A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
ABUJA- The Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution (AEDC) Plc has flagged off its Business Process Reengineering (BPR) project.
The BPR project is a two-year project geared towards instituting a better work culture, greater productivity and improved customer service delivery.
The Managing Director/CEO of AEDC, Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, while speaking during the ceremony, charged staff of the Company to strive towards excellence in their respective duties, while also enjoining them to ensure honesty, integrity and be "customer-centric" in line with the company's values.
Mupwaya reminded the company's staff that they cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Change Management project in the Company, Mrs. Clara Musama, announced that in the first phase of the BPR project, which commenced in April last year, 136 business processes were mapped, out of which 20 are totally new processes which are now ready for implementation, adding that some of the processes were already being tested in the field through the field operations team.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has cautioned youths in the state against taking the law into their hands over recent attacks on some rural communities.
"No one should take the law into his hands over the attacks; what we should all do is to report any breach of peace to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action," Ortom said on Monday in Makurdi, during a stakeholders' meeting.
He said that he had consistently briefed President Muhammadu Buhari about the activities of herdsmen in the state, and expressed optimism that permanent peace would soon return.
Gov. Ortom of Benue State
"I have intimated the president about the wanton killings and destruction of property in the state.
"We have taken some measures and I can assure you that in no distant time, there will be light at the end of the tunnel," he told the stakeholders.
He said that security agents were on the trail of Terwase Agwaza, popularly known as "Ghana", who has been accused of killing his aide, Mr Denen Igbana.
"We hope to bring him and other criminals in Benue to justice; we shall not rest until we rid the state of all criminal elements," he said.
He promised to execute projects that would create opportunities for Benue people, and revealed that the Federal Government would soon release the Paris Club fund to the states.
"As soon as the money is released, we shall let you know and seek your input in our quest toward a better Benue," he said.
Newsmen reports that nine local governments were hit last week, by the attackers that left scores dead, and many others injured.
As part of measures to end the clashes between herdsmen and farmers, Ortom recently sent an anti-grazing executive bill to the Benue House of Assembly.
The bill seeks to prohibit open grazing which is often blamed for the clashes between farmers and herdsmen, and replace it with cattle ranches, to curtail the movement of cattle.
NIGERIAN independent, Oranto Petroleum, said it is investing $500 million to develop South Sudan's Block B3, launching a comprehensive exploration campaign starting immediately.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Oranto Petroleum Company, South Sudan signed the exploration and production sharing agreement, EPSA, for the block last week in capital city of Juba.
The B3 area covers 25,150 square kilometres. Some aeromagnetic and seismic data have been acquired for the area but no wells have been drilled.
South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, said: "We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast. To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto."
Arthur Eze, Founder and Chairman of Oranto Petroleum, said: "Our company is at the vanguard of African firms exploring and developing African assets. This is the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Nilepet, the people of South Sudan and our partners to bring to light the immense potential of Block B3. Oranto is committed to an aggressive exploration work program that will benefit all stakeholders."
THE 2017 edition of the Sub-Sahara Africa Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Lagos from April 5 to 7 will focus on new opportunities in the region's oil and gas sector.
The event, which will equally offer an opportunity to bring to focus how companies can develop processes and systems that could enhance their operations and productivity, provides the avenue for industry players to rethink and re-strategize on how to remain profitable given the increasing unpredictability of the operating environment.
Speaking at an interactive session with the media in Lagos, Dapo Ayoola, CEO of Zenith Professional Training, organisers of the summit said the main objective of the conference is to highlight the new opportunities in the sector.remain profitable given the increasing unpredictability of the operating environment.
By Evelyn Usman Rescue workers, comprising policemen attached to the Marine department of the Force, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and local divers, Monday, combed the lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge, in search of a medical Doctor , Allwell Orji, who plunged into it, Sunday. But the search ended in futility .
The rescue exercise which began Sunday and continued Monday was conducted down to the Oworshoki end without any recovery of his body.
Recall that the medical doctor attached to Mount Sinai Hospital, Papa Ajao, Mushin, reportedly ordered his driver to park his car, a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number LND476EE at the Third Mainland Bridge before jumping into the lagoon.
