 

technology as a strategic tool 

and accelerator for 

collaboration, leapfrogging and 

establishing connections that 

support the economy. 

The event, organized by Avant- 

Garde Innovation and 

Technology Services with theme: 

Exploring the theme: 

Sustainable Development 

Goals (SDGs) in the Fourth 

Industrial Revolution (4IR)- 

Opportunities for growth in a 

circular economy. 

In his keynote address, Vice 

President, GICL, Kazeem 

Oladepo, said: “We have 

become a connected world. 

Within Nigeria, there is over 

6,000km of fibre cable 

infrastructure connecting 

people. Despite this, 32-36 

million Nigerians are currently 

unconnected, with communities 

that lack telephony and data 

access.” 

He stressed the need to create 

end-solutions that bring the 

enabling networks required to 

unlock the fourth industrial 

revolution in Nigeria as close as 

possible to the end users. 

Buttressing the importance of 

these networks, he opined, “At the 

core of sustainability is a circular 

economy, and at the core of a 

circular economy is connectivity. 

Connectivity helps with 

preserving and replacing 

resources, and ensures we are not 

duplicating resources, assets, and 

infrastructure that can be shared 

by multiple users on an openaccess 

basis.” 

Executive Governor of Lagos 

State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, 

represented by Mr Olalekan 

Fatodu, the Senior Special 

Assistant on Sustainable 

Development Goals to the 

Governor, said the convergence 

of technological development 

and the development in 

infrastructure are the most viable 

means of achieving sustainable 

growth as encapsulated in the 

2030 agenda.

20 —Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 23, 2022


22— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

Abuja central law school for Nigeria - archaic (4) 

THE WAY FORWARD: IN the past 

few weeks, I have surveyed the 

process of bar licensing in frontline 

common law jurisdictions in England, 

Canada, the United States, Australia, 

India, and Kenya. It is clear from this 

survey that Legal Education has 

moved beyond the obsolete system of 

having a centralised Law School. 

Because society does not remain 

static, the process of legal education 

in Nigeria cannot remain static and 

must evolve in accordance with 

international best practices and 

contemporary realities. 

Today, the legal education system in 

Nigeria faces existential challenges 

that cannot be addressed simply by 

opening many branch campuses of the 

Nigerian Law School. 

To address the current challenges 

that impact the quality and relevance 

of legal education in Nigeria, our bar 

licensing process will need to be 

wholly reformed to provide new 

entrants into the profession with the 

world-class practical skills and 

technological competencies required to 

take on the challenges of the 21st 

century and beyond. 

A survey of the bar licensing process 

in frontier common law jurisdictions 

such as England, Canada, the United 

States, Australia, India, and Kenya 

clearly shows that legal education has 

progressed beyond the outdated 

system of having a central law school 

t h a t 

administers 

vocational 

b a r 

training 

programmes 

in large 

auditoriums 

at its 

branch 

campuses. 

Other 

common 

l a w 

countries 

have seen 

The Council of 

Legal Education 

in Nigeria 

should play the 

role of a 

regulator that 

sets the standard 

for the provision 

of legal 

education in 

Nigeria 

the value in opening the bar training 

process to accredited private service 

providers with the required facilities, 

ICT infrastructure, and resources to 

conduct personalized and practiceoriented 

training that enable learners 

to absorb practical legal skills in a selfpaced 

manner. 

As efforts continue to update and 

reform the Legal Education 

(Consolidation Etc) Act, what is 

required is that like the Bar Standards 

Board, BSB, in England, the Council 

of Legal Education in Nigeria should 

play the role of a regulator that sets 

the standard for the provision of legal 

education in Nigeria. 

In addition to its current role in 

accrediting and supervising 

universities and law faculties that 

provide LL.B. education, the Council 

of Legal Education should also have 

the authority to licence and accredit 

private service providers to provide 

vocational training for bar aspirants 

beyond the exclusive preserve of the 

Nigerian Law School. Such service 

providers, especially universities 

which have reputable Law Colleges 

and advanced ICT infrastructure, 

should be licensed to train law 

graduates for 12 months, after which 

they will take a Joint Bar Examination 

moderated by the Council. 

In addition to accrediting the service 

providers and administering the Joint 

Bar Examination, the Council of Legal 

Education will set the criteria for the 

curricula and mode of instruction for 

the bar course; set standards for the 

infusion of practice-oriented courses 

and examinations by service providers; 

and the continuous monitoring 

evaluation and renewal of licenses of 

the service providers. 

With this proposed arrangement, law 

graduates from Nigerian universities 

will be able to select reputable 

colleges or faculties of law of their 

choice with up-to-date facilities and 

faculty members of international repute 

for their post-LL.B. bar training course, 

and then write their call to bar 

examinations without having to be 

residential students in any law school 

as is currently the case. 

Paucity of 

funding 

This way, the problems of paucity of 

funding, poor facilities, and 

inadequate accommodation space 

would have been solved. It is common 

knowledge today that there is not a 

single one of the existing campuses of 

the Nigerian Law School that has the 

modern equipment, libraries, internet 

facilities, E-libraries, and modern ICT 

infrastructure needed to deliver 

practical and experiential vocational 

training for all Nigerian law graduates 

every year. 

This situation has resulted in some 

law graduates having to wait for years 

to be admitted to the Nigerian Law 

School, and even when admitted, the 

inadequate infrastructure and facilities 

at the campuses reduce the 

opportunities for practice-oriented skill 

acquisition. 

It, therefore, makes absolutely no 

sense, to create more mushroom 

campuses, not least for political 

expediency. 

The training of lawyers in Nigeria 

needs to be immediately decentralized 

in line with international best 

practices. Universities and institutions 

with world-class faculty, training 

facilities and ICT infrastructure should 

be licensed to provide the hands-on 

opportunities for practice-oriented 

skills' acquisition. 

Furthermore, joint bar examinations 

can then be conducted in line with the 

current testing arrangements for 

JAMB, WAEC, NECO, ICAN and CIB 

examinations. 

By so doing, the perennial 

challenges of inadequate quality of 

legal education and infrastructure, and 

lack of relevant skills training to meet 

with the ever-changing demands of the 

modern world, will be comprehensively 

dismantled in a holistic manner 

through competitive legal training that 

benefits from private sector innovation 

and efficient service delivery. 

*Please send your comments and suggestions 

to my email: president@abuad.edu.ng. 

Its good governance, stupid 

By MOHAMMED HARUNA 

SECTION 22 of the Constitution of the 

Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, 

imposes an obligation on the media to hold 

government accountable to Nigerians. “The 

press, radio, television and other agencies of 

the mass media,” the section says, “shall at all 

times be free to uphold the fundamental 

objectives contained in this chapter and uphold 

the responsibility and accountability of the 

Government to the people.” The chapter in 

reference is Chapter II and it is titled 

“Fundamental Objectives and Directive 

Principles of State Policy”. It is in twelve 

sections, beginning with Section 13 of the 

Constitution and ending in Section 24. 

The chapter says the country shall be a state 

based on the principle of democracy and social 

justice. It lists a number of fundamental 

objectives for the state, including political, 

economic, social, educational, environmental, 

cultural and foreign objectives.It also says the 

nation’s ethics shall be “discipline, integrity, 

dignity of labour, social justice, religious 

tolerance, self-reliance and patriotism. Last, 

but not the least, it imposes a number of duties 

on the country’s citizens, including abiding by 

the provisions of its constitution, respecting 

the dignity, rights and legitimate interests of 

others and declaring income honestly to 

appropriate and lawful agencies and paying 

tax promptly. 

My initial thought on reading my topic was 

that I should talk about why and how the media 

should hold the politician accountable to the 

public. However, on second thoughts it 

occurred to me that this responsibility should 

go beyond the media alone as enunciated in 

the constitution. Instead, it should be 

everybody’s concern. Even then, the media as 

the Fourth Estate of the Realm, must lead the 

way, if only becausetogether as print, radio, 

television and the internet it is the main source 

of news and information in society. 

While it is important that the media and the 

rest of society hold politicians accountable to 

the rest of society, politicians are not the only 

ones that should be held accountable to society. 

Beyond politicians, every group in society 

should be held accountable to its society. After 

all it is not politicians alone who are saddled 

with the responsibility for making decisions 

on behalf of society. Big business, big labour, 

big pharma, and, of course, big media, etc., all 

of them make decisions that affect people. 

Therefore, we must go beyond the 

constitutional enunciations for the media to 

hold Government accountable to the public 

and hold every institution whose decisions and 

actions have impact on people and society to 

account for their decisions and actions. 

As the leader in holding, not just politicians, 

but all other groups, accountable to the people, 

the media must be guided by knowledge, ethics 

(integrity, courage, professionalism, 

impartiality, etc.) and civility in language, if 

only because intemperate language, generally 

speaking, but name calling and stereotyping, 

m o r e 

specifically, 

tends to 

alienate 

rather than 

engage. The 

first step the 

media must 

take in 

holding 

politicians 

accountable 

MOHAMMED HARUNA to the public 

is to be knowledgeable about politics and, of 

course, everything else it reports. This should 

start with being knowledgeable about the rules 

that guide our politics. 

The most important of these rules is the 

country’s constitution, especially since the 

constitution says the only legitimate form of 

government is the elected one. The second is 

our new Electoral Act 2022. The third is the 

Independent National Electoral Commission’s 

(INEC’s) Election Regulations and Guidelines, 

2022. There are, of course, many other 

documents, including Manuals for Election 

Officials, political party Constitutions, Case 

laws, etc. but thesethree constitute the most 

important elements of the country’s Electoral 

Legal Framework. Our constitution suffers 

from a poor image, but in spite of its flaws 

(something no constitution in the world is free 

from) the image, including the fact that, with 

over 75,000 words, it is rather too longish (by 

comparison, the United States is no more than 

8,000, including all its 27 amendments) is not 

altogether deserved. This poor image is based 

on the claim that it was written by the military 

and, because of that, it is only federal in name 

but unitary in reality. Both claims are false. 

The military has never written any of our 

constitutions, certainly neither the current 1999 

Constitution nor that of 1979, which the former 

is essentially a clone of. Both were written by 

civilians, mostly elected, with a few nominated. 

The drafts of both were subjected to public 

hearings in all the nooks and corners of this 

country before they were promulgated into law. 

Yes, the military held a veto over both but in 

promulgating each into the country’s supreme 

law, they hardly changed their substance. 

As for the claim that the constitution is 

unitary in fact, if not in theory, nothing could 

be further from the truth. This claim has led to 

the popular fallacy that what Nigeria needs is 

“true federalism.” A federation is simply a 

system of government in which a written 

constitution distributes power and 

responsibility between a national government 

and a number of state or regional governments. 

However, no two federations distribute power 

and responsibility the same way because the 

historical context of each country is different 

and, therefore, the distribution that is 

appropriate for one country may not be 

appropriate for another. Only three days ago, 

i.e.,on November 15, a national daily, 

published an editorial titled “Restructuring 

should dominate 2023 campaigns” in which 

it referred to the country’s government as 

“unitary federalism”. It then went on to blame 

every ill that has afflicted Nigeria on our 

constitution. Consequently, it said, “The calls 

that true federalism be the main agenda (of 

The military has 

never written any of 

our constitutions, 

certainly neither the 

current 1999 

Constitution nor that 

of 1979, which the 

former is essentially 

a clone of 

the 2023 

General 

Election) 

should, 

therefore, be 

heeded.” 

T h e 

newspaper 

highlighted 

three areas, 

namely, 

minerals, 

police and 

prison, in which it claims the Federal Government 

dominance of legislation, and with it, the 

distribution of revenue, has spelt doom and 

insecurity for the country. There may be some truth 

to this claim but without debating its merit I think 

it ignores the historical context of the country’s 

current power sharing formula. Even more 

importantly, it completely ignores the fact that 

good governance has little, or even nothing, to 

do with the quantum of revenue available to a 

government. Indeed, if anything, it can be argued, 

from Nigeria’s historical experience, that the more 

money people have, the less frugal and more 

reckless they tend to be. 

As I argued more than ten years ago in one 

of my columns (October 2, 2012) all the quarrel 

with our constitution is essentially a classic 

case of a bad workman quarrelling with his 

tool. Of course, our constitution is not perfect. 

None is. But in spite of its imperfections, if we 

had kept faith with it, Nigeria would have been 

in a much better shape than its current sorry 

state, given the vast oil and other revenues it 

has had since former Military Head of State, 

General Yakubu Gowon, famously, (some 

would say infamously), declared that money 

was no object for the country but how to spend 

it. As a manmade instrument, all constitutions 

can always be improved upon. However, only 

a bad workman, which your typical Nigerian 

politician is, will contemplate changing his 

country’s constitution the eight or so times we 

have since our Independence in 1960. Compare 

this to the Americans who have not changed 

their Constitution since 1787 when they first 

wrote it and since 1789 when it started 

functioning. Instead, they have amended it only 

27 times or so since then. 

Continues online:www.vanguardngr.com 

•Being a paper at the Media Roundtable on 

“The Accountability Imperative: Why and 

How to Hold the Politicians’ Feet to Fire” 

organized by FrontFoot Media Initiative, 

Lagos, at Bon Hotel, Ikeja

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022— 23 

I made N1.6bn for gov’t 

as ED, LITFC—Lucy Ajayi 

From a deficit in 2017 to a world class International Trade Fair in 

West Africa, Lucy Ajayi, immediate past Executive Director and 

Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos International Trade Fair 

Complex, LITFC management and board, has not only raised the 

standard of the Trade Fair but also ensured maintenance of the 

complex . Having served for four years, she speaks on her experience 

and how she was able to make N1.6bn for the federal government 

during her tenure. 

What was your experience 

serving as Executive Director at 

the International Trade Fair, in 

an industry dominated by men? 

My assignment in office started with 

the task of repositioning the Trade Fair 

complex. Eight months after the 

appointment, I was able to repossess 

my office. Many thought I would not 

be able to end my tenure well because 

I drove out a furious litigant, the other 

concessionaire, but I have added value 

to the trade fair. I believe I have written 

my name in gold. 

It has been more than a year 

since your tenure ended at 

LITFC, yet awards and 

recognitions are pouring in as if 

you are still in office, what is the 

secret? 

I am surprised too. It only shows that 

Nigerians appreciated my stewardship. 

I thank them all. 

My greatest achievement there was 

to return LITFC back to the 

government from a concession that 

•Lucy Ajayi 

went wrong after nine years of non 

remittance to the government. 

My greatest challenge was how to 

remove the former concessionaire out 

of the complex for eight months during 

which I couldn’t access my office and 

was operating from Abuja. 

The stakeholders cooperated in 

paying their annual ground rents. We 

were able to lease some hectares of land 

lying fallow for their cluster expansions 

and that raised our annual revenue too, 

since those idle lands now had 

monetary value placed on them, rather 

than rearing reptiles and other animals 

and paying to clear the forest. 

Were your targets 

met? 

There were lots of rehabilitations that 

took place including the administrative 

block, repossessing of some areas that 

were already occupied by traders. We 

had fully taken over construction of the 

bridge. We took over the 100 chalet 

motel, although not in full operation 

and rehabilitation of roads. I did almost 

three quarters before I left and the final 

one is in progress because I have 

already signed out the 5km road to the 

Chinese Company CCECC and the 

construction is in phases. Two phases 

have been successfully completed and 

they are on the third phase which is 

dependent on last year’s budget. The 

fourth phase according to the Chinese’s 

report will be done based on the year’s 

budget. I am sure by the time they 

complete the fifth phase, the 5km road 

would have been rehabilitated. Over the 

years, the trade fair had never felt the 

impact of governance. There was a lot 

of training and re-training for our staff 

members amidst the meagre overhead 

that we received, I think I have done 

well, considering I took possession after 

eight months so all these were done 

within three years and a few months. 

How experienced were you. Did 

you ever work in a market 

before? 

It was a great experience. I have 

never been trained nor have I had an 

appointment as a CEO of a market 

before. When the appointment came, 

people called it a federal agency but I 

saw it as running a market, because the 

concessionaire had changed it from its 

original structure of a trade fair to a 

market and we are trying to bring back 

the glory and sanity. It can’t take just 

three and a half years to restore sanity 

but I tell you, the stakeholders are 

really awesome. They show 

understanding and they are only 

protecting their business and trying to 

obey the government’s laws and 

policies. 

Holding sway in a male 

dominated environment, how 

•Lucy Ajayi 

did that go? 

Trade fair was not the only place I 

worked in. I had worked in a different 

environment where men were 

predominantly occupied. Many 

petitions were written against me 

questioning my position, yet I scaled 

through. When the merger came up, out 

of the 18 member committee that 

Buhari instituted, I was the only woman. 

The petitions were so many, yet I am 

still standing. Perhaps I was dragging 

what seemed for men. I am grateful to 

President Mohammadu Buhari, who 

spotted me and gave me a chance. 

