

IPOB releases prototype of Biafra govt
Customer alerts EFCC of suspicious N.9m credit into account
Air Peace deflates tyre on taking-off
UK to strengthen economic relations with Nigeria – John Howell
Sen. Orji wants constituents to help identify projects
UN seeks new drugs against 12 supergerms
Poor leadership, reason for Nigeria retrogressive growth – Obasanjo
Gov. Dankwambo inaugurates newly elected council chairmen
How we have been helping to address Nigeria’s ICT problems- Huawei
Reps member seeks support for dialogue with bandits
Election: Army hands over 35 suspects to Police
Military Pensions Board to begin distribution of identification cards
We are not interested in liquidating ‘Arik Air’ – AMCON
President Barrow endorses “one China” policy
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up for our newsletter, and be the first to get the latest news on Vanguard.
SubscribeCosta is most reliable EPL scorer of all time: report
With his goal against Swansea City on Saturday Diego Costa confirmed his place above Premier League legends such as Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer and Ruud van Nistelrooy in one measurement of prolific strikers.
CBN injects another $100m into forex market
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that its has injected another $100m into forex market.
Tuface supports UN humanitarian interventions with N3.5m
Nigerian Music icon, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as Tuface, has donated N3.5 million to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), Nigeria, to support humanitarian interventions.
Niger Govt to pay for student’s WAEC fees – Commissioner
The Niger State Government says it will continue to pay fees for students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in the state.
He beats me whenever I refused him sex – Wife
An estranged wife, Sola Bamisile, 30, on Monday told an Ikole Ekiti Customary Court, that she could longer bear her husband strong sexual urge.
Flaws in the Amnesty Report on Nigeria (A forensic analysis by Global Amnesty Watch)
GAW will not draw any conclusion at this point but leaves Nigerians and the world to decide who lied and who was truthful.
Austria, Germany seek tighter EU to confront U.S, Russia
Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern and German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel on Monday in Vienna said EU countries must close ranks in the face of pressures from the new U.S. administration and from Russia.
No free, fair election in Nigeria – Gov. Ugwuanyi
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has said that there has not been any free and fair election in Nigeria in the last couple of years.
Ex-Iran President writes Trump, says contemporary U.S. belongs to all nations
Iran’s former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a letter Sunday to President Donald Trump, striking a somewhat conciliatory tone while applauding immigration to America and saying it shows “the contemporary U.S. belongs to all nations.”
Women with ‘abortion ship’ go to countries, advocate, perform abortions
Guatemala has expelled a Dutch “abortion ship” carrying activists who had vowed to help women circumvent the country’s long-standing prohibition against terminating pregnancies, the army said Sunday.
NNPC secures N126m daily reduction in rig rate
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Monday, said it had secured a $416,000 per day reduction, about N126.88 million daily, in its deep offshore rig-rate.
Why Dino is on the street- Sam Obasun
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Mopamuro Local Government Area, Mr. Samuel Obasun has carpeted Sen. Dino Melaye for “promoting a selfish interest against the Governor of Kogi State”, saying the Senator is on the path to political oblivion.
FIFA backs troubled Saint Petersburg pitch
FIFA on Monday said it was confident problems plaguing the pitch at the new Saint Petersburg stadium will be fixed in time for the Confederations Cup in June.
Armless ex-PHCN worker threatens to commit suicide over neglect, unpaid compensation
Mr Tairu Quadri, whose two arms were amputated after an explosion during an official assignment as a former staff member of the defunct PHCN on Monday threatened to commit suicide over neglect and unpaid compensation.
Quadri, who is married with two children, told newsmen in Lagos that since the incident occurred in 2008, he had been living a hopeless life.
He appealed to the Ikeja Electric (IE) to urgently come to his assistance in procuring and maintaining his prosthesis, permanent accommodation and compensation for the damage.
Quadri recounting the incident that led to the amputation of his two arms said that he joined the defunct PHCN as a casual worker in 2001.
Quadri from Odo-Ayan, Omojoda Town, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State told NAN that he was studying Electrical Engineering at the OlabisiOnabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun when the sad incident occurred.
“ I was employed by the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a casual worker in 2001.
“I was posted to the fault section, Oworonsoki-undertaking, Ifako-Gbagada with Mr Jimoh Olanbiwoninu as my supervisor.
