17th oct 2014

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Friday, October 17, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 241

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1

www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

FG budgets N1.22trn for petrol, kerosene subsidies in 2015 l Senate refers MTEF to Finance, Planning committees Chukwu David Abuja

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he Federal Government has proposed to spend N1.22 trillion as fuel subsidy in the

N4.817.76 trillion budget for 2015.

The figure includes N971.4 billion as subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known petrol and N250 billion as

subsidy on kerosene.

The Federal Government, according to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), has also projected

N7.286.89 trillion as total earnings on oil and gas sales for 2015 with N3.716.82 billion being proposed as crude oil sales.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday referred the

MTEF and FSP sent to it

by President Goodluck Jonathan to its Committees on Finance and National Planning for further legislative action.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Mark

Jonathan fires Buhari }5

lYour allegations reckless, baseless

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‘

Buhari

It reflects very badly on the character of the political opposition...that a political leader of General Buhari’s stature will deliberately make such false and uncharitable comments about the elected leadership of his country, merely for personal and sectional political gain

The last 16 years of PDP government have witnessed decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria...The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption. Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption

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Fayose reverses Fayemi’s policies lSix APC lawmakers join PDP lWorkers call off strike Adesina Wahab and Wale Elegbede Ado-Ekiti

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ewly sworn in governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday reversed some of the actions and

policies taken by his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

At his inauguration, Fayose said he won’t recognise the 19 new local

council development areas created by the Fayemi administration.

Also, the governor nullified all appointments,

promotions and discipline effected by Fayemi after the June 21 governorship election.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

‘

Jonathan

Quick Read Editorial The world food crisis

}19

Ogbeh admits APC sponsorship of Chibok campaigns }6

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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News

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Hajj: 25 Nigerian pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia Ibrahim Abdul Mecca

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wenty-five Nigerian pilgrims died while performing this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Seven others were hospitalised.

Out of the 76,000 pilgrims that performed the Hajj rites, over 15,000 have so far been airlifted back to Nigeria.

Head, Medical Team, Dr. Ibrahim Kana, made the disclosures yesterday in Saudi Arabia.

“As of today (yesterday), we have recorded 25 deaths and seven others hospitalised. Also, we recorded some psychiatric cases which are largely due to anxiety, excitement and stress that come with Hajj which we have been able to manage and the psychiatric cases are normal now,” Kana said.

According to him, Lagos and Sokoto recorded three death cases each due to cancer, heart problems, leukaemia and diabetes, with about 64 per cent of the deceased being above 50 years of age.

Kana said there are 41 Nigerians presently un-

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der observation and with seven referred to the hospital.

He further explained that 6,000 Nigerian pilgrims have, so far, visited the six clinics being operated by the medical mission in Jeddah, Medina

and Mecca, as a result of cold and hypertension.

The head of the medical team said no Nigerian showed any sign of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) since the beginning of the hajj.

Meanwhile, at least 15,

495 pilgrims have, so far, been airlifted from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.

Spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Uba Mana, told New Telegraph that the first batch of pilgrims have since returned.

“There is tremendous success in the whole process. I can assure you that the airlift will be completed as scheduled; pilgrims should remain calm and resolute as no one will be left in Saudi Arabia,” he said.

FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

L-R: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke; Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr. Tony Elumelu at the launching of Tony Elumelu Foundation in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Fayose appoints adviser on ‘stomach infrastructure’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fayose also said he would overhaul the state public service, the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State and the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

He was administered with the oath of office by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, at 1:09p.m. His deputy, Dr. Olusola Eleka, had earlier been administered the same oath by the CJ at about 12.59p.m.

Fayose, who rode into the Kayode Oluyemisi Stadium, the venue of the inauguration, in a Mercedes Benz 200, 1960 model, also said he would appoint a Special Adviser on ‘Stomach Infrastructure’ so as to find a way of meeting the welfare needs of the people.

In his speech, the governor dubbed his administration a Government of Restoration, adding that it was divine that he assumed office for the second time exactly eight years after he was controversially removed from office.

On the creation of 19 new local council development areas by his predecessor, Fayose said he would only recognise the 16 constitutionally-listed local government areas.

“My administration recognises the importance of local government councils as the third tier of government and growth poles for grassroots development. We also appreciate the legitimate yearnings

of our people for rapid socio-economic transformation.

On recent developments in the public service, Fayose decried the politicisation of the service and the controversial promotion of some civil servants.

“Consequently, my government shall review all public service personnel issues including appointments, promotion and discipline which were hurriedly effected after the governorship elections. The Head of Service is hereby directed to return all officers to their substantive positions as at June 21, 2014.

“A review panel will be constituted immediately to advise government on the merit of each issue as may be appropriate. This directive extends to heads of statutory commissions and boards,” he said.

He said his administration would run free education up to secondary school level, provide free health care services for pregnant women and children under five years and ensure the provision of infrastructure to boost economic development of the state.

On happenings in the state in the last three weeks, Fayose said attempts by the former All Progressives Congress (APC) government to truncate his mandate showed that the people were too desperate.

“Their machination is

to demonise and portray me as a violent person.

The role and indeed the open conduct of some of the judicial officers in the plot, are already being investigated by the appropriate authorities,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Muazu, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, appealed to the people of the state to support and cooperate with the Fayose administration.

Fifteen PDP state governors, led by the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Chief Godswill Akpabio, attended the event.

And barely 24 hours after the APC administration of Fayemi gave way for the PDP-led government of Fayose, six APC members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly yesterday defected to the PDP. The legislators announced their defection during the inauguration of Fayose.

The affected lawmakers are Olowo Ajiboye (Oye Constituency II), Adeloye Adeyinka (Ikole Constituency I), Abeni Olayinka (Ado Constituency II), Fatunbi Olajide (Moba Constituency II), Olugbemi Joseph (Ikole Constituency I) and Adeojo Felix Ayodele (Ekiti South-West Constituency II).

In another development, striking workers in Ekiti State Public Service have called off their three-

week-old industrial action.

According to the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Mr. Oladipupo Johnson, the decision followed a meeting with the Head of Service, Mr. Bunmi Famosaya, to allow consultation with the new administration of Governor Fayose.

Meanwhile, Fayose has appointed a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr. (Mrs) Modupe Alade, as Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Mr. Idowu Adelusi was also appointed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

Fayose also appointed the immediate past Chairman of the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Owoseni Ajayi, as the Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters.

Other appointments made include that Mr. Kayode Oso (Special Assistant, Works and Infrastructure); Mr. Sola Owoeye (Special Assistant, Protocol); Mrs Sola Olowookere (Personal Assistant, Abuja); Chief Toyin Ojo (Special Assistant, Finance); Mr. Sunday Anifowose (Personal Assistant, Special Duties and Stomach Infrastructure); Mr. Sunday Omosilade (Personal Assistant, Domestic Matters); Mr. Lere Olayinka (Special Assistant, Information and Social Media).

The appointments take immediate effect.

MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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Jonathan hits back at Buhari Anule Emmanuel

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has hit back at former head of state and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, describing his charges against his administration as baseless and reckless.

Jonathan said he was disappointed with Buhari’s comments made with a view to gaining cheap political points ahead of the 2015 general election.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed state house correspondents yesterday at the presidential villa, Abuja said the Presidency rejects wholly the allegations made by Buhari against the administration.

He described Buhari’s campaign comments on Wednesday as an irresponsible denigration of Jonathan’s sincere efforts, over the past four years, to positively transform Nigeria.

“We have noted with disappointment and regret, the reckless, baseless and unsupportable charges made against the Jonathan administration yesterday by a supposed elder statesman, General Muhammadu Buhari,” Abati stressed.

According to the presidential spokesman, such comments only reflect very badly on the character of opposition politics in the country.

He said: “It reflects very badly on the character of the political opposition we now have in Nigeria, that a political leader of Buhari’s stature will deliberately make such false and uncharitable comments about the elected leadership of his country, merely for personal and sectional political gain.

“The falsity of Buhari’s anti-Jonathan and antiPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) claims will be obvious to knowledgeable Nigerians and friends of the country, but for the benefit of others we will like to affirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in his charge that “the last 16 years of PDP government have witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria or that the economy continues to deteriorate.”

Abati explained that “Statistics and rankings from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international economic agencies give the lie to General Bu-

hari’s claims on the state of the Nigerian economy. As is well known, available figures, statistics and ratings show that the Nigerian economy has consistently maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6-7% under the Jonathan administration.”

He said available records also show that the Nigerian economy is now the leading economy in Africa and the 26th largest in the world with a gross domestic product of over $500 billion per annum.

The presidential spokesman also argued that contrary to Buhari’s assertion, Nigeria’s agricultural sector was thriving under the reforms being implemented by the Jonathan administration as current production figures show and neither manufacturing nor commerce is “down” as the APC presidential aspirant alleged.

“His most uncharitable and inexcusable accusation against the present administration was that election rigging continues

to thrive in Nigeria. We trust that all patriotic, objective and non-partisan Nigerians will reject that allegation knowing it to be invalid and they will have the evidence of the progressively freer, fairer and ever more credible elections conducted under the Jonathan administration to support their position.

“Despite the other false accusations Buhari made against the president who he clearly fears to take on in an honest, issues-driven presidential election con-

test, President Jonathan will continue to carry forward his transformation agenda in the power sector and other areas.”

Abati noted that the president will not be discouraged or deterred from his objective of repositioning Nigeria for accelerated and inclusive socioeconomic development by the partisan and jaundiced views of power seekers like Buhari who cannot see the obvious results of the current administration’s efforts through their blin-

kered eyes.

“We also draw the attention of Nigerians to the total lack of originality in the hackneyed manifesto offered to Nigerians yesterday by the APC presidential aspirant.

“All that Buhari promises to do are already being done by the Jonathan administration to the acclaim of ordinary Nigerians and there is no evidence before Nigerians that the APC leader and his acolytes can do them better.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

L-R: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Feyisetan; Governor Ayo Fayose and Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, at the swearing-in of the governor in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday

PHOTO: NAN

Ex-head of state laments high cost of nomination form lOshiomhole denies presidential bid Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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ormer Military Head of State and presidential hopeful of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has lamented the high cost of the party’s Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

The leading opposition political party has pegged its presidential ticket forms at N27.5 million. While the Expression of Interest Form goes for N2.5 million, the Nomination goes for N25 million.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) put its presidential form at N25 million.

While obtaining his forms at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Buhari, characteristically told the National Working Com-

mittee (NWC) members led by its national chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun that the cost of the forms was on the high side.

He said: “If I were not part of the constitutional body of the party and the fact that I am part of those that formed this party, I would have complained about the amount that we have to pay. I have always tried to sit on the right hand side of the chairman.

It is a pity that I could not influence this amount that has to be paid like it was done for the ladies who are trying to participate and for the physically challenged.”

Buhari, who said he paid for his forms because he never wanted anybody to purchase the forms for him said, “I didn’t want to go and ask anybody to pay for my nomination.

“If I could recall, in all the contest, I have always

tried to pay for myself at least for the nomination forms. But N27.5 million these days is on the high side. Thank God I have a personal relationship with the chairman of my bank. I called him and told him that the forms are coming and so, whether my accounts is in red or green or black, you must honour this, otherwise, I will lose the nomination. I was about to go to Kaduna today and told the chairman and he said, you better pick the form and keep a straight face. That means that there is no excuse. I thank God that we have gotten to this stage and all speculations will now cease.”

In his response, the APC National Chairman stated that APC has a Presidentin-waiting.

Oyegun, who promised a rancour free primaries for the presidential aspi-

rants, insisted that with Buhari and former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar in the race for the party’s ticket the party already has a President-in-waiting.

He said: “Buhari is a harbinger of change, in spite of his age. He has continued to surprise me every day. The N27.5 million is to separate the boys from the men. We know you and don’t expect you to have N27 million under your bed. But I expect that there are Nigerians who will vouch for you any day and who are ready to stand by you any day and that is the result that we have obtained today.”

In another development, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has laid to rest speculations on his presidential ambition.

Oshiomhole yesterday declared that he is not contesting for the presidency

in 2015, saying his focus now is on accelerating the pace of development in Edo State.

In a statement personally signed by him, Oshiomhole said: “Following persistent inquiries from friends, political associates and well-meaning Nigerians both at home and abroad over speculations of my interest in the 2015 presidential election, and media comments by my aides, I wish to categorically state that I am not contesting for the 2015 presidential election. My focus now is to continue with our efforts to accelerate the pace of our development programmes to take Edo State to the next level.

“Today, I believe my party, the APC, has enough credible materials to pick from to fly the party’s flag in the 2015 presidential election.”

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News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ogbeh admits APC sponsorship of Chibok campaigns lEzekwesili Kicks lAPC to Jonathan: Stop politicizing release of Chibok girls Johnchuks Onuanyim, Anule Emmanuel and Temitope Ogunbanke

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he All Progressives Congress (APC) has conceded sponsorship of the #BringBackOurGirls (#BBOG) campaigns, confirming the allegation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that they were sponsored by opposition.

Former National Chairman of the PDP and leading APC chieftain, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja when he told his audience at Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 presidential bid declaration that the #BBOG is led by members of the party.

“We commend #BringBackOurGirls movement led by members of this party. We thank them for their commitment to Nigerians,” Ogbe had said.

Also, a compere at the declaration had earlier introduced one of the leaders of #BBOG, Hajiya Bala Usman who graced the presidential declaration of Buhari.

Ogbe’s speech was, however, strongly condemned by the former World

Bank Vice President, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili, who is also a leader of the group.

She said on her Twitter: “I take very strong exception to what is being credited to Mr. Audu Ogbe of APC, another tragic low in making #ChibokGirls political pawns.”

The #BBOG controversy-ridden campaign came into being following the abduction of no fewer than 219 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram insurgency six months ago.

Commending the campaigners and hailing them for sustaining global attention on the missing Chibok girls, Ogbeh said: “We send our greetings to the Chibok parents. We believe that one day they will be reunited with their children. We commend the #BringBackOur Girls movement led by members of our party for their commitment.

“They remain the only living witnesses that Nigeria still has a conscience.”

The APC leader underscored the foregoing by daring the Federal Government to arrest the #BBOG

campaigners and “all of us”.

In further elaboration of her position, a miffed Ezekwesili wrote, “I am neither covertly or overtly a member of the APC, PDP or any other party. It is false and wrong to say #BBOG Nigeria is led by members of APC. “If Mr. Ogbe is being correctly quoted, he can only be referring to those of their members who are part of #BBOG_Nigeria.

Never has there been any speck of political party consideration in anything that the strategic team of the group that I chair does.”

Meanwhile, the presidency yesterday said it has unravelled a grand plan by the #BringBackOurGirls

(BBOG) Campaign Group orchestrated to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, confirmed that government has been able to understand clearly the hidden agenda of the group which finally played out on Wednesday.

The presidential spokesman in a statement posted severally on his twitter handle said that the roles played by former House of Representatives’ member, Dino Melaye, and initiator of the BBOG, Hadiza Bala Usman at Buhari’s declaration for the 2015 presidential election in Abuja is proof of their true aim of politicizing the agony of

the Chibok girls and their families.

He said: “Our longstanding view of BBOG movement’s hidden agenda to unseat the Jonathan administration received full justification yesterday “Roles played by Dino Melaye and presence of BBOG’s Initiator Hadiza Bala Usman at Buhari’s declaration is proof of their true aim of politicising the agony of the Chibok girls and their families. This is now fully apparent, the true agenda and prime movers of BBOG movement.”

In another development, the APC yesterday told President Jonathan to release the Chibok schoolgirls in Borno State who were abducted over six

months ago, rather than seeking to make political gains out of their release. ‘’Mr. President, tongues are wagging that you know where the girls are and that you want them to be released only when it will give you the maximum political advantage. We don’t know if this is true or not, but if it is, please release the girls now,’’ the party said in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

“It is cruel and unconscionable for anyone to use these girls as pawns on a political chess board. They have now been in captivity for over six full months.

Please end the agony of the girls’ parents and indeed of all Nigerians,’’ it said.

FG budgets N1.22trn for petrol, kerosene subsidies in 2015 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The committees were asked to report back to the Chamber within two weeks.

Senate President David Mark during plenary said the early conclusion of work on the document would enable the Senate to expeditiously pass the proposed 2015 budget.

A critical look at the 22-page document also indicated that the Federal Government has projected to spend N1.029 trillion as capital expenditure for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

It added that N1.801 trillion would be spent as personnel costs for the MDAs while service wide votes would gulp N376.05 billion. According to the document, N570 billion is also projected as new borrowings in 2015.

Also, towards tackling crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, the security agencies are expected to start ground and aerial surveillance while the Justice Ministry would ensure speedy prosecution of oil thieves and vandals.

The document states: “The activities of crude oil thieves and oil pipeline vandals remain the main

risks to oil production.

“The potential implications of their activities are a reduction in government revenue with further impacts on government debts and fiscal deficits as well as pressures on the exchange rate.

“Given the role of oil production volume on government finances, government remains committed to curbing these nefarious activities.

“Consequently, it is intensifying security, particularly ground and aerial surveillance, around oil facilities through the combined efforts of security agencies and local communities’ participation.

“These security forces under the National Executive Council Committee are being better equipped to checkmate the activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

“There would also be better engagements of the Ministry of Justice and lawyers for faster prosecution of oil thieves.”

On insurgency, government informed the National Assembly that it had already set up a committee which was expected to partner with other agencies to tackle the Boko Haram sect.

L-R: Former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; member, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Kola Daura and APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during collection of presidential nomination form by Buhari in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Jonathan hits back at Buhari CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

“The retired General is free to renege on his wellpublicized pledge not to seek elective office as he has done, but we urge him to conduct his presidential campaign with greater regard for the truth.

“We also urge him to eschew unbecoming false accusations against others like a true elder statesman and to focus his campaign on more original ideas for the promotion of peace, stability, unity and progress in our beloved nation,” Abati added.

Buhari had on Wednesday at his declaration stated that Nigeria has regressed under the leadership of Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the country

must be rescued from the clutches of the ruling party which he alleged had “instituted rigging; the worst form of injustice” in the system.

Buhari had said: “Many millions are grappling with poverty; many people are in fear of their lives because of fear of Boko Haram; the marauding people all over the places, armed robbers, kidnappers, etc.

“Rigging which PDP has instituted is the worst form of injustice. However, such injustice cannot endure. Nigeria has never been so polarised; so divided and that is why I plead with Nigerians to vote me in so we rescue our country from the clutches of PDP.

“Crimes and corruption are taking freighting dimension, industries are down, commerce is down, agriculture is down, yet they announce phantom economic growth.

“When the PDP came in 1999, Nigeria was generating 4,000MW but after almost 20 years we degenerated to about 3,000 MW. “There is no point in holding elections if they are not free and fair. Interference in the form of rigging which PDP government has practised since 2003 is the worst form of injustice – denying people their right to express their opinions. Whether they like it or not, injustice cannot endure.

“Since 1999, PDP has presided over our coun-

try’s decline. Nigeria in my experience has never been so divided, so polarized by an unthinking government hell bent on ruling and stealing forever whatever befalls the country.

Mr. Chairman, we in APC are resolved to stop them in their tracks and rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP. “The last 16 years of PDP government have witnessed decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria.”

On corruption Buhari said: “Tackling corruption which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption. Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption,” he said.

7

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Suspected Nigerian Ebola passenger isolated at Madrid airport Wole Shadare

l Spain steps up response to suspected cases

urope’s mega car rier, Air France has confirmed that a passenger on Flight AF 1300 from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Madrid Barajas yesterday presented symptoms associated with Ebola Virus Disease (trembling) dur-

ing flight.

While spokesman for Air France-KLM (Nigeria), Mrs. Funmi Ojesina, could not confirm the nationality and identity of the victim to New Telegraph, sources stated that the passenger was a Nigerian, whose journey originated from

E

Enugu West senatorial contest: Chime, Ekweremadu hit up Awgu

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he run for the senatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party for the West Senatorial Zone of Enugu State between Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Sullivan Chime is causing some stirs in Awgu Local Government Area. The council Chairman, Mathanus Nnanna Nze has vowed that his people would give 100 per cent support to the governor.

On Wednesday, there was a report of untoward development in the council with some alleging that six out of the 11 councillors of the legislative council have served Nze an impeachment notice, a situation where associates of the governor became worried of Ekweremadu

taking an upper hand in the council from where the Senator’s Aninri Local Government Council was carved out.

But speaking to newsmen yesterday after the councillors had their normal meeting and passed a vote of confidence on the chairman, Nze identified the ongoing senatorial contest for the Enugu West senate seat as the reason behind the alleged moves by some politicians to cause crisis in the area.

The impeachment threat came as attempts by three suspended councillors of the council to initiate an impeachment process against Nze was vehemently rebuffed by the council’s legislative arm.

Lagos.

Ojesina, in a statement made available to New Telegraph disclosed that as a precautionary measure, the customer in question was taken to hospital by an ambulance, adding that the other passengers were able to disembark nor-

mally.

According to her, the aircraft, Airbus 321 had 156 passengers on board, with two pilots and five crew members.

Earlier, an Air France 1300 flight was said to have been isolated at Madrid’s Barajas International Airport in

2015: INEC plans for IDP voting Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Inde pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is soliciting the assistance of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution in locating persons displaced from their homes as a result of conflicts and other security changes, so as to enable them vote the in 2015 election.

Chairman of the Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, disclosed this when he hosted the management team of the institute, led by its Director General, Professor Oshita O. Oshita in Abuja.

Most people, especially in the three Northern Eastern states of Yobe,

Borno and Adamawa have fled their homes as a result of the activities of Boko Haram insurgency.

Jega had earlier expressed worries that some Nigerians, who were displaced from their homes might be denied the opportunity to exercise their franchise during the general elections.

He called on the Institute to undertake a study of Internally Displaced People in the country to determine their number, especially in the states under emergency rule, “to see how the Commission can reach those people, register them so they can vote in the elections.”

The Chairman explained that INEC would explore the possibility of using the Institute for training and research.

Spain over fears that a Nigerian passenger on the airline has Ebola.

The spokespersons for Aena, the airport operator and Spain’s Ministry of Health, told Reuters that Ebola emergency measures had been activated at the facility.

The latest scare comes

just as the World Health Organisation, WHO, said Nigeria will be officially declared Ebola-free on October 20.

WHO had said Nigeria and Senegal would be cleared of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, if the two countries successfully complete a 42-day period without recording new cases.

Wike’s resignation deepens Rivers’ crisis

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he resignation of former Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, from the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan has deepened the rivalry among the two main political parties in Rivers State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The resignation of Wike alongside others who want to pursue their political ambitions in 2015, has also shifted the attention of stakeholders to the issue of zoning, which is given weight to the issue of zoning among the state’s ethnic groups.

The Onelga Peoples Forum (OPF) has described Wike’s resignation as a statement that there was nothing like zoning of the state’s governorship,

nothing that Wike worked tirelessly to reposition the PDP after the defection of Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and members of his cabinet to the APC. OPF’s chairman, Chief Ibe Eresia-Eke, who spoke to reporters in Port Harcourt, said that Wike has demonstrated his leadership qualities in the state and in his performances as a minister.

“Wike should, as matter of urgency, declare for the 2015 governorship and save the state from the political shipwreck facing it under Amaechi’s administration.

“He is our dependable associate, the game changer of Rivers politics, who staked his all and courageously ensured that a strong PDP platform was re-established in the state.”

8

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

231,000 Nigerian children die of pneumonia yearly, says JDPI Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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n estimated 231,000 under five year old Nigerian children are said to die yearly of pneumonia and diarrhea, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Justice, Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI) has said.

The Programme Officer, Water and Sanitation Department of the NGO, Mr. Bamikole Adegbite, stated this yesterday at St. Joseph Catholic Nursery Primary School, Ajilosun, Ado-Ekiti, at an

1.58m

event organized to mark the Global Hand Washing Day, a day set aside by the United Nations General Assembly for the practice of hand-washing with soap or ashes as a way of promoting hygiene.

Hand washing tops the international organisation’s agenda on October 15 every year since it was declared by the United Nations General Assembly at in 2008.

At the ceremony, pupils of the school demonstrated proper washing of hands with soap.

Adegbite lamented that the two leading killer diseases were rampant

The total population of Guinea-Bissau in 2012.

Source: Un.org

among children under five years due to unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation and hygiene.

He added: “Nigeria and India have the highest burden of child mortality from pneumonia and diarrhea in the world, with Nigeria having the lowest intervention score among 15 countries with the highest pneumonia and diarrhea mortality in the world.”

Adegbite said as agents of change, children should form the culture of hand washing with soap in order to remain healthy.

The JDPI officer said

45,226

The total area (in sq. km) of Estonia.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

hand washing, according to research, is a better option for disease prevention than any single vaccine or medical intervention.

“The implications of not hand washing with soap are far reaching including causing skin and eye infections, intestinal worms and Avian Flu. Hand washing with soap is an effective intervention to reduce child mortality and morbidity with its subsequent impact on overall health and school attendance including benefits for the health of people living with HIV/AIDS.” The Coordinator of

2.3%

The smoking rate among men in Western Pacific region.

Source: Smokingstatistic.org

the JDPI in Ekiti Catholic diocese, Rev. Fr. Raphael Borisade, who was represented by the Senior Programme Officer, Mr. Lawrence Ige, urged governments at all tiers to maintain clean and healthy environment through provision of waste bins for people.

He regretted that Ekiti state, which used to be clean in the past is being littered with garbage saying this was not good for healthy environment.

He, however, commended the management of the school for maintaining a good environment in the school.

14,000

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Trinidad & Tobago in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

L-R: Group Manager/Managing Director, Nokia West and Central Africa, Mr. Nick Imudia; Africa General Manager, Suntory (Ribena and Lucozade), Mr. Chidi Okoro; Chief Executive Officer, JK Pharmacy, Mr. Jimi Agbaje; Group Chief Executive Officer, Warehouse Plc, Mr. Austine Okere and Dean, Post-Graduate Studies, Covenant University, Prof. Charles Ogbulogo, at the unveiling of ‘Top 50 Brands Nigeria’ in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Zimbabwe preaches Afro-tourism Andrew Iro Okungbowa Harare, Zimbabwe

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s the Africa’s Premier Business Exchange, a forum for stakeholders in tourism in the continent, got underway yesterday in Harare, Zimbabwe, a united African front in the development and promotion of the continent as one destination point has been canvassed.

This position was stated by the Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Mr. Karikoga Kaseke, as he played host to buyers and media attending this year’s Sanganai/ Hlanganani, a travel and tourism trade exhibition organised by the ZTA. According to Kaseke, the only way that meaningful development and progress can be made in the industry by African, is for the continent to get together as one single entity to promote its destination otherwise it won’t get far with all the countries engaged in a competitive race to outrun the other.

It is to forge the so much needed unity and cooperation among the various regions that the tourism exhibition, which is over a decade old has been repositioned this year not only to promote Zimbabwe but the entire continent and to serve as a business to business platform where Africans can interact with each other and form a regional network.

Therefore, he said, the expectation for the three days exhibition being attended by countries and tourism stakeholders from across the world, is to see a lot of businesses being done among the people.

Reps defer debate on Discrimination CNN/MultiChoice African journalists awards hold in Tanzania he 19th edition of the tries from 48 countries, NATION, Bayo OlupoAgainst Women Bill T CNN MultiChoice Af- including from French hunda, a columnist with rican Journalist Awards and Portuguese- speak- THE PUNCH; and a joint

Philip Nyam Abuja

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he House of Representatives yesterday deferred consideration of a proposed legislation seeking to enforce certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

Announcing postponement of the consideration of the bill, Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who presided over the session explained that there were ambiguities in the proposed law that needed to be sorted out.

He consequently directed the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Uzoma Nkem Abonta (PDP, Abia) to liaise with the

chairman, House committee on rules and business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa to reconcile the grey areas.

It is titled, “A Bill for an Act to incorporate and enforce certain provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discriminatory against women, the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of women in Africa, National Gender policy, and for other maters connected therewith (HB.756).

Specifically, the Bill seeks to provide a legislation that will eliminate all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex in private and public spaces; uphold women’s rights to equal opportunities to

realize their full potential and, provide protection for women’s bodily integrity and human dignity.

Other key provisions of the Bill include the prohibition of discrimination in the field of education, employment, health, on grounds of marital status, and on socioeconomic grounds.

It also contemplates the adoption of temporary special measures to eliminate discrimination in political and public life, and gives prominence to the right to choose indigeneship and identity as well as protect widows from inhuman, humiliating or degrading treatment and allows widows automatic guardianship and custody of their children, after the death of their husbands.

will take place on Saturday, Otober 18 at the Mlimani Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

This was announced

by Mr. John Ugbe, Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria. Ugbe said this year’s competition, which received en-

ing countries on the continent, has 28 finalists from 10 countries.

He also disclosed that some Nigerian journalists were nominated for the awards. They include Obinna Emelike of BusinessDay, Olatunji Ololade of THE

nominees, Ben Ezeamalu and Emmanuel Ogala of Premium Times.

According to Ugbe, the CNN/MultiChoice African Journalists Awards represent the premier accolade for excellence in journalism on the continent.

APC lawmakers protest arrest of Edo Speaker Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he All Progressives Congress members in the Edo House of Assembly as well as supporters of the party in the state yesterday staged a protest over the arrest and continued detention of three

principal officers of the house by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC has since Monday held the Speaker, Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu and Chief Whip, Folly Ogedengbe over allegation of signature forgery

against them.

Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information, Kabiru Adjoto told newsmen during a press conference at the legislators quarters in Benin the state capital that his colleagues were being detained under inhuman conditions.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

News

SOUTH WEST

Murder case: APC warns police against being used Temitope Ogunbanke

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he Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its allies in Lagos are engaged in dirty political tricks by using the police to clamp down on APC members.

The party said the killing of an APC leader, Alhaji Azeez Asake, by a notorious PDP thug known as ‘Abija’ has become a weapon with which the PDP is turning around and hunting APC members in Lagos Island. It called on the police to restrain itself from being used to

foment trouble in Lagos in the wild belief that such will help its dream of ever capturing Lagos in 2015.

Lagos APC in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Joe Igbokwe, said the police have, in a curious manner, released the main suspect in the murder, who is one Rafiu Bashorun, also known as ‘Abija’ and had declared wanted three APC members; Mustapha Adekunle, Fatai Ali and Fatai Olori.

The party also warned that nothing should be done to further provoke members of the APC as no one can forecast what should be the outcome of such provocation in the

face of the impunity and lawlessness the PDP has unleashed on Lagos.

“It is on record that we had been demanding for justice for the murder of Asake by thugs, who work with the Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro.

“We had addressed press conferences and issued press releases demanding that the well-known real perpetrators of the crime against our member be brought to justice. We were under the impression that having arrested the perpetrator of the murder of Asake, the police were determined to do a good job and bring the sponsors of that cruel act to justice.

PDP will win Lagos, says Agbaje Etaghene Edirin

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agos State governorship aspirant, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, yesterday said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has a good chance of winning the 2015 governorship race in Lagos.

He said: “This race is winnable. And I am running to win.”

Agbaje while speaking recently at an interactive session with PDP youth and women leaders from the 57 council areas, said he has no intention to leave the party

whether or not he wins the party’s ticket for governorship at the primaries.

“Why will I leave PDP to go where? To me as a politician, such a situation makes no sense. People who insinuate that if I don’t win the primaries, I will leave the party forget my antecedents. I am not diverting supporters to anywhere.”

According to the former governorship candidate of the Democratic Peoples’ Alliance (DPA), when in 2007 he contested and lost, he remained in that party and sustained

the structure until it was deregistered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In 2007, I aspired on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). But it was clear that there would be no primaries, so I went to DPA. We did not win the elections. But if I was just party hungry, I would have jumped into another party. But, I remained within the party and sponsored several members, who contested in the local government elections.”

NCC allays consumers’ fears over radiation Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday in Ibadan allayed the fears of consumers of telecoms services over radiation scare, saying that it had always approved all telecoms equipment coming into the country to ensure compliance with international standard.

Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) of the commission, Maryam

Bayi, said this at the 67th edition of the Consumer Outreach Programme held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.

Bayi, in her paper delivered at the programme entitled: “The Effects of Telecom Infrastructure on Human Health,” said there was no record of such radiation or risk to human life caused by telecom infrastructures.

“Research conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations has not yet shown any risk to human life as a result of radiation

emanating from telecom infrastructures, like masts and towers,” she said.

Noting that the purpose of the programme was to allay consumers’ fears and to ensure they got value for money spent, as well being protected from unwholesome practices of some service providers, Bayi said the NCC as a responsible regulator would always ensure that network providers abide by international standards and follow best practice when installing the infrastructures.

Group charges FG on deaths of Nigerians abroad Temitope Ogunbanke

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socio-political g roup, ‘Women Arise for Change Initiative,’ yesterday condemned the killing of Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha, son of former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, calling on the Federal Government to act fast on the mystery-

deaths of Nigerians in that country.

In a statement made available to New Telegraph, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr. Joe OkeiOdumakin, called on the government to ensure that action is taken on the reported death of Alamieyeseigha.

She also called on the government to revisit the case of Mr. Tyler Falode, the only son of

famous female sports writer, Ms. Aisha Falode, who was murdered on February 15, in Dubai.

It will be recalled that while young Alamieyeseigha was reportedly murdered in the house belonging to his father by gunmen who stormed his apartment on Sunday night, young Falode was suspected to be thrown down from his 17th floor residence in the city.

VACANCIES A fast growing publishing Company with presence all over the Country, urgently requires the following as part of its business expansion drive.

Business Development Executives in A. Asaba B. Port Harcourt C. Benin/Warri D. Kano

E. Uyo F. Owerri G. Umuhia H. Onitsha

QUALIFICATIONS: Candidate must possess a minimum of HND/ BSC in Mass Communications, Marketing or any other Social Sciences. Cognate experience is an added advantage MODE OF Candidate that meets the stipulated APPLICATION: requirement should send their CV to topvacancies1@gmail.com. Candidates are expected to reside in places applied for.

Deadline is two weeks from date of publication.

9

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

10

Metro Stray police bullet kills man in Lagos Juliana Francis

A

police sergeant attached to Shomolu Police Station, Sunday Ajide, has been arrested for shooting and killing a civilian at Shomolu area of Lagos State.

Ajide and members of his team were said to have shot and killed the victim while attempting to target the tyre of the vehicle of a suspected robber, believed to be fleeing.

Rather than get the tyre, the bullet hit a man who was on the other side of the road, changing his car tyres at a vulcaniser’s workshop.

The man’s death sparked off a protest in the community. A mob was said to have confronted Ajide and his men and would have lynched them, but for police re-enforcement

which came from the station.

According to a police source, Ajide, as a patrol commander in that axis, was on duty with his team when they received a distress call that armed robbers were operating in the area. The incident occurred about 4:30pm.

Ajide quickly gathered his men into their patrol van and headed towards the direction the caller identified.

The team suddenly noticed a speeding Honda Accord car and sensed the occupants were the alleged robbers.

“It was Ajide who flagged down the driver, but he refused to stop. He now shot at the car tyres, but the bullets did not hit the target. Ajide and his men started chasing the car until it was forced to stop after running into a gridlock.

“The driver was searched, but nothing incriminating was found on him. The man’s vehicle papers were complete and up-to-date. The policemen were forced to allow him to go,” a police source said.

But as Ajide and his men were returning to base, they were stopped by an angry mob. The mob told them that their bullets hit and killed a civilian.

After police re-enforcement rescued Ajide and his team, they were taken to the police headquarters, Ikeja, where the X-Squad team took over the investigation and interrogation of the patrol commander.

After that, Ajide was handed over to the Provost Office for orderly room trial.

He was accused of using his rifle recklessly. Ajide was also reminded that in police regula-

60-year-old man defiles minor, to be flogged publicly Chris Ejim Yenagoa

The anger of the people is hinged on the fact that the suspect had also participated in flogging other offenders who had committed similar crimes

A

60-year-old man, identified as Inabiah Isaiah, has allegedly defiled an 11-year-old girl at Nembe community in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

However, the act is generating tension at Ogbolomabiri and Bassanbiri communities because of possible clash between the family of the girl and those loyal to the suspect.

The people of Bassanbiri and Ogbolomabiri communities have over the years been suspicious of one another.

The alleged rapist, according to sources, is being shielded by top chiefs at Ogbolomabiri from receiving corporal punishment in line with tradition.

It was gathered that Isaiah aka CO2, was caught sleeping with the minor (name withheld) after luring her to his

house.

“After a mob caught him in the act and his confession to the crime, the victim’s guardian reported the matter to the Nembe Council of Chiefs for traditional disciplinary action. But he is being shielded,” a source said.

The girl’s guardian, identified simply as Jerry, is mounting pressure on the Council of Chiefs to give Isaiah the

traditional punishment of 35 strokes of cane in the public at the community town hall.

It was also gathered that the victim’s relatives, who are from Bassanbiri community, are being threatened by some members of a local militia group loyal to the suspect.

Isaiah was said to have been rescued from the mob and taken to the police station, ostensibly to shield him from public humiliation.

“This did not go down well with a section of the community who insists that Isaiah be allowed to face the full weight of traditional law or else there will be no peace.

“We gathered that the anger of the people is hinged on the fact that the suspect had also participated in flogging other offenders who had committed similar crimes in the past and is also said to be enjoying the support of some community leaders and influential politicians from the area,” another source said.

Ijebu Ode Grams old boys meet tomorrow

T ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

he extra-ordinary general meeting of the Ijebu Ode Grammar School Old Boys Association will hold on October 18, at the school compound in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

The association’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Gbenga Omilola, said in a statement that all old boys

were expected to attend the meeting as important issues on the development of their alma mater would be discussed.

According to him, the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the association will hold earlier in the day.

Kayode Aderanti, Lagos CP

tion, it was better to allow 1,000 armed robbers to escape, than to kill an innocent person.

He was dismissed and presently in detention, waiting to be arraigned.

Police College graduates 218 human rights officers Taiwo Jimoh

P

olice said they had committed more officers to the course of addressing the problem of human rights abuses in Lagos State.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said this yesterday at the 20th graduation of the Police Human Rights officers held at the Police College, Ikeja.

The training was co-organised by the Police Command and Crime Victims Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

According to Aderanti, the state, with its multiple ethnic and religious diversities, has a complex case of human rights abuses.

He said: “The security of lives and property has always been the concern of the police.