I thought I was coming to a corporate 

environment but I became a market 

woman because you can feel their pains 

and gains, manage them as well before 

bringing government policy and make 

it as friendly as possible. 

Does that 

m e a n 

If the new 

administration can 

consider a Public- 

Private 

Partnership, PPP 

arrangement, it 

will make more 

money 

there were n o 

challenges? 

There were trials but most times I do 

not look at the challenges, maybe that 

is why I could pull through. Rather than 

looking at the challenges, I see solutions 

and how to address issues 

appropriately. Many times, I received 

distress calls on fire accidents; yet, we 

were able to pull through. Maybe the 

feminine aspect of my life played out. 

Just take it or leave it, women bring 

their warmth into every situation. If you 

have a committee without a woman I 

feel it is going to be very strict; even at 

the merger when the men were 

quarrelling I used to beg them. I was 

like a tea girl to all of them. They were 

like my fathers too, and when you give 

them respect I think it is reciprocal. 

For example in the Trade Fair, starting 

from arrears rather than starting from 

on a new leaf was a big deal. The 

concessionaire left nothing so you have 

to go back to take care of the past like 

me. I had so many inherited litigations 

but if I didn’t meet litigations, probably, 

I would have done better. 

I made the sum of N1.6bn for the 

federal government in three years and 

prior to that time, the few stakeholders 

that were very magnanimous with their 

payments could only turn in 44million. 

That was what the government was 

making per annum then, all because the 

stakeholders felt it is better for them to 

pay to the federal government rather 

than pay to the concessionaire. The 

records are there, it was 44million. 

I would however have done 

much better if the structure was 

already in place, and if we were 

not thinking of concessioning 

the place again, because that 

is causing a lot of 

misunderstanding and some 

things are lying fallow. The mini 

stadium is there, the halls are 

there and the motel. If the new 

administration can consider a 

Public-Private Partnership, PPP 

arrangement, it will make more 

money. 

It is said that the Igbos are 

much more in population than 

other ethnic groups at LITFC, and 

that due to their republican 

nature, they are ‘unmanageable’ 

but they were loyal to you. How 

did you do it? 

The Igbos are not unmanageable. It’s 

a misconception. They are only 

protecting their businesses, which is not 

out of place. I must commend them in 

the Trade Fair, they are awesome. They 

were loyal because I was humane to 

them.

24— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022


26 — Vanguard, 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 23, , 2022 

WHO identifies pathogens of future 

outbreaks, pandemics 

By Chioma Obinna 

AS part of strategies to epi 

demic response as well as 

guide global investment, research 

and development 

(R&D), especially in vaccines, 

tests and treatments, the 

World Health Organisation, 

WHO, is launching a global 

scientific process to update the 

list of priority pathogensagents 

that can cause outbreaks 

or pandemics. 

WHO is also convening 

over 300 scientists who will 

consider the evidence on over 

25 virus families and bacteria, 

as well as "Disease X." 

Disease X is included to indicate 

an unknown pathogen 

that could cause a serious international 

epidemic. The experts 

will recommend a list of 

priority pathogens that need 

further research and investment. 

The process will include 

both scientific and public 

health criteria, as well as criteria 

related to socioeconomic 

impact, access, and 

equity. 

The list was first published 

in 2017 and the last 

prioritization exercise was 

done in 2018. The current list 

includes COVID-19, 

Crimean-Cong 

haemorrhagic fever, Ebola 

virus disease and Marburg 

virus disease, Lassa fever, 

Middle East respiratory syndrome 

(MERS) and severe 

acute respiratory syndrome 

(SARS), Nipah and 

henipaviral diseases, Rift Valley 

fever, Zika and Disease X. 

According to Executive Director 

of WHO's Health 

Emergencies Programme, Dr 

Michael Ryan, targeting priority 

pathogens and virus 

families for research and development 

of countermeasures 

is essential for a fast and 

effective epidemic and pandemic 

response. 

By Deborah Ariyo 

WITH the rising cases of 

burns across the country, 

specialists at the National 

Orthopaedic Hospital 

Igbobi, Lagos, NOHIL, have 

advised Nigerians to take 

safety precautionary measures 

as management of burn 

cases not only brings pain to 

the body but also to families 

and pockets. 

To this end, the Burns and 

Plastic Surgery Department 

of the NOHIL, last week embarked 

on an Enlightenment 

Walk to educate the students 

of the school as well as 

Lagosians on how to prevent 

burns. 

Speaking to Good Health 

Weekly, during the walk 

which was part of activities to 

mark this year’s Burns Awareness 

Week, the Head of the 

Department, Dr Folake 

Olushola Abikoye explained 

that the walk which took off 

from its premises to Igbobi 

College to Jibowu back to the 

hospital was a programme to 

prevent the injury, added that 

burns are debilitating, and 

better prevented than occurring. 

Noting that a lot of burn 

cases across the country can 

be preventable, Abikoye said 

"Without significant R&D investments 

prior to the 

COVID-19 pandemic, it 

would not have been possible 

to have safe and effective vaccines 

developed in record 

time," Ryan said. 

For those pathogens identified 

as priority, the WHO R&D 

Blueprint for epidemics develops 

R&D roadmaps, which 

lay out knowledge gaps and 

research priorities. Where relevant, 

target product profiles, 

which inform developers 

WellaHealth partners Verve to offer free health 

services to cardholders 

By Bolaji Babatunde 

WELLAHEALTH, 

a 

health technology business 

in Nigeria, has partnered 

with Verve to provide access 

to quality and affordable 

healthcare services to Verve 

cardholders. The cardholders 

will be receiving a unique 

range of WellaHealth's product 

offerings and services at a 

discounted price. 

Verve cardholders that purchase 

one month Basic plan 

will be granted two additional 

months of cover for free, with 

services ranging from; up to 

5 percent discount off medications 

at select participating 

Pharmacies Nationwide, Free 

Malaria Tests,Free BP 

Screening, Telemedicine and 

personalised health tips 

amongst other services. 

Some of the health packages 

available to cardholders 

include; malaria test & treatment, 

Treatment for fever & 

pain, cough & cold, stomach 

upsets & allergies,blood pressure 

& blood sugar checks 

with access to talk to a doctor 

24/7 as long as the subscriber 

has an active plan. 

The various health plans 

can be activated instantly 

upon purchase and subscribers 

will be able to start enjoying 

the health benefits 4 days 

after activation. 

Speaking on the partnership, 

Marketing and Communications 

Lead, Joseph 

Okoroafor, WellaHealth Technologies, 

stated that the partnership 

is part of the strategy 

employed by WellaHealth to 

get more Nigerians to get covered 

and reduce out-of-pocket 

payment for healthcare expenses. 

He said: "Today, only 

3 per cent of Nigerians are 

there were many precautionary 

measures to prevent the 

incidence of burns. 

“Parents should lock those 

socket points so that children 

would not get in metals that 

will make them sustain burn 

injuries. As children grow, 

they tend to explore; they experiment 

a lot and that is why 

we brought this awareness 

walk here so that they can 

learn and also take back to 

their parents at home. 

“Mothers, when cooking 

should know the kind of flowing 

gowns they wear, they 

should make sure they have a 

segregated area so that children 

would not go there. Sometimes, 

some mothers take hot 

water in the kettle to the bathroom, 

instead of mixing the 

water before taking it into the 

bathroom. 

“There are other ways to 

protect children from cold 

than doing steam inhalation 

for them because these are 

children, they may shake and 

the water will spill on them.“ 

She also lamented the high 

cost of managing burns, adding, 

“It is very expensive and 

traumatic to the body, pockets, 

and family and lives can 

also be lost.” 

She said some burns are 

about the desired specifications 

for vaccines, treatments 

and diagnostic tests, are developed. 

Efforts are also made 

to map, compile and facilitate 

clinical trials to develop these 

tools. Complimentary efforts 

- such as to strengthen regulatory 

and ethics oversight - are 

also considered. 

WHO Chief Scientist, Dr 

Soumya Swaminathan said: 

"This list of priority pathogens 

has become a reference point 

for the research community 

Cross section of participants during a walk organised tby he National Orthopaedic Hospital 

Igbobi , Lagos, to mark this year’s Burns Awareness Week recently. 

covered by any formal health 

plan in the country meaning 

that over 97 per cent, pay from 

their pocket for health services 

that could hitherto be 

covered by a health scheme 

like WellaHealth's and save 

them from unplanned health 

expenditure." According to 

the Business Development 

Lead of WellaHealth, Collins 

Jacobs, "WellaHealth's partnership 

with Verve offers a 

unique opportunity for Verve's 

cardholders to be covered by 

a health plan in line with the 

National Health Insurance 

Act that mandates all Nigerians 

to get a health cover. 

It is also a testament to the 

vision of the team at Verve and 

we are happy WellaHealth is 

positioned to help them 

achieve their vision". 

Experts canvass safety precautionary 

measures to prevent burns 

managed conservatively 

while some are through surgery. 

“Current trend now is 

that especially if the burn is 

deep, you may is to excise and 

you want to resurface the burn 

on time so that the burn doesn’t 

get infected to make the person 

sick.” 

Stating that paying out of 

pocket for burn treatment 

makes it more difficult for 

patients to seek the right care, 

she said a lot of Nigerian patients 

are cutting corners due 

to high cost of treatment, 

hence, the need for the National 

Health Insurance Authority, 

NHIA, to include treatment 

for burns. They should 

also know that care of burns 

is not aesthetics but plastic 

and reconstructive care 

which is care for burn patients. 

Speaking, the Head of Clinical 

Services, NOHIL, Dr Seyi 

Idowu who noted that the hospital 

is an orthopaedic and 

trauma institution said burns 

are a form of trauma and serious 

injury. 

“Everyone needs to be 

aware of preventive strategies 

toward burns control. A large 

part of what we do apart from 

Orthopaedic is looking after 

burns and injuries to the skin 

and soft tissues. 

ACUPUNCTURE: UNILAG to 

incorporate practice into 

curriculum 

.. As Nigeria becomes 1st African country 

to celebrate Awareness Day 

By Innocent Anaba 

AS Nigeria becomes the 

first African country to 

celebrate the World Acupuncture 

Awareness Day, the University 

of Lagos has shown 

interest in incorporating the 

Nigeria Association of Clinical 

Acupuncturists', NACA, 

practice into its curriculum. 

Disclosing this at an event 

to mark the Day in Lagos, the 

Chairperson of the Lagos 

State Traditional Medicine 

Board, Prof. Adefule-Oshitelu 

said the event, which is first 

held in Nigeria in the entire 

region of Africa, speaks volume. 

She tasked NACA to be 

unique, and see how it can 

improve on the achievements 

of China in acupuncture, noting 

that every culture has its 

uniqueness. 

Prof. Adefule-Oshitelu explained 

that NACA met the 

requirements of the United 

Nations, which birthed November 

16 as a day to celebrate 

the day. 

Speaking at the event 

organised by NACA with the 

theme "Looking at Acupuncturists 

Beyond Practice.", 

Registrar of Lagos State 

Traditional Medicine Board, 

Mr.OlorunkemiKadiku, 

lauded NACA for staging the 

event and drummed support 

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE: 

AHI trains students to fight 

scourge 

By Gabriel Olawale 

ACTION Health Incor 

porated, AHI, has empowered 

over 10,000 students 

from 60 schools in Lagos State 

on ways to prevent sexual and 

gender based violence in 

homes, communities, states, 

and Nigeria. 

Speaking during the 27th 

edition of the annual Teenage 

Festival of Life, Co-founder 

and Director, AHI, Dr 

Uwemedimo Uko Esiet said 

that the initiative aimed to 

empower students, teachers, 

and parents to become champions 

against sexual and gender 

based violence. 

He hinted that AHI, in partnership 

with critical stakeholders, 

focused on improving 

the health and wellbeing 

of young people in Lagos 

State. 

"When the issue of sexual 

and gender based violence is 

discussed, Lagos State is at the 

forefront of eradicating 

sexual and gender-based violence." 

"Right now, there is an ongoing 

campaign that we are 

undertaking in two education 

districts in Lagos State with a 

focus on eradicating schoolbased 

sexual and gender 

based violence. Initially, we 

started with 30 schools, but 

due to the success recorded, it 

has increased to 60 schools in 

two education districts. 

"AHI has been organising 

this annual event for secondary 

school students in Lagos 

State since 1993 to serve as a 

for the practice of acupuncture 

in the country. 

"I am a beneficiary of acupuncture. 

When I had serious 

pain around my body, plastics 

looking like needles were 

installed in different parts of 

my body and after some 

weeks, the pains went completely. 

"NACA to be at the fore front 

of the struggle, as better days 

are ahead," he added. 

Chairman of NACA, 

Dr.Edison Christian, in his 

address, urged government at 

all levels to key into insurance 

scheme for clinical acupuncture 

treatment for Lagosians 

and Nigerians, who are unable 

to afford the cost. 

"I urge government and 

non-governmental 

organisations, NGOs, to collaborate 

and support NACA 

financially, and materially in 

order to sustain its projects for 

the citizenry. 

"This is equally an opportunity 

to call on media practitioners 

to create a column in 

their dailies for NACA to 

present information that will 

update Nigerians on clinical 

acupuncture administration, 

with a view to promoting tourism 

and groom of future leaders 

in science, education and 

culture, which are parts of 

UNESCO goals. 

platform to showcase young 

people's creative ability 

through various art forms 

such as music, drama, and 

poetry, as well as an enabling 

forum where young people 

and relevant stakeholders 

meet to both identify the 

plights of the young people." 

Esiet admonished parents to 

desist from placing high priority 

on male children, saying 

that every child is as important 

as other children, "no 

greater value for male or female, 

the value are the same." 

Speaking on the theme; 

‘‘Ending Gender-Based Violence" 

Senior Special Assistant 

to the Governor on 

Women Affairs, Mrs. Funmi 

Adegoke said that SGBV is 

crime against humanity and 

Lagos state government have 

zero tolerance for it. 

She disclosed that SGBV 

is known as the most prevalent 

human rights violation 

in the world, with devastating 

effects on the wellbeing, 

dignity, security, and autonomy 

of victims. 

"According to a United Nations 

report, 2.2 million 

women in Lagos are estimated 

to be potential victims 

of intimate partner violence, 

and 60 percent of 

victims do not report those 

cases. This is indeed a very 

important and serious menace 

that we must deal with 

as a state and as a country." 

She disclosed that the state 

has put in place a series of 

programs and initiatives to 

end sexual and gender "In


28 — Vanguard 

anguard, , WEDNESDAY, , NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

Hubby resents my cancer 

scars 

push him even further away. 

Dekemi, by e-mail. 

Dear Bunmi, 

IHAD a mastectomy early 

last year. Naturally, I was 

anxious about my altered 

appearance, but my husband 

reassured me that it wouldn't 

matter to him. 

But despite his promises, 

he's not touched me since the 

operation and can hardly 

bring himself to look at my 

scars. I'm due to have a 

reconstruction shortly, but I'm 

worried that more surgery will 

Dad is bully who mentally abuses us 

Dear Bunmi, 

I 

'M 23. Since I was six, I've 

been regularly hit by my 

father. He's made me feel 

worthless and comments on 

how fat and ugly I am, 

although I am no longer 

overweight. I have no selfconfidence. 

But I've started 

seeing a man who I feel totally 

relaxed with. 

I've told him about my dad 

and he's very understanding, 

but I'm still scared of my father. 

He makes me feel like such a 

failure. I haven't told my 

friends about him and I have 

to lie to my work colleagues 

about how I get cuts and 

bruises. 

I don't want to leave my 

mum and brothers alone with 

him, or I would have left to 

live anywhere, no matter how 

squalid. Although he's never hit 

them; he shouts at them and 

they're all afraid of him. I just want 

to be happy and I need this new 

relationship to work. 

My boyfriend is the first 

man I've trusted and I love 

him, please help me. 

Ego, by e-mail. 

Dear Dekemi, 

Surgery of whatever 

magnitude is a big step in a 

relationship, and the 

transition to the new life you'll 

both have must be gradual. It 

starts with you. You have to 

get the life you had back, 

whilst making the most of the 

opportunities open to you. 

Treat your body kindly; 

swimming and gentle 

exercise would help. Yoga too. 

As you grow more confident, 

Dear Ego, 

You need to realise that 

becoming a confident young 

woman who's unafraid of men 

will take time. The hurt you've 

suffered from this brute of a 

Why do girls think I'm fickle? 

Dear Bunmi, 

I 

AM a nice, intelligent, 

attractive guy with a well 

paid job. I'm in my late 20s 

and would love to get married 

but my girlfriends have all 

dumped me, after accusing 

me of having a roving eye. I 

don't know where they got the 

idea from, as I've tried to be 

faithful with women and have 

already assured them I'm the 

faithful type. Am I doing 

anything wrong to make these 

women run away? 

