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NDIC’s premium cut frees N53bn for banks lCorporation extends insurance cover to mobile banking Simeon Oguegbulem and Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has extended

the downward review of banks’ insurance premium to 2015, translating to a cumulative cash of N53 billion, which will be available for banks to lend

to customers.

The premium reduction, which came into effect in 2011, would be extended to 2015; and is one of several mechanisms

adopted by the corporation for resolving banks failure through the establishment of financial stability fund.

With the extension, banks are to save N53 bil-

lion over a four-year period, an amount that will ease their liquidity and boost funds for loaning to customers.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Ibrahim

Gov poll: Ekiti courts shut

lCJ orders indefinite closure lThugs attack another judge }3

Quick Read Editorial Cancel the new polling units now!

}19

Uproar as Senate okays Jonathan's $1bn loan request }3 South Africans to sue TB Joshua over church tragedy }5

L-R: Former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; widow of Pastor Dimgba Igwe, Oby; daughter, Victory; son, Chinazam and former Managing Director/Editorin-Chief, The SUN Newspapers, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, during Buhari condolence visit to the family in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

30 die in B'Haram leadership crisis

lSect wipes out pastor, 19 others in Borno Ibrahim Abdul, Emmanuel Onani and Ahmed Miringa

B

oko Haram, which has suffered a series of losses following sustained attacks by the

military, has been hit by a leadership crisis that has degenerated into a gunfight among its members in Adamawa State.

No fewer than 30 members of the terrorist group

were killed in Madagali, Madagali Local Government Area of the state following a disagreement on who should be the new Amir (leader) after the killing of the former leader of the insurgents by troops

in Bazza about a fortnight ago.

Trapped residents of Madagali town yesterday told reporters in Yola on the phone that the gunfight broke out when the CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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Friday, September 26, 2014

NEWS

Friday, September 26, 2014

3

Ekiti courts shut as thugs attack judge lCJ orders indefinite closure

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, yesterday ordered the indefinite closure of all courts in the state to safeguard the lives of judicial workers and litigants.

A statement by the Chief Registrar, Mr Obafemi Fasanmi, said the

decision to shut down the courts was necessary in view of the rising incident of attacks on judges, lawyers and litigants in the court rooms.

The statement was issued against the backdrop of an attack yesterday on Justice John Adeyeye of the High Court Number 3 in Ado-Ekiti, the second in three days.

Last Monday, thugs, sus-

pected to have been mobilised by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, had invaded High Court Number 6, forcing Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi, who was hearing a suit challenging the eligibility of the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, to contest the last governorship poll, to flee along with lawyers and others.

Justice Daramola, in the statement, expressed concern about the attack on judges, judicial workers and others.

He said: "It would be recalled that on Monday, 22nd September, 2014, some political thugs invaded the High Court Number 6 in Ado-Ekiti where Hon. Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi was presiding. His sitting for that day was disrupted

out subjecting it to debate because of its security implications.

Hardly had he finished his statement when APC senators kicked, insisting that such an express approval should not be granted by the Senate.

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi (Ekiti North), raised a point of order, questioning the constitutionality and legality of the proposed borrowing, which he argued would violate the 1999 Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.

Makarfi countered him, saying that all the constitutional citations and other legal references pointed out by Adetunmbi had no relevance to the issue of $1 billion being considered by the Senate.

In his intervention, the Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, expressed

Adeyeye of the High Court Number 3 in Ado-Ekiti by beating him up and tearing his suit into shreds while the police officers on guard looked unconcerned and uninterested as judges, magistrates and other members of staff had to run for their dear lives, while court property were either damaged or destroyed."

According to Justice Daramola, the thugs also invaded his office and torn some documents.

The CJ said the courts would reopen when adequate security could be guaranteed judges, magistrates, judicial workers, litigants and others.

Tension has been rising in the state since the court began hearing matters relating to the June 21 poll.

Two cases filed by a group, the E-11 and the Citizens Popular Party, are on challenging the eligibility of Fayose of the PDP, to contest the election.

The suits were instituted before the poll in which Fayose defeated Dr Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 16 others.

The crisis spread to the Election Petitions Tribunal in Ado-Ekiti yesterday as supporters of APC and PDP, as early as 6.30am, started converging on the High Court Complex where the tribunal was to hold its first public hearing on the petition filed by the APC challenging Fayose's victory.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, who led policemen to the venue of the tribunal's sitting, had to order that the huge crowd be dispersed with tear gas.

A car belonging to one of the tribunal judges had its windscreen smashed by a tear gas canister thrown by a policeman.

While the tribunal was going on with its proceedings, information spread that Justice Adeyeye was assaulted by some people.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, at a press briefing, accused Fayose's supporters of attacking Justice Adeyeye.

He said he would report the matter to the Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Asked whether he had any concrete evidence to back up his claim, Fapohunda said he was duly

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

and aborted and the Hon. Judge had to be ferried away by a detachment of police officers after he had been harassed and chased around his office by these political thugs.

"Again today (yesterday) another set of political thugs in their hundreds invaded the High Court premises in Ado-Ekiti and in the process assaulted Hon. Justice John

L-R: General Manager, Listings Sales and Retention, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mrs. Taba Peterside; Managing Director/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc, Valentine Ozigbo; and President/CEO, Transcorp Plc, Mr. Emmanuel Nnorom, at the Facts-Behind-the-Offer presentation by the hotel in Lagos...yesterday.

Uproar as Senate okays Jonathan's $1bn loan request Chukwu David Abuja

T

he Senate yesterday approved President Goodluck Jonathan's request to borrow $1 billion to fight insurgency.

Senators authorised the president to take the loan after debating the report of the Joint Committees on Finance as well as Local and Foreign Debts, which was presented by the committee Chairman, Senator Ahmad Makarfi.

The debate of the report, however, pitted All Progressives Congress (APC) members, who attempted to stonewall the approval of the loan request against their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) colleagues who pushed for speedy consent.

Jonathan had on July 15, requested for the approval of the National Assembly to borrow $1 billion

to combat the ongoing security challenges posed by Boko Haram Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

The Senate, at its sitting on September 16, considered the request and referred it to the joint committee for further legislative action.

Presenting the report yesterday, Makarfi told his colleagues that the loan facility would not be in cash, but supply of military hardware, to be paid for over seven years.

He added that the request would be for a ceiling of $1 billion and the whole amount would not be utilised at the moment.

He stated that since the matter has security implications, the committee would not to divulge details in writing.

He also said since the borrowing would not be in cash, certain terms such as interest rate could not be

indicated.

He urged the Senate to approve the loan to enable Nigeria to take advantage of the opportunity as not every country or supplier would agree to the borrowing terms.

"From the briefings by the relevant stakeholders and documents received, the joint committee found that helicopters are crucial for decisive victory against terror. Quick victory cannot be accomplished without helicopters because of the terrain and the nature of the operations to be undertaken," Makarfi added.

He said the number of helicopters in the fleet of the Nigeria Air Force was inadequate for effective deployment, adding that lack of adequate funds for maintenance, recent burning of two helicopters by insurgents at Maiduguri and non-addition of new helicopter to the fleet since

1998, had inhibited the operations of the air force.

According to him, the loan is for the purchase of helicopters, ships, armaments and hardware equipment.

He said Belarus, for instance, had accepted to give helicopters on the condition of payment on instalments for a sevenyear period while other hardware, armaments and equipment will be bought on the same terms from other European countries.

He urged the Senate to approve the request, in view of the urgent need to quell the insurgency and all the terrorist activities and restore normalcy in the country.

After his submission, Senator James Manager (Delta, PDP), applying under Order 70 of the Senate Standing Orders 2011, urged the Senate to approve the request with-

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NEWS

Friday, September 26, 2014

$9.3m arms deal: Nigeria has become a laughing stock –Fashola

Muritala Ayinla and Johnchuks Onuanyim

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), yesterday described as shameful the seizure of $9.3 million by the South African Government, saying the development has made Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

The money, seized at the Johannesburg airport, was brought into South Africa illegally by two Nigerians and an Israeli for arms purchase.

Speaking at the 2014 Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Colloquium held at the University of Lagos, Fashola bemoaned the arms deal saga.

He said: “This issue has made us mere stuff worldwide. And this happened because of the value choices that we have made. Let us stop pointing fingers at those people, you all voted for them. They are representatives of the values we have chosen to live with.

“Will Gani have stood by and watch without demanding an explanation on how the money was spent and how N2 trillion was spent on oil subsidy

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without appropriation?

Also, how will he have reacted to the stories of the disappearance of the $20 billion or $49 billion depending on what side you believe?”

Lamenting that the central government had not been consistent on sensitive issues concerning its citizens, especially the abduction of the Chibok girls, the governor said the 2015 general election will provide another opportunity to choose the

right leaders who will be sensitive to the common goals and aspirations of all Nigerians.

Speaking on the title: “Consolidating democratic norms through credible electoral process,” Fashola said democracy remains the best system of government, though would not guarantee good governance.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Civil Society Organisations and well-

meaning Nigerians to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the smuggling of $9.3 million to South Africa on a private plane for arms deal are unravelled in the interest of Nigeria and her people.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the failure to entertain a debate on a motion in the House of Representatives, seeking a probe of the issue by Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has

further ridiculed Nigeria in the global community.

The party stated that the refusal of the Deputy Speaker becomes even more suspicious amid allegations that some members of the House has each received $50,000 bribe to quash the motion.

APC, however, hailed its members in the House for staging a walk-out to protest against the inexplicable decision not to allow the issue to be debated on the floor of the House.

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 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

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Jim Ovia; Trade and Investment Minister, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Aviation Minister, Mr. Osita Chidoka and the Programme Anchor, Ms. Zainab Badawi of BBC, at the Africa Investment Summit in New York, USA...yesterday.

NDIC extends insurance cover to mobile banking CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The corporation is also to extend deposit insurance coverage to subscribers of mobile banking services segment to ensure a level playing field.

NDIC Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim, at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 25th anniversary of the corporation, said the assessment rate for lenders had been reduced from 50 per cent to 35 basis points of banks’ premium, which is paid annually.

Deposit insurance guarantee is a measure implemented in many countries to protect bank depositors, in full or in part, from losses caused by a bank's inability to pay its debts when due.

The system is one component of a financial system safety net that promotes financial stability.

Currently, NDIC’s deposit insurance guarantee is enjoyed by depositors of Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs) and Microfinance Banks.

In the event of a bank failure, they are entitled to maximum deposit coverage of N500, 000, N200, 000

and N100, 000 respectively.

Speaking yesterday on the achievements and challenges of the corporation in the last 25 years, Ibrahim said the NDIC would soon extend insurance coverage to depositors of mobile banking segment, adding that a legal framework to this effect is being finalised.

He however, did not disclose the maximum deposit insurance coverage to be paid to mobile banking depositors.

On reduction of premium pay by banks, he said it was part of NDIC’s determination to relieve banks of their numerous financial obligations and assist them succeed in their operations.

"Another contribution to failure resolution by NDIC is in its contribution to financial stability fund by the downward review of premium payable by banks through a reduction of the assessment rate from 50 to 40 and further to 35 basis points. That was done to encourage banks in their contribution to the Financial Stability Fund and reduce the cost of funds by DMBs", he added.

On the area of supervision, he said the corporation in close collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had developed a risk-based supervision to enable early detection of problems in banks.

"Over the years, this has led to a reduction in the examination cycles of banks and it had also facilitated proactive measures taken to address detected aberrations in the system with minimal disruption to the payment system as well as minimal material and resources losses", Ibrahim said.

According to him, the NDIC and CBN have developed contingent framework, tagged Systemically Important Banks (SIBs) that will assist big banks.

Banks listed in SIBs category include First Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and Ecobank Nigeria Plc. The NDIC boss said a framework would spell out assistance to the banks, which are believed to have big credit exposure.

On liquidation activities, Ibrahim said a total amount of N6.825 billion was paid by the corpora-

tion to 528,277 insured depositors of the 48 DMBs in liquidation as at August 31, 2014, while N2.756 billion was paid to 80,059 verified depositors of 186 closed microfinance banks.

In addition, he said a total liquidation dividends amounting to N93.646 billion had been paid, in the last 25 years, to 250,497 uninsured DMBs depositors as at August 31, 2014.

"It is gratifying to note that NDIC had declared a final dividend of 100 per cent of total deposits in respect of 14 closed banks as at December 2013, indicating that all depositors in those banks had fully recovered their deposits.

The sum of N1, 728.4 million was declared as dividends to 699 creditors of the nine banks.

"Out of that amount, NDIC had paid the sum of N1, 191.54 million to 424 creditors who filed their claims as at August 31, 2014; while it paid liquidation dividend to 453 shareholders of Alpha, Pan African and Nigeria Merchant Bank, which stood at N2.031 billion as at 31st August, 2014", he stated.

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

Friday, September 26, 2014

5

Jonathan: 2015 polls will meet global standard Anule Emmanuel Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday reassured the international community that the 2015 general election would be conducted in ac-

cordance with global best practices Also, the Federal Government will be inviting international observers to monitor the conduct of the elections.

The President spoke during separate meetings

with the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

He promised that his administration was com-

mitted to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

"In keeping with the administration's dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs, international observers will be

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate Services, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mrs. Lola Abiola-Edewor; Managing Director/CEO, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim; Director of Insurance and Surveillance Department, Mr. Zaccheaus Anate and Director, Administration Department, Mrs. Christiana Afabor, after a press conference to mark the 25th Anniversary of the company in Abuja…yesterday

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Boko Haram wipes out pastor, 19 others in Borno CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

insurgents failed to agree on who should be the new leader and whether or not they should surrender.

"Over 30 Boko Haram fighters were killed in Madagali town after a fight that ensued between them over a disagreement to surrender their weapons.

They just kept shooting sporadically at each other,’’ one of the residents, David Chakawa, said.

Chakawa said there had been disquiet among members of the group with some agitating for a ceasefire.

"Already, there is also leadership crisis over who should emerge the new leader in Madagali,’’ he added.

In the last three weeks, Madagali, Gulak, Shuwa and Michika towns have been under the control of Boko Haram members.

Residents said many ‘’ defaulters’’ who violated rules had been punished with some having their fingers cut off while others were caned.

"They cut off fingers, lashed offenders and married off spinsters,’’ Mr. Bitrus Kwache, a trapped resident in Michika, also said in a telephone interview.

Notwithstanding their losses, the insurgents have

kept on fighting, killing a pastor and 19 others in a series of attacks on some villages in Borno State.

The terrorists, who attacked Shaffa and Shindiffu villages in Hawul Local Government Area, killed Pastor Eliud Gwamna Mshelizza of the Living Faith Church; a teacher (name withheld) at Government Girls Secondary School, Shaffa and 18 others.

The terrorists who razed down about 10 churches in the villages, also destroyed a clinic and some buildings in the staff quarters of the school in Shaffa.

The insurgents, according to fleeing residents, invaded Shaffa about 8pm on Wednesday and did not leave until about 11am yesterday.

Sources said the insurgents were able to operate freely in Shaffa because of there were no troops in the area.

The sources added the troops arrived in the village as the insurgents were leaving for Shindiffu, a nearby village.

On whether any arrest was made by the troops, a source said: "I cannot give you details yet, but the troops deployed to trail the terrorists were making a headway, unfortunately,

immediately after the attacks, telecommunication services were interrupted for security reasons. But I am optimistic that the troops will succeed in killing or arresting some of the attackers."

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Gideon Jubrin, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the attacks on the villages in a telephone interview with New Telegraph.

He, however, added that due to the shutdown of telecommunication network in the area, he had not got detail of the incident.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is to deradicalised and rehabilitate 135 suspected Boko Haram fighters who surrendered to troops along with their weapons.

According to the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Wednesday, a total of 135 "terrorists" surrendered to troops around Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.

Addressing reporters at the National Information Centre, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, said the decision to rehabilitate the insurgents was in line with government's soft approach to dealing with the

insurgency ravaging the North-East.

Omeri, who doubles as the centre's coordinator, said; "The Government of Nigeria has put in place a number of strategies to ensure that those insurgents turning themselves in undergo some process of deradicalisation and rehabilitation."

This, he added, is with a view to reintegrating them into the society as well as encouraging others to surrender to troops.

Also yesterday, authorities of Ngala Local Government Area in Borno State said over 150 displaced persons had died at the Fotokol border resettlement camp in Cameroun.

They attributed their death to outbreak of diarrhoea, malaria and other water-borne diseases at the camps as medication and healthcare services could not be accessed in the camp.

The deaths, according to Ngala council senior officer, who asked not to be named for security reason, began five days after resettling over 10, 000 Gambouru/Ngala fleeing residents at the Fotokol Primary School, while others took refuge under tree sheds and makeshift shacks.

allowed to freely monitor the 2015 elections and affirm that the elections are as free, fair and credible as his administration has promised,” he said.

The president had been in New York since Sunday for the 69th session of the UN General Assembly.

President Jonathan, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, stated that international observers would be allowed to freely monitor the elections to make them free, fair and credible as his administration had promised.

This, according to the president, is in keeping with his administration's dedication to openness and transparency in the conduct of public affairs.

During the two meetings, President Jonathan reaffirmed his personal commitment in making sure that elections in Nigeria progressively become better, freer and credible.

He thanked Ban and Cameron for their continuing support for Nigeria's effort to curb terrorism, insurgency and violent extremism within its borders, saying that the Federal Government will welcome even more assistance from Britain

especially in the areas of intelligence sharing, antiterrorism training and defence logistics.

At a later meeting with the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Margaret Chan, Jonathan expressed appreciation to the UN health agency for the successful containment of the Ebola Virus Disease.

While affirming that Nigeria was now Ebola-free, President Jonathan called for greater international support to ensure that the virus is also eradicated in other West Africa countries that it continues to ravage.

"Nigeria is free of the virus now but we know that to be permanently free from it, we must remain vigilant and work with WHO and the international community to eradicate it completely from our sub-region and forestall the possibility of its re-emergence on our shores through migration," he said.

Chan and Ban commended Jonathan for his exemplary leadership on Nigeria's successful effort to stop the spread of Ebola.

Jonathan has since departed New York for Abuja.

South Africans to sue TB Joshua over church tragedy

T

wo South Africans who lost relatives when a church hostel in Lagos collapsed have told the BBC they intend to sue the General Overseer of the Synagogue Church of all Nation, Prophet T.B. Joshua.

The two men, Thanduxolo Doro and Mpho Molebatsi, who both lost sisters in the collapse, are appealing for more families to come together in bringing a case against the preacher.

At least 115 people, including 84 South Africans, died when the multi-storey building collapsed earlier this month.

“I understand that some families are afraid to take on someone who purports to be God's messenger and I don't blame them but I will do this,” Thanduxolo Doro, whose sister Vathiswa Madikiza died in the Lagos collapse, said.

Doro and Molebatsi waited at Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport for days after the collapse for news of their sisters, who had been visiting SCOAN.

Both families had last heard from their relatives hours before the collapse.

"It is not that the building collapsed, rather what was done after the collapse – we didn't get any news from the church," Doro told the BBC. "When I contacted them they wouldn't tell me anything. We saw reports that emergency workers were denied access initially, access that could have saved lives. The actions of the church after the incident are very telling," he said.

The authorities say it had more floors than its foundation could hold.

Joshua had on Sunday announced plans to travel to South Africa to visit the families of the deceased.

Officials inspecting the site of the building collapse said the foundation of the building was not suitable for extra floors to be added to the building Emergency workers alleged they were prevented from participating in the rescue, only gaining full access to the site on Sunday afternoon - accusations denied by the church.

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NEWS

Friday, September 26, 2014

Medical panel not to remove Suntai from office –Umar

lSays powerful cabal wants him to handover Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

A

cting governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, yesterday explained that the medical panel set up by the state House of Assembly to probe the health status of the ailing governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, was not to remove him from office.

Umar, who was at the

National Secretariat of the People Democratic Party (PDP) to confer with the members of National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, said contrary to insinuations, the purpose of the medical panel was intended to know if the governor has fully recovered to assume office.

"As you must have noticed, we have once again stepped into a tensed situa-

Senate okays Jonathan's $1bn loan request CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

concern about what he considered an attempt to sweep under the carpet the constitutional concerns raised by Adetunmbi.

He said: "The distinguished senator (Adetunmbi) has raised fundamental issues touching on the constitution of this country. He also read the relevant sections of our Standing Orders. Mr. President, our constitution supersedes whatever my friend and brother, Senator Makarfi, is talking about the Procurement Act. However, it is a huge document and Makarfi has not quoted the relevant sections to support what he is saying. Our distinguished senator here (Adetunmbi) has quoted extensively from the constitution. If they collide, let us know which one overrules.

In his contribution, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu appealed to his colleagues not to unnecessarily politicise the debate so that Nigerians would not have the impression that one political party was fighting against terrorism while another one was supporting it.

He also faulted the views canvassed by Adetunmbi, saying that Section 80 of the constitution cited by him has to do with appropriation while the issue of borrowing is guided by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. While Ekweremadu was still speaking, Senator Femi Ojudu interjected, saying "Point of order!

Point of order! Mr President."

Ojudu, while contributing, said: "Distinguished colleagues, Order 53 (7) and (8). Order 7 says it shall be out of order to use offensive and insulting language and Order 8 says no senator shall impute improper motive to any other senator. Mr President sir,

we are discussing a very important issue; there is no single Nigerian, not to talk of a senator that is not concerned about the security of this country. All we are saying is that this thing should be done properly in a manner that all of us can go out of here and defend it."

Responding to Ojudu's observations, Senate President David Mark said: "Who has imputed improper motive? Please distinguished colleagues, who has imputed improper motive here? I said so because I want to rule on it.

"Ojudu, all of us here understand English; nobody is speaking any other language here. Make your point of order so that I can rule on it. Please, Ojudu, what the Deputy Senate President said was that we should not make this debate appear as if one party is supporting the fight against insurgency and the other party is not."

Also reacting to Akume's insistence that the Senate President should address the constitutional questions raised

by Adetunmbi, Mark said: "Because he is quoting the constitution doesn’t mean he is right. Please, I want us to address the issue properly, I know he quoted constitution and he quoted from our Standing Order but that is not what makes him to be right. I will take a few comments and I will put the question to vote because this is democracy.

I am not a lawyer and so I can’t say that these are legal issues and if they are legal issues, they have to be addressed separately. Our understanding here is not exactly like in the court of law.

When Mark put the question to vote, the loan request was approved in spite of attempts by the APC senators to shut it down by voice vote.

tion occasioned by the second return of His Excellency, Governor Danbaba Suntai from treatment abroad. The insistence by a powerful cabal in the state that I hand over to my boss even against professional advice is at the centre of the current impasse. This has forced the State Executive Council to request the State House of Assembly to set up a medical panel to verify the state of health of our beloved governor.

"I have heard people say the motive behind the set-

ting up of the panel is to remove the governor. This is not true. It is merely intended to determine if I can hand over to him or not," Umar stated.

Umar stressed that the medical panel was to ascertain the state of health of Suntai, to know if he was fit to govern the state.

He, however, added that the medical condition of Suntai was improving, following treatment received from hospitals both within and outside the country.

“We are waiting for doc-

tors to certify him fit to resume his duties,” he said.

He added that the government under his leadership, had taken measures to ensure peace and stability in the state.

The acting governor, however, said that government was doing everything possible to ensure security and stability in the state, adding that over 100 security vehicles had been provided.

“It is my hope and believe that virtually everyone that left the state will

come back in the next one or two months,” he said.

Earlier, PDP Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, while commending the acting governor for his development strides in the state, urged him to continue ensuring peace and order and good relationship among party stakeholders in the state.

Suntai had been ill since October 25, 2012, following injuries he sustained from an air crash when he piloted a private jet.

L-R: Director General/CEO, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Chief Adolphus Joe-Ekpe; Executive Director, Lagos and West, FirstBank, Mr. Gbenga Shobo; FirstBank Big Splash Promo Grand Prize winner, Kelechukwu Frank; Lagos State Commissioner of Housing, Mr. Bosun Jeje and Executive Director (South) of the bank, Mr. UK Eke, at the presentation of the four-bedroom duplex to the winner of the promo in Lagos…yesterday

Ekiti CJ orders indefinite closure of courts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

informed and he believed his informants.

But Fayose, who was accused of ordering the attack on the judge, the denied the allegation.

"I was only at the tribunal venue as a party to the case being handled. The said Justice Adeyeye is not a member of the panel hearing the petition and I would not know how I would have met him. I did not have anything to do with the regular court and the venue of the tribunal sitting is quite a distance from other court rooms.

"These people are only desperate to malign me and secure needless sympathy from the public through their propaganda machines.

"My own case is not going to be an ice cream party and I am not Segun Oni whose mandate was snatched through the backdoor. I represent the people of Ekiti State and I have developed a thick skin to all these lies, whatever they

like, "he said.

Meanwhile, the election petition tribunal has chosen October 14, a day to the end of the administration of Fayemi, as the date for the commencement of hearing in the petition.

This was after the threeman tribunal, headed by Justice Mohammed Sirajo, concluded pre-hearing in the matter in which the parties had agreed that the applications should be consolidated for hearing.

The judges, who had scheduled noon for the ruling, rescheduled the ruling when the police began to shoot tear gas to disperse the crowd that had earlier been moved outside the judiciary complex.

Before the judges gave their ruling, Fayose, who was in court, left and was followed by a large number of his supporters while many others, who were later dispersed by the police, stayed back.

A canister of tear gas hit and broke the windscreen of a Toyota Camry

car of one of the judges of the tribunal with registration number ABSJ 62.

Before the tribunal adjourned until October 14 for hearing of the petition, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), leading the APC legal team, had complained that his team was having challenges in inspecting electoral materials.

He said he never expected the third respondent in the matter, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to be strict with the number of experts to be used for the inspection, saying "the tribunal's order is "go and inspect" and the number of experts we bring to do this doesn't matter."

However, INEC through its lawyer, Mr. S. A. Awomolo (SAN), argued that it was agreed that there should be four experts per side but that the petitioners were bringing 14 experts.

INEC said there were six parties and if all the parties brought 14 ex-

perts each for the inspection, and with the number added to the security agents, there would be too much trouble controlling the crowd.

On his part, Chief Olusola Oke, who is part of the PDP legal team, said the matter was administrative and that other parties should not be dragged into the administrative issue involving INEC. He said if the petitioners wanted to spend the entire lifetime prescribed for the tribunal doing inspection, that was their problem.

Justice Sirajo ruled on the matter and said it was the duty of INEC to ensure security at the election and during the inspection of electoral materials.

He, however, said the commission could not restrict the number of experts and if the petitioners liked, they could be on the inspection till the expiration of the time limit of the tribunal.

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

PROBE Petroleum Minister moves to stop probe of N10bn jet scandal Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed October 13 for ruling on an application brought by the Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke to amend her originating summons in the suit she filed against the National Assembly. She is

6.3m

Jet scandal: Court to decide on Alison-Madueke’s request Oct 13 seeking to stop the probe over the N10 billion jet scandal.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to Deziani, Etigwe Uwa, SAN brought an application seeking to amend his originating summons.

He submitted that the application is coming at an early stage when response to of the second defendant( House of Representatives) has not been regularised, adding that

The number of children under ages five that died in 2013.

Source: Who.int

the grant of the application is not harmful to the case of the defendants.

He, however, noted that the originating summons, which he is seeking to amend was prepared under time constraint and that it was not included in it that more argument will be canvassed over time.

However, counsel to the 2nd defendant, Aminu Sadauki, opposed the application for

15

The life expectancy at age 60 years of men in Comoros in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

amendment and urged the court to dismiss the application and hear the suit of the first originating summons.

After listening to the parties, Justice Mohammed fixed October 13 for ruling and possibly hearing.

New Telegraph recalls that Deziani and her ministry had, on April 11, dragged the National Assembly and the House of Representatives as 1st

and 2nd defendants before the court praying it for an order of interim injunction restraining them from summoning or directing her appearance before any committee particularly the Public Accounts Committee set up by the second defendants.

She also wants the court to stop the defendants from asking her to present papers, notes or documents before any

7.3m

Bloodbath averted as Uba, Emeakayi's loyalists clash

The total population of Israel (rep. 0.1% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Tony Okafor AWKA

ecurity agencies yesSwould terday averted what have been a blood-

L-R: Executive Chairman, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Prof. Shuaibu Oba Abdulraheem; Chairman, FCC Committee on Public Relations and Publicity, Mr. Mohammed Alakayi; General Manager, NTA 24, Mr. Femi Ibrahim and representative of the Secretary to the FCC, Mr. Macaustine Dangosu, during a sensitisation workshop for media executives held in Abuja… yesterday.

PHOTO:ELIJAH OLALUYI

Private schools defy Fashola, resume academic activities Mojeed Alabi and Shadrack Yusuf n spite of the resumpIder tion postponement orby Governor Baba-

tunde Fashola of Lagos State, indications have emerged that many private schools have resumed academic activities in the city, defying the governor’s warning.

The governor, who had on Sunday, September 21, agreed with the teachers to postpone the resumption of primary and secondary schools in the state to Wednes-

day, October 8, had also warned private school owners against opening their schools for studies until October 8.

Fashola had told the teachers to return to their schools to ascertain the availability of anti-Ebola Virus Disease facilities on their premises and keep up the preparation for the new resumption date, so that the environment could be guaranteed of safety for teaching and learning.

However, visits by New Telegraph to some

of the schools in Lagos yesterday revealed that academic activities have resumed in some of these schools including Mbari Mbayo Schools, Yaba; Dadeyo Secondary School, Abule-Egba; To-Faith Schools, Jibowu Street, Abule-Egba; Winners Treasure Kids Nursery and Primary school, Alapere, Ketu, Lagos, among others.

Efforts to get the reaction of these schools on the development proved abortive as our correspondents were barred from gaining access to

their premises.

In the same vein, efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Government on the matter also proved abortive as the telephone line of the Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Jide Lawal was not available as at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists has held a symposium on the contributions of pharmacists to addressing the challenges posed by the dangerous virus.

Adekunle fought to unite Nigeria, says Buhari Temitope Ogunbanke ormer Head of State Fsives and All ProgresCongress (APC)

presidential aspirant, General Mohammadu Buhari, has described the late Civil War hero, Brigadier General Benjamin Adekunle, as a highly dedicated and committed officer, who fought gallantly to unite the country. Speaking to journalists during his visit to the late Ad-

7

ekunle's home in Lagos yesterday after he commiserated with the deceased family, Buhari described the deceased as a complete Military personnel, who served this nation with his youth and laid a solid foundation for up- coming Military officers to emulate.

He said that Adekunle's war efforts remained a reference point, saying that without him and other patriots, the mod-

ern Nigeria would not have been possible.

“I met the late Brigadier Benjamin Adekunle as a young military officer; his doggedness attracted young officers to emulate his courage and confidence. During the Nigerian Civil War, General Murtala Mohammed was commanding Second Battalion while Late Adekunle was commanding the 3rd Marine Commando. His doggedness played a major role

in helping to make Nigerian a united nation,” he said.

Buhari therefore, prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest and the family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss.

Earlier in his condolence register, Buhari wrote that: “My sincere condolence to the family and the nation on the death of a great soldier/ officer of immense courage who led when the thing was tough.”

bath, when factions of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) loyal to Prince Ken Emeakayi and that of Ejike Oguebego(loyal to Chief Chris Uba) clashed at the reconciliation meeting of the party. The meeting was at the instance of former National Chairman of the party, Ahmadu Ali. The occasion, which witnessed a large turnout of members, shortly literally became a war zone.

Trouble started when a factional chairman, Mr Ejike Oguebego, was invited to address the gathering and after introducing himself as the state chairman , heavens let loose with shouts of rejection from the crowd.

such committee or the giving of any evidence by the relevant public officers.

The applicant also want the court to stop the defendants from issuing warrant compelling her to attend the Public Accounts Committee set up with regard to the investigative public hearing on the lease of aircraft by the NNPC pending the determination of the suit.

Attempts by Chief Ken Emeakayi, also laying claim as state chairman of the party to calm down the crowd was greeted by more disapproval as party members equally shouted him down.

Consequently, people from opposing camps and interests went haywire- shouting and throwing seats to their opponents freely.

All efforts by the Ahmadu Ali committee to calm the situation were rebuffed by the maddened crowd, It took the intervention of large number of security personnel to save the situation.

Most of party members, who spoke, called for the suspension of both Emeakayi and Oguebego in the interest of the party. The Anambra state chapter of the PDP has been in perennial crisis since 2003.

Mark assures on improved Nigeria-Germany economic ties Chukwu David ABUJA

resident of the Senate, Pyesterday Senator David Mark, assured that Ni-

geria and Germany would continue to improve Economic and Parliamentary cooperation that would enhance the well being of the two nations.

Mark gave the assurance during his meeting with the German Ambassador to Nigeria -Mr. Mike Zenner in the nation's political capital, Abuja.

Mark also assured of the continuous socioeconomic cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, saying that the country would work closely with other developed economies of the world to better the lots of its citizenry.

Mark urged nations across the world to show understanding about the difficulties Nigeria was facing on account of Security challenges, a development he said requires

global action to tackle.

According to him: "It is always alarming when you hear the impression countries all over the world nurse about Nigeria.

The challenges facing our country are surmountable and we are doing our best to get out of it.

"We plead with other European countries to understand some of the difficulties we face as a nation and help in solving our internal problems.

"We will continue to work closely with the German government at improving our economy and as well as Parliamentary cooperation with German legislature.”

The German Ambassador said that the relationship that existed between Nigeria and Germany was cordial and mutually beneficial, pointing out that Nigerians in Germany had excelled in the area of academics and Arts, and were helping to boost the fortune of his country.

8

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Fashola faults national awards to political office holders service

Lagos governor thinks serving officials should get their reward at the end of tenure

G

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said that the award of national honours to political office holders was inappropriate.

Fashola spoke in Lagos at the Fourth Gani Fawehinmi Colloquium organised by the Gani Fawehinmi Chambers of the Faculty of Law, Univer-

sity of Lagos.

He said that the practice undermined the culture of hard work as it presumed recipients had done exceptionally well in the service of the nation, even when they had not completed their terms in office.

Fashola said national honours should, ideally, be conferred on people based on retrospective assessment of their achievements and the impact they had made to national development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the colloquium was `` Consolidating Democratic Norms through Credible Electoral

Process.`` He said, “The concept of giving public officers national awards simply offends, because I ask, what will you give to such persons after he has left office and has done well?

“You see, we can use the game of football to explain why this is not appropriate. Will FIFA stop a game at half-time and say let’s give the Most Valuable Player award to this or that player because he has done well? “ No, that is only done at the end of the game. Or will fans or people congratulate a striker for instance, for goals he has not scored? No, things are not

done that way.

“The whole idea undermines the culture of hard work and it is better we start recognising people the right way and for the right reasons,’’ he said.

Fashola also decried the arbitrary conferment of awards on people by tertiary institutions and other organisations, saying this promoted wrong values in the country.

He said the conferment of such honours should be strictly for exceptional and deserving individuals and not for pecuniary expectations or other favours.

According to him, the Lagos State University (LASU) has been directed

to suspend the conferment of awards in order to preserve respectability of such honours.

“My directive to the university is not because I am a saint or that there are no deserving people in our state the university can honour.

“On the contrary, I believe those awards are critical building blocks of the moral and development fibre of the society and I feel duty bound to ensure that we do not lose or destroy those blocks,`` he said.

The governor urged Nigerians to guard the nation`s democracy jealously by shunning acts

that could weaken or truncate it.

He advised Nigerians to embrace the right democratic values, which according to him, would strengthen governance and bring about development.

Fashola said the power to change the country for the better rested largely in the hands of the electorate and urged them to use it to bring about good leadership.

“The power to bring out change rests in your hands, the electorate. You can help change the country for the better by voting out bad leaders while keeping good ones,’’ he said.

FG withdraws suit against Hassan Lawal, others

Tunde Oyesina Abuja

Federal Government, Tandhethrough the Economic Financial Crimes

L-R: Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mr. Steve Elusope; Head, Business Development, Mrs. Nike Bajomo; Head, Product Management, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, Mr. Dapo Adeosun and Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Trustees Ltd, Mrs. Binta Max-Gbinije, during an employers’ forum in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Saudi Arabia announces October 3 as Arafat Day

...Prices of ram go up Kunle Olayeni, Mecca, s/Arabia, Muda Oyeniran

A

rafat Day, which marks the peak of the annual Islamic holy pilgrimage will be on Friday, October 3, Saudi Arabian authorities announced yesterday.

As a result, Muslims worldwide would celebrate this year's Eid-alAdha or Feast of Sacrifice the following day (Saturday) in line with the lunar Islamic calendar.

More than two million pilgrims, including contingents from Nigeria, are expected to perform the 2014 Hajj exercise.

A statement by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia confirmed this after the new crescent of the month of Dhul Hijjah was reportedly sighted on Wednesday night.

The statement added that Thursday, September 25 was the first day of Dhul Hijjah , which is the twelfth month in the Muslim calendar.

Arafat Day is when Hajj pilgrims stand in prayer on the hillside and plains of Arafat near the city of Mecca in earnest supplication and devotion to God. The pilgrims will assemble in Mina, 12 kilo-

metre outside Mecca, on Thursday October 2, at the start of the pilgrimage in preparation for their journey to Arafat the next day.

But with less than 10 days to the festivities, the hope of many Muslims in the country to purchase ram in commemoration of the festival may be dashed as the prices have gone up, beyond the reach of average Muslims.

The New Telegraph findings showed that rams of moderate sizes are sold for between N40,000 and N45, 000 while those that are well fed go for between N80,000 and N100,000 This development, may

not be unconnected with the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country, which had reduced the supply of the commodity.

A ram dealer, Akeem Adekola, told New Telegraph on telephone from Kebbi State yesterday that most ram dealers from the South West states have avoided states where the Boko Haram activities were more pronounced such as Borno, Kano Kaduna and Plateau states.

He said that most ram dealers have restricted themselves to Kebbi and Sokoto states, which are considered more peaceful.

Abayomi seeks to void confab resolutions Tunde Oyesina, Abuja constitutional lawyer ATunji and rights activist, Dr. Abayomi, yesterday

insisted that the just concluded National Conference was illegal and hence its resolutions should be nullified by the court.

This was as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja fixed October 21 for adoption of addresses

in a suit filed by Abayomi against the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and six others, seeking to stop the concluded National Conference.

Abayomi had filed the suit before the commencement of the conference but the matter is still pending before the court even after the conference wound up.

In the suit, Abayomi had contended that the

conference did not have a legal backing, and hence, should be stopped as it would constitute a waste of tax payers’ money.

Joined with Jonathan in the suit are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, SAN; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu

Tambuwal; the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd.); the deputy chairman, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi and the secretary, Dr. Valerie Azinge, as 2nd to 7th defendants.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the matter could not go ahead on ground that the proof of service of processes served on the National Assembly was not before the court.

Commission, EFCC, yesterday discontinued the criminal suit it filed against a former Works Minister, Dr. Hassan Lawal and eight others.

At the resumed trial before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja where the accused were supposed to be arraigned on a fresh criminal charge, the Prosecution Counsel, Wahab Shittu informed the court that he had a firm instruction from the anti-graft agency to discontinue the suit.

He, therefore, applied that the case be discontinued.

He did not give any reason for the discontinuance.

Counsel to the accused persons, did not object to the application.

The trial judge, Justice A.R Mohammed, in a short ruling granted the application for discontinuance and struck out the case and consequently discharged the accused persons.

New Telegraph recalled that a retired judge of the

Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Bello, while still in service, had earlier discharged and acquitted Lawal of the charge of conspiracy and corruption to the tune of N43 million slammed on him and others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. But not satisfied with the discharge and acquittal, the anti-graft agency made moves to re-arraign Lawal over a fresh criminal charge, which eventually discontinued yesterday.

Bello had in his judgement then, chided the antigraft agency for a shoddy investigation.

Prior to the judgement, Lawal had pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, and consequently brought a no case submission after the prosecution had closed its case. While ruling on the no case submission, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove the essential ingredients of money laundering charge before the court, adding that the EFCC did not present any evidence to prove that the transferred funds were derived from illegal and corrupt proceeds. “Prosecution

Mark tasks media on terrorism Chukwu David Abuja

of the Senate, Phasresident Senator David Mark, tasked Nigerian me-

dia to join forces with the government in the battle against insurgency and terrorism currently confronting the nation.

Senator Mark made this appeal when the Management team of the Newswatch newspapers Limited visited him in his office in Abuja. He said that journalists should be guided by national interest and avoid sensational reports capable of setting the nation ablaze.

He noted that Nigeria has some of the best hands

in the media but called for caution and improved capacity building in the profession, so as to follow the path of honour and dignity which the media is known for.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate, Mr Paul Mumeh, Senator Mark said:" You will recall that under my Senate Presidency, Freedom of Information Bill was passed into law to give the media unlimited access to information.

"I am appealing that this freedom must go with national interest and responsibility."

NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

9

Reps approve Diaspora commission for Nigeria

 Appoint committee on Financial Intelligence Centre bill ABROAD Nigerians living beyond our borders now have an opportunity to be part of national development Philip Nyam Abuja

T

he House of Representatives yesterday passed the bill for the establishment of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

The passage of the bill was consequent upon the

ratification of the report of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs that has been in the House for about three years.

Sponsored by the Chairman, Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa (APC, Lagos), the bill is titled; “A bill for an Act to establish the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission,” provides for the engagement of Nigerians in diaspora in policies, projects and participation in the development of the country.

It is also for the purpose of utilising the hu-

man capital and material resources of Nigerians in diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural and political development of Nigeria and for other related matters.”

The bill, which was considered clause by clause, provides that the commission will coordinate and harmonise all continental Nigeria diaspora organisations, advise the government at all levels on matters related to diaspora affairs and carry out various training for the staff of the commission.

The commission is also saddled with the responsibility of reaching out to Nigerian communities abroad through their various groups, organisations and professional bodies.

Also yesterday, the House passed for second reading a bill for an act to provide for the establishment of the Bank of Industry in order to consolidate its achievements and enhance its capability in industrial and economic development in Nigeria.

Leading debate on the bill, Chairman, House Committee on Industries, Hon. Mohammed Ogoshi

Onawo, (PDP, Nasarawa), said there was no legal framework backing the establishment of the bank.

In a related development, the House of Representatives yesterday constituted a six-member conference committee on the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) in the country.

The committee is to liaise with its senate counterpart to harmonise the differences in the bill as passed by both chambers.

The committee is headed by the Chairman, Committee on Rules and

Business, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba) with the Chairman, Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba (PDP, Kaduna) as member.

Other members are the Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs; Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (PDP, Abia), Deputy Chairman, Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Emmanuel Udende (PDP, Benue), Hon. Francis Enekorogha (PDP, Delta) and Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade (APC, Osun).