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said soon, he would set up a committee to work out modalities for the party's national convention.
Sheriff made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on the recommendations of the party's Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was already consulting with members and leaders of the party as part of process for constituting the convention committee.
Alimodu-Sheriff
The chairman said that he was also talking with lawmakers at the National Assembly and State Assemblies on the platform of the party as part of political solution recommended by the Dickson committee.
He added that he had commenced consultation with the Board of Trustees (BoT) through its Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin, who, he said, had promised to get back to him for a formal meeting with BoT members.
He said that by next week they would meet with the party's national ex-officio members from the 36 states.
"Everywhere in our party, we are working across the board; everybody is working for the party to come back to its position in 1999.
"We are for peace and that does not mean that we are afraid of anybody; we will not be relenting.
"We need our party back in power and we will carry everybody that means well for PDP along.
"I assure you that PDP will not be destroyed; PDP is a creation of God and cannot be destroyed by anybody.
"We are on course and we will go as planned. For everybody that believes that it is not political solution, they are on their own," he said.
Sheriff reiterated his determination not to contest the national chairmanship at the national convention, adding that his NWC members had the right to contest for any position of their choice.
On his presidential ambition for 2019, he said that it was a decision left for God.
"Every position I occupied in life, God made it possible. I am a firm believer in the will of God. I told you I will not run for the chairmanship position, the rest we leave to God."
He, however, said that the party's chairmanship position would definitely be for the Southern part of the country.
By Monsuru Olowoopejo Activities at the Lagos State University (LASU) was Monday halted after students stormed the school protesting alleged killing of their colleague, a 500-level law student, Cyril Onyekachi.
This came barely three days to the grand finale of the 21st Convocation Ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold on Thursday.
It was gathered that the protest further degenerated after the school internal security operatives held the student leadership in effort to halt the protest.
Vanguard however gathered that the deceased was allegedly stabbed to death by a commercial driver along LASU-Isheri road on Sunday.
OBIJACKSON Group, parent company of Nestoil Limited, said it had adopted far-reaching measures to substantially cut its costs, especially as it plans to venture into the deep offshore segment of the petroleum industry.
In an interview in Abuja, Mr. Chris Ijeli, Group Head, Business Development, Nestoil Limited, said the Obijackson Group is planning an optimization of its processes, both in construction, fabrication, so that it can cut down its cost and be competitive, not only in Nigeria, but also in the sub-region.
He said, "In Nestoil, we are also planning to go more into deep offshore and also build into platform facilities and offshore facilities. The bottom line to this is optimization of our processes. If we optimise our processes, we will become very competitive.
All the operators are talking about low cost, high quality, but once we optimize, which is what we are doing now, we would become very competitive, we would have businesses. Even if oil price is $20, we are there; our services would be there for people.
"We are deploying more equipment, we are training people to be more efficient and by that we are optimizing all our processes."
Ijeli stated that the company had already begun increasing its capacity by its optimization, explaining that it is only through this process that nit can improve its efficiencies and compete.
Also speaking, Mr. Simeon Tor-Agbidye, Assistant General Manager, Group Business Development, Nestoil Limited, said the Group has fields that have huge capacity, which had not been fully utilized.
"To get utilization, we need to have these optimal processes that were described to be able to keep up, to keep growing our production; to keep that production coming. That is the only way we make money, we keep our staff, we keep people off the streets and the government make money as well," he said.
On its plans for the future, Tor-Agbidye said the company is positioning to tap into the forthcoming opportunities presented by the Zabazaba field, promoted by ENI.
EKO Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) has offered to pay 20 per cent of the money recovered from electricity thefts to anyone who reports such.
Mr Oladele Amoda, the Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, announced this at a stakeholders' forum with Festac Town residents in Lagos.
Amoda said the measure became necessary against the backdrop of over N1 billion lost to the various forms of electricity theft and vandalism in the zone.
Vandalised equipment
The CEO, who was represented by Mr Sam Nwaire, the Chief Operating Officer, said it cost the company about N1billion in the last three years to replace vandalised equipment and damaged meters by customers in a bid to bypass the meters.