Ben, by e-mail. 

Dear Ben, 

Do you tend to choose 

women who are prone to 

Your happiness 

does not depend on 

this boyfriend or 

any man or 

woman; you need 

to rely on yourself 

to survive. 

Be more open 

about your 

situation with 

friends and 

colleagues who 

care for you and 

you will be 

surprised at how 

sympathetic they 

could be. 

jealousy? As a rule, jealousy 

is a sign of low self-esteem. 

This type of women won't 

believe they deserve to keep 

you as a partner, so they're 

losing you to a rival. So, next 

time you're with an interesting 

woman, listen to her closely 

and encourage her to show 

more of her deeper self. If you 

make a woman feel good 

enough about herself to 

believe she's entitled to the 

love of a great guy, she'll have 

faith in your fidelity. 

If you don't want to go 

through all this hassle, it is 

best to avoid the jealous types 

altogether. 

There is the possibility that 

you start opening up to your 

husband. Tell him how you 

feel about your upcoming 

surgery. For all you know, he 

could be scared of your going 

through another operation all 

over again in case he hurts 

you by touching you. Slowly 

you'll reconnect emotionally 

in time; the physical intimacy 

will return. 

In the meantime, wait, if you're 

not ready for more surgery. Learn 

to love the body that helped you 

survive this and talk to your 

husband. Like you, I suspected 

he too is just afraid. 

father runs deep and your 

transformation into an 

independent and selfrespecting 

adult will not be 

easy. Leaving home, then 

feeling forced to return has 

increased your sense of 

vulnerability. You're pinning 

high hopes on a new 

relationship, but your 

happiness does not depend 

on this boyfriend or any man 

or woman. You need to rely on 

yourself to survive. 

Be more open about your 

situation with friends and 

colleagues who care for you 

and you will be surprised at 

how sympathetic they could 

be. You've been intimidated by 

your father's oppressive and 

bullying behaviour and it's 

about time you stood up to 

him. 

Focus on leaving home for 

good and find friends to share 

living accommodation with. In 

spite of your cruel childhood, 

you can achieve everything 

you want. When you are at last 

free and in control of your life, 

far greater happiness awaits 

you. Good luck. 

without being fully aware that 

you're doing it, you ogle other 

women when you're out with 

your girlfriends. 

You may think that giving 

the eye to every passing 

female is no more than an 

innocent male reflex, but a 

lot of women complain 

about it among themselves 

and see it as an affront. 

Finally, instead of telling 

your women how faithful 

you could be, don't make 

infidelity an issue or they 

may suspect a cover up. 

Fidelity doesn't need 

discussing. Just prove it by 

being faithful. 

How can I stop my son from 

stealing? 

Dear Bunmi, 

SOME months back, I 

noticed small amount of 

money had been withdrawn 

from my bank account when I 

was nowhere near a cash 

machine. In total, almost 

N190,000 was missing and 

there was only one person 

who could have taken it — my 

20-year-old son who is an 

undergraduate. I confronted 

him and he admitted it. He 

said he'd needed the money 

to pay off a debt. 

I forgave him but it seems 

he's at it again, money was 

missing from my purse the 

last time he came home. I 

don't want to get him into 

trouble, but being soft on him 

has got me nowhere. 

Fidelia, by e-mail. 

Dear Fidelia, 

It's difficult to stop petty 

thieving, once it started. You 

need to get your son's father, 

or any father figure in his life 

involved in talking some 

sense into him. Is he on drug? 

Does he drink a lot or is he 

involved in social activities on 

campus that cost a lot of 

money? As a drastic measure, 

you could get a friendly police 

officer to deal with the 

situation without your son 

ending up in court, by having 

an informal chat with him. 

In the meantime, I would be 

careful about how easy it 

could be for him to be tempted 

by not leaving money or your 

debit cards around when he 

visits. If he sees how much 

he's upsetting you by his 

dishonest behaviour, he could 

stop. But you need to find out 

the reason why he needs so 

much cash all the time. 

My sister takes advantage of 

my help 

Dear Bunmi, 

SOME years ago, my 

sister's husband left her 

with three children to move in 

with his mistress. She was so 

devastated that I promised I'd 

help by giving her lot of 

support, but now I have new 

man who I'm very interested 

in, yet my sister still expects 

me to be constantly at her 

beck and call. I need my life 

back but how can I tell her? 

Laura, by e-mail. 

Dear Laura, 

You made a promise to your 

sister when she was 

He doesn’t care for us 

Dear Bunmi, 

I 

AM a single mother, 

with a partner that is 

highly unreliable. In spite 

of having a young 

daughter, we don’t see him 

for days on end. He 

doesn’t phone to see if we 

are all right, though a lot 

of his friends see and hear 

from him regularly. 

I haven’t seen him for 

close to two months now 

and when he eventually 

answered my call, he said 

I should stop pestering 

him. Am I crazy for 

expecting him to keep in 

touch? 

Is he on drug? 

Does he drink a lot 

or is he involved in 

social activities on 

campus that cost a 

lot of money? You 

need to get your 

son's father, or any 

father figure in his 

life involved in 

talking some sense 

into him. 

vulnerable, so you need to 

stand by that. You can't simply 

ignore that sort of commitment 

when it suits you. That said, 

your sister should understand 

that your new relationship 

means you need to put more 

energy in that direction. 

Explain this to her and 

negotiate, so that she gets 

regular care for her kids, as 

you're not prepared to give up 

every evening or weekend. 

Her neighbours could help 

and there are quite a number 

of daycare centres. If you sit 

down and talk this through 

with her, you'll both he able 

to arrive at an amicable 

position. 

Labo, by e-mail. 

Dear Labo, 

You’re crazy, alright, for 

putting up with a man like 

him. He’s treating you 

appallingly. It’s obvious 

he doesn’t care for you or 

want to be with his child. 

There’s also the question of 

where he stays when he’s 

away from home. Is he 

playing away? You need to 

make a decision – either turn 

this relationship around by 

asking your man outright 

what he really wants, or walk 

away and find someone who 

really cares. 

Share your problems and release 

your burden. Write now to 

Dear Bunmi, 

Vanguard Newspapers, 

P.M.B 1007, Apapa, Lagos, or 

bunmsof@yahoo.co.uk


By Clifford Ndujihe 

G CANDIDATE OVERNORSHIP 

of the All 

Progressives Grand Alliance, 

APGA in Rivers State, Prince Ugo 

Beke, has said the recent 

appointment of 200,000 aides by 

Governor Nyesom Wike would 

not give the ruling People's 

Democratic Party, PDP, victory in 

the state. 

The Ikwerre-born politician, 

who also downplayed clamour for 

zoning of governorship seat to the 

riverine areas of Rivers, said the 

state needs the best man for the 

job, assuring that he would 

governor for all Riverians without 

discrimination. 

Insisting that he is the best 

candidate in terms of experience, 

capacity, and acceptability among 

the grassroots, Beke said with the 

Bi-modal Voters Accreditation 

System, BVAS, introduced by the 

Independent National Electoral 

Commission, INEC, that votes 

would count and riggers will be 

frustrated in the 2023 polls. 

"As an Ikwere Man, with my 

antecedents, the demographics 

will favour me," he said, noting 

that Ikwerre accounts for about 

60 per cent of Rivers State's voting 

population. 

Calling for the jettisoning of 

zoning, he said that the principle 

of Federal Character had not 

helped Nigeria to get to the dream 

of her founding fathers. 

Beke, who spoke to newsmen 

in Lagos, was reacting to the issue 

of zoning in Rivers and why 

another Ikwere man should be 

part of the succession after the 

stints of Peter Odili, Rotimi 

Amechi and Nyesom Wike, who 

are from Ikwerre, as governors. 

Beke, who said he never 

believed in zoning and the federal 

character principle, said the 

principle should not be 

encouraged in the interest of 

national unity, economic growth 


:@vanguardnews 

200,000 aides won't give PDP victory 

in Rivers —Beke, APGA gov candidate 

By Emem Idio 

ENAGOA—THE Deputy 

YGovernor of Bayelsa State, 

Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, 

has said that there was the 

likelihood of an outbreak of 

diseases as a result of the flood 

which affected most parts of the 

state. 

Ewhrudjakpo, disclosed this 

while declaring open, this year's 

10th annual general meeting and 

Pa Onyedirim 

passes on 

Pa Cyprian Onukwuha 

Onyedirim, from Umudim in 

Isu LGA of Imo state, is dead, aged 

75 years. 

Funeral arrangement kicked off 

last week with a service of songs at 

Friends of Christ Inter’l Churches, 

Apapa, Lagos, while burial service 

will hold tomorrow at his 

c o m p o u n d , 

Umudim,Umuduru.Eshikodu, 

Amandugha, Isu LGA. 

He is survived by wife, children 

and grandchildren, including 

Samuel Onyedirim, popularly called 

Beesam. 

•Late Onyedirim 

and development. 

The APGA flag bearer said that 

the principle was undemocratic, 

unethical and antithetical to 

national progress and 

development, adding: "The 

principle has further divided 

Nigeria. The federal character 

principle, and zoning are 

undemocratic. It cannot give the 

best result that can take the 

country to a greater height 

By Emma Amaize 

T HE 

candidate GOVERNORSHIP 

of Social Democratic 

Party, SDP, in Delta State, 

Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, has 

said that he would breathe new 

life into industries that collapsed 

in the state, bring back those that 

fled and attract new ones, if elected 

in 2023. 

Gbagi, a former Minister of State 

for Education, spoke at an 

interactive session with the 

leadership of the Christian 

Association of Nigeria, CAN, in 

Asaba, Delta State. 

He said: "What do we need to do 

sirs? It is to bring back our 

industries, bring back the glory of 

what Delta State stood for? Shell 

has talked to me, they will come 

back to Delta State if I become 

governor. 

"Why? Because they know that, 

nobody can get me to do what is 

wrong, no matter how juicy and 

how good it is. 

"The solution to Delta State is 

to emancipate all our youths from 

the street. From day one, I will put 

computers in all the local 

government areas to register all 

our unemployed youths and I will 

start paying them N30, 000. 

"In the computerization of your 

membership as unemployed youth, 

they would have told me what they 

globally. It further divides Nigeria." 

According to him, the principle 

has failed to deliver the best 

outcome that can guarantee 

desired growth and development 

for the country. 

He said the nation's founding 

fathers were concerned about the 

development of the country 

rather than zoning or principle of 

federal character. 

I'll revive dead industries; 

build more in Delta —Gbagi 

want to do, within the maximum 

of three months, the payment will 

stop and I would have given them 

a job in their skills. 

"Once all those youths are 

engaged, it is a win-win situation 

and your economy would have 

rolled. If you gainfully engage 92 

percent of your citizenry, you are 

done. 

"You need someone, who is 

conversant with the enormity of 

the problems besieging this state 

today. 

"You will have to understand it 

for you to get it right, you must 

have an entrepreneurial mind for 

you to know what to do. 

"If not aggressively tackled from 

2023, this state will not be there 

for all of us, and we will suffer it for 

another eight years. 

"Oghara in Ethiope West LGA 

was housing the biggest oil 

company, Mobil, in the whole of 

the South-South. From Oghara 

to Jesse Junction, there were over 

nine limited liability companies, 

internationally recognised all over 

the world. 

"Coming to Sapele, in Sapele 

LGA, there are over 22 limited 

liability companies that are 

recognised worldwide. These 

companies and areas are dead. 

Delta State was more important 

and better in industrialization and 

in business than Lagos." 

FLOODS: We're anticipating outbreak of cholera, 

monkey pox, other diseases —BAYELSA GOVT 

scientific conference of the 

Nigerian Infectious Diseases 

Society, NIDS, in Yenagoa, 

yesterday, with the theme: 

"Infectious Disease Preparedness 

and Response: Challenges and 

Prospects for Resource- 

Constrained Settings." 

Represented by the state 

Commissioner for Health, Dr. 

Pabara Igwele, expressed the 

hope that NIDS, would use the 

conference to discussions on 

infectious disease preparedness 

and response particularly as its 

affects Bayelsa State, which is 

recovering from a devastating 

flood experience. 

He said: "The theme is quite 

apt as it captures the reality of 

moment, particularly as it is affects 

Bayelsa State coming from the 

ravaging flood which affected 

majority of the state, the need to 

have discussions around 

infectious disease preparedness 

and response cannot be overemphasized 

as we anticipate 

outbreak of diseases after the flood 

especially cholera, typhoid, 

increasing number of Monkey Pox 

and Covid-19 cases and many 

other diseases. 

W ARRI—GOVERNMENT 

Ekpemupolo a.k.a Tompolo, 

yesterday, in Warri, Delta State, 

donated relief materials worth 

N150million to victims of the recent 

flood in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta 

states to cushion the effects on the 

people. 

Tompolo made the donation 

through his foundation, Tompolo 

Foundation to representatives from 

the three states. 

Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, Executive 

Secretary, Tompolo Foundation 

handed over the items for onward 

distribution to the beneficiaries 

"Thus, the discussions around 

your theme will hopefully be the 

panacea of managing infectious 

diseases viz-a-vis emerging and 

re-emerging diseases." 

In his welcome speech, 

President ofNIDS, Prof. Dimie 

Ogoina, said NIDS was playing a 

leading role in advancing the 

prevention and control of 

Infectious Diseases in the country 

through advocacy, education and 

training, public sensitization, 

research and partnership, adding 

that its members were at the 

forefront of various national and 

international committees relating 

to infectious diseases. 

Chairman, Board of Directors of 

NIDS, Prof. Idris Mohammed, 

represented by Prof. Abdulsalam 

Nasidi, regretted that epidemicprone 

infectious diseases have 

continued to occur in epidemic 

and at times pandemic 

proportions, causing a lot of 

disruption in life and livelihood, 

adding that in last three years, 

the world has witnessed the 

declaration of two public health 

emergencies of international 

concerned caused by Covid-19 

and Monkey Pox. 

Tompolo donates N150m relief 

materials to flood victims in 

Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta 

By Akpokona 

Omafuaire 

affected by the flood. 

The items handed over include 

2,400 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 

200 bags of garri, 5000 tuber of 

yams, 200 gallons of palm oil, 600 

gallons of groundnut oil and others 

and 2,000 catons of indomie 

noodles, including delivery logistics. 

Bebenimibo explained that 

victims in Bomadi, Burutu and 

Patani were to benefit from the 

items, as well as Isoko, Urhobo and 

Ndokwa Nations victims 

respectively. 

He added that victims affected 

by the flood in Ahaoda West and 

East in Rivers State were also to 

benefit from the relief items. 

BIRTHDAY—From left: Archdeacon, St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ojodu, 

Lagos, Dr. Alfred Adefoluke; his wife, Felicia; Vicar, St. Augustine’s Anglican 

Church, Anthony Village, Lagos, Clement Olotu; his wife, Olubunmi; 

celebrant’s daughter, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olumoroti (nee Oni); celebrant’s 

grandchildren — Ethan and Nathan Olumoroti; celebrant’s husband, Olusola 

Oni; celebrant, Mrs. Olufunke Oni, and former chairman, Nestle Foods 

Nigeria Plc., Olusegun Osunkeye, during Mrs. Oni’s 60th birthday service 

and retirement thanksgiving, at St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, Lagos. 

WEDDING—From left: Mother of the bride, Mrs. Bilikisu Balogun; Groom, 

Oluwaseun Oderinde; Bride, Iyabode Oderinde, bride's father and Baale 

Ohinoyi Anebira Community in Ibadan, Lamidi Balogun, during the wedding 

of his daughter, Iyabode, in Ibadan. Photo: Dare Fasube. 

CONVOCATION— 

From left: Mother 

of the graduand, 

Mrs. Adenike 

Fasube; the 

graduant, Fasube 

Bukunmi, a graduate 

of Agric Extension 

and Rural 

Development, and 

his father, Assistant 

Photo Editor, 

Vanguard Newspapers, 

Mr. Dare 

Fasube, during the 

74th Foundation 

Day Anniversary 

and Convocation of 

the University of 

Ibadan, yesterday. 

OHIWEREIs 

BURY MOM— 

From left: 

Andrew 

Ohiwerei (son); 

Mrs. Oghuan 

Ojeahere 

(daughter), and 

Olu Ojeahere 

(son-in-law), 

during the 

burial service of 

Dame Lynette 

Ohiwerei, at St. 

Michael's 

Anglican 

Church, 

Uzebba-Luleha 

in Owan West 

LGA, Edo State. 

C 

M 

Y 

K

C 

M 

Y 

K 

30 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 23, 2022 

ADINDU 

I formerly known and addressed as 

MISS ADINDU ESTHER 

SOMTOCHUKWU, now wish to 

be known and addressed as MRS. 

