30th oct 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Vol. 1 No. 254

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Jonathan picks nomination form today }8

Stockbrokers plan strike over N300m capital base Godson Ikoro and Chris Ugwu

tockbrokers have decided to down tools and shut the market for at least 48 hours if the

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did not back down on its decision to jack up their capital base from N70 million to N300 million. According to a source,

the decision was part of resolutions at a recent meeting held by the Association of Stock broking Houses of Nigeria (ASHON). Though the source was

not specific on the date for the commencement of the strike, he said yesterday that the association was considering going on strike in November. He added that the body

was also considering seeking redress from industrial court if the apex market regulator insists on going ahead with the recapitalisation. According to the

source, the market has been dropping to unprecedented level due to recapitalisation fever that has engulfed the bourse as the December 31 deadline CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Boko Haram captures defence chief’s hometown Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh

lAttacks military barracks, frees prison inmates }5

Quick Read Editorial

The quest for more efficient police }19 Court restrains Abia PDP primaries committee }47 PDP disqualifies non-Eket aspirants from Akwa Ibom guber race }6

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Captain of Super Falcon, Evelin Nwabuoku; Minister of Sports, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo; President Goodluck Jonathan and Chief Coach, Mr. Edwin Edem, during the presentation of the African Women Football Tournament’s trophy to the president in Abuja... yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

PDP lawmakers plot Tambuwal’s removal Philip Nyam and Johnchuks Onuanyim

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House

of Representatives yesterday met to plot how the party could regain the leadership of the legislature that it lost following Tuesday’s defection of the Speaker,

Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The lawmakers, however, acknowledged that it would be a daunting task

for them to unseat Tambuwal, in view of the support he enjoys among his colleagues and the inability of PDP members to muster the required two-thirds

majority to force him out. Also yesterday, Tambuwal made his first appearance at an APC event, where he was formally adCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Boko Haram captures defence chief’s hometown Emmanuel Onani, Ibrahim Abdul and Ahmed Miringa

he commercial border town of Mubi, which is also the hometown of Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has finally fallen into the hands of Boko Haram, as the insurgents sacked military barracks and set prison inmates free yesterday. The insurgents had earlier taken over Uba town, and some other parts of neighbouring towns in Adamawa State, hoisting their flags. It was learnt that the annexation of Mubi followed a fierce battle between the terrorists and troops, who put up a last-minute effort to prevent Mubi from falling into the hands of the insurgents. Sources said the insurgents now keep vigil with many residents sneaking out of the town. “As I am talking to you now, many residents of Mubi are feared killed as Boko Haram launched attack on the town, which is the second largest and one of the commercial nerve centres of Adamawa State,” a resident said. Fleeing residents said the Nigerian Air Force had started pounding the insurgents as sound of explosions and gunshots inundated the commercial town. “They have attacked military formations, police stations and they set free prison inmates,” said sources. A fleeing resident, Mr. Ahmad Garba, in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, said thousands of people had fled Mubi while others ran into the bush to escape the raging offensive between the sect and the troops. “We are running for our lives; they attacked military barracks, police stations and prison. As I am talking to you, thousands of people have deserted Mubi and neighbouring towns; people scattered into different directions with some heading towards Cameroun Republic while others headed to Yola and Maiha towns with some people taking cover in the bush,” Garba said. Another source said the insurgents overran Madagali down to Bazza. “They are having field day, even yesterday I sneaked into Michika town to evacuate my aged mother, but surprisingly only insurgents could be heard moving around, no presence of soldiers,” the source said. “Mubi has now become a ghost of its former self

as people in hundreds are fleeing for their safety. Even here in Maiha, we saw soldiers’ vehicles zooming off towards Yola, the state capital,” said another source in Maiha. The latest attack on Mubi is believed to be an attempt by insurgents to consolidate their grip on the Adamawa North senatorial zone having captured Madagali and Michika Local Government Areas of the state about two months ago. Earlier yesterday, several residents of Uba town in Adamawa border communities were feared killed as the insurgents engaged troops in a bloody shoot out, with many fleeing to neighbouring local government areas. Uba town is about 30 kilometres away from Mubi.

A fleeing resident, Mr. Joshua Gajere, said that several people might have been killed during the shooting spree that lasted for almost two hours. “We are in serious trouble. These boys (Boko Haram) have taken over our towns, splitting in groups with some Boko Haram advancing towards Mararraban Mubi and Vintim, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh. They are giving Nigerian troops a hot chase as soldiers retreated to Mubi. “As I am talking to you now, residents are scampering for their lives for fear of imminent attack and uncertainty,” Gajere said. A resident, Mrs. Lami Bello, said: “The town is deserted now; people have all fled into nearby bushes

and hilltops. We have seen soldiers in their vehicles retreating.” Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Bala James Ngilari’s media aide, Mr. P.P. Elisha, confirmed the attack. He said: “It has come to the attention of the Adamawa State Government that insurgents are now in Mubi and other neighbouring areas and had killed and displaced scores of people. “On behalf of the people and government of Adamawa, I deeply sympathise with the people and other surrounding villages and towns whose areas had been overran by insurgents.” He said the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in conjunction with the National Emer-

gency Agency (NEMA) had been directed to hasten assistance to the displaced persons and asked the people of the state, particularly those in the affected areas, to remain calm as security agents are on top of the situation. However, as at the time of filing this report, the insurgents who are now in full control of Mubi, are said to be heading to the emir’s palace. The emir, Abubakar Isa Ahmadu, is lucky not to be in town when the insurgents struck, as he was said to be in Saudi Arabia, being the state Amirul Haj, though some of his family members were reported to have escaped. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen Kenneth Minimah, has reassured Nigerians

that the insurgency plaguing the North-East, will soon be over. He gave the indication of an end to terrorism in Abuja yesterday, during the inauguration of blocks of classrooms built by the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) and the foundation laying for the association’s secondary school in Kurudu, a suburb of Abuja. Also yesterday, some of the Chibok schoolgirls that escaped from custody complained of neglect and abandonment by the state government which kept them at one of the Government Lodges in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The girls were promised sponsorship to study in difCONTINUED ON PAGE 8

L-R: Outgoing Managing Director, Lafarge WAPCO, Mr. Joe Hudson; Chairman, Lafarge Africa Plc, Chief OlusegunOsunkeye; Hudson’s successor, Mrs. Adepeju Adebayo and Group Managing Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Guillaume Roux, at the launch of the company’s corporate book, entitled “ Building Nigeria: A legacy of Excellence” in Lagos...yesterday

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Stockbrokers plan strike over N300m capital base CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

given by SEC for market operators approaches. “Both foreign and local investors have been dumping their shares, causing the All Share Index and market capitalisation to continue to nose-dive at unprecedented level that at the time of filing this report, the market, which has reached N14 trillion mark during the half year, has dropped to all time low of N12 trillion within a short space of time,” he stated. Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is to penalise 100 Bureau de Change (BDC) operators for contravening the foreign exchange rules. The 100 BDCs may be

blacklisted or banned after lifting the veil of the companies and investigating the directors. A list of the errant BDC operators, which was obtained by New Telegraph from the other Financial Institutions Department of the apex bank, showed that the companies, which accessed the foreign exchange window, could not be located at the registered addresses given to the banking watchdog when they were licensed. According to CBN sources, some of the BDCs are being investigated for fraudulent practices bordering on forgeries and criminal activities in the foreign exchange market. Going by the list, com-

panies to be penalised include Edan Bureau de Change Limited, Cephal Financial BDC Ltd, Bam Bam BDC Ltd, Fergo Bureau De Change Ltd and Arise Bureau De Change Limited. Further investigations showed that some of them changed their registered addresses without informing the CBN and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Also, some have changed their directors without filing the relevant amended Article and Memorandum of Association with both the CBN and the CAC. For example, Edan Bureau De Change whose registered address is No.

1, Uche Ubochi close, off Alaba International Trade Complex, Badagry Expressway Lagos has moved to No. 18/20, Fedau Street Mosafejo, Ojo, Lagos, without due notification to the CBN. Investigation also showed that after the apex bank suspended Edan Bureau De Change in March 2012 following its ownership tussle, the company curiously changed its address and still went back to the apex bank window and continued trading without resolving the ownership tussle. Investigations also revealed the complicity of various officials of the CBN’s Trade and Exchange Department,

made the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, to intervene in the BDC markets. The apex bank had accused the operators of rent seeking, sharp practices and flagrant disregard of the objectives and principles in the guidelines for the operation of BDCs. The governor, in exercise of his duties, wielded the big stick against the lawless operators, by reviewing upward, the minimum capital base from N10 million to N35 million. He also jacked up caution fee from N3.2 million to N35 million and yearly renewal from N10, 000 to N250, 000.

News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP disqualifies non-Eket aspirants from A’Ibom guber race Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he hopes of onetime Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government (SSG), Mr. Umana Okon Umana, and former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bassey Albert of contesting the 2015 governorship election in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have been dashed after all. The national leadership of the PDP yesterday unanimously endorsed the decision of the state party caucus to zone the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District. Umana and Albert are from Uyo Senatorial District. According to a statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the decision of the leadership to endorse the zoning of the position to Eket was arrived at after the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) in Abuja. “After a review of the decision of the enlarged State Executive Committee of Akwa Ibom State,

the National Working Committee (NWC) has accepted and fully endorsed the decision to zone the Akwa Ibom State governorship position to Eket Senatorial District,” Metuh said. The party also said that with the zoning of the governorship position to Eket Senatorial District, it expects that no aspirant outside Eket should present his or herself for the primaries slated for November, “the NWC expects that only aspirants from Eket Senatorial District will present themselves for the governorship primary election in the state. “In the spirit of internal democracy, the NWC promises that there will be free, fair and transparent congresses. Aspirants from Eket Senatorial District are therefore encouraged to fully participate in primaries.” In another development, there are strong indications that anti-zoning elements within the state

chapter of the party are said to have concluded plans to organise a parallel governorship primaries in the state, on the same day at a different venue under a group called the ‘Grand Coalition’ said to be led by Obong Umana Okon Umana, a governorship aspirant. At a meeting held in Abuja with a former governor, Obong Victor Attah, Obong Ufot Ekaette, his wife and others, the group, it was learnt, took a cursory review of the political situation in the state and came to the conclusion that the best option for a member to emerge the governorship candidate of the party was to hold a parallel primary election. A source at the meeting said though the original plan was to endorse Umana as a consensus candidate, other aspirants including Nsima Ekere, Helen Esuene and Bassey Albert, rejected the move and opted for interested parties to file for nomina-

tion at the parallel primaries. Umana, who is the major sponsor of the Abuja coalition, met with Bassey Albert, appealing to the Ibiono politician to step down for him. The coalition has also sent a petition to the Presidency against Governor Godswill Akpabio, alleging that he intends to hold the primaries at the new Uyo Stadium. The group also accused the governor in the seven-point communiqué of not providing a level playing field for all aspirants and also accused the Obong Paul Ekpo-led PDP in Akwa Ibom of being biased. In a swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Anietie Ukpe, described the allegations as unfounded and an attempt to paint the governor in bad light for selfish political gains, challenging them to test their popularity and acceptance among the people. According to Ukpe,

“Any worthwhile effort at transformation is usually met with resistance by conservative forces, parading themselves as agents of progressive change. “In the Akwa Ibom situation, at creation, a group constituted themselves into some kind of ‘Board of Directors’ of Akwa Ibom State or if you prefer ‘Board of Trustees.’ Governor Akpabio broke the jinx by winning the 2007 election without their support, but that of the masses. “His election represented the revolt of the people against the ‘Board.’ In 2011, some of them came for a ‘counter-attack’ against the people. “They joined the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and endorsed their candidates. The people again rejected them. Obviously they are still on the prowl, but the battle is for the soul of the people and the people will decide their destiny,” Ukpe said.

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PDP lawmakers plot Tambuwal’s removal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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L-R: Member, House of Representatives, Hon. Ismaila Kawu; House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and House Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambwal, at the party’s national convention in Abuja...yesterday. photo: ELIJAH OLALUYI

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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 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

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

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mitted to the party. At the party’s extra-ordinary national convention to amend its constitution, where Tambuwal was given his membership card, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, listed reasons why Nigerians should end PDP’s 16-year rule by voting it out in 2015. A source privy to deliberations at the PDP House caucus meeting, which started late on Tuesday night in Abuja and ended in the wee hours of yes-

terday, told New Telegraph that among the options considered was summoning an emergency meeting of the House before the December 3 resumption date, purportedly to receive the 2015 budget proposal. Tambuwal had adjourned further sittings of the House until December 3 to enable members participate in their parties’ primaries ahead of the 2015 general election. New Telegraph learnt that reconvening the House before the December 3 was one of the op-

tions discussed at the meeting between the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) and members of the PDP in the House as a way of forcing Tambuwal to resign or be impeached. The PDP NWC had met party members in the House shortly after Tambuwal announced his defection at plenary on Tuesday after which it issued a statement calling on the speaker to “do the needful.” According to the source, one of the options discussed was for President Goodluck Jonathan to

write the House that he intends to present the 2015 Appropriation Bill in November to enable the lawmakers to pass it before proceeding on Christmas break. He said the calculation was that the speaker would ignore the letter on the pretext that the House was on break and the PDP lawmakers would cash in on his refusal to collect signatures from their members and get one third to reconvene the House. With 188 members in CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan picks nomination form today lPresident, other aspirants in last-minute race to beat deadline Anule Emmanuel and Onyekachi Eze

L-R: Chairman, Governing Board, National Universities Commission (NUC), Senator Ahmadu Ali; Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mac-John Nwaobiala and NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, during the minister’s tour of the commission in Abuja…yesterday.

APC: Why ruling party shouldn’t be trusted with power again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

the House, the PDP believes it will be able to collect enough signatures to meet the one-third requirement, which is 120 of the 360-member House. Although the new House Standing Orders do not make provision for convening an emergency session, the PDP wants to capitalise on the general provision of quorum for plenary sittings to execute its agenda. Order IV Rule 16 (1) states that “the quorum of the House shall not be less than one-third of all the members of the House.” The source said: “So many options were tabled at the meeting but members told the leadership of the party (PDP) that it would be difficult to impeach Tambuwal. However, one option that was explored was to try to reopen the House before December 3 to receive the budget proposal. “The idea is that the presidency will in the letter state that since we are going into an election year, it is a matter of urgent national importance that the budget be submitted in November so that it can be passed in December.” The source, however, said the plan would not work because majority of the lawmakers had resolved that Tambuwal would remain as speaker till the end of their tenure. “This too will not work because it is the decision of majority of us that we should not destabilise the House. In fact, come

to think of it, even at the meeting the speaker was being fed with what was going on minute by minute. So, we know that it is a near impossible plot,” he added. It was also at the meeting, which held in conference room 028 of the House, that a decision was taken to order Tambuwal to resign, following his defection. However, amid the calls for Tambuwal to resign, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Ogene, has said only the court could remove the speaker. According him, “it is common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there has been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome. “Everyone is thus enjoined to await a final judicial pronouncement on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political parties in the land. “Concerning calls for Mr. Speaker to step down from the position, which his colleagues freely elected him to on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm, even with the pains of almost sounding monotonous, that the speakership of the House of Representatives, or indeed, any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, and not the political platforms

upon which such leaders emerge.” He warned those making disparaging comments about Tambuwal’s defection to desist, stating no one can regulate activities of the lower chamber from outside. Meanwhile, the APC yesterday urged Nigerians to reject the PDP in 2015 given its long history of misrule. Addressing party delegates and supporters at the extraordinary convention in Abuja, OdigieOyegun said the difference between APC and PDP is that wherever APC is in government “services run efficiently and lives are saved.” He added: “Our party, the APC, truly cares, we care about our citizens. We care about our youths. We care about our elderly. We are ready to restore hope to our traumatised people. We are programmed to return Nigeria to the path of growth and development, create jobs, modernise infrastructure and make life more abundant for our people. “By President Jonathan’s own admission, over 12,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram alone! Yet the government has no clue as to how to end the killings, not minding that the sponsors of terrorists called Boko Haram are known to the president and he is known to them. “In the area of corruption, Nigeria has never had it so bad! Organised stealing of our crude oil

has become a thriving business, and corruption has never been so institutionalised. Where do we start?” Odigie-Oyegun also blamed the PDP for dividing Nigerians along ethnic and religious lines. Tambuwal, after he was officially admitted as member of the APC, said apart from corruption, PDP had failed in addressing issues of youth unemployment and insecurity. He stated that with the support of the electorate, PDP would no longer be in office as from May 29, next year. The convention adopted the amendment to Article 9 Section 5, Articles 13, 15a, and 20 of the APC Constitution. However, reacting to the accusations levelled against the PDP, the party said APC was not prepared for governance and should be rejected at the polls. PDP, in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, described the amendment to the APC Constitution just few months into the life of the same document as a direct consequence of “lack of direction and unpreparedness,” and an attempt to reedmen a ‘jaundiced’ party law.” He said the development had confirmed the “APC as a disorganised political party, lacking the ability to effectively administer itself ” and wondered how it can govern a nation as complex as Nigeria.

resident Goodluck Jonathan will today purchase the nomination and Expression of Interest forms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in furtherance of his decision to seek the party’s ticket for the February 2015 presidential race. Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said yesterday PDP governors, Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) and 42 other groups and individuals had raised N98.5 million for Jonathan to enable him buy the party’s forms. Jonathan, who has been endorsed by all organs of the party as the PDP presidential candidate, needs N22 million to buy both forms. Abati told State House correspondents in Abuja that the president, after considering persuasions from well-meaning Nigerians, would pick the PDP’s nomination form from the party’s national secretariat in Abuja. According to him, the president is appreciative of all Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates and groups who in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office. “President Jonathan is greatly encouraged by the overwhelming outpouring of goodwill and support, as well as the confidence of the generality of Nigerians in his ability to continue to transform the country for the good of all of its people,” he stated. He added that Jonathan is also grateful to all persons, groups and communities who have sent donations, and made pledges to assist

him pay the required N22 million for the forms. The president assured the donors that he will continue to do his best to justify the great confidence they have placed in his leadership of the country. Meanwhile, less than 12 hours to the deadline given by the PDP for all aspirants on its platform to obtain the nomination forms or forget it, elective office seekers intensified efforts yesterday to beat the deadline. Yesterday, some governorship aspirants came to obtain their nomination forms to enable them to qualify to contest the November 29 primaries. Fourteen governorship aspirants from Adamawa State who were assured that their nomination forms will be valid for 2015 governorship primary also came to confirm the validity of their forms. Alhaji Ahmed Gulak who spoke on behalf of the aspirants, told journalists that they were told that their nomination forms still subsist. Gulak said the party had assured them that the governorship of the state had been zoned to Adamawa Central senatorial zone. He, however, said they were not aware that the Governor, Mr. Bala James Ngilari, had picked the nomination form to contest the governorship primary. Also yesterday, Mr. Jimi Agbaje from Lagos; Professor David Ker from Benue State; Ambassador Musa John Jen from Taraba State; Mr. Gboyega Isiaka from Ogun State; son of a former Head of State, Mohammed Abacha (Kano) and John Michael Abdul from Nasarawa State, purchased their nomination forms for the governorship primaries.

APC: Why ruling party shouldn’t be trusted with power again CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

ferent institutions across the country. One of the girls, who spoke with New Telegraph, alleged that over 50 of them were put in a single room in one of the lodges. She said: “Over 50 of us were kept in a single room with no enough food, as only two persons were left to take care of our feed-

ing. Most of us came with only two or three pairs of clothes but we were only given N10, 000, five wrappers and a phone.” According to her, the principal of the school usually come and pick them in batches to undisclosed locations after seizing their phones to deny them of communicating with their parents.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

44 vehicles vandalised as NURTW members, quarry owners clash Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

ell was let loose yesterday in Ibadan, when hoodlums suspected to be members of the Oyo State branch of the National Union of Road Transport Works (NURTW) went on the rampage. The thugs vandalised at least 27 cars and 17 trucks at the Express Quarry Nigeria Limited, Kilometre 15, LagosIbadan Expressway, Ekefa village in Ibadan. Problem arose from the collection of N2,500 rate on each of the granite loaded, which the dealers said was outrageous. They had pleaded for N2,500 daily to cover the day’s

Abba, IG

Muritala Ayinla

he father of a fouryear-old boy, who was attacked by dogs in Igando area of Lagos, Abraham Odia, has explained how he nearly lost his son to the animals. Odia said it was shameful that seven armed policemen invited to rescue the boy could not go near the dogs. This was even as the management of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) asked Odia to exercise patient, saying it would take a while for the little boy to fully recover from the severe injuries he sustained in the attack. For almost two hours, the four-year-old Isaac Omonigho Odia was on September 25 mauled by two wild dogs owned by his parents’ landlord, right in their living room. The residents and policemen watched helplessly as the dogs devoured his scalp. Odia said the attack oc-

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

transaction, but their pleas were rejected managers of the quarry. Dangerous weapons such as guns, cutlasses, broken bottles, clubs, etc, were freely used during the incident. According to one of the drivers, a truckload of granite costs about N130,000. He said that the payment of N2,500 on each load was exploitative. The fracas, which reportedly started around noon, left many people injured, though nobody died, according to investigation. The pandemonium also caused gridlock on the everbusy expressway as commuters going to Lagos from Ibadan and vice versa hurriedly

‘How armed policemen watched dogs eat my son’s scalp’

Odia and the baby at the hospital

curred around 5:15pm. He said: “The dogs emerged from the cage where they were supposed to be locked up, and took after the children. They scampered up stairs. The dogs already smelt blood and doubled the chase. “Two of the boys, while trying to escape, had to jump from the first floor. They landed with fractured legs. Isaac was trapped and the dogs ate him for one hour 15

minutes till it got to his skull. The alarmed neighbours called on the police at Igando Police Station. Seven came with guns; they couldn’t rescue the boy. “It was when my wife saw the dogs coming back and forth from my sitting room, with blood in their mouth, that she told one of the police, ‘follow me up stairs; it is either you shoot the dogs or you scare them off.’

“What came out of the policemen’s mouth was that ‘are we the ones to go and die?’ It was then that she summoned courage – ready to be eaten along with her son – that she went inside. She chased the dogs and they ran away.” Odia also claimed that his son had been abandoned by the staff of LASUTH, saying that the letter given to him to obtain the son’s treatment free of charge was not recognised by the hospital management. But reacting to the allegation of negligence, Professor of Plastic Surgery at LASUTH, Idowu Fadeyibi, said the boy’s case was very complicated. Fadebiyi said that it might take time for the injuries to heal. He said: “The bones were exposed and he had bled extensively. We took him up and resuscitated him. Since then, we have been doing wound care. At every stage, we keep on explaining to the mother. This type of injury is not something we can just stitch together, but need to do different things and it would take months. Even if you want to take tissue transfer, you must be careful because this resulted from dog bites, which is actually very dangerous like human bite.”

alighted from their buses and ran into the bush for safety. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kola Sodipo, who paid an assessment visit to the scene yesterday, urged the stakeholders to maintain the peace. Sodipo disclosed that the police had commenced investigation into the matter with the aim of quelling the crisis just as assorted security vehicles had been stationed in the area. Many people said they lost huge sums of money during the pandemonium. Some of the people, Dada Oyebamiji, Mr Lucky, Segun Adesina and Yinusa Olosun, said they lost N1.4 million, N250,000, N350,000 and N1.2 million respectively during the fight.

Five killed over land dispute in Plateau community Buhari Bello Jos

t last five persons were killed while several houses and farmlands were destroyed in Funture village of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State during a communal clash. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Habu Emmanuel, who confirmed the incident, said a detachment of Mobile policemen had been sent to the area to restore normalcy. Emmanuel said that a fight broke out between Iregwe and Rukuba people over a protracted land dispute. He said: “No fewer than 10 people were killed in the village during the last crisis in March.” It was alleged that Iregwe people launched the attack on Rukuba settlement because the attackers were speaking the Iregwe language when they invaded the village. According to the police, the attackers sophisticated guns and other assorted weapons during the attack. The spokesperson of Rukuba community, Mr Madaki Aboy, said they were attacked

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

I want justice, cries bus conductor’s pregnant widow l Father promised to fund my education, says son Taiwo Jimoh and Muritala Ayinla

ife of a bus c o n d u c t o r, Ikechukwu Abasirim, allegedly killed by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) at Second Rainbow Bus Stop, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos, on Monday, has called on the government to bring her husband’s killers to book. The seven-month pregnant widow, Mrs Ini Abasirim, said it would be difficult to take care of her four children and the fifth one on the way. The widow made the

appeal yesterday at her father-in-law’s home at No 4, Jimoh Meji Street, Itire, where friends and relatives had converged to mourn the conductor. The 44-year-old Abasirim was crushed to death by vehicle belonging to LASTMA officials on Monday. Witnesses claimed that LASTMA vehicle blocked the commercial bus, while an official held the deceased, trying to force into their van. The conductor was refused to go inside the bus, when the official behind the wheel, suddenly drove off. The victim fell down while the vehicle crushed his head. But LASTMA said yes-

terday that its personnel were not responsible for Abasirim’s death. “Some policemen attached to the agency were trying to arrest a commercial bus who contravened traffic law. At the time of the incident, no LASTMA official was involved in the attempted arrest, neither was an official of the agency at the scene or vicinity of the incident that claimed the victim’s life. “However, immediately after the death of the victim, sympathisers and hoodlums invaded the LASTMA’s zone 30 Cele-Ijesha office, where they unleashed mayhem, destroyed apprehended vehicles and other valu-

Three-man robbery gang raids Delta town Dominic Adewole, ASABA

etectives yesterday swooped on Delta Palace Hotel, Warri, after suspected armed robbers attacked the residents of Jeddo town in Delta State. The three suspected robbers escaped to the hotel with their loot, which include jewellery, handsets, ATM cards, voters’ cards, laptops, passport photographs, wrist watches and other valuables estimated at N814, 250. It was gathered that the hoodlums started their operation at the house of one David Sunday and Oluwakemi Monica before moving to other house the town. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Celestina Kalu, who confirmed their arrest at the command’s headquarters, Asaba, said detectives from Ugborikoko Police Station acted on a tip off and raided Delta Palace Hotel, Airport Road,

Kalu

Warri, and arrested the hoodlums. She said: “One Peter Sunday, Collins Sakutu and Princewell Idiemuagele were arrested in connection with the crime.” Kalu listed the items recovered from them to include, assorted jewellery, five different handsets, eight wrist watches, one kitchen knife, ATM cards, voters’ cards, passports, 12 sim cards (of different networks), clothes, shoes, bags and a rap of dried weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. “The victims have identified the recovered

items as their properties,” she added. The PPRO said the suspects had been subjected to preliminary investigation at Orerokpe Division. Kalu also said the suspected cult members and political thugs arrested during the state local government elections while accreditation was going on at wards/ units 15, 16, 17 and 19 at Orhuwohorun Primary School in Ovwian Aladja, were still in custody. The 50 suspects, who armed themselves with battle axes, cutlasses and gallons of fuel at the polling units, chased away Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) officials and voters, before the police swooped on them. “On receipt of the information, patrol teams swiftly mobilised to the scene and arrested one Alex Obukowho aged 25 years with a cutlass while others escaped. Two other cutlasses were recovered at the scene,” Kalu added.

The late Abasirim

The widow, Ini

ables within the agency’s removal yard,” the LASTMA General Manager, Babatunde Edu, said in a statement. Meanwhile, Ini said that she was resting at home that fateful day when she heard the news of her husband’s killing. She said: “My son ran into the house, he said mummy come and see Daddy. I went with him. When I got there, what I saw was a crowd of people outside our home. I saw my husband’s lifeless body lying inside a commercial bus. I moved closed to him and gripped his hands. I shouted his name, begging him to stand up. “It was then I knew a

big tragedy had befallen me. I am seven-month pregnant. Who will take care of me and the four children he left behind? “Where do you expect me to start from now? I have nobody go to for help. My children and I are going to suffer.” The 74-year–old father of the deceased, Chief Gilbert Abasirim, said that at his age, he could not begin to look for job in order to take over his son’s responsibilities. He said: “The late Abrasirim was my first child. He was the one taking care of me and my wife. We are old. I was in my house when someone phoned me that my son had an accident. I rushed down

Abasirim’s son

to their house at Osogbo Street only to see a crowd. I was told LASTMA officials used their van to crush my son to death. The LASTMA officials ran away after the act.” The man begged police not to sweep the matter under the carpet. The 14-year-old son of the deceased, Innocent Abasirim, said that when his father was going out that fateful day, he warned him to be careful. He said: “My father promised to send me to the university if I could study very and pass my Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) while I also promised to buy him buses whenever I graduated from the university.”

Task force seizes pornographic materials at motor park

Kayode Aderanti

Muritala Ayinla

fficials of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit have arrested a man who allegedly specialises in selling pornographic and offensive materials in public places. The government had earlier warned against the selling of offensive materials in public, especially at motor parks. The arrest of the suspect, Kelechi Emeri, 32,

was sequel to a publication in one of the dailies of a booming pornographic market at Obalende Motor Park. It was gathered that Emeri, who hails from Abia State, was nabbed at Obalende Motor Park where he was selling the offensive materials. He was arrested when a task force official pretended as prospective buyer and demanded four pornographic materials to ascertain if he was actually the seller. After his arrest,

Emeri confessed that he was selling pornographic DVDs to the public. According to him, he usually sells 10 of such DVDs daily. The suspect, however, denied ownership of the large quantities of pornographic materials displayed at the park. He said: “I do sell pornographic materials, but I don’t display them for the public to see. This is not the first time the police have come here to disturb us. They have warned us that if we must sell, we should not displace them. I always put them inside my bag. “It is my neighbour who owns the ones that are on display. They are not mine. I used to sell my own N100 per copy and I used to buy them from Alaba and Idumota. “I normally sell around 10 DVDs in a day. I know it is bad to sell them. I wanted to stop the business but people always ask for them.”

News

thursday, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

national

2015: Plot to stop Jonathan moves to Appeal Court Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he bid to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2015 general election yesterday took another dimension at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division as a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Dr. Umar Ardo

begged the Court to allow him join in the suit. The appeal was originally filed by the plaintiff at the lower court, Cyriacus Njoku, who is challenging the judgement of Justice M.N Oniyangi of the Abuja High Court. Justice Oniyangi had, in March 2013, decided the case seeking to stop Jonathan from re-contesting in 2015 in favour of the President.

Not satisfied with the judgement, Njoku had approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the judgement. However, Ardo was not a party in the suit at the Abuja High Court but had showed his intention to join in the suit on grounds that he wants to

contest for the Presidency under the platform of the PDP. Meanwhile, Jonathan through his counsel, Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN opposed the application. Okeaya-Inneh asked the Court of Appeal to dismiss Ardo’s application as he (Ardo) “has not shown

sufficient interest in this appeal and how his interest will be affected by the outcome of the appeal.” The panel of five of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Abubakar Yahayaled later fixed November 5 for the hearing of Ardo’s application to join the suit.

Ardo’s counsel, Dr. Amuda Kannike (SAN) yesterday had informed the court that both the President and the PDP, who are respondents in the suit, had filed separate counter-affidavits against his application to join the suit as an appellant.

Reactions trail Amosun, deputy’s feud Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

eactions yesterday trailed the letter reportedly written by Ogun State Deputy Governor, Segun Adesegun, alleging injustice and marginalisation against his person and office by Governor Ibikunle Amosun. Two members of the House of Representatives from the state, Abiodun Akinlade and Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, as well as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) expressed concern over the feud between the governor and his deputy. They noted that the face-off portends grave danger for the polity of

the state and also called for constitutional amendments to guarantee official privileges for deputy governors. In a letter dated October 24, 2014 and addressed to Amosun, the deputy governor alleged, among other things, that his principal was starving his office of funds. Adesegun claimed that the governor allocated old vehicles to his (deputy) office, adding that electricity supply to his official residence had been cut since seven months ago because the then state government owed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. But commenting on the matter, Akinlade said it was imperative for the National Assembly to guarantee rights and privileges for deputy governors.

PUBLIC NOTICE

RIPPLES OF CARE INITIATIVE The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004. The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Oshinowo Michael Olawale - Chairman 2. Mr. Adebayo Kayode Joseph 3. Mr Fashubaa Olusola Kayode 4. Mrs. Lakemfa Ereseifa Linda 5. Mr. Oduwole Olubunmi Idowu - Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To bring hope to the hopeless and enrich lives across nations through innovative approach and community engagement 2. To bridge the gap between the rich and poor among nations. 3. To help those on the edge of society to regain their route out of poverty and illiteracy. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed:

CHAIRMAN

PUBLIC NOTICE

GUILD OF MUSLIM PROFESSIONALS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Mr. Oyewale Shina Akeem 2. Mr. Bello Moshood Adeniji 3. Alhaji Sarumi Kabir Tunde 4. Dr. Yusuf Tajudeen Olalekan 5. Architect Olajide Lateefat 6. Mrs. Oke Sherifat Olayemi 7. Architect Adeboye Mutiu Adebamni

- Chairman - Secretary - Member - Member - Member - Member - Member

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To mobilize Nigerian Muslim Professionals for positive change through Networking. 2. To grow, attract and promote Muslim Icons for positive change in Nigeria. 3. To create an economic structure that will enrich members and make the group financially sufficient. 4. To provide opportunities for members to meet for discussion and exchange of ideas, encourage professionalism and competence of members. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: AMOO WASIU KAYODE ESQ 23, Afariogun Street, Off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

President, Women Arise Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (right) with two of the participants, at a leadership capacity building workshop for women leaders in political parties in Lagos...yesterday. PHOTOS: GODWIN IREKHE

Lagos tops Kano on commercial dispute Experts bemoan infrastructure deficit as resolution — World Bank report bane for high productivity, transaction cost Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

oing Business report, a World Bank data which analyzes business regulation in Nigeria’s cities, has ranked Lagos State ahead of Kano in ease of process to resolving commercial disputes. Whereas it will take 720 days to resolve a commercial dispute in Kano, same dispute will be resolved in 447 days in Lagos, just as the process of registering property is easier in Kano than Lagos. For instance, it takes less time of 45 days to register property in Kano as against 77 days it will take to register similar property in Lagos. The report released by

the global bank yesterday for the first time, captured Kano State, another Nigeria’s commercial city as a second city for Nigeria to feature in the World Bank Group’s doing business report. Nigeria is one of 11 economies with a population of more than 100 million where the report now covers two cities, providing new insights into the variability of business regulation within economies. Tagged “Doing Business 2015: Going beyond efficiency, the report finds that, the differences between cities are common in indicators measuring the steps, time, and cost to complete regulatory transactions where local agencies play a larger role.”

NHRC to release list of electoral offenders Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he National Human Rights Commission said yesterday said it will soon release the list of persons it had indicted for committing various electoral offences in the 2011 general elections. The Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof. Bem Angwe, stated this in Abuja, while receiving a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States

led by former Ghanaian President, Mr. John Kuffor. Responding, Kuffor said his delegation was in Nigeria for a pre-election assessment of the nation’s preparedness for the 2015 polls. He added that the delegation had visited the ECOWAS secretariat in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party, the United Nation Development Programme and the Independent National Electoral Commission as part of its assessment tour.

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

ith $93 billion annual deficit infrastructure gap, Africa region may continue to experience high productivity and transaction costs unless concrete innovative infrastructure financing is evolved, experts have said. To address the huge gap of which Nigeria is having a sizeable share of $2.93trilion (over the next thirty years), stakeholders are billed to converge on Abuja with a view to brainstorming on evolving realistic ways of developing Africa through innovative infrastructure financing. Speaking yesterday in

Abuja while announcing the public policy conference on infrastructure gap schedule to hold 13th November in Abuja, Chief Executive officer of Preston Consults, Dr. Tochukwu Nwachukwu said the forum is an opportunity to bring to the fore, the infrastructure gap in Africa region and evolve practical ways to closing the gap. “The poor state of infrastructure in Africa has affected productivity and raised production and transaction costs. This has hindered growth by reducing the competitiveness of business and the ability of governments to pursue economic and social development policies.”