According to him, a task force has been set up to inspect houses of consumers and impose a penalty of N1 million on anyone caught in electricity theft.
Amoda said the company would henceforth commence effective prosecution of energy theft suspects and also publish their names in national dailies.
"We appeal to our customers to avoid engaging in bye-passing meters because its criminal and punishable under Electricity Regulation Code of Conduct Act.
" l will advise customers to exercise patience with EKEDC as we promise to address all the issues as regards estimated billing and other challenges," he said.
On pre-paid meters, the CEO said the company has started installation of over 4,000 pre-paid meters to residents of FESTAC and its environs, adding that the first batch of 1,000 meters had been installed. He said that the company would ensure that 4,000 pre-paid meters are installed before the end of the year, while appealing to residents to ensure prompt payment of their bills.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Monday, maintained that Nigerians deserve a fearless and independent judiciary that is completely insulated from external manipulation.Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
The CJN, in a keynote address he presented at the opening ceremony of the 2017 refresher course for Judges and Kadis, held at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, described independence of the judiciary as one of the foundations of democratic values.
He said it was imperative for Judges across the federation to dispense Justice without fear or favour.
"It is therefore our collective responsibility to remain committed in promoting the independence of the judiciary for impartial administration of justice".
The address was read by the second highest ranking Justice at the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed who represented the CJN at the event.
He urged participant at the refresher course to remain steadfast in tackling the challenges of inefficiencies in operation of courts, saying Judges must shun all forms of corruption capable of exposing the judiciary to public opprobrium.
“We must all put our hands on deck to maintain and observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and respect for the third arm of Government is sustained”, he added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Administrator of the Institute, Justice Roselin Bozinmo, said the theme of the refresher course was modernising Judicial Practice and Procedure.
She said the theme was directed towards ensuring that Judges adopt new trends and judicial best practices and procedures in adjudication of cases at our various courts, thereby assisting them to enhance the performance of their constitutional responsibilities.
“For the Nigerian Judiciary to remain the hope everyman, we must be dynamic by keeping in-tune with modern techniques in the administration of law and justice.
“A judicial officer well versed in modern practice and procedure is of great benefit to the judiciary and the larger society. Thus there is a need for our judicial officers to be abreast with current topical issues in the fields of ICT”, Justice Bozimo added.
She further urged Judges to explore the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, mechanism as a modern trend in administration of justice particularly in civil matters, including commercial cases, land and family case, among others, saying it would go a long way in curtailing delays in our courts.
IN line with its annual tradition of rewarding excellence, Total Nigeria Plc has recognized outstanding dealers and staff who have contributed to the growth and increased sales the company recorded in 2016.
The awards ceremony tagged 'AAA-Awards' with the aim to motivate staff and dealers was held in three cities across the country, covering all its sales territories as follows: Lagos for the Western Sales Territory, Port Harcourt for the Eastern Sales Territory and Abuja for the Northern Sales Territory.
Speaking during the awards presentation, Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Jean Philippe Torres said that AAA Awards takes place yearly with the aim of recognizing, and rewarding dealers and staff who have done well in the sales and marketing of Total's products in addition to encouraging others to put in more effort in meeting and surpassing their targets.
He implored all the winners and award recipients to remain good ambassador of the company and brand. The General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Adewole Adesua noted that it's essential to appreciate partners in the business for managing Total service stations diligently and for exhibiting high commitment in order for the company to achieve its 2016 sales targets in different categories.
"Prof. Oladipupo Wale (IFE MEGA) won the best dealers nationwide, Joyce Ugen (ISM WEST) won best ISM nationwide, Cosmos Enyioko (SPEL North) won best specialities engineer nationwide and Afolabi Johnson (Isolo) won best VMS Manager nationwide."
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – THE Senate said Monday that it had already taken a position on the embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC! Ibrahim Magu by rejecting his nomination as the substantive chairman of the anti- graft agency. Magu Speaking with Vanguard Monday, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan who noted that the Senate had last week at the chambers taken a decision, said that as an institution, it was only waiting for the response of the executive to the action taken by the upper Chambers.
The Senate leader said, ” the Senate had already taken a decision, we will only wait for the response of the executive.”
