9th oct 2014 by Newtelegraphonline

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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 233

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West Africa to lose $32.6bn to Ebola –World Bank Ayodele Aminu

he World Bank yesterday warned that if the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) currently ravaging Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone is not contained early enough,

the economic costs to the West African countries may hit $32.6 billion by the end of 2015. The global lender also said it was mobilising $400 million in emergency financing for the three West African countries hardest-

hit by Ebola, which has claimed over 3,439 lives. The World Bank’s new report released yesterday noted that it is far from certain that the epidemic will be fully contained by December 2014. Consequently, it said

that in light of the considerable uncertainty about Ebola’s future trajectory, two alternative scenarios are used to estimate the medium-term (2015) impact of the epidemic, extending to the end of 2015. A “Low Ebola” scenario

corresponds to rapid containment within the three most severely affected countries, while “High Ebola” corresponds to slower containment in the three countries, with broader regional contagion. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Yong Kim

Court sacks Adamawa gov lNyako’s deputy, Ngilari, takes over }5 & 7 lINEC suspends guber poll lAtiku, PDP, APC, Reps react

Quick Read Editorial

2015: The leadership question }19

Shell sells oil block to Taleveras group for $2.5bn }4 Jonathan’s transformation a ruse, says Amaechi }6

L-R: Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Femi Adesina; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande; Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and his wife, Roli, at the opening ceremony of the Sun Women Leadership Summit in Asaba…yesterday.

Abdulsalami laments security challenges Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

ormer Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, yesterday lamented the

security challenges in the country and advised the Federal Government not to overrule dialogue in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency. He decried the wanton destruction of lives and properties in the North-

Eastern part of the country and the challenge posed by Boko Haram insurgents. Abubakar, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while inaugurating some projects to mark the fourth anniversary of

the Kayode Fayemi administration, said as a soldier who fought during the Nigerian civil war and as a top player in the return of the country to democracy, he was not pleased with happenings in the country, especially in matters relat-

ing to security. His words: “As someone who was privileged to survive the civil war, and saw our country return to democracy, I am troubled by the challenges currently confronting our country. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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

L-R: Former Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and Chief Medical Director, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Kolawole Ogundipe, during the inauguration of the Administrative Building, Library, Works and General Outpatient Departments of the hospital in Ado-Ekiti...yesterday.

World Bank: Remittances to Nigeria’ll hit N3.2trn in 2014 Ayodele Aminu Washington D.C

igerians and other residents in the country would receive an estimated N3.2 trillion or $21billion this year in remittances from their relatives, friends and business associates, the World Bank has said.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

28oC

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33oC

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PORT HARCOURT

24o C 18oC Rain Showers

KANO

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ENUGU

32oC

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IBADAN

31oC

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CALABAR

28o C 22oC Rain Showers

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

36oC 25oC Partially Cloudy

32oC

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According to the global lender’s latest edition of Migration and Development Brief, remittances to developed countries are expected to reach $435 million this year, indicating a rise of five per cent over 2013. It would further rise by 4.4 per cent to $454 billion in 2015. The report, which noted that remittances to developed countries will continue climbing in the medium term to hit an estimated $454 billion next year, put this year’s global remittances including those of high-income countries at $582 billion, stressing that it would further rise to $608 billion next year. Acknowledging that growth of remittances in 2014 is being led by three regions – East Asia and

the Pacific, South Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, the World Bank said that the global average cost of sending remittances continued its downward trend in the third quarter of 2014, falling to 7.9 per cent of the value sent, compared to 8.9 per cent a year earlier. Remittances are an essential source of external funds for developing countries. These flows according to the World Bank, were three times larger than official development assistance in 2013, and are steadier than both private debt and portfolio equity flows. Remittance flows are significantly larger than total foreign direct investment to developing countries, excluding

China. They are also a more stable component of receipts in the current account, reliably bringing in foreign currency that helps sustain the balance of payments and dampen gyrations. With over 14 million people born in India living abroad in 2013 (estimated to be the largest emigrant stock in the world), India, according to the World Bank, is projected to remain the largest recipient of officially recorded remittance inflows, which may reach $71 billion in 2014. Other countries expected to receive large remittances in 2014, the report stated, include China ($64 billion), the Philippines ($28 billion), Mexico ($24 billion), Nigeria ($21 bil-

lion), and Egypt (US$18 billion). The main drivers of remittances, according to the World Bank, are migrant stocks and economic conditions in remittance-sending countries. With the outlook for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in major remittance source countries somewhat weaker than previously projected, growth in global remittance flows is also expected to moderate, especially to developing countries in Europe and Central Asia. On the average total cost of sending about $200, the World Bank noted that it fell from 8.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 to 7.9 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

West Africa to lose $32.6bn to Ebola CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

According to the World Bank Group’s new analysis, the economic impact of Ebola is already very serious in the core three countries – particularly Liberia and Sierra Leone – and could become catastrophic under a slow-containment, High Ebola scenario. In broader regional terms, World Bank said the economic impact could be limited if immediate national and international action stops the epidemic and alleviates the “aversion behaviour” or fear factor that is causing neighbouring countries to close their borders, and airlines and other regional and international companies to suspend their commercial activities in the three worst-affected countries. If, on the other hand, the epidemic spreads into neighbouring countries,

some of which have much larger economies, the cumulative two-year impact could reach US$32.6 billion by the end of 2015,” the report said. It, however, noted that the successful containment of Ebola in Nigeria and Senegal so far is evidence that this is possible, given some existing health system capacity and a resolute policy response. The World Bank put the total West Africa economic loss to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to Ebola in dollar terms in 2014 (short-term) and 2015 (long term) at between $2.2 billion to $7.4 billion and $25.2 billion respectively. It also put Guinea’s economic loss to GDP in dollar terms (GDP) in 2014 (short-term) and 2015 (long term) at $130 million (or 2.1 per cent of GDP) and $142 million (or 2.3 per cent of GDP) respectively.

Liberia’s economic loss to GDP in dollar terms (GDP) in 2014 (short-term) and 2015 (long term) was put at $66 million (or 3.4 per cent of GDP) and $234 million (or 12 per cent of GDP) respectively. Sierra Leone’s economic loss to GDP in dollar terms (GDP) in 2014 (shortterm) and 2015 (long term) was put at $163 million (or 3.3 per cent of GDP) and $439 million (or 8.9 per cent of GDP) respectively. Noting that the enormous economic cost of the current outbreak to the affected countries and the world could have been avoided by prudent ongoing investment in health systems-strengthening. World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, called on the international community “to act now on the knowledge that weak public health infrastructure, institutions, and systems

in many fragile countries are a threat not only to their own citizens but also to their trading partners and the world at large.” He said the World Bank is supporting country responses in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Roadmap, and is coordinating assistance closely with the United Nations and other international and country partners. “With Ebola’s potential to inflict massive economic costs on Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone and the rest of their neighbours in West Africa, the international community must find ways to get past logistical roadblocks and bring in more doctors and trained medical staff, more hospital beds, and more health and development support to help stop Ebola in its tracks,” said Kim.

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 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Court sacks Adamawa governor Tunde Oyesina, Wale Elegbede and Anule Emmanuel ABUJA

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday sacked the acting governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, on ground that his swearingin was illegal and unconstitutional. Fintiri became acting governor on July 15 after Governor Murtala Nyako was impeached. The trial judge, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, ordered the Adamawa State Chief Judge or the President of the Customary Court to immediately swear in Barr. James Bala Ngilari as the substantive governor on ground that his purported resignation as a deputy governor was not effective in the face of the law. In compliance with the order, Ngilari, who was deputy to Nyako, was sworn in yesterday.

The court further stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting by-election to the office of the governor as the said office is not vacant. INEC, according to a statement signed by its acting secretary, H. Adamu, yesterday suspended all preparations for the conduct of the October 11 governorship by-election. Fintiri was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the botched election. Fintiri, who was the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, had shortly before Nyako’s impeachment informed the lawmakers that Ngilari had sent in his resignation letter to the State House Assembly. The resignation letter was however read at plenary by the Speaker, after which the lawmakers approved it.

After his impeachment, Nyako issued a statement saying that the letter written by his deputy was of no consequence because the constitutional stipulation is that the deputy should have written to him as governor. According to Nyako, the purported resignation was a breach of Section 306 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Ngilari had, however, approached the court through his counsel, Festus Keyamo, seeking to declare his resignation illegal and also give an order immediately removing the current acting governor of the state, Fintiri. He also wants the court to order the Chief Judge of Adamawa State or Acting Chief Judge as the case may be or the President of the Customary Court of Appeal to swear him in as the substantive Governor of Adamawa State. Joined as defendants

in the suit are Adamawa State House of Assembly, Adamawa State Chief Judge, Acting Governor, Deputy Governor and INEC. In his judgement, Justice Ademola noted that the main issue in the suit was to determine whether the plaintiff effectively resigned his office as the deputy governor of the state. The court after considering all the submissions of the counsel, held that going by Section 306(1)(2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution, the purported resignation was not in strict compliance with the section. He held that the letter displayed by the Assembly was not valid within the contemplation of the law. “For a valid resignation, there must be a personal letter from the deputy governor to the governor. It is not the duty of the state House of Assembly to accept resignation letter of the deputy governor. The

condition precedent for resignation was not satisfied. It is not a valid letter of resignation,” the court held. The court further held that the onus has shifted to the acting governor to prove that a copy of the resignation letter was in the file handed over to him. He noted that there was neither a letter nor a certified true copy showing that a copy of the resignation letter was submitted to the governor. Justice Ademola further held that all the exhibits brought by the defendants have doubtful origin, adding that the exhibits speak lies against themselves and that the court discountenanced them. He added that constitutional provisions cannot be waived by any person. “There is no prove of letter of resignation before the court. Going by this, the plaintiff did not resign

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) with the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Joseph Chike Edozien, during a courtesy visit to the president by the Anioma people in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN.

Abdulsalami to FG: Don’t overrule dialogue with B’Haram CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

“Never in history has our country been subjected to this kind of bloodletting and disrespect for the sanctity of human lives. There have been cruel murder and slaughtering of children as well as women, who are innocent. “As events of recent killings clearly show that no one is safe, no place is safe and no time is safe. The security problem in the country is very severe and needed all of

us to search for solution. We must dispassionately understand the problems, so that we can work at the roots of them to proffer solutions. “We must therefore cooperate and all hands must be on deck to find solution to the crisis. We should not be looking for victory; solution should be the goal. The government at all levels, the people at the crisis zone, security personnel and all aggrieved parties must dialogue and listen

to one another for the sake of our future and our children. “We must honestly look at the real issues involved and take immediate actions promptly. It must be accepted that dialogue is still a veritable tool under this circumstance.” He also advised politicians across party lines to imbibe the culture of peace to prevent the country’s democracy from being aborted as a result of jostling for position in the

2015 general election. Governor Fayemi, while speaking at the event, said the huge investment of his government in the health sector was targeted at banishing poverty among Ekiti populace, saying, “I have always believed in the agelong axiom that health is wealth.” Fayemi added that he decided to initiate the social security scheme for the elderly as a back up to the free health mission, where over 500,000 people

had benefited, without being oblivious of the fact that poor health condition could be caused by poverty. Fayemi said he had sponsored good number of the vulnerable groups and those with complicated health situations abroad for robust medical treatment, particularly kidney transplant and other organic ailments, urging the incoming government to consolidate on this lofty feat in the interest of all.

from office as the deputy governor of Adamawa State on July 15, 2014 as claimed by the defendants. The court also held that the swearing-in of the acting governor is unconstitutional and illegal. He also held that INEC cannot hold any by-election in the state. The court therefore ordered that in line with Section 306 (1)(2), the purported resignation of the plaintiff is not effective, adding that the plaintiff did not resign from office. The court further ordered that going by Section 191 of the 1999 Constitution, after the impeachment of Nyako, the deputy governor should be sworn in. The court had earlier dismissed the preliminary objections brought by the defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the manner by which the suit was instituted. Shortly after the judgement was delivered, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) ordered the immediate swearing-in of Ngilari as the substantive governor. Speaking to State House Correspondents at the presidential villa, Adoke said it was necessary for the Chief Judge of the State to move in quickly and swear in the deputy governor to avoid vacuum. He said the Federal Government’s decision on the matter was in obedience to the court judgement and the need to avert a vacuum in governance and possible constitutional crises. The AGF also called on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to keep in abeyance all the arrangements made for the conduct of the by-elections scheduled to take place in Adamawa State on Saturday, October 11. Counsel to Ngilari, Festus Keyamo, had sent a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan urging him to compel the relevant bodies to comply with the judgement of the Federal High Court. Keyamo said if the order was not obeyed immediately, it could lead to constitutional crises. Ngilari was sworn in at the Government House by the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Audu Lagre, following an order by a Federal High Court, Abuja, that the Acting Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, should vacate the office. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan’s transformation a ruse, says Amaechi Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

ivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has faulted the Transforma-

tion Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, describing it as a ruse with no positive impact on the lives of Nigerians. According to the governor, the pervasive poverty in the country and

Shell sells Nigerian oil block to Taleveras group for $2.5bn Ayodele Aminu

with agency reports

oyal Dutch Shell has agreed to sell a productive Nigerian oil block to a consortium led by oil-trading firm Taleveras Group, say two people familiar with the matter. Nigeria’s Taleveras, according to Wall Street Journal, will pay Shell more than $2.5 billion for the block, known as Oil Mining License 29, and an associated pipeline. Shell has been working to sell several of its onshore Nigerian holdings, which, for years, have been plagued by leaks stemming largely from oil theft. OML 29 is the largest of the southern Niger Delta assets that Shell put up for auction last year. In addition to the oil block, the Taleveras deal includes the approximately 60-mile Nembe Creek pipeline, an aging pipe prone to leaks but which still serves as one of the country’s main crude arteries. A Shell spokesman declined to comment specifically on OML 29. “We have signed sales and purchase agreements

for some of the oil mining leases but not all that we are seeking to divest. In the event of a successful completion of the sales process we shall make a market announcement,” he said. Taleveras said it was among the preferred bidders for block OML 29 but declined to comment when asked whether a deal had been finalised. Selling the Nembe Creek Trunk Line – which moves oil through the Delta to the Atlantic coast – would be Shell’s biggest move yet to exit onshore crude production in a region that has caused problems for decades. Over the past year, the Nembe Creek line has had multiple punctures and closures, and at least one fire. However, it is also a potentially lucrative source of revenue, given that other companies pumping oil in the region pay to use it to get their crude to market. “This is a very good deal for Taleveras. OML 29 still pumps a lot of oil, and they can get the rents from the Nembe Creek pipeline,” said one of the people. Since 2010, Shell’s Nigeria subsidiary has sold $1.8 billion in Nigeria assets.

high level corruption, are among factors that have made nonsense of the much-touted agenda of the president. He spoke in Ado-Ekiti while inaugurating some projects as part of the fourth anniversary of Governor Kayode Fayemi. The governor also blamed Federal Government’s inefficiency on the dwindling revenue accruing to all the tiers of government. Amaechi said rampant oil theft and greed on the part of the Federal Government, accounted for the financial incapacitation of state governments. He said: “This Transformation Agenda has not, in any way, reflected in the lives of Nigerians. Go everywhere, there is

poverty and wanton neglect. So what are we now transforming? “Some of the members of TAN (Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria) are those that benefitted under the subsidy fund and who ought to be prosecuted and jailed. But I am sure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party will bring to bear more pragmatic agenda that would meet their yearnings.” A m a e ch i , wh o slammed the members of the TAN, a pressure group campaigning for the reelection bid of President Jonathan, stated that he never expected anything outstanding from the people, since they were only supporting the president to cover up their alleged

involvement in the multibillion dollars subsidy scam. He urged President Jonathan to remodel his transformation agenda in a pattern that could meet the yearnings of the people of the country. Governor Amaechi commended Fayemi and the management of Ekiti State University for prudent management of resources, bringing about the infrastructural and intellectual development of the university. Fayemi, who expressed delight at the spate of development in the university, said he had, during the inception of his government, described EKSU as a glorified secondary school, saying the trend had taken a dramatic turn

through well-envisioned policies by his government and management of the institution. The governor, who also inaugurated the general hospitals in Ikole, Otun and Ifaki-Ekiti as part of the programmes commemorating his fourth year anniversary, added that he would still fulfil his pledge to teach at the newly-proposed Institute of Peace and Reconciliation of the university to demonstrate his love for intellectual growth and the development of the state. Fayemi said: “I have never regretted my commitment to intellect because of the fact that some people are desecrating the sector saying that is not what they are going to eat.

L-R: Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation, Nonny Ugboma; Director, Dennis Okoro and Conference Director, CSR West Africa, Sadie Walters, at the CSR West Africa 2014 Summit, in Lagos…yesterday.