Jonathan condoles with Zambians over President’s death Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness over the death of Zambian President, Dr Michael Sata. The Zambian leader died in a London Hospital on Tuesday. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan on behalf of the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, extended sincere condolences to the govern-

ment and people of Zambia on the death of President Sata who has led his country since 2011. He said he shares deepest sympathies with the people of Zambia and President Sata’s family as they mourn their leader, patriarch, nationalist and patriot, who will always be remembered for his uncompromising stand against neo-colonialism and any semblance of renewed imperialism in Zambia and Africa as a whole.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Restructuring

Presidency

2015

Nigeria operates unitary govt –Enabulele

Jonathan eligible to run in 2015, says Ahamba

Lagos needs developmental governance –Ogunseye

Politics For more than nine years, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji has been the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly. He has declared his interest to succeed Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2015. In this interview, he speaks on his quest for the Lagos governorship seat, zoning and imposition of candidates. AYODELE OJO reports

For more than nine years, you have been Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Why the interest in the governorship seat? Today, in Lagos, I am not only eminently qualified, but I think I am more passionate about the development of the state and its people than anyone else that I know of. People just come out, they just think, look because Babatunde Fashola was Chief of Staff and he became governor and he became celebrated, then every Tom, Dick and Harry can be governor. You even hear of people, some jobless ones, going to collect governorship nomination form as if the seat of the governor of Lagos is the same thing as the chairmanship of a rural local government somewhere. I think a little bit of seriousness needs to be brought into this whole thing. Well, those who have followed events in Lagos in the last few years would agree with me that the seriousness that we brought into the administration, I mean the leadership of the House of Assembly is unprecedented in this country. And this was made possible through the grace of God, but also with the fact that before I became speaker, I knew what I wanted for the House. What I wanted to do with that position was very clear in my mind and from day one, I set about the business of achieving that. Today, my mind is very, very clear about what needs to be done to make Lagos a most liveable city anywhere comparable to any other city in Africa and in the world. We are blessed. I have been the speaker of the House, I have

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Why I want Fashola’s job, by Ikuforiji

Ikuforiji

passed budgets, more than nine budgets for this state; I mean annual budget and many supplementary ones. I have an idea of the resources that are at the disposal of this state and I know where the shoe pinches. I have very, very clear ideas of how to take care of the pains of common Lagosians. The opportunities are there. I know we can modernise the infrastructure for this state than we have done so far. I know we can be creative about job creation. You have declared your governorship bid, if election is conducted today, what are your chances? Concerning my chances, there is no doubt that I will win with a landslide if primary election is conducted today in the APC. I am very sure that most of our party men are very interested in seeing Lagos governed by a man who understands party politics and who is passionate about the development of Lagos and its people. They know that as at

today, there is nobody who can compete favourably against Ikuforiji as far as that is concerned. Honestly, I am a lucky man. From my very humble background, I have been able to break shackles and chains of poverty. I have liberated myself and I know the journey has been relatively tough, but with God, everything had been made possible. What are the things that are wrong with the system challenging you to contest the Lagos governorship seat? I am not someone who easily gets satisfied with modest performance. I know that with the resources available to us in Lagos, we can make life more abundant for the ordinary man in the state. We can make our little Lagos compete favourably with most of those cities that we travel to, that we run to for holidays, that we send our children to for education and for exposure. I want to assure you that within 18

months after I am elected and I assume office on May 29, 2015, you will ask yourself again, what was amiss before now. There are many things we have left undone. I am a product of the public school system, but how many of us are really happy to send our children to public primary school today? I want everyone here to be jostling to get their wards to Lagos State public school even within the next three years and it can be done. There are speculations that one of the governorship aspirants, Akinwumi Ambode, has been endorsed by the leaders of the party. What is your take on this? Ambode was just a civil servant here yesterday. When did he join the party? When? Who will impose Ambode? You can’t impose Ambode. There are many reasons Ambode cannot be imposed and when we get to the river, we know how to cross it. CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics | Interview

What was your experience like as a delegate at the National Conference? It was a worthwhile experience as one of those Nigerians who was privileged to be at the national conference and meet other Nigerians from diverse backgrounds to discuss the Nigerian project; to see how we could create the possibility of a new Nigeria. It was an opportunity that I tried to maximally explore by making very formidable presentations within the time allocated to us. Issues like true federalism/resource control, state police, derivation and related matters took the centre stage at the confab. Why the special focus? Let me also state that the national conference addressed several issues. Whereas some Nigerians thought the conference should have just addressed maybe four issues, again an opportunity such as the one that presented itself was not one to be wasted within a four-month period. The issue of federalism was addressed by the national conference quite clearly because it was one of the issues confronting Nigerians. First was to look at the issue of federal nature of the Nigerian state. In the true sense of it, up till now we are still practising a unitary system of government. In the real sense of it, there is nothing federal in the current configuration of Nigeria. So, the first task was to see how we could deconstruct the unitary style of government and make it a bit more federal. And one way we did that was to empower the federating units. So, all the states are to be transformed into federating units not just in description, but of course by having opportunities for fiscal federalism, which was the area that generated a lot of apprehension, a lot of agitation and all of that to ensure that the states have enhanced control over their own resources and over their own governance. And that was why you discover that even the local government administration for instance, was put under the governance and authority of the states because the states actually determine its own governance style and system. Secondly, we looked at the old issue of revenue derivation as to how opportunities can be created for the federating units to derive more income from the internal resources that abound in their states. Now, remember we talked about the issue of solid minerals development; that all states of the federation have no excuse to be poor, going cap in hand to Abuja to beg for money or revenue, because if we understand that all states of the federation have one resource or the other, and give them the opportunity to earn income from those resources, no state can be poor in Nigeria. Of course, the issue of derivation for the oil-producing states was also addressed. The constitution gives opportunity for gradual increases in derivation that accrue to oil-producing states. For instance, it only said that it should be a minimum of 13 per cent and so there is no excuse why that has not been upped

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Enabulele: Nigeria operates unitary govt Dr. Osahon Enabule Enabulele is the Vice President, Commonwealth Medical Association and immediate past National President of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA). He was a delegate at the National Conference. In this interview with CAJETAN MMUTA, he speaks on his experience, challenges and how far the conference report will go to help restructure Nigeria, among other issues. Excerpts:

Enabulele

by now to give more income to the states that are producing that level of resources. We even went a step further by saying Nigeria must look beyond oil; solid minerals should now be seen as a deliberate route of income for federating units. The only thing that was not done was to agree on the percentage and that was where we now said the president should recommend to the National Assembly upon the recommendation of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. And so the whole issue of accountability, transparency and integrity also generated a lot of debate as to what form or style of government we should now have and at the end of the day we adopted what we called a modified presidential system of government to have a mix between the parliamentary and the presidential; to inject more accountability, transparency and integrity into the style of governance. What is your take on the restructuring of the country? Attitudinal issues are major problems in the country. So beyond the prescriptions of the National Conference, I agree to that extent that we need to also have people with the right attitude to drive even these recommendations in terms of operationalising them. Some have said that there is nothing wrong with the system we are running, that it is

the people that are wrong. There is some sense in that, but at the same time that is not to say there are no defects inherent even in the structure that is currently being operated. For instance, the presidential system of government that we are running, obviously is not as accountable as we have in the real presidential system of government as exemplified by the United States of America. Here, what seems to be the norm is that as soon as people get into office, they are no longer accountable to anybody. So there is a problem with that and we felt that we could amend that without waiting for the attitude of the players to change. Those are issues you can amend without waiting for the attitude of players to change. Those are issues you can amend that will automatically amend the attitude and psyche being displayed by the actors. There has to be a deliberate effort to re-orientate Nigerians towards changing their value system because right now Nigeria is eager for a renewed value system and not the debased value system we have just now, where people with shoddy characters are the ones leading us, or being elevated to the highest level by the actors of today. Again I believe very strongly that Nigerians need to be orientated in their attitude and it has to be a deliberate agenda first by government

Up till now, we are still practising a unitary system of government. In the real sense of it, there is nothing federal in the current configuration of Nigeria

by enshrining true leadership and ensuring that the right medium of government especially the National Orientation Agency (NOA), for instance, is empowered to drive more issues to the people as to how to re-orientate themselves, because some Nigerians sometimes are ignorant of some of these issues and so they need to be reminded. I think when we also settle these issues of inequality, distrust and unfortunate introduction of quota system in all our affairs and federal character, then perhaps that patriotic zeal that we expect of Nigerians will now also govern the way we address the Nigerian state in all their individual and collective transactions. How do you see the non-release of the Chibok girls since April 14 when they were abducted by Boko Haram? I think Nigerians need to be convinced that our government can be a bit more decisive in rescuing the Chibok girls because I as a Nigerian no longer see it as tenable with the excuses coming from government quarters. It shows we have challenges; we have problems. Yes, I agree that the girls will come out alive but at the same time, I believe that at this time, many months after that incidence occurred, we should be having some ray of hope in terms of the real efforts to rescue these girls. Every day that passes hope seems to be receding even with the assurances from government because not only today but even times past we have always been told that government is on top of the situation. No sooner than that statement is made you hear of another bomb blast, you hear of another kidnap, you hear of another security threat or insurgent acts. What is happening? Today, we are hearing of some states in our country being invaded and the reports suggest that they seem to be taking over some constituencies and local governments. Are we still in control of our territorial integrity? Is the Nigerian government still in charge? If the Nigerian government is in charge there is no basis for us to be having the kind of apprehension, or killings of even our security men. So, I think the efforts of government need to be stepped up. That is not to say that we do not appreciate the fact that some efforts have been made in the past, but again what it means is that the Nigerian government needs to step up its own efforts even in the area of intelligence. I mean how come you have soldiers being sent on a mission and they are ambushed not once, not twice and decimated. There is something fundamentally wrong with the security architecture in the country in spite of the several billions invested into it. Nigerians demand dividends, they demand some hope, some inspiration that at least we still have some integrity even in the management of our security issues. Every state governor today has not two but over N4 billion as security votes. Nigerians demand answers to how the states are addressing the security challenges. It is a constitutional right that is guaranteed

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

16 Politics | Interview Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) believes that President Goodluck Jonathan is eligible to run for a second term in 2015. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Imo State chides Governor Rochas Okorocha for disobeying court orders and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for playing deceptive politics. He spoke with EMMANUEL ONANI

What is motivating you for the Imo governorship race? I know that Imo people, for years, have loved me very much; Imo people have trusted me, and that is because, since I entered politics in 1978, I have never been contradicted on any issue or position I had taken. They know I believe in pure truth in dealing with matters, and they know that I’m courageous enough to stand for the minority, if I don’t agree with the majority. So, they understand me and I understand them. My problem has always been the ability to get a ticket; if I had, before now, picked a ticket, Imo people would have expressed their love for me very much. If the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offers you the ticket and you eventually win, what will you do differently from what the sitting governor is doing? Imo people need candour, honesty, truth, and they need to be taken along. This “the more you look the less you see approach”, is not fair at all. They need somebody, who can build trust between the people and the leadership. While the governor is ruling, I intend to lead. There is a difference between rulership and leadership. I have identified that difference, and I believe that even if you take an office, if you transform yourself into a leader, rather than a ruler. This is because, when you are a ruler, you are a statutory object. But, if you are a leader, you are a man of the people, doing things for the people and for posterity; you don’t want to take your benefit now, but you want to be remembered. Actually, I believe that the best accolade anybody can have, is that after you have gone, people will remember you. What is the constitutionality of the “fourth-tier” government in Imo State? Well, I think I made that statement before. I don’t believe it is constitutional, and in fact, the traditional ruler I have always worked with, I have told him to

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ahamba: Jonathan eligible to run in 2015

them. This is one area I intend to demystify; that whoever is in charge, is now high above everybody. For example, the issue of convoys chasing people off the way, will end when I’m sworn in as governor of Imo State. Because it’s not fair. Mine is “justice for all, at all times, at all cost, and I want to transmit it into action. As a constitutional lawyer, what is your opinion on the debate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility or otherwise, to contest the 2015 presidential poll? That is a very faulty argument to say the president cannot run. In fact, I’m preparing a paper around it. When you read it, you will find that there is no logic in it. The people (saying he can’t run) avoided the law and are arguing sentiments. It doesn’t work. You don’t take authorities that don’t relate to what you are talking about, and use them to build arguments. The whole argument is fallacious, sentimental, emotional and political. To me, President Jonathan is on firm grounds under the constitution, to run again. He has not been elected twice. The word is “elected”, not “sworn in”.

Ahamba

spare me any involvement with the so-called community government apparatus in the city. So, I’m not for it, and I won’t be for it. In fact, the first Bill I will send to the House of Assembly, is a bill to abrogate that rubbish. There is also the issue of demotion of some traditional rulers and elevation of others. Do you think the governor’s action is political? Of course, everything happening in Imo State is political. There is no place for the law in Imo State. Everything that happens there, is what the governor wants. Now, here is a governor who has not obeyed one court order, since he came to power, and

Barr. Dumo Lulu Briggs, an entrepreneur, is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State. He made his first attempt at the governorship seat in 2003, but lost to Dr. Peter Odili. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on Rivers politics and his ambition in the 2015 general election. Excerpts:

President Jonathan is on firm grounds under the constitution, to run again. He has not been elected twice. The word is ‘elected’, not ‘sworn in’

whose government has not won any case, or has not been able to defend any action that has been challenged judicially. We sing rule of law, and after praying for it, the next time you are speaking, you are saying that you don’t believe in the rule of law. The people are getting alienated from governance, because they don’t trust government anymore. That is why anytime government speaks, at all levels, you find that people are afraid that these people have come again. We have to get them back, by running an open government that is sincere, so that they don’t see much difference between themselves and those who are in charge of

Having been a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), before moving to the PDP, what would you say is the ideology that separates the two parties? The APC is building its strength on deception and propaganda. The APC is working more on, “let us get the people to believe what does not exist, because the people don’t have access to the real news. So, let us confuse them.” So, they are converting everything to politics. The PDP, on the other hand, has taken the position of a father of the land; they are more relaxed, while the children are running around. The nature of propaganda being carried out by the APC is childish. How can they be playing with things like Boko Haram and Chibok girls, as their major campaign topic? To make Chibok situation your only point of campaign, over the months, only contradicting yourselves, is an unfortunate situation.

Briggs: PDP’ll present its best How has your journey into politics being? My foray into politics commenced in 1992 when I joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where I contested as candidate for the House Of Representatives in Akuku Toru Federal Constituency, River State. I was National Assistant Legal Adviser to the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) and in 2003, I contested for the governorship position of Rivers State against Dr. Peter Odili. What is your take on 2015 poll? The 2015 gubernatorial elections in Rivers State, I believe should be about who will take the state to a greater height and not about which of the ethnic nationalities in the state will produce the next governor. The terrain has changed from when I first contested in 2003. Now the consultation is so much, our democracy is much more robust, there is no more imposition of candidates. Now everybody is enjoined to work, go to the grassroots and show yourself as acceptable by your people. The groupings have also changed. You have to consult massively and it’s a never

ending affair. So, I feel we have the challenge of managing the multiple conflicts that has been generated by divergent political interests in the state, and we are aware that a polarised PDP needs to come together at a time through somebody who has the might to do that. So, I feel given a level playing ground, I can put things right as the governor of Rivers State. As a gubernatorial aspirant, what are you bringing to the table? I tell you, there is need for us to unite Rivers people. We must end the divisiveness and polarisation and bring everybody together under one umbrella. At the appropriate time, the PDP will pick their best material. The responsibility of political leadership and government is to create opportunities for everybody so that the corresponding expectation for responsibility from all is also deserved. Like you know, if you don’t provide the opportunities, then it becomes difficult for you to insist that they must lead very responsible lives. Rivers State needs liberation and I believe I am the man

Politics | Interview 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Bolaji Ogunseye is a policy analyst and international development expert. He is aspiring for the governorship seat of Lagos State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In this interview with FELIX NWANERI, he talks about his plans for the state if elected governor. Excerpts: Why are you vying for the Lagos governorship on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which some people believe no longer exists? The existence of a political party or company is not based on perception, or what some people think, it is based on legal facts. If you go to the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the AD has been there since 1998, it has not changed for one day. It has not been deregistered. Yes, it did have a crisis engineered by some people who used the platform of the party to do well for themselves, but failed to do good for the party. In fact, they tried to do evil to the party. But that is a different thing from the party not existing. People have a right to leave a party and form another party; that is their democratic and constitutional right. Whereas some people left AD, and some stayed behind, the party is still intact. Our logo and name is the same since 1998, and in 2015 we’re still the same. What are the new things you are bringing to the table if elected? There are lots of challenges, and every society desires and deserves to get better, especially to enthrone good governance in the interest of the majority. As a social scientist, maybe, I see better than others, and I’ve done the kind of work that a governor would do; it’s what I do for a living. I am a development professional, a sustainable development technocrat and I have worked in a lot of schemes; poverty alleviation/ reduction, empowerment, employment, youth and skill building, institution building, agriculture development. I have spent all my post-university years around the subject of development; how to transform a backward

Ogunseye: Lagos needs developmental governance I believe Lagos can and should get much better governance than what we’ve gotten so far. People tend to praise the present government; that it has done a lot. Yes, but it has done that in the middle and upper classes Ogunseye

society into an industrial society; how to transform poor people into income earning people. I have worked with international organisations in five countries doing this kind of work. What a typical governor should do if he knows what he’s doing, that’s what I do for a living, and I have a proven track record. So, I think by God’s grace I’m qualified to run for Lagos governorship. When you say what a typical governor should do, does it mean the present administration in the state has performed below expectation? I want to be governor because I have a constitutional right; Lagos is my state and because there is still developmental governance waiting to be done in Lagos State. I actually pray for the gentleman who is there now, because I know that it’s not small business running a state like Lagos. It’s tough, whether or not I believe in his politics or his party. And mind you, his party is my party, they are all AD. Most politicians in Lagos cut their teeth under the AD, and they will come back home by God’s grace.

material for Rivers that can make it happen with the support of the people. We have a population, a people waiting to be helped. Someone has to do it, and I want to be that person. It is time our people insist on purposeful and insightful leadership. Leadership that must lift artificial weights from the shoulders of the people of Rivers State to clear the paths of laudable pursuits for all, to afford an unfettered start, and a fair chance, in the race of life. While there may be a lot of good people out there who are interested in the office I seek, I believe I have the qualification, the dedication and the capacity to create the right structure and framework that is both necessary and effective in identifying and implementing the solutions to the myriads of problems we face as a people. Specifically, poverty eradica-

tion will be the focus of my administration and I will achieve that goal, by implementing the right parameters for sustainable growth, such as empowerment through education, job creation and human capital development. While we shall strive to industrialise, we shall also ensure we eliminate dependence on the public sector, create wealth, creation through development of the middle class and small to medium size entrepreneurs and provide peace and security of life and property of every individual and entity in Rivers State. It is on this premise that I ask my kith and kin, the good people of Rivers State to come together in the next elections and vote massively for the PDP and for me. What has been your guiding philosophy?

So, within the context of his background, worldview and the peculiar context of the political situation in which he has to operate, he is trying. But I believe Lagos can and should get much better governance than what we’ve gotten so far. People tend to praise the present government; that it has done a lot. Yes, but it has done that in the middle and upper classes, in the GRAs, Lekki, Ikoyi and on the highways. It deserves some credit, but it is a question of choice. I will make a different choice by starting from among the poorest, where the majority lives. Remember that our people don’t live on the major roads, only offices and businesses are there; we live in the inner road, and those places are badly crying for development. How do you intend to go about this? I’m not just a theoretician, I know this field and I know what I’m talking about. I’ve had many chances to prove it, and by God’s grace I think I have acted with reasonably good record. I would invite you to read the Andy Briggs report and you’ll get a little glimpse of what I did

We are all children of a benevolent God, what is the joy of having when my friends do not have. I have found happiness in being myself and in doing the things that gives me pleasure. I believe in making life meaningful to my people and those that have been privileged to come in contact with me. The true worth of a man is in the way he treats people who are absolutely in need. If you care about people in need, you are actually making a contribution to the development of the nation. We need to give life back to the people; democracy is important in the way of governance. We need to try and see how we can use the available resources for everybody; create opportunities for all and care especially for those who are truly in need. The gap between the rich and the poor should be bridged. Those of us blessed with material resources need to share with others. We must strike to create a balance Briggs with our resources.

when I got the opportunity to impact lives, especially among the youth and the poor. We would do what is fair and right to all the various groups in Lagos State who are struggling to make a living for themselves and who are contributing to the economy of the state. When we talk about the poor, I know people tend to get sentimental. The reason I help the poor is because I’m a technocrat, it’s not necessarily because I’m nice. Do you know the amount of economic development and growth potential that is trapped at what we call the lower end of the middle of the socio-economic pyramid? It is enormous. It is more than all the wealth we have already created. If you keep tens of millions of people poor, you are keeping tens of trillions of naira trapped. What do you make of complaints of high taxation in Lagos State and how would you address it if elected as governor? I think it is a question of government understanding the economic purpose of taxation. This is not just a Lagos problem because I have found out that the various state governments in Nigeria see taxation as an opportunity to have more money. They see the narrow aspect of taxation. Taxation is like a scissors; you use it cleverly, tactfully and in a balanced way to boost the economy and receive income which can be further used to create a more enabling environment for businesses to thrive, especially small business. They want more and more money but poverty is increasing while they are imposing more taxes. So, you have to start questioning how strategically they are using the taxes they are collecting. It is only when you allow businesses to grow that you will get more money. In fact, some people in government are not smart from the economic point of view because you gain nothing taxing the N50,000 businesses until they cease to exist. If they are smart, the target should be to encourage more small businesses to grow, so that they can have a larger pool of businesses to tax. The way our governments, including Lagos State go about taxation is to tax and tax until the few businesses we have start going under.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Ekiti and APC’s bed infrastructure

John Ainofenokhai

he main opposition party in Nigeria, All Progressives Congress (APC) may in fact be changing name very soon again. Of course, the party has had a history of name-changing – from Action Congress (AC) to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and to the present All Progressives Congress. Lest we forget, it started out originally as Alliance for Democracy before Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his gang broke away with the soul of the party to form Action Congress. All these changes were in search of true identity for the opposition party. And the identity, which the leadership of the APC is working very hard to sell to Nigerians, albeit, without much success, is that it is a “progressive” party built on solid “integrity”. With the shocking revelations now coming out of Ekiti State on how the former APC governor, Kayode Fayemi, (roundly rejected by the people of his state at the polls in his bid for second term) APC may now be aptly referred to as the All Profligate Congress. The only difference this time is that the party still retains its APC acronym. According to the newly sworn-in governor, Ayodele Fayose, the APC government of Fayemi was at his profligate best during its four years reign in Ekiti. Fayemi was said to have spent fifty million Naira on the two beds, which he and his wife slept. “How can a responsible government use borrowed funds to provide this kind of luxury for the governor and his family alone in a state where a lot of people cannot afford to feed more than once in a day?”, Fayose had queried. The news of corruption, misapplication of funds and the insensitivity of the APC government in Ekiti is rather an unfortunate one. Fayemi came into power from a rich civil society background and was highly respected as one of the few governors who should know what governance means. And every time he

spoke , he always stressed the need for putting the people first in governance and rightly or wrongly, his party, the APC celebrated him as one of their leading star performers. But as it is said, the breeze has blown and everybody can now see the undergarments of the priest. It is cheap to dismiss Fayose as playing to the gallery just as the former governor has done . The argument that Fayemi is not going away with the Government House does not in any way justify any ostentatious life style at the expense of tax payers. As a matter of fact, there is nothing wrong if Fayemi, his wife and children decide to spend a billion Naira on their beds or live like Abu Dhabi princes as long as the money is coming from their private pockets. But to luxuriate at the expense of the suffering masses whose salaries and pension the former governor struggled to pay , is not only wicked but equally criminal. What is coming out now from Ekiti is only possible because a new government has taken over. And this is one of the advantages that periodic election, an attribute of liberal democracy, confers on the people. The APC intellectuals who, in their bid to wish away the popular rejection of Fayemi by the Ekiti electorate, regarded the result of the election as a “mystery” can now understand what happened. The elitist regime of Fayemi more than alienated the people, the sovereign owners of power. With the public outcry that has greeted the revelations of the wasteful use of public resources to service the ostentatious fantasies of the former governor and his family, it is all too clear that the people of the state were never consulted on the building and furnishing of the new government house. It is rather sad that a governor who publicly claims that he cannot condescend to the level of what is now the popular definition of stomach infrastructure is spending multi-million naira on “bed infrastructure”.

What is said to have happened in Ekiti under the APC government of Fayemi betrays the hypocrisy of the party and its catechetical verbosity on fighting corruption. This is the same party that daily accuses the PDP government of Goodluck Jonathan of corruption. If the scandal of “bed infrastructure” under the APC government of Fayemi had happened in any PDP state or at the centre, Lai Mohammed would have been parroting it everywhere how the ruling party is plundering the country. Why has Lai lost his voice? Surely, he must have something to say about the APC plundering of Ekiti State! Ekiti State is not by any means one of the richest states in the country. And if this magnitude of corruption has already been discovered in the first week of Fayose’s ascension to power, it leaves to imagination what could be going on in the richer states controlled by APC like Lagos, Edo, Kano Rivers. And when it is considered that Fayemi may be gentler and more naïve than the other APC governors, then your guess is as good as that of this writer. From Lagos to Benin City, from Port Harcourt to Kano, it is not enough to showcase what bridges and roads that have been built; it is equally significant to prudently justify the costs of these projects. The reports doing the round is that APC is throwing in anything and everything at its disposal to fight the 2015 general elections; yet, this does not justify the alarming profligacy of its governors. Already, there is an allegation by the Rivers State chapter of the PDP that the N19 Billion that Governor Rotimi Amaechi plans to withdraw from the state’s Reserved Fund is meant for the prosecution of General Buhari’s presidential campaign to which he is lobbying to be named the running mate. With the revelations coming out of Fayemi’s Ekiti, and Buhari’s claim of “insolvency”, who can bet against this allegation? • Ainofenokhai contributed this piece from Benin, Edo State.

Oduah: Neighbour who wants to fly higher Victor Uchechukwu

t is the season of political posters. Public buildings are being defaced with posters. Both ugly and good-looking politicians are smiling at us from posters pasted on walls, vehicles, and electric poles. The masses are the beautiful brides that are being courted with political platitudes and promises. The elections are months away, and politicians are engaged in frenzied activities to shore up their chances of winning elections in 2015. Some ministers in President Jonathan’s cabinet have resigned their ministerial posts in order to contest the next periodic election. Periodic election is a feature of representative government, which is the best form of government in the world. Periodic election offers us the opportunity to vote out bad leaders, and vote in new ones. That is why it is said that sovereignty resides with the people. In order to transform our country and take it to a great economic and technological height, we should install people with patriotic fervor and leadership qualities into positions of power. So, it behooves us to cast our votes wisely in the upcoming national election. Many politicians have indicated their interest to vie for diverse elective positions in the country. Some have joined the political race for pecuniary and egoistical reasons; others are in the political contest in order to acquire political power, which they’ll use for the betterment of their country, and the uplift of

their compatriots. Among those who will contest for elective positions in the next national election is Princess Stella Oduah. Who doesn’t know the charismatic and dropdead gorgeous Stella Oduah? She hails from Akiliozizor in Ogbaru L.G.A in Anambra state. It was she who led the neighbor to neighbor movement that sold President Jonathan’s presidential candidature to the electorate in 2011. She financed the activities of the group. Her efforts contributed in no small way to president Jonathan’s victory at the presidential poll in 2011. Princess Stella Oduah was made the aviation minister, soon after. She carried out her duties with conscientiousness, integrity, fear of God, and uncommon patriotic fervor. During her tenure as our aviation minister, many airports in Nigeria were given face-lift. She embarked on the task of re-modeling airports in the country with uncommon zeal. Also, the Akanu Ibiam airport in Enugu was upgraded to an international. Sadly, her political detractors who are afraid of her meteoric rise laid booby traps for her, which led to her exit as our aviation minister. But, her good works were not lost on the people. Not surprisingly, laudatory comments and eulogies have continued to trail her based on her stellar performance as our aviation minister. Some communities bestowed chieftaincy titles on her in appreciation of her contribution to our nation building. Her traditional titles are Adaezechukwu and omueze of Akiliozizor, among others. So, I received the news of her en-

trance into the 2015 Anambra North senatorial election with glee. Is she not eminently qualified to represent Anambra North senatorial zone in the senate? She is well-educated and widely – traveled. She has garnered political experience and maturity while serving as a minister of the federal republic of Nigeria. Stella Oduah is not unfamiliar with the nitty-gritty of politicking in Nigeria. A grass-roots politician, she is not unaware of the niggling problems that are besetting the people.So, she would like to articulate their problems, and become the voice of the voiceless. And, a seat for her in the national assembly will offer her the opportunity to help in the formulation of laws that will positively transform the country and reduce the suffering of the people. Again, Princess Stella Oduah is a formidable politician with towering pedigree,who cannot be easily defeated in an electoral contest. If she flies the flag of PDP in the next Anambra North senatorial election, she will easily defeat her political opponents. Have we forgotten how her neighbor to neighbor group swayed people’s sentiments in president Jonathan’s favour? The charismatic politician with politicial savvy is ready to re-enact that feat again on the platform of PDP. More so, Princess Stella Oduah is a loyal member of PDP for a long time. Unlike some politicians that switch allegiance when they are not favoured by their parties, Princess Stella Oduah has stuck with PDP through thick and thin. When president Jonathan bowed to

pressure from PDP and APC members, and sacrificed Oduah on the altar of his personal interests, Princess Oduah did not rail against the party apparatchik; neither did she defect to another political party. That is a measure of her political faithfulness, maturity, and sagacity. I urge members of the Anambra PDP to nominate Stella Oduah as the candidate that will contest for the Anambra North senatorial election on the PDP ticket. Fair play and the unwritten law of rotation of power demand that Stella Oduah be assisted by PDP to win the 2015 Anambra North senatorial election. Princess Stella Oduah hails from Ogbaru, and no politician from Ogbaru has represented Anambra North in the senate since the inception of the fourth republic. Those that represented Anambra North in the past are: Edwin Onwudiwe, Ogbunike; Chuba Okadigbo, Ogbunike; Emma Anosike, Umuleri; Joy Emodi, Onitsha; Alphonsus Igbeke, Nsugbe; and, Margery Okadigbo, Onitsha /Ogbunike. Princess Stella Oduah’s entrance into the Anambra north senatorial race has electrified the Anambra political arena. She has added verve to our politicking, and upped the political tempo in the state. If given the ticket by her party, PDP, Princess Stella Oduah will be the politician to beat in the Anambra North senatorial election given her political clout, acceptance by the people, and past leadership achievements. • Uchechukwu wrote in from Aguleri, Anambra State.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

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The quest for more efficient police

s part of measures to strengthen accountability, especially in relation to the stock of police weapons, Suleiman Abba, the Acting Inspector-General of Police, has ordered a thorough audit of the force armouries nationwide. In a statement signed by Emmanuel Ojukwu, an ACP and force public relations officer, in Abuja recently, Abba said the exercise, which has already commenced, would cover all police commands, formations, stations and units across the country. The statement further noted that the measure would also enable the force to review the current state of arms and ammunition in stock at various police armouries. There is no doubt that this is a right step in the right direction. It will help in no small measure to curb the proliferation of arms in the country. And with the 2015 general elections around the corner and the spread of small and light weapons that is likely to come with it, the IGP’s order is certainly in order and timely, too. However, it is important that other security agencies in the country also carry out similar audits as it is on record that some apprehended

armed robbers have been found in possession of guns belonging to some security agencies in the country. To make this whole exercise worthwhile, it is important for the IGP to also carry out a comprehensive staff audit of the police. This will enable him flush out ‘deadwoods’ and ‘bad eggs’ in the force while training and retraining available personnel, recruiting graduates with the aim of repositioning, modernizing, professionalizing, reforming and structuring the police for optimal performance and productivity. To be sure, the advantages of an educated police force in Nigeria are quite many. They include proper use and maintenance of up-to-date equipment; proper assimilation of instructions such as political and civic education and better performance on international peacekeeping assignments than their less-educated counterparts. However, given the rather harsh conditions under which officers and men of Police Force operate, it is to be expected that many of them would be lacking in professional competence and conduct. Many would also swear that officers and men of the Nigeria police routinely engage in sharp practices (or what the public calls

bribery and corruption), that are detrimental to the image of the police, just to make ends meet. The structure of the Nigeria Police Force is provided for in section 214 (2)(a) and 215(2) of the 1999 Constitution. A police officer acts as an official representative of government who is required and trusted to work within the law. The officer’s powers and duties are conferred by statute. The fundamental duties of a police officer include serving the community, safeguarding lives and property, protecting the innocent, keeping the peace and ensuring the rights of all to liberty, equality and justice. Furthermore, a police officer shall perform all duties impartially, without favour of affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspiration. All citizens will be treated equally with courtesy, consideration and dignity. Officers will never allow personal feelings, animosities or friendships to influence official conduct. Laws will be enforced appropriately and courteously and in carrying out their responsibilities, officers will strive to obtain maximum cooperation from the public. They will conduct themselves both in appearance and composure, in such a manner

as to inspire confidence and respect for the position of public trust they hold. In addition, a police officer will not engage in acts of bribery or corruption, nor will an officer condone such acts by other police officers. The public demands that the integrity of police officers be above reproach. Police officers must, therefore, avoid any conduct that might compromise integrity and that undercut the confidence reposed by the public, in the Police. Officers will, or are expected to, refuse to accept any gifts, presents, subscriptions, favours, gratuities or promises that could be interpreted as seeking to cause the officer to refrain from performing official responsibilities honestly and within the law. The Nigerian police could live up to these responsibilities as provided for by the law. But, whether the institution has the operational and or moral authority to compel officers and men to act in conformity with the extant laws establishing the Force is a different matter entirely. New Telegraph believes that as the nation marches into an elections year, the government must do everything possible to sanitize the Police and prepare the men for the task of effective policing during the elections and subsequently.

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20 Politics | Interview C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

On the issue of imposition or no imposition, let me be very clear about it. A lot of rumours are going the rounds, and each and every candidate has been tagged with the support of one leader or the other except Ikuforiji. But a year and a half ago, someone told me one of the aspirants already had the nod of the leaders; they said he was the one Asiwaju Bola Tinubu wanted to use. I pushed them aside because I knew it was a rumour and it was not possible. After about 10 weeks or so, that particular name disappeared from the scene. Another one came up and after about two months again, that one also disappeared, yet another came up. I can assure you that some of the names that came up of recent cannot go even to Bourdillion to face Asiwaju and say they want to run. Yet, they tell people that Asiwaju has asked them to get prepared for the job. Do you tell people to get prepared with word of mouth? You don’t get prepared for the job of governor of Lagos in just a few days. We should just leave some of these stories for what they are. To me, they don’t exist. The party is not a party of tyrants. I have made my intention known on Sunday and I am happy about it. You can see the crowd there, they are not rented crowd. I did not give a dime to anybody to come to that session. So, that somebody is imposed, please forget it. If somebody is imposed, we would not need to pick the nomination form. In Lagos APC, two personalities are crucial in picking who becomes governorship candidate of the party in 2015; Governor Fashola and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. What is your relationship with the two and are they in support of your ambition? I am sure everybody knows that I have very close relationship with the two of them. The same way some of the other aspirants have. Well, I wouldn’t know of other aspirants. I mean, I know of myself. In fact, Governor Fashola while in Dubai called me and after he landed today he called me again. It is this meeting with you that stopped me from meeting with the governor. Were they aware of your ambition? They are very much in the know. Are they in support? Well, you should understand one thing; they are leaders of the party and they should not be seen to be giving total support to any of the aspirants till the time is ripe. So, I will not be able to answer right now that particular question. I have gone through your 10-point agenda, but my worry is that none of the programmes is new entirely. How do we intend to move forward if these are what we keep treating year in year out? Well, let’s ask ourselves the question, have these issues been treated and treated to your satisfactions. They have not been treated to my satisfaction and I want to treat them to my satisfaction. I believe that job creation and poverty alleviation have not even been touched and if any government had really touched those in the last 15 or 16 years in this country, you should name the government. But you have been in government in the last few years and you passed several budgets... I think we should not go into those things because I am as guilty as you are. What is the process of selecting delegates to the APC primaries?

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ikuforiji: Ambode can’t be imposed on Lagos the leadership said we had zoned these positions and they even gave names of members who would occupy those seats except the one for the office of speaker. They said they will leave us to decide who the speaker will be. You know what I did? I didn’t want Epe to lose the speakership. I went to the bathroom, I wept profusely and then returned to my colleagues and they said let’s vote and I said no, we don’t want to vote. The leadership of the party already told us that the speakership position is zoned to Epe and I want to thank members of the House for accepting that decision of the leadership. So, they were disarmed. Now I said those of us from Epe we have already gone home, we have consulted with our leaders and elders and the issue had been settled. So, I conceded to Pelumi. That was how we settled it. But since God knows my heart, and since it was predetermined that I will be speaker, by December 2005, when I least expected it, Pelumi was removed and I became speaker till today. And since then, Nigeria has witnessed a speakership like no other in the history of the nation. So, it is not do-or-die. I only have the burning desire of leading this state because of what I know and believe I can bring into it.