It would be recalled that the Senate had on Wednesday for the second time, rejected the nomination of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the anti- graft agency.
The refusal by the Senate to confirm Magu came three months after the Senators had rejected him where damming Security reports by the Department of State Services, DSS were given as the major reason which was a replay of some months ago.
According to the report, Magu was accused of corruption as well as lack the integrity needed to carry out such responsibility as number one crime fighter in the country.
President Mohammadu Buhari has received a written report of the Senate on the rejection of the nomination of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Also the Senate through Senate President Bukola Saraki, last week forward the communication of its resolution at plenary to the presidency.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari, Senator Ita Enang has confirmed the receipt, but declined to reveal the content as he was not privy to it.
Enang had told Vanguard saying Yes, there has been a communication between the President of the Senate and the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari.
"But the content thereof is privileged between them. I don't know," he said simply.
Recalled that the Senate on Wednesday turned down the nomination of Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded Magu’s name to the Senate June, 2016 for confirmation.
He was appointed in acting capacity by President Buhari on the 9th of November, 2015, following the sack of his predecessor, Ibrahim Lamorde.
It would also be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, acting as the President of the Country, while President Muhammadu Buhari was away in London on a 10-day medical vacation to seek medication for his ear infection in June 6, 2016, forwarded a letter to the Senate, requesting for the screening and subsequent confirmation of Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP as the substantive Chairman of the anti- graft agency.
Also in the letter, President Buhari sought the Senate's approval to confirm Nasule Moses; Lawan Maman; Garandaji Imam Naji- and Adeleke Abebayo Rafiu as members of the board of the EFCC.
Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter to his colleagues at the Senate Chambers during plenary session.
The letter which was signed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President, had read thus, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act of 2004 established the commission and makes it responsible among other things for the coordination and enforcement of all Economic and Financial Crime Laws and Enforcement functions conferred on any person or authority.
“Section 2 (1) of the Act also provides that the Commission shall consists of a Chairman who shall: Be the chief executive and accounting officer of the commission; Be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police or equivalent and Possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.
“Apart from other ex-officio members of the commission provided for in section 2. The Act also provides for four eminent Nigerians with any cognate experience of the following that is finance, banking, law and accounting. Section 2 (3) further provides that chairman and members of his commission other than ex-officio members shall be appointed by the president and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation of the senate.”
THE divestments of international oil companies, IOCs from Nigerian assets appear to be beneficial to indigenous operators as three independents Aiteo, Eroton and Newcross, collectively produced about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) at peak, close to the end of 2016.
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production, the operator of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, reported gross production of 92,000bpd in October 2016, figures in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC's December 2016 report showed.
production shut-in
Eroton Exploration and Production, in OML 18, was said to have averaged 63,764bpd gross output in the same month.
There were no figures published for Newcross Petroleum Limited in October 2016 and November 2016, (the last months for which figures are officially available), but the company, operator of OML 24, delivered 30,213bpd in September 2016. These figures come to about 186,000bpd, roughly 10 percent of the country's average 2016 production and are less than half of what the 22 Nigerian owned producers of crude oil and gas are capable of delivering.
Also, five similar Nigerian independents, such as Seplat, Shoreline Natural Resources, NDWestern, Elcrest and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, who have had up to 80 percent of their production shut-in for more than 12 months by the damage to the Trans-Forcados pipeline, were collectively producing over 160,000bpd before the bombing.
Seplat and Neconde alone were averaging 115,000pbd prior to the February 14, 2016 outage. Analysts however say that Nigerian owned oil producing companies have not historically been consistent in maintaining, let alone increasing production.
Conoil, which produced around 45,000bpd in 2005, and now delivers less than 10,000bpd, with four acreages, is proof of this assertion. "Poor governance is part of the challenge", says Sam Ojehonmo, an African focused energy consultant based in Cairo, "but these new breed of operators have a different challenge; they took huge loans to buy the assets; the earlier generation had the assets largely handed over to them gratis, and they were cash flush when they had to bid for another round of acquisitions."
