Vanguard (Nigeria) articles from February 2009

Vanguard (Nigeria) archives from February 2009

South Africa to Fight Black Market World Cup Tickets.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Vanguard To prevent fraudsters from faking World Cup tickets, the South African Local Organising Committee for the FIFA 2010 World Cup has set aside R3 billion (about N48 billion) for the latest technology to prevent the problem...

Ekiti Rerun - Security Scare as Inec Prepares.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Jide Ajani There is security scare in Ekiti State ahead of the re-run of the governorship election in 64 wards in the state ordered by the Court of Appeal. Consequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)...

Corruption - There Should Be Open Punishment for Offenders.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Sam Eyoboka PASTOR Wale Adefarasin, the current National Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, was unitl recently the Lagos State chairman of the PFN. He is also senior pastor, Guiding Light Assembly,...

Southwest Politics and the Revolution Begins.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Dapo Akinrefon THE April 1999 general elections saw the Alliance for Democracy, AD, (now near comatose) having a field day in the entire South West geo-political zone.It had firm grip of all the six states in the region: Osun,...

Ekiti Guber Re-Run AC Does Not Stand a Chance - Moses Jolayemi.
February 28, 2009... AS the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital ordered a re-run into 64 wards out of the 177 wards in Ekiti State, spokesman to former governor Segun Oni, Mr Moses Jolayemi states why Oni remains the candidate to beat. ...

We Did Not Discover a Kobo in the Treasury of Edo State.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Simon Ebegbulem Barr. Abdul Oroh was a leading human rights activist before he moved on to politics and was a one term member of the House of Representatives. He was among the people who fought to recapture Edo State from the...

Talks About Foreign Technical Adviser for Rangers Are Mere Distractions - Chukwu.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Richard Animam Last week, there were talks in the media about the management of Rangers International FC engaging the services of a foreign technical adviser. Few days later, the Chief coach of the Flying Antelopes Sylvanus...

Golf Stars Take Lagos By Storm as TPC Tees Off Next Week.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Richard Animam There is excitement in the air and the feeling is so real that you can touch it. A total of 85 top class professional golfers from Nigeria, two from from Egypt, five from Ghana and some neighbouring African...

Lagos Half Marathon Dwarfs Johannesburg Marathon in Prize Money.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Patrick Omorodion Late last month, Ethiopian legend, Haile Gebrselassie was in Nairobi, Kenya for a 3-day athletics training programme with four African members of the G4S's G4teen athletes, not only as a Global Ambassador to the...

World Cup Qualifier - Okala Urges Amodu to Look for 'Hungry' Players.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Kate Obodo Former Green Eagles goalkeeper and Rangers International consultant, Emmanuel Okala has urged Super Eagles handler Coach Shaibu Amodu to be up and doing as he implored him to look for players who can deliver in the...

Asari is No Longer Relevant to Our Struggle in the Niger Delta - MEND.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Emma Amaize MOVEMENT for Emancipation of the Niger-Delta (MEND) has declared that the leader of the Niger-Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari is no longer vital in the type of skill and battle the...

Communities at Loggerheads With Oil Firm Over Rents Payment.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Emma Amaize PENULTIMATE Tuesday, February 3, the feeling of anger was palpable in Ughelli North and South Local Government Areas of Delta State and there was basically no medicine to cure it, as placard-carrying men, women and...

Ambassador Rotimi Brought Sanity, Discipline to Embassy - Ajayi.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Ishola Balogun When she was the president of All Nigerian American Congress, she was seen and heard and that earned her the name 'Mama Diaspora'. Ms Temitope Ajayi, US based, took the advantage of a call to know why the Nigerian...

I Am Not Aware Anybody is Asking Taxi Drivers to Register With N25,000.
February 28, 2009... Ogbonna Nwuke is the Commissioner of Information, Rivers state. In this interview he speaks on the transport, security and educational situation in the state. Excerpt: With commercial motorcyless off the the streets in Port Harcourt ,...

What I Have Passed Through at 80.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Uduma Kalu As the drums roll out for the 80th birthday celebration of Chief Stephen Njedeh Ebinum today at the Multi Purpose Pavilion at FESTAC, it is not only the eight decades of life is being celebrated but also the monumental...

Ibinabo Fiberesima - Why She Must Go to Jail - Court.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Ogbonna Amadi For someone who caused the death of another person by dangerous driving, discretion should be exercised judicially and not recklessly. "The nature of the offence is so grave that I do not know how he (the...