FEC approves N1.1bn for U$9.3m scandal: APC queries Asari-Dokubo’s involvement purchase of two locomotives lI’m not involved, says ex-militant leader and CCECC Nigeria Ltd

Anule Emmanuel Abuja

he Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved contract worth N1.1 billion for the purchase of two diesel locomotives as part of efforts to revive the country’s rail system. Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents on the outcome of the FEC meeting at the presidential villa, Abuja. He explained that the contract entails the design, manufacture and commissioning of the locomotive with built-in power packs of standard gauge 1435 mm for the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The contract was awarded in favour of Messrs CNR darling locomotives & Rolling Stock Limited,

with a completion period of 10 months. Umar said the two locomotives are to be used for mass transport services on the Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. “The scope of work include the design and manufacturing of two number diesel electric locomotives with a capacity of 2800 kilowatts for standard gauge tracks, training of 30 personnel for the NRC on operation and maintenance of the locomotives, commissioning and test running in Nigeria, as well as one year maintenance and technical support with two resident technicians,” he said. The minister stressed that government was fully committed to the revival of the NRC and would continue to take intervention measures.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday asked President Goodluck Jonathanled Federal Government to explain the involvement of the leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo on the illegal ferrying of $9.3 million for arms purchase in South Africa two weeks ago. The party alleged that Asari-Dokubo was among the three persons arrested by South African government for illegally bringing in the money to the country. The party, in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that since the government has taken ownership of the funds by say-

ing the National Security Adviser (NSA) issued the end-user certificate for the arms purchase, it stands to reason that the same government will know the involvement of all those aboard the plane. The party stated that the clarification becomes pertinent because even the NSA, who issued the end-user agreement for the purchase, does not and cannot purchase arms for any of the armed services. The Service Chiefs have separate budgets from the NSA for arms purchase. APC said: ‘’Under our constitution, the NSA is an adviser and has no executive powers to deploy troops from any of the services or purchase arms for them. That the arms purported to be purchased from South Africa were ordered from the office of the NSA is nothing but a mere

fabrication, and raises serious questions about the motive for the purchase. “Nigerians will therefore like to know on whose behalf Asari-Dokubo was purchasing arms. This is very crucial because Asari-Dokubo has been threatening that Nigeria will not know peace if his benefactor, President Goodluck Jonathan, is not re-elected. “If these arms are meant to fight insurgency, as the government has claimed, what is Asari-Dokubo’s business purchasing arms for the Nigerian military, if indeed they were for the military? Does it not occur to the Nigerian government that this man who once took arms against the state may not have jettisoned his sinister plan against the same state? Which country will ever allow a man who once carried arms against the

state to now be purchasing arms for the same state? Asari-Dokubo has denied any involvement in the $9.3 million arms deal, saying he had not been to South Africa since 2002. Asari, who spoke from Saudi Arabia, said: “Can you enter any country without a visa? No person can enter any country without a visa. Presently, I am in Saudi Arabia performing my Hajj as the Amirul Hajj of Bayelsa State and this can be confirmed. I flew Flynass from Kaduna on the September 27. So, it is really a shame that Lai Mohammed who has defiled the name of Allah has become a pathological and award winning liar. “Nobody enters any country without a visa and I have not been to South Africa since 2002. My passport is present,” Dokubo said.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

R e m o va l o f A d a m a w a A c t i n g g o v ernor

Verdict delays ouster of PDP govt, says Atiku Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has stated that the verdict stopping Saturday’s governorship by-election in Adamawa State has only delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of the state to vote out the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state. Atiku, in a statement issued by his media office in Abuja yesterday, said though he is bound to respect the decision of the Federal High Court to reinstate the former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala Ngilari, as the substantive governor of the state, the verdict of

the court has inevitably delayed the ouster of the PDP whenever the election is held. The presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said: “The judicial verdict that may have tacitly cancelled the governorship by-election in Adamawa State for now was a painful development for the membership

of the APC in Adamawa State. “As leaders of the party, we shall respect the verdict of the court, but we must be quick to say that the verdict has merely delayed the overwhelming desire of the people of Adamawa State to vote for change and thumbs down the PDP imposition on a people. Clearly we in the

APC had the momentum and therefore an advantage going into Saturday’s election.” According to him, “The people of Adamawa want change. They expressed that desire throughout the nooks and crannies of the state as evidenced in the massive momentum going for the candidate of our party during the electioneering. “As democrats with

firm belief in the rule of law, we will respect the verdict of the judiciary. As politicians championing the course of change for a better and prosperous Nigeria, we shall remain resolute and provide the leadership that will make it possible for the people of Adamawa State and Nigerians in general to vote for change whenever and wherever the opportunity arises.”

Reps hails Ngilari’s victory Philip Nyam Abuja

Adamawa State Governor, Mr. Bala Ngilari (left), taking his oath of office before Justice Audu Lawan in Yola…yesterday

APC applauds court’s removal of acting gov Temitope Ogunbanke

he Adamawa chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday’s Federal High Court judgement which sacked Acting Governor Umar Fintiri of was a welcome political development for the state. The state Chairman of APC, Mrs. Binta Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, the

state capital, that with the outcome of Ngilari’s case, the party was hopeful that Nyako, who was also challenging his removal, would return. “One down, we are looking to the next judgement regarding Nyako with full hope. Once more, the judiciary deserves commendation for checking impunity,” Garba said. Garba said the judgement had affected the party’s rally scheduled

for the day in Yola. Also reacting to the development, the state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Tahir Shehu, said whether the election held or not, it was a win-win situation for the party. “Whatever the case is, it is a win-win for PDP,” he said. Meanwhile, staff of the Deputy Governor’s Office were seen jubilating over the development while in other government of-

fices and the state capital, people gathered in groups discussing the matter. Speaking to New Telegraph yesterday, Adamawa APC Publicity Secretary, Rev Phineas Padio, said his party accepted the verdict of the court. His words: “Though the judgement has affected our plan for the October 11 by-governorship election, the bottom line is that whatever plan we have, the law of the land is supreme.”

Nyako’s deputy, Ngilari, takes over CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

In his address after taking oath of office, Ngilari said he would run an open, transparent and allinclusive government. “In this regard, I invite other arms of government, in particular the legislature and judiciary, not forgetting the civil service, to join hands with me to achieve these noble goals. “As a party man and a team player, I pledge my unalloyed support and loyalty to our great party

and Mr. President,” Ngilari said. He described his emergence as an act of “God who gives power to whoever He chooses.” “We acknowledge the divine power of God in all that happened. The holy books of both religions subscribe to the fact that power belongs to God and He gives it in trust to whosoever he wills,” the new governor added. Many dignitaries, comprising those of the PDP and the All Progressives

Congress (APC) were present at the swearing-in. In his first official function, the governor announced the appointment of Mr Chubado Tijjani as his Chief of Staff. Meanwhile, Fintiri has appealed the judgement. Speaking to New Telegraph, counsel to Fintiri, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) said he had on the instruction of his client filed a motion for stay of the orders of the court pending appeal. According to him, “the implication of this is that

the orders of the court cannot be complied with until the appeal process is disposed of. This is the position of the law as the law allows anyone who is challenging an order of a court not to obey such order until his constitutional right of appeal is exhausted. “This is to forestall a situation where a fait accompli will be foisted on the Appeal Court. “We are however confident that justice shall prevail at the end of the day.”

embers of the House of Representatives from Adamawa State have hailed yesterday’s swearing-in of Hon. Bala Ngilari as governor. They described the development as the best thing that has happened to the state. Hon. Ganama Titsi Kwaga (PDP, Adamawa), who spoke to our correspondent on phone, said the judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court that annulled the reign of Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri and ordered the immediate swearing-in of Ngilari was a landmark verdict. The lawmaker, who represents Madagali/Michika federal constituency of Adamawa on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said “this is the best thing that has happened to Adamawa State.” He said justice had been done to the governor and the people of the state, adding that the judiciary has

lived up to its expectations. Kwaga noted that democracy was in action and it was indeed good for the state, advising that all hands should be on deck to help the governor develop the state. Also reacting to the development, the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Inter/Intra Party Relations, Hon. Aminu Tukur (PDP, Adamawa) said the victory of Ngilari at an Abuja High Court was a good development for democracy. Tukur, who represents Fufor/Song federal constituency, described the judgement as a “very good development because justice has taken its course.” He wished the governor well and advised him to deliver good governance to the people of the state. “I wish him well and good governance,” he stated. In his reaction, chairman of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, Hon. Anthony Madwatte (PDP, Adamawa), described the ruling as a ‘court order’ that needed to be complied with.

PDP to reconsider zoning formula, accepts verdict Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said with the reinstatement of the former Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, James Bala Ngilari, by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, it will reconsider its earlier decision to zone the 2015 governorship to Adamawa Central. The party also said it will not appeal against the judgement since it was not a party to the suit filed by the former deputy governor. National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, who addressed newsmen on the issue, said the party has ac-

cepted the judgement and directed its members to abide by the court decision. “As it done in legal matter, there is right of appeal. The paramount thing is peace in Adamawa. Our advice to the former Deputy Governor who is now the governor is to pursue peace in Adamawa. “The state has had its fair share of political turmoil. The people of the state deserves peace. We call on the state chairman of the party to ensure that PDP remains united,” Metuh stated. PDP had reached an agreement with former aspirants that whoever wins the governorship by-election will not vie for next year’s governorship.

News

thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan: I’m not 6th richest African leader Anule Emmanuel

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (left), presenting copies of the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zenner in Minna…yesterday

amazons

Women take centre stage in Asaba, talk about their peace in society Dominic Adewole Asaba

m a z o n s amongst Nigerian women were yesterday celebrated as a useful agents in nation building at The Sun Women Leadership Summit (SWLS). The summit, which attracted men and women of high political, traditional, economic and spiritual profiles, including the Governor of the host state, monarchs, captains of industry, technocrats, lawmakers (from state and national

Sun Leadership summit: Women chart new ways for better future Assemblies), veteran journalists, among others, was organized by The Sun Publishing Limited. The summit was aimed at enacting action plans for Nigerian women’s future through collaborative conversation, laced with vision and goals for their collective fortune. The host Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, flanked by his wife, Roli, and other top government functionaries, outlined plans for the future of every Nigerian woman and designed their united destiny.

Boko Haram more vicious than ISIS — Defence Chief Emmanuel Onani Abuja

he Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, has declared that Boko Haram insurgents, are more “vicious” than the Islamists in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The CDS also berated the West for not helping Nigeria, in her ongoing counter-insurgency war in the North East. This is even as he regretted than an earlier misleading information on the location of the missing Chibok schoolgirls, was given by a senior officer in the military. Badeh made these positions yesterday in Abuja, during the opening of a Three-Day retreat on “Security/Media Relations in

Crisis Management”. The event was jointly organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and Trims Communications Nig. Ltd. While charging Nigerians to be patriotic, the Defence Chief, reminded the public of a dooms day prediction, that was said to have been made in 2004, to the effect that the country will disintegrate by 2015. He chided Nigerians for unwittingly and unconsciously trying to allow that happen, perhaps by their scathing criticisms of the military’s efforts at containing insurgency in parts of the North. His words: “When nations go to war, all elements of national power, are usually channelled to fighting the war; all elements of national power( the press inclusive), will fight the war together.

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, who lauded Uduaghan for running a transparent administration, described the summit as “apt”, urging women to always put in their best in whatever position they occupy. Waziri gave Uduaghan’s administration a pat on the back for following due process in its financial transactions. “The Governor never crossed my part and I never crossed his while I was in EFCC. That is why I have the confidence to come into Delta State. I

want to ask women not to lose their femininity, respect themselves, dress responsibly and at the end, they will earn respect. “He is a performing governor, following due process and he has done very well for his people. When I was coming, I thought I will have to land in Benin (Edo State), but was told there was an airport here. The Asaba International Airport that I saw is one of the best in the country. Your Governor has performed well in infrastructural development” Uduaghan, who declared the occasion open,

PDP seeks Obasanjo’s forgiveness Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

eaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took turns to apologise to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and pleaded with him to come back to the party. At the formal defection of the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel from Labour Party to PDP, the party described Obasanjo as “a father” who should not abandon his children. Daniel, who has been having a running battle with Obasanjo over the control of PDP structure, publicly apologised to the former president for the disagreement he had with

him. “I want to use this opportunity to publicly apologise to Baba. From where I come, whenever there is a battle between son and father, the son can never be right. Let me call on President Olusegun Obasanjo not to abandon his house. We apologise, we apologise and we apologise again”, the former governor said. The President of the Senate, David Mark, who is also Chairman of the PDP zonal Integration for the South West, and National Chairman, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu, appealed to the former President to pardon whatever offence the party members might have committed against him.

urged women to always cooperate among themselves so as to harness their potentials to the fullest in their fields of endeavour, stressing that “women must come together to win in a highly dominated men’s world of today. According to him, they should resist the Pull-Him (or her)-Down syndrome, especially those with high political profile. Uduaghan, who categorically rated women capacity high in the area of political aspiration, wondered why their fellow women were being used to thwart their efforts.

he presidency has condemned online reports listing President Goodluck Jonathan as the 6th richest leader in Africa. Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday, described the rating which placed President Jonathan’s net worth on $100 Million as unwarranted. He identified the website as RichestLifestyle. com, with a publication titled “Africa’s Richest Presidents 2014”. The presidential spokesman said the publication was another attempt to unjustifiably portray President Jonathan as a corrupt leader and incite public disaffection against him. “We categorically assert that there is no factual basis for ranking President Jonathan as the sixth richest African Head of State with a net worth of about $100 Million U.S. Dollars.” “As is well known, President Jonathan has never been a businessman or entrepreneur, but a life-long public servant. The President has held public office since 1999 and has regularly declared his assets as required by Nigerian laws. He has had no personal income since 1999 other than his official remuneration as deputy governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president which are matters of public record.

UN report rates Nigeria high on MDGs Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

igeria has been listed among countries that has drastically reduced extreme poverty in the past few years. A new United Nations report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) said that number of people in Nigeria living on less than $1.25 per day has gone down to just eight point nine (8.9%) per cent, an indication that the government’s pro-poor policies and programmes were beginning to yield positive results. The report titled: The Millennium Development Goals Report 2014 and signed by the UN UnderSecretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs,

Wu Hongbo was unveiled yesterday in Abuja. According to the report, the number of people living in extreme poverty in sub-Saharan Africa has dropped from 56 per cent in 1990 to 48 per cent, but still away from the 2015 MDG target. As it is now, the report said, only about one in five persons in developing regions lives on less than $1.25 per day. It observed that there has been important progress across all goals, with some targets already met well ahead of the 2015 deadline. The report, however, said that all stakeholders will have to intensify their efforts on the areas where advancement has been too slow and has not met the targets.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Ugwuanyi gains ground as Obeta steps down boost

Consensus candidate Ugwuanyi, continues to walk tall in Enugu Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

lead governorship candidate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, Mr. Chidi Mark Obeta, yesterday

16,000

boosted the endorsement of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as the party’s consensus candidate, when he led thousands of youths and supporters into the camp of the preferred candidate. Obeta, a youthful aspirant, whose impact in the past one month literally shook the political environment of the state was one of the four aspirants, who declined stepping down for the House of Representatives member, even after 10 other aspirants bowed to the choice of the candidate.

However, he formally stepped down for Ugwuanyi during a gathering of leaders of several youth groups, which had formed the main base of his impactful politcking in the past month at a meeting held in Grace Manor Hotel, Nsukka. He told his supporters on the occasion that it was a difficult decision to make. Among the groups whose leaders and other representatives attended the gathering were the National Association of Nigerian Students(NANS), whose

225m

The number of adults and children estimated The number of active mobile-broadband subto be living with HIV in Uzbekistan in 2008. scriptions of developed countries in 2007. Source: Blatantworld.com Source: Itu.int

leaders came from Abuja; Enugu chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Enugu Youth Agenda, Ideal Youths Group, representatives of young women as well as some PDP leaders in the state. Addressing the gathering after receiving several calls for him to reconsider his insistence on fighting on even after the consensus candidate had emerged through the on-going processes, Obeta declared: “Today, we declare, nominate and adopt Hon. Ifeanyi

324,000

The total population of Belize in 2012. Source: Un.org

Ugwuanyi as the consensus governorship candidate of our party for next year’s election. “We could have fought on and on in view of how far we have gone but we have to listen to those of you here who also were part of our initial decision to go into this enterprise and we also have to remain loyal to our party and its leaders. “So, we are collapsing our journey into another new journey and we are also encouraged by the personality of the man who has been chosen

The life expectancy (in years) at birth of women in Cambodia in 2010-2015. Source: Un.org

L-R: Son of late Remi Oyo (Otome); widower, Mr. Vincent Oyo and Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati during a condolence visit to the families of late Remi Oyo in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Kwara schools to reopen Nigeria needs 40,000MW next week for stability, says Aliyu Biodun Oyeleye, Ilorin, Sola Adeyemo, Ibadan

he Kwara State government has directed that all schools in the state should reopen on Wednesday October 15, 2014. The directive, according to the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Saka Onimago, affects both private and public schools. This is as all public and private schools in Oyo State yesterday resumed academic activities after the fear created by the deadly Ebola Virus Disease. According to Onimago, schools in the state had not reopened because

the government wanted to put measures in place to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils and in line with the directive of the National Headquarters of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). Onimago, who was monitored on the state owned radio station, said the directive, approved by Governor AbdulFattah Ahmed, came after all necessary arrangements had been put in place in all schools against the possible outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease. The decision, he said, was also reached in consultation with stakeholders, including the NUT, ANCOPS, NAPS and teachers at the primary schools.

Dan Atori MINNA

iger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu yesterday said that for Nigeria to attain stable power supply the country needed additional 35,000 megawatts of electricity. This is coming as Nigerians groan under intermittent power supply despite the sale of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria to private investors. Aliyu said in Minna at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with a German Technical Partner, GIZ that presently, the power supply in the country is in the neighbourhood of

5,000 megawatts which is grossly inadequate. The MoU between the state government and the GIZ is to improve sustainable access to electricity for rural communities in the state and improve the state’s planning capacity and developing self sustaining models that will foster the provision of electricity to rural communities, using small scale renewable energy techniques. He said as a result of the shortfall in the supply of electricity to all parts of the country, Niger State inclusive, industrial development and other small scale businesses have not achieved the required growth.

as the consensus candidate”, he said, calling for a motion to that effect moved by a foremost youth leader in the state, Mr. Temple Chinedu Chika and seconded by Mr. Ejikeme Okpe.