EU, UNODC pledge support for drug law in Nigeria Wole Shadare National Drug Ccyhairman, Law Enforcement Agen(NDLEA), Ahmadu

L-R: Legal practitioner and Chairperson, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, Mrs. Funmi Falana; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire; President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade and Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, during a stakeholders’ summit on Child Rights Law/Domestic Violence Law in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Lagos APC accuses Obanikoro Ikimi pledges to work with of violence, ruthlessness Anenih in Edo Temitope Ogunbanke respective of the feelings

T

he Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged the Ministry of Defence to call the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, to order over some of his action that does not portray the ministry in good light before the public.

APC said the manner at which the minister has been using the exalted ministry to advance the cause of the ruling party is a threat to national unity and Nigeria’s democracy.

Addressing a press conference in Lagos yesterday on murder of an APC member, Alhaji Azeez Asake, who was murdered shortly after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-West rally held at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on Saturday, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said Obanikoro has been a violent politician, who uses every means possible to achieve the desires of his heart ir-

of others.

He also disclosed that the main reason President Goodluck Jonathan appointed Senator Musiliu Obanikoro as the Minister of State for Defence was to destroy the APC, especially in the SouthWest, adding that the minister is already doing his ‘master’s bidding’, as he had used soldiers and thugs to intimidate members of the APC in the last Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections.

He said it was unfortunate that Obanikoro, having failed to win the 2007 governorship election in Lagos, is now perpetrating acts of violence against the people of Lagos.

His words: “Last Saturday, after the PDP held its zonal rally at TBS, Alhaji Asake was killed on Lagos Island by a group loyal to Senator Obanikoro, a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence.

One man known as Abija, who leads the group was the one, who ordered one Olokodana to shoot Asake dead."

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ormer chieftain of the Fgress All Progressives Con(APC) and one-time

Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi yesterday promised to work with the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, to ensure a common agenda for the party in Edo State and the country.

He also said that he left the APC for the PDP to earn respect for himself and secure his dignity.

Ikimi stated this at a welcome reception organised for him by the Edo State leadership of the PDP at the party’s secretariat in Benin, the state capital.

He thanked the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party and Chief Anenih, who visited him in Abuja to urge him to come back to the party.

Ikimi said he has implicit confidence in the BoT chairman, pointing out that both of them “shall have a common

agenda of working for the party in Edo State and Nigeria in general.”

He said he did not leave the APC for the PDP to vie for any elective political office, rather he said; “I left the APC for the PDP, where I shall be given my respects and my personal dignity respected.”

He continued: “The PDP will take over the state once again and once beaten, twice shy. I am not interested in being in a party of enemies, where a party man will plot against the party; I am at peace with all the leaders of the PDP, whether big or small.”

“I have implicit confidence in Chief Tony Anenih, and we have had several meetings and I believe we have bridged the gaps.

We shall have a common agenda in working for the party in the state and Nigeria,” he said.

He told PDP leaders and members that; “I come here today not as a new member; I come here to be fully identified with my groups of 1999 and 2003. In politics, the party is supreme."

Giade, yesterday said regional and international cooperation was vital to global success in narcotics control, adding that the support being provided to the agency by the European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was a good example of such cooperation.

Giade said this when Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Nigeria, Michel Arion and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) handed over 100 desktops and 15 laptop computers to the NDLEA at the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.

Present at the occasion were Director-General of NDLEA, Mrs. Roli Bode-

George; Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria, Ms. Mariam Sissoko among others.

Giade stated that the EU intervention has brought about dynamic and positive changes to the operations of the NDLEA, stressing that it would further enhance the technical and operational capacity of frontline agencies, leading to targeted interventions on drugs and related organized crimes in Nigeria.

In his address, Arion said the EU is funding a large-scale project, adding, “Response to drugs and related organised crime in Nigeria, which is being implemented by UNODC. This project is supporting Nigeria’s efforts to fight illicit drug production, trafficking and use, and to curb related organised crime, including counterfeit narcotics and psychotropic substances”.

Falae relaunches SDP Babatope Okeowo Akure

ormer Secretary to the FFederation Government of the (SGF), Chief

Olu Falae, yesterday relaunched the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Falae, who was the presidential candidate of AD/ APP in 1999, said the new mega-party is to rekindle the memories of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief Moshood Abiola and the martyrdom of the winner of the exercise and his wife, Kudirat.

The former SGF, who is the National Chairman of the new SDP, handed over the flag of the party to Chief Korede Duyile, the Ondo State chairman of the party.

Falae said the SDP was resuscitated to replay the victory of the progressives in next year’s general elections and that the party would chart a new course

for the development of the country.

According to him; “People have been asking us why we decided to bring the SDP back on stream in a country where we have about three dominant parties, but we always tell them that this party is different from the others.

“All those other parties that parade the country’s political scene are selfish, because they exist to service the interests of their proprietors and these are to the detriment of the ordinary Nigerian, but the SDP is for the progress of Nigerians.

“They have neither manifestoes nor any plan for the growth of this country and its people. That is why the country is at this sorry state of development. They take advantage of the poverty ravaging the majority of our people and distribute money and bags of rice to lure the people to vote for them.”

10

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ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

FRIday, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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t least one person was shot while several houses were set on fire when violence erupted again in Ette community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Youth groups said to be sponsored by some prominent persons in favour of ceding Ette to Kogi State attacked and shot the youth leader of those opposed to the idea four times.

Sources in the community told our correspondent yesterday that though the youth leader, Mr Matthias Eje, did not die, his house was torched in the attack.

“The attackers also burnt so many houses in Onoda part of Ette before their leader, a former convict who has been working for the pro-Kogi elements headed by a retired top army officer, led them away,” said a resident, who craved anonymity.

After the melee, soldiers were deployed from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army to contain the situation while the injured youth leader was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital at Enugu Ezike, headquarters of the local government.

Another resident said that before Tuesday’s attack, the pro-Enugu youths of Ette had repelled the invading pro-Kogi armed youths four times in the past few weeks.

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com; otuntise@yahoo.co.uk

0802 393 8212

One shot, houses torched in Enugu community

Suleiman Abba, IG

“The attacks by those in favour of ceding the large area from Enugu State

to Kogi State in the past one year were so much that a Catholic Church was

forced to close down while most government establishments in the area now barely exist,” the resident said.

Ette community has three electoral wards in Enugu State while the legislator representing the Igbo-Eze North Constituency II in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Ogidi, hails from the troubled community.

The larger Ette community has five autonomous communities with five traditional rulers recognised by the Enugu State Government just as many of its indigenes have been holding plum government positions and political appointments in the state.

A prominent member of the community said that the most annoying thing was that during some of the attacks, policemen were watching the assailants maim people and destroy property.

He said: “On one occasion, they arrested 16 of our youths who were protesting the attacks and only 11 have been released on bail while the remaining four were charged to court yesterday (Wednesday) in Kogi State.”

Robbers kill soldier, businessmen in Benue Osun CJ frees 16 prisoners Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

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rmed robbers numbering about 10 have shot and killed three people including one Sunday Lukas, a military officer, in 72 Airborne Barracks, located at the North Bank area of Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

Lukas was a member of the state Joint Patrol Team popularly called Operation Zenda.

He was killed on Otupko-Makurdi Expressway, while the other two victims identified as Aondoaver Iorapuu and Aondofa Tavaan (businessmen) met their untimely death in Aliade,

in Gwer Local Government Area.

It was gathered that on Tuesday, Aondoaver and Aondofa were travelling in a white Toyota bus with registration number MKD463AE when they ran into a roadblock at Mase-Jato village.

A source said that when the businessmen suspected the roadblock was mounted by robbers, they turned back and informed the Joint Patrol Team of their discovery.

It was gathered that Lukas, after listening to the two men, followed them to the scene and fired sporadically to scare away the robbers.

The source added that

Babatope Okeowo Akure

F

ormer Chairman of Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mr Afolabi Adedayo Mabogunje, was yesterday arraigned before an Akure Magistrates’ Court for illegal possession of firearms.

Mabogunje was charged along with a chief in Ifon, the headquarters of the local government, Chief Eniola Obasoto.

Also, Messrs Temitope Abiola (40), Agun Adeniyi (39), David Agunloye (30),

the soldiers and the two friends suddenly found themselves between the bandits who had divided themselves into two.

The robbers opened fire and killed the three men on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Daniel Ezeala, who confirmed the incident, said the remains of the deceased were deposited at St. Vincent Hospital, Aliade.

He explained that the body of Lukas was later conveyed by his colleagues led by Major Mohammed to the 72 Army Barracks, while investigation into the matter was on.

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Chief Judge of TOyebola Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo,

has pardoned 16 prison inmates to mark the beginning of 2014/15 legal year in the state.

Offences of those set free from Ilesha and IleIfe prisons range from armed robbery to murder, stealing, felony and others.

Ojo advised the former inmates to go and sin no more.

He said: “Those pardoned have been denied trial long enough and they cannot be kept in the prison custody in-

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola

definitely.”

Nine inmates regained freedom from Ilesa Prison on Tuesday while the remaining seven were set free from Ile-Ife Prison on Wednesday.

Those freed from Ilesa Prison are Dauda Karimu (29), Bamidele

Balogun (42), Seun Alatise (31), Dayo Oluwafemi (35), Usman Shaibu (31), Victor James (23), Femi Bamidele (28), Ojo James (38) and Kabiru Jimoh (34).

While Augustine Friday (39), Oladipupo Sunday (26), Hassan Bamigbade (31), Babatunde Gbela (40), Adewale Omolade Yinka (32), Adegoke Elijah (26) and Muritala Tope (25) were set free in IleIfe. The former inmates were in three categories - those who have spent four years and above, those granted pardon on health ground, and those who are 60 years old and above.

Ex-LG chair, six others arraigned for illegal arms, cultism Apejoye Ayodeji (30) and Boyede Owodara (27) were brought before the court for possession of arms and cultism-related offences.

According to the charge sheet, the accused conspired to commit felony to wit unlawful possession of firearms among other allegations.

The suspects, who were arrested by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad headed by John Mark, a Chief Superin-

tendent of Police (CSP), were brought to the court premises under tight security.

The charge sheet reads in part: “That you Afolabi Adedayo Mabogunje ‘m’, Temitope Abiola and Agun Adeniyi and others now at large on September 21 did have in your possession one locally-made revolver pistol and one Russian double barrelled gun which you unlawfully have under your control in contravention of Firearms

Act and therefore committed an offence punishable under Section 6(b) Cap R11, Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.”

Mabogunje was accused procuring firearms illegally from Abiola while Obasoto was accused of supplying the former local government chair with some packets of cartridges and ammunition, contrary to sections 6 (b) and (c) of the Firearms Act.

Others, including Abiola, Adeniyi, Owadara and Ayodeji and others at large, were accused of arming themselves with firearms and being members of secret confraternities, including Eye and Ayee, contrary to Section 39, Vol. 11, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The Chief Magistrate, W. Daomi, said the bail application and plea would be taken today (Friday).

METRO

Friday, September 26, 2014

11

Police arrest 31 cult members during initiation Taiwo Jimoh

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olice in Ogun State have arrested about 31 cult members during their initiation ceremony at a hotel at Obantoko area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement that the suspects were mainly members of Eiye confraternity from different institutions of learning in the state.

He said: “Upon receiving the information about the gathering of the cult members in the hotel, policemen were immediately drafted to the hotel and they were all arrested while initiating new members.

“The suspects were arrested by the police after some members of the public hinted us about the gathering and initiation of the cult members at the hotel in Obantoko.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, according to the statement, gave kudos to members of the public for the timely information given which led to the arrest of the suspects.

“The Ogun State Police Command will never rest in the effort to ensure the mission of the new Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, is achieved.

“The fight against crime should not be left in the hands of the police alone. It is a collective effort of every one. We commend the efforts of the general public who provided us with useful information,” Okoye was quoted as saying.

The suspects are identified as Wanda Philips, Babatunde Akanni, Osas Ehonwa, Shina Dauda, Idowu Adegoke, Gafh Dauda, Oladimeji Toheeb, Asekan Oluwatobi, Lekan Waliu, Lawal Rasak, Muse Obafemi, Oladegun Toyin and

Some of the suspected cult members

Taofeek Olaitan.

Others include Olumide Adesokan, Damilola Adekolu, Itunu Abiola, Ganiu Folashade,

Ogun LG frustrating my studies, blind lawyer cries out Muritala Ayinla

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visually-impaired lawyer, Michael Abiodun, has appealed to Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State to help him get his scholarship fund Ado-Odo-Otta Local Government Area.

Abiodun said that the local government had, during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel, pledged to assist him financially with N5 million to go for a PhD programme at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

But only part of the money was paid by the local government.

He said the Chairman, Mr Rotimi Ramoni, according to him, claimed there was no money to redeem the pledge.

The lawyer said while Ramoni’s predecessors paid part of the money, the chairman refused to pay the remainder, N1,950,000, which had compounded his woes in Scotland, despite his brilliant performance and commendation by his supervisors.

Attempts to get the chairman’s reaction failed as he neither picked his calls nor responded to messages sent to his Black Berry Messenger (BBM).

But Abiodun said that he had to return to Nigeria on

Jos

overnor Jonah Jang of PlaGistration teau State said his adminhad committed N8 billion to boost provision of water across the state.

Jang said the government had constructed a new water treatment plant at Nabor Gwom and three 5,000 cubic metre reservoirs at NDA base camp at Anguldi.

The governor said this yesterday at the launch of Phase

Others are Ayub Ishaq, Raji Tiyosi, Oguntoyinbo Oluwafemi, Opeloyeru Oludare, Lawal Oludare and Adekunle Seun.

Ebola: Ondo sensitises coastal communities’ residents Babatope Okeowo Akure

laje Local Government Ibeen Area of Ondo State has enjoined to join hands

Abiodun

many occasions when the university authorities frustrated his academic pursuit because he could not meet up with the financial obligations.

He said: “On different occasions, the university had to cut me off. I couldn’t access the system, I couldn’t do further research, I couldn’t gain entrance into the PhD building.

My ID card was disabled and it brought a lot of disruption to me; apart from the financial and emotional trauma that I was made to go through.

“I have been to his office at different times; he will not permit me to see him. He will tell

his secretary that he cannot see me. His claim is that Governor Ibikunle Amosun has been cutting off their funds.

So, he has no fund to pay from.

At a point in time, he claimed my sponsorship file was missing. Even when the file was eventually found, he decided not to see me again. He didn’t pick my calls neither did he replied all my letters.

“I want Nigerians to help me plead with Governor Ibikunle Amosun to intervene, because I have many unsettled debts. I owe my friends in Nigeria and United Kingdom. I owe a bank in Scotland.”

Plateau votes N8bn for water projects Musa Pam

Kazeem Adegunle, Olude Olamide, Felix Friday, Sodiq Olalekan, Tunde Lateef and Jimoh Jelili.

III of the European Union Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform project for Plateau, Adamawa and Ekiti states at Eliel Centre, Jos. According to him, in the rural water sub-sector, his government has provided boreholes in many communities in all the 17 local government areas.

He said: “In our bid to increase raw water for treatment, we are dredging and expanding two abandoned mining ponds at Rabin Du and Yelwa Club treatment plants,

which are at the point of completion.”

The governor praised President Goodluck Jonathan for approving the construction of the Mangu Dam, saying that it would help in providing potable water for citizens of the state.

The Minister for Water Resources, Hon. Sarah Ochekpe, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment in providing potable water for all Nigerians.

with the state government and other relevant agencies in curbing the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the coastal communities.

This came as the Olu of Igbokoda, in the local government area, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, praised the state government’s efforts to sensitise the people in the coastal communities to how to prevent EVD. Odidiomo gave the commendation after a sensitisation programme organised by the state Ministry of Environment, for the people of the coastal areas.

The monarch said that the programme became important because of the movement of people from neighbouring West African countries into the area through the Atlantic Ocean.

The traditional ruler said apart from the special lectures given to the people and residents of the communities, it also afford the fishermen and traders the need to be vigilant with those who come from other countries to transact business in the locality.

The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the programme was designed to guide against the spread of the disease to the coastal areas of the state.

He said that the programme became imperative because the coastal region was the gateway to the state.

According to him, many foreign traders from the West African coastline usually ply their trade through the ocean into the state.

Ebiseeni said traders

Mimiko

from the coastal West African countries such as Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Liberia usually visit the coastal region of the state to transact business and urged the traders to be vigilant.

He said: “Due to accommodating nature of Ilaje people, we have foreign fishermen among our people.

We want to call on them to be vigilant. We have people from other West African countries and there is need to sensitise our people to the need to be conscious of people who transact business with them.

“The message we want to pass across now is that they should study those who come into their communities from these countries and any of these people who visit their counties should not be allowed into the communities to guide against the spread of Ebola.”

Responding on behalf of the communities, a religious leader, Bishop Eretan Erenbo of the Holy Apostolic Community Church, Ayetoro, appreciated the government gestures towards the people of the area.

He, however, called on government to beef up security in the coastal areas to control the movement of people from foreign countries.

Erenbo promised that the people would leave no stone unturned to avoid the spread or outbreak of EVD in the area.

12 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Ohanaeze Ndigbo expresses concern over Kano killings Muhammad Kabir Kano

resident of pan-Igbo Pisation, socio-cultural organthe Ohanaeze

Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Utuama (right) and former Federal Attorney-General, Mr. Tokunbo Kayode, at the swearing-in of new Senior Advocates of Nigerian (SAN) at Abuja.

Udenwa, Ohakim, others at war over tenure of PDP executives control

Two former governors, different objectives. Returnee Udenwa is pushing for a level playing ground. Ohakim is consolidating Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

ension has continued to mount in the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the visit of the Ahmadu Ali-led Integration Committee, which came to verify the situation of the party over the conflict surrounding the statutory date and tenure of

incumbent executives of the party.

During a closed-door meeting between the Ali committee and Imo PDP chieftains, which took place at the party office, a lot of vexed issues were raised throwing some of the leaders and aspirants poles apart.

While the present executive is believed to be loyal to party leaders like Chief Hope Uzodinma and former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, other leaders like Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and former Governor Achike Udenwa, seem to have been schemed out of the party structure.

Hence, the parley created the platform for these leaders to bare their grievances as Araraume, Ud-

enwa and others insisted that the tenure of the party executive should end this month and as such must be dissolved, apparently to make way for a new executive that would accommodate their inputs.

They inferred that if left as presently constituted, the party executives will favour certain aspirants during the PDP primaries, since many of the executive members will determine the fate of the aspirants.

However, Ohakim insisted that the present executives must stay as the timing was wrong and that it would be counterproductive to dissolve the executives at this point.

According to the former governor, such dissolution could lead to

an implosion within the party and unleash an internal political crisis that may linger into the 2015 elections proper.

Ohakim, who said he was speaking from experience, added that the general interest of the party should be uppermost now than the individual ambitions of some people.

He said any attempt to dissolve the current executive will sow seeds of discord within the party.

The visiting delegation did not take any immediate decision and did not arrive at any resolution with the state leadership.

Hence, lobbying and horse trading over the tenure of the party executives have since moved to the party’s national secretariat, Abuja.

Ndigbo in Kano, Chief Chris Azuka, yesterday expressed concern over the incessant killings and wanton destruction of property by insurgents in the country, calling on the Federal Government to step up efforts at tackling the menace.

Azuka, who condoled with the management of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, over the recent attack on the college, which claimed the lives of some students, said the country must do something concrete to arrest the situation.

He said for whatever reason, innocent students, who are full of

expectations, should not be made to go through all these, but should be spared to pursue their studies, because killing them through such attacks would only scare them from attaining their desires, which will later have serious repercussion on society.

Leading the group’s delegation to the college, Azuka also visited the Catholic Bishop of Kano, Bishop John Namaza, to console him over an explosion that occurred at St. Charles Catholic Church in the city on July 27.

According to him, "Ohanaeze is deeply concerned about the security situation in the land and the threat it poses to peaceful coexistence in Nigeria" while also stressing his organisation’s commitment to a peaceful country.

El-Rufai decries lack of development in Kaduna Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ormer Minister of the Ftory Federal Capital Terri(FCT) and Deputy

National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has advised Nigerians to demand effective representation from elected representatives and cogent infrastructural development, transparency and leadership that will be accountable to the citizenry.

El-Rufai, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna State, spoke in Kafanchan town yesterday while addressing his campaign coordinators. He said: “Development must

be visible and not a fashion, if a system is working and performing, citizens will see it and there will be no confusion.”

Represented by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Hon. Anthony Ali Wakili, the former minister compared the rate of development in Kaduna State to the one in APC-controlled Kano and Lagos States.

“For instance, if you are driving around Kano today, you will see development and if you land in Lagos you will see the same thing. Development, unity and security of a society is like pregnancy, you cannot hide it, the outcome must be visible for all to see,” he said.

Consumers groan as Enugu DISCO grapples with challenges

Ebola drives foreigners from Abuja Trade Fair

Uwakwe Abugu

Louis Achi

Enugu

R

esidents of the university town of Nsukka, in Enugu State, are currently groaning under poor supply of electricity by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

The distribution company is said to be grappling with myriads of problems since it assumed responsibility for electricity distribution in the five states of the South-East.

For over three weeks now, power supply to Nsukka consumers has remained at best epileptic and the residents have been groaning under the situation, especially as they keep paying electricity bills as if power supply

was constant.

However, as members of the business community and other residents in the town have continued to cry out over their fate, EEDC through its spokesman, Mr. Eugene Aniowo, a principal manager, public relations/protocol, also pointed to the numerous problems standing in the way of the organisation in providing efficient electricity distribution, not just to Nsukka, but to the entire South-East zone.

Yesterday, a timber dealer in Nsukka, Mr. Mark Ezeja, told our reporter in a telephone chat that “for about a month, we have never had reasonable power supply and even now there is no light and we have been paying our bills.”

In the same manner,

most of the residents who spoke with our reporter on the issue, said epileptic power supply by EEDC has become perennial and that it was pretty normal not have power supply.

Reacting to the complaints, the EEDC spokesman said the company has elaborate plans to ensure that the complaints and worries of all its consumers in Nsukka and other areas would soon become a thing of the past.

At the moment, he said, the main distribution line to Nsukka is the old 66kv line from Oji River, which has been a source of headache to the company that inherited it, but he said a new 23kv line from Nkalagu in Ebonyi State to Nsukka would soon become fully operational.

ABUJA

outbreak of the EboTinhelatheVirus Disease (EVD) West African sub-

region was yesterday fingered as responsible for the decline in foreign participation in the Abuja International Trade Fair, which kicked off yesterday.

This was the position of the President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA), Solomon Nyagba, in his address at the opening ceremony of the fair.

On another note, Nyagba said: “About 75 percent of the Organised Private Sector (OPS) is made up of Small and Medium En-

terprises (SMEs),” adding that “it is this sector that drives the economy of every nation.”

According to the ABUCCIMA president; “Some exhibitors from Ghana, Egypt, India, Senegal and Republic of Benin…are participating in the fair.

“The reduction in foreign participation is not unconnected with the outbreak of the Ebola virus in West Africa.”

Commending the Federal and Lagos State governments on the steps taken to curtail the spread of the virus, Nyagba appealed to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, to deploy further appropriate incentives to encourage the development

of SMEs. According to him, the “request becomes imperative as they are veritable tools that can be used to boost and improve the nation’s economy.”

The ninth Abuja International Trade Fair is targeted at promoting accelerated development of commerce and industry, Nyagba stated.

Other objectives, he said include “the revitalisation and diversification of the Nigerian economy by promoting the nation’s non-oil exports, particularly the agro-allied products and mineral resources.

“To direct attention to the role of the private sector and promote access to resources and technology development.”

Ofehe: Nigeria acted wrongly on $9.3m cash arms deal / PAGE 16 | Harry: Why power must shift in Rivers / PAGE 20

POLITICS

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/politics

ayodele Ojo

Deputy Editor, politics

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

ayodeleojo@yahoo.com

13

Why I want Fashola’s job –Agbesanwa

p-17

Friday, September 26, 2014

How Jonathan caged govs President Goodluck Jonathan has checkmated the unbridled influence of governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with his endorsement as sole presidential candidate for the February 14, 2015 election.

AYODELE OJO reports

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resident Goodluck Jonathan is, indeed, savouring his victory. His adoption as the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last week by the National Executive Committee (NEC) was the climax of a script plotted by his strategists. It was a product of experience.

Jonathan has become the first sitting president to get his party’s ticket for re-election with ease. His first attempt in 2011 even as a president by default as a result of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua was tedious. He fought hard to pull off the challenge from heavyweights like former Military President Ibrahim Babangida; exVice President Atiku Abubakar; former National Security Adviser (NSA) and current Minister of Defence, General Aliyu Gusau and former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Abubakar ended up being the Northern consensus candidate who engaged Jonathan in a test of might for the PDP ticket. In the end, Jonathan won the party’s ticket. But it was a big lesson for the president. He couldn’t fathom why he had to face a stiff opposition in getting the PDP ticket. This informed a series of plots to bulldoze his way in the build up to the 2015 general election.

Though the party caucuses, governors’ forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT) cited performance as the yardstick, President Jonathan knew from the onset what he wanted. And to get the trophy, he must be on the driver’s seat; control the organs of PDP. The first plot was at the BoT. Some members were axed from the prestigious club. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo bowed out as chairman, a position he had forced himself into. The former leader did not get the power and influence he envisaged in the Jonathan presidency. Jonathan successfully took control of the BoT with Chief Tony Anenih, a core loyalist of the president as the chair.

The next and most important plot from the Jonathan’s strategists was to cage the governors, especially those elected on the PDP platform. He had his reasons. His estranged godfather, Obasanjo, almost lost his re-election bid in 2003. Even as powerful as Obasanjo was, the PDP governors moved against

Jonathan

him and prevailed on Atiku to contest against his principal for the PDP ticket.

The governors were sure of ensuring that the vice president emerged as the party flag bearer. They controlled the delegates that would elect the presidential candidate. The vice president was buoyed by the governors’ support and thought of giving the presidency a shot.

The situation forced Obasanjo to eat the humble pie. He sent emissaries to Atiku not to give in to the gov-

ernors’ pressures. He went a step further to personally beg his deputy not to challenge him for the party’s ticket.

Obasanjo was said to have ‘prostrated’ and ‘knelt down’ for his deputy. It was a bitter lesson for the General who never forgave Atiku for this.

The same scenario played out in 2006/2007. The governors insisted on having one of them as successor to Obasanjo. The all-powerful Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) was a major deciding factor. In fact, one of the

CROSSFIRE The whole scheming in Ekiti State is just about the APC obtaining judgement through the back door after losing elections on June 20, 2014. You will recall that Segun Oni’s tenure was truncated through this back door judgement by some judicial officers who had been compromised -Ayodele Fayose

If the admission of Fayose that his supporters carried out the act (attack on the judge) because the judge was allegedly biased is anything to go by, the question then remains: Is the invasion of the hallowed chamber the next step to take as a form of appeal?

-Segun Dipe

governors, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State (now governor-elect) was chosen as the head of the committee to search for Obasanjo’s successor. Several governors – Peter Odili (Rivers), Victor Attah (Akwa Ibom), Muazu Adamu (Bauchi), Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) and Umaru Yar’Adua (Katsina) threw their hats into the race. But Obasanjo had his way. Yar’Adua emerged as the PDP presidential candidate and went on to win the 2007 election.

Jonathan watched from the sideline as a deputy governor and governor of Bayelsa State. He perfected the art to deal with the situation. First, he wanted to take control of the NGF. But he had a challenge with Rotimi Amaechi who held forte as the NGF chair. When the president failed to have his way, he broke the ranks of the NGF. A parallel structure, PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), was created with Godswill Akpabio, an unrepentant supporter of the president, as the chairman.

Not done yet, the NGF was split into Amaechi and Jonah Jang (Plateau) factions. What is left of the NGF today has become a lame duck meant for the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDPGF is in the kitty of President Jonathan.

Besides whittling down the influence of the governors, the president also explored the carrot and stick approach in dealing with the governors.

The governors also need the president for their own survival. One, they need protection from the presidency after completion of their two-terms in office.

There are fears that some of them may face prosecution from the anti-graft agencies – the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC).

Cases of former governors facing corruption charges in court abound.

Lucky Igbinedion (Edo), Fayose (Ekiti), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), Saminu Turaki (Jigawa), Odili (Rivers), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun) and several others are still in courts where corruption charges are being pressed against them by the antigraft agencies. As such, the PDP governors need protection from the law enforcement agencies.

Also, part of the deal the governors entered into with the president was a guaranteed political future after office.

With an understanding reached with the president, the governors would be able to produce their successors while those in their first term – Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) and Idris Wada (Kogi) will be returned for second term. Those going to the Senate will also have easy ride.

For President Jonathan, it is a win-win situation. He has succeeded in checkmating the influence and excesses of the governors in the choice of the presidential candidate and control of party structures. Successfully, Jonathan has caged the governors.

14 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

OPEN FORUM Dr. Olapade Agoro, politician and religious leader, is a former national chairman and two-time presidential candidate of the National Action Council (NAC)

.... seizure of $9.3m in South Africa for arms purchase

Agoro: It’s disgraceful, illegal It is a disgraceful and illegal incident to the whole nation. It is a let down to the whole nation. It is a let down to the integrity of the government to run its affairs in the international community

I

don’t know why the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen in South Africa for attempting to illegally bring $9.3million cash into the country with a private jet should be anything surprising to anybody with good sense to discern what is happening in the nation. We have always revelled in one blackmail and unprintable controversy after another. We had that of $20 billion, so what is $9.3million?

The most painful aspect of it is when corruption made inroad into the house of God, then who will report it. The judgement will start from the house of God, then how can other people escape.

First and foremost, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was never known to have been given a car before he became the president of CAN; nobody was ever said to have donated a car to him. But after he suddenly became the president of CAN, we heard that somebody gave him an aircraft for his birthday. It was until he became the president of CAN and was

Agoro

fraternising with the presidency that he got the aircraft as a birthday gift. It is a shame that we (religious leaders) who should be the beacon light of righteousness are now being caught in the web of corruption. We learnt that Pastor Oritsejafor said he has leased out the aircraft. The question is: does he

has the licence to lease aircraft? Who is covering the insurance? It is a pity that this is happening at a time Christians should be the voice of cleansing.

If it is the same Nigerian government, who was planning to borrow $1 billion to buy equipment to fight Boko Haram, that gave hard currency to go and buy arms in foreign country, then one should ask: where did government get the money? Was it through the Central Bank of Nigeria? If it is so, we would like to see the withdrawing voucher. Is it through the presidential pulse? We would like to know the worth

of dollars being held by the presidency. And if the money is from the presidency, then it means that there is millions of dollars in private treasury in the presidency and that would have implications on the falling exchange capacity of the naira. We can now see why the naira is falling in value to the dollar.

We are trying to curb proliferation of arms and ammunition in the country, so if government then decided to send somebody to go and buy arms in a foreign country, they should tell us what arms and ammunition $9.3 million will buy.

It is a disgraceful and illegal incident to the whole nation. It is a let down to the whole nation. It is a let down to the integrity of the government to run its affairs in the international community. It is even saddening that South Africa that we fought hard to redeem from the claws of apatheid is now telling us whom we are; that we are a falling idiot. It is now telling us that we don’t even have any credibility to protect and they have held on to the money. One is convinced that it is one of the means of looting the treasury.

That is the truth of it.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Igbokwe: $9.3m is looted fund and must be repatriated Joe Igbokwe is the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State

T

he claim that the money is meant to procure arms and ammunition is an afterthought. The money is stolen public fund from Nigeria. It is looted fund. They know that they are already in a mess and they have been looking for ways to get out of this mess. This kind of fraud is happening and getting bigger on a daily basis.

I can ask them 20 questions which they cannot be able to provide answers to. This is a government that is preaching cashless society and you now laundered $9.3 million with an aircraft to South Africa. That is number one.

Number two is that you can transfer that money in seconds without going to South Africa, without having to go

Barr. Godwin Ogbo is a former Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs in Enugu State

Ogbo

This is a careless situation. There is no controversy; the money is looted fund. They have to repatriate the money.

This administration has messed up our country through that kind process. Number three, if truly it is for government project why did the Federal Government not liaise with government of South Africa knowing the financial regulation in that country. Number four, why is it that the Nigerian government did not contact our embassy in South Africa so that it will not come to this sorry position?

The fact on the ground is that this is a fraud. The National Assembly should investigate the matter; this issue is al-

Igbokwe

ready an embarrassment for government to transit foreign currency. The South African government said they are not going to release the money. Why on a

private jet? Why did Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor get himself involved in the matter?

If it is a government project, why didn’t they use presidential jet? This is a careless situation. There is no controversy; the money is looted fund. They have to repatriate the money. This administration has messed up our country, they have messed up the military and they have messed up every sector. The power sector in 1999 was 4000 megawatts. Now the figures have dropped and we have sunk millions of dollars into power projects. Where did that money go? Nigerian Army was better in 1966, now the Nigerian Army runs away from what you call Boko Haram. Jonathan is not the Commander in Chief, he cannot give orders.

One thing is clear: you cannot expect anything from that investigation? Have they probed former Chief of Army Staff and Ali Modu Sheriff. Have you seen them jail any government official for corruption? This government celebrates impunity.

Interview by Wale Abiodun

Ogbo: Nigerians should have confidence in the president

N

igerians should have confidence in their leaders, especially when the Federal Government has spoken on the issue. As far as I am concerned, whether they made mistake or not, it does not take us to anywhere. If someone is hiding under the carpet and covering something, whoever that person may be, I don’t know, the presidency would not have come out to tell Nigerians that this is the position. But since he has come out, we should believe him.

The House of Representatives is a completely different body. They have the right to decide whether to investigate something or not. They have their own rules and regulations and if the majority says it should be investigated, fine, but if they said no need, then that is where it ends. One very good thing about democracy is that majority will always

have their way while the minority will have their say. The minority can feel so bad and express their anger, but the majority will have their way. As far as I am concerned, nothing is being hidden, except if they don’t believe in what the president said.

I have not heard the president defend anybody who is involved in corruption, directly or otherwise. There is a distinction. There is also the need to mention that there is corruption everywhere in Nigeria, from the market woman to the teacher, to the pastor in the church and the list goes on, but where the president of a nation says, this is the position, we should believe him. We need to believe him and put this thing behind us.

The most important thing is how to secure the nation, not how the arms came about or how the money was taken away.

The money is not even as huge as should warrant one to break his head.

But I am not talking about the size of the money; I am talking about the integrity. The Federal Government has come out to say what the money was meant for and we should believe him.

That is my stand.

If the South African government feels that their law was breached, they can complain and even take some measures to remedy it, but this is the position and nobody has contradicted what the Federal Government said. Nobody has said anything contrary to what the Federal Government said concerning what the money is to be used for. So, if there is absolute contradiction, a very clear one, one can then say, let there be a probe.

Interview by CHINEDU EKEJA

POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

OPEN FORUM

15

.... seizure of $9.3m in South Africa for arms purchase

Ugwumadu: $9.3m arms deal scandalous Malachy Ugwumadu, a human rights activist and lawyer, is the former Secretary General of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR)

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hat has become clear now is that the description of money laundering as an offence under the laws of this country is not only perpetrated by individuals, even the Nigerian government has become a suspect or at best a conspirator with the recent case of money laundery. Nature, they say, has a sense of morbid humour because as at the time that was happening, Nigeria had the misfortune of recording deaths against South Africa in the Synagogue Church building collapse mishap. So, it is quite understandable that the immediate disposition of South Africa to keep that money is not only limited to the secrecy and the controversy surrounding the deployment of such money into South Africa. It is also understandable that the money remains in South Africa until the dispute over the controversial jet is resolved; that is why I said that nature has a sense of

Taofik Gani is the Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State

Whatever way the Nigerian military has done their business in the shrewd manner that they do and succeeded, has now been exposed morbid humour.

Seriously, a nation that continues to live in the manner that we cannot reap anything other than disasters, people have tried to rationalise what is going on and give the impression that it is acceptable practice all over the world. I beg to disagree. Even if there are instances where government would have to approach another government for procuring arms and security emergencies, you don’t ambush the other country, because it is usually a combination of security and diplomatic means. The country you are speaking to on getting that hardware cannot be totally unaware of what you are coming to do. In Nigeria, it is an offence to take away that kind of money without declaring it, just as it is also an offence in South Africa not to declare that kind of money at the point of entry.

Whatever way the Nigerian military has done their business in the shrewd

manner that they do and succeeded, has now been exposed. Whereas it didn’t matter here that the money should be declared, it matters a lot in South Africa. As far as we are concerned, they have flouted the laws of South Africa. That is why the money was confiscated. Like every other Nigerian, we are scandalised and embarrassed. We should not be deluding ourselves as the giant of Africa because

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Gani: It’s a cheap blackmail from APC

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he noise over the $9.3 million seized in South Africa is only the ranting of an opposition; the only thing they know how to do is blackmail. Why they have concluded on this matter is because it is in their own character to carry people’s money out of the country.

What the opposition should do in this situation is to insist that there should be an investigation. It is not as if a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart was arrested or caught with the money, it was a private jet, and that is why it should be investigated. And how much is $9.3 millon for the PDP to take out of the country, to be used for what in South Africa?

This is a cheap blackmail and Nigerians should never take them serious, maybe that is why nobody is even reacting to what they have said.

For those saying that those carrying

Ugwumadu

what we now do is to lead from behind and commit all sorts of crime as a nation.

This country has ditched out rubbish after rubbish, such that the more you try to garner some hope somewhere, the more frustrated you become hoping against hope. It is almost like what we were told when our soldiers scampered into safety with their tails literally tucked in their buttocks when they ran into Cameroon.

The spokesman of the Army, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade came back to say it was tactically manoeuvre, this time they are telling us it is for the purposes of procurement of arms against insurgency. No person mentions 2015, the routine corruption cases in the country and money laundering. The truth is that lies are better told in English. When you hear things like tactical manoeuvre, procurement of arms and others, you are bound to listen and interpret by yourself. If you reduce those things in your native language, you will understand that they are telling you lies.

So, I beg to disagree. The truth is that when we are caught pants down, there is no excuse. All those things they are saying is meant to moderate the embarrassment that trailed the deal. It has never been in doubt that Mr. President has no answer to the monumental corruption status of this country and it is one regrettable backlash of electoral judgement of Nigerians.

Gani

the money should have declared at the airport, is a different diplomatic ball game. For example, the man who flew in with Ebola into Nigeria was supposed to be a diplomat who knows everything about international diplomacy, and was

even supposed to be telling us things about diplomacy and the truth about himself and his health. The fact that somebody has not disclosed in the manner that the host country will want, is a diplomatic issue. So, it can be investigated, and if that is investigated, the penalty under that can be meted out.

On several occasions, so many countries have also made similar omission.

You remember very well, the purchase of arms that was seized at the Lagos seaport. They were said to have been brought into Nigeria en route a country in Africa by the Iranian government.

Eventually, we got to know that it was not that they had brought them into the country to fight us; you can see that one is a diplomatic ball game.

The South African Government just wants to disrupt the relationship between us and them, not minding what we have laboured for them before they got this level of development. They want to play cheap politics out of it and I want to say that South Africa

should be cautious and not allow the opposition to come in and play politics with this, because we also know that the opposition can take advantage of the situation to blackmail government.

On the opposition lawmakers’ walking out of the House of Representatives, I think it is sheer disregard for our democratic ethos and it also shows that they are not fit and deserving to be part of that hallowed chamber. As a lawmaker, you are not supposed to lose your temperament while you are representing the people. The action of the lawmakers showed that they are not true representatives of the people who elected them and should therefore be recalled. It is just a cheap blackmail; people who are pushing for this issue are people who hate the person of President Goodluck Jonathan and the minorities in Nigeria. President Jonathan has created a level playing field for the other arms of government, namely, legislative and judiciary.

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

Dansudu: Govt should investigate $9.3m scandal Alhaji Ado Shuaibu Dansudu is the Coordinator of Arewa United Consultative Forum he $9.3 million scandal has opened Tmoney some of the hidden things about how is being flown out of Nigeria illegally. It has also shown us how money gets missing in this country without being accounted for. We are all aware of the missing $20 million as revealed by the former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Lamido Sanusi, who is the current Emir of Kano. We are also aware of the missing billions from the Nigerian Na-

tional Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) account and all other missing monies in the country.

We have three categories of aircraf operations; private, charter and commercial. They should tell us under which category the aircraft was used in flying the money to South Africa. Is it a private or chartered flight? If they said the aircraft was chartered, they should be able to tell us who chartered it? And if it is private, why was it leased out?

I believe the circumstances surrounding the $9.3 million must be properly investigated. It is very important to investigate the matter because Nigerians want to know those who are behind the $9.3 million scandal. If the Nigerian government said they want

to use the money to buy arms and ammunition from a foreign body, they should tell us why private individuals were involved in the matter when we have people in the Ministry of Defence.

Why couldn’t they use military or government aircraft to take the money to South Africa? Were military officers involved in the issue? The matter must be investigated and anybody indicted in the evil act must be probed and prosecuted. Even if the person has immunity, the immunity should be removed for him to be prosecuted. And if the person is a public officer, he should be removed and if he is elected, he should be impeached and prosecuted.

Interview by Temitope Ogunbanke

Dansudu

16 POLITICS Comrade Sunny Ofehe, a human rights activist is the Founder and Executive Director of Hope for Niger Delta Campaign (HNDC). In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the seizure of $9.3 million for the purchase of arms in South Africa and the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan for 2015 election. Excerpts: What is your take on the controversy trailing the arrest of two Nigerians and an Israeli in South Africa for attempting to illegally bring $9.3 million cash into the country in a private jet?

I was shocked when I read the report and the question I asked myself was: who will want to smuggle such huge amount of money from Nigeria to South Africa without thinking about the consequences? Later the news came that the private jet belonged to the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, and the suspicion immediately pointed to him. I told those around me that Pastor Oritsejafor is a man I know and have met; he will never allow himself to be associated with such an action.

First, we must look at it from the international legal standpoint. In this time of terrorism and attempts by the international community to combat money laundering, you cannot carry almost $10 million without declaring it to the host nation. So, it is very illegal flying such money in a private jet with just three persons into a country. I think that no matter how genuine the reason for the action is, there was a procedural error and South Africa has the right to detain the people on board the private jet while they carry out their investigation.

The people responsible should have known that there is a legal limit to how much you can carry and if you do carry more than the legal limit, then it must be declared at the point of entry to customs officials. The same law even applies in Nigeria. It is damaging to the image of Nigeria and steps must be taken to stop such act from happening in the future.

Do you agree with the Federal Government that the money was meant to purchase arms from South Africa?

I can agree with the reason given by the Nigerian government that the money was meant for the purchase of arms but until now we still don’t know the details of such transactions. If that was truly the reason then it would have been very easy for the government of Nigeria to inform their South African counterpart that such money will be arriving their country. There are diplomatic procedures that can be employed and upon arrival, there should be the Ambassador or any other highly placed Nigerian foreign officials waiting for the team with the money. Thereafter, the South African customs will be on hold to inspect the declared money and verify the intention of the money. Another question that readily comes to mind is: why can’t such money be transferred through bank procedures?

Like I earlier said, if the money belonged to the Nigerian government and is meant for the purchase of arms, then the process used is highly questionable.