I Was Harassed Sexually - Bukola Awoyemi.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Benjamin Njoku To most movie bluffs, her name strikes a strange chord to their ears, but to many others, she is simply a promising talent to watch. Bukola Awoyemi Grace is not one of the celebrated names in Nollywood today, but...

Nollywood's Built on a Wrong Footing - Fidelis Duker.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Bridget Amaraegbu His name may strike strange chord to your ears, but Fidelis Duker remains one of the highly prized film makers this country has ever produced in recent time. Last year, his concern for the education cum...

Police Arrest 22-Year-Old Man for Defiling a 13 Year Old Girl.
February 28, 2009... For 13-year-old Iya, a maid with a prominent family in the highbrow Victoria island, Lagos, 15th of February 2009, would forever linger in her memory as that was a day she lost her virginity to a neighbour right in her guardian's sitting...

'I Saw Them Butcher My Father Before Setting Him Ablaze'.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Patience Ogbodo Saturday 21st February, 2009 will ever remain an unforgettable day for the family of Dutse who lost their brother, Ibrahim Dutse during the crisis that erupted in some parts of Bauchi metropolis. Ibrahim...

OPC Activists Beat 15-Year-Old to Death.
February 28, 2009... A 15-year-old boy, Master Paul Yemi Tetede, was last Friday allegedly beaten to death by two Oodua Peoples' Congress (OPC), men at Oto-Awori, near Ijanikin, Lagos State, during torture, to recover N16,000 he was alleged to have stolen. ...

Only a Credible Igbo Man Will Get Ohanaeze Support - Achuzia.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Chioma Gabriel Col. Joe Achuzia, former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo was in the news recently for allegedly refusing to hand over to the newly elected Ohanaeze officials but in this encounter, he debunked the allegation...

Civil War or Not, Igbo Have No Apologies for Country, Says Uwechue.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Uduma Kalu President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb. Raph Uwechue, in an interactive session with Aka Ikenga, an umbrella body of Igbo professionals, last Sunday in the Lekki, Lagos palatial home of the professionals, Mr....

GLO Premier League Fallout - My Players Disappointed Me - Eguavoen.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Richard Animam and Kate Obodo Former Super Eagles coach and Technical Adviser of Enyimba of Aba Austin Eguavoen last Sunday at the Beverly Hills Hotel Stadium in Nnewi, watched in dismay as his side fell like a pack of cards to...

Poaching - Ngerem Slams Ebewele, Says His Approach Fosters Gangsterism.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Patrick Omorodion Respected former military governor of the defunct Midwest region and old Bendel State, Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia is known to always voicing his opinion on the state of Nigeria's sports or putting it down on...

Governor Orji Debunks EFCC Money Laundering Story.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Dotun Ibiwoye Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State yesterday said contrary to the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he facilitated the N5billion state fund being diverted into the account of...

Uduaghan, Sylva Condemn Britain Over Travel Advisory.
February 28, 2009... Three Niger Delta States governors, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, Timipreye Sylva and Rotimi Amaechi of Delta, Bayelsa and River States have condemned the British Foreign office travel advisory to their nationals and investors against visiting the...

Kidnapping Threat - Okiro Propososes Bill to Register GSM Subscribers.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Kinsgley Omonobi Following increase in cases of kidnapping and hostage taking in several parts of the country for ransom particularly in the Niger Delta and South East areas, and the difficulty in tracking the hoodlums, the...

Economic Meltdown Can Bring Down Government - Arewa.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Emeka Mamah The Arewa Consultative Forum [ACF] has predicted that the impact of the current global economic recession on Nigeria is capable of leading to the collapse of the Federal Government and asked President Umaru Musa...

Death in Custody - Coroner Orders Policemen Prosecution.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Abdulwahab Abdulah AN inquest into the mysterious death in custody of a herbalist, Samson Adeleke Adekoya in police custody has indicted the investigative police officers. The Coroner court has consequently ordered the...

Mimiko Decries Partisan Role of Traditional Institutions.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Dayo Johnson GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has decried the partisan role played by some traditional rulers in the state during and after the April 14 governorship election in the state. At a meeting with the...

The Younger Generation Has More at Stake - Uwechue.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Chioma Gabriel and Uduma Kalu Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in this encounter answered questions on Igbo unity and presidency 2011. Is Ohanaeze Ndigbo prepared to support an Igbo person vying for...