Though opinions may differ on how the police have been able to perform these roles, we will continue to weather the storm by fashioning out pro-active

measures.

“As the most populated city in the country, Lagos is a hub of activities for all people. This comes with complex cases of human rights abuses. But we are not going to rest on our oars to reduce such cases to near zero. Part of these efforts will also centre on community policing as we solicit the cooperation of all Lagosians.”

The Director of the foundation, Mrs Gloria Egbuji, in her own remarks, said the vision of the training was to develop capacity building and human rights culture in the police.

She said: “We have been able to train 14,000 officers since 2006 in Lagos, Railway, Airport and Zone 2 Commands respectively on human rights.

Our vision is to develop and implement positive result-oriented capacity building and human rights culture in the Nigeria Police and use this to eradicate abuses and corrupt practices among officers and the public.”

File picture of policemen on parade

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Robbers seize rifles from sleeping policemen Juliana Francis

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wo policemen attached to Mobile Police Force, Squadron 49, Lion Building, Lagos Island, were almost killed by armed robbers who found them sleeping on duty on Victoria Island.

The robbers, who were armed with only cutlasses, woke the sleeping mobile policemen on guard at the home they went to rob.

They later collected the policemen’s AK47 rifles and attacked them with machetes.

The men were abandoned in a pool of blood.

Rescuers took them to hospital, where they spent many weeks before they were discharged.

Juliana Francis

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ll policemen and officers in Delta State will henceforth be involved in day and night patrol to stem the tide of crime.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Usman, issued the directive yesterday following a robbery attack on a bullion van on Wednesday where an actor, Clem Onyeka, was shot dead.

To ensure the success of the new directive, Usman has drawn a roaster placing the entire top ranking officers in the command, including himself, on day and night patrols.

The commissioner assured all the officers and men of the commit-

The rifles

Explaining how their rifles were ‘snatched,’ the policemen told police hierarchy that they engaged the hoodlums in a shoot-out, which lasted for hours.

According to their well-scripted story, they held unto the battle until they ran out of ammuni-

tion.

“The two policemen said that it was after they ran out of ammunition that the robbers overpowered them and took their rifles. It was after the arrest of the suspects, that the truth came out. The policemen, who were on guard, were ac-

tually sleeping on duty,” the police source added.

The arrested suspects, who gave the policemen away, are Bernard Bongy, Obinna Eyinma, Emeka Uche, Chukwuma Akubueze, David Joshua, Ifeanyi Okafor, Kichinto Ofone, Moses Ogbu and Aminu Bobbo.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti, said the suspected robbers attacked the home of Albert Omisore at Eletu Ogabi, Victoria Island. It was after the robbery that police embarked on investigation.

Eyinma was first arrested and used as bait to catch others.

“The robbers didn’t know that the house was being guarded by mobile policemen. When they

gained entry into the compound, they discovered the policemen were sleeping. One of the robbers shook them awake.

They pinned them to the ground, while their two AK47 rifles were taken.

After the robbers collected their rifles, they inflicted brutal machete cuts on them.

“When they were through with the robbery, they tied the two rifles and buried them in a swampy place, close to a canal at Ajah.

“When the mobile policemen were brought to SARS to explain how they lost two rifles to robbers, they claimed that they engaged the robbers in a gun duel,” a police source said.

Robbery: Delta CP, senior officers join patrol

Usman

ment of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the state government in providing

the needed logistics and manpower to ensure that they perform their duties creditably.

Usman also declared war against crime and criminality in the state, vowing to deal with suspects involved in criminal activities.

The police boss, who was disturbed by the recent criminal activities in the state, had summoned all Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers to an emergency meeting, where he warned that it would no longer be business as usual.

Usman, who said that it was now ‘fire for fire,’ advised all officers and

men of the force who were not ready to join hands with him, to find an alternative posting.

The police chief also told his men that he would not take it lightly with any of them found to be lacking in the battle ahead.

He admonished those heading areas where ugly incidents always occur, warning that he would not hesitate in dealing with any of them.

Enjoining his men to be more pro-active, Usman directed that no officer should abandon his area of jurisdiction for any other purpose.

When contacted on

the phone, Usman said he did not like discussing security matters on the pages of newspapers.

The commissioner, however, said that in the recent attack on a bullion van, no policeman was killed.

He said: “It is really very unfortunate but we are making headway and we have recovered their operational vehicle and the magazines which they abandoned after the operation.

“I will also advise all those who go to banks to withdraw money to always be observant and careful after leaving the bank.”

World Food Day: Lagos empowers 3,149 with produce, input

Some of the donatted items

Muritala Ayinla

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agos State Government yesterday empowered 3,149 farmers and other residents with basic tools to aid their work and boost food production.

The government gave about 37,700 creates of eggs to 754 residents who

specialise in egg marketing while 295 pig farmers got bags of pig feed.

Addressing over 6,000 farmers and other residents who gathered at the Johnson Agiri Agricultural Complex, OkoOba, Agege, Lagos, in commemoration of the 2014 World Food Day,

Governor Babtunde Fashola said his administration was determine to end poverty through making people self-employed.

He said the Agric Value Chains Empowerment was embarked upon by the government to eradicate poverty, adding that his admin-

istration was concerned about how much of its citizens were selfemployed and not how many were private jet owners.

The governor described the theme of this year’s World Food Day; “Family Farming: Feeding the World, Caring for the Earth,” as apt, saying more Lagosians would be self-reliant in the nearest future.

Fashola, who distributed the items to the 3,149 beneficiaries cutting across all local governments in the state, said the beneficiaries were empowered according to their food value chains.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperative, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said with the provision of necessary infrastructure, introduction of modern farming technol-

ogy and extension services in the farm settlements, estates and other farms established by the government across the state, it was critical that these categories of farmers and marketers were given incentives through the provision of input and expanded market.

He said: “The goal of this year’s event is to share prosperity, hence this Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment.

“Having empowered you with land and modern technology, we believe that inputs, necessary for your work, should be giving to you at subsidised rate. We will give you inputs you need to be modern farmers. You are here to be trained for capacity building. You cannot empower people without the necessary skills attached with it.”

Man arraigned for issuing N66m dud cheques Camillus Nnaji

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37-year-old man, Mr Opadotun Oludare, yesterday appeared before Ikeja Magistrates’ Court 1 for allegedly issuing two dud cheques of N15,978,320.83 and N50,500,000 to Mrs Amaka Umeano of No. 66, Opebi Street, Ikeja, Lagos State.

Oludare, who was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on felony, false pretence, fraudulently obtaining credit and criminality, pleaded not guilty.

According to the charge sheet No. MIK/A/125/14, the accused obtained credit of N50,000,000 for himself and others from Agora Capital Trust Limited and decided to pay back by issuing two dud cheques of First Bank Nigeria Plc and GT Bank Nigeria Plc. Oludare’s counsel, Jasper Umomere, asked the court to grant the accused bail.

The magistrate, Mrs E. A. Fabanwo, granted Oludare bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety who must be a close relative. The surety must be taxable adult and gainfully employed.

Fabanwo adjourned the case till December 17.

Ota County Lions Club president pledges selfless service Olushola Ricketts

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he new President of Ota County Lions Club, District 404B1, Nigeria, Tola Odukoya, has promised to intensify selfless service delivery during his tenure.

The president made the pledge recently during an investiture and fundraising ceremony in Ota, Ogun State.

In his acceptance speech, Odukoya assured the club members that he would not fail in discharging his duty.

He said: “The reason of the meeting is to show our gesture, kindness to humanity and the less privileged, through service, by dedicating our resources, time, talents and treasure without any financial gains or reward. It is purely service to humanity.”

12

News

friday, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

south — east

Ohakim, Anyanwu, others pick PDP governorship form in Imo Nomination Wheat and chaff now being separated in race to 2015 Steve Uzoechi

OWERRI

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ut of the crowd of aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, only four of the aspirants have paid and collected the party’s nomination and Expression of Interest forms.

PDP sources told our correspondent that of the 24 governorship aspirants on the party’s platform, only former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume and Chief Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator Chris Anyanwu, have picked up the N11 million nomination form indicating their seriousness and commitment for the PDP’s governorship ticket in Imo. Ohakim is bidding for the ticket with the mantra, ‘Let’s do one more tenure’

NCC upgrades ICT facilities in Abia tertiary institutions

arguing that Imo West where former Governor Achike Udenwa, who served eight years and Rochas Okorocha, who is serving out four years come from, has served the maximum term in office; that it was only fair that Imo North, where he comes from be allowed to complete their full double term, with their stay in office having been truncated in 2011 when Ohakim lost

the seat of power to Okorocha.

He argues that equity demands that Imo North should have their full terms in office before power shifts to Imo East or any other geopolitical zone in the state. He fears that Imo needs urgent intervention.

Araraume is coming into the race on his merits and with several years of experience in his kitty. The senator, in recent times,

$US480bn The nominal GDP of Sweden (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

has called attention to the injustice he suffered in the hands of the party when his governorship ticket secured in the PDP platform after a keenly contested party primaries was rendered nugatory by what is now popularly known as an elite conspiracy in the party. He maintains that the Okorocha administration is part of the negative consequences of the injustice against him that

6%

The percentage of women population above 60 years in Djibouti in 2012.

Source: Un.org

should be addressed if the PDP must make headway.

Ihedioha, on his part, is coming into the race demanding the right of Imo East in the governance of Imo State. He understands that Imo East has, for so long, been factored out of the political calculation in the state and is therefore coming into the race with a burning desire to assert Imo East in the governorship of the state.

1.25m

The total number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Finland in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

Since the return to democracy in 1999, Imo East has not ascended the governorship seat till date. So, for Ihedioha, a third-term federal legislator, there is no better time to bid for the governorship of Imo State than now. Ihedioha, who also has exchanged brickbats with Okorocha on the pages of newspapers, insists that in 2015, Okorocha must go and Imo reclaimed from the brink of collapse.

N492.4m

The total capital importation value of the Servicing sector in 2007.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

Igbeaku Orji

L-R: Marketing Manager, GOtv, Mr. Dare Kafar; General Manager, Mrs. Elizabeth Amkpa, General Manager, Super sports, Mr. Felix Awogu and Board Member, Lagos Football Association, Mr. Mojeed Adegbidin, at the press conference for the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship in Lagos…yesterday

T

APC S/East leaders endorse Nda - Isaiah

Umuahia

wo tertiary institutions in Abia State, the Abia State Polytechnic and the School of Health Technology, both in Aba, have benefited from the National Communications Commission (NCC) Advance Digital Access Programme for Tertiary Institutions (ADAPTI).

Inaugurating ADAPTI computer studios with 110 computers sets each, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, said it was one of the programmes initiated by the commission to bridge the digital divide existing in the academia with provision of computers and other ICT facilities to equip the lecturers and other experts with ICT skills to enrich the quality of teaching and research in the various tertiary institutions in the country.

The aim, according to Juwa, was to facilitate the acquisition of more skills and knowledge in ICT to prepare the nation for the digital challenge and equip the youths with necessary digital skills.

Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

L

eaders of thought, women groups and the youth organs of the All Progressives Congress( APC) in the SouthEast zone yesterday unanimously endorsed the publisher of Leadership Newspaper and Presidential aspirant, Chief Sam Nda-Isaiah as their preferred choice ahead of the party’s presidential primaries..

In a media conference in Abakaliki, the South East Coordinator of Sam4Nigeria Presidential Organisation, Elder Sam Igwe, said Nda Isaiah was unquestionably a very talented man, who has brought intellectual creativity, robust professional capabilities and unprecedented integrity to private sector service to the country.

The former defunct Ac-

tion Congress of Nigeria( ACN) Chairman, stated that with his wealth of experience and other leadership qualities, he would transform the country within two years, adding that the country was in dire need of a man that is selfless, committed to the well being of the people and have never been indicted for corrupt practices. He said NdahIsaiah alone possessed such qualities.

He noted that the endorsement, which took place in Abakaliki, witnessed a large turnout of party faithful.

According to him: “It is not in doubt that among those seeking the nomination of the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket, Sam remains the most qualified. He is the youngest and he has never been indicted. Someone who grew from grass to grace deserves to preside over the affairs of this country.

Imo debunks Ogbuagu’s claims Steve Uzoechi Owerri

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he Imo State government has officially reacted to the threat-to-life allegation levelled by Mr Uche Ogbuagu, former Special Assistant on Entertainment to Governor Rochas Okorocha, on some senior officials of the state government.

Ogbuagu had alleged a threat to his life and those of members of his family, listing the mobile phone numbers of the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere; Principal Secretary to the Governor, Paschal Obi; and son-in-law to the governor and Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Uche Nwosu as some of the numbers that called to threaten his life.

But Sam Onwuemeodo, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, who issued a statement and also spoke to New Telegraph on the telephone, said, “We have the strong feeling that Mr. Og-

buagu has come up with this threat to his life to force us to react, having said and written a lot of things against the governor and the administration without getting our attention or reactions.”

Onwuemeodo stated that there was no basis for threatening Ogbuagu and noted that though Ogbuagu claims he was being owed some money and that he resigned from his appointment, the truth was that he was sacked alongside some other appointees.

“We challenge him to publish his letter of appointment and his resignation letter, to help Imo people evaluate his claims and to know whether he has been sincere about the whole thing or he has just become a tool in the hands of some politicians. He is not running for the governorship of the state and is not one of the political leaders, that he should be considered a threat to any politician, at any level.”

Expert advocates use of trained dogs for surveillance Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

he proprietor of a priT vate security outfit in Umuahia, Abia State, El-

der Cyra Obi, has advocated the use of trained dogs by security agencies in carrying out surveillance checks. Obi, who is the proprietor of Trust links Guards and Dog Institute, made the call while speaking to newsmen in Umuahia. He observed that the trend in the past was the engagement of welltrained dogs as guards by corporate bodies and institutions to safe guard their property, “but today, the demand for dogs as guards has gone down”.

He called for government patronage in this direction for advancement of the institute in the state as he maintained that the presence of dogs in private and public places renders effective services that cannot be compared to human guard.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

PDP endorsements

Shetima: Governor’s endorsement of successor, undemocratic

Leading Woman

KSB: I cannot be intimidated in politics

Transformation Agenda

14

15

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13

Fashola: No transformation in Jonathan’s agenda

Politics

One of the damaged vehicles

Edo State was recently turned into a theatre of violence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) engaged in a supremacy battle ahead of the 2015 general election, writes CAJETAN MMUTA

O

f recent, the political space in Edo State has been charged such that forces in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have turned the state into a battleground. The leaders and members of both parties have engaged each other in a bitter political rivalry and hate with the attendant violent attacks.

At the centre of the brouhaha is the supremacy battle between loyalists of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Chief Tony Anenih, the chairman, Board of

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Oshiomhole

Reign of terror in Edo Trustees (BoT) of the PDP over the control of the Edo State House of Assembly located within the Kings Square in the ancient of Benin.

The 2015 general election is another issue fueling the supremacy battle between the two parties. Eggheads, members and supporters of both political camps are not leaving anything to chance in their resolve to have major stake in the governance of the state.

While the PDP political war machinery rolls on to prove its determination to ensure it emerges victorious in the 2015 polls, as well as take control of the Dennis Osadebay Government House come 2016, Oshiomhole’s men are also battleready and not succumbing to any move to beat them to the game.

Sadly, the state has been in the news over the unceremonious split of the 24-member assembly along party lines, as nine PDP lawmakers sit with full police protection at the Ring Road official legislative chamber, while the 15 APC legislators sit in the old executive chamber of the Government House, Benin City.

The intrigues, drama and propaganda that trailed the activities of the lawmakers have defied all known conventions.

The ugly scenario is in the face of glaring defiance, abuses, denials, falsehoods, betrayals, claims and counter-claims of right and wrong between leaders of both the PDP and APC, who are locked in a ferocious power game. Not left out are

the heaps of pending litigations and violation of court orders.

The struggle for power control, relevance and money was instrumental to the spark of fire on Saturday morning and reign of terror when thugs loyal to the PDP invaded the Edo State House of Assembly Legislators’ quarters smashing whatever was in sight. More than 36 cars belonging to members of the APC in the quarters were destroyed in the process. The rampaging thugs numbering about 150 in 15 Hilux buses during the rage also shattered doors and windows of seven official residential buildings (chalets) of the APC lawmakers.

By the time the 30 minutes operation which, according to eye witnesses, started at about 6:30a.m. was over, property worth millions of naira had been destroyed while expended bullet cartridges littered the area. Many of the legislators, their wives and aides including the House Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu, representing Etsako West constituency 2, his wife and son as well as domestic aide, sustained serious injuries in the attack.

Why the attack The reason for the attack was not far-fetched. Some ex-leaders of the APC now in PDP have scores to settle with the Oshiomhole government over the handling of the state congresses of the APC. The other aspect is the battle by PDP and APC forces to gain control of

the state ahead of 2015 polls.

Supporters of the ruling APC had penultimate Tuesday unleashed terror within the same legislative quarters where they swooped on the PDP legislator representing Etsako West 1 constituency, Abdul Rasaq Momoh. He was beaten black and blue and is presently in coma with deep injuries at the intensive care unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin City.

The lawmaker was said to have engaged some security aides in a hot altercation over domestic issues which later caused a serious fight. New Telegraph gathered that some APC supporters having a meeting within the premises had rushed to the scene and descended severely on Momoh. He was rescued by a team of policemen on patrol and sympathizers and later rushed to the hospital.

While the APC lawmakers are now counting their loses, the police last week arrested and arraigned the Majority Leader, Shaibu, Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West) and three others before an Oredo Magistrate Court on two-count charge of assault on Momoh before Magistrate P. E. Asemotah. The two APC lawmakers were later granted bail on payment of N200,000 each while the three others Eboise Emmanuel (38 years), Promise Ogiso (23 years) and Ernest Arasomwan (26 years) were also granted bail respectively on the payment of N200,000 CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Politics

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

OPEN FORUM ...PDP NWC Directive to states on aspirants’ endorsement

Kuye: Aspirants must face primaries Chief Taiwo Kuye is a member of the State Executive Committee (SEC) of Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

I

believe whether President Goodluck Jonathan is endorsed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or not, he is still going to face the party’s national convention.

So, by virtue of the constitution of the PDP, either by endorsement or whatever, he will still face the convention, either for ratification or for election.

That is the level On the issue of controversy trailing the endorsement of some people by some PDP governors as their successors, it may not hold ground because the process in which those governors are

Chief Chekwas Okorie is the National Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP)

I

n political party administration, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of any party is the highest executive body, so whatever decision taken at the level is seen as the position of the party. It is seen that the party has spoken. The organ higher than the NEC is the national convention, but because a convention doesn’t take place often, the NEC takes decisions on behalf of the convention.

So, that is what I saw the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) do in the case of Presi-

Kuye

endorsing people as their successors is getting too outrageous. We have a situation where some of them are not playing the game according to the rules; that is to say according to the PDP constitution.

There are many ways you can endorsement a candidate but it should not be unilateral. It must be all encompassing. That is to say there would be a level play ground for other aspirants.

The hierarchy of the party from the ward to the state level will agree and aspire to a format. It is not that somebody will stand up one day and say he is endorsing someone. If somebody tried to do that and the foul play is allowed it means that the party constitution has been rendered useless.

I am of the view that everybody should be given opportunity and level playing ground to take part in the party’s primaries without a governor or any party leader imposing someone as candidate on the party. Nobody should stand in terms of molesting internal democracy at any level. The beauty of a party is internal democracy and people must strictly adhere to it.

People should be allowed to go to primaries. And if there is a resolve for endorsement, or putting heads together by stakeholders to endorse someone as candidate, all other aspirants must agree to it. But where it is not available

and it cannot be done, everybody must participate and face primaries.

It would not be fair for anybody to be endorsed as party’s candidate to the detriment of other aspirants. I believe nobody has the right to endorse or raise the hand of anybody as PDP candidate.

Even if someone is endorsed, the person must still face the party’s congress to allow for a level play ground. All aspirants at state level must be allowed to face the congress and good luck to anybody that emerges as the party’s candidate.

Giving free hand to party members to elect those who will fly the party’s flag at general elections will definitely strengthen the party. The PDP of today has come back to the PDP of the old days of 1999 to 2003, where PDP is full to the brim and has a strong presence all over the federation. All those who defected from the party are back to its fold now in all the federation, and we are expecting a winning machine of PDP in nothing less than 27 to 29 states in Nigeria.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Okorie: Breach of commitments, not good for president’s image dent Goodluck Jonathan. It is not unusual in party democracy anywhere in the world for an incumbent to have the right of first refusal. And because our rules do not allow such provision, the PDP has tried to produce that by such endorsement.

But at the state level, the National Working Committee (NWC), represents the NEC, acting on behalf of the latter, may decide that what was done in the case of the president is not applicable at the state level.

That is entirely a party affair.

So, I would not be in a position to criticize what the PDP did even though we do it in a differ-

ent way in the United Progressive Party (UPP).

In the UPP, if we are introducing any measure, it is always across board. However, the PDP has the right to approach issues the way it deems right. It does not offend democracy but it can hurt it.

If the governors see it as a breach of trust, they should say so, but if they decide to work against the president in the election without making their feelings known, it would be seen as anti-party and that is not good for the ruling party.

But the issue of breach of trust appears to be dogging the way of President Jona-

than every inch of the way. It would be recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo raised the same issue sometime ago. Some people in the North also said that he made some commitments regarding his second term, which they say, he had reneged on.

And here again, the governors who rallied round to get him endorsed are also bearing grudges of breach of trust.

This is not good for the image of the president. The commitment he makes and the serial breaches are not good for him in this election period.

Interview by Felix Nwaneri

Okorie

Shettima: Governor’s endorsement of successor, undemocratic Alhaji Yerima Shettima is the president, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF)

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he process at which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for re-election and prevented the governors from picking their successor shows that we have a system where the number one person in the country becomes a thin god, and where he can impeach a governor if he is not comfortable with the governor no mat-

ter the good record and performance of the governor. But if you are in good terms with the president you cannot be impeached no matter how corrupt you are. What happened was a thing that ordinarily all of us should have rejected. It was easy for the president to remove the governor but difficult for the system no matter how powerful you are to remove a sitting president. It has never happened.

I believe that until we change the 1999 constitution and reduce the power at the center, that is when you can be rest assured that the number one man cannot decide anything the way he wants. Obviously, I am not surprised about what happened.

The reason the governors can-

Shettima

not push is because they are so corrupt, and if they try to push more on their demand, they will be rubbished by the man at the centre. So, we have systematic

problem.

Ordinarily one would expect that in a normal democracy, the party would have allowed due process by allowing people to go for party primaries and decide within the party if Jonathan is competent to contest again and become their sole presidential candidate or not. But in this case, you can see how corrupt the party leaders are; they just endorsed Jonathan at the detriment of millions of Nigerians who were members of the party.

I don’t think they really carried the party members at the state or zonal level along before they endorsed Jonathan. They just endorsed him and nobody can challenge the endorsement because anybody that tries to do such would be frustrated. That

was what happened. Ordinarily, what they did was not normal.

I believe it is not right and it is undemocratic for a governor to endorse someone as his successor. Peoples’ wish should be allowed to prevail. The people will have to decide who should lead them. But the day a governor begins to endorse someone as his successor, there would be more trouble, lack of transparency, lack of accountability, democracy would never be stable and we will start moving from one calamity to another. We will also find it difficult to get a good leader because anybody bringing in his successor will bring in someone who will cover up corruption.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Leading Woman

15

KSB: I cannot be intimidated in politics

Kenny Saint Best (KSB), Vice President of Kennis Music and multiple award winning gospel singer is aspiring for the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikeja 1 Constituency seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, she speaks on her political aspirations and why she wants to represent the people. Excerpts You are a gospel singer, why are you venturing into politics?

Politics is about public service; serving the people. I believe I am part of the people.

I have been a public servant as an entertainer and as a music executive, helping a lot of youths. My team, the Kennis Music, has contributed immensely to the growth of entertainment in Nigeria and the socio-economic development of Nigerian youths. Lagos State as a cosmopolitan city is the hub of entertainment because it is where music and entertainment business strive most. We have contributed our quota to the entertainment industry, but personally I realised there is a huge gap between the government and the youths.

I am coming in to bridge the gap. The ministry saddled with the responsibility of taking care of the youths at federal, state and local government levels are attached to either sports and women ministry and by doing that the needs of the youths are ignored. Youths are over 60 per cent of the entire population in the country, but it is a pity that no ministry is attached to them, that is why the youths are unemployed and feel neglected.

Is it then right to say that your motive of venturing into politics is to champion the cause of youths?

I have already started championing the cause of youths by even talking, but I believe that there should be bills and laws put in place to change the structure at which the government should meet the needs of the youths. Nigerian youths are now educated, but jobs are not forthcoming. See what happened when the Nigerian Immigration Service was to recruit. They wanted 5,000 people but over 500,000 applied.

So, I believe that somebody has to go into the legislative arm to let government see the need to make laws and put in place structures that will address the challenges of the youths.

Why Ikeja 1 Constituency?

That is where I have been living for close to 10 years. That is why I have been participat-

ing in community activities and development of that constituency. Ikeja is where prostitution is practised most. It has the largest number of clubs. The constituency has the highest number of idle young people. Somebody needs to be part of the government to champion the cause of the youths. Computer Village is in Ikeja, how has government taken advantage of the kind of brains in that place?

People come from other West African countries come to Computer Village but there is no Information Technology (IT) institution there. Blog business is young people’s business. Is there anyway government has engaged them? Is there anyway government has been able to engage the young girls that hawk during the day and night?

Many people have described politics as a dirty game. What is your take on this?

It is wrong to generalise that because some people play dirty politics, everybody plays dirty politics. Hon. Abike DabiriErewa is a woman and she has played good politics as a politician. It is because we are calling it politics, let us call it service. Public service is what it is and when you are there, you have been assigned a job to do and you have a duty to get the job done. And women always get the job done; the records are there.

Are you not worried about the belief that female politicians are allegedly harassed sexually?

Are they not exposed to sexual harassment in entertainment industry? It is a common thing in the world.

A lot of women can be intimidated, not someone like me.

When I went into music, there were not many women in music? How many women were singing gospel music then.

And when I came to the mainstream but still singing gospel, people would have expected me to have been intimidated, to change the content of my song so that it could be accepted. But I put gospel on beat that was main stream and it was accepted. I love tough terrains and I was born to face tough

Best

terrains. So, it is not all women who can be intimidated. It is not in all cases that there are sexual harassments, and it is not in all political games that there is sexual harassment.

There are not enough women in governance; there should be balance of gender in politics and in government.

There should be more women in top positions in government and that is one of the reasons why I came out

How confident are you of getting the APC ticket?

By the special grace of God, I will get it. And APC has even made it easier for women; they made the nomination form free and people are clamouring for 35 per cent women participation in politics. So they have made it a bit more encouraging for women to come out.

Do you think it will be easy for you to get your party’s ticket considering that you are competing with men?

I have always competing with men. I have raised men in the cause of my private service. I have raised men to become successful and I have been contributing to the development of the youths of Nigeria; more men than women. Nothing can intimidate somebody like me out of the race and from helping people to come out of their poverty stage.

What are the major programmes that you intend to do if you become a member of Lagos State House of Assembly?

I have a four-point agenda, which I tag; ‘Transformation galore.’ My number one agenda is socio-economic development for the youths. The second agenda is entertainment development. The third agenda is more women involvement in government. I believe there are not enough women in government. There are not enough women in governance; there should be balance of gender in politics and in government.

There should be more women

in top positions in government and that is one of the reasons why I came out.

My fourth agenda is probity and transparency in government. Let leaders be answerable to the people that put them there. Let electorate be able to call their leaders to order to say; we appointed you the other time; we elected you, see your score card, you scored nothing, and because of that we are not voting you next time. I also want to champion the need for leaders to be answerable to the electorate.

Why are people in the entertainment industry venturing into politics?

Because it is easier to serve; we have been serving as public servants, if you don’t know.

Each time people think that government has failed; they will play our comedy to make them laugh. Our music gladdens people’s soul and our movies summarise what many people are passing through, so, we have been giving people succour. We know that we are skilled enough for the job. We are the faces you know; the voices you have heard and we have heard people’s cry. We are as skilled as those that are already leading, and we have all it takes to lead. May be, we didn’t get the job when we needed it; that is why we brought up our talents and developed it. We know that we can’t fail. So if we never failed by not getting jobs then; we want to make sure that Nigerians too get more than what they are getting now.

16

Politics

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC, PDP thugs bare fangs in Edo C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

each with sureties.

Governor’s allegation Oshiomhole alleged that “the PDP leaders had a meeting where it was decided that thugs should be recruited using one Idehen to come and perpetrate this attack.” He also accused the police of complicity in the heinous act.

He said: “It is very clear that the police granted permission for this attack. The commissioner of police was informed at about 10p.m. last night of the plan of the PDP to attack the legislative quarters and the APC office.”

According to him, “We made this intelligence report available to the Commissioner of Police and you can see that even the minimal police presence here was evacuated so that these thugs can come and have a free reign of terror. This morning, when they assembled at a point they were meant to assemble, the fact was conveyed to the commissioner of police.

“They actually assembled at George Idah Primary School in the morning before they proceeded and the Police provided supervision for this very serious criminal act. It is very clear that the police command granted permission to PDP to carry out this heinous crime.”

Oshiomhole cautioned that: “For all Nigerians, at a time when we are confronted by insurgency and other forms of violent crime, one will expect that any functionary of the other party will share the concern of the president on peace and security. You can see some of the PDP leaders in Edo State having lost out and rejected by the people believe that they can create a situation that will make Edo State ungovernable and create complete distraction in their futile calculation that they can remove themselves from power.”

He described the situation as “a very dangerous thing,” pointing out that he was not “much worried about the violent character of the PDP” but “what seems to be the police readiness to provide them with cover.”

He recalled: “During the local government election, Razak Momoh was arrested by the police with two guns; a pistol and a double barrel gun. As at that time, during the local government election, he was still a member of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

“When he was arrested and the facts were brought to my attention, I asked the police to ensure that he was prosecuted according to the law. He was remanded by court in prison for four months before he was granted bail and as we speak that matter is pending at the High Court.”

Oshiomhole said about six months before the election, Momoh was shot and was taken to the hospital where he encouraged the lawmaker to disclose who shot him and he claimed he didn’t know.

“This is someone who has a history of violence. History of carrying guns and attacking people with guns and I have insisted, and I still do, that everyone who has committed crime must be prosecuted according to the law of the land. The fact that he is a lawmaker makes it imperative for him to be seen to obey the law. And the police told me then that when he was arrested he asked the police, do you know who he is? That he is a member of the House of Assembly and the police had to remind him that he doesn’t have immunity.”

“My warning to PDP is that power is very transient. Today you are in power, tomorrow you are out of power. Any crime you have committed that the present political order covers you, when the order changes, you will report to justice,” Oshiomhole cautioned.

PDP denies involvement The state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, denied the involvement of the party in the attack.

Orbih said: “There is no truth whatsoever

Another car damaged by the hoodlums

in the governor’s allegations. After welcoming Mr. President to Edo State on Friday, many of us went to our houses, had a light dinner and went to bed.

“It is common knowledge that what happened may have been borne out of the attack on Hon. Rasaq Momoh and the fact that those accused are free today. What happened this morning was not the work of our party. We believe in the ability of the law enforcement agencies to deal with the situation.”

He lamented that days after the attack on Momoh, “Governor Oshiomhole has not deemed it fit to condemn the attack on an elected member of the House of Assembly,” adding that “miscreants and officially known thugs are now part of the Edo State government occupying offices.”

A precursor A similar incidence of thuggery had also taken place a week before the latest occurrences at the Benin Airport when thugs loyal to the PDP nearly disrupted President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the state for the foundation laying of a $1 billion Azura Gas-powered Independent Power Project in Benin City. That was the second time the president would be visiting the state in two weeks, having attended a PDP South-South unity rally held in Benin City on Saturday, September 27.

The president’s visit which was to show solidarity with the Edo State government under Oshiomhole for attracting such a huge investment to the state was however temporarily hijacked by thugs who stormed the Airport in their numbers chanting antiOshiomhole songs. The thugs physically assaulted some senior officials of the Edo State Government including Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon; Edo State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Anselm Ojezua and some commissioners.

They had in the process disrupted activities at the airport for several minutes making it impossible for a combined team of soldiers and policemen deployed to the area to control them in the full glare of key PDP leaders. Personnel were later mobilised from the nearby Air Force Base to disperse the unruly thugs from the airport before the president’s plane touched down.

The APC state Publicity Secretary Godwin Erhahon who confirmed the activities of the political thugs said: “As I joined my costate officers to welcome President Jonathan on the invitation of our Comrade Governor Oshiomhole, I was attacked by thugs of some PDP leaders who violently objected to my wearing APC-labelled shirt to the occasion.

“It took the effort of some patriotic police

officers and the Chief of Staff, Government House to rush me to safety even as the thugs reigned blows, kicks and slaps on me. They equally attacked APC state auditor, Mr. Joe Imasuen.”

But the PDP Publicity Secretary, Matthew Urhoghide, said the party was still waiting for the necessary legal action that will bring all the attackers of Momoh at the legislative quarters to justice.

Urhoghide said: “We believe that the premeditated and ungodly attack by APC thugs led by Philip Shaibu was unwarranted, uncivilized and intolerant. Their action is condemnable and we insist that these characters are brought to justice. Any attempt to sweep this pertinent issue using these diversionary accusations will be fruitless as Edo people are patiently waiting.”

I was attacked by thugs of some PDP leaders who violently objected to my wearing APC-labelled shirt to the occasion.

“It took the effort of some patriotic police officers and the Chief of Staff, Government House to rush me to safety even as the thugs reigned blows, kicks and slaps on me

Police warn, Erediauwa admonishes However, the police have in a statement warned against politicaly motivated violence in Benin City ahead the 2015 elections.

The command through DSP Noble Uwoh said: “Activities of hoodlums and miscreants geared towards disturbing the peace of the state will not be tolerated. Political gladiators are warned to stop sponsoring/ masterminding acts of thuggery in the state.

The police will not fold its arms and allow a breakdown of law and order.”

The command further warned: “Henceforth, anyone caught sponsoring or taking part in acts of thuggery will be dealt with decisively according to the laws of the land.

Political actors are advised not to take laws into their hands but to seek redress through the court on matters of disagreement between them.”

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo’noba Erediauwa has through the Traditional Prime Minister of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin, in a statement cautioned politicians against thuggery and violence as the race towards 2015 gets closer.

Oba Erediauwa said the recent violent attacks on political opponents across the country including Edo State called for caution on the part of politicians.

He noted that violence is an ill wind that does no one any good. The monarch called on politicians to refrain from politics of bitterness, and therefore directed the Enigie, chiefs, Igieohen and Edionwere in Benin Kingdom to pray for peaceful co-existence in the country, and also to move to their various dukedoms to sensitise aspirants, political parties and their supporters of the need to live in peace and harmony. He urged politicians to be mindful of the fact that only the living can play politics and not the dead.

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Tuesday in Abuja delivered a lecture titled, “Rebuilding the nation: lessons from other lands” at the Leadership annual conference. In his treatise, Fashola decried the Transformation Agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, describing it as a mere slogan. Below are extracts from the lecture Nigeria’s problems are man-made They say lightning does not strike in the same place twice.

For the sake of all of us, I sincerely hope that this saying holds true for Nigerians.

Whilst thanking my hosts, the Leadership newspaper, for inviting me to speak at this event to celebrate General Yakubu Gowon, a patriot and public servant of no mean repute, I apologise that I must open with such words of what I may call frugally measured hope.

This is because the circumstances which thrust a young General Gowon upon our nation as a leader in the 1960s are not too different from what appears on Nigeria’s political and social landscape from what any honest Nigerian can see.

Indeed, the dark clouds that gather are this time prefaced by an ominous prediction about the continuity of our union from a place far away.

For those who still need to be persuaded, I ask further, why would we gather to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of General Gowon, who led us through a bitter civil war, inaugurated a rebuilding process built on 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation and 44 years after that process we will gather to discuss a topic such as “Rebuilding the Nation: Lessons from other Lands” if all was well with Nigeria.

Why are we not at this occasion celebrating our arrival on the moon?

I do not know how General Gowon feels inwardly as he continues to lead prayers for Nigeria, but I would not be happy that today’s Nigeria is what lives were sacrificed to keep together, if I were him.

Nevertheless, I personally know that all is not lost. I am an optimist. I am convinced that the problems are man-made, and therefore men and women can and will solve them.

I have believed as a child and continue to believe as an adult in the great promise of Nigeria. Whether we like it or not, the promise of Nigeria will be fulfilled. What I do not know is when. Whether it will happen in my lifetime or after. It would be nice to experience it. I can visualize it.

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Fashola: No transformation in Jonathan’s agenda

Fashola

The world’s largest collection of black people, blessed in many more ways than one, diverse in human and material resources, and if only it can unite in its purpose and mission.

I would love to live that dream.

And it is possible. But it must start with us.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Nigeria has not changed. It is us Nigerians who have changed. As one commentator put it, we have lost our innocence.

The assets of Nigeria, in men and material resources, have continued to grow or at least remain undiminished. What has diminished in many vast quantities are our values. We have refused to look in the mirror because we know what we will see and we are not ready to confront it. What we will see is a people who appear unsure again how to define good and bad.

We need conference of values not constitution In order to avoid the confrontation that we must have with ourselves, amongst ourselves and within ourselves, we have thrown up false reasons. The constitution is bad. It is our diversity. It is our religion or it is our ethnicity.

So, in order to avoid the truth, we have lived in our own bubble, amending constitution after constitution as if that was the problem.

Instead of the many Constitutional Conferences that we have had, what we really need is a conference of values. Nigerians have not experienced the promise of this country because our values and moral codes have gone in different directions.

In the last four years, has Nigeria changed for the better?

I do not know about you... As a mere slogan perhaps yes.

As a call to purposeful action, the deception is obvious if you look at the budgets we have presented as a nation, and more critically at how much of it, we have been able to implement

Ever so often, when the Nigerian people have asked the leadership for a better life, we seem to miss the question or we avoid it; we give them a new law or a new document, or we set up one committee.

The ordinary Nigerian will not be as interested in what is written in the constitution, as he will be interested in safety, food, shelter, prosperity, education and work.