In an international business transaction when all deals are sealed, an invoice is issued and the amount is immediately transferred to the account of the seller.

Why was this procedure not used? How could Nigeria, as a country fighting one of the world’s biggest insurgences be spending just around $10 million when

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Ofehe: Nigeria acted wrongly on $9.3m cash arms deal

cious activities by any arm of government and they are in a better position to use the legal framework to ensure that the investigation follows due process. I think with the public outcry since the incident happened, they will be failing their constituents if they don’t call for action to be taken. So, I am in support of the House and Senate’s decision that there should be an investigation on the matter.

Ofehe

we know how expensive it is to acquire military hardware? It is clear that there is more to this story than what we are hearing at the moment.

I don’t have a problem with private jet being used to carry such amount of money. You can take a decision on how best to fly from point A to point B. Of course, if the business had the blessings of the South African government and they knew such money was coming into the country, I think a private jet will not be a bad option since the regular commercial jets maybe too busy with passengers to carry such money. A private jet will enjoy express clearance and smooth customs inspection but sadly in this case, the country wasn’t aware and this has brought an embarrassment to our country.

Would you support full investigation of the matter?

I strongly support the call for a full independent investigation into this very matter. I think Nigerians deserve to be told the truth and where the truth is lacking, investigation must be carried out to fill the many dots that this sad situation has created. The investigation should be able to answer the following questions: was the money really meant for arms purchase by the Nigerian government? Which arm of the Nigerian military was involved in this deal? Which South African company was involved? How much was truly involved and why was the diplomatic channel not used? Is any of those arrested a government official? Why was no government official at the airport to receive them? These are questions begging for answers and it is the answers that will help redeem the image of Nigeria.

Don’t you think the incident will have serious implication on Nigeria’s image?

Unfortunately, Nigeria has been known worldwide as a very corrupt country with a lot of money laundering activities, and with such an incident, it doesn’t help promote the image of our country positively. The implication locally is that it will encourage money laundering and drive individuals to carry large cash around that cannot be traced.

We have read reports of Nigerians being arrested at international airports in the

Which arm of the Nigerian military was involved in this deal? Which South African company was involved? How much was truly involved and why was the diplomatic channel not used? Is any of those arrested a government official?

Why was no government official at the airport to receive them? country trying to smuggle foreign currencies out of Nigeria. If these people are arrested for not declaring such money why should the government be seen as being involved in such action abroad?

The international implication is that, it gives credence to suggestions in some quarters that Nigeria is still sponsoring corruption and encouraging money laundering. We must know that this is not the first time such a thing will happen. Some years ago some Nigeria immigration officials were held at Madrid International Airports with large sums of money until the embassy intervened and they were released with the money.

At the last World Cup, we also read that the intervention fund from the president to the players was flown in cash to Brazil. This money can easily be transferred into the players’ accounts in any bank around the world. I think it is time Nigeria stop flying cash around the world because it is not and will never help any government fight against corruption.

What is your take on the uproar in the House of Representatives over the seizure of the money and the Senate’s decision to investigate the matter?

It is the constitutional responsibility of both Houses to investigate any suspi-

Do you think Nigerian government is doing enough in the war against insurgency?

First, I want to congratulate the Nigerian men and women in uniform for the wonderful work they are doing to protect our country against Boko Haram insurgence. They have risked their lives to protect our country from the satanic act of terrorism. We have lost many soldiers in this fight leaving behind families and I think at this point our prayers and support must go to them. Fighting an uncoordinated terrorist group like Boko Haram is never easy just as the United States will tell you. They have had the same experience in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Having said that, we must not forget that the Boko Haram insurgency has exposed the strength of the Nigerian military in terms of arms sophistication. There are now unconfirmed reports that the military lack enough fighting powers despite receiving huge budget over the years.

The government of President Goodluck Jonathan is no doubt committed to the fight against Boko Haram but I think they can still do more. The president must have the political will to prosecute highly placed political figures who have been accused of funding this group.

The fight against insurgence can never be won on the battle field; it can only be won through gathering of intelligence and using those intelligence to carry out a coordinated and precision attacks. In these ways, you save your soldiers and destroy more of enemy targets.

They must also be able to separate Boko Haram fighters from the ordinary citizens of those area to avoid cases of human rights abuse as reported recently

by Amnesty International.

What is your take on the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2015 election?

The president has the constitutional right to run for re-election and his political party can reach a consensus through internal party process to endorse him as their sole candidate against the opposition. The same thing goes to other political parties and groups. The only thing I am afraid of is for the President not to be carried away with all the endorsements that he has received. It has become a sequence in Nigeria for political parties and groups to endorse a sitting president just to protect their interest.

We saw it with the late President Umar Yar’Adua and we even saw how some of these groups and individuals who are now running behind President Jonathan stuck to Yar’Adua even at the expense of the current president. So, it has unfortunately become a trend in Nigeria for those who are looking for political favour to find a way to key into the power of incumbency by throwing out their support.

My advice for President Jonathan is that as he appreciates these many endorsements, he should know that the political groups and individuals are not coming because they like him or appreciate what he has done so far, but rather their interest is just what they can gain from his office.

POLITICS 17

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Leading

Woman Mrs. Adetokunbo TobunAgbesanwa is the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Schools Environmental Advocacy. In this interview with MURITALA AYINLA, the political scientist explains why she is the best candidate to step into Fashola’s shoes come 2015. Excerpts: What informed your aspiration to contest Lagos governorship in 2015?

My aspiration comes from the need to serve my state, the need for good governance and continuity, the need for women to come out and contribute their quota to corporate governance of the Centre of Excellence.

What makes you think you can rule Lagos if given the opportunity to do so?

I am qualified educationally and I have relevant experience on the job and in the political field. I have worked in the corporate sector as a management consultant. Besides, I have served Lagos State in several capacities which also makes me worthy enough to aspire to the position of the state. I have served as a political appointee of the Lagos State government in the last seven years. As Special Assistant to the governor I handle policy and political matters.

Moreso, I have had the opportunity to be in the vehicle of the current transformational leadership of Governor Fashola. I am in the know of challenges, successes and plans for the future to move Lagos State to another level. I have been a hardworking and committed foot soldier in the current administration.

Why I want Fashola’s job –Agbesanwa and in partnership with councils.

I intend to develop further the mass transportation sector to include the water ways. We have not fully tapped into that sector. A good waterways transportation system will put less stress on our roads and our people. Lagos State is blessed with water, we need to utilise this effectively and efficiently.

Secondly, our state has been projected to be the third largest mega city by the year 2015 after Tokyo in Japan and Bombay in India. We capture 36.8 per cent of Nigeria’s urban population. There is, therefore, stress on infrastructure and social facilities. I propose to develop this human resource capacity of our state further from what we have now.

In the education sector, a lot of our schools have been renovated and made more conducive for learning. We hope to do more and at the same time emphasize on better qualitative education in our public schools. Education will continue to be free up to secondary school level.

In the area of job creation and sustainability, I hope to develop further the impressive job creation strategies on ground. At every point, the current administration emphasizes on sustainability- economy and the environment. We hope to continue with these policies and improve on them through exploration of ‘Waste to Wealth’ programmes, development of renewable energy sources, and development of agriculture to provide more food and develop the rural areas of the state. The security situation of the state which is most commendable will be carried on and improved upon.

The issue of tax is currently a topical one. We hope to look into our opera-

tions and eliminate undue double taxation while reviewing enforcement of tax laws.

The belief in some quarters is that your target is not really governorship ticket. Is it true that you are planning to negotiate for a different elective office?

I repeat that I am going in for the primaries to contest as governor of Lagos State. After primaries, we shall know where to go from there.

Who are your godfathers?

Therein your question lays the disaster of our generation! It is a disaster, if at my age, my colleagues and myself do not know the best for society and have to be spoon-fed to aspire to positions. The current older generation or ‘godfathers’, as you call it, were given the opportunity to be at the helm of affairs because they aspired and showed they had the capabil-

Considering the calibre of aspirants jostling for the governorship race in APC, do you think you have the wherewithal to defeat them at the primaries?

As I said earlier, time will tell. We will do our own part and wait for the party to do theirs.

Do you have any political structure to compete with them at the primaries?

The fact that in this Fourth Republic especially, politics has been monetised, traumatised and taking for granted over the years is no news. However, as I said, change is inevitable. We are getting to the time when money alone will not get you votes. Be reminded of the fact that primaries is the first stage of the process, general election determines who will emerge as governor come 2015. At the level of primaries, the party structure pushes up its own candidates for any position, the party structure will determine the contest at primaries. They should choose for change or not. The ball is in the court of the APC and us; the members for the first stage at least.

Do you think Lagos needs a female governor?

Yes! It is no news that Nigerian women are the greater mobilisers than our men. In the recently concluded election in Osun State, women voters determined the outcome of the election being 57 per cent of registered voters in the state. Like I have said at several fora, gender is no barrier for performance. We have women in all areas of life in society; they are Chief Executive Officers of multinationals, banks and small businesses.

The issue of gender imbalance is being eroded in totality all over the world.

I think we should be talking about giving women the chance to rule. Let us see how they will perform. I promise to be one of the best elected female governors in Lagos State and Nigeria if given the opportunity.

Can you really cope with humongous task of governing Lagos, given its status in Nigeria and the demand of over 15 million residents? How prepared are you?

I must reiterate the fact that to be governor of a state, one must have high level of administrative capacity.

This means that one must have experience in the management of human and material resources. A governor is the Chief Executive Officer of a state.

I will be leading a team of people of various capacities and professions to take decisions on behalf of the entire state. As a person leading a team of that magnitude, one must also possess certain personal qualities like versatility, ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, courage, tenacity, patience, responsibility and humility. I possess these skills.

Furthermore, as I said earlier, I have been a committed foot soldier in the governance of Lagos State at different levels. This informs my five-point agenda if elected as the party’s flag bearer and eventually governor of the state.

What aspect of Fashola’s achievements will you like to build on, which of his policies will you discard if elected as the governor in order to take Lagos to the next level?

Let me expatiate a little on my agenda if elected. I intend to continue the current physical and infrastructural development of our state, for example, in the area of road maintenance. I hope to fix these roads through the empowerment of the people in each locality

APC Mass Movement Group alongside others including the so-called ‘godfathers’ see me as a rallying point, they believe in my abilities and they have come to encourage and support me on this quest

ity to perform.

At my age, if somebody has to call me to tell me what is right or wrong or what I can do or not capable of doing, then there is a serious problem. If you want to be a leader of this magnitude and you need someone else to tell you or push you, then you have a big personal problem. If you allow people to determine who you are, then you have failed in the first place. You have to believe in yourself first. Aspiration to be governor of Lagos State is a job, no matter who ‘pushes’ or ‘endorses’ you.

You have to do the job when you get it, no one will do it for you. They might help you get the job, but they can’t do it for you. I am capable of doing that job effectively and efficiently, I have the energy and the experience.

I must mention, that a great number of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mass Movement Group alongside others including the so-called ‘godfathers’ see me as a rallying point, they believe in my abilities and they have come to encourage and support me on this quest.

Agbesanwa

Do your parents play any role?

I am lucky to still have one parent alive and well. He is Chief Adekunle Tobun, an ex-gubernatorial aspirant and a former Commissioner for Information in the Third Republic. He is a grassroot politician and a professional. He has always taken matters of Lagos to heart and has always reminded me of my roots at every point in time. He cannot but support my aspiration as a parent. My late mother, Major Mojisola Adekunle-Obasanjo, played a great role in building my confidence. She fought for the plight of the masses. The record is there for all to see. I am building my own on the solid good foundation laid by my parents. I stand to be challenged also in this regard.

18

Sanctity of Truth

OPINION Chiding Oduah, chilling Chidoka S

ay it loud and clear, I am ashamed of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport [MMIA], Lagos. It is not good enough to serve as both an entry and exit point. The construction work going on there makes movement more cumbersome.

We should not be competing with pigs when there is so much money to fritter away on oddities.

I was at the airport with an in-law, penultimate Wednesday and what was news? Stinking toilets. A visit to the loo to pee was sickening. That morning, in the whole of the building, there was nothing close to tissue paper. Most of the facilities were out of use even when passengers were all over the place trying to catch flights to cities across the globe.

The remodelled domestic wings of the Lagos airport make more sense. They are more convenient, and of course, smell sweeter. Murtala Mohammed stinks, it is the first impression that first timers to our country, through Lagos by air, confront. And if all of us, citizens and government, keep quiet when filth says bienvenue to foreigners, then we are a mould of garbage.

I would not call Chief Osita Chidoka , a brand new minister. The young man who left the Road Safety Commission as Corp Marshall must still be watching the aviation sector. The way his predecessor, Princess Stella Oduah was ridiculed out of office, must be slowing him down.

There was some improvement under the Ogbaru

woman. She gave the airport a whiff of fresh air.

Things really got better in terms of hygiene. But some stakeholders were determined to force her out of office. Never was a minister so scandalized. Her other name became Oduagate. I wonder who made critics her gate keepers.

So I can understand Chidoka’s handicap now. The same rabble that sent Oduah packing will be first to fire shots. The import is that there may be no continuity soonest. All the good works of the former minister will have to go with the bad record created for her by those who felt she was not part of their fold.

I could see construction work nearby, in what will become the new international airport. The question is, what does it take to keep such an airport clean? It is difficult to understand how the people who manage the facility feel in their offices and homes. I think ,it is only a man whose home environment is as wonderful as a pig style, that can keep our airport in such horrible condition.

Maybe, government should take another look at the kind of humans given such responsibility. Most Nigerians think the gents is a place where you only do ‘shit business.’ And to such people, the toilet is the last place to keep clean.

These are the families you visit and pray God you never get pressed. The toilet bucket is brownish, not because the home owners love the colour brown. The reason is simple. The white sparkling seat lost it’s virginity, and was never cleaned up. Users never bothered to treat it. They keep using it, like their clothings, and fail to wash at all.

That brings me to the sanitary inspectors of yore.

They need to be brought back to the system. Gradually, Nigerians are becoming so grubby that we do not even

Friday, September 26, 2014

have to compete with any country to win an award. It is a national shame.

The National stadiums make me cry. Sportscity, Lagos is another story altogether. The day Gen. Yakubu Gowon takes off time to visit, he will weep more than he did when Secretary to his government Alhaji Abdul Azeez Atta died in the early 1970s. Yakubu Mambo, scorer of the first goal on the turf and Gideon Njoku who scored the first hattrick, are both dead. Believe me, they are more alive than the stadium. The place is a faeces distribution centre.

National Stadium, Abuja? Do not go there. I followed the magnificent structure from start to finish. When it was opened in 2003, I felt like I was at the Yokohama Stadium , Japan. Go there today. If the pitch is not bald, the toilets are bad. This is a country that has all the money in the world. Nigeria also boasts of the best things in live. Maybe, soon and very soon, we shall be exporting faeces to other countires.

Back to the Aviation minister, a titled chief. I know he is a neat gentleman who tried to sanitise our highways, even if I found the craze for new number plates and drivers’ licence out of place.

I will judge him by this very simple task of making the Lagos International airport sweet enough for humans. We are not all used to detention camps, guardrooms and police cells. I am trying to figure out the difference between that airport and those places of maximum restriction.

I do not think busy bodies will stage protests because he spent millions of dollars to buy tissue paper for travellers’ convenience. I do not even mind bullet proof and armoured toilet roll. Please, let those who choose, eat hot-dog in the loo. As long as it is clean enough.

Perspectives on Benjamin Adekunle’s heroism (2) Henry Chukwuemeka Onyema Continued from yesterday

A

dekunle: I have learned a word from the British, which is “sorry”! That’s how I want to respond to your question. I did not want this war but I want to win this war. Therefore I have to kill the Ibos.

Sorry! (End).

2.

Adekunle’s Chief of Staff at the Third Marine Commandos, Brigadier Godwin Alabi-Isama, gave detailed insight into his commander’s modus operandi in his book ‘The Tragedy of Victory’ and in an interview with ‘The News’ magazine (24 June 2013 edition).

Although Alabi-Isama exploded some of the unwholesome stories surrounding Adekunle and portrayed him as a humane soldier who even cared for abandoned Biafran babies, he also revealed that the Brigadier was too stubborn for his good. He did not accept his Chief of Staff ’s counsel to keep off the Igbo heartland till his troops were ready. In AlabiIsama’s words: ‘The attack on Owerri, Aba and Umuahia was his (Adekunle) undoing.’ (page 18 of ‘The News’). According to Alabi-Isama, Adekunle sought to eliminate him and General Alani Akin-

riande who was also in the Commandos for their trenchant opposition. The Chief of Staff concluded that his commander’s downturn and removal was due to ‘PostTrauma Stress syndrome.’

Available historical evidence indicates that, despite his unwholesome displays against the Igbo in Biafra, it might be stretching things a bit too far to call Adekunle an Igbo-hater. This is a paradox but then mankind’s history is full of paradoxes and contradictions.

During the July 1966 coup and subsequent massacres targeted at Eastern Nigerians, the then Major Adekunle nearly lost his life for, among other things, protecting Eastern Nigerian military personnel from their rampaging Northern Nigerian comrades. Max Siollun, the ace Nigerian military historian, stated in his online essay ‘The Northern Counter-coup of 1966: The Full Story’ that Adekunle drew the anger of Northern soldiers for giving safe passage to fleeing Igbo officers and nearly died for this gesture. Nowa Omoigui, another scholar of Nigeria’s military history, confirmed this with detailed insights in his essay on the second coup titled ‘Operation Aure: The Northern Military Counter-Rebellion of July 1966.’ Both essays can be accessed on any search engine, including Google.

For a man who has been widely praised as a vehement fighter for Nigeria’s unity, Adekunle, in his later years, must have been pained as he came to terms with the contradictions and injustice that define Nigeria. The politics of the June 12 1993 presidential election won by his kinsman, MKO Abiola but annulled by Adekunle’s military constituency was undoubtedly among the factors that made him declare in a 2001 interview with the ‘Punch’ newspaper: ‘We fought for oil, not for Nigeria’s unity.’

Does this statement imply that he and his colleagues who clubbed Biafra to death had been wrong all along? Similar sentiments have been expressed by some top ex-Nigerian commanders during the war. One of such men is Brigadier John Shagaya (Rtd), who once said in an interview: ‘Many of the young officers who fought the war did not actually understand why they were fighting, especially on the federal side. They were made to believe they were quashing a rebellion.

And they fought with that impression.’

Although Adekunle was retired in 1974 following an international hemp scandal, the possibility that he was a victim of power play in the military high command cannot be ruled out. The high command comprised officers who

prosecuted the war and many of them had unpleasant memories of the brave but brash Adekunle who openly flouted orders, resorted to unorthodox measures and challenged superiors just to get the best for his men in the field and achieve his goals.

Few Civil War era military officers have been eulogized, demonized and fictionalized like Adekunle. On the Biafran side, his closest rival in all aspects, including ruthlessness, is Colonel Joe ‘Hannibal’ Achuzia. Unfortunately, in his twilight years, the Nigeria for which he gave his best neglected Adekunle. I winced as the picture of a neglected hero hit my face from the pages of the material about the Brigadier’s post war years. Was the sacrifice worth it? Is there any military formation named after Adekunle in Nigeria?

Indeed, there are many like him, on both the Nigerian and Biafran sides, whose sacrifices mean nothing to those who are reaping from their labour. If we do not give these veterans their due, Nigeria’s woes will only escalate. Blood is powerful.

Concluded • Henry C. Onyema is a Lagos-based historian and writer. He can be reached on henrykd2009@yahoo.com

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19

EDITORIAL

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

w w w.new telegraphonli ne.com

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Cancel the new polling units now!

hairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, recently announced that the commission had created additional 30,027 polling units across the country. At the moment, there are 119,973 polling units scattered across the country.

An additional 30,027 would bring the total number of polling units to 150,000. The INEC Chairman further disclosed that the new polling units were distributed on the basis of “85 per cent proportionality and 15 per cent equality.” If implemented, means that all the states in the country are to get equal 15 per cent increase (that is 121 additional polling units) to the number of polling units they already have, while the remaining 85 per cent will be distributed based on the number of voters in each of the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. As a result, if this sails through, out of the 30,027, the entire Northern region would be at an advantage by 21,615 additional polling units while the Southern region would make do with the remaining 8,412 polling units.

A further breakdown of the figures shows the North West as the biggest gainer with 7,906, fol-

lowed by the North Central, 6,318, North East, 5,291, South-west, 4,160, South-south at 3,087, the FCT at 1,200 and the South-east, 1,167.

Again, while Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Enugu, and Osun failed to get more polling units based on the 85 per cent proportionality rule, the insurgency- ravaged states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa each got additional polling units of 1,215, 669 and 769 respectively.

The current polling units were created in 1996 by the defunct National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), which created 120,000 polling units and 8,809 wards known as registration areas.

According to INEC, the total number of existing registered voters stands at 70,383,427. Jega said the exponential growth in Nigeria’s population, as well as severe demographic shifts resulting from new settlements in major urban areas since 1996, have solely necessitated that additional polling units be created.

However, we make bold to say that the proposed new polling units would only create more political crisis for the country. As at today, Nigeria’s exact population figure cannot be ascertained; it has been a matter of conjecture. Needless to say, the new polling units would

only aggravate the already volatile politics of census in the country.

Southern Nigeria has always contended that in any demographic setting, the coastal areas are more densely populated than the desert region. The north on the other hand argues that because they have larger land mass and are mostly Muslims who are entitled to four wives and, therefore, likely to make more children, it stands to reason that the north cannot but have a larger population than the South.

That is an argument that can never be won or lost. But, suffice it to say it does not look tidy, for instance, that even with the Northeast conspicuously depopulated by the Boko Haram insurgents who have driven so many people out of the zone, INEC still gave the area a staggering 5,000 plus units while the entire South East, which has recorded a huge number of returnee indigenes fleeing from the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, got a paltry 1,167, less even than that of the FCT, which stands at 1,200.

We do not think that this whole thing makes much sense. Therefore, we advise INEC to put the new arrangement on hold, until after the 2015 general elections and the controversies surrounding the nation’s actual population figure have been

properly addressed.

With only a few months to the general election, we consider it very inauspicious for INEC to embark on such a controversial gerrymandering as it has done with the new polling booths at this point in time. In any case, by INEC’s own admission, the number of voters has fallen marginally from 73m plus to 70m plus.

We are not aware that part of the complaints of voters has ever been overcrowding at polling booths or the distance they have to walk to a polling station to vote. So, what is the urgent need for more polling booths?

We urge INEC to concern itself with the more urgent task of updating the voters’ register through registration of new voters who have attained the age of 18 and ensuring that those who had earlier been registered secure their permanent voters’ cards, which should then be distributed amongst the existing polling units across the country. By so doing, INEC would have saved itself from the unintended consequences of an intended action.

Everything INEC has done or plans to do about the controversial new polling booths must be halted now.

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20 POLITICS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Harry: Why power must shift in Rivers strength of the Riverine population.

I am not saying that everybody will vote for the riverine person. Even as we speak, there might be one or two people in Bayelsa who will vote against Jonathan tomorrow. But that does not mean that Jonathan will not win the state. But the way it is now, if there is an Ikwerre man on the ballot, there is the tendency for the riverine people to say, we feel this time, it should be our turn. What will make it worse is when it is the same tribe with the man who has done eight years. I don’t think it should be based on absolute number. Yes, the upland people have the number.

Dr Pax Omboyi Harry is an activist and member of the defunct Justice Kayode Esoled Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rivers State. In this interview with LATEEF IBRAHIM, he speaks on the agitation for power shift in Rivers State and the governorship ambition of the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike. Excerpts: What is your take on the agitation for power shift in Rivers?

In Rivers State, we always have the politics of Upland and Riverine areas in whatever we do, be it in politics, appointment or in economics. If you look at all the elections we have had in the state, if the governor comes from one side, the deputy must come from the other side. It is just like the case of Nigeria where if you have a southern leader, the deputy must come from the north.

In recent times, there has been talk about who will succeed Governor Rotimi Amaechi and there is a clamour by a group of my people that power should remain in the Ikwerre side which is upland. But we are saying that if we have had upland people for two dispensation, we think it is time power comes to the riverine side. I don’t think that is an unjust demand.

I also do not think that it is not time for that kind of demand because you must assuage all parties involved in the building process of our democracy.

We have had Dr. Peter Odili who comes from the upland and we have Amaechi now who is also from upland. We feel that after 16 years of upland rulership, power should rotate to the riverine communities.

If for any reason, the upland gets the governorship again, it is assumed that whoever gets it might win a second term and that would mean that for 24 years, power would have remained in upland, and that would mean that nobody from the riverine area has been governor since the creation of Rivers State. I must however point out that the riverine area has had the governorship for only 18 months when Rufus Ada-George who is an Okrika man became governor. But his rule was truncated by the Sani Abacha regime. So, we have had it for only 18 months under the National Republican Convention (NRC).

The questions you might ask which are the questions making the round in my state now, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is in power now and we are a traditionally PDP people and the APC would want to do everything possible to retain the state. There has been some rumour making the round that the only way they can do that is by the candidature of one person who happens to be a upland person and who has been in the forefront of the battle for the image of President Goodluck Jonathan in Rivers. We don’t think that should be the position.

Are you talking about Nyesom Wike?

Yes. We don’t think that should be the position. The honourable minister is a good person. I believe that every person has the constitutional right to aspire for office at the same time. I also believe that you must take sentiments into consideration when aspiring for

Harry

an office. His aspirations are genuine because he believes, despite the fact that an Ikwerre man is on the seat now, to get the government back for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he might be the right person. These are the issues which we are facing now.

But we are feeling that on equity basis, we should play on the sentiment and if we decide to play it that way, there might be a gang up against an upland person.

What is the commitment of the current governor towards power shift?

You must remember that the governor himself has publicly stated that he does not think it is morally right for an Ikwere person to succeed him because he is upland. The major tribes that are agitating for power in Rivers today are the Ogonis and the Kalabaris.

The Ogonis are upland but come from a different senatorial district from the governor. If the governor has said that he does not want an Ikwerre person, I cannot say categorically that he does not want an upland person. I cannot speak for him. But his argument is on the side of moral reason that power must move. As you know, he has differences with Wike and so, it might be that he is against Wike being the governor of Rivers. But I genuinely believe that his belief is that an Ikwerre person should not succeed an Ikwerre person in the politics of the state and that it is only equitable that it moves to another tribe.

Will it be correct to say that you are opposed to Wike contesting the elections?

Wike is the leader of the PDP in Rivers now and that is why I am putting this thing forward so that they will

We are saying that if we have had upland people for two dispensations, we think it is time power comes to the riverine side.

I don’t think that is an unjust demand know that it is not morally right. However, it is not about opposing or not opposing Wike. I have nothing against Wike. I understand and I believe that he might want to run for election. The signs are there. But he has not declared yet. I might want to run for election too, but I have not declared. I might also jettison the upland, riverine thing if the arguments are more persuasive.

So, I am not opposed to Wike contesting the election. What I am opposed to is that an upland man should not succeed another upland man.

As we speak, there are some persons in Ikwerre land shouting that it must go to the riverline area because Ikwerre has had its turn. But I cannot give you fixed number about that. The beauty of the riverine area now is such that the mere fact that it appears that an Ikwerre person wants to succeed an Ikwerre person is causing some unity among the riverine communities in the state.

I say, without being God, that if there is an Ikwerre man on the ballot, the party that does not have an Ikwerre person on the ballot is more likely to cause a cohesion among the voting

The Ogoni people are also agitating to be governor of the state with the same argument that they have never occupied the position. Don’t you think it is also right for them to have it?

First, the Kalabaris have never been governor too. It is a fact that the Ogonis have never been governor or deputy governor and that is the same thing with the Kalabaris. The Ogonis have some degree of emancipation because of what they describe as the deprivation they have had in their land and the fact that oil exploration has decimated their land to a certain degree. Even in Kalabari land, we have the same problem they have in Ogoni land. We have not been governor, they have not been governor. They are saying that it is their turn to be governor and we are saying it is our turn to be governor. We are also saying that upland has had the governorship for 16 years and if you have it again for another eight years, it would mean that for 24 years of the present dispensation, we have not had it at all and that is not fair. That is my argument. What right has the Ogoni person more than the Kalabari person in laying claim to the governorship when since 1996, not a single penny has been added to the national coffers from Ogoni land? Up till tomorrow, there is oil spillage in my place, we are producing gas and contributing to national revenue. You say nobody should come and take revenue from your place. You have precluded the Federal Government from coming to explore the oil in that area. For 18 years, not a penny has come from that place because they have not allowed any oil company to operate there. Yet, the other people who are suffering from the same thing you suffered from have continued to suffer from it and has continued to contribute to the national purse. You are crying that somebody came and spoilt your farmland. We cannot fish also. They have not contributed money to the federation and you say they should get it before us.

As a member of the Justice Eso Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to what extent would you say that your recommendations have been implemented by the government?

The government accepted our recommendation completely and in the process of issuing the white paper, it was overtaken by the amnesty declared by President Musa Yar’Adua and so, everything was swept under the carpet.

With an APC government in place in Rivers State, do you think that the PDP can win the election in 2015?

The answer is yes because anything can happen. It depends on how they play their card. I will not tell you that if the wrong candidate is brought up, sentiment might be weeded up against the candidate. It can happen and we see where incumbents have been defeated when they are in office, not to talk of when the governor is leaving.

ARTS FRIDAY, September 26, 2014

CULTURE

Ebere Ameh

I

t goes without saying that in the visual arts sector, Nigeria is a country with abundant talents. Unfortunately, most of these talents are wasted due to a number of factors, ranging from poor implementation of Policies, lack of equipment and motivated teachers, to parents who, because of pecuniary reasons, and due to the peculiarity of our environment, do not believe that their children could make it in Arts.

Is visual art gradually going back to the pariah status it had in the early 20s?

This question arises because stakeholders and experts think the future of Art education is not so bright. Professor Ola Oloidi of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, painted a gloomy picture of the future of Arts in Nigeria, when he noted the alarming dwindling enrolment in Creative Arts options in the universities.

In a lecture titled “Scanning for Antidote: The Precancerous State of the Visual Arts in Nigeria Today” the revered Professor argued that “the position may differ from one institution to another, but generally, there has been a systematic dwindling in the number of students admitted to study art in various universities. To put it more appropriately, the number of students admitted to study art is just too small, compared to the number given to the other disciplines or subjects, in the same or other faculties.”

This is a sad development when considering the importance of arts in the all-round education of the child. Giving art education its pride of place would set the tone for proper scientific and technological direction which Nigeria earnestly needs.

According to Bojor B. Enamhe of Cross River University of Technology, “The significance of art in the development of a child cannot be debated, art is a tool subject. It is the child’s lingua franca, through art the child’s understanding and thoughts are made clearer. Other subjects require visuals and illustrations to back up the process of learning.”

Some schools of thought have blamed the fact that Art education is not given prominence and attention at the primary and secondary education levels in Nigeria as a major factor. According to them, it is robbing off on the tertiary institutions, leading to low enrolment.

This is not withstanding the beautiful policy the country has when it comes to art. An excerpt from the Revised National Policy on Education reads, “...the 6-3-3-4 system at the secondary school level is therefore geared towards not only theoretical concepts but application of appropriate skills required in the development of Arts, Science and Technology for the survival of individual in our great nation. For the implementation of the curriculum, the Policy directs that the government will take measures to see that the nation’s culture is kept alive through Art, Music and other Cultural Studies in our schools as well as through local, state and national festival of arts.

In order to encourage aesthetic, creative and musical activities, government will make staff and facilities available for the teaching of creative arts, crafts and music.”

Poor implementation of the Creative Arts Curriculum in Secondary Schools in Nigeria, constitute a major factor that is affecting Art Education in the country. This continues to affect the number of students who are offered the subject in the tertiary institutions and by extension, the number of graduates who would come out to teach Arts.

21 NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/arts

Language is the key to the heart of people " ― Ahmed Deedat

TONY oKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

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Future of fine art education in Nigeria gloomy, say experts

Emotion of love, by Ajayi Wuraola

The negative attitude of most parents who think that Fine Art is for lazy people and for those who cannot do well in science, is another big blow. Speaking with Mrs Uloma Iwunze, a seasoned educationist, whose child was an award winning visual artist while in secondary school, she said: “Though he is still very good in Arts and paints wonderfully till now, he is already outside Nigeria reading Accountancy. He can still pursue a degree in Fine Arts but that is after he has gotten his first degree.”

Her daughter is an important member of their school orchestra, where she plays the violin; but according to Mrs Iwunze, she can have that as her hobby.

“We purposely found a private school that is good in both arts and sciences to help them develop their talents. We believe they will find them as interesting hobbies later in life,” Iwunze said.

That is the take of most parents who though do not mind their children playing the guitar or painting in school; they would rather guide and advise them to study and become doctors, engineers and lawyers instead.

Besides all that, Creative art teachers on their own part, in schools where they are available, are not able to perform to the optimum, due to extraneous factors militating against the full realisation of the laid down objectives. Virtually all public schools in Nigeria have neither a functional art studio nor a music lab.

According to Godwin Ogheneruemu Irivwieri of Fine and Applied Arts Department of Delta State University, “Creative Art practice in our secondary schools presently is relegated to subordinate position to other subjects. Parents, sort of encourage their children/wards to pay more attention to science based

discipline.”

Writing on African Research Review, an International Multi-Disciplinary Journal, Irivwieri said that is in spite of the New National Policy on Education where the Federal Government, realizing the importance of art and culture in the development of science and technology, has given Art and Cultural Education their legitimate right in the nation’s educational system from the primary, post-primary and post-secondary institutions with their educational goals clearly stipulated.

“With very good laid down objectives, one had expected that the curriculum would be able to produce creative, patriotic and productive Nigerians who will contribute optimally to national development, rather what we have on ground is a far cry from expectation, due to the poor implementation of the programme.”

Enamhe further stated that the roles of art to the society are numerous. “Art promotes our cultural heritage and creates identity. Nigeria is known for her traditional art cultures of Nok, Ife, Benin, Igbo Ukwu, Owo, Esie, etc. Through art works the history of Nigeria is documented,” he said, adding that the challenges in life have opened a better

Giving art education its pride of place would set the tone for proper scientific and technological direction which Nigeria earnestly needs

creative instinct merging the traditional and the modern for contemporary. He said that Art is “very useful in everyday life and indeed so much with us, around us and within us”.

It is a response to the lack of Arts classes in some schools in Lagos that led the African Artist Foundation (AAF) to initiate a programme called YECA. Meaning, Youth Empowerment through Contemporary Art, it is a mentorship program targeting the youth population in underprivileged communities in Lagos, Nigeria through art. Every Saturday, AAF, under the auspices of YECA, go to those schools in Lagos that do not have Art classes and hold classes with them.

“We try to address the absence of Art classes in a lot of the schools and we think it’s really empowering,” Medina Dugger, a Curator at AAF said.

Other non-governmental Organisations are also coming up with different programmes to bridge the gap and ensure a total education for the Nigerian child. Despite the laudable goals of these NGOs, the goals of proper Creative Art education are yet to be fully achieved.

While still foot-dragging in the implementation of the creative arts curriculum, the youths, especially those with talents in performing arts are not relenting as they go from one audition to the other seeking for opportunities.

Many are of the opinion that beyond employing Fine Art teachers and encouraging the students and making the necessary materials and facilities available for art education, government should also consider establishing a School for Creative and Performing Arts in the country as is obtainable in the United States. This will give more opportunities for youngsters to hone their skills.

22 ART

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Some of the women in cultural display at the event

Culture, festivity, as FELD marks anniversary, rewards students

Tony Okuyeme

I

t was a carnival of sort, with array of rich cultural displays penultimate Thursday at Onihe Primary School compound, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, as guests were treated to dance performances showcasing the colourful traditional attires and culture of the people.

The event was the 3rd anniversary celebration of the founding of Foundation for Effective Leadership and Development (FELD), a nongovernmental organisation set up by Hon. Paul Adingwupu to help alleviate poverty and build capacity for change among the teeming populace in rural communities and urban societies in Nigeria.

The colourful anniversary celebration witnessed a large turnout of people including the cream of traditional rulers in Anioma, beneficiaries of the various empowerment programmes, government officials, and members of the foundation from different communities in Aniocha South among others.

The crowd further erupted in merriment as dance groups from the wards within Aniocha South staged a parade with scintillating display. The appreciative crowd responded with cheers.

Basking in the euphoria of new breath of life, the people danced and sang songs of praise to God for giving them Hon. Adingwupu as he continues to help ameliorate the suffering of the poor masses The foundation which was founded in 2011 as an offshoot of Adingwupu’s milk of human kindness for the needy and to support communities for sustainable national development have made remarkable impact in the lives of many.

Since inception, the foundation has empowered over 23,000 Nigerians irrespective of tribe or creed, with well over N500 million spent so far, for empowerment of the needy in the society and advocacy for good leadership. Ac-

cordingly, many students in Secondary School and Tertiary Institutions all over Nigeria have continued to benefit from FELD’s educational support programmes, and a lot more benefiting from its economic empowerment projects which has helped to improve the living condition of people at the grassroots.

As expected, excited students, parents, guardians, youths, men and women of different trade trooped out en masse to thank Hon. Adingwupu for his vision and in solidarity with FELD as it marks 3 years of improving lives of people and helping them find a place back in society as good citizens.

At the event, 18 indigent students from the various communities in Aniocha South LGA were awarded scholarship to study up to tertiary level, thereby, swelling the list of beneficiaries of the foundation’s educational grants to Nigerian youths.

The Chairman of the foundation, Hon. Paul Adingwupu, told the gathering that he is fulfilled knowing that he has through the foundation touched lives, help restore hope with thousands of dreams across the country fulfilled.

He said that FELD is a response to a divine mandate from God, and for the past three years, the foundation has been in the forefront on human capacity building and providing succor to those in need.

Adingwupu said: “The path we are treading is ‘Making a Difference’. Despite the hurdles, and limitations, we are taking our destinies in our hands with the vigor of unanimity; we will tear down the trashed roofs of deprivation and mend the broken walls of good governance in Nigeria. I’m determined to carry on with this work and help members of the society improve their livelihoods and build a better society.”

It is often said that the best way to teach is to lead, to set precedence and watch others follow. No doubt FELD has

I’m determined to carry on with this work and help members of the society improve their livelihoods and build a better society continued to strive to be the example rather than tell the example. The NGO has set a standard and today they are able to command other peoples’ attention and demonstrate convincingly by your actions that they are truly out to make a difference in the lives of people and communities.

Earlier in his opening remarks, Chairman, organising committee, Mr. Emma Ashinze, stated that FELD’s social re-engineering has impacted tremendously on peoples’ lives and communities. “With the help of God, FELD has been able to provide supports and opportunities for majority of people to live above poverty line. We have been able to achieve these, through our various activities which includes Youth development, Empowerment of people at the grassroots, Resuscitating moribund industries, Employment opportunities, Financing and Refinancing both old and new businesses, Payment of Hospital bills, payment school fees for indigent students and scholarship scheme among others.

“In the past 18 months, the foundation has distributed cash and materials worth several millions of Naira with hundreds of thousand benefiting. It is therefore in acknowledgment of Hon. Paul Adingwupu’s milk of human kindness that over 20,000 beneficiaries and members of the public have gathered to thank him and to celebrate FELD for all its good works” Ashinze said.

The jubilant crowd, clad in beautiful attires danced when the brain

behind the NGO, Hon. Adingwupu made a ground entry into the arena.

The women were dressed in what they referred to as Adingwupu’s wrapper, a reference to the unique six yards of wrapper, blouse material and a scarf to match, presented to the women by FELD. The men were not left out as they turnout in kaftans made from materials provided by FELD; others wore branded FELD T-Shirts to depict the mood of the occasion.

The crowd further erupted in merriment as dance groups from the wards within Aniocha South staged a parade with scintillating display. The appreciative crowd responded with cheers.

Basking in the euphoria of new breath of life the people danced and sang songs of praise to God for giving them Hon. Adingwupu as he strived to help ameliorate the suffering of the poor masses.

At the end of the parade and dance, three groups in both the young and adult categories were adjudged outstanding. The overall best in each of the categories got N300, 000, second position N200, 000 and the third N100,000 respectively. The winners went uncontrollable as they danced and hop up and down round the arena in happiness.

However, some of the 18 indigent Students who were awarded scholarship at the event showered encomiums on FELD, and prayed for God’s blessing on Hon. Adingwupu for being a tool in God’s hand who is committed to putting smiles on the faces of the less-privileged individuals in the society.

They said, “People are suffering, there is no money and there is no job. We look forward to that time where those that God has placed in position of authority will help us create the enabling environment for all to thrive and achieve their dream. Accordingly, we urged other well-meaning Nigerians to take a cue from Hon Adingwupu in combating the scourge of poverty and deprivation in Delta State and Nigeria in general”.

MEDIA 23

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Indian, living the Lagosian adventure, Devesh Ubah delights in capturing the often overlooked positive aspects of Nigeria. In this chat with EBERE AMEH, he opens up on his fascination with Nigerian culture and why he chose Snapitoga as his blog and instagram name

I am fascinated by Nigerian arts, culture –Ubah

B

arely one year after he left India, his country, to settle in Nigeria, Devesh Ubah, a photography enthusiast, has seen a lot of the positive side of Nigeria that many citizens, born and bred in Nigeria, have not paid attention. After reading and hearing a lot of negative things about Nigeria, the itinerant photographer, was pleasantly surprised at many positive aspects of Nigeria, which has gone unpublished.

“I actually moved to Nigeria for a job, and before moving to Nigeria I searched about Nigeria online. The results I got were very negative, with images of poverty and massive traffic jams. Once I arrived in Nigeria and I started to move around I was pleasantly surprised. There were so many things here, which no one wants to publish; so I decided to start a photo-blog on Nigeria,” Ubah said.

The blog attempts to highlight the often overlooked positive aspects of Nigeria by showcasing street art and myriad of colours, busy markets and the hustle and bustle of Lagos.

Talking about photography in Nigeria, Ubah said that photography is on the rise in Nigeria, and it is really good for the country. “I believe if more photographers start showcasing positive aspects of Nigeria, it can become a wonderful movement,” he said.

Even though Ubah lives in Lagos, he has not seen much of Nigeria. He has been to cities like Port Harcourt, Onitsha and Enugu and has also visited Osun Osogbo Sacred Groves a couple of times; and he is amazed at what he saw.

“The art and culture here is so fascinating, I have met some very skilled artists and wonderful people during my travels. I believe there is a huge need to promote Nigerian culture in this country. The world is very curious about West Africa right now and I think if culture can be promoted it can provide livelihood to millions of people,” Ubah advised.

Ubah’s fascination did not end with the Nigerian arts and culture. He also fascinated by the unique Nigerian pidgin. It is therefore, no surprise that barely one year into his stay in the country, he could not only understand and speak the Nigeria pidgin, he has gone ahead to name his blog and business in pidgin.