Mixed Reactions Greet CAN's Vote of No Confidence.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Sam Eyoboka REACTIONS have been mixed over this week's vote of no confidence passed on the President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's administration by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, for its failure to contain the increasing...

Unity or No Unity, Ndigbo Are Ripe to Produce Country's President - Richard Ozobu.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Chioma Gabriel Richard Ozobu succeeded is the factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze. He recently came back from Jos and Bauchi over the riots that heavily affected the Igbo nation and he laments that Ndigbo are really...

Fashola Pays N5 Billion Pension Arrears, Urges Teachers to Return to Work.
February 28, 2009... Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Thursday brought succour to thousands of teaching, non teaching primary school and local government retirees as their outstanding arrears of N5 Billion was paid to them with the Governor...

Lawmakers Threaten to Impeach Governor Mimiko for Freezing 18 Councils' Account.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Dayo Johnson BARELY five days after his inuaguration,lawmakers in Ondo State yesterday threatened to impeach Governor Olusegun Mimiko for freezing the account of the 18 council areas of the state. According to them, Governor...

PDP's Bid to Reconcile Fayose, Oni's Factions Deadlocked.
February 28, 2009... Byline: Gbenga Ariyibi Ahead of Ekiti State gubernatorial re-run election, an attempted bid by the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] to reconcile the former Governor Ayo Fayose and the immediate past governor of...

FG Removes Subsidy on Petroleum Products.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Leon Usigbe FOLLOWING the recommendation of the presidential steering committee on global economic meltdown, the Federal Government yesterday approved the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry thereby...

Court Adjourns Sado, Ekhabafe Suit Untill April 21.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Simon Ebegbulem A Benin High Court has adjourned till April 21, 2009, the case filed by the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr. Edward Sado, against the appointment of Chief Samson Ekhabafe,...

Cocaine Hawking in the Senate.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Emmanuel Aziken It was former Senator Ben Obi who likened open support for the third term ambition of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to hawking cocaine in the street. Obviously the most controversial matter to have...

Before Reason Dies Finally.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Kunle Oyatomi It took Nigerians a long, very long time to wake up from the "sleep" of dictatorship in Military uniform. Now it is taking us a dangerously difficult delay in correcting the fundamental errors which the military...

Remembering How Uduaghan Started.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Onochie Anibeze After it appeared I was not achieving anything with my views I thought of resting this column 20 months ago. I mentioned my intention. What followed was a barrage of responses. Many said it amounted to failure...

NSCDC Threatens to Seal Illegal Private Guards' Firms.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Evelyn Usman The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has threatened to seal off private guards companies owned by individuals with questionable characters, particularly those dismissed from the Military, Police or...

Kogi Lures Teachers Back to Classrooms.
February 27, 2009... The Kogi State Government is set to implement the new teachers' salary structure (TSS) and effect immediate payment of promotion arrears. Dr Tom Ohikere, the Commissioner for Information, said this in Lokoja, yesterday, at a news...

Crisis - CAN Got It Wrong, By Bauchi Govt.
February 27, 2009... The Bauchi State Government, has challenged the leadership of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and that of Jama'atul Nasrul Islam (JNI), to find a lasting solution to the religious crisis in the state, even as it denied...

IIJ Hails Senate's Decision on Return of Area 11 Property.
February 27, 2009... The management of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, has praised the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), for its decision that the institute's property at Area 11 Garki, revoked by Mallam Nasir...

Cult Killings - Oshiomhole Expresses Concern.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Simon Ebegbulem GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, has expressed concern over the recent cult related killings in the state, that had led to the death of ten persons, and urged the police and other security agencies to find...

Plateau PDP Splits.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Taye Obateru The much speculated move by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State to form a parallel structure has finally birthed with the faction declaring, yesterday, that it has sacked the Prof. Dakum...

I Was Not Forced to Resign, Says Ex- Commissioner.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Enyim Enyim Former Commissioner for Environment under Mr Peter Obi, Chief Ifedi Okwenna, yesterday described as false and baseless, recent statements credited to some top government officials in the state that he was forced to...

Anambra Reads Riot Act to Contractors.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Vincent Ujumadu ANAMBRA State government has read the riot act to contractors handling projects in the state, urging those who have abandoned their projects to mobilize to site or face severe consequences. Commissioner for...