Kalabari urge Jonathan to ignore Amaechi Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

he people of Kalabari Kingdom have advised President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to ignore comments made by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi against him. The Kalabari Stakeholders from 33 communities/towns promised to support Jonathan and the PDP at the state and national levels, and dismissed the comments Amaechi recently made in Degema that Jonathan hates Kalabari. They spoke in Kalabari Kingdom when the Hon. Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, thanked the people of the kingdom, and awarded undergraduate scholarships to 153 indigent university students. The stakeholders, who spoke through Chief David Briggs, Chief Barr. E.S. Lawson and others, accused Amaechi of plotting to “knock their head against that of their fellow Ijaw man-President Jonathan.” They asked the governor why he abandoned the only road leading into the Kalabari Kingdom from the East-West Road since his election if he (Amaechi) loves the Kalabari.

FUTO’s Vice Chancellor bemoans ignorance among academics Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

ice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Professor Cyril Asiabaka, has decried the glaring lack of skills and knowledge among most academics in the act of writing acceptable and winning research grant proposals that conform to international best practices. He said that although several national and international organizations provide funds annually for academic and developmental research in higher education, experience has shown that access to research funds by academic staff has been generally

low and research output less than optimal. Asiabaka made the disclosure while declaring open, the “National Strategic Grant Proposal Writing Workshop” organized by the Centre for Research and International Development (CRID) of the Institution. Represented by the Dean of Health Technology, Professor Ikechukwu Dozie, the FUTO Vice Chancellor argued that it was imperative that academic staff and researchers in institutions of higher learning be adequately equipped with knowledge and skills for writing quality research proposals, stressing that this would enhance the ability to access available research funds.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Edo PDP lawmaker battles for life after attack LAWLESSNESS Legislators in fight-for-all for the soul of Edo House of Assembly Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he crisis rocking the Edo State House of Assembly took a dangerous turn on Tuesday as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, representing Etsako Constituency 1, Hon. Abdul Rasaq Momoh, was beaten to pulp by thugs suspected to be loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Momoh is presently at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) where a team of medical personnel is battling to save his life. He was rushed to the hospital by the suspended Deputy Speaker, Chief Festus Ebea, and others about 11pm as a result of deep wounds he sustained during an altercation involving him and one of the APC lawmakers. There was uncertainty yesterday over the state of the lawmaker’s health as doctors battled to resuscitate him after he fell into coma. There was indication yesterday that Momoh may be flown abroad for better medical treatment. It was gathered that policemen on patrol in the night were drafted to the legislative

Momoh

The lawmaker at the intensive care unit of the hospital

quarters on Ihama Road, GRA, in the ancient town, which was the scene of the incident. It was also learnt that the lawmaker was barred from entering the quarters but forced his way into the premises, a development that sparked an argument between him and some lawmakers. A fight later erupted and in the process, suspected thugs swooped on the lawmaker. The lawmaker was among the four members of the state legislature that recently dumped the APC for the PDP in the wake of the ruling party’s

congresses in the state. He had a few months ago alleged plot by some unnamed individuals to assassinate him. Besides, a police source said yesterday that some lawmakers had been invited by police for questioning over their alleged role in the case. When contacted on phone yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, described the incident as an unfortunate criminal act. He disclosed that some suspects had been arrested in connection with the fracas. The commissioner added

that operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Depart (SCID) had commenced investigation into the circumstances that led to the matter. He said: “It is unfortunate that such a criminal act has been committed in the state House of Assembly quarters. Investigation has begun at the State Criminal Investigation Department. Some suspects have been arrested and politicians should not heat up the polity. The command will arrest whoever that is found to be involved in the case.” At press time, the true

identities of the lawmakers involved in the case and the actual cause of the incident were yet to be established. But it may not be unconnected with the supremacy battle between the nine PDP and 15 APC members of the Assembly over the control of the hallowed chamber of the Chief Anthony Enahoro legislature. Apart from his defection to the PDP, Momoh is presently at the High Court, Auchi where he filed a suit to challenge the alleged gunrunning case brought against him by the state government.

Two die, others injured in Niger communal clash Gunmen kill two Dan Atori MINNA

wo persons were killed while several others were injured and many houses and vehicles were destroyed during a clash between the people of Gulu Angwua and Vatsa in Lapai Local Government Area of Niger State. It was learnt that the clash, which began on Monday and spilled over to the following

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Babangida Aliu, Niger State gov

day between the two communities who have been living peacefully for several years, was caused by a dispute over a piece of land. Each of the communities is claiming ownership of the piece of land sepa-

rating them. A witness told our correspondent that trouble started when the youth who came for the Eid-el Kabir break decided to resolve the lingering problem caused by the land dispute. The youth, it was learnt, decided to plant flowers between the communities to delineate the area but trouble started when agreement could not be reached between the two sides. Consequently, people started burning one another’s properties such as cars and houses. They also inflicted bodily injuries on one another. The youth, who instead of resolving the problem as earlier planed, joined in the fight, leading to the killing of two persons.

It was gathered yesterday that many of those injured were rushed to different hospitals in Gulu and Lapai for medical attention. Some of those injured were said to be in critical conditions. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ibrahim Abiodun Gambari, said that the police were on top of the situation, adding that normalcy had returned to the area. He said: “The Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area are on ground to restore peace in the area. The operation is still ongoing but I cannot confirm the number of persons injured.”

police officers in Jos

Musa Pam Jos

wo police officers serving in Plateau State Police were killed at their duty post yesterday near the University of Jos in Jos North Local Government Area. The police officers, whose names were not disclosed at press time, were an inspector and a corporal. It was gathered that the police officers were guiding a company near the university on Bauchi Road, where they

were killed by armed hoodlums. who also stole their rifles. Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abu Emmanuel, expressed dismay over the development. He said: “It is sad that these officers paid the supreme price while trying to protect the citizens.” Emmanuel, however, said that there was no cause for alarm. “The police are working round the clock to track down the perpetrators and bring them to book,” the PPRO added.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

One injured as three-storey building collapses Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

ne person was injured when a three-storey building under construction collapsed in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. Occupants of another house escaped death as it was partly damaged by the collapsed building. When our correspondent visited the scene yesterday, the residents of Abakaliki called for stringent measures by relevant authorities to curb incessant cases of building collapse in the

state. They made the call while reacting to the collapse of the three-storey building at Udude Street in Ntezi-Aba area of Abakaliki on Tuesday night. The incident brought to two, the number of buildings which collapsed in the town in two months. The incident attracted many sympathisers who expressed shock over the disaster. Emma Adar and Emmanuel Eze, who are now homeless as their apartment was damaged by the collapsed building, attributed their escape

to divine intervention. Some of the residents of the area, Mr Chijioke Maduabuchi and Mr Chris Idam, described the incident as strange. They called for enquiry into the incident, adding that relevant authorities should intensify efforts to stamp out quackery and substandard materials to prevent such occurrence in future. When contacted, the state Secretary of the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Mr Nwali Etchee, said the council would institute inquiry into the matter.

The building

Elumelu donates vehicles, tricycles in Delta

he Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Health, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, has donated 10 vehicles and 30 tricycles to people in the three senatorial districts of Delta State as part of his empowerment programme. Handing over the items under the aegis of Ndudi Eleumelu Foundation, the lawmaker urged administrators of the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) to ensure they were fairly distributed to enhance the fortunes of the beneficiaries. Elemelu, who gave out the item shortly after committing his governorship ambition in the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to God, thanked the foundation members for their steadfastness and promised more incentives for the coordinators to facilitate their task of

Elumelu

mobilising the electorate towards the 2015 general elections. He advised them to avoid distractions by remaining focused and mindful of their reactions to arguments from the public with regards to who becomes the next governor of Delta State. Earlier, at the dedication sermon, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Michael’s Catholic

Church, Onicha-Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Chigbo, advised Christians to judiciously use their talents and gifts to the glory of God and the benefit of their generation. He commended the wisdom of the governorship aspirant for committing the project into the hand of God, stressing that success comes from God. Chigbo enjoined Christians to make mercy and compassion their watchwords in ministering to the needs of the less privileged in society. Speaking on their impression over the allocation of the vehicles, the foundation’s deputy director-generals for the three senatorial districts, Mr Justin Rewane, Prince Victor Egbune and Dr Alexander Akpomiemie, commended Elumelu for his vision.

NSCDC prosecutes 472 cases in Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

igeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Jigawa State has treated 472 cases within three months out of which 200 were convicted by different courts. The state NSCDC Commandant, Gidado Muhammad Fari, who disclosed this yesterday, said it was in addition to 107 different criminal cases prosecuted in different courts between July and September. The cases include criminal assault, intimidation and defamation of character. Others are 53 cases relating to sexual abuse, 50 cases of vandalism, the arrest of dealers in narcotics, among other criminal acts across the 27 local government areas of the state. Briefing journalists on the activities of his command, Fari said the arrests were made through the combined efforts of the command’s detectives.

He reiterated the command’s readiness to make Jigawa a crime-free state. The commandant said that new security devices had been put in place by the command. Meanwhile, the NSCDC also apprehended and prosecuted a Niger national, Mallam Usaini Mamman, described as a notorious thief. He was arrested by NSCDC detectives in Kiyawa town in Kiyawa Local Government. Mamman was said to be terrorising Kiyawa communities before his arrest. He was later arraigned before a Kiyawa Magistrates’ Court where he was convicted and sentenced under Section 286 of the Jigawa Penal Code by Chief Magistrate Musa Muhammad Kaugama. The convict was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with an option of fine of N15,000. Similarly, the NSCDC apprehended a 41-year-old Zakari Ahmed for allegedly defiling a nine-year-girl of Gandun Sarki Hadejia.

I needed money to pay house rent, says drug suspect Juliana Francis

suspected drug peddler, Dominic Junior Igwe (29, has told officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), that he embraced the crime because he desperately needed money to pay his house rent and off-set debts. Igwe, a trader, said that he got involved in drug trafficking because he needed money. He said: “I am a trader, but I’m unable to pay my rent. My capital has dwindled over the years to the extent that I’m in debts. I was sponsored to SaoPaulo, Brazil to bring in cocaine. I regret my involvement.” Igwe was arrested alongside one Okoye Ikechukwu Matthew, 34. Matthew said he worked

Igwe

Matthew

as a security guard in South Africa. He said: “It was my friend in Nigeria that requested for

the drug. My role was to bring it and he would reward me. It happened that I was arrested by the NDLEA. I feel bad and

pray that I will soon be out of this problem.” The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said in a statement that the agency foiled attempt by the two suspected drug traffickers to smuggle 5.1kg of white powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine into the country. He said: “The drugs were intercepted at Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA) Enugu during the inward screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight. The drugs were concealed inside hand bags and document folders. Two arrests have been made in connection with the seizure.” The NDLEA Commander at the Enugu Airport, NsikakAbasi Udoh, gave Matthew

passport number as A04483481 and Igwe’s passport number as A02375991. He said: “Matthew was arrested with 1.500kg of cocaine hidden inside hand bags, while Igwe was found in possession of 3.600kg of cocaine concealed inside three folders. The total weight of the seized drugs is 5.1kg.” The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, has directed the Enugu Airport Command to tighten security checks at the airport. He said: “This arrest and seizure is a welcome development, because we must eradicate illicit drugs from our country. I want the commander to intensify security checks and ensure the interception of narcotics at the Enugu Airport.”

News

THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okorie: How PDP, Obi destroyed APGA Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

he founding chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) party, Chief Chekwas Okorie has reacted to the defection of former Anambra state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi from

the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the ruling party has succeeded in destroying APGA. “PDP has succeeded in destroying APGA. The crisis in the party was created by the PDP. Presidency directed the Professor Maurice Iwu led INEC to announce the party’s Trea-

surer as the acting Chairman leaving those who are more qualified”, he said. Okorie, who is now the National Chairman of United Progressive Party (UPP) told New Telegraph in Abuja that those who could read in between the lines knew that the former governor was going to defect to the PDP.

He argued that the leadership of PDP had always said that the party lost to Obi in Anambra and not to APGA, contrary to the general belief that Obi won on the goodwill of the late Ikemba, Odimegwu Ojukwu who everybody had attributed his electoral success to.

“It is an occurrence that everybody who followed happenings in Anambra state knew what was going to happen. Obi and Victor Umeh were out to spoil APGA. He did not spare a penny to fund crisis in the party for good eight years to back his kinsman, Umeh”, he said. The UPP Chairman

Students of Olomu Community Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos, during the resumption after the long holidays as a result of Ebola outbreak…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

said the defection of Obi to the PDP has brought out the real character in him, noting that his action was based on selfish interest. He argued that Obi’s romance with the PDP and his eventual declaration for the party was in his bid to get one appointment or another in the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He lamented that the former governor has left the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano whom he installed, in the cold just six months into the office. While speaking on the future of APGA as a political party, Okorie described the party as a huge deceit that “simply exists as a party”. “APGA is one huge deceit that simply exists as a party. There is nobody there that is sure of where he is. Umeh is going to the Senate and Shinkafi is going for governorship in Zamfara state. They are the two signatories to the party’s account. They will collect nomination fees from unsuspecting party members and clear the account. Umeh will go to the PDP and Shinkafi will join APC”, he said.

LASU issues two-week ‘Oritsejafor’s critics’re anti christ’ ultimatum to external Cephas Iorhemen system students Makurdi

Kayode Olanrewaju

he management of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos yesterday issued a two-week ultimatum to students in its external system to pay their fees and register fully or forfeit their studentship. According to the management, any students who failed to meet up with the payment of their fees and duly register after the expiration of the two weeks grace beginning from October 8 to Wednesday October 22, would not be regarded as a student of LASU External Programme. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa gave the ultimatum at a press conference held at the university’s Senate Chamber, Ojo main campus of the state-owned university. Obafunwa, who recalled that his administration inherited a lot of problems ranging from unmarked scripts, unpaid honorarium for resource persons and imposters who were claiming to be students

of the institution’s external system, nonavailability of records and lack of accountability in the system, however said the management had addressed all the challenges in order the give the programme a focus. Obafunwa added that in spite of that, the Directorate of External System has so far graduated 33,486 students between 2012 and 2014. While explaining that majority of the students claiming to be students of the university’s external programme neither registered nor paid their school fees, he pointed out that of over 8,000 students that registered for the Harmattan Semester, only 5,333 paid their fees. The Vice-Chancellor said: “Technically, any student who did not register or pay his school fees would not be regarded as a bonafide student. The Harmattan semester examinations for 2013/2014 were to commence on September 6, the management had to postpone it indefinitely due to non-payment of school fees by the students.

he chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Benue state, Archbishop Yimam Orkwar has said that the attacks on the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor over his alleged role in the £9.3million arms deal

are a deliberate ploy to tarnish his image. Archbishop Orkwar who made this known in Makurdi, the Benue State capital advised that people should not to be naïve, but always seek to verify the truth before making any comment. The CAN chairman who is also the General Overseer of the All Nations Evangelism Ministries

(ANEM), noted that despite the Federal Government’s acceptance of responsibility in the alleged scam, other sections of the society were still bent on heating up the polity. He described those calling for a probe in the deal as enemies of the country and anti-Christ who do not want to see the existence of Christianity. The Archbishop ac-

knowledged the concern of Pastor Oritsejafor to the lives of Nigerians through constant prayers that saved the country from disintegration in the face of the general insecurity, and sued for the support of the citizens to enable the federal government tackle the growing insecurity challenges confronting the country.

Ejiga refutes endorsement tales, Ode out of race Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

member of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Board of Trustee and caucus leader of the party in Benue South Senatorial District, Gen. Geoffery Ejiga has refuted newspaper publication that the zone has endorsed three aspirants to contest the 2015 governorship race. Ejiga, who spoke to newsmen in Makurdi, said the caucus of the party only met and resolved that a further meeting be held to trim the number of aspirants from the zone. Similarly, one of the aspirants jostling for the governorship position, Mrs. Roseline Ada Chenge condemned the newspaper publication and de-

scribed it as a tissue of lies, claiming that it was a calculated attempt at reducing her ever growing profile to emerge the PDP candidate in the primary. The publication which is causing tension in the camp of the PDP in the state had alleged that the trio of the incumbent Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Steven Lawani, former Commissioner in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Mr. Paul Harris Ogbole and the former Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Dr. Mathias Oyigheya have been selected by a meeting of stakeholders in the zone to vie for the position. However, Chenge said no such meeting was held, adding it was to see in the

dailies that some aspirants have been anointed. Meanwhile The PDP elders caucus in Benue South West Senatorial zone has excluded former Minister of the Niger Delta, Sam Odeh and Harris Ogbole from contesting the governorship ticket of the party at the primaries. The meeting which was held in Otukpo on Monday also charged the remaining aspirants to harmonize their positions and present one formidable candidate who would challenge aspirants from the other zones of the state. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Odeh and Ogbole were excluded from the contest following the unanimous endorsement of Senate President, David Mark for another

term in the senate. Stakeholders at the meeting resolved that since Mark hailed from Otukpo alongside the other two, it would be inappropriate for them to contest for the governorship ticket of the party with aspirants from other local governments. The elders maintained that Otukpo has represented the zone in the National Assembly for 16 years and with the recent endorsement, it therefore, meant the local government would be representing the zone for 20 years. Following the exclusion of Odeh and Ogbole, Mrs. Ada Chenge, the Managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority (LBRBDA) is left to slug it out with Steve Lawani, incumbent deputy governor.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Enugu 2015

Delta governorship

Independence

Impeachment saga

Chime: My goal is to produce an unopposed governor

I’ve potential to govern, says Obuh

Okowa: Nigeria has made progress at 54

We’ve put it behind us, says Nasarawa APC chair

14, 15

Politics You are in the race to succeed Governor Gabriel Suswam in the 2015 elections. Is your principal aware of this move? Yes, I am going to contest the governorship race come 2015 and I have informed the state executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of my intention to put myself forward to run for the office of governor of Benue State. What was the governor’s reaction on your decision to run? Well, I must tell you that I have informed my boss about my intention, I didn’t go to him for endorsement. I only asked for permission to allow me consult and he graciously permitted me. Some of the people who are aspiring are still bidding time. Don’t forget that everything is still some months from now and in any case, some people have come out to say that they have been endorsed by the governor. Governor Suswam has not endorsed anyone to succeed him. How can a man endorse more than one aspirant at a time? But in any case if they say they have been endorsed, it means they are lucky, but I did not ask for endorsement; I asked for permission to consult, which was granted by my boss.