ODILI 

ESTHER 

SOMTOCHUKWU. All former 

documents remain valid general 

public please take note. 

EBOAGWU 

I, formerly known and 

addressed as Miss Eboagwu 

Rosemary Onyeka, now wish 

to be known and addressed 

as Mrs. Orhiunu Rosemary 

Onyeka. All former 

documents remain valid. 

General public please take 

note. 

EGWUATU 


addressed as Miss Egwuatu 

Esther Chinwe, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs. 

Inaede Esther Chinwe. All 

former documents remain 

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take note. 

GBOBAGHA 


addressed as Mrs. Gbobagha 

Eladebi Cherish, now wish to 

be known and addressed 

as Mrs. Onyemaechi Eladebi 

Cherish. All former 



note. 

MASUD 

My correct name is Masud 

Usman, but my name was 

wrongly captured in my bank 

account and BVN as Masud 

Usman Masco instead of 

Masud Usman. All former 



note. 

TOBORE 


Miss Aghoghovwia Marvellous 

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MONDAY 


addressed as Miss Monday 

Happiness Inemesit, now wish 


as Mrs. Okon Happiness 

Inemesit. All former 



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Doris, now wish to be known 

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please take note. 

ADINDU 


addressed as Uloaku Kelechi 

Adindu, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Uloaku 

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I formerly known as Miss 

Crowder Stacey La’shon now 

wish to be known as Mrs. 

Nwoke Stacey La’shon.all 


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IFEKA 

I, Formerly Known And Addressed 

As MISS IFEKA ADAOBI 

LINDA, Now Wish To Be Known 

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ADAOBI LINDA (NEE IFEKA). 

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AJALA OB 

MBIJI AMARACHI 

I, AKINTUNDE SESAN I formerly known as Mrs Mbiji I formerly known and 

AJALA is the same person Egoamaka Gold, now wish to addressed as Ezolaham 

be known as Mrs William 

Pleasant Amarachi. Now wish 

as AKINTUNDE 

to be known and addressed as 

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General public pls take note. 

BAWAH 

MMADU 

POLINGO 

I Formerly known and I, Formerly Known And Addressed I Formerly known and 

addressed as BAWAH As Miss Mmadu Precious 

addressed as SIMON 

MUNET HAPPINESS now Ijeoma, Now Wish To Be Known 

BRIGHT now wish to be 

wish to be known and addressed And Addressed As Mrs Ezemma 

as BAWAH-MALIKI Precious Ijeoma And My Correct known and addressed as 

MUNET HAPPINESS Date Of Birth Is 31st October SIMON BRIGHT POLINGO 

Henceforth all former 1997. All Former Documents Henceforth 

all 

documents remain valid Remain Valid. General Public formerdocuments remain 

General public take note Please Take Note. 

valid, General public take note 

OBI MOGBOLU OSEYI 

I, formerly known and I, formerly known and I, formerly known and addressed 

addressed as MISS. OBI addressed as MOGBOLU as MISS OSEYI ANGELA 

HENRIETTA IFECHI Now FRANCIS, Now wish to be EBANEHITA , Now wish to be 

wish to be known and addressed known and addressed as known and addressed as name 

as MRS. UBAH HENRIETTA 

MRS ANODIOR ANGELA 

NNABUIHE FRANCIS. All 

IFECHI. All former 

EBANEHITA. All former 


documents remain valid. The 


general public should please 

valid. The general public general public should please take 

take note. 

should please take note. note. 

EZEH 

DURU 

OLISE 

I, formerly known as Miss 

DURU, 

LILIAN 

I, formerly known as EZEH 

CHIDIMMA FELICIA, now 


as JOSHUA CHIDIMMA 

FELICIA. All former 


general public should take 

note. 

OKONKWO 

I, formerly known,call and 

addressed as.MISS. OKONKWO 

DOLLY CHINENYE but,now 

wish to be known,call and address 

as.MRS. AUSTINE PRINCE 

DOLLY CHINENYE. All 

documents bearing former names 

remain valid. General public, 


NWANNEAMAKA, now wish 


Mrs AKABUOGU, LILIAN 

NWANNEAMAKA. All 


valid. The general public 

should take note. 


addressed as MISS. OLISE 

RACHAEL NKIRUKA, now 

wish to be known and address 

as MRS. OZOWA RACHAEL 

NKIRUKA. All former 

documents remain valid, 


note. 

NWALIE 

OFODI 


addressed as Ofodi Joseph 

Ofodi, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Nweke 

Joseph. All former documents 



NWAIWU 

I formerly known and 

addressed as NWATAEZE 

LIGHT IHECHI now wish to 

be known and addressed as 

NWAIWU LIGHT IHECHI. 

Former documents remain 

valid. General public take note. 

NSE 


addressed as CHIBUZOR 

PEACE AJOR, now wish to 

be known and addressed as NSE 

PEACE. All former documents 

remain valid general public 


EZEAGU 

I, Formerly known and addressed 

as EZEAGU AKUOMA 

CHINYEMNKEM. Now wish to 


AGOMUO AKUOMA 

CHINYEMNKEM. All former 

documents remain valid. General 

Public please take note. 

AGEDO OD 

I, Formerly known and 

addressed as Agedo Jolly. 

Now wish to be known and 

addressed as Ehigie Jolly. All 


valid. General public should 


UKO OD 


addressed as UKO ENTHRAL 

OLAROTIMI, Now wish to be 

known and addressed as UKO 

OGHENECHUOWO 

EDOJAH. All former 


general public should please 

take note. 

ERHOYOMA 

I, formerly known as 

ERHOYOMA OKE now 

wish to be known as MRS. 

WANOGHO OKE. All 



take note. 

CHOIR AJIROKE AKPITAYE 


addressed as MISS. OKPAKO 

CHOIR but,now wish to be 

known,call and address as 

OKPAKO ESQUIRE. All 


remain valid. General public, 



addressed as.MISS. AJIROKE 

JOYCE EMEOGHENE but,now 

wish to be known,call and address 

as.MRS. THANKGOD 

OKIEMUTE JOYCE 

EMEOGHENE. All documents 

bearing former names remain valid. 

General public, please take note. 

ERIOKPE 


addressed as Miss Eriokpe 

Augustina Viyeze, now wish to 


as Mrs. Daniel Augustina 

Viyeze. All former documents 



I, formerly known and addressed 

as Miss Nwalie Onyebuchukwu 

Joy, now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs. Ifejioku 

Onyebuchukwu Joy. All former 




OGHENEVWEGBA CYNTHIA 

ISRAEL which is on my BVN/ 

Account. Now wish to be known 

and addressed as AKPITAYE 

CYNTHIA OGHENEVWEGBA. 

All documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. General public 

take note. 

BURMOOD 


addressed as Miss Burmood 

Tara Jan, now wish to be 


Esiobu Tara Jan. All former 



note. 

IDAGBON 


addressed as Miss Ebigwei 

Fumnanya Judith, now wish to 


as Mrs. Idagbon Fumnanya 

Judith. All former documents 



EKWENZE 


as Ekwenze Emeka and Ekwenze 

Chidozie Johnbosco, now wish to 

be known and addressed as Emeka 

Chidozie Johnbosco. All former 



ABONYI 


addressed as Abonyi Ujunwa 

Benedith now wish to be 

known and addressed as Edeh 

Ujunwa Benedine. All former 



note. 

BATSE 

I formerly known as 

Ajemitojesimi Edith Batse, 

now wish to be known and 

addressed as Mrs. Dottie Edith 

Ajemitojesimi. All other 

documents remain 

valid.Members of the general 

public, particularly First Bank 

Plc, should please take note. 

IWUAGWU NWOSU EG 

I, Formerly known and 

addressed as IWUAGWU 

NGOZI PRISCA. Now wish 


NWACHUKWU NGOZI 

PRISCA. All former 


General public should please 

take note. 

ISIMA 


as Miss Isima Glory Onyebuchi. 


addressed as Mrs Ifeanyi Glory 

Onyebuchi. All former documents 


should please take note. 

ABBAS 

I FORMERLY KNOWN CALLED 

AND ADDRESSED AS MISS 

ABBAS EBISAN ZAINAB NOW 

WISH TO BE KNOWN AND 

ADDRESSED AS MRS. OFILI 

ELIZABETH EBISAN. ALL 

FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN 

VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND 

AUTHORITY CONCERNED 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 

OSAGIE 


addressed as, Miss 

Ekpemandu Chinwendu 

Clara, now wish to be known 

and addressed as, Mrs Osagie 

Chinwendu Clara, all former 

documents remains valid, 

general public take note. 

OSAKWE 

My correct name is OLISE 

IFEANYI FRANK as it is in my 

NIN. My name appear in my BVN 

as IFEANYI FRANK 

OSAKWE. Now wish to remove 

OSAKWE and add OLISA and be 

known as OLISA IFEANYI 

FRANK in my BVN. Documents 

bearing any of the names remain 


OGUMOGU 


addressed as Miss Ogumogu 

Stella Onome, now wish to be 


Uzor-Chukwunta Stella. All 



take note. 

ONYEMUNA 


addressed as Miss Onyemuna 

Ifeoma, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Edema 

Onyemuna Ifeoma. All 



take note. 

AMAECHI 


as Amaechi Chukwudi, now wish 


as Amaechi Chukwudi 

Christian. All former documents 

remain valid. General public please 

take note. 

AGU 


addressed as MISS AGU 

GINIKA HELEN now wish to 


MRS AGBO GINIKA 

HELEN. All former documents 



BEAUTY 


addressed as BEAUTY 

IWEKUMO MATTHIAS now 

wish to be known as addressed 

as MATTHIAS IWEKUMO 

KUROEKIGHA. All relevant 

documents remain valid.The 

General Public should take 

note. 

ANITA 

This is to confirm that the 

names ANITA MARO 

OGBOI and ANITA OGBOI 

refer to one and same person 


addressed as ANITA OGBOI 

henceforth all former 


General public take note 

NWOYE 


Nwoye Celestine Ikechukwu. 


addressed as Chiwetaoke Celestine 

Ikechukwu. All former documents 


take note. 

ADAZE 

I Formerly known as MISS ADAZE 

FAVOUR AIRHIENBUWA now 

wish to be know and addressed as 

MRS ADAZE FAVOUR 

OSARENOTOR .All former 


Concerned authorities and the 

general public should please take 

note. 

EGHOMWANRE 

THAT MY NAME WAS 

CAPTURED WRONGLY AS 

EGHOMWANRE SMART 

OSAYOMORE.NOW WISH TO BE 

KNOWN AS EGHONWANRE 

SMART OSAYOMORE. ALL 

FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN 

VALID GENERAL PUBLIC AND 

AUTHORITY CONCERNED 

PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 

OFOZOR 


OFOZOR ONYEKA JOHN. 


addressed as SUNDAY 

ONYEKA JOHN. All 

documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. General 

public take note. 

ONONEZE 


addressed as Miss Anurunkem 

Chibuzor Maryann, now wish 


as Mrs. Ononeze Chibuzor 

Maryann. All former 



note. 

OGIDI 


addressed as Miss Ogidi Ese 

Kenny, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. 

Madukelum Ese Kenny. All 



take note. 

OGBONNA 


as Ogbonna Justice 

Chidubem, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Ogbonna Justice 

Victor. All former documents 


take note. 

ENDURANCE 

EZEDOM 

I Igbinovia Endurance is one and 

the same person as Endurance 

Osahenokere Emmanuel. 

Henceforth, I now wish to be 

known and addressed as 

Endurance Igbinovia. All former 


public and concerned authorities 

should please take note.

BADA 

I, formerly known and addressed as 

OMOLOLA LOVETH BADA, 


addressed as OMOLOLA LOVETH 

OSIORIA-OKOJIE. DUE TO 

MARRIAGE. All former documents 

remain valid. The general public 


ADEGOR 


as ADEGOR, JANE OMATIE 


addressed as OVIE, JANE 

OMATIE. All former documents 


take note. 

EGBE 


as MISS EGBE, OGHENEMEGA 

ESTHER now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS. ADESOJI, 

OGHENEMEGA ESTHER. All 

former documents remain valid. 

General public please take note. 

UMUKORO 

I formerly known as MISS. 

UMUKORO OMOGHENE 

EDITH , now wishes to be known 

and addressed as MRS. 

OLEOGHENE OMOGHENE 

EDITH . All former documents 

remain valid and General public 


FAITH 

I formerly known and addressed 

as MISS AFRICA NDAANU 

FAITH. now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS NWIDOH 

LEKARA NDAANU FAITH. 


name remains valid. General 

public, Bank and Relevant 

Authorities please take note. 

OKE 


addressed as OSOGOLO 

GODSTIME, now wish to be 


OSOGOLO GODSTIME 

OKE. All former documents 



OKOGUN 


as MISS. LYDIA EKELOSOYE 

OKOGUN now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS. LYDIA 

EKELOSOYE IMAFIDON. All 


Concerned authorities and general 

public should please take note. 

NWAOYIBO 


addressed as NWAOYIBO 

DEBORAH BEST now wish to 


UGIAGBE DEBORAH BEST. 

All former documents remain 

valid. Concerned authorities 

and general public should 


ALI 

I formerly known called and 

addressed as ALI FELIX. Now 


as OGEOFOTHA ARUORIWO 

FELIX. All former documents 

remain valid general public please 

take note. 

OTUBURE 

I Formerly known and addressed 

as OTUBURE OGHENEFEJIRO 

PRAISE Now wish to be known 


EDIRINVERERE-MOWOE 

OGHENEFEJIRO PRAISE. . All 


general public please take note 

DENNIS 

I formerly known as HARRISON 

DENNIS now wish to be known 

and addressed as HARRISON 

EJUVWEYERE DENIS. All 


any authority it may concern and 

general public to take note. 

CHANGE OF NAME 

ECHERE 


as ECHERE EUPHEMIA 

ONYINYECHI, now wish to be 


EGBUZUO EUPHEMIA 

ONYINYECHI, All former 

documents remain valid, general 


AMUDO 


as MISS AMUDO, NDIOM 

IFEOMA now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS. OKOTIE, 

NDIOM IFEOMA. All former 



STANLEY 

I formerly known as MISS. 

ORHUERAKPOR UFUOMA 

PEACE now wishes to be known 


STANLEY UFUOMA PEACE . 

All former documents remain valid 

and General public should take 

note. 

UCHENNA 


as MISS UCHENNA OBIN 

KALU. now wish to be known 

and addressed as MRS 

UCHENNA ABARI NJOKU. 


name remains valid. General 

public, Bank and Relevant 

Authorities please take note. 

VIRGINIA 

This is to notify the General 

public that NWANKWO 

VERGINA. remains one and same 

person now wish to be called 

VIRGINIA ENYINNE 

NWANKWO . General public and 

Relevant Authorities please take 

note. 

NEYE 


as AGBATEYINIRO WEALTH 

NEYE, now wish to be Known 

and addressed as 

A G B A T E Y I N I R O 

ORITSENEYE. All former 



GABRIEL 

That I am the same person referred to 

as GABRIEL DOUGLAS 

IMAFIDON; IMAFIDON 

DOUGLAS OSAYANDE . 

Henceforth, I want to be known and 

addressed as GABRIEL DOUGLAS 

OSAYANDE IMAFIDON . All 


Concerned authorities and general 

public should please take note. 

AROKE 

I, formerly known 

as MUHAMMED AHMED 

AROKE now wish to be known 

and addressed as AHMAD 

MUHAMMAD AROKE. All 


General public, please take note. 

OT OJO 

I Formerly known and addressed 

as OJO LYDIA OSAS. Now wish 


CLEMENT OJO LYDIA OSAS. 

All former documents remain valid 

general public please take note 

AKPOYIBO 

I formerly known as MISS 

AKPOYIBO STEPHANIE 

IRORO now wish to be known 


DIADENARU IRORO 

STEPHANIE. All former 

documents remain valid any 

authority it may concern and 

general public to take note. 

OMOYO 

I, formerly known as OMOYO 

OLUWASEUNFUNMI 

CAROLINE now wish to be called 

known and addressed as KOKORI 

OLUWASEUNFUNMI 

CAROLINE. All former 

documents remain valid, all 

authorities concerned and general 

public should take note 

APESIN 

I, formerly known as FUNKE 

ADEJOKE APESIN. Now wish 


APESIN FUNKE TAIWO. All 




OKORUGBO 

I, formerly known as OKORUGBO 

ENDURANCE EFE. Now wish to be 

known and addressed as MRS 

ORHUERAKPO ENDURANCE 

EFE. All documents bearing my former 

name remain valid. General public 

take note. 