But when we finally agree to look in the mirror, we will see that these things have been denied by our values.

From the shortage of electric power, to the deficit of roads, insecurity and crime, sub-optimal economy, high interest rate, poor exchange rates, the poor value issues and misuse of power, greed, selfishness, intolerance, nepotism, favouritism, bribery and other forms of corruption identified since 1970, lie at the heart and as root-cause.

Our problems I have resolved for a long time not to speak badly about my country. But that resolve also comes with another resolve not to pretend about its problems, because I believe they can be solved.

Many words summarise these problems. Inefficiency of government, mistrust between the governed and those governing at the national level. And nothing typifies this more than the Transformation Agenda and the Transformation Ambassadors, who seem to see what all of us and perhaps the rest of the world do not see in our country.

On Transformation Agenda Yes I agree that Nigerians need to unite around an idea or a vision, but for that to happen, the idea or vision must be shared and our efforts must be united towards realising it, while our actions must be consistent with that idea. This is the kernel of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s speech that I referred to.

Has this happened? I cannot answer this question alone. Indeed the answer lies in a joint examination of Nigeria’s current realities and expressed vision; in a Transformation Agenda.

Is this a shared idea, vision or agenda? Was it discussed with you? Do you know what it means?

Let us start from the definition. The word derives from the verb “Transform” which means: “to completely change the character or appearance of something,…so that it is better.”

So if we paraphrase, to transform means ‘to change for the better.’ In the last four years, has Nigeria changed for the better? I do not know about you. But the signs that there was not going to be any transformation were obvious to me since 2011 or thereabouts.

As a mere slogan perhaps yes.

As a call to purposeful action, the deception is obvious if you look at the budgets we have presented as a nation, and more critically at how much of it, we have been able to implement.

Poor budgeting For any serious public officer, nation or government, the budget is the article of faith. It is the easiest place from which the seriousness or lack of seriousness of the people in that country or region are valued. It determines what investors locally and internationally will do.

In a nation where we need to increase the supply of good road networks, where power needs to be produced in multiples of thousands of megawatts, where specialist health care facilities are needed, one would expect a massive investment in financing public infrastructure at a time when oil has been selling for around $100 per barrel.

But details of the Federal Budget pieced together between 2010 and 2013 show that every year in those four years we have budgeted at least 62 per cent and at most 74 per cent on recurrent spending, while the maximum budget for capital expenditure, from which roads, rail, power, hospitals, bridges, etc can be executed have received at most 38 per cent in 2010 before this administration started, and as little as 26 per cent in 2011.

If truly there was a desire to make a change for the better which is what transformation means, it should be obvious as a statement of intent from the budget.

But contrary to what we proCONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Bucana Okpala feels Ufele

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

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wo of a kind you may say. Both were very reliable defenders who fought on the Biafran side, played for the Eagles and wore the white of the Flying Antelopes. Ernest Ufele and Luke Okpala died in the same month, the same year.

Last month, September 2014, the duo left us. Rangers are in mourning, having lost two heroes of the past.

They both won the Challenge Cup, with ECN Lagos and Enugu Rangers respectively. They also lifted the Amachree Cup in 1971 with the Coal City team ,and National Sports festival gold with East Central State Spartans ,in 1973.

Okpala’s sobriquet was Jazzman Bucana. Hard as Olumo rock, the left-back did not see himself as a rough player. “ I was not rough, people did not get me right. I played robust football. I cannot remember bagging a red card all through my career”, he protested at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu, one cool Friday night in 1991, at the Ben Osi Umunna organized Rangers Award Night.

I walked down memory lane with Okpala, and he was happy to bare his mind. Soccer started so early at St. Joseph’s Primary School, Onitsha where he left ,as captain ,in 1957. Then he took his game and position to Notre Dame College Abatete, finishing in 1963.

Between 1961and 1963, Bucana was a member of the Nigerian Academicals team that included such fine players as Johnny Egbuonu, who would later end up as a Vet. Doctor, Umpire Kanu, Edward Akika, yes ,the athlete, Mike Nwokedi, and Lateef Gomez.

Right from college, Okpala joined Onitsha Red Devils and ended up as team captain. In 1964, he moved to Lagos to team up with the Achebe brothers, Fred and God-

win in Electricity Corporation of Nigeria [ ECN ]. It was also the year of his Eagles debut in Santa Isabela[today’s Malabo] in Equatorial Guinea.

In 1965, ECN won the Challenge Cup. That was the team of the Achebes, Paul Hamilton, Lawrence Omeokachie, Sebastine Brodericks, Austin Oduah and keeper Rigogo Inua.

Civil War took its toll. Ufele and Okpala joined Biafran forces to fight. At the end of the war, they rushed back to Lagos. That was when Jerry Enyeazu lured them to Enugu with a friendly with Enugu Black Rocks. Game over, both were conscripted to start a new side , Enugu Rangers. Pioneer captain was Goddy Achebe.

Rangers hit the Challenge Cup final in 1971 and looked good for the trophy. But there was one cat of a goalkeeper, Amusa Adisa who manned the posts for Western Nigeria Development Corporation [WNDC], Ibadan.

At 2-1, Rangers had an opportunity to level scores.

There was a penalty kick. Achebe was an expert and could not miss. Adisa did the unimaginable. He stopped Achebe’s kick. Dejo Fayemi led his boys to victory. Okpala recalled that as his saddest moment.

But Rangers still went international that year courtesy of the Amachree Cup which they won at the expense of the Army team that comprised men like Hamilton, Segun Olumodeji and Mohammed Lawal. Rangers paraded Johnny ‘Wheeler’ Nwosu, Chukwuma Igweonwu, Shedrack Ajaero, ‘Flying cat’ Cyril Okosieme and Keneth Abana, among other stars. The match ended 2-1.

Bucana left Rangers in 1973 for a coaching course in Toronto, Canada. In later years, he turned coach. From Vasco Da Gama, to PRODA, CCB to Anambra Academicals, YSFON team to Europe, Enugu Black Rocks. He raised youngsters.

Ufele won the Challenge Cup with Rangers in 1974 and 1975. And was part of the first Nigerian squad to play in the grand –finale of the Africa Cup of champion clubs. The full back was on target in Mehalla Egypt as the Flying Antelopes lost for the very first time in the series that year, 1-3, to the Egyptians.

That was the first time Keeper Emmanuel Oguejiofor [OAU] Okala would not complete a match for the club. His sights failed him, Francis Azuokwu stepped in. Much later in 1982, Okala got a red card against Petro Atletico of Angola.

Ufele ended up as a very successful businessman and even joined politics. He was not one of those who looked up to the government for rehabilitation. At the same time, he did not shy away from soccer. He was a member of the Rangers management team in the Umunna years.

Bucana was really concerned about the plight of old Rangers players. During a match in Enugu in 1992, he reminded me of so many of them. “ If you see Achebe, you will not believe that this same man captained Nigeria,” Okpala said. He showed me Johnny Azinge whose career was hampered following a motor accident on the Ore-Benin Road in 1975, that claimed the life of defender Chukwuma ‘Newman’ Onyeaghala.

Today, Bucana is gone, just like Ufele. In the month of September. James Ogidinma Ibeabuchi and Nwachukwu ‘Igariga’ Onyekwelu, both Winners Cup champions with Rangers in 1977, also died in the same month, albeit ,in different years. And in similar circumstances. Ogidi died in a car crash along the Benin-Asaba Highway after graduating from the University of Benin ,in 1986.

Igariga, I guess, died in 1987. In February.

I am glad Chief Willie Obiano is the governor of Anambra state. And it is good news that the commissioner for Sports is Chief Tony Nnacheta. Oh, Chief Tony Onyima is thecommissioner for Information.

I have no doubt in my mind that Onyima will duly inform the governor of the passages. Nnacheta, the best NFA chairman Nigeria never had, should seize this opportunity to plan a grandiose farewell for these two great Nigerian stars, of Anambra background.

In life, Okpala and Ufele were pals. Death has also united them. The Anambra State government should cap it all with memorable funeral. Bucana’s widow Nnnenna could look at her children, Afam, Chikezie and Chioma and say to the Ufeles, we are so proud of Luke and Ernest, even in death.

Institutionalising maintenance culture in Nigeria Chinedum Emeana

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ecently, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL) concluded another Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of its plants, according to the latest edition of the company’s in-house magazine Indorama-Nigeria Impact. Dangote and Stallion have also turned Benue Cement Company (BCC) and Volkswagen of Nigeria (VON) around through TAM. TAM is the planned periodic shutdown (total or partial) of a process plant to perform maintenance, overhaul and repair operations of the plant. It involves inspection and testing, revamping and regenerating and debottlenecking among other allied activities. This is a very essential activity in the process industry, according to experts. This is in order to renew plants that, out of necessity, have to run non-stop around the clock to ensure continuous and sustainable maximal output. IEPL has undertaken this activity three times now in seven years.

TAM rejuvenates a plant that would have gone into decline into a new one.

Thus, production and other activities continue and jobs are secured while new ones are created. Following the completion of the turnaround maintenance work, the company’s technical experts declared “what we have is like a brand new plant,” according to the magazine referenced above. This is one of the main

significance of maintenance. This is also another reason to once again take another look at the need to institute a culture of maintenance in our country.

This is not a new concept to us because for a long time the issue of lack of a culture of maintenance has been the concern of everyone. The campaign to ingrain the habit of maintenance in Nigerians has never been lacking. Maintaining a property of value to continue to remain valuable and deliver value should ordinarily not be a big deal or news.

In 2005, the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) put up about 28 companies for privatization because they have ceased to add optimum value to society as they had gone in decline. They ranged from operators in the oil and gas sector to manufacturing, iron and steel, paper milling, automotive industry, mining and river basin development, among others.

Some of the national assets put up for privatisation then were Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company Limited, Delta Steel Company, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Nigerian Coal Corporation, Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mill Company, Federal Super Phosphate Fertilizer Co Limited, Nigerian Machine Tools Limited, and Nigerian Newsprint Manufacturing.

Others are Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited, Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company Limited, Nigeria Gas Company Limited, Pipelines and

Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Stallion Property and Development Company Limited, Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company Limited among others.

Unfortunately, the federal government succeeded in handing over only a few of these companies to credible partners who have made a success of the companies once again by proper management and appropriate maintenance of the facilities and equipment.

These companies have once again become agents of economic development for the country.

The malaise of poor maintenance culture plagues many big production industries in several sectors of the economy where Nigeria should have been producing and sustaining employment. Instead the country spends foreign exchange importing things she should be producing here while creating and sustaining jobs in other countries. So sad!

With all these companies working and the fresh investments coming into the country, imagine where our economy will be in five/ten years’ time when another GDP rebasing is carried out by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) who has suddenly become very energized and passionately contributing to national planning and development.

Therefore we must continue to insist on proper maintenance of our national assets because our shortcomings

in that area have become an albatross to our national development. We must ingrain maintenance culture into our national life. But how can this be practically achieved seeing that the need to develop a maintenance culture has become a national singsong for so long without achieving the desired behavioural change?

I humbly and sincerely recommend that the federal and state governments continue to pursue the privatisation option with zeal following due process and adopting the IEPL equity sharing formula where the private sector managers obtain controlling shares, while the rest is shared among the federal and state governments, host communities and employees. I urge organised labour and other patriotic Nigerians to support this option for the benefit of the country, now and in the future.

Is maintenance culture possible in Nigeria? Yes, we can, under the right management for our national assets.

Just look at what Indorama is doing with Eleme Petrochemicals, see what Dangote is doing with Benue Cement Company, and see what Stallion is doing with Volkswagen of Nigeria. There are other success stories like those…let them help us to make up our minds quickly and support due- processed privatisation.

• Chinedum Emeana is former head, Port Harcourt operations, Financial Standard Newspaper. He now practices Public Relations in Port Harcourt.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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EDITORIAL

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

Sanctity of Truth

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

The world food crisis

he World Food Day is celebrated on October 16 of every year, to commemorate the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. The day is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development. The 2014 World Food Day theme –Family Farming: Feeding the world, caring for the earth--has been chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers. It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.” This is a strong signal that the international community recognizes the important contribution of family farmers to world food security. Family farming is inextricably linked to national and global food security. Both in developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector. Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities, and it is linked to several areas of

rural development. There are more than 570 million farms in the world of which over 500 million are family owned and responsible for at least 56 per cent of agricultural production.

The latest FAO estimates indicate that global hunger reduction continues: about 805 million people are estimated to be chronically undernourished in 2012–14, down more than 100 million over the last decade, and 209 million lower than in 1990–92.

In the same period, the prevalence of undernourishment has fallen from 18.7 to 11.3 percent globally and from 23.4 to 13.5 percent for developing countries.

Since 1990-92, 63 countries have reached the hunger target of MDG-1 and 25 countries have achieved the more stringent WFS target. Of the 63 developing countries, 11 already had undernourishment levels below 5 percent in 1990-1992. The figures demonstrate that the hunger target of the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of undernourished people in developing countries by 2015 is within reach.

Sustained political commitment at the highest level, with food security and nutrition as top priorities, is a prerequisite for hunger eradication.

The case studies of the State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014 report shows that regions such as Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as individual countries, have strengthened their political commitment to food security and nutrition.

Hunger reduction requires an integrated approach and needs to include: public and private investments to raise agricultural productivity; better access to inputs, land, services, technologies and markets; measures to promote rural development; social protection for the most vulnerable, including strengthening their resilience to conflicts and natural disasters and specific nutrition programmes, particularly to address micronutrient deficiencies in mothers and children under five.

Although, the present government has, through the leadership of the minister of agriculture, done a lot to sanitize the agriculture sector in the country, a lot more still needs to be done to achieve food self-sufficiency.

For example, in one of his recent presentations, Adesina lamented that Nigeria spends over N356 billion yearly on the importation of rice. Similarly, Nigeria spends over N100 billion annually to import fish and N1.6 trillion on the importation of wheat, sugar, rice and fish. The minister also regretted that Nigeria habours the third highest number of stunted children in the world with 41 per cent of children under five stunted, 23 per cent underweight and 14 per cent wasted. Also, Nigeria’s import and export ratio has remained at 92 per cent import and 8 per dent export. The fear of hunger and its consequences has compelled governments to initiate and manage feasible food production programmes, while making efforts to expand their

citizens’ access to food. In Nigeria, the three tiers of government have been striving to promote food production in an effort to feed the increasing population and avert food crisis.

While in developed countries mechanisation has taken over from the use of raw human power, in Nigeria, most farmers still till the land using traditional farming tools such as hoes, diggers, cutlasses and the like. The challenge of mechanization is, therefore, of far-reaching significance. The use of poorly-yielding varieties of planting materials further compounds the problem as crop yields across the nation has also remained a big challenge. This has ensured that yields are largely stagnant and low over time, posing serious threats to the requisite level of agricultural production to achieve food security.

We believe part of the steps towards averting food crisis is for the country to begin to emphasize large-scale, mechanized farming. This entails embracing the use of tools, implements and machines for a wide range of farm operations such as land preparation, planting, harvesting, onfarm processing, among others. We should work out a pragmatic policy aimed at funding technological acquisition to implement big farm programmes in Nigeria as a panacea to the ever-present threat of food crisis against the backdrop of burgeoning population. There couldn’t be a better time to consider this option that in a ‘World Food Month’.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Geoffrey Ekenna

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

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Politics

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

fess, our budgets spend more on recurrent; payment of salaries, travel, importing kerosene, petrol, rice and every other imaginable thing.

My take on transformation What is transformational about that? For the record, since around 2011, I have made a conscious effort not to use that word, and whenever I have succumbed to the unconscious use of it, it has been with very deep regret.

The truth is that we are not “transforming” for the better. Our own definition of the word seems to be different from the one in the dictionary.

It is obvious in all spheres of our national life, the evidence stares us in the face. No patrol vehicles for policemen, arms are being rushed in purchase because none was budgeted for until we hit a crisis.

So, we have heard of wives of soldiers protesting deployment of their husbands, soldiers making tactical withdrawals, small nations that are not as big as some local governments in Nigeria embarrassing us. Yet some Nigerians, who claim they are more patriotic than us, say that they are Ambassadors of this transformation and that we are wrong because all is well.

Really is all well? When last did Sudan, a nation that has been caught in civil strife, go to the Nations Cup, not to talk of defeating Nigeria? I know that they won the Nations Cup in 1970 when they hosted it. But I cannot remember when last Nigeria lost a match to Sudan. But it happened on Saturday.

In our group with Congo and South Africa, we are the only nation that has not defeated Sudan. They lost by 3-0 to South Africa, and by 2-0 to Congo. FIFA has threatened to ban us, given us ultimata more times in a year.

This is happening when we are defending champions.

But how did we consolidate our success as African champions? We removed a young minister who was rebuilding our sports and connecting with his generation. His offence? He did not attend a political rally.

How consistent is this action with the transformational agenda to empower the young people of this country?

Again you will see inconsistency; words leading in the opposite direction of action.

How can we transform if we spent over N2 trillion on importing fuel? This is approximately $12.5 billion.

For those who are curious enough, please simply Google the cost of building the Burj Khalifa. It was the tallest building in the world when it was completed about four years ago and quickly became a foremost global tourism destination. It cost $1.5 billion and an oil-producing Emirate like our country used the same income source to send a strong statement of development and excellence to the whole world.

According to our own government, our transformation is evident in the handful of billionaires and the number of their private jets. In order to understand our transformation, you might wonder what kind of ideology this transformation is, which makes it difficult to buy arms to pursue and diminish criminals.

Every person who cares to ask will easily find out that conflicts around the world are pursued with small arms which are in proliferation in the hands of criminals.

Yet we have been unable to get legally or illegally, what criminals get readily.

If this is the case, what does it say of our ability to apprehend them, if they can do illegally, what we cannot do illegally or legally? Some transformation.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

2015: Nigerians must vote for change, says Fashola

Jonathan

My heart bleeds My heart bleeds when I recount how we move from one avoidable embarrassment to another and so I will say no more. What I have said is only necessary to contextualise what I think we should do.

In order to preface my solution, I will make a final reference to the arms purchase scandal and the Evangelical thread that trails it. I know that all the scriptures abhor violence and killing, so I will focus on the ethical and moral message of that thread.

The last time I checked, arms and ammunition were not being used for making peace, giving life, treating sick people or providing spiritual renewal.

Arms are used to perpetrate violence or repel it. Usually they cause death.

They are the anti-thesis of the spiritual injunction that, thou shall not kill.

The inconsistent purpose of arms and ammunition with this injunction is, for me, the most important reason why there should never have been that Evangelical thread. It threatens the foundations of morality and values; and this is my message for all of us.

What we need most in order to rebuild our nation is to reclaim our lost values, re-define our moral codes, agree on a common definition of what is good and what is bad, pursue the development of our nation along these codes and refuse to accommodate any ethnic, kinship, tribal, religious or other coloration whenever these moral codes and ethical values are violated.

We have done it before.

Ethical renaissance If Nigeria needs any type of conference or dialogue at all, it is a conference about our national values and ethical codes. If we agree on this, it seems to me that many other things will fall into place.

All those things that Chief Obafemi Awolowo referred to in his 1970 speech which undermine a nation, will reduce or disappear because history has shown that they cannot withstand the compelling purpose of a people united around high ethical and moral values.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentle-

Fashola

men, I started by telling you about my belief in the promise of Nigeria, I still do.

South Africa waited from 1948-1994 (46 years); Rwanda recovered in 18 years, Georgia was not free from 1921 – 1991 (70 years) and after four years of post-independent conflict and civil war, has rebounded in less than two decades.

What is instructive is that all these lessons and reforms came from within those countries. Their people, especially some outstanding leaders, led a moral and ethical renaissance, which delivered social and economic justice and results.

The question we must then ask is whether we are sufficiently dissatisfied with what we have. If we are not, no leader, no matter how well intentioned, can lead us anywhere.

If we want change, the elections in 2015 are a good place to start. No amount of ‘stomach infrastructure’ should be sufficient to influence our vote...

Japan has changed Prime Ministers nine times in 15 years. England has changed three in 10 years and who knows what will happen in May 2015?

Need for a change in 2015 We must want change more than our leaders want it. Our actions must demonstrate our unflinching desire for it.

If we want change, the elections in 2015 are a good place to start. No amount of ‘stomach infrastructure’ should be sufficient to influence our vote.

For me, the next election is not so much about what the opposition brings as some people have argued. I know that what the opposition does might or might not be helpful. But I think there is another view that has not been interrogated.

If you and I are happy with what we have now, and some ambassadors say that they are, then nothing that the opposition does should change how we feel or how we choose.

Conversely therefore, if we are unhappy with what we have, the logical thing is to attempt to change it with our votes; and to change the next one if we do not find what we want until we find what works. That is when the people will have truly claimed power.

Japan has changed Prime Ministers nine times in 15 years. England has changed three in 10 years and who knows what will happen in May 2015?

We cannot kick this can further down the road for another four years.

The consequences will be grave, it will be global, and reverberating.

Our lessons Without any more doubt in my mind, the singular recommendation that I can make for ‘Rebuilding the Nation and using lessons from other lands’ is that we must renew our values.

We must act now to rebuild our nation by choosing morality, high ethics and a value system that inspires.

These are the lessons from other lands, as we seek to rebuild our nation. Another instructive lesson from other lands that we compared, is that the change has come from within.

Happy birthday General Gowon, I hope that you and I and all of us will see the Nigeria of our dream. I also hope that we will start from today to rebuild the values that will take us to that dream.

I thank you for listening.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Media

Music

Tourism

l find fulfilment in building artistes for stardom –Lawal

Nigeria Media Merit Awards announce nominees

Thrills, colours of Southern Sun Ikoyi Yatch Challenge

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Arts

Stories by Tony Okuyeme

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he Director General, National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN), Mr. Akinsola Adejuwon, has called for private sector support for the arts and culture sector.

He noted that government is creating room for youths’ contribution through the arts for the country’s growth because it is a springboard for development.

He also said that consistent stage play and festival will help propel out messages of unification and reengineered country’s arts and culture, adding that they have designed a plan which is going to make them take the troupe outside for performance at least once in three months.

Adejuwon stated this during a media briefing held in his office at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos.

“I am quite impressed with what I met on ground. We have such a rich repertory. Given what I found here, sincerely, we should be on stage every day. I know arts are used to achieve a lot both locally and internationally, because we will take messages to states and local governments. I know that with constant stage plays and festivals we will keep arts alive and teach people tolerance, love, peace and togetherness in this country,” he said.

According to him, his vision is to groom more talents from within and outside the associations that exist in the country and also give street entertainers a voice to express their acts.

“The National Troupe will be taking one or two notches up the rung. I want a situation where every artiste will come and work together uplift the country’s arts

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CULTURE

Arts, springboard for national development, says Adejuwon

Participants in the drama performance as part of activities during the closing ceremony in this year’s Children Creative Station organised by the National Troupe of Nigeria

and culture to greater heights.

I believe that when given the opportunities youths most especially, would stand up and represent their country and be proud to do so. Nigeria has many talented people and we should be able to help groom and promote them for what they believe in, for the country to move forward,” he said.

“My job here is that of a coach and a scout, like what we have in football. We need to

look for talents across the country through festivals – national and international.”

Adejuwon, however, said that he wants to do this through Public Private Partnership (PPP) participation to raise funds because arts and culture is the eye of a country. “The welfare of my artistes is also very important to me. One of the first things I am going to do is to have a blog and website. It will be interactive.”

Adejuwon

Dammy Krane, Orezi, Reminisce thrill as Coke Studio Concert berths at OAU

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xcitement was palpable in the air at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Sports Complex, as students of the institution watch their favourite artistes perform live on stage during the Coke Studio season two campus concerts.

The concert which held last Friday, October 10, saw a large turnout of music loving youths troop to the car park of the school’s Sports Complex to see music stars – Dammy Krane, Orezi and Reminisce. They

also had the opportunity to cheer on their local school artistes who put up exciting performances and got a

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

One of the artistes in performance with students

chance to perform alongside these stars.

Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola

Nigeria Limited, Olufemi Ashipa said the concert is an extension of Coke Studio that delivers the music experience directly to the core demographics. “It’s about strengthening our relationship with these teens”, he noted. Speaking on the outcome of the concert at the Ile-Ife institution, Ashipa said, “The atmosphere at OAU was tremendous. The turnout was more than we anticipated. Even the change in weather did not deter them from watching all the artistes perform. This goes to show the level of connection we have established with them,” he said.

The concert started with a competition to select the top three upcoming artistes from the institution to perCONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Arts

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

l find fulfilment in building artistes for stardom –Lawal L Moses Kadiri

anre Ismail Lawal’s interest in talent development and promotion of artistes started a few years ago at Now Music, a record label owned by Tuface Idibia.

Today, his ‘The Bail Music Company’ has metamorphosed into a full-blown artiste management company, managing big names in the Nigerian music industry, such as Brymo, among others.

The outfit is setting new standard in artiste management, talents discovery and promotion of artistes to become superstars in the entertainment industry in Nigerian. “We do our job professionally, diligently, and honestly in promoting artistes to reach the peak in their chosen career,” Lawal, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Bail Music Company said.

According to Lawal, Black Brother Entertainment was established in 2007, but he decided to expand the music business which eventually gave birth to The Bail Music Company in 2013.

“Last year we decided to expand the music business; the artiste management, talent discovery moved to The Bail Music Company, while the public relations, promotion, consulting remain with the Black Brother Entertainment,” he said.

“Black Brother Entertainment is managed by another team of experts, while l handle The Bail Music Company; you hear a lot more of it because it involves more on entertainment. I decided to split it so that each section can focus on its work. Just like when someone asks you what is your establishment into and you begin to list several things, it will be like what is the problem.

“My strength as Lanre Lawal is in talent development and promotion of artistes; so l said let me focus on that aspect while l employ experts to run the other aspect of the business so that l can focus on what l can do very well.”

He further said that ‘The Bail Music Company’ is currently promoting the latest single of Brymo titled Fe Mi released recently. The love song is already generating airplay in radio stations across the country. “The new single has beautiful melody, people have started requesting the song,” Lawal said.

He disclosed that Brymzo’s album titled, Tabula Rasa will be released before the end of the year. Apart from Brymo’s Fe Mi, Lawal also said, that Ben 7, the new kid on the block in the Nigerian music scene has also dropped another single, Leave Am Like That.

Lawal, whose firm is also managing University of Lagos (UNILAG) undergraduate, King Caesar, disclosed that the company looks out for talent and attitude when managing artistes. He said an artiste who is talented but lazy is difficult to manage. His words: “The most important thing we look out for

People don’t know the ethics of artiste management yet in Nigeria, there are lots of managers who do not understand the work ethics

Lawal

is talent, and other things follow. It is the same thing that makes relationship work, either in marriage, friendship, but if someone has bad attitude it will not work; if someone is not media friendly for instance there’s no way it will work. We might be working tirelessly pushing the artiste to stardom, and the public are saying the person is arrogant it will be very difficult to achieve result; there’s a lot of things that make up an artiste.”

According to Lawal who has participated in several music workshops, such as Nigeria Music Expo (NIMEX), said hard work has brought the outfit this far. “People don’t know the ethics of artiste management yet in Nigeria, there are lots of managers who do not understand the work ethics, but hard work has kept us going. We were not like this when we started, l do not know how l got here, l was just enjoying my job; the motive for me when l started was not for the money. l find

fulfilment in building peoples’ career.

When you find fulfillment in what you do and that thing gives you money, no matter how much it is you will spend the money with joy. l have always love music, but l know that l could not sing, l don’t have talent to rap, nor sing, l just love and enjoy music,” he said.

He recalled that mother luck smiled on him when he was working as a Cyber Cafe attendant in Agege area of Lagos as a young man who was trying to make a living. He met someone who introduced him to Tuface manager, Efe Omorogebe, this however came at the nick of time. “While l was at the Cyber Cafe l read lots of things because l have access to the Internet, since l was interested in artiste management every day l will go online reading about Puff Daddy, and several other artistes, a day came when one of our customers came to the cyber cafe. l used to call her aunty Esther, l always assist her when she came to the café. And a

day came when l told her that l have interest in music. I told her that l was interested in music management, fortunately for me Efe Omorogebe, Tuface manager is her friend. Right there she connected me with him; from there l became friend with Omorogebe. l became a staff at Now Music. l started as a road-runner, the guy that they will send to go and get things. From there l became the head of artiste management department.

“In 2007 l left Now Music to start Black Brother Entertainment, when l started l did not have that feeling it was a business, it was something l just love to do, l was not thinking l could earn a living from it; what was on my mind was l will have a job and be doing artiste management as something l love, it was like a hobby, until l started working for Now Music, earning salary, that was when l knew it has gone beyond what l thought. That is the only thing l have done since 2007.”

Coke Studio Concert berths at OAU

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 1

form with the stars. At the end, Damilola Babatunde, Olamide Oladipo and Olusola Bakare emerged winners, and had the opportunity to perform with Dammy Krane, Reminisce and Orezi respectively.

The highpoint of the concert was when Dammy Krane took to the stage to perform his popular tracks including “My Dear” and “Amin”.

Orezi followed up closely with his lineup of songs and a spontaneous

competition for the famous dance step “shoki”. Rapper, Reminisce, brought the concert to a befitting end by performing his popular tracks including “Kako bi chicken” and “Daddy”.

A third year student of Local Government Studies, Charles Duduyemi, said he was happy at the inclusion of his institution on the tour. According to him, a show of this calibre and magnitude was rare for them to experience.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ademowore Susan, a second year student of

Psychology expressed her gratitude to Coca-Cola for bringing Coke Studio to infuse the much needed fun and excitement on campus.

A one-of-a-kind music experience, season two of the Coke Studio Concerts kicked off in September and has toured major campuses in Nigeria including Lagos State Polytechnic, University of Benin, Abia State University, University of Lagos and recently, Obafemi Awolowo University with some of Nigeria’s biggest music artistes.

Arts

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Tony Okuyeme

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ominees for this year’s Nigeria Media Merit Awards have been announced. For the first time in the last five years winners are declared for all the 53 NMMA award categories.

Chairman, Panel of Assessors NMMA 2014, Prof.

Ralph Akinfeleye in their report presented to the board of Trustees last Friday October, at NMMA Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos, noted that there is general improvements in the entries assessed. He added that submissions of entries for 2014 edition reflect the confidence of the entrants on the quality of their works to meet the standard of excellence prescribed by the NMMA Trust, and that entries in the electronic categories this year were of better qualities.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, NMMA, Mr. Vincent Maduka, while receiving the Summary of Panel of Assessors Report on 2014 Nominees, commended the panel a job well done, noting that the inauguration of members of the Panel of Assessors (POA) for NMMA 2014 was held on Tuesday, 2nd of July, 2014 by the Board of Trustees. The POA consists of media veterans and top media executives in public and private sectors of Nigeria. They are charged with the sole responsibility of assessing entries submitted by media practitioners for media works done in 2013.

According to Akinfeleye, a total of 1,307 eligible entries were received from 886 entrants for NMMA 2014.

1,124 entries from 774 entrants were received in the Print categories, 97 entries came in from 79 entrants in the Radio categories and 86 entries were received from 63 entrants in the Television categories.

“These submissions of entries reflect the confidence of the entrants on the quality of their works to meet the standard of excellence prescribed by the NMMA Trust. A total of 53 award categories were

Nigeria Media Merit Awards announces nominees

L-R: Chairman, Panel of Assessors, Nigeria Media Merit Award(NMMA) Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye; Chairman, Board of Trustees, NMMA, Mr. Vincent Maduka; Chief Administrator, NMMA, Mr. Yemi Akeju and Former Managing Director, LINTAS, Mr. Dele Adetiba during the presentation of Summary of Panel of Assessors Report on2014 Nominees to NMMA Chairman in Lagos at the weekend.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

keenly contested for this year and after the meticulous screening exercise by members of the Panel of Assessors and it is noteworthy that for the first time in the last five years winners are declared for all the 53 NMMA award categories as they all met the prescribed benchmark of 70 percent total average score by all assessors in the group,” the Panel of Assessors stated in its report.

The Panel further noted on the assessment of entries that: “Alex Ibru Prize for Investigative Reporter of the

These submissions of entries reflect the confidence of the entrants on the quality of their works to meet the standard of excellence prescribed by the NMMA Trust

Year had good stories; however, some of them lacked depth, records and rigour in investigative process. Some entrants submitted interviews as articles for entry.

Some entries submitted for the Nnamdi Azikiwe prize for cartoonist of the year lacked proper anchorage. Entries in the News Photographer of the Year were not correctly captioned as their captions do not correspond with the published picture story. Female journalists should be encouraged to send in more entries especially for the

Beatrice Bassey Ita Prize for Female Reporter of the Year.

A high discrepancy in facts, dates and numbers during the reportage of same incident by media organizations in Nigeria were common which made the stories to be inaccurate.”

In concluding, the Panel also stated that clear element of creativity and tactical balance need to be improved upon by broadcasters and there is need for retraining especially in pronunciation of indigenous names and locations.

Bantu, Praiz, Gaise, Simi for Afropolitan Vibes

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or the organisers of Afropolitan Vibes, October is a very exciting month as it marks the move to the main stage which will be the new ‘home’ at Freedom Park.

The move is not without its challenges but we are up to the task. This month is also Felabration month and as a Felabration partner, we will be celebrating Fela (and Thomas Sankara) in our own unique way during the show, the organisers stated. Joining Bantu in this momentous month are: Highlife Maestro Etubom Rex Williams, R&BSoul singer Praiz, Yoruba rapper Gaise, Songstress Simi and musical virtuosos Eko Brass Band.

“Thankfully we have plenty of room on stage for them all…, and for you too, so that you dance.

The show holds today Friday October 17, 2014, Freedom Park, Lagos , at 7pm.

Bantu was born in Wembley, London. He is biracial, being the son of a German mother and a Nigerian father. In 1973 he relocated to Lagos, Nigeria with his parents Adeleke Odukoya and Barbara Odukoya. After the death of his father in 1986 he moved with his mother and three siblings

to Germany.

In 1993 he was approached by Fonk Free aka Moreno (Oliver Freyman) and DJ An-dré (André Schröter) and together they founded the band ‘Weep Not Child’ releasing “From Hoyerswerda to Rostock” (Buback Records, 1993) and “Liberation thru Music & Lyrics” (Groove Attack, 1994). Their music clip “Je Ka Bere” was featured in the European campaign of Media Against Racism.

Bantu was invited by Jan U Krauthaeuser in 1998 to participate in the Cologne alternative carnival organisation “Humba e.V.”. This led to a musical project with his brother Don Abi (Abiodun Odukoya), Patrice and Amechi (Amechinna Okerenkwo) that would take him back to his Nigeria roots. Bantu aka Brotherhood Alliance Navigating Towards Unity was born. He officially changed his stage name to Adé (later to Adé Bantu after his 2005 album release). Bantu’s debut album “Fufu” became an instant success in Nigeria earning them two radio hit singles “Nzobu” & “Fire Inna Dancehall”.

Bantu

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Tourism

Olushola Ricketts

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he inclement weather last week Saturday did not deter the determination or enthusiasm of the sailing men and even the expectations on the part of the audience who had come in their numbers to cheer the competitors to the finishing line.

The event was the fourth edition of the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Offshore Challenge, a sporting gathering, which the hotel organised in collaboration with the Lagos Yacht Club. Despite the challenging weather when the whistle went off, the 24 boats and about 17 participants had their sights on the trophies.

The leisure and sporting event is part of the effort by the hospitality outfit home “to promote yacht racing in Nigeria”. The General Manager of Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel, Mr. Mark Loxley, pointed that the wind made things a bit challenging, but the event lived to its billing.

“This is the fourth annual Southern Sun Offshore Challenge. We are involved in golf sponsorship and we are also doing this. We are a South African operating company with strong interest in sports. We are doing this for business networking as well as for PR and marketing. On November 5, we would be having our annual golf day at Ikoyi Club. I am a member of the Lagos Yatch club while my deputy general manager is a member of Ikoyi Club,” he revealed.

He also said that since inception the event has been very successful and people enjoy it, adding that it was the chance of the hotel to showcase its hospitality. “We have an excellent chef. He comes here to do knacks and other small chops,” remarked Loxley.

Family, friends and invited guests of the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel added colour and glamour to the event. Such guests include the Deputy High Commissioner of South Africa in Nigeria, Ms. Thandi Mgxwati. According to her, the presence of the consulate was to support anything South Africa.

Her words: “We support all our South African businesses that are on ground.

First of all we are very proud of what Southern Sun is doing in terms of sup-

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Thrills, colours of Southern Sun Ikoyi Yatch Challenge

L-R: Deputy High Commissioner South Africa, Thandi Mgxwati; Executive Director Exxon Mobil Nigeria, Paul Dieffenthaler; Area Operations Manager Exxon Mobil Nigeria, Keith Ballay and Reservoir Manager Exxon Mobil Nigeria, Graham Gip, at the 4th Annual Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel Off-Shore Challenge 2014

porting social event for the past four years. The initiative obviously states that they are not just here for business, but to strengthen relationship with people on ground.”

The deputy envoy, also noted the difficulties posed by the bad weather, yet the competition was still stiff and gave everyone something to cheer about.

“Though it was not easy for the sailors at some point, I think it was an interesting event generally. It exposes us to the challenges the sailors could actually face when they are offshore. And it prepares

them for what could come on a day the weather is not so friendly. Inasmuch as I would love to participate someday I am not a good sailor. But the South African consulate could look for representatives in the subsequent editions.”

In presenting the trophies and prizes to the winners, the Commodore of the Lagos Yatch Club, Mr. Michael Barnes, described the event as “a good day and a good race.” He commended the tenacity, impressive effort and relentless team spirit of all the participants and winners during the challenging water leisure re-

Ayaya Carnival Enugwuabo-Ufuma to hold in December Andrew Iro Okungbowa

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Dazaa in performance

he date for this year’s Ayaya Carnival Enugwuabo – Ufuma has been fixed for Monday, December 29, 2014. This will be the third edition of the bi – annual cultural event organised by Dazaa International as part of effort to promote the culture of the people and empower the youth to be productively engaged. According to Dazaa, a Berlin, German - based Nigerian cultural activist and musician, preparations have begun for the hosting of this year’s event. He said that a number of sponsors and artistes as well the different groups in the host community and others are lining behind the bi-annual event, which debuted in 2010.