Lawani: Suswam hasn’t endorsed any successor Chief Steven Lawani is the Deputy Governor of Benue State. He is gunning for the governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with CEPHAS IORHEMEN, he speaks on his relationship with Governor Gabriel Suswam and his ambition in 2015. Excerpts:

Would you sustain the legacies of the Suswam administration or seek to trudge your own path? No, I have been a member of the Suswam administration. I have been largely responsible for what has gone on in the last seven years, but suffice it to state here that when the need to continue and carry on with what we already have, I will continue, but when there is need to make changes I will do so. Other sections of the state aside the Idomas like the Jechira people are also laying claims that it is their turn to produce the next governor of the state. How far do you think you can go if their argument holds water? I think I know where you are heading with the question, and that has to do with the issue of

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Lawani

tribalism and politics. The issue of whether I would enjoy the support of other parts of the state if I pick my party’s nomination. I think I would. Everything has its time, seven years ago nobody thought that a black man would emerge the president of the United States of America, but that is the reality today. We have to start somewhere in Benue State as in other states where the majority hold sway.

cess story; and I think that I can continue in the same vein. Don’t forget that in the last seven years I have been playing the number two role which was purely advisory. But if I have the chance to be the pilot, I won’t say it would be something too different; but my experience in governance would to a large extent place me on a better stead to improve on what we have achieved so far.

The general belief was that you were going to run for the Benue South senatorial seat, being occupied by Senator David Mark. So, why the sudden change of mind? The general opinion has been that this administration has been largely successful, and I have been part of the team and suc-

Despite being older than Suswam, you have in the past years remained loyal to the governor. What is the magic? The magic? I have said it before and I will say it again. You know that I ran in the same PDP primaries with the governor. He was the one who won. After

Governor Suswam has not endorsed anyone to succeed him. How can a man endorse more than one aspirant at a time? But in any case if they say they have been endorsed, it means they are lucky, but I did not ask for endorsement

which I went back to my business. But he came calling and asked that I come and be his running mate. I know what it meant to be a deputy governor. I did not come here to be co-governor because I was not even elected. I am a deputy. That is the whole thing. It is more or less to advise and give your support. My duty means that I stand for him when he is not around. He can also delegate a responsibility to other top functionaries of government, that is what obtains in other states. But if he enjoys my trust, then he can trust me to work with him even when he is around and when he is not around because I’m not after his job as obtains in other states. I am here to deputise for him and nothing more. Some Benue people have accused the Suswam administration of not running an all-inclusive government. How would you react to this? As much as I know, the government is running an all-inclusive administration except in some few cases of the former governor, Senator George Akume, General Lawrence Onoja and some few others who are complaining because they feel they could not win the PDP ticket at the primaries, otherwise, who else? One of the achievements of the Suswam administration was to bring all people of Benue from all shades together to offer services to the state and advise government on developmental matters. When you look through the past four years, other states of the federation are even jealous because of the projection and appointment of many Benue sons and daughters into key offices at the federal level. All these are because of the good working relationship the government has enjoyed between its citizens and the Federal Government. How much more can you expect a governor to do? Government has done its best in the direction that you have just mentioned, by carrying people along especially those who have useful ideas. Because if you go to the people of zone A, the likes of Jack Gyados, the Barnabas Gemades of this world, you can name them, CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chime: My goal is to produce an unopposed governor in 2015 Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has addressed issues arising from the emergence of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a third term-member of the House of Representatives, as the consensus governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the February 28, 2015 election. In this interview, he speaks on the process leading to Ugwuanyi’s adoption, the fallout and his fulfilment. UWAKWE ABUGU reports

In the past few days there have been series of events in Enugu State as regards the 2015 elections. How did you come about the consensus governorship candidate? In the past one week or thereabout, we have been meeting. You know the primaries of the party is next month, purchase of forms will begin this month and the election is in February. In line with our practice, we have been the family of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, we have commenced consultations to see if we can agree amongst ourselves on who should actually represent us at all levels; House of Assembly to gubernatorial. We decided to take the bull by the horns. So, we started with the most difficult, or what should have been the difficult one, the governorship. In 2011 elections, activities leading to that election, we had an understanding that within the party that I should be allowed to complete my second term and thereafter, it should go to the North that had not produced governor before on the platform of the PDP. So, within the PDP, I got the nomination, I contested and of course during the general election, one or two persons from Nsukka contested but they were abandoned by their people and they performed so miserably. So, no reasonable person will hold that against them. Last year, the caucus of our party met, because they felt there was need to formalise that arrangement; we met and also reaffirmed that decision that the governorship should go up north. So, in keeping with that decision, last week, we summoned a meeting of who is who from Nsukka zone, although we called it the caucus meeting, everybody was invited. Everybody was there, all persons who had indicated interest one way or the other was there; all elected officials, government, public officers, both state and national was there, past and present leaders. We met and unanimously, at the end of deliberations, it was put to a formal motion which was moved. A lot of the aspirants stepped down for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. At the end, it became clear the way the discussion was going. I was there as the umpire, I didn’t participate in the deliberations; mine was just to guide them, to coordinate what was happening. So, everybody who wanted to speak

was given the chance. People who had expressed concerns earlier, thinking that they were called to come and endorse a particular candidate, after hearing from their kinsmen, changed their views and withdrew from the race. Interestingly, at the end of the day, the two persons that moved and supported the motion were actually contestants that stepped down: Ambassador Fidel Ayogu moved the motion and it was seconded by former deputy governor, Okey Itanyi. And the motion was unanimously endorsed; everybody supported it. When I asked if anybody was against the motion, not a single soul raised his hand. So, they all endorsed it.

the PDP candidate. We are saying as a family, this is our number one choice. He will still go through the rigours of primaries. At the appropriate time, he will buy form, he will be subjected to primaries. If on the day of primaries, other people see reasons to key in and give him support, we will probably have him as the only candidate and support him. It is not by force, nobody is being cowed; everybody is free to express himself but as a family, in Enugu, we try as much as possible to agree and I believe, we have reached that agreement and the very interesting thing is even the young man’s acceptability outside the family ring.

The aspirants from the North zone are many; how did you address the situation? Before, we went into the details, I reminded them that everybody had tried to give reason he should be governor. My response to all of them at the time was that in the end it is our people that will decide. That whoever, we agree upon, it would not be my duty to champion the person’s course; that I wasn’t going to nominate any person. So, at the end of that meeting, it now became my burden to ensure that we got support from the other zones. So, we now called a meeting of Enugu East Senatorial District on Wednesday.Everybody was there, but the ones that couldn’t come like Senator Ken Nnamani, Senator Jim Nwobodo and so on, I had briefed them when we went for the National Honours award and they had indicated their willingness to support the choice of the north. So they lent their support and at the end of the meeting, only one nomination was available, Hon. Ugwuanyi, and everybody again unanimously endorsed him. We followed up on it Friday, the people of my district, Enugu West, met and the same thing happened. They moved a motion and it was unanimously resolved that he will be our candidate. On Sunday, we firmed it up with the State Caucus meeting, all the zones endorsed him as a consensus candidate. But I want to say something because I read things in the papers and became worried, even hearing of people threatening to go to court; nobody should fool himself. This is a case of people coming together to express their desire. We have not elected a governor or selected

But what manner of person is Ugwuanyi

For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we will be producing a governor who will be returned unopposed. It is not by our might, it is not by any funny dealings with anybody. We had done that during the last council elections, all our 17 chairmen were returned unopposed

Chime

that made you lend your support to the process that has produced him? People who know him and have had encounters with him, he is widely accepted. People are excited about his choice. So, I thank God that such a character came up and I didn’t have to beg anybody, plead with anybody or start selling a very bad product. I have a good product to sell and that makes it a lot easier. We will probably take his candidature to the state caucus of the party, down to the local government and ward levels. Ugwuanyi is our choice, there is no doubt about it. Every other person, whether you are of PDP, you can contest with him for primaries or a member of any other party, you wait for the general election. We are looking forward to, and it is our prayer that, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, we will be producing a governor who will be returned unopposed. It is not by our might, it is not by any funny dealings with anybody. We had done that during the last council elections, all our 17 chairmen were returned unopposed. It had never happened anywhere in Nigeria, but it happened in Enugu and we look forward to having it happen this time around on the governorship. It depends on actually the way you run the party, get people together to have implicit trust in what we are doing. What we preach here is peace, togetherness, selflessness, always think of the people. We have endorsed him as the consensus candidate. It is also enshrined in the constitution of the party, I don’t see why any party at any level should be against negotiation. It cannot under any circumstance be described as undemocratic. That is the most democratic

Politics | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

testing. Thank God, under the present dispensation, all forms are bought in Abuja. Nobody has the powers to stop you from buying forms. If anything, the party should encourage it. They should congratulate us for this feat for coming together to say this is our choice.

People are excited about his choice. So, I thank God that such a character came up and I didn’t have to beg anybody, plead with anybody or start selling a very bad product. I have a good product to sell and that makes it a lot easier

thing you can do. If you can get your kinsmen to agree that this is our leader; nobody is being coerced into doing that. That is what lobbying, campaign is all about. So, if you can get people to say this is our choice, this is our candidate, nobody can stop you. We are not running contrary to the constitution of the party but rather doing what the constitution encourages; dialogue, talk to each other. We are lucky it is working here, we are not killing ourselves. I believe people should be envious of us. We are happy doing what we are doing. We are only pleading that everybody who feels aggrieved should look at the larger interest of the people and queue behind every other person, we must drop selfish ambition. Ifeanyi is the popular choice, anybody will endorse him any day any time. And I am sure nobody will want to waste his money contesting against him. Why was the first meeting, the caucus of Enugu North called, because one of the aspirants claimed that they were not adequately communicated of the purpose? You also told us it was a kind of consensus agreement at the meeting but we read that nine aspirants out of 13 stepped down while three objected. What happened? Let me start with the last one. Like I said, yes, some raised issues and like I said, at the end of the deliberations, some formally stepped down. Those who moved and supported motions raised concerns initially. Not everyone of them spoke again. But when it was not put to motion, each and every one of them endorsed. There was no dissenting voice, not a single one. Everybody said yes. After they heard themselves and I

invited you to this meeting but I can get the names of the contestants and I can ask you to go and speak with them one after the other and they will tell you how they feel now. All of them have queued behind him as far as I know. If it had not been consensus, all of those persons would have been saying things in the papers. They would have been telling you different things. Ayogu is the only one, for reasons best known to him. Coming to your second question, because I believe that was what he said, that he didn’t know why the meeting was called, it is laughable. Everybody was invited. I don’t have any apologies for not telling them in advance why they were being called. If you had informed them in advance, probably, Nsukka would have been on fire by the time we would be having the meeting; people will be moving money around, doing funny things. We called the meeting of everybody, nobody was left out. Why you came was immaterial and it was clearly put on the table; this is our reason for coming and issue was raised, that we should have been given notice and I asked them, do we adjourn, so you go home and discuss, all of them screamed no. So, they knew the disaster that would have come out of it if we had allowed them to go home and discuss. We know ourselves, it’s not a case of somebody from Delta wanting to be president and then you call somebody from Sokoto to come and vote for him, you need to convince him. In this case, we know ourselves, you don’t need time to lobby anybody. This is the time to take the decision and that decision was taken and that was the beauty of it. That surprise aspect. Everybody saw it happening and it happened. Nobody

was forced. Nicely, those who spoke against it turned to support the idea. The national leadership of the PDP has opposed any endorsement at the state level insisting that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can endorse. How do you relate the statement with what you have done in Enugu? I didn’t read it, but if it was made, then it is unfortunate. Under the party constitution, we are encouraged to talk things over; we are encouraged to come together and discuss rather than being at war. That cuts across all levels of the party. I don’t believe the statement was made. The party cannot and will never be against any level of the party coming together to agree on a candidate. What should be their problem, if any, would be if any level of the party stops other people from buying forms. Here people are free to buy forms, that’s what politics is all about. We endorsed the president as the presidential candidate; it won’t stop him from going for primaries. It won’t. But it will be a mere formality, any other person coming out will be coming there to ridicule himself because the party has spoken. But it can’t stop anybody from buying form constitutionally. That we have endorsed him is a statement to whoever that is coming that the party has spoken but if you like, of course the party wants to make some money, but if you like you can pick form. Nobody will stop anybody from buying form; buy your form and go for primaries, what you find, you take. Nobody is going against the party directives. I am not sure what they said affects us. As far as Enugu is concerned, we are not stopping anybody from con-

Are you happy with the obvious dull moment in Enugu owing to the fact that everybody was waiting for you to anoint a candidate? There are reports that Ayogu is already leading a quiet campaign against the endorsement claiming that they were ambushed. I don’t owe you any apologies. Maybe you were expecting us to break our heads, we disappointed you. We have agreed on who we have chosen to lead us. When people address you, the press, that this happened and all that. The persons that attended the meeting are not spirits. Go the extra mile and call Senator Fidelis Okoro, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Okechukwu Itanyi and tell them that you heard they were ambushed. Collect their numbers and call them. We shouldn’t discuss what one person is saying in a meeting attended by over 100 persons. Ask the person you are interviewing if there was any other nomination outside Ugwuanyi; ask the person if the nomination was put to vote and subjected to a motion. Also ask whether anybody opposed the motion when it was moved. These are facts, don’t dwell on what one person is going about saying. I will not like to discuss what any person told you. Coming to other concerns that the activities are so low; yes, initially when this thing started, people were coming to me seeking for my endorsements or anointing and I kept on reminding them that in Enugu, we don’t anoint. We allow people to speak. We kept on telling them that when the people speak, it will be my business to champion the person’s course. That is what we are doing. We allow the people to speak and they have spoken. The East, nobody said no; the West, nobody said no and the North, nobody said no. Except we have another district we are not aware of, maybe there is a South, then we go there. We don’t have issues. We give glory to God for this feat. Our prayer is for us to sustain it. I look forward to eight years’ time, we will be agreeing on a consensus candidate from the East that will succeed him. We all cannot be governor at the same time. We must have leaders while others allow themselves to be led What kind of a successor are you looking at; even with Ugwuanyi’s emergence; when you hand over in seven months’ time? I already know the person by the Grace of God. We already know him. We don’t have opposition here. PDP is the only party here, once we speak, the people have spoken. So, we expect him to win. Like I said, by February, we will be going to the poll to vote Yes or No. I don’t expect any serious-minded person to contest against him, though we are not stopping anybody anyway. This is just our wish and prayer. He fits into the person I would like to take over from me. He fits in perfectly. He’s widely acceptable, kind hearted, and a team player. He has all it takes, he’s been in the House of Representatives for three terms. I think he is eminently qualified. Are you expecting him to continue with your programmes and policies? It will be entirely his decision and business. When he comes in, it is his, if he wants to remain in Udenu and be drinking palm wine, it is entirely his business, if he wants to be governor of Enugu State, then good. We will give him all the support, I can assure you.