ELEWA-IKPAKWU 

I, formerly known as NGOZI 

ELEWA-IKPAKWU, sometimes 

known as NGOZI LEVIOUS 

NGEREBARA. now wish to be 

known as NGEREBARA NGOZI. Aål 

former documents remain valid. Rivers 

State University of Science and 

Technology, University of Stirling, 

Shell Petroleum Development 

Company and general public should 


IYEKEKPOLOR 

I, formerly known as MISS 

I Y E K E K P O L O R 

OSASUMWEN. Now wish to be 


ALUYA OSASUMWEN. All 




OVIRI 


OVIRI JULIANA. Now wish 


MRS. UDEZUE JULIANA. 

All documents bearing my 

former name remain valid. 

General public take note. 

EHIGIAMUSOE 

I, FORMERLY BEARING THE 

NAME; EHIGIAMUSOE 

OROBOSA STEPHANIE NOW 

WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS 

MRS. OSAGIUWA OROBOSA 

STEPHANIE. ALL FORMER 

DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. 

CONCERNED AUTHORITIES 

AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE 

NOTE. 

IDJAGBORO 


IDJAGBORO ONORIODE 

DEBORAH. Now wish to be 


AMADI ONORIODE 

DEBORAH. All documents 

bearing my former name remain valid. 


OKE 


addressed as Miss Oke 

Endurance, now wish to be 

known and addressed as Mrs 

Ediri Endurance. All former 



PATRICK 


addressed as Philip Patrick 


addressed as Philip Agbudje. 

All former documents remain 

valid. General public take 

note. 

RAPHEL 


as Raphel Emuhowo, now wish 


Odhikori Emuhowo. All former 



OKORO 


addressed as Miss Okoro, 

Garen-Ere Edith now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs 

Anthony Garen-Ere Edith. All 



EBHOAYE 

My name was wrongly written 

as EBHOAYE FESTUS, but 

now I wish to be known as 

EBHOAYE OSAETINE 

FESTUS. All documents 

bearing my former name 


take note. 

MBAT 


STEPHAINE EDIDIONG 

MBAT. Now wish to be known 


STEPHAINE EMMANUEL 

EKPE. All documents bearing 

my former name remain valid. 


ICHIDE 

I, formerly known as ICHIDE 

GLORY IFOMA. Now wish to be 

known and addressed as ICHIDE 

GLORY AKPESIRI. All 

documents bearing my former name 

remain valid. General public take 

note. 

ODEGBUNE 


ODEGBUNE, UFUOMA 

MERCY. Now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs 

AKPOBEVUGHE UFUOMA 

MERCY. All documents bearing 

my former name remain valid. General 


OJONG 


OJONG ACHI NYAMBI. 


addressed as MRS. ACHI 

UGORO. All documents 

bearing my former name 


take note. 

ADEBAYO 


ADEBAYO OPEYEMI 

REJOICE. Now wish to be 


LOUIS OPEYEMI REJOICE. 

All documents bearing my 

former name remain valid. 


NWAOYIBO 


Nwaoyibo Deborah Best. Now 


as Ugiagbe Deborah Best. All 




DOLOR 


addressed as Miss Elizabeth 

Dolor, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs Elizabeth 

Oghenewarho Uwadiae. All 



EDEMMAGHO OT 


addressed as Edemmagho 

Rebecca, now wish to be known 

and addressed as Okpobia 

Rebecca. All former documents 


take note. 

EFEKEMO 


addressed as Miss Efekemo 

Ogheneochuko, now wish to 

be known and addressed as Mrs 

Odiki Ogheneochuko. All 


valid. General public take 

note. 

EBIKEME 

I, Ebipaipri Ebikeme wish to 

notify the general public that 

my name was entered as 

Ebipapeni Ebikeme instead of 

Ebipaipri Ebikeme wish is my 

correct name. All former 



Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 23, 2022 —31 

:Vanguard 

News 


130 APC members defect 

to PDP as Okowa's aide 

empowers party faithful 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

GHELLI—AT least, 130 

Umembers of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, have defected to 

the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 

at Oghara-Agbarha Otor community, 

Ughelli North Local Government 

Area, Delta State. 

The decampees were received 

by notable chieftains of the PDP at 

the Oghara-Agbarha Otor country 

home of Executive Assistant to 

Delta State Governor on Project 

Monitoring, Olorogun Christabel 

Obiuwevwi-Omonigho where she 

empowered hundreds of persons 

with cash and wrappers. 

Some of the PDP chieftains 

present were, the Chief of Staff, 

Government House, Festus Agas, 

candidates for Delta Central and 

South Senatorial districts respectively, 

Ighoyota Amori and Micheal 

Diden respectively, Chairman of 

Ughelli North Local Government 

council, Godwin Adode, State PDP 

Youth leader, Victor Egbo, Olorogun 

Jaro Egbo, Terry Noah amongst 

others. 

ORUNTA 

I, formerly known as ORUNTA 

MARY A OGECHI. Now wish 


OKOH ANITA OGECHI. All 




NDUKWU 

I Formerly known called and 

addressed as Miss. VIOLET 

NKEM NDUKWU. Now wish 

to be known called and addressed 

as Mrs. VIOLET NKEM 

NWORGU. All former documents 

bearing my former name remain 

valid general public should please 

take note. 

OGAGA 


as Miss. OGAGA UFUOMA 

ANGELA. Now wish to be known 

called and addressed as Mrs. 

DABONOR-OGAGA UFUOMA 

ANGELA. All former documents 

remain valid general public and to 

whom it may concern should please 

take note. 

AGHOGHOPHIA 

I, Aghoghophia Orhureakpor 

Stephen wish to notify the general 

public that my name was wrongly 

written in my account details as 

Aghoghophia Stephen Oruerakpo 

instead of Aghoghophia 

Orhureakpor Stephen which is my 

correct name. All former documents 

remain valid. General public take 

note. 

UDEGBUNAM 

I, formally known and addressed as 

Miss Udegbunam Testimony 

Chidimma now wish to be known 

and addressed as Mrs. Chikeziem, 

Testimony Chidimma. All 




ANI 

I, formally known and addressed 

as Mrs. Okpuisi Njideka, Veronica 

now wish to be addressed as Miss 

Ani Njideka, Veronica. All 




Speaking during the event, 

Ighoyota Amori said: "PDP remains 

the last hope of the common man. 

Do not be deceived that there is going 

to be a party that will take over 

the governance of Delta state. 

Saying that the "APC has failed 

and failed woefully," he noted that 

PDP was far ahead of APC in all 

departments of governance. He 

commended Obiuvwebi-Omonigho 

for all that she had done for the PDP 

and said that the party was very 

proud of her 

On her part, Obiuvwebi- 

Omonigho noted that the 

decampees were from Oghara, 

Agbarha-Otor and Ughelli to the 

PDP family, saying "We are here to 

celebrate PDP as one family. We 

need to spread the love around that 

PDP is one family and we all love 

one another." 

Disclosing that over 200 wrappers 

and financial empowerment were 

given to the beneficiaries, she said: 

"This is just the first stage, there will 

be other phases. This is just a little 

show of love to let them know that 

we have their interest at heart." 

Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh crisis: Delta 

compensates victims with N37m 

Building and Conflict Resolution, 

By Festus Ahon Edwin Uzor, said the money was 

AGovernment, SABA—DELTA 

has disbursed 

State 

meant to compensate those whose 

structures were aff in the boundary 

demarcation exercise. 

N37million to compensate victims The beneficiaries include; the Vice 

of the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh crisis President of the Isoko Development 

Union, Dan Odhomo (N21m), 

in Udu and Warri South West Local 

Government Areas, respectivelymunity 

(N2m); Felix Omor from 

Moses Mogra from the Aladja com- 

Presenting cheques to the victims 

on behalf of the State Gov- 

Ogbe-Ijoh (N4m) and Michael 

Aladja (N2m), Samson Oyimi from 

ernment, the Special Adviser to Azosiobe from Ogbe-Ijoh (N8m). 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on Peace Uzor said: ‘’To my brothers from 

Ogbe-Ijoh and Aladja, please, tell 

your people that there is a need for 

peace. Let everybody lay down their 

arms and let us dialogue amicably 

to end this conflict. As a state government, 

we must find a solution 

because this conflict is not healthy." 

Saying that appreciable progress 

was being made in settling the 

boundary dispute between both 

communities, he said; "in the cause 

of our demarcation exercise, the 

bulldozers affected their structures. 

Thus, we requested them to write 

and the governor, in his magnanimity, 

accepted to compensate 

them. 

SCGN'll stregthen 

corporate 

governance 

across various 

sectors —Ahmad 

By Gabriel Olawale 

AGOS—THE President and 

LChairman, Board of Directors, 

Society for Corporate Governance 

Nigeria, SCGN, Mr. Muhammad 

Ahmad, has restated the Society's 

commitment towards strengthening 

good corporate governance across 

various sectors of the economy and 

business world. 

He made this statement during 

the 2022 President’s Annual Dinner 

and Induction of nine new fellows 

and 35 individuals, held in Lagos. 

According to Ahmad, “The Society 

will only be as good as the people 

working in advancing its course. It is 

for this reason that this event is set 

aside to induct new members who 

have gone through a competitive 

selection process into the Society. 

As a Society, this event is significant 

to us as it is the official welcome ceremony 

and the inauguration of future 

promoters of good corporate governance.” 

The nine inducted fellows are: Mrs 

Yemisi Ayeni, Chairperson of 

NASCON Allied Industries PLC; Mr 

Basil Efoise Omiyi, Chairman of 

Seplat Energy Plc and Stanbic IBTC 

Holding Plc; Mr. Adetunji Oyebanji, 

Managing Director, 11 Plc; Dr. 

Omobola Johnson, Board Chair of 

Guinness Nigeria Plc and Custodian 

Investment Plc; and Munir Ja’afaru, 

OFR, Director, Novare Fund Managers 

Ltd and Chairman, Advisory 

Council of Ahmadu Bello Memorial 

Foundation. 

C 

M 

Y 

K



ENIN CITY—THE Edo State 

Bchapter of the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, yesterday came 

hard on the government of 

Godwin Obaseki accusing it of 

not disclosing how much the 

state received from the arrears of 

13 percent derivation paid by the 

President Muhammadu Buhari 

administration as recently 

revealed by the governor of 

Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. 

The party also accused the 

government of not disclosing the 

financial position of the state and 

accused it of hoarding the 

derivation fund to “buy votes’ 

during the 2023 election 

“particularly the election into the 

House of Assembly” 

Addressing a press conference 

at the Secretariat of the party, 

state chairman of the party, Col 

David Imuse (rtd) claimed that 

the activities of Obaseki were 

because there is no properly 

constituted state House of 

Assembly. 

He said: “Governor Obaseki 

should explain why he has 

deliberately refused to specify 

amounts received as 13 per cent 

derivation fund in his 2023 

budgets estimates. 

“Mr Obaseki has been busy 

maligning the Federal 

government accusing it of 

printing paper money to fund 

statutory allocations and 

mismanagement of the national 

economy whereas as a deliberate 

:Vanguard 

News 


Edo APC challenges Obaseki on 13% derivation, 

fiscal policies, others 

policy, he has been pocketing 

Edo state monies by 

mismanaging the derivation 

funds. 

“Since Edo State does not 

have a functional House of 

Assembly to checkmate 

Obaseki, Edo people should 

demand the Governor publicly 

indicate the whereabout of the 

We'll make Delta varsity renowned science, 

tech institution globally —Okowa 

By Ochuko Akuopha 

UIfeanyi GHELLI—GOVERNOR 

Okowa of Delta 

State, has reiterated the 

commitment of his 

administration to make the 

Delta State University of 

Science and Technology, Ozoro, 

one of the best and renowned 

universities of science and 

technology in the world in no 

distant time. 

Speaking during the first 

anniversary/thanksgiving/ 

dedication of the university, 

Okowa said his administration 

would continue to support the 

institution in terms of 

infrastructure, teaching and 

learning, adding that "in no 

distant time, we shall 

commence the construction of 

the faculty building of 

management sciences and we 

hope that before May 29, 2023, 

the project will be 

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER, 23, 2022 —33 


said fund.” 

Imuse also carpeted the Edo 

Residency identity cards being 

planned by the state government 

for residents describing it as 

unconstitutional even as he 

accused the state government of 

demolishing and acquiring peoples 

properties in the name of new town 

development. 

He said: “This is a governor 

who cannot account for all the 

monies he has received from the 

commissioned." 

Represented by the State 

Commissioner for Higher 

Education, Dr. Kingsley 

Ashibuogwu, the governor 

commended the governing 

council and management of the 

university "for returning all the 

glory to God Almighty" for the 

establishment of the university. 

He said his administration is 

prepared to ensure that the vision 

we had in establishing the 

University of Science and 

Technology alongside two newly 

established universities will 

continue to run even after our 

tenure in office come May 29, 

2023. 

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of 

the University, Prof. Jacob 

Oboreh, said the institution is set 

to compete favourably with any 

other university in terms of 

teaching and research, thanking 

Governor Okowa for his 

Federation account since he took 

office while wasting billions of 

Naira on such white elephant 

projects like the Benin Enterprise 

and Industrial Park, the Benin 

Innovation Hub, Edo Tech Park, 

the Edo Refinery and 

Petrochemicals Company, the 

Gelegele Seaport, the University 

of Innovation, the Benin 

Technical College, claiming that 

he has bolstered the growth of a 

non-existent private sector.” 

commitment towards the speedy 

development of the nascent 

university. 

He said the university "has 45 

departments with 45 programmes 

duly approved by the National 

University Commission, NUC. 

Qualified lecturers have also 

been recruited for all the 45 

programmes approved by the 

NUC for the university. It might 

also interest you to know that 

the Delta State Government has 

procured several workshop and 

laboratory equipment for the 

university." 

In his homily, Anglican Bishop 

of the Oleh Diocese, Rt. Rev. John 

Aruakpor commended Oboreh for 

deeming it fit to lay a solid 

foundation for the University by 

organizing a thanksgivinh service 

and dedicating the school to God 

He described Okowa as a man 

of his words, saying the Isoko 

people would never forget the 

initiative of the Governor in 

establishing the university. 

Agenda 2050: FG backs ECN for 

clean energy supply 

•As ECN commissions Centre for Energy Efficiency 

Conservation 

A 

BUJA—THE Minister of 

Science, Technology and 

Innovation, Sen. Adeleke 

Mamora has restated the 

ministry’s commitment to 

supporting the Energy 

Commission of Nigeria, ECN, 

to achieve its mandate for an 

adequate, reliable, affordable 

supply of clean energy in the 

economy to support Nigeria’s 

Agenda 2050. 

Mamora made this known 

while commissioning of 

permanent offices and 

laboratories complex for the 

National Centre for Energy 

Efficiency and Conservation 

(NCEEC) located at the 

University of Lagos (UNILAG). 

The minister, commended 

the ECN for the foresight to 

seek approval for the 

Private varsity reduces tuition fees to 

encourage study of science, others 


Bmanagement ENIN CITY—THE 

of Glorious 

Vision University in Ogwa, Esan 

West local government area of Edo 

state has announced a fifty 

percent reduction on tuition for 

B.Sc. Mathematics, B.Sc. Physics 

and B.Sc. Statistics and 100 per 

cent tuition free for the study of 

Religious Studies and Philosophy. 

The school said this gesture is 

to encourage the development of 

technology and produce religious 

leaders. 

The Vice Chancellor of the 

University, Professor Babatunde 

Idowu stated this when he 

unveiled activities marking the 8th 

graduation of ceremony of the 

university where he said a set of 

twins, Taiwo Abigail Olude and 

Kehinde Mary Olude emerged 

with First Class Honours in 

Economics Department and 

Department of Chemical Sciences. 

He said: “the proprietors felt that 

as part of their contribution 

Africa must adopt space, digital 

tech to develop —Experts 

By Emmanuel 

Elebeke 

BUJA—EXPERTS in the 

Aspace and technology sector 

say Africa must adopt space, and 

digital technology to develop. 

They spoke at the National 

Conference and annual General 

meeting of the Nigerian Institute 

of Space Engineers, an institution 

under the Nigerian Society of 

Engineers held in Abuja. 

The conference themed: Role 

of Space and Digital Technologies 

in Sustainable Energy and 

Environmental Development’’, 

provided a platform for experts 

drawn from relevant government 

MDA’s, defence, security, 

intelligence establishment, 

academia, science and technology 

industry and private sector to 

share ideas and further the impact 

of the space and digital technology 

industry in the development of 

Nigeria. 

They, however, called for 

synergy among African nations 

establishment of the NCEEC for 

the nation in 2007 and for 

locating it at the prestigious 

university. 

“Energy efficiency and 

conservation, as well as 

deployment of renewable energy, 

are the pillars of the United 

Nation’s Sustainable 

Development Goal, UNSDGs, 

which has the goal of ensuring 

universal access to clean, reliable 

and affordable modern energy 

services by 2030,” he said. 