“When I started doing photography in Lagos, people used to say ‘Snap It Oga’

Ubah

all the time. I really liked the name and decided to use it for my blog. ‘Snap It Oga!’ started as a blog (www.snapitoga. com) and then I took it to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I also have a Digital Marketing Agency in Lagos called ‘Naija Go Social’ (www.naijagosocial.com). I develop websites and content and do digital and social media marketing campaigns for my clients,” he stated.

His blog, snapitoga, is where he posts pictures of ‘street art & colours’, busy markets and the Lagos hustle. snapitoga was listed on The Guardian (UK)’s list of ‘Best City Blogs Around the World’ in January 2014. Snap It Oga is the only blog from Nigeria to have made it on this prestigious list. Besides this, Snap It Oga has been mentioned on The Guardian (UK), Yahoo!, News 24 (SA), Sahara Reporters, Home Grown (India), Future Lagos, Dynamic Africa, Bella Naija, Art South Africa, Guardian Africa, Marie Claire and all major Nigerian blogs and publications.

Ubah thinks that the main reasons for the blog’s growing popularity is because he chose to dwell on the positive aspect of Nigeria, instead of the negatives.

Despite his success, Ubah did not study Photography. According to him, though he studied Commerce and Busi-

ness, he had always wanted to do something creative. He decided to join a leading adverting agency in Mumbai after his MBA in 2006 but all the while he was doing photography.

His words: “In the advertising agency, I learnt how to showcase my work online and get more audience. With internet and picture sharing sites/blogs, anyone can display his/her work online. So I started with a Flicker page which now has more than two million views and the journey has been very fruitful.”

Having been into photography for over a decade, Ubah calls it his ‘serious hobby’. “Saying ‘photography is my passion’ has become too mainstream now, but there is no other way I can describe

I believe there is a huge need to promote Nigerian culture in this country... and I think if culture can be promoted it can provide livelihood to millions of people

it. I have enjoyed and cherished every picture I have ever made, and I start missing photography if I don’t do it for a couple of days,” he enthused.

Ubah, who is inspired by great photographers like Steve McCurry and Raghu Rai, also considers himself very fortunate to have some really good photographers as his friends. Through them, he has learnt not just composition and photography, but also blogging and showcasing his work on social media. Now, he mentors a few young photographers online, mostly on his blog and Flickr page and he loves it.

“I believe these days photography as a profession has become fiercely competitive, so one needs to be really the best to make money from it. Having said that, the usage of pictures is also increasing; so there is definitely a need for skilled photographers. These days many young photographers are too eager to jump into professional photography because they think it is easy money, which is not true, I am afraid. Photography is like any other profession where you need a lot of discipline, training and hard work to become good,” Ubah stated, adding that starting a career in photography starts with getting a camera.

“These days there are good cameras in mobile phones too. In these times I think the willingness to experiment and the commitment to devote time and learn the craft is what is required to start up as a photographer. A famous quote by one of my favourite photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson is “Your first 10,000 pictures are your worst” and this has always motivated and kept me going and learning.”

Though Ubah does not believe that there is any formula for success in photography, he nevertheless thinks that there is a way out.

“Photography is a visual art form, so I don’t know of any definitive formula.

Having said that, I believe story-telling and being original is at the heart of photography and no one who is committed to it would fail to make a mark in photography. These days a lot of young photographers complain that they don’t have the money to buy the best cameras or lenses and they get disappointed. To these people, I only say, the best camera is the one you have. Learn how to make good use of your gear to make wonderful pictures,” he said.

Though Ubah thinks of himself as a ‘street-photographer’ he enjoys every genre of photography. He has some strange love for streets and the ardour to capture the day to day life from an interesting point of view! Having done a lot of street-photography in Indian cities, he is now trying to do it in Lagos too.

His dream is to shoot some traditional weddings in Nigeria.

22 artists for Art Base Africa in Lagos Tony Okuyeme

D

Adeyemi

esigning Africa is the focus of this year’s edition of Art Base Africa (ABA), an online platform dedicated to fostering a critical debate for contemporary African art on the Internet and a comprehensive archive and database for the African arts community. The platform includes a website and online journal that is published in quarterly thematic issues.

Art Base Africa Edition 2: Designing Africa holds at Friday, 26th September, 2014, at British Council, 20 Thompson Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos, 6pm prompt. It will present a survey of key contempo-

rary emerging and established African designers, architects and artists who are making bold, definitive changes in their communities, fields and practices. Through interviews and project presentations the second issue of Art Base Africa discusses the life, work and processes of these exceptional African creatives who are taking African design in a new, self-defined direction. From graphic interpretations of provenance and creation myths, product design centered on material and cultural exploration, urban and community interventions, fashion which pushes the limits of textiles to migration, geography and identity.

This edition, the organisers stated, features projects and contributions from David Adjaye, Duro Olowu, Wanuri Kahiu, Angélique Gakoko Pitteloud, Momodou Ceesay, Ada Umeofia, Gerald Machona, Ifeanyi Oganwu, Doreen Adengo, Pwavidon Mathias, Laduma Ngxokolo, Clari Green, Brian Omolo, Aisha AugieKuta, Peter Mabeo, and Kunle Adeyemi/ NLÉ’s Makoko Floating School project, Stranger Lagos. Others are Godfrey Mwampembwa aka Gado, Victoria Udondian, Fey F Olumuyiwa, Ibiayi Briggs, Orlando Reade, Medina Dugger, Shannon Lawrence, Burcu Yancatarol Yagiz, Alafuro Sikoki-Coleman and Azu Nwagbogu.

24 TOURISM Stories by Andrew Iro Okungbowa

W

ith the impressive posting of 5% growth rate by tourism as international tourist arrivals hinting 517 million for the period January – June this year, the attention of the world would be on the money spinning sector as the World Tourism Day (WTD) holds tomorrow.

September 27 yearly is the day declared by the World Tourism Day (UNWTO), a UN agency charged with the administration and development of global tourism for the world to pay attention to and explore the significance of the sector ranging from its economic, socio-cultural and development indices.

According to the UNWTO, ‘‘its purpose is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. The event seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these goals.’’

Historically, the celebration of WTD dates back to 1979 when at the third session of UNWTO General Assembly held at Torremolinos, Spain, it decided to establish World Tourism Day. The chosen date for the celebration coincided with the anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes on September 27, 1970.

The motion for its adoption was moved by a Nigerian, late Ignatius Atigi, with the first celebration held in 1980; and ever since it has held without fail under a different theme.

With the high premium now placed on tourism as an economic tool by many countries and the increasing good scores recorded by the sector in the last four years and that of the half year report, the expectation is that tomorrow would be a great day for the sector as the different countries of the world roll out the red carpet and the drums to toast to a successful half year and to stepped up their game in order to close up the year on a high note.

This is in tandem with the goals of the UNWTO who yearly encourages nations of the world, groups and people of all ages to engage in different meaningful activities, which are meant to further galvanize the various interests in tourism development and promotion. Therefore, what generally would be on focus by many of the celebrants tomorrow is not the successes recorded only but exploring many ways of enhancing the performance of the sector and getting more people into its dragnet.

This focal point is expected to assume a greater dimension when you consider the theme for this year’s celebration, which is: “Tourism and Community Development”. This has different ramifications for the people and the community as the encompassing nature of tourism as a potent force for the development of humanity and the community, especially in concrete economic term, is brought to the fore.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

World Tourism Day celebration focuses on community growth

De Santos Poolside

Edem Duke, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation

This point was underscored by the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), Taleb Rifai in his reflection and message to the world on the theme when he emphasised the importance of tourism to the different communities. ‘‘Each time we travel, use local transport at a destination or buy products from a local market, we are contributing to a long value chain that creates jobs, provides livelihoods, empowers local communities, and ultimately brings in new opportunities for a better future.’’

Furthermore, Rifai insisted that the theme for the global feast on tourism tomorrow brings to the light the potential of tourism and the power it has to transform communities in concrete terms. ‘‘The theme of World Tourism Day 2014 – Tourism and Community Development – brings to the forefront the potential that tourism has to promote new socioeconomic opportunities and better livelihoods for communities around the world while highlighting the critical role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable development.’’

Victoria Soluade wins cruise award

T

he Managing Director of Soltan Travel, Mrs. Victoria Soluade as emerged the winner of a cruise award by the Royal Caribbean International. Mrs. Soluade who currently operates from Canada has in the last few years established herself as specialist in cruise packages after undergoing trainings and acquiring the necessary skills for the development and promotion of cruise packages.

She is about the most visible and recognized Nigerian operator at the global level with considerable presence and influence in cruise packages. She operates with some of the major cruise firms in the world. With the award, she has earned a two night cruise on board R-L: Mrs. Victoria Soluade with Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean International’s “QuanRoyal Caribbean Cruise Lines tum of the Seas.”

Tourism is a people-based economic activity built on social interaction, and as such can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance The global event holds in the city of Guadalara in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. … Abuja hosts Nigeria event While the various states and localities across the country are expected to host the event at their different levels, the national celebration would be jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation and the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC).

Sources at the two offices disclosed that the event would be a low – keyed one as they are both starved of the required fund to organise a more befitting national event. It is scheduled to hold at the Arts and Craft Village, Adjacent Abuja Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

The Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Edem Duke is expected to present the keynote address while the Director General of NTDC, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo would give a welcome speech. The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Nkechi Ejele will read the message from the UNWTO scribe.

Highlights of the event, which holds in the morning, include art and craft exhibition and cultural performances among others. … Lagos at Freedom Park Freedom Park at Broad Street, is where the tourism operators in Lagos State would gather for the celebration that is being coordinated by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Intergovernment Relations. The event, which would have the state commissioner for tourism, Disu Holloway, in attendance would attract the different operators and the general public from across the state.

Tourism empowers local communities, says UNWTO scribe Each time we travel, use local transport at a destination or buy products from a local market we are contributing to a long value chain that creates jobs, provides livelihoods, empowers local

UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai

communities, and ultimately brings in new opportunities for a better future.

The theme of World Tourism Day 2014 – Tourism and Community Development – brings to the forefront the potential that tourism has to promote new socio-economic opportunities and better livelihoods for communities around the world while highlighting the critical role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable development.

Tourism is a people-based economic activity built on social interaction, and as such can only prosper if it engages the local population by contributing to social values such as participation, education and enhanced local governance.

At the same time, there can be no real tourism development if such development damages in any way the values and the culture of host communities or if the socio-economic benefits generated by the tourism sector do not trickle down to the community level. As stated in the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, “local populations should be associated with tourism activities and share equitably in the economic, social and cultural benefits they generate”.

As we approach the 2015 deadline established for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and prepare to embrace the new Sustainable Development Goals, this year’s World Tourism Day represents an opportunity to further advance tourism’s contribution to economic, social and environmental sustainability. Empowering individuals and communities around the world at all levels through tourism can be a fundamental step towards these goals.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day 2014, I would like to invite all tourism stakeholders and host communities to come together and celebrate this day as a symbol of our common efforts in making tourism a true pillar of community development, and the basis of a more sustainable tourism sector.

•Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Entertainment

NEW TELEGRAPH

25

www.newtelegraphonline.com/entertainment

SOny Neme Entertainment Editor

sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com 0811 181 3096

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Face-off looms between Abuja pubs and COSON stories by sony neme

F

or using music without payment, The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) is poised for a showdown with proprietors of hotels, night clubs, restaurants and event venues in Abuja.

This coming as the nation’s sole collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings commenced total enforcement of the war against music copyright defaulters in Abuja, a battle titled ‘Operation No Hiding Place”.

In a release made available to New Telegraph, Mayree Uket stated that a COSON delegation led by the Chairman, Chief Tony Okoroji was in Abuja for several days last week to ensure that all the arrangements are in place to ensure that no one who deploys music in a commercial or public place in Abuja escapes ‘Operation No Hiding Place’.

At a meeting with Engr.

Onofiok Ekong, President, Hotel Owners Forum Abuja (HOFA), in his Abuja office, She explicitly quoted Chief Okoroji to have said, ‘You will bear witness that COSON has behaved very responsibly in this matter. We have engaged the hotel industry in Nigeria in several months of discussions and negotiations, which you actively participated in.

In December 2012, we signed a landmark agreement with the hotel industry to pay copyright royalties, which are some of the most modest in the world.”

Chief Okoroji’s concern was that, “While a good number of hotels and similar establishments have complied with the agreement, there are those committed to unending lawlessness. They want to continue with the brazen stealing of the intellectual property of innocent citizens. We have come to inform you that we have decided to end this lawlessness forthwith. We are de-

ploying every tool under the law as it cannot be business as usual. Any recalcitrant organization that enters our

Tony Okoroji

For him, it was in this light that the delegation visited the Federal Capital Territory to engage the heads of key insti-

Engr. Onofiok Ekong

While a good number of hotels and similar establishments have complied with the agreement, there are those committed to unending lawlessness net is assured that to get out, it will cost such an organization at least ten times the cost if it had simply complied with the agreement which you helped to negotiate’’ Okoroji described COSON as a socially responsible organization which believes strongly in tackling issues first through dialogue.

tutions with interest in copyright and to notify them of the steps that COSON has decided to take to ensure compliance with the Copyright Act as Operation No Hiding Place unfolds.

During the Abuja trip, the delegation also met with the Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude; the DirectorGeneral, National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Emeka Mba; the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Malam Abubakar Jijiwa who is also Chairman, Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria (BON).

On the COSON delegation was the General Manager, Mr. Chinedu Chukwuji and Mr. Sunday Abraham, the Principal Consultant, Visdav Consult, the well-known COSON royalty collection agents in the FCT.

Theme song for A Place In The Stars’ he producers of narrative feature, Tworks A Place in the Stars, Native FilmLimited, have announced the release of the official movie theme song performed by Jeremiah Gyang.

We reliably gathered that the song, inspired by the above mentioned movie, was directed and produced by respected film maker, Steve Gukas.

The movie, which will be avail-

The former President of Performing Musicians’ Employers’ Association of Nigeria, PMAN also explained that

able in cinemas across Nigeria from November 2014,.by one of Nigeria’s pioneer film and television companies, is a riveting account of drug trafficking. It focuses on how fake and adulterated medical drugs are being traded for billions of dollars.

Jeremiah Gyang is a music genius that is talented in transforming experiences and emotions into beautiful storytelling. Gyang, a singer/songwriter and multiinstrumentalist has contributed immensely to the entertainment industry internationally and Nigeria in particular.

For more information on A Place in the Stars, visit www.aplaceinthestars.com or follow us on Twitterwww.twitter.com/aplaceinthestar or Facebook-www.facebook.com/ APlaceInTheStars

before this last resort, COSON has spent substantial funds to organize several stakeholders’ forums in Abuja during which we engaged music users in the FCT on the need to comply with the Copyright Act. His words, “While several organizations are imbibing the culture of paying music copyright royalties, we have met with a brick wall in some

other instances. It is our resolve to apply zero tolerance for any form of copyright infringement against the teeming number of young Nigerians, and the 131 collective management organizations around the world that COSON represents. “ In his response, the HOFA President, Engr. Ekong coomeended the COSON delegation for the visit and for the patience exhibited so far in its dealings with the hotel industry in Abuja which his association represents.

“I must commend your efforts so far in enlightening the public on the issues of copyright and how it affects our economy. I want to assure you of the support of our association. I promise to use my office as the HOFA President to get all our members to comply with an agreement which we freely entered into with COSON because it is for the greater good of our nation.

HOFA is a collection of law abiding organizations. Any of our members who will not act within the law should not expect the protection of HOFA,” Ekong posited.

It will be recalled that just recently, COSON launched a campaign against music copyright defaulters in Nigeria tagged ‘Operation No Hiding Place’ and has promised to make it difficult for any organization to deploy music commercially or publicly without meeting the demands of the law.

Sweet tales from Delta State film village

F

urther to the commitment of Delta State government to make the mega bucks film village a reality, key participants in the project held a far reaching meeting in Asaba, the state capital. Expectedly, far reaching decisions were taking as efforts are on full throttle.

According to an insider, those in attendance were the chieftains of Califco Nig Ltd, Eddiefosa Entertainment Organisation known and high ranking directors from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Justice, as well as their counterparts from Ministry of Land’ “At the end of the very frank meeting, they all came to a conclusion that the Film Village is a reality,” our very reliable source further hinted.

He added that, “To avoid the monopoly of the foreign investors, it was agreed that Califco and her partners from America will have 49 percent shares, while Edifosa and other Nigeria investors will have 51 percent to be able to meet with the states Delta Beyond Oil drive

that encouraged the state participation in the first instance,” When contacted, an apparently elated Chief Eddie Ugbomah, OON, confirmed the fruitful outcome of the meeting at Asaba. He further said that he will be offering his colleagues in Nollywood and other movie practitioners a part of his share so they can have a say in the proposed film village of his dream.

His words, “At the moment three parts of Delta are being investigated to site the studios which must not be more than one hour drive to the Airport in Asaba. The Film Village will take maximum of five years to finish, but the money-making part of it will be ready in a year.”

Chief Ugbomah, who is also the Chairman, Board of trustees of Association of Movie Producers, further stated in a press release that, “That the sound stages for musical videos, shooting of films, documentaries, mommercial and C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 2 8

26 Entertainment

Aki & Paw Paw, others for O’jez’s Independence Celebrity Nite

Friday, September 26, 2014

Kelani’s technique for Retrieval of Yoruba Classics  Dazzling Mirage, due for premiere November 7

wards winning filmmaker, Tunde Aa new Kelani is stirring a revolution with path in film production in Nige-

Chinedu Ikedieze, MFR, (Aki) & Osita Iheme, MFR, (Pawpaw)

stories by sony neme

A

ll is set for the O’jez Independence Celebrity Nite to mark Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, October 1. The night will feature music and drama performances, dance as well as standup comedy from Nollywood celebrities and awards winning musicians, which has become the hallmark of the celebrity restaurant, located within the National Stadium premises, Lagos.

Those confirmed to spice up the event are comedy star actors, Chinedu Ikedieze better known as ‘Aki’ and his partner, Osita Iheme aka ‘Paw Paw’.

They will be joined by Charles Inojie as hosts, just as other celebrities Ejike Asiegbu, Zach Orji, Okey Bakassi, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Steve Eboh aka Ajeboh and producer Chidi Nwokeabia among others.

For Chief Joseph Odobeatu, MD/ C.E.O of O’jez, “It is our own way of celebrating Nigeria as this country has come of age. He also said the dancing

restaurant has been the watering hole of Nigerian movie and music stars for over a decade now, so it is proper, for O’Jez, to dedicate a day for them; a day where they will freely interact and bond with their fans and admirers.

In a statement signed by his media managers, Media Image Managers, MIM, Odobeatu, who also owns O’jez Music label, ”Our chain of celebrity restaurant is ensuring it follows its tradition of feting its customers every festive season in Nigeria. Aside the Friday and Sunday night music and comedy sessions, the monthly O’jez Entertainment Award to deserving Nigerians in all fields of human endeavour, we also hold five major shows for our customers annually, which are the O’jez Valentine Party, O’jez Easter Fiesta, O’jez Democracy Jam which holds every Democracy Day (May 29), O’jez Independence Celebrity Nite and finally the O’jez Xmas Blast. These are major shows and they are complimentary to the rich Chinese, Nigerian and continental dishes plus exotic wines and drinks we serve our customers.”

He said further that, “Kids of customers are not left out as we will be involved in a dancing competition where prizes would be won. Most parents bring their kids out only on special occasions, so we ensure that we make that occasion a memorable one for kids.”

The event is scheduled to begin at 6.30pm at the open air section of the facility, as the show this year features fast rising comedian Elder O alongside celebrated comics such as Elenu and MC Shakara among other up-coming comedy acts.

Physically challenged dancer, Crazy Legs that is fast becoming the toast of many entertainment events will be on call alongside Exotic Dancers group while the O’jez band featuring Colours and Tony Okri would be on hand to entertain.

One of the main acts of the night is Rotimi, leader of the Alpha Band, is an eclectic dancer and singer, is always a delight to watch on stage. It is also a night that will give opportunity to young upcoming acts like Zee Boy and Zee Girl among others to showcase their talents.

Caught in the Act hits cinema today  Parades BBA finalist, Berverly Osu, Yvonne Okoro

Some of the actors in the film Caught in the Act

A

wards winning actor, Elvis Chuks, has stepped out with a new movie titled Caught in The Act. The movie maker whose comedy film, A Wish, is still carting

away awards, features delectable Ghanaian thespian, Yvonne Okoro as the lead act in the new movie that will hit the cinemas today. Other acts in the movie by the ami-

able producer include, Michael Godson, Bishop Imeh and Beverly Osu. According to the producer, “The movie is about a man who felt at ease with

his pattern of lifestyle at the moment. But when it seems all is stable and sorted, comes the twist that reveals all secrets that starred at him!”

Chuks further said that, “When people take the slightest chance, it may cost them what they most cherish, and they are left with indecision.”

Elvis Chuks is one of the Nollywood acts who have proved their mettle in the Nigerian movie world. Aside his good looks his acting ingenuity is another reason behind his meteoric rise as an actor, producer cum director.

The actor who became more popular after his role in the TV series ‘Super Story’ where he played the role of a village headmaster, is really rocking the world of make believe.

ria. This is coming with his Retrieval of Yoruba Classics, RYC, project with Yeepa, a fusion of stage and film technique adapted from Femi Osofisan's classic literature, Yeepa Solarin Nbo. in a related development, his Dazzling Mirage, is due for premiere come November 7, The RYC initiative, according to our source, is poised to preserve some Yoruba literature, with the project, Retrieval of Yoruba Classics - drama, poetry and literature, which, Kelani said, are huge and have always been the bedrock of his past works.

Kelani said, "These are materials that resonate with me dating back to when I was very young.

I was able to re-produce The Palmwine Drinkard originally written by Amos Tutuola; but the production was based on the opera by Kola Ogunmola.

I’m really happy that we were able to achieve it. Incidentally, the Lagos State government has supported us in the overall project of the retrieval of the Yoruba classics. In 2010, I had produced, “Yeepa Solarin Nbo” which the Lagos State government used to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence anniversary."

For the third time, the film maker, who has just wrapped his new feature film, Dazzling Mirage, due for premiere November 7, has revisited the classic, now as a 'filmed play', deploying a hybrid of traditional theatre artistes, trained actors and a handful of Nollywood stars. The 'filmed drama' that depicts Isola (Bayo Bankole) a rascally and unreliable man, who is mistaken for the formidable Public Complaints Commissioner, Solarin, by the corrupt officials of the Local Government Council.

The new direction, Kelani said, would elicit interests and excitement in Nigerian film industry.

His words, "The industry needs more exciting stories. Productions that is not only stimulating but good enough to elicit huge response from the audience and commercial success at the box office. We really need to swing away from that stale or repetitive stories' era and explore the richness of our literary resources."

In Yeepa, which is in memory of Dr. Tai Solarin, (1922-1994), one time Public Complaints Commissioner, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States, in 1976.

In Yeepa, Kelani, preserves the stage form and infuses film technique, deploying four cameras shooting in Dream Studio, Ikeja, Lagos and on locations in Abeokuta. With award winning film director, Niji Akanni as the Artistic Director, Kelani recalled the intervention of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, when he was tinkering with the idea of filming Amos Tutuola's Palmwine Drinkard.

The robust cast is a fusion of the traditional theatre artists, trained thespians and Nollywood celebrated faces, such as Ropo Ewenla, Bayo Bankole and Ayo Binta Mogaji among others To ensure the theme of the 'filmed drama' sinks, Yeepa, will be screened in select cinemas and communities' halls ,schools and not foreclosing private and corporate screenings from October.

Entertainment

Friday, September 26, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide)

27 LYRICS for the week

SEPT. 26 — OCT. 3 Highlights

B.O.R.N. to Style premieres on Lifetime from Wednesday 24 September stories by sony neme

B

.O.R.N. to Style is a lifestyle makeover series centred on a stylist team from New York and their larger than life boss, Jonathan Bodrick. Springing from the New York-based boutique B.O.R.N. (borrowed, old, refurbished and new), the team land at the door of those desperately in need of some colour in their lives. By rifling through their client’s belongings and asking blunt questions, the team at B.O.R.N. gets to the root of the problem, before whisking them away for a transformation that goes beyond just their look. In each episode, viewers will see the team offer up their own brand of therapy and inspiration to clients as they transform their lives!

Wolfblood Season Two premieres on Disney channel on Wednesday 24 September at 18:30 CAT September sees the return of hit series Wolfblood to Disney Channel, as season two launches. Wolfbloods have lived among humans for centuries, disguising their heightened senses and abilities; and doing their best to blend in.

Maddy and her parents are the only wolfbloods in their area until one day a new boy starts at Maddy's school. Maddy and Rhydian return for a second season of Wolfblood from Wednesday 24 September at 18:30 CAT My Naked Secret airs on TLC Entertainment from Friday 26 September at 20:55 CAT Follow the personal sto-

2Face ft Huma Lara Higher

Spiritual Healing Verse 1 Every time we spend together There is fire in our eyes All the things we said to each other Are just nothing but truthful lies I go dey think say I know you well Until you choose to do me so

Wolfblood

ries of 10 more people as they begin to overcome the body issues that are ruining their lives. In each episode an individual with a medical condition or physical abnormality that is causing them great shame and untold misery embarks on a transformative and poignant journey in search of acceptance.

They then begin treatment for their condition in a bid to finally have a body they love.

But will this enable them to come to terms with their anxieties?

Sports and Fashion on Trace Sports Start on Friday 26 September at 22:50 CAT There's no denying it: sport stars love their fashion! And why not? At the forefront of their physically competitive world and earning money hand over fist – what's stopping them flaunting their style and dressing to impress? This

show takes a look at the links between sport and fashion: the stars adorning magazine front covers, the names hogging the spotlight at catwalk shows and fashion weeks, and the international superstars who have launched their own global clothing brands. David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams all feature in this fiesta of fashionable fun.

Honeymoon Hotel on AfricaMagic Entertainment on Sunday 28 September at 22:30 CAT Love is a beautiful experience, but keeping a relationship and making it work, needs a joint effort and letting go of the past, in pursuit of a happy home and a future together.

These couples must leave the past behind and look to a brighter future that will enable them build a happy home.

Even as their past knocks during their honeymoon. Forgive-

ness is divine and understanding is priceless.

Gotham Premieres on M-Net on Tuesday 30 September at 20:30 CAT This is the original story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, revealing an entirely new chapter that has never been told. Staring Jada PinkettSmith, this one-hour drama follows one cop's rise through a dangerously corrupt city teetering on the edge of evil and chronicles the genesis of one of the most popular super heroes of our time. Brave, earnest and eager to prove himself, the newly minted detective Gordon (Ben McKenzie) is partnered with the brash, but shrewd police legend Harvey Bullock (Donal Logue), as the two stumble upon the city's highest-profile case ever: the murder of local billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne.

BBA Hotshot unveils housemates

Kacey Moore - Ghana

A

s the countdown to Africa’s most viewed reality television show, Big Brother Hotshots has commenced with the housemate profiles. below are

some of them on parade: Kacey Moore Age 29 was born in Accra. Moore is a married poet and songwriter, with a daughter. He enjoys banku and okro stew and says his favourite books are the Bible, the dictionary, and the thesaurus! Kacey Moore also likes the music of Usher and Lauryn Hill.

He describes himself as a’ go-getter’, as well as ‘punctual, a leader, a creator and a voice’.

His favourite is quality, punctuality. It is important to him in both himself and others.

He entered Big Brother Hotshots as a business decision, seeking exposure to the rest of the world. Moore promises viewers ‘a real person with no fakeness’. If he wins the grand prize, he’ll buy houses for his wife and mother and set up a recording studio so he can record and release his own album under his own label.

Laveda, Age 23 who holds a Bachelor of Arts & Social Sciences graduate Laveda was born in Dar Es Salaam. She’s single and describes herself as ‘eccentric, loving, caring, simple and fun’. Laveda is the eldest of three children and she has a younger brother and

sister. She says her mom is her role model, because she has moulded her over the years and inspired her in different ways ‘through the struggles and joy of life’.

Laveda says her favourite foods are pasta and minced meat, and prawns. She loves to read John Grisham novels and enjoys the music of Shakira, D’Banj, Miriam Makeba, P.Square, Rihanna, Beyonce, Tiwo Savage, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Brenda Fassie.

She’s a mean entertainer herself, she plays the saxophone, sings, acts and dances and thinks she’d make a ‘potential’ presenter. Laveda’s favourite movies include The Notebook, Titanic and Avatar.

She entered Big Brother Hotshots to be a role model and act as a voice for Africa’s youth. Laveda says that viewers can expect ‘massive entertainment’ from her and that if she wins, she’ll give her mom some money, ‘surprise disadvantaged children’, travel and invest the rest.

JJ from Zimbabwe is 23. He calls himself ‘an entertainer’ on the back of his work as a ‘singer, rapper, actor, songwriter and director’. His inspiration behind entering Big

Laveda - Tanzania

Brother Hotshots is the platform the show provides. ‘It’s a necessary foundation for me to be able to produce my own music even if I don’t win the money,’ he says.

Chorus Now I see Now I see I see Higher than Higher than the height of the mountain Deeper than Deeper than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality I see Wider than Wider than the width of the desert Lower than Lower than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality Bridge Spiritual healing…….

Open your eyes Spiritual healing……..

Free your mind from hate Spiritual healing…….

Hanhan…

Spiritual healing……..

Verse 2 We never got a chance The chance to make it right Cause right from the beginning Some people don dey fight They’re fighting for the same thing This is not bright And brightness only come from when you see the light light Life is so simply but they make it complicated To be civilized, you don’t have to be educated Let’s make it happen So we time will not be wasted Most of the things anticipated Like don’t trample upon another man to be elevated Inflated egos can surely be deflated The power of forgiveness is under rated But with love and equality we all were created I keep saying these things Cause I know I keep on saying these things Until I go Chorus And Now I see Now I see I see Higher than Higher than the height of the mountain Deeper than Deeper than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality I see Wider than Wider than the width of the desert Lower than Lower than the depth of the ocean Further than Further than the eyes can see When we talking spirituality Outro Spiritual healing…..

Spiritual healing…..

Spiritual healing….

Spiritual healing…

Compired by Shola Adefuwa

28

Friday, September 26, 2014

Odigie Family

‘We are ready for Maltina Dance All showdown’

F

stories by sony neme

ans of the popular family television show, Maltina Dance All, MDA, are in for a real treat as the stage is set for a spectacular climax tomorrow.

MDA, which had started airing across the country on September 7 enters its crucial stage with four families who are keeping their strategies’ close to their chests. .

The families left to slug it out are Unanka, Odigie, Utere and Uzodinma. They are expected to hit the stage at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos as they battle for the N10 million prize of Nigeria’s number one dance family in Saturday’s showdown. The first and second runners up will also get N3 million and N1 million respectively.

According to the organizers, “Nigerians will decide the winning family tomorrow by sending a SMS with their favourite family to 20822.”

They further stated that, “The show, sponsored by Maltina, a premium nonalcoholic malt brand from the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc, has for the last seven years been providing the platform to train Nigerian youths and families in the art of dancing. A unique feature of this year’s edition is the introduction of the “Rhythm of Happiness Dance” (ROHD).”

In the words of the Senior Brand Manager, Maltina Mr. Adewole Adedeji stated that building any brand is a very long journey, “We are glad with where we are with Maltina today. We are excited about the success recorded during the seventh season of MDA, last year. As you may know, seven is a long time for a show to remain relevant. And we are very glad about it as MDA continues to bring the brand experience of sharing happiness and fun to the consumer. “ Adedeji further explained that, “We put a lot of work into it and every year there is something bigger and better.

What we are doing with the MDA is sharing happiness and creating emotional connection with consumers, because families and dance are two winning components in the Nigerian environment. As Maltina continuously nourishes millions of Nigerians, it is not just the most fortified malt drink in the market, but also the biggest and most nutritious malt brand.”

Season eight of the competition began with regional auditions in Abuja, Port-Harcourt, and Lagos. The first day of the two day auditions witnessed various rewards to their consumers from ages five to sixty, while the second day was set aside to select individual family representatives who will perform with his family.

Those who met all necessary medical requirements of fitness are admitted into the Maltina Academy to compete with ten other families for the grand prize. The essence is to lay credence on the creative and intellectual bent of the art of dance. As a result, the brand goes the extra mile to bring in respected local and foreign based professionals and intellectual dancers to train the ten families that make it into the Maltina Academy each year.

Leonard and Maisamari families could not stand the twist, turns, frills and intensity of the show as they became the first two families to be evicted after performing the Wazobia (Nigeria’s indigenous dance) and Jive dance routines.

They reportedly got the judges hammer because of their inability to creatively satisfy them with their performances.

The first eviction showdown had four families locking horns to remain in the Academy. The Dide and Leonard families had earlier been placed on possible eviction list after their Wazobia performance show, while Oladapo and Maisamari could not impress the judges after the Jive performance.

Thereafter, the judges Muyiwa Osinaike, Comfort Fedoke and Jeffery Page described theirs as unsatisfactory performance at the various shows. A live line was extended to them as they were given an opportunity to redeem their image and justify their stay in the academy.

Unfortunately, they could not.

The curtains also fell for the Oladapo and Nwaeze families as they became the second set of families to exit the show.

They were evicted after being put up for possible eviction from their ‘Rhythm of Naija’ and ‘New Age’ dance performances, to join the Leonard and Maisamari families.

The tension in the hall was evident as the four families took to the stage one after the other to keep their dreams alive. The families had competed first to the ‘Rhythm of Naija’ dance style.

First on stage was Uzodinma family who performed to Lil Kesh’s Shoki followed by the Nwaeze family who upped the tempo with their dance rendition to MC Galaxy’s Sekem. The Utere family were next up on stage danced to Skales Shake Body whilst the Oladapo family performed last, as they danced to Runtown’s Gallardo.

For the New age dance presentation, the Nwaeze family opened the dance floor before making ways for Uzodinma family who followed with a display that got both the audience and judges off their seats. Next was the Oladapo family while the Utere family capped off the exciting night with an amazing performance

dancing to Egwu, a song by Flavour.

After all the families had put in their best concerts it was then decision time as two families had to be evicted. After very thorough deliberations, the judges were unanimous in their verdict as they were simply not impressed with the performances of the Oladapo and Nwaeze families who were thus evicted from the Maltina academy.

The third and final eviction show which determined the two families that would join the Utere and Unanka families who had already qualified for the grand finale was very intense. The four families that squared up were; Dide, Williams, Odigie and Uzodinma.

At the end each family gave its best, but the judges unanimously selected the Uzodima and Odigie families to proceed to the grand finale. That left Dide family out.

Comfort Fedoke, one of the judges in her comment on the routines, said most of the families who have participated at the eviction showdown always come back to the stage with so much vibrancy and determination; as she applauded them for their Rhythm of Naija performances.

For Muyiwa Osinaike, the oldest judge on the show, commented on the dance steps. He enjoined the families to perfect the act of chorography to suite the songs as this bring about the excitement that the audience desire to see on the show.

Mr.Adewole Adedeji on his part said that each eviction was always emotional but that only one winner could emerge at the end of the show, “Thus the judges had the responsibility to ensure that only the best of the best families made it to the grand finale. Then Nigerians will vote for the winning family.”

Maltina has over the years assembled some of the best dance instructors to train the families each year. The 2012 and 2013 instructors include Victor Phullu, an expert in Nigerian dances, Gbenga Yusuf and Lillian Yeri, experts in Pantomime, Paolo Sisiano and Muyiwa Oshinaike, a 30 year veteran of Nigerian dance and culture.

In one of the dances, they were introduced to the art of choreography classes taken by Bimbo Obafunwa, the dance director. Obafunwa had explained that the art of choreography was about how to put on a dance face regardless of the dance styles performing and learn how to work with dance, space, precision and so many other elements that make up a fantastic and exceptional dance routine.

Speaking on what they were taught, Callistus Uzodinma, the family representative of the Uzodinma family, one of the finalists, said he has learnt the six basic principles of dance, which involves ac-

tions, body parts, presence, dynamics, relationships and space. Adila Unanka of the Unanka family, another finalist, said with all she had learnt in the class she will deploy same to improve his family’s performance tomorrow.

Some past winners that have benefited from the MDA platform is Ukalina Opuwari of the Opuwari family that won the 2008 edition of the show. Ukalina, with the assistance of Maltina enlisted at the Society for the Performing Arts in Nigeria (SPAN) and has become the First female Nigerian to be certified in Latin/ Ballroom by the IDSF/IDAT in Beirut, Lebanon.

Such is the importance that the brand attaches to the development of dancing in Nigeria using the family system as an avenue to achieve this noble objective.

Sweet tales from Delta State film village CO N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 5

Reality Shows can be recorded without any disturbing each other. Next phase will have chalets, quarter cabins, amusement parks, lakes, and creation of locations.” in a related development, Chief Eddie Ugbomah said, baring any bureaucratic delays, he will be the first prophet to be appreciated in his home town as the governor has approved the budget for his celebration.

While hailing the state governor, Dr. Emmaunel Uduaghan, for his magnanimity, Ugbomah said, “With this laudable project, Uduaghan will not regret his plan of Delta Beyond Oil. Especially, as the Film Village will create jobs for carpenters, costumiers and actors, as well as designers, and general labour of over five hundred workers and two thousand actors.”

He also informed that “The radio and television institute will train and offer jobs to graduates in the village.

For Edifosa Films, these category of people will enjoy the first phase of this project as they will be joined by the Afro Global Corporation that will bring in their movie producer and director to work and train people on the job.”

It is interesting to note that they are already thinking ahead, as plans are on for the production of epic movies, feature Films, tele-movies, and documentaries.

For Ugbomah, “If all goes well two mega epics Aba Women Riot and the story on Adaka Boro, the man who fought for the creation of Rivers and Bayelsa States”.

BUSINESS Friday, September 26, 2014

What's news 4,140 telecoms licences issued, says NCC The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has, till date, issued over 4,140 licences to different players operating in the nation’s telecoms sector, data obtained by New Telegraph has shown.

}p-30

Customs generate N3tr in three years The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) has generated N3 trillion in the last three years. The amount was raked in between August 2011 and August 2014.

}p-30

Nigeria may lead Africa in $1bn pension investment platform The rapidly-growing pension assets in the country may continue to open doors and channels of investments to the fund managers in the face of more platforms being put in place to curtail the possibility of making the funds idle.

}p-31

Minister to oil workers: Ensure sustainability of your pension Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has advised workers in the oil and gas sector to identify structures that will enable them invest and manage their pensions under an atmosphere of sustainability.

}p-32

BUSINESS CREW AYODELE AMINU, Deputy Editor (Business) Simeon Ogoegbulem, Dep. Business Editor BAYO AKOMOLAFE, Asst. Editor (Maritime) SUNDAY OJEME, Asst. Editor (Insurance) Godson ikoro , Asst. Editor (Money Market) DAYO ADEYEMI, Property Editor ADEOLA YUSUF, Energy Editor WOLE SHADARE, Aviation Editor

KUNLE AZEEZ, Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin, Energy Nnamdi Amadi, Reporter JOHNSON ADEBAYO, Asst. Production Editor

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/business

Climate Change: FAO’s new approaches to global food security }p-33

ayodele aminu, Deputy Editor, business

ayodele.aminu@newtelegraphonline.com ayodeleaminu@yahoo.com

Insurgency: Dead soldiers’ insurance claims drop by 66% –Investigation MORE ATTACKS Claims are expected to rise in current year given the attacks on more military formations

N300 million from the entire Group Life claims, which totaled N1.95 billion. The figure represents the claims paid in 2011, while the data for 2012 were yet to be compiled.

The Group Life Assurance Scheme is a statutory provision of Section 9(3) of the Pension Reform Act 2004, which requires that all employers with not less than five employ-

ees must maintain life assurance policy in favour of each employee for a minimum of three times of the employee’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Sunday Ojeme

T

he strategies put in place by the Nigerian Armed Forces to secure its personnel from attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram sect has paid off as the security agency recorded fewer deaths in 2012 compared with 2011.

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that the insurance claims payment received by the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation on behalf of the armed forces declined by over 66 per cent from over N300 million to about N126 million.

While AIICO General Insurance Company Limited made total claims payment of N122.05 million, FBN Life Assurance Limited contributed N4.09 million, according to a document secured from the Nigerian Insurer Association (NIA).

The breakdown also revealed that the HoS received the claims between February and December 2012, while FBN Life made its own payment on September 17, 2012.

New Telegraph gathered that the dip in claims could be attributed to the extra measures put in place by the armed forces to guard against attacks on military facilities and personnel in the North East, which often leads to death of soldiers.

Prior to the new measures, military facilities were exposed to militant attacks, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, where soldiers were frequently caught unawares.

In 2011, the Armed Forces emerged the highest beneficiaries of claims settlement under the Group Life segment when it received over

CHRIS UGWU, Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa, Finance Editor

29

L-R: Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States, Ade Adefuye; Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, US Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx and Washington Fellow for Young African Leaders, Mohammed Umar, during the International Civil Aviation Organisation conference in Montreal, Canada.

CLAIMS The corporation has reached out to depositors to come up and file their claims

Godson Ikoro

O

ver 60 out of the 83 microfinance banks whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in February have been finally liquidated.

Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, disclosed this to New Telegraph in Lagos at a workshop for operators of Primary Mortgage Banks (PMBs).

60 microfinance banks liquidated, says NDIC Speaking on the liquidation of the 83 microfinance banks, the NDIC boss said that over 60 of them which have been practically located have been fully liquidated.

He explained that the corporation has not been able to locate the office addresses of the rest despite NDIC’s efforts including media appeal to the promoters, the depositors, creditors, shareholders and the general public to come forward to file their claims.

“May be they (PMBs) existed on paper, or they just disappeared as soon as the pronouncement was made.

But those being liquidated,

we have gone through their books and we have reached out to the depositors through the media to come up and file their claims,” he said.

However, Ibrahim said that NDIC has been paying those who have responded, adding that publicity has been stepped up in this respect.

NDIC is the sole agency empowered to guarantee depositors’ funds in deposit-taking financial institutions in Nigeria, including PMBs. The corporation, as an insurer, reimburses depositors of all PMBs up to a maximum of N200,000 CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3% May 2014.................................8.2%

LENDING RATE

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parallel As at Sept 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169.50 InterBank Rate . . . . . . . . . . 11.57% Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N277 Prime Lending Rate. . . . . 16.93% Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220 Maximum Lending Rate..25.83% • Foreign Reserves – $39.59bn as at 18/09/2014

EXCHANGE RATE

(Official As at Sept 19)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.75 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N255.60 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N201.26 Source: CBN

30 BUSINESS | NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

4,140 telecoms licences issued, says NCC BROADBAND The regulator said that more licences will be issued in the country’s quest to achieve deeper broadband penetration Kunle Azeez

T

he Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has, till date, issued over 4,140 licences to different players operating in the nation’s telecoms

sector, data obtained by New Telegraph has shown.

The numerous licences were catalogued in the ‘List of Licensees’ obtained from the industry regulator.

In the data, some of the licences are categorised as class licences, while others were classified as individual licences.