16 Politics | Interview After 32 years in the Delta State Civil Service, Mr. Anthony Obuh, recently bowed out as Permanent Secretary, Directorate of Government House and Protocol. Obuh, a governorship hopeful of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), speaks on why he is fit for the job in 2015. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Obuh: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve potential to govern Delta

What political experience do you possess to succeed Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan? We formed the Project Uduaghan International (PUI), through that support group we were able to work behind the scene for the present governor and again I was part of the transition committee that prepared his eventual take-over of office. Along the line, you begin to see certain things that will add values to the lives of the people may be hindered not because the policies are not good or because the leadership does not completely understand what to do, but then, at every point in time, it is necessary that you have to harness the effort of a good number of people within the system to ensure that you achieve success. If you do not understand the system or what the problems are, the tendency for you is to begin to do blame game. I know how to harness potential because I have been in the system and addressing them will not be a problem. Looking at the number of persons who are around and from my personal assess- Obuh ment, I know they do not have the kind of understanding and exposure that I have and that places me at an advantage. If you look at the fact that by 2015 the position of the governor will become vacant and all of us are looking at a situation where somebody can take over and continue to run the development of our state, continue to utilise all the opportunities that are available and continue to build what we consider to be the advantages that are already on ground, it is only somebody who understands the system thoroughly that can do that. So, in my mind I had continued to assess the situation and to consider my suitability for that work. It is not something that was done overnight. But something that grew with me, even becoming a permanent secretary is not something I just woke up one morning to get; I subjected myself to training to understanding the system so that when I have the opportunity, I could do well. So, the aspiration to become a governor is a combination of well thought out plan within me and I believed that I stand in the position to be able to address defects in governance because I know what our advantages and talents are. I had the privilege of working inside the civil service as a civil servant and also, outside the civil service relating with people in the private sector. What all that has done for me is exposure to governance within the civil service and the private sector. In the course of my service, I can say that I got exposed to a number of things bordering on initiation of public policies and articulation of policies that affect the lives of people of the state. What are your plans for Delta State? First, I want to let you know that our policy is to ensure that we push the economy of Delta beyond oil. That is to say, we know that what we have now is our greater advantage and we will one

businesses of their own. What plans do you have for small and medium entrepreneurs? For those who have businesses and they want a sponsor, capital has always been a big problem. Our micro and medium scale enterprises are all groaning under the pain of lack of finance to fund their investments. Our challenge will be that we will ensure that they have access to cheap funds, access to long term loans that will help them to invest and watch their investment grow. Rather go to commercial banks where the loans they get the interest rate swallows up both the profit and capital. So, these are areas we intend to address and we intend to put our hearts and spirit into it to ensure that it benefits the people as quickly as possible.

day no-longer enjoy that status. We will have to start harnessing opportunities in different sectors and segments for the benefit of the people of Delta State. Let me talk about agriculture; our state has a lot of resources, natural resources. Agriculture is one basic area we consider as a greater asset for the people of Delta State. As at today, I believe that enough has not been done through agriculture for the people of the state. We still continue to witness waste arising from our inability to preserve and utilise our harvest. At harvest time, if you visit our farming communities, you will be sorry for the farmers because they are unable to preserve, store or process them or add value and get greater benefit out of it. That will be a major challenge I intend to confront when given the opportunity because we need to build the lives of people. The full value chain of agriculture, we intend to explore them and develop them for the benefit of our people. From agriculture, we are also going to tackle education. Unemployment is a problem that is plaguing the whole world, not just Nigeria not to talk of Delta State. But for us in Delta, we see it as a major challenge. And part of this challenge is that our graduates whether from secondary, polytechnics, university levels are not properly equipped to be independent. What you see is that people graduate and the next day they are asking of employment from the government. We should grow beyond the level of looking for employment from the government; people should have the skill that can make them independent, engage themselves and indeed employ other persons. So, we are going to improve our educational system and produce people who can be entrepreneurs even as they are coming out of schools. We will give them life-engaging skills that can make them independent and employable either they want to join other companies or if they want to start

The aspiration to become a governor is a combination of well-thoughtout plan within me and I believe that I stand in the position to be able to address defects in governance because I know what our advantages and talents are

What is going to be your position on DESOPADEC? The Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) was set up by an Act of the Delta State Government in 2007, to execute a clear mandate. As stated in Section 13 (1) of its enabling law, the Commission shall â&#x20AC;&#x153;receive and administer exclusively the 50 per cent of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund accruing to the Delta State Government for (a) the rehabilitation and development of oil-producing areas in the state, and (b) other development projects as may be determined from time to time by the Commission.â&#x20AC;? Since government started funding DESOPADEC, youth restiveness has reduced and if elected, by the grace of God, I will continue in this path and ensure that projects aimed at addressing specific problems within these oil-producing communities are given maximum attention. If people have what they require in the rural and riverine communities, they will not migrate to the cities to look for jobs that are not available. So, we will ensure that funding of DESOPADEC does not cease. What is your reaction to insinuations that you have been anointed to become the next governor of Delta State? If they say I have been anointed by some political interests, support groups, youth communities and all of that, it is okay and I think that is what politicians seeking public offices look up to. I think those saying this have attempted to get such anointment without success. They have also mentioned some names to say such names have anointed me. But let me tell you there is nobody that has the constitutional right to give or deny support for any individual. They even said the governor has anointed me but I have never discussed anointment with the governor, he has never declared that he has anointed me, even the chairman of PDP in Delta State has issued a statement to that effect. The governor, chairman or party has not anointed anybody. At 57, where I am going to is closer than where I am coming from. I have worked for 32 years and nobody can say I have been inclined to doing wrong things or bad things. Now is the time for me to look for name , name that can never fade that can make me to be a consultant to people who will come to seek public office. I am determined to leave a lasting legacy of a leader that would be remembered in history. That is my determination.

Politics | Interview 17

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Okowa: Nigeria has made progress at 54 Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is the senator representing Delta South in the National Assembly and a governorship hopeful. In this interview with ETAGHENE EDIRIN, he speaks on Nigeria’s Independence, her stride as a nation and what the future holds. Excerpts: How would you rate Nigeria’s strides since independence in 1960? I think we’ve had quite a lot of challenges 54 years down the line. Sometimes you may say we’re getting old, but obviously we’re very far from old, because most of the nations that you hear about today, some are hundreds of years old. I think we are still young as a nation. However, if not for the interruption of our democracy, I believe we would have gone much further than we are now. You do know that we had a civil war, and several interventions by the military, and to that extent, we’ve not had a democracy that has been steady, apart from the last 15 years now. But by and large we are beginning to do well. At least for the first time, we have had four different elections, and we appear to be staying on course, democratically. If you really look at Nigeria since 1999, obviously there’s been a lot of progress in terms of infrastructure; a lot of reforms have come in, and there’s consistency in the development that we have witnessed so far. There is no doubt too that we cannot be classified yet as an elective democracy because we’re still having some challenges concerning the electoral process, but it is improving by the day, particularly during the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan. We have seen that the elections that have been done in the last few years have tended to be the fair representation of the will of the people; what you’d call the ‘one-man one-vote’. We hope that we can continue to improve on it. We are also looking forward to the fact that the political parties will learn to also democratise, because if democracy should actually start internally, it’s within the parties, if we are going to have an elective democracy at the end of the day. In terms of development, I think a lot has been done in recent times. You can see that the last few years, even the rail transport system has been reactivated, and we are beginning to see new railway construction, which is very important to the transportation of goods and services, even human beings. We’re also seeing new trends in the agricultural sector, because that is the sector that will truly employ our teeming youths, which is a major challenge in this country. There has been a restructuring of policies in the agricultural sector which is good for our country, and it’s something that we must bless God for if we can remain consistent on it, and in the next

few years we may not be importing anything, because at the moment we spend several billions of naira importing things that we can actually produce in the country. We can also see that certain industries are also growing in the country, we used to import cement, but now we’re exporting cement as a nation. We hope and pray that we are able to get the power sector right. Mr. President is doing quite a lot, but somehow unfortunately, as the independent power plants are getting set it appears the gas supply which was not initially planned into the project, unfortunately is setting us back. But we hope that the facility they are putting in place would be completed as soon as possible so that we can actually power the various plants put in place. There are also reforms in the health and education sectors, but there is still a lot to be done. But in the health sector, with the way we were quickly able to contain the Ebola virus showed that our medical industry has actually come of age. We’re growing as a nation truly. Yes we can grow a lot faster, but we must also realise that up until now, we were mainly running on what I’ll call a mono economy. It’s only now that we are trying to re-diversify by growing our agricultural sector. Would you say the founding fathers’ dreams have been achieved so far? The dreams of the founding fathers cannot be achieved in so short a time because even the same founding fathers had their problems trying to lay down the processes for the dreams to be achieved. It’s going to take quite a while. That’s why I said 54 years in the life of a nation is not like the life of a human being. We’re still united, and that is good enough for us. Despite the insurgency that we witnessed in the country, the unity is there, and we’re all together trying to fight the problem. I believe that going forward; if we’re able to allow democracy to stay, and I believe that it has come to stay, in another 50 years, we would have gone very far from where we are today. I actually believe that the interruptions that we did have of the democratic process by the military set us back severally. And I believe that the more we grow in our democracy, and the more the votes begin to count, the more likely we are going to have committed people in government, as we have at the moment, and the more likely we can chart a better future for

Okowa

Nigeria and our people.

We’re growing as a nation truly. Yes we can grow a lot faster, but we must also realise that until now, we were mainly running on what I’ll call a mono economy

How would you compare the leadership then and now? It’s difficult to begin to compare them now, because the persons you want to compare came up at different times in the life of the nation. Coming out from the struggles for independence, you find that those persons, even though we called them nationalists, they were not really quite bold, but they were able to fight for independence, and got the level of recognition that they did. But in coming together, if one looks at the politics then, even when they truly fought for the nation then, there was a lot of bickering between them politically, which is the same thing you see today as a nation. Essentially they are the same Nigerians. I would rather not wish to compare the present with the old. The important thing is: wherever anybody finds himself, work for Nigeria. That is the important thing. Ensure that you make Nigeria better than you met it, and I think that is the key thing. I believe that the founding fathers had a lot of commitments to Nigeria, but there was also a lot of sectionalism at that time. People tried to play a lot of ethnic politics. And as long as we continue to play ethnic politics, as it is, we may not be getting the best for Nigeria at this point in time. The politics then and now should not be the same; we must grow out of that ethnic approach in the selection of our leaders. That is important. And one thing I’m happy about that we see with this current administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is that you can see a lot of reforms. Things that we

had forgotten, that are very important, there is a lot of commitment to fix infrastructure. Given the agitation of some components for autonomy, do you see Nigeria still remaining as one in the near future? I think that we are all agreed essentially that we need to remain one strong united nation. But that does not mean that the states can’t ask for greater autonomy. I don’t find anything wrong in that, because if you look at some items, slated in the Exclusive List of the constitution, they are things that can actually be handled by the states. So, we need to re-examine all these. Where we have federating units in a country, we can have a national government that unites us, but we will need to be able to devolve more powers to the state. I personally believe in that. But we must also find ways of having checks and balances so that the states also do not become too powerful and applying their powers against the will of the people that brought them into office. What is your message to Nigerians? I want to congratulate all Nigerians and ask them to continue to pray for our nation, and that there is a need for all to be dedicated to Nigeria, because most Nigerians now begin to lay blames on the other person. When we all get committed to our nation, we are likely going to grow it much faster. The commitment is for all, not only the leadership. The leadership and followership must support each other for this nation to grow faster. We must love our nation, and we must continue to stay committed to the nation Nigeria.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Of Akinkunmi, presidential steward and National Honours Francis Ehigiator

ritical newspaper editorials and other comments have trailed the process of selecting the 306 recipients of the 2014 National Honours who were presented with the awards by President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at an impressive ceremony in Abuja recently. Yet, this year’s award was significant in many respects. Unlike in the past when the list of awardees was dominated by politicians and cronies of the powers that be, President Jonathan appears to have reacted to criticisms by elevating merit and honest service to fatherland as the main criteria for receiving the national honours. And to be fair to the President, he did promise at the previous year’s awards that his government would consciously and continually improve on the process of selection of award recipients. This is precisely what he did with the 2014 national honours awards. Although politicians appear to still have good numbers on the award list, for obvious reasons, of course, this year’s national honours award is very remarkable because many of those whose names ought to be on the list were actually honoured. From pro-democracy and civil rights activists to opposition politicians; from wealthy and successful businessmen and women to an honest taxi driver and steadfast steward; from our gallant ambassadors in sports to trailblazing entertainers, an appreciative country under President Jonathan said “thank you” to deserving citizens who had first brought honour and pride to our nation. Mrs. Joe Okei-Odumakin who led the nationwide protest against the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy that nearly brought down Jonathan’s government, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Chairman of the All

Progressives Congress, the main opposition working to upstage the PDP government, Kenneth Nnebue, the acclaimed forerunner of the money spinning entertainment industry, Nollywood, Blessing Okagbare, the sprint queen who has caused our national anthem to be heard on different podiums across the world, are among many other deserving awardees. The highlight of the event was unmistakably the honouring of three very distinguished citizens – in their own right. The first in this category is 77-year old Pa Taiwo Akinkunmi who designed the Green-White-Green Nigerian Flag. As a primary school kid in the former East Central State before the Civil War, we were already conscious of the name Taiwo Akinkunmi courtesy of our social studies, as the designer of the Nigerian Flag. That was the era when there was pride in national service and our heroes past were really labouring. It is, therefore, inspiring that President Jonathan reminded us of an enduring part of our national history by honouring Pa Akinkunmi with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR. And as if to add an icing on the cake, the President also placed the flag designer on the salary of Special Assistant to the President, for life. As with Pa Akinkunmi, President Jonathan clearly embodied the will of Nigerians by honouring a longstanding steward in the presidential villa, Mr. Onuh Isaac Michael. Michael, we are told, has served nine presidents and perhaps more than nine first ladies, right from former President Shehu Shagari. The story of the diligence and sacrifice of this steward who it was said does not catch more than four hours of sleep everyday just to commute from Nasarawa State where he could afford an accommodation to his duty post in Aso Villa, in the heart of the city, is moving. The plight of the presidential

steward before President Jonathan’s commendable intervention typifies the attitude of our “big men” and “big women” towards their domestic staff who are often treated shabbily by their employers and their children as well. It is gladdening that President Jonathan recognised the pains Onuh goes through on daily basis just to be at his duty post, with a gift of a flat to be provided by the FCT minister. It is also good advertisement for the national honours award this year that a mere but dutiful traffic warden, Solomon Dauda, who does his job with animated passion and admirable spirit was spotted and honoured with the Member of the Order of the Niger, and a house for good measure as well. The recognition of this enigmatic officer will continually be a source of inspiration and encouragement to other citizens who might think that the services they provide and the effort they put in are unnoticed and inconsequential to national growth. But by far the most deserving of all the recipients of the national honours on the day was Citizen Imeh Usuah, a taxi driver who took pains to trace and return to his passenger N18 Million that he forgot in his cab. As President Jonathan put it: “Take Mr. Ime Usuah, the taxi driver, whose daily income was not more than N10,000. A passenger forgot N18m in his taxi and went away. The man did not have Mr. Usuah’s name or his phone number. The honest Nigerian spirit in Mr. Usuah led him to go hunting for the owner of the N18m and he delivered it to him, intact. This is how it should be.” Citizen Usuah is full value for his Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR, and the house gift he received! • Ehigiator wrote from Benin City.

The irreplaceable David Mark Ngbede Samuel

ne man is just enough to make Idoma history and that man for now is David Mark. History making doesn’t require a multitude; it takes only individuals. To form the human race, God just needed Adam. To discover America, God just needed Columbus. To simplify car-making, God just needed Ford. To publicize golf, God just needed Tiger Wood. To fight the Idoma course, God just needed David Mark. When God found a willing man ‘David Mark’, He is using him to cultivate what Idoma sons and daughters would feed on for generations to come. Americans began giving their all, ‘David Mark’ you have given us your all. Americans began laying down their lives, ‘David Mark’ you have laid down your life all because you understood patriotism. You have laid down your life even for a course that is not alive. You have endlessly committed yourself to giving even to pockets with holes. You have given your country-tribe ‘IDOMA’ a dancesalute even though ‘IDOMA’ lacks country-music. You have given your all in service even if some of the results would speak after your life time. You are a patriotic Idoma man because you have served for the good of the people. You are a good citizen because you don’t serve for rewards. “The Idoma were praying to God

The day you were born, many rejoiced in the world of the spirit because a new Idoma chapter opener was born. People came from far away land to celebrate with your parents because a new world changer was born. Your success is a national success for a good leader and God said, ‘let David Mark be’ and all was light”. I know you are a happy man because you are fighting the Idoma cause. William Cowper said, “The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose”. You have lived for others to live. If the Idoma have seen further, it is because they stand on the shoulder of a great man like you, David Mark. You came to build bridges, you came to solve puzzles and you came to conquer mountains. Some see work as a means to earn but you see

work as a means to mend. Some said life is to be enjoyed but to you, life is a skill to be employed. To some, life is a game to be played; to you, life is a mission to be accomplished. You are a giant yet you work as if you are just starting. You have scored so much yet you work as if you have lost so much. You are a victor that is not intoxicated by victories. You have become a hero, yet you work as if you are the least servant. By your exploits ‘Idoma’ has ceased to be an odour; Idoma has become a colour. Thanks for restoring Idoma dignity. We have no excuse to fail as an ethnic nationality any more, we have all it takes to reign because you are reigning. Indeed, you came to heal history; you came to address the moment, the pain and agony. The whole world is not half the treasure endowed in you. You are not living life every day but you are giving life every day. You are not seeking applause every day but being a plus every day. The day you were born, many rejoiced in the world of the spirit because a new Idoma chapter opener was born. People came from far away land to celebrate with your parents because a new world changer was born. Your success is a national success. The work that you have done has a voice and is speaking for you. I have followed your activities as the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You must not relent in your good works; you must not be discouraged because the

whole world is watching. People may not thank you well enough but your works are speaking for you. Keep it up and don’t play dice with it. David Mark, we had remained in bondage until you came on board; your coming freed us from prison. We were like slaves without privileges. We were living like orphans without leaders, and we were like sheep without shepherds. You have saved us from so much. You starved yourself to work, you shortened your sleep to work, what more can we say? Our land is now blessed that a faraway blind could see. We need you to fix something come 2015. The senate seat in Benue State ‘zone c’ belongs to you that have dared to challenge giants unto contest. We the Idomas have no gold or silver to give to you to recompense your good works neither do we have mars to build a mansion for you. We have no diamond to cast nor do we have emeralds to hang on your neck. All these are not worth the simple love you have for us. We are proud of you and all we ask of you is to still represent us. For, if there is any body worth going to the senate in 2015, it’s you David Mark! If there is any body the Idomas are boasting of, it’s you ‘David Mark. We cannot but let the whole wide world know that we still want you to be our senator in 2015. • Samuel can be reached at donsamuel1@yahoo. co.uk, Ojantele- Ochekwu, Apa Local Government, Benue State (08052592303)

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

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2015: The leadership question

ince the October 1 official release by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of the guidelines for the general elections slated for February next year, the polity has become more astir with activities. In line with section 30(1) of the Electoral Act (as amended), INEC released the notice on elections as contained in the guidelines. The timetable for the elections was also released. By this development, the 25 registered political parties in the country and aspirants on their various platforms were informed that they had from October 2 to December 31 this year to conduct their primaries from which the candidates to fly their flags would emerge. “In accordance with Section 30 of the Electoral Act (as amended), notice is hereby given that election to following offices shall hold as follows: the presidential and National assembly elections shall take place on February 14, 2015 and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections shall take place on February 28, 2015,” the notice of elections posted on the electoral umpire’s website announced. With this, the camps of aspirants, kingmakers, gladiators and pretenders, and the electorate are already brimming with activities and elevated positioning to increase their electoral values in the bid to clinch victory and count in the emerging political equation.