Goethe lnstitut, Lagos is one of the organisations that have since indicated interest at supporting the event. The traditional leader of Dazaa’s community, lgwe Chika S.Uchime, Diji 111of Ufuma has also thrown his weight behind the event as he has charged all within his com-

munity to come out in droves to support the event.

Dazaa, who is leading a team of international artistes and performers to the event, stated that with preparation in top gear for the event, it would be the best so far held as a lot has gone into making the celebration this year an interesting and fun filled event.

Describing the carnival as a love festival, the multiple awards winner, Dazaa said, “it is a new redirection for talent show and it is the gateway of Ufuma to the world, it is the Berlin outside Berlin, it is the best way of showing my love for my people.”

It would feature, Dazaa’s Ayaya Wonder with Wonder masquerade, parade of groups, side attractions, presentation of all the awards (including GBEDU award / the Dec,2013) won by Dazaa, night show with artistes from Nigerian and Berlin on the card, musical, drama and film shooting, among others while to encourage attendance and participation by the people, two free to Ghana, all expenses paid are on offer.

lated events.

Some of the prizes given to the winners included: buffet dinners at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel; weekend - bed and breakfast get-away at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel; Brunch for four at the Southern Sun Ikoyi Hotel and a host of others.

Founded in 1932, Lagos Yacht Club (LYC) is located in the heart of Lagos Island. The club committee continues to ensure that yacht racing in the city is promoted as an exhilarating experience for all interested in taking part.

Ogun commissioner calls for culture promotion he Ogun State Commissioner for T Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Tewande Amusan, has called on Ijebu

Indigenes to uphold the traditional and cultural heritage of the people as an integral part of their identity. The commissioner made this call during an interactive session with journalists at the Ojude Oba festival held in Ijebu-Ode. She said that the ministry was primarily propagating the importance of embracing the rich cultural heritage to all residents of Ogun State and outside the country.

The commissioner emphasised that Ojude Oba festival was orchestrated by ancient generation to promote peace, reconciliation, unity and oneness in Ijebu land. “It is therefore a tradition that must be adored, and maintained as a key evidence of people’s heritage” she noted.

Highlights of the event included the age grade group category competition for both male and female, with the horse riding contest won by the contestant from the Balogun Eleshin clan. The winner for the male age grade group was won by Bobagbimo Akile, while Tobalase Akile Obinrin emerged first in the female group competition.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

GUS

Big Brother Africa

Obiano in Wee Wah chant with GUS contestants

Resa to remaining housemates: Be real, Africans are not dumb

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Cinema watch

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79 films approved for September 2014

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Entertainment Audio-Visual Rights Society

KSA to entertain Ajumobi at Ibadan Havana Classic

awaits NCC’s nod

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he king of world beat, King Sunny Ade, MFR, has been confirmed to entertain the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Olugbo of Ugboland, Imperial Majesty Fredrick Akinruntan, are among other elites at the resurrected Havana Classic in Ibadan, Oyo State on October 24.

Other expected at the high profile event corporate heads, business magnates, entertainment stakeholders and government officials whom the organisers expect to help in the resurresction project.

To make the day a memorable one, some prominent Nigerians have been listed as recipients of honourary awards in a dizzy mood few days to the maiden edition of the Havana Classic schedule to take place at the Pope John Paul II Hall of the University of Ibadan.

To make it an occasion of note, Mr Clement Ige owned Ceedee Resources has perfected plan for a hitch-free outing. Mr. Ige whose company is the brain behind Havana Classic, told journalists recently that the support of, and confirmation of attendance by many ,has created a buzz in Ibadan as they eagerly await the elite event that may help resurrect the popular Havana Carnival, a content of Sigma Club of the premier institution It would be recalled that in recent past, two attempts were made by G’ENNIE Entertainment and Sigma Club to bring the rested Carnival back to life, but since MTN stopped sponsoring the biggest musical fiesta on any Nigerian campus in 2011, it had been difficult to get Havana back among the top concerts in Nigeria We reliably gathered that, Ige, who is also a business associate of King Sunny Ade, successfully approached the and obtained KSA’s support in bringing the carnival back, assuring him also that old Sigmites and Sigma Foundation have joined in the “Resurrect Havana Project”.

Stories by SOny neme

A

ll things being equal, the Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria, AVRS, Limited

by Guarantee, is certain of being licensed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) for rights management on behalf of audio-visual right owners.

This is coming after two years efforts by World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, in collaboration with the Nigeria Film Corporation and NCC. Already all structures and required manpower is already in place at their Ikoyi, Lagos office.

The AVRS Chairman, Mahmood Ali Balogun had in a media interactive in Lagos last week, explained that the society, is a Collective Management Organization (CMO) for the audio visual industry, just as Chief Tony Okoroji led Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, is saddled with audio rights. He seized the opportunity to introduce the General Manager, Emem Akinbairo, a lawyer by profession with speciality in Copyright Matters His words, “As regards AVRS, we are a CMO hoping to manage the rights of audio visual rights owners in Nigeria. It will operate like COSON which manages the rights of musical artiste, when it is eventually licensed by the NCC. What we do, is to manage rights for IP owners that they cannot ordinarily manage. You see people play audio-visual works and even copy them and use them for commercial purpose without permission.”

Ali Balugun stressed that, “In some cases, some broadcast stations air these works without the consent of the right

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Ali Balogun

owners or outside agreed arrangements. So it is our duty to help owners of these rights who are registered with us to manage these rights and to monitor the usage of their works even online; and collect royalties.

We reckon that it will be so much work for an individual to monitor and manage these rights themselves especially after he or she must have received the initial payment and especially that he or she has moved on to do other works, so it is that gap that AVRS wants to fill.”

The acclaimed movie practitioners further explained that such income is pulled into an account and AVRS takes only 30 percent of the money as stipulated in the law for administration, while the remaining 70 percent goes to the right owner of all registered members..

He said for them to be able

to determine the right owners, such owners are those who own copyright and they are registered with AVRS as members for free.

“That is after we verify to ascertain that you are indeed a right owner. We do these because there are people who claim ownership of a work when in actual sense they are not the right owners. For instance a director who is hired and paid to direct a movie cannot claim rights to the movie.

The right owner is the Executive Producer except of course the director is also the Executive producer of the movie. We even have two categories of right owners. We have those we call the financial partners, that is people who invest their monies in the movie. Its either they are designated producers or CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Government was involved from stage one of the establishment of AVRS. The licensing is a process…

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gov Obiano in Wee Wah chant with GUS contestants

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he Executive Gover nor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, on Friday, October 10, paid a surprise visit to the contestants of Gulder Ultimate Search 11, saying that Gulder made the ultimate choice by coming to Aguleri. H also added that Anambra State government would consider implementing certain aspects of Gulder Ultimate Search as a youth development initiative.

The governor was later taken round the Aguleri jungle by Chidi Mokeme, the Anchor man of GUS 11, where he witnessed their various grueling challenges. Thereafter Obiano engaged them in the “Wee Wah cnat!” response from all Gulder Ultimate Search contestants. After taking a glimpse at their jungle abode, he sought to know if the contestants built their shelters themselves, and they confirmed that they did.

The governor was particularly fascinated by the Place Of The Talking Drum; where the Anchor sits to discuss various issues with the contestants.

In his remarks, Obiano said: “I’ve just see the living arrangements, what they have to pass through to be able to discover the

Anchor Man, Gulder Ultimate Search 11, Chidi Mokeme showing the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano round the Aguleri Forest location for this year’s edition of the reality TV programme, when the governor paid a visit to the contestants at the Aguleri jungle

treasure. It was a very exciting sight for me. It reminds me of my Boys Scout days. I even shared some chants that we used to do during my days with the contestants. But beyond that, the lesson from what Gulder is doing here is that it’s a strong brand and they are trying to bring strong people.’

He further said that, “Part of being able to check you out whether you are strong or not is how you survive in the jungle. I understand they

I was a very active member of the Boys Scout, so I understand the jungle. I understand what is happening around

cook their food here, I saw the thatched houses which the contestants built themselves that they now live in, I saw the beautiful reception area, and I saw the Place Of The Talking Drum, it is a beautiful place to behold.”

Chief Willie Obiano further stated that stated that being in the jungle reminded him of his days as a member of the Boys Scout. “I identify myself with the vision of Gulder Ultimate Search.

For some of you that may

2Face, Skales, JJC, others storm UNILAG for AFRIMA

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s part of the buildup events to the premium event in November, the All Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, held a concert to communicate the vision and ideals of AFRIMA to the vibrant youth generation in Nigeria, the host country, on Tuesday at the Indoor Sport Hall of the University of Lagos.

The show, tagged ‘Road to AFRIMA’ on campus and launching of Vote-NotFight-Campaign, had some AFRIMA Awards’ nominees at their best. On stage were 2face Idibia, Skales, Naeto C and Jaywon at the event will be anchored by Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st.

Others who got the audience dancing were Tony One Week, Niyola and Zeez, as well as Dammy Krane, Queen Moda, Efa, Saeon, Joel, Seriki and others.

It is surely an event that the International Committee of AFRIMA offered to fans as a tip of what to expect at the November 9 awards ceremony.

According to AFRIMA Project Director, Adenrele

His words: “It is really going to give them a good sense of belonging and it will enable them appreciate challenges even more. Life is all about challenges. And Gulder Ultimate Search is also about confronting challenges. These contestants left their beautiful environments to come to stay here in the jungle; in the midst of mosquitoes, animals, birds and so on.

I think it’s quite interesting to be here because you will be very close to nature.”

“I will see how I can borrow some ideas here and perhaps implement it for the Anambra youths; once in a while, we might consider them to have a feel of the jungle. You will never know where you will find a jungle. So the more you learn about survival tricks, the better for you as an individual.”

Gulder Ultimate Search 11 is currently airing everyday on African Magic World (DSTV), Real -Stars (Star Times), Minaj TV Obosi (Terrestrial), Ebony Life TV (DSTV), Galaxy TV (Lagos, Ibadan and Ondo), Hip TV (DSTV & GoTV), Nigezie (Star Times) and WapTV (Star Times) from 10pm to 11pm; and on the AIT Network (Terrestrial) from 10:30pm to 11:30pm.

2Baba

Niyi, “The headline act of the concert is the Nigeria’s celebrated afro-pop singer Tuface Idibia who is superbly excited to be in the music train and associated with the objectives of AFRIMA of pursuing an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa through the instrumentality of music. The Vote-notfight-campaign shares the same vision of eradicating negative reports about the continent and promoting Africa through music.”

Meanwhile, voting continues in the 32 categories of the award till November 4, just as the main award ceremony will be preceded by the AFRIMA Music Village between November 4 and 7; a four day festival of non-stop music and exhibition from African countries and performances by African artistes. It will be followed by African Music Summit on November 6 and 7, with the theme “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”.

For more information and voting, log on to our website, www.afrima.org, like our facebook page www.facebook.com/afrima2014 and follow us on twitter and instagram @ afrimawards.

In a related development, AFRIMA last week honoured 2014 Nigeriabased award nominees at Quilox Club, Victoria Island with the AFRIMA 2014 Certificate of Nomination those in attendance included African music industry personalities, artiste managers, on-air-personalities (OAPs) and music industry stakeholders.

be Boys Scouts or Girls Guide or Man O War, you will like what is happening here. I was a very active member of the Boys Scout, so I understand the jungle. I understand what is happening around here.

I wish I was one of them, I really identify myself with what you are doing with the youths.”

The governor expressed the belief that passing through GUS would enable the contestants confront further challenges in life.

Ojude Oba: How Saheed Osupa, Burna Boy got guests dancing T

his year’s Ojude Oba festival was full of excitement as Globacom brought popular Fuji artiste Saheed Osupa and afro hip hop crooner, Burna Boy to a musical concert for the final day of the celebration at Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. The show was held on the expansive grounds of Equity Hotel and Resort.

The musical fiesta which also featured American-Naija female soul singer of the Sexy Nana fame, Janelia and an upcoming artiste, Fearless, was witnessed by a massive crowd of fun-lovers that danced all through the concert. DJ Top spiced up the event from the juke box while Gbenga Adeyinka got ribs cracking with hilarious jokes.

Globacom, which has sponsored the post-Eid el Kabir festival for eight consecutive years said the concert meant to spice up its sponsorship of the festival, was programmed to add music, dance and comedy to the camaraderie atmosphere engendered by the festival.

National Head of Business Support, Mr Yomi Ogunbamowo, at the fiesta said. “The musical fiesta is the icing on the cake of the sponsorship as it brings both the young and the young at heart together to hobnob, dance and be merry”, Expectedly, there were plenty of freebies in form of

Osupa

branded T-shirts, fez caps, bags and bandanas that were won in singing and dancing competitions by the fun-seekers.

Fun seekers applauded Globacom for its continued support for Ojude Oba and especially for the musical event which he described as a breath of fresh air in the town.

For some of the respondents, Globacom has continued to display its commitment to the welfare of Nigerians by not only making its products and services available, but by also providing refreshing entertainment for the benefit of fun-loving Nigerian youths.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

DSTV

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide) OCT. 17 — OCT. 23 Highlights

Resa, Mira booted out of Big Brother Africa

l Resa to remaining housemates: Be real, Africans are not dumb

A scene from Disney Junior

Sony Max Backstage Ever wondered what really goes on backstage at a rap concert? Wonder no more. This fascinating documentary offers insight into life on the road, looking closely at what happens behindthe-scene and on the stage during one of the biggest rap tours of all time. Follow artists such as Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man and Ja Rule – uncut and uncensored Backstage on 18 October at 8pm Ik and BBA evicted hotshots minutes after her eviction

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fter barely a week in Big Brother Africa Hotshots, both Zambia’s Resa and Mozambique’s Mira became the first two housemates to be evicted on Sunday. The shocker came after the first week which saw the housemates going all-out to impress the continent with their Hotshot talents.

Both Resa and Mira who spoke with New Telegraph on Tuesday from South Africa, courtesy of MultiChoice Africa, spoke on their experiences, challenges and what they are taking away from arguably Africa’s biggest reality show.

Risa who spoke first was full of praises for the organisers for the opportunity to be a face that Africans will not forget in a hurry.

According to her, “I am a better person. I am leaving the show lots of experiences and exposure that will surely improve my brand. For Big Brother Africa, I say a thank you for this rare opportunity.

And for choosing me to represent my country, it was a honour. And I deeply appreciate it.”

On her early exit, she bears no grudge as she said, for certain, “Someone has to leave, and I don’t feel bad for leaving when I did. it is expected as no one knows when she is leaving. That is what makes the show very interesting.”

She said the viction for her is not the end of the road as she is using the opportunity to grow her brand in events and television presentation. for those still in the house, Resa said, “My words for those in the house is that you can pretend, but Africa is not dumb. be strong, and let the best win.”

Mera is also grateful to BBA, and she said her next line of action is that, “I want to

use this opportunity to launch my modeling career. so this is a stepping stone.”

All the housemates, excluding Laveda, who won the title of Head of House after scoring highest with the studio audience during the talent show, were up for eviction this week.

Africa voted, and with twelve housemates failing to win a country vote, the tie-breaker rule came into effect. The end result, independently verified by auditors SizweNtsalubaGobodo, was that Resa and Mira had drawn the least support from the continent, and were sent home.

It was a busy first week, with the housemates getting to know each other and delving into their first challenges.

They won their first task advertising their Hotshots talents with posters, impressing Big Brother with their skills.

Cliques formed, the first signs of mischief caused a stir and some housemates got quite close. Mira planted kisses on Luis and Nhlanhla during the very first party and Idris and Goitse hooked up just about

One of the BBA Hotshots leaving the house after evition

immediately, though they are playing it cool.

The housemates also got to participate in their first Extravaganza Task. Head of House Laveda chose the two teams and immediately caused dissention when it appeared she had pitted the ‘artistes’ against the ‘intellectuals’. As it turned out, team Waka Waka – the ‘intellectuals ‘ - impressed viewers most with their performance and won immunity from nomination this week.

Unluckily for group members Mira and Resa, that prize came too late, but it does give Sheillah, Nhlanhla, Luis, Macky2, Trezagah, Mr. 265, Sipe, Idris, Ellah, Butterphly and M’am Bea some room to breathe last week.

After checking out how the week had played out, IK called the housemates to order. After a trademark dramatic pause, he revealed that Resa was the first housemate to be evicted from Big Brother Hotshots. After she said her goodbyes, she was philosophical when she joined IK on stage, declaring herself “at peace” and saying that shewould miss Sipe the most.

The housemates were not off the hook yet, though, as IK took viewers back into the house and informed the Hotshots that someone else would be leaving immediately. that was when Mira’s name came next to, sending the Mozambican home. After checking out her highlights on stage, she admitted that she had gotten close to Luis during her brief stay, no surprise as she left the Namibian in tears after an embrace and kiss on her way out of the house.

Nigerian hip hop ambassadors Phyno and Olamide kicked off the show with their hit ‘Ghost Mode’ and returned again later on with a medley of their finest offerings.

Freakshow The second season of the Freakshow starts on 21 October at 8:00pm. The carnival freakshow is thriving in Venice Beach, California, where Todd Ray has opened up his home to people and animals that are truly one of a kind.

The aim is “to show the world that being different is its own kind of normal”, which is why this extended family of performers includes such curiosities as a two-headed bearded dragon, a human giant, a human pin cushion, a bearded lady, sword swallowers, “Lobster Boy” and “Creature” – one of the most tattooed and pierced

individuals in the world.

E! A-List Listings Discover a fascinating world of extreme wealth and opulence first-hand, as E! presents access to some of America’s most exclusive and extravagant homes. Join Catt Sadler as she heads past the elaborate security systems and mile-high hedges to explore the fabulous A-list estates of the rich and famous. From access to a spectacular home known as ‘The Nest on Nightingale’, situated above the Sunset Strip, to a tour of Reese Witherspoon’s home, this new series takes a fascinating look into the world of extreme wealth and luxury.

Airs on 16 October at 8pm Disney Junior Winner the Pooh: Springtime with Roo airs on Sunday 19th October.

It’s a beautiful day in the Hundred Acre Wood, so Roo, Pooh and Tigger just want to play in the sun.

But Rabbit wants help with the spring cleaning.

Can they persuade Rabbit that it’s such a special day and it should be spent having fun?

Madubogwu waves with ‘The Grave Dust’

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head of Obi Madubogwu’s November world premiere, ‘The Grave Dust’ is already a ripple in the film industry. Madubogwu’s new effort, which parades Joke Silver, Ramsey Nouah and Emeka Okoro, as well as Joseph Benjamin, and Amaka Chukwujekwu among others is pioneering role of certain aspects.

Reputed to be one of the costliest works in Nollywood in 2014, the film directed by Ikechukwu Onyeka was written by Ugezu Ugezu and Saint Joseph, but was bankrolled by Crownprince Productions, a frontline entertainment company.

The film will also be screened to audiences in United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, Holland and South Africa.

The suspense-filled psycho-thriller tells the story of a successful stockbroker, who suddenly hits the reverse gear on the lane of success due to reasons he could not comprehend and was left in his own world in his palatial mansion that is filled with tormenting elements.

According to the producer who came to international limelight with his role in ‘Battle of Musanga’, ‘The Grave Dust’ was conceived to take the industry to the next level. His words, “I have done several productions in Nollywood having practiced for over two decades now. I must say that the story of ‘The Grave Dust’ is one of the most unique stories I have encountered; which was why I made sure that nothing was spared in making it a huge success.”

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sex for roles: Who are the role models? Asks Emeka Ike

Audio-Visual Rights Society awaits NCC’s nod CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

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he decadence of management is encouraging immorality. So anything goes with loss of identity, and most especially cultural dentity as very few people make movies from the stretch of their blood”, those were the words of Mechanical Engineerturned Nollywood actor, Emeka Ike while reacting to a recent interview where he purportedly pointed accusing fingers at some Nollywood bigwigs for sleeping with actresses in exchange of roles.

Mr. Ike who spoke exclusively with New Telegraph on the development in the make believe industry, said, “Please where are the role models that Nigerian youths should emulate in this industry? My worry is that people that claim they are the doyen of the industry use the opportunity to cow young girls who are coming into the industry to take advantage of them. I really don’t want to say much here as there is judgement already, and we must respect the law.

We are going back to court on October 20 to determine the situation, because we don’t want anarchy.”

While explaining his grouse with the leadership of Actors’ Guild of Nigeria, AGN, he declared thus: “They claim that they are the members of BoT, but looking at the constitution, the new president is supposed to come up with a new set of BoT. after every ten years. The tenure of the present board have since expired. It is not a life position. In 2011 they ran to CAC to own a national body.

Every opportunity that comes to the union they hijack it to the detriment of our teeming members” He didn’t spare the Association of Movie Producers, AMP, either. His words, “AMP being the movie producers’ body that is supposed to be the engine room is not helping matters either. Right now there are lots of confusion as there

Emeka Ike

is no structure that is why foreigners sneak in here with all kinds of mind set.”

He further explained that the confusion is a deliberate way of keeping the status quo ante, just to benefit a few, instead of allowing the industry a breath of fresh air that will provide a free and enabling space for teeming Nigerian youths that should benefit from the great image, which Nollywood has earned over the years.

“We have three billions from the federal government that is meant to raise the bar, yet no ripple effect. A big help from Mr. President. That money is enough to get us Nollywood Study Centres in every institution across the country.

We are talking about adequate structure that will encourage a seamless graduation of professionals from every nook and crannies of this country,” he said adding that, “That does not interest them as everybody

takes advantage of our innocent young girls, and moral laxity is an issue here.”

He is not alone in this crusade as he directed us to sound out some notable thespians that believes in raising the bar of the respected profession, such as Clarion Chukwurah, John Okafor (Ibu), Kanayo Kanayo (KOK), among others as they are same page.

For him, “My sin is that international laws on entertainment must be respected by content consumers, and we need DStv to pay us adequately. How can we make DStv so huge in Africa yet they care less about paying us adequately; they scandalize me because I am a man of integrity. Ask Mercy Johnson, Desmond Eliot, Ini Edo and they will tell you that I mean well. Lets do this properly for the sake of our youths who are coming to take over from us. That is my concern.”

79 films approved for September 2014

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he National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, has verified and approved a total of 79 movies for the month of September 2014.

Eleven of the movies approved are feature length films for cinema exhibition while 68 are for home viewership. The September approvals show a marginal improvement of nine films over the August figure of 70 movies.

According to the Acting Head, Corporate Affairs, Caesar O. Kagho, “The September breakdown from the NFVCB indicates that approved movies for home viewership places Yoruba language content in the lead with 31 movies. It is closely followed by English language 20 movies, Hausa 16 and Bini two.”

Kagho further stated that the NFVCB requires that all approved movies are to be released with their

respective consumer advisories of imitable technique, strong languages and violence, as well as drug abuse, sex, and fetish rituals. He also stated that the National Film and Video Censors Board re-affirms its resolve to attend to the censorship of submitted movies with utmost dispatch.

His words: “Four movies were classified “15”, five movies were “18”, and one classified “G” with another movie classified “PG” for the cinema exhibition. They include Into The Storm (English), Lucky(French), and Drive Hard (English). Others are Sin City: A Dame To Kill (English), Freemason (English), and The Hundred Foot Journey (Indian) as well as No Good Deed (English), If I Stay (English),Finding Fanny (Indian), The Maze Runner (English) and The Rover(English).”

How can we make DStv so huge in Africa yet they care less about paying us adequately

executive producers. But they must be the right owners for us to deal with them,” he explained.

Balogun also affirms that ordinarily the law recognizes such people as the rights owner because you pay every other person to do the work for you but CMO has come to recognize the fact that it is not a winner takes all situation.

According to him, “They are beginning to recognize that there are other contributors to the work that you as producer or EP cannot continue to take royalty in perpetuity so you must be ready to release some of that residual compensation to other people involved in making that work like artiste, technicians and so on. In other climes, all these people are recognized in the area of CMO. Its been in our laws, but until COSON and Repronics came, no one knew that even those other than the artiste ought to get something. so the other group of people that will benefit aside the financial partners are the people we call the Creative Collaborators like the directors, actors and writers.”

He said, “Actors in this case are the lead and supporting actor. You cant possibly pay everyone on the set of say a historical film. Only people with significant contribution to the production will get something from what gets to the financial partners; so AVRS will take care of these set of people - the financial partners and the creative collaborators.”

He recalled that during the formative stage, they reached out to almost everyone, some critical groups and organizations even when they are aware that the membership is on individual basis. He insists that, “That needs to be stressed because some organizations may come up now and say their organization was not involved but when we are setting up this AVRS about two years ago, we reached out to critical stakeholders. Interestingly, the initiative was that of World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, in collaboration with the Nigeria Film Corporation, NFC, and the NCC. They invited right owners and together we facilitated the setting up of AVRS. So government was involved from stage one.

“That is why most times I don’t agree with my colleagues who say that government is not

doing anything to help the industry. They felt it was important to have a CMO that will manage audio-visual rights; for us to come together and set up AVRS, because the success of COSON was beginning to bear on the musician. So about eleven organizations came together, met with consultants from WIPO and then we decided that we should all have our own CMO. Thereafter, a committee was set up and I was appointed the interim coordinator to see to the establishment. That was how we started.”

He also explained that about two months ago, the consultants from WIPO came back to check how they were progressing, “And as a committee we met severally and chose the name we wanted with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC and it was approved. We commenced registration with NCC as a corporate entity in July 2013 and it took us almost a year to get properly registered, because it is a company limited by guarantee. It is not for profit, even though we will be collecting money on behalf of people but we will be disbursing it back to them. We will not be engaged in any business outside that.”

He said after that step, the next step is applying to be licensed by the NCC in January 2014 who they have been holding series of meetings with for a smooth procedure.

“NCC ensured that we did the right thing in terms of observing procedure of registration and setting up a CMO and the NFC gave us valuable support and guidance too, as both agencies are desirous of us doing something about remuneration for artistes as piracy have not allowed them to reap well from where they have sown.

It is not for profit, even though we will be collecting money on behalf of people but we will be disbursing it back to them.

We will not be engaged in any business outside that

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Pension

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Agric

PTAD: Task ahead beyond sensitisation

Observing World Food Day amidst hunger

IITA, Sygenta partner to boost agric sector

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Business What's news

Sacked Afren CEO to refund N2.75bn The Nigeria-focused oil multinational, Afren, is to pursue the return of over N2.75 billion ( $17million) in secret payments allegedly made to its former chief executive and chief operating officer who have been sacked for alleged gross misconduct.

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N’Assembly may pass ICT protection bill this year There are indications that the bill seeking protection for Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure (ICTI) in Nigeria may receive legislative blessing before the end of the year.

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The Business Desk

Ayodele Aminu l Deputy Editor (Business) Bayo Akomolafe l Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme l Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro l Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dayo Ayeyemi l Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf l Energy Editor

Wole Shadare l Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu l Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa l Finance Editor Kunle Azeez l Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin l Energy Nnamdi Amadi l Reporter Johnson Adebayo l Asst Production Editor

LOCAL CONTENT

Nigerians account for 99 per cent of MTN’s over 5,800 staffers Kunle Azeez

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igeria’s largest telecoms network, MTN, said it has invested over $13 billion (about N2 trillion) to date in fixed assets and facilities nationwide in the country.

The company stated this in a document obtained by New Telegraph.

The company said that its leadership position in network investment, coverage, expansion and state-of-theart infrastructure was evident in its huge investment in the Nigerian economy.

As a result of the massive investment, MTN said that it has the most expansive network coverage, spread across 3,649 cities, towns and villages in all 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory.

It added: “MTN also provides network coverage to 74.56 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass, while about 87.15 per cent of the population have access to MTN services.

“Today, MTN is Nigeria’s leading ICT company, employing over 5,800 staff, with Nigerians accounting for 99 per cent of this number.

MTN operates an extensive distribution chain with 78 trade partners and an information distribution chain of over 450 walk-in centres across Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, 100 gigabitper-second fibre optic network is being built in Nigeria for the MTN Group.

Also, connectivity company, Alcatel-Lucent, said it is building a 100G DWDM/OTN network for MTN Nigeria by using its 1,830 Photonic Service Switch (PSS) system.

MTN plans on using the extra capacity to offer whole-

MTN Nigeria invests N2trn on network sale services to other providers in the region.

The telco explained that its network covers 88.8 per cent of Nigeria’s land mass, and that it plans deploying the 100G network while reusing existing 10G optical assets to preserve its past investments.

“MTN realised that we needed to upgrade our network to meet customer expectations for ultra-broadband connectivity and high reliability within Nigeria’s very competitive marketplace,” said Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, in a

statement.

“We wanted a state of the art solution that met three main criteria: increased network reliability, a high degree of scalability to prepare the network for 400G and beyond, and preservation of our existing 10G investment,” Saint-Nwafor added.

L-R: Immediate Past President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Mr Abiola Popoola; National Treasurer, Mrs Ifeoma Adeniyi and President/ Chairman of the Council, Mr Victor Famuyibo, during the 46th Annual National Conference of the Institute in Abuja.

Global rice demand hits 478m metric tons Dele Alao

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he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), a United Nations’ agency, has said that global demand for rice will hit a record 478 million metric tons by 2015.

According to FAO, global rice production will shrink after weak rains in India and the end of a subsidy program

in Thailand hurt supplies from the biggest exporters.

Also, FAO in its quarterly report, said that worldwide output of milled grain will probably drop 0.4 per cent to 496.4 million metric tons in the 2014-2015 season from a year earlier.

FAO said that ending stockpiles will drop two per cent to 177.7 million tons in 2014-2015, the first contrac-

tion in a decade.

Thailand ended a farmers’ support program in February that had boosted supply to a record, prompting some growers to turn away from the crop while the late arrival of the monsoon in India this year hurt harvest prospects.

“Global rice prices will still face downward pressure CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3% May 2014.................................8.2%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................11.57% Prime Lending Rate...........16.93% Maximum Lending Rate...25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.75 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.68 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198.08

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N155.75 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N251.32 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N196.76

(Parellel As at Oct 2)

l Foreign Reserves – $39.47bn as at 2/10/2014

Source: CBN

(Official As at Oct 2)

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Business | News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Sacked Afren CEO to refund N2.75bn BREACH

Secret payments funnelled to Afren directors, employees

Adeola Yusuf

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he Nigeria-focused oil multinational, Afren, is to pursue the return of over N2.75 billion ( $17million) in secret payments allegedly made to its former chief executive and chief operating officer who have been sacked for alleged gross misconduct.

Its Executive Chairman, Mr Egbert Imomoh, confirmed the decision, which also included the legal action against two other associate directors, Iain Wright and Galib Virani, who had been dismissed for receiving payments in breach of company rules, aimed at recovering unauthorised monies.

The Afren board added that there had been “no material loss to the company as a result of these transactions.”

The board said it believed that Oriental was not aware of any wrongdoing.

Also, the company confirmed that it “was considering the best strategy for recovering the payments following the dismissal of Osman

•Firms to sue directors, employees Shahenshah and Shahid Ullah.

“The decisive and comprehensive actions we have set out today should leave no one in any doubt about how seriously Afren takes the issues uncovered in July,” Imomoh said.

Seven more current and former employees have been identified as having received payments and those still working at Afren face disciplinary action.

A report compiled by legal advisers, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher with the help of accountants, KPMG, revealed secret payments had been funnelled to them and other Afren executives, without the knowledge of other board members.

According to Financial Times report, the payments were made via special purpose vehicles based in the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, which had been funded by an Afren partner company, Oriental Energy, since last year.

The report by Wilkie concluded that Mr Shahenshah and Ullah, with the assistance of Afren’s former Nigeria Business Development Manager, Faiz Imam, used the Bermudan special purpose vehicle to pay themselves $17.1 millon in extraordinary bonuses.

“The bonuses were ostensibly to ensure the re-

Global rice demand hits 478m metric tons CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 29

as northern-hemisphere crops are harvested and exporters have abundant inventories after years of uninterrupted output gains,” the FAO said in the report.

It added: “Prospects for global paddy production have worsened substantially, mostly because of erratic weather conditions, including late arrival of rains or lingering droughts, which were often followed by heavy downpours and floods.

Concerns that lower production in India, Pakistan and Thailand will be supportive of international quotations are attenuated by prospects of still above-average harvests in these countries, as well as abundant inventories.”

The price of Thai five per cent broken rice, a benchmark in Asia, was $428 a ton on October 8 compared with $450 a ton

at the end of 2013, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The grade fell to $384 a ton on May 28, the lowest since at least 2008.

“Weak rains in India during the first half of the monsoon will cut output to 104 million tonnes from 106.5 million tons, while Thai output drops 1.6 per cent to 24.8 million tonnes,” FAO said.

It added: “The Southeast Asian nation will regain its position as the largest shipper, sending 10.6 million tonnes to overseas buyers, while Indian exports drop 20 per cent to 8 million tonnes. In Thailand, the forecast decline in paddy output is “associated with the February 2014 abolition of the rice-pledging scheme, which had guaranteed high prices to farmers since 2011. In India, production may drop 2.4 per cent after the irregular monsoon.”

tention of key employees of Afren for Oriental projects,” according to the law firm’s findings.

“Wilkie Farr & Gallagher has seen no evidence to suggest that this arrangement was ever discussed with the Afren board. Both Mr Shahenshah and Mr Ullah have admitted the receipt of the payments referred to above, although they initially denied that this arrangement had been entered into.”

In general, companies should steer clear of bigbuck deals executed beneath the radar of investors that culminate in the dismissal

of the chief executive.

Before the $17.1 million of bonuses were paid, about $45 million had been placed into the Bermudan special purpose vehicle by Oriental.

This followed an agreement between Oriental and Afren’s top two executives, struck in October last year, to place part of Oriental’s cash flows into the Bermudan vehicle after payments were made by Afren to Oriental.

The Wilkie report found two payments from Afren to Oriental totalling $400 million which technically should have been disclosed to the London Stock Exchange, but

were not.

Last year, the two sacked executives were criticised by shareholder groups for failing to promptly reveal profits gained from taking personal stakes in another Afren partner company, First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, in which Afren subsequently invested.

Afren’s auditors, Deloitte, qualified the company’s interim accounts for the first half of 2014 following the launch of the investigation and suspensions of Mr Shahenshah and Mr Ullah in July.

However, Afren’s full-year accounts for 2012 and 2013, covering the periods in which the $400million of payments were made to Oriental Energy, were not qualified.

L-R: Director, Bayswater Industries, Ahaji Lawal Idrisu; Distributor, Olubunmi Adeyemi and Managing Director, Bayswater Industries, Mr Piyush Nair, at the launch of Mr Chef 10-in-1 pack in Abuja.

NIWA to impose fines on boat operators SAFETY

Government wants boat operators to comply with safety rules on waterways

Bayo Akomolafe

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he National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has said that any boat operator operating on Nigerian waterways without

the certificate of competence before March 2015, will be sanctioned.

It ordered the operators to get certificate of competence from the Nigerian Maritime and Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) before operating on the waterways.

Also, it urged all operators in Lagos State to comply with safety rules in order to prevent accidents on the nation’s waterways.

NIWA’s Area Manager, Lagos Branch, Mr Muazu

Sambo, disclosed this at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos.

He said that the call was necessary due to the incessant boat mishaps on the waterways.

Sambo noted: “NIWA is not happy with the mishap happening on waterways and that is why we are making every move to prevent the incessant boat accidents.

“Part of the move is to ensure that boat operators comply with safety rules on the waterways.’’

Sambo also stressed

the importance of standard lifejackets which he said every boat operator must have on board.

The Area Manager also harped on the need for an orderly sitting arrangement on board, well trained sailors and to brief the passengers on the safety measures that have been put in place.

He pledged his full support for smooth sailing on the waterways to prevent accident and other mishaps on the inland waters.

N’Assembly may pass ICT protection bill this year Kunle Azeez

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here are indications that the bill seeking protection for Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure (ICTI) in Nigeria may receive legislative blessing before the end of the year.

Already, it has passed

the first and second readings in the House of Representatives.

New Telegraph gathered that the bill titled: ‘Telecoms Critical National Infrastructure Bill’ had already passed first and second reading in the lower chamber of House of Representatives.

The passage of the bill, it was learnt, would help check telecommu-

nication installations’ vandalism in the country and strengthen the classification of telecommunications equipment as critical national infrastructure.

As at last year, MTN Nigeria said it recorded a minimum of 70 cases of fibre cuts which required the network operator to engage in fresh investment and repair

work during which network quality was often affected.

At a forum in Lagos, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission, Dr Eugene Juwah, said that efforts were on for the bill to be passed into law, saying that the lawmakers were working with the commission to fast-track it.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

African pension funds provide massive opportunity for investment p.32

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Pension

PTAD vows to end corruption in pension system p.32

PTAD: Task ahead beyond sensitisation NEW ORDER

Battered Nigerian pensioners may soon heave a sigh of relief as the new agency created to handle the implementation of their demands gets set for business Sunday Ojeme

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ast week, a team from the Pension Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD) led by the Director-General, Nellie Mayshak, was in Lagos to begin a sensitisation programme with the aim of telling members of the public the mandate of the agency as well as assuring pensioners of prompt payment of their pensions.

During the programme, the director-general described the session as part of the Transformation Agenda of President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, especially as it affects the need to pay close attention to Pension Administration and Management as a panacea for timely and effective pension payment under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).

She also took out time to reel out the objectives of the meeting, which included the provision of an interactive platform for effective discussion and exchange of ideas on the role and mandate of PTAD, general problems affecting pensioners, mechanisms for complaints resolution and the roadmap for a seamless and successful consolidation of Parastatals’ Pensions under PTAD. Although it took quite sometime for her to come out in public in an attempt to douse the prevalent tension generated by pensioners over delayed payment of their pension and the implementation of other benefits promised by the Federal Government, the fact remains that PTAD must not be allowed to go the way of other government agencies known for deploying the media as an instrument of propaganda to impress the government while they are actually out of touch with their primary assignment.

PTAD, which was set up to harmonise pension liabilities as regards Defined Benefits Scheme can well be described as a child of necessity considering the plight, agonies and neglect pensioners under the DBS have been facing the country.

It is on this premise that the

Pensioners reviving their collapsed colleague.

Federal Government should take the agency’s mandate more seriously and avoid seeing it as a political establishment to compensate individuals especially those with no expertise in pension management.