In his remarks, the directorgeneral, 

ECN, Prof. Eli Bala said 

the choice of the university as the 

site was informed by the fact that 

Lagos had the highest energy 

consumption demand, with a 

high population, homes, 

transportation system, industries 

and commercial activities driven 

by electricity and fuels. 

towards the development of the 

nation, they can afford to encourage 

some people to go to the university 

and also encourage technological 

development. Most of our students 

nowadays don’t want to study 

physics, mathematics, or statistics; 

most of our students want to go into 

social science. As a way of motivating 

them, that idea of 50 percent discount 

came to be. The church also wants 

to train pastors and religious leaders 

so they want to give opportunities to 

people in furtherance of evangelism 

to study these courses for free.” 

The VC said though the 

institution, formerly known as 

Samuel Adegboyega University and 

owned by The Apostolic Church had 

since its inception, graduated 670 

students. 

"By the grace of God, this year we 

are producing 101 with seven (7) 

graduating with First Class honours, 

33 with Second Class (Upper 

Division), 46 with Second Class 

(Lower Division), 7 with 3rd Class 

and 4 Postgraduates." 

to be able to achieve inclusive and 

mutual benefits of emerging 

technologies. 

The Keynote speaker, and 

Managing Director of the Rural 

Electrification Agency, REA, Ahmad 

Salihijo said the role space and digital 

technology in sustainable 

development is one that plays out 

in developed and developing nations 

alike, describing solar energy as one 

of the most important technologies 

for decarbonising the energy sector. 

‘‘The space science, the 

proliferation of digital technologies 

and data sciences have over the 

years, transformed the earth’s 

ecosystems, contributing directly and 

indirectly towards the achievement 

of the SDGs. 

‘‘We are trying to move away from 

the traditional lighting system. We 

are talking about sustainable energy. 

With our location in Africa, we can 

maximise solar energy. We have sun 

light throughout the year and there 

is no part of Nigeria that does not 

sun light energy." 

Sanwoolu, Makinde, Zenith Bank, others 

emerge finalists for 2022 GRC awards 

L 

AGOS—THE board of judges 

for the 2022 GRC & Fincrime 

prevention awards has selected 

finalists for the second edition of 

the annual award. The awards 

has been scheduled for Friday, 

November 25, 2022, at Oriental 

Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. 

Award categories include GRC 

& Financial Crime Prevention 

Excellence Awards, GRC & 

Financial Crime Prevention 

Journey Awards, GRC & Financial 

Crime Prevention Achievement 

Awards, and others. 

The organizations who 

emerged as the finalists are 

Guaranty Trust Bank, Access 

Bank, Jobberman, Opay, 

Interswitch, Citi Bank, Zenith 

Bank, Deloitte, KPMG, Stanbic 

IBTC Arise TV, Channels TV, 

ARM Pension Managers Limited 

and others. 

In addition, Governor Babajide 

Sanwoolu and his Oyo State 

counterpart, Governor Seyi 

Makinde of Oyo State have been 

shortlisted for the Special Recognition 

Award for Governors Supporting 

GRC and Anti Financial Crime 

Initiatives. 

A new category has also been 

introduced this year which is focused 

on recognizing and celebrating 

Women in GRC and FinCrime 

Prevention. 

Speaking on the awards, the 

Chairman of the Organising 

Committee, Dr. Foluso Amusa PhD 

said: “Governance, Risk, Compliance 

& Financial Crime Prevention 

Awards was inspired by continuous 

effort of firms keeping abreast and up 

to date with evolving and changing 

regulatory landscape across the 

various services, products and 

industries.“

34— Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

By Anayo Okoli, Vincent 

Ujumadu, Chidi Nkwopara, 

Peter Okutu, Ugochukwu 

Alaribe, Chinedu Adonu, 

Chinonso Alozie & Steve Oko 

ENUGU-PROVISION of 

infrastructure, 

particularly, roads, in the 

South East, by the governors is 

highly lopsided in rural 

communities. The rural 

communities are utterly neglected 

in the provision of social and 

economic amenities and this is adversely 

affecting life in the rural 

areas, and the residents are 

lamenting the hardship. Efforts by 

the governors to address this seem 

grossly inadequate. 

Rural roads in Anambra fast 

degenerating 

There was a time Anambra State 

was adjudged the state with the best 

road network in the country both 

within the rural and urban areas, 

but not anymore. Then, rural life was 

fun. There was no community that 

did not have a number of tarred 

roads, which made it easy for them, 

especially farmers who evacuated 

their produce from the rural areas 

to the urban centers as well as easy 

link with others. Some civil servants 

relocated to their communities from 

where they came to work in Awka, 

the state capital. But today, the story 

is different. 

The rot began with the Obiano 

administration. 

Today, driving through many 

communities in the state is a 

nightmare due to deplorable state 

of the roads. Sadly, most rural roads 

have signposts indicating that the 

state government had awarded 

contract for their construction, but no 

work was done on them for the past 

eight years. 

In some cases, preliminary works 

were done on the roads, but were 

abandoned, worsening the already 

bad condition. The Nkwo Okija ring 

road in Ihiala council area was 

flagged of by former Governor Willie 

Obiano and work started by the 

contractor. However, the 

government did not release money 

for it; the road was 

abandoned, making the road impassable. 

In Nibo, Awka South council, a 

road project started by the state government 

was later abandoned and 

people can no longer use the road. 

The rural dwellers are suffering 

the agony, with cost of transportation 

soaring. In most rural communities, 

transportation by vehicles has 

virtually disappeared, leaving the 

people at the mercy of commercial 

motorcyclists whose services have 

THE TEAM 

SUPERVISING EDITOR: 

Chioima Gabriel, Lagos. 

(08052201257) 

REGIONAL EDITOR 

Anayo Okoli, Enugu. 

(08034046839) 

Vincent Ujumadu- Awka 

Dennis Agbo- Enugu 

Chinedu Adonu-Enugu 

Chidi Nkwopara- Owerri 

Chinonso Alozie- Owerri 

Emmanuel Iheaka- Owerri. 

Peter Okutu-Abakiliki 

Chimaobi Nwaiwu-Nnewi 

Nwabueze Okonkwo- 

Onitsha 

Ugochukwu Alaribe- Abia 

Steve Oko- Abia 

Ikechukwu Odu-Nsukka. 

Our rural roads are in 

deplorable conditions 

— South East residents lament 

Ikpeazu tried, but many Abia rural roads are still in miserable conditions 

Enugu State did well on rural roads- Nsukka residents; 

We built rural roads to move goods and services —Ebonyi Govt 

Uzodimma needs to shift attention to rural areas —Residents 

Starving LGs of allocation by Govs, major source of rural hardship 

Bad road 

even become unaffordable 

Although the state government established 

the Anambra Road Maintenance 

Agency, with the mandate 

of fixing roads, particularly in the 

rural areas, the agency has virtually 

become moribund due to lack of 

funds to operate.A community 

leader in Amawbia, Mr. Sebastian 

Okoye said there is even no hope 

that the rural roads in the state would 

receive any attention in the near 

future as the state governor, Professor 

Chukwuma Soludo is more 

concerned with fixing urban roads, 

which are even worse than the rural 

roads.Okoye said the rural roads 

would not have degenerated to the 

Bad roads in southeast 

level they are today if the local governments 

are getting their monthly 

allocations directly from the 

federation account. 

Abia has done well in rural 

roads — Abia House Leader 

The majority Leader of the Abia 

State House of Assembly, Chief 

Solomon Akpulonu, in his 

assessment, said that Governor 

Okezie Ikpeazu has constructed 

many rural roads across the 17 

council areas of the state. He claimed 

that Ikpeazu has done over 50 rural 

roads and could have achieved 

more if not for paucity of funds. 

Most of the rural roads, he noted, 

were asphalted for the first time in 

their history and opened the rural 

areas and helped rural farmers to 

move their farm produce to the cities. 

No, Abia rural roads are still 

in miserable condition 

—Residents 

However, some residents 

disagreed with Agbulonu’s position. 

They said most rural roads in Abia 

State are still in deplorable 

conditions. From Ukwa West to 

Ukwa East, Bende to Arochukwu; 

Umunneochi to Ugwunagbo, as 

well as every council in the state, 

many rural roads are begging for 

attention despite NNDC 

interventions. Ukwa land, the only 

oil-producing area in Abia State 

seems to be the worst hit by bad 

roads in the state. Virtually all roads 

leading to the entire Ukwa land 

have collapsed, making access to 

the communities very difficult. Even 

agrarian communities of Ikwuano 

also have their fair share of bad 

roads. 

Abam communities especially 

Ndioji/Ndiokereke communities 

towards Arochukwu have almost 

been cut off from their kinsmen due 

to bad road. The story is the same in 

agrarian communities like Ozuitem, 

and Akanu Item. Communities in 

Isuikwuato particularly Uturu and 

Lokpa/Umuchieze areas have been 

also battling with bad roads. 

Decrying the condition of roads 

in Umunneochi especially Isuochi, 

the paramount ruler of Isuochi, Eze 

Godson Ezekwesiri called for urgent 

Government intervention, 

lamenting that the State 

Government had not done anything 

beyond empty promises to alleviate 

the plights of his subjects. 

Also, the traditional ruler of 

Oriendu Autonomous Community 

in Umuahia North council, Eze 

Philip Ajomuiwe, expressed worry 

over the state of feeder roads in his 

community. He said that since 2018 

when Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu 

approved the construction of a 2.5 

kilometer Uhuoma/ Ubahu road 

leading to an agro-allied factory in 

the community, work was yet to 

commence on the road and called 

for urgent action. 

We dedicated attention to 

rural roads to uplift our rural 

people —Ebonyi Govt. 

In Ebonyi, the Umahi 

administration has done very well 

in the area of road construction, 

especially in the rural areas of the 

State. Virtually all the communities 

in the state have one or more rural 

roads to point at; it was a deliberate 

decision to transform the life of our 

rural people. 

The Special Assistant to Governor 

David Umahi on Media and 

Strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko, 

explained that it was a deliberate 

policy of the administration to open 

up the rural areas with good roads. 

“The state of our roads before Governor 

David Umahi took over was 

such that people had nightmares 

when they think of traveling. Past 

administrations did their bit but the 

roads were failing. Our roads under 

Umahi are the best you can get 

within any state in the country. There 

were done with a minimum of eight 

inches of concrete. It just can't be 

better. Goods and services are easily 

moved from place to place thus increasing 

commercial and social 

activities resulting in greater 

profitability and brighter economic 

gains for all”, Oko said. 

Ugwuanyi tried in building 

rural roads but much still 

needs to be done 

In Enugu State, Governor Ifeanyi 

Ugwuanyi is believed to have done well 

in building rural roads. He is even accused 

of concentrating on rural roads 

to the neglect of urban roads. His 

intention, according a source close to 

him, was to link many rural agrarian 

communities to the urban cities to 

enable them evacuate their farm 

produce to the urban cities. 

“The government tried in doing rural 

areas but many are still left undone. 

You know, Enugu is a two-city state, 

Enugu and Nsukka. The rest are rural 

communities. Ugwuanyi has done 

many of the roads the rural areas but 

a lot remains because Enugu has many 

rural roads”, Mathias Eze from 

Ugwuoba said. 

But a community leader in Aguibeje 

autonomous community, Igbo-Eze 

North council, Elder Simon Ugwuanyi 

said they lack access rural roads in 

the community, lamenting that they are


PDP CRISIS: How IBB, GEJ, others 

move to reconcile Atiku, Wike 

Continues from Page 5 

"We are constrained to say 

that the agitation of the 

group to which he is part 

does not represent the thinking 

of the party and its members 

in the state. 

“Therefore, we wish to request 

that he should return 

to base in Plateau State and 

engage with his constituents 

to shed more light on how 

the positions taken by the 

Port Harcourt/Lagos group 

affect us in the state. 

'On the average, members 

of the PDP in Plateau State 

do not sufficiently understand 

the basis for his decisions 

and actions. 

"As an important state in 

the North Central zone, we 

also seek to know what we 

are going to get in exchange 

for giving up the national 

chairmanship of the party, 

which he supports. 

"Since this position belongs 

to the North Central 

zone, since we do not hold 

the presidential ticket and 

since we have not been 

briefed or carried along, we 

see it as a disservice to us for 

the group to continue to demand 

the resignation of the 

chairman without spelling 

out the terms. 

''We condemn the prolongation 

of conditions that 

will hurt our party and our 

candidates in any form." 

Naira appreciates to N445.38/ 

$ in I&E window 

By Elizabeth Adegbesan 

THE naira yesterday appreciated to N445.38 per 

dollar in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) 

window. 

Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative 

exchange rate for the window fell to N445.38 per 

dollar from N445.67 per dollar last week Friday, 

indicating 29 Kobo appreciation for the naira. 

However , the naira depreciated by N5 in the 

parallel market yesterday. Vanguard findings from 

black market traders showed that the exchange rate 

for the market rose to N785 per dollar from N780 

per dollar last week Friday. 

From left, CAN 

President Daniel Okoh, 

CAN General Secretary, 

Joseph Daramola and 

Presidential Candidate 

of Labour Party, Peter 

Obi during CAN’s 

interactive session with 

presidential candidates of 

political parties in Abuja. 

Photo by Gbemiga 

Olamikan. 

ROUNDTABLE: Media chiefs, operators adopt new co-regulation, code of ethics 

THE Nigerian media 

industry has adopted 

the new co-regulation and 

code of ethics to address 

ethical and professional 

concerns in the industry. 

The decision was 

reached at the end of a 

media roundtable organised 

on Monday, November 

14 by the Newspaper 

Proprietors Association of 

Nigeria (NPAN) in conjunction 

with the Nigerian 

Guild of Editors (NGE), 

Nigeria Union of Journalists 

(NUJ), Broadcasting 

Organisations of Nigeria 

(BON), and the Guild of 

Corporate Online Publishers 

(GOCOP). 

Media chiefs and operators 

at the roundtable also 

noted that the success of the 

co-regulation would be 

achieved via a workable 

enforcement mechanism. 

To achieve co-regulation, 

the Nigeria Press Organisation 

(NPO) comprising 

NPAN, NGE, and NUJ, 

along with BON, would 

work together to make the 

co-regulation system effective, 

particularly through 

the establishment of the 

ombudsman at local and 

central levels. 

This is contained in a 

communique issued at the 

end of the media roundtable 

convened within the 

context of the imperative of 

a strategic response to the 

challenge of institutionalising 

self-regulatory mechanisms 

by the media for 

the media. 

The communique was 

jointly signed by the president, 

NPAN/NPO, Malam 

Kabiru A. Yusuf, FNGE, 

president, NGE, Mustapha 

Isah, president, NUJ, Chief 

Chris Isiguzo, MFR, president, 

GOCOP, Maureen 

Chigbo and the Executive 

Secretary, BON, Dr. Yemisi 

Bamgbose. 

The communique noted 

that efforts must be made 

to avoid the creation of bureaucratic 

structures that 

may have high-cost implications 

and therefore constitute 

obstacles to the efficient 

operation of the ombudsman. 

The communique reads 

in part: “That sanctions for 

the violation of ethical 

codes and professional 

standards shall be determined 

by the Ombudsman, 

guided by the regulation. 

“That media professional 

bodies and associations 

shall partner with media 

organisations to give wide 

publicity to the decisions 

of the Ombudsman,” the 

communique said. 

On the revised Code of 

Ethics of Journalists in Nigeria, 

the communique 

noted that a bill of rights 

would be incorporated into 

the revised code to address 

concerns over some industry 

practices that tend to 

undermine the welfare and 

safety of journalists. 

The communique also 

said: “That the revised 

code shall protect investigative 

journalism by making 

the public interest exception 

to instances where 

undercover methods may 

be used to obtain information. 

“That the revised code 

shall distinguish between 

paid content and editorial 

content to preserve editorial 

integrity; and a new 

clause would be inserted to 

obligate journalists to promote 

the right of the people 

to know, freedom of the 

press and responsibility. ” 

The roundtable had two 

technical sessions in which 

presentations were made 

on “Pathway to Co-regulation 

through an Ombudsman 

Framework”. 

Speaking at the event, the 

Editor-in-Chief/Senior 

Vice Chairman of Leadership 

Group Limited, Mr. 

Azu Ishiekwene, based his 

presentation on the report 

of the committee of the 

NPO comprising NPAN, 

NGE and NUJ instituted in 

May 2021. 

The committee was mandated 

to develop a framework 

for a generally acceptable, 

workable and 

trusted self-regulatory platform 

for the industry, both 

at the local and central levels. 