Ikuforiji

I think the way things are, the party started with direct primaries, then some few weeks ago, we learnt of modified direct primaries. Now the emergency convention of the party is coming up, we are expecting some changes to some of those things. So, until we see those changes. But whether direct or indirect, I know that no matter the number of aspirants, I will win the APC ticket for the governorship of Lagos. In the event it goes the other way, what do you do? Well, I am a politician and I am not that politician that sees a particular office as do-or-die. Let me give you an insight into the type of person I am. In 2003, I came from the United States to contest the general election and my ambition was to be the speaker of the House of Assembly. For a full year or more, I nursed that ambition and I kept praying over it and by the time we had the general election, I won on a landslide. Right from that day, I started the campaign to be speaker. I moved round all members. But along the line, I was made to understand that the leadership of the party had shown interest in a particular person. My campaign was vigorous and there were 17 returning members then. Out of the 17, I had 12 on my side, the other person had four and one person was on the line. But when we got to a point and I saw that we could run into trouble if we were not careful, the two of us will lose because we just heard the leadership saying let them go to the floor of the House. The other person was my brother from Epe; I was from Epe Constituency I, he was from Epe Constituency II and we knew that 17 of the returning members didn’t want a greenhorn to be their speaker if not for the fact that the leadership said they are zoning it to Epe. So on May 31, two days before inauguration, we were in a meeting where

Ambode was just a civil servant here yesterday. When did he join the party? When? Who will impose Ambode? You can’t impose Ambode. There are many reasons Ambode cannot be imposed

What is your take on zoning? Asiwaju came from Ikeja and Fashola is from Surulere, that is west and central senatorial districts respectively. Lagos East has been producing speaker since 1999. I started the fight for zoning. In fact, it was in Ikorodu at one of the meetings that I said we have held the legs and everything of the lion for our party to enjoy because when you keep the House, I mean the Legislature in order, then government can run smoothly. The East has done that since 1999, it is time for them to allow the East to be the one with the spoon to dish the food to others. And of course, I told Asiwaju also when we were discussing about some of these things. So, don’t make a mistake when people start saying it is Epe’s turn. They were not talking of East again, they are mentioning specifically Epe. Do you know why they were saying it is Epe’s turn? It’s because they know you have a loyal and capable son in Epe. It is not all these new-found sons, but the one they know, that is the speaker of the House. That is why people are saying it is Epe’s turn. It is not just anybody now or people who have no shame. They have even said it that after this one no more zoning, but of course this one has been zoned. How have you been able to escape the banana peel as the longest serving speaker in Nigeria? It’s very simple. Number one thing, you need the grace of God. You also really need to be selfless. You need to know your onions better than anybody else. Look, you must put others before yourself. You know the Lord says love your neighbours as thyself, but in this game, you must love your neighbour more than thyself, because in the legislature, the spirit of parliament is such a tough one. If you have N100,000, it must go round the 40 lawmakers.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Jurist

Interview

Confab

‘Jonathan’s endorsement will not translate to citizens’ well-being’

Alegeh: FG must disclose terms of ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram

Agbakoba, Gadzama, others laud LawPavilion at IBA

22&24

23&25

Law

Wali’s kidnap ignites calls for state police

Falana, SAN

Akeredolu, SAN

Agbaje

Although he was released by his abductors on October 24 after 13 days in kidnappers’ den, the abduction of the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has again renewed the calls for state police. TUNDE OYESINA, AKEEM NAFIU and APPOLOS CHRISTAIN report

fter a review of the nation’s security challenge and this month’s abduction of the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria by unknown gun men, lawyers, mostly Senior Advocates of Nigeria are unanimous that there is an urgent need for the creation of state police. In separate interviews yes-

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

terday, eight Senior Advocates and four lawyers including the fiery Lagos lawyer, Mr. Fred Agbaje renewed the calls for the state police and concluded that its creation would serve as panacea for the security challenge bedeviling the nation especially the ‘obnoxious’ and ‘booming business’ of kidnapping ravaging the country. Their position which was predicated on Wali’s abduction although was released at the weekend, again ignited the calls for community and state policing in a federal state. Although some believe that state police should not be the priority of the government for now, its creation would only strengthen the third arm of government and rid the nation of criminality if given a second thought. Chiefs Mike Ahamba, Mike Ozekhome, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, Mr. Femi Falana,

The recent kidnapping of the immediate past NBA president has, indeed, shown that we really need community or serious state policing. In fact, state or community policing will even help to prevent premeditated criminal activities

Chief Emeka Ngige, Paul Ananaba,Godwin Obla and Chief Chris Nwaiwu. Others are Mr. Fred Agbaje, Abeni Obomeileh Mohammed, Kenneth Okeke and Yusuf Ambali. All said that the prevailing criminality in the country has called for the creation of state police. For instance, Ahamba said the creation of state police should be incorporated without delay as it would help fight crimes and criminality in the country. “Every community needs to be guided by its members who virtually are inhabitants of that community. By that, crime rate will be reduced as there will be no hiding place for any offender”, Ahamba said. Ahamba was echoed by Ozekhome, who simply said “not just state police but community policing is desirable and overdue. It takes a local police officer’s monkey to catch a kidnapper or robber monkey’’. To Falana, the creation of state police was one of the best options a government could think of if the nation’s security challenge must be vigorously

fought. Falana said: “The idea of state police is indeed one of the best things we need in Nigeria. The centrality of policing in our country where a police from the north is sent to the east and vis-à-vis who doesn’t understand the language and the culture of the people he is sent to, is not helping and will not help us in fighting crimes because such a police who doesn’t know much of the place he is asked to police cannot effectively police the place”. Another Senior Advocate, Ananaba was not different. He said: “I really think there is no need to institutionalize state police. Yes we can easily count lots of reasons especially with the recent kidnap of the former NBA president, Okey Wali. “Community policing is indeed desirable which we can from the police we already have bring to existence but a brand new state police for any reason we may have now will bring doom to our country. In fact there will be more crime and corruption will be climbing mountains in every nook and cranny of Nigeria. Consider how a Yoruba, Hausa or Igbo police officer treat the case of a fellow tribe member against another who is not of his tribe in the present system of policing we already have. We must not only consider kidnapping in this thinking of state police we always pray. Let be reasonable and consider the future. Ngige said: “I strongly believe it is very necessary we have community police because they are grass roots base. This means that they can tackle such issues as kidnapping in their various areas, because it can be easier for a community or state based police to find out the hideouts or locations of kidnappers and other criminals within their locality. “So, the recent kidnapping of the immediate past NBA president has indeed shown that we really need community or serious state policing. In fact state or community policing will even help to prevent premeditated criminal activities. So, having indigenes policing their locality will go a long way to fighting crime in all its faces. And it is time we got serious with kidnapping as a crime because it is becoming an everyday crime than armed robbery. So, I call on government to take stringent measure to make sure the crime is curbed in Nigeria”. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Law | Jurist

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ubani: Fiscal federalism panacea for Nigeria’s economic problems Monday Ubani is the immediate past chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Ubani in this interview with AKEEM NAFIU, bares his mind on the nation’s security challenge, kidnap and release of former NBA president, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, Jonathan’s choice for 2015, economy and nation-building and other varied issues.

Ubani

pparently miffed by the level of insecurity in the country especially the abduction of former NBA president, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, Monday Ubani, the immediate past chairman of the Ikeja branch of the NBA, believes Nigerians are no longer safe. He however blamed the Federal Government for the woes bedeviling the nation, insisting that even though the masterminds were trained professionals in various disciplines, there were no alternative for them to demonstrate their skills as infrastructure under which the acquired skills would be practicalised were inexistence. The basic amenities are not provided, Ubani said. Ubani said: “It depicts the level of insecurity in Nigeria and we have been saying it that there is no safe place in Nigeria as of today. There is no place, not even the South-South, South-East or South-West because we think that it is only in the Northern region that we have security problems. There is actually no place that is safe in Nigeria today. “This stems from the fact that in Nigeria, many people are unemployed. Those graduates and those who finished from Secondary Schools and those who even learn to work, the infrastructure for them to work, the factories for them to work are not there. The private entrepreneurs will think we have a conducive environment for them to ply their trade but you know most times there is no light. So, most times we are in a fix due to issues of bad governance, mismanagement of our resources and of course, there is a correlation between bad governance and insecurity. The more people are not taken care of, the more the resources are mismanaged and there is an increase in the level of corruption, it tends to rear up the ugly side of people within

There is no functional sector in Nigeria as at today and somebody is telling me Nigeria is working

that society. Instead of the people in such an environment being law abiding, they become outcast and started doing things that are not normal because they believe the people who are in government are not serious and they are stealing money and so they will find a way of doing things in their own way and this brings the environment into a state of anarchy. According to Ubani, the abduction of its former president three weeks ago was as a result of bad governance which had culminated in denial of employment of the nation’s teeming youths. This, he said President Goodluck Jonathan led government must wakeup to its responsibility with a view to rid the nation of criminalty. Specifically, Ubani tasked the government to declare an emergency on unemployment so as to solve challenge it poses to the nation’s economy. He said: “So, the Okey Wali’s abduction speaks volume about our

state of insecurity and the problem of unemployment. If those guys are caught tomorrow, they will tell you that they were driven into the crime because they have nothing to do. An idle mind is a devil’s workshop, keep people busy. Somebody who goes to work in the morning and comes back very late and tomorrow he is planning to go to work again, do you think he will have time to be involved in bad deeds? So, I am saying that the level of insecurity has a lot to do with the issue of misgovernance and at the same time the rate of unemployment. I just came back from Abia State, come and see a lot of youths on the road just walking around doing nothing during the working hours. So, if anyone comes up to them and say he knew of what they will do to make money, they will jump at it and become the devil’s workshop. I am thinking that something urgent has to be done by government at all levels to declare emergency in the level of unemployment in the country and keep people busy. If people are busy, I don’t think they will be planning robbery or kidnapping or even go into terrorism as we have it in the North-East. Look at the constant recruitment being done by the Boko Haram guys. As we are killing them they keep on recruiting. So, you will see that something is fundamentally wrong with the country. I plead with those who are holding on to him to release him. He is not a politician but a gentle human being and I don’t think the legal profession deserves all these things that are happening to us. He, however backed General Muhammadu Buhari’s assertion that Nigeria has drifted under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Ubani said: “Well, I am surprised that he said the country is drifting, the country has already drifted. Nigeria today in every aspect is a failed country in my own estimation. There was a report that shows that Nigeria has a high level of hunger. It says the level of hunger in the country is very alarming. Many Nigerians don’t take breakfast talk-less of lunch or dinner. So, the level of unemployment, poverty, mismanagement of resources and the level of corruption tell you that Nigeria is totally failed. I keep on talking about my State (Abia). I just came back from Abia and all the Federal roads are in their worst state. The one that links Ikotepene with Umuahia is already a death trap, the same thing from Enugu to Umuahia and all other roads. When I got to Aba, I could not

believe my eyes because it is today a no go area. The level of crimes there is also something else. People are relocating from Aba because there is no business going on there again. It is completely dead as a result of misgovernance. Meanwhile, the Governor is getting award. That tells you something about the endorsement that is coming up all over the place. Of course, we know that people were promised money for the endorsement. You know it is all about writing down your name and account number. To some of my Igbo brothers, the President endorsement is because he appoints people from the region to key positions. But, my question is that how does this translate into well-being of an average Igbo person? People are living in abject penury and poverty. There is no functional factory in the entire Eastern region. Igbos remain the highest migrated populace in the entire world. Anywhere you go and you don’t see an Igbo, that place is in trouble. Why are they living for other place? It is because it is no longer conducive for them to do business or work. So, they had to move to other places. Even, in the North where they are driving them, they have not moved. Where are they going to? So, it shows the level of decadence and neglect. So, all these things give me headache as to what we want as good government if all these endorsements for the President can be flying around. I want to say this, Nigeria is working for those who have made it to fail. These people have all the security apparatus with them anywhere they are going. If they want to fly, they have private jets. So, they are not in anyway affected by any passport problem or even road issues. If they have medical issues, they fly in the best doctors and when they don’t do that they go there themselves. Our former President died in Germany, the current President have gone there two times to treat himself, IBB is somewhere in Germany for medical treatment, even his wife died abroad in a private hospital. So, they all go abroad and their children school abroad and that is why they have neglected all the public institutions. They have all collapsed. There is no functional sector in Nigeria as at today and somebody is telling me Nigeria is working. Of course, it is working for them because they can afford it. In fact, I heard that in some areas in this country, the PHCN makes sure they have light. May be at Aso Rock, there is an uninterrupted CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

Law | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Alegeh: FG must disclose terms of ceasefire agreement with Boko Haram unconventional means which has not turned out to be against South African laws is indeed a national embarrassment. It’s very sad that a country like Nigeria is involved in such an act. There are better ways the Federal Government could have bought arms.

Augustine Alegeh, Senior Advocate of Nigeria is the President of the lawyers’ umbrella body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Alegeh, in this interview with journalists in Lagos, speaks on the kidnap and release of his predecessor, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, by unknown gunmen, Nigeria’s security challenge, much touted ceasefire agreement between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram, why he sacked SLP, government’s arms deal scandal and sundry issues. FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE was there. 13 days after your predecessor in office, Mr. Okey Wali SAN who was abducted by unknown gun men in Port Harcourt breathed the air of freedom at the weekend, what was the experience like? I mean, what does it say about the security of members of the legal profession in Nigeria? It was a very sad, harrowing and traumatic experience for the entire Nigerian Bar. It shows the vulnerability and the level of insecurity of Nigerian lawyers. Okey Wali SAN is a man of peace, a man who has served this country and the legal profession meritoriously. Sadly, we have also received the news that a lawyer has been kidnapped in Sapele branch. Lawyers in other parts of the country had been kidnapped, even judges and magistrates. But the kidnapping of our past president shows the level of insecurity the nation has descended. It is shocking that we now have people in this country who believe that the only way they can make a living is to toy with the lives of other people, inflicting pains and hardship on fellow Nigerians. It’s very disturbing. Additional one starts to wonder if all these years we have had these kidnappings, will the crime ever come to a stop. We heard that some states have enacted laws providing for the demolition of suspected kidnappers’ haven, while some states have passed legislations prescribing death penalty. Yet, kidnapping is everywhere and even assuming alarming proportions. Some people said ‘Okey Wali is so high up there, why didn’t he get police security?’ But I tell you this; there was a business man in Benin City who had six policemen protecting him. But when the kidnappers came, they took out the policemen and kidnapped him. It shows where we have reached, where kidnappers can now confront armed policemen. They know the person is being protected by armed police men, and yet confront them, shoot the policemen and kidnap their victim. Nigeria over the years has constituted the second largest delegation to any International Bar Association Conference (IBA). But you were conspicuously absent at this year’s con-

Amnesty International recently published a report alleging massive violations of human rights in the North Eastern part of the country by the military in its efforts to curb insurgency. America also gave it as the main reason it refused to sell arms to Nigeria. What is your assessment of the situation as President of the Bar? We have always condemned human rights violations in any shape or form. Even in a situation of war, the rights of people must be respected. However, we have asked our branches in those areas to be on the watch and report such violations of human rights to us. Also, we have the Human Rights Watch which has been monitoring rights violations for us in those areas. You can be rest assured that we’ll do our best to ensure the rights of persons in those areas are well protected. It must be further noted that those figures that Amnesty International have been parading are quite doubtful. One is not sure it’s as high as that.

ference in Tokyo, Japan, when you were supposed to have led Nigerian lawyers, why? I had made all arrangements to be at the IBA Conference in Tokyo. I had bought tickets for myself and wife, paid for hotel accommodation and concluded every other arrangements. But it would have been irresponsible of me to travel out of the country when the immediate past president of the Bar was in captivity. I needed to be on ground to monitor what was happening. I was in contact with members of his family and with the security agencies and I needed to be physically present in Nigeria to do that. So, I could not travel to Japan for that conference. It is believed that a truce and ceasefire had been reached with members of the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram by the Federal Government. What is your assessment of that truce, especially now that we hear that it has been broken? We were not involved in any way in the process of the ceasefire agreement. We don’t know the terms of the ceasefire. But like all other Nigerians we just heard the news. As peace-loving Nigerians we welcome the truce. Anything that will end the hostilities in that part of the country is welcome. But we now hear that Boko Haram has again commenced attacks during the period of that ceasefire. It makes one to wonder if truthfully there was such an agreement. If there was that agreement, why was there a breach of it? We also heard that the Chibok girls will be released that same week, surprisingly this has not happened. So, I call on the Federal Government to please disclose to Nigerians the terms and the basis of this ceasefire. And we’ll encourage the cessation of hostilities that will assist in the final resolution of this crisis which has lingered for too long. We have also heard that the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Shekau has been killed. But we have heard that on the past before on at least two different occasions. What should we believe now? Again, we do not have the full details of Shekau’s death or how he died. However, killing the

Alegeh, NBA President

leader of the insurgents does not stop insurgency. This is because any other leader can arise in the group. A new leader can emerge and they may have other commanders.

We were not involved in any way in the process of the ceasefire agreement. We don’t know the terms of the ceasefire. But like all other Nigerians we just heard the news. As peaceloving Nigerians we welcome the truce. Anything that will end the hostilities in that part of the country is welcome

In its purported efforts at fighting insurgency, the Federal Government has attempted to purchase arms illegally in South Africa, which led to the confiscation of an aircraft and the sum of $9.3m and another $5.6m by the South African authorities. What are your comments of this? Whenever you are in a situation of war, which is what I think we are in right now, there is need to restock the armoury. This is to be expected and it’s understandable. But for me, the critical question is how do we restock our armoury? Do we restock our armoury by illegal action? That is where the issue of this $15m comes up and it is in my view a national embarrassment. We have descended to the stage where we are unable to buy arms from recognized agents. The whole world knows that we are fighting a war against insurgents. What nobody has been able to explain is why can’t we buy arms from recognized arms dealers? Why are we fighting insurgents and we can’t procure arms? It’s such a major question that begs for answer. Having to buy arms through

Shortly after your inauguration as the 27th NBA President, some lawyers filed an action against you and Mr. Jide Koku, SAN over the chairmanship of the NBA Section on Legal Practice, yet the NBA is going ahead to hold the SLP conference in Uyo in a fortnight. Why is this so? Firstly, I would say that as an association of lawyers we must practice what we preach. We preach due process and democracy. We preach obedience and observance of the rule of law. As I said in my inaugural address, SPL had nominations and elections where scheduled to be held at the last annual general conference. But no elections held. Rather than hold elections, some people were allegedly coronated. Under the Bye-law, there must be nominations and there must be an election before anyone can become the chairman of a section. But this never happened in SLP. In the NBA-AGC programme of events in Owerri, the election was scheduled to be held on Tuesday. But that election didn’t hold. So, to prevent a lacuna and an illegality, I took a decision that we must have somebody to coordinate the activities of the Section until a proper election is held. I understand a case was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Another case was also said to have been filed in OwerCONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Law | Jurist

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘Jonathan’s endorsement will not translate to citizens’ well-being’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

power supply. So, the man can tell us we are now enjoying 24 hours power supply. So, if those who have been settled are telling you that this is the best time in the history of Nigeria, yes. This is because if suddenly you are made a billionaire overnight from nothing, what do you then expect? I know of a colleague of mine in the South-South who because of his closeness to the government drives around in so many big cars. To such an individual, if you say Nigeria is not working, he will label you a mad man. So, to him Nigeria is working because he is not feeling the pains, everything he requires, he have it. So, that is the concept about all these endorsements. But, the good thing is that the world is now a global village, everyone knows what is going on in Nigeria. So, that is why if you are doing well and you treat your citizens with respect, the outside world will also respect your citizen. The outside world will not mess you up the way they are trying to mess us up by carrying money to buy arms and it was not disclosed. You can see the way they seized our money and all that. Even with all the threat to close down MTN and all that, they will tell you to go ahead and do that. How many South Africans are in employment with MTN? So, close MTN and see how many people will be thrown into the labour market and what the repercussion will be on the economy. The economy is already in distress and you now want to close all the South African companies in Nigeria, you are just fighting your nose! So the point I am making is that there are issues with us as a nation and I am not condemning Nigeria by taking joy in condemning it. Nigeria is not functional and a lot of things are not happening the way they are supposed to happen and we are not where we are supposed to be. This is because what God has given to us as resources are so many that the level of poverty we are experiencing in this country supposed not to be our portion. We supposed to have gone far in terms of basic infrastructure and social security. But, if anyone has no job, what do you expect him to do? The aged ones in our midst supposed not to have any problem. My friend I saw in the United Kingdom when I went there last year was telling me he had to stay back because when her daughter entered the university there and he does not have money, the government over there took charge and when the daughter starts working she will pay back the money. Even though there may not be bed of roses but the openings are there for people to exploit and enjoy. The National Health Scheme (NHS) is for every British citizen. No matter the level of sickness, even if for operation, it will be done as long as you are a citizen at no cost. The highest you can

Ubani

pay for any drugs however expensive it may be is seven pounds as long as you are under the NHS scheme. So, tell me how you will wake up and not say God bless United Kingdom, God bless the Queen and all that. This is because of what the country is doing for you by ensuring that you are happy. The bible says when the righteous is upon the throne the people rejoice. But here, our leaders afflict us with punishments and all that. So, I ask those people endorsing the President, what are those things on ground that points to the fact that these are the best times for us? I am not seen anything that makes me feel that way. The next election is not even clear to anybody. You know we have been crying that we should have a national conference because we believe that with it, the structural imbalances will be corrected. The one just concluded is of what effect? So, if the country is not structured, we cannot make any progress. Whatever zone produces president next year, there will still be a problem, whether from the North-East or South-South. If anybody from the North emerges, the militants from the South-South will enter the creeks again and blow up all oil pipelines and don’t forget that all the country’s earnings are dependent on oil. Also, if a person from South-South emerges, the Northerners will intensify their bombings and all that. Most of all these insurgency are political because they want to reclaim

I ask those people endorsing the President, what are those things on ground that points to the fact that these are the best times for us? I have not seen anything that makes me feel that way. The next election is not even clear to anybody

power. So, we thought that with the national confab, Nigeria will be restructured and power will be transferred back to the states. Let each state controls what they have and pay tax to the Federal and let there be competition. But as long as the country is being run the way it is at the moment, people will still say it is their turn to ‘eat’ and when it is your turn to ‘eat’, the way South-South people are ‘eating’ now, other people will be watching. Millionaires are being made in the place and other people are just watching. That is not governance. When the country is restructured, everyone will feel the impact of government. So, why there is so much anger in the land is because some people are so rich, while so many are so poor. Everything rise and fall at the leadership level. The moment we get it right at the leadership level, every other thing will fall in place. We have been unfortunate to have wrong leaders and it is affecting you and I. Ungoldly men and occultists are occupying positions and when people that are godless are in charge, God will turn His ear. Which prayer are you praying? Because the man that is there is dirty, he does not fear God and does not respect Him and when you don’t respect God, He will not respect you. So, what we are suffering today is as a result of inept and bad leadership. On the planned deployment of troops by Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun, Chad and Benin Republic to combat terrorism, Ubani said “yes, there is nothing that is not worth trying in times like this because if they have done their logistics and carried out a comprehensive area survey of how this Boko Haram insurgents move, how they infiltrate and all that and now come up with this solution, I think it is worth trying. “There must be commonality in terms of facilities among the borders states in order to tackle this. It’s not good that one is tackling it and the other is showing lackadaisical attitude. It will not be effective. So, if there is this commonality that we have to do this to save us from all these embarrassment, I think it is worth trying. You know, this Boko Haram guys most of the time commit crime here and cross over to neighbouring countries. So, if there is an agreement now to really police our borders very well to ward off any infiltration, I believe it will go a long way in helping us out. But, all these are short term measures as we have been saying it. People should be well taken care of by the government and children are compulsorily made to go to school and read. Most of these guys can not fit into the 21st century. They have no knowledge of science and technology not even arts. The only thing they know is Quran. In the 21st century, you are not employable if all you know is Quran. So, what we are saying is that there must be a process of training for them to be empowered. The Northern Governors and elite are

wicked. If you go there and see the level of decadence despite all the small local governments they created that they are using to siphon money, there was nothing to show any level of development in those areas. Go to all the local governments, there is nothing. What they do every month is just to come and share money and that was all. They don’t question their leaders. They gave birth to children, leave them to wander around and become Almajiris. These Almajiris have not been shown love, how then do you expect them to show love to the society or any human being? On the incessant jail break in the country, Ubani described it as a major problem confronting the nation’s justice system. He said: “There is a big problem with the Administration of Criminal Justice system in this country. I have a client that his own offence was that he was linked up to somebody that wanted to dupe people of several millions of Naira. The guy was living with the accused but when they came for him, they can’t find him and they picked my client. But, because of the huge amount involved, they held on to the man. At a point, the police told me if he brings N1 million, the charge will be dropped. But, this was a man that was squatting with somebody, if he has such an amount, will he be squatting with somebody? Before you know it, he was charged and because of the huge amount involved, we have not been able to perfect his bail. “So, when you go to prisons, you will see many people who are not convicts and awaiting trial cases. Some of them, their files have been forgotten, they just charged them and their cases are no longer called and so they are not even taken to court any longer. It might also be that several cases are before the Magistrate, especially, the criminal cases or the Investigative Police Officer (IPO) are not available again or the witnesses are no longer interested in the case. Ninety per cent of the criminal cases that come to Magistrate courts do not end in conclusion and that was why the Magistrates don’t give return on these cases. It is either the matters are struck out for want of diligent prosecution or they are forgotten. So, we have problem with our Criminal Justice from the investigative stage to the prosecutorial stage to the judicial level and so on, so much complications are involved and if it is not corrected, we will remain that way. “Now, the people in these prisons cannot contain the punishment level they are experiencing and so they must find their level. So, jail break in this country is inevitable as a result of the condition of the prisons. My brother, you watches films and you see the condition of prisons in America. It’s just like you are in your house with the facilities available. But, go to any Nigerian prison and find out whether hell fire is not even better. So, jail break is inevitable unless we address the problem with our criminal justice system. We must ensure that criminal matters end in trial and the police must also be more diligent in their investigations before cases are charged to court. So, as long as the prisons are congested, it will lead to jail break.

Law | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

ri. Many more are preparing to file their case and I challenge all of them to speak truthfully to the issues. Was there an election? Where there was no election, it is a breach of the NBA Constitution and such illegality must not be allowed to stand. I had an overriding duty to protect the sanctity of our constitution by appointing a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the section until proper elections are held. The SLP conference is prescheduled and reorganized and all that they are doing to see through the section’s programmes. Today, it’s SLP and we turn a blind eye, tomorrow it might be another section or even a branch. When the process of an election is started, it must be seen through. You can’t take some steps in the process of an election then truncate it halfway through and declare a chairman without the election. The steps that SLP took were strictly preelection, and the proper election never took place. I am surprised that lawyers who are trained in constitutionalism and due process will have the courage to go to court and urge the court to uphold pure illegality. Also, it is on record that you are the first President to have sacked the leadership of the NBA on Legal Practice shortly after swearing in as president, what could have been responsible for this as we understand that you have been sued by some lawyers? Yes. I have promised to address that issue. I made it clear that we’ll allow observers at our NEC meetings but it will be on the basis of accreditation from branches. All those who would like to attend and observe NEC meetings should indicate through their branches and their names will be sent to the NBA National Secretariat for accreditation. Such lawyers will be issued with name tags that will enable them attend the meetings.

FG’s arms deal scandal is national embarrassment, says Alegeh

Alegeh, NBA President

A shameful act occurred in Osogbo recently where lawyers were openly involved in fisticuffs and exchange of blows at the election tribunal. Ekiti State also just witnessed the desecration of the temple of justice when a judge was physically manhandled by hoodlums on the alleged orders of Governor Ayodele Fayose. What is the NBA doing about this? I must confess that we have challenges. In any association there are touts and there are charlatans. In the case of the Osogbo incident, we have identified those involved and we have written to them. We are awaiting their responses, after which we’ll take the necessary actions. In the case of Ekiti, we have set up a high power committee to investigate the incident and we’ll do all that is necessary to ensure that proper action is taken against whoever is indicted. Another one is the lingering crisis in the Rivers State Judiciary, which has caused so much hardship for litigants, to an extent that

today the judiciary in that state is in a comatose state. As president of the Bar and a member of the National Judicial Council, how can it be resolved? Well, I will tell you for free that the problem in Rivers State is over who is the Chief Judge or not. The NJC has a role to play and it’s doing just that. However, the courts in Rivers State are shut down as at today, not because of the imbroglio over who is CJ or not. It is rather as a result of the strike by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria. I had a meeting with the leaders of JUSUN, because they had planned to embark on a nationwide strike. But based on our appeal to them, they have agreed to shelve that strike. If the JUSUN was not on strike, I am sure the courts in Port Harcourt would have been sitting. How would you look at the removal of the immunity clause from the Constitution by the National Assembly? I have always said that immunity is for the office. The holder of that office

shouldn’t be jumping from one court to the other defending cases against him at a time when he is supposed to doing the work he is elected to do. If you look at the number of people who have immunity, it’s just few. We have the 38 state governors and the president. If you multiply that by two, we have just 74. In a country of 170 million people, I don’t think 74 persons with immunity should be such a cause for worry. I believe immunity is not necessarily to cover up the office holder, to enable him to do the work he was elected to do. A section of lawyers believe the 180 days allowed to conclude election petitions has occasioned injustices in many instances, do you share this view? I don’t agree with that position. I was involved in the Adam Oshiomhole petition and we went from trial to Court of Appeal, to Supreme Court within the stipulated time. The issue of dragging election petition interminably

Why are we fighting insurgents and we cannot procure arms?

should be discouraged and stopped. It should be made a thing of the past. If you use your 180 days wisely, you can finish your petition. I was involved in another petition when after they gave judgment at the Court of Appeal, the petitioner waited for 42 days before returning to tribunal. These are 42 days he could have used to start and finish the case. So, he went to the Court of Appeal and he was told that he was out of time and he still lost. You have just inherited a huge project, the building of the NBA National Secretariat. Looking at the enormous financial outlay that would be required to complete the project, how do you intend to raise such funds and still run the association’s programmes successfully in your two-year tenure? When there is a will, there is a way. We’ll do all within out power to ensure that the project is completed on schedule. The present place the NBA uses as its National Secretariat is not befitting of our association. It’s too cramped up and inadequate. The result of the Nigerian Law School’s Bar Final examination that has just been released is quite disappointing. We understand that out of 6000 students who sat for the exam, only 2000 passed. Part of your campaign promises is that you will declare a state of emergency when elected president. What do you intend to do about this? I have looked at the results and the campus by campus analysis. I must confess that it gives one cause for alarm. The failure rate is really high. I spoke with the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School and as soon as he comes back from the IBA conference in Japan, I will meet with him and find a way forward. I have been asking myself some questions. Is it that the lecturers are lazy or not doing what they are supposed to be doing? We will sit down with the law school authorities and find a solution to these problems, I assure you.

Court voids ex-minister’s suspension notice on ICCON registrar verdict

Only ICCON has power to remove registrar and not Health Minister, court rules Foluso Ogunmodede

he National Industrial Court (NIC), Lagos has declared null and void the suspen-

sion slammed on a former registrar and chief executive officer of the Institute of Chartered Chemist of Nigeria, (ICCON), Prince Jay O. Oghifo by the immediate past minister of health, Professor Onyebuchukwu Chukwu. Justice O. O Oyewumi who awarded a N50, 000 cost against the defendants also declared that since Oghifo was appointed by the ICCON Council no one except the council

had the power to remove him from office. Justice Oyewunmi said: “It is also declared that the panel of investigation set up by the second defendant to investigate the claimant and their report and recommendation is hereby set aside. It is hereby declared that the suspension of the claimant vide the letter dated 11 January 2013 is null and void.” Consequently, the judge ordered that the sal-

ary and allowances of the claimant for the period he was on suspension be paid to him immediately. “I award a cost of N50, 000 each against the first, second, third and 6th defendants in favour of the claimant which must be paid within two weeks of this judgment”, the court ruled. However, the court said it could not reinstate the Registrar since his tenure had elapsed on July 2014.

Oghifo had approached the court, asking it to order that the suspension slammed on him by the defendants should not be given effect. Sued includeApart are the federal ministry of health, ICCON, the chairman of the Institute’s council, Professor Felix Okieimen and a management staff of the Institute, Sylvester Obinyan as well as the acting registrar, Ms. T.O Bammodu.

In a 25-paragraph affidavit, Oghifo said “prior to when I was on leave and in performance of my duties as the chief executive of the Institute, certain disciplinary matter came up which resulted in suspension of about seven members of staff, namely; Bammodu T.O (Ms), Mr Atanda O.J, Mr Akwaowo I.R, Mr Umar Bello Maigari, Mr Abdulsalam M.A, Mr Olubowale W.A and Mr. Bassey Etim.

Law

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Wali’s kidnap ignites calls for state police

Agbakoba, Gadzama, others laud LawPavilion at IBA confab success

LawPavilion adjudged one of the world’s best at IBA Conference Foluso Ogunmodede

F Ananaba, SAN

Ngige, SAN

CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 21

Agbaje simply said “when we say we are running a federal system of government, why shouldn’t police be decentralised? What then are the roles of the state? Are you telling me that the federal police will know the nooks and cranies of Lagos State more than the state police? What I am telling you is that Nigeria is long overdue for state police and politics should not be played with the issue. State police will complement the federal police as they all complement each other and the law has demarcated the area of functionality of each of them’’. Obla said state police or community policing should be embraced as it would serve as an effective option to tackle crimes. He said: “Community policing should be embraced, we departed from it before because the politicians were using them against their opponents but the desirability for it now far outweighs the desirability of the then politicians who were using it for their selfish interest. “They know every member of the community, we need to reintroduce it but measures need to be put in place to ensure that the fundamental human rights of members of the community are not breached”. In his view, Nwaiwu said that community policing was a desirable alternative especially in the face of serious insecurity the nation had experienced in recent past. He said: “The federal police is too small compared to the number of communities they are expected to man. It is in this light that community policing will go a long way to complement whatever the federal police is doing. “But the system should be harmonised so that there will be no conflict between the federal police and the community police. “They are just like vigilante, they are to serve as complimentary to the federal police. “In my own opinion, community policing should be put in

Nigeria is long overdue for state police and politics should not be played with the issue place”. Ambali said that the issue of community policing was long overdue adding that it should be mandated for every community to float one. “This is a simple matter it is about the protection of lives and properties of the grass roots as there is no politics about it. “It is very important that lives and properties are protected and as such we cannot leave that work in the hands of the Nigerian Police alone. “The work of security is best handled by indegenious people”, Ambali said. Another lawyer, Keneth Okeke supported the call for the re-introduction of community policing. He premised his support on the grounds that there were many porous borders in the country that could only be secured by community police. Okeke said: “Securing a community can only be best done by people who knows the terrain of the community and that is where community policing comes in. “Although, the Nigeria Police is trying but their efforts need to be complemented by community police so as to get rid of criminality from our nation”. Although Akeredolu was indifferent, he said such call should not be of importance to the government, adding, the creation of state police should not be the priority for the country now but the strengthening of the third tier of government. According to him, what the nation needed was to ensure the viability of the states in the country.

oremost Nigerian ICT company, Grace Info Tech Limited, developers of the award winning LawPavillion Electronic Legal Research and Case Management Solutions Software, shone like the northern star at the just concluded International Bar Conference (IBA) held in Tokyo, the capital of Japan as it was adjudged as one of the world best. No fewer than 5,000 lawyers globally, about 500 of them from Nigeria converged in Tokyo to brainstorm, interact and network with a view to moving the legal profession forward. However, the foremost ICT company, which had demonstrated a rare showcase of its ingenuity at the prestigious Annual General Conference of the International Bar Association, a significant event on the diary of most lawyers in Nigeria and indeed, in the whole world, made an imprint of the uniqueness of Nigeria’s legal services at the event. With an attendance of over 500 Nigerians comprising of lawyers, Judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Administrators and Heads of Legal Departments of blue chip companies, the Conference delegates from Nigeria have been thrilled and lauded the foresight of the management of GIT LawPavilion in ensuring the attendance of the ICT Company at the event. LawPavilion unveiled a new and innovative product from its stables, the Solicitors’ Toolkit (STK). The Solicitors’ Toolkit is a refreshing and user friendly software containing all the information required by any serious minded legal practitioner in Nigeria. Its appeal is however not only local, but also international as it serves as a veritable tool for any current or potential foreign investor seeking to know the laws, regulations, guidelines, government policies, agreements and judgments of the courts especially Judgments of the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court as it affects doing business in Nigeria.