To allay the fears of Nigerians and bolster the expectation of pensioners, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) speaking through the Secretary/Legal Adviser to the Commission, Mr. Sanni Mohammed, a few months ago, promised that the newly signed Pension Reform Act 2014 would transform the PTAD as it would eliminate third party participation in the payment of pension to beneficiaries being managed

by PTAD. Satisfied that the new order would provide succour to ease their plights, pensioners had waited endlessly for months to get feedback from the agency on how or when it would put an end to the outstanding problems.

When nothing was forthcoming, they were prompted to embark on demonstrations demanding the payment of their pensions with some still running into arrears.

In the case of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NRC chapter), the Ministerial Committee which endorsed the demands made by the pensioners, had as far back as January this year called on PTAD to expedite action on the payment of over N34.8 billion arrears owe the retirees between April 2011 and December 2012.

In a letter addressed to the Director-General, PTAD, by the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, the agency was

also advised to defray the additional outstanding monthly pension of N19.8 billion owed the pensioners for year 2013.

The railway pensioners, who are currently the least paid in the country, have had their pensions shortchanged by about N17 billion as only N3 billion was being remitted to them out of the actual N20 billion.

The letter dated January 15, 2014, and signed by the Director, Human Resource Management, Oqua E. Eta, on behalf of the minister, was written on the heels of a previous circular received from the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation (OHCSF) directing all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to forward all pension matters to the office of PTAD. It will be recalled that the

Federal Government should take the agency’s mandate more seriously and avoid seeing it as a political establishment to compensate individuals especially those with no expertise in pension management

Mayshak

railway pensioners have been deploying every instruments within their power in ensuring that their pension is harmonised with that of their colleagues in other Federal Government agencies. Currently, some of them earn as low as N4,500 as against N8,000 minimum earned by the peers who retired from other agencies.

The General Secretary of the union, Alhaji Rauf Balogun, had told New Telegraph that the committee did everything before arriving at the conclusion that the pensioners actually deserved a better deal, adding that everything now depended on the DG, PTAD to ensure quick payment of the arrears.

He said, “The railway pensioners have been suffering for long. They are earning peanuts compared to their counterparts. As a result of that a committee was constituted to look into the matter.

The committee comprised of representatives of the minister and other stakeholders.

The committee went round

and discovered that it was true that the railway pensioners were the least paid in the country where a pensioner receives N5,000 per month, and that constitutes majority of the pensioners.

“Their pensions range from N5,000 to N20,000. We are very much convinced that this poverty level contribute largely to their early deaths even though some of them are of age. Many of them are sick and it is quite pathetic. So the committee discovered all these and went ahead to review the pension rate to be in line with the current salary structure of the railway workers. You know there is a statutory difference between salary and pension and if you maintain that statutory difference then you are in order. But where the salary is far more than the pension it becomes a problem. So what the committee did was to harmonise it with the current salary structure of the workers so as to bridge the wide gap.

“Secondly, there is a decision by the Senate that pension should be harmonised so that those who retired long ago would be earning the same pension with those who are just retiring provided they retired on the same salary level.

The number of years is immaterial. So the committee took all these into consideration and arrived at its decision.

“So if it is eventually harmonised, it means they will owe N34.8 billion for 21 months arrears. The committee recommended that the arrears should be paid. Then the outstanding monthly pension of CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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Business | Pension

REGULATION

Regulatory reform is needed to ensure that the capital is accessed and invested in the African growth story Sunday Ojeme

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frica’s growing pension funds have continued to attract investment experts’ views on the possibility of deploying it to grow the continent’s economy instead of allowing it to remain idle.

The latest in this regard emanated from African Development Forum in Marrakech where a representative from the African Development Bank (AfDB), David Ashiagbor, highlighted the rapid growth of the Pension Fund industry and how it could provide a great source of capital for the private equity industry.

He reflected that since 2008 in Nigeria, pension funds under management had risen from $6bn to $25bn. Namibia has pension fund assets 80 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, while Botswana’s is 40 per cent, extremely healthy numbers.

He, however, said regulatory reform was needed to ensure that the capital base could be accessed and invested in the African growth story.

“Right now 70 per cent of these assets are sitting in riskless treasury bonds yielding returns upwards of 10 per cent, which makes other asset

African pension funds provide massive opportunity for investment classes risky in comparison,” he added.

Speakers at the Forum agreed that there was a need to transform the growing interest for African markets into real financial commitments.

They inferred that this was potentially a profound inflexion point for the private equity industry in Africa and also emphasised that it was important to look, not only at the public sector, but also at small and medium enterprises.

They reasoned that the number of success stories so far as reflected in Equity Bank in Kenya should not

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obscure the fact that private investors still faced many challenges when investing in Africa.

The Founding Director, EMPEA Consulting, Mike Casey, pointed out that last year, about $300 billion was raised globally for private equity.

He said, “Of that, 12 per cent was reserved for emerging markets, and of those 12 per cent ($38 billion), three per cent ($1.2 billion) was for Africa-focused funds.

“The biggest challenge global institutional investors see when they approach Africa is the lack of established fund managers. However, one

of the major questions institutional investors have is: Are there enough companies for all this capital that is being raised for the continent?”

He believes that Africa is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting opportunities for investors on the planet.

On her part, the Director at Abraaj Group, Ijeoma Agboti, , said that though PE in Africa was a relatively recent phenomenon which started in the early 2000s, the opportunities it offered are great.

She said, “The biggest challenge when Abraaj started was to overcome the scepticism of investors who did not know them. Most busi-

L-R: Beneficiaries of MTN Hajj, Mohammed Sanni; Hajarat Ahmed Aboki; Senior Manager, Segments, MTN Nigeria, Saidat Lawal-Mohammed and Customer Knowledge Analyst Marketing and Strategy, Ismail Salami, during the arrival of twenty subscribers from Mecca, for this year’s Hajj, in Lagos

PTAD vows to end corruption in pension system he Pension Transition Arrangement Department has vowed to make corruption a thing of the past in the pension system as far as Defined Benefits Scheme is concerned.

Disclosing this in Lagos, the Director-General, PTAD, Mrs. Nellie Mayshak, said, “There has not been a single incident of misappropriation of pension funds since PTAD and there will never be.”

She said the Federal Gover nment established PTAD in August 2013 in compliance with the provisions of section 30 sub-section (2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act of 2004 (now amended in 2014) . This is now restated in section 42 (1) of the 2014

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Act According to her, the purpose of PTAD is to manage pensions under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) for pensioners not transiting to the Defined Contributory Scheme (DCS).

Speaking on the challenges facing the agency, she said lack of adequate awareness by some concerned stakeholders about PTAD, as well as wrong impression of PTAD by some pensioners and critical stakeholders continue to pose a threat on the operation of the directorate.

She added that huge pension liabilities, absence of credible database and resistance to change/entrenched interest were equally a clog in the wheel of progress.

nesses in Africa are family businesses and investors need to be very sensitive about that. An important development that we have witnessed and contributed to is the regionalisation of private equity in Africa.

Businesses need to transcend borders and it is very important to build conglomerates.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Equity Capital Resources, Nathan De Assis, pointed out how the PE model worked in Zambia.

According to him, “We took the standard private equity model and shaped it within the Zambian context. We tried to use the capital in such a way that it allows SMEs to grow, create jobs and at the same time, contribute to the economic growth of the country.

“At the heart of the model is the idea that SMEs are the key engine of African growth. Investors need to provide resources to SMES so that they grow. Once SMEs grow, the larger players within the market can pick them up and bring them to the next level. It was not easy to attract money because, given the state of our economies, pension funds are quite reluctant to give capital. What we have been doing is to try and convince policy makers and governments to encourage some of the pension funds to provide capital for SMEs.”

CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

Task ahead beyond sensitisation

N19.8 billion for a year should also be released.

So we are still waiting to hear from the DG, PTAD, who is in charge of pension.

“The DG, PTAD has a copy of the Ministerial Committee’s report, and if he goes through the report he would discover how unfair it is to allow people who have been suffering to continue like that. So we are appealing to the DG, PTAD and the Finance Minister to hasten the process for us. We are not using force. It is an appeal. They should not look at the amount involved but the suffering that the aged pensioners are going through.”

For Power Holding Company of Nigeria pensioners, the Federal Government’s approval of the transfer of the management of over 20,000 PHCN pensioners

from the NELMCO to (PTAD) came as a partial relief but the delay in implementing the expected benefits has been a minus for PTAD as far as the pensioners are concerned.

The Managing Director of NELCOM, Mr. Samuel Agbogun, had said the capitalisation of PHCN pension’s provision as opposed to recurrent and inadequate budget appropriation was responsible for the delay being experienced in the payment of pensions, adding that the Federal Government came up with the transfer plan from the NELMCO to the PTAD to put an end to the irregular payments to the pensioners.

He also attributed the delay to the huge finances deployed by the FG to fighting insurgency and other security challenge

in the country, saying that following the reoccurring challenge that had led to inability to promptly pay the PHCN pensioners, the Board of NELMCO in its last board meeting resolved and directed that their payment and management obligations be transferred to PTAD within three months.

The electricity pensioners during a recent protest had asked the Federal Government to effect the payment of their pension arrears owed its members, failing which it would stage a peaceful protest to the presidency.

The communiqué signed by the union’s President, Chief Temple Ubani, and its Secretary, Comrade Olukayode Ogunbiyi, expressed disgust over the delay in the payment of pension ar-

rears of its members nationwide, stressing that the ex-workers were being owed June to August 2014 pension arrears by the Federal Government.

According to the communiqué, “We denounce the persistent delay by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the payment of our monthly pension which is already in months of June, July and August, 2014 in arrears, and we urge the Minister of Finance, the Chairperson of NELMCO Board to take necessary step to release the fund to NELMCO/PTAD.” In the same vein, a pensioner, Mr. Olu Ayeni, recalled that the decision by the government to transfer the pension liabilities of PHCN retirees under NELMCO to PTAD was just a ploy to further manipulate pension payment.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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Agric

Govt urged to pay attention to cocoa farmers, factories p.34

Dutch poultry industry looks to tap Nigeria’s trade potential p.35

Observing World Food Day amidst hunger All over the world, yesterday was observed as the World Food Day. DELE ALAO writes on its significance and impact of governmentenabled private sector-led agricultural transformation on food security in Nigeria

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he Day is celebrated every year around the world on 16 October in honour of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945.

It is celebrated widely by many other organisations concerned with food security, including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

This year’s edition had as theme: Family Farming - Feeding the world, caring for the earth.”

The theme was chosen to raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farmers.

It focuses world attention on the significant role of family farming in eradicating hunger and poverty, providing food security and nutrition, improving livelihoods, managing natural resources, protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development, in particular in rural areas.

Family farming The UN General Assembly has designated 2014 “International Year of Family Farming.”

This, observers said, is a strong signal that the international community recognises the important contribution of family farmers to world food security.

Family farming includes all family-based agricultural activities and it is linked to several areas of rural development. Family farming is a means of organising agricultural, forestry, fisheries, pastoral and aquaculture production which is managed and operated by a family and predominantly reliant on family labour, including both women and men.

Experts argued that both in developing and developed countries, family farming is the predominant form of agriculture in the food production sector.

As it were, it is said that Nigeria can be repositioned on the map of the world as a leading food producer with little co-coordinated efforts to utilise the abundant human and natural resources.

Nigeria’s position Nigeria is predominantly an agrarian society as a reasonable percentage of the population engages in Agricultural production, though at

Hybrid maize farm

subsistence level. Agriculture holdings are generally small and scattered. It provides about 41 per cent of the country’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 1999, this percentage represented a normal decrease of 24.7 per cent from 65.7 per cent GDP in 1957. The decrease is still on going because, as economic development occurs, the relative size of agricultural sector usually decreases?

Also, the fertility of the Nigeria soil and the wide range of varieties in climate allow it to produce a variety of food and crops. The staple major food crops include yam, cassava, corn, plantain, rice, sorghum and a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Compared with any country of the world, Nigeria has one of the best climate and land resources for produce that would be enough for consumption, exportation and industrialisation.

Regrettably, the country has been importing food.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, raised the alarm that the current Nigeria’s food import bill was exceptionally high with imports costing about N1.3 trillion in foreign exchange yearly.

“Our food imports are growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent per annum thereby fuelling domestic inflation and increasing poverty. We are importing products that we can either produce in abundance like N356 billion worth of rice, N217 billion worth of sugar and N97 billion worth of fish,” the minister said.

He added: “We are also importing products that we can easily find local alternatives for, which can equally reduce our import bill of almost N635 billion being spent on wheat production.”

African perspective However, at the sideline of the

Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal number one on hunger and malnutrition, two years ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations. Over three million farm jobs were created, putting young people to work as the agricultural revolution deepened across rural areas and agricultural value chains, leading to reduction in rural to urban migration

World Bank and IMF annual meetings, the minister said that what Africa is spending on food imports does not make sense.

Adesina, who noted that the region was spending about $45 billion US on food imports annually, said: “We have a lot of water and we have cheap labour across African economies and what we should be doing is producing our own food so that we become a global powerhouse in food production.”

He added that the country was going to turn agriculture into a big wealth-creating sector.

“What we did first was acknowledging that agriculture is not a development activity or social sector; it is a business and as government we will get out of the way and allow private business to make investments,” said Adesina.

The agriculture and rural development minister said that government will enact good policies, institutions, infrastructure and public goods that will help facilitate growth in the sector.

Lamenting, the National Vice President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Mohammed Bello, called on government to increase budgetary allocation to agriculture “Government should increase budgetary allocation to agriculture so that farmers can further get to the root of their entire problems,” he said.

The reality According to a food expert, Mr Kennedy Nwakapa, “food security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary and food preferences for an active and healthy life style.”

However, the reverse is the case.

Recent estimate put the number of hungry people in Nigeria at over 50 million, just less than 30 per cent of the country’s total population of about 160 million out of which about 52 per cent live under the poverty line.

But, the Special Assistant, Media and Strategy to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Olukayode Oyeleye, said that between 2011 and 2014, national food production expanded by an additional 21 million metric tons of food, surpassing the 20 million metric tons of food production target set for 2015.

He said: “Nigeria met its Millennium Development Goal number one on hunger and malnutrition, two years ahead of the 2015 target set by the United Nations. Over three million farm jobs were created, putting young people to work as the agricultural revolution deepened across rural areas and agricultural value chains, leading to reduction in rural to urban migration.”

Way out To achieve Nigeria’s goal of being a global powerhouse in agriculture, Oyeleye said that President Jonathan had launched a N50 billionfarm mechanisation policy drive to give precedence to affordable and appropriate modern farm machinery. “Through the policy, government is enabling the private sector tractor manufacturers and service operators to establish 1,200 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises across the country. Like in the agroinput subsidy under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), government will provide mechanisation grants to farmers on their mobile phones, which they will use to access mechanisation services from private sector mechanisation service operators,” he said.

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Business | Agric

COUNSEL Stakeholder educates government on how to help the industry

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he Federal Government has been advised to pay more attention to cocoa farmers and processing factories in other to develop the sector.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman, Multi Trex Integrated Foods Plc., Mr Dimeji Owofemi, all the factories in Nigeria are not processing more than 20 per cent maximum while about 80 per cent is being exported raw.

He said: “The traders do not create jobs; it is the farmers and factories that create jobs.

A trader is going to do his own business alone, but in factory, you have at least 50 people for the smallest size. Now if you have 10 factories, each with 300 people, it means you have employed 3,000 people, those are the people that are directly involved. Aside this, you still have those that are not

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Govt urged to pay attention to cocoa farmers, factories involved in production such as casual workers and people who trade in semi-finished products that we do. So, there is multiplier effect when you take things from farm to factories, rather than from farm to the port in the raw form.

“Therefore, those are the people to pay attention to - farmers and factories. If you take care of those two, all will be well. But if we neglect those two sectors, we are shooting ourselves in the foot as a country,” he added.

Owofemi who lamented

about the un-competitive nature of the sector due to lack of energy, road and multiple taxation, among other challenges, said that government should create institution that would structure the value change.

“I want government to create an institution that will regulate the operation of the industry so that it will not be an all comers affair,” he said.

On the 500,000 tonnes target for 2015, the Multi-Trex boss said that “500,000 tonnes cannot manifest in one year with what

is on the ground. Despite the distribution of improved cocoa varieties to farmers a year ago, it is difficult to meet such a target. These crops will take about 18 months to mature from the point of putting it in the soil.

Meanwhile, it is a process.

“You get the seedlings within nurseries, put them there, nurture them, before you transplant them. I will say three years down the lines.

Akwa Ibom and Rivers states are already producing massively,” he added.

800 experts attend World Nutrition Forum

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o fewer than 800 experts from 83 countries are said to be attending the sixth edition of the World Nutrition Forum in Munich, Germany.

The event, which started on Wednesday and will end tomorrow is organised and hosted by animal nutrition company, Biomin.

It is characterised by a large variety of independent speakers addressing the future of animal nutrition.

Earlier editions of the event were held in the Austrian cities of Mayrhofen, Vienna and Salzburg (twice).

The 2012 edition was held in Singapore.

The conference is taking place in the International Congress Center, Munich.

Yestarday’s speakers included Michael Eder, Biomin; Jørgen Randers, BI Norwegian Business School, Norway; Marty Matlock, University of Arkansas, USA; and Didier Jans, Fefana/Fami-QS, Belgium. This is followed by breakout sessions for poultry, swine, ruminants and aquaculture.

Today, a mycotoxin session will be held featuring Franz Berthiller, BOKU, Austria; Bertrand Grenier, Purdue University, USA; James Pestka, Michigan State University, USA; and Siska Croubels, Ghent University, Belgium.

A session casting a look into the future will include the speakers, Tim Jones, Future Agenda, UK; and Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Foundation, USA. Biomin’s Andreas Kern, Jan Vanbrabant and Erich Erber, Erber AG will also address the audience.

Cocoa farmers at work

SYNERGY Two agric bodies cooperate to increase food production

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etermined to boost the growth of the agric sector and enhance food production via the implementation of modern agric practices and technology, two leading world organisations, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and Syngenta have formed an alliance.

Food stuff on display

IITA, Sygenta partner to boost agric sector The partnership will run for three years.

At the official signing of the agreement in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, IITA’s Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, said that the joint efforts by both organisations is set to improve and promote cost ef-

fective production for maize, tomatoes, sweet pepper and cabbage, as well as also increase the yield and income from the cultivation of these crops.

He said that the focus of the partnership is to identify, adapt and make superior crop seeds including vegetables available to farmers.

He said: “We are working on developing varieties of hybrids for various crop groups which include: maize, soyabean, cabbage, yam, cassava, plantain and banana with the aim of making them available to farmers.”

The hybrid of seeds produced by Sygenta for the selected crops will undergo variety of trials on crop protection packages and standard crop production protocols, which will be conducted at IITA sites under the signed agreement.

Also the Head of Africa Venture Team at Syngenta, Dimitri Pauwels, acknowledged the partnership with IITA as a key milestone for his organisation in Nigeria.

He added that the partnership would enable the development and transfer of modern agricultural practices and technologies that are suited to the Nigerian environment, as well as empower smallholder farmers.

Business | Agric

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

BOOST Farmers can now process their yield into flour

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he residents of Igbodu rural community in Lagos State have become the latest beneficiaries of the cassava processing plant, courtesy of the Lagos State government.

The plant is part of the empowerment programme of the state government to enhance food production and reduce post-harvest losses.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr Cornelius Ojelabi, said at the hand-over ceremony that the project was executed in order to boost the inherent economic capacity of the community as the farmers can now process their yield into

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Lagos empowers community with cassava processing plant flour and other forms instead of selling all directly in tubers.

Ojelabi pledged the support of the state government towards ensuring improved nutritional value via the provision of enriched vitamin A cassava cuttings which will be made accessible through the Centre for Rural Development (CERUD) which he disclosed had established a cassava multiplication field in the community.

The commissioner urged the farmers to strive for proper maintenance and utilisa-

tion of the facility as it will spur further investment in the community from the state government, while soliciting the assistance of government in the provision of tricycles to aid the conveying of cassava produce from the farms to the processing facility.

Also present at the event, the Chairman, Lagos State Chap-

ter, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Otunba Femi Oke, on behalf of the community farmers, expressed gratitude to the state government, while pledging the commitment of the community farmers to ensure good use of the facility, highlighting the potential for job creation with the commencement of full production.

Anambra to expand agric investment base TASK Anambra takes proactive steps to boost investments in agric sector

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In a cassava processing factory

Govt advises Jigawa farmers to form associations DIRECTIVE Jigawa gives farmers condition to assess GES

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igawa State government has directed farmers in the state to form poultry, livestock and fisheries associations to facilitate assess to the state subsidised agricultural inputs through the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES).

According to Comrade Wad’u Suleiman Jahun, the spokesperson for the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Isah Rabiu Taura, during a state tour of all demonstration farms, said that the association has becomeimperative in

view of the state government’s need to ensure farmers’ access to available assistance as well as monitor their business activities.

He urged the farmers to intensify efforts in seeking soft loans from the state government and other relevant agencies to boost their businesses.

Speaking during the tour, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Muhammad Idrith Danzomo, commended the efforts of the Ministry’s Village Extension workers in the education and mobilisation of farmers on new methods of agricultural practices and technology, declaring the commitment of the state government towards driving the adoption of modern farming technology by the state farmers.

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido

he Anambra State government is keen on expanding its agricultural investment base.

To this end, it has put in place innovative incentive packages that will enhance the profitability of agro-investments sited in the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Nnamdi Mekoh, disclosed this when the organisers of Agra Innovate Nigeria Conference and Exhibition paid a courtesy call on Anambra State officials in Awka, the state capital, recently.

The commissioner said that Anambra, under the leadership of Governor Willie Obiano, had taken steps to ensure a conducive environment for agribusinesses to thrive.

“Our agricultural policies are formulated with the investor in mind and there is no question that this sector is a key focal area for the Obiano administration,” Mekoh said.

He commended the organisers for considering Anambra as one of the key sub-national destinations in the build-up to the main event in November.

On his part, Business Development Director of Afrocet Nigeria, Mr George Pearson, said that the event, which would take place between November 18 and 20, 2014, comes on the heels of a string of notable reforms that have placed Nigerian agriculture in good stead to become a global player in food production.

Chief Executive Officer of AgroNigeria, Lead Media Advisor to the event, RichardMark Mbaram, said that Agra Innovate Nigeria is a clear recognition on the part of global agro-investors of Nigeria’s rising status in agricultural productivity.

He said: “This event marks a paradigm shift in the relationship between Nigerian agricultural economy and foreign investors. Whereas

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

it was Nigerians who would travel to host events abroad to woo investors, now the reverse is the case owing to the unparalleled successes which the present administration has recorded in agricultural transformation.”

Further reinforcing the stance of the Anambra State government, Managing Director of the newly-inaugurated Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA), Joe Billy Ekwunife, expressed the interest of the agency in partnering with the project.

“It is particularly interesting that over 40 globally acclaimed agribusiness brands have signed up to participate in the event,” he said.

Also in attendance at the meeting were critical members of the Anambra State Economic Management Team, including Mark Okoye, Senior Speciak Assistant on Investment to the state governor, as well as Mike Ogbuekwe, the governor’s SSA on Agriculture.

It will be recalled that the state governor had only recently returned from a courtesy call on the country’s agriculture minister as part of his efforts geared towards positioning the state as a major agro-economic player in the country.

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Business | Agric

OPPORTUNITY Netherland poultry producers to visit Nigeria to explore potentials Stories by Dele Alao

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he Dutch poultry industry is looking to Nigeria as a target for trade opportunities, with a trade mission planned for November 2 to 7.

Holland-Africa Poultry Partners (HAPP), member companies ISA, Koudijs Animal Nutrition (De Heus), Pas Reform and TransNational Agri Projects will travel to the Nigeria Poultry Show.

They will be joined by Daphne Willems, Project Coordinator for Netherlands-

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dutch poultry industry looks to tap Nigeria’s trade potential Africa Business Council and potential HAPP members, Celtic Cooling, Jansen Poultry Equipment and Marel Stork Poultry Processing.

Nigeria is the first West-African country to be visited by a Dutch poultry delegation and has a huge potential as a trade partner, according to HAPP. Willem said: “Nigeria poultry meat and eggs are unrestricted by any religion or culture and it is also the most consumed animal protein.

However, only the elite farmers in Nigeria can actually fill

HarvestPlus honours ‘Father of Cassava in Africa’ HONOUR Distinguished researcher in cassava got rewarded

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he organisation leading global effort to end hidden hunger, HarvestPlus, has presented an award to Dr Alfred Dixon, known by his peers as “Dr. Cassava,” in recognition of his outstanding performance towards the rapid development of provitamin A cassava varieties in Nigeria.

Dixon is currently the Project Leader for the Cassava Weed Management Project/ Head, Project Coordination Office at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State.

The award was given to Dixon during the HarvestPlusorganised annual crop meeting held in Abuja.

The organisation also honoured its Deputy Director (Operations), Dr. Wolfgang Pfeiffer; IITA Cassava Breeder, Dr Peter Kulakow. Also, the Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) Umudike, Dr. Josiah Okonkwo, also received awards.

In his career with IITA,

Dixon led the development of over 300 improved cassava varieties, most of which were introduced to over 30 countries in Africa and helped the continent to increase production.

He also pioneered the development of provitamin-A cassava varieties.

In reference to his contribution, Dr Pfeiffer referred to him as “being instrumental to the development of yellow cassava varieties that are agrononomically superior.”

In 2008, Dixon left IITA to serve as the pioneer Director General of the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Dixon is a team player and has trained, inspired, and mentored over 300 national scientists and technicians to add value to the food security drive of governments to ensure food security. Most of his trainees are today in leadership positions. He is often referred to as the “Father of Cassava in Africa.”

In recognition of his contribution to the development of the cassava sector in the country, he was awarded a traditional chieftaincy title in Nigeria.

L-R- Dr Wolfgang Pfeiffer, Deputy Director (Operations), HarvestPlus presenting an award to Dr Alfred Dixon

the gap and harness these opportunities, so HAPP is hopeful that the poultry industry from the Netherlands can help meet the demand.

“The purpose of the mission is to experience the opportunities of the Nigerian poultry sector. The companies will meet with their Nigerian counterparts at the Nigeria Poultry Show in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where an entire Holland pavilion will be created. Company visits and business-to-business matchmaking sessions will be held,” he added.

The trade mission is coordinated in cooperation with the Dutch Poultry Centre (DPC).

It would be recalled that the National President of the

Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, said that poultry farmers in Nigeria form 25 per cent of the country’s agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Oduntan added that the association and its members constitute 25 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural GDP. On the importance of poultry produce such as eggs, Oduntan said: “The business of selling multi-vitamins and tablets for energy and all those other things that people consume daily is a multi-billion naira business. The egg will do all those things and it is a natural product. What we need to do is to let people know the beauty that is contained in an egg.”

Birds in a poultry farm

New discovery’ll enhance yield, quality of cereal A team of scientists has developed a new way of identifying genes that are important for photosynthesis in maize and rice. Their research helps to prioritise candidate genes that can be used for crop improvement and revealed new pathways and information about how plants fix carbon.

A team of scientists led by Thomas Brutnell, director of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, has developed a new way of identifying genes that are important for photosynthesis in maize and in rice.

Their research helps to prioritise candidate genes that can be used for crop improvement and revealed new pathways and information about how plants fix carbon.

The findings, published in “Comparative analyses of C4 and C3 photosynthesis in developing leaves of maize and rice,” recently in Nature Biotechnology, also made public a

mathematical model enabling access to datasets comparing C4 photosynthesis traits in plants like maize to C3 photosynthesis in plants like rice.

C4 crops including maize, sorghum, switchgrass and sugarcane are able to withstand drought, heat, nitrogen and carbon dioxide limitations better than C3 crops, such as rice, wheat, barley and oats, due to their ability to efficiently make use of carbon dioxide and water that make carbohydrates we eat and cell wall polysaccharides; the sugars that are important to producing next-generation biofuels.

Brutnell said: “Our research focuses on understanding complex network interactions in grasses with a goal of engineering C4 traits into C3 grasses which can be translated into crops that impact the supply of food and fuel. The technologies that our team developed to identify regulatory genes that enhance photosynthesis in C4 crops can be extended to identify control points for other pro-

cesses including nitrogen and phosphate efficiency as well as a plant’s response to environmental stresses like heat and drought.”

The Danforth Centre has expanded their portfolio over the years by studying model C4 grasses to improve the quality, yield and biomass of emerging bioenergy feed stocks such as miscanthus and switchgrass and that can be applied to improve food security and major cereal crops.

Todd Mockler, Ph.D., Geraldine and Robert Virgil Distinguished Investigator and Doug Bryant, Ph.D., director of the bioinformatics core facility, have developed algorithms and technology to better understand important genes and genomes for a variety of significant crops using model plants.

“The regulatory genes that impact photosynthesis are critically important for enhancing growth and yield and improving carbon capture in both food and bioenergy crops,” said Mockler.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

37

Auto Beat Chevrolet Spark hit one million mark

Paul Ogbuokiri

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hevrolet has reached a milestone number in supermini sales, surpassing the one million mark worldwide of the Spark and Beat - fresh evidence of Chevrolet’s vehicle lineup attracting more people to the brand around the world. Earlier this year, Chevrolet sold its three-millionth Cruze.

A statement by the Executive Vice President of Global Chevrolet, Mr. Alan Batey, the Spark first went on sale as the Beat in India in late 2009.

Today, it is available in 71 markets worldwide, selling the most in South Korea, followed by the United States and Mexico. In the US, sales of the Spark are up 10 percent year to date.

In South Africa where the Spark has been on sale since 2010, sales increased by 36 percent from January to September when compared to the same period in 2013 (6 794 vs 4 983 units), he said.

“Our small cars Spark and Sonic, and

the mid-size Cruze - attract more new car buyers to Chevrolet than any other vehicles in the lineup, with more than 60 percent of buyers never having owned a Chevy before,” Batey says.

He further said that the Spark, along with the rest of the Chevrolet small car lineup, also attracts the youngest buyers to the brand. This year, sales of Chevrolet small cars have increased more than 9 percent for car buyers under the age of 35.

New Telegraph on Sunday learnt that in 2014, the Spark was the only vehicle in the entry-level segment to earn the IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

Light-weight, high-strength steel constitutes more than 62 percent of Spark’s underbody and 42 percent of its upper body. It is also used in the roof bow and B-pillars, it was disclosed.

The Spark and other Chevrolet cars are sold and serviced in Nigeria by CFAO Intermotors.

NAC partners Bosch to develop automotive skills

T

he National Automotive Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German multinational supplier of technology and services, Bosch to set up an alliance in the automotive aftermarket sector.

The agreement penned last Tuesday in Abuja by the two bodies, would pave the way for the development of technical automotive skills and the establishment of a network of automotive workshops in Nigeria.

Director General NAC, Mr. Aminu Jalal signed on behalf of NAC while the Vice President Middle East and Africa of Bosch’s Automotive Aftermarket division, Mr. Andreas Bodemer, signed the MoU signed on behalf on the global giant.

A statement jointly signed by the Media Officer of Robert Bosch Middle East, Fadi Tadros, and his NAC counterpart, Luqman Mamudu; indicates that the agreement covers several areas of common interest. For example, trainers of the NAC would largely benefit from Bosch’s “train-the-trainer programme,” even as both parties will from now on offer technical training programmes for mechanics and technicians on maintenance and repairs of gasoline and diesel powered cars.

The statement further stated that the training programmes will be available at the NAC’s six training facilities. It noted that every mechanic or technician who will participate in the training programme would be awarded a certificate attesting to his expertise in the field of automotive technology.

“In addition, Bosch will equip the NAC training facilities with workshop test equipment and media training tools such as videos and brochures,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Bodemer, has said that the partnership on training centers is clearly an innovative forerunner in Sub-Saharan Africa and would significantly drive the structural development of the automotive industry in Nigeria. “We aim to extend our expertise with NAC by further developing our Bosch workshop concepts in the country and adapting them to local needs, especially for the growing middle-class segment,” he said.

He also said that with its solutions for repair and maintenance, Bosch’s Automotive Aftermarket division keeps vehicles moving all around the world, adding that the company currently maintains more than 43 training centers which offer training courses for operators of automotive workshops globally, two of which are located in Morocco and in South Africa.

Also, President of Bosch Group in Africa, Dr Markus Thill, said: “Our partnership with the NAC demonstrates the long-term commitment of Bosch to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular.” He noted that Nigeria is the continent’s largest economy and boasts a reservoir of young and well-qualified people, hence, Bosch aims to further develop the technical competences of the local workforce especially in the automotive industry for the mutual success of the Nigerian industry and Bosch’s business in this country.

DG, NAC, Aminu Jalal said the agency welcomes the agreement as a contribution to enhancing the skills of the local workforce. He added, “This is one of the deciding elements of the National Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) launched in 2013 as an integral part of the Nigerian National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) to further the country’s economy.”

According to Jalal, NAIDP has been widely welcomed by investors and this cooperation of Bosch and the NAC will contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to provide the appropriate skills for not only the assembly plants, but also repair workshops.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

38

Feminique

Angya: Woman of firsts, with eye to the sky Professor Charity Angya is one of those few that know that even the sky is not the limit for any woman who is determined to succeed, as long as she works hard and remains focused. As the first female Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University and the first female chairman of the Panel of Judges for the NLNG’s Nigeria Price for Literature, she told EBERE AMEH among other things, that if she has any challenge, it is not because she is a woman

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harity Angya strongly believes in Abraham Lincoln’s saying that the fact that some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well. Armed with that, she set out to shatter the glass ceiling and assume the highest position, the Vice Chancellorship of Benue State University.

Like Lincoln, she was undaunted when she vied for the position earlier and lost the bid. Her second attempt gave her the victory. Now at the helm of affairs, she has continued to record giant and unprecedented strides in the development of the institution.

“I had contested for vice chancellorship several years back. At that time I wasn’t given the opportunity. But I contested again when the position came up and this time I was given a chance. I did not get it because I am a woman, no, I contested among ten men.

There was no issue of male and female, we contested as equals.

More importantly the people knew what they were looking for and I fitted the picture.”

That was how in 2011, Angya, a renowned Professor of Theatre Arts assumed the position of the Vice Chancellor of Benue State University, making her the first female Vice Chancellor since the establishment of the institution in 1992. With her calm and motherly mien, she has carried the school along the path of progress, calculatedly initiating projects and programmes that are in consonance with their vision of becoming the University of First Choice in Nigeria and Africa and among the top 200 in the world.

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

“Success may be visible or not so visible,” Angya said. “But one of the visible successes we have recorded is the significant change in the physical landscape of the university and the erection of new buildings, refurbishment of students’ hostels among others.

We have invested heavily in ICT cause we believe that for us to continue in this 21st century, ICT is needed, and it is paying off. There are also lots of changes in terms of strengthening old programs and adding new ones and we have quite a number of accreditations.

In terms of students morale, there is so much improvement. ” Angya is a woman who believes in putting in her best and reaching for the top. After her first degree in Theatre Arts at the University of Jos, Plateau State, she immediately proceeded to the University of Ibadan for her Masters and did not rest until she got a PhD from the same institution.

“After my PhD programme, I left to lecture in the university of Calabar before moving to Benue State university later. I started lecturing in the university of Calabar in 1988 immediately after my PhD programme.

I didn’t have problem of unemployment. I also did not have to stop school to work, so, I did all my schooling at a stretch. I was focused on my studies and allowed little or no distractions.”

As a native of Benue State, she relocated to BSU when it was founded, as the Coordinator of the Department of Theatre Arts. She was at various times a member of the Governing Council of the school, Head of the Department of Theatre Arts and Acting Vice Chancellor.

No wonder she was appointed to chair the just concluded Nigerian Prize for Literature.

By that, she became the first woman to chair the prestigious literary prize, endowed by Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd. (NLNG), to promote and reward excellence in writing.

Talking about Sam Ukala’s Iredi War, that won the award, Angya said that the language the writer employed in the work, “captures indigenous sensibili-

Angya

I did not get it because I am a woman, no, I contested among ten men.

There was no issue of male and female, we contested as equals.

ties, preserves the profundity of the original, and yet entertains.”

How does she juggle her numerous engagements with her responsibilities as a wife and mother? Though that has been the bane of most working mothers, the VC who is married to Dr Paul Angya, a Director with the Standard Organization of Nigeria and blessed with five children, says she is lucky that her husband is understanding and her children, all grown.

“It’s quite challenging to keep up with demands at home and at work but here is always a way out. What I do is to prioritize. I look at what is top priority and I give my best to both my family and work. I always make time to pray and I thank God I have a very supportive husband and my youngest child who is still at home is very supportive too.”

Angya who agrees that there are challenges is quick to add that it has nothing to do with gender.

“As a vice chancellor, yes there are challenges; as a woman who is a vice chancellor, I’m not so sure,” the Angya quipped. “As a vice chancellor, there is stress of trying to meet the demanding needs of home as well as keep students and staff in line in the face of competing demands and continuing funding challenges. There are so many things that one would want to do but is constrained not only in terms of finance but even the environment we’re in. I have enjoyed the support of staff, students and the state government and that has helped me a lot. I be-

lieve that challenges bring out the best in you. The challenges have nothing to do with my gender, they are peculiar to the job.”

She encouraged women in every field of endeavour to desist from fear and reach for the sky because they are as capable as their male colleagues.

“Women should build their capacities and be ready to contest whenever there is an opportunity. Leadership is mainly male dominated and is seen as an exclusive reserve of the men.

But women should be encouraged by building their capacities and making them aware that those chances are not only open for men but women can also be considered. If we can have the support of the male colleagues it will go a long way.”

She advised young girls and women to concentrate on developing themselves and dare to reach the top because they can do it.

“Things are changing all over the world and I think this is a chance for the Nigerian woman to focus on developing herself. I think this nation needs the peculiar skills that women bring in leadership and other roles they play. The clarion call is for women to develop themselves.

“There is time for everything.

If you are young, don’t lose focus, concentrate on your studies and get the best of education. When you are working, keep developing yourself and aim for the sky, your gender notwithstanding. In everything, don’t compromise on hard work and integrity.”

Feminique 39

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Six things about sex men want from their wives

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n my clinic, I get asked these questions below quite often. What else does he want me to do? Why is he going out with all these small, small girls? After all I try my best.