The second presentation 

was on “A Guide through 

the Revised Code of Ethics 

for Nigerian Journalists” 

by the Editor-in-Chief, Diamond 

Publications/Founder 

of the Diamond Awards 

For Media Excellence 

(DAME) Trust Fund, Mr 

Lanre Idowu , FNGE. 

The revision of the existing 

code was predicated on 

the observation that the existing 

1998 code is “outdated, 

not robust enough 

and too general in nature.” 

The committee was mandated 

to develop a framework 

for a generally acceptable, 

workable and 

trusted self-regulatory platform 

for the industry, both 

at the local and central levels. 

The round table is coming 

against the background 

of attacks on press 

freedom and media independence, 

through legislation 

by the government following 

the wrong perception 

that the media is unwilling 

to regulate itself; 

the poor state of compliance 

with ethical and professional 

standards by 

some journalists and editors 

and the pollution of the 

information sphere by disinformation 

and misinformation. 

The aim of the roundtable, 

supported by Daria 

Media and the MacArthur 

Foundation, was to obtain 

media stakeholders’ buy-in 

of the Ombudsman framework 

and the revised Code 

of Ethics of Journalists in 

Nigeria. The roundtable 

was well attended by eminent 

media-industry leaders. 

20M OUT-OF-SCHOOL CHILDREN: Another ‘B’Haram’ looms – OBASANJO 

By Levinus 

Nwabughiogu 

A President BUJA-Former 

Olusegun 

Obasanjo declared yesterday 

that Nigeria's 20 million 

out-of-school children 

was another Boko Haram 

waiting to happen, if they 

were not put back in school 

urgently. 

He said the number constituted 

10 per cent of the 

country's population which 

should not be ignored. 

Obasanjo, who spoke as a 

panelist at the National 

Summit on Tertiary Education 

Reform, with the theme, 

"Re-imagining Tertiary Education 

in Nigeria: Issues, 

Challenges and Solutions,'' 

in Abuja, said: "The greatest 

resources we have in this 

country are the people. How 

many are we today? We are 

about 216 million and that 

is a great resource. 

''Tertiary education is very 

important but education, 

particularly education that 

has left 20 million of our 

children out of school and 

those twenty million have no 

access to education. ''They 

cannot be effectively part of 

nation building because 

they have not had the opportunity 

to develop their innate 

capacity to the extent that 

they can be useful to themselves, 

to their families and 

to their community, let 

alone their nation, let alone 

Africa. 

''Now, tertiary education is 

important and my emphasis 

is on education properly, 

because the five points I 

have taken from your speech 

are zeroed on education in 

general, although we have 

the issue of ASUU and the 

government. That would be 

unending. 

''In my time, we had it. And 

if any government had done 

anything for ASUU, my 

government did. They all 

started buying cars and 

building houses. Even primary 

school teachers were 

buying cars. But we must 

find a solution. 

"So, what are the issues? 

The issues to me are that we 

are cutting more than we 

can chew. Who is looking at 

our population ahead of 

time, five years from now 

and ten years from now, and 

what can we do about it? 

''Apart from food, which is 

very important, who are the 

people thinking about that 

and working on that. After 

food and health, the next important 

aspect of our life is 

education. Now, if this is the 

position and these are rights 

that we must have, what do 

we do? We know that if we 

continue the way we are going, 

by the year 2030, 2040, 

2050, what would our population 

be?. We have to think 

about it and how we would 

sort it out. 

"I believe, that you ask 

where did we miss the road? 

We missed the road when 

the whole world is talking 

of free education. Education 

for all. And we did not follow 

that. It was bad news. 

''Today, we have 20 million 

out-of-school children, almost 

10 per cent of the population. 

We continue to miss 

and we are still missing. 

That is a very bad one. Can 

we do anything about it? I 

believe we can. 

''Those 20 million children 

that are out of school, we can 

get them back to school. If 

we do not get them back to 

school, we are preparing for 

Boko Haram of tomorrow. 

It will happen as sure as daylight. 

''What can we do? Where 

are these 20 million children? 

Where are they located? 

Can we have schools in 

the morning and afternoon 

to get them in, at least, for 

six years. In the period of six 

years where this is happening, 

we would prepare for 

the transition from primary 

school to secondary school. 

''Iif we are able to do that, 

we have started the process 

of lifting education, an instrument 

of nation building.'' 

Also speaking, the Minister 

of State for Education, 

Goodluck Nana Opia, said 

increasing population was 

affecting the funding of education, 

adding that universities 

had misused their autonomy. 

He said: "Tertiary Education 

Trust Fund, TEFUND, 

had released over N2.3 trillion 

to the various institutions 

to create more infrastructure, 

support research 

and improve documentation 

but with the increasing 

population, there was not 

much impact. 

"On behalf of the Federal 

Ministry of Education, I 

extend all my sincere appreciation 

to the the Speaker, 

House of Representatives, 

Femi Gbajabimila and his 

team for passionately intervening 

in the face- off with 

ASUU and organising this 

summit which I believe is a 

continuation of the speaker's 

commitment to ensure 

that the legislature contributes 

to creating stable environment 

for our tertiary education 

sector. 

"As more universities were 

established to improve our 

access to the growing population, 

the dwindling economic 

realities made it difficult 

for government to sustain 

the adequate funding, 

to maintain the quality of 

teaching and learning, infrastructure 

as well as maintain 

the structures necessary 

for attracting global talents 

needed to sustain intellectualism.'' 

In his address, speaker of 

the House and chief host, 

Femi Gbajabiamila, cautioned 

that if the right measures 

were not taken, there 

might be another ASUU 

strikes. 

He said: "For eight 

months this year, students of 

federal tertiary institutions 

sat at home due to a litany 

of unresolved issues between 

the Academic Staff Union of 

Universities, ASUU, and the 

Federal Government of Nigeria. 

''These university strikes 

are almost perennial and 

preceded this government. 

The recent one was not the 

first and may not be the last 

unless we are determined to 

make it so. The end of the 

strike was a relief to all; it 

meant the resumption of 

academic activities and a 

return to routine for students. 

''However, the end of the 

strike did not mean all the 

issues of funding, education 

standard, and student and 

staff welfare had been resolved. 

At the time, I called 

for the government, universities, 

unions, and citizens to 

see the moment as an opportunity 

to begin the critical 

conversation about the future 

of public tertiary education 

in the country. 

"This National Summit on 

Tertiary Education Reform 

(NSTER) is the manifestation 

of our commitment in 

the 9th House of Representatives 

to engender a national 

conversation to consider 

bold ideas and radical innovations 

to restructure and 

reform public tertiary education 

in Nigeria. 

''How do we ensure that 

every child born in Nigeria 

in this generation and hereafter 

can compete favourably 

in an ever-changing 

world? This is the defining 

issue of our age,” the Speaker 

asked.


KUJE PRISON ATTACK: Why FG can’t 

make report public - MINISTER 

By Soni Daniel, 

Northern Region 

Editor 

ABUJA-Months after 

a brutal onslaught on 

Kuje Prison by terrorists, 

the Federal Government 

has now completed investigation 

into the attack. 

However, the government 

does not intend to 

make the report public due 

to its sensitive nature. 

The Minister of Interior, 

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, 

who disclosed this 

while giving a scorecard of 

his ministry at a media 

briefing in Abuja yesterday, 

however, said some of the 

escapees from the facility 

had been recaptured, while 

many others were still at 

large. 

The attacks by the insurgents 

group led to the escape 

of over 600 inmates, 

including members of the 

terror group, Boko Haram. 

Aregbesola, who was 

flanked by the Minister of 

Information and Cultural, 

Alhaji Lai Mohammed and 

the Permanent Secretary of 

his Ministry, Dr Shuaib 

Belgore, said the greatest 

legacy of the Buhari 

administration was the government’s 

ability to push 

•Plans passport processing centres 

in Daura, others 

Boko Haram insurgents 

out of all the local governments 

they hitherto occupied 

before the advent of 

the government. 

The minister said, “In 

2015 Boko Haram members 

were holding territories 

in local governments 

in Adamawa, Borno and 

Yobe States, but today they 

have been dislodged. Yes, 

there are challenges here 

and there, but there is no 

nation without challenges”. 

Aregbesola maintained 

that challenges relating to 

the delay in issuance of 

international passports 

were being addressed, 

adding that the procedures 

leading to data capturing 

are responsible for 

the delay. 

He said: “We don’t have 

enough processing and 

data-capturing centres 

across the country. This is 

the major challenge. 

“For instance, we have 

only three centres in the 

whole of Lagos, but I can 

assure you that before this 

administration leaves by 

May 29, next year, Lagos 

will have 20 processing 

centres. 

“We will open processing 

centres in Daura, Oyo, 

Zaria, Alimosho, Defence 

Headquarters, Head of 

Service Office, and one in 

the Ministry of Interior,” 

Aregbesola asserted. 

Earlier, the Minister of 

Information, Lai Muhammed, 

had regretted 

the increasing resort to fake 

news by a section of the 

media, which he noted 

had become a threat to 


Buhari’s achievements in 

office. 

Mohammed noted: “Attack 

on INEC offices across 

the country has become a 

threat to 2023 elections,” 

citing case of recent INEC 

fake latter against APC 

Presidential candidate, 

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which 

went viral in some mainstream 

media. 

The minister cautioned 

media outlets to avoid being 

used for such nefarious 

activities, adding that 

fake news had done serious 

damage on elections in 

other climes and warned 

that the government would 

not allow the purveyors 

to have an upper hand. 

Oil theft: Nigeria lost over $2bn in 

8 months - SENATE 


ABUJA- THE Senate 

has vehemently refused 

to indict any individual 

or organisations involved 

in crude oil theft in 

the country, saying Nigeria 

lost over $2 billion to the 

phenomenon between 

January and August 2022. 

This, according to the 

Senate, contributed to loss 

in revenue that would 

have supported Nigeria's 

fiscal deficits and budget 

implementation. 

It also said that between 

April and September 2022, 

security interventions had 

led to the seizure and arrest 

of 11 crude oil vessels, 

30 speed boats, 179 wooden 

boats, 37 trucks as well 

as arrest of 122 suspects for 

crude oil theft. 

According to the Upper 

Chamber, 959 metal tanks, 

737 Ovens, 452 dugout 

Pits, 342 Reservoirs, and 

355 Cooking Pots were destroyed, 

just as 207 pumping 

machines, 12 sophisti- 

...Summons Finance, Trade 

Ministers, others over 

N500bn disbursement 


ABUJA- THE Senate 

has begun probe 

into the alleged un-even 

disbursement of loans to 

Small and Medium 

Scale Enterprises, 

MSMEs, in the six geopolitical 

regions by 

Development Bank of 

Nigeria, DBN, to the 

tune of N500billion. 

To carry out the 

investigation, the 

Senator Sani Musa 

(APC, Niger East), led 

Senate Ad- hoc 

Committee on Un-even 

disbursement of 

N500billion, has 

summoned the Minister 

of Finance, Budget and 

National Planning, Mrs. 

Zainab Ahmed to 

appear before it to clarify 

the issues raised. 

Also summoned were 

the Minister of Trade 

and Investment, Niyi 

Adebayo; DBN; 

MSMEs Agency, 

SMEDAN; Bank of 

Industry, BOI and Bank 

of Agriculture. 

The Senate had last 

week constituted an adhoc 

committee, which 

has Senator Musa, 

asChairman, with 

Senators Ibrahim 

Danbaba, Patrick 

Akinyelure, Matthew 

Urhoghide, Ali Ndume, 

Uche Ekwunife, and 

Sadiq Umar. 

cated Welding Machines, 

6 power Generators and 2 

Automatic Filling Machines 

were recovered. 

Resolutions of the Senate 

yesterday were sequel to 

the presentation and adoption 

of the Report of Ad- hoc 

Committee to investigate 

Oil Lifting, Theft and the 

Impact on Petroleum Production 

and Oil Revenues 

by Senator Albert Bassey 

Akpan, Young Progressives 

Party, YPP, Akwa 

Ibom North East. 

The Senate said: "The 

country has lost over $2 billion 

to oil theft between 

January and August 2022, 

which lost revenue that ordinarily 

would have supported 

the country's fiscal 

deficits and budget implementation. 

"Between April and September 

2022, security interventions 

has led to the seizure 

and arrest of 11 crude 

oil Vessels, 30 speed boats, 

179 wooden boats, 37 

trucks as well as 122 arrested 

suspects of crude oil 

theft. 

"Also 959 metal tanks, 

737 Ovens, 452 dugout 

Pits, 342 Reservoirs, and 

355 Cooking Pots were destroyed. 

Also 207 pumping 

machines, 12 sophisticated 

Welding Machines, 6 power 

Generators and 2 Automatic 

Filling Machines 

were recovered. 

"NNPC in collaboration 

with both industry regulators, 

other partners and 

government security agencies 

has deployed security 

architecture.” 

:Vanguard :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 

2023: Nigerians in hunger over $40bn APC govt 

foreign debts —Oborevwori 

... urges Nigerians to collect PVCs, vote out 

APC 

S APEPLE—THE 

humongous debt profile 

of the federal government of 

Nigeria under the regime of 

the All Progressives 

Congress, APC, joint led by 


Buhari has been described as 

"life threatening" by the 

governorship candidate of the 

Peoples Democratic Party, 

PDP, in Delta State, Sheriff 

Oborevwori. 

Oborevwori while 

addressing a crowd of party 

faithful and supporters in 

Sapele, in continuation of his 

Ward-to-Ward campaigns, 

disclosed that the hardship, 

hunger, joblessness, poverty 

and constant devaluation of 

the Naira currency, was as a 

result of the $40 billion foreign 

debts and other loans 

needlessly obtained from 

multilateral sources by the 

Buhari-led APC national 

government. 

The PDP guber candidate 

and incumbent Speaker of 

Delta State House of 

Assembly, further posited 

that the vexed 

mismanagement of the 

nation's economy is at 

variance with the 

electioneering promises 

made to Nigerians by the 

ruling APC national 

government in 2015 and 

2019, adding that Nigerians 

will no longer fall for APC 

campaign lies that brought 

hunger, poverty, acute 

insecurity, mismanaged 

health and education 

sectors, among others. 

According to him, "It is 

common knowledge that the 

N40 billion debt was 

obtained from multilateral 

sources such as; the World 

Bank, African Development 

Bank, International 

Monetary Fund, China, et al. 

Today, the nation's economy 

is in comatose. No thanks to 

President Mohmmadu 

Buhari and APC national 

government." 

Oborevwori said 2023 

provides another ample 

opportunity for all 

impoverished, jobless and 

hungry Nigerians, as well as 

University students who were 

denied access to classrooms 

for over eight months by 

President Buhari, to take up 

their PVCs on election days to 

vote PDP, it's Presidential 

Candidate, Atiku Abubakar 

and his running mate, Senator 

Ifeanyi Okowa, adding that 

Atiku-Okowa has the 

solutions for the wrecked and 

bleeding Nigeria economy. 

On his M.O.R.E agenda, 

Oborevwori assured the good 

people of Delta State that he 

would expand the scope of 

overall development of the 

three senstorial districts and 

ensure a sustained equitable 

distribution of state resources 

for the wellbeing and 

prosperity of all Deltans 

without discrimination, and 

devoid of nepotism and undue 

favouritism. 

Police unveil Anti-Cult Volunteer Corps in Delta 

By Festus Ahon 

ASABA— AS part of its 

efforts to curb crime, 

Delta State Police 

Command, has unveiled 

new kits, identity cards and 

aprons for the Anti-Cult 

Volunteer Corps, AVC, in the 

state. 

The Commissioner of 

Police in the State, Mr Ari 

Muhammed Ali who spoke 

during the ceremony, 

restated the commitment of 

the command to partner 

with sister security 

agencies, the vigilante, Anti- 

Cult Volunteers and other 

groups to tackle all forms of 

security challenges across 

the state. 

Underscoring the 

importance of community 

policing, Ali said the anti 

Cult Volunteer Corps had 

played key roles in 

partnering with the Police to 

address serious security 

challenges in communities 

across the state. 

He explained that the Corps 

is basically a humanitarian 

service, and appreciated the 

By Akinroye 

Abdulazeez 

FORMER Chairman of Ika 

South Local Government 

Council and a chieftain of the 

People’s Democratic Party, PDP, 

in Ika South Local Government 

Area, LGA, of Delta State, 

Andrew Obiazi, has said the 

humility of the PDP 

governorship candidate in the 

state, Sheriff Oborevwori has 

endeared him to members of the 

party and most Deltans. 

Obiazi who spoke in Agbor, the 

headquarters of Ika South LGA, 

said Oborevwori is humility 

personified. God has divinely 

ordained him to succeed 

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on May 

29, after the 2023 general 

elections in the country. The 

emergence of the PDP 

gubernatorial candidate in the 

state at a transparent primaries 

organised by the national 

efforts of AVC in combating 

the menace of cultism in the 

state, stressing that the idea of 

community policing is about 

crime fighting as the Police can 

not do it alone. 