But, while this suggests that INEC is following the requisite regulatory steps to guide the whole electoral process for a smooth transition, there is palpable concern over the tendency for elected office holders to literally shut down the processes and apparatuses of governance in order to play the politics of ‘next election’. Their actions informed by the experiences of previous years, the electorate further worry that they may again be shut out in the scheme of things as the wheel of electioneering activities formally turns and gains traction. We vehemently frown at such tendencies as we cannot afford any action or inaction that would deplete the gains made in the past 15 years of seamless democratic transition. We insist that the political parties and whoever emerges as their candidates to seek voters’ support must, going forward, be prepared to convince the electorate in clear and evident-led ways that they are well honed and sufficiently armed with value-adding programmes to make change happen. In addition, they must show significant commitment to good governance knitted to make visible differences that they can be remembered for years after they would have left office. Good governance in reference must be anchored on the eight pillars of accountability, transparency, responsiveness, rule of law, consensus orientation, equity and inclusiveness, effective-

ness and efficiency as defined by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission. The process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented) must now be taken more seriously in literal and contextual applications by all leaders as the country aspires to make quality progress. Guided by these pillars and all other conditions encapsulated in good governance, we demand that politicians who aspire to electoral offices and other leadership positions in the country should be game-changers and go-getters who deeply understand and appreciate the concept of sustainable and inclusive development beyond rhetoric and showmanship aimed to hoodwink the public. The business environment still remains harsh and the performance on the ease of business registration, a major ingredient and component of the Ease of Doing Business Report of the World Bank is not satisfactory, as stated by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in the communiqué of its council meeting held October, 2, 2014. We need visionary leaders who can urgently fix this and other shortcomings of the entire system and realise the dream of making the country a leading investment destination in Africa. Power outages and the lack of roads, railways, and ports have long constituted a frustrating feature of business not only in Africa generally,

but particularly in Nigeria where they are hindering home-grown entrepreneurs and foreign investors alike. To become more competitive globally, Nigeria, and indeed Africa must close these infrastructure gaps to unlock quality growth, enabling smallholder farmers and rural communities to enjoy the benefits of more equitable economic growth as recommended by the Kofi Annan-led ten-member Africa Progress Panel, which advocates, at the highest levels, equitable and sustainable development in Africa, We join the Africa Progress Panel to urge innovative solutions to finance infrastructure for Africa by our political and business leaders as the Financial Times, Ernst and Young, OECD, World Bank and IMF discuss economic and financial issues related to not only Nigeria but Africa as a whole this week in London, Johannesburg, Paris, and Washington. In the unfolding political scenario, we believe that the country now needs leaders with world-class initiatives and capacity to innovate to the extent that the governed should be proud of in the matrix of solutions to lingering problems beyond Nigerian, West African or continental standards and forms. We stoutly believe that the country now more than ever before, needs race-horses and not lame-docks, with total and sincere commitment to working for the wellbeing of the people anchored on credibility and virtuous leadership.

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20 Politics | Interview

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

We’ve put impeachment saga behind us, says Nasarawa APC chair Mr. Philip Tatari Shekwo is the Nasarawa State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). To him, the performance of the APC-led government in the state is enough campaign strategy for the party to retain power in 2015. In this interview with CHEKE EMMANUEL, he debunks claims that Governor Tanko Al-Makura is perpetuating crisis in the state How far have you gone to reconcile some All Progressives Congress (APC) members who were aggrieved over the election of party executives in the state? The party set up a reconciliatory committee to reconcile all aggrieved members and to the best of my knowledge, all those who were aggrieved were brought back to the party and APC is waxing strong than before. The defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) produced the governor in 2011. Do you think the APC will have same kind of support to win the governorship in 2015? I strongly believe that Nasarawa is an APC state and with the peopleoriented projects executed by the APC administration within the period it has been in government in the state, the party is grounded in the state. The physical projects Tanko Al-Makura has put on ground have already campaigned for him. Take a look at Lafia, the state capital, and you will see the difference between the previous administration and that of the APC administration. Talk about road construction, building of schools and hospitals, construction of ultra-modem markets and special schools for physically challenged persons and several other projects that touch people’s lives are spread all over the state. In fact, we are solidly on ground as we have touched the lives of the people

Shekwo

in many ways and we are still doing it. We will do more.

will soon be over and there will be peace in the state once again.

The 2015 election is approaching. What is the party doing to retain power in the state? Nasarawa State is an APC state. We are all over at the place, from the state level down to local government level. So there is no cause for alarm. But when we get to the bridge, we will surely cross over. Forget the insinuations going around the town. I heard the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say that Tanko Al-makura is the cause of crises in Nasarawa. The crises have gone beyond Tanko; they started before he became the governor. The crises have been there before Tanko came to office, he is not their cause. Crises have been there: Fulani versus Eggon and Alago, Eggon versus Alago, and Eggon versus Migili. All the crises did not start today; they started before Tanko came on board. In fact, the governor has been trying his best to ensure that there is peace. Unfortunately, the perpetrators are the ones accusing the governor of perpetrating crisis and I know this can only be done for political gains, but God is on our side; He knows the truth and works with a man that goes for the truth. I am sure that the crises

What is the party doing to complement government’s effort in ensuring peace in the state? I have always appealed to the people of the state especially our youths not to allowed themselves to be used by self-seeking politicians in the state to cause crises. There are people who have political ambitions and they can do anything to come to power. I always advise youths to be weary of such people. They use ethnicity and religion, all these things are unnecessary. If they have something to show to people to vote for them, they should go and show it. We in APC feel that we have something to do for the people and we are doing it. Our projects are on ground and they are campaigning for us. We are not using ethnicity or religion because we have something superior to tribalism, we have something superior to religion and we have something to do for the people and we have done it and we will do more and we are saying vote for us. With complaints that the APC administration in the state has not taken dividends of democracy to the grassroots, does your party still have

Lawani: Suswam hasn’t endorsed any successor C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

they are all with us in this government. We also have the Abu King Shuluwa and the rest. Who is out? Just only one or two persons who do not want to come along. But remember, not everybody would come because no one is compelled to join. What is your experience like as the deputy governor? Don’t forget that I ran for governor of Benue State and lost. He won and right here in this place he came and told me that he wanted me to be his running mate. I ac-

cepted. And in accepting, I accepted to be deputy governor and not co-governor. So, with the experience of life, you would know what you are going for. I prayed for it. You don’t need to go and start fighting your governor. Even when asking questions, there are limitations. You don’t ask too many questions. But when I ask, I get answers and that is all and I am happy with my job. When you accepted to be deputy to Suswam, many people in the state criticized your decision to accept the position. How did you view their reactions?

Truly, I can remember that very well. But as I said earlier, don’t forget that I ran for governorship, my hope was to be governor to serve the people. When I did not get the ticket, the man who won came and said ‘you wanted to serve, come and let’s serve together.’ If I refused, the same people who criticised me will say I had ulterior motive. They will say may be I had other things in mind that was why I refused to serve as deputy. But I accepted to serve. I am doing my best. I am praying that my tenure to elapse quick, so that I can come back and face my business.

the support of the people ahead of the 2005 polls? I don’t think people at the grassroots are complaining of not having dividends of democracy. What are dividends of democracy? Is it to carry government money to distribute to people that is called dividends of democracy, or is it to put projects on ground to touch the lives of the people. I think it [dividends of democracy] is to touch the lives of people which is not to go and steal government money and share to people. Moreover, when you share money, how many people get it? Only few people get it. We have seen it in the past when money was shared only few people got it but this man (Al-makura) said no I won’t do that; what I am going to do is to do projects that will touch the lives of the people so that Nasarawa State will be better than how he met it. Is there anything better than that? For God sake, I don’t think people are complaining. People can only complain when they don’t see physical projects on ground. What people are doing now is that they are requesting that the projects come to their areas and we are doing that. It is an ongoing thing you cannot touch every community at a time and in the near future, projects will all go round. What is your take on the attempt by the lawmakers to impeach Governor Al-Makula? Honestly, I have put the issue of impeachment saga behind me. We and the House of Assembly are trying to work together; we are all brothers and sisters. The interest of Nasarawa State is in the hands of all of us, so the impeachment issue has been put behind us. The House of Assembly and the executive are working together, there is no problem. First of all, I am a student of change. I believe in change because change adds spice to life. But I have also come to realise that you do not change for change sake. When you have a cloth you have bought and it is still good and fits you well, why must you throw it away? Moreso that that cloth has a life span of nine years to perform on you; you don’t throw it away after wearing it for a period of two years or so. That is my take on the issue. Yes the northern senatorial zone is an area that has not yet produced a governor but PDP has ruled us for 12 years and now we have an APC government and this APC governor has performed very well. And the constitution allows for another four years, why don’t we be patient and allow him the four years. Then nobody under the earth has a reason to say this seat should not shift to the northern senatorial zone. But for you to insist just because of an arrangement, just because northern zone has not tested it; we still have years ahead. So if we allow the person that has started very well to complete what he has started, I think it will be in the interest of Nasarawa State. I think the interest of Nasarawa is now more protected by allowing the incumbent governor to go for a second term. After that it will shift to the northern senatorial zone.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Ozekhome: We must rise against judicial ‘armageddon’ in Ekiti

Blame police over attack on judges, says Farounbi

Privileges of elevation to the silk: Matters arising

The drama in Ekiti is simply judicial armageddon as the implication is that judges will no longer deliver judgement on the basis of facts

The Ekiti attack on judges could have been prevented if the police have been pro-active and lived up to their constitutional duties

Criticism in Nigeria appears to be marked by high level of subjectivity not necessarily designed to assist the growth of the legal profession

Law

Ekiti: Falana, Alegeh, others seek Fayose’s prosecution Outrage has continued to trail the invasion of the Ekiti state courts barely seventeen days after lawyers and judges were assaulted during proceedings at the election petition tribunal. Already, a twist was on Monday introduced into the ‘show of shame’ which had since thrown the judiciary into confusion of sort as lawyers have taken the matter to the Human Rights Commission. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report

FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE JUDICIARY Editor

foluso.ogunmodede@ newtelegraphonline.com

Alegeh, (SAN) NBA President

iqued by what they described as judicial armageddon in Ekiti state following the September 22 and 25 attacks on the courts by some suspected political thugs, lawyers were yesterday unanimous that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Already two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Norrisom Quakers and M.J. Onigbanjo, had wired a petition to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), asking it to probe the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Governor-elect, Ayodele Fayose’s role on the attacks carried-out on the courts and their judges on September 22 and 25. The attacks, they said were not only a violation of their rights to practice as lawyers but constituted threats to their lives. Although the National Juducial Council (NJC) had mandated the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abbah to investigate the attacks on the court and prosecute those behind it, the lawyers fingered the PDP as the organiser of the political thugs who carried-out the attacks. They urged the NHRC to use its powers to unearth those be-

Falana, SAN

hind the banditry and gross violation of human rights with a view to prosecuting and bringing them to justice. Besides, the lawyers’ umbrella body- the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has joined the fray as it had sent an investigative team to the state to unravel the mastermind of the September 22 and 25 attacks and bring them to justice. Notwithstanding the police and the NHRC invitation into the matter, lawyers who spoke with the New Telegraph called for an independent probe panel with a view not only to unveiling the mastermind and bringing them to justice but mitigating the ripple effects of the attacks on the judiciary. In her view, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, a Senior Advocate harped on the respect for the rule of law, insisting that there was the need for a decisive action to be taken on the mastermind with a view to serving as a deterrent. “What is needed to be done is for everybody to respect the judiciary and obey simple instructions”, Adekoya said. To Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, the assault on the judiciary in Ekiti state was “politically motivated by politicians to get favourable judgement”.

Oluwole

Mr. Fayose and his thugs should not be allowed to kill judges and lawyers before calling him to order

He said: “Never in the history of Nigeria, not even during the locust days of barbaric and dictatorial military regimes did we have judges being totally manhandled and beaten and the court of law being desecrated with impunity by rampaging thugs sent by politicians’’. “That it is coming from Ekiti state makes it more ironic because the state is seen as the most sophisticated and enlightened one in Nigeria where from one household, you can have between two and six professors and that such incident can emanate from the state is not only alarming but sickening and outrageous. “The National Judicial Council(NJC), the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Services(SSS) must take up the issue as a serious national challenge and bring to book all the culprits however highly placed they may be. They must be tried within the laws of the land and dealt with accordingly’’. Another lawyer and editor of the Nigerian weekly law report, Oluwole Kehinde, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Law | News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Lawyers, civil society urge action over judges’ attack CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

simply said ‘certainly it was an unfortunate incident, undesirable and condemnable because as we always say judiciary is the last hope of the common man’’. He went on: “If the environment of judicial administration is made unsafe, then, it is dangerous because the judges seated in the court represents what we call the temple of justice and if the judge is not safe, there is no way the litigant will feel safe to approach the court. And those who are attacking the court today should not forget that they might also find themselves in the same court to seek relief tomorrow’’. The lawyer while asking that the people who are involved should be brought to book and be punished under the laws of the land urged the government to make more investment in the judiciary. “The courts are in most cases manned by ordinary orderlies who don’t even possess a baton. How do you expect them to enforce security? So, there should be a gen-

Fayose

eral policing of the courts with necessary gadgets. I don’t think the executive is doing enough in its response to the infrastructural challenges of the courts’’. Mr. Femi Falana said “any attempt to cover up the brazen contempt of court should be resisted by the Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Mr. Wale Fapounda, who should take decisive measures to bring the criminals to

Gov. Fayemi

The rule of law knows no fear, it is never cowed down

book. Let no one politicise the criminality of those who are bent on replacing the rule of law with rule of force in Ekiti State. “The rule of law knows no fear, it is never cowed down, it can only be silenced. But once it is not silenced by the only arm that can silence it, it must be accepted in full confidence to be able to justify its existence. Falana went on: “Dese-

crating the temple of Justice with the connivance of the Police, the armed elements left no one in doubt that they have the full backing of the ruling party in executing the premeditated onslaught on the judiciary. So far, those who perpetrated the barbaric attack and their sponsors have their admitted ignoble role through public statements issued by them. “The Ekiti state gover-

nor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose has justified the shameful attack on the rule of law in Ekiti State by saying that his election cannot be challenged in court. This is a reminder of the Idi Amin era in Uganda when judges were killed while discharging their judicial functions. Mr. Fayose and his thugs should not be allowed to kill judges and lawyers before calling him to order”. Lawyers’ President, Augustin Alegeh, SAN said “this unfortunate development portends grave danger to the lives of our Judges. There is therefore, an urgent need to protect our Judges and judiciary staff from these hoodlums whom we believe must be acting on instructions from some highly placed persons in Ekiti state to unleash mayhem on Judicial Officers and infrastructure. “We condemn in very strong terms these detestable acts of brigandage intended to intimidate and infuse fear into the minds of judicial officers. Those behind these criminal acts of violence have desecrated the courts which are our temples of justice.”