When I ask for her best, I am always amazed. Because the best never includes sex. Yes there are many reasons why marriages hit the rocks. But the number one reason is sex. You don’t believe me? Okay, but why should Oga be having frequent sex with his illiterate and ignorant housemaid? Or his wife’s younger sister? Or why should a big madam of the house be caught red handed with the gardener, driver or houseboy? Sexual satisfaction or nonsatisfaction. Simple as ABC. Based on that, here are just five of the causes.

Communication Gap. This is the biggest on the list. We men fervently wish we can discuss better with our wives on sex matters. Unfortunately, our wives think we are perverts or sex maniacs whenever we broach the subject. That should not be the case. How do we talk about what we like or dislike when we are afraid of being misinterpreted?

Frequent Sex. Sex to us men is not an option. It is a necessity. To us it is just like eating or drinking water. Yes we men can hold ourselves for some time when madam is not around. The average virile man can stay for 3 weeks maximum After that we become tensed up and might go after anything in skirts.

Saying No Harshly. It is true that we all get tired and stressed up at times.

Happens to us all. But a lot of our wives

Ebere Ameh

E

veryone seems to notice the zest, the spring in my steps, the sudden change. It reminds me of those days when the going was good. ‘When you are happy, the children and I are happy.

But when you are sad, automatically, we all get sad,’ Segun would tell me when I want to get angry. ‘Cheer up my love,’ he would add. I always looked forward to that last line and I would smile broadly, giving him a bear hug.

Whatever happened to that love we shared is still a mystery to me. Whatever made my Segun to turn me to a punch bag, agree to a divorce and get remarried barely three months afterwards is still a puzzle I’ve not been able to crack.

As Gracious Grace rightly said, ‘you spend all the time blaming yourself but he has moved on. Cheer up, move on with your own life because you are not the cause.’ I’m beginning to put all that behind me now.

Oh George, how are you?’ I asked the driver who entered the living room where I was, lost in thought. His presence brought me back to reality. He stood, smiling broadly as we exchanged pleasantries. ‘You must have some good news’, I chirped, all these smiles can’t be for just dropping the car key.

‘Yes ma, I saw you are in a good mood.

So I decided to use the opportunity to ask if I could go for an interview on Monday.

I have been applying to many organizations and this time, I was shortlisted to participate in their oral test. Ma, I’ll be gone for just a few hours and I’d sure pick the kids and you, ma, later in the day. What... ma? he asked, looking over his shoulders to see if anybody entered.

‘Oh! no, George, you don’t have to worry. I’m smiling at nobody but simply impressed by your honesty, your conduct and your carriage these few months you have worked for us. No

just don’t know how to say NO gently.

They practically push us away with such force and strong words that the erection will fail instantly. And might refuse to get up again for a long time.

Unless with bribes and persuasions.

Don’t ask me what kind O!!!.This personal rejection affects our Ego and Psyche tremendously. Do that frequently and wahala starts. The poor guy starts searching for someone who will not reject him. Tall, short, fat, ugly or whatever. What you with all your book knowledge, beauty and sophistication cannot do, she of a lower status does easily. Abi na beauty alone we go chop? So madam of the house, How To Say No Properly is very important. Say it with love, care and a promise of another time. Which you must keep.

Becoming Sloppy, and Untidy. We men care so much about beauty and appearance. Our eyes and noses hardly deceive us. That is why porno movies, Ebony and Playboy magazines will never die or go bankrupt. Madam what happened to all that beauty and sophistication that was so evident before marriage?Please work and childbearing are just lame and convenient excuses. We definitely don’t mind a little fat and plump here and there. After all we grow pot bellies too.

But not hair rollers, 20 different kinds of face and body creams etc that must not be touched. Even during sex. Or the Michelin tyre advert shape.

Nudity. I have said this before. We love watching our wives dress and undress. Striptease for us. We enjoy it.

What you with all your book knowledge, beauty and sophistication cannot do, she of a lower status does easily. Abi na beauty alone we go chop?

Fadeyi

Sex As Punishment/Reward. Many of our wives use sex as a weapon for punishment/reward. If you are nice, I’ll allow you. If not, no show. A beg, madam of the house, you can punish us another way. But not with sex. See ya later.

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship.

He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08114483395 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom I need to move on

problem. You can go, but keep in touch so I can make alternative arrangement if you can’t make it back early. I wish you all the best,” I added as he turned to go.

I almost told him to stop all that ‘ma’ but I thought he may get it twisted. Even as I pray for him to get a befitting job, I wonder if we can really do without him. The children and I have gotten so used to him. Thank God the interview is not Wednesday when I have an official trip to Abuja. I need him to be around for the kids. That would be the first time I’m leaving my chil-

dren alone for an official trip since my divorce. I have to make sure they are in safe hands. Though I don’t feel like leaving them all alone for three good days, I have no choice. With rumours of an imminent downsizing in the company making the rounds, everyone is sitting up. Joan, my younger sister would come around and stay with them while I’m away. I trust her to take good care of them.

Thank God, I’ll be back before Sunday for the New Beginning. I can’t wait to know the outcome of Angela’s children’s custody

case, she was simply a nervous wreck.

Despite exchanging our contacts, only Grace and Daniel have called me. Grace’s call to encourage me was a soothing balm. Daniel who joined the same day as myself called to ask about the experience. While I am full of praises for the initiative, he feels it is more of women’s affair and says he may not continue.

Daniel works with one of the major oil companies in Nigeria. Despite all his pleas and even coercion, his wife refused to come back with him after their cross posting in the United States.

He now considers himself a single man technically and was invited to the programme by his colleague. “I see the gathering as a women’s affair. I can only come there again if you insist,” he said on phone. “I do not insist Daniel, I plead,” I responded. He has continued to call from time to time. “Just checking on you,” he would say.

Daniel works with one of the major oil companies in Nigeria.

Despite all his pleas and even coercion, his wife refused to come back with him after their cross posting in the United States.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

40

Islam Muharram: Nigerian Muslims E X H O RTAT I O N

23 DHUL HIJJA, 1435 AH

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Husband no longer interested in me QUESTION

My husband does not have the strength (he has some sickness) to perform his marital duty in bed with me. What can I do?

ANSWER In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear sister, thank you for your question.

In fact, you may try your best to convince your husband to seek medical treatment and pray to God to help you lead a happy marital life.

In his response to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states, I empathise with your situation and pray to Allah to help you find satisfaction in your marriage.

You have only one of three choices: 1. To ensure that your husband seek treatment for his condition. As you suggested he is probably suffering from a medical challenge. Like any other health challenges, we should seek treatments and cure. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O servants of Allah, seek treatments for your sickness for Allah has appointed a cure for every ailment except old age.”

If you cannot convince him personally, you ought to seek help from the imam or a professional counselor or any wise person in the community he may trust.

2. If, however, he is not willing to receive the treatments for his condition, and you are unable to put up with him, your final resort is to seek a divorce from him and see if you can find another lawful partner who would satisfy you.

One of the wives of an eminent companion came to the Prophet complaining about her husband that while she couldn’t find any fault with his character, he would not satisfy her in bed, then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered him to let her go by divorcing her. So, you have the right to seek a divorce form your husband on this ground. For sexual satisfaction is one of the stated objectives of marriage in Islam.

3. If divorce is not an option, then the only course open to you is to practice the discipline of fasting to curb your desire. You may also do well to occupy your mind in other projects and activities by way of sublimation.

I pray to Allah to inspire you to make the right choice which will bring you closer to Allah and your ultimate salvation.

Allah Almighty knows best.

“O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED, IF THERE COMES TO YOU A DISOBEDIENT ONE WITH INFORMATION, INVESTIGATE, LEST YOU HARM A PEOPLE OUT OF IGNORANCE AND BECOME, OVER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, REGRETFUL.” QURAN 49: 6

heighten calls for a national PACE SETTERS MPAC, Criterion and NACOMYO have championed demand for a public holiday Stories by Adeola Yusuf

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igerian Muslims have heightened calls on the Federal Government to declare the first day of Muharram, which marks the beginning of the new Hijra calendar, as a national holiday in Africa’s most populous country.

This came as Islamic organisations in the country lined up activities to mark the 1436 Hijra Year, that will commence in the next two weeks.

The Hijra marks the historic migration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers from Mecca, where the polytheists frustrated his propagation of Islamic monotheism, to Madina, where people joyously embraced his divine message, 1436 years ago and its calendar is used to date Islamic events.

The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO) and the Criterion, a group of professional Muslim women, made the appeal to the government to declare Muharram 1st a public national holiday in Nigeria in the same way that

A cross-section of Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims on arrival from Mecca, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos…on Monday PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

the new year of other faith communities.

The Executive Chairman of MPAC, Disu Kamor, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that it is time for government to act on the demand.

He said: “Setting this date aside as a national holiday in Nigeria is surely an idea whose time has come. It is necessary to heed the popular call and declare Muharram 1st a public national holiday in Nigeria in the same way that the new year of other faith communities and nations are known and tagged as public and national holidays.”

Muharram, according to

Kamor, is “not just the first month on the Muslim lunar calendar signifying the date when Muslims, under brutal Makkah persecution, emigrated to Medina, it was also the month that ushered in an epoch of peace and goodwill for the community. “[Muslim] Umamah [community] and other companions agreed that there was no action that was so profound, so significant in the Muslim Ummah more than the Hijra, which is why the Hijra was adopted for dating Islamic events.”

The Anadolu Agency reported that although many inde-

pendent headcount suggested a majority Muslim population, Nigeria does not declare a national holiday for the start of the new hijra year.

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation (NACOMYO) said an average Muslim respects the Hijra calendar more than he does the January 1 marking the beginning of the Gregorian calendar.

“So it is only fair if he is given a sense of belonging by having such a date declared a national holiday,” NACOMYO President Kamaldeen Akintunde told the AA in a telephone interview.

More banks mull Islamic bank window, operation, says expert

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ore banks in Nigeria have commissioned studies into the Islamic Banking system with a view to tapping into the financial opportunities presented by the scheme, New Telegraph has gathered.

Islamic banking received the nod from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2011 after several years of attempts by different groups and organisations.

An Islamic banking expert, Auwalu Ado also suggested in a presentation on Reuters, which was obtained by this newspaper that the growth of the system is attracting more financial institutions.

“Two banks – Jaiz Bank Plc and Stanbic IBTC – were granted licences to operate

based as a full-fledged Islamic bank and window respectively in the same year and both began operations in 2012. Sterling Bank Plc joined the market in April 2013 as a window,” Ado who studied Islamic Finance at International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) based in Malaysia said.

Ado who is the Head of Shariah department of Jaiz Bank PLC added that a framework, released in 2011, spelt out guidelines for the establishment, operations, Shari’ah governance and supervision of Islamic banks which can be standalone full-fledged institutions, subsidiaries or windows.

“The emergence of Islamic banking in the country is welcomed by a cross-section of

Nigerians, evident from the demographic makeup of the banks’ customers and there is significant growth in the size of the sector,’ he said.

Jaiz bank, which, according to him, was licensed to operate as a regional bank, is already eyeing a national licence to enable it to penetrate the southern part of the country.

He said: “Jaiz’s balance sheet grew to about N36 billion as at the end of 2012 and its branch network increased from an initial three in 2011 to 14 as at May 2013. The other two operators that operate as Islamic windows offer Islamic banking products and services in all their branches nationwide.

“This has helped expand the reach to prospective clients even in the southern part of

the country where the majority of the population are not Muslims.

“Islamic banking operators collectively provide several Shari’ah-compliant products and services to cater for the diverse needs of their clients.

These include products based on murabaha, mudaraba, musharaka, ijara wa iqtina and kafala,. The products provided include current, term deposit and savings accounts on the liability sides using qard, wadiah and mudaraba contracts.

“Financing of automobiles, household equipment, housing, and import financing have been the major focus of the Islamic banks, using murabaha, ijara wa iqtina and istisna contracts.”

l

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

41

Crime

‘God used my 12-year-old niece to expose a serial rapist’ Juliana Francis

W

hen 12-year-old Love’s parents handed her over to her aunt, Mrs. Ijeoma Joseph, her mother’s sister, they had believed she was going to Lagos State, not just acquire an education, but possibly to get a better life. The parents never bargained that their little girl would become a sexually violated victim.

Judging from the cards on the table, the father of five, Mr. Kingsley Anyanwu, who is alleged to have defiled Love, may very well get away with the crime.

Elder brother of Anyanwu, who identified himself as Chris, said there was no way his brother could have raped Love because the suspect is blind.

Chris had also asked: “Where’s the pant the girl wore on the day she was raped and where are the bloodstains to prove she was raped?”

Joseph, a widow with three kids, said she knew she was battling with a rich family in her quest for justice, thus she decided to enlist the assistance of Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria (NOPRIN), a non-governmental organization.

Joseph said of Anyanwu: “They’re just using blindness as an excuse to cover his crime! This is a man who typed an address on his phone and sent to me. He walks about the house and goes out alone. He can cook without help. The truth of the matter is that one of his eyes is bad, but the other is okay.”

Love said she had only worked for the family, located at the Maza-Maza area of Mile 2, Lagos for six months before the incident.

Joseph said she was still in shock over the matter. She also alleged that Anyanwu was a serial rapist.

Her words: “The mother of Kingsley said that 10 house maids had come and gone before Love. She said she didn’t know what was happening. God used Love’s case to expose what Kingsley had been doing. His mother confirmed it. At a point, the old woman started crying. Kingsley also started begging for peace.”

Joseph said she brought Love from the village under the instruction of

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

CP Lagos: Kayode Aderanti

Love

her parents, who were too poor to send her to school. He said they charged her to give the girl out as house help, but with a clause. “The parents said the person must send her to school.

Love was not to stay with anybody for money, but education.”

Joseph said she gave Love to Maureen, (Anyanwu’s sister) thinking she was a member of their church.

CRIME QUOTE “In many parts of the world, rape is very rarely reported, due to the extreme social stigma cast on women who have been raped, or the fear of being disowned by their families, or subjected to violence, including honour killings. The attitude of the police in many countries often discourages victims from reporting rape: one study in Turkey found that 33% of police officers agreed with the assertion that “some women deserve rape” and 66% agreed that “the physical appearance and behaviors of women tempt men to rape.”

It was later she discovered Maureen only came to the church to get a house help for her aged mother, Mrs. Anywanwu. She was not really a member of the church.

Speaking with our correspondent at their Ikeja home, Love recounted: “I was washing plate on that day when Uncle Kingsley called me. He said that I should come and read something on his phone for him. I came to read it. He held me down and raped me. The only person at home on that day was the old woman, Uncle Kingsley and I. He can read, I don’t know why he called me.

He called me into his room. The old woman was inside her room.

“He held me down and pulled off my pant. I shouted and cried. Later when I ran out crying, the old woman saw me. She asked me why I was crying, but I didn’t answer her. I ran away and later went to church where they were having a vigil. I spent the night there.”

A visibly livid Joseph said Love was brought back home by the landlord of the building where Mrs. Anyanwu resides the next day. “The landlord saw Love on the street the following day and took her home. Apparently, she told them what happened. Instead of taking her to a doctor, they beat her.”

Joseph said she was surprised when she got a phone call, from a stranger, a woman who introduced herself as Maureen’s sister, telling her that Love ran away from home.

She said she knew something was wrong for the girl to have run away because she had been living with the family for almost six months and she had received no complaint.

Joseph also recalled that on the fateful day, she had a nightmare, where a strange man was attempting to rape her.

She narrated: “When I woke up, my C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 1

42

Crime

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Case now with DPP –Police

The ugly face of terrorism (2)

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

thought, for reasons I couldn’t understand, went straight to Love. I called Kingsley; I asked about Love, he said she was fine. I asked him about his mother, he said she was fine. I told him to hand the phone over to his mother. While we were still chatting, the credit on my phone finished. When Maureen’s sister called me, she said Love ran away from home and went to church to sleep.”

According to Joseph, for most of the months Love lived with the family, they did not buy her any change of clothes and refused to enroll her in school as agreed. It was after she threatened to take Love away from them, that they enrolled her in school. It was that same month that Love was allegedly raped.

Remembering how she gave the girl to Maureen, Joseph said: “I got to know Maureen through our church bulletin. I thought she was a member. I didn’t know she came from outside to put vacancy on our bulletin. It was after I had given my niece to her, that I noticed she stopped coming to church. I asked if she was a member or just came only to place her vacancy. She said she was not a member.”

Joseph said she would have loved to take care of Love’s education, but the girl’s parents knew how burdened she was with the care of her own kids, thus they made her promise to give Love out.

Maureen told her that the girl ran away because she was scolded for wasting food.

Joseph had pressed Love to know why she was suddenly a child who wasted food. It was then the girl, crying told her what happened. She also begged her never to let her parents know what befell her because she felt, “they would be ashamed of her.”

Joseph said: “She didn’t even want to tell me. She told me that it was not food. She said she was raped by Kingsley.”

Joseph said after the shattering news, she had examined the girl and discovered she was badly damaged. Love was also stinking. “You wouldn’t have been able to stay close to her. It was the drugs they gave her at hospital that stopped the stench.”

She took Love to The Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), for medical examination.

In the medical certificate, dated June, 26, 2014; one Dr. Sodipo Olarenwaju interviewed Love.

The doctor noted: “The perpetrator who is the brother of the person she was staying with, vaginally raped her on the 20th of June and following a repeated attempt, she ran away.”

Under column for physical injuries, the doctor noted: “Healed scars from penis injuries noted as in body chart.”

The general findings states that there was laceration and whitish discharge noted from the vagina.

In general conclusion, the doctor states: “Healing lacerations in hymen are suggestive of penetrative vaginal injury.”

Joseph said she had immediately called Maureen.

“I told her what Love said. She

The 3rd Eye Continued from last week

A

Nigerian women protesting against rape

The general findings states that there was laceration and whitish discharge noted from the vagina

started abusing me. She said that if I needed money, I should have told her so that she would have given me money to eat; instead of lying that Love was raped. I told her she was wicked.

“According to Love, when she shouted, the man used his hand to cover her mouth, so that nobody would hear her shouting. She ran away out of fear. When the old woman said 10 girls had come and gone, I told them that they didn’t want to know the truth about their brother and son.”

Attempts made to get Anyanwu proved abortive as his phone was permanently switched off. Our correspondent called Maureen, but she said the questions should be directed to Anyanwu. A text was sent to Anyanwu, leading to Chris calling.

He said Joseph was a ‘possessed woman,’ adding that he “dares the woman to take the matter to court.”

He further said that Joseph was being ‘pushed by one Okechukwu who calls himself “a human rights activist.” According to him, the human rights activist and his cronies were asking for N1.5 million from his family as damages.

He added: “My brother Kingsley is blind! It was due to his blindness that police at Festac and Satellite Police stations refused to detain him.

They even insulted the woman, calling her a wicked woman. Since June that incident happened she had been running from one place to another. If she wants justice, let her go to court!”

With the help of NOPRIN, the matter was taken to the Satellite Police Station and Kingsley was arrested. When NOPRIN felt the case was dragging and suspecting an alleged foul play on the part of policemen handling the matter, the organization demanded the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

But the fight for justice was just beginning, as Joseph said that the suspect’s lawyer told her to forget the case and go home with N100, 000 which the family promised to pay her.

“The lawyer said I wouldn’t win the case in the court. The lawyer said the court would ask me for the

pant Love worn on the day she was raped,” said Joseph.

Joseph said that on the fateful day Love was raped, she ought to have been in school, but the people she was staying with, refused to let her go to school.

“If she had gone to school on that day, this wouldn’t have happened,” lamented Joseph.

National coordinator for NOPRIN, Okechukwu Nwanguma said he was doing everything humanly possible to ensure the case was taken to court, to serve as deterrent to the likes of Anyanwu. He however, said that if the suspect wishes to settle out of court, Love will accept nothing short of over a million naira.

Nwanguma recalled that Love was initially examined at a Health Centre at Adeniji Jones which confirmed that she was raped/defiled and then referred for expert management.

“But despite this report being sent to the Police by MIRABEL Centre which facilitated the medical exam at LASUTH and provided her the initial medical treatment, investigation into the matter appears to be stalled as nothing has been heard from the police,” railed Nwanguma.

According to Nwanguman, the last NOPRIN heard of the case was when, “we inquired from the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) at SCID and was told the police investigators went to the residence of the accused and interviewed his aged mother who was present and heard when the girl was screaming as she was being allegedly sexually abused by Kingsley Anyanwu. “The victim’s aunt said the police took photographs at the scene which she paid for and later brought copies to the police.

The police later said they will invite her and the accused man’s family for ‘settlement’, but she is yet to hear from them.”

Police spokesman, Mr. Kenneth Nwosu said that the case has been investigated and case file now with the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).

He added: “I understand that the suspect is visually impaired. I can’t say if he’s blind totally. I, however, know that DPP’s advice will determine whether the case would be prosecuted or not.”

s the geographical and political boundaries become increasingly obsolete in this world of globalization, it is important that all of us understand that building walls and fences between people in the name of religion or because of Boko Haram has been a typical terrorist ploy.

The purpose of any religion is to build bridges between people, not to create obstructions. Every religion has been built on principles of innate goodness of human beings. Fraternity, compassion and empathy are the cornerstones of all religions and sects. Those preaching or practicing violence in the name of religion can never and should not be considered as true followers or believers of any religion in my own opinion.

It is very natural for any individual and any community to feel proud about their tribal or religious characteristics. But while maintaining that pride, it is also very important for every such individual and every such community to understand, accept and respect the diversity of human cultures. This broadminded attitude of tolerance and respect towards differences in ethnic background, ideological viewpoint and cultural practices should be instilled in the minds of young children by their parents and teachers right from the beginning.

Unless the concept of national oneness is inculcated in the minds of the youths by their parents and the elderly not only in the North though, we run a risk of making monsters out of our own children and creating a new generation of terrorists in our homes. After all, the Boko Haram members are not from some alien species, they were also born as human beings but later turned into heartless and inhumane creatures for the want of right kind of guidance in their formative years or at later stage. Ethnicity and Religion have always been important facets of our mental makeup in this country and beyond.

Is it not time to add more reason to that list, my fellow countrymen?

The problem we’re having now, as a democratic government, is when we fail to say, that this is what we can do. If we continue to lose our ground, terrorists will continue to win. We’re at the dagger edge point now. All this could have been avoided if the appropriate steps had been taken. Terrorism has a system.

In order to win the war on counter terrorism, we must first win the intelligence war.

Concluded • Ethelbert Oney is an Intelligence & Security Expert ethelbertoney@zissltd.com (08067764342 SMS only)

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Lack of established fund managers in Africa worries investors

SKEPTICISM Most businesses in Africa are family businesses and investors need to be sensitive

Casey truly believed that Africa, without a doubt, one of the most exciting opportunities for investors on the planet.

“Africa may be flavour of the month but in relative terms still attracts a small percentage of Private Equity and international investment capital. However, one of the major questions institutional investors have is: Are there enough companies for all this capital that is being raised for the continent?” he added.

Director at Abraaj Group, Ijeoma Agboti, said that though private equity in Africa was relatively recent phenomenon which started in the early 2000s, but that the opportunities it offered were great.

According to her, the biggest challenge when Abraaj started was to overcome the scepticism of investors who did not know them.

Highlighting the risks and challenges specific to the continent, she said, “Most businesses in Africa are family businesses and investors need to be very sensitive about that. An important development that we have witnessed and contributed to is the regionalisation of private equity in Africa.

Businesses need to transcend borders and it is very important to build conglomerates” Meanwhile, Executive

Dayo Ayeyemi

D

espite the fact that Africa is the next destination for investment, lack of established fund managers has been listed as the biggest challenge to global institutional investors in the continent.

Speaking during the plenary session at the Africa Development Forum in Marrakech focusing on Private Equity, Founding Director, EMPEA Consulting, Mike Casey, pointed out that private investors still face many challenges when investing in Africa.

According to him, one of the major questions institutional investors have bordered on whether there are enough for all the capital being raised for the continent.

Buttressing on global interest in Africa, he explained that last year, about $300 billion was raised globally for private equity. Of that, according to him, 12 per cent was reserved for emerging markets, adding that 3 per cent ($1.2 billion) was for Africa-focused funds out of the reserved 12 per cent ($38 billion).

He said: “The biggest challenge global institutional investors see when they approach Africa is the lack of established fund managers.”

Director of Equity Capital Resources, Nathan De Assis, discussed the private equity model that has worked in Zambia. According to him, the country took the standard private equity model and shaped it within the Zambian context.

He said: “ We tried to use the capital in such a way that it allows SMEs to grow, create jobs and at the same time, contribute to the economic growth of the country. At the heart of the model is the idea that SMEs are the key engine

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

o simplify the process of accessing Central Bank of Nigeria’s N220billion Small and medium scale enterprises funds by small business owners, Banks’ Chief Executives have agreed to float a central electronic collateral register that would warehouse moveable assets of funds beneficiaries.

Essentially, any small business owner desirous of assessing the N220bn SMEs funds is expected to register its moveable asset as security with the

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Godson Ikoro

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

registry scheduled to be operational in the second quarter of next year.

This was one of the key decisions arrived by the Bankers’ Committee, which rounded its bi-monthly meeting yesterday in Abuja. The Committee expressed strong faith on the economy in the face of dwindling oil proceeds.

Briefing media on the outcome of the meeting, Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank plc, Mr. Amango Peters said one of the initiatives agreed by the Committee was the establishment of modern collateral Register.

“Essentially, what it includes is to ensure that even smaller customers that want access to loans and advances can register moveable assets as security.

And in this Register, what we are looking at is to have a registry that is completely electronic and centralised”.

“We would have a central

deposit t of all moveable securities by prospective customers especially the small retail ones and the consumers. The advantage of this is that, it takes care of all security types and enables the bank to be able to query the status of the register. It’s going to be a central data base of all customers of Deposit Money Banks and hopefully, this come on stream second quarter of next year”.

He said some states had already assessed part of the funds on behalf of its citizens while many more have already begun the process to assess it.

President Goodluck Jonathan had two months ago, flagged off the disbursement of the N220bn small and medium scale enterprises funds aimed at energizing the economy. The flagged off which was part of the 8th annual MSME finance conference themed “MSME Financing in Nigeria: Past, Present and Future” held in Abuja.

AMCON confirms payment for Enterprise Bank

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

of African growth. Investors need to provide resources to SMES so that they grow.

“Once SMEs grow, the larger players within the market can pick them up and bring them to the next level. It was not easy to attract money because, given the state of our economies, pension funds are quite reluctant to give capital.

What we have been doing is to try and convince policy makers and governments to encourage some of the pension funds to provide capital for SMEs.”

N220bn SMEs funds: Banks to float central electronic registry for loans collaterals

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

43

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

T

he Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), has Thursday confirmed that HBCL Investment Services Limited (“HISL”) has paid the required balance for the purchase of Enterprise Bank.

A statement from Nigeria’s bad bank said: “as per the Share Purchase Agreement, the agreed completion phase will now commence, this includes seeking all regulatory approvals.”

The statement must have been a reaction to some newspaper report not (New Telegraph) that AMCON has extended the number of days given Heritage Bank to make the balance of its payment in respect of Enterprise Bank.

The Head, Corporate Communications of AMCON, Mr Kayode Lambo, said that the declared Public holidays are not counted as part of the number of days within which Heritage Bank is required to make the payment.

The story that AMCON extended

the number of days by two days is therefore false.

It would be recalled as the HISL, the investment vehicle owned by Heritage Bank Limited, the preferred bidder signing the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with AMCON and pay 20 per cent or N11.2 billion of the bid price within 48 hours (September 21) after the execution of the agreement.

Heritage Bank had put in a winning bid for the acquisition of Enterprise Bank at N56 billion, beating Fidelity bank and Skye bank to the second and third positions in the fiercely fought bid.

The agreement signed yesterday has put paid to wide speculations that the heritage group does not have sufficient fund to close the deal.

Having fulfilled the conditions precedent as stated in the SPA, it now becomes imperative to that heritage group should pay within 48 hours (September 21) after the execution of the agreement.

Business | Financial Market News

44

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

16-Oct-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 545.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 331.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 105.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,490.96

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.52 1.83 2.53 2.78 2.87 3.62 4.70 5.02 7.28 9.41 14.12 14.60 15.10 15.77 19.75

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

11.54 12.86 13.09 13.17 13.17 13.17 13.12 13.16 13.05 13.09 12.94 12.92 12.90 12.98 12.84

11.22 12.77 13.02 13.10 13.10 13.06 13.04 13.06 12.99 13.03 12.90 12.88 12.84 12.93 12.80

96.30 100.25 104.20 92.44 91.07 93.02 109.80 77.87 115.35 105.90 113.14 97.15 71.02 80.15 95.00

96.45 100.40 104.35 92.59 91.22 93.32 110.10 78.17 115.65 106.20 113.44 97.45 71.32 80.45 95.30

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.04 0.60 1.34 2.15 2.51 2.72

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

12.37 14.24 14.61 15.05 14.17 14.17

99.50 92.00 103.18 99.44 96.92 94.15

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,286.44

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.87

4.44

16.27

97.00

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.71

3.23

14.93

98.99

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.00

4.46

16.39

98.17

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.00

3.48

15.41

100.62

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.51

5.59

18.76

83.09

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

13.58

100.54

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.21

1.79

14.96

97.56

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.38

1.80

14.93

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.97

1.00

14.17

99.47

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.38

1.00

14.13

100.93

98.32

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.38

4.78

17.91

92.85

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.76

1.00

14.17

100.77

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

3.02

1.00

14.17

103.12

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.10

1.00

14.16

101.17

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.99

2.74

15.91

97.42

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020

30-Sep-13

14.75

11.40

30-Sep-20

3.51

1.00

14.17

101.54

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.12

1.00

14.11

97.52

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.21

1.94

15.04

99.77

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.69

1.44

14.61

99.84

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.72

1.95

15.12

99.82

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.18 458.38

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.17

5.21

16.54

99.37

µ

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.21

8.71

20.03

99.20

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.59

4.88

16.48

96.87

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.67

1.00

12.66

100.04

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.75

2.63

14.35

100.42

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.95

1.00

13.95

98.40

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.03

1.34

14.34

99.83

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.96

1.00

14.17

97.23

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.77

1.88

14.67

106.33

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.98

3.48

16.46

99.32

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.15

5.20

18.25

99.82

#

101.77

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.15

5.06

18.11

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.93

1.35

14.52

98.45

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.01

2.29

15.29

100.84

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.34

6.11

19.22

96.35

BBB/GCR

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.21

2.16

15.33

101.64

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.08

2.76

15.87

97.60

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

N/A

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.96

1.00

14.10

84.73

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.96

1.00

14.10

95.52

11-Feb-18

3.32

1.00

14.17

89.72

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.46

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

142.25

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

12.00 10.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.64

5.43

105.77

106.95

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.65

4.36

101.60

102.60

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.92

5.75

103.04

104.21

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,552.00

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

7.31

7.31

105.00

105.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.16

4.16

105.04

105.04 101.72

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.55

6.55

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.82

8.38

94.16

95.44

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.93

5.71

100.23

101.04

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.69

9.69

102.00

102.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.35

6.35

99.63

99.63

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.06

8.80

98.83

99.81

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.66

7.66

101.63

101.63

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.50

7.50

95.75

95.75

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.60

8.46

103.13

103.88

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.46

7.46

101.63

101.63

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.39

8.20

100.65

101.67

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,809.90

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.85 10.60 10.93 11.00 10.80 11.00 10.85 11.00

Offer Discount (%) 10.60 10.35 10.68 10.75 10.55 10.75 10.60 10.75

Bid Yield (%) 10.87 10.64 11.00 11.09 10.91 11.14 11.01 11.19

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.7917 12.9213 13.5650 14.3931

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.38

O/N Tenor Call 1M

10.50

REPO

Rate (%) 10.42 11.76

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

165.15 165.10 165.37 166.10 167.32 168.66

165.25 165.32 165.72 166.72 168.49 170.37

(N'bn)

(Yrs)

(%)

(%)

Price

12.37 14.24 14.61 15.05 14.17 14.17

99.50 92.00 103.18 99.44 96.92 94.15

Agency Bonds 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,286.44

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 Sub-National Bonds

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

A+/Agusto

*IMO

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

PLUMMET

*BAYELSArules Negative sentiments A/Agusto EDO the stock market A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA

A-/Agusto

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

A-/Agusto *NIGER Stories

by Chris Ugwu

T

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

*GOMBE he bear yesterday susAa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS tained its stronghold A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN on the Nigerian Stock A/Agusto *OSUN Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR ExchangeLAGOS as major A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI blue-chip companies joined A/Agusto *EKITI the league of losers, causing A-/GCR *NASARAWA market capitalisation TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEand the All-Share Index to remain on TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the red zone.

Corporate Bonds Market watchers have atAa/Agusto GTB tributed the bearish NGCtrends to Nil Bbb-/Agusto sell offs by *UPDC massive investors A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS whose consequential effect was BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS aA+/Agusto; loss ofA-/GCR N645 billion or 5.07 per NAHCO cent in market capitalisation A-/Agusto FSDH A/GCR1953.72 basis points UBA and during BBB-/GCR *C & I LEASING four days of trading this week.

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

µ

BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#

*DANA

45

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.87

4.44

16.27

97.00

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.71

3.23

14.93

98.99

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.00

4.46

16.39

98.17

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.00

3.48

15.41

100.62

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.51

5.59

18.76

83.09

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

13.58

100.54

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.21

1.79

14.96

97.56

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.38

1.80

14.93

98.32

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.97

1.00

14.17

14.00 low NIGER IIsentiment 4-OCT-2018 The in the 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 market had overshadowed 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 the 15.50 local ONDObourse 14-FEB-2019 in recent 15.50following GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 times upset in the 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 financial market arising from 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 insecurity, up to 2015 14.75 OSUN II build 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 elections, recapitalisation feKOGI 31-DEC-2020 ver, 15.00 among others.

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 Financial analysts believed 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 some of these factors sent a shock wave to both local and foreign investors and created uncertainty in the investment 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 environment raising concerns 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 in the investment community.

FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 At12.00 the close of trading, the 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 key 13.00 benchmark indices mainNAHCO 29-SEP-2016 tained 14.25downtrend, FSDH 25-OCT-2016 taking hits 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 majorly from high-capitalised 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 stocks led by Forte Oil Plc and

09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

Wema Bank posts 345% in Q3 profit

09-Sep-11

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

W

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

last 16.00 financial year and 47 per DANA II 1-APR-2019 cent15.25 in Q3, this year, spurred by NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 182D cent T.bills+1.20 STANBIC 30-SEP-2024 a 44 per growth inIANet Inter13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 est Income and a 51 per cent rise in Fees& Commission Income quarter on quarter respectively.”

Oloketuyi noted that the 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 bank’s operations were also becoming more efficient with cost-to-income ratio down 900 basis points to 86 per cent from Description 95 per cent at year-end 2013 and a downward trending NPL ratio of 2.5 per cent.

6.75 JAN 28, 2021 He said Return on Equity (ROE) has also5.13 improved JUL 12, 2018 from 3.9 per cent in 2013 to 9 per cent 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 this quarter, adding that these achievements, when combined with the bank’s growing deposit base illustrated that its turnaround initiatives were indeed 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 yielding results.

7.50 MAY 19, 2016 “Wema Bank opened 7.25 JUL 25, 20173 new branches in the last09,quarter, 6.88 MAY 2018 08, 2018 and embarked 6.00 on NOV a renovation 10.25 APR 08, 2019 exercise of our branch net6.25 APR 22, 2019 work in key commercial and 8.75 May 21, 2019 retail hubs, whilst keeping a 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 keen eye on possible 6.63 DEC 09,opportu2020 LIBOR+7.677 24, 2021 nities in9.25/6M theUSD market toJUN grow 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 our business inorganically . 2021 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

Lafarge Wapco Plc. 14.50 14.96 09-Dec-18 Specifically, at 11.13 the close of12-Dec-18 14.00 ringing 15.50bell, the NSE 27.00All-Share 14-Feb-19 Index15.50 depreciated16.23 by 787.8 ba-02-Oct-19 14.50 sis points or 2.04 80.00 per cent to22-Nov-19 14.75 27.51 12-Dec-19 return at 38,490.67 index points30-Sep-20 14.75 11.40 87.00 from13.50 39,278.47 recorded the27-Nov-20 15.00 previous day while5.00 the market31-Dec-20 14.50 4.78 31-Dec-20 capitalisation of equities de-06-Jan-21 15.00 4.79 clined to N12.709471.18 trillion from 12.969 trillion, representing a 458.38 drop of N260 billion or 2.04 per cent 13.50 as market sentiments re-18-Dec-14 13.17 mained 17.00 negative. 2.00 31-Dec-14 3.61 17-Aug-15 At10.00 the close of transactions 12.00 13.62 10 stocks appreciated in price09-Dec-15 14.00 0.60 06-Jan-16 during the day as against 4129-Sep-16 13.00 15.00 that depreciated in value.

14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 On13.00 the gainers’20.00 chart, brew-30-Sep-17 er of18.00 soft drinks,0.73Seven-Up,30-Nov-17 16.00 6.30 09-Apr-18 advanced

by N15.13 to close at09-Sep-18 18.00 2.90 N162.00 while Honeywell Plc 16.00 0.80 09-Sep-18 14.00by 16 kobo 35.00 upped to close at22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 N3.8515.75 per share. 2.70 17.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 On16.00 the flip side,4.50 oil and gas01-Apr-19 company, Forte Oil 15.25 2.05 Nigeria, 14-Nov-20 N/A 0.10to close at 30-Sep-24 declined

by N10.90, 13.25 15.44 N207.10.

Also, Lafarge Wapco30-Sep-24

04-Oct-11

*TOWER

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

Business | Financial Market News

31-Aug-10

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

B-/S&P

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

Investors lose N645b in 4 days

#

ema Bank Plc*DANA has recordBBB/GCR edA-/GCR a 345 per cent growth in A+/Agusto; NAHCO A/GCR before tax during STANBIC IBTC profit the nine A/GCR STANBIC IBTC months ended September 30, 2014.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE In a filing with the Nigerian TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Stock Exchange, the bank’s PBT firmedBond up to N2.5 billion Supranational AAA/S&P the third quarter IFC during from TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE in the N56 million recorded TOTAL period MARKET of CAPITALISATION same 2013.

Similarly, net interest income Issuer grewRating/Agency 71 per cent to N13.9 billion in Q3 of 2014, from N8.1 billion in FGN Eurobonds the corresponding period of 2013.