He said: “the issue of 

security is everybody's 

business. The Police can not do 

it alone”, adding that all over 

the world crime fighting is a 

collective one hence the need 

for inter agency cooperation 

and collaboration. 

Ali noted that no country in 

the world has zero crime rate 

even the developed ones, 

noting that it can only be 

brought down astronomically 

particularly with the 

collaboration of stakeholders 

such as Anti Cult Volunteer 

Corps, vigilante and other 

sister security agencies 

playing their roles effectively. 

While commending the Anti- 

Cult Volunteer Corps for it's 

commitment to stamp out 

cultism and other social vices 

from communities, the Police 

Commissioner advised the 

leadership not to condone any 

bad egg among it's fold who 

secretariat of the party, coupled 

with his Supreme Court 

victory, are clear attestation to 

the fact that Oborevwori’s 

candidature is clearly a divine 

project. 

“Of all the contenders of the 

governorship position in Delta 

State, Oborevwori is the most 

qualified person to lead the 

state comes May 29, 2023, 

judging by his humane 

conduct and patriotic 

disposition towards the 

promotion of sustainable 

development in the state. 

“I want to appeal to Deltans to 

rally round the PDP 

gubernatorial candidate and 

other candidates of the party to 

enable them consolidate the 

Okowa’s legacies of good 

governance, infrastructural 

transformation and human 

capital development. 

“Oborevwori is humble, calm 

and unassuming. He is humility 

would want to use the Corps as 

a cover to engage in criminality, 

adding that such should be fished 

and shown the way out. 

“I enjoin all of you members of 

the Anti-Cult Volunteer Corps to 

be professional in discharge of 

your duties and desist from acts 

against the tenets of formation of 

AVC. As crime fighters, you must 

smoke out moles from within who 

sell out intelligence to their 

criminal cohorts. We should not 

allow saboteurs to be in our 

midst", he said. 

The Officer in Charge of the 

Anti-Cult Unit in the Delta State 

Police 

Command, 

Superintendent of Police Chris 

Igbaji, urged the anti cult 

Volunteer Corps to carry out their 

duties within the ambit of the law 

and should be exemplary in the 

conduct. 

The President, Anti Cult 

Volunteer Corps, Delta State, 

Ambassador Uche Nwahandi 

implored his members to operate 

in line with the laid down rules 

and be good ambassadors in the 

various zones and communities 

PDP gov candidate's humility endears him to 

most Deltans —Obiazi 

personified and has the intellect and 

managerial skills needed to expand 

the frontiers of development where 

the achievements recorded by the 

Senator Okowa led administration 

would be consolidated,” he said. 

While applauding Governor 

Okowa for his great 

accomplishments, the PDP stalwart 

expressed hope that the party was 

going to coast to victory, considering 

what he (Okowa) had done in the 

25 local government areas of the 

state vis-a-vis the delivery of the 

dividends of democracy to residents 

of the state. 

“With what governor Okowa has 

done for Deltans, I am very 

optimistic that our party (PDP) will 

have an overwhelming electoral 

outing in the 2023 polls. By the 

grace of God and with the support 

of Deltans, all the PDP candidates 

would be delivered.”


C 

M 

Y 

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Saudi Arabia king declares public 

holiday after win over Argentina 

Saudi Arabia’s 

King Salman 

has announced 

that there will be a public 

holiday in the country 

today after the Saudi 

team defeated Argentina 

2-1 at the 2022 FIFA 

World Cup in Qatar. 

According to 

Arabnews, King Salman 

approved a suggestion 

made by Crown Prince 

Mohammed bin 

Salman to celebrate the 

national team’s victory 

Modric leads 

Croatia assault 

against 

Morocco 

Morocco and Croatia 

get their 2022 

World Cup campaigns 

underway when they meet 

in a Group F fixture today. 

The clash at the Al Bayt 

Stadium starts the daily 

schedule with group rivals 

Belgium and Canada 

squaring off nine hours 

later. 

N o u s s a i r 

Mazraoui should deputise 

at left-back, with Achraf 

Hakimi a certainty on the 

opposite flank, and the star 

names in the team will keep 

their places elsewhere. 

Romain Saiss will skipper 

the team and play 

alongside Nayef 

Aguerd in the middle of 

defence, while Youssef En- 

Nesyri will be supported 

by Hakim Ziyech in the 

final third 

In the case of Croatia 

they are playing their first 

World Cup fixture since losing 

in the final four years 

ago, going down by a 4-2 

scoreline to France. 

•Modric 

•Ziyech 

with a holiday. 

All public and private 

sector employees and 

students at all educational 

stages will be 

given a holiday. 

The Saudis celebrated 

beating the South Americans 

in the opening game 

of Group C as they 

stopped Lionel Messi 

and his teammates, ending 

a 36-game unbeaten 

run for the Argentines. 

Saudi Arabia will face 

Poland on Saturday. 

Argentina on collision course 

to face France in last-16 after 

losing to Saudi Arabia 

Argentina are on a 

collision course to 

face reigning world champions 

France in the last- 

16 of the World Cup. 

It comes after Copa 

America champions suffered 

a shocking defeat at 

the hands of Saudi Arabia 

in their opening group 

game of the tournament 

yesterday. 

The huge upset leaves 

Argentina needing victories 

against Mexico and 

Poland if they are to have 

•Muller 

Germany go for 

Japan's jugular 

the best chance of qualifying 

for the knockouts. 

Finishing as Group C's 

runners-up would likely 

see them face Kylian 

Mbappe and Co in the next 

round, should Didier 

Deschamps' men win their 

own group. 

Should the two tournament 

favourites meet in the 

last-16, it would see them 

lock horns in a repeat of 

their clash at the same 

stage from the 2018 World 

Cup in Russia, which saw 

•Minamino 

pions are unbeaten 

in both 

of their previous 

meetings, 

winning a 2004 

friendly 3-0 before 

a 2-2 draw 

in another exhi- 

Seeking to consign 

dismal memories of 

Russia 2018 to 

history, Germany kick 

off their World Cup 

2022 Group E campaign 

against Japan at the 

Khalifa International Stadium 

today. 

Die Mannschaft were 

eliminated from the group 

stage four years ago, 

while their Asian counterparts 

were on the verge of 

stunning Belgium in the 

last 16 before being eliminated 

Germany held the honour 

of being the first team 

to qualify for the World 

Cup finals - with the exception 

of host nation in Qatar - 

and a 1-0 loss to Mexico in 

2018 marked the first time 

since 1986 that they had 

failed to secure all three 

points on the opening 

matchday. 

Germany and Japan have 

never locked horns in a competitive 

match before, but it 

will not come as much of a 

surprise to learn that the 

four-time World Cup cham- 

bition game 

two years later. Germany 

are expected to be working 

with a fully-fit squad for 

the opening matchday 

barring knee victim Leroy 

Sane, with striker Niclas 

Fullkrug back from illness 

and the duo 

o f T h o m a s 

Muller and Antonio 

Rudiger also returning to 

full training over the weekend. 

•Mbappe 

Mbappe net twice in a 

thrilling 4-3 win for Les 

Bleus on their way to 

winning their second 

world title. 

Nunez forced to leave 

Uruguay training as he 

hands nation injury scare 

DARWIN NUNEZ 

briefly gave Uruguay 

a World Cup scare by 

leaving training. 

The Liverpool forward 

competes with Luis Suarez 

and Edison Cavani for a 

place in Diego 

Alonso's side. 

But according 

to Uruguay 

newspaper 

El 

•Nunez 

Pais, Nunez suffered an 

ankle knock and had to be 

withdrawn from training. 

Although the striker is 

believed to have returned 

to his team-mates after receiving 

medical treatment. 

He now remains in line 

to play against South Korea 

in Uruguay's opening 

game on Thursday. 

And Nunez wants to 

lead his nation to 

success on the field 

after watching the 

last World Cup 

from his sofa. 

He said: “We 

come here and 

we know that 

we’re not favourites, 

but 

we're going to fight. 

The two-time World Cup 

winners made it to the 

quarter-final stages in Russia 

in 2018, beating Portugal 

on the way. 

Spain set to inflict pain 

on Costa Rica 

Spain will be bidding to 

get their World Cup 

campaign off to the best possible 

start when they take on 

Costa Rica in their Group E 

opener today. 

Luis Enrique's side will enter 

this game off the back of a 

3-1 victory over Jordan on 

Thursday, which proved to be 

their first match since ending 

their UEFA Nations League 

campaign with a 1-0 win over 

Portugal at the end of September. 

Costa Rica first competed in 

the finals of the World Cup 

back in 1990, reaching the 

•Fati 

Kane, Maguire feature in 

England's recovery session 

ahead of USA clash 

England cruised past 

Iran in their opening 

game of the Qatar World 

Cup, but there were worried 

faces throughout as 

Harry Maguire was forced 

off, and particularly when 

Harry Kane went down 

clutching his ankle. 

Both Kane and Maguire 

were involved in a recovery 

session yesterday, 

however, in what is a massive 

boost ahead of England's 

clash against USA 

on Friday. 

Kane, who provided 

two assists in England's 6- 

2 win over Iran, was seen 

holding his ankle after a 

hefty challenge, while 

Maguire was forced to 

come off in the second half. 

Those who were not 

named in the starting 

lineup against Iran took 

part in a more intense 

training session, meanwhile, 

and in more worrying 

news James 

Maddison was not involved. 

round of 16, before being 

eliminated in the group stage 

of the tournament in both 2002 

and 2006. 

Head coach Luis Fernando 

Suarez will be managing in 

his third World Cup, having 

also led Ecuador and Honduras 

into the competition, and 

the 62-year-old was handed 

a new contract off the back of 

the 1-0 win over New Zealand 

in the intercontinental 

playoffs in June. 

It is set to be an all-Barcelona 

midfield, 

with Gavi and Pedri playing 

alongside Sergio Busquets, 

while Pau Torres is expected 

to get the nod 

alongside Aymeric 

Laporte in the middle of the 

defence. 

•Navas 

Argentina vs 

Saudi Arabia: 

Punter lands 

massive win 

predicting 

correct score 

IT was a result that 

shocked the football 

world and NOBODY saw 

coming. 

Well, actually one 

William Hill punter absolutely 

did see Saudi Arabia 

shocking Argentina in 

the World Cup yesterday. 

And not just the outcome, 

too. This plucky 

punter predicted a 2-1 win 

for the Saudis at massive 

odds. 

Lionel Messi put the 1/ 

12 shots ahead early on 

with a goal from the penalty 

spot and many feared 

the worse for Saudi Arabia. 

But a remarkable turnaround 

shortly after half 

time saw the outsiders 

grab the most unlikely of 

leads.

C 

M 

Y 

K 


Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: 

Saudis produce one of World 

Cup’s biggest ever shocks 

•Beat Messi’s star-studded side who had an unbeaten run of 36 matches 

The little man they 

had all come to see 

took just 10 minutes 

to give them what they 

wanted. A little stuttering 

run-up, a nudge of his left 

foot and the first page of a 

potential Christmas 

fairytale had been written. 

Or so we thought. That’s 

the thing about fairytales. 

They are so called because 

they rarely come true and 

two hours after Lionel 

Messi had converted a 

penalty, he was stood near 

the halfway line, hands on 

his hips, barely able to 

comprehend what had 

happened. 

And what had happened 

was a result that will be 

recalled and referenced in 

decades to come, how Saudi 

Arabia and their 

journeymen took down the 

squad that many believe are 

destined to contest the final 

in this very arena – the 

magnificent Lusail 

Stadium – on December 18. 

For context, Argentina 1 

Saudi Arabia 2 will now get 

mentioned alongside 

United States 1 England 0 

(1950), Spain 0 Northern 

Ireland 1 (1982) and 

France 0 Senegal 1 (2002) 

for scorelines that left you 

open-mouthed in disbelief. 

What a magnificent 

spectacle this was, played 

out to a soundtrack of earsplitting 

noise and Arabian 

fervour. 

TODAY’S PUZZLE 

The atmosphere, 

especially in the chaotic 

second period, was 

gloriously partisan and the 

sense of occasion – and 

history – was not lost on 

anyone. 

Argentina had arrived 

here as heavy odds-on 

favourites to extend an 

unbeaten run of 36 matches, 

a sequence that began in 

November 2019 and had 

seen them win in a Copa 

America and inaugural 

Finalissima in the 

intervening years, and all 

seemed as if it would go to 

plan. 

It looked easy for them in 

those opening 10 minutes, 

Sudoku 

with Messi having his first 

shot after less than 100 

seconds (he should have 

scored) and converting 

from the penalty spot when 

VAR deemed that Leandro 

Paredes had been wrestled 

to the floor. A penny for 

Harry Maguire’s thoughts 

on that one. 

Saudi Arabia had no 

inclination to attack and 

didn’t threaten to have a 

shot on target during the 

first half; the sole intention 

of head coach Herve 

Renard was to try and 

frustrate Argentina by 

playing a high-risk, high 

line defence to catch their 

vaunted opponents offside. 

Tunisia hold Denmark to first goalless 

draw of World Cup 

Denmark were held to 

a draw by Tunisia in 

their World Cup opener in 

a raucous atmosphere at 

the Education City 

Stadium in Al Rayyan. 

Despite fielding many 

Premier League regulars, 

the much-fancied Danes 

were given a tough 

workout in Group D. 

Both sides had goals 

ruled out for offside, while 

Denmark’s Andreas 

Cornelius somehow 

missed from a yard. 

There was 95th-minute 

drama when referee Cesar 

Ramos checked the 

pitchside monitor over a 

potential Denmark 

penalty for handball, only 

to stick with his original 

decision. 

YESTERDAY’S ANSWER 

With the help of VAR and 

some fractionally mistimed 

runs, it worked as Messi and 

Lautaro Martinez (twice) 

had goals disallowed by the 

most slender of margins. 

The way the game flowed, it 

seemed inevitable that 

Argentina would spring the 

trap once and get the buffer 

they needed. 

What followed in the 

second half was quite 

extraordinary. The Saudi 

fans created a tempest, 

roaring on their team and 

interspersing it all with 

chants of ‘Ole, Ole, Ole, 

Ole!’ – it all proved to be 

quite inspirational. 

Argentina had 3 goals ruled out 

in first-half of Saudi Arabia clash 

ARGENTINA should 

have been out of sight 

by half-time in their opening 

World Cup game against 

Saudia Arabia. 

But Lionel Messi and Co 

went into the break just 1-0 up 

after having THREE goals 

disallowed for offside. 

Messi himself opened the 

scoring from the penalty spot 

with 10 minutes on the clock. 

Although finding the back 

of the net from open play 

proved to be too much for 

Belgium to cover 

‘love’ tag on shirts 

Belgium have decided 

to cover the word 

‘love’ on the inside of their 

away shirts after FIFA 

demanded it be removed. 

The Belgian FA (RBFA) 

Argentina as they were 

haunted by the offside flag. 

Messi, playing in his last 

World Cup, thought he had a 

second when coolly slotting 

home past Saudi keeper 

Mohammed Alowais. 

But he was denied a second 

of the tournament by the offside 

flag. 

The flag then didn’t go up 

when Lautaro Martinez scored 

with a cheeky chip... but VAR 

did then rule it out by a matter 

of inches. 

took the decision and has 

communicated the plans 

to world football’s 

governing body. 

Roberto Martinez’s side 

will play in their red home 

shirt — which doesn’t 

feature the tag — for their 

three group stage 

matches. They plan to 

cover the word ‘love’ with 

a sticker in the event of 

having to use their away 

jersey. 

The away shirt was part 

of a Belgium collaboration 

with dance music festival 

Tomorrowland 

announced in June and 

featured ‘love’ on the 

inside collar of the shirt. 

QUICK CROSSWORD 

TODAY’S CROSSWORD 

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION 

How to Play Sudoku 

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

of the same number). 

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

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

(nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means 

that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row. 

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

multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination. 

ACROSS 

1 Link (10) 

7 Exonerate (7) 

8 Unwanted e-mail (4) 

10 Cain's brother (4) 

11 Member of the family (8) 

13 Cake-burning king (6) 

15 Large wasp (6) 

17 Mixed (8) 

18 Pal (4) 

21 River of Egypt (4) 

22 Copy (7) 

23 Comprehend (10) 

DOWN 

1 Hereditary class in India (5) 

2 Invalid, not binding (4) 

3 Made level (6) 

4 One who makes a will (8) 

5 Formal speech (7) 

6 Boat with two hulls (9) 

9 Autumn month (9) 

12 Bring back (8) 

14 Mode (7) 

16 Dangers (6) 

19 Listened to (5) 

20 Capital of Peru (4)

Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 

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

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

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

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

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