Education Critical to MDG Goals, Says Amaechi.
February 27, 2009... Byline: George Onah Education and mass literacy are critical factors to achieving the objectives of the millennium development goals, MDGs, Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said. In this wise, he said, the Early Child Education...

Lawmaker Condemns Attack on Utorogun Gas Plant.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Festus Ahon THE member representing Ughelli South local government area, in the Delta State House of Assembly, Olorogun Taleb Tebite, has condemned the recent attack on the Utorogun Gas Plant and described the action of those...

APGA Supporters Jubilate Over Appeal Court Ruling.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Chidi Nkwopara There was wild jubilation by All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) supporters in Imo State, soon after the news of the ruling handed down by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, filtered into the state. Similarly,...

JTF Kills Armed Robber in Delta.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Emma Amaize JOINT Task Force (JTF) on the Niger-Delta, yesterday, shot dead a member of a three-man armed robbery gang while they were escaping with GSM recharge cards valued at N800,000 and N500, 000 cash stolen from their...

Rivers Tasked on Empowerment Scheme.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Adekunle Aliyu An oil magnate in Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Efobi, has appealed to the Rivers State government to set up a special "recapitalization, empowerment and welfare scheme" that would directly target aged mothers,...

Akwa Ibom Royal Fathers Place Curse on Kidnappers.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Samuel Oyadongha Traditional Rulers in Akwa Ibom State have in unison laid curses on kidnappers terrorizing the state for weeks now. At the first ever enlarged town hall meeting with Governor Godswill Akpabio, held at Ibom...

FG Removes Excise Duty on Seven Products.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Emma Ujah The federal government yesterday took measures to cushion the effect of the global economic meltdown as it removed excise duty on seven items, in order to reduce their prices, thereby making them more affordable to...

Oha Elders Warn Orerokpe Community Over Land.
February 27, 2009... The youths and elders of Oha community in Okpe local government area of Delta State, have issued a warning to Orerokpe community, the headquarters of Okpe local government area and the traditional centre of Okpe kingdom, to steer clear of any...

Constitutionalism and the Re-Invention of the State.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Femi Falana In his demystification of constitutionalism, Wole Soyinka once maintained that even the so called brutes have a constitution which is unwritten, but clearly understood among the species. However, it is only the...

Intellectual Property Law Reports - Lawyers Moment of Relief - Adeleye.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Azu Akanwa The Nigerian judicial system has been so many things to so many people depending on experiences and expectations. On the political front, the judiciary has received kudos and sometimes knocks from political...

Same Old Stories.
February 27, 2009... ABOUT five people died last week Thursday when part of the building for the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, collapsed. The Oyo State Government awarded the contract for the hospital project. Why did the building...

2009 - FAO Report Indicates Smaller Cereal Crop.
February 27, 2009... Early indications point to a reduction in global cereal output in 2009 from the 2008 record, according to FAO's latest Crop Prospects and Food Situation report. Smaller plantings and adverse weather look likely to bring grain production down...

Camp David Accord in Enugwu Ukwu.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Chike Okeke SINCE ascending the throne of Eze Enugwu Ukwu and Igwe Umunri in 1958 as endorsed by the representatives of Agu Ukwu Nri, Enugwu Ukwu, Nawfia and Enugwu-Agidi, Igwe Osita Agwuna III has very ably preserved the ancient...

PHCN Workers Threaten to Throw the Nation Into Darkness.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Victor Ahiuma-Young WORKERS in the nation's electricity sector have issued a-21 day strike notice to the management of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over alleged management unwillingness to conclude and implement a new...

Transcorp Declares N16 Billion Loss, Plans Diversification.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Peter Egwuatu and Michael Eboh Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has declared a loss of N16.1 billion in its 2008 financial year, and also plans to diversify its operations into food processing and real estate....

Stock Market - Cement Equities Still Viable - Vetiva.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Peter Egwuatu In the light of challenges facing both the global and local investment terrains, which have resulted in a global weakening of investor confidence, and consequently blurred investor judgement, Vetiva Equity Research...

NNPC Calls for Increased Use of Local Barytes.
February 27, 2009... MrChris Ogiemwonyi,Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production) at the NNPC wants multinational oil companies operating in the country to source more of their barytes and bentonite locally. The two solid minerals, available in...