Aiteo, Eroton and Newcross took over their assets from the consortium of Shell, Total and Eni between 2014 and 2015, paying a total of $4.1billion for the consortium's 45 percent share, with NNPC holding the remaining 55 percent.
"We are a strategically important borrower to the Nigerian banking industry", Chike Onyejekwe, Group Managing Director of Aiteo, said at the just concluded Nigerian Oil and Gas, NOG, summit held in Abuja.
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said soon, he would set up a committee to work out modalities for the party's national convention.
Sheriff made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on the recommendations of the party's Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
Modu Sheriff
He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was already consulting with members and leaders of the party as part of process for constituting the convention committee.
The chairman said that he was also talking with lawmakers at the National Assembly and State Assemblies on the platform of the party as part of political solution recommended by the Dickson committee.
He added that he had commenced consultation with the Board of Trustees (BoT) through its Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin, who, he said, had promised to get back to him for a formal meeting with BoT members.
He said that by next week they would meet with the party's national ex-officio members from the 36 states.
"Everywhere in our party, we are working across the board; everybody is working for the party to come back to its position in 1999.
"We are for peace and that does not mean that we are afraid of anybody; we will not be relenting.
"We need our party back in power and we will carry everybody that means well for PDP along.
"I assure you that PDP will not be destroyed; PDP is a creation of God and cannot be destroyed by anybody.
"We are on course and we will go as planned. For everybody that believes that it is not political solution, they are on their own," he said.
Sheriff reiterated his determination not to contest the national chairmanship at the national convention, adding that his NWC members had the right to contest for any position of their choice.
On his presidential ambition for 2019, he said that it was a decision left for God.
"Every position I occupied in life, God made it possible. I am a firm believer in the will of God. I told you I will not run for the chairmanship position, the rest we leave to God."
He, however, said that the party's chairmanship position would definitely be for the Southern part of the country.
Luck ran out of a man believed to be in his 30s on Monday as he attempted to withdraw N110, 000 (One Hundred and ten thousand naira) from another customer’s account after stealing his transfer slip, then forging the victim’s signature on a bank withdrawals slip right there in the bank before proceeding to carry out the fraud.
However, he was arrested by the Bank’s security personnel who handed him over to the Police when his face could not match that of his victim’s.
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim at the police station
The suspect who gave his name as Lukeman Ibrahim said he is from Bauchi state and a graduate of Pure Mathematics from the University of Maiduguri.
The victim, Mr. Theophilus Agada who spoke with Vanguard said he had gone to GT bank, Garki branch, Abuja to deposit some money when the fraud was attempted on his account.
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim
He said, unknown to him, the suspect who was wearing a ring believed to be fetish perhaps trailed him to the bank, stole his deposit slip after he had deposited the money and gone and then attempted to withdraw the said sum before he was caught. He said it was the bank who called his attention to the attempted fraud.
According to him, ” I was already out of the bank premises when they called me and said someone wanted to make a withdrawal of N110, 000 from my account. They said they had to call me because the suspect’s face did not match mine.”
Continuing, Mr. Agada said, “on getting to my bank, i saw that the suspect forged exactly my signature and my full name. Everything was perfect except his face which gave him away.”
Mr. Agada said he wants everybody going to transact in the banks to always be wary of the person next to them as such a person could be a fraudster.
“This is the second time the suspect is trying to defraud people at the bank. Last week, he attempted defrauding another person at the Area 3 branch of GT Bank but was arrested and later bailed only for him to repeat the same crime at Area 11 today. I want everybody to learn from this and know that while at the bank, they should be very alert as someone standing next could be a thief claiming to equally be a bank customer.”
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim at the police station
The suspect was taken to Garki police station where he was remanded. He said at the police station that the suspect who is visibly under the influence of some drugs pleaded that he went into the fraud business because he was hungry.
The ring believed to be fetish was however taken from him by the police personnel.
Mr. Agada also revealed that both the state and the bank are pressing charges on the suspect as he would be charged to court.
Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie's novel "Americanah" has won the "One Book, One New York" campaign by the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and BuzzFeed.
The office said on Monday that New Yorkers cast their ballots for the book throughout February and said they wanted millions of residents to read it simultaneously.