Agbakoba, SAN

Gadzama, SAN

Tarfa, SAN

The Solicitor’s Toolkit software is a “one product” aggregation of industry relevant solutions, an innovative all-in-one powerful research engine for Solicitors and in-house Counsel. It is a comprehensive guide which aims to assist users to be more effective in performing their duties and providing best services with all the required knowledge and information at their disposal. The “Solicitor’s Toolkit (STK)” software contains current and correct regulations, guidelines, policies and public notices from various Regulatory Bodies such as the DPR, FIRS, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Communications Commission, Central Bank of Nigeria etc. It also contains updated and current Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria up to 2014, Reported Cases of the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court, Annotated Forms and Precedents with relevant Cases, Statutes, Regulations or Guidelines related to such precedent, and a super-fast Search Engine which searches through all the contents

to bring back concise and comprehensive results. According to Mr. Ope Olugasa, LawPavilion managing director, the principal goal of LawPavilion was to continue to act as a partner to the Nigerian legal industry by developing ICT products for the legal practitioner in his capacity as a Judge, advocate or solicitor as the company remains resolute in its drive to empower professionals through its innovative and user friendly products, excellent customer service and integrity. Besides, Olugasa stated that the Case Management Solution and the Court Management Solutions recently introduced into the market were targeted at all strata of the legal community, such that lawyers and judges could have access to all records of their cases on selected mobile devices, thereby eliminating the inability to work due to absence from the office or court. According to him, the company’s products were the results of extensive research and deliberations with relevant stakeholders in the legal industry to ensure that their most pressing needs were taken care of through the use of technology. However, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Olanrewaju Onadeko, Rickey Tarfa, SAN and Joe Kyari-Gadzama, SAN applauded LawPavilion as it made the country proud in Tokyo. Also, many Conference attendees, gave commendations, saying while the IBA Conference had many Nigerians in attendance on a yearly basis, the country had not really showcased its competence and versatility in international legal practice until the arrival and portrayal of the use of ICT in Nigerian legal industry by LawPavilion as Agbakoba, others showered encomiums on the award winning software, LawPavilion. To Agbakoba, LawPavilion was simply fantastic. He said: “They are fantastic. When I came into the exhibition stand, and I saw Law Pavilion, as a Nigerian, I am proud of the guys behind it. This is because I have worked with them, patronize them and have virtually all their products. And it is a good thing that NBA continues with what I started in Singapore when I introduced exhibition stand.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014

Health News

Healthy Living

Health Inetrview

Health News

Workplace wellness promotes performance

Impact of vitamin D deficiency

‘Tetanus can be prevented’

Insecurity threat to child development

Health

Protecting new babies from HIV infection Appolonia Adeyemi

ehinde Cooker, 19 had hardly dropped out of secondary school when she discovered that she was pregnant. Throughout the duration of the nine month pregnancy, she never attended ante-natal clinic, not even once. Although, she appeared healthy, trouble however started when she fell into a prolonged labour at the ninth month and efforts by her neighbours to save her life prompted her being rushed to a traditional birth attendant (TBA) in her neighbourhood in Ikorodu, Lagos. Fortunately, Kehinde was delivered of the baby girl safely but less than nine months afterwards persistent symptoms which the baby developed prompted other hospital visits which finally revealed that the baby was born HIV positive. Many newly delivered babies in this country share the same fate with Kehinde’s baby, though if Kehinde was subjected to available treatment under the prevention of Mother-to-ChildTransmission (MTCT) of HIV, the now HIV status of her baby could have been prevented. Sadly, many HIV pregnant mothers do not avail themselves of available treatment. This development is now a source of HIV infections in new babies. Available data shows that Lagos State is one of the 12+1 states that accounts for 70 percent of the country’s burden of Mother-To-Child-Transmission of HIV (MTCT) in the country. To prevent newly delivered babies from being born HIV positive therefore, the Lagos State Government last week cried out over low patronage by pregnant women to access its Prevention -of -Mother –To-Child-Transmission, PMTCT/Family Plan-

Appolonia Adeyemi appolonia.adeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

ning’ Sites, saying, this development has increased the risk of Mother -to- Child -Transmission of HIV in the state. The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dame Abimbola Fashola who expressed worry during her official unveiling as the Face of PMTCT in Lagos at the occasion, disclosed that the state is recording new HIV infections through MTCT. According to Mrs Fashola, available statistics has shown that only few number of pregnant women have actually been counseled and tested for HIV. “Majority of pregnant women do not know the benefits of utilising these services because they are not aware or informed,” she said. This problem, she said has remained despite the efforts of the government to nip this in the bud through various strategies such as free Prevent-Mother-Tochild transmission services, increase of service delivery points from 66 in 2012 to 312 in 2014 as well as other strategies. With 5.1 percent prevalence, based on 2010 survey that translates that over one million people live with HIV in Lagos, she said the state must play a significant role in the efforts to eliminate mother- to- child transmission of the disease. Calling for action she said: “Today, we call for action on the part of all including women leaders to stop this trend and join the global drive to eliminate Mother - to -Child Transmission of HIV and also encourage healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies. ”We need to coordinate our efforts in order to effectively mobilise, enlighten and educate women on the availability of PMTCT and family planning services in their communities. Unveiling the Face of PMTCT, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. JideIdris said the state has developed many strategies to ensure that the children and their mothers live qualitative and productive lives. He said the success of the strategies can be seen in the improvement of immunisation records, amongst others. On her part, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adesina disclosed that

Ante-retroviral drugs ensures good health for people living with HIV

PHOTO: www.newvision.co.ug

L-R: Idris; Mrs Fashola; and Dr. Adesina at the presentation of plaque to Fashola as the States’ Ambassador of Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission of HIV held in Lagos recently.

According to her, data has revealed that things are not getting better more kids from HIV-positive mothers are being delivered HIV-positive.

more PMTCT sites are being activated in the state, regretting that in spite of the efforts, access to PMTCT and family planning services by pregnant women remains poor. She said the State Government has directed that all pregnant women who present at its facilities be tested for HIV. She said the need to have all women and even the men galvanised for action to demand these services informed the choice of event. Highlighting inaccessibility of PMTCT in various centres in Lagos, Adesina said, “We have free kits in our primary healthcare centres (PHCs), general hospitals and some private health-

care facilities that are enlisted in this PMTCT of HIV/AIDS.” According to her, the state has a directory of all the facilities providing the service. “There are excesses of these kits but they are not being utilised,” she lamented, adding, “This is where the problem is.” Adesina said when these pregnant women go into labour, “it is almost too late at that time to prevent the transmission of HIV to the child.” The irony is that the pregnant mother is positive and there is treatment for the affected mother to have the chance of having a healthy productive life, yet the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Health News

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Workplace wellness promotes performance

n a bid to create awareness and promote healthy living at workplaces, Weight A Minute Wellness Company Limited, a wellness/lifestyle management organisation has introduced ‘Workplace Wellness’ initiative which will promote health consciousness and yield better productivity for corporate organisations. The event tagged ‘Corporate Wellness Conference’ is Nigeria’s premiere business conference on organisational health. Speaking at the Conference, which took place in Lagos last Friday, CEO/ Principal Consultant, Weight A Minute Wellness Company, Fola Osason said there is need to take proactive measure in creating awareness and promoting healthy living at work, to prevent lifestyle chronic diseases and improve workforce health for optimal performance. The conference assembled a stellar panel comprising industry experts, CEOs, HR Managers, Business Executives, Entrepreneurs, Medical Doctors, Psycholo-

gists, Nutritionists, Pharmacists, Mind therapists and Fitness Experts. The key note speakers at the Corporate Wellness Conference were Mr. Ramesh Kurup, MD/CEO Hygeia HMO, Mrs Anne Oragwu, Vice President, Head, Channels Management, FBN Capital and Mr. Ben Akaneme, MD/CEO, Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank (formerly GT Homes). Others include Dr. Adedayo Gbenga, Living Health Nigeria, Dr. Osasona, WINBOX AFRICA, D. Umelo Lohire, Medbury Medical Services and Mr Wale Tejumade, CEO, VVC Limited. Employee wellbeing is a leading indicator of future human capital capabilities- and cost- for employers. The business benefits of addressing wellness are substantial, hence the reason for organising Nigeria’s premiere business conference on organisational health with the theme, “Employee wellness: Key to corporate Profitability and sustainability”. Fola explained that

Employee wellbeing is a leading indicator of future human capital capabilitiesand cost- for employers. The business benefits of addressing wellness are substantial chronic illnesses exact a heavy toll on businesses, budgets and economies. “Globally, the lifestyle chronic disease epidemic is growing and this development constitutes the biggest threat to the health, welfare and productivity of the workforce of any organisation leading to associated costs.” she said.

L-R: National Surveillance Officer WHO in Lagos State, Mr. Clement Nweake; Sales and Marketing Manager, Hygeia HMO, Mr. Eyo Ekeno; CEO/Principal Consultant, Weight A Minute Wellness Company Ltd, Mrs. Fola Osasona; and Vice President, Head, Channels Management, FBN Capital, Mrs. Anne Oragwu during the Weight A Minute Corporate Wellness Conference 2014 held at Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

Protecting new babies from HIV infection CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

new child is denied the chance of being born HIVfree simply on the basis of mother not accessing the treatment. Consequently, Adesina is calling on HIV positive mothers to demand the treatment from the available PMTCT free services. “Demand creation will direct us in the line of budgeting , making test kits available, and providing treatment for HIV infections,” she said. According to her, data has revealed that things are not getting better more kids from HIV pos-

itive mothers are being delivered HIV positive. She blamed this on HIV positive mothers failure to access the PMTCT services and the trend of many mothers patronising TBAs. For this reason, Adesina said facilities manned by TBAs have now been included in Lagos State HIV screening programmes. “We go to the TBA clinics, test the pregnant patients and if they are positive, we transfer them to Lagos State Government clinics and PHCs to effectively address the problem. In her remark, the Country Representative,

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Madam RatiNdlovu stressed the need for mothers to become pregnant by choice not by accident and deliver in health facilities. Ndlovu said 80 percent of birth related deaths can be prevented if there is access to services. UNFPA believes that every pregnancy must be wanted as medical science has made it possible that HIV mothers can give birth to babies without HIV. “Nigeria is now a global champion and we will want that champion to be replicated in maternal health,” said RatiNdlovu.

Healthy Living Dr. Ihuoma Uko-Ndukwe ada.ndukwe@yahoo.com

Impact of vitamin D deficiency UNRECOGNISED AILMENT Slow manifestation of symptoms make this condition go untreated

itamin D is a nutrient that the body needs in small amounts to function and stay healthy. It helps the body use calcium and phosphorus to make strong bones and teeth. It is a fat soluble vitamin (can dissolve in fats and oils). Skin that is exposed to sun can also make vitamin D. Vitamin D is a steroid hormone produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight or obtained from diet. It can also be made from yeast and plants. Similarly, vitamin D also plays a role in nerves, muscles and the immune system. A lack of vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis or rickets. Vitamin D deficiency affects persons of all ages. It was initially identified as the cause of rickets which is known in local parlance as (bow legs). However, recent studies have found that both low vitamin and lack of vitamin D are associated with other problems. Vitamin D plays an important role in skeletal development, bone health maintenance and nerve functioning. It is important to note that the signs and symptoms of lack of vitamin are slow and nonspecific. In most cases it goes unrecognised and untreated. There are two forms of vitamin D. One comes from yeast and plants sterol and called ergosterol while the other comes from oily fish and by skin synthesis. Humans typically obtain 90 percent of the vitamin D from sunlight. Risk factors for vitamin D deficiency are: age older than 65, exclusively breast-fed infants without vitamin D supplementation, dark skin, insufficient sun exposure, obesity and lack of exercise. Some medications that change how vitamin D is used in the body is also a risk factor. Examples include medications used

Children with rickets disease, above. Below hands showing symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency PHOTOS: contentexplorer

to treat epilepsy, gastric bypass surgery, and malnutrition. Manifestations of vitamin D deficiency Lack of vitamin d causes bone to weaken, in children bones soften over time and become deformed, leading to growth retardation, leg deformities, and in adults bone weaken to cause bone pain, muscle aches, joint pain, and low back pain in older women. These increases risk of falls and impair physical function. Food sources of vitamin D are Cereal, milk,orange juice, cod liver oil,egg yolk, mackerel fish (canned) salmon fish(canned, fresh) sardines fish (canned) and tuna fish (canned). If one is not getting enough vitamin d from food, it can also be achieved by taking supplements in the form of tablets. The minimum recommended amount is 1200 mg of combined calcium with vitamin D (together). If an infant is strictly breastfed, polyvisolmultitamins fortified with VIt d/calcium will give the amount needed for growth and this also

applies to all children and adolescents who do not get regular sunlight exposure, who do not ingest a minimum of one liter per day of vitamin D-fortified milk or formula or who do not take a daily multivitamin supplement containing at least 400 iu of vitamin D. Benefits of vitamin D supplementation Fall prevention Falls are the leading cause of hip fractures. Daily vitamin D intake is very crucial in the reduction of hip fractures. Vitamin D has a positive effect on muscle strength, thereby decreasing fall risks and it also helps significantly to prevent osteoporosis.

Vitamin D plays an important role in skeletal development, bone health maintenance and nerve functioning.

Health Interview 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014

‘Tetanus can be prevented’ Dr. Taiwo Osisanya, a consultant plastic surgeon at the National Orthorpaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos, basically manages wounds and re-constructs defects in different parts of the body. He fielded questions with journalists, discussing caring for large injury and preventing tetanus at a Continuing Medical Education programme tagged “Modern Trends in Orthopaedics”. APPOLONIA ADEYEMI was there. When people become caught up in violence or accidents resulting in wound and injury, what are the things people around can do to help? The problem is that wounds are injuries we cannot avoid basically. The major problems about wound that we have in this environment is that people with injury do not seek medical attention on time. Secondly, when affected persons try to seek medical attention on time, they go to the wrong people. There are a lot of reasons for this. It could be as a result of lack of accessibility to appropriate treatment centres. It could be that such people live in places where there are no qualified staff to provide care or they cannot afford to go for treatment in proper centres, although, if you look at the cost of treatment on the long run, it is probably is not a wise decision to patronise quacks. Similarly, there are also basic things that should be done like getting anti-tetanus injections regularly. Most wounds would tend to heal with this measure but there are a couple of conditions in which you probably need assessment by someone who is very well trained and these are instances where the wounds are very large. The larger and deeper the wound, the greater it is that affected persons would develop an infection. The skin has a normal function including protecting the body against infection. Once one has a wound that is open, that protective barrier is lost. Are there patients that are more at risk than others, depending on the nature of their injury? Patients who have special health conditions are not like the normal people. They have inherent weakness in their ability to fight infection. So, patients who have medical illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, severe hypertension that has affected their blood vessels and patients who are sickle cell patients are unable to fight infections. Also, patients who are on the extremes of life – the very

o sustain the tempo of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), initiatives in Nigeria, Sanofi has renewed its avowed commitment to the wellness of the country’s citizens, in line with the company’s corporate strategy focusing on the patient access to healthcare and safety. In its presentation titled ‘CSR from global strategy to Nigerian projects’ at the 2014 edition of the CSR West Africa Summit recently in Lagos, Head of Public Affairs, Sanofi North

young and the very old are not able to mount defense against infections unlike the normal individuals. Those are the ones who need to be properly assessed if they suffer injuries. The key is health education. People need to be properly informed that the extra time it will take for them to travel a long distance to see a proper medical practitioner, or the little amount of money they would spend in the long run is beneficial. If anyone has any of these factors or any of these inherent weaknesses, he would be in a better position to be advised on what to do to be able to fight and prevent infections. Other factors that prevent many people from seeking appropriate medical care It is as a result of many factors that people keep away from seeking care in appropriate places. People who are affected often say: “It is just a small wound” but a small wound that is not properly dressed could pose a risk for infection of which tetanus is the commonest. Structural problems like poverty could also be responsible. Some affected persons are too poor to even transport themselves to hospitals for treatment. Some, when they get to health care facilities do not have money for treatment. So, these are some of the factors basically that make them unwilling to seek treatment.

Osisanya

wastes time while patients get frustrated.

If you look at the cost of treatment on the long run, it is probably not a wise decision to patronise quacks

From your experience, is there any way society can assist these people alleviate pain ? We in the medical profession should do much more in terms of enlightenment and health education. The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) can be made to provide much more cover. That is to say the number of people being provided for under the NHIS should be expanded to include more Nigerians. If there is extensive wound or large wound that one would probably need a higher level of authorisation to access the patient. There is a lot of bureaucracy involved and that

What exactly is meant by getting authorisation to access the patient? In the health system, it is easier to get treatment for certain kinds of conditions, depending on the plan you have especially if the form of treatment needed is not available in every centre. If it is available only in few centres, it will pose some challenge. Some patients have health conditions but live in the outskirts of Lagos. If there is no plastic surgeon there, it is going to be a lot more difficult to get the patient to the tertiary centre in terms of accessibility. That is a major problem. So, they get frustrated and they just give up. There is no doubt that cost is major obstacle hindering many with large wound to access treatment. Could you expatiate on costs of treatment for specific wound? It is difficult to ascribe cost for medical treatment. For instance, one will need to buy antibiotics. There are cheap antibiotics and there are expensive antibiotics. The antibiotics one uses will depend on the type of injury. Suppose a patient with a large wound presents with tetanus,

Sanofi restates commitment to wellness East Africa, Dimeji Agbolade, revealed the company’s several initiatives including the health of children through its Healthy Children Happy Children initiative, prevention of Malaria, Maternal and infant mortality, Tuberculosis, Epilepsy, Mental Disorders and the fight against non-communicable diseases and more specifically diabetes and hypertension.

”Our involvement in CSR is multifaceted and spread across disease prevention, training of healthcare workers to handle cases as well as easing access to quality healthcare and reducing health inequalities around the world. We are also a major player in the campaign against counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry. “A further demonstration of

our commitment is evident in our partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the fight against neglected tropical diseases. We are also a genuine partner in the fight against and elimination of sleeping sickness by 2020,” he said. While noting the rising cases of cancer, particularly childhood cancers in developing countries, he stated that Sanofi is involved

what is the impact of this on his health? Tetanus is a serious lifethreatening infection. By the time most patients who get tetanus get to hospitals, they are probably very ill. They will spend much more money and they will need long hospital stay on admission. Similarly they would probably need intensive care. So, it becomes much more expensive to treat. Can tetanus be prevented? It can be prevented. Immunisation can prevent tetanus. One needs to take about six doses of tetanus spread over a particular period - from when one is an infant to when the fellow is an adult to ensure life-long immunity but there are no absolute guarantee. There are still people who are immunised against tetanus and yet come down with tetanus. There may be other factors that may not be limited to the immunisation. Although, if people are immunised, it solves a lot of problems and prevents tetanus. In taking the tetanus dose, one starts the initial dose from when one is an infant, takes the second dose about six month later, until the sixth dose is finally taken. There would be specific time for the drug to be administered. with 19 projects aimed at controlling cancer among children in 16 African countries. Agbolade added that, “Sanofi Pasteur is the world vaccine leader and has the most extensive range of vaccines, which help prevent 20 infectious diseases including rabies, seasonal flu and meningitis. Since 2002, we have trained over 1,200 healthcare professionals in vaccinology and prevention through programmes deployed in 11 Africa countries.”

Health News

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Insecurity, threat to child development Esther Albert

he Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has blamed current insecurity that pervades the society as a hinderance to the proper functioning of the health care system and threat to the child. Also, President of Women Arise and Campaign for Democacy, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin has called for the implementation of Child Right Act and urged federal and state governments to consistently and publicly denounce violence against children. While calling on Nigerians to put in more efforts to curb insecurity Orelope-Adefulire said insecurity threatens the right of the child as well as inhibits the realisation of the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in the country. Speaking in Lagos at the 2014 Annual General Conference (AGM) and Scientific Meeting of the

Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria, (MWAN) Lagos Branch, OrelopeAdefulire who was represented by Dr. Yewande Adeshina, special adviser to the Lagos State Governor, said the most affected people in the face of any insecurity challenge remain children. “They are harmless, innocent and still in the care of their parents, yet they find themselves in most difficult situations and they cannot ordinarily protect or defend themselves. “The case of the over 200 Chibok girls kidnapped on April 15, this year remains fresh,” she noted. “It is unfortunate that they are still in captivity of the captors after over six months of their abduction,” she said. The theme of the 2014 AGM and Scientifi Conference of MWAN is “Insecurity and the Nigerian Child: Implications, Now and the Future”. According to the deputy governor of Lagos State, there is a strong

connection between security and survival because security is a basic condition for the survival of human beings. She said,”The absence of security inhibits health care system. “In education, the absence of security poses a great danger to ensure that every child

receives the best of education he/she needs to transform our society. “In the health sector, children become most vulnerable when government cannot provide the best form of quality health delivery,” she said. Orelope-Adefulire said domestic violence

t has been shown that the medical community in Nigeria is ill-equipped to deal with cancer as there is a paucity of oncologists of any kind (medical, surgical or radiation oncologists) and there are extremely limited facilities for screening, diagnosis, curative treatment or palliation of cancer cases. To address this challenge with a view to reduce high cancer incidence, the Lakeshore Cancer Center (LCC) along AmoduTijani Close in Victoria Island, Lagos, has been launched LCC, the first operational facility in Nigeria that is solely dedicated to the prevention and treatment of cancer, is affiliated with Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, USA – the oldest cancer center in the world. Speaking at the launch, Dr. Nwogu, CEO and Medical Director of the LCC, said, “in Nigeria, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2012 data), there are 102,079 new cancer cases per year and 71,571 cancer deaths annually. Dr. Nwogu who is also a Cancer Epidemiologist and Thoracic Surgical Oncologist, reflected that “Lakeshore Cancer Center was envisioned to educate Nigerians on cancer prevention, promote early detection and establish a reputable option in Lagos for screening, diagnosis and treatment. RPCI is heavily involved with LCC in providing training, education, clinical care

to the full development of the child. It is also a threat to realise the child’s fundamental human rights,” she said. The deputy governor also said insecurity and poverty, not only affect the child’s health, but also freedom of expression and socialisation, among others.

Youths from the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) worldwide on Ebola awareness walk through some streets in Surulere, Lagos recently.

Lakeshore cancer centre debuts Oluwatosin Omoniyi

poses great threats to a child’s development. “Domestic violence in homes, activities of human traffickers and the abuse of the child such as child prostitution, rape, forced marriage, beating, harassment and threat to life are insecurity signals. “They pose threat

oversight and research programs on an ongoing basis”. LCC is conveniently located in the popular business district of Victoria Island and features in-house consultant oncologists and 2nd opinions from US-based sub-specialised oncologists via tele-medicine. LCC staff have in-depth understanding of the medical practice and culture in both Nigeria and the western world. Commenting on this further, Grace Dy, MD - Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA stated that, “Nigeria has been recently recognised as an emerging economic giant. Yet, there has been no establishment devoted to manage the complexities of cancer care in this nation, despite the scourge of this disease stealthily claiming lives in this coun-

try for years, up until now. Lakeshore Cancer Center is established by cancer specialists to fill this unmet need. Saby George, MD - Medical Oncologist; Assistant Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA, also observed that “Cancer care has not been given the appropriate importance in Nigeria. Arthur Michalek, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, the University at Buffalo, NY, USA, said, “It is imperative that the medical community in Nigeria take the lead in increasing the cancer awareness by various educational programmes. The areas of unmet need in Nigeria includes cancer prevention, early detection and optimal care. Early detection of curable and treatable cancers are key, in order to have the optimal results from cancer care efforts.”

L-R: Business Manager at Lakeshore Cancer Center, Bindiya Chugani; CEO & Medical Director, Special Oncologist and Cancer Prevention Expert, Lakeshore, Dr. Chumy Nwogu; Pain & Palliative Care Specialist, Lakeshore, Dr. Yinka Akinyemiju; and Consultant Radiation/Clinical Oncologist, Lakeshore, Dr. Jimoh Mutiu Akin at the media launch of Lakeshore Cancer Center in Lagos recently.

Youths advocate hand washing to tackle Ebola Appolonia Adeyemi

n its response to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks in West African countries which has topped 10,000 cases with at least 5,000 deaths, the Youth Wing of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) recently advocated the importance of hygiene practices as a strategy to prevent Ebola. Leading an awareness walk in Lagos recently, National Youth Coordinator, Nigeria Region, CCC, Olusola Bankole urged Nigerians to adopt personal hygiene as a common responsibility to all and sundry and advised, “none of us should handle the matter with levity because whatever happens to one, can (if good measures are not in place) happens to all.” Bankole who was represented by Oyedeji Sunmade, Lagos State youth coordinator, said the importance of hand washing and sanitising during day-to-day activities cannot be overemphasised. He lauded the Nigerians, the federal, Lagos and Rivers state Governments for combating the highly disturbing deadly disease. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) studies have shown that hand hygiene practices lead to

a reduction of infections including the EVD. The Peace and Awareness Walk with the theme, “Post Ebola Peace Campaign” took off from Masha Roundabout in Surulere, Lagos through Stadium, Barracks during which participants disseminated leaflets , educating passers-by on the importance of hygiene practices in preventing diseases including Ebola. The walk finally terminated at CCC Tejuosho Parish where the organisers of the walk addressed a news conference. The distributed leaflets contained information on Ebola containment. Some of the messages advised Nigerians to avoid areas of known Ebola outbreaks, ‘Wash Your Hands Frequently, avoid bush meat, avoid contact with infected people; and Do not handle remains of dead people.” Similarly, prayers were conducted for the safe return of the over 200 Chibok girls that were abducted by the Boko Haram sect from their secondary schools in Chibok, Borno State in April. Bankole urged Nigerians especially churches to pray persistently for the deliverance of the innocent Chibok girls. “We need to support our government in prayer to get Chibok girls back,” he stressed.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Industry

ICT

GITEX 2014: NITDA seeks increased FDIs

FG hinges Vision 20:2020 on proper ICT application

FIIRO to create 250,000 jobs

Business What's news

80m scuf of gas shuts-in as Shell’s facility suffers vandalism The Trans Niger Trunkline facility of Shell has suffered another vandalism, resulting in the shut-in of 80 million standard cubic feet of gas.

p.32

$21.5m simulators’ll help aviation devt, say experts CAPITAL FLIGHT Flight simulation would reduce significantly the cost of flight crew training abroad

The Airbus A320 and Boeing B737-800 flight simulators are full cockpit/full

flight deck, flight simulators. The cockpit is an exact replica of the original air-

craft. Every flight control, CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Wole Shadare

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao Industry & Agric Editor Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

lans by the Federal Government to purchase three full JetFlight Simulator (5000 Series B737) with complete accessories for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, has been welcomed by experts made up of pilots and aircraft engineers. Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, had, last week, disclosed that the simulator, with complete accessories, would be located at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. The simulator will enable students of the college to carry out their training locally instead of going abroad for the coaching. The project will serve a dual purpose of a training facility for the college and a source of revenue generation for the country. According to the minister, the contract, which has been awarded to Messrs CAE of Canada at the cost of $21.459 million, is inclusive of all taxes payable at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of payment. Chidoka noted that the project was fully provided for in the 2014 Appropriation of the ministry and the 2013 budget of Nigeria College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.

Kunle Azeez Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo Asst Production Editor

Mobile ID unlocks digital service delivery for govts –Report Kunle Azeez

ith digital identity proving to be a powerful catalyst for eGovernment service delivery around the world, a new report has investigated the central role of the mobile device in provid-

ing trusted, secure access to a growing range of public services by governments globally. Jointly authored by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) and the Secure Identity Alliance (SIA), the report, ‘Mobile Identity –

Unlocking the potential of the digital economy,’ presents best practice from mobile identity implementations currently in operation around the globe. The report is intended to provide an expert resource CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Rates Dashboard

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin

L-R: President, Town Planners Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Layi Egunjobi; National President, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Chief Steve Onu; Minister of Land, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs Akon Eyakenyi; and Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Toyin Ayinde, during the 45th annual conference and general meeting of NITP in Lagos.

INFLATION RATE September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................11.57% Prime Lending Rate...........16.93% Maximum Lending Rate...25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Oct 23)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N275 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N205

l Foreign Reserves – $39.06bn as at 23/10/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Oct 23)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.76 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N250.69 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198.30

Business | News

REACTION

Shell keeps mum on vandalism, says oil production not affected Adeola Yusuf

he Trans Niger Trunkline facility of Shell has suffered another vandalism, resulting in the shut-in of 80 million standard cubic feet of gas. An industry source told New Telegraph that the incident, which was targeted at the well-head of the facility, occurred late on Monday night. “The Trans Niger pipeline was shut down on Monday after some unknown people drilled holes into it, “the source said. “Right now some volume of crude oil and about 80,000 Mcf/d of gas production has been shut in,” he added. A Shell source also confirmed the closure but could not give further details. Spokesperson for Shell, Precious Okolobo, however, did not confirm or refute claims that the company’s facility was attacked when New Telegraph called him on Tuesday. He only said that oil production from the facility was “in no way affected.”

80m scuf of gas shuts-in as Shell’s facility suffers vandalism The trunkline with 150,000 barrels per day capacity has been a target of vandalism recently. The company had earlier on October 9, 2013, said that it had to shut down oil flow through the 150,000-barrel-a-day capacity Trans-Niger pipeline following the

switch, gauge or screen is identical in look and feel compared with the original aircraft. The cockpit is based on an original B737-800 or A320 cockpit. A former aircraft engineer with the defunct Nigeria Airways, Sheri Kyari told New Telegraph that pilots in training will experience a seamless transition switching between fixed base and full motion flight simulators or switching from flight simulator to the flight deck of a real Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A320. Besides, he said flight simulation would reduce significantly the cost of flight crew training, adding that it can be more effective than airborne training. Nigeria’s apex aviation training institution is faced with inadequate infrastructure. A former Rector of the school, Capt. Chinyere Kalu once told our correspondent that

discovery of a number of fires and oil leaks. The cause of the leaks and fires in the BDere and Bera areas of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta was said to have been investigated. The frequent damage to Shell’s infrastructure in recent years was said to be due to people at-

tempting to steal oil, or deliberate sabotage. The company, it would be recalled, awarded in July 2013, $84.5 million exploration and production contract for the Trans-Niger oil pipeline to Kaztec engineering Limited. On March 25, 2014, Shell Nigeria declared

a force majeure on crude oil exports from its Forcados crude oil depot, which stopped operations due to a leak in its underwater pipeline, a clause freeing the company from contractual obligations, as a circumstance beyond its control happened. While it struggled

repairing the pipeline, Royal Dutch Shell announced a force majeure on Nigerian crude oil exports. The Trans Niger pipeline transports about 150,000 b/d of crude to the Bonny oil export terminal in Nigeria’s southern Rivers State.

L-R: Eddy Udoema, Corporate Communications Department of Jaiz Bank Plc; Chief Risk Officer, Rahman Tauhidur; Head, Retail Banking, Potiskum Musa Mohammed; Managing Director, Islam Muhammad Nurul; Aircraft Engineer, Kurt Tanzer; General Manager, Aviation Resource Services Limited, Tanko Yakubu and Deputy Risk Officer, Jaiz Bank, Abdullahi Usman, at the inspection of an aircraft financed by Jaiz Bank at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

$21.5m simulators’ll help aviation devt CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 3 1

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

they had passion to put more things in place, adding that they wanted to have runway lighting and instrument landing system so that they could do their training at NCAT, in Zaria. “We need more aircraft equipment, both the single, the twin engine. We are thinking of having Boeing 737 simulator so that instead of airline operators sending their students abroad to do basic and refresher training it could be done here in Nigeria,” she said. “We have the desire to embark on the helicopter training we talked about. We have acquired the 3D visual tower, we are thinking of also acquiring 370 visual towers. “We are also thinking of having our own radar. We want to have similar equipment so that we can readily receive NAMA’s personnel and train them. We need a lot of such equipment so that we can fulfill our statutory roles”, she added.

Mobile ID unlocks digital service delivery for govts CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

for public service policy makers tasked with developing digital strategies to enhance social welfare, establish fairer government and accelerate economic growth. It provides detailed insights on the benefits that the mobile industry can bring for government and citizens alike through the creation of a trusted framework that delivers privacy by design, alongside security and convenience for users. Commenting on the report, Chairman of the Board of the Secure Identity Alliance, Mr Frédéric Trojani, said: “Governments around the world are already using mobile technology as a key enabler to deliver interoperable digital identity services that make it possible for citizens, governments, consumers and businesses to interact in a private, trusted and secure environment.” Also, Head of Personal Data, GSMA, Marie Austenaa, said that mobile digital identity reduces the risk of identity theft and simplifies the login experience for citi-

zens to a range of services such as healthcare, government and banking while respecting their privacy. “With a mobile identity framework in play, governments are able to give citizens direct access to services via a mobile device and can move government services into the electronic realm. It also opens the way for the mass adoption of a whole range of digital services, including banking, personal health and education services,” he said. According to the report, as citizens in the developed world engage with an evergrowing number of government and private sector organisations online, the multiplication of identities and the weak security offered by conventional password and user name approaches has opened the door to growing levels of identity theft and fraud. The report further stated that in the developing world, governments are looking to highly effective ‘mobile identity’-based strategies to protect the vulnerable while simultaneously enabling se-

cure universal access to a range of government gateway services that maximize participation and opportunity for all. Meanwhile, case reviews within the report illustrate how governments around the world are leveraging mobile identity initiatives to assure secure and convenient identity authentication for citizens such as tackling identity theft and fraud, stimulating economies locally and more broadly, paving the way to faster and more convenient cross-border participation in the global economy for businesses. Trojani said: “As digital identities proliferate, it’s time for a new approach and this joint report highlights how governments can enhance security provision and accelerate eService adoption to the benefit of all. “With a trusted digital framework in place, governments in both the developed and developing worlds are able to usher in a new era of secure and convenient transactional possibilities for all – even hard-to-reach members of society.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

SME operators laud BoI on funding, capacity building p.35

Industry

Industrial materials top Nigeria’s import list p.35

Stakeholders brainstorm on auto industry revival SUMMIT The confab will chart a new path for the industry Stories by Dele Alao

takeholders in the automobile industry are meeting today to brainstorm on resuscitating the industry. It was learnt that the meeting being organised by the Automobile & Allied Products sectorial group of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), holds at the

LCCI Conference & Exhibition Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. The event, which has as theme: “Resuscitating the Nigerian automotive industry: Getting it right,’’ has the Managing Director, Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN), Mr Ibrahim Boyi, as guest speaker. It will be recalled that Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, in Abuja, restated Federal Government’s commitment to restore the declining fortunes of automobile manufacturing and assemblage in the country. Sambo, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the

16th Abuja International Motor Fair, said that the Federal Government would continue to support the local automobile industry. The vice president, who was represented by the Minister of State, FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, said that the country needed to transit from automobile consumption to production. “To achieve this goal, it is my belief that all hands must be on the deck. Our achievements in sports and success in the fight against the Ebola Virus Disease are great testaments to what we can accomplish if we work together,” he said.

Before the launch of the new auto policy months ago, available records from the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, show that in 2012, a total of 400,000 vehicles (300,000 used and 100,000 new) valued at N550 billion ($3.451 billion) were imported into Nigeria. On the policy, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, had said that the new auto policy would chart a new path for the automobile industry in par-

ticular and industrial growth and development of the economy in general. “In particular, the policy will rejuvenate the automobile industry with a positive spinoff on creating employment opportunities for teeming unemployed Nigerians. The local manufacturing/assembly of vehicles will also stimulate and encourage the production and supply (as against the usual importation) of local inputs, parts and components required in the automobile industry and related sectors of the economy, thereby adding value to the industrial chain,” he said.