Court of Appeal introduces e-filing to fast track justice delivery system Tunde Oyesina

orried by seeming delay in justice delivery system, the Court of Appeal has injected a ‘comprehensive modernization of the existing operational system’ with a view to meeting up with international framework for court excellence. This, it said would take effect from the 2014/15 legal year as major stakeholders, led by the court’s President, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa brainstormed on how to put an end to the snail speed justice delivery system at the appellate court. It was at a faraway Australia, where a study of the country’s hybrid judicial system akin to both the United States of America and the United Kingdom, was conducted. Australia as a choice, according to the appellate court, was aimed at igniting the Court of Appeal’s understanding of the electronic filling otherwise known as the e-filling (Virtual¬ court) Project. However, a visit to the Federal Family Court of Australia where an efficient implementation of e-filing system and the practical needs of court

management framework was demonstrated as stakeholders met with the Chief Justice of Family Court of Australia, Diana Bryant A .O who assured them of judicial collaboration. Although it was interactive session, a series of experiences learned would be backed up by actions as the 2014/2015 legal year begins especially as the online appeal filling system would form an essential component of the strategic plan for the Court’s technology. Specifically, stakeholders said that the e-filing was to transform the Court of Appeal from a paper-based process to an electronic environment, where interactions would occur via Internet or automated voice-response with improved servicing timeframes; e-filing system will be used by 90 per cent of staff and Judicial Officers will transform the way all cases were received, adjudicated, communicated and disposed of. This, according to them would significantly improve the quality of justice rendered in Nigeria’s trial courts by providing lawyers, judges and litigants with vis-

Justice Zainab Bulkachua, PCA

Court of Appeal introduces e-filling to fast track justice delivery system

ibility and access to case information across all Nigerian courts. The highlights of the e-filing system includes institutional filers (Lawyers etc.) transmit directly from their computer systems; lawyers can file via Internet, tablets or kiosks; case records stored electronically;

Nigeria Court of Appeal can be accessed 24 hours from any location accessible through the internet; lawyers, litigants, justice partners, judicial officers and court staff can search across all case types for all; Nigeria courts at the push of a button and better information drives more-

informed decisions and reduces the risk of conflicting orders. E-filler can also track, get court notices, and hearing dates over eFilling court portal. Adegbenro Alao, an Information Technology expert who was also on the tour of the court’s President, Justice Bulkachuwa said during a chat that “I have had the privilege to witness or even been a part of a couple of such visits by officials of the Nigerian government, but I must admit, for reasons not far-fetched, that the present one was with a difference. It was one imbued with pertinence, vigour and sincerity of purpose”. Alao went on: “We are confident that the PCA is on the right path to achieving a landmark point in modernizing legal administration in Nigeria and hopefully her vision will be appreciated by generations to come”. The e-filing will be accomplished using the online electronic filing system developed for the appellate court. The first version would be as a test Pilot Project for the Court of Appeal, Lagos divisions.

Law | Jurist

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Ozekhome: We must rise against judicial ‘armageddon’ in Ekiti Mike Ozekhome, a titled chief and Senior Advocate of Nigeria speaks on the award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), bestowed on him by the Federal Government, desecration of the temple of justice by politicians with particular reference to the Ekiti State Judiciary and sundry issues. TUNDE OYESINA met him.

e was one of the three hundred thirteen eminent Nigerians conferred last week with the national honours. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN is an activist lawyer who had paid his dues not only in the practice of law but nation building. Ozekhome, a social crusader, was called to the Bar in 1981. His hard-work however paid off when he was elevated into the Inner Bar in 2009. Last week, his battle against dictatorial and successive governments, impunity, tyranny and injustice was recognised by President Goodluck Jonathan-led government when his name was engraved in the nation’s Hall of Fame as he was bestowed upon with one of the highest honours- Officer of the Order of the Federal Government (OFR). Ozekhome, born some five decades ago in Iviukwe, Agenoebode in Edo State, is an alumnus of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state. The activist lawyer, who is a recipient of the OFR, relieved the joy of the moment this way: “I feel exhilarated, I feel scintilated, I feel exuberance, having the effervescence of Andrew liver salt. I am so happy because not a few Nigerians regard me as an anti-establishment person, anti-government. And I have been since 1981 when I was called to the Bar, that was about 33 years ago, fought battles, I have won battles, I have fought wars, I have won wars against impunity and official tyranny particularly during successive military juntas in this country for which I have the pleasure to be detained for about 11 times across Nigeria. We were not more than 10 who fought the military with bare knuckles, being led by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and it was later that some of us sat down and said that the way Gani was going about it was more like a lone ranger something and we decided to form the first human rights organization in Nigeria, the Civil Liberty Organization (CLO). It’s six of us that founded it. Olisa Agbakoba, myself, Nwankwo and three others on October 15, 1987. That was the first indigenious human right body in Nigeria. And later I founded the Universal Defender of Democracy (UDD). “With all these, we were able to fight the military off and enthrone democracy, rule of law, human rights, social justice for all, particularly good governance. I always say that the only regret I have in my life is that why we were fighting we had won the battle by April 1999 but we did not realize it. We said we did not have anything to do with the military, we said we will not engage the military; we said the military could not midwife democracy, we were still fighting on. But the one who did not fight the war with us came through the back door to take away the spoils of office. The Otokotos, the historical revision-

Ozekhome, SAN

The legislature has been found to be very corrupt with all respect. There is no legislator that takes home less than N10million in a month

ists, 419ners,those that Uzogwu Chukwuma January 15, 1966 referred to as VIPs of waste, thirst who will want the country look big for nothing before the international cycles, the ten per centers who have now become twenty-five per centers. “These people who never had anything to do with democracy, who were hiding behind their wives when we were protesting, came and carried the spoils of office. By the time some of us wanted to make a come back in 2003, it was too late for us because those who had come first had consolidated, stole a lot of our national commonwealth and there was no way for us, the door was shut against us. That was the only regret I have in life. What am I saying, that such government that have always fought could deem it fit to recognize me when I am not partisan, not PDP nor APC, I have never done any contract with government in this country whether federal, state or local government. For the government to feel that I deserved the national honour; not just a national honour, a very high ranking one for that matter, Officer of the Federal Republic OFR. Other awards were given not necessarily by virtue of work done but by virtue of the office held. I can say that the rare rank where the boys are separated from the men is the OFR. Now that the Federal Government has made me an officer, my undertaken to God is to redouble my efforts, to serve God more, to use my God given gifts to defend the common people of this country”. Ozekhome who now sees his award as the reward for hard work, consistency and effort, has expressed regrets on the desecration of the judiciary in Ekiti state. To the Senior Advocate, it is bizarre that in spite of challenges bedevilling the judiciary, the third arm of government which had done more than other organs of government in nation building since independence, did not deserve what it was unleashed on it by politi-

cians in Ekiti State. Ozekhome said: ”The judiciary has done very well in the last 54years. Definitely, there have been challenges, there have been cases of corruption because in every twelve there must be a Judas Iscariot, among every 12 eggs, there must be a bad one. But the few ones that have been identified have been summarily dismissed or retired. I dare say that up till today the judiciary is still the best of the three arms of government, in terms of corruption, performance and service delivery. Don’t forget that even successive military juntas, the judiciary stayed put with the common man and refused to bow to sirens of power, refused to blow muted trumpet. “The judiciary was always there, it was never vanquished. All that the military succeeded in doing was to promulgate decrees with ouster clauses, even then, some icons of the judiciary like Justices Chukwudifu Oputa, Kayode Esho, Anyagolu, Obaseki, Otutu, were still able to interpret the law so creatively in such a way as to say that every might was subject to the rule of law. I dare say that the judiciary, despite its challenges is still the best arm of government since independence in 1960. “The legislature has been found to be very corrupt with all respect. There is no legislator that takes home less than N10million in a month. Of the 360 members of the House of Reps and 109 members of the Senate, the entire budget of the National Assembly in a year is more than that of the judiciary in five years. No wonder we spend about 75 per cent of our National Budget on recurrent and overhead cost rather than using it for capital project and no nation can develop along that line. The executive arm is made up of 42 ministers with each having a senior Special Adviser and the advisers also having their aides. You have one CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

Law | Interview

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Blame police over attack on judges, says Farounbi Yinka Farounbi is the Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Farounbi, in this interview with AKEEM NAFIU, speaks on the invasion of Ekiti court, trial of some soldiers on alleged mutiny, 2015 general elections and varied issues How would you look at the desecration of the judiciary in Ekiti State? Well, I do not see any crisis in the judiciary of Ekiti State. What I know that has happened is that some supporters of certain individual went to disrupt the proceedings of the court twice in a week. The first one on Monday, 22nd of September, 2014 and secondly, on the 25th of September, 2014. The disruption, whatever may be the motive is condemnable and we pray that it will never happen in this country again. Even during the military rule, we have never heard it that a judge was molested; that a court was prevented from sitting and physically stopped from taking proceedings. We’ve never heard it that a judge had to be smuggled out of the courtroom. How much more when we are in a civilian rule, when we suppose to have more respect for the judiciary and the courts. When all our grievances ought to be settled in a civilised manner. My prayer is that all those involved are fished out, thourougly investigated and prosecuted for desecrating the temple of justice. Otherwise, the Ekiti episode will repeat itself elsewhere. Also, we should educate our police to be more alert to their responsibilities. The Ekiti crisis could have been prevented if the police have been pro-active and live up to the responsibilities of their constitutional duties. In fact, in the report we got, it was as if the police were there to supervise the assault. So, the police should beef up security round our courts and judicial officers to make sure that they perform their duties without fear or favour and without any intimidation or harrasement. What is your take on the incessant cases of soldiers in the Nigerian Army being tried for mutiny? Very sad and you will agree with me that this has never happen in Nigeria before. We have seen people being tried for plotting coup but we have not seen people being tried for mutiny in the sense we are having it at the moment. The question we should ask ourselves is that, do we really have a Nigerian Army or what we are having is just an army in Nigeria? If 12 soldiers have been sentenced to death and 97 are still awaiting to be arraigned, then, it means something fundamental is wrong with the system. The thing that is wrong with the system is what I will advise the authority to critically look at it rather than sacrificing those to be tried. This is because at this critical stage of the nation when our democracy and security is highly threatened by the Boko Haram sect, we don’t have to split anybody’s blood. So, rather than putting soldiers on trial, we should find out the cause of the mutiny to prevent future occurence. I can assure you that if one of the soldiers is killed today, as long as the system remains what it is, there will be further mutiny because for every soldier that will be killed, there is a friend who may not be happy and will want to avenge his/her friend’s death. So , I will advise the authority to overlook the issue of mutiny and critically examine the cause of the problem because even with full numbers of soldiers,

country before embarking on the whole exercise. A situation whereby a certain part is getting more than two-third of what it is suppose to get does not augur well for the system. The issue was supposed to have being a subject of debate so that we can all come to a conclusion as to the need or otherwise of more polling units in the country. Even though, INEC may mean well for the country, it is doing the right thing in a wrong way. So, the best thing for the commission is to suspend the whole arrangement for now and may be later on when it is ready to carry people along whatever may be the outcome will be acceptable to all Nigerians. What then is your take on the exclusive powers given to INEC by the House of Representatives to deploy military for elections? It is rather unfortunate. Voting is a civic responsibilities of the people and there is no need to militarise it. It is only when there are crisis that cannot be curtailed by the police that you can now deploy the armed forces. It seems we are even pre-empting it by this action of House of Representatives. Nobody is interested in crisis but all that is required is a free and fair elections. Those who are causing the crisis are those who want to win at all cost and they want to snatch the ballot boxes and store it somewhere. As long as we have a very good polling system, we may not even need the services of the police. Look at what happened during the June 12, 1993 Presidential Election, we got it right, soldiers were never deployed and that was why it remains the fairest and freest election in the history of the country. So, by the time we get it right, we have tackled 70 per cent of the security problems. I do not support the deployment of soldiers to monitor elections because that is not their work. The work of the military is to defend the territorial integrity of the country from both internal and external aggresion. Also, the Constitution said it is the prerogative of the President to deploy armed forces, the resolution of the House of Representatives seems to be in contrast with this provision. Also, when you are deploying soldiers for an election, you are sending a wrong signal to the international communities that you don’t have an effective police because all over the world, it is the police that monitor elections.

Farounbi

we have not been able to suppress the antics of the Boko Haram sect and now that we are depleting their numbers by killing some of them, we cannot make any headway in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. Criticism is trailing the just concluded national honours on eminent Nigerians, would you see any anomaly in the selection or in what area would you say needs reform? You see, when it comes to the issue of award in this country, it is done to compensate the boys. I have been an individual that has never been comfortable not only with the last award but also awards generally in this country. I have come to realise that these awards are not giving to those who deserve it but the political jobbers. I am not saying some of them do not merit it but definitely when you weigh it on merit, the question is, what have some of them done to deserve this award? We have never been trasparent about anything in this country. In the award of contract, in the political scene, even in the conduct of elections, we are not transparent. So, the award cannot be an exception. The whole process of the award is shrouded in secrecy and is only given to those who are considered to be friends of government. The credibility of the last award is far less than the ones preceding it because many people that were awarded did not merit it. The award is a man- know- man thing rather than being meritorious. What in your own view would warrant the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to create additional 30,000 polling units? My view is that INEC should please go ahead and back out of the whole arrangement because the additional polling units were not evenly distributed. INEC has not considered the geographical spread of the

My prayer is that all those involved are fished out, thourougly investigated and prosecuted for desecrating the temple of justice. Otherwise, the Ekiti episode will repeat itself elsewhere

What are your fears for the 2015 general elections considering the security situation in the country? Well, my prayer is that we should have a free and fair elections but my mind is telling me we are not going to have a free and fair election and I am praying that God should dissapoint me. The way our politicians are going about it now, they are telling us we are not going to have a free and fair election. Of recent, a political party has adopted someone as its Presidential candidate whereas in the same party, there are lots of people who have shown interest in the same position. Even though, there is nothing wrong in adopting someone but the process may be wrong. So, I believe the process of the adoption is wrong because other people’s interest were suppressed. When you are in power, all you need to do is to impress the people and they will queue behind you. Let me tell you that it is a general belief that once a party adopted somebody, the person will win the presidential election. In this country, we are crying of instability in power supply, infrastrustural decay, poverty at all levels, even some people are working and it doesn’t seem they are doing anything at all and still somebody want to continue in power. This is quite unfortunate. So, for 2015 to be real, there must be a level playing ground and INEC must be independent in the real sense of it.

Law | Jurist

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

‘We must rise against ‘armageddon’ in Ekiti’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23

position in government being incrementally and geometrically built up into a conical hill to the extent that all our monies are wasted there. Apparently miffed by the level of corruption in the country, Ozekhome canvassed accountability and transparency in governance, tasking the civil society groups to live up to their constitutional duty by making incessant demand for good governance. “We need good governance and we also need the civil societies to be resolute in demanding good governance”, Ozekhome said. He went on: “If you think democracy will be given to us on a platter of gold, you are making a big mistake. Even, the United States of America that gained her Independence in 1776 are still fighting for democracy till tomorrow. We also see that in year 2000 when George Bush and Agore were fighting out the Presidential election, we saw ballot paper and ballot boxes being carried. “In other words, democracy is an on-going process, it is not a one-off thing. It is like a marathon race that requires resilience. We need to deepen it and we need to widen it. We must wipe out corruption because it has become the 37th state in Nigeria and has also become the richest state which has overtaken all the oil producing states put together. Right now, we are about the 137th most corrupt nation under the Transparency International corruption index, this is still not good for us.

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

hief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Suarau Aruna has lauded a late former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Mashood Olayiwola Adio, describing him as a judicial officer who lived exemplary life worthy of emulation. The Imam spoke in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on Monday on the occasion of the eighth day Fidau prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Chief Judge. Reviewing the life and times of the late Chief Judge, Sheik Aruna said, “late Justice Mashood

If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us. We need to face the issue of corruption. On the Ekiti judiciary, where thugs believed to be loyal to the Governorelect, Mr. Ayodele Fayose assaulted a judge, the Senior Advocate, described it as the Armageddon. He said: “I will say here comes the Armageddon as this is the simplest way of describing it. The drama in Ekiti can simply be described as one of the signs of the end time because even, during the military rule, judges were never attacked. Did you ever hear of any judge being beaten up during the military era? But now, we have seeing a situation where the hallowed sacred chamber of justice being defiled by politicians. They are now defecating in our courts in broad day light, dancing naked. It is a dangerous trend because the implication of what happened is that judges will no longer deliver judgement on the bases of facts and laws before them but on the basis of fear of being attacked violently, fear, thuggery or possible assassination of themselves or any member of their family. If we allow this to continue, then justice will not only be for the highest bidder but for the violent character who can take on judges at any time. That is the danger we see unfolding in Ekiti and the irony of it is that Ekiti is unarguably the most educated state in Nigeria where each family can boast of two to five Professors. Taking full advantage of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s declaration of education at all levels for the Yorubas and for the people in the West be-

Ozekhome, SAN

We need good governance and we also need the civil societies to be resolute in demanding good governance

tween 1954 and 1956. It is sad to see such impunity, aberration on the nation’s judiciary. It means that from now onward, judges will be delivering judgement with fear. I like the way the government has acted by closing down all courts in Ekiti state. He however disagreed on the use of petitions against judges as there are appellate courts to challenge judges rather intimidating him through petitions. Ozekhome: “I do not support that action for whatever reason. I also do not support people writing petition against judges to the NJC. If you lose a case, the hierarchy of courts are there, you can appeal. What do you think you want to achieve by petitioning a judge? When you do that, you are intimidating the judiciary and the best judgement will not come. I want to say that the last hope of the common man remains the judiciary, if you remove it, all of us will be in

a mess. All those involved should be brought to book and punished. If they are not, it will be a licence to others to take laws into their hands. Asked what constitutes genuine information obtained from suspects, Ozekhome said “the only way in which information can be gotten from a suspect that can stand and pass judicial scrutiny is if such process of obtaining the statement adheres strictly to the common law principle as enunciated in the “Judges Rules”. He went on: “The Judges’ Rules are a set of guidelines about police and questioning and the acceptability of the resulting statements and confessions as evidence in court. Originally prepared for police in England, the Rules and their successor documents have become a part of legal procedure not just in Britain but in places as far as Jamaica, Zambia, Nigeria and Western Samoa where English law is followed.