“I was working at this section until 2003 when I was transferred to Maryland Service Centre. In 2004/2005 academic session; I gained admission to study Electrical Engineering at the OOU.
“In 2008, I was at the defunct NEPA for my Industrial Training Programme (ITP), but this time its name had been changed to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
“The company sent me to its Magodo Service Centre for my ITP,” he said.
Quadri said his destiny changed for the worse on May 5, 2008 during a fault-rectification due to lack of coordination between Ojodu District dispatch man and the 11kva operator at Maryland, who was later sacked.
“On May 5, 2008, I was electrocuted while trying to clear a fault at Okowora Undertaking at Magodo Centre along with other service team.
“However, I was lucky to be alive after the incident and was transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for medical attention.
“In order to save my life, the LUTH’s medical team treating me said my two hands had to be amputated. I had no option than to agree to the proposal,” he said.
Quadri said that he underwent four different operations at the Burns Unit, LUTH, which spanned one year and four months.
After that, I was discharged from LUTH so as to go for further treatment abroad which materialised in 2009.
He said that when he was in LUTH, a committee from the then PHCN, Ikeja Zone, came to visit him and promised to make appropriate recommendations to its management.
Quadri, however, said nothing was done until his case got to the Ministry of Power and the management of PHCN was directed to treat it the urgency it required.
“Therefore, I was flown to India for prosthetic surgery; this was intended to aid my mobility.
“The travelling was coordinated from the Abuja head office of the then PHCN.
“But all I can say about my treatment in India was that it was a complete fraud because provision for my prosthesis was sublet twice.
“I came back to Nigeria disappointed, sad and with a heavy grief because of the prosthesis provided.
“I was, however, persuaded by the management of PHCN that it would take decisive and urgent actions on my matter.
“Consequently, an ad-hoc committee was set up to look into my case and make recommendations.
“They met me at the PHCN clinic, Oshodi, in March 2010 to tell them my demands.
“I demanded for an urgent replacement of my prosthesis, a permanent accommodation and compensation.
“The committee approved these three demands and added that some allowances be given to me to ease my suffering which included paying for my accommodation temporarily.
“ The management quickly paid for my temporary accommodation but failed to act on the main demands till now,” he said.
He said that the management had stopped paying for the temporary accommodation since October 2013 when it was privatised.
Quadri said that since privatisation of the defunct PHCN gave birth to Ikeja Electric and others distribution companies.
He said that the Ikeja Electric that was supposed to be responsible for solving his problems since his matter falls under its jurisdiction had been treating him like a leper every time he visited it for his demands.
He said that the officials of the company were not attending to him any longer.
Quadri said that one of the officials of the company had advised him to take N2million the company wanted to give him and `walk away’.
“This money cannot do anything because I want to go back to school to finish my education.
“I have two children and a wife to take care of; now with no hands how will I be able to cater for my family.
“I am living from the help I had been receiving from friends and family members.
“The IE had reneged on its promise to replace my amputated arms with working one, this incident has made me completely useless to my family.
“What is the essence of my living without hands, the only hope I have is being dashed. It is now about nine years since I lost my hands.
“If I cannot get my hands back, then I should be compensated and given a permanent job by the company I risked my life for.
“At present, I owe my landlord a year’s rent and if I can’t pay by end of February, I know what will happen.
“My patience is running out; please do something Ikeja Electric.
“ I lost everything while working for you, I will put an end to this miserable life if these three demands are not meant,’’ he said emotionally.
Mr Felix Ofulue, the Head, Corporate Communication Unit, Ikeja Electric, expressed the sympathy of IE to Quadri when NAN asked him what IE was doing to ameliorating his plights.
Ofulue, however, said the incident happened nine years before the privatisation of the PHCN, adding that Quadri was not a staff member of Ikeja Electric.
He said all the liabilities of the defunct PHCN had been transferred to the Nigerian Liability Management Limited (NELMCO) shortly before the privatisation of the sector.
Ofulue advised Quadri to seek assistance from NELMCO where he believed his file would be treated.
Lagos IPMAN threatens two week strike over extortion by DPR
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has threatened two weeks warning strike over Depot owners exorbitant prices of fuel products and extortions by Department of Petroleum Resources’ (DPR).
Subscribe to our E-EDITIONS
Subscribe to our digital e-editions here, and enjoy access to the exact replica of Vanguard Newspapers publications.
Subscribe