FG’s sugar master plan attracts $3.3bn investments

inister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, has said that government’s new sugar master plan has attracted over N500 billion (about $3.3 billion) private sector investments. Aganga explained at the 2014 Sugar Forum in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, that the investments were in 11 states of the country. The states are Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Adamawa, Kogi, Taraba, Jigawa, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto. The minister noted that within two years of the implementation of the sugar master plan, sugar prices had nosedived to an all-time low, while refining sugar capacity utilisation had moved up from 60 per

cent to 75 per cent. The minister listed the interventions in the sugar sector by government to include trade instruments, which give domestic products access to the local markets and the N2 billion (about $13 million) Agricultural and Infrastructure Support Fund set aside at the Bank of Agriculture for investors in government’s Backward Integration programme. Aganga said that government also created a N10 billion (about $6.6 milliom) funding pool, managed by the Bank of Industry (BOI), with a N5 billion (about $3.3 million) matching fund by the National Sugar Development Council, among other intervention measures.

MANCAP: SON to shut erring firm

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has warned manufacturers against non-compliance with the required product certification under its Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP). SON said it will not fail to close down any defaulting company. SON instituted MANCAP in 2006 as a standard measure, which requires all manufactured products in Nigeria to conform to the relevant Nigeria Industrial Standards prior to sales in the country or export. SON’s Director-General, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, who gave this warning in Abuja during the flag-off of “The Walk for Standards,” a road show programme to mark the 2014 World Standards Day, noted that the organ-

isation has already commenced full implementation of MANCAP through its offices nationwide. “I wish to use the occasion of World Standard Day 2014 to urge all local manufacturers and assemblies to cooperate in getting their products certified. The process is designed to assist them implement the requirements of relevant standards from raw materials to the finished products with a view to offering quality products that offer value for money to consumers.” Represented by Mr Nelson Adebiyi, Director (Operations), Odumodu, said that the MANCAP certification would also ensure that locally manufactured products are subjected to similar conCONTINUED ON PAGE 34

L-R: Chairperson, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa; Executive Vice Chairman, Techno Oil Limited, Mrs Nkechi Obi; Managing Director, GFR Educational Services, Mrs Sarah Sosan; Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals, Ogun State, Mrs Hafsat Abiola-Costello; Partner, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Mrs Omobolanle Adekoya, during the LCCI maiden Women Conference in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

MAN group moves against parallel body DIVISION Discordant tunes among players in the ethanol and wine industry

group under the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Ethanol Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (EMAN) has objected to the registration bid at Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) by Wines Marketers and Producers Association of Nigeria (WMPAN). This, the group said, is an attempt to set up a parallel body in the sector. The group, in a statement by its solicitors, Messers Ajibola Morebise & Co. stated that the Ethanol Manufacturers Associations is the recognised registered

representative of all alcoholic beverage manufacturers and producers in Nigeria, which has been duly registered with the CAC. It will be recalled that the Spirits and Wines ‘Producers’ and Marketers Association of Nigeria had, a month ago, approached the Corporate Affairs Commission seeking registration as an umbrella association of wines marketers and the group had in a paid advertorial stated its aim as providing industry collaboration that will drive and influence appropriate enabling environment in Nigeria for the importation, marketing, distribution and sale of spirits and wines in Nigeria. It, however, urged members of the public with any objection to its application to forward such to the Registrar-General of CAC within 28 days of publication.

Consequently, the Ethanol Manufacturers Associations of Nigeria had risen in protest stating that the use of the word ‘producers’ in the name and objects of the said association is fraudulent and misleading. The association which does not see any justification for another appellate group that are merely importers of wines insisted that it has never failed in representing the interest of all genuine registered members of wines and spirits manufacturers in the country. Counsel to the group, in a petition to CAC, said that the registered objectives of the organisation, among others, include “Bringing all Distillers and Blenders within the Nigerian business community together with a view to constantly evaluate and discuss matters of common interest.”

Business | Industry

INNOVATION FIIRO offers new platform for job creation Stories by Dele Alao

he Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) has said that the institute has the capacity to technically create about 250,000 direct jobs through its on-going techno-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FIIRO to create 250,000 jobs investment programme. Its Director-General, Mrs Gloria Elemo, who made this known in Lagos, said that the institute in its bid to deliver its mandate to create employment opportunities and reverse the rate of worsening unemployment, organised an investment and technology week. “The overall aim of the pro-

gramme is to showcase the institute’s 250 R&D outputs suitable for investment by small, medium and even large scale entrepreneurs to enhance job creation. The programme would generate not less than 250,000 jobs for the youths especially, and those who are willing to take up jobs in the area of locally generated tech-

nology,” Elemo said. She added that a booklaunch, which would include a guide to the utilisation of FIIRO researched raw materials where each local government in the country has comparative advantage, is in the offing. The DG said: “The book would be a major contributor to the projected 250,000 jobs because beneficiaries of the FIIRO free training on food and industrial technology would be present at the event.” She added that the beneficiaries of the national technoentrepreneurs initiative by

FIIRO was targeted at training 2,000 unemployed youths yearly from the 774 local governments in the country. Mrs Elemo noted that the FIIRO technology transfer training programme, which is a newly-constructed pavilion of 10 complete sets of technology transfer training equipment, would be launched at the event. She, however, lamented that enough funds were not been channelled towards research in science and technology, which could enhance job creation through local manufacturing.

Tobacco: BAT advises on balanced regulation

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Europe Business Assembly, United Kingdom, Prof. John Netting; PathCare Representative, Bose Oladehinde and Executive Director, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group/President, International Club of Leaders, United Kingdom, Paul Briggs, at the presentation of Best Enterprise Achievement 2014 Award to PathCare Laboratories, at the Europe Business Assembly (EBA) in the United Kingdom.

SON to shut erring companies CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 3 3

formity processes similar to SONCAP, which is used for imported goods. He said this is to create a level playing field stated in the theme of the 2014 World Standard Day celebration. He warned organisations that SON would not hesitate to shut down any firm that fails to comply. “When we identify such defaulters, we close them down immediately. Once we confirm that the products are not up to the requirement of the standard, or the specification, we close them down immediately. If they are the cooperative types, we work with them; tell them what to do until they get it right. But if they are the ones that will want to remain recalcitrant, the law of the nation will deal with them,” Odumodu said. He stated that SON had closed down some companies whose products posed health hazards to consumers, adding that the companies will only be reopened when they conform to MANCAP. Meanwhile, Secretary General, Inter-

national Chamber of Commerce (ICC), John Danilovich, has said that international business leaders are determined to work programme to combat piracy and counterfeiting. Danilovich presided over a meeting of the Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) Steering Committee recently. The meeting was held at the Unilever Headquarters in London. BASCAP member companies, comprising intellectual property (IP) rights holders from the food, electronics, personal care, clothing, tobacco products, movie, music and software industries outlined their work plan for 2015, during the meeting. The group committed to engage with national governments to elevate efforts to strengthen IP enforcement regimes though the production of country reports highlighting the value of IP, raising awareness of the economic and social risks stemming from counterfeiting and piracy and by promoting recommendations for improving IP enforcement.

Symrise partners Nigerian local market Flora Onwudiwe

he Symrise Group has said that it is set to understand conditions of local markets, consumers and expanding its businesses. In attendance at the official launch of Symrise’s legal entity at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, were South African Consul-General, Ambassador Mokgethi Samuel Monaisa and members of the

Symrise executive board. The Consul-General, Lagos, Mr Michael Derus, who represented the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, said that the Ministry of Commerce in Germany was in the country to do business with the local markets. “We are making it official for people to know our mission. Nigeria is a good CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

he British American Tobacco, Nigeria, has called on lawmakers and other industry stakeholders to work towards better and balanced regulation of the tobacco industry for the benefit of all stakeholders. According to the tobacco firm, this could only be achieved if the bill on regulating the tobacco industry currently being debated by the National Assembly takes into consideration the views of stakeholders and the ultimate wellbeing of the society. Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, BAT West Africa, Freddy Messanvi, at the sidelines of the Tobacco Control Bill Public Hearing held recently, noted that balanced tobacco legislation would ensure that the longterm wellbeing of the society is sustained. He said: “The health of the society as well as the economic impact of any regulation should be the focus as the Senators consider the tobacco regulation bill.” He added that “a legitimate tobacco industry that is well regulated has more benefits than one that is left in the hands of people who have little or no stake in the country. An overly stringent legislation that hamstrings legitimate producers from operating in the country will only lead to opening up the country to cigarettes not produced in Nigeria.” Such a scenario, Messanvi said, has dire consequences since the quality of tobacco products will be compromised, with an attendant fall in government revenue and increase in the rate of smuggling. “We are unabashedly protective of the industry because it is not only about the cigarettes that we see, but also about economic development engendered by legitimate businesses such as BAT and its entire industry chain which includes farmers and retailers, among others,” he said. He insisted that very stringent regulations will make production in Nigeria unattractive.

“Although demand for cigarettes will not abate, this will however be met by imported cigarettes. Jobs will be outsourced and the market made more attractive for smugglers,” he added. Meanwhile, Oyo State government has asked the upper legislative chamber, the Senate, not to contemplate the prohibition of production of tobacco in the country. The government said that such measure would not only be counterproductive but its economic effect would be unimaginable. Director of Public Prosecution, Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Mr Tajudeen Abdul Ganiyu, who made the appeal at a Public Hearing on a Bill for an Act to repeal the Tobacco (Control) Act 1990, called for the harmonisation of the National Tobacco Control Bill 2012 (Senate Bill) and 2014 (Executive Bill). The Bill is specifically for an Act to repeal the Tobacco (Control) Act 1990 and enact the Tobacco Products Regulation and Control Bill, 2014 to provide for the regulation and control of production, manufacture, sale, advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco or tobacco products in Nigeria and for other related matters. “We are looking at a situation whereby the Bill will put the industry out of business. “Such action will throw the workers in the industry out of employment. We are going to suffer the immediate result of people being thrown out of jobs as it is going to increase the crime rate in our state. “We are also concerned about the area of partnership between the state government and British America Tobacco Nigeria (BATN),” Abdul Ganiyu said. He added: “The company has been helping the Oyo people by empowering them by setting up small entrepreneurs throughout the state. We have the tobacco farmers who are also being empowered too by the tobacco firm. We therefore appeal that nothing should be done to put the people working in the industry out of job.”

Business | Industry

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

SME operators laud BoI on funding, capacity building TESTIMONY Innoson Group enjoys four facilities Stories by Dele Alao

perators of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have commended the Bank of Industry (BoI) for its contributions to their success stories especially in the area of funding and capacity building. While receiving an Award of Integrity, Executive Chair-

man, Innoson Group, Chief lnnocent Chukwuma, narrated how the bank gave him a boost, which helped his business to employ 7,200 workers from its initial 25. The Innoson Group boss, who confirmed enjoying the bank’s facilities on three different occasions, said: “In 2010, the company accessed a fourth facility for its diversification into automobile assembling plant with the plastic arm producing almost all plastic components of vehicles. To date, the company has enjoyed four facilities from BOI and has been able

to maintain good debt service record on all the facilities, making us to employ over 700 direct staff and 2,000 indirect workers.” Also, the Managing Director of Nigeria Aluminium Limited, Mr Iyiola Ishola, said that the long-standing relationship his firm has with BOI since 2005 has paid off with the growth in earnings per share of the company’s customers. Chairman, Rumbu Sacks Nigeria Limited, Mr Ibrahim Salisu Buhari, who commended the single digit interest rate given to manufacturers, said

that the company grew from the scratch 15 years ago to become the biggest producer of woven sacks and mats. “BOI improved our operations to the extent that we have been able to achieve an evolution of our production process from manual to advanced automation. Similarly, our company has been able to increase its workers from 231 in 2001 to 1,163 in direct and indirect employees,” he said. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BoI, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, said that the bank has established a hall of fame for 10 compa-

nies, who repaid their loans on schedule. The 10 companies, he said, demonstrated a high level of integrity in their dealings with the bank and fully repaid loans granted them by the bank as and when due. He said: “These companies obtained long-term credit facilities from BOI at least twice and they fully repaid the loans as and when due. They have proven that integrity is not a function of size or of the business environment. They have shown considerable honour and character that we commend and applaud.”

Industrial materials top Nigeria’s import list

recent data obtained from Trading Economics listed light bulbs and computer papers among other industrial supplies as the highest on the list of Nigeria’s import profile. According to Trading Economics, industrial materials such as computer paper, light bulbs, lubrication oil, cleaning supplies and office supplies have a total of 32 per cent. “Industrial supplies are frequently purchased expense items. They contribute indirectly to the production of final products or to the administration of the production process,” it said, adding that capital goods come next on the list with 24 per cent. “Capital goods are any tangible assets that an organisation uses to produce goods or services such as office buildings, equipment and machinery. Consumer goods are the end result of this production process. Transport equipment and parts come next on the list with 23 per cent. This category of imported goods has been on the rise L-R: Corporate Communication and Public Affair Manager, Nestle Nig. Plc, Dr. Samuel Adenekan; Category Manager, Nutrition, Nestle Nig. Plc, in Nigeria recently with the introduction of the Dr. Rizwan Yousuf; Guest Speaker, Dr. Omobolanle Shobamimu; National Field Operation Manager, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dr. Atuchukwu Obiojiorfor country’s auto policy. Food and beverages make and guest speaker, Prof. Teniye Edamisan, during the Scientific Symposium on preventing iron deficiency in Nigeria, in Lagos. up 11 per cent of the country’s imported goods,” PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE Trading Economics said. Nigeria’s import partners are: China, which exports 17 per cent of Nigeria’s current import needs; Albania, meeting 11.3 per cent of current needs; United States, making up 7.5 per cent. France and Belgium also export substantially to Nigeria. Ghana, Nigeria’s nearest economic rival in the West African sub-region in order of importance imports mostly industrial supplies, rrangements have been cesses in the Micro, Small and and learn from business success capital and consumer goods and foodstuffs also. concluded for a nation- Medium Enterprises (MSME) stories; facilitating the adoption Its main imports partners are China, United al summit on entrepre- sector, adding that it would also of appropriate technology to States, Belgium, United Kingdom and France. neurship and innovation. assist in helping to bridge the drive development in the SME According to the African gap between policy makers and sector; creating opportunity for Centre for Business Develop- investors on the one part and be- the celebration of successes (by ment Strategy and Innovation, tween entrepreneurial aspira- government and private sector organisers of the event, the tions and market opportunities organizations), and realign to CONT INU E D FROM PAGE 34 summit, with a central theme: on the other, in Nigeria; creating confront current and future place to trade and we do not have any cause to ‘Entrepreneurship, job cre- a forum that will facilitate pol- challenges; as well as promoting ation and poverty reduction,” icy communication, adoption innovation and challenge young regret since three decades that the company is scheduled to hold in Lagos and refinement; and Contribute Nigerians to greater creativity. has existed in Nigeria,” he said. “There is the urgent need to next month. to the development of MSMEs He however pointed out major challenges afChairman of the Centre, in Nigeria; as well as creating conscientiously transform the fecting local markets as infrastructure and poor Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, said opportunity for entrepreneurs structure of Nigeria’s economy supply of electricity and advised the Federal Govthat the event would bring to- to access information (particu- by propelling positive industrial ernment to pay more attention to those areas. gether policy makers, finan- larly financing and market in- trends through growth in the On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) cial intermediaries, industry formation) that can help them small and medium scale indusof Symrise, Dr. Heinz-Jurgen Bertram, said: “With leaders, business promoters, grow their businesses and make trial group, and eventually in about 175 million inhabitants, abundant mineral business researchers, profes- a difference in the bottom line. the large scale manufacturing and natural resources, Nigeria has the potential to Other objectives of the sum- sector. This can be achieved only sionals, and budding entreprebecome one of the top 10 economies in the world. neurs in Nigeria and the West mit, he said, include helping through strategic partnership Already today, the country is Africa’s largest African sub-region to network to create an opportunity for among key stakeholders – goveconomy and one of the fastest growing on the and share ideas, question para- networking among entrepre- ernments (and their agencies) continent and seen as gateway to West Africa.” digms, challenge status quo and neurs, and thus stimulate the and well-meaning private sector He added: “Symrise has successfully grown its generate creative solutions to formation of strategic alliances, organisations and individuals, representation in Nigeria for over three decades through our long standing agent, Allied Technol. contemporary issues revolving partnership and collaborations particularly innovative service Symrise is known as a company with a long term around the use of entrepreneur- that will further strengthen or- providers, towards strong, conset of goals.” ship and innovation to stimulate ganizations and increase their sistent and carefully structured According to him, the company’s presence in economic renaissance. success potentials; creating op- awareness creation; mobilizaHe said that the key objective portunity for business mentor- tion/stimulation of entrepreNigerian market has made great impact in the of the summit was to stimulate ship, and for budding/aspiring neurial interests; enhanced acareas of Scent & Care and Flavour & Nutrition and facilitate growth and suc- entrepreneurs to interact with cess to Venture Capital.” for close to 30 years.

Summit on entrepreneurship, innovation underway A

Symrise partners Nigeria

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

ICT

Identity: Experts seek review of NIMC Act p.38

Hope rises for Nigeria’s tech start-ups p.39

GITEX 2014: NITDA seeks increased FDIs The quest to drive increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs) into the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry formed the fulcrum of the country’s participation at this year’s edition of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, writes KUNLE AZEEZ

ith investment inflows into the nation’s Information and Communication Technology industry, both local and Foreign Direct Investment (FDIs), totaling over $32 billion as at the end of July, 2014, Nigerian government has further demonstrated its resolve to advance the course of attracting further investment into the industry. It is instructive, therefore, that the quest for a robust ICT sector was fully displayed with passion at the 2014 edition of GITEX held beUnited Arab Emirate. At the event which had Nigeria as its official country partner, through an impressive representation by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria mounted a global podium to discuss the country’s ICT investment potentials to foreign investors and exhibitors, who were eager to tap into the business opportunities presented by the largest economy on the African content. As the official country partner and in a year that the continent’s most populous country of 175 million people has out-paced South Africa to become the biggest economy in Africa, Nigeria, indeed, headlined the major themes in the GITEX 2014 to attract positive international interest to its burgeoning ICT sector. Capital flight One of the issue that Nigeria brought to the fore at the technology show was its reservation to the volume of capital flight being recorded in the nation’s ICT industry and a determination to change the trend. Despite the huge investment in the nation’s ICT sector, NITDA told the global investors that the country currently loses $2 billion (about N320 billion) yearly to the importation of all sorts of hardware and services by businesses and government institutions, a development the agency insisted was set to change by encouraging local content. Addressing a large audience dur-

Mrs Omobola Johnson, Minister of CommTech

ing the ‘Nigeria Investment Forum’ at the GITEX 2014 in a presentation entitled “Investment Opportunities in the Nigerian ICT sector,’ a consultant to the Federal Government, Mr Amstrong Katang, lamented that the Nigerian economy today mostly relies on ICT imports. He called on the investors to come to Nigeria to invest, saying that the country had put in place sound regulatory environment to protect their investment and support local content-centric investment from the investment community. He said: “With an estimated population of 170 million, Nigeria today is the seventh largest country in the world and the largest in Africa with 42 per cent of its population below 15 years. Also, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has grown at close to seven per cent over the past five years. “Nigeria is also Africa’s largest economy after the recent rebasing exercise to $509.9 billion in 2013 from $269.5 billion. Nigeria’s consumer class is growing at approximately 23 per cent of population in 2012 while the country has had 106 active infrastructure projects valued at $100 billion in 2012.” With regards to development in the ICT industry, Katang said: “About 800,000 PCs are shipped into the country annually but available market is about three million,” meaning there is a demand gap of 2.2 million in the country that can be tapped into by investors. Also, Katang said that about $2 billion (N320 billion) of IT products and services are imported annually while export is just about $5 million. “Yet, Nigeria has a vision to be the ICT hub of Africa; however, we are having huge internet bandwidth capacity suiting on our shores in Lagos without impressive last-mile connectivity.” He also explained that “about 100 per cent of our smartcards are imported and you can imagine how huge the returns will be if an in-

Local firms’ participation A number of players in the nation’s ICT industry also used the opportunity presented by GITEX to mount their stands on the Nigerian Pavilion, where they showcased local technological innovations to foreign investors and exhibitors. The Nigerian exhibitors include Mobile Knowledge Solutions and Cinfores, two companies that offer e-learning solutions that can also be exported out of the country. Others are Data Sciences, Precise Financial System (PFS); Singal Alliance; Rivers State University, AdPlus360, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the Nigerian Communications Commission and Nigeria Communication Satellite, among others.

Jack

vestor comes into Nigeria to start manufacturing smartcards locally. The total payments in the country annually are $695 billion, but 90 per cent of the transactions is done through cash, presenting another opportunity for the investors to play in the e-payment sector.” According to him, “all these scenarios in Nigeria present huge opportunity for investors to leverage the good policies being put in place by Nigeria to provide a ‘winwin’ situation between them and the Nigerian government and local players.”

Nigeria’s active participation at GITEX 2014, no doubt, have far-reaching positive impacts on the investment inflow into the country in the coming years to boost the country’s current FDIs significantly beyond $32 billion

Good investment climate Stressing what government had done to make the environment investor-friendly, the Director General of NITDA, Mr Peter Jack, stated that Nigeria had formulated specific policies and enacted legislations relating to the development of the ICT sector which include the creation of a harmonised National ICT Policy; development of the National Broadband Plan 2013-2018 and development of the Guidelines for Nigerian Content in ICT, among others. While calling on potential investors to take advantage of the huge potential presented by Nigeria, Jack maintained that Africa was already positioning for the growth story in the global ICT industry, expressing that government was working to ensure that Nigeria’s business environment is investorfriendly, even as he disclosed that NITDA was already in talks with governments of Kenya, Indian and Dubai, among others. In his own presentation to the investors, the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones (NEPZA), Mr Gbenga Kuye, assured the investors of good operating environment, telling them that “if you miss investing in Nigeria today, you will have yourself to blame because Nigeria is the next investment destination in the continent.”

Expectations New Telegraph noted that Nigeria’s participation at this year’s GITEX marked the second year since Nigeria premiered its presence by setting up the Nigerian Pavilion, promoted by NITDA, to discuss investment potential in the country’s ICT industry to global investors. Speaking at the event, NITDA DG said that Nigeria used its second participation at the event to further leverage on the global exposure presented by GITEX to spotlight its local software industry and other sub-IT sectors, stressing that this informed why Nigeria had occupied the centre of activities at the five-day event as GITEX Official Country Partner. “Specifically, we used the ‘Nigeria Investment Forum,’ a major event planned to attract global IT investment into the country,” he said, noting that the outcome of Nigeria’s active participation at GITEX 2014, no doubt, have farreaching positive impacts on the investment inflow into the country in the coming years to boost the country’s current FDIs significantly beyond $32 billion. “We also believe that being a GITEX Official Country Partner would, among others, enable Nigeria to increase its brand presence on a global scale where over 140,000 trade visitors have been presented with the potential opportunities that abound in the nation’s ICT sector,” he said. Jack explained that it was also hoped that the sterling participation would help in breaking down the perception of the risks associated with working in “Nigeria’s flourishing but often misrepresented technology sector.” Through the investment forum, Jack said that “Africa’s most populated country of over 170 million would also win the interests of investors for its various in-country projects to increase its FDI and open up channels of dialogue between NITDA and other similar government bodies from Africa, Europe and the Middle East.”

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

FG hinges Vision 20:2020 on proper ICT application RELEVANCE ICT sector is an enabler of the Nigerian economy Stories by Kunle Azeez

he Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, has said that the proper application of Information and Communication Technology tools to drive all sectors

of the economy will help in fast-tracking Nigeria’s attainment of its Vision 20:2020. The auspicious Vision aims to position Nigeria as one of the 20 most industralised economies by the year 2020. Speaking at a presentation, Johnson said already the Nigerian ICT sector had proven to be a crucial sector that has added value to the Nigerian economy in a myriad of ways. According to her, ICT sectorial contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product

Women ICT empowerment: ITU recognises Nigeria GAP There is underrepresentation of women and girls in ICTs

lobal body for telecommunications regulation, the Information Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recognised Nigeria for initiating policies and programmes empowering women and girls via Information and Communication Technologies. The recognition came the way of Nigeria as it emerged winner in the 7th category of the GEMTECH award initiative put together by the ITU and United Nations Women at the 2014 ITU Plenipotentiary in Busan, South Korea. Nigeria was amongst the 360 nominations received from over 74 countries across the globe featured in the maiden edition of the joint ITU and UN Women award. The purpose of the GEMTECH Award initiative is to recognise and honour outstanding performers and role models in gender equality and mainstreaming in the area of ICTs. The Federal Ministry of Communication Technology was amongst 37 finalists selected from 360 nominations from 74 countries and went on to win the award in the 7th category of “ICT and Broadband strategies, policies and frameworks that promote women’s digital empowerment.” Announcing Nigeria as a winner in the 7th category at the event, the Secretary General of the ITU, Dr HamadounToure, commended Nigeria and the ministry, in particular, for initiating positive policies and programmes that are changing the lives of women and girls in Nigeria through ICT. In her remarks after receiving the Award on behalf of Nigeria, Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, described the award as an important recognition and validation of the efforts of President Goodluck Jonatahn’s administration on gender inclusion and empow-

erment facilitated by information and communication technologies. She said with the underrepresentation of women and girls in ICTs, especially in emerging economies such as Nigeria and the growing importance of ICTs for national socio economic development, closing the digital divide had now become a development priority for Nigeria. Noting the contribution of ICTs to socio-economic development and various statistics that illustrate the under-representation of women and girls in ICTs across the world, most especially in developing economies, Johnson emphasised that closing the digital divide had become a development priority for Nigeria in order to promote inclusive development. “We are committed to getting more women and girls into ICTs. We want to ensure that Nigerian women and girls are encouraged and empowered to embrace ICTs. It is critical to get our girls to adopt ICTs so that they are not left behind in the digital revolution changing communities and nations across the globe,” she said. Various global reports and statistics reveal that women and girls are grossly underrepresented in the field of ICTs. According to the ITU, in developing countries, 16 per cent fewer women than men use the Internet, compared with only two per cent fewer women than men in the developed world. The Broadband Commission Working Group on Broadband and Gender in a report in 2013 entitled, ‘Doubling Digital Opportunities: Enhancing the inclusion of women and girls in the information society’ lamented the pervasive gap in access to ICTs globally. According to the report, there are currently 200 million fewer women online than men, and this yawning gap could grow to 350 million in three years. The report also revealed that globally women were coming online later and more slowly than men. Out of the world’s 2.8 billion Internet users, only 1.3 billion are women.

(GDP) has increased to 10.44 per cent as at 2013 while investments into Nigeria’s ICT sector have risen to $32 billion, positioning the sector as the fourth largest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP. “The Nigerian telecoms industry is one of the fastest growing telecoms industries in the world and one of the largest in Africa. Active telecoms subscriptions rose from 88 million in 2010 to 130 million in 2014, active internet subscriptions currently stand at 70, 477, 251, while the teledensity ratio increased from 63 per cent in 2010 to 93.41 per cent in July 2014,” she said. She also stated that the Ministry of Communication Technology, since its creation in 2011, had consistently worked in line with its mandate to leverage ICTs to facilitate the

transformation of Nigeria to a digitalised economy. “Today, the ministry has created policies and piloted programmes that are positively impacting Nigeria’s economy. Also, a National Broadband Strategy and Roadmap Plan that will facilitate Nigeria’s vision of being amongst the top 20 world economies by 2020 as contained in the Vision 20:2020 in Nigeria has been developed and is being implemented. “The ministry has also developed a National ICT policy to drive the digitisation agenda of the Federal Government. Local content guidelines that will enable Nigerians participate in the ICT industry to achieve a target of 50 per cent local content in the ICT industry has also been launched by the ministry,” she said. The minister has also stated

that several initiatives that will aid the digitisation of the Nigerian economy such as digital jobs/Microwork job creation scheme, women and girls empowerment via ICT initiatives among others, have been launched by the ministry. “Software development is being aggressively promoted and the ministry in partnership with the private sector has launched a number of initiatives that will accelerate software development. Focusing on policies that seek to transform Nigerian youths is a deliberate step that is yielding positive results. “Our software development initiatives such as IDEA and Techlaunpad are adding value and building a young generation of software entrepreneurs that will add positive impact to Nigeria’s development.”

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Linksoft Communications Systems Limited, Mr Valentine Anozia; General Counsel and Secretary, Legal Services, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Ms Ima Okpongete and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Government Research Leadership Technology, Amb. Moses Essien, during the annual lecture and award programme of the institute held in Abuja.

e-commerce: Firm targets N240bn sales with Nigeria launch

social marketplace in Nigeria and Africa, MoboFree.com, said it was targeting to leverage Nigeria’s bourgeoning population to formally launch its presence in Lagos. It said the move would boost its sales revenue to $1.5 (about N240 billion) by the end of 2015. The company’s plan to open office in Nigeria is informed by the increased number of registered members being recorded on the platform from Nigeria on a daily basis. With over three million registered users, including 2.2 million in Nigeria and a strong footprint in Zimbabwe, Uganda and Ghana, MoboFree.com is said to be among the largest and most successful mobile social and trusted classifieds platforms in Africa. MoboFree combines a so-

cial network and board of classifieds to create a platform where buyers and sellers can meet, place their ads, negotiate and make transactions safely and totally for free. In a statement, the MoboFree said its technological platform makes buying and selling online easy for any user with any device, not only for PCs and smartphones but also for old phones with small screens also known as feature phones. Commenting, co-founder and Chairman of the board of MoboFree, Mr Cristobal Alonso, said: “We are excited to be able to provide on-ground support to our growing customer base in Nigeria and to create locally adapted and customised opportunities that will deliver and exceed desired returns.” A few months ago, the com-

pany reported that Nigerians were selling unused items worth $526 million on MoboFree.com and shared expectations that the total volume of items for sale in its marketplace would likely reach $ 1.5 billion (about N240 billion) by 2015. The company said, in view of this potential, establishing a local presence in Lagos is a natural next step in order to ensure more effective operations and achieve targets. MoboFree.com is a leading African social marketplace allowing people to buy, sell and swap products and services with other trusted people. MoboFree users generate an average of 60 million page impressions monthly and upload thousands of new classifieds daily. The platform sees 3,000 new registered members added every day.

Business | ICT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Identity: Experts seek review of NIMC Act OPPOSITION Stakeholders are against the ongoing moves by FG to ensure harmonisation of all biometric data Stories by Kunle Azeez

o tackle Nigeria’s lingering identity management challenge, experts at the 2014 Annual Lecture of the Char-

tered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) have called for the review of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act, which promotes centralisation in place of multi-layered identity assurance scheme. Centralisation, in the views of experts drawn from technology, banking, insurance and the academia, is the albatross of Nigeria’s dithering identity management programme. Describing Nigeria’s failure at citizen identity assurance

as frustrating, Chief Joseph Sanusi, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said “Establishing a national database and identifying the Nigerian has been on the front burner as far as 20 years ago. It is embarrassing that we have not reached that stage. All other countries have gotten it done.” Also, delivering a keynote address at the forum, the Managing Director of Chams Plc and identity management pioneer in the country, Sir Demo-

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Mobile Knowledge Solutions Limited, Mr Ibrahim Yusuf and Head, Marketing, Mr Patrick Ubong showcasing the company’s products at the just-concluded 2014 GITEX Technology Week in Dubai.

Etisalat records 18% growth

ne of Nigeria’s telecommunications companies, Etisalat, has said it has recorded a growth rate of over 18 per cent since January 2014, with its active subscriber base rising to 20 million from 17 million as at December 2013. The Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr Matthew Willsher, who said this in a statement made available to New Telegraph this week, described the growth as a significant milestone. He also attributed the growth to the dedication of staff at the company and the responsiveness of Nigerians to Etisalat’s innovative products. “I must emphasize that the remarkable growth we have recorded is a direct result of two factors - the commitment of our staff, who serve as a vital link in the chain which drives our operations, and the loyalty and warmth of our millions of subscribers. We can only respond to them by constantly improving our products and service delivery,” Willsher noted. According to him, in just six years of operations, Etisalat has become a major industry player despite the highly competitive nature

of the Nigerian telecoms market. “The company has introduced a wide variety of innovative and unparalleled products and services such as the first-of-its-kind educational tool in the youth market, Cliqlite; the first loyalty proposition in the Nigerian telecommunication industry, Etisalat GEM and the new

state of the art Gold Series and Flagship Experience Centres. The company also has a sterling reputation for customer service and is the only telecoms operator in Nigeria that continually exceeds all the quality benchmarks set by the industry regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

BlackBerry Passport berths in Nigeria

lackBerry Limited, a global leader in mobile communications, has introduced the BlackBerry Passport, a new device purposebuilt for productivity in the Nigerian mobile market. The phone manufacturer said that the device was built with a boundary-breaking design that challenged the status quo. Featuring a large square touch screen, new QWERTY touch-enabled keyboard and BlackBerry’s latest 10.3 OS, the BlackBerry Passport gives users a wider vision to do mobile business without compromising portability. Speaking at the official launch in Lagos this week, Territory Director, West Africa, Blackberry, Mr Charles Asinugo, said, “The

BlackBerry Passport encourages productivity with a 4.5’’ square touch screen that optimises screen real estate to enable users to read 60 characters per line, whereas a typical all-touch device in portrait orientation only displays 40 characters. “When you combine this with a revolutionary touchenabled keyboard, you will be able to get more done on your smartphone, without feeling the need to turn to your PC or tablet to read and write emails, view maps, surf the Web or edit documents.” Highlighting the key features of the new device, which recommended price of N25, 000, Asinugo said it has a wider 4.5’’ square full HD screen and a pixel density of 453ppi, among others.

la Aladekomo, made a case for a multi-dimensional approach to identity management which is global best practise. “No system depends on a single point of failure such as single national database to meet all identity assurance needs. We need to cross reference several databases to be able to really ascertain who is who. No single database can do this. We need multiple databases which are integrated into the national database as obtains in other countries,” he said. Reacting to the keynote address, Director of NIMC, Dr Chris Onyemena, who was a panelist at the annual lecture, said, “It is provided in the constitution that biometric data is an exclusive legislative item. Only the Federal Government can do it. In this country, we know that some states went ahead to create their own laws to provide for residency cards.” He explained further that the federal government, after years of limited success and failures, subsequently established the Commission, vested with the authority to keep biometric information of all Nigerians and the provision for legal residence, “whether you are in the private sector or public sector. That is the position of the law.” Affirming the benefits of multi-layered approach to identity management, former Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Ibidapo Obe, urged Nigeria to

take learning from the United States, where there is a hierarchy of authority and systems in identity management to ensure that Nigeria resolves its teething national identity challenge. Obe recalled the State of Texas meeting his identity assurance needs including issuance of a driver’s licence and identity card, which, he said, would not have been impossible if identity assurance was centralised in the United States. On her part, Bank Examiner at Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission (NDIC), Mrs Rosemary Oluwanisola, said, “I agree that the issue of identity management is a constitutional issue because government should take responsibility for identifying Nigerians, but how long is it going to take government to get this done. “First quarter of the year, we were mobilised by NDIC to be part of biometric capture for the national identity scheme, today we are still waiting for the outcome of that process. But today, I have my Bank Verification Number (BVN). Let us not confuse effort for results.” Expressing disenchantment with the centralisation of biometric data for identity management, Executive Director, Cashcraft Asset Management Limited, Mr Bolaji Agbola, said, “NIMC should assume the regulatory role and free market for concessionaires to operate so that we can have the national identity card.”

Why we extended services to Port Harcourt, by Smiles

n a telecommunications market where delivery of quality services has remained a challenge, one of Nigeria’s licensed internet service providers, Smile Communications Limited , has said it will revolutionse data communications delivery for the country. Group Chief Operating Officer, Smile Communications, Mr Tom Allen, made the pledge during the launch of the company’s broadband Internet services in Port Harcourt. The Port Harcourt launch followed the successful launch of its 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) Internet services in Ibadan, Lagos and Abuja. The Port Harcourt launch, brings to an end the long wait by the people who had long been expecting the rollout to enable them join other internet users in Lagos and Ibadan to experience fast internet speed any time any day. According to Allen, through the launch, the state will, by implication, be riding on the back of valuable experiences, which Smile has garnered in the Nigerian market as well as the innovative services, which have become

synonymous with the company. Allen said he was excited about what Smile was already doing in both Ibadan and Lagos and now Port Harcourt. “Nigeria is one of the most dynamic markets in the world, and mobile broadband will continue to play a crucial role in the transformation and development of the country, and Smile is well equipped to play a significant role in the nation’s telecommunications industry,” Allen said. He assured the people of Port Harcourt that Smile’s best service delivery would remain consistent. “We have the technology, people and partners to ensure that we deliver what we promise and more. 4G LTE deployed by Smile is the most advanced global technological standard for wireless data communications and represents a major change compared to older technologies such as 3G,” Allen added. He noted that the Port Harcourt rollout was unique because the city would enjoy new services introduced by Smile from the launch day.