As such, the licences engage in diverse types of business operations in the country’s telecoms industry.

New Telegraph's analysis of the data showed that, under the class licences, NCC issued 2,623 licences to companies in the sales and installations of terminal equipment includ-

ing mobile cellular phones and HF/VHF/UHF radio and another 75 licences issued to those players in repairs and maintenance of telecoms facilities.

Other licences issued under class category, according to the Commission, include 728 licences issued to telecentres and cyber cafes and another 14 public payphone services players.

Under individual licences, the regulator said it had also issued 177 Internet service licences; 16 Unified Access Service Licences (UASL); four digital mobile licences including MTN, Glo, Etisalat and Aritel. Etisalat is among

L-R: Managing Director, Trace Nigeria, Mr Sam Onyemekwe and Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Maurice Newa, during the official press launch of Airtel Trace Music Star in Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Customs generate N3tr in three years SMUGGLING The service has acquired 30 patrol vehicles to tackle smuggling Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) has generated N3 trillion in the last three years. The amount was raked in between August 2011 and August 2014.

This year, the service collected N622.2 billion in between January and August.

And in a bid to battle smuggling at the border, the NCS has also acquired 30 patrol vehicles.

Customs spokesman, Mr Wale Adeniyi, a Deputy Comptroller, disclosed these.

Adeniyi noted that Customs made 3,961 seizures comprising rice, textile materials, poultry, wine, alcoholic beverages and vehicles.

He said that the NCS would soon commence effective Joint Border Patrol Operations with the men of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to check

the smuggling of small arms into the country.

The spokesman stressed that the Customs seized 6,000 rounds of ammunition along the nation’s border within Benin Republic at Oyo State axis.

Adeniyi explained: “The Nigeria Customs Service is planning a joint border patrol with the Nigeria Immigration Service to enhance border patrol.

“Already, the service is providing 30 patrol vehicles and have trained 300 men for the exercise in a bid to curb criminal activities along the nation’s borders.”

He warned Nigerians to be wary of internet fraudsters who use different fake platforms, especially the social media and retail sites, to dupe innocent job seekers and also advertise to sell customs-seized vehicles at ridiculous prices.

Adeniyi also advised Nigerians against purchasing smuggled cars, adding that men of the service have the backing of law to confiscate such vehicles even after they are licensed and in use for up to two years.

He said: “Once you did not import a car yourself and pay the duty yourself, we advice that if you are going to buy a

car, the wise thing to do is to cross-check if the papers being given to you are indeed genuine.

“This advice presupposes that there are people who go somewhere behind to clone some of these documents and present them as being genuine Customs duty certificates.

“We believe that if you exercise that caution, if you are patient enough to contact the nearest Customs formation, you are not likely to buy a car with fake document.

“The law actually allows us to storm anywhere we reasonably suspect that smuggling activities is taking place, even on the road. We are only looking at the convenience of Nigerians by not putting obstacles to trade or create situations that will lead to break down of law and order,” he said.

Adeniyi cited a recent instance in Lagos where “officers raided a car shop and confiscated over 30 exotic cars, including Bentley 2014, Infinity, Lexus, Rolls Royce and other such names of 2014 and 2015 models, including bullet proof ones.

“We retrieved all these from car marts that we had information about their activities,” he said.

the 16 UASL licensees.

The NCC also gave two licences to electronic directory information services operators; three to international gateway players with other special licences to eight interconnect exchanges (IXCs).

The licensed IXCs include Medallion Communications Limited, Interconnect Clearing House Limited, Breeze Micro Limited, Exchange Telecoms Limited, Solid Interconnectivity Services Limited, Niconnx Communications Limited, Telexchange Services Limited and Integrated Wireless Technologies Nigeria Limited.

Also, till date, there are 11 metropolitan (fibre) cable network licensees in the country; 22 international data access (IDA) licensees; two national carriers, including the National Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) and Globacom; and 10 national long distance operators.

The telecoms regulator has also issued three licences to public mobile communications trunk radio services operators; three international submarine cable infrastructure and landing stations services operators and 128 value-added services (VAS) licences.

Meanwhile, the data obtained from the regulator also showed that only one company is operating central equipment identity registry services licence in the country while there are 50 automated vehicle tracking service segment.

Other remaining licences include wholesale wireless access service (WWAS) held by Bitflux Consortium in the 2.6 gigahertz spectrum band issued in February, this year; six players in the Very Small Aperture Terminal (Vsat) focusing (hubs and international) with six other firms licensed to operate in the private network link (PNL) Vsat (domestic), among others.

Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, has stated that the licensing of multiple players providing different services has helped in supporting the country's economic growth.

New Telegraph however learnt that a number of licensee were no longer in operations due to the increasing competition in the sector.

Meanwhile, the telecoms industry is currently contributing over eight per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the regulator said that more licences are to be issued in the country’s quest to achieve deeper broadband penetration, which is the new growth frontier in the nation’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry.

Already, regulatory activities are on-going to issue two licences for auction of the 2.6-gigahertz spectrum band and another infrastructure companies (INFRACOS) licences in the six geo-political zones in the country.

60 microfinance firms liquidated CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

per depositor per PMB in the event of failure of such PMB. The corporation’s boss, however, said that the new coverage level represents an increase of 100 per cent of over the earlier coverage of N100,000.

He explained that NDIC has deployed a framework for financial assistance for PMBs so as to promptly intervene

and assist them on temporary liquidity problems.

Challenged that the N200,000 was too small given the amount deposited by customers who contributed millions for the mortgage, Ibrahim said that the corporation may have to undertake a survey of depositors to know how much they have deposited, to determine whether or not to jack up the coverage.

Dead soldiers’ insurance claims drop CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

annual emolument.

Meanwhile, the rundown also revealed that between January and December 2011, the various insurance companies paid several millions of naira as death benefits to other organisations under their cover.

Specifically, SA Life Assurance Limited paid sums ranging from N4.8 million to N15.19 million to the Armed Forces.

In 2011 alone, members of the Boko Haram insurgents attacked several military facilities, leading to the death of some military personnel and members of their families in the North East.

Officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force were equally not left out in the series of tragedies, a development, which compelled

the insurer in charge of the Nigeria Police Group Life policy to speak up over the rising claims being paid to the families of policemen who die on active duty.

However, considering the reinforcement that occurred on the part of the militant sect between 2013 and the current year, the claims is expected to go up considering the attacks on more military formation and the death of more soldiers, especially during series of raids on Sambisa forest.

Among other facilities that could set the underwriters back by millions of naira are some of the hardware such as Armoured Personnel Carrier and at least two helicopters that have so far been destroyed by the insurgents.

Pension

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Nigeria may lead Africa in $1bn pension investment platform DRAWCARD Fast growing pension assets have continued to attract more fund managers’ interests Sunday Ojeme

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he rapidly-growing pension assets in the country may continue to open doors and channels of investments to the fund managers in the face of more platforms being put in place to curtail the possibility of making the funds idle.

With the recent unveiling of a $1.0 billion Sovereign Infrastructure Investment Platform for African pension and sovereign wealth funds by Africa Investor (Ai) during its 7th Ai CEO Institutional Investment Summit in partnership with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE, it is almost certain that Nigeria, currently with pension assets amounting to over N4 trillion and still expected to grow faster and bigger under the reviewed Pension Reform Act 2014, will take the lead in the market.

Ai's platform The investment platform is expected to develop in close partnership with African pension and sovereign wealth funds and is uniquely designed to increase intra-African investment, which is currently at a mere five per cent compared to intra-European investment levels in excess of 70 per cent.

According to the details of the arrangement, the platform will achieve the plan through its co-investment programme designed to extend and increase the level of co-investment between not only African pension and sovereign wealth funds (both public and private), but also among their international peers.

The Ai Sovereign Infrastructure Investment Platform will therefore catalyse Africa’s domestic assets and de-risk and attract increased allocations from the $30 trillion-plus global institutional capital seeking growth.

The 7th Ai CEO Institutional Investment Summit was billed as the institutional investor community follow-up to the recent President Obama-led US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, focused on facilitating co-investments between select African and US institutional investors, including sovereign wealth and pension funds, to invest in Africa’s fastest growing sectors and capital markets.

Ai provided additional thought leadership at the Summit with the launch of its new BizClim-supported report, The African Sovereign Wealth and Pension Funds Summit Report, on mobilising domestic African capital as a tool to leverage global institutional capital.

The leading international investment and communications group affirmed that the report was launched during the 2014 Ai Heads of State Investment Advisory Council Dialogue, held in partnership with United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on

Ahonu-Amazu

Africa (UNOSAA) and Global Partnership Forum (GPF). ‘’The panel saw a further commitment from Africa’s leaders on developing a conducive environment for improving the participation and regulatory environment for African pension and sovereign wealth funds, based on the recommendations from the Ai BizClim-supported report on facilitating co-investments with African pension and sovereign wealth fund capital for infrastructure investment on the continent,’’ Ai affirmed.

The Vice-Chairman of Ai, Hubert Danso, said they were delighted with the level of participation of African and global institutional investors, and the realisation that Ai’s co-investment platform not only benefits Africa’s growth, but the global economy also, through reciprocal international allocations and the creation of new markets.

Nigeria's huge assets In recent times, Nigeria’s growing pension assets have stirred more investment debates with experts believing the time has come to grow the funds bigger by moving part of it into areas not originally considered while planning the investment guidelines.

After series of successful investments in the instruments sanctioned by the Pension Reform Act 2004, the Pension Fund Administrators are moving further to locate more investment opportunities to channel the funds currently put at over N4.4 trillion. Besides the PFAs who are statutorily in charge of taking investment decisions as sanctioned by the National Pension Commission, other experts are also indicating interests in how the funds could be invested to enable it grow further.

Apart from the Summit put together

by Ai, Africonomie, a leading emerging markets investment marketing and communication firm also concluded programme on Wednesday aimed at discussing the pension issues espe-

Ideva

cially in Africa.

Previous interests Members of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), early in the year, held a meeting with the United States Agency for International Development in a bid to plough some of the assets into energy.

The discussion with the international agency, according to reports, stemmed from the fund managers’ fear of inadequate and reliable investment instruments with the belief that in the next few years, if no new instrument comes up, investment returns might be hampered if they continue to rely only on government bonds.

According to one of the administrators and the Managing Director, ARM Pensions Limited, Mr Sadiq Mohammed, the issuance of bond in the Nigerian market is reducing and yields also would begin to taper with time, so there might be drought of investment instruments going forward.

He said: “From the capital market, we expect new issues to come up as stakeholders including the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) are working on the background to woo more firms to list in the market, and that we expect will bring liquidity.

He also hinted that alternative assets were coming into the market to access pension funds, expressing hope that all of these would offer investment

The investment platform is expected to develop in close partnership with African pension and sovereign wealth funds and is uniquely designed to increase intraAfrican investment

opportunities for the PFAS. According to the details of USAID project that stirred the PFAs’ interest, the international agency, through its initiative, Nexant, in January 2013, signed a memorandum of cooperation with African Biofuel and Renewable Energy Company for the promotion of Clean Energy Financing in West Africa.

Obviously, the discussion with USAID is seen by observers as a positive step by the PFAs to move part of the fast-growing funds into another reliable entity for safe keeping and profit.

With the assets prudently spread across the instruments stipulated by the extant law, some experts still believe that more could be done as regards locating other profit-yielding investment areas that more of the funds can be channelled into.

Experts' opinion Africonomie, which assists capital owners, sovereigns, corporates and investment managers establish contacts, communicate their corporate strategy as well as make effective business decisions, believes that the growing pension assets should be pushed further into some other instruments in order to give it a higher leap in returns than it is currently witnessing.

A partner at Africonomie, Mr. Stanley Austin, had highlighted that with the pension assets still growing, there was an urgent need for the PFAs to look beyond traditional investment instruments, and proactively engage local, regional and international investment managers in creating investment products and implementing investment strategies that would maximise the growth potential of asset under management.

The group with partnership in major African countries also believes that recent market activities by the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority have increased investor appetite as CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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business | PENSION

MANAGEMENT International standard and framework will allow for proper pension management Sunday Ojeme

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inister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, has advised workers in the oil and gas sector to identify structures that will enable them invest and manage their pensions under an atmosphere of sustainability.

Madueke gave the advice during a meeting to intervene in the crisis between the oil workers and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over pension contribution deficit.

She said there was need for the Union to embrace an international standard pension fund structure and framework to ensure that the pension fund was invested and managed to

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Minister to oil workers: Ensure sustainability of your pension

guarantee sustainability.

The oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had embarked on an industrial action last week following some deficits noticed in the contribution of the workers to their pension pool.

The discovery prompted the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to withdraw the corporation’s operational licence for Closed Pension Fund Administrator.

The five-day strike by the workers, which subsequently resulted to partial fuel scarcity in some part of the Federal Capital Territory, was eventually called off after the intervention of the minister who also promised to ensure that the pension

gap would be filled.

PENCOM had alleged that the NNPC lacked the capacity to run such a scheme in view of its inability to bridge the funding gap of the scheme, which climbed to about N85 billion between 2010 and 2014.

Also discussed at the meeting was the constitution of an ad hoc committee comprising representatives from the NNPC management, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Retirement and Saving Account and Corporate Services & Legal Department to work out modalities and framework to sustain the NNPC Pension scheme along the oil and gas private

sector lines.

At the height of the disagreement last week, PenCom advised the oil corporation to tread with caution and put its house in order with a promise to ensure that the impasse was addressed within the shortest possible time.

A source from the commission said the problem at the corporation came up because the management failed to do the necessary things required of Closed Pension Fund Administrators.

The source however expressed hope for an early resolution of the matter, saying the commission only did the appropriate thing to protect the

workers in whose interest the Contributory Pension Scheme was put in place.

According to the source, “The problem is more of an internal problem between the NNPC workers and the management. The commission has to intervene when the defects on the part of the NNPC management was discovered.

“There are guidelines to be followed in terms of contributions and remittance, which make the scheme perfect. It becomes a problem when one starts noticing deficits in what should be remitted. The workers are agitating because some deficits were noticed in the amount contributed.”

Nigerian may lead Africa in pension investment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

well as enhanced the global perception of Nigeria’s investment landscape.

Operators' guide In the words of the Managing Director of Premium Pension Limited, Mr Wilson Ideva, “the guidelines allow for infrastructure investment but it must be done through structured instruments. We cannot gamble with the pension assets.

“The industry is going to wax stronger and stronger.

The industry does not have problem with investment in infrastructure but we must go for safety first because we can’t come back to tell people stories.”

As at May this year, it was disclosed that the PFA had invested about N2.7 trillion in FGN Securities, representing 63.39 per cent investment of the fund value then.

About N602 billion was also invested in shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, representing a 14.3 per cent investment of the fund.

Similarly, a total of N228.4 billion was invested in the Real Estate Properties while N9.3 billion was invested in the Private Equity Fund.

The report further showed that N335.2 billion was invested in the Local Money Market Securities, N286 billion in Foreign Money Market Securities and N22 billion in Open/Close End Funds.

The Commission had N46.2 billion in cash and other assets during the period.

Regulator's view The Acting Director-General, PenCom, Mrs Chinelo

Anohu-Amazu, while speaking on Regulation on Investment of Pension Fund Assets, said that Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) shall only take written instructions from licensed PFAs with respect to the PFAs investment and management of pension fund assets held in the custody of the Pension Fund Custodian (PFCs) on behalf of the contributors.

According to her, “the PFAs, in discharging their contractual functions to contributors under the new contributory scheme shall not contract out the investment or management of pension fund assets to third parties, except for open or close end or hybrid funds and specialist investment funds allowed by the regulation.

“The PFAs shall maintain RSA ‘Active’ and ‘Retiree’ Funds, as provided to govern the investment of pension fund assets until effective implementation of the Multi-Fund Structure. In addition to the requirements of other guidelines issued by the Commission on corporate governance, ethics and business practices, each PFA shall establish an Investment Strategy Committee as well as a Risk Management Committee, in compliance with Section 66 of the Pension Reform Act, 2004 (“the Act” or “PRA 2004”).

“The Investment Strategy Committee, in addition to other functions specified in the Act, shall formulate internal investment strategies to enable compliance with this regulation, taking into cognizance the macro-economic environment as well as the investment objectives and risk profile of the PFA Funds.”

L-R: Member, KCMB Microfinance Bank, Mrs Adekemi Akande; Chairman, Board of Directors, Mr Demola Banu; Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Director of the bank, Mr Alex Okoh, during the presentation of dividend of KCMB to the governor in Ilorin.

Retiree laments spending pension funds in fighting insurgency

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Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) pensioner has called on the Federal Government to pay up the four-month arrears of pensions owe the retirees of the privatised power sector.

The pensioner, Pastor Jackson Emeka Edomobi, also decried the rumour making the rounds among the pensioners that the Federal Government had diverted their pensions to the fight against Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

In a chat with New Telegraph, he said there was no reason politicians appointed into offices would continue to receive their salaries and allowances while pensioners who worked hard for the country are subjected to all

forms of difficulties.

He said: “How can you explain a situation where those in power earn their salaries every month but what we are hearing is that our pension is being used to fight Boko Haram. That is very unfair.

If the situation matters so much to them why don’t they make their salaries available for that purpose?”

Edomobi also recalled the plight of some of the pensioners who are facing life threatening ailments, saying that apart from those who had passed on, some of them who were still alive had no money to purchase the prescribed drugs.

He said even with the transfer of the pension li-

abilities from the Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company to the Pension Transition Arrangement Department, it was still difficult for the money to be paid as at when due because the Ministry of Finance has refused to fund the agency.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government to fund the agency to enable us receive our stipend at the end of the month. If it is true that the money have been diverted t6o fight Boko Haram we want them to put a stop to that. As much as we hate what is going on with regard to insecurity I believe it is a bad decision on the part of government to pick on pensioners’ for that purpose,” he added.

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Friday, September 26, 2014

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Rain forest

Climate Change: FAO’s new approaches to global food security HOPE Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) offers new approaches to improve food security against climate change

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he Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has identified two new approaches to food security in the face of climate change.

FAO’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, in a speech he delivered at the just concluded UN Climate Summit at its Rome headquarters, noted that overcoming climate change is central to achieving a sustainable future for the planet’s growing population, adding that food security must lie at the heart of that effort.

He said: “We cannot call development sustainable while hunger still robs over 800 million people of the opportunity to live a decent life. While in the past efforts to feed the world focused on boosting agricultural output to produce more food, today’s challenges, including climate change, demand a new approach.

“We need to shift to more sustainable food systems – food systems that produce more, with less environmental damage – food systems that promote sustainable consumption, since nowadays we waste or lose one third to half of what we produce,” he added.

Noting that hunger persists despite the fact that the planet produces enough food to feed all

of humanity, Graziano da Silva said: “Producing enough food for all is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition for food security. People are not hungry because food is not available, but because they do not have access to it.

“Climate change has a direct bearing both on agricultural production and on people’s ability to access food and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to dealing with these challenges. FAO welcomes the commitments being made to address climate change. FAO can support them as part of our capacity-building projects at country level. We are ready to work with you to successfully address the impacts of climate change on food security.

This is a necessary step to the hunger-free world and sustainable future we want,” he added.

The FAO chief, who noted that there are many alternatives to address climate change and ensure sustainable food security, said: “We need to keep all the doors open to face the adaptation needed to cope with the climate change and assure food for all in the near future.”

One valuable approach, he added, was what is known as “climate-smart agriculture,” adjusting farming practices to make them more adaptive and resilient to environmental pressures, while at the same time decreasing farming’s own impacts on the environment.

Graziano da Silva welcomed the launch at the summit of a new Global Alliance on ClimateSmart Agriculture, a broad coalition of stakeholders, including governments; farmers and food producers, processors and

Rain forest

sellers; scientific and educational organisations; civil society actors; multilateral and international agencies and the private sector.

The alliance will work together to promote sustainable and equitable increases in agricultural productivity and incomes; build greater resilience of food systems and farming livelihoods; and achieve reductions

In Nigeria, 14 million farmers have mobile phones to receive coupons for seeds and fertilisers and in future they could access crop insurance, information about pests and diseases and weather forecasts the key to adaptation is technology - mobile phones, radio and mass media

or removals of greenhouse gas emissions by agriculture.

Graziano da Silva also highlighted “agro-ecology” as a promising approach to moving food production onto a more sustainable path.

The approach uses ecological theory to study and manage agricultural systems in order to make them both more productive and better at conserving natural resources.

Last week, FAO hosted a major event on the approach, where participants called for UN-wide initiative on agro-ecology in order to help sustainably promote food security, address climate change, and build resilience.

“There are many paths to food security and sustainable development. Governments need to choose the solutions that best respond to their specific needs,” Graziano da Silva said.

The latest UN report on world hunger: The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014, released last week, found that while the number of people who experience chronic hunger was reduced by 100 million over the past decade, today, 805 million people still go without enough to eat on a regular basis.

Meanwhile, the international network of agricultural research groups (CGIAR), has said that no fewer than 500 mil-

lion farmers face a food production crisis, particularly for the staples rice and maize.

The group, which made the announcement at the UN Climate Summit, said that it has committed majority of its funding to help farmers adapt to climate change.

The network of research groups of vegetables, rice, wheat and corn, irrigation and livestock is investing 60 per cent of its budget on climate adaptation.

Director of climate change, agriculture and food security CGIAR, Bruce Campbell, said that the key to adaptation is technology - mobile phones, radio and mass media.

Climate smart villages in India are reducing irrigation water by 30 per cent through laser-levelling farm fields.

In Nigeria, 14 million farmers have mobile phones to receive coupons for seeds and fertilisers and in future they could access crop insurance, information about pests and diseases and weather forecasts.

In India, 13 million farmers have access to government insurance to cover weather disasters.

The CGIAR is hosting Development Dialogues at the UN Climate talks in New York to see how it can reach 500 million farmers.

34 BUSINESS | AGRIC REVENUE Gross revenue for local rice was N750 billion last three years

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he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that crop production grew at 3.6 per cent y/y, or double the rate recorded in the corresponding period of the previous year in its national accounts for Q2 2014 report.

Rice segment is a core element of the crop production sub-sector. Based on industry reports, the volume of rice imported through the country’s seaport terminals declined to 135,000 tonnes in the first eight months of this year from 386,000 tonnes in the comparable period of 2013. (These are not figures for total rice

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Nigeria records growth in crop production l Ogun begins rice harvest imports.)

In the past three years, gross revenue from local rice production amounted to N750 billion, with farmers and small-scale rice processors generating a net income of N407 billion.

Nigeria is becoming less dependent on rice importation as government support for local farming yields positive results.

The Agriculture Minister, Akinwunmi Adesina, has stressed the need to tackle the

huge foreign exchange import bill of about N365 billion (US$2.3 billion) spent on rice annually. Through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) farmers have increased rice paddy output to over 2.8 million metric tonnes (mmt). The Federal Government’s target is that Nigeria will become a net rice exporter by 2017.

Within the past two years, the industry has experienced a sevenfold increase in the mill-

Rice plantation

FUNAAB-WAAPP scheme targets 8m fingerlings

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he Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) and West African Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP-Nigeria)’s project on acquaculture is expected to yield eight million fingerlings and at least 10,000 brood stocks of different species of fish for farmers across the country.

Speaking on the scheme, the director, Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR-FUNAAB), Akin Omotayo, noted that the programme was initiated to ensure multiplication of fingerlings and brood stocks of different species of fish, cutting unnecessary dependence on fish importation on the long run.

The scheme is aimed at massive production of fingerlings and brood stocks of various species of fish for onward distribution to farmers.

This is a follow-up to Federal Government Acquaculture Scheme from which farmers get about 500 juveniles and five bags of floating feeds each annually.

Earlier, a N47.5 million monetary grant was given to FU-

NAAB by the WAAPP-Nigeria last year, for improved collaborative activities in the multiplication of cassava, tuber cuttings, maize seed and fingerlings multiplication and brood stock production for southwest farmers.

Going by the agreement reached for the implementation of the acquaculture component of the FUNAAB-WAAPP project, WAAP-Nigeria has however donated a cooling van to the university for the production of millions of fingerlings and brood stocks of different species of fish for onward transfer to farmers across the country.

Fish pond

ing capacity of paddy.

Currently there are 13 new integrated rice mills while the Bank of Industry (BoI) plans to establish a N13 billion rice intervention fund to set up a further ten.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State government has started rice harvesting at its 250 hectares rice farm in Eggua Yewa North Local Government Area.

Speaking at the harvesting of the 50 hectares that are ready, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Ronke Sokefun, said that the project has shown the commitment of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration at increasing food production in the state.

Mrs Sokefun said that the Nerika 8 rice will be processed

according to international standard and will be available for local consumption.

She, therefore, lauded Governor Ibikunle Amosun for his support for agricultural development in the state, adding that when all government effort matures, Ogun State will become self-sufficient in food production.

Also, the Eleggua of Eggualand, Oba Michael Dosunmu, thanked the state government for citing the project in his domain.

He noted that the project has promoted job opportunities for local farmers while many more have been empowered through the project and promised his subjects’ loyalty to the state government.

Adesina

Amosu

Experts rate made-in-Nigeria flash dryers high PRAISES BoI The expert lauded BoI for partnering with the institution

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xperts from the University of Greenwich and the Natural Resources Institute, both in the United Kingdom, have rated made-in-Nigeria flash dryers as a good tool for cassava processing that can be exported.

A food safety and quality expert, Dr. Andrew Graffham, and consulting engineer also from the institute, Dr. Andrew Marchant, who made the assessment when they visited Nobex Technical Industries in Lagos.

The experts were in the country to promote utilisation of cassava and other nontraditional products under the “Cassava: Adding Value to Africa” programme (C:AVA), funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. C:AVA involves Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

The programme works in

collaboration with the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta.

“In connection with what is going on here today, we’ve been working with a range of fabricators here in Nigeria, particularly with Nobex Industries to try and improve the processing equipment that the company produces, to make it more cost-efficient and to get a better output, lower cost per tonne and generally improve the build quality,” Graffham said.

He added: “Nobex has exported one of its products to a commercial factory in Malawi and I believe that there will be a lot more export and I think that is very significant, because this is not Nigeria importing products now, but this is Nigeria-made equipment being sold in another country and the people there are very happy with the product.”

Graffham also commended BoI for partnering with the company under the Cassava Bread Fund initiative which has procured about 20 flash dryers for small and medium

enterprises (SMEs) across the country for the production of high quality cassava flour (HQCF).

“Under the programme, we are interested in working with SMEs, of which there are many across the country; processing equipment and improving the efficiency of them is quite an important area for us. And that has been going on now for more than six years, what you see today and what’s been done with the Bank of Industry has been a good collaborative effort,” he said.

On his part, Marchant noted that the impact of cassava development in Nigeria was encouraging and has also been felt by the fabricators of equipment as there are now factories with more machinery and 10 times the number of people that used to work in them.

“Another good thing we see is that the scale and quality of machinery is increasing, it is bigger and better, it would be a nice thing to display imported machineries with what can be produced here and import only what cannot be made here in Nigeria,” he said.

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Cocoa Corporation targets 500,000mt by 2015 LAGGARD Nigeria's 350,000 tons current production is behind Ghana's 1 million tons

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aring the unexpected, the Cocoa Corporation, which is expected to become operational this year will facilitate the increase of the production from the current 350,000 metric tons to the targeted 500,000 metric tons by 2015.

Team leader, Cocoa Value Chain Development, Peter Aikpokpodion, noted that the cocoa transformation agenda of the Federal Government driven by the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has targeted the doubling of cocoa production from 250,000 in 2011 to 500,000 by 2015. He said: “In 2012, we recorded an increase and the record provided by the Federal Produce Inspection Service, which is domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, provided the figure of cocoa expert, which was 300,000 metric tons. It also gave us a figure of 350,000 metric tons, as of July, as the 2013 production figure. So, you can see how gradually we have improved and consistently from 250,000 metric tons in 2011 to 350,000 metric tons in 2013, which means 100,000 metric tons have been added.”

Aikpokpodion attributed the increase of 100,000 metric tons achieved between 2011 and 2013 to the impact of the Cocoa Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), which is different from the regular GES for other aspects of agriculture in addition to a shift in the mind-set of farmers towards taking cocoa production as real business.

He added that the GES programme was tailored to meet the critical inputs that a cocoa farmer needs, such as agrochemicals, to counter black pod diseases, insect that attack the pods and also fertiliser to make sure that cocoa trees pro-

duce well.

“Even though farmers before now have not been using fertiliser, because from the study we carried out, not many Nigerian farmers used fertiliser. I can tell you, last year, we succeeded, for the first time, to introduce a specifically formulated fertiliser for cocoa. This is the cocoa fertilizer, which was brought to the country and it is part of the efforts of the transformation agenda to make Nigeria farmers to use fertiliser. So, you can see the need of cocoa farmers – agro-chemicals, fertiliser and improved seeds/seedlings,” he said.

He added: “These are not just what they used to plant, which were un-selected materials. Now, there is a deliberate attempt to provide highly superior cocoa varieties our farmers. So, unlike the gener-

al GES which provides seeds and fertiliser to farmers, cocoa farmers get agro-chemicals, insecticides, fungicides and they get cocoa fertiliser as well as hybrid pods.”

Aikpokpodion, who stated that it is a fact that Nigeria’s production is now 350,000 tons, lamented that Nigeria is behind what Ghana produces.

“Ghana produces between 850,000 tons and 1.0 million now and Cote d’Ivoire produces between 1.2 million and 1.4 million. Definitely, that is clear and Nigeria lags behind them.

The way we are approaching this is not about competing, but it’s about taking a greater share of the world cocoa market. Now, I can tell you, the cocoa market is such that cocoa beans done account just for about 10 per cent of the whole market value,” he said.

Lemon grass

Nigeria records rise in demand for tea

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tea, which had a share of 35 per cent of the market in 2013, according to Euromonitor and Promasidor Nigeria Limited, producing Top Tea. Imported tea, especially those that are health-related, such as anti-hypertension tea, anti-malaria tea, coughsputum removing tea, and Moringa tea from Asian countries, particularly China, are also flooding the market.

Fruit -flavoured teas, mainly from the United States and Britain also have strong market share.

The market has also seen the entry of medium and small-sized indigenous producers of tea in the last five years.

Managing Director, Ruchin Limited, producer of Master Tea bags and Moringa Herbal Tea, Teju Bolujoko, said there are many opportunities for investors along the value chain in large scale production of tea leaves, sales or leasing of the production equipment, servicing of equipment, production of the packages and in distribution.

Also, managing director of Noble Icon, Patrick Inelo, another tea bag production company, affirms that opportunities exist along the value chain.

Inelo said: “The tea bags, the thread and the paper we use are food grade papers, so we have to ensure we use high quality, so that they would not dissolve in the water when being consumed and this is usually scarce and often not available locally, so about 80 per cent of these food grade papers are imported, due to the exchange rate, they are relatively expensive and the prices fluctuate.”

fewer than 200 delegates Ntheoboth within and outside 200 delegates for agric confab country are expected to

and International Financial Institutions with the view of connecting the vast investment opportunities of Nigeria Agriculture with local and international investors.”

The objectives of the conference include to educate key investors and financiers about the prospects and the opportunities open to private sector players in the Nigerian agriculture sector, showcase in practical terms how investors can navigate the regulatory environment and structure their investments whilst addressing the attendant risks and bring together the public.

attend the inaugural Nigeria Agriculture Investment Conference.

Organisers of the conference, which has as theme: Transforming Nigeria into a global food powerhouse, Cowrie Partners, said: “We expect that as much as 200 delegates will attend this event from within and outside of Nigeria. These will be made up of the organised private sector, companies in the agriculture and allied industries, Nigeria’s international development partners, Nigerian banks

Cocoa trees

and international financiers, private equity fund managers, commercial lawyers, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and multilateral financial institutions, embassies and academics.

“This event will also provide a forum for international and local investors to meet one-onone with major players in agribusiness and key government officials, thus establishing the necessary rapport that leads to the making of beneficial investments,” it added.

The conference, which holds in Lagos will focus on sustainable sources of Agriculture funding and how to address the attendant risks.

On the need for the conference, the Cowrie Partners said: “With only 40 per cent of her 84 million hectares of arable land cultivated, plus 263 billion cubic meters of water, having two of the largest rivers in Africa, Nigeria can be said to have immense agricultural potential. In addition, Nigeria has the required manpower to

ea consumption in Nigeria has been growing by five per cent annually since 2008, creating a bigger market not yet fully tapped by local investors and steady exploitation of the opportunities by importers, Euromonitor, an international research organisation which studies markets by categories in countries, has said.

According to Euromonitor, tea sales are growing steadily in Nigeria due to an increase in the formal working culture, westernisation, health reasons and the marketing activities of domestic key players.

Annual per capita consumption of tea in 2009 was 23 grammes. With a population of 160 million, this amounts to 3.68 million kilogrammes. Per capita consumption of tea rose to 28 grammes in 2013, with a population of 165 million; this amounts to total tea consumption of 4.62 million kilogrammes last year.

If consumption annual growth rate continues at five per cent in 2014, per capital tea consumption would be 29.3 grammes. With a population of 170 million, this would amount to annual tea consumption of five million kg at year-end.

With most locally produced conventional tea brands usually in 50 gramme packs which are the highest in supply, costing about N200, tea consumption estimated to reach five million kilogrammes this year would hit N20 billion by year-end. Imported, medicinal and flavoured teas cost much higher than N200, so the market-size is bigger than that.

The key players dominating the market are Unilever, producer of Lipton Yellow Label

support agricultural expansion. The country’s population of 170 million provides a huge market. Determined to unlock this great potential, the government launched the Agricultural Transformation Agenda in 2011, with the goal of adding an additional 20 million MT of food to the domestic food supply by 2015 and stimulating the creation of 3.5 million jobs along the agricultural value chains.”

It added: “There is therefore a need to engage the private sector, investors, local banks

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CHALLENGES The meeting will address some of the challenges

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etermined to become a vegetable hub in Nigeria, Kwara State has organised a stakeholders meeting to mitigate against the prevalent challenge of spoilage and access to market, which has riddled the fresh fruits and vegetable business in the state.

Kwara State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Mr Adebisi Buhari, at a stakeholders meeting on vegetable production and marketing in his office, said: “Researches and demonstrations have proven lately that fruits and vegetable production can thrive very well in this ecological zone and we can take advantage of the proximity and huge market availability of Lagos and Ibadan.”

He added that frantic efforts are being made to collaborate with other stakeholders in the area of marketing so as to reduce the wastage being experienced by vegetable and fruit farmers seasonally.

Also at the meeting, the President, Agriculture and Mining Association of Nigeria, Kwara State, Bolaji Atunse, said that his organisation is working towards improving the well-being of farmers in the state by helping to solve the problem of marketing once and for all.

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Kwara moves to avoid wastages in fruits, vegetables “A lot of wastage has occurred in the past which has driven many away from the business, but we have now identified five locations in Lagos State - Mile 12, Sandros, Maroko, Whitesand and Mile 2, where we hope to supply directly to from various production sites in Ilorin. Kwara is strategically located in a

suitable ecological zone with a perennial stream capable of supporting production, therefore, I see this move as capable of changing our farmers’ economic fortunes,” he said.

Speaking in the same vein, the State Coordinator, Youth in Agriculture, Alhaja Zhurirat Romoke Zubair applauded the Federal Ministry of Agri-

culture for its untiring effort at ensuring that farmers get rewarded for their labour.

She said: “This meeting will help overcome some of the problem of wastage recorded in the past due to inability to access markets. If we are able to get it right, our group is poised to further contribute to the gross food need of Kwara

State and, by extension, Nigeria, in the area of both vegetables and food production.”

Other stakeholders present at the meeting include various farmer associations such as Youth for Farming Association, New Generation Commercial Farmers, New Face Farming Group and other agricultural cooperative unions.

Fruits and vegetables

Zambia firm to invest in palm Firm embarks on local production of rice oil plantation in Nigeria, Ghana O

R

eputed as the largest integrated agribusinesses in Zambia, Zambeef Products Plc is in the process of rolling out its West Africa expansion in Nigeria and Ghana.

It also plans to develop a palm project in Zambia.

The group is principally involved in the production, processing, distribution and retailing of beef, chicken, pork, milk, dairy products, eggs, edible oils, stock feed and flour. The group also has large row cropping operations (principally maize, soya beans and wheat), with approximately 8,350 hectares of row crops under irrigation and 17,000 hectares of rain-fed/dryland crops available for plant-

Oil palm plantation

ing each year.

It slaughters over 80,000 beef cattle and six million chickens, and processes eight million litres of milk per year.

The company has 122 retail outlets throughout the country, along with three wholesale depots.

Zambeef recently invested in multi-million dollar palm oil plantation in its home country.

The massive ZamPalm development in Mpika District, experts said, is expected to remove the need for the nation to import cooking oil from other countries, which could save over $50 million a year in foreign exchange.

ne of Nigeria’s major importers of rice, Elephant Group, has embarked on the local production of the commodity.

To achieve its aim, the group said that it has embarked on a $50 million equity injection.

Managing Director, Elephant Group, Mr Tunji Owoeye, said this during a visit to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, in Abuja.

He said: “We have done about 1,000 hectares in Moni-

ya, Oyo State, for two seasons.

The company has acquired 9,5000 ha, first, in Guza and has got approval of another 5,000 ha in Baro, both in Niger State, for fully mechanised rice farming. Because of our position in rice industry, we don’t want to lose that. We take this very seriously. We also want to take over Veetee in Ewekoro, Ogun State. As chairman of rice importers association, our buying into rice production is going to send strong signals to others in the industry.

Iran, Nigeria seek enhanced agricultural cooperation Deputy Minister of AgIeiran’s ricultural Jihad, Khalil Aqaand visiting Nigeria’s head

of Agriculture Commission, Mohammad Taher Mongono, have held talks on ways to expand bilateral cooperation on agriculture.

During the meeting held in the Iranian Agriculture Jihad Ministry, Aqaei called for implementation of the agreements already signed by Iran-Nigeria Joint Economic Commission.

“Fertile lands and existing potentials make up for Iran and Nigeria to develop agricultural cooperation,” Aqaei said.

He noted that Iran enjoys enormous expert, technical and scientific capacities in the field of agriculture and voiced

the country’s readiness to help Nigeria develop her agricultural industry.

Aqaei also said that the Islamic Republic of Iran was ready to train Nigerian experts either in Iran or Nigeria and facilitate their visits to Iranian research centres.

Mongono, however, said that Nigeria is highly-dependant on oil revenues, adding that the country was seeking to get rid of single product economy and diversify its income-generating resources.

“We are looking for food security in Nigeria and therefore want to focus on agriculture,” he said.

He stressed the need to establish close relationship with Iran in the field of agriculture.

“We are going to be the watchdog for government. Whoever does not have short term plan of backward integration will not be allowed in our association.

We will not welcome traders from outside, except they are going to invest in production.

Our company is one of the major GES supporters. We want to support them to continue to produce rice,” he added.

Owoeye requested for one of the 10 new rice mills, which the Federal Government had just approved.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, who granted Owoeye’s request, said: “Our ports should not be for just letting goods in. Our ports should be for export too.

Nigeria should be a net exporter of rice.”

While expressing delight at First City Monument Bank’s (FCMB’s) support for Elephant Group’s rice project, Adesina noted that “rice market trade information system needs to be put in place.”

FCMB’s head of Agricultural Business Finance, Kudzai Gumunyu, remarked that “given that Elephant Group, one of the largest importers, is trying to go into production, makes us happy, as out growers will be financed, apart from the core investor.”

Gumunyu expressed FCMB’s seriousness in agricultural financing, saying that “we are ready to support where we find serious investors.”

autoBEATS

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Peugeot Exaults 40 cars in Paris Paul Ogbuokiri

A

s preparation for the 2014 Paris Motor Show gets underway, Automobile Peugeot AP, France, has said it would display 40 cars across a 4,000sqm stand in Hall One of the Paris Motor Show.

Vice President, Mr. Yves Moulin said the new Peugeot 308 GT and Peugeot 508 are perfect examples of the brand’s upmarket shift and technological expertise that would be on display.

He said, the Peugeot Exalt and Quartz Concept cars, yet to make their way into the Nigerian market, demonstrate a distinctive, high-end combination of thrills and efficiency.

According to international motoring journalists review of the event slated to open October 2, the auto maker’s technological prowess in enhancing the experience behind the wheel while developing environment-friendly solutions holds centre stage with the Peugeot 208 2L HYbrid Air demonstrator, backed by the roll-out of new Euro 6 engines, including the PureTech and 1.6-litre THP petrol versions and the BlueHDi diesel power plants, which have a one-year lead over their legislative introduction.

They said the limited edition, Peugeot 208 GTi 30th, presented alongside the 2008 DKR, illustrates the expertise of Peugeot Sport and its ability to meet the specific needs of individual customers while rising to the challenges of the most demanding competition environments.

Media Manager of AP Peugeot France, Marc Bocqué in an online press statement to New Telegraph, states that Peugeot continues to build on its position as a leader in innovation, clean technology and connectivity. He said that the Paris booth devotes individual areas to each of these

issues, providing visitors an opportunity to discover the latest advances in Euro 6 engines and fuel efficiency, including: • BlueHDi diesel engines combining performance and low fuel consumption; • three-cylinder turbocharged PureTech petrol engines; • the PEUGEOT 208 HYbrid Air 2L demonstrator, reflecting the cutting edge of fuel efficiency.

According to Bocqué, there is also a clear focus on solutions involving the car and connectivity, reflecting a new trend for the 21st century vehicle.

He also said that the auto maker offers a full range of technology and services designed to enhance the automotive experience through a continuous connection between the driver, the car and the world outside: • Peugeot Connect SOS and Peugeot Con-

nect Assistance, for emergency calls and breakdown assistance, already featured on over one million vehicles; • Peugeot Connect Apps, a portal for connected apps (Coyote, Fuel, Parking, etc.), providing real-time support to make daily driving easier, shown on 19 models in the Peugeot 208, 2008, new 308 and new 508 ranges on display; • Two terminals demonstrating Mirror Screen, which can duplicate smartphone content on the car’s touch screen; • Link MyPeugeot and Scan MyPeugeot, to extend the in-car experience on a smartphone and provide an interactive driver’s manual.

Four virtual-reality 3D terminals equipped with Oculus Rift headsets provide a fun, immersive Peugeot Connect experience, featuring Link MyPeugeot

(“Find my car” and “Last mile guidance” functions) and Peugeot Connect SOS & Assistance.

“Peugeot’s Paris stand also features the Django, the latest addition to its scooter line. Beautifully designed and fresh out of the fifties, the new member of the family impressively revamps the S57, the first scooter ever made by the lion brand.

With its timeless retro design, the Django is available as a three-cylinder (50, 125 and 150cc) with four types of finish. It also offers endless scope for customisation, with the Django ID configurator allowing customers to create their own scooter from A to Z, personalising everything from the colourway to the saddle and mirrors. It represents a groundbreaking new departure for Peugeot Scooters, offering over 110,000 possible combinations,” Bocqué said.