It stated that the voting which took place in February, were both online and at interactive digital kiosks on subway platforms.
The office added that "finally, Americanah was the book most New Yorkers wanted to read, as 50,000 voters who participated in the #OneBookNY campaign voted for it."
chimamanda Adichie
It explained that New Yorkers were encouraged to form their own book clubs and discussions around the book, which detailed the story of a Nigerian couple that left military-ruled Nigeria.
The office said Americanah centred around two young Nigerian lovers who departed for different cities in the Western world and later reunited in a democratic Nigeria.
Ifemelu, the protagonist, headed for America, where her life as an immigrant changed her perspective on race and identity.
Before being reunited in their homeland, the female protagonist, Ifemelu, was forced to confront new issues of race and class in the United States, and her lover, Obinze, blocked from joining her due to post-9/11 travel restrictions, struggled for dignity as an undocumented immigrant in London.
Published in 2013, Ngozi-Adichie's novel won a National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was named one of The New York Times "Ten Best Books of the Year."
The office said New Yorkers could access the full audio-book version for 90 days through a city partnership with the digital reading subscription company, Scribd.
It noted that they could also borrow one of the thousands of additional copies donated by publishers and other organisations to New York City's public library systems.
It stated that "in partnership with the digital library and subscription service, Scribd, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment will provide free 90-day access to full 'Americanah' audiobook through June."
It announced that the office would host events like film screenings and panel discussions to drum up excitement about the book and get New Yorkers talking about it in the upcoming months.
Other books voted on included "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates,
"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz, "The Sellout" by Paul Beatty and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith.
A group, "Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation'', has operated on six cleft patients and one normal patient at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Dr Seidu Bello, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Bello said that the operation, which should have cost each patient between N400,000 and N500,000, was done free of charge for the six children and one Noma patient.
The bill was settled by Maizube Group of Company.
"This operation is a mop up of the 51 patients, who were operated on two months ago.
"Two months ago, we could not operate on these six because they had chest infection.
"We had to refer them to a paediatrician, who treated them before we could embark on the operation.
"This other lady among them; this is the second operation she is having in two months.
"In the past, she had no nose at all, the disease ate up her nose. The only thing there was a hollow but we have been able to work on that," he said.
He said that cough was dangerous for cleft lip operation and must be treated first before such operation could be embarked upon.
The surgeon, who expressed satisfaction after the successful operation, said that no fewer than 21 of the 51 people operated upon in January, reported back to the hospital for a follow-up.
Bello said that the operation was 100 per cent successful, as there was no relapse from the patients operated.
He said the condition was in four categories; cleft lip is either unilateral or bilateral, tumour, lock jaw and Noma.
"Noma is more critical because this condition eats up the nose and the lip. It is a rapidly-progressive, polymicrobial, often gangrenous infection of the mouth or genitals,'' he said.
Bello advised parents and the general public, who have children or wards living with maxillofacial condition, not to feel stigmatised but to go for surgery in a hospital.
"The people who have this condition should not seek solution from a native doctor but seek solution from orthodox.
"Health problems are solved in the hospital; people are better informed in the hospital.
"The idea of consulting an oracle to solve a medical problem is absurd, and should not be. It is in the hospital that medical problems are solved.
"People get informed advice from the hospital. People should not always base their problem on spiritual and seek the service of witch-doctor that will complicate issues for them,'' the medical expert said.
Malam Suleiman Ciroma, a parent of one of the patients, expressed gratitude to the Foundation for the free surgery.
Mr John Tanko, a parent, was grateful to God for using the Foundation to assuage his pain.
Newsmen report that six children had a successful cleft lip surgery, while one Noma patient had her nose reconstructed, as the ailment had eaten up her nose region.
Leaders and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South said they remained committed to the resolutions of the party's May 21, 2016 National Convention in Port Harcourt.
PDP
National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, made this known in an interview with the Newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
Ogidi said that all party members in the zone were under the authority of the National Caretaker Committee headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, which was constituted at the convention.
He assured that the loyalty of members in the area to the committee would be sustained until the verdict of the Supreme Court on the appeal before it on the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.