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

INVESTMENT New investment window opens to young Information Technology entrepreneurs Stories by Kunle Azeez

oung technology entrepreneurs in Nigeria now have the hope of building their ideas into becoming a reality with the pledge by an Information Technology investment company, Sasware, to develop technology start-ups in the country. Already, the Federal Government has commended the company at a time when the government has expressed its determination to drive investment and growth of indigenous IT companies as part of its local content policy drive. Speaking at Sasware exhibition stand at the recentlyconcluded 2014 Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GTEX) held in Dubai, where Sasware exhibited its ideas to investors, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa, commended the company for the initiative. The Federal Government delegation led by Olaopa included Nigeria Consul-General to Dubai Emirate, Dr. Akin Omotosho; Chairman of Board, Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr. TosinAjayi, and Director General of

Hope rises for Nigeria’s tech start-ups NITDA, Peter Jack. Olaopa, who represented the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, said that Sasware’s mission and activities deserved commendations, adding that the Federal Government expected the company to continue with its laudable mission for the ICT sector. He also promised to explore avenues through which the ministry would work with Sasware to further deepen support to technology start-ups in Nigeria. Sasware, the only Nigeria technology investment company present at GITEX Technology Week held in Dubai, has pledged support for the development of technology start-ups in Nigeria. According to the Founder of Sasware, Mr Collins Onuegbu, “Our primary interest is to see Nigeria grow by supporting technology and technologyenabled business initiatives in Nigeria. These we do through incubation, entrepreneurship, mentoring and venture capital investment.” Speaking further, Onuegbu informed the delegation that Sasware would need all the support and partnerships it could get from the government to expand the initiative in order to boost the economy and create more job opportunities for Nigerian youths. Jack said that NITDA was

continuously exploring ways it can to transform Nigeria through technology, saying what Sasware was doing fell within the strategy. Sasware is a technology venture subsidiary of Signal Alliance, a leading Nigerian systems integrator with over 18 years’ experience in the development of IT infrastructure for major organisations in Nigeria.

Competition is bound to increase between Androidbuilt devices in the country and Wiko brands

ncreased investment by telecoms companies in Nigeria to provide data services and the lower entry cost of purchasing devices have been identified as two factors driving uptake of smartphone in Nigeria. This was stated by the Director, International Business, Wiko, Mr Marcel Van De Per, during the official launch of Wiko brand of smartphones in Lagos. He said: “We have identified Nigeria as an emerging telecoms market and one of the fast-growing in the world and as such, we are bringing our quality brand of smartphones into the Nigerian market, where data availability and lower cost of devices is driving smartphone adoption.” Meanwhile, Van De Per said that as Europe’s fastest growing phone brand, the launch of Wiko is introducing an exciting range of phones starting a new direction in consumer experi-

ence in Nigeria. According to him, after establishing a strong market position in Europe in just three years, Wiko started its operation in West Africa by launching its portfolio of 10 phones in Nigeria. “Nigerian consumers are amongst the first in Africa to enjoy the “French touch” experience that has become a phenomenal success story across Europe. Known for its worldclass technology, cutting-edge

design and exceptional product quality, Wiko smartphones are now available at mobile phone outlets across the country. “Wiko has unleashed seven exciting models from which smartphone users can choose. Whether a technology savvy user, a regular user or a beginner, Wiko has a smartphone for everyone. Wiko also launched a range of three stylish feature phones for first time phone users,” he added.

ADA 2014 to discuss broadband penetration

his year’s edition of the Africa Digital Awards (ADA) will hold on December 14, 2014 at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, with its discussion arm, Africa Digital Forum (ADF), billed to discuss how improved broadband penetration can propel digital economy in Nigeria. Oragnisers of the event, ICT Watch Network, in a statement, said that the theme of the event “Broadband: Oxygen for a digital economy” had been carefully selected bearing in mind that the next revolution in the ICT sector is

Sasware was set up to tap into opportunities created by the fast evolution of technology and adoption in Nigeria as the country rebuilds its infrastructure to match its ambition as the biggest economy in Africa and one of the top 20 in the world. The company invests in early start-ups technology companies in Nigeria from a startup fund that was set up by Signal Alli-

ance, Sasware’s parent company. Sasware also does specific incubation programs for Signal Alliance as a diversification strategy for the group. Other areas of business of the company include incubation-on-demand, corporate venture capital and asset development / management. The company’s initial focus is on technology and technologyenabled businesses.

L-R: Technical Manager, East, West, Central and Southern Africa, Mr Michael Elutilo; Territory Director, West Africa, Mr Charles Asinugo and Account Manager, Channels, West Africa, Mr Zubby Osuchukwu, all from BlackBerry, during the launch of BlackBerry Passport in Lagos.

Data, cost driving smartphone uptake in Nigeria, says Wiko COMPETITION

the march towards pervasive broadband services delivery to drive the economy. According to ICT Watch network Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tayo Adewusi, “Nigeria has an estimated broadband penetration of about six per cent in 2012. It is our view that if the country is to become the ICT hub of Africa in no distance future, the federal and state governments must initiate targeted actions to improve the accessibility, availability and affordability of high speed broadband for the populace, both rural and urban Nigeria.”

CSR: MTNF takes cancer-screening project to Enugu

s part of drive to create renewed awareness about breast cancer, the corporate social investment vehicle of MTN Nigeria, MTN Foundation (MTNF), has taken its free breast cancer screening to residents of Enugu State, the South East geopolitical zone of the country. The MTNF Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign took place in Enugu on Saturday, October 25, to commemorate the annual global awareness on the scourge of breast cancer held every October. The Executive Secretary, MTNF, Ms Nonny Ugboma, who was represented by Manager, Health Portfolio, MTNF, Mr Victor Orie-Ononogbu, said that breast cancer was the number one cancer scourge afflicting people and that one in eight women was at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime. According to Ugboma, ‘’The initiative, which underscores the essence of the Foundation to positively impact the lives of Nigerians, will be providing free breast cancer screening at MTN Mammography centers located at the General Hospital, Marina, Lagos State; Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Kogi State; Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State; Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Teaching Hospital,

Sokoto State; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu State and Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.” As part of the awareness walk, student medical practitioners and Nollywood celebrities including Cynthia Okereke, Chidinma and Chidiebere Aneke (the Aneke Twins), Stan Amandi, participated in a road show, which kicked off from the old site of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu and terminated at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium. Ugboma stated that the walk would be replicated in beneficiary states, which include Edo, Sokoto, Yola and Kogi. At a short ceremony in continuation of the exercise in Enugu, Founder, Breast Care Foundation, Dr. Georgie Affam, said breast cancer killed one in every 25 Nigerian women and urged women to get screened every year to prevent untimely death. “The incidence of breast cancer is one in 25, but because we don’t screen our population, it’s actually a death sentence. Here in Nigeria, most of the diagnoses are made when it is too late, thereby leading to several needless and painful deaths of our beloved mothers, sisters, aunts, friends and colleagues,” she said.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

U-report: Texting to prevent Ebola A text messaging communications platform developed by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has become a vital source of information in preventing the spread of Ebola in Nigeria, writes ISIOMA MADIKE

n October 13, when the recent outbreak of Ebola virus was first reported in Nigeria, Nne Orji was one of many Nigerians, who took baths in saltwater, believing that it would help keep her safe from the disease. She even drank from the salt solution, a mythical cure that has cost the lives of a number of people. She was especially, concerned that her profession as an immigration officer put her at risk, because of contact with travellers from other countries. She was determined to do what it takes to protect herself, but she did not have good information about what to do. Along with the widespread fear of the disease, there were rampant rumours about how it could be caught – and magical ways to prevent it. Nne was just one of many, who believed them. That all changed when her mobile phone beeped with a text message from her elder sister. Several beeps later, Nne had the information she needed to help protect herself against Ebola. And then she started sharing the messages with colleagues. The messages were a result of U-Report, a text-based communication platform developed by United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and deployed as part of the social mobilisation strategy against Ebola. It uses the cascading power of a single ‘U-reporter’ sharing a message with multiple recipients, who in turn pass it on to others. Citizens’ engagement UNICEF launched U-Report in Nigeria in April this year. Using Short Message Service (SMS) messages, it allows individual subscribers to ask questions about issues, to get real time answers and to share information with other U-reporters across the country. By giving people

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Journalists in one of U-reporters workshops

a new and effective platform for communication, it is intended to strengthen community-led development, citizen engagement and behavioural change. The outbreak of Ebola saw Nigerians urgently seeking information on how to prevent the disease. The use of salt and water to cure the disease was a deadly hoax spread through social media. UReport made it quicker for people to share and receive information, even in hard-to-reach areas where other methods of social mobilisation and outreach are less effective. In the month after the start of the outbreak, subscribers increased from 19,000 to 63,000. Many people were asking for and contributing information on Ebola – causes, symptoms, treatment and how to prevent it – as well as sharing with non U-reporters. Orji’s sister, Oruoma Odom, a journalism teacher, became a Ureporter in May this year at UNICEF training for journalists and journalism teachers. “What I do is send out the messages whenever I receive them to my brothers and sisters in the countryside,” she says. “My sister, who is an immigration officer, was most grateful, because she did not have any information about Ebola and being an immigration officer she felt particularly at risk being, as it were, the first contact with incoming visitors to Nigeria.” Educating the public about Ebola transmission and prevention has been a critical part of the effort to contain the outbreak in Nigeria. In addition to house-to-house campaigns and other social mobilisation activities providing lifesaving information on Ebola virus disease, UNICEF has used the U-Report platform to reach a large segment of

Members of the Federation of Muslim Women in Nigeria signing on as U-reporters during a U-Report sensitisation meeting in Sokoto State.

the Nigerian population.

We must never underestimate the power of the social media

Reaching millions “Within the first 24 hours of the outbreak, subscribers in Nigeria doubled from 19,000 because of the accuracy of information. Unsolicited responses were replied in real time. Questions, answers and facts from World Health Organisation (WHO) were shared on Twitter and Facebook on the measures to prevent Ebola,” says Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Health, who oversees U-Report Nigeria. “People were asking questions like: Does bitter kola cure Ebola? Is Ebola Virus Disease airborne? Does bush meat transmit Ebola? Can it be transmitted via mosquito bites?” Kampo explains. “These were the

questions people were asking, because they want to know, and you cannot blame them.” In addition to the thousands of U-reporters sharing messages with friends and relatives, major radio and television networks in Nigeria rebroadcast U-Report messages to millions of their audience. “We must never underestimate the power of the social media. With more than 100 million Nigerians owning mobile phones today, they can get the right information or ask their question and get real-time response from others as quickly as possible,” says Jean Gough, UNICEF Representation in Nigeria. “This is how to engage the communities and promote necessary social change that people want.”

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

SINGAPORE

Singapore is the best country Sunday Ojeme and Bayo Akomolafe

he reforms embarked upon by heads of major institutions in Nigeria has boosted the country’s investment profile, as it moved Nigeria five places to the 170th position among

Nigeria improves in World Bank’s ‘doing business’ ranking countries good enough to do business. In a report released yesterday, World Bank ranked Nigeria 170 among 189 business friendly countries across the World. Mauritius ranking 28 emerged the best in

Jaiz Bank ventures into aviation financing Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

igeria’s first fullfledged non-interest bank, Jaiz Bank Plc, has financed the acquisition of executive aircraft as part of its programmes to venture into the aviation sub sector. The aircraft, which has been delivered to Aviation Resource Service Limited (the customer), was financed under the Bank’s Ijarah wa iqtina (lease-to-own model of Islamic Finance), according to statement issued by the bank. Under the lease-to-own model of Islamic Finance model, both the bank and

Africa while Singapore emerged the best country in the world. This year’s report marks the 12th edition of the global Doing Business report series. Nigeria’s ranking for 2015 is slightly better than the ranking for 2014, which placed the country 175 out of 189 countries surveyed. Nigeria is one of 11 economies with a population of more than 100 mil-

Aviation Resource Service Limited are co-owners of the aircraft. The ownership is based on a partnership arrangement whereby ownership is gradually transferred to the customer (Aviation Resource) as it pays down. Commenting on the deal, Managing Director of Jaiz Bank, Muhammad Nurul Islam said: “We are particularly delighted by this partnership as it does underscore our capacity to enter into any ethical venture that will add value to the society. We want to use this opportunity to call on all Nigerians to take advantage of our unique type of banking.”

lion where the report now covers two cities, Kano and Lagos, providing new insights into the variability of business regulation within economies. The business rankings are based on the distance to frontier scores for 10 topics and cover 189 economies. The annual World Bank Group Doing Business report analysis regulations that apply to

Godson Ikoro

eginning from tomorrow (October 28, 2014), funds purchased through the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) interventions should be utilised within two working days of delivery at a rate not more than 10 kobo above the purchase rate. This was contained in a circular, titled TED/FEM/FPC/ Gen/01/020 signed by CBN’s director of trade and exchange department, I. O. Gbadamosi. The circular, which has to do with the guidelines on the operations of CBN interventions in the interbank market through the two way quote system limit was sent to all authorised dealers, Bureaux De Change (BDCs) and general public.

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

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

For the avoidance of doubt, the banking watchdog said all authorised dealers are no longer permitted to sell CBN intervention funds to authorised buyers and must ensure compliance with Net Open Trading Position limit. It also warned that any observed case of “Position Parking” will be appropriately sanctioned, stressing strict compliance from the stakeholders. The apex bank said that further to its circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/ GEN/01/025 of October 20,

2011 in respect of the above subject, it writes to inform all authorised dealers and the general public that with effect from the date of this circular, funds purchased through the CBN interventions should be utilised within two working days of delivery at a rate not more than 10 kobo above the purchase rate. Consequently, intervention funds not utilised within two days of delivery should be returned to CBN at the original purchase rates, the banking watchdog said.

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

he Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said it’s making headway in persuading the four mobilephone companies to sell their shares. “The stance has moved from them not wanting to list to them looking at how to deal with the issues that would make it unattractive to list,” Chief Executive Officer Oscar Onyema told Bloomberg by phone from Seoul yesterday. “We’re gaining traction.” Africa’s second-biggest bourse after the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is trying to entice more companies to place initial public offerings to better mirror the make-up

of the Nigerian economy. As well as lacking telecommunications groups, the NSE has few utilities and oil companies even though Nigeria is the continent’s top crude producer. The NSE All Share Index has dropped 7.7 percent this year, the worst-performer among 14 African benchmark gauges monitored by Bloomberg after Zimbabwe. While none of the operators have come with applications to list stock, the companies did highlight “structural issues” hindering initial public offerings, Onyema said, adding that the bourse is working with Nigerian authorities to address any shortcomings.

Diamond Bank Q3 pretax profit falls by 7.2%

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80

measure the quality of fiscal management, other aspects of macroeconomic stability, the level of skills in the labour force, or the resilience of financial systems. The bank noted that its findings have stimulated policy debates worldwide and enabled a growing body of research on how firm-level regulation relates to economic outcomes across economies.

CBN sets new guidelines on two-way quote system

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

an economy’s businesses during their life cycle, including start-up and operations, trading across borders, paying taxes, and resolving insolvency The bank, however, warned that the Doing Business report does not measure all aspects of the business environment that matter to firms and investors. Also, the report stressed that it does not

Mobile phone firms move closer to listings, says NSE

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

iamond Bank Plc one of the mid-tier lenders in Nigeria has recorded 7.2 per cent drop in its nine-month pretax profit ended September 30, 2014. In filings with the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), the bank’s profit after tax went down from N25.58 billion in the Q3 of 2013 to N23.74 billion in the review period of 2014, amounting to a slide of

7.2 per cent. Revenue rose to N120.03 billion during the period to September 30, against N106.95 billion-reported last year. Diamond Bank had reported a profit after tax of N13.8 billion in its unaudited results for the six months ended June 30, 2014. This represents an annual increase by nine per cent, compared with the N12.6 billion recorded in 2013.

Business | Financiel Market News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

29-Oct-14

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

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

535.00 563.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 371.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 130.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,640.56

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

***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

0.48 1.80 2.49 2.74 2.84 3.58 4.67 4.98 7.25 9.37 14.08 14.56 15.06 15.73 19.72

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.90 12.32 12.56 12.65 12.66 12.71 12.71 12.77 12.65 12.63 12.70 12.71 12.72 12.68 12.73

10.56 12.23 12.49 12.58 12.59 12.60 12.63 12.68 12.59 12.58 12.66 12.67 12.66 12.62 12.69

96.83 101.10 105.30 93.63 92.28 94.33 111.25 79.18 117.35 108.45 114.85 98.52 71.98 81.90 95.80

96.98 101.25 105.45 93.78 92.43 94.63 111.55 79.48 117.65 108.75 115.15 98.82 72.28 82.20 96.10

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.01 0.57 1.30 2.11 2.48 2.69

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.95 13.59 14.12 14.50 13.63 13.65

99.94 92.77 103.77 100.93 98.51 95.75

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 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17 2.35 3.93 2.34 2.34 2.73 2.98 5.07 2.95 3.50 6.08 6.17 3.65 3.69

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

15.75 14.33 15.93 14.96 18.22 13.08 14.47 14.38 13.73 13.58 17.36 13.65 13.67 13.77 15.41 13.70 13.72 14.66 14.15 14.66

97.49 99.61 98.61 101.03 84.19 101.23 98.78 99.39 100.77 101.98 93.83 101.88 104.34 102.57 98.56 102.79 99.07 101.29 101.08 101.05

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,295.50

Sub-National Bonds 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

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

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 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

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 10-OCT-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

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

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 16.23 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

GTB µ NGC

Nil

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 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 A/GCR 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

471.18 464.01

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER# *TOWER

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.14

5.21

16.32

99.52

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.17

8.71

19.87

99.34

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.56

4.88

15.83

97.44

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.63

1.00

12.04

100.43 100.84

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.71

2.63

13.77

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.92

1.00

13.39

99.32

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.99

1.34

13.79

100.77

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.92

1.00

13.66

98.42

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.74

1.88

14.13

107.11

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.95

3.48

15.90

100.30

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.11

5.20

17.70

100.79

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.11

5.06

17.56

101.81

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.90

1.35

14.08

99.73

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.22

2.29

14.83

101.71

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.30

6.11

18.68

97.33

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.17

2.16

14.84

102.85

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.04

2.76

15.49

99.07

30-Sep-14

N/A

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.92

1.00

13.64

86.91

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.92

1.00

13.64

97.88

11-Feb-18

3.29

1.00

13.69

90.97

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

143.49

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 10.92 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.20

5.05

108.17

109.00

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.31

4.08

102.76

103.54

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.53

5.41

105.79

106.60

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

1,583.63

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

8.62

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.10

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.55

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

9.07

8.55

93.50

95.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.18

5.88

99.38

100.42

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.68

102.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.51

99.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.18

8.81

98.42

99.78

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.09

99.75

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.83

94.25

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

8.89

8.67

101.88

103.00

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

8.11

98.33

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.42

8.22

100.56

101.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,761.87

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 57 64 71

FIXINGS Maturity 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.60 10.65 10.20 10.70 10.50 10.80 10.80 10.95 10.70

Offer Discount (%) 10.35 10.40 9.95 10.45 10.25 10.55 10.55 10.70 10.45

Bid Yield (%) 10.62 10.70 10.26 10.79 10.61 10.94 10.99 11.16 10.93

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5767 12.2694 13.1249 14.0491

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.50

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M 6M

165.30 165.54 165.80 166.47 167.58 168.75 172.48

165.40 165.77 166.11 167.09 168.65 170.37 175.90

Tenor Call 1M 3M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.01 13.12

***LCRM

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

116.70 66.49

20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.48 2.69

1.00 1.00

13.63 13.65

98.51 95.75

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 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17 2.35 3.93 2.34 2.34 2.73 2.98 5.07 2.95 3.50 6.08 6.17 3.65 3.69

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

15.75 14.33 15.93 14.96 18.22 13.08 14.47 14.38 13.73 13.58 17.36 13.65 13.67 13.77 15.41 13.70 13.72 14.66 14.15 14.66

97.49 99.61 98.61 101.03 84.19 101.23 98.78 99.39 100.77 101.98 93.83 101.88 104.34 102.57 98.56 102.79 99.07 101.29 101.08 101.05

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,295.50

Sub-National Bonds 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 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

A+/Agusto KADUNA 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 A/Agusto *EBONYI 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 A-/Agusto *BENUE 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 A+/Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 A+/Agusto; A+/GCR LAGOS 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 A-/Agusto *BAYELSA 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 A/Agusto EDO 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 A/Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 A-/Agusto *NIGER 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 A/Agusto; A-/GCR *ONDO 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 A/Agusto *OSUN 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 A/Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 A-/GCR *NASARAWA 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

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

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 16.23 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

Investment value dips by N45billion

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.74

1.88

14.13

107.11

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.95

3.48

15.90

100.30

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.11

5.20

17.70

100.79

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.11

5.06

17.56

101.81

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.90

1.35

14.08

99.73

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.22

2.29

14.83

101.71

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.30

6.11

18.68

97.33

indices maintained neg- ties depreciated by N45 ative trajectory to close billion or 0.36 per cent the red, as activities from N12.680 trillion the Stories by Chris Ugwu in in the shares of blue previous day to N12.635 he Nigerian chip companies further trillion, as market sentistock market, depressed the equities ment remained on the TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE continued to market. negative trajectory. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Consequently, the Allwitness sell presMeanwhile, a turnCorporate Bonds 0.36 per sure following Share Index fell by 138.38 over of 377.7 million 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 Aa/Agusto cent drop in both GTB marbilbasis points or 0.36 per shares worth N4.1 µ 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 01-Apr-10 NGC Nil ket performance indices, cent to close at 38,148.18, lion in 4,408 deals was 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 day’s reflecting profit taking 38,286.56 re- recorded in the09-Dec-10 A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS as against 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB+/GCR 06-Jan-11 amid drop in investment the previous trading. *CHELLARAMScorded 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO day, while the market activities. Just as in the previous 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH capitalisation of equiThe key benchmark day, the banking sub13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10

UBA

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

Lafarge Africa’s PAT falls by 37% BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

A/Agusto; A/GCR

Nigerian stocks suffer further slump

BEARISH

BBB-/GCR

Business | Financiel Market News

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

afarge AfricaUBAPlc (Atlas). 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018months 2013. Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA has recorded 37 per The company con- II 17-FEB-2019 “Further down the # MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR 17-Feb-12 *CHELLARAMS 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 BBB/GCR cent drop in profit firmed that it had re- P&L, a significant01-Apr-14 nega*DANA NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 after tax for the NAHCO nine ceived all15.25 shareholder tive result of –N160 bil182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTCand regulatory months ended Septemapprovals lion on the other com13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 STANBIC IBTC ber 30, 2014. and met all the require- prehensive income line TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE In filings with the Nigements to create the lead(OCI) resulted in a post TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION ria Stock Exchange (NSE), ing Sub Saharan Africa tax loss of -N130 billion. Supranational Bond the company’s profit after building materials com- Given that the results are 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC per tax went down by 37 pany. for the combined11-Feb-13 NigeTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE cent, from N50.524 billion Lafarge Africa is the rian and South African inTOTAL the Q3MARKET of 2013CAPITALISATION to N31.757 6th largest entity listed businesses, comparison billion in the review peri- on The NSE, with a with our unconsolidated Rating/Agency Issuer Date od of 2014. market capitalisation Description of forecasts are notIssue meanabout ₦521.9 billion. Revenue however, ingful. Neither are comFGN Eurobonds rose to N159.396 billion Analysts at FBN Capi- parisons with consensus 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 07-Oct-11 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P from N154.169 billion tal in their first reaction forecasts. BB-/Fitch; previously , indicating a FGN to the results admitted “Pending comments 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P growth of 3 per cent. that the financials were from management, we BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 Lafarge Africa Plc for- weak, as the company believe that the weak set BB-/S&P posted an after tax loss merly, Lafarge Cement of results, particularly TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Wapco Nigeria Plc had of –N130 billion. on the other compreTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION recently announced the The analysts said: hensive income line are Corporate Eurobonds completion of its acqui- “Although nine months most likely driven by the 2016 01-Feb-11 B/Fitch;of B-/S&P AFREN PLC I sales grew modestly11.50 sition Lafarge group’s by FEB 3 01,South African business, 7.50 MAY 19,Lafarge 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC Iper cent y/y to N159.4bn, shareholdings in Lafarge South 19-May-11 Africa 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 B+/S&P Africa Holdings ACCESS BANKPBT PLC declined 29 per cent Holdings. It is also posSouth 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 09-May-13 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC Limited (LSAH), United y/y to N38.1 billion mainsible that the probable 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 08-Nov-13 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC Cement Company of Ni- ly because investment winding down of 08-Apr-12 opera10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II geria Limited (Unicem), income of N572 million tions of the loss mak6.25 APR 22, 2019 22-Apr-14 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC Egyptian came in substantially of 8.75 May 21,ing 2019 import operation 21-May-14 B/Fitch; B/S&PCement HoldDIAMOND BANK PLC 8.25 AUG 07,Atlas 2020 07-Aug-13in B-/Fitch; FIRST BANK PLC weaker than the N21.9 ing BV,B/S&P AshakaCem Plc Cement located 6.63 DEC 09,the 2020 Niger-delta region 09-Dec-13 B-/Fitch; B/S&Pand Atlas AFREN (Ashaka) Ce-PLC III billion that the company of LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 24-Jun-14 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II ment Company Limited reported for 9.25/6M the USD nine Nigeria contributed.’ B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

sector of the financial services sector was the most active (measured by turnover volume); with 172.7 million shares worth N1.6 billion ex471.18 changed by investors in 464.01 1,674 deals. Volume in the bank13.50 13.17 ing sub-sector was large17.00 2.00 ly driven by activities 10.00 3.61 in the Fidel12.00 shares of13.62 14.00 ity Bank Plc and0.60 Zenith 13.00 15.00 Bank Plc. 14.25 5.53 Insurance sub-sector 13.00 20.00

17.00

ustodian01-Apr-19 and Allied 3.17 Plc, 2.05 a wholly14-Nov-20 6.04 owned Nigerian 0.10 company30-Sep-24 quoted on the9.92 Ni15.44 30-Sep-24 9.92 gerian Stock Exchange (NSE), 144.16 has posted a 54 per cent increase 143.49 in profit after tax for the third quarter ended September 30, 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.29 2014. In filing with the Nigerian 12.00 10.92Exchange (NSE), the group Stock reported a profit after tax of N3.2 Outstanding Value Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) billion ($mm) for the nine months period over the N2.06 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.20of 2013, representing an increase 54 500.00 per cent. 12-Jul-18 4.31 The company’s revenue grew 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.53 to 12 per cent, from N16.211 billion in1,500.00 2013 to N18.487 billion in 2014. Similarly, shareholders’ 1,583.63 funds increased by 11 per cent to N21.2 billion from N19.1 billion 01-Feb-16 8.62toas 450.00 at 31 December 2013, while 19-May-16 4.10 tal500.00 assets stood at N49.9 billion 350.00 6.55recompared with25-Jul-17 N45.6 billion 300.00 02-May-18 9.07 ported as at 31 December 2013. 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.18 It will be recalled that the 300.00 08-Apr-19 9.68 company recently in500.00 22-Apr-19 paid an 6.51 terim of 6 kobo per 200.00dividend 21-May-19 9.1850 300.00share after 07-Aug-20 8.09 kobo paying a total of 360.00 16 kobo per 09-Dec-20 share on the7.83 pre400.00 24-Jun-21 8.89 ceding year’s results.

16.00

4.50

15.25 N/A 13.25

10.20

Coupon (%)

6.75 5.13 6.38

11.50 7.50 7.25 6.88 6.00 10.25 6.25 8.75 8.25 6.63 9.25

23-Jul-14

8.00

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

N113.90 and N31.50 per share. Local subsidiary of food and beverages multinational, Cadbury Nigeria, lost 4.99 per cent of its value to close at N47.40 per share. Similarly, financial services 16.32 99.52 players, UBA Group and 19.87 99.34 Stanbic IBTC Holdings, 15.83 97.44 fell by12.04 6.18 per 100.43 cent and 13.77cent to 100.84 3.04 per close, re13.39 99.32 spectively at N5.01 and 100.77 N29.0113.79 per share. 13.66 98.42

Custodian and Allied grows earnings by 54%

15.75

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

activated with the shares of Mansard Insurance Plc followed with 102.9 million shares valued at N221.8 million in 157 deals. On the gainers’ chart, investment banking outfit, UBA Capital, rose by 4.21 per cent to N1.98, 18-Dec-14 5.21 while shares 0.14 of cement 31-Dec-14 0.17 8.71 manufacturers, Lafarge 17-Aug-15 0.56 4.88 Africa and Ashaka Ce09-Dec-15 0.63 1.00 06-Jan-16 advanced 0.71 by 1.15 2.63 ment, 29-Sep-16 1.92 per cent 1.00 per cent and 3.24 25-Oct-16 1.99 1.34 to close, respectively, at 30-Sep-17 2.92 1.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

8.11

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.42

14.84 102.85 The Company’s Chief Fi2.76 Officer, 15.49 nance Ademola99.07 Ajuwon, 13.64 86.91 in 1.00 a statement made available 1.00 13.64 97.88 to newsmen, said that the results have been transmitted to the NSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 1.00 13.69 90.97 favorHe also highlighted able underwriting income from the insurance subsidiaries and remarkable efficiency gains Offer Yield (%) Bidas Price Offer Price congroup-wide, factors that tributed to the improved result. Prices & Yields Furthermore, Mr. Ajuwon 5.05 “The performance 108.17 109.00 said: is a concise representation of Custodian 4.08 102.76 103.54 and Allied Plc’s unrelenting com105.79 5.41 106.60 mitment to its corporate ideal of exceeding customer and other stakeholders’ expectations at all times as demonstrated daily through customer focus, compre8.62 103.30 103.30 hensive systems, processes and 4.10 105.04 105.04 operations integration’. 6.55 101.72 “Barring101.72 any unforeseen 8.55 93.50 95.00 adverse developments, man5.88 99.38 100.42 agement is confident that the 9.68 102.00 102.00 company’s well-articulated 6.51 99.00 99.00 business will be 8.81 plans and 98.42 forecast 99.78 8.09 achieved in 99.75 the short,99.75 medium 7.83long terms; 94.25 ultimately 94.25 beneand 8.67 101.88 103.00 fiting all stakeholders,” he said. 2.16

8.11

98.33

8.22

100.56

101.60

4,760.00 4,761.87

29-Oct-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com. Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) DTM 8 FGN Bonds15 22 29 36 Rating/Agency 43 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106 NA 113 120 127 134 148 162 176 190 281 309 TOTAL OUTSTANDING

VALUE

Maturity 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 Issuer 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 NA 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 7-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.60 10.65 10.20 10.70 Description 10.50 10.80 10.80 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.95 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.70 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.75 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.75 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.80 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.10 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.90 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.30 16.39 27-JAN-2022 11.00 10.80 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.90 15.00 28-NOV-2028 11.00 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.85 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.30 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.40 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 10.70 10.55

Offer Discount (%) 10.35 10.40 9.95 10.45 10.25Date Issue 10.55 10.55 23-Apr-10 10.70 16-Aug-13 10.45 27-Apr-12 10.50 27-Jul-07 9.50 31-Aug-07 10.55 30-May-08 9.85 29-Jun-12 10.65 23-Oct-09 10.05 27-Jan-12 10.75 10.55 14-Mar-14 10.65 28-Nov-08 10.75 22-May-09 10.60 20-Nov-09 10.05 23-Jul-10 10.15 18-Jul-14 10.45 10.30

Bid Yield (%) 10.62 10.70 10.26 10.79 10.61 (%) Coupon 10.94 10.99 4.00 11.16 13.05 10.93 15.10 11.00 9.85 9.98 9.35 11.10 10.70 10.38 16.00 11.26 7.00 10.64 16.39 11.41 11.22 14.20 11.35 15.00 11.51 12.49 11.40 8.50 10.84 10.00 11.00 12.1493 11.66 11.58

Bonds

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

NIBOR

Tenor O/N 1M Outstanding Value 3M (N'bn) 6M

Rate (%) 10.5767 12.2694 13.1249 Date Maturity 14.0491

535.00 23-Apr-15 563.89 16-Aug-16 452.80 NITTY 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 100.00 31-Aug-17 1M 10.8043 300.00 30-May-18 2M 11.0248 351.30 29-Jun-19 3M 11.1152 233.90 23-Oct-19 6M 11.4265 600.00 27-Jan-22 9M 11.5888 12M 11.4162 371.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 NIFEX 20-Nov-29 591.57 Current Price ($/N) 23-Jul-30 130.00 18-Jul-34 BID($/N) 165.1325 OFFER ($/N) 4,675.13

165.2325

4,640.56

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

Tenor

10.50

Spot 7D Offer Yield 14D 1M (%) 2M 10.56 3M 12.23 6M 12.49 1Y

O/N

REPO TTM (Yrs)

Tenor Call0.48 1M 1.80 3M 2.49 6M

Bid Yield (%)

Rate (%) 10.25 10.90 12.01 12.32 13.12 12.56 13.94

2.74 12.65 12.58 2.84 12.66 12.59 3.58 12.71 12.60 4.67 12.71 12.63 :Benchmarks 4.98 12.77 12.68 * :Amortising Bond 7.25 12.65 12.59 µ :Convertible Bond AMCON: Asset Management Corporation 9.37 12.63 of Nigeria12.58 FGN: Federal14.08 Government of Nigeria 12.70 12.66 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of12.71 Nigeria 14.56 12.67 IFC: International Finance Corporation 15.06 12.72 12.66 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.73 12.68 12.62 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 19.72 12.73 12.69 NOTE:

O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Bid ($/N) 165.30 165.54 165.80 Bid Price 166.47 167.58 96.83 168.75 101.10 172.48 105.30 179.96

Offer ($/N)

Price

165.40 165.77 Offer Price 166.11 167.09 168.6596.98 170.37 101.25 175.90 105.45 187.96

93.63 93.78 92.28 92.43 94.33 94.63 111.25 111.55 NA :Not Applicable 79.18 79.48 # :Floating Rate Bond 117.35 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 117.65 108.45 108.75 †: Bond rating expired 114.85 115.15 N/A :Not Available 98.52 98.82 71.98 72.28 81.90 82.20 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 95.80 96.10 UBA: United Bank for Africa

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET

Sub-National Bonds 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

3<5 CAPITALISATION>5 Market KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER

Description

Issue Date

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 PorfolioLCRM Market 0.00/16.00 09-DEC-2016Total Outstanding Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

1,046.88 1,094.92 1,012.12 3,153.93

1,016.68 951.30 1,093.25 3,061.23

Coupon (%)

FMDQ FGN 0.00 BOND 28-Dec-11 24-May-10 0.00 03-Apr-12 17.25 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 Outstanding Vol Value 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 33.21 33.19 31.08 35.71 100.00 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

34.72 32.09 100.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

INDEX

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49 0.33

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 09-Dec-16 Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17 14.63

0.01 0.57 1.30 2.11 Implied Yield 2.48 2.69 12.45

0.36 1,295.50

30.13 55.24 100.00

12.67 12.67 12.64

1,301.32 0.31 1.00

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13

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

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17 2.35 3.93 2.34 2.34

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 1.00 118.8163

133.4877 103.0915 117.7598 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78

Valuation Yield (%) 11.95 13.59 14.12 INDEX14.50 13.63 13.65 1,128.51

1,130.32 1,205.32 1,124.50 15.75 14.33 15.93 14.96 18.22 13.08 14.47 14.38 13.73 13.58 17.36

Indicative Price

99.94 92.77 103.77 YTD Return 100.93 (%) 98.51 95.75 12.8513

13.0323 20.5321 12.4503 97.49 99.61 98.61 101.03 84.19 101.23 98.78 99.39 100.77 101.98 93.83

Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014

Business | Capital Market

Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at October 29, 2014

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

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 2 10 9 21

Current Price 0.50 31.35 30.45

Quantity Traded 70,000 30,530 22,200 122,730

Value Traded 35,000.00 915,578.00 629,086.80 1,579,664.80

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 29 29

Current Price 2.95

Quantity Traded 290,328 290,328

Value Traded 853,863.11 853,863.11

413,058

2,433,527.91

Quantity Traded 53,914 26,591,869 543,433 27,189,216

Value Traded 79,827.16 120,101,369.51 28,708,776.19 148,889,972.86

27,189,216

148,889,972.86

AGRICULTURE Totals

CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries

Symbol AGLEVENT TRANSCORP UACN

Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003

PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

No. of Deals 11 199 47 257

Current Price 1.45 4.51 53.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

CONGLOMERATES Totals

257

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other Published byCOSTAIN The Nigerian Stock Exchange © (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.91

Quantity Traded Page 88,842 88,842

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. ROADS NIG PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER ROADS

No. of Deals 6 1 7

Current Price 67.20 6.29

Quantity Traded 11,620 500 12,120

Value Traded 741,820.80 3,300.00 745,120.80

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 14.00

Quantity Traded 132,137 132,137

Value Traded 1,770,485.30 1,770,485.30

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Symbol UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UHOMREIT Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 45.22

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 226,100.00 226,100.00

238,099

2,822,712.32

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 CONSUMER GOODS Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 Automobiles/Auto Parts

Symbol DUNLOP

DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC.