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Managing Director/Chief BB-/Fitch; Executive Officer, Wema Bank FGN BB-/S&P Plc, Mr. Segun Oloketuyi, comBB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P menting on the results said: TOTAL OUTSTANDING “whilst we remainVALUE on course in TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION achieving our growth targets as set out by our growth plan, Corporate Eurobonds Project LEAP, we are delighted B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I to announce continuous quarB+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I ter-on-quarter improvement in B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC our financial performance as B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC displayed in our Q3GTBANK results.

B/Fitch “Our Total AssetsAFREN are PLC up II6 per B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC cent from December 2013 and B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC loans have risen29 per cent in the B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC same ProfitAFREN Before B-/Fitch; period.

B/S&P PLC IIITax B-/Fitch;by B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II grew 345 per cent compared B-/Fitch; FIRST BANK to the B/S&P equivalent period inLTD the

0.04 0.60 1.34 2.15 2.51 2.72

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

2.38 2.76 3.02 5.10 2.99 3.51 6.12 6.21 3.69 3.72

0.17 0.21 0.59 0.67 0.75 1.95 2.03 2.96 1.77 1.98 2.15 2.15 3.93 2.01 2.34 3.21 6.08 9.96 9.96

144.46 142.25

SEC investigates NSE over technical suspension on Access Bank 11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.32

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

250.00

14-Aug-21

1.00

14.17

89.72

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

12.00 10.77

T

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

he Securities and Exchange Commission 07-Oct-11 (SEC) said it is6.75 investigating the technical suspension 12-Jul-13 5.13 placed on the trading of shares 12-Jul-13 6.38 of Access Bank Plc by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The commission in a press release obtained from the SEC’S website01-Feb-11

by New Telegraph said 11.50 the commission is aware that 19-May-11 7.50 the NSE in September 2014 25-Jul-12 7.25 placed 09-May-13 the trading of shares of 6.88 6.00 Access08-Nov-13 Bank on technical sus08-Apr-12 pension following the10.25 proposal 22-Apr-14 6.25 of Rights Issue by the Bank.

21-May-14 8.75 The07-Aug-13 commission noted that 8.25 it had in September 2009 09-Dec-13 6.63direct9.25 ed the 24-Jun-14 NSE to discontinue the 23-Jul-14 8.00 practice of placing securities 14-Aug-14

8.75

of listed company on technical suspension during capital rais500.00 28-Jan-21 5.64 ing exercise as it is not a best practice.

500.00 12-Jul-18 4.65 “It was in furtherance of this 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.92 discontinuance of technical 1,500.00 suspension of trading in listed 1,552.00 securities in the Nigerian Capital Market that the Commission directed the NSE on September 450.00 01-Feb-16 7.31 23, 2014 to immediately lift4.16 the 500.00 19-May-16 technical suspension on 6.55 Ac350.00 25-Jul-17 cess shares and8.82 the 300.00 Bank Plc 02-May-18 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.93 Exchange has since complied 300.00 the directive.

08-Apr-19 9.69 with 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.35 The Commission therefore 200.00 21-May-19 9.06 reiterates its07-Aug-20 earlier directive 300.00 7.66 that no technical suspension 360.00 09-Dec-20 7.50 400.00 be placed 24-Jun-21 shall on trading8.60in 450.00 7.46 the Securities23-Jul-21 of any company 8.39

involved capital raising in the Pricesin & Yields Nigerian Capital Market in or105.77 106.95 der5.43 to avoid unfair market practices,” the apex regulator noted.

4.36 101.60 102.60 SEC said following this devel5.75 103.04 104.21 opment, it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the action of the NSE in imposing the technical suspension on Access Bank 105.00 shares as no such 7.31 105.00 suspension was placed on the 4.16 105.04 105.04 shares listed companies 6.55 of other 101.72 101.72 who undertook 8.38 94.16capital raising 95.44 5.71 100.23 101.04 recently .

9.69 102.00 102.00 “The commission assured 99.63 99.63 the6.35 investing public and stake8.80 98.83 99.81 holders of its commitment to 7.66 101.63 101.63 ensure of95.75 inves7.50 the sustenance 95.75 103.88 tor 8.46 confidence103.13 and the integrity 7.46 Nigerian 101.63 101.63 of the capital market.

8.20

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

2.38

99.47 to Plc fell by N6.15 per share 1.00 14.13 100.93 close at N116.85 while Dan4.78 17.91 92.85 gote dipped by100.77 N4.94 1.00Cement 14.17 1.00 14.17per share.

103.12 to close at N217 1.00 14.16 101.17 Further analysis of the 2.74 15.91 97.42 trading showed that the bank1.00 14.17 101.54 97.52 ing1.00 subsector14.11 of the financial 1.94 15.04 99.77 services sector remained the 1.44 14.61 99.84 most active during the week 1.95 15.12 99.82 (measured by turnover volume); with 278.2 million shares worth N4.08 billion exchanged by investors in 1,697 deals.

5.21 16.54 99.37 Volume in 20.03 the banking 8.71 99.20sub4.88 was largely 16.48 96.87 by sector driven 1.00 activity in the12.66 shares of 100.04 Zenith 2.63 14.35 100.42 Bank Plc and GTB Bank Plc. 1.00 13.95 98.40 Other financial institutions 1.34 14.34 99.83 1.00 14.17 by activity 97.23 in subsector, boosted 14.67 106.33 the1.88 shares of FBNH Plc followed 3.48 16.46 99.32 on the day’s activity chart with 5.20 18.25 99.82 a sub sector turnover of 135.4 5.06 18.11 101.77 1.35 14.52 98.45 million shares valued at N1.2 2.29 100.84 million traded15.29 in 1,037 deals.

6.11 19.22 96.35 On the whole, investors ex2.16 15.33 101.64 changed a total of 524 million 2.76 15.87 97.60 1.00 valued14.10 84.73 in shares at N7.6 billion 1.00 14.10 95.52 4,779 transactions.

100.65

101.67

16-Oct-14

4,809.90

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to Money Market **Treasury FIXINGS Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Maturity Bid Discount on (%) www.fmdqotc.com.

Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) the FMDQDTM OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement NIBOR

7 23-Oct-14 10.85 14 30-Oct-14 10.60 21 6-Nov-14 10.93 FGN Bonds28 13-Nov-14 11.00 35 20-Nov-14 10.80 42 27-Nov-14 11.00 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 49 4-Dec-14 10.85 56 11-Dec-14 11.00 4.00 23-APR-2015 70 25-Dec-14 11.10 13.05 16-AUG-2016 77 1-Jan-15 11.10 84 8-Jan-15 11.20 15.10 27-APR-2017 91 15-Jan-15 10.85 9.85 27-JUL-2017 98 22-Jan-15 10.80 9.35 31-AUG-2017 105 29-Jan-15 11.15 10.70 30-MAY-2018 112 5-Feb-15 11.15 16.00 29-JUN-2019 119 12-Feb-15 11.10 NA NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 126 19-Feb-15 11.00 133 26-Feb-15 11.10 16.39 27-JAN-2022 140 5-Mar-15 11.20 14.20 14-MAR-2024 147 12-Mar-15 11.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 161 26-Mar-15 10.85 12.49 22-MAY-2029 175 9-Apr-15 11.15 8.50 20-NOV-2029 189 23-Apr-15 10.90 10.00 23-JUL-2030 203 7-May-15 10.60 294 6-Aug-15 11.00 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 322 3-Sep-15 10.90 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE *from the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.60 10.35 10.68 10.75 10.55 10.75 Issue Date 10.60 10.75 23-Apr-10 10.85 16-Aug-13 10.85 10.95 27-Apr-12 10.60 27-Jul-07 10.55 31-Aug-07 10.90 30-May-08 10.90 29-Jun-12 10.85 23-Oct-09 10.75 10.85 27-Jan-12 10.95 14-Mar-14 10.75 28-Nov-08 10.60 22-May-09 10.90 20-Nov-09 10.65 23-Jul-10 10.35 10.75 18-Jul-14 10.65

10.87 10.64 11.00 11.09 10.91 11.14 Coupon (%) 11.01 11.19 4.00 11.34 13.05 11.37 11.50 15.10 11.15 9.85 11.12 9.35 11.52 10.70 11.54 16.00 11.52 7.00 11.43 11.57 16.39 11.70 14.20 11.51 15.00 11.40 12.49 11.78 8.50 11.55 10.00 11.26 12.07 12.1493 12.06

Bonds

#

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 10.7917 12.9213 13.5650 14.3931

10.38

O/N

10.50

Tenor

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 545.27 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 11.0420 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 11.2163 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 11.2223 300.00 30-May-18 6M 11.7017 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 11.8289 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 12.3404 600.00 27-Jan-22 331.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N) 20-Nov-29 BID($/N) 200.00 164.6925 591.57 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 164.7925 105.00 18-Jul-34

OBB

REPO

TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 0.52 3M 1.83 6M

Rate (%)

Bid10.42 Yield (%) 11.76 11.54 12.33 12.86 12.85

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

AMCON

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) Total Outstanding Porfolio Value(Bn) 0.00 FMBMarket 24-MAY-2015 Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM1,018.45 09-DEC-2016 998.07 0.00/16.50 LCRM1,077.83 II 20-APR-2017 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 924.79 1,027.92

28-Dec-11 Weighting by 24-May-10 Outstanding Vol 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 33.52 20-Apr-12 31.95 06-Jul-12 34.53

FMBN

NA

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

Spot 7D 14D Offer 1MYield 2M (%) 3M 11.22 6M 12.77 1Y

2.53 13.09 13.02 2.78 13.17 13.10 2.87 13.17 13.10 :Benchmarks 3.62 Bond 13.17 13.06 * :Amortising 4.70 Bond 13.12 13.04 µ :Convertible AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 5.02 Management Corporation 13.16 13.06 FGN: Federal 7.28Government of Nigeria 13.05 12.99 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 9.41 Mortgage Bank 13.09 13.03 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.12 12.94 12.90 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.60 12.92 12.88 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.10 12.90 12.84 O/N: Overnight 15.77 12.98 Company 12.93 UPDC: UAC Property Development WAPCO:West Cement Company 19.75Africa Portland12.84 12.80 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

165.15 165.25 Price 165.32 165.10 165.37 165.72 166.10 166.72 Bid Price Offer Price 167.32 168.49 168.66 170.37 96.30 96.45 172.70 175.89 100.25 100.40 182.08 187.10

104.20 104.35 92.44 92.59 91.07 91.22 NA :Not Applicable 93.02Rate Bond 93.32 # :Floating 109.80coupon bonds 110.10 ***: Deferred 77.87 78.17 †: Bond115.35 rating expired 115.65 N/A :Not Available 105.90 106.20 113.14 113.44 97.15 97.45 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 71.02Bank for Africa 71.32 UBA: United 80.15 80.45 95.00 95.30

4,591.19

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds Modified Duration Buckets

Tenor

4,490.96

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

3,021.07

2,977.29

100.00

0.00

Weighting by Mkt 0.00 Value

17.25 0.00/16.00 33.71 0.00/16.50 35.68 0.00/16.50 30.61 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

978.35

Bucket 24.56 Weighting

3.00 112.22 0.34 116.70 0.32 66.49 0.35

1,301.321.00

31-Oct-14

% Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 14.66 20-Apr-17 31.39 06-Jul-17 53.95 100.00

0.04

Implied Yield 0.60

1.34 2.15 12.98 2.51 13.07 2.72 13.00 13.02

#

Risk Premium (%) 1.00

Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price

2.27 2.00 117.3544 1.00 131.0786 1.00 100.2808 115.8448

Valuation Yield (%)

12.37

INDEX 14.24

14.61 15.05 1,114.63 14.17 1,109.92 14.17 1,172.46

Indicative Price

99.50

YTD Return 92.00 (%)

103.18 99.44 11.4628 96.92 10.9923 94.15 17.2459

1,106.22

10.6217

1,286.44

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.87

4.44

16.27

97.00

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.71

3.23

14.93

98.99

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

1.00

4.46

16.39

98.17

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

1.00

3.48

15.41

100.62

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.51

5.59

18.76

83.09

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.55

1.00

13.58

100.54

46

Business | Capital Market

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014

Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at October 16, 2014

Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 13.05% FGN AUG 2016 15.10% FGN APR 2017 Federal Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Symbol FG102016S1 FG9B2017S2

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 101.05 105.05

2

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 100 100 200

Value Traded 103,355.03 112,311.20 215,666.23

200

215,666.23

200

2

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions NIGERIA ENERYGY SECTOR FUND ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

215,666.23

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as&ofBAKER 16/10/2014 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 Pharmaceuticals Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 2 8 2 12

Current Price 0.50 33.00 35.50

Quantity Traded 105,000 44,551 300 149,851

Value Traded 52,500.00 1,439,402.22 10,400.00 1,502,302.22

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 2.79

Quantity Traded 812,975 812,975

Value Traded 2,270,517.09 2,270,517.09

962,826

3,772,819.31

Daily Summary (Equities)

33

HEALTHCARE Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Diversified Industries

A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Symbol AGLEVENT JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 9 1 146 38 194

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction ROADS NIG PLC. Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

REAL on ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST ActivityUPDC Summary Board EQTY Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 7-UP 14:54:27.027 BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Printed 16/10/2014 Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC CONSUMER GOODS U TProducts C NIG. PLC. Food Food Products Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

Current Price 1.33 1.08 4.85 53.20

194

Page Quantity Traded 116,508 1,800 23,891,117 1,004,293 25,013,718

1

of 13 Value Traded 160,625.32 1,854.00 117,638,818.40 53,501,217.30 171,302,515.02

25,013,718

171,302,515.02

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 17 17

Current Price 0.80

Quantity Traded 353,874 353,874

Value Traded 288,113.22 288,113.22

Symbol ROADS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 6.29

Quantity Traded 11,266 11,266

Value Traded 74,355.60 74,355.60

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 14.50

Quantity Traded 173,256 173,256

Value Traded 2,406,757.60 2,406,757.60

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 9.00

Quantity Traded 300 300

Value Traded 2,790.00 2,790.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol UPDCREIT

31

538,696

Page

of

Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 676,975 676,975

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW

No. of Deals 6 68 31 133 3 241

Current Price 14.94 182.00 31.50 170.00 3.98

Quantity Traded 79,033 197,291 400,816 3,777,118 14,300 4,468,558

Value Traded 1,125,255.00 35,972,749.83 12,572,065.90 643,906,799.24 54,197.00 693,631,066.97

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 34 34

Current Price 162.86

Quantity Traded 891,387 891,387

Value Traded 145,093,786.82 145,093,786.82

Symbol No. of Deals DANGFLOUR 5 Daily Summary (Equities) DANGSUGAR 66 FLOURMILL 61 HONYFLOUR 62 NASCON 38 UTC Symbol No. of Deals1

Current Price 6.55 7.22 61.40 3.85 8.55 0.50 Current Price

Quantity Traded 19,925 1,782,321 5,317,602 1,546,012 476,667 25,883 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 124,132.75 13,098,907.31 325,635,345.85 5,523,645.16 4,109,082.85 12,941.50 Value Traded

233

9,168,410 Page Quantity Traded 823,954 265,532 1,089,486

Value Traded 338,487.50 338,487.50

Current Price 52.51 980.00

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 14 1 15

Current Price 4.29 1.35

Quantity Traded 126,456 2,150 128,606

Value Traded 522,746.95 2,773.50 525,520.45

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 10 29 39

Current Price 30.33 45.85

Quantity Traded 60,714 180,963 241,677

Value Traded 1,749,777.48 7,490,829.28 9,240,606.76

16,665,099

1,500,628,937.24

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

ACCESS BANK Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY

DIAMOND BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Banking FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © STERLING BANK PLC. FINANCIAL UNITEDSERVICES BANK FOR AFRICA PLC Banking UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

Banking Totals

708

UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals 172 76 106 (Equities) No. of Deals 75 465 125 55 159 No. of Deals 60 4

Current Price 8.35 5.57 18.05 Current Price 1.95 26.90 2.65 2.33 5.32 Current Price 8.71 0.50

Quantity Traded 28,384,951 22,905,726 75,811,146 Quantity Traded 9,532,340 18,476,688 8,719,916 Page 13,574,793 11,944,187 Quantity Traded 2,445,162

57 343 1,697

0.94 21.08

579,300 8,482,401 77,345,948 278,202,558

BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

13

No. of Deals 28 20 4 5 1 7 20 52 137

Current Price 0.80 0.95 0.50 0.54 2.99 0.54 0.72 0.65

Quantity Traded 11,885,385 11,699,191 30,726 80,500 500 631,400 1,691,250 6,621,330 32,640,282

Value Traded 9,508,308.00 11,114,271.45 15,363.00 41,860.00 1,425.00 340,956.00 1,222,250.00 4,200,988.22 26,445,421.67

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 171,000 171,000

Value Traded 154,260.00 154,260.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB

No. of Deals 17 24 766 84

Current Price 3.02 4.00 11.00 4.17

Quantity Traded Page 416,779 23,600,719 92,680,337 14,699,041 Page

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 ETERNA PLC. Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production Activity Summary on Board EQTY SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exploration and Production Totals OIL AND GAS

OIL AND GAS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © SERVICES

of

Quantity Traded 1,880 126,007 1,061,480 2,821,039 135,407,282

Value Traded 986,229.20 64,463.57 32,292,862.38 5,531,187.97 1,229,823,700.26

446,421,122

5,342,617,198.49

No. of Deals 4 21 14 46 13 98

Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 2.05 3.50 56.00 1.82 0.99

Quantity Traded 9,700 971,350 2,032,120 2,350,224 387,413 5,750,807

Value Traded 18,925.00 3,381,191.53 113,776,244.00 4,337,165.43 385,240.87 121,898,766.83

5,750,807

121,898,766.83

98

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 1,177,050 1,177,050

Value Traded 651,993.50 651,993.50

Symbol CWG TRIPPLEG

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 4.80 1.86

Quantity Traded 600 15 Page 615

Value Traded 3,000.00 26.55 7 of 13 3,026.55

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 100,000 100,000

Value Traded 50,000.00 50,000.00

1,277,665

705,020.05 Value Traded 3,885.00 75,977,500.79 526,127.39 13,606,450.06 1,883,021.16 166,061,134.34 1,927.08 33,500.00 3,121,712.50 22,596,007.49 283,811,265.81

24 Symbol AFRPAINTS ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER Daily Summary IPWA PORTPAINT WAPCO

No. of Deals 2 94 11 19 13 96 1 (Equities) 2 9 47 294

Current Price 2.72 30.70 8.50 39.00 14.13 215.00 1.05 0.50 4.84 116.85

Quantity Traded 1,500 2,481,559 60,519 349,287 133,306 791,992 1,908 67,000 634,255 193,294 4,714,620

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 19 19

Current Price 1.97

Quantity Traded 1,437,500 1,437,500 Page

Value Traded 2,708,455.00 8 2,708,455.00 of 13

Symbol Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of of Deals Deals No. 5 5

Current Price Price Current 20.00

Quantity Traded Traded Quantity 11,230 11,230

Value Traded Traded Value 220,370.00 220,370.00

6,163,350

286,740,090.81

Daily Summary (Equities)

318 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,506,500 2,506,500

Value Traded 1,253,250.00 1,253,250.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 218 218

Current Price 22.12

Quantity Traded 4,388,601 4,388,601

Value Traded 97,237,995.10 97,237,995.10

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL TOTAL

No. of Deals 4 9 35 31 24 (Equities) 103

Current Price 49.23 3.75 207.10 174.00 171.00

Quantity Traded 69,242 77,340 199,109 100,339 76,988 523,018

Value Traded 3,408,783.66 276,307.80 41,247,558.01 17,423,296.16 13,174,077.10 75,530,022.73

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 577.16

Quantity Traded 22,877 Page 22,877

Value Traded 913,173,328.90 of 13 13,173,328.90

7,440,996 Page

187,194,596.73 10 of 13

Daily Summary

360

Apparel Retailers LENNARDS (NIG) PLC. Apparel Retailers Totals

Symbol LENNARDS

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 3.15

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 3,000.00 3,000.00

Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.93

Quantity Traded 302,200 302,200

Value Traded 279,534.00 279,534.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 4.20

Quantity Traded 1,375,690 1,375,690

Value Traded 5,698,029.00 5,698,029.00

Employment Solutions

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 23,455 23,455

Value Traded 11,727.50 11,727.50

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 45 45

Current Price 2.90

Quantity Traded 8,778,660 8,778,660

Value Traded 25,460,114.00 25,460,114.00

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 600,000 600,000

Value Traded 300,000.00 300,000.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 4 4 1 9

Current Price 1.32 1.44 4.14

Quantity Traded 50,707 Page 29,500 10,000 90,207

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 0.67

Quantity Traded 812,796 812,796

Value Traded 541,303.40 541,303.40

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 32 35

Current Price 2.01 5.00

Quantity Traded 7,250 1,833,348 1,840,598

Value Traded 13,870.00 8,841,901.21 8,855,771.21

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 4.40

Quantity Traded 162,100 162,100

Value Traded 713,227.00 713,227.00

C &as I LEASING PLC. Daily Summary of 16/10/2014 Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 Employment Solutions Totals Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals SERVICES Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

Value Traded 66,481.86 of 13 40,415.00 39,400.00 146,296.86

11

137

13,986,706

42,009,002.97

Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 EQTY Board Totals Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027

4,779

524,220,985

7,659,640,963.87

Equity Activity Totals

4,779

524,220,985

7,659,640,963.87

Daily Summary (ETP)

Value Traded 5 of 13 1,259,303.33 95,370,760.84 1,033,853,408.87 60,465,484.10 6

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

289,650.00 7,929,023.39 1,661,918,006.91 4,086,193,816.56

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM WAPIC

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © INDUSTRIAL GOODS Packaging/Containers Packaging/Containers

Value Traded 240,203,030.75 130,492,010.37 1,402,310,506.65 Value Traded 18,491,188.41 484,621,466.30 23,426,675.33 4 of 13 31,699,382.69 63,571,842.84 Value Traded 21,241,032.92

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Other Financial Institutions Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC.

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials AFRICAN PAINTS (NIGERIA) PLC. ASHAKA CEM PLC Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 BERGER PAINTS PLC Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 DN MEYER PLC. Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027 IPWA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC Activity Summary on Board LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. EQTY Building Materials Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Current Price 552.20 0.51 30.00 1.97

2,876

ICT Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI Daily Summary Symbol FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA Symbol UBN

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Electronic and Electrical Products

348,504,055.42 3 of 13 Value Traded 43,185,183.94 260,110,229.38 303,295,413.32

No. of Deals 60 84 144

ICT Computer Based Systems Activity Summary onBUSINESS Board EQTY COURTEVILLE SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC TRIPPLE GEE AND COMPANY PLC. Published by Nigerian Stock Exchange © IT The Services Totals

CUTIX PLC. on Board EQTY Activity Summary

2,772,016.42

2

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 FINANCIAL SERVICES Printed 16/10/2014 Banking14:54:27.027

No. of Deals 1 5 66 74 1,037

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Daily Summary as of 16/10/2014 Crop Production Totals Printed 16/10/2014 14:54:27.027

Symbol NESF ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

13

Traded PublishedExchange

by The Nigerian StockFund Exchange © Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1,952.00 17.50

Page Quantity Traded 7 2,500 2,507

12 of 13 Value Traded 13,664.00 43,750.00 57,414.00

ETF Board Totals

2

2,507

57,414.00

ETP Activity Totals

2

2,507

57,414.00

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

WHO DUNIT?

Party leader exonerates members over attack on leaislators’ quartors Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

I

rked by the accusations slammed against its key leaders, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State yesterday urged the police high command to hold Governor Adams Oshiomhole responsible should anything sinister happen to them over last week’s attack on the legislators’ quarters in the state.

Chief Frank Okafi Erewele, who spoke on behalf of the PDP leaders at a press conference held in

News 47

SOUTH SOUTH

Edo crisis: PDP tasks police on Oshiomhole’s allegations Benin, exonerated them from any involvement in the mayhem at the quarters in which over 36 exotic cars and other valuable property were destroyed by suspected hoodlums loyal to one of the major political parties.

Erewele said the ruling APC merely suffered from the mischief it planned against the state and the people, which ‘boomeranged against them’ following their inability to settle the thugs deployed to carry out the deadly attack as they allegedly agreed.

It will be recalled that

the state governor had accused the PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, former Deputy Governor Chief Lucky Imasuen, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and others as alleged mastermind of the mayhem.

But Erewele said: “It is sad and very shameful that Adams Oshiomhole has desecrated the office of the governor by continuously repeating that the attack on the legislative quarters was masterminded or orchestrated by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, Hon. Lucky Imasuen and Chief Dan Orbih. He has

only succeeded in ridiculing himself by trying to make people believe that any meeting to that effect was held in Ize-Iyamu’s house or his office.”

“I want to seize this opportunity to call on the law enforcement agencies to closely monitor Govenor Oshiomhole. If anything happens to Dan Orbih, Lucky Imasuen, Dr. Mayor Osarobo Idehen and other leaders of the party, including myself, we know who to hold responsible, because he struck first and he was the first to start complaining,” he stated.

He blamed the governor for failure to contact the relevant security agencies if he felt his allegations were true and also for not providing adequate security since he had prior knowledge of the attack at the quarters.

Reacting on the issue yesterday, APC Publicity Secretary, Comrade Godwin Erhahon said: “The PDP is hunted by guilt.

Those who engage in violence will surely be consumed by violence, if not in the hands of their survived victims, it will come by the law of nemesis.”

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (fifth left) and members of the National Council on Works at the on-going council on works’ meeting in Asaba…yesterday

Cross River students endorse Otu Clement James Calabar

S

tudents under the auspices of Southern Cross River State Students (SOCRISS) yesterday lined up behind the aspiration of Bassey Otu, the senator representing Cross River South senatorial district in the state.

They made their decision known at a press briefing in Calabar after a meeting.

Led by its President, Comrade Godwin Efiom, the students said their decision was borne out of the assessment of the various aspirants, insisting that based on their assessment, he deserves a second term as senator.

The students gave their reasons as including the training of undergraduates in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Enterprise Development (EDC), financial support to students of various categories, employment of graduates into federal and state ministries and awarding scholarship to indigent students, among others.

“We humbly appeal to all in Southern Cross River State to support a virtuous and an accomplished leader like Senator Bassey Otu, whose records of achievements is too numerous to be forgotten,” the students said.

According to them, Otu is an epitome of a true democratic leader, “who has never abused the powers given to him since his tenure in the House of Representatives up till now.”

Akpata’s death, a colossal loss, says Oshiomhole PDP, defecting APC widow of the deceased, entire nation, which he public servants, particumembers meet in Bayelsa Cajetan Mmuta said Chief Akpata’s legacies served devotedly in sev- larly men of integrity.”

Chris Ejim Yenagoa

T

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State yesterday met with the leaders of the defecting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, promising to provide a level playing field for the members ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The meeting, which was convened by the State Executive Council (SEC) of the PDP led by Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd.), was attended by nine representatives of the over 8,000 defecting members of the APC led by Comrade Miriki Ebikibina and Hon. Sunday FrankOkputu.

Sources at the meeting confirmed to New Telegraph that the defecting APC members included

a one-time Board of Trustees’ member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the former Treasurer of the interim executive of the APC, Elder Harold Zuokumor, the Women Leader of the APC in Brass Local Government area,Mrs.Rena Adejo,the Former member of the APC in the State,Chief Osobere Inegite, the former Chairman of the defunct ANPP, Abule Suomor.

Confirming the development, PDP Publicity Secretary, Osom Macgbere, said the meeting with the defecting APC members was an in-house arrangement,” adding that the coming of the group did not follow the right protocol and we have given them a proper date and time. The chairman met with them at the level in which their members were introduced.”

BENIN

E

do State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday described the death of a former Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), Chief Tayo Akpata, as a colossal loss to the nation.

Oshiomhole, in a condolence letter addressed to Chief Olabisi Akpata,

would always stand him out as one of Nigeria’s greatest.

He said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I write to commiserate with you and the entire family over the passing on of your beloved husband and lifetime companion, Chief Tayo Akpata.

“His demise is a colossal loss not only to Edo State, but indeed, the

eral capacities, as an academician, educationist, administrator, businessman and philanthropist.”

The governor tasked the family to “take solace in the knowledge that in passing on, Chief Akpata leaves behind a legacy that will forever stand to his credit and assure him of a lasting place of honour among Nigeria’s greatest

He said: “Chief Tayo Akpata is, undoubtedly, one of Nigeria’s most cerebral and resourceful public servants, a national icon in his own right, who has established a solid reputation for original thinking and an uncommon depth in policy articulation, especially in relation to national development and public welfare.”

Why we granted autonomy to judiciary, by Dickson

B

ayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, yesterday said his administration has blazed the trail in the dispensation of justice in the country by granting financial autonomy to the state’s judiciary.

He said the administration decided to do this because of the pivotal role the judiciary is playing in the develop-

ment and building of a stable of democracy and other critical sectors of the economy.

The governor, who stated this at a dinner marking the opening of the 2014/15 Legal Year at the Government House, Yenagoa, said “government will continue to support the judiciary in terms of executing capital projects in spite of dwindling resources.

“The judiciary has the capacity to attain the highest level of judicial excellence and compete favourably with its counterparts nationwide.

“Today is a special day in the legal calendar, the state government’s decision to host the legal year is a silent way of revolutionalising the judicial system.”

Commending the Chief Judge, Justice

Kate Abiri, for her firm and purposeful leadership of the judiciary, Governor Dickson said the workers in the temple of justice need to be celebrated and honoured.

In her remarks, Justice Abiri described the 2014/15 legal year as the best, because of the governors support in making the judiciary one of the best in the country.

48

News

friday, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

north

NLC, TUC seek withdrawal of illegal arms Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

L

abour leaders in Kwara State yesterday asked the state police command to commence the withdrawal of illegal arms and ammunition ahead of the 2015 general elections, as they

declared that workers would once again determine who wins the forthcoming elections.

The call, made at the Inter-Agency Consultative Meeting on the 2015 elections, came as the state Police Commissioner, Salihu Garba, announced the recovery of 10 different firearms and assorted charms from

suspected criminals within a spate of eight days.

Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kwara State, Alhaji Farouk Umar, who spoke during the consultative meeting, said the congress would also organise a roundtable for all candidates contesting the elections before deciding who to support.

His counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC) also supported the call, asking security agencies to immediately remove security details from politicians not entitled to such before the start of the elections.

“We are concerned about the possession of arms and ammunition by people who have no

legal right to do so and from now, there is need for the security agencies to disarm people they call ‘good boys in our society’ to have a violence-free election,” Farouk said, also tasking the security agencies to ensure that all political gladiators in the elections are treated equally.

He said further: “The

L-R: Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Mohammed Bashar and Director, Rail, Mr. Gafai Bature, at the Ministry of Transport’s Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja …yesterday

workers have their interest in the election and that means some would be partisan in our choice, but in doing that, we always act in a matured manner. There is no way you will talk about elections without talking about workers welfare and the welfare of the general populace that we always agitate for.

“We have always, to a large extent, determined who wins the elections and we will do that again. We will organise roundtable discussions for contestants to tell us their agenda and then we will decide where the pendulum of our support should swing to.

“All political gladiators should be treated equally on the day of election; there should be no special security for any gladiator on that day, because that is always what they use in perpetrating violence,” Farouk added.

The police boss said officers and men of the security agencies are not politicians, adding that security agencies are prepared to create a level playing ground for all the political parties as long as the game is played according to its rule to ensure that the existing peace in Kwara State is sustained.

Dabin eyes Plateau Govt House Aliyu inaugurates caretaker Borno police warn politicians Musa Pam Jos

A

s the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Plateau State draws nearer, the immediate past chairman of the party and now a governorship aspirant, Dr. Haruna Dabin, was in his village, Kanke, yesterday for spiritual and political support for his ambition.

According to Dabin, he decided to visit the village where he was born to first seek blessings from his roots, saying

since God is the ultimate giver of all leadership positions, it is important for him to seek the face of God in contesting the governorship seat.

“Today, I stand as the exhibit of the grace of God, declaring to Kanke and all people of Plateau State that I’m contesting election on the platform of the PDP for the office of the Governor of Plateau State come 2015.”

He said he is seeking for an opportunity to serve God and humanity, pledging to provide a level playing ground in the state, if elected.

Bio declares for Kwara guber race Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

F

ormer Minister of Transportation, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim, yesterday decried the absence of government-owned health facilities in the Baruten area of Kwara State, saying the development, which has forced residents to seek medical attention at neighbouring Benin Republic, is a distortion of the Federal Government’s policy on health.

Ibrahim, who made the observation while declaring

his interest to contest the governorship election in the state in 2015 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), promised to establish a General Hospital in the area, if elected.

The former minister, who once led the state House of Assembly as speaker, said his administration would turn around the fortunes of the state if he emerged the governor, by focusing on education, agriculture, infrastructure, and sports development and by running a transparent government.

committees in 25 LGs continuity New LG bosses just have to complete on going projects Dan Atori MINNA

N

iger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has inaugurated caretaker committees for the 25 local government councils in the state with a charge that they should complete all ongoing projects, especially the 10 kilometre per local government road projects across the state.

Aliyu pledged that the administration will provide the caretaker committees with the resources to perform their jobs.

“Make sure you relate with the people, make sure PDP is respected, make sure all outstanding jobs, especially the 10 kilometre road projects are completed, we will

give you all the resources needed to perform.

“We want the grassroot to continue to enjoy the benefit of our government,” he said.

Inaugurating the committees, the governor said he did not dissolve the elected councils, but that their mandate of three years expired, which necessitated the need for an election to be held to put in place democratically-elected councils.

However, he said in view of the series of national elections, especially party primaries scheduled for between now and next year, government felt it was not expedient to hold elections hence the inauguration of caretaker committees.

He assured that local government elections will hold immediately after the national elections next year. He therefore challenged the caretaker committee members to ensure that they perform to the expectation of the people, so that the PDP will win at the polls.

against thuggery Ahmed Miringa Maiduguri

B

orno State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Clement Adoda, has warned politicians in the state against thuggery ahead of the 2015 elections.

The police commissioner called on politicians to play the game according to the rules and not to compound the security challenges facing the state.

Adoda, who said this during a meeting with political party leaders at the police headquarters in Maiduguri yesterday, said the gathering was sequel to an order from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba.

He said the meeting is to sensitise political party leaders and other stakeholders on the ‘dos and don’ts’ of the election before, during and after the electioneering campaign.

The police commissioner said: “As you all know, the state is faced with Boko Haram insurgency, we are taking this

step to avoid compounding the security challenges facing the state.

As representatives of your respective parties, you should preach the gospel of peaceful, free and fair elections.

He said: “anybody found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that election is not a door-die affair, but that the police will not fold their arms and see blood flowing.

Adoda assured all political parties in the state of a level playing ground, stressing that the police will act within the confines of “public order law” and that they will not allow thuggery in the electioneering campaigns.

Responding on behalf of the political leaders, Administrative Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha said: “The party is happy with the meeting conveyed by the CP. APC is a peaceful party and we would ensure that our party members adhered strictly to the law.”

News 49

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Court dismisses Fintiri’s claim on judgement Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday dismissed claims by counsel to the former Acting Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri that the judgement delivered on Wednesday October 8 by Justice Adeniyi Ademola intentionally was not released to them.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the court said that the judge was entitled to seven days within which to get the judgement ready.

Citing Section 294(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and 2:7 of the Code of Conduct for Judicial officers, the court said that there was no basis for counsel to allege that they were not given copies of the judgement.

The court also said that a lawyer from the Chambers of Bayo Ojo, SAN counsel to Fintiri, Mr Theophilus Okwute collected a copy of the judgement yesterday.

Police disperse protesting Youth Corps members Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

O

ver 1,000 Serving National Youth Corp members serving in Abia State who were protesting the non-payment of their monthly allowance by the state government were yesterday dispersed by a detachment of the

Nigerian police.

The placard-carrying Corps members who had blocked the gate to the Abia State Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB) on Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia with tree branches and chanting the NYSC anthem to press home their demand from the authorities the payment of their four months allowance

were dispersed by the Police.

It was learnt that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security and Allied Matters, retired captain Awa Udensi had put a call across to the police, inviting them to the scene of the protest while the Police promptly dispersed the protesters with teargas.

Speaking on the devel-

opment, one of the corps members told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that the protest was prompted by the information that the last batch that passed out left without four months allowance from the state government, stating that the Corps members had learnt the board also intended to turn down the payment of the present

change of nameS

ADEBAYO

Former Miss Abiola Oluwatomilola GBADAMOSI now Mrs Abiola Oluwatomilola ADEBAYO. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note

Farayola Olaitan

8 feared killed in Nasarawa village attack Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

A

t least, eight people were feared killed yesterday when AK 47-wielding suspected Fulani insurgents attacked Sabon-Gida, an Eggon community, located along Lafia-Shendam road in Lafia East Development Area in Nasarawa State.

Other villages razed alongside Sabon-Gida by the AK 47 wielding suspected Fulani insurgents, included three Tiv villages of Asumeku, Gidan Dama and Gidan Tyodun, all in Lafia East Development Area of Nasarawa State.

The suspected insurgents, numbering over 200, reportedly invaded Sabon Gida and three other villlages, killed eight, burnt over 30 houses and destroyed economic trees and killing animals during the attack.

The attack on SabonGidan and three others came barely three days after AK 47-wielding suspected Fulani insurgents attacked Ashangwa markets, shooting at traders, carting away huge sums of money, foodstuffs and other valuables.

batch’s allowance.

It was gathered that, the state officials moved to douse the crisis with the remittance to the corps members after their discharge with the promise that the remaining two months allowance would be paid into the Corps members’ accounts.

The protesting Corps members, however, insisted that they must collect the four months since they have already been discharged, arguing that the previous batch was told the same story and they left without the allowance. 2247 corps members passed out in the state.

When contacted for comment on the development, the Executive Secretary, SEMB, Mr. Ndubuisi Umezurike, refused to speak to journalists.

The car that brought Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to the venue of his inauguration…yesterday

Mutiny: Army bars coverage of court proceedings Emmanuel Onani

T

he Army yesterday barred journalists from coverage of proceedings of the court martial of 59 soldiers who are standing trial for mutiny.

This volte-face is contrary to repeated declarations by the President of the General Court Martial (GCM), Brig.Gen. Musa Yusuf, that the court martial was an open court, and its business would be done in the open.