SON to Destroy 2,744 Substandard Gas Cylinders.
February 27, 2009... The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on Wednesday said it was set to destroy 2,477 substandard gas cylinders imported through the Seme border in Lagos between April and December 2008. SON recently said there was an influx of...

EDS Microfinance Bank Opens Shop.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Ephraim Oseji A new microfinance bank has opened its doors to the banking public. The bank Enterprise Development Services Microfinance Bank Limited (EDS) came on stream recently.Chief Operating Officer of the bank, Mr....

Bullish Trend Continues, Drives Share Value By N85 Billion.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Michael Eboh The bullish trend in the capital market continued, as the value of listed equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) appreciated on Wednesday by N85.26 billion. Specifically, the value of listed equities...

Review of the Constitution Beyond the Power of Government - the Patriots.
February 27, 2009... At its recent meeting, The Patriots deliberated on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, which is an issue of great national importance and immediacy, and hereby make the following statement. As it attempted,abortively, to do in 2006, the...

Shrimp Fisheries Under Scrutiny, 9 Others.
February 27, 2009... Reducing fishing capacity and limiting access to shrimp fisheries is likely to mitigate overfishing, bycatch and seabed destruction, some of the major economic and environmental side-effects of shrimp fishing, according to a new report FAO...

Senate, Representatives Can Produce Separate Reports - Deputy Speaker.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Dayo Benson MR Usman Bayero Nafada is one of the quiet members of the ever boisterous House of Representatives. The self-effacing former Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly was, however, at the centre of muscle...

U-17 - Aliero Inaugurates Abuja LOC.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Henry Umoru Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Senator Muhammad Adamu Aliero, yesterday, inaugurated a 13-member Abuja Sub-Seat Local Organising Committee to ensure hitch-free finals of the FIFA...

Oshiomhole Commends Edo Athletes.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Gabriel Enogholase Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the process of renovating Afuze Sports Village and other sports facilities in the state was on. The Governor who made this pledge while commending the...

Eagles Fantastic Against Jamaica.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Tony Ubani SUPER Eagles coach Shuaibu Amodu looked unruffled yesterday when he appeared in Lagos after the Reggae friendly match between Eagles and Jamaica which sparked off criticisms and fears of his capability to lead Nigeria...

NFF Eyes Siasia for U-20.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Onochie Anibeze Samson Siasia may likely be appointed coach of the national U-20 side that will play in the world championship in Egypt this year. Reliable sources said yesterday that the FA approached Siasia and asked him if...

Fashola Pays N5 Billion Pension Arrears.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Olasunkanmi Akoni and Ebun Babalola It was all jubilation galore, yesterday, when 5,575 local government as well as teaching and non-teaching retirees of primary and secondary schools in Lagos State received N5 billion cheques as...

Senators Back Iwu, Say He Can't Be Sacked.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Inalegwu Shaibu A GROUP of Senators led by Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday flayed calls for the removal of Professor Maurice Iwu as...

Printing More Naira - Poisonous Economic Therapy.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Babs Alasa The recent suggestion by the Chairman NICON Group and Chief Executive of Global Fleet Energy, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim that the Federal Government should print and circulate more naira notes to get the country out of its...

Amaechi's Wife Advocates Vibrant Rural Ecomomy.
February 27, 2009... Byline: George Onah Wife of the Rivers State Governor Dame Judith Amaechi has said that only a viable and vibrant rural economy would guarantee Nigeria's quest for a strong economy in 2020 as well as achieving the objectives of the...

Threat to Vanguard GM's Life - Two Suspects Arraigned, Granted Bail.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Abdulwahab Abdulah Two accused persons - Jelili Lawal and Kehinde Oyelara - who threatened to kill Vanguard's General Manager, Publication, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, were yesterday docked before a Tinubu Magistrate Court, Lagos on a...

'Retrial of Okocha's Petition Against Uduaghan Non-Issue'.
February 27, 2009... Byline: Austin Ogwuda A group known as Delta Professionals, has called on Deltans especially the admirers of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan's administration not to lose sleep over the retrial of petition filed by Mr. Peter Okocha of the...

Idris Wants Russians Back to Ajaokuta.
February 27, 2009... Governor Ibrahim Idris of Kogi has appealed to the Federal Government to recall the Russian firm that initially handled the Ajaokuta Steel Complex to complete the project. He made the appeal yesterday in Lokoja at the launch of the maiden...