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,710 6,710

Value Traded 3,355.00 3,355.00

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Current Price 14.94 0.92

Quantity Traded 328 15,000

Value Traded 4,657.60 14,400.00

CHAMPION GOLDBREW

GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY

1 1

Page

Value Traded of 81,006.22 81,006.22

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Value Traded 21,822,301.50 1,427,417.00 15,150.00 373,134,637.69 37,900.00 396,456,463.79

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 28 28

Current Price 188.52

Quantity Traded 54,339 54,339

Value Traded 10,223,856.95 10,223,856.95

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON

No. of Deals 9 70 28 20 30 157

Current Price 6.55 6.90 61.40 3.85 8.10

Quantity Traded 18,169 2,487,551 85,880 983,589 712,095 4,287,284

Value Traded 107,870.48 17,445,926.38 5,009,617.52 3,787,002.93 5,813,940.07 32,164,357.38

Symbol CADBURY

No. of Deals 11 107 118

Current Price 47.40 980.00

Quantity Traded 81,836 787,313 869,149

Value Traded 3,879,026.40 771,164,633.12 775,043,659.52

Symbol VITAFOAM

No. of Deals Current Price 23 4.37 23

Quantity Traded 643,500 643,500

Value Traded 2,738,303.03 2,738,303.03

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals Current Price 40 27.80 21 40.00 61

Quantity Traded 134,970 98,935 233,905

Value Traded 3,565,396.86 3,759,630.00 7,325,026.86

8,592,775

1,223,955,022.53

Quantity Traded 16,639,002 7,799,269 6,252,058 49,431,726 18,065,313 6,304,917 14,715,844 12,284,031 1,212,868

Value Traded 141,442,132.85 45,812,598.99 115,972,588.38 96,396,934.69 473,810,805.32 15,774,282.06 34,387,587.13 61,939,560.02 10,015,794.63

Daily Summary (Equities) NESTLE

Page

CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Household Durables Totals

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals

618

FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC.

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 195 8.51 DIAMONDBNK 85 6.15 ETI 87 18.55 FIDELITYBK 67 1.99 GUARANTY 301 26.16 SKYEBANK 114 2.51 STERLNBANK 182 2.31 Daily UBASummary (Equities) 285 5.01 UBN 51 8.26

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. EQUITY ASSURANCE PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ASO SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC DEAP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT & TRUST PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC

Quantity Traded 353,775 13,000 955,845 1,763,830 20,000,000 2,300,000 67,467,813 3,520,000 2,489,096 7,100 7,000 4,096,548 102,974,007

Value Traded 283,020.00 12,450.00 477,922.50 881,915.00 10,000,000.00 1,196,000.00 202,407,549.90 1,900,800.00 1,916,715.67 3,550.00 3,500.00 2,767,256.39 221,850,679.46

Quantity Traded 1,800 1,800

Value Traded 1,764.00 1,764.00

Value Traded 5,333,269.50

Value Traded 5 of 11 117,750.00 710,000.00 827,750.00

4 713,906.72 of 11

628,648,428.88 1,630,247,889.17

Symbol ASOSAVINGS UNHOMES

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded Page 235,500 1,420,000 1,655,500

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS DEAPCAP FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 41 44 1 475 129 6 43 44 783

Current Price 3.15 3.84 0.79 11.85 3.82 0.55 29.01 1.98

Quantity Traded 1,174,425 2,983,702 109,100 16,030,211 30,148,341 309,500 1,152,889 547,549 52,455,717

Value Traded 3,618,540.84 11,525,149.61 86,189.00 190,168,038.06 114,738,254.47 169,235.00 33,422,045.29 1,067,591.50 354,795,043.77

329,830,299

2,207,723,126.40

Quantity Traded 24,588 81,200 1,750 70,385 65,765

Value Traded 50,276.52 271,209.00 93,784.50 134,779.11 64,818.40

No. of Deals 7 5 6 12 17

Current Price 2.14 3.32 54.00 1.96 1.02

Page

Quantity Traded 418,763 12,892 342,292 473,075 1,144,305 9,024 588,200

Value Traded 13,253,647.36 99,723.68 14,593,270.94 6,302,308.37 245,916,379.10 8,837.80 2,817,635.62

Symbol WAPCO

No. of Deals Current Price 70 113.90 279

Quantity Traded 865,018 3,853,569

Value Traded 97,893,336.01 380,885,138.88

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals Current Price 10 1.65 10

Quantity Traded 143,165 143,165

Value Traded 236,558.70 236,558.70

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals Current Price 2 20.00 2

Quantity Traded 125 125

Value Traded 2,406.25 2,406.25

3,996,859

381,124,103.83

Quantity Traded 83 83

Value Traded 822.53 822.53

822.53

Quantity Traded 1,605,757 1,605,757

Value Traded 803,028.50 803,028.50

NATURAL RESOURCES Metals ALUMINIUM EXTRUSION IND. PLC. Metals Totals

2 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM Daily Summary DNMEYER PORTPAINT

No. of Deals 37 7 37 44 59 (Equities) 5 20

Page

291 Symbol ALEX

No. of Deals Current Price 1 10.43 1 1

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals Current Price 29 0.50 29

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page Quantity Traded 2,593,670 2,593,670

of 11 Value Traded 61,055,476.36 61,055,476.36

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 205 205

Current Price 23.50

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 15 14 86 19 2 21 157

Current Price 49.23 3.61 215.00 170.98 56.00 166.00

Quantity Traded 28,363 244,200 264,679 14,722 555 21,356 573,875

Value Traded 1,270,403.85 882,197.36 56,346,359.61 2,437,500.90 29,526.00 3,503,639.11 64,469,626.83

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 545.00

Quantity Traded 5,270 5,270

Value Traded 2,869,599.30 2,869,599.30

4,778,572

129,197,730.99

Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded 118,778 118,778

Value Traded 105,189.30 105,189.30

Current Price 4.15

Quantity Traded 31,700

Value Traded 125,755.00

397 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 11 11 Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 5

Symbol

No. of Deals Current Price 5

Page Quantity Traded 31,700

9Value Traded of 11

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals Current Price 4 0.50 4

Quantity Traded 132,000 132,000

Value Traded 66,000.00 66,000.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals Current Price 15 2.82 1 3.51 16

Quantity Traded 1,504,646 10 1,504,656

Value Traded 4,243,351.72 33.40 4,243,385.12

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals Current Price 3 0.50 3

Quantity Traded 15,000 15,000

Value Traded 7,500.00 7,500.00

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals Current Price 7 1.38 3 1.51 4 4.15 14

Quantity Traded 13,237 50,750 12,500 76,487

Value Traded 17,592.84 73,080.00 48,725.00 139,397.84

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals Current Price 7 1.83 20 5.00 27

Quantity Traded 24,000 504,784 528,784

Value Traded 44,012.10 2,492,103.34 2,536,115.44

Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Current Price 0.80 0.95 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.52 3.00 0.54 0.78 0.50 0.51 0.69

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

Current Price 31.50 8.00 43.99 13.50 215.00 1.00 5.01

No. of Deals 11 3 5 1 1 1 26 10 37 2 1 59 157

2,617

12,850.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST EQUITYASUR HMARKINS INTENEGINS MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE WAPIC

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

25,000

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 ASHAKA CEM PLC Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC

Activity Summary on Board EQTY RED STAR EXPRESS PLC

Quantity Traded 10,666,539 756,786 Page 28,614,922 172,743,275

0.94

Value Traded 10,000.00 10,000.00

OIL ANDas GAS Totals Daily Summary of 29/10/2014 Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.93 22.00

1 1

Quantity Traded 20,000 20,000

ANDNigerian GAS Stock Exchange © PublishedOIL by The Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

No. of Deals 12 25 270 1,674

NPFMCRFBK

Current Price 0.50

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

No. of Deals Current Price DailySymbol Summary (Equities)

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Symbol CHAMS

Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003

Value Traded 2,850.00 2,850.00

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Quantity Traded 128,295 46,875 7,500 2,289,890 10,000 2,497,888

614,867.53

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Current Price 170.05 30.50 2.12 163.00 3.98

243,688 Current Price 0.55

No. of Deals 57 13 1 154 3 230

Value Traded 614,867.53

No. of Deals 1 1

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 243,688

ICT Totals

Current Price

Symbol COURTVILLE

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Symbol GUINNESS INTBREW JOSBREW NB PREMBREW

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals

No. of Deals 47

HEALTHCARE Totals

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Food Products Totals

Symbol

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC Daily Summary as of 29/10/2014 UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printed 29/10/2014 15:10:03.003 Printing/Publishing Totals Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Activity Summary on Board EQTY PublishedSERVICES by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 5 5

SERVICES Totals

Current Price 4.21

Page

Quantity Traded 22,400 22,400

125,755.00

10 of 11 Value Traded 89,600.00 89,600.00

2,429,805

7,312,942.70

EQTY Board Totals

4,408

377,737,454

4,104,087,679.60

Equity Activity Totals

4,408

377,737,454

4,104,087,679.60

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1,956.00 17.13

Quantity Traded 7 5 12

Value Traded 13,692.00 85.65 13,777.65

ETF Board Totals

13,777.65

ETP Activity Totals

13,777.65

Page

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014

News 45

NATIONAL

Panic as cured Ebola victim arrives from S’Leone Wole Shadare

ne week after Nigeria was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), panic gripped passengers and other users of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos as an alleged Ebola victim was flown into the country by Royal Air Maroc in the early morning of yesterday. The Moroccan airline arrives

Lagos from Casablanca at 6am every day. The victim, one Theophilus Onnakhinon, a Nigerian was said to have flown from Sierra Leone by the airline into the country while his younger brother, Chinedu Eroka absconded from Sierra Leonean authorities. As at the time of filing this report, it was not clear why Eroka absconded from the Sierra Leonean authorities.

A source close to the Port Health at the Lagos Airport, who spoke on condition of anonymity to reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday explained that the victim had already been treated of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and cured of the disease by the health authorities of that country after some few weeks in their custody. The source said that

the victim was assisted into the country by the Nigeria’s consular official, Mrs. T. Mohammed. According to the source, the consular officer accompanied the victim into the country in order to avoid stigmatization by the Nigerian health officials and other authorities at the airport. On arrival in Nigeria, the victim was immediately handed over to the Port Health officials at

the Lagos airport, who immediately isolated and quarantined him. As at the time of filing this report, the victim was still being observed by the Port Health officials. The source said that the essence of his being quarantined in the country was for the Nigerian officials to also check his health status and confirm that he was free of the disease before being released to the public.

L-R: Service Director, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Rego Lee; Country Manager (Nigeria), Raya Trade, Mr. Bassem Hamdy; Service Manager, Best Service Raya Distribution Limited, Mr. Ayman Farag and Head of Service, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr. Raymond Olatokun, at the unveilling of Samsung’s Premium Smart Care Centre in Lekki, Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Buhari, Uchendu hail Tambuwal’s defection to APC Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal yesterday got a heroic reception at the special convention of the All Progressive Congress (APC), his new party. Tambuwal, who formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) on Tuesday made his first public outing as a member of the APC yes-

terday and was warmly received by the leaders of the main opposition party in the country. Former Head of State and presidential aspirant of the APC, General Muhamadu Buhari hailed Tuesday’s defection of the Speaker. Buhari described the move as a well planned and executed master stroke against the ruling party. Buhari attributed the tactical manner in which Tambuwal handled his de-

fection on his background as a lawyer who understood the import of his actions. “I will like to thank Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal for breaking the egg yesterday. We were overwhelmed by what he did. It was only yesterday that I asked: what profession is he? And I was told he is a lawyer and I said no wonder. Because to take such a remarkable risk and send everybody on holiday until the first week of December is quite an achievement,” Buhari said.

According to the former military ruler, the progressives came together to firm the APC because they believed that to get the PDP out of the way the legacy parties needed to come together. He expressed delight that that desired unity of the opposition camp against the ruling party had been successfully achieved and congratulated all members of the legacy parties for all the sacrifices they made at various stages of the merger.

CJN reads the riot act to new Supreme Court judge Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, yesterday charged the newly appointed Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chima Nweze to apply the law in all fairness and good conscience every case brought before him to adjudicate over. Justice Aloma, who gave

the charge in Abuja during the swearing in ceremony, noted that the oath by every judge is rich in substance and that it precludes partnership for a cause adding that it worthy to the eyes as a representative of a section of society. “It forbids partiality and most importantly, it commands independence from any influence that might improperly tilt the scales of justice.

“When a case is heard, a Justice must decide it in the lonely room of his or her own conscience, but in accordance with the law, that is the way in which right is done without fear or favour, affection or ill will”, the CJN added. She further called on the Justice of the apex court to earn and maintain public confidence in in response to every reasonable application, with

impartiality and fearless administration of the law. “I also implore you to work hand in hand with your brother justices of the Supreme Court to present to the nation a judiciary all Nigerians can be proud of. “It is a heavy burden, and I am confident you will discharge your duties with honour, considering your rich and accomplished reputation.

Jonathan reappoints Akpobolokemi as DG Bayo Akomolafe

resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi as the director general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA) for another four years. In a letter dated October 13th and signed by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the appointment will take effect from December 23rd , 2014 in accordance with Section 11 (1) and (2) of the NIMASA Act 2007. The letter reads: “I am pleased to inform you that the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, approved your appointment as the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety (NIMASA) for a second and final tenure of four years in accordance with Section 11 (1) and (2) of the NIMASA Act 2007. “Your emoluments and other conditions of service are as provided under certain political, public judicial office holders salaries and allowances etc(Amendment) Act 2008.”

NPC proposes N131bn for 2016 census Steve Uzoechi Owerri

he National Population Commission (NPC) has proposed a budget estimate of N131billion for the execution of the 2016 national census exercise. Chairman of the commission, Mr. Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), made the disclosure in Orlu, Imo State yesterday. He added that the commission is ready and committed to conducting comprehensive, acceptable and controversy-free population census for the country. The NPC chairman assured that preparations and necessary modalities are being put in place by the Federal Government to ensure that a proper population census with accurate figures is conducted in the country by the year 2016. Duruiheoma ex-

pressed optimism that the budget estimate of the commission would be approved by the Federal Government, saying the exercise is not to condemn the previous exercises. He said: “I will not join anybody or group in engaging in any undue criticism of previous efforts at giving the country credible census figures.” Duruiheoma also debunked allegations that the commission was presently underfunded by the Federal Government. Commenting on the Imo governorship election in 2015, the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state chairman said that based on prevailing permutations, the Imo West (Orlu zone), the largest senatorial district in the state, would favour a governorship candidate from Imo East (Owerri zone).

News

DANGER Attempt to foist 30,000 new polling centres on the electorate is a sign of trouble ahead Babatope Okeowo AKURE

he Pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere yesterday

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Afenifere calls for Jega’s sack called on the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, to resign his appointment over what it described as shoddy arrangements for next year’s general elections. Alternatively, the mainstream Yoruba sociopolitical group urged the Federal Government to

relieve the electoral boss of his appointment before next year’s election. Similarly, the group asked the Federal Government to come out with a position on the recommendations of the delegates to the recently concluded National Conference as it relates to local government autonomy, creation of more local governments and the

structures of government, among other issues. Leader of the group, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, stated that the result of the elections would not be acceptable to majority of Nigerians if Jega was allowed to conduct them. Ondo State Chairman of the group, Chief Korede Duyile hinged its decisions on the insistence of Prof Jega to conduct

the next election using the controversial additional polling centres in the country. He, however, said the removal or resignation of INEC boss would not affect the preparations for the next year’s elections as there are structures on ground for the conduct of the polls. His words “You will recall that the Southern

Wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun (right), administering immunisation on a child, in Imeko...yesterday

FG has no excuse for power failure, says Fashola Muritala Ayinla

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday said that the Federal Government has no excuse for failing to provide stable power supply for her citizens, saying it was shameful that Nigeria remains the only oil producing country, which finds it difficult to provide stable power supply. The governor, who

also boasted that if only the National Assembly could make a law to enable states generate and distribute power for their residents, Lagos would conveniently provide stable power for its residents, wondered why it is taking too long for the Federal Government to redeem its pledges on stable power. Fashola spoke when commissioned the 8.8MW Mainland Power

Plant to power Lagos State University Teaching University Hospital, LASUTH, Old secretariat, Lagos High Court and other public buildings in the Ikeja axis of the state. The governor, who said the development goes beyond providing a stable power supply to the residents and the public buildings but to also save lives in the teaching hospital.

‘PDP won’t field controversial candidate in Lagos’ Wale Elegbede

former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South, Chief Olabode George said yesterday that the party won’t field any candidate with questionable character for the 2015 gubernatorial election in Lagos State.

Babatope Okeowo Akure

overnor Olusegun Mimiko, of Ondo State yesterday inaugurated a 23-member governing Council of the state owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko

Addressing newsmen at his Ikoyi residence, George urged aspirants with blemish to stay off the track of seeking the PDP for its governorship ticket, adding that the party has set up a screening committee to ascertain the authenticity of credentials from aspirants. “Whoever will emerge as the candidate of the

PDP for a state like Lagos must reflect the future we are looking at. “We have set up a committee that will screen the aspirants and their terms of reference will be to ensure that the candidate is a man with sound education, respectable, responsible, acceptable, marketable and with a pedigree in managing people and resources.

Fayose promises to lift EKSUTH Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, Yesterday promised to lift Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti , from its present state of decadence through the overhauling of facilities as well as providing the needed manpower that would rank the institu-

tion with its peers in the country and globally. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, the governor decried the current state of facilities at the hospital. Fayose, who said he had been properly briefed on the state of the hospital by members of the Transition Committee he put in place before his inauguration, noted that a teaching hospital must not exist in

capital. The council replaced the one headed by Chief Dan Nwanyanwu whose tenure ended last month. Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, noted that the composition was

name only. “A situation whereby a teaching hospital has only one functional ambulance is uncalled for. What happens if there are more than one emergency case to handle at the same time? “Also, the X-ray machine there has broken down. Patients have to go to private facilities to have x-ray photographs taken and that is a shame. The wards are also not fixed with fans,” he said.

...Appoints campaign director Chief of Staff Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, yesterday appointed the Director General of his campaign outfit, the Ayo Fayose Campaign Organisation (AFCO), Chief Dipo Anisulowo, as his Chief of Staff.

In a press release by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti, the governor also approved the appointment of a former member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Bisi Kolawole, as Special Assistant on Environment. All the appointments were with immediate effect.

Akadiri heads Ajasin varsity governing council (AAUA). The new governing council, which is headed by Ambassador Oladele Akadiri, was inaugurated at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office in Akure, the Ondo State

leader’s forum met in Abuja and decried the attempt to create the 30,000 polling centres whereby over 21,000 was allocated to the North and just above 8,000 was allocated to the South. We feel that this will further worsen the dichotomy between the North and the South. “The meeting reiterated its last decision, calling on Prof Jega to resign his position as most voters in Yorubaland and, indeed, most part of Nigeria especially in the South have lost confidence in him. It is clear that Prof Jega will be a curse that will affect the integrity of the election and consequently cause crisis in Nigeria. If he insists in creating the 30,000 polling centres as being presently pursued by him. “The meeting also called on the Federal Government to come out clearly with recommendations on the National Conference reports to avoid and forestall the National Assembly teleguiding or undermining the reports. “The National Assembly’s decision on local government is a typical case in point. In a situation where a local government remains as it is in the constitution. Where Lagos state with the population of over fifteen million has 20 local governments and Kano is having 44, is unacceptable.

based purely on record of achievements, experience, integrity and commitment to service, stressing that the State government was meticulous in the selection because of the need to inject people who have

distinguished themselves in both private and public sectors. Mimiko, who urged the council to develop new strategies to further complement the efforts of the State government at making

Kolawole was the director general of the Prince Adedayo Adeyeye Movement, the campaign outfit of the Minister of State, Works, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, before the emergence of Fayose as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the June 21 governorship poll. the institution a truly world class citadel of learning, also stressed the need for members to always lead by example and protect the rights of the people within the academic community irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 30, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Court restrains Abia PDP primaries’ committee

lSenators petition Mu’azu over illegal congress committee Tunde Oyesina and Wale Elegbede

n Abuja High yesterday stopped the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries committee from going ahead with the selection of ward delegates for the primary election of candidates in the 2015 general election.

Deposed monarch slams N30m suit on Enugu govt

he deposed traditional ruler of AmandimOlo, Autonomous community in Ezeagu Local Government Council of Enugu State, Igwe Harford Agana, has instituted a N30 million suit, at the Enugu State High Court challenging his unlawful removal from the throne by the state government. The royal father, who listed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs, Enugu and Mr. Emeka Nwankwo as defendants in the suit, is claiming among other things N20 million from the State Government for the embarrassment caused him by the withdrawal of his recognition as the Traditional Ruler of his community. He is also claiming N10 million damages against the third Defendant (Emeka Nwankwo) for “falsely parading himself ” as the Traditional Ruler of the community to his detriment.

The court order subsists pending when the substantive suit will be heard. The court gave the restraining order while delivering ruling in an ex parte motion brought by two members of the party, Chief Igwe Chukwu and Chief Eche James, praying it to sack the committee on the ground that its setting up was unconstitutional, null and void. The plaintiffs had through their counsel, N.J. Kalu, approached the court to stop the threeman ad hoc committee set up to conduct the election/selection pending the determination of the substantive suit. Joined as defendants

are the PDP, its national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, Senator Emma Nwaka and Chief Charles Ogbonna as first to fourth defendants. In his ruling, the trial judge, Justice A.B. Mohammed granted an interim order pending the determination of the motion on notice. The delegate election was scheduled to hold on November 1 in line with the approval of the 11man committee headed by the fourth defendant. The court later adjourned till November 10 to hear the substantive suit. The plaintiffs in their suit had prayed the court for an injunction re-

straining the defendants from further giving effect to the endorsement and approval setting up of the committee or giving effect to any decision or action of the fourth defendant and also restrain him from commencing, continuing or completing the discharging of the functions of conducting the election for the said three-man ad hoc delegates from the wards for the purpose of participating in the primary election for the candidates of the first defendant in the 2015 national election. In an affidavit deposed to on behalf of the plaintiffs by one V.I. Uma, they averred that the committee offended the provi-

sions of the 1999 Constitution, constitution of the party and guidelines issued for the primaries. On that ground, the plaintiffs prayed the court for an order setting aside the endorsement and approval and setting up and inauguration of the said committee headed by the fourth defendant on record as same is unconstitutional, null and void being inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and the guidelines of the party. Meanwhile, Abia State Senators caucus have petitioned the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, over what they termed flagrant abuse of the party’s constitution

A cross-section of participants at the Global Nigerian Conference in Aberdeen, UK, sponsored by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited to facilitate collaboration between Nigerian oil and gas service companies and technical professionals working in the industry

and electoral guidelines for primary election. The senators stressed that the state executive of the party is working against the ethos of the PDP by abdicating its responsibility. The senators, Uche Chukwumerije (Abia North), Nkechi Nwaogu (Abia Central) and Eyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), in a signed petition made available to New Telegraph, frowned at the action of the state executive through its chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka, at inaugurating a committee purported to oversee the conduct of the upcoming congress/ primary election. The Nwaka-led state executive of the party had recently inaugurated a committee chaired by Ogbonnaya to supervise the conduct of congresses in the state, a development the senators said runs counter to the spirit and letter of the party’s constitution. They categorically stated that the development is not acceptable to them and other party members in the state. According to them, “The committee as illegal as it were expressly contravenes sections 31 (1) 25 (1) of the constitution of the PDP as amended. “Against the foregoing background, it therefore calls to question their continued presence and in carrying out the unsolicited illegal functions with regard to the processes leading to the conduct of the coming ward congress and primary election in the state.

Chime, Enugu PDP jostle for party’s control Thugs disrupt Chukwu’s adoption in Ebonyi Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

t was a war of words between Governor Sullivan Chime, of Enugu state and other political stakeholders in Enugu yesterday, over the 2015 political arrangements, as the governor debunked claims that the national leadership of the People Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday failed to recognize his submission on the way forward on the party’s issues in the state. The report had claimed that M’uazu and the National Working Committee of the party refused to grant Governor Sullivan Chime audience when he went to see the National Chairman in his office on Tuesday. But in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secre-

tary to the Governor, Chukwudi Achife, yesterday, he described the report as “a fabrication and a figment of the reporter’s imagination”. He disclosed that contrary to the report, the governor spent over two hours with the National Chairman in his office, adding that he believed that the report was the handiwork of the Governor’s political foes that was designed to embarrass both the governor and the PDP Chairman. According to him, “that report was a pure fabrication, a figment of the Reporter’s imagination. His Excellency Governor Sullivan Chime spent over two hours with the National Chairman of the PDP in his office. “The report which can only be described as cowardly and shameful, was

apparently planted by the governor’s opponents in an attempt to embarrass both the governor and the National Chairman of the PDP”, he posited. Achife also stressed that contrary to the insinuations made in the same report, the recent appointment of Chief Ikeje Asogwa as the new Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State conformed with the party’s constitution and convention. He noted that Article 47 (6) of the Constitution states that “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the executive committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from, pending the conduct of election to fill the vacancy”.

Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

uspected political thugs, yesterday disrupted the adoption of Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu in Effium autonomous community of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. I was gathered that the

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

hairman of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, Prince Emeka Okafor, has said that the call by the President of Abia Think Tank Association, ATTA, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa for a funding arrangement that would tackle the infrastructural decay of Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the

thugs numbering about 300, besieged the where supporters and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had converged at the Effuim Community Central School to give support to the governorship candidature of Chukwu and distrupted proceeding’s. The declaration was being done ahead of the 2015 general elections.

New Telegraph gathered that the thugs, who came in their numbers and displayed posters of Hon. Sunday Elechi Inyima, a former Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area also an aspirant for the position of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, were alleged to be thugs loyal to the aspirant.

PPA chides Orji on Aba state,hasvindicatedtheparty. Speaking yesterday at the party office in Umuahia, Prince Okafor said it “was good that the call was coming from a PDP stalwart, who before now had praised the present administration for doing a wonderful job in the state.” “The call for a forum to raise fund to tackle the in-

frastructural deficit of Aba has vindicated PPA over the state of infrastructural decay in Aba which is an indication that the government of T A Orji has failed to address the issue,” he said, adding, “we thank him for waking up from slumber to see that infrastructure in Aba has decayed and needs to be rebuilt.”

News

thursday, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

south — south

Court restrains EFCC from re-arresting Edo speaker, others Cajetan Mmuta

BENIN

he Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State has restrained the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from re-arresting and detaining the three All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in the state House of Assembly over the impeachment of the Deputy Speaker

1,343

of the House, Chief Festus Ebea. The legislators include the Speaker, Uyi Igbe; the Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu and the Majority Whip, Folly Ogedengbe. The trio were invited to Abuja office of the EFCC for questioning after which they were detained over alleged forgery of the signature of the PDP member representing Etsako West 1, Mr. Abdul Rasaq Momoh, on the document containing the resolu-

The number of pending asylum seekers from Namibia at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

tion of the house with which the lawmakers impeached the Deputy Speaker. But the court in an interim injunction restraining the EFCC from carrying out such exercise. The speaker and two others approached the Federal High Court in suit no FHC/B/ CS/114/2014 with prayers for the court to restrain the EFCC from further “investigation activity into the allegation of forgery of the

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of men in Hong Kong, China in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

signature of Hon. Rasaq Momoh in the resolution of Edo State House of Assembly, impeaching its erstwhile Deputy Speaker, pending the determination of the application praying for similar interlocutory reliefs. They sought for the order of the court “Granting an interim injunction restraining the Defendants from summoning the Plaintiffs/applicants to their office wheresoever, rearresting them or their

28.52

The average age of Portugal team in Brazil 2014 World Cup. Source: Telegraph.co.uk

respective sureties in connection with any investigation into the allegation of forgery of the signature of Hon Rasaq Momoh on document containing the resolution of the Edo state House of Assembly impeaching the erstwhile Deputy Speaker pending the hearing of the application praying for similar interlocutory reliefs”. Justice A.M. Liman had after hearing the arguments of counsel for the plaintiffs Mr. K

160

The sex ratio of women to 100 men (international migrants) in Montenegro in 2010. Source: Un.org

.E . Mozia, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Ufodian Esq. counsel to defendants, granted the order. The court stated that “an order of interim injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants/respondents from re-arresting and detaining the plaintiffs/applicants or their respective sureties in connection with any investigation into the allegation of forgery of signature of Hon.Rasaq Momoh on the document containing the resolution of Edo State House of Assembly impeaching its erstwhile Deputy Speaker pending the determination of the application for similar interlocutory reliefs”

Itulah goes for third term Philip Nyam Abuja

L-R: Chairman, Etsako Central Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Momoh; Mrs Josephine Akhigbe; Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and Mr. Ikhane Akhigbe, at the one-year remembrance/unveiling of statue to honour the former Chief of General Staff, Vice-Admiral Mike Akhigbe, at Fugar…on Tuesday.

Ex-militants insist on Ijaw governor for Delta Edo immortalises Akhigbe Gabriel Choba Ughelli

s the 2015 governorship election heats up, former militants in Delta State yesterday insisted that an Ijaw man should succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in the next political dispensation. The ex-militants, operating on the platform of the ‘Movement for the Actualisation of the Dreams of Niger Deltans,’ made this known after a crucial meeting held to brainstorm on the way forward towards the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Delta State. Chairman of the group, Josiah Oyakongha, who spoke with journalists yesterday on behalf of the group, lamented the neglect by

the state government, saying that Ijaws have been shortchanged in the scheme of things. Oyakongha noted that the Ijaw ethnic nationality, which he said has contributed immensely to the economy of Nigeria has neither produced the governor, deputy governor nor the secretary to the state government since the creation of Delta State in 1991. He said: “The lopsidedness in governance is greatly the bane of most needless acrimonies among other ethnic nationalities in the state. The ethnic group that suffers most under these imbalances is the Ijaw nation, which is unarguably the second largest in the state. “The act of oppression, marginalisation and inequality meted out to the Ijaw nation must

stop. Politics is a game and not a do-or-die affair. It is not a one-man show. All intending aspirants must consult and work towards their success, even as they should also play the game without rancour and bitterness,” Oyakongha said. The former militant, however, called on all governorship aspirants to follow the legacies of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, adding that; “Uduaghan is a bridge builder and a detribalised leader, whose leadership quality should be emulated by those who wants to govern the state.” He therefore appealed to all the ethnic nationalities to support the Ijaw nation in their quest to produce the next governor, who will definitely govern the state come 2015.

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

do State government yesterday immortalised the late Chief of General Staff, Vice-Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, for his outstanding contributions to the nation and the state. Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who unveiled the statue of the late Akhigbe at a ceremony held in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government area of the state, said for everybody in life, there are things to be remembered about the person, his or her achievements. He said: “Everybody has the opportunity to define how he wants to be remembered. When you are alive and whether people remember or not, there are things you

do, that it is impossible for people to forget.” Akhigbe died on October 28, 2013,67. A memorial mass was held at the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church. Oshiomhole extolled his laudable contributions, particularly the construction of road networks in the local government area. According to the governor, “This road on which we are hosting this event was constructed with several others by Admiral Akhigbe in nine months and one can only imagine if he had the privilege to live much longer, he would have done much more. So, in Akhigbe, we had a leader who remembered that no matter how much privileges you have in life, you needed to give something back to your roots.”

ormer Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and member representing Esan North East, South East federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Friday Itulah, was yesterday asked by the Uromi-Uzea Solidarity Movement to seek re-election in the 2015 general elections. Uromi-Ezea is a sociopolitical group, whose membership cuts across sons and daughters as well as well-wishers from Uromi and Uzea at home and abroad. The group’s decision was conveyed to the lawmaker by its President, Prince Dave Oseghale, after the other major contender; Hon. Emma Okodua, voluntarily stepped down in the interest of Uromi-Uzea solidarity for Itulah’s emergence. While expressing solidarity with Itulah, the group also urged all Uromi sons and daughters and indeed all National Assembly delegates to queue behind Itulah for his excellent record of performance and pragmatic representation at National Assembly thus far. The group said having been satisfied with the record of Itulah, it has resolved to back him for the 2015 elections and will mobilise support for his reelection. It also urged all sons and daughters of Uromi to join hands to achieve.

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, OCTOBER 30, 2014

News 49

north

Ngilari: I’m consulting, praying about 2015 guber race service

Adamawa governor is sure enjoying some goodwill. His people are begging him to save them again Ibrahim Abdul Yola

overnor of Adamawa State, Bala James Ngillari, yes-

terday said he would announce his final decision on the gubernatorial election in the state after intensive prayer and due consultation with the people of the state. The governor dropped the hint yesterday shortly after he was presented with a gubernatorial nomination form by a pressure group, the Adamawa Progressive Peoples Movement. He said he had wanted to run for the senatorial seat of his district, but with the recent devel-

The percentage of development aid allocated to sanitation and drinking water in developing countries in 2010. Source: Unesco.org

opment in the state, he would embark on consultations and prayer for God to guide him in taking the best decision in the interest of the state. “I will consult prayerfully so that at the end of the day, it will be the decision of the Adamawa people,” Ngillari said. He added that as a leader, he will not refuse to heed the call of the people as it represents the voice of God, adding that as a true democrat, he will always try to listen to the yearnings and

13,000

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Guyana in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

aspirations of the people. Bala called on the people to discard politics of ethnicity and religion for the state and the country to move forward just as he advised politicians to discard such tendencies for the betterment of the polity. While presenting the nomination form to Governor Ngillari, leader of the group, Mr. Lawrence Ngbale, said the reason for the purchase of the form is to prod Ngillari to contest the gubernatorial election as he rep-

27.73

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Latvia in 2008. Source: Itu.int

resents the best in the state. “People of Adamawa State want you to contest the governorhip election, not the senate. With the people by your side, victory is surely yours,” he said.

Ngbale said about 13 groups contributed more than N150 million to facilitate the purchase of the nomination form, promising to use the remaining proceeds to help Ngilari during the electioneering campaigns.

Buhari, Atiku to attend APC guber aspirant rally Dan Atori MINNA

ormer Head of State and presidential aspirant in the 2015 general elections, MajorGeneral Muhammadu Buhari and former VicePresident and presidential hopeful, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, will today lead other party chieftains to the formal declaration by Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the gubernatorial candidate of Niger State in the 2015 elections. The declaration, which is expected to take place at the ancient city of Kontagora, headquarters of Kontagora Local Government, will also have dignitaries from within and outside the state. Prominent among them are the former Gov-

ernor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, former FCT Minister and APC gubernatorial aspirant in Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. According to a statement by the Director, Media and Publicity, Abubakar Bello Campaign Organisation, Mallam Yusuf Suleiman and made available to New Telegraph, the declaration by the aspirant will signal the commencement of a journey for the restoration of the past glory of Niger State. Suleiman said Sani Bello will use the occasion to present his manifesto and programme of action to the people of the state, stressing that APC is determined to put an end to the recklessness associated with governance in the state and ensure the restoration of the cherished values of the people.