Buoyed by this, some journalists, who were present on the day of commencement of trial, had appeared yesterday, for continuation of trial.

However, no sooner had the second prosecution witness (pw2) in the case, Capt. Isah Saleh, began his evidence-in-chief, than an unidentified man informed New Telegraph reporter that an “officer outside wants to see you.”

Asked what the problem was, the man, who was in civilian attire, but suspected to be an Army

personnel, said “I don’t know.”

New Telegraph was, however, notified by the spokesman of the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison, Col. Aliyu Yusuf, outside the courtroom, that the Army will send invitations across to journalists, whenever the time was right.

Yusuf, who was polite in his approach, appealed for understanding, noting that the need to promote national security had informed the action.

Other journalists were also excused in the same manner, while proceedings continued.

It will be recalled that the first court martial carried out a discreet trial of 18 soldiers, and only made it public on the day of judgement.

The trial of 59 soldiers, who were arraigned before the Yusuf-led GCM, began on Wednesday, when a two-count charge of mutiny and criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, was read to them in open court, by the Judge Advocate, Lt-Col. Ukpe Ukpe.

PUBLIC NOTICE

ILO-IFAKO CENTRAL MOSQUE

Former Miss Ajayi Mary Ayo now Mrs Farayola Olaitan Ayodele Mary.

Former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note

Williams

The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned MOSQUE has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20) The Trustees are: 1. Alhaji Ibrahim Adisa Salawudeen 2. Dr. Mallam Akaba – Chairman 3. Mr. Samusideen Oladipupo - Secretary 4. Mr. Abiodun Ganiyu 5. Alfa Ibrahim Sanusi 6. Chief Taorid Taofik

Former Ameh Gladys Isioma now Williams Gladys Isioma. Former documents remain valid. General public take note

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

Former Miss ADESOLA MOLARA ADEYOKUNNU now Mrs ADESOLA MOLARA JINADU. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note

1. To propagate the tenets and ideals of Islam.

2. To promote the religious, moral, economic and social advancement of members.

3. To propagate the teaching and doctrine of Islam amongst members.

4. To uplift the image of Islam and to seek for Allah’s mercy and blessing in this world and hereafter 5. To assist members spiritually, economically and socially when the need arises.

6. To maintain peace and unity among Muslims and between and non-Muslims.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: A & A REHOBOTH LIMITED, 10, ARIYIBI OKE STREET, BOLADE, NEAR WEMA BANK, OSHODI, LAGOS. 08122222162

PUBLIC NOTICE CHAPEL OF CHRIST CELEBRATION INTERNATIONAL The general public is hereby notified that the above mentioned CHAPEL has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration in accordance with Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act LFN (cap 20) The Trustees are: 1. Mustapha Tokunbo Timothy — President 2. Rev. Mrs Mustapha Olajumoke Adeola 3. Pastor Jeboda Michael Gbolahan 4. Mrs Mustapha-Akinyele Oluwatosin 5. Evangelist Ayoola Abiola Elijah — Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ 2. To establish Missionary/Bible/Seminary schools that will produce able and God fearing people for the future of our country and world at large 3. To teach believers on how to demonstrate God’s righteousness 4. To provide assistance for the needy in the society.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

JINADU

DAVID Former AMOS ADESEUN ADEROJU now DAVID ADESEUN ADEROJU. Former documents remain valid. General public take note

Owoegbeleke Former Mrs Latinwo Mabel Moradeke now Miss Owoegbeleke Mabel Moradeke. Former documents remain valid.

General public take note

Soyinka Former Miss Ogundare Funmilayo Ajike now Mrs Soyinka Funmilayo Ajike. Former documents remain valid. General public take note

50

WORLD | News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iran, US make headway in ‘difficult’ nuclear talks

I

ran and the United States said they made some progress in high-level nuclear talks but much work remained to clinch a breakthrough deal by a late November deadline.

Both sides said they still aimed to meet the self-imposed November 24 date, despite doubts among many experts that they can reach a full agreement to end a decade-old dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme with just a few weeks remaining. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry left Vienna early on yesterday after six hours of talks with Iranian

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton the previous day, but his officials remained to continue the talks through yesterday.

“It was very difficult, serious and intensive ... but instead of focusing on problems, we discussed solutions as well,” Zarif told Iranian media on Thursday, sources who were present told Reuters. “There was progress in all the fields.”

Zarif said he would next meet Kerry and Ashton in three to four weeks’ time though not in Vienna,

Iranian state television reported.

Ashton coordinates talks with Iran on behalf of the six other countries involved, including the United States. Ashton and Zarif met yesterday with senior officials from the six the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain before the Iranian foreign minister left Vienna.

Relations with the West have thawed since Hassan Rouhani was elected president last year

seeking to end Iran’s international isolation, and the talks are aimed at easing concerns about Tehran’s atomic activities in exchange for lifting sanctions. But Western officials say there are still gaps in the positions, especially over the future scope of Iran’s production of enriched uranium, which can have civilian and military uses.

One of Iran’s chief negotiators, Deputy Foreign Minister

Abbas Araqchi, last week raised the possibility the talks could be extended, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday that the deadline was not “sacred”. But Zarif said none of the parties believed in extending the talks, IRIB said. A senior U.S. official said an extension was not discussed, adding: “You never say never, but today we are focused on November 24 and November 24 only.”

27 killed in attacks in eastern Congo

A

t least 27 people were killed in overnight attacks on villages near the eastern Congolese town of Beni, a local official said yesterday.

Ewanakawa Nyonyi, spokesman for the mayor of Beni, blamed the attack on Ugandan ADF-NALU rebels that operate alongside a string of other local and foreign armed groups in Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineralrich eastern border zone.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo was not immedi-

ately available for comment.

However, it said two days ago that ADF-NALU fighters had killed 15 people, including six children between the ages of 7 and 17, in raids in the same area between Oct. 5 and Oct. 8.

Violence simmers in eastern Congo despite U.N. peacekeepers and government troops last year defeating M23 rebels, an insurgency that posed the most serious threat to Kinshasa’s authority since Congo’s last war officially ended in 2003.

Two ambulances arrive at Madrid’s Carlos III Hospital , carrying a possible new Ebola patient, yesterday

West should not blackmail Russia, Putin warns

P

resident Vladimir Putin accused his US counterpart Barack Obama of a hostile approach towards Russia, warning in a Cold War-style tirade that Moscow would not be blackmailed by the West over Ukraine.

Putin fired off his combative comments shortly before he arrived amid tight security to a red carpet welcome in Belgrade, seeking to cement Russia’s influence in its loyal European ally. Belgrade is staging its first military parade in 30 years to mark the 70th anniversary of its liberation from Nazi occupation an event brought forward by four days to coincide with the visit by the Kremlin strongman. In some of his most pugnacious comments yet on Russia-US

ties, Putin took issue with Obama’s speech at the UN General Assembly last month, when he listed “Russia’s aggression” in eastern Ukraine among top global threats, along with Islamic State jihadists and Ebola. He told the Serbian daily Politika it was “hard to call such an approach anything but hostile”. “We are hoping our partners will understand the recklessness of attempts to blackmail Russia, (and) remember what discord between large nuclear powers can do to strategic stability,” Putin said.

He branded attempts by the West to isolate Russia over the six-month conflict in Ukraine an “absurd, illusory goal” and accused Washington of meddling in Russian affairs.

U.S. conducts 14 air strikes against Islamic State U.S. military fighter and bomber planes carried out 14 air strikes against Islamic State targets near the Syrian border town of Kobani yesterday, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. The air strikes appear to have slowed the militant group’s advances, but “the security situation on the ground in Kobani remains tenuous,” it said in a statement yesterday. Targets hit included 19 buildings, two command posts, three fighting positions and three sniper positions, it added. Stepped-up air attacks

by U.S.-led coalition in the past few days have stalled the advance of the Sunni militants on Ko-

bani, a mainly Kurdish town on the Turkish border, according to a group monitoring the conflict in Syria.

The Pentagon said two days ago the air strikes have killed several hundred Islamic State fighters around Kobani, but it cautioned that the town could still fall to the group, which has seized large parts of Iraq and Syria. Yesterday, Central Command said the latest attacks were designed to disrupt Islamic State’s reinforcement and resupply efforts and to prevent it from “massing combat power on the Kurdish-held portions of Kobani.”

Pistorius has to pay for killing Steenkamp, witness pleads in court

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cousin of slain South African model Reeva Steenkamp made a tearful plea yesterday for Oscar Pistorius “to pay” for killing her, as prosecutors sought at his sentencing hearing to see the Paralympic athlete sent to jail.

Battling tears and with her voice trembling, Kim Martin told the court in Pretoria that she was “very fearful” of the amputee sprinter and did not believe his apology for killing Steenkamp at his home last year was genuine.

“Pistorius needs to pay for what he has done, for taking Reeva’s life, for what he’s done to my uncle, to my aunt and the rest of my family,” she said. “My family are not people who are seeking revenge, we just feel that to take someone’s life, to shoot somebody behind a door, that is unarmed, that is harmless, needs sufficient punishment.”Everybody has suffered here, and I really think we need to send a message to society that you can’t do this and get away with it.”

Pistorius was found guilty last month of culpable homicide, or manslaughter, for shooting 29-year-old Steenkamp dead on Valentine’s Day 2013. He was acquitted of the heavier charge of murder, to some controversy.

He is likely to receive his sentence Tuesday, according to a source close to the state. But with no mandatory minimum punishment, Judge Thokozile Masipa will have to decide whether he deserves to go to jail or remain free. Pistorius’s

defence team has painted the “Blade Runner” as a “broken man”, wracked by guilt about accidentally shooting his lover four times with hollow point bullets, believing her to be a burglar. They have argued the double amputee would be vulnerable in prison and should receive a community service instead.

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel has slammed that suggestion as “shockingly inappropriate”.

He warned that “if the court sentence is too light, and society loses trust in the court, they will take the law into their own hands”. The defence says a jail term would “break” the 27-yearold star sprinter who inspired millions when he became the first double amputee to compete against able-bodied athletes in an Olympics -- and that he could fall victim to prison violence, including rape.”Without legs he will be vulnerable and a lot more vulnerable than the normal man,” said probation officer Annette Vergeer.

The state worked to cast doubt on Vergeer’s testimony, calling acting correctional services commissioner Zach Modise to testify that South African prisons are able to provide the specialized physical and psychological care Pistorius needs for his rehabilitation.

The commissioner said there are no better prisons in Africa than in South Africa, whose facilities compare “favourably” with those in Britain or the United States. Modise said he can “confirm confidently” that

if Pistorius were sent to prison he would not be abused or mistreated. “We have facilities that will cater for his disability,” said Modise. “There should be no doubt in the minds of South Africans that Mr Pistorius or any other person with disabilities should be accommodated.”

Wednesday, Nel called Martin to the stand in a bid to shift the spotlight back on to the devastating impact of Pistorius’s killing of the model, saying Steenkamp’s death had “ruined” her family. “I had to do this for Reeva, I owe it to her,” Martin said. He described Steenkamp as a thoughtful, caring young woman whose death felt like “the end of the world”.

She recalled Reeva was the first baby she ever held, and recounted a joyful shared childhood filled with horse-riding, school homework and time with family.

As Martin recounted her cherished memories, Steenkamp’s father Barry, who suffered a nearfatal stroke after Reeva’s death, wept in court, his shoulders shaking. Martin recalled she was in a car when she heard on the radio that Pistorius appeared to have shot his girlfriend. “I remember saying to my husband: ‘I hope to God he’s cheating on Reeva.’”

But when Martin saw her distraught mother she knew it was not so. “For me it was the end of the world,” she told the court.

Both the prosecution and defence will give their closing arguments on Pistorius’s sentencing before court is adjourned till today for judge Masipa to make her decision on the athlete’s fate.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Sports News

EURO Sport/News

Sports lifestyle/Features

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Guardiola no fan of tiki-taka football

We gave our best, says Shorunmu

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Akwa Ibom Stadium, legacy to the youths –Akpabio

Sport

Did you know?

That Nigeria won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with 17 players featuring as debutants

Amodu replaces Keshi as NFF eyes foreign coach

EmmanuelTobi

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he Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has replaced Super Eagles Head coach, Stephen Keshi, with Shuiabu Amodu.

Rising from its meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the NFF board appointed a consortium of coaches to be led by Amodu to tinker the national team for the remaining two qualifying matches for the 2015 African

Amodu

Cup of Nations.

The trio of Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu will assist Amodu with Garba Lawal appointed as the new Team Coordinator while Toyin Ibitoye and Godfirst Chike get the job of Media Officer and Equipment Manager respectively with Enebi Achor retaining his job as Team Secretary.

Also, the executive Committee approved the appointment of a for-

Chukwu wants Eagles disbanded Ezeugo faults coaches’ recycling l

Ajibade Olusesan and Ifeanyi Ibeh

F Chukwu

The Sport Team

Adekunle Salami l Deputy Editor, Sports Emmanuel Tobi l Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh l Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan l Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Sports Correspondent © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ormer coach of the Super Eagles, Christian Chukwu, has recommended the disbandment of the current squad of the national team.

The ex-Eagles captain said that the current players have lost the passion to play for the country, urging the new consortium of coaches to form a new team with the home-based players to prosecute the remaining matches of the 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

“Let the new consortium of coaches disband the team and form their own team with homebased professionals and maybe infuse a few foreign-based professionals to the squad. These players are no longer dedicated and it shows in their performances and I think we need players who are hungry. We don’t have foreign-based professionals good enough to take permanent shirts in the Eagles, so let us go with the home-based,” he said.

The former Enugu Rangers captain said the sacking of Keshi was in order but described the tactician as the best indig-

Emenike

Let the new consortium of coaches disband the team and form their own team with homebased professionals

eign coach to handle the Super Eagles after the AFCON qualification.

Keshi and his assistants have also been requested to proceed on training in any country of their choice to upgrade their technical knowledge of the game. The NFF will pick the bills.

The Committee also appointed Samson Siasia as the new Head Coach of the U-23 Men’s Team. He will be assisted by Fatai Amoo, while the Technical and Development will recommend the other members of the crew.

Keshi

Mikel

enous coach Nigeria has ever produced.

“Our job is about hiring and firing. If you are doing well you retain your job, if results are not coming you get sacked, so there is nothing unusual about what has happened to Keshi. I wish him good luck, he is marketable, he has won the Nations Cup, qualified us for the World Cup and took us to the second round of the tournament.

He is the best indigenous coach in the history of Nigeria,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Nigeria international, Emeka Ezeugo, has expressed his dismay over what he feels is ‘a recycling of coaches’ following Thursday’s sack of Stephen Keshi as coach of the Super Eagles and the announcement of Shaibu Amodu as the team’s interim handler.

Amodu returned to the saddle four years after being sacked and stopped from leading the Super Eagles to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

This will be the 56-year-old Amodu’s fifth stint in charge of the Eagles, having first taken charge of the team at the end of the 1994 World Cup. And Ezeugo said; “So sad that the only change that is constant in Nigerian football is the recycling of coaches. Keshi is out and Amodu is back in charge; there is nothing wrong with that; it is normal to have changes in football.

“But the problem I have is today it is Amodu and by tomorrow when he is told to leave, Samson Siasia will take over. As soon as Siasia is shown the door, Keshi will be recalled,” continued the former Super Eagles midfielder.

“Things never change here,” added Ezeugo.

The immediate task for Amodu, who will be assisted by El Kanemi Warriors coach Salisu Yusuf, who worked under Siasia both with the Flying Eagles and Super Eagles, and Gbenga Ogunbote, is next month’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away in Pointe Noire, Congo.

The Super Eagles need to beat the Red Devils to remain in the reckoning for a place at next year’s Morocco 2015.

They are currently third on the table with four points, while Congo are second with seven points.

The Super Eagles will also welcome Group A leaders South Africa to Uyo next month to conclude their qualifying campaign for Morocco 2015.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Eagles qualification crisis

We gave our best, says Shorunmu Stories: Charles Ogundiya

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rstwhile Super Eagles goalkeepers’ trainer, Ike Shorunmu, has wished the national team all the best after being relieved of his position alongside other members of the technical crew.

Speaking exclusively to New Telegraph, Shorunmu said he holds no grudge against the Nigeria Football Federation for letting him go, adding that for him, life goes on.

“For now I am going back to my family to lay low and stay off the ra-

F

dar. We have done our best and it was a great honour serving my country,” said Shorunmu.

The former national team goalkeeper also expressed appreciation to the players for listening to his instructions and for the successes achieved in the past three years.

“The players did their best and I want to use this opportunity to say a big thank you to them and other members of the technical crew for all we were able to achieve,” continued Shorunmu who was part of the Nigerian team who won last year’s Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

Shorunmu

Eagles need a viable league to flourish – Fuludu “When he was winning, some people did not appreciate his good work.

“When he won the AFCON, there were signs that they wanted to sack him in South Africa, not to talk of now that he had a bad run. He just has to go.

“For me though, his sack was not the solution as we can’t really use the Super Eagles to judge a coach. We just need to revive our

Fuludu

F

ormer international, Edema Fuludu, has said that for the Super Eagles to flourish the country’s league needs to become viable and competitive.

Speaking on the backdrop of the sacking of the Stephen Keshi led technical crew, Fuludu said the only way forward is to create an avenue for good players to be discovered and nurtured for the national team from the league.

“The people who employed him have sacked him; there is nothing new there,” said the former Super Eagles midfielder.

Amodu can do the magic – Omokaro

league to have a viable national team,” he said.

He however said that Amodu is capable of getting the job done.

Fuludu said: “Amodu is a seasoned coach and the other two coaches, Salisu Yusuf and Gbenga Ogunbote, are also capable of getting the result. They must be able to work together and make sure we win our remaining two matches.”

ormer Nigeria defender, Bright Omokaro, has commended the choice of Shaibu Amodu as the new coach of the Super Eagles after Stephen Keshi and his technical crew were relieved of their positions on Thursday.

According to the 1984 and 1988 Africa Cup of Nations silver medallist, Amodu can rescue the Super Eagles from the brink of elimination in the on-going 2015 AFCON qualifiers.

“It has happened and there was nothing anybody can do about it,” said Omokaro, referring to Keshi’s exit.

“Although I would have loved Keshi to finish the qualifiers, as we are already in a tight corner, we need a miracle in our remaining matches against Congo and South Africa,” he said.

The former Insurance of Benin player added: “Amodu is an experienced coach and he could be the magic we need to qualify.

“He did well in the past when he was in charge of the team. I remember how he was able to rescue the country when we were on the verge of losing out of a place at the 2010 World Cup. He was drafted in and he did the magic.

“Going for Amodu was the right choice by the NFF. They should forget about the idea of a foreign coach for now because the country is bigger than any expatriate,” added Omokaro, who however called on Amodu to thread carefully as Nigerians won’t hesitate to turn on him if he fails to deliver the expected results.

Giwa faults NFF over Keshi’s sacking

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football proprietor, Chris Giwa, has cried out over the removal of former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, by the Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday.The Amaju Pinnick board of the NFF after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday removed all the technical crew members of the national team and named Amodu Shaibu as the

head of a consortium of coaches to oversee the affairs of the team for the two remaining matches in the Africa nations Cup qualifiers.

However, the proprietor of Giwa FC, Giwa after a meeting with his group on Wednesday in Abuja faulted the move, insisting that Keshi deserved to finish what he had started.

“Emphasis is supposed to be on the two remaining games against Congo and South Africa rather than sacking or hiring of new technical manager at this critical time,” he said.

Giwa enjoined Nigerians to remain hopeful on the chances of the Super Eagles to pick one of the tickets at stake in group A of the ongoing AFCON qualifier.

GOtv ‘Hood to Hood’ football tourney begins Oct 19

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he second edition of the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship has been slated to begin on Sunday 19 October, 2014 and end on 1 November 2014 at the Legacy/NIS pitch, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, the General Manager GOtv, Elizabeth Amkpa, revealed that the championship is aimed at contributing towards the development of football at the grassroots.

“All the matches will be played at both the Legacy and NIS pitches of the National Stadium which will enable teeming football lovers to watch the matches live while adequate media coverage will be provided

by Supersport,” she said.

Mrs Amkpa announced that the winner of the competition will get a cash prize of N500,000 with a gold trophy, the second placed N250, 000 and a silver trophy while the third placed team will get N150,000 adding that the fourth placed team will get a consolatory prize of N100,000.

On the match fixtures for the competition, the Marketing Manager, GOtv, Oludare Kafar, noted that 16 teams will compete in the first round of the competition which will be a direct elimination to produce eight teams for the quarter final stage of the competition.

The 16 teams for the second edition are; Olukoya FC (Yaba), Satech FC (Mushin), Team 360 FC (Su-

rulere), Dino FC (Ijesha), Premier Academy (Apapa), Bethel FC (Yaba), Collins Edwin FC (Surulere), Yemo FC (Bariga), Skillful FC (Iganmu), Buruj Sports FC (Ikorodu), Rainbow FC, (Iyana Ipaja), Stronghold FC (Idaraba), Honour FC (Gbagada), Kushy FC (Oshodi), Yobo FC (Ikeja) and Kings United (Ajah).

L-R: Marketing Manager GOtv, Mr. Dare Kafar, the General Manager, GOtv, Mrs Elizabeth Amkpa, Board Member of Lagos Football Association Mr Mojeed Adegbidin and the General Manager, Supersports, Mr Felix Awogu while unveiling the Jersey for the GOtv Hood to Hood Football Championship in Lagos on Thursday.

Africa Basketball Cup: Four Nigerian clubs chase final ticket our Nigerian club-sides will this Campaigning alongside six tion from Burkina Faso and Niger F weekend storm Ouagadougou, other men teams from Burkina Republic as only four women clubs Burkina Faso for the 2014 Africa Faso, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin, Ni- entered for the Zone-three qualifiChampions Cup Zone-3 qualifiers billed for October 20 to 29.

The four clubs - two men and two women teams - are seeking the four tickets available for the final round of the continent’s biggest club championship slated for November and December in Tunisia.

geria league champions Kano Pillars and runner-up Mark Mentors basketball clubs will compete for the two available slots to the final round.

Nigerian women’s league champions First Bank and runner-up Dolphins will be up against opposi-

ers which will produce two teams for the final round.

The FIBA Africa Zone-three qualifiers is not new to Kano Pillars. Mark Mentors of Abuja on the other hand will be making their debut in the continental qualifier.

SPORT | News 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

Wenger admits Arsenal need another defender

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Guardiola, no fan of tiki-taka football

Guardiola

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ep Guardiola “loathed” the ‘tiki-taka’ style his Barcelona side became synonymous with while the Spaniard was in charge at the club.

Guardiola - now at Bayern Munich - revealed in a book written by journalist Marti Perarnau that he disliked the idea of keeping possession without any forward momentum.

The book details his first campaign with the Bundesliga giants, and in it, the 43-year-old is quoted as telling his players after a below-par win over Munich

rivals Nuremberg: “I loathe all that passing for the sake of it, all that tiki-taka. It’s so much rubbish and has no purpose. You have to pass the ball with a clear intention, with the aim of making it into the opposition’s goal.

It’s not about passing for the sake of it.”

In a meeting with his players the next day, he added: “You need to dig into your own DNA. I hate tiki-taka.

Tiki-taka means passing the ball for the sake of it, with no clear intention. And it’s pointless.

“Barca didn’t do tiki-taka.

It’s completely made up.

Don’t believe a word of it. In all team sports, the secret is to overload one side of the pitch so that the opponent must tilt its own defence to cope. You overload on one side and draw them in so that they leave the other side weak.

“And when we’ve done all that, we attack and score from the other side. That’s why you have to pass the ball, but only if you’re doing it with a clear intention.

“It’s only to overload the opponent, to draw them in and then to hit them with the sucker punch. That’s what our game needs to be.

Nothing to do with tiki-taka.”

rsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he will look to sign at least one new defender when the transfer window reopens in January.

The Gunners brought in Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers in the summer to ease defensive concerns ahead of the new season, although injury problems have left the North London outfit short at the back once more.

“We bought good players, I believe we’ve done remarkably well in the transfer market,” the Frenchman is quoted as saying by The Independent when asked about recent injury issues in defence. “We wanted one more player, but couldn’t. We will try to rectify that in January.

“We have a good core of young British players, who feel the value of our club. Slowly the modern game has lost that. So we need [the fans’] support again. I encourage you to be behind us. You are magnificent.

And I’m sure we will come out this season more united and stronger.” Wenger

NFF hires auditing firm to audit books

Newcastle wary of Ebola threat

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ewcastle boss Alan Pardew has revealed the club are making provisions for their Africa Cup of Nations hopefuls amid growing concerns over the Ebola crisis.

Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tiote and Senegal striker Papiss Cisse have been taking part in qualifiers for the finals sched-

uled to take place in Morocco from January 17 to February 8.

However, with concerns currently being raised about the safety of players, officials and fans alike, Pardew admits the club have taken precautions.

He said: “We would be naive not have concerns.

We have a strategy for when they return and making sure they and their families are taken care of.

“They are essential to us and our doctor has looked into the problems that might arise and also protection for them, and to make sure we do our very best to help them.”

Pinnick

Ifeanyi Ibeh

T

he Nigeria Football Federation has approved the hiring of the services of world renowned auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, to audit the accounts of the football body.

Prison hospital awaits Pistorius if found guilty

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The Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza, tees-off at the just concluded Nigeria Golf Cup tournament, held at Ikoyi Golf Club in Lagos.

Table Tennis league final holds today

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fter one day rest, action will return to the Molade OkoyaThomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium on Friday as the final of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation na-

tional league holds.

Eight teams will compete in the knockout stage for places in the semifinal stage of the men’s event with N2.5m at stake as prize money.

In the women’s cat-

egory, four teams will battle for places in the final. Other teams will slug it out with favourites like Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Union Bank Sports Club.

scar Pistorius will be committed to the hospital wing of one of South Africa’s toughest prisons if the double-amputee Olympic track star is sentenced to jail time for killing his girlfriend, the head of the prison service said on Thursday.

On the fourth day of Pistorius’ sentencing hearing, Zach Modise, who has worked in the prison service for 35 years, was questioned by the defence about conditions at the Pretoria Central Prison, Pistorius’ most likely destination because of its disabled facilities.

The jail was the execution site of dozens of black political activists by South Africa’s apartheid government, which handed over power after the election of Nelson Mandela in 1994.

It is also the home of apartheid death squad

leader Eugene de Kock, known as ‘Prime Evil’, and is known for a vicious gang culture. Beatings, male rape and murder cases have been reported there in South African media.

However, Modise said the reality of the prison was a long way from the popular perception and said Pistorius’ disability - his lower legs were amputated as a baby - would ensure he was kept in a separate wing.

Pistorius

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the world’s second largest professional services network provider, and one of the top four auditing firms in the world, along with Deloitte, EY and KPMG. It is also the sixth-largest privately owned organization in the United States.

And according to a statement made available to New Telegraph, this was part of the resolutions reached at Wednesday night’s meeting of the NFF’s Executive Committee which took place at the Transcorp Corp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

It was also at the meeting that the NFF agreed to sack the Stephen Keshi-led Super Eagles coaching crew.

Also at Wednesday night’s meeting, the Executive Committee approved the hiring of Financial Derivaties, another much-respected firm, to act as financial consultants of the NFF. Ben & Co were also hired to act as the NFF’s management consultants.

“This is all part of our vision to drive the engine of the NFF differently but energetically and to let the world know that we are determined to be transparent and accountable. All these decisions are being taken in the best interest of Nigeria football,” explained NFF President, Amaju Pinnick.

Glo NPFL Results Enyimba 3-1 Nasarawa Pillars 2-0 Gombe Abia Warriors 2-0 Bayelsa Dolphins 1-0 El-Kanemi Warri Wolves 3-0 Lobi Sunshine 2-0 Crown Nembe 4-0 Kaduna Utd FC Taraba 2-1 Akwa Utd Rangers 1-0 Heartland Giwa v Sharks (Abandoned)

54

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Akwa Ibom Stadium, legacy to the youths –Akpabio Adekunle Salami

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he Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, believes the new Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo is a good legacy for the youths not only in the state but in the country.

He noted that the 30,000 capacity edifice would be open to talented youths to prepare for national and international competitions.

The training pitch of the complex, according to him, is expected to be used on a daily basis for keep-fit purposes and there will be facilities to boost the abilities of average athletes at the complex.

Akpabio stressed that apart from the stadium’s main bowl, which is for football and athletics, he expects athletes in other sports to make use of the trainAkwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo ing pitch and other facilities to enhance their talents “This administration has He said: “We are going to have coachdone so much for the youths as es on ground to help athletes in their we also have the Ibom Tropivarious disciplines and to be generally cana as a relaxation centre for very fit. watching movies and other “It is expected that other athletes fun activities. such as boxers, weightlifters etc could “Whatever the youths see also carry out their training on the in other big cities across the training pitch.” world will also be available The governor added that employin our state. It is part of the ment opportunities to be provided at uncommon transformation the new stadium would also be a huge to give our youths things they benefit to the youths in the state. can be proud of. It is also ex“Hundreds of youths will be empected that non-indigenes in ployed for various services at the staour state will also benefit from dium. Some will be administrative and the opportunities available at others will be in technical areas.

the new stadium,” Akpabio added.

The stadium, complete with a 105 by 68 metre pitch covered with natural grass, has 90 exit points, with an additional 30 for emergency purposes. In case of such emergencies, spectators could be evacuated from the stadium within five minutes.

The stadium, which is fully covered, has a Grand Stand, South Curve, North Curve and West Curve. There are also four levels at the VIP section.

Level One is a business longue, while Level Two is the Super VIP Longue, where the governor and other dignitaries would stay. This level has 90 seats and is bullet proof.

Level Three is the Access level while Level Four is the Media Tribune.

The stadium, which has already been certified by the International Athletics Federation and the Confederation of Africa Football, also has a six-lane warm-up track, while the main bowl has a modern scoreboard and video wall.

The Construction Project Manager, Ime Ekpo, said the stadium has been equipped with world-class gadgets.

“This is a very modern stadium with all the latest facilities. We also have surveillance cameras all over the stadium for security purposes. We have special space for handicapped people; they won’t have to climb the stairs,” he said.

The state’s Commissioner for Sports, Monday Uko, said the state’s team campaigning in the elite football league, Akwa United, would play their home fixtures at the stadium after its inauguration.

Uko said: “The home team will be using the stadium because we need to expose them to the modern facilities we have, but each time we have an international match, the home team can move to Ikot, where we are also building another stadium.”

He added: “We also have standard hotels to complement the new stadium. Contract has been signed with Julius Berger to maintain the stadium for an initial period of 10 years.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

It is better to tell the truth and face the punishment, than to lie and face the consequences.

World Record

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014

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The church Santa Sabina in Rome, built in 422 AD, hasn’t been changed since it was built, and is still in use by the Catholic Church.

Between office of NSA and Defence Ministry GUEST COLUMNIST Hamid Hendrix

C

onsidering the barrage of media criticism targeting the office of the National Security Adviser in recent times it is pertinent to focus on certain matters arising in an effort to, as it were, read between the lines and decipher some concealed codes. In the first place, that the NSA’s office is the target of media criticism is a novel development in the history of this normally unseen and unheard but important department of state. Most Nigerians only knew of the existence of the office from the “mystique” and political profile of the previous occupants of the office, especially General Aliyu Gusau, now Defence Minister, whose repeated appointments and re-appointments to the office spanned 1986 to 2010.

As a fallout, the NSA’s office and functions have been shrouded with the withdrawn and sombre personality of its main staying occupant such that it was rarely referenced in public discourse or even factored into implementation of the nation’s security policy. It was off the media radar!

Under radically-changed circumstances, the current NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki was practically ushered into office by heightened public concern and media interest as a result of the sharp deterioration in the security situation on local and national levels that cast a shadow of dysfunction on the office. This was a result of the steady increase in security challenges with origins several years prior to his appointment as well as the tragic turn of the more recent threat of guerrilla terrorism aka Boko Haram, which erupted in 2009. It was like taking over command of a war at its very peak! In the normal trend of public discourse especially under the charged atmosphere of political partisanship and electioneering however, no respite came the way of the embattled new NSA who now had to face the daring outlaws as well as the squadrons of public and media critics unwilling to grant the newcomer a breather.

It is to the credit of NSA Sambo Dasuki that he brought his military mien to bear on the very hostile reception of his appointment by adopting the calculated approach on the two fronts with the aim of overcoming the immediate as well as the ultimate objectives of resolving the public perception issues and reversing the escalating security challenges. The sustained severity of terrorist attacks seemed to doom his determination to succeed initially but the innovative strategies hitherto alien to workings of the NSA office, comprising the acclaimed “soft approach” to check the enabling factors of rising terrorism and the ferocious affirmation of superiority and sovereignty in the robust and strategized deployment of defence forces, spoke louder to endorse the competence and effectiveness of the new NSA. Today almost miraculously both cynical critics and ruthless terrorists have been subdued by the steady and decisive conquests of the gallant defence forces on the few remaining fronts while a growing number of vulnerable constituents in endangered areas are being given a sense of belonging and higher hopes to shun terror overtures.

President Jonathan

Under radically-changed circumstances, the current NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki was practically ushered into office by heightened public concern and media interest as a result of the sharp deterioration in the security situation on local and national levels that cast a shadow of dysfunction on the office Against all known and hidden odds and strengthened by the special grace of God Almighty, Col. Sambo Dasuki has immensely enhanced the credibility, functionality and profile of the Office of the NSA and with it salvaged the sagging morale of Nigerians, troops and civilians alike.

Few if any Nigerians will want to deny him the benefit of sharing the glory for the rapid restoration of an effectively safe and secure security situation in the besieged north east in appreciation of the fundamental reforms and innovative initiatives his appointment achieved. But this is not to say that these sterling qualities can shield him from the vendetta of the vengeful and the vindictive whose existence sustains the “pull him down syndrome” of the Nigerian factor.

Without prejudice to the established facts of the so-called arms purchase episode now being manipulated to distract attention or totally rubbish the remarkable record of performance of the NSA in the larger context still manifesting, it is of interest to note the deliberate targeting of one out of a handful of defence and diplomatic agencies known to be involved in any purchase of weapons for the country’s army. In particular it is pertinent to emphasise that despite this biased focus, the NSA in fact is only responsible for the issuance of end-user certificates meant

Col. Dasuki

to authenticate the destined end-user (ie Nigerian Government) in accordance with international best practices and local due process. It is practically the last stage in the established bureaucratic procedure involving agencies with constitutionally charged responsibilities relevant to the subject matter. This has been the practice since the days of Aliyu Gusau and was implemented

by Sambo Dasuki’s predecessors.

The prominence of the NSA’s Office in the South African arms purchase affair stems directly from being the first agency to respond discreetly and subsequently assertively to issue clarifications that somewhat dampened the seemingly ceaseless criticism of the Presidency by the partisan propagandists that capitalized on the incidents for petty political advantage. The ministry of defence which is even more central to the purchase of arms remained mute even as wild allegations and sensational insinuations impinging on the reputation of the ministry were bandied around the media. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said nothing either.

It was therefore the initial briefings of some media managers by the NSA’s officials that helped to put issues in their proper perspectives and debunk all the dangerous ethno-religious dimensions being propagated to instigate crisis mischievously. Significant was the clear emphasis on the compelling circumstances of betrayal of agreements by the US to support Nigeria’s war against Boko Haram just when such support was in dire need as necessitating factor for recourse to unconventional channels to secure the withheld weapons on emergency terms. To date, the US has not convincingly discharged this heavy burden of indictment which now looms larger in public consternation than the overblown seizures of less than twenty million dollars for mere administrative not criminal lapses.

Obviously, the US has a vested interest in scuttling any alternative arrangement hurriedly made by a desperate Nigerian government eager to sustain the tempo of overwhelming routing of terrorists and would keep an eye on every move to achieve its sinister sabotage scheme as exposure of its interception of arms in transit from Nigeria’s alternative suppliers in eastern countries in informed press reports recently confirms. The prompt leaking of the first incident and subse-

quent persistent coverage of developments underscores the pre-meditated planning behind the media exposure in continuation of the sabotage of Nigeria’s frantic efforts to overcome the US embargo. In this context also comes the expected connivance of local disgruntled elements even within the intelligence community with overt and covert axes to grind, ranging from those unsettled by the new dynamism in the hitherto frigid and fossilised office of the NSA and those who lost out in the highly competitive arms purchase market.

These are more than enough to launch the sort of hostile activities and media propaganda against the NSA and his emerging revamped office being unleashed.

While these scenarios prevail, it should not have been necessary to remind the Defence Minister to be more alive to the defensive demands of his portfolio even if just to counter the US offensives already taking toll directly and indirectly on the nation’s territorial and international integrity. But it is worthwhile that the Defence Ministry lends its voice to not only confirm and elaborate on the details of the barelyconcealed sabotage of Nigeria’s arms supply channels but to firmly and fearlessly tell the Americans that we are not going to be cowed by such hostile enemy actions.

We need to hear the Defence Minister responding to the other deliberate fabrications and disinformation being dished out by the media propagandists to expose them in their true reprehensible colours and defend our right to recourse appropriately for our military menu as a sovereign country that has not yet fully fallen into the orbit of any “super-power”. He also needs to reassure Nigerians that the office of the NSA is not and has not been exclusively responsible for the conventional or unconventional purchase of arms for the military since his times there and should not be so viciously vilified.

There is also a strong case for Foreign Affairs Ministry to express dismay at the apparent enthusiasm of the South Africans to feed the media in a collusive manner intended to portray the travails of the Nigerian government as petty criminal exploits, while availing itself of the existing diplomatic channels of resolving such sensitive matters that occur in the normal flow of national affairs in today’s tense world.

This is the import of the cautionary counsel included in the latest press release from the Office of the NSA making reference to the cordiality and encouragement enjoyed

by South Africans in Nigeria that should be upper most and reciprocated in bilateral relations at all times.

The rising profile of the new office of the NSA as a capable and credible caretaker of the overall national defence and security interests and environment is a welcome development aptly reflective of the transformational main thrust of the Goodluck Jonathan Administration that is clearly impacting phenomenally on the nation’s defence and security stature.

We should always focus on the impact of appointees on their areas of jurisdiction without ethnic, religious, political or even generational blinkers in order to keep Nigeria moving forward. We all have roles to play but running down positive performance is not included please.

• Hamid Hendrix wrote from Lagos

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