The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had on Feb. 17, 2017, ruled that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remained the authentic chairman of the PDP.
The court also directed that status quo before the national convention in Port Harcourt, which sacked the leadership of the PDP and constituted the caretaker committee, should remain.
But, a minority judgment by a one of the judges, out of the three justices of the Appeal Court that heard the case, recognised the resolutions and actions taken at the Port Harcourt convention.
The judge held that as somebody appointed to administer the party for about three months and organise a national convention, Sheriff had by the resolution of the convention, seized to be chairman of the party.
Ogidi expressed optimism that the final verdict of the court on the issue would vindicate the position of majority of the party's members, and would uphold the minority judgment at the Appeal Court.
According to him, the minority judgment captured the crux of the matter and it is the way to go to restore sanctity in the PDP.
He said he was yet to understand the current disposition of Bayelsa governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, who is the Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee raised by the PDP Governors' Forum.
He, however, urged the members to be patient and wait for the outcome of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
On the merger talks between PDP and some political parties, Ogidi said that it was real but that the merging parties would adopt PDP as their new party.
According to him, PDP is the brand and cannot be changed. Yes, other parties will merge with us but the name PDP will be retained after the fusion.
The Edo Government has given full scholarship to three children of Late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki announced this when children of the deceased, a former governor of old Bendel state, paid him a thank-you visit at the Government House in Benin on Monday.
Obaseki said the gesture was a way to care for what the elder statesman left behind.
The beneficiaries are Nosa, Donald and Imade Ogbemudia.
Samuel Ogbemudia
Describing the late elder statesman as an astute administrator whose monumental achievements are unsurpassable, Obaseki said the government would take over the responsibilities he left behind.
He said that organising a state burial for the retired Brigadier General was the least that could have been done for him given the scope of developmental projects he executed during the old Bendel state.
The governor said that the state government was also considering immortalising Ogbemudia's name with a national monument.
"We know he has some monuments in the state named after him; we also want to get approval from the Presidency to immortalise him by getting a federal asset named after him,'' he said.
While recounting late Ogbemudia's impact in all sectors of life in old Midwest and defunct Bendel state, Obaseki said that the deceased played a fatherly role in his life and supported him during his electioneering period.
The governor therefore admonished the children to live in unity and keep the legacies of their father.
Earlier, first son of the deceased, Mr Samuel Ogbemudia Jnr., read a letter of appreciation on behalf of the family to Obaseki and the state for their support in giving their father a befitting burial.
Similarly, the first daughter, Mrs Dele George, and a close friend of the family, Mr Gentleman Amegor, commended the governor and secretary to government for working tirelessly to follow the seven days burial wishes of late Ogbemudia.
Highlight of the visit was a presentation of an appreciation gift to the governor by the bereaved family.
Newsmen recall that late Ogbemudia died on March 9 at the age of 84 in a private hospital after he suffered from diabetes for some years.
The remains of the military governor of the defunct Midwest region were laid to rest after an interdenominational service held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on March 17.
The Edo Government organised a state burial for the elder statesman.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has awarded foreign scholarship to two students from Kwara, who bagged First Class in their undergraduate studies.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari, made this known in a statement on Monday in Ilorin.
Buhari said the two students were selected from 73 First Class Graduates, who were hosted to a dinner by the President of the Senate in 2016.
He said the scholarship was in addition to N500, 000 given to each of the 73 scholars by the President of the Senate, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.
He said the two beneficiaries are Abdulkadir Habebulah, a graduate of Euronautic Engineering from the Kwara State University (KWASU) and Aliyu Ajoke Muinat, a graduate of Chemistry from the University of Ilorin.
Bukola Saraki
Saraki in the statement charged the two beneficiaries to give a good account of themselves when they begin their studies in China.
The president of the senate said that the selection of two out of 73 was testimony to the quality of their education and their certificates.
He, therefore, urged them to be of best behaviours anywhere they find themselves in the world.
A beneficiary, Abdulkadir Habibulah, while responding, said the scholarship was a pleasant surprise.
He commended the President of the Senate for giving him and his colleague the privilege of studying abroad.
He also promised that they will not to disappoint the confidence reposed in them.