Indigenes task Kwara lawmakers on education L-R: Secretary to the Benue State Government, Dr. David Salifu; Chairman, Christian Elders forum of the Northern State, Olaiya Phillips and Osana of Keana, Emmanuel Elayo, during the Christian Traditional Rulers’ Conference, organised by Christian Elders Forum, Northern State in Markurdi on Tuesday

Niger youths endorse Nasko Dan Atori MINNA

ew days after the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) endorsed him, youths in Niger State have vowed to cast their votes for Umar Nasko as the governor in the 2015 general elections, saying that it is their resolve to support a youthful candidate for the race. The leader of the group, Hon. Murtala Zubairu, revealed this yesterday when he led a group of youths under the auspices of Suleja Gurara and Tafa PDP Youth Network to the Evergreen Mandate Group (EMG) secretariat in Minna, to present a letter of endorsement to the aspirant. In the letter, the group said it has resolved to vote only for a youth that would give youths in the state a sense of belonging

after the elections. According to Zubairu, “As youths, we have unanimously agreed to support Umar Nasko. He is a youth, and we are ready to accompany him to the Government House come May 29, 2015. “We are standing on our grounds, we remain undaunted. We are not aware of any other candidate except Umar Nasko. We will give him 100 percent support. We the youth in Suleja, Gurara and Tafa will only support and vote for him.” In her response, EMG Director of Finance, Mrs. Deborah Salawu, charged youths in the state to take advantage of the opportunity and vote in Nasko, who is also a youth with zeal. “Change has come, you must all embrace this change because you are the ones who are the leaders of today and tomorrow,” she added.

Gambari sues for peace Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

mir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, yesterday tasked politicians in the state on peaceful conduct of their campaigns, urging them to play by the rules so as not to jeopardise the existing peace in the state. The monarch, who gave the advice when he received Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, a PDP governorship aspirant in Kwara State, who paid him homage in his palace in Ilorin, said there was need for politicians to watch their utterances and avoid acts capable of truncating the country’s democracy. Gambari, who said Ilorin emirate is proud of Ibrahim’s achievements as an industrialist and employer of labour, decried the disturbances witnessed at the Eid pray-

ing ground during the last Sallah celebration, saying that bringing politics to religious places is unacceptable. “Ilorin is a peaceful town, we must all maintain that peace and harmony,” he emphasised. Ibrahim, who said it was necessary to receive royal blessings for such efforts he is making, said he would focus on job creation, agricultural revolution, natural resources development and provision of needed infrastructure if given the opportunity by the people. He described his aspiration as influenced by a divine prompting with the active support of several stakeholders. On his entourage to the palace were Kunle Sulyman, Senator Baba Zuruq, Chief Lanre Ogundeji, Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim, Mrs. Sarah Eyitayo and Alhaja Rukayat Ibrahim.

Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

ndigenes of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, under the umbrella of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) yesterday urged members of the state House of Assembly to hasten action on relevant bills that have to do with the return of mission schools to enable all interest groups know their stand on the issue. National President of the organisation, Alhaji Abdulhamid Adi, expressed concern over the matter while speaking with journalists in Ilorin

on behalf of the union. He said: “Delay may be dangerous,” while urging those seeking the return of mission schools to their original owners in the state to exercise restraint. The union warned those it described as “overzealous religious faith-based groups” against disrupting the peace existing between religious adherents in the state, expressing regret that some outsiders who had infiltrated religious groups in the state, almost capitalised on the recent agitation for the return of mission schools to their owners, to disrupt the prevailing peace exist-

PDP councillors in battle for automatic delegate status

he National Councillors’ Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the party leadership to include councillors as automatic delegates to the primary election meant to choose flag bearers for various positions in the 2015 elections. The forum’s National

Chairman, Onogu Collins Monday, who made the appeal yesterday in Lokoja, said since members of the House of Assemblies, chairmen and vice-chairmen of local governments were given automatic delegate status; it should also be accorded to councillors across the country.

News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

WORLD | News

2015: Jonathan promises FCT indigenes ministerial slot

Zambian president, dies at 77

Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan has promised to preserve a ministerial slot for indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) next year if he is re-elected into office for a second term. The President stated this yesterday when he received a delegation of indigenes in the territory, who were led by the

Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed and the head of traditional rulers in the city, the Ona of Abaji. He took the opportunity to seek the support of the indigenes through massive votes for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Jonathan assured that his administration would continue to support speedy infrastructural development of the city for optimum wel-

fare of residents. “People here are qualified to be ministers and permanent secretaries. When the party is thinking of nominating a minister after the elections, you should be able to get a minister,” he told the d e l e g at e s.   Jo n at h a n also commended the FCT minister for the level of development that the city has witnessed in the last five years.

Striking Edo workers protest unpaid five months salaries Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

orkers in Edo State under the Coalition of Unions of Edo State Owned Tertiary Institutions, yesterday protested against nonpayment of their outstanding five months salaries and poor condition of service in the four institutions in the state The institutions include the College of Education, Ekiadolor; College of Education Igueben; Institute of Science and Technology, Usen, and

College of Agriculture, Igworiakhi. Adorned in black attire, the aggrieved workers in their hundreds, also demanded for immediate payment of their 16 months arrears of salary owed them by the state government from July 2009 to October 2010. They frowned at the state government’s refusal to pay them promotion arrears and called for the stoppage of use of trust fund/ cooperative monies for the running of the institutions, dilapidated infrastructures and non provision of funds for the accreditation of courses

in the affected institutions. President of the coalition, Mr. Fred Omonuwa said that they have made series of engagement with the state government through the Commissioner of Education over the issues. He said the workers can longer continue to bear the pains. Omonuwa kicked against the state government to alleged resort to selective preference to pay the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, its regular monthly pension and gratuities as well as increase in subvention while leaving others out of consideration.

•VP becomes Africa’s first white leader in 20 years ambian President Michael Sata, who was nicknamed “King Cobra” for his fiery comebacks and larger-than-life personality, has died. He was 77. Sata had traveled to London for unspecified medical treatment last week, and died at a hospital there on Tuesday evening. Officials did not disclose the cause of death. “It’s shocking, it’s devastating, because I knew he was sick. But I did not know it was going to end this way,” said George Zulu, permanent secretary at the Zambian Min-

Sata

istry of Foreign Affairs. “(We) lost a man who devoted his whole life to his country.” Vice President Guy Scott has been appointed

acting president, Roland Msiska, secretary to Zambia’s Cabinet, told CNN yesterdayday. He will serve for 90 days until elections are held for a new president. Scott, who is of Scottish descent, will be the first white head of state in sub-Saharan Africa since apartheid. He is ineligible to be elected president because his parents were not born in Zambia, Msiska said. Before Scott, Defence Minister, Edgar Lungu was appointed as acting president when Sata left for London.

US, Russia collaborate on ISIS

ecretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday that the United States and Russia had agreed to share more intelligence on the Islamic State, as he sought to lay the basis for improved cooperation with Moscow. Just six months ago, Obama administration officials suggested that their goal was to isolate President Vladimir V. Putin following Russia’s decision to annex Crimea and provide military support to separat-

ists in eastern Ukraine. But Mr. Kerry made it clear that he would welcome expanded cooperation with Mr. Putin after a meeting with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister. While nobody on the American side said the United States was undertaking another “reset” — the term the Obama administration used to describe its early attempt to improve ties with Russia — the tenor of Mr. Kerry’s comments suggested that the State

Department was pursuing a new tack. “It is no secret that the United States and Russia have had our differences over Ukraine,” Mr. Kerry told reporters. “We came together today in order to try to focus on those issues where we can find the capacity to be able to make a difference to other countries, to the world in general, and certainly to the relationship between Russia and the United States.”

Keyamo raises the alarm over threat to life Foluso Ogunmodede

agos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, yesterday raised the alarm over an alleged plot by a former militant, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo otherwise known as Tompolo to assassinate him for plying his trade as a legal practitioner. Tompolo, according to Keyamo had in a telephone conversation, threatened to assassinate him for his readiness to handle “a matter involving his blood brother, Mr. George Ekpemupolo, who was used to illegally substitute another candidate, Mr. Weyinmi Omadeli 48 hours to the election in the Warri South-West L.G.A elections”. Keyamo in a petition

wired to the Director-General, State Security Services and the Inspector-General of Police, copies of which were sent to President Goodluck Jonathan and the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, asked the nation’s relevant authorities to treat his complaint with dispatch as he would not want his death to enter the list of unresolved murders in the country. . In the petition, entitled “threat to kill Mr Festus Keyamo by Mr Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo”, Keyamo asked the SSS and the police to probe the alleged plan by the highly connected Tompolo, who has vowed to send his boys after him with a view to killing him after he had volunteered to seek redress in court over an injustice occasioned

during the last council’s election in Delta state. He said: “At exactly 10:13pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, I received a telephone call from one Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) with phone number 08027721208. “We have been acquaintances in the past, so I know his numbers. After reaffirming that he is Tompolo when I picked his call, he went straight to the point by informing me that he wishes to inform me that he and his “boys” will kill me by beating me to death or shooting me anywhere they can find me. And that the hunt for me is on. His exact words in pidgin English was “we dey look for you. Anywhere we see you, whether for Lagos or Abuja or Warri, we go beat you die or we go shoot you.”

Anwar-Ul-Islam old students to honour ex-principal, others 30 years after

former principal of Anwar-UlIslam College, Agege, Lagos, Alhaji M. L. Olaniyan, will be honoured by 1984 set of the Old Students Association of the school on Saturday.

A statement by President of ACAOSA 84 Set, Shakiru Bello, said other notable past and present teachers and other staffers of the college will also be honoured as part of the Set’s 30th anniversary and reunion.

He said prizes will also be given to current best students of different classes in the school, while some gift items will also be donated to the school. The anniversary celebration will be rounded off with a reunion party.

John Kerry (left) with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov

Google is developing cancer and heart attack detector

oogle hopes to develop a wristband that would carry out non-invasive blood tests. Google is aiming to diagnose cancers, impending heart attacks or strokes and other diseases, at a much earlier stage than is currently possible. The company is working on technology that combines diseasedetecting nanoparticles, which would enter a pa-

tient’s bloodstream via a swallowed pill, with a wrist-worn sensor. The idea is to identify slight changes in the person’s biochemistry that could act as an early warning system. The work is still at an early stage. Early diagnosis is the key to treating disease. Many cancers, such as pancreatic, are detected only after they have become untreatable and fatal.

There are marked differences between cancerous and healthy tissues. Google’s ambition is to constantly monitor the blood for the unique traces of cancer, allowing diagnosis long before any physical symptoms appear. The project is being conducted by the search company’s research unit, Google X, which is dedicated to investigating potentially revolutionary innovations.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Sports News

International Sport

No pressure filling Di Maria’s boots – Rodriguez

Record-breaking prospect excites Udoh

Canada 2015: Owolabi wants early preparation for Falcons

Sport

Nigeria League

Did you know? That Lionel Messi of Barcelona was the only player to have won the Ballon d’Or four times

Players’ selection:

Ezeugo cautions Amodu

Ajibade Olusesan

x-international, Emeka Ezeugo, has war ned the Super Eagles coach, Amodu Shaibu, not to allow the precarious situation of the team force him into making wrong invitations and selections of players for the African Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo and South Africa. Nigeria is currently third in Group A of the qualifying series and the Eagles run the risk of not qualifying for Morocco to defend their title except they win their remaining two matches. Erstwhile coach, Stephen Keshi, was accused of exempting some players from his

squad before he was sacked and several players have been suggested to the new coach. But Ezeugo in an interview with our correspondent said that Amodu should be careful not call too many new players, saying that it could further destroy the balance in the team because he has little time to work on the squad. He said he (Amodu) should be careful because so many people may want to force players on him, and that allowing such would be counterproductive. Ezeugo said that the coach should stick with the bulk of the players Keshi left behind and just make a few additions that could make the squad stronger. “Amodu needs to be careful now because we

Ezeugo

cannot afford to make a wholesale change to the squad Keshi left behind. I agree that we need to bring in more players who are doing well, but we can’t bring in everybody now otherwise it will boomerang. At this level, many people will come around to introduce their players to the coach, but he must not fall for it because it can cause so many problems. “I trust him because he is an experienced coach. He understands what I am talking about and I trust that he will do a good job. We don’t need to panic and at the end of the day do things that may affect us. I have a firm belief that we can still qualify for the Nations Cup, we just have to do the right things now,” Mikel (left) he said.

NFF Crisis: Court adjourns case to Thursday Musa Pam

The Sport Team

Adekunle Salami l Deputy Editor, Sports Emmanuel Tobi l Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh l Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan l Sports Correspondent

Jos

ustice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos has adjourned to Thursday October 30 the ruling in the case of preliminary objection filed by the counsel to the Nigerian Football Federation, Damon Dashen. The court had ruled on October 23 nullifying the Warri General Assembly

and the subsequent elective Congress that bought in the current NFF board led by Amaju Pinnick as NFF President. Our correspondent learnt that counsel to NFF had on Monday filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court Jos to hear the matter in the first instance. The counsel to NFF had argued that if the appellants had rode on the NFF statutes which provide for its matter not to be brought before any ordinary

court, the court should not have entertained the matter in the first place. Habila Arzard, counsel to Yahaya Adama and Obinna Ogba, however argued that any statutes or law which seek to oust the Jurisdiction of the court or deny any citizen access to Justice is in direct contravention of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. FIFA has given Nigeria up till noon on Friday, October 31 to the leadership crisis in the football scene or face another ban.

SPORT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Canada 2015: Owolabi wants Bafana Bafana wait on FIFA for Nigeria trip early preparation for Falcons Charles Ogundiya

ormer Nigerian inter national, Felix Owolabi, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to prepare the Super Falcons early for the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Speaking to New Telegraph on the telephone after the victorious outing of the team at the nineth edi-

tion of the African Women Championship in Namibia, Owolabi said early preparation would help the team at the World Cup. The Super Falcons won their seventh title after defeating the Lionesses of Cameroun 2-0 in the final of the AWC. “I have said it before that the girls were the best team on the continent, but what next after their victory?” he asked. “We need to step up our performance at the world stage and the only way to do

that is to prepare the girls early for the competition. If we start preparation now like other serious countries, the girls can win the World Cup in Canada next year,” the former Shooting Stars great said. He however said there was need to fortify the technical crew to achieve the needed result at the world stage. Nigeria alongside Cameroun and Cote d’ Ivoire will represent Africa at the Women’s World Cup in Canada next year.

afana Bafana may be spared a trip to Nigeria after FIFA set a deadline of Friday for the country’s football federation to sort out its latest crisis or be suspended at least until May. Should Nigeria fail to avoid their latest suspension, a third this year, Bafana will also likely qualify immediately for the African Nations Cup finals in Morocco no matter the result of their next game against Sudan in Mbombela next month. That’s because it is likely CAF will disregard points

I am good enough for Super Eagles - Adejo Emmanuel Tobi

Super Falcons’ coach, Edwin Okon and skipper Evelyn Nwabuoku presenting the AWC trophy to sports minister, Tammy Danagogo (right) and NFF president, Amaju Pinnick (2nd left) at the reception for Falcons in Abuja.

Six countries for Obudu African mountain race

ix African countries have confirmed their participation for the sixth African Nations Mountain Running Championship which holds alongside the prestigious Obudu inter national race next weekend at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River state. Confir ming this yesterday in Calabar was Patrick Ugbe, the vicechairman of the Local Organising Committee for the 10th Obudu mountain race dubbed the mountain race of stars. Ugbe, a veteran journalist who was once the chief press secretary to Cross River state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, revealed that Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Cameroun have sent in their entries for the race. “Of course we have Nigeria as the sixth nation. For two years when the championships made its debut, it was restricted to only the men. In 2007 His Excellency, Gover nor Liyel Imoke approved the addition of the women’s version. Since then it has become a 3-in-1 race at the Obudu Ranch Resort,” he revealed. Ugbe also confir med that Imoke will wear his running tennis shoes and participate in the VIP race which will be held on Friday November 7, a day before the main race at the Obudu ranch resort in Obudu. Meanwhile, the LOC has also released the itinerary for this year’s race. The children, youth, media and VIP races will hold at the ranch on Friday November 7 while the main race will hold the next day.

reece-based Nigerian defender, Daniel Adejo, has said he is good enough for the Super Eagles. The former Reggina of Italy star who now plies his trade with Kalloni in the Super League in Greece, while speaking in a telephone interview with New Telegraph from his base, expressed confidence solving the dearth of a right back if given the opportunity. “I will be very happy if I’m in-

Omidiran salutes Super Falcons Adekunle Salami

former member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, has showered praises on the Super Falcons for reclaiming the Africa Women Championship title in Namibia. Falcons under coach Edwin Okon won all their five games at the continental female football fiesta. The team scored 16 goals and conceded

Omidiran

earned in matches against the Super Eagles in Bafana’s qualification pool, which would leave Bafana on seven points, Congo on four and Sudan zero, meaning Shakes Mashaba’s side could not finish outside the top two. FIFA wrote to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday setting a deadline of mid-day on Friday for the executive that was elected on September 30, and which is recognised by FIFA, to be reinstated to their posts after the Jos High Court said last week the elections were invalid.

just two. Omidiran, a member of the House of Representatives, said, “I saw it coming. The Falcons were hungry for glory. They were also angry because Nigeria lost the title two years ago. They were highly determined to cross all hurdles to achieve the objective of winning the trophy again. “If you now look at the blend of young and old players in the team, you will be as confident as I was that Nigeria will excel in Namibia. I am so proud of the team. I want to also congratulate the NFF and the sports ministry for bringing honour to our dear country, Nigeria.” Omidiran also urged the NFF to prepare the team well for the FIFA Women World Cup holding next year in Canada. “The events of the past showed a kind of laxity in the approach to the World Cup but this time, I want the players to believe in themselves and do well at the global stage for themselves and Nigeria. It is not bad to aspire to win the World Cup,” she added.

vited to play for my fatherland. I hope to give my best if the opportunity arises especially to help solve the problem of the right full back which has remained the Eagles’ weakest link. It’s my dream to be in the Super Eagles,” said the former Nigeria U-20 player. Meanwhile, Adejo said his dream was to play in the top leagues in Europe with specific interest in the English Premier League, the German Bundesliga and the Italian Serie A. “My dream is to play at the highest level and that’s why I’m working hard to see myself in England one day, the Bundesliga or the Italian top league,” he added.

Adejo

Ojo-Apapa region lifts ICOC football trophy

fter an interesting tie at the just concluded finals of the 11th International Church of Christ (ICOC) Football tournament, the youthful Ojo-Apapa Region has lifted the male and female trophies of the competition after defeating hard-fighting Ogba/Agege Region 4-2. The female team also won their match by 3-0 over the Egbeda Region after regulation time. The finals took place

at the National Institute for Sports Training Ground, National Stadium Surulere. In the third place match played earlier in the day, Surulere edged the Campus team on penalties, while the Surulere female team carried the day over Ikeja Region’ female football team. The highlight of the day was the novelty match played by the veterans that have participated in the

tournament in the past. The game ended goalless. Speaking after presentation of trophy, Chairman Organising Committee, Mr. Reuben Mbaka remarked that the tournament has achieved its purpose and applauded all those that supported the idea. He revealed that despite the heavy down pour, the finalists displayed skills that kept the spectators on their toes yearning for more action.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS 53

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Kalu tasks NFF boss on unity

Rodriguez (middle)

No pressure filling Di Maria’s boots – Rodriguez

olombian international James Rodriguez has revealed he feels under no pressure at Real Madrid to step into Angel Di Maria’s boots. In an exclusive interview with Cadena SER’s ‘El Larguero’ programme, the 23-year-old also asserted that Cristiano Ronaldo was the best footballer in the world.

“I don’t feel under any pressure at all in being described as Di Maria’s replacement. He’s a great player who made history here but there’s no pressure,” he declared. “I have talent and I respect what he has done, but I can also do important things at Madrid. Whether we could have played together is another matter, so there is no debate.

Ban: Zidane gets French FA support

he French Football Federation has thrown its support behind Zinedine Zidane following his three-month ban. The Real Madrid legend was sanctioned by the Spanish Football Federation for coaching Los Blancos’ second string Castilla without possessing the necessary qualifications. However, Marca reports that the French have sent

their Spanish counterparts documentation showing Zidane is actively pursuing his coaching badges and have issued a statement. “The FFF would like to reiterate its support for Zidane following the decision by the Spanish Committee to sanction him for not having the necessary coaching diploma,” it read, while FFF President Noel Le Graet also commented on the matter.

“He could play on the right or further back and I play more forward, but it’s a subject for others. “With Cristiano he is obviously the world’s best. He’s a star, a goalscoring machine, but above all he is a great person and that’s what stands out about him.” James was asked about Gareth Bale getting back

into Carlo Ancelotti’s starting line-up and his own role in the team. “I don’t know [about Bale]. It’s a technical decision and the boss will do anything he wants, no problem. As for myself, I feel comfortable in the team and the results have been positive. We’ve played at a high level and must continue to do so.

s controversy continues to envelop the Nigeria Football Federation, former Governor of Abia State and Pillar of Sports, Dr. Orji Kalu has made a passionate call for calm. Kalu spoke on Wednesday when NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, led members of the board to his Abuja residence. “Please, we cannot continue like this. I call on all stakeholders to consider national interest above everything else. Our country is too fragile now for any individual or group to threaten the only cord that gives all of us joy. Whatever it will take to achieve peace, I am ready to play a huge role,” he told the officials. Kalu added that what should pre-occupy the stakeholders is how to earn a ticket to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. “The Eagles are defending champions and we are just one leg away from elimination. Nigerians cannot afford to watch other countries do battle in their darling team’s absence. Politics is around the corner. It is only football that can douse the tension,” he pointed out. Kalu also took time to comment on Stephen Keshi, whose contract was not renewed after a string of poor runs. “Well, Keshi is my friend and I advised him several times. I had wanted him to take Ike Uche to the last World Cup but he had his reasons. Now I am sure he has also realised his mistake.”

NBA: Spurs begin title defence with win T

ony Parker scored 23 points as the San Antonio Spurs began their title defence with a 101-100 win over Dallas in one of three opening-night NBA contests on Tuesday (Wednesday in Nigeria). The Spurs, despite their superb record in ring ceremony games, needed every minute of the contest to hold off their Texas-state rivals, who gave them their most difficult challenge of

last year’s playoffs. The Spurs rolled to their fifth title in June by dismantling the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. But first they had to get past the Mavericks in an epic seven-game series in the Western Conference semi-finals. “We moved the ball much better in the second half,” said Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, who came off the bench to score 20 points.” San Antonio’s Tim Duncan (right) and Dallas’ Tyson Chandler

Chi Ltd signs partnership deal with Man Utd T he management of Chi Limited has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with Manchester United at a colourful ceremony attended by leading players of the club like Angel Di Maria, Robin Van Persie, Antonio Valencia and Anders Lindegaard on Wednesday. The deal will allow Nigeria’s market leader in fruit juices Chi Ltd to use the legendary Manchester United crest, club imagery, players and other intellectual property on a range of products throughout Nigeria. Founded over 30 years ago, Chi prides itself as being Nigeria’s premier producer of healthy, high quality, fruit and dairy based drinks which are enjoyed by millions of customers every year. While signing the agreement at Old Traf-

ford, Chi Limited’s Head of Marketing, Probal Bhattacharya said: “As the flagship brand of Chi Ltd, Chivita 100 percent will feature as the fruit juice of choice for the Manchester United team”. Describing the partnership as between two of the most cherished brands in Nigeria, he added: “As a company, we are proud to partner with such a reputed and successful club like Manchester United whose L-R: Probal Bhattacharya, Chi’s Head of Marketing; Anirban Sarkar, tradition of excellence is Chi’s Brand Manager and Man United’s Head of Marketing Jonathan Rigby with the quartet of Antonio Valencia, Angel Di Maria, Robin in tandem with ours.” Van Persie and Anders Lindegaard.

Song wants EPL stay

W Song

est Ham United loanee Alex Song has revealed that he wants to make a permanent switch to the Premier League. The 27-year-old, who joined the Hammers from Barcelona on a season-long loan in the

summer, has played a key part in his side’s strong start to the campaign. Song has yet to decide where his future lies, but he says that he intends to remain in England where he is currently “very happy”.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian League Rendezvous

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Record-breaking prospect excites Udoh

oint top scorer of the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba has expressed his excitement to League Rendezvous about the prospect of becoming the league’s highest goal scorer. Udoh, alongside Dolphins striker, Emem Eduok, equalled Jude Aneke’s record of 20 goals in the history of the NPFL, and with two matches to end the season,

Udoh said he was looking forward to surpassing Aneke’s record. “Breaking the record is not going to be easy, but with my current form and with my teammates working hard for me I think I can do it. “I feel so great and happy because at the beginning of the season I set out to score 20 goals and I thank God I was able to achieve that,” the former Akwa Starlets star said. The striker also appreciat-

ed his teammates for helping him in his quest to become the league’s goal-machine. He said; “I have to thank my teammates for their good work and their assists, I am very grateful to them for helping me score so many goals.” Enyimba will travel to Port Harcourt for their next game, and Udoh will come up against Eduok for a straight fight over who finishes as the top scorer in the Nigerian league.

Double joy for 3SC’s Adeyeye

hooting Stars of Ibadan are on the verge of gaining promotion to the Glo Nigeria professional football league after a season in the Nigeria National League. Speaking with our correspondent, Yemi Adeyeye, a striker with the club said; “It was double joy indeed because my wife gave birth on Wednesday and I scored on Saturday. I am overwhelmed, I dedicated the goal to my baby who brought joy to me and my team. “With the victory, we are going to Ilorin to beat ABS before playing Akwa Starlets on the last day to seal our promotion ticket. “We are very happy with the support we got and we will not relent until we are back in the premier league where we belong.” Speaking in the same vein, the Media Officer of the club,

Jubril Arowolo, while appreciating the state government and the fans, said the club would not relent until the last day. Arowolo said; “We are going to Ilorin with victory on our mind. We want to secure promotion before the final day of the season to make the game against Akwa Starlets a mere formality.” The former CAF Cup champions are leading the NNL Group B table with 47 points from 28 matches. The Oluyole Warriors got relegated to the NNL at the end of last season but with two matches to go in the lower division, the club is already poised for a quick return to the elite division. Shooting Stars moved closer to instant return to the top flight when they beat promotion rivals Mountain of Fire Ministries 2-0 at the weekend.

Dolphins target continental ticket A

fter missing out on the league title, the players of Dolphins of Port Harcourt are now targeting a continental ticket. With two matches to end the season in the Glo Nigeria Professional Football League, the Coach Stanley Eguma-led team is mathematically out of contention for the league title. Speaking with League Rendezvous, a defender,Victor Ezuruike, said the team was ready to challenge the other clubs ahead of them for one of

Udoh

the continental spots remaining. “It is unfortunate that we are already out of contention for the league title but with two matches to go we have the opportunity to qualify to play on the continent. “The game against Enyimba this weekend will be very tough, but a victory in that game will help our quest to secure a continental ticket,” he said. The former Heartland defender however said they are banking on

Rackets& IrealisedmytargetattheWorldCup –Quadri

Bats

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frican champion, Aruna Quadri, has said that he was satisfied with his performance despite crashing out in the quarterfinal of the just-concluded International Table Tennis Federation World Cup in Germany. The Nigerian who is ranked 73rd in the world lost 6-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8 to World and Olympic champion, Zhang Jike of China, to exit the competition but he had done enough to endear himself to pundits and fans. The Nigerian star defeated Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira and Russia’s Alexander Shibaev who are world’s number 27 and 37 respectively to top Group D and progress to the main draw. He beat Matsudaira 4-2 and also brushed aside Shibaev 4-0. Many thought his run in the tournament would come to an end when he was pitched against World number 16, Hong Kong’s Tang Peng, in the main draw but

he shocked his opponent and even the table tennis world when he beat Peng 4-2. Although he eventually bowed out in the quarterfinal, he almost caused another upset when he beat the world champion in the first set but Jike rallied back to win 6-2. “It is also a dream come true for me in this competition; beating three top players in a row is good for my career, I will continue to work hard with what I have been able to achieve at this World Cup. “First of all, I need to thank Almighty Allah for giving me the power and strength to win all the games from the group matches to the quarterfinal stage. It’s not by power but by his grace,” he said.

T Ndanusa

he annual Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will see Nigerian players battling with other players across the continent for the grand prize of N1m. Making this declaration

Snippets Jike happy to win World Cup

hang Jike regained the Liebherr Men’s World Cup title in the ISS Dome in the German city of Düsseldorf on Sunday after defeating Ma Long and he said he was happy to shame his critics. “This was a perfect victory, I have been under a great deal of pressure, with people questioning my form”, said Zhang Jike. “I am now very satisfied and very relieved, I would like to congratulate Ma Long on an amazing final; we really put on a table tennis exhibition.”

Djokovic returns with solid victory

Quadri

Governor’s Cup: Nigerian players battle for N1m prize money Charles Ogundiya

the rich scoring form of league top scorer, Emem Eduok, to defeat Enyimba. Ezuruike said; “Eduok has shown that he can get the goals against any team. He has been in a very good form recently and we are looking forward to him to increase his tally against Enyimba to give us the needed victory.” Dolphins will be home to title hopeful, Enyimba of Aba, on Sunday inside the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt, in a winner takes all match.

to New Telegraph on the telephone, the president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Sani Ndanusa, said the men’s and women’s overall winners would be going home with the sum of N1m each. According to the president, the one week tournament scheduled to hold

from November 17-22 at the Lagos Lawn tennis Club, Onikan, will feature some top players across the African continent. “The prize money for both male and female has been pegged at N1m. There are incentives like accommodation and other things,” he said.

n his first match since the birth of his first child, defending champion Novak Djokovic, stayed on course to finish the season as No. 1 by defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Paris Masters. The top-seeded Djokovic took a 5-1 lead in the first set and broke his German opponent in the opening game of the second. “Very good match considering the fact that I didn’t play indoors for a year,” Djokovic said. “I struggled a little bit physically. It was a pretty tough couple of weeks.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

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A wise man is superior to any insult which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behaviour is patience and moderation.

World Record

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In Nigeria, there is sense in nonsense

othing shocks the world about the conduct of Africans anymore. The more ridiculous the situation, the more the confirmation that Africans will continue to be Africans. In any country, certain services must, as a matter of priority, be provided for all citizens, regardless of income or status, with public funds. Some of them include education, affordable shelter, food, electricity, access to health care, security and transport infrastructure. For these services to be provided, there is a concept called social consensus in which candidates are elected periodically to initiate these policies. Since no one is infallible, the idea is for the citizens to listen to manifesto of candidate and decide who to cast their votes for. That is the essence of democracy which should lead to good governance. But in a situation in which an individual arrogates power of ‘wisdom, knowledge and understanding’ to him or herself alone, such a country is heading for the rocks. Historically, a country outlasts a dictator but the effect of the misrule of a despot on the psyche of the citizens may last for decades. So, I was not shocked last Thursday when Grace Mugabe, the wife of the ‘wisest’ man in Zimbabwe, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe, announced, in what is now known as a ‘bedroom coup’, her intention to succeed her husband. It was at a rally organised by Independence war veterans. For starters, the 90-year-old Zimbabwean revolutionary and politician has been ruling his country since 1980 and due to old age, it is believed he could step down before his term ends in 2018. As usual in Africa, everything is being done now to discredit Mugabe’s deputy, Joice Mujuru and pave the way for Grace Mugabe. Zimbabweans are being told endlessly that Mujuru may sell the country’s heritage to foreigners and take the country back to where it was before independence. While declaring her presidential ambition, the 49-year-old First Lady said: “People say I want to be president, why not, am I not a Zimbabwean? I’m one of the few Zimbabweans who can run our country successfully. There are plenty of people who can run this country, not Mujuru. We cannot go back to where we were before independence. People who support Mujuru may do so, but Zimbabwe has one leader who has one wife.” Because of this inordinate ambition, crisis has erupted in the Zimbabwe African National UnionPatriotic Front (ZANU-PF). Grace Mugabe has the support of Justice Minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa; Minister of Environment, Saviour Kasukuwere, and former Central Bank Governor, Gideon Gono, but the 59-yearold Mujuru is backed by the powerful ZANU-PF’s Secretary for Administration, Didymus Mutasa; party chairman for Mashonaland East province, Ray Kaukonde, and ZANU-PF’s Secretary for Labour, Dzikamai Mavhaire. In Africa, public service has been personalised and what is happening in

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Zimbabwe is a reflection of what is going on in Nigeria. Because many politicians have no second address, the best thing for them is to continue to remain in elected offices. And arsenals will be deployed to ensure that nothing stops or frustrates their endless ambition. It is in this context that many outgoing governors are falling over themselves to go to the Senate and in their desperation, they are determined to crush any attempt to thwart their ambition, including dealing with incumbent senators from their zones. To me, if a governor leaves office, retires to his village or profession, and after a few years, desires to represents his people in another capacity, this is good for the system but using the instrument of his office to ‘bulldoze’ his way into the Senate is not helping our democracy. And the funniest part is that they always claim some people are “forcing” them to go to the Senate. These same people will always buy forms for them. It is the same story everywhere. But despite the fact that many Nigerians see this as ‘nonsense’, there is ‘sense in that nonsense’ because in this modern day Nigeria, ‘you are only there if you are physically there’, so to say. The moment you leave the political scene, you will be forgotten in a matter of months. Your influence will dwindle. Those who, while you were in office, were shouting rankadede, would desert you and shout same to your opponent smart enough to send you out of office.

I doubt if there is any elected public official in Nigeria who left office for the university to teach; or for instance as a medical doctor, to the General Hospital to attend to patients

Mrs. Mugabe

For most politicians in Nigeria, there is nothing to fall back on after leaving office, hence the desperation to seek reelection. While campaigning for public office, they always talk about giving service to the people but if we are talking about service, the real service, I believe, aside physical infrastructure, borders on impacting knowledge and ensuring that the future is bright for the younger ones. I doubt if there is any elected public official in Nigeria who left office for the university to teach; or for instance as a medical doctor, to the General Hospital to attend to patients. I was at the Abuja Airport a few weeks ago when I saw a former governor alone, with his bag. He was on the queue and everybody was looking at him. He managed to greet a few. Of course, this type of scenario is normal in some Western countries but here, it is an abnormality. Leading the pack of these governors going to the Senate is the strongman of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime. To show his seriousness that he will not spare anyone in his determination to represent Enugu West District in the Senate, he instigated lawmakers to remove his deputy, Sunday Onyebuchi, in what is now known as ‘chicken impeachment’. To him, the cup of the incumbent Senator and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is full. Anybody who is close to Ekweremadu will confirm that David Mark’s deputy is already feeling the heat. Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State has been in public life since

the First Republic. He succeeded Sam Egwu as governor of the South-East state in 2007 but he is not done yet. In his early 70s, Elechi has told Paulinus Nwagu, the Senator representing Ebonyi Central District, to give way as he is determined to represent the district next year. Nwagu, Chairman of Senate Committee on Police Affairs, is interested in the governorship race but some stakeholders, after series of meetings, have already zeroed in on two aspirants for the primaries but Elechi would have none of that. Because of this, there is tension in the state. In an interview last Monday, Nwagu said: “Some of the ex-governors are coming into the National Assembly with good intention while some are coming into the National Assembly to hide from the security agencies based on their past record while in office as governors. They come under the cover of the National Assembly to evade trial or police arrest. They acquire wealth, force their way into the National Assembly and begin to perfect strategies of attacking the president through fault finding with anything done by any agency or parastatal of the executive. If you watch with keen interest at our deliberations, you would see that some of the ex-governors-turned Senators are not doing well in the chambers. Some of them come to the Senate to rest; they do not even participate actively in our debates. When you call them for a meeting at committee levels, they will not come. Some of them would prove that they are big men and what is the point allowing them to occupy space in the Senate? The ex-governors are just coming to the Red Chamber to prove that they have much money to do anything they like”. It is the same situation in Akwa Ibom as Governor Godswill Akpabio has told Senator Aloysius Akpan Etok (Akwa Ibom North-West) to leave the seat for him. Also, Senator James Manager (Delta South) is not finding it funny as Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has vowed that if Manager does not bend, he will break because he wants to leave the Governor’s Office and go straight to the Red Chamber. What of Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State who has vowed that he would wrest the senatorial seat from Barnabas Gemade (Suswam was in the House of Representatives for eight years before his election as governor) and Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State who has said he must take the Abia Central senatorial ticket from Senator Nkechi Nwogu? In Niger State, Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has started his campaign to represent Niger East district in the Senate. What about Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State (a former Senator) who is not interested in going back to the Senate but has tactically zoned out Majority Leader, Senator Ndoma Egba in Cross River Central? When is this politics of recycling going to end?

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