Weststar to reward Jeep owners

W

eststar Associates Limited has announced a partnership with the Starwood Hotels Nigeriaparent company of Sheraton, Le Meridien and Four Points by Sheraton in Nigeria, to give chance to its customers to be part of a loyalty programme, tagged the Jeep plus Programme.

The company said in a statement signed by the Public Relation/Compliance Manager, Funmi Lawuyi that the customers include either purchasers of Jeep vehicles from Weststar or any of its dealers, or owners of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) vehicles who patronise its after-sales services.

She said signs of the unique partnership were already indicated in the SPG

Golf tournament which took place at Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort in June, where Weststar sponsored the event by offering a Jeep Grand Cherokee as the prize for the hole-in-one shot winner.

“Now Jeep customers get to enjoy preferential treatment with exciting rewards as the promising partnership earns them a complimentary registration into the Starwood group of hotels’ Preferred Guests loyalty programme (SPG) worldwide,” she said.

She said enrolment into the Jeep plus SPG Programme comes with a Jeep plus Card as evidence of membership, adding that numerous benefits include discounts on Jeep: accessories, mainte-

nance parts and labour, as well as overthe-counter spare parts, .

Lawuyi further stated that the partnership with Starwood Hotels Nigeria also ensures that the Jeep customers enjoy benefits of the Starwood Preferred Guest Programme (SPG) which comes with its own rewards and much more.

“They will enjoy certain discounts on hotel rates, restaurants and bars rates, Spa and Gym facilities,” she said.

The Starwood Group of Hotels and Restaurants in Nigeria comprise Sheraton Abuja Hotel, Sheraton Lagos Hotel (Ikeja), Four Points by Sheraton Lagos, Le Meridien Ogeyi Place Port Harcourt, and Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort.

38

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Treasure Durodola: Media too hard on female politicians Funke Treasure Durodola has always dreamt of being a broadcaster. Now the General Manager of Radio One, FRCN, Ikoyi, Lagos, she is not only living her dream, she is poised to help aspiring journalists make the most of their chosen profession and the Nigerian woman, reach the top. EBERE AMEH had a chat with her

F

unke Treasure Durodola is one of those women who hold all the aces – she’s got beauty and brains, a happy family and a very flourishing career in her dream field. Having had a passion for broadcasting all her life, she followed her calling and today, she is not just a world class broadcaster, she is the General Manager in FRCN. Her personal magnetism, sonorous voice and wits have all helped her to power her calling to the pinnacle of her career.

“I have always dreamt of being a broadcaster. Growing up in a military barracks to parents who loved the radio, I developed a love for the airwaves and fantasised about the time I will be a broadcaster. My dad was a news junkie when I was growing up, news hours on radio and TV were a must. So I developed interest in news delivery.”

Her passion for broadcasting was so intense that she has to access professional training in Broadcast Journalism from home and abroad. Now a certified media trainer, she has just completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Rhodes University, South Africa. Plying her trade in broadcasting for over 19 years, Durodola said she was ‘pleasantly surprised’ when she was made the GM of Radio One because she didn’t see it coming.

Treasure, as she is popularly called on radio, a name which has stuck with her over the years, is not just a consummate broadcaster and producer, she is one woman on a mission to use her profession to support her fellow women and the youth to rise above the limitations and cultural encumbrances militating against their progress.

“If you are familiar with my on-air persona, I always stand for women and children. I have done a lot of work on women and children issues and I think journalists should help and do proper gender supportive reporting.”

While her feature report on female condom at the Seme boarder fetched her the Finalist Category of the CNN/ Multichoice African journalists award 2007, another, a 13 week series on street children titled “Voices from the street” earned her the NMMA Radio Production of the Year award in 2008, among many other awards.

Even though she covers other areas as well, she got into gender because ‘things are not just balanced at all when it comes to the women.’

“It’s just a normal gender imbalance and cultural factors militating against women in the society and one wanting to contribute one’s own quota.”

Little wonder she was called to facilitate a workshop organised by the International Press Centre, Lagos on ‘conflict sensitive, gender-supportive, professional & public interest reporting of the upcoming 2015 elections for south-west

journalists.’

Because of her rich pedigree in gender issues, Durodola, who believes that there has been a gender bias in the press coverage of politicians in Nigeria, spoke on “Promoting gender (women concerns) as a public interest issue in the electoral process and elections.”

“During the workshop, I g ave

them real case scenarios.

Consider people like Kofoworola BucknorA ke r e l e, Patricia Etteh and a host of others. These are women who were frustrated out of politics by the Nigerian Press. Even though people like Etteh were finally exonerated, how many of us know about this exoneration? She wasn’t given a chance, not because she is not qualified but because she is a woman.”

Treasure also decries the general negative notion that every successful woman politician is either a mistress to former President Olusegun Obasanjo or President Goodluck Jonathan. “Is it that women can’t rise to a position without sleeping with somebody?,” she queried, adding that women should Durodola be celebrated for their achievements and not hounded for

their gender.

Talking about the fate of women in the upcoming 2015 elections, Treasure said she doesn’t think it is bright.

“I don’t think women have much chance because in 2011, there was a decline in the number of women who were elected into political offices. It doesn’t look as if it’s going to change in 2015 because we haven’t seen many women on the rise in the political terrain and I don’t blame them. The reason is that women have not been encouraged.

There is a kind of social stigma attached to women politicians.

Some people think they are prostitutes, some others think they are women that the politicians are sleeping with and so are compensating them with a post or t w o , ” Durodola said.

Giving more reasons, she believes that finance, violence, gender unfriendly activities such as nocturnal meetings of politicians and the aggressive media all have roles to play in the plight of women in politics.

“It is very expensive to vent u r e into politics in Nigeria, how many women can afford it? There is so much violence in politics in Nigeria. By our nature, we are peace makers and so, majority of us can’t survive in the violence prone terrain.

Then comes the big issue of the media who hounds the woman once she declares her political ambition. There should be more genderbalanced reporting and the media can do much more by reducing the relentless criticism of the few women politicians there are.”

She also bemoaned the fact that the modus operandi of the political parties, like their nocturnal meetings does not favour women.

“The process through which candidates emerge in parties should be more gender friendly. A male journalist once said, "it is irresponsible for a woman to abdicate her domestic role for a nightly meeting in Bourdillon". I couldn't believe he said that about women's participation in politics when clearly the political terrain in Nigeria is peculiar. It is responsible for men to go to night meetings but it is irresponsible for women to do same?

How would they contribute their own quota as women politicians if they don’t join them in their meetings? All shows that patriarchy is still a strong factor even with educated men.

Elegant and resourceful, Treasure who is the daughter of an army officer and a headmistress, both retired, is an epitome of humility. She however attributes her virtues to her rich and peculiar childhood that

was full of amazing and enterprising extended family members.

With an air of nostalgia, the author of ‘Memories of Grandma’, a story of some of her childhood experiences, tells about her book.

“Memories of Grandma is about the lived culture of the Yoruba ethnic group in Western Nigeria. It is about my personal walk with my maternal grandmother and my perception of my other grandparents. I thought I should share some of these memories especially in these contemporary times where a lot of our moral values and cultures are being jettisoned for all manner of foreign ideas and concepts. Hopefully it will be available commercially by the last quarter of the year.”

The ace media trainer and consultant believes that there is no gender dominated industry again. According to her, all that women need to do is work hard and be on their mettle.

“I’m trying to find out which profession is male dominated now. In the armed forces, there are women there.

My dad’s colleague is a Brigadier General and she is a woman. What I know for sure is that there is nothing women can’t do. The thing about women is that we multi task.”

Durodola is a firm believer in the saying that there are so many rooms at the top, and has always done her best to drag other people up the ladder of success through her NGO, Media Mentoring Initiative (MMI).

“The Media Mentoring Initiative is my attempt at Youth Development and Mentoring. I designed it for Communication students in Nigerian tertiary institutions to teach them practical broadcast skills and position them for employment as media practitioners after school.”

Through the initiative Dorodola has engaged some young undergraduates aspiring to work in the media. She took a two-year break from it when she went abroad for post graduate studies and will soon resume now that she is back.

A woman so very proud of her identity, Durodola who encourages others not to lose their identity for any reason, likes non-violent movies at the cinema or at home and soaking in the word of God.

“It is very expensive to venture into politics in Nigeria, how many women can afford it? There is so much violence in politics in Nigeria. By our nature, we are peace makers and so, majority of us can’t survive in the violence-prone terrain.

FEMINIQUE sex and soul

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Taiwo Fadeyi

H

ave you heard about it? Do you know what it is? When I checked my current edition of the doctor's dictionary, it wasn't there yet. It will probably be in the next one, if we push hard enough. At least maybe the Nigerian edition (laugh).

So what has Master Bedroom Syndrome (MBS) got to do with this column? Plenty.

MBS kills sex and destroys relationships. It leads to boredom in marriage, extra marital affairs, infidelity and finally divorce, just to mention a few.

MBS is the situation that occurs when couples, lovers, husband and wives, sleep in different bedrooms. In those days when polygamy was the rule rather than the exception it was normal for many reasons. Each wife had a hut for her and her children and one for the master of the house. You cannot enter this without permission. Here the man has complete privacy and security. Also all his charms, amulets, soaps and shrines are here. Most importantly, he has a well defined duty roster for when his various wives will come and share his bed with him. She would do all the cooking, washing and also rub his back at night.

This was so important for our grandmothers that they would not miss it for anything. Even when ill. Want to know why? Pillow Talk. Because this is the only time she has the undivided attention of her husband for pillow talk. This is when she can really show her love for him. And also extract gifts, favours and promises for herself and her children. You must have committed a very grievous offense to be banned from your sleeping duties Then comes modernization to destroy all these. How? Having a so called Master Bedroom. It all started as a sign of affluence amongst the rich and the super rich.

They built or bought their own mansions with several rooms to spare. And in most cases, their marriages were marriages arranged for every other thing but love.

Marriages of convenience. Each still lived his/her own life within limits.

Then the bad habit trickled down to middle income earners who are always copycats. I always call them wannabe rich. Their marriage plans must always include a 3 bedroom flat. One bedroom for

39

Master Bedroom Syndrome (MBS) the guy. Another for the wife. The third for the children/ visitors. If the guy can only afford a 2 bedroom flat, no problem.

He would take one room, and all the others would share the other room. Then the guy would announce to the whole world.

“I sleep in the master bedroom and my wife has her own room”. Even though all the rooms are the same and with a common bathroom and toilet.

So far so good. The problem comes when you need to be close. When you need to cuddle. When you need to reaffirm your love to one another. When you need to have sex. Now just allow your imagination to run riot for a moment. So when Oga needs madam, he must inform her beforehand. At least 24hrs notice. In some cases one week sef. Can you beat that? But it really happens a lot. Where then is the love and spontaneity? Sex and love become routine and boring. What keeps love and sex going at a high level is the tiny unplanned for actions that are spontaneous. Not when you have to beg to apply. At times you could go to bed thinking about school fees or something else. The next minute you have a hard on. This could be around 12midnight. Or the early morning spontaneous erection we men usually have between 3a.m and 5a.m. So what happens? Do you now go to wake up madam to say Oya now? The dutiful wife will give her consent. But you can bet your life she will not enjoy it. The other type will tell you NO bluntly. You did not inform her before hand, so she is not prepared. Chikena. Put yourself in her shoes. One minute, she is fast asleep dreaming in wonderland, the next minute, she's woken up and asked to perform.

When you make this a habit, she would soon start cooking up excuses to have sex with you 50% of the time, believe you me.

And she would start looking for substitutes outside. Just as you would too if sex at home is not satisfactory. That could be the beginning of the end.

The second terrible spin off is that your disputes and fights tend to drag on and on. It is quite easy to prolong such

disputes when you both know that at night you are both heading towards your private rooms. No need and no urgency to make up. To forgive and forget.

Thirdly, a fertile ground is laid for marital infidelity by both sides. You can safely be in your room and chat for hours on the net without disturbance. You can chat, date and even have phone sex easily. All thanks to Facebook, Twitter and smart phones.

Finally, is your health. When you sleep alone, you run the risk of untimely death. Especially from strokes or heart attack. If your better half is with you on the same bed, he/she can call for help, call the ambulance and save your life.

Some people talk about privacy. They can't pull off their clothes completely in front of their husband/wife. This is true

but appalling. Why are you lovers then?

More about this when we discuss pillow talk. Pillow Talk is actually the most important reason you must be in the same bedroom on the same bed and mattress.

So, change your style. One bedroom for you and your wife. Even if you have a hundred rooms. Cheers.

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 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom Ebere Ameh just concluded Away Day permeTinheated every aspect of our discussion the office this week. The special

dance-step displayed by the director has become the most discussed.

I think it’s so much because of his pot belly, which was jiggling as he danced than it was of his dexterity.

But who dares tell him the reason for the giggles. We all praise him for his ‘great’ style and he's cool with it.

Thank God it’s Friday. It is going to be one of those weekends one spends without an iota of rest. What with the schools resuming on Monday and I haven't got any back to school stuffs for the kids? I can only hope for rest on Sunday.

Added to the stress of the weekend is going to Segun again to ask for the children's school fees. That is another kettle of fish entirely. I'm not ready for any insult from him or his lousy wife. Last term, he just managed to pay, threatening never to pay again unless the court reverses the custody of his children to him. It was so very laughable. Considering that he can’t even take care of himself, one wonders how he plans to handle two little children. Was he planning to take them to his witch mother or expect me to leave them with his crazy wife. Over my dead body!

At times I wonder how I had Tobi, and then, Tosin with and for Segun!

Back to school hassles

Three solid years with a crazy man. At times I wished I didn’t have any child, it would have been a lot easier for me now.

But that thought is always overshadowed by a strong conviction that there were some good times too. Segun has a romantic outlook and great in bed. Nobody can

take that from him. That is the only thing I miss about him. His flaw is pride and his high tendency to abuse.

On the other hand, I thank God for blessing me with my wonderful children, my angels. They are the reason I'm alive. They are all I've got and I can’t just describe my

love for them. It’s so much, its indescribable. Do other mums feel that way at all?

In short, I won’t allow the school fees issue to stress me up one bit, Michael, my lawyer will handle Segun. I will go ahead and pay their fees. I will recoup my money when he pays. He has been having issues with his job of late and waiting for him may amount to jeopardizing my children’s future.

I've been hearing of Lagos traffic but I've never had it this bad. I spent an excruciating and distressing three hours on Eko bridge journeying from Surulere to Balogun Market in Lagos Island. A journey of about 10 minutes turned to three hours? And that is in spite of the fact that it was a Saturday.

Well, I managed to get a few important things for their school.

Next time, I will listen to my friend Grace. She does her shopping in the Mall and I used to tell her she burns her money. I will rather burn mine than die of stress. Though the traffic disorganized me, my happiness is that they are excited about the new things I bought for them.

I almost forgot that I asked Nnamdi to help me get a driver that will be taking the children to school. George looks good and well cultured. Imagine a graduate applying to drive my kids and I. “There is indeed serious unemployment in the land,” Nnamdi said as we continued chatting long after George had left.

E X H O RTAT I O N

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l 02 Thul- HIJJA 1435 AH

“LO! THE NUMBER OF THE MONTHS WITH ALLAH IS TWELVE MONTHS BY ALLAH’S ORDINANCE IN THE DAY THAT HE CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. FOUR OF THEM ARE SACRED: THAT IS THE RIGHT RELIGION.” QUR’AN 9:36

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH 7 times around kaabaH QUESTION

Why do Muslims go around the Kaabah seven times in Hajj?

ANSWER

Osun state pilgrims at the Masjid Nabawy in Medina, kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2 Nigerian pilgrims die in Medina NO STAMPEDE NAHCON has increased stampede prevention awareness for pilgrims Adeola Yusuf

T

wo pilgrims from Nigeria; a female pilgrim from Lagos state and a male pilgrim from the North, have died in Medina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, New Telegraph has gathered.

A source at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said that this figure may be more as the commission is still gathering data from States’ Pilgrims Welfare Boards.

“The female pilgrim, Basirat Olatunji who died in Medi-

lHajj rites begin Tuesday na, hailed from Eti Osa Local Council development Area of Lagos while the name of the pilgrim from the North is yet to be confirmed,” he said.

“The death of Alhaja Olatunji has thrown the Lagos State pilgrims in the holy land into mourning,” another pilgrim told New Telegraph on phone.

The NAHCON, the source continued, would release official data later in the week.

In the main time, the NAHCON and state Hajj boards have increased awareness for pilgrims to avoid stampede during the Hajj rites, which will begin next week.

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia had last Monday asked

all Muslims in Saudi Arabia to sight the Dhul Hijja crescent on Wednesday, Dhul Qada 29 corresponding to September24.

The court said testimony of sighting the crescent either by naked eyes or by using telescopes should be registered with a court immediately.

There are several public committees in various parts of the Kingdom to sight the Ramadan and Dhul Hijja crescents for the purpose of determining the actual date to start fasting and performing the Haj pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Lagos state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Durojaiye Luqmon has confirmed

that 3,082 pilgrims from the State have successfully arrived the holy land.

The state, according to him, has completed airlift of pilgrims while all pilgrims were taken to Medina, which is their first point of call before proceeding to Mecca. They all arrived Mecca on September 19 for the hajj rites.

“The pilgrims were full of joy and thanked God on arrival at the King Fahd International Airport in Jeddah,’ he said.

While in Medina, the pilgrims will visit holy sites and the mosque of Prophet Mohammed where the tomb of the prophet is and those of his disciples.

N4,000 call-up letter charges

T

Call NYSC to order, MSSN tasks FG, NASS

he Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has described the introduction of N4,000 charges for printing call- up letters by potential National Youth Service Corps members as an exploitation and disregard for human labour.

The group, which said this in a statement, declared that to ask the corps members to pay such amount of money was an evidence that government was no longer interested in sponsoring education.

It would be recalled that NYSC recently introduced an online registration for potential corps members, asking them to pay N4,000 to print their call-up letters instead of going to get it in their various schools.

Though, the students-based organisation commended the online registration initiative, it wondered why the charges was as high as N4,000.

President of the group, Kaamil Kalejaiye, according to the statement to condemn the charges, urged NYSC not to betray the interest of Nigerian students for profit making.

He suggested that NYSC should seek advertisers for the website to reduce the burden of paying the exorbitant price for printing call-up letters.

He said, “This is another open betrayal from our government. Why should some one who wants to go and serve his/her nation for free pay so much? Where do they expect a student who has suf-

fered so much in the decaying Nigeria universities and polytechnics to have such amount? NYSC must realise that having finished a degree course does not mean that you have a job. So, where do you want the thousands of jobless Nigerian students to get N4,000? Students should not be forced to be unpatriotic with this. If that N4000 charges is retained, then it is a high disregard for the human (corps members) labour, especially when they want to go and serve their fatherland.

“Another thing that bores on ones mind is how the NYSC came about the N4000 charges.

Is it for maintenance of the website or administrative processes that have earlier been

catered for? What does NYSC want to use N4000 from the over 10,000 youth corps members to do? Since the Federal Government is sponsoring the programme there is no need for this. The FG should be responsible for this and if at all the corps members will pay, it should be reduced. The N4000 charges is obviously unjustifiable.”

Kalejaiye also called for probe into the activities of NYSC, saying attempts to monetise the service must not be allowed to prevail.

He also described as annoying the justification made by the Director in charge of Press and Public Relations of NYSC, Mrs. Olubunmin Aderibigbe, that the online registration was optional.

One could give a simple answer by saying, “Because Muslims believe that God asked them to do so.” Islam teaches us that there is an endless profundity contained within this succinct answer.

However, this can be further explained as follows. First, I will focus on the command to carry out the prescribed rite, and then I will attend to the number – seven – of circumambulations.

In essence, the overwhelming majority of Islamic commands are unequivocally logical. They all cater to a moral responsibility towards the individual and the collective, and a hierarchy of causes. This includes the preservation of faith, life, lineage, intellect, and property.

The most logical of these are the ones shared with other monotheistic religions. The Ten Commandments, prohibition of alcohol, adultery, praying, and charity are among many other examples. The rationales behind all these acts are unambiguous.

A good example here that will explain this further, is the prohibition on drinking alcohol.

Of course, drinking can make one vulnerable to behaviors and acts which one would not otherwise do if they were sober.

It surely leads to family and social ills. But what does Islam say about someone who is determined to buy just a bottle of liquor for one time, locking himself up in a room without a chance of harming or even contacting anyone until they are fully sober? Why would that be considered a sin in the eyes of Islam?

The answer is simple; Islam does not focus on appearances only. It is not only a religion of the outward, it is a religion of the inward as well. The reason why Islam prohibits alcohol is also because of the effect of committing such a sin on the soul and on the heart.

TO BE CONTINUED

CRIME

41

NEW TELEGRAPH

newtelegraphonline.com/entrepreneur

JULIANA FRANCIS juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Insecurity: Monitoring movement of money in banks will help –Oney Mr. Ethelbert Onuoha Oney is a United Kingdom-trained lawyer who bagged a Masters degree in Security and Intelligence from Oxford University. In this encounter with JULIANA FRANCIS, Oney reveals what Nigeria and Nigerians can do to finally nail the rampaging Boko Haram sect. Excerpt: What’s the difference between terrorism and insurgency?

The difference is broad. Insurgency means militant and militantancy means freedom fighters. Terrorism doesn’t have any definition among the scholars or practitioners. But for me, terrorism means a group of aggrieved people, with the intention of hurting a nation, inculcating fear into people, with mass killings and economic sabotage.

The two are not the same. Insurgency can be a freedom fighter. It means you have a purpose, reason for fighting. In terrorism, they don’t know what they’re fighting for and something new will keep coming up. Terrorism is a system. In order to win terrorism, you must first of all, win the intelligence war.

How do we win the intelligence war?

We win intelligence war by first having timely and appropriate policy. The policy is not to show the citizenry that government is working. The policy should be such that once its implemented, anyone who goes contrary to it; either sponsors of terrorism or supporters, should be tried and jailed.

And the best of it should be a long term jail. It shouldn’t be killing and shooting. Secondly, there should be specialised agencies; people who are trained in counter terrorism, and security experts. Maybe, people who had worked with the police or army.

Thirdly, we have the experts. These are people like me. There are a lot of people who are terrorism experts in Nigeria. I mean people who read and studied it up to master’s level. Those are the people needed in terrorism

situations.

Fourthly, there’s the resource. This is having the resources to back whatever mechanism they want to apply.

As far as you and I know, we have the resources. None of these four factors have been applied from the beginning.

From the beginning of Boko Haram, all we’ve heard is army this, army that.

Army is not supposed to get involved in counter terrorism. The only time they’re supposed to get involved is when there’s intelligence report that the terrorist would be in a particular area Isn’t that what we did? The government started first with using the police to fight Boko Haram members before using the military.

The police are actually the best on counter terrorism, not the army because they have the skill. The template that’s applied in terrorism, is the template applied in ordinary crime. The police have the skill in crime detection and prevention. The only thing they need is the extra training and motivation in the area of terrorism and they would do well.

Another problem is that people don’t have plan B in whatever they do. For many years, nobody ever thought there would be anything like terrorism in Nigeria.

Yes, nobody wanted that in Nigeria.

But it’s wrong! As far as we’re a nation, no matter how old or new, such problems must come. And when it comes, it has a circle. It’s like intelligence circle. Intelligence circle is this; plan, collection, analysis, dissemination and the policy. That’s the intelligence circle. The same thing applies to terrorism. It has got a circle. If that circle is not complete, only the special agencies can stop it.

What do you mean by this?

Terrorism organisations change plans and strategies from time to time.

If maybe they’re using women who cover their faces and stuffs like that, when they know that people have come to know that technique, they’ll change their strategies. That’s terrorism for you. It has a circle and the sooner people understand it, the better for us.

All we need now is resilience and preparedness.

Oney

When you talked about resilience, do you expect people like you and I to confront Boko Haram? How do unarmed people confront men who are ready to die?

Now, what do I mean by resilience.

It’s resilience in terms of preparedness. You prepare that something is going to happen or might happen. What do you do? You get ready. Do you know that the Boko Haram members have informants? Do you know they’ve got ears and eyes in the police and army?

Do you know that in normal circumstances, it supposed to be the other way round? What I’m talking about is that some areas in Borno State, they’re using the vigilantes to fight the Boko Haram. Do you know some of the vigilante groups are members of Boko Haram? They give information to the Boko Haram. They tell Boko Haram members, families that are involved in the vigilante groups. But it’s actually

supposed to be the other way round.

There should be use of human intelligence. This is using of people; people who can dress, talk and behave like them in order to infiltrate them.

With that infiltration, using the ordinary people, the information would be brought out to our law enforcement agents and they in turn will protect the common people like me and you.

But in our situation, it’s not like that.

We don’t have eyes, ear and we’re fighting a war. How do you expect to win the war?

Do you mean that we’re losing to Boko Haram because of lack of intelligence gathering?

Yes! That’s it!

You don’t think it has a lot to do with the CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42

CRIME

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

‘Police, not army are best in counter-terrorism' CONTINUED FROM PAG E 4 1

fact that Boko Haram has superior weapons to our soldiers?

That’s another matter! With appropriate information gathering, we will even be able to know where they’re getting their supplies and block it.

With appropriate information and infiltration, we will be able to know when they would be coming to strike and stop them. There’ what we call, delay and deny under terrorism. If there are people who can infiltrate them and gather information, then the law enforcement agents can deny them the opportunity of attacking us. In our situation, there’s nothing like that.

There was a time international communities came to help in the rescue of the Chibok girls, what happened? Do you want to tell me that if this sort of thing happened in England it will take up to two days before they round up the Boko Haram? We have problems because they’ve resorted to what we call sabotage. This is also going on and it shouldn’t be. We’re supposed to have informants there.

Are you saying the problem will not go?

We should lose hope?

No! How can! The moment Nigeria is ready to face the truth and does it right, you’ll see that everything will work out.

Have you being following the Australian negotiator’s revelations? He said he spoke with Boko Haram, that some banks and opposition are sponsoring them.

What’s your reaction to that?

That’s just one person’s opinion.

He also said that it was not the federal government that employed him.

He said one Emir employed him. But his coming here was not to negotiate between Nigeria and Boko Haram. He came for the Chibok girls. Everybody knows that banks are involved. But it’s not only in Nigeria. Let’s be realistic.

In terrorism, people must benefit. It’s wrong and inhuman and a criminal act.

Who are those benefitting?

Those benefiting are the politicians or sponsors! Terrorism emanates from thuggery. These are the set of people politicians use during election. When the politicians win their elections and leave to take up their post, they abandon the thugs. What do you want them to do? They’ll need to survive. Some of them, because of no employment, food or education go into crime. But all these are not the primary purpose of terrorism. If terrorism is happening in any place, people get involved. Mr. Stephen Davis mentioned some names.

It’s left for our federal government to check out those names. In a corruptfree society, any name mentioned in connection to crime or terrorism, must be verified.

Don’t you think there’s a global Islamic

Late Shekau and some Boko Haram members

agenda, which only the Islamist militants know about? Why is it that across the world, Islamist militants are up in arms?

Let me tell you, radicalisation by recruitment is very easy now. It’s because you can be radicalised on the internet.

Boko Haram is affiliated to al-Qaeda.

Boko Haram has been black listed. The UN will take sanctions against them.

They’ve been banned from travelling and their assets can be freeze. They can be arrested and tried wherever they’re seen. That’s to tell you, that they’ve been linked with international terrorist groups.

Of course, they all communicate.

It’s a link. It’s a sort of association. If you’re doing well, the other organisation, in another place, would help by giving you tips and information. Before, the only way to stop terrorist or catch them, is when you get them on the act. Now they communicate through emails. This is also why it’s necessary for us to advance our systems. In US and other places, they can be arrested through the internet by security agents who may begin to monitor their emails.

If we’re advanced in several ways of intelligence gathering, things would be easier for us.

There’re many ways of intelligence gathering; human, imagery, technical and open source intelligence. If we’re advanced in all these, the case would be easier for us.

The fact that Islamist militants are fighting in some countries makes it a big issue. I don’t look at Boko Haram as ordinary anymore.

It’s not ordinary now. Before it was a domestic violence; but it has now transcended that.

Do you think there’s an agenda globally among these Islamist militants?

You know that the al-Qaeda’s aim is to globalise Islam. But that’s a dead dream!

Why do you say it’s a dead dream? They appear to be winning everywhere. ISI is killing and beheading. And online journalists are claiming US President is scared stiff.

Listen, terrorism is a faulty weapon that always misfires. What I mean is that it hardly achieves a strategic goal.

Have you ever seen a country where a terrorism organisation removed the president and a terrorist becomes the president? It had never happened.

That’s why it’s a faulty weapon that always misfires.

Yes they’re killing Nigerians, killings others, shedding blood, wasting lives and engaging in mass killings, but they don’t go too far. The appropriate mechanism is the problem we have here in Nigeria. How is terrorism tamed? What is the way, the experience and honestly of people involved in the counter terrorism fight? A lot of Nigerians still have sympathy for the Boko Haram!

What! I don’t think so. I don’t agree.

I was in England during the 7/7 bombing. Everybody stood up together. England was together and within a short time, all those people involved in the bombing were rounded up. But in our case, if you stop somebody that he’s involved in Boko Haram, you’ll find somebody somewhere, already making a phone call, claiming the person is his driver or something.

This is the problem. So how do you sort the issue of Boko Haram when the system would not allow you to try or sentence a Boko Haram member? It’s a big problem. It means the whole Nigeria is not united on the fight against terrorism.

Since this Boko Haram issue started, some people have been arrested, yet none has been sentenced. Is that what you’re

saying?

Yes! Thank you! I don’t want to go into that. That’s why I said, only until we’re willing to uphold our legitimacy, that’s when the whole problem would be solved. Boko Haram is not so high and mighty as people portray them.

Do you know that before the best of the Boko Haram in 2002, the father of the late Mohammed Yusuf, who is the founder of Boko Haram, preached about Boko Haram? And when Boko Haram came to be in 2002, he opened schools and started recruiting people.

A school where he started Islamising people. Didn’t we have a president by then? Little by little, the recruits graduated. People still gives Boko Haram safe haven. There’re places they gather to eat, recruit and meet their sponsors.

If people don’t give them safe haven, and report them, we would have overcome them. All hands must be on deck on this issue. If someone is arrested, someone will quickly make a call.

Are Nigerian soldiers no longer at the borders to check influx of firearms? How does the Boko Haram sect bring weapons, even Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) into the country?

Thank you. That area is part of the reality I talked about. When we’re ready, we’ll face reality and tackle it as a country. As long as people continue to turn blind eyes to what is going on in their communities, giving safe havens to militants, not divulging information to the soldiers, rather to the opposition, allowing arms to scale through the borders, we’ll go nowhere. We as people need to say, enough is enough! Weapons are coming into the country every day. One of the ways of fighting terrorism is to close the borders and begin to monitor what is coming in and going out.

But corruption is the bone of contention in the whole fight.

BUSINESS | MONEY LINE 43

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Internet to add $300bn to Nigeria, others’ GDP

TWENTY-FOLD There are predictions that mobile Internet use in Africa will increase 20fold in the next five years Kunle Azeez

FG commits N1.4bn to software devt

T

he Internet will contribute $300 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria and those of other countries in the Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson has said.

The Minister stated this yesterday in an address at the DEMO Africa 2014 being held in Lagos.

She said that the govern-

ment has committed $9 million (N1.4 billion) as seed capital to fund software innovation development in the country, which will be managed by EchoVC. Mrs Johnson also said that with the Demo Africa 2014, the country is on its way to making its first investment in a number of Nigerian/African tech start-ups.

The forum is a programme

hosted by the country to provide a platform for young tech start-ups in the African continent to showcase their business ideas and solutions to the investment community.

For this year, 40 start-ups, 20 of whom are from Nigeria, were participating in the event Quoting a report, the minister said mobile subscriptions in sub-Saharan Africa are forecast to exceed 635 million by

FIRS to begin tax enforcement on defaulting firms T he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) said it will commence enforcement activities against corporate bodies and individuals who have not filed their tax returns and failed to voluntarily fulfill their tax obligations by due dates.

The Tax Law requires companies, with 31st December as their end of year accounting date, to file their tax returns on or before the end of June of every year.

FIRS however, gave a window - extension of time - up till 31st August 2014 to enable

some companies meet up with the requirements of the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

A statement issued by FIRS Head, Corporate Communications Wahab Gbadamosi, said the FIRS acting Executive Chairman, Alhaji Kabir Mashi, and gave the warning yesterday in Ibadan at FIRS, South-West Regional Enlarged Management Meeting (REMM).

He said the service would be compelled to invoke relevant laws against recalcitrant taxpayers.

Mashi also challenged taxpayers across the country to report unwholesome practices by any FIRS official especially in processing Tax Clearance Certificates (TCC) and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

He said the issuance of TCC is expected to take two weeks after a taxpayer had fulfilled all tax obligations, adding: ``To obtain TIN is free of charge and taxpayers must be ready to speak up when there is a demand from tax officials to facilitate the issuance of TIN and TCC.”

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

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

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

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Internet can contribute up to 300 billion United States dollars to Africa’s GDP by 2025; and this is from an estimated $18 billion in 2013.

She said this translates directly to opportunities to generate income, to create wealth, to create jobs, new business opportunities, economic expansion and so on.

The DEMO Africa, event is billed to end in Lagos today.

Johnson said, “Over the next two days we will witness 40 African start-ups pitch their solutions to these great opportunities and challenges with a hope to secure funding and support to take their ideas and innovations to the next level.”

She disclosed that in the two years of DEMO Africa, alumni had generated over $8 million worth of investments, businesses and partnerships.”

NGO lauds NDIC’s role in financial stability Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

A

frican Peace and Development Initiative (APDI) a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) has commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for its commitment to the safety and stability of the Nigeria’s financial system.

The NGO also praised the Corporation for standing out as one of the leading deposit insurers in the continent.

The President of APDI, Hon. Mike Femi gave these commendations while presenting theAfrica’s Meritorious Service Award of the NGO to the Managing Director/Chief Executive (MD/CE) of NDIC, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim in Abuja, according to a statement from the Corporation.

The APDI President was quoted to have praised the commitment of NDIC at keeping fate with its depositor protection mandate over the years and

the various initiatives, which it continued to bring to bear on the discharge of its mandate.

Furthermore, he stated that as a supervisor, it was heart-warming that NDIC had demonstrated overt transparency and professionalism in the conduct of its operation, thereby serving as role model to other public institutions in Nigeria and the continent.

The APDI President said the significance of the award underscored the few number of recipients, which for 2014 was conferred on, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Alh. Alh. Umaru Ibrahim.

In his acceptance speech, the NDIC MD, who was represented by Director, Internal Audit, Alh. Ibrahim Tafida, reiterated that the NDIC would continue to accord transparency, professionalism and diligence pride of place in the discharge of its mandate of deposit guarantee, banking supervision and failure resolution.

FirstBank sponsors SMEs workshop for women

F

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

the end of this year, and predicted to rise to around 930 million by the end of 2019.

She said the increase in the number of mobile subscribers has fuelled increases in mobile Internet use in Africa and “we are considered to be at the cusp of a mobile Internet revolution.”

According to her, “Predictions are that mobile Internet use in Africa will increase 20fold in the next five years. This is double the estimated growth rate in the rest of the world.”

Johnson stated that lower priced devices, particularly smartphones and tablets; increase investment in network infrastructure and increase in availability of spectrum for mobile broadband, were among the factors that will drive this growth.

“One report that highlights this potential predicts that the

irstBank say its Sustainability Centre is sponsoring a workshop for women owners of SMEs in Nigeria.

The event according to a statement from the bank, is part of the FirstBank’s SMEConnect Series flagged off last year and it is scheduled to hold on September 30, 2014 at the FirstBank Sustainability Centre situated within the Lagos Business School, Lekki Lagos.

The workshop themed "Sustainability: The New Growth Strategy for Women-owned SMEs," is part of FirstBank’s sustainability initiatives and is designed to further equip

women for enterprise development, promote best practice, learning and sharing among other topics. The workshop would focus on sustainable entrepreneurship and provide a road map on how women entrepreneurs can contribute to socio-economic development as strategic partners.

Facilitators at the event include: Dr. Chris Ogbechie, Director First Bank Sustainability Centre; Mrs. Olubunmi Adebiyi of the Financial Inclusion department, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and many more reputable thought leaders.

44 business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

25-Sep-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

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

4,618.13

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

Description

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

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

0.58 1.89 2.59 2.84 2.93 3.68 4.76 5.08 7.34 9.47 14.18 14.66 15.15 15.83 19.81

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.92 11.94 11.89 11.92 11.92 11.93 11.92 12.01 12.35 12.43 12.52 12.51 12.50 12.40 12.37

10.63 11.85 11.82 11.86 11.86 11.82 11.84 11.92 12.29 12.38 12.48 12.46 12.44 12.35 12.33

96.23 101.80 106.95 95.10 93.77 96.39 114.45 81.35 119.10 109.70 116.22 99.83 73.07 83.50 98.35

96.38 101.95 107.10 95.25 93.92 96.69 114.75 81.65 119.40 110.00 116.52 100.13 73.37 83.80 98.65

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 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.10 0.66 1.27 2.21 2.57 2.78

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.75 13.62 13.78 13.96 12.93 12.92

98.86 91.63 104.25 100.64 98.83 96.25

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.05 0.93 0.53 1.06 1.06 2.57 1.61 3.27 2.24 4.03 2.44 2.44 2.82 2.89 5.16 3.04 3.57 6.17 6.27 3.75 3.78

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

13.98 15.67 14.11 15.80 14.82 17.52 12.75 13.71 13.76 12.93 12.93 16.71 12.92 12.92 13.03 14.66 12.93 13.26 14.22 13.37 13.88

99.95 97.32 99.31 98.69 101.22 84.96 101.76 100.67 100.50 103.26 103.41 94.96 103.58 106.17 105.36 100.23 104.93 100.96 103.11 103.31 103.27

1,301.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,285.45

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 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

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds

483.24 483.77

A+/Agusto; AA/GCR

LAFARGE WAPCO

11.50 LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014

Aa/Agusto

GTB µ NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Nil

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

07-Oct-11

11.50

11.80

07-Oct-14

0.03

1.00

11.65

99.97

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.23

5.21

16.16

99.28

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.27

8.71

19.68

99.13

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.65

4.88

15.86

96.84

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.72

1.00

12.05

100.55

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.80

2.63

13.75

100.86

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

2.01

1.00

12.98

100.03

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.08

1.34

13.31

101.63

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

3.01

1.00

12.92

100.19

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.83

1.88

13.76

108.00

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.79

3.48

15.34

101.18

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.21

5.20

17.16

101.56

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.21

5.06

17.02

101.69

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.99

1.35

13.28

102.17

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.06

2.29

14.26

102.84

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.39

6.11

18.05

98.30

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.27

2.16

14.08

104.83

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.14

2.76

15.01

100.90

11-Feb-18

3.38

1.00

12.93

92.70

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

141.62

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

142.87

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

12.00 11.12 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

4.83

4.68

110.36

111.19

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.03

3.83

103.79

104.51

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.15

5.04

108.58

109.40

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

1,613.69

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

6.90

6.90

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.27

4.27

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.57

6.57

101.72

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

8.57

8.03

94.83

96.43

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.91

5.60

100.30

101.44

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.68

8.68

105.75

105.75

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.00

6.00

100.98

100.98

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.85

8.61

99.61

100.52

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.43

7.43

103.01

103.01

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.70

7.70

94.77

94.77

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

8.59

8.47

103.75

104.38

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.51

7.51

101.63

101.63

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.39

8.19

100.95

101.99

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,839.04

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56

FIXINGS Maturity 2-Oct-14 9-Oct-14 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.50 10.45 10.50 10.40 10.40 10.45 10.60 10.40

Offer Discount (%) 10.25 10.20 10.25 10.15 10.15 10.20 10.35 10.15

Bid Yield (%) 10.52 10.49 10.56 10.48 10.50 10.58 10.75 10.57

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.7750 12.3712 13.1363 13.9640

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.50

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

10.75

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

163.80 163.96 164.22 164.87 165.99 167.13

163.90 164.20 164.53 165.47 167.04 168.72

O/N Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.58 12.11

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,618.13

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

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

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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 3.30 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.10 0.66 1.27 2.21 2.57 2.78

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.75 13.62 13.78 13.96 12.93 12.92

98.86 91.63 104.25 100.64 98.83 96.25

business | FINANCIAL MARKET NEWS 45 1,301.62

Cement firms drag equities down TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,285.45

Sub-National Bonds

A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

RETREAT

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

Nigerian stocks drops on negative sentiment

Stories by Chris Ugwu

T

he Nigerian stock market extended its losing streak yesterday, as the NSE ASI dipped on the back of shares of two cement TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUEgiants.

TheMARKET NSE Industrial Index TOTAL CAPITALISATION and the Bonds NSE banking index Corporate pulled bps and 77 A+/Agusto;back AA/GCR by 54 LAFARGE WAPCO Aa/Agusto bps respectively. GTB NGC Nil The Nigerian stock market Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC had the previous day recordA-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS BB+/GCR ed upward trend, as the bulls *CHELLARAMS A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO staged a comeback after the A-/Agusto FSDH market closed in the red zone A/GCR UBA µ

BBB-/GCR

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

in the previous two days.

The southward movement was driven by the activities in the shares of Lafarge Africa Plc and Dangote Cement Plc. At the close of business, the principal market indices, the NSE ASI and the market capitalisation, lost 0.72 per cent each.

Consequently, the All-Share Index shed 29.32 basis points to close at 40,780.00 as against 40,809.32 recorded last Wednesday while, the market capitalisation of equities depreciated 11.50billion LAFARGE WAPCO 7-OCT 2014cent,

by N10 or 0.72 per 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 as market sentiments turned 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 negative.

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 Meanwhile, turnover of 12.00 FLOURMILLS a 9-DEC-2015 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 worth 273.114.00million shares NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 N4.613.00 billion in 4,330 deals was 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 recorded in the day’s trading.

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume); with 97.4 million shares worth N1.3 billion exchanged by investors in 1,472 deals.

Volume in the sub-sector was largely driven by activity in the shares of Access Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc. Also, other financial services sector of the financial services sector, boosted by activity in the shares of FCMB Plc, followed 07-Oct-11 with a turnover 11.50 13.50 of 20.418-Dec-09 million shares valued 01-Apr-10 17.00 at N181.3 million in 592 deals.

17-Aug-10 10.00 The09-Dec-10 number of gainers at 12.00 06-Jan-11 the close of trading14.00 session 13.00 was 29,29-Sep-11 while decliners closed 25-Oct-13 14.25 higher30-Sep-10 at 22.

13.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 37.25 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 17.28 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.05 0.93 0.53 1.06 1.06 2.57 1.61 3.27 2.24 4.03 2.44 2.44 2.82 2.89 5.16 3.04 3.57 6.17 6.27 3.75 3.78

Petroleum products marketer, Total Nigeria, gained N6.47 to close at N179.00 per share followed by consumer goods company, Nestle Nigeria, which declined by N5.00 to close at N1, 055.00 per share.

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

he N8 billion Initial Public BBB/GCR *DANA Offering Transcorp A+/Agusto; A-/GCR(IPO) of NAHCO TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Hotels Plc (THP), a subsidTOTAL CAPITALISATION iary ofMARKET Transcorp Nigeria Plc yesterday opened for subscripSupranational Bond tion.

AAA/S&P IFC THPOUTSTANDING is offering 800,000,000 orTOTAL VALUE dinary sharesCAPITALISATION of 50 kobo each TOTAL MARKET at N10.00 per share valued at N8 Rating/Agency billion for subscription. Issuer The proceeds of the offer FGN Eurobonds will be used to part-finance its BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P expansion projects specifically BB-/Fitch; FGN for the construction of two new BB-/S&P flagship hotels in Ikoyi, Lagos BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P and Port Harcourt, as part of its TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE broader expansion plans.

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the compaCorporate Eurobonds ny , Mr.B-/S&P Valentine Ozigbo, while B/Fitch; AFREN PLC I addressing comB+/Fitch; B+/S&P the investment GTBANK PLC I B+/S&P BANK PLC munity during theACCESS company’s B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC facts behind the offer presenB+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC tations at the Nigerian Stock B/Fitch AFREN PLC II Exchange (NSE), disclosed B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANKthat PLC B/Fitch;which B/S&P DIAMOND to BANK PLC offer, was initially end B-/Fitch; B/S&P OctoberFIRST BANK PLC on Tuesday 30, 2014, has B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III been extended till Friday OctoB-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II ber 17,B/S&P 2014.

B-/Fitch; FIRST BANK LTD

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

He called on Nigerians to 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 avail15.25 themselves the opportuNAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 nity of not only using the hotel alone, but to be part owners as the company will make it a point of duty ensure consistent re10.20 to IFC 11-FEB-2018 turn on investment.

Ozigbo said the reason for the extension of the offer period was to give more Description people the opportunity to take part and also enable the offer to spread in all 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 the states of federation.

“THP is the 5.13 hospitality JUL 12, 2018 subsidiary of Transnational Corpo6.38 JUL 12, 2023 ration of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp Plc) and owns and operates the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the Transcorp Hotels Calabar. The Company’s vision isFEB to01, be2016 the pre11.50 MAY 19, 2016in Afmier hospitality7.50 company 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 rica, creating maximum and sus6.88 MAY 09, 2018 tainable value for stakeholders, 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 as well as to build Africa's choice 10.25 APR 08, 2019 hospitality assets underpinned 6.25 APR 22, 2019 8.75 May 21, 2019 by excellence entrepreneurship 07, 2020 and execution,”8.25 heAUG said.

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 Ozigbo noted that Nigeria’s 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 hospitality industry is experi8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

483.24 oneywell 483.77

Flour Mills Plc has posted 81 per cent inHcrease in profit before tax for 11.80

07-Oct-14

0.03

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.39

13.17first quarter 18-Dec-14ended June 0.23 the 2.00 31-Dec-14 0.27 30, 2014.

3.61 17-Aug-15 0.65 The company in a filing with 13.62 09-Dec-15 0.72 0.60 Nigerian06-Jan-16 0.80 the Stock Exchange 15.00 29-Sep-16 2.01 (NSE) posted a profit before tax 5.53 25-Oct-16 2.08 of20.00 N585 million during the first 30-Sep-17 3.01 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.83 quarter of the year, as against 09-Apr-11 16.00 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.79 N110 million, indicating a 09-Sep-11 18.00 2.90 09-Sep-18 2.21 growth of 81 per cent.

09-Sep-11 16.00 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.21 Net earnings grew by 833.99 per 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-13 15.75 2.70 from N75 18-Oct-18 2.06 cent million during 17.00 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.39 encing17-Feb-12 significant growth, with the first quarter of 2013 to N462 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.27 major 14-Nov-13 demand for expanded million in 2014, while revenue 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.14 capacity and enhanced quality dropped to N13.191 billion or 141.62 and service, adding that THP is 0.68 142.87per cent compared with ideally positioned, as the exist- N13.282 billion in 2013. ing owner of the largest Shareholders of Honeywell 11-Feb-13 10.20 num12.00 11-Feb-18 3.38 ber of hotel rooms in Nigeria, Flour Mills Plc had recently at 12.00 and partnered with one of the the 5th Annual General Meet11.12 world’s most prestigious hotel ing (AGM) endorsed the comOutstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Date dividend, Bid Yield (%) pany’s N1.34Maturity billion brands, Hilton Worldwide. ($mm) His words: "The proceeds of amounting to 17 kobo per evthis offer will be used to fund the ery 50 kobo share, for the fi07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 development of two new Trans- nancial year28-Jan-21 ended March4.8331, corp Hilton hotels, one in Ikoyi, 2014 financial year.

12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.03 Lagos, 12-Jul-13 and the second6.38in Port Chairman, Progressive 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.15 Harcourt, with both due for com- Shareholders Association of 1,500.00 pletion in 2017. We are delighted Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, to be able to offer the Nigerian 1,613.69 who commended the compublic the opportunity to partici- pany for consistent dividend pate in01-Feb-11 our future success. pay-out, said01-Feb-16 the sharehold11.50 This 450.00 6.90 19-May-11 7.50 500.00were appreciative 19-May-16 offer reiterates our commitment ers of 4.27 the 25-Jul-12 350.00 25-Jul-17 which 6.57 efforts, the to creating sustainable 7.25 value for strategic 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 8.57 all stakeholders. company put02-May-18 in place to drive 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.91 “THP will leverage its unique the flour mills for increased 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.68 partnership return on investment.

22-Apr-14 with the 6.25Hilton 500.00 22-Apr-19 6.00 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 21-May-19 8.85 brand and strong customer base Okezie called on the com07-Aug-13 300.00 07-Aug-20 7.43 to provide an excellent8.25 guest ex- pany to consider floating right 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 7.70 perience and achieve superior issues to help bring down fi24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 8.59 returns23-Jul-14 from the new assets”. nancial cost of the company 8.00 450.00 23-Jul-21 7.51.

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14-Aug-14

8.75

99.95 97.32 99.31 98.69 101.22 84.96 101.76 100.67 100.50 103.26 103.41 94.96 103.58 106.17 105.36 100.23 104.93 100.96 103.11 103.31 103.27

At the bottom of the day’s losers were the shares of cement makers, Lafarge Africa and Dangote Cement, which fell by N1.51 and N1.02 respectively, to close at N126.99 and N223.98 apiece.

“This is the time to give opportunities to shareholders to take 1.00their rights 11.65 to further 99.97 ad5.21 the expansion 16.16 99.28 of vance plans 19.68 99.13 the8.71 company,” he said.

4.88 15.86 96.84 In the same vein, The Presi1.00 12.05 100.55 2.63 13.75 100.86 dent of the Nigerian Sharehold12.98 100.03 ers1.00 Solidarities Association, 1.34 13.31 101.63 Mr.1.00Timothy12.92 Adesiyan, who 100.19 1.88 applauded 13.76 the account 108.00 also 3.48 15.34 101.18 performance of the company , 5.20 17.16 101.56 said the current leadership has 5.06 17.02 101.69 proved that they 1.35 13.28 are capable 102.17 of 2.29 14.26to great102.84 driving the firm height.

6.11 18.05 98.30 He noted that over the 2.16 14.08 104.83 years, has been 2.76 the company 15.01 100.90 very consistent in delivering results.

Addressing shareholders at the1.00 meeting 12.93 in Lagos, 92.70 Chairman of the company Dr. Oba Otudeko, said that acquisition of over 60 hectares of land Offer Yield (%)the Flowergate Bid Price OfferIndusPrice within trial Scheme in Shagamu, Prices & Yields Ogun State for strategic devel4.68 110.36 111.19 opment, marked a milestone in the history of the company .

3.83 103.79 104.51 He said: “From the Green108.58 5.04 109.40 field location, we shall develop growth opportunities, which meet the yearnings and demand of consumers, within and6.90outside 105.75 Nigeria, for Hon105.75 eywell brand105.04 of food and agro 4.27 105.04 6.57 products.

101.72 101.72 allied The complex is an 8.03 integrated94.83 facility to96.43 house 5.60 100.30 101.44 all 8.68 of the group’s food factories 105.75 105.75 such of100.98 scale 6.00 that economic 100.98 99.61 to drive 100.52 can8.61be achieved down 7.43 103.01 costs 103.01 overall operating leading 7.70 94.77 94.77 to the production of more af8.47 103.75 104.38 fordable food101.63 products.101.63 7.51 8.19

4,760.00 4,839.04

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

13.98 15.67 14.11 15.80 14.82 17.52 12.75 13.71 13.76 12.93 12.93 16.71 12.92 12.92 13.03 14.66 12.93 13.26 14.22 13.37 13.88

Honeywell reports 81% pre-tax profit growth

Transcorp Hotels’ N8bn IPO opens T BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

100.95

101.99

18-Sep-14

The FMDQ Bills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed FIXINGS income securities and instruments in Market the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury Money Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FMDQ OTC Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

DTMPLC Terms of Use and Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR 7 2-Oct-14 10.50 14 9-Oct-14 10.45 21 16-Oct-14 10.50 FGN Bonds28 23-Oct-14 10.40 35 30-Oct-14 10.40 42 6-Nov-14 10.45 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 49 13-Nov-14 10.60 56 20-Nov-14 10.40 9.25 28-SEP-2014 63 27-Nov-14 10.75 70 4-Dec-14 10.25 4.00 23-APR-2015 77 11-Dec-14 10.60 13.05 16-AUG-2016 91 25-Dec-14 10.55 15.10 27-APR-2017 98 1-Jan-15 10.80 9.85 27-JUL-2017 105 8-Jan-15 10.60 9.35 31-AUG-2017 112 15-Jan-15 10.80 119 22-Jan-15 10.30 10.70 30-MAY-2018 126 29-Jan-15 10.80 16.00 29-JUN-2019 NA NA 133 5-Feb-15 10.50 7.00 23-OCT-2019 140 12-Feb-15 10.80 16.39 27-JAN-2022 147 19-Feb-15 10.40 14.20 14-MAR-2024 154 26-Feb-15 10.80 161 5-Mar-15 10.55 15.00 28-NOV-2028 196 9-Apr-15 10.25 12.49 22-MAY-2029 210 23-Apr-15 10.45 8.50 20-NOV-2029 224 7-May-15 10.25 10.00 23-JUL-2030 315 6-Aug-15 10.40 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 343 3-Sep-15 10.40 TOTAL VALUE *from the OUTSTANDING Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.25 10.20 10.25 10.15 10.15 10.20 Issue Date 10.35 10.15 28-Sep-07 10.50 10.00 23-Apr-10 10.35 16-Aug-13 10.30 27-Apr-12 10.55 27-Jul-07 10.35 31-Aug-07 10.55 10.05 30-May-08 10.55 29-Jun-12 10.25 23-Oct-09 10.55 27-Jan-12 10.15 14-Mar-14 10.55 10.30 28-Nov-08 10.00 22-May-09 10.20 20-Nov-09 10.00 23-Jul-10 10.15 18-Jul-14 10.15

10.52 10.49 10.56 10.48 10.50 10.58 Coupon 10.75 (%) 10.57 9.25 10.95 10.46 4.00 10.84 13.05 10.83 15.10 11.12 9.85 10.93 9.35 11.17 10.66 10.70 11.22 16.00 10.92 7.00 11.27 16.39 10.85 14.20 11.32 11.06 15.00 10.85 12.49 11.12 8.50 10.94 10.00 11.43 12.1493 11.53

Bonds

#

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON

Modified Duration Buckets

FMBN

NA

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

<3 3<5 ***LCRM >5 Market

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 10.7750 12.3712 13.1363 13.9640

10.50

O/N

10.75

Tenor

Maturity Date

100.00 28-Sep-14 NITTY 535.00 23-Apr-15 Tenor Rate (%) 530.27 16-Aug-16 1M 10.7755 452.80 27-Apr-17 2M 10.8181 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 10.8430 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 10.8744 9M 11.1001 300.00 30-May-18 12M 11.4233 351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 NIFEX 281.35 14-Mar-24 Current Price ($/N) 75.00 28-Nov-28 BID($/N) 150.00 163.5000 22-May-29 OFFER ($/N) 163.6000 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 70.00 18-Jul-34

OBB

REPO

TTM Call(Yrs) 1M 0.03 3M 6M 0.59

Rate (%)

Bid10.58 Yield (%) 12.11 10.72 12.71 13.46 11.04

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 5.42 6M 1Y 10.76

1.91 11.60 11.51 2.61 11.51 11.45 2.86 11.55 11.48 :Benchmarks 2.95Bond 11.55 11.49 * :Amortising µ :Convertible Bond 3.70 11.58 11.48 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.78 11.61 11.54 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 5.10 11.73 11.64 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 7.36 12.19 12.13 IFC: International Finance Corporation 9.49 12.29 Management 12.24 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.20 Aviation Handling 12.48 Company 12.44 O/N: Overnight 14.67 12.48 12.43 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 15.17 12.47 12.42 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 15.84 12.30 12.25 19.83 12.33 12.29 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

163.80 163.96 164.22 164.87 Bid Price 165.99 167.13 99.95 170.82 178.24 96.04

Offer ($/N)

Price

163.90 164.20 164.53 165.47 Offer 167.04Price 168.72 100.10 174.20 186.17 96.19

102.40 102.55 107.85 108.00 95.94 96.09 NA :Not Applicable 94.62 94.77 # :Floating Rate Bond ***: Deferred coupon bonds 97.36 97.66 115.70 116.00 †: Bond rating expired 82.21 82.51 120.00 120.30 110.54 110.84 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 116.51 116.81 UBA: United Bank for Africa 100.04 100.34 73.19 73.49 84.10 84.40 98.60 98.90

4,591.19 4,642.26

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

0.00 AMCON (SR.5Total TR.1) Porfolio 31-OCT-2014 Market Outstanding 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 1,039.35 998.07 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,116.66 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM 857.45 III 06-JUL-2017 922.92 3,013.47 2,872.29

28-Dec-11 Weighting by Outstanding Vol 24-May-10

03-Apr-12 34.75 09-Dec-11 33.12 20-Apr-12 32.13 06-Jul-12 100.00

0.00 Weighting

by Mkt Value 0.00

17.25 34.49 0.00/16.00 37.06 0.00/16.50 28.45 0.00/16.50 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

978.35 24.56 3.30 112.220.35 116.700.33 66.49 0.32 1.00 1,301.62

Bucket Weighting

Maturity Date

31-Oct-14 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 24-May-15

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

03-Apr-17 15.77 09-Dec-16 33.35 20-Apr-17 50.89 06-Jul-17 100.00

0.12 0.68 1.29 11.91 2.23 12.22 2.59 12.41 2.80 12.27

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17

0.07 0.95 0.55 1.07 1.08 2.58

Implied Yield

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 Implied Portfolio Price 2.63 2.27 118.6105 2.00 134.1837 1.00 103.3611 1.00 118.8684

Valuation Yield (%) 11.72 13.66 13.47 1,126.56 13.59 1,136.22 12.55 1,205.79 12.55 1,129.12

INDEX

Indicative Price 98.65 YTD Return (%) 91.38

104.69 12.6558 101.08 13.6216 99.43 20.5791 96.91 12.9123

1,284.94

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00

6.00 8.50 6.08 6.27 7.37 57.00

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59

14.01 15.44 14.27 15.51 14.53 17.14

99.94 97.47 99.30 98.95 101.51 85.55

Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014

46 business | CAPITAL MARKET

Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014

Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at September 25, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Equities)

HEALTHCARE Healthcare Providers EKOCORP PLC. UNION DIAGNOSTIC & CLINICAL SERVICES PLC Healthcare Providers Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 10 27 10 47

Current Price 0.52 34.00 37.50

Quantity Traded 1,261,217 292,662 47,410 1,601,289

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 31 31

Current Price 2.98

Quantity Traded 868,077 868,077

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 Diversified Industries Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

78 Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 18 SCOA 1 TRANSCORP 283 UACN 52 Daily Summary (Equities) 354

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other

COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.47 4.67 5.80 57.49

354 Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 27 27

Current Price 0.95

2,469,366

14,674,002.75

Quantity Traded 530,928 308 51,178,912 336,063 52,046,211

Value Traded 765,224.04 1,367.52 296,667,812.68 19,231,271.05 316,665,675.29

52,046,211

316,665,675.29

Page Quantity Traded 781,086 781,086

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 12 12

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 5,850 5,850

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 14.50

Quantity Traded 66,375 66,375

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 9.13

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000

Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Activity Summary on Board EQTY CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS GUINNESS NIG PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers

INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. Published by The Stock Exchange JOSNigerian INT. BREWERIES PLC. © NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as ofMILLS 25/09/2014 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC U T C NIG. PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. EQTY Food Products--Diversified Totals CONSUMER GOODS

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

55 Symbol DUNLOP

Daily Summary Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS Symbol

INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 152,000 152,000

No. of Deals 6 1 61 No. of Deals

Current Price 9.30 0.80 Current183.00 Price

Quantity Traded 145,250 600 Quantity 752,756 Traded

30.01 2.12 176.00 4.63

36,222,133 Page 1,940 4,215,181 23,244 41,361,104

1Value 746,934.38 746,934.38

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Value Traded ASHAKA CEM PLC 378,746.00 BERGER PAINTS PLC 378,746.00 CAP PLC Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Value Traded Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC 982,987.00 DN MEYER PLC. 982,987.00 PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Value Traded Building Materials Totals 180,000.00

180,000.00

2,288,667.38

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals Value TradedPublished by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © NATURAL RESOURCES 76,000.00 Mining Services 76,000.00 MULTIVERSE PLC Value Traded Mining Services Totals 1,364,145.00 NATURAL RESOURCES Totals 504.00 135,002,671.14 Value Traded OIL AND GAS 1,086,225,890.82 Energy Equipment and Services 2 of 13 3,918.80 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC 737,492,682.37 Energy Equipment and Services Totals 102,273.60 Integrated Oil and Gas Services 1,960,192,085.73 OANDO PLC Value TradedDaily Summary Integrated and Gas Services Totals as of Oil 25/09/2014 14,449,327.20Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors 14,449,327.20 CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. Value Traded FORTE OIL PLC. 224,747.85 MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. 5,325,755.31 MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. 51,629,139.23 Activity Summary on Board EQTY TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. 3,488,623.87 OILPetroleum AND GASand Petroleum Products Distributors Totals 15,489,981.47

Current Price 134.00

Quantity Traded 102,696 102,696

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON UTC

No. of Deals 26 47 72 27 37 2 211

Current Price 6.55 8.15 61.00 4.00 9.00 0.50

Quantity Traded 33,605 660,103 845,873 871,600 1,720,744 295 4,132,220

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 32 52 84

Current Price 52.50 1,055.00

Quantity Traded 216,660 158,191 374,851

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 20 6 26

Current Price 4.30 1.56

Quantity Traded 319,063 259,600 Page 578,663

Value Traded 1,308,587.45 3 397,976.00 of 13 1,706,563.45

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 60 38 98

Current Price 32.25 48.20

Quantity Traded 955,319 256,086 1,211,405

30,779,792.98 Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 Employment Solutions 12,174,256.86 C & I LEASING PLC. 42,954,049.84

678

47,912,939

Banking Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS BANK PLC. ACCESS 437 8.76 DIAMOND BANK PLC DIAMONDBNK 64 6.16 Daily Summary (Equities) ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED ETI 59 18.00 FIDELITY BANK PLC FIDELITYBK 35 1.98 Activity Summary on Board EQTY GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. GUARANTY 252 28.80 SKYE BANK PLC SKYEBANK 87 2.61 FINANCIAL SERVICES STERLING BANK PLC. STERLNBANK 44 Current Price 2.15 Banking Symbol No. of Deals UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UBA 172 6.75 UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UBN 58 8.86 UNITY BANK PLC UNITYBNK 6 0.50 WEMA BANK PLC. WEMABANK 25 0.89 ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC ZENITHBANK 233 24.05 Banking Totals 1,472 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals Current Price AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 15 0.80 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 10 0.96 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 3 0.50 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 2 0.50 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 10 0.53 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 1 0.50 Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 1 0.50 Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 8 2.75 MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 14 0.54 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 20 0.80 Daily Summary (Equities) NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 2 0.50 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 5 0.50 REGENCY ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC REGALINS 2 0.50 Activity Summary on Board EQTY SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 3 0.50 FINANCIAL SERVICES PLC. UNIC INSURANCE UNIC 2 0.50 Insurance Carriers, BrokersCOMPANY and Services Symbol No. of Deals UNIVERSAL INSURANCE PLC UNIVINSURE 1 Current Price 0.50 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 50 0.73 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals 149 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 39,518,335 3,771,129 2,954,427 1,826,714 13,507,781 3,359,892 2,127,982 Quantity Traded 5,410,796 673,043 4,336,074 1,232,235 18,724,957 97,443,365 Page Quantity Traded 269,596 745,750 30,229 200,000 136,454 130,000 100 291,000 4,813,757 1,617,894 2,459,104 87,400 297,100 400,100 44,177 Quantity215,000 Traded 3,439,922 15,177,583 Page

Exploration and Production 147.50 SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD 76,158,395.23 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Exploration and Production Totals Value Traded OIL AND GAS Totals 11,213,657.80

166,215,746.20 177,429,404.00

4 of 13 Specialty Value Traded SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC 216,546.80 Daily Summary as Totals of 25/09/2014 Specialty 721,452.57 Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 15,114.50 Transport-Related Services 100,000.00 AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC 71,648.40 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC 65,000.00 Transport-Related Services Totals 50.00 Support and Logistics 777,450.00 Activity Summary on Board EQTY CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC 2,599,768.78 Support SERVICESand Logistics Totals 1,291,765.21 SERVICES Totals 1,229,552.00 43,700.00 148,550.00Published EQTY Board Totals

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 200,050.00 22,088.50 Value Traded 107,500.00 Activity Summary on Board ASeM 2,539,094.29 10,149,331.05 OIL AND GAS 5 of 13

Current Price 0.99

Quantity Traded 983,800 983,800

Value Traded 972,962.00 972,962.00

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol RESORTSAL UNHOMES

No. of Deals 3 1 4

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,100,000 12,500 1,112,500

Value Traded 550,000.00 6,250.00 556,250.00

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 37 14 342 71 12 59 57 592

Current Price 3.18 4.11 13.90 4.30 0.55 31.50 2.03

135,137,170

Page

Hospitality TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Value Traded 353,031,257.11 Hotels/Lodging SERVICES 23,188,176.60 IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging 53,375,008.67 Hotels/Lodging Totals 3,600,143.57 388,064,044.77Published byPrinting/Publishing The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 9,000,346.31 ACADEMY PRESS PLC. 4,547,299.56 Value Traded LEARN AFRICA PLC 36,087,718.68 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. 6,012,591.65 Printing/Publishing Totals 2,168,037.00 Road Transportation 1,109,690.74 ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC 450,224,447.98 Road Transportation Totals 1,330,408,762.64

No. of Deals 8 8

2,225

Employment Solutions Totals

2,272,965,825.45

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

Quantity Traded 124,626 392,364 7,108,951 8,526,531 742,178 1,275,812 2,249,460 20,419,922

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Value Traded Courier/Freight/Delivery Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 Totals

Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Electronic and Electrical Products Activity Summary on Board EQTY CUTIX PLC. ElectronicGOODS and Electrical Products Totals INDUSTRIAL

No. of Deals 16 16

Daily Summary (Equities)

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors ANINO INTERNATIONAL PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Quantity Traded 100 200 300

Value Traded 354.00 100.00 454.00

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

No. of Deals 2 18 13 12 9 54

Current Price 2.10 3.25 64.90 1.82 1.02

Quantity Traded 10,000 1,331,880 365,049 589,428 131,436 2,427,793

Value Traded 20,000.00 4,373,543.70 23,662,610.46 1,072,358.96 135,027.68 29,263,540.80

2,428,093

29,263,994.80

56

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.53

Quantity Traded 631,200 631,200

Value Traded 341,296.00 341,296.00

Symbol CWG NCR

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 4.80 13.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 7,000 9,000

Value Traded 9,600.00 90,796.68 100,396.68

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000,000 1,000,000 Page

7

16 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

Daily Summary

13

1,640,200

941,692.68

Current Price 33.00 8.60 40.94 14.00 223.98 1.10 5.07 126.99

Quantity Traded 426,980 12,943 570,639 230,404 475,623 100 268,800 524,861 2,510,350

Value Traded 14,000,708.32 111,664.80 23,341,160.78 3,225,058.54 105,321,785.95 115.00 1,363,616.00 66,240,801.31 213,604,910.70

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.74

Quantity Traded 36,000 36,000

Value Traded 65,520.00 65,520.00

Symbol CUTIX

219 Symbol MULTIVERSE

No. of Deals 2 2

2,546,350 Page Current Price 0.50

213,670,430.70 8 of 13

Quantity Traded 18,000,000 18,000,000

Value Traded 9,000,000.00 9,000,000.00

18,000,000

9,000,000.00

2 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 209,546 209,546

Value Traded 104,773.00 104,773.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 315 315

Current Price 25.00

Quantity Traded 5,489,197 5,489,197

Value Traded 137,266,247.08 137,266,247.08

Symbol No. of Deals CONOIL 22 ETERNA 48 FOSummary (Equities) 108 Daily MOBIL 12 MRS 1 TOTAL 16 207

Current Price 47.01 3.80 222.00 174.00 56.00 179.00

Quantity Traded 175,238 978,730 244,175 3,132 1,850 26,562 1,429,687

Value Traded 8,250,603.42 3,645,675.78 54,015,642.64 550,147.14 98,420.00 4,749,644.70 71,310,133.68

Current Price 640.00

Quantity Traded 29,279 Page 29,279

Value Traded 18,903,898.85 9 of 13 18,903,898.85

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 19 19 551

7,157,709

227,585,052.61

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.97

Quantity Traded 40,100 40,100

Value Traded 37,497.00 37,497.00

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 4 1 5

Current Price 4.59 1.42

Quantity Traded 96,550 562 97,112

Value Traded 425,785.50 775.56 426,561.06

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 31,500 31,500

Value Traded 15,750.00 15,750.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price TANTALIZER

1 1

0.50

Quantity Traded 22,400 22,400

Value Traded 11,200.00 11,200.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL Symbol

No. of Deals 7 No. of Deals

Current Price 1.68 Current Price

Quantity Traded Quantity127,200 Traded

Value Traded 213,856.00 Value Traded

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 5 6 3 14

Current Price 1.40 1.40 4.13

Page Quantity Traded 45,550 225,208 4,100 274,858

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.67

Quantity Traded 1,165,676 1,165,676

Value Traded 799,138.92 799,138.92

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

No. of Deals 2 30 Daily Summary (Equities) 32

Current Price 2.01 5.05

Quantity Traded 50,000 867,133 917,133

Value Traded 105,500.00 4,384,643.11 4,490,143.11

Current Price 5.00

Quantity Traded 174,270 174,270

Value Traded 871,028.20 871,028.20

7

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 9 9

95

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol ANINO

127,200

2,852,249

213,856.00

10 of 13 Value Traded 63,462.00 319,241.20 15,524.00

398,227.20

7,264,401.49

Page 4,617,627,765.77 11 of 13 273,063,598

4,329

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.21

Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

Value Traded 10,500.00 10,500.00

50,000

10,500.00

1

ASeM Board Totals

ETP Activity Totals

Value Traded 500,000.00 500,000.00 of 13

No. of Deals 44 3 10 16 61 1 10 72 (Equities) 217

Daily Summary as of 25/09/2014 Printed 25/09/2014 Equity Activity14:50:14.014 Totals

1,523,308,022.62

of

Current Price 3.72 0.50

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 397,392.81 1,603,604.11 98,476,070.10 Exchange Traded Fund Exchange Traded Fund 35,761,235.94 Name Name 401,047.90 NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) Exchange Traded Fund Totals VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF 39,931,396.36 4,649,969.71 ETF Board Totals 181,220,716.93 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

6

No. of Deals 1 1 2

ICT Totals

Symbol 7UP

CONSUMER Totals Daily Summary as ofGOODS 25/09/2014 Printed 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 FINANCIAL SERVICES

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems Activity Summary on Board EQTY COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals ICT IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © of 13 Traded

873,311

No. of Deals 2 (Equities) 2

72 1 94 6 241

Value Traded Pharmaceuticals 655,882.84 EVANS MEDICAL PLC. 9,766,834.06 FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC 1,726,691.00 GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. 12,149,407.90 MAY NIGERIA PLC. Daily Summary as&ofBAKER 25/09/2014 NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Value TradedPrinted 25/09/2014 14:50:14.014 Pharmaceuticals Totals 2,524,594.85 2,524,594.85 HEALTHCARE Totals

Symbol EKOCORP UNIONDAC

1

50,000

10,500.00

4,330

273,113,598

4,617,638,265.77

Daily Summary (ETP) Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol Symbol NEWGOLD

VETGRIF30

No. of Deals No. of Deals 2 4 2

Current Price Current Price 1,916.00 18.57

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 17 10,517 10,500

4

10,517

4

10,517

Page

Value Traded Value Traded 32,620.00 227,355.00 194,735.00

227,355.00

12

of

227,355.00

13

NEWS 47

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Oshiomhole sacks aide Cajetan Mmuta BEENIN

overnor Adams OshGyesterday iomhole of Edo State terminated

the appointment of Mr. Hillary Ekhoye as Executive Director, Public Procurement Agency.

Oshiomhole in a letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere,

dated Wednesday, September 24, 2014, said the termination takes immediate effect.

He disclosed that the sack of the aide was “due to poor performance”.

Ekhoye was directed to hand over any government property in his possession to the Secretary, Edo State Public Procurement Agency.

Ebute rejects attempt to scuttle zoning in Benue ormer Senate Presi- dorsed the single-term FCongress dent and Chairman of zoning. for Equality In 2010, Chief Ebute

L-R: Members, Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Akim Kazeem; Hon. Albert Akintoye and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger and Change, Chief Ameh Delta Affairs, Waman Ogoriba, during the committee’s meeting with stakeholders on Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Lagos outlaws open defecation Muritala Ayinla

T

he Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello yesterday said that the state's monthly environmental sanitation exercise will hold tomorrow, reiterating the state government's zero tolerance for open defecation and other forms of indiscipline.

Bello added that the state government will also restrict human and vehicular movement between the hours of 7:00am-10am, urging residents to stay at home and participate in the sanitation exercise of their environment.

Hence, the Commissioner warned interstate transport operators to comply with the restriction of movement order as any vehicle

caught violating it will be dealt with according to the State Sanitation Laws while passengers in such vehicles will also be prosecuted.

He also advised Lagosians to imbibe the culture of daily cleaning of their environment to prevent the spread of any disease and promote healthy living.

He said: "In order to live up to our watch word which is “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”, we must all ensure our environment is clean always. A clean environment would definitely prevent the spread of any disease and promote healthy living."

Bello stated that the statewide environmental sanitation exercise for the month of September would be dedicated to massive advocacy campaign to kick

against - open urination/ defecation, dumping of waste in unauthorized places, flood prevention campaign, promoting the principle of personal hygiene, frequent hand washing in order to attain a cleaner and sustainable environment.

He added: “We would continue to sensitize the people of the state on the need to desist from unhygienic acts while not relenting in our efforts to ensure that we provide a cleaner and healthier environment that would be envy of all. We will not rest on our oars in order to achieve a better living environment”.

He warned residents to desist from dumping of refuse in drainage channels and erection of structures on drainage setbacks among others.

He also warned resi-

dents who still patronize cart pushers to desist from these illegal acts, saying such acts impede the waste management policy of the state government. " Whatever refuse they collect are always dumped inside canals which eventually causes flooding. LAWMA and PSP operators will be available statewide, to evacuate and cart away whatever waste generated during the exercise," he said.

He added that law enforcement agencies including Nigerian Police Force, Civil Defence and officials from LASTMA and KAI have been fully mobilized to enforce the non-restriction of movement order, adding that violators would be prosecuted according to the State Sanitation Laws.

Owie, Eradiauwa task media on crises Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

takeholders yesterday Sexpose tasked journalists to politicians who

want to cause violence as the nation prepares for the conduct of the 2015 general elections.

Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Roland Owie stated this at the launch of the secretariat complex of members of the Correspondents Chapel, Edo state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Benin the state capital.

Owie said if journalists had exposed Boko Haram at the early stage of its onslaught Nigeria would not be where it is presently.

“If the nation stands or fails, it depends on the media correspondents to expose the truth about happenings in the polity”, he said.

Also the Oba of Benin, his royal majesty, Oba Erediauwa yesterday threatened to wield his big stick

on the feuding members of the Edo state house of Assembly should they fail to reach a truce over the political logjam and supremacy battle among the 9 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 15 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the state.

Erediauwa who was represented by Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin kingdom said top palace chiefs have taken positive steps to resolve the impasse in the Chief Anthony Enahoro legislature, adding that “we are still talking to them”.

The Oba however cautioned a segment of the electronic media houses in the state for their divisive reportage of the crisis, pointing out that the palace has the capacity to also “blackmail” them.

Commenting on the assembly crisis, a chieftain of the PDP and governorship aspirant, Barrister Kenneth Imasuagbon expressed sadness about the division in the

state legislature and urged the state governor Adams Oshiomhole and leadership of the PDP to come together and resolve the crisis.

“I call on the governor and the PDP leadership to come together to reconcile the house. I am asking the Edo people to rise and challenge the

disunity in the politics of Edo state,” he said.

On his part, former minister of works (state), Engr.

Chris Ogiemwonyi commended members of the house who stood for the truth and enjoined the suspended members to obey court order so that the state could continue to enjoy peace.

Ebute has rejected the attempt by some individuals in the Benue State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to scuttle the single-tenure zoning of the House of Representatives seat in Benue constituency.

The affected councils which made up the Federal constituency are Okpokwu, Ado and Ogbadibo.

Ebute who is the first Senate President of Idoma extraction noted that the seat for 2015 had been zoned to Ado as far back as 2010 during a caucus meeting of the three local governments at Okpokwu hall in Okpoga.

The thinking of the people, according to Ebute was that the federal constituency is one of the largest in the country having comprised three large local government areas, and that the only way the seat could go round the three local government areas seamlessly without rancor was through single-tenure arrangement.

Senator Ebute who was also at the 2010 meeting said he was initially opposed to the single term formula, but as a democrat, he succumbed to the will of the people when all the critical stakeholders of the federal constituency and the incumbent beneficiary of the office en-

said he was the chairman of the committee that took the decision that the Federal Constituency of Ado, Okpokwu and Ogbadibo should only be occupied on the basis of one term so that as many people as possible can have it and decision was based on what the people wanted.

“Politics is local and if a people want single term so be it, I don’t think it is right to deny the people their choice except if you are a dictator”, he said.

But to his chagrin, Ebute who is currently the Chairman of the National Open University said the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro and the Benue State Chairman of the party, Mr. Agbo Emmanuel convened a stage -managed meeting in Okpoga and announced that the elders and the leadership of the party have changed the single-term arrangement to enable Ogbadibo Local Government go for a second term and warned that the decision should not be challenged.

Chief Ebute said there was no time that such decision was taken, stressing that he would have been in the know if such decision was taken as the number one elder in the federal constituency and challenged them to name those who sat to take the seat to Ogbadibo in 2015.

SON to sanction dealers of substandard tyres Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

he Standards OrganisaTyesterday tion of Nigeria (SON) vowed to inten-

sify raid on dealers of tyres across the country so as to reduce cases of road mishaps caused by the sale and use of substandard tyres.

Head of Ekiti State Office of SON, Mr. Rilwan Fashina, who stood in for the Director-General/ Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, said this in Ado-

Ekiti at a sensitisation workshop for tyre dealers and users in the state.

The workshop has as its theme,"Tyre Quality and Safe Driving".

According to him, sale and use of substandard tyres accounted for over 50 per cent of road crashes in the country, with its attendant loss of innocent lives.

He warned that the trend might continue unabated unless certain decisive steps were taken by all relevant bodies.

"Aside from sustained

raids on sale outlets, we are also going to intensify efforts in reducing the level of importation of substandard tyres into the country.

"This will be done through compliance monitoring and putting under focus, those areas which create opportunities for substandard products to thrive in the country," the SON boss said.

Also speaking the Ekiti State Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Innovation, Mr Debo Ajayi, said the state government was ready to partner SON in ridding

the state of sale and use of substandard tyres.

Ajayi who spoke through the Director-General of the State Small and Medium Scale Investment Agency, Mr. Kola Ilesanmi lamented the way and manner precious lives were being lost on daily basis as a result of continued circulation of fake tyres in the open market.

"Many years ago, travelling was safe and comfortable when one was travelling on good and quality tyres. Those were the days when no one sold nor used substandard tyres.

48 NEWS

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Aregbesola files reply against Omisore's petition UN commends Nigeria for Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

sun State Governor, Oyesterday Rauf Are gbesola filed his reply against the petition earlier filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore before the State Election Petition Tribunal.

Omisore had filed the suit challenging the victory of Aregbesola on the ground that the August 9 governorship election was character-

52

ised by electoral fraud.

But the state governor through his counsel, Mr. Kunle Adegoke filed the reply yesterday along with the witness statements of about 600 defence witnesses.

The counsel argued that "the witnesses, whose statements were being filed were real voters at the election, while the ones earlier filed on behalf of the second respondent were majorly polling agents."

"The reply was to the effect that the petition

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of women in Chad in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

filed by the PDP and its candidate was baseless and should be dismissed by the tribunal", he pointed out.

One of the witnesses listed by Aregbesola and who is also the secretary to the state gover nment, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti told newsmen in Osogbo after deposing to his witness, that the petition filed by Omisore lacks merit and credibility.

He argued that there was no record of electoral fraud during the

$US276.8bn The nominal GDP of South Africa (World Bank) in 2009.

Source: Blatantworld.com

exercise as it went on peacefully and described the petitioner as undemocratic person.

Adeoti added that" it was to the knowledge of everybody that the election was peaceful and reflected the wishes of the people as against the allegation of the petitioners".

The second respondent had earlier filed its reply against the same petition, with compilation of about 600 witnesses.

73

The number of trans boundary basins in Europe in 2002 Source: Unesco.org

73

The number of trans boundary basins in Europe in 2002.

Source: Unesco.org

L-R: President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Rotimi Oladele; Kenyan Ambassador to Spain, Amb. Bramwel Kisaya; Head, Corporate Affairs, Government of Kenya, Mr Arik Karani and General Manager, Corporate Communication, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria [FAAN], Yakubu Dati, at the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Madrid, Spain…yesterday

Rivers crisis: NBA backs acting Chief Judge Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

T

he Port Harcourt branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Rivers State, yesterday declared its support to the state’s Acting Chief Judge, Justice Daisy Okocha, saying there was nothing wrong with her entry into the High Court premises.

It said that since judges in the state were not on strike, they should not be prevented from entering the court premises to perform their legitimate duties.

The Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Port Harcourt branch of the NBA, Barrister Angus Chukuma, said it was wrong for judiciary workers to lock up the premises of the High Court and prevent judges from entering their offices.

Chukuma said the Bar frowns on a situation where judges are deliberately prevented from entering the headquarters of the state high court.

He said that judges

“should be allowed to hold their meetings on the premises of the high court which remains the official venue for such meetings.”

He noted that lawyers, litigants and members of the public are seriously affected by the closure of the court because of disagreement among politicians, just as he alleged that “some persons in furtherance of their political interest have shut the court against the public.”

Chukuma added that the decision of the Judiciary Staff Workers Union (JUSUN), to lock the court, knowing full well that they are the only ones on strike, prevents the common man from accessing the court to seek for justice.

He pointed out that JUSUN’s strike does not affect the right of lawyers to access the court, or the right of judges and magistrates to access the court; or the right of other segments of the society that use the court.

He said: “It is on record that judges working in the state high court

are not on strike. The magistrates are also not on strike. Lawyers practicing in Rivers State are also not on strike.

"The striking judiciary workers should allow the judges access to their offices to write judgments, research cases, and attend to official correspondences in the course of their duties.

“The judiciary workers have also prevented lawyers from entering the state high court to hold their meetings. Even if the judiciary workers don’t want to go to work, they should, at least, allow other categories of persons who by the nature of their profession use the premises of the high court as a matter of routine.”

MDGs implementation he United Nations shared his experience on TNigeria (UN) has commended how he was able to marry for her serious- the policies of his Governness in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

Speaking at one of the side events to the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the theme of "Localising the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Lessons from Inter-Governmental Partnership in the Implementation of the MDGs", the Director of United Nation's Millennium Campaign, Carinne Wood commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (SSAP-MDGs), Dr. Precious Gbeneol for her commitment to the Project. The former SSAP-MDGs who is now the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary General on Post 2015 Development Agenda , Ms Amina Mohammed was also commended for laying the initial foundation for the Project.

Relying on various reports about the Project, Ms Wood commended the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi for his innovative vision of mainstreaming the MDGs into governance in Anambra state during his tenure as Governor.

Speaking at the event, Gbeneol said that whatever achievements Nigeria recorded were due to the resolve of Mr. President to change the face of governance in Nigeria by concentrating on things that would hasten the development of the country. She expressed her gratitude to Mr. President for deploying the resources that made the effective implementation of the MDGs programme possible.

The former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, who was invited to speak at the event in recognition of the remarkable performance of Anambra State in the MDGs programme in Nigeria,

ment to MDG goals.

"On coming into office, we adopted the MDGs as our vision as a State and formulated a multi-sectoral approach for delivery of all the MDGs goals simultaneously.

“Although road construction was not part of the MDGs strictly speaking, roads are necessary for the delivery of the MDGs, starting with goal one-poverty alleviation.

“We constructed a lot of roads to create access for rural communities. Recognizing that we could not on our own achieve everything, we went into strategic partnership with international and local partners.

“A case in point was our collaboration with the Church which led to the return of their schools and government's continued funding of those schools. This is the reason why Anambra State now comes first in external examinations. We also supported their health institution.

Using St. Joseph Hospital Adazi-Nnukwu for example, I can tell you that it now handles heart operations”, Obi said.

Obi explained that for Post MDGs agenda to be fruitful, the people must be at the centre of its planning and implementation. He said that even in the budgeting process, the people must be encouraged to be part of it.

Ms Amina Mohammed who described Obi as the "MDGs Nigerian champion," encouraged other governors to understudy him and replicate what he has done in his state.

John Cardinal Onaiyekan, who represented the Catholic Bishops of West Africa thanked the United Nation for the continued concern for the plight of the peoples of the world. He commended Gbeneol for her work in the MDGs.

Kwara South PDP denies endorsing guber candidate Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

embers of the People’s M Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara South sen-

atorial district are yet to adopt any gubernatorial candidate and specifically have not endorsed the chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem for the race.

A chieftain of PDP from the zone, Prince Shuaib Olarewaju who made this clarification in a chat with newsmen in Ilorin, the state capital, said it would be wrong to equate the warm re-

ception accorded AbdulRaheem during a recent PDP senatorial meeting in Omu Aran, Irepodun council area, for an endorsement.

He said a similar gesture would be accorded to any aspirant as a tradition in PDP. He pointed out that the zone has no power to override the decision of the party’s executive committee on whoever will eventually emerge as the party’s flagbearer for the 2015 race.

While appealing to PDP members and supporters in the State and Kwara south in particular to disregard the said

endorsement, the party Chieftain said PDP has always followed due process and kept faith with its rule of law mantra in producing its leaders. According to him, PDP members are ready to rally round whoever clinched the Party’s ticket to win the 2015 governorship election.

He said: “PDP members believe in true internal democracy and as such will ensure that all aspirants on the platform of the party face the challenges of primary election. However, the position of the party and all the aspirants was that whoever emerges

as winner in the primaries, even if it is by one vote, becomes the party’s flagbearer”.

Olarewaju said it was erroneous to say that politicians from the southern senatorial district have endorsed Abdulraheem.

He said currently, the PDP has many aspirants jostling for the position and at least not less than six of such aspirants are from Kwara South.

The list includes Senator Simeon Ajibola, Senator Suleiman Ajadi; the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters and Deacon John Dara.

NEWS 49

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Alleged money laundering: Lagos speaker knows fate today Akeem Nafiu

J

ustice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, will today rule on a ‘no case’ submission filed by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, over an alleged money laundering charge slammed on him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Ikuforiji is standing trial before the court alongside his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, on an amended 56-count charge bordering on the

laundering of N500 million.

It will be recalled that after the anti-graft agency had closed its case on the charges against the two accused persons, the defence team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), filed a ‘no case submission.’

Olanipekun had argued that the prosecution had not in any way, made out a case against the accused persons to warrant putting them in the dock in defence of the alleged offence as the Office of the Speaker of a House of Assembly was constitutionally created, and so, by par-

ity of reasoning, the first accused was sovereign as presently constituted.

According to him, the charge against Ikuforiji dwelt on transacting with funds above the threshold stipulated by the Money Laundering Act (MLA) and not predicated on whether they were in cash or not.

This, Olanipekun said since all funds allegedly collected on his behalf were based on requisition notes, which were approved and handed over to banks before cash was received, it would be wrong to assume that Ikuforiji

was involved in any transaction within the contemplation of the Act. He contended that the National Assembly would not have contemplated by the enactment of the Act that the accused person, who had only obtained funds officially for the benefit of the Assembly, would now stand trial for performing his official duties as the failure of the prosecution to demonstrate elements of conspiracy between the accused persons had shown the futility of the proceedings before the court.

‘Nigerians spend 30% of earnings on transportation’ Mojeed Alabi he United Nations (UN) Tagainst has warned Nigeria the consequences

of what it described as the nation’s present unsustainable form of transportation, saying more than 30 per cent of the people’s earnings are expended on transportation.

This was even as the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Ope-Ifa, insisted that the percentage is double in Lagos, saying that an average Lagos resident spends about 60 per cent of his earnings on transportation.

Group flays military Temitope Ogunbanke political group, Action Ascription Team Against Conand Kidnapping

(ATACK) has berated the Nigerian military over its claim that the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, has been killed.

ATACK, a network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) with the objective of agitating the cause of victims of abduction, kidnapping,

‘Quality service delivery makes good leader’ L-R: Chairman, Ojude Oba Festival 2014 Committee, Mr. Wahab Osinusi; Head, Public Sector Sales, Globacom, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro; Coordinator of the committee, Mrs. Bisi Osibogun; members of the committee, Chief Fassy Yusuff and Chief Olu Okuboyejo, after a press conference preceding the festival at the Awujale's Palace, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State…recently

LG chair declares for Lagos West seat Osun reduces cost of C of O to N30, 000 Wale Elegbede he number of aspirants jostling to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Lagos West senatorial district swelled yesterday after the Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Kamal Ayinde Bayewu, formally declared his interest for the seat.

Addressing a well-attended rally held at Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the banker-turned-politician said his ambition to represent the largest senatorial district in the state is

T

hinged on his belief that the district and its people deserve the best in terms of equitable representation at the National Assembly.

While saluting the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, for his purposeful leadership, Bayewu commended the efforts of the incumbent senator representing the district, Ganiyu Solomon, adding that if given the opportunity, he would ensure good representation and promote welfare of the people through human development.

Nigeria can’t break up, says don Amadi Nnamdi ontrary to widespread Cpredictions fears and doomsday of a possible

breakup of the country, the head, Department of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Paul Obo Idornigie has debunked such speculation and stated that Nigeria as a country cannot break up in 2015.

According to Idornigie,

Nigeria is bound by great a bond that ties her citizens together and it would be difficult for it to break up owing to its unity in diversity in terms of culture, values and practices.

Idornigie expressed this position yesterday at a one-day workshop for Nigerian Youth Corp members in Abuja organized

by Rotary International Club of Apo, district 9125 with theme "Peace and Conflict Resolution and Prevention".

Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

elieve came to the inRyesterday digenes of Osun State as the state

government reduced the amount being charged for the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (Cof-O) from N100, 000 for a piece of land measured 15 by 30 metres to N30, 000.

Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olumuyiwa Ige, who made this known in his

office while playing host to members of the Nigeria Institution of Surveyors (NIS), who paid him a courtesy visit, also assured the people that such certificates would now be issued without delay.

The commissioner further hinted that all efforts would be made by the current administration to discourage and prevent quacks from operating in the state while dubious people would be dealt with according to the law of the land.

China issues Nigerians 13,132 visas

T

he Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos, Mr. Liu Kan yesterday said that 13,132 Nigerians were issued with business visas to China in the last one year.

Liu disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in La-

gos on Thursday.

“About 13,132 of visas issued to Nigerians in the last one year up to Sept. 15 were mainly for business purposes. This is an indication that the Chinese Government is creating the right business environment for Nigerian entrepreneurs.

1,000 APC, AP members defect to PDP Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

o fewer than 1,000 NProgressives members of the All Congress

(APC) and the Accord Party (AP) yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Director of Research and Monitoring Department of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, Prof. Oyebanji OyelaranOyeyinka, who yesterday led the team of the UN agency to Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State to launch its 2013 report on human settlements, revealed this.

He also condemned Nigeria’s nonchalant attitude towards addressing the negative impacts of the rising population in her cities, saying if adequate measures are not taken, there are strong indications that the nation’s future may be in jeopardy.

Sola Adeyemo

O

ne of the leading governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Oluseyi Makinde, has said that quality service delivery and not age, is the hallmark of a good leader.

Makinde, a successful electronic engineer and international businessman, said this yesterday during his public declaration for the 2015 governorship seat in Oyo State held at the Polo Club, Eleyele, Ibadan, where his teeming supporters converged.

Experts seek better military Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

experts in the Stheecurity country have called for provision of improved

equipment and information sharing logistics among agencies as the panacea to the country’s security challenges.

The experts comprising of top ranking officers from the Nigerian Army, police, Air force, Navy, Civil Defense Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), among others, adopted this stand during a Security Information Management Forum held yesterday in Abuja.

hostage-taking, forced marriage and conscription, in a statement made available to New Telegraph yesterday, said the killing of Shekau should not be celebrated, because it has not signalled the end of Boko Haram in the country.

The group in a statement signed by its Convener, Mr. Debo Adeniran said: “The killing of Abubakar Shekau does not mean insurgency will come to an end in Nigeria."

change of nameS

Kazeem

Former Gabriel Oluwakemi, Now Kazeem Oluwakemi.

All Former documents remain valid. General public please note

Oladimeji

Former Bilesanmi Idowu, Now Oladimeji Idowu Former documents remain valid.

General public please note

Iheanacho

I, formerly known as Stella Ugochi Oji, Now wish to be known as Mrs. Iheanacho Francis Victor Stella Ugochi. All former documents remind valid.

General public note

Francis

I formerly known as Mr. Iheanacho Victor Okwudili, Now wish to be known as Mr. Iheanacho Francis Victor Okwudili. All former documents remind valid.

General public note

Waziri

Former Susan Adesuwa Mojugbe, Now Susan Adesuwa Waziri.

All Former documents remain valid. General public please note

Joseph

Former Mrs. Roseline Joseph Sola Soje, now Miss Roseline Joseph.

All former documents remain valid. The general public please note.

50 WORLD | NEWS

I

raq has received "credible" intelligence that Islamic State militants plan to attack subway systems in Paris and the United States, Iraq's prime minister said yesterday, but senior U.S. officials said they had no evidence to back up the claim.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he had received the information yesterday morning from militants captured in Iraq and concluded it was credible after

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

Islamic State plans subway attacks in US, Paris, says Iraqi PM asking for further details.

"Today, while I am here, I am receiving accurate reports from Baghdad where there was (the) arrest of (a) few elements and there are networks planning from inside Iraq to have at-

tacks," Abadi told a small group of U.S. reporters while in New York for the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. Two senior U.S. security officials, contacted by Reuters following the comments from Abadi, said the

United States had no information to support the threat.

The New York City Police Department said it was aware of the Abadi's warning and in close contact with the FBI and other agencies to assess the threat. The United States and France have both launched air strikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq as part of a U.S.-led campaign to "degrade and destroy" the radical Sunni militant group, which has seized a third of both Iraq and Syria.

"They plan to have attacks

in the metros of Paris and the U.S.," Abadi said. "I asked for more credible information. I asked for names. I asked for details, for cities, you know, dates.

And from the details I have received, yes, it looks credible."

In the past, the United States had received threats that various militant groups were targeting transportation systems but there is no recent information about an imminent plan by Islamic State, one U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Nobel peace winners boycott South Africa

S US President Barrack Obama meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi during United Nations General Assembly

Ghana, Ivory Coast head to court over sea boundary

G

hana and Ivory Coast are heading to a United Nations tribunal to resolve a dispute over the maritime boundary separating the two oil-producing nations, Ghana's attorney general said on yesterday. The maritime border between the two countries cuts through offshore oil fields that both nations are eager to exploit, but there are claims the boundary has not been properly demarcated.

Attorney General Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong told AFP that Ghana decided to

file a suit against its neighbour under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea after months of talks failed to reach an agreement.

"The friendly thing to do is ask an impartial arbiter to determine the issue on your behalf," AppiahOppong said of Accra's decision.

Both Ghana and Ivory Coast denied that the lawsuit signalled a change in relations between the two countries, which are west Africa's second- and third-largest economies respectively. "The two countries are talking and will continue to talk," Ivory Coast

government spokesman Bruno Kone said in Abidjan. "We are neighbours and are duty-bound to get along."

Ghana is a major producer of gold and cocoa and began commercial oil production in 2010 from the Jubilee oil field along its western border, which produces 100,000 barrels per day.

Ivory Coast, which is the world's largest producer of cocoa, is looking to boost its existing offshore oil production as well as to encourage a revival of its mining and agriculture sectors after a decade of conflict.

Pope sacks Paraguay bishop

P

ope Francis yesterday sacked a Paraguayan bishop accused of protecting and promoting a priest described by his former church superiors in the United States as "a serious threat to young people". In a statement, the Vatican said the removal of Ciudad del Este Bishop Rogelio Livieres Plano had been a "painful decision taken for serious pastoral reasons." There was no mention of the precise circumstances behind the dismissal of the conservative bishop, as opposed to the more customary acceptance of his resignation.

The move follows a visit to Paraguay by senior Vatican officials charged with investigating a case that had led to a public war of words between the South American country's senior clerics. "This grave decision of the Holy See was taken for serious pastoral reasons and was motivated by the greater good of unity in the church of Ciudad del Este and the episcopal communion in Paraguay," the Vatican statement said.

Livieres had been publicly attacked by his colleagues in Paraguay for his sponsorship of an Argentinian-born priest who

was removed from his parish in the US state of Pennsylvania in 2002 following a civil suit over the alleged abuse of boys in his pastoral care. The Church reportedly settled the suit in 2006 with a payment of $400,000 (315,000 euros). The priest, Carlos Urrotigoity, was sent to Canada for psychological assessment.

According to US media reports, that assessment concluded that the priest was "locked into" a sexual attraction to male minors, that he should be banned from the ministry, and that he should have no contact with young people.

everal Nobel peace laureates will skip an annual meeting in Cape Town because the Dalai Lama has not received a visa to travel to South Africa. The Nobel Women's Initiative, founded by female peace prize winners, said in a statement this week that China puts political pressure on countries in order to curb the Tibetan spiritual leader's travel and interaction with political leaders. The Dalai Lama says he wants more autonomy for Chinese-controlled Tibet, while China says he is a separatist.

Those skipping a meeting of Nobel peace laureates in South Africa on Oct. 13-15 are Iranianborn rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi; Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian women's rights activist; Jody

Williams, an anti-landmine activist; and a representative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was led

by Williams. Earlier this month, a group of 14 Nobel peace laureates appealed to South Africa to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama, saying he abandoned an attempt to get permission to travel to Cape Town after being told that he would be refused.

South Africa has close business ties with China, and has previously denied entry to the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama canceled his planned visit while South Africa's diplomats in New Delhi were processing his visa application, and the matter is closed, the South African government has said. The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

UN, Arms Trade Treaty effective from December 24

A

global Arms Trade Treaty to regulate the $85 billion industry and keep weapons out of the hands of human rights abusers and criminals will come into force on Dec. 24 after the 50th country ratified the agreement yesterday, the United Nations said. The 193-member U.N. General Assembly adopted the treaty in April last year. Argentina, Bahamas, Portugal, Czech Republic, St. Lucia, Senegal and Uruguay deposited their ratifications with the world body on Thursday, taking the total to 52.

U.N. disarmament chief Angela Kane told an Arms Trade Treaty event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly that Bosnia and Herzegovina

was due to also deposit its ratification later yesterday. "The need for the ATT remains abundantly clear. Deadly weaponry continues to find its way into irresponsible hands. Unscrupulous arms brokers defy U.N. arms embargoes. Ruthless leaders turn their arsenals on their own citizens," Kane said, delivering remarks on behalf of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

"Ammunition depots are poorly guarded. State-owned weapons go missing. Civilian airplanes end up in the crosshairs," she said. "Just as with other commodities, the trade in arms should comply with vigorous, internationally agreed standards. All actors involved in the arms trade must be held accountable."

ITF Africa Circuits: Ubon, Mohammed through to semis Ifeanyi Ibeh

N

igeria’s Joseph Ubon and Mohammed Mohammed have both advanced to the semi-finals of the boys’ singles event of the on-going ITF West & Central Africa Junior Tennis Circuit in Cotonou, Benin.

Ubon, who won the two phases of the Togo leg of the circuit, got the better of Kouadio Koffi of Cote d’Ivoire

6-0, 6-3 to progress to the last four where he will be up against Malawi’s Chisomo Lumeta.

The Malawian is the boy’s singles second seed, while Ubon is rated third.

But even though the Nigerian is seeded below his East African opponent, he looks good to secure a final ticket having beaten Lumeta in last week’s final in Togo.

Mohammed, on his part, got the

better of his compatriot, Ikechukwu Iloputa, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4) on Thursday and will now face Burkina Faso’s Gueninle Ouattara in Friday’s semi-finals.

Ubon and Mohammed also paired to beat Dominique Gandonou and Dossou Gandonnou of Benin 7-5, 6-2 in the boys’ doubles and will now confront Thailand’s pair of Palaphoom Kovapitukted and Itchya Meesommon for a place in the final.

In the girls’ singles, fifth seed, Eliza-

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AUTHORITATIVE VOICE IN GLOBAL SPORT

friday, september 26, 2014

EMMANUEL TOBI, Assistant Editor, SPORTS iFEANYI IBEH,

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Ajibade olusesan, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

charles ogundiya, SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Who is Nigeria’s greatest footballer of all-time?

NFFtop shots gointo hiding

AFCON 2015: Eagles still in contention, says Enyeama }p.52

ADEKUNLE SALAMI, DepUTY Editor, SPORTS

beth Garos-Pam of Nigeria, was beaten by Benin’s Esperence Follykoue 7-5 6-3 and will now seek to clinch a medal in the girl’s doubles event where she and her partner, Zimbabwe’s Nicole Dzenga progressed to the semi-finals following their 6-2, 6-1 triumph over the Ghanaian duo of Yvonne BruceTagoe and Franciscan Nyarko.

Garos-Pam and Dzenga will battle Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie Adomon and Ahou Kouadio in the semifinal.

} p 54

Barca needed more pace against Malaga – Iniesta }p.52

SPORTS CREW

51

lAmadu runs secretariat from hideout Adekunle Salami

T

op officials of the Nigeria Football Federation have gone underground as the elections into the board of the soccer ruling body draw near.

The elections are billed to hold in Warri, Delta State, on September 30. It was part of decisions taken at the General Assembly on September 20.

Key officials of the football body are on the run over the moves by a rival faction of the body to serve a court injunction document on any of the top officials of the NFF. A Jos Court on Friday granted an injunction to stop the NFF Congress which was

held next day in Warri since the court papers were not served.

The injunction was initiated by the Chris Giwa-led faction.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the Secretary General of the NFF, Musa Amadu, has not been to the secretariat of the NFF this week.

Other topshots of the soccer ruling body have also been operating from unknown places in the Federal Capital Territory while those who have managed to go to the secretariat did so in a hide and seek manner.

“We have not seen Amadu this week in the office and some other officials come to the secretariat in strange

vehicles or they get to the office as early as 6.30am,” our source revealed.

It was also learnt that visitors to the NFF office in Abuja are now being searched by the security personnel before they gain entrance.

“This week, they are not accommodating to visitors.

The officials have been told not to entertain visitors in this dicey period until after the elections. It is as tight as that,” our source added.

The image maker of the NFF, Ademola Olajire, who did not confirm or deny the development in the Glass House, told our correspondent that Amadu has been performing his role on a daily

basis.

“I can confirm to you that the Secretary General has been performing his daily routine of running the secretariat without any problem. I don’t know about people hiding for whatever reason. The operations in the NFF are being handled on a daily basis,” Olajire said.

The hide and seek is expected to continue until the Election Day, which is Tuesday September 30. Only on Wednesday, NFF President, Aminu Maigari, was arrested by security operatives for undisclosed reasons.

A total of 44 delegates are expected to be in Warri for the elective Congress next week.

52 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Barca needed more pace against Malaga – Iniesta

A

example of that.

“We struggled to use the ball quickly enough to break down their defence.

We lacked that extra bit of speed needed. It depends on us to finish them off.

It is not easy attacking a team which throws nine or 10 men behind the ball.”

Despite slipping up, Barcelona remain joint-top of the La Liga table ahead of their weekend meeting with Granada.

ndres Iniesta had admitted that Barcelona struggled to break down a resilient Malaga outfit on Wednesday, saying that his side needed some extra pace.

The 30-year-old midfielder played the full 90 minutes as Barca were held to a goalless draw at La Roselda.

“Malaga had plenty going for them,” Iniesta told Canal+. “La Liga is very difficult and Wednesday was a prime

Friday, September 26, 2014

Bayern explain Alonso move ayern Munich’s sporting director MatBchampions thias Sammer reveals why the German purchased Xabi Alonso this

summer.

Real Madrid sold the 32-year-old Spaniard for a reported fee of £7m to the Bundesliga champions, with Sammer believing it was just the type of player the club needed.

“We have been looking for a defensive midfielder, he is that type of player,” Bayern’s sporting director said, according to Sky Sports News.

“Xabi Alonso has incredible skills, passing and ball control. He has an eye for the game, he holds defending ability and he is physically strong.

“He just has to remain fit and healthy.

Then we will enjoy his spell at our club.”

Alonso enjoyed a five-year spell at Madrid where he won the La Liga title and the Champions League during his stint.

Man United job’s my toughest so far – Van Gaal

Van Gaal

L

ouis van Gaal says Manchester United is the toughest job of his career at the moment after overseeing a poor start to the season that has seen the Red Devils win just once in five Premier League games.

United are currently languishing in 12th in the Premier League and surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 5-3 to newly-promoted

Leicester City on Sunday.

Van Gaal is also facing an injury crisis in an already suspect defence with Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling all sidelined while Tyler Blackett is suspended, having been sent off at the King Power Stadium.

And when asked if this was the toughest situation of his illustrious managerial career, the Dutchman replied: “At this moment maybe, but you have to see us in a year and not in the one week when we have nine injuries and a red card.

“As a manager you know already it is a big challenge. This club is in a transition and you don’t know in advance what are the difficult moments, you have to see, because when we started we won everything, and in very difficult circumstances, now we are again in very difficult circumstances and we can win.”

South Africa coach eyes Congo scalp lbanks on Nigeria game experience

EmmanuelTobi outh Africa coach, Shakes Mashaba, has Sbank maintained that the Bafana Bafana will on the experience garnered during

their goalless draw against Nigeria on September 6 when they battle Congo in a double header of the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers billed for next month.

South Africa will travel to Pointe Noire where they will play against Congo on Saturday, 11 October before hosting Congo on Wednesday, 15 October at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Masheba while announcing a squad of 26 players for the Congo game on Thursday added that he decided to retain the bulk of the team that played against Sudan and Nigeria to consolidate on the team’s quest for qualification.

“We needed back-up in some positions due to the unavailability of some players, but it is more or less the same team that played Sudan and Nigeria - it’s a question of if it ain’t broken why fix it?

“We are looking forward to the two matches and it will be important to do well away but there is no pressure, we take one match at a time. The good thing is that we play them in our backyard almost immediately after the first match and we don’t have to wait for weeks to get it out of the way,” said Mashaba.

Congo have six points, followed by Bafana

Bafana with four points. Nigeria are third with one point while Sudan are yet to collect a point but Mashaba said he is aware of the threat posed by the Congo team which defeated both Nigeria and Sudan in the first two matches and lead the group at this early stage.

Financial Fair Play: UEFA to probe Liverpool, six others “These clubs will need to submit additional EFA are to investigate seven clubs, including UofLiverpool and Inter, over possible breaches monitoring information during October and November upon the deadlines set by the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

As well as the likes of Inter and Liverpool, Monaco and Roma are also under investigation from the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB), after they failed to break even in their latest financial reports.

“The CFCB has opened formal investigations into seven clubs (AS Monaco, AS Roma, Besiktas JK, FC Internazionale Milano, FC Krasnodar, Liverpool FC and Sporting Clube de Portugal) as they disclosed a break-even deficit on the basis of their financial reporting periods ending in 2012 and 2013,” a statement read.

Falcons head coach, Edwin Ssureuper Okon, has said he is not under presto win next month’s African Wom-

en Championship in Namibia.

Speaking to New Telegraph on Wednesday, Okon said the objective of every right-thinking coach going for a competition was to excel and he would not be an exception.

Okon also said the players in camp were all responding to training, adding that by the time the AWC gets underway his girls would be the team to beat.

“We are having a swell time here in camp. All the players already in camp are giving it their all and I have no doubt in my mind that we are going to Namibia to excel,” he said.

“I am not under any pressure at all to win the trophy. We are going there to give it our all to reclaim the title. But like I said, I am not under pressure.”

CFCB, subsequent to which, an additional communication shall be made and conservatory measures may be imposed.”

Thelikesof ManchesterCityandParisSaintGermainweresanctionedbyUEFAbackinMay, after both clubs were found to be in breach of the regulations. Manchester City were hit with a fine of €60million, while their squad for this season’sUEFAChampionsLeaguewasreduced to 21 players, while PSG were hit with a similar punishment, although both club’s fines will be reduced to €20m if they comply with the body’s break-even rules in the future.

AFCON 2015: Eagles still in contention, says Enyeama uper Eagles first choice goalkeeper liever in possibilities, and as a result, believes Sconfidence Vincent Enyeama has expressed qualification is not out of Nigeria’s reach.

Nigeria will qualify for the “I have always believed in possibilities and Morocco 2015 Africa Cup of Nations despite a slow start to the qualifying campaign, which has seen them get only a solitary point from a possible six.

Enyeama, who missed both games against Congo and South Africa due to ‘family reasons’, says he’s a firm be-

Falcons coach not under pressure to win AWC Charles Ogundiya

Alonso (left)

Iniesta

On his final list for the competition, especially in the absence of some of the foreign-based professionals invited for the AWC, the coach said he already has an idea of what his final list would look like.

“All the players are trying to impress the technical crew, but I know what I want as a coach and that is what I am going for. I have my list already barring any last minute injury to any of the players,” he said.

“If you look at some of the players in camp, they are giving their all. But you cannot determine how good you are as a player; it is the duty of the technical crew to do that which is what we are doing here with all the players.

“We have given all of them equal chances and I can assure you we are taking the best legs available to Namibia,” the River’s Angels coach said.

I have absolute confidence that we can always achieve the best no matter what.

“There are still four games to play and I’m very confident we will make it to Morocco 2015, we just have to keep the focus,” he said.

Nigeria are third in Group A, with Congo topping with a maximum points haul of six, South Africa are second with four points, while Sudan are bottom with no points from the two games played so far.

The Super Eagles will play back to back against Sudan, first in Omdurman and then possibly in Abuja, knowing that they must secure maximum points from those games if they are to stand a clear chance of qualifying for the tournament.

Enyeama

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

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Best food: Rice Best drink: Water Best colour: Blue Best club supported: Lazio Best car: BMW Best designer: Anything Cool Best perfume: Creed, Tom Ford Best music: Gospel Best competition ever attended: Brazil 2014 World Cup Best Boot: Nike Best Jersey No: 23

Countdown to September 30 NFF Elections

Coaches rally support for Bewarang Emmanuel Tobi

T

he Chairman, Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Federal Capital Territory Chapter, Godwin Bamigboye, has appealed to the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation to unanimously vote for Bitrus Bewarang who is contesting to be a board member during the September 30 elections in Warri, Delta State.

He made this appeal during a visit to the Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Saeed Talle, stating that the Nigeria Football Coaches stand

solidly behind its President, Bitrus Bewarang, who he described as a man who has contributed immensely to football development in Nigeria.

Bewarang from Plateau State is expected to battle Agara Silas (Nasarawa State), Suleiman Yahaya Kwande (Plateau State) and Ahmed YusufFresh (Niger State) for the sole ticket for the North Central zone ticket for the ordinary membership of the board representing the six geopolitical zones of the country.

He commended the football stakeholders for their maturity in checking the crises in the NFF

which he earlier described as a virus that should be contained with immediate effect.

In his response, the Chairman of the FCT FA, Saeed Talle, promised to personally talk to his colleagues in the 36 states of Nigeria to see the appeal coming from the coaches as a genuine request that should be granted by all lovers of the game.

He commended the Nigeria Football Coaches Association under the leadership of Bamigboye for the giant strides they have recorded and urged them not to relent in their contribution to football development in FCT.

Umeh’s experience will galvanise football –Eseka A

veteran sports journalist, Chris Eseka, has backed Chief Mike Umeh in his ambition to become the next President of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Eseka who is a pioneer in sports marketing in the country said he had known Umeh since the early 1990s adding that the achievements of the Anambra State-born football administrator stood him out among the field of contestants in the race for the NFF Presidency.

“Umeh’s years in the administration of football can be traced back to the early 1990s

Osun FA backs Ogunjobi’s presidential bid

sun State Football AsOchairman, sociation has given its Chief Taiwo

Bewarang

Ogunjobi, its stamp of approval in his quest to become the next president of Nigeria Football Federation.

Osun FA announced its support for the presidential candidacy of the former secretary-general of NFF. Ogunjobi, an ex-Nigerian international, is the candidate with the most experience and the Osun FA believes he

has the acumen to help the country’s football out of its present state of crisis.

A statement from the Osun FA describes Ogunjobi as a bridge builder and an asset to Nigerian football, considering his wealth of experience having served as the chairman of the NFF technical committee and as secretary general of the football federation.

“Ogunjobi has always

acted in the best interest of Nigerian football and he is the most experienced candidate vying for the NFF top shot.”

“The NFF needs a better and experienced candidate in Ogunjobi that can help football grow by removing unnecessary roadblocks and channel a way forward,” the statement stated.

The NFF elections will be held on Tuesday, September 30, in Warri, Delta State.

when he was the Team Manager of the Super Eagles and when he eventually got into the board of the Nigeria Football Association.

He was very young then and was ready to learn. He started his football journey with the Super Eagles, then I was managing Westerhof.

“Umeh guided the boys to the Nations Cup triumph in Tunisia, qualified for the World Cup and as first timers, got to the second round. It was no mean feat,” Eseka recalled.

“After his successful stint with the national team, Umeh became the chairman of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu and his record there speaks volumes “His second coming on the last board saw a lot of achievements also. The Eagles won the Nations Cup, first in 19 years and outside the shores of this country, qualified for the World Cup and got to the second round. Umeh is a man who loves football and I feel, we should just honour him with the presidency of the NFF.” The former Sports writer noted that Umeh’s love for football was underlined by the enormous resources he put into the administration of the game in the country. “He spent his personal money and time to ensure football developed smoothly in the country.”

CONTROVERSY

54 SPORT

Sanctity of Truth

Friday, September 26, 2014

they were excellent footballers. Having those two guys in the team was a massive boost for confidence.

Football is all about goals and entertainment, and these two, even though they were not proven goalscorers, knew how to create chances for their teammates and entertain the fans. But I think Kanu was the more complete of the two.

He’s the greatest.

(Emmanuel Babayaro – former Nigeria goalkeeper)

Yekini Odegbami

Chukwu

Kanu

Balogun (left) with the 1949 UK Tourists

Okocha

Who is Nigeria’s greatest footballer of all-time?

N

igeria has had its fair share of great footballers dating back to the middle of the 20th century when the first recognised footballers from the country embarked on a tour of the United Kingdom. The star of that team which embarked on that tour of the UK in 1949 was Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, and he and his teammates inspired a generation of youngsters who went on to become household names in the 1970s and early part of the 1980s such as Haruna Ilerika, Sam Opone, Emmanuel Okala, Segun Odegbami, Mudashiru ‘Muda’ Lawal, Christian Chukwu, Adokiye Amiesimaka and Felix Owolabi. Some of these abovementioned players became household names within and outside Nigeria, and served as an inspiration for the next generation of stars, led by Henry Nwosu, Rashidi Yekini, Peter Rufai, Etim Esin and Stephen Keshi who, even though he wasn’t the first Nigerian-born footballer to play professionally in Europe, personally inspired a lot of Nigerian footballers to take their talent overseas. Notable among these players were Sunday Oliseh, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.

New Telegraph went to town to seek out the opinions of some of the best players to have donned the green and white of Nigeria,

and their views are presented below.

ODEGBAMI IS THE GREATEST I HAVE EVER SEEN – OKALA I have seen so many great players come and go, such as Adokiye Amiesimaka, Christian Chukwu, Felix Owolabi, Haruna Ilerika, and even Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, but I will pick Segun Odegbami not only because I played with him in the national team, but because of what he did in every match he played against Rangers while playing for Shooting Stars.

Regardless of where he went, fans wanted to come out and see him. It didn’t matter whether Shooting Stars were playing in Ibadan or away from home, people wanted to see Odegbami as he can singlehandedly win a match for his team.

If only he had played overseas or in the World Cup I am sure he would have been nominated for the World Player of the Year as he could do a lot of the moves you see some of today’s top players doing effortlessly.

(Emmanuel Okala – former Green Eagles goalkeeper) Chukwu, Usiyan, Okocha exceptional – Fuludu That will be a tough one for me to say, but looking at it from

when I was growing up, I looked up to Christian Chukwu.

He was a commander on the pitch and one of the greatest footballers to ever come out of Africa. During his playing days, you would be glad to watch the Eagles play.

Also there was this great player in the 70s. Thompson Usiyan was his name, and he was arguably the best goal scorer Nigeria ever produced. He never missed when he had the ball in the box.

But among those that I played with, Austin Okocha actually stood out.

He was one of my best footballers, and he showed the world that football could be fun and business at the same time.

Edema Fuludu (Ex-Super Eagles midfielder) Kanu’s the greatest Babayaro Nigeria has had a lot of great players. I grew up hearing about players like Segun Odegbami, Humphrey Edobor, Tarila Okorowanta, Henry Nwosu, Felix Owolabi, and Rashidi Yekini but, I could be wrong, as this is just my opinion, but I think Nwankwo Kanu qualifies to be the greatest, then maybe JayJay Okocha.

I played with Kanu and Okocha in the national team and

It has to be Yekini, says Elaho To name the greatest Nigerian player ever is a difficult one since you are not taking the different positions separately. Well I would have to go with Rashidi Yekini among all the players I saw and the ones I also played with.

We have not had a player like Yekini since he left the scene; he was a fantastic striker that will be difficult to replace.

But there are certain other players I didn’t really see but that are still being talked about in superlative terms. I heard that Thompson Usiyen was great too in his time.

Friday Elaho (Ex-Super Eagles winger) Teslim Balogun was a Thunder-Onigbinde The greatest footballer Nigeria has ever produced was Teslim ‘Thunder’ Balogun, there is no doubt about it. As a footballer, he did many things players before his time, those of his time and after and even years to come did not do and have not been able to do with the ball. I know that one of the goals I still consider as my greatest was scored by ‘Ara awa’ at the Olu Ibadan Stadium in 1968. He had played in England and the UK Tourists knew him very well. So, in that match in Ibadan, the Tourists were always on him each time he received the ball. To beat the pressure, ‘Ara wa’ stood outside the 18-yard box with his back turned at the UK Tourist goalkeeper, a ball was floated to him from the midfield and the English players were waiting for him to bring it down.

He was a fantastic footballer with bullet shots on both feet. He had the speed and could dribble. No wonder he was among the first African players to be signed by a British club many decades ago. Ghanaian newspapers once described him as the greatest centre forward that Africa has ever produced.

Teslim was nicknamed “Thunder” particularly because of his spectacular performance in the Nigerian Challenge Cup finals of 1949.

The match was between Nigerian Railways and Marines Football Club. Marine were leading Railways 3-0 until it was about eight minutes to the end of the game when Teslim Balogun busted loose and netted three

goals within seven minutes to level for his side. His shots were like lightening.

After had scored two goals, the fans stood on their toes. Then, unbelievably, he took the Marine defenders on again and proceeded to score the third goal. At that point, many of the fans fell off the stands in jubilation and there were some casualties.

Adegboye Onigbinde (FIFA/CAF technical instructor) Odegbami was in a class of his own - Sofoluwe It’s tough deciding who Nigeria’s greatest footballer of all-time is as there are so many great players to pick from.

There was Haruna Ilerika, who could change the outcome of a match in the blink of an eye, just like Jay-Jay Okocha, who should also be in contention.

There was Segun Odegbami, who was unstoppable and very dangerous on the ball, and Nwankwo Kanu, who is one of the most talented players to have ever come out of Africa.

Then there was also Rashidi Yekini, who was the best striker I ever saw. It’s a very tough one but I think Odegbami qualifies to be the greatest of all-time, not because he was much better than the other great players I mentioned but because he scored so many vital goals for Nigeria, and was much loved by fans. He was in a class of his own.

(Yisa Sofoluwe – former Green Eagles defender) Kanu is king – Ezeugo There are several criteria to look at in trying to tackle this poser. First, you have to talk about achievements.

It is not enough for a player to just do some leg overs and you tag him great. A great player must be able to translate talent into quantifiable achievements. Such a player must have been impactful; so in this regard I would pick Nwankwo Kanu.

Kanu was skillful, tall maybe, 6ft 4ins and lanky, as a result he was not expected to be good on his feet, but he was. He was impactful and that is crucial in my choice.

He won the Olympic gold in football and his impact was massive in that competition.

At club level he was huge; he won the league title and FA Cup at Arsenal, won the Champions League at Ajax and the FA Cup again at Portsmouth. Even at Iwuayanwu Nationale his impact was felt. Although his achievements at club level far outweigh his feat in the national team, I believe he deserves the accolade.

Emeka Ezeugo (Ex-Super Eagles defender)

The crew Emmanuel Tobi Vincent Eboigbe Ifeanyi Ibeh Ajibade Olusesan Charles Ogundiya

Friday, September 26, 2014

55

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On Marble

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$9.3m arms gate: One scandal too many

ontemporary Watchers of Nigerian Nation have variously described the country as a poster nation for poor governance, a haven of corruption. Relying on the successive listing of Nigeria over the years by Transparency International through its yearly corruption perception index, and also pointing to the innumerable accounts of malfeasance in public and private lives, some of the analysts have in fact given up on Nigeria. The country is so enmeshed in corruption that any discussion of any aspect of the country’s socio-political and economic life without due attention to corruption would diminish the worth of the report. Some analysts, owing to the centrality of corruption in Nigeria, see it as both cause and effect of the nation’s imprisonment in underdevelopment. From independence till date, the nation’s socio-political history is a story of corruption, of how public office is used for pecuniary benefits, private material and other illicit gains.

In January 1966, when the young army officers struck to overthrow the nascent civilian political regime, they identified corruption, award of inflated contracts, 10 percent kickbacks as some of their grouses against the regime. We don’t talk about 10 percent nowadays, what we hear is 100 percent where full payments have been made without anything to show for it. All succeeding coup d états, have all rested on the supposed anger against official corruption, ditto for the civilian arm of the ruling class in their quest for state power.

These factions of the ruling elite use their so called “fight” against corruption as a vote catching ploy and a means of attracting legitimacy. Corruption in Nigeria has become so brazen and ubiquitous that is now a way of life. Given its pervasiveness, some frustrated analysts now argue that it is no longer useful discussing corruption in Nigeria. But we must not succumb to this. The task of the press and civil society is to act as watchdog, and conscience of the nation to continually hold governments accountable to their actions. We must continue to critically interrogate public policies, incisively expose their strengths and weaknesses. Not to do so, will amount to a tragic abdication of the sacred responsibilities of these institutions. That is why we must discuss the ignoble ferrying of whopping $9.3million dollars in cash to South Africa, for yet unexplained reasons.

On Sept. 5, 2014, the authorities in South Africa impounded a private plane, arrested 3 persons, two Nigerians and one Israeli. The plane was loaded with cash running into millions of United States dollars, in fact 9.3 million dollars. The money was not declared

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in Nigeria, and also in South Africa, obviously contravening known established procedures and rules on how such sum are to be moved around. Purportedly, the illicit cash was to be used to procure, off the shelves perhaps, arms and ammunitions to be used in the current war against Boko Haram insurgents in the North. Story. How a supposedly democratic country, faced with violent attacks from terrorists, will toe this inglorious path to purchase arms to defend its territorial integrity, save its citizens from further bloodshed is unimaginable and totally unacceptable. It is very disgraceful and shameful. Nigeria is not a rogue state, and therefore, such underhand, sinister, and appalling dealings must be roundly condemned. The illicit cash, I am told, was ferried in a private jet belonging to Pastor Oritsejafor, General Overseer, and superintendent of the Warri based Word of Life Bible Ministries, who also doubles as the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The jet, a product of the “sundry tithes” of poor faithfuls was given to their “father in the Lord” ostensibly to carry on the message of evangelism across the globe. Surreptitious movement of cash across borders for purchase of arms and armaments may have become part of that mission. What on earth would a pastor of God in poverty stricken Nigeria be doing with a private Bombardier Challenger 600 Jet, a loquacious exhibition of unrestrained grandiloquence, clearly at variance with the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ, which so called Pentecostalism has come to rubbish with their prosperity mantra? Such double speak, crass materialism, and primitive acquisitive tendencies have gone a long way in upping the ante of corruption in Nigeria. The complete perversion or erosion of values goes side by side with the gospel of accumulation as evident in the acquisition of private jet, or in such other repulsive showmanship as in the number of posh, sleek cars Rolls Royce etc owned by the pastor Okoties of this world. To claim that the plane has since last month or so, been leased to Eagle Air, and further leased out to Green Coast produce ltd., under whose custody the plane was involved in the untidy deal, and therefore exonerates pastor Oritsejafor from any blame, as the pastor and other apologists are wont to argue is inexcusable and unsustainable. For one, was the plane not

given to Ayo Oritsejafor by his parishioners, that is, if they did, for the purpose of evangelism, stricto senso? Should a man of God give out his property to be used for such clandestine purposes? No matter how hard, the CAN President tries; it is simply difficult, just on moral grounds alone to completely extricate himself from this mess. As CAN President, he should have been more circumspect, in his actions and utterances. If the plane is grounded and confiscated, what would the pastor tell his parishioners? For the CAN President, moral restitution is necessary in this matter. For the collective reputation of Nigerian Christians has been seriously rubbished.

If, as we have read, our National Security Agencies are involved in this affair, why didn’t they follow the usual security and bureaucratic protocols normally associated with such transactions? Why would they wilfully and willingly attempt to subvert the law? Why was the South African government, a sister African nation not duly consulted? What companies were involved in this messy affair, and how credible are they? Why did we need to carry this load of cash in this day and age, even with the cashless policy of the Federal Government? Were Nigerian Embassy Officials brought into the picture, or were they kept in the dark? What role(s) did they play to facilitate these transactions? What has the federal Government done to respond to this unfortunate scandal? Will this one again be swept under the carpet? Is it truly arms meant for the war against terror that the $9.3million cash was ferried out? Or is it a case of convenient alibi to cover up fraudulent and criminal activities? These questions and more require urgent answers. If the Federal Government is actually involved, given the security implications, then the whole process has been poorly executed. The least the Federal Government can do, in this regard, is to set up immediately a non partisan probe panel comprising of eminent and knowledgeable Nigerians that will unravel all the issues concerning this sordid affair. To continue to keep silent like the Federal Government has done is to unwittingly give the unscrupulous impression that Nigeria as a country celebrates criminality and corruption. To attempt to hide under the guise of religion or tribe, in treating state matters can only help to regress the country, not promote it

Synagogue disaster On September 12, 2014, one of the buildings within the precincts of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, (SCOAN) in Ikotun area of Lagos collapsed killing about 115 people, with several others seriously wounded.

The dead mostly South Africans and other nationals had come with one problem or the other for spiritual relief, or as part of religious pilgrimage, and tourism. Whatever is the case I sympathise with the dead, wounded and their grieving families, and all the faithfuls of the Synagogue. I also extend my condolences to prominent preacher, Prophet T.B Joshua on the tragic incident.

Nevertheless, this incident brings to the fore the many cases of collapsed buildings in different cities in the country. Nigeria cannot continue to lose men and women, young and old, citizens and foreigners to the spate of building collapse. Even while we join the Synagogue in mourning, there is need to commence urgently a fact finding panel of experienced professionals to probe into this incident. The building, an original two storey building is being converted to house seven floors. If the church did not obtain building permits, and other necessary approvals, then its actions must have led to this very unfortunate incident. The church would therefore be culpable. Assuming an approval was given, then the materials used, and the level of supervision would then be the source of worry.

Let us leave our worries and concerns to be properly addressed by the panel if they are ever set up, when the government musters the courage to do the right thing. If this nation must move forward, there shall be no sacred cows in dealing with the deluge of problems confronting Nigeria.

OMOBABA

IN FOUR YEARS WE HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT TO RESPECT JUDICIARY – Fayemi

– Gov, put that in your handover notes !

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