By reason of Section 3 of the Evidence Act 2011 (formerly section 5a), the Nigerian courts are enjoined to apply English courts’ procedure where no law makes such. The Judges’ Rules were not rules of law, but rather rules of practice for the guidance of the police, setting out the kinds of conduct that could cause a judge to exercise discretion to exclude evidence in the interests of a fair trial. “High Court judge Lawrence J explained in R. v. Voisin [1918] 1 KB 531, that: “In 1912 the judges, at the request of the Home Secretary, drew up some rules as guidance for police officers. These rules have not the force of law; they are administrative directions the observance of which the police authorities should enforce upon their subordinates as tending to the fair administration of justice. It is important that they should do so, for statements obtained from prisoners, contrary to the spirit of these rules, may be rejected as evidence by the judge presiding at the trial. The Rules allowed the police to question any person with a view to finding out whether, or by whom, an offence had been committed, required the police to give a caution when they had reasonable grounds to suspect that a person had committed an offence which required a further caution when a person was charged and prohibited questioning afterwards charging save in exceptional circumstances, required a record of questioning to be kept, gave guidance on the best way to record a formal written statement. The rules also included administrative guidance on access to defence counsel, and on questioning children and foreigners.

Cleric lauds pious life of late Oyo CJ

Lawyers, judges and other stakeholders bid former Oyo CJ farewell amidst tears

Adio was a judicial officer who lived exemplary life worthy of emulation. He abhorred corruption and self-seeking tendencies throughout his life time. Life will be meaningful only when we all learn to live in self-contentment and take into consideration the day of judgment when we will give account of all our earthly deeds. We should also take notice of all the unfolding developments in the world which are enough lessons for human beings that the end times are here. We should there-

fore endeavour to live Godly life, taking into cognizance that whatever we do here on earth will live after us”. Sheik Aruna used the occasion to identify five conditions that muslim faithful must observe while alive to facilitate their free passage to Aljanah. He urged the faithful to worship God wholeheartedly and use their position in life to do good. He insisted that they should always endeavour to be builders and not destroyers. The Chief Imam par-

ticularly enjoined Islamic adherents to make amends of their notable wrong doings or errors while still alive and endavour to be pious and do good to all others in all their undertakings. In attendance were many notable dignitaries in the society including top judicial officers, technocrats, business moguls and intellectuals among them: Justices Mojeed Owoade of the Court of Appeal, Badejoko Adeniji, former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Olagoke Ige, Justice Solomon Akinteye, Justice Mojeed Isho-

la, Justice Bayo Ganiyu, Justice Eni Esan, Justice A. A. Aderemi, Justice O. Boade, Justice Arasi, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, Mr. Tunde Aiku, SAN and Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN. In their respective tributes, the legal luminaries were unanimous in their submissions that the late Hon. Justice Mashood Adio brought tremendous transformation to the Judiciary in Oyo State during his relatively- short but remarkable tenure of office as the Chief Judge of the State.

Law

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Privileges of elevation to the silk: Matters arising co ntinued FRO M LAST WEEK

Michael A. Agbamuche

nstructively, the statute provides that it is the court that would accord the right to a Senior Advocate to mention any motion in which he is appearing or any other cause or matter which is on the list for mention and not otherwise listed for hearing out of turn on the cause list, which in effect means that it is the court by statute and not the Senior Advocate on his own that is responsible for his case being called out of turn. Critics have claimed that Senior Advocate abuse this provision in that after their cases have been mentioned out of turn, the Senior Advocate follow this privilege by insisting on having their matters go on for trial for no other reason other than he has a Senior Advocate as a lawyer. The language of the statute, i.e. the Legal Practitioner’s Act is clear and it provides that a senior advocate has the right to mention any motion in which he is appearing or any other cause or matter which is on the list for mention and not otherwise listed for hearing out

l Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and currently serve as Committee member of Human Rights and Political Communication of the American Political Science Association (APSA) chaired at the New York University, USA

FredLatimore Oghenesivbe

of turn on the cause list. The only way therefore for a situation to arise that could amount to abuse of the privilege is for the judge, the Senior Advocate and other lawyers in court to collectively decide to ignore the express wordings of the statute which provides clearly that this privilege is for calling any motion in which he is appearing or any other cause or matter which is on the list for mention and not otherwise listed for hearing out of turn on the cause list. Obviously, the normal practice should then be that after calling a case out of turn it would be stood down for hearing. There is therefore no basis for the criticism that allowing a Senior Advocate to call his case out of turn as it amounts to an unfair practice.

Judgment, sentencing and appeals in criminal matters in Nigeria

Reforms and the way forward Recent criticism in Nigeria appears to be marked by high level of subjectivity not necessarily designed to assist the growth of the legal profession. It is however noteworthy that even in England from where we inherited the system, there has been sharp criticism and serious attempt to abolish the rank of Queen’s Counsel. Indeed, so pungent was the agitation that the appointment of Queen’s Counsel was suspended in 2003 and it was widely expected that the system would be abolished. However, a considerable body of opinion succeeded in pushing forward convincingly the argument that the award of Queen’s Counsel is an independent indication of excellence valued by outsiders (the public). As a result of the success of the defenders of the institution, the United Kingdom government switched focus from abolition to reform and in particular reform of the methods adopted in selecting awardees. l This piece is an extract from Agbamuche’s work first published in the Anatomy of the Legal Profession edited by Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN to b e co n ti n u ed

Agbamuche

Ex-council chair knows fate October 17 over illegal possession of firearms Babatope Okeowo Akure

Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital will on October 17 decide whether it has jurisdictional powers to grant bail application in an alleged conspiracy and possession of firearms suit initiated by the police against a former council chairman, Mr. Afolabi Adedayo Mabogunje. The former council boss, who is facing criminal charges over the illegal possession of firearms, was docked alongside six others for robbery, conspiracy and cultism. Also docked include Temitope Abiola, Agun Adeniyi, Eniola Obasoto, David Agunloye, Apejoye Ayodeji and Boyede Owodara. However, Mabogunje, who once held sway as

Mukhtar, CJN

chairman Ose Local Government area of Ondo, and the state association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), has filed an application for bail. Following his bail application, the court presided over by Chief Magistrate W. A. Daomi, has fixed October 17 after listening to his counsel, Mr Olusola Oke, who has asked the court to allow Mabogunje home from the police net pending the legal advice and the determination of the court pro-

ceedings. But when case came up for hearing, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Isah Atanegbe sought for an adjournment with a view to duplicating and sending same to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Atanegbe argued that since the court lacked the requisite jurisdictional powers to entertain the matter, granting them bail would amount to a miscarriage of justice, hence the accused persons should remain in custody pending when the legal advice from Justice Ministry would be ready. But Oke who appeared for two of the accused persons said they should be allowed on bail pending the time the legal advice would be ready saying the offence preferred against his clients were not recognized under the law.

Council boss docked over alleged possession of firearms, robbery and cultism

t is a well know procedure that every judgment of a court must of legal necessity be in writing except as otherwise provided by law for Magistrate’s courts in the Southern part of Nigeria. It must be stated that court judgment in criminal and civil matters is not the same as God’s divine judgment entrenched in the Holy Bible. Judgment in legal sense is the final decision of the court upon a criminal charge, rights and obligation of the parties. A judgment can be in favour of the accused person or the complainant. It is in favour of the accused person if the prosecution fails to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt thereby providing the opportunity for the defense counsel to plead a no case submission. It is in favour of the complainant if the prosecution is able to establish that the accused actually committed the offence through verifiable evidence and exhibits pointing to show directly that an offence has been committed. Section 245 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) provides that: “The judge or Magistrate shall record his judgment in writing and every such judgment shall contain the point or points for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision and shall be dated and signed by the Judge or Magistrate and the time of pronouncing it; provided that in the case of a Magistrate, in lieu of writing such Judgment , it shall be sufficient compliance under this section if the magistrate (a) records briefly in the book his decision thereon and where necessary his reasons for such decision and delivers an oral Judgment; or (b) records such information in a prescribed form.” Once a judgment is delivered, the deed is done (functus officio). In Nwakalamba vs. Commissioner of Police (1958), a judgment delivered by the then Federal Supreme Court upheld the principle of functus officio. In that particular case, an oral judgment delivered by a lower court was later reduced to writing. The Federal Supreme Court refused to take congnizance of the written judgment because at the time it was reduced to writing the court that delivered it had become functus officio, having delivered an oral judgment earlier. From the above provision, it is clear that judgment must contain the points for determination and reason for the decision. The points for determination include

Court judgment in criminal and civil matters is not the same as God’s divine judgment entrenched in the Holy Bible the guilt or innocence of the accused person, fact and proof of the elements of offence, ingredients of offence as well as sections where the offence contravened are contained and specified as decided in Yesufu vs. Inspector General of Police (1960). And where the court is in doubt as to whether the point for determination should be decided in favour of the prosecution or the defense, the doubt should be resolved in favour of the defense as decided in Onafowokan vs. The State (1987) by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Testimony of witnesses and co-accused persons are heavily relied upon by the courts during criminal trials. It is therefore necessary for the prosecution to gather enough evidence and do thorough investigation, organize his prosecution witnesses and tidy up the charges against the accused person before commencement of trial. In delivering judgment, the court must give cogent and compelling reasons as to why the evidence of one party is to be preferred to that of another. In Willie John vs. The State (1967), the accused persons were charged and convicted on two counts of burglary and housebreaking. In his judgment, the trial judge stated that the evidence against the accused persons was overwhelming and found the accused persons guilty. The accused persons appealed against the conviction on the ground inter alia that the judgment of the court did not contain the points for determination and reasons for the decision. The Supreme Court agreed with the counsel’s contention that the Judgment delivered by the court did not comply with the requirements of the law because neither the evidence of the prosecution nor that of the defense was reviewed. No reasons were given for the court’s decision, therefore the appeal succeeded. As a general rule, no person can be pronounced guilty for an offence with which he was not expressly charged. to be cont inu e d

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Health Features

Healthy Living

Health Features

Health News ‘One in five women is at risk of stroke’

80% of visual impairment avoidable

Manage diabetes type 2 with exercise, diet

Surmounting health challenges in Bayelsa

Health

Breast cancer: ‘Make screening points available in health facilities’

Among factors fueling high breast cancer incidence are trado-spiritual hold on those afflicted and high cost of medication which makes treatment illusive. But increased awareness and providing treatment access for the less privileged will aide the war on cancer, writes APPOLONIA ADEYEMI

hen 23-year-old Tope Cooker felt a lump on her right breast three years ago, she promptly dismissed it. Although, throughout her secondary school years, she had attended Basic Science classes on breast cancer awareness especially breast self examination (BSE), discussing it, seeking a second opinion about the development or reporting to a doctor for an assessment was not on the card. Based on her spiritual belief, she was convinced that her option was the way out of the breast lump but four years down the line after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she found out too late that she was wrong. Today, Tope did not have the privilege of detecting her cancer early and consequently died from the disease. Tope’s story is a familiar one in Nigeria. Though, cancer awareness is on the rise, many citizens consider discussing cancer as a ‘no go area’. Similarly, many don’t care and don’t take preventive steps including engaging in routine breast cancer checks. Some believe that mere discussion of cancer is sufficient to make the condition afflict the

APPOLONIA ADEYEMI appoloniaadeyemi@newtelegraphonline.com

ing, she said, “We are working on expanding this practice to all 57 local government model PHCs as a strategy to detect breast and cervical cancers early.” Adesina spoke at the Light Lagos Pink cancer awareness and fund raising campaign organised by Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Center. It is aimed to help cancer patients access life-saving treatments. Highlighting other factors fueling breast cancer in the country, The public health adWoman undergoes mammogram screening PHOTO www.zwangerpesiri.com. viser said 80 percent of people diagnosed with discussants. These are some of breast cancer in Nigeria the reasons many Nigerians would have been convinced by choose not to discuss cancer. some traditional and religious A critical problem behind the leaders not to seek medical high incidence of breast cancer treatment in orthodox faciliin the country is where to dities. “A lot of ladies are either rect people who want to access caught in traditional or spiriscreening services. Although, tual hold. A family member there are ad-hoc screening serwould have ignorantly pervices powered by several NGOs suaded them against seeking from time to time to raise awaremedical attention,” she said ness and screen women, estabat the campaign to mark Octolishing breast/cervical cancer ber Breast Cancer Awareness screening points in public and Month at the Muri Okunola private health facilities will 80 percent of Park, Victoria Island, Lagos help in early cancer detection, last week. people diagnosed according to medical experts. Similarly, quarks and unDr. Yewande Adesina, a spewith breast skilled medicare professioncial adviser on public health to als both of whom milk cancancer in Nigeria the Lagos State Governor, said cer patients on the pretext the Lagos State Government would have been of providing care, is another has procured dummies and set militating factor. convinced by some aside health providers to teach Furthermore, the stigma of patients who walk in for routraditional and cancer makes people conceal tine clinical services on how to their condition. “People don’t religious leaders screen for breast cancer in about want to go out for screening some designated primary health not to seek medical because of the social dimencare (PHC) centres in the state. sion,” Adesina noted. treatment in Based on the experience that She added, “A lot of peomost people do not normally orthodox facilities ple going for mammogram walk into health facilities just to screening do not know what do routine breast cancer screen-

it is all about such that when they return for the results, they are dumbfounded and confused.” Hence, Adesina said this calls for advocacy to increase knowledge about the disease. On her part, Dr. Omolola Salako, founder, Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, lamented that the rate at which breast cancer patients were dying is unacceptable. These preventable deaths, according to her, is caused by the high cost of treatment and inability of patients diagnosed with breast cancer to pay. However, Salako, a radiation oncologist said N1000 donation per person from charitable Nigerians can save lives of many women afflicted with this condition. One in every 25 women in Nigeria has breast cancer but because Nigeria does not screen its population, breast cancer is a death sentence. WHO estimates, “one in eight women are at risk of having breast cancer in their lifetime. Here in Nigeria, most of the diagnoses are made when it is too late, thereby leading to several needless and painful deaths. In this month of October, four Lagos parks – Muri Okunola, Moshod Abiola, outer Marina and Ojota have been earmarked for breast cancer awareness and fund raising and the target is to reach over 50 million Nigerians throughout the period with awareness, prevention, and management information on breast cancer. Salako who sees up to 1,000 cancer patients yearly, said a lot of women do not screen for cancer, hence present at stage four when it is already late. According to her, many of the patients make wrong treatment decisions.” However, with funding support and treatment access, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Health

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

80% of visual impairment avoidable

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

Manage diabetes type 2 with exercise, diet

D A healthy eye Anene Chukwuemeka

n the second Thursday of every year, the world marks World Sight Day. This is a day set aside by World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) to draw attention of the world to the different eye conditions that lead to blindness and visual impairment. This year’s celebration is marked today, October 9, 2014 and the theme is ‘Universal Eye Health: No More Avoidable Blindness’. It is expected that stakeholders will customise this ‘call to action’ theme to specific eye disease prevalent in their areas. For instance, it could be: ‘No More Cataract’ or ‘No More Refractive Error’ or ‘No More Low Vision’, etc. Advocacy directed at governments must be geared at addressing the following areas identified by IAPB as areas for intervention needed to usher in Universal Eye Health. They include: *Collection of better evidence on the magnitude and prevalence of blindness prevention; *Training of more eye care professionals; *Provision of comprehensive eye care services and integration of eye care into existing health provision and systems; and * Identification and elimination of social and economic obstacles particularly for the poor and the marginalised. Statistics from WHO indicates that approximately 285 million people worldwide live with low vision and blindness. Of these, 39 million people are blind and 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment. It is necessary to point out that about 90 percent of blind people live in lowincome countries but the good news is that 80 percent of visual impairment is avoidable, readily treatable and/or preventable. The eye conditions as identified by WHO/IAPB - Vision 2020- that can lead to avoidable blindness are cataract, trachoma, refractive error, low vision, diabetic retinopathy, childhood blindness, vitamin A deficiency, onchocerciasis, age related macular degeneration and glaucoma. These eye conditions are very much with us and many Nigerians are either visually impaired or blind from them.

PHOTO healthyliving.msn.com The theme of this year’s celebration is apt and seeks to promote eye health for all. In order to achieve this, there is need to increase accessibility of eye care services not only in state capitals and big cities but in every corner of this country. Most of our local government headquarters cannot boost of an average eye clinic with qualified eye care professionals. Most of our citizens are blind today because they cannot gain access to good eye care so they patronise quacks and herbalists for their eye care needs. Therefore to ensure ‘universal Eye health’ and say ‘no more avoidable blindness’, governments both at the state and federal are encouraged to integrate eye care in the primary health care system and establish at least one eye clinic in each of the 776 local government areas of the federation with clear cut referral system to the next level of eye care. Those clinics should be equipped with basic equipment for prompt clinical diagnosis, management and referral as the case may be. It is equally important to train and employ more eye care personnel especially Optometrists who are primary eye care professionals to run such clinics. In Nigeria , different professionals involved in eye care (Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Ophthalmic nurses) and their partners will be organising different programs which include walks, visual screenings, media talk shows, advocacy visits to government functionaries and influential people, etc with the aim of creating awareness of these blinding diseases among the populace, promotion of at least annual eye examination by qualified personnel and advocating for better eye care services and accessibility in the country. The Nigerian Optometric Association (NOA) both the national and state chapters have released plans and guidelines towards ensuring that this year’s celebrations makes a great impact in the lives of the people and creates a lasting impression in their minds. The public must know the importance of annual eye examination and the need to seek professional eye care whenever in need of eye care services. Chukwuemeka is the Principal Optometrist, Florida Eye Clinic, Abuja.

iabetes mellitus Type 2 which is the non insulin dependent type is typically found after age 40 years and in persons that are obese, but you don’t have to be necessarily obese to develop it Diabetes mellitus Type 2 is cheracterised by insulin resistance by your body and increased blood glucose levels. There are three main causative factors 1. Impair ment of dysfuntion of pancreatic beta-cell function which is the main organ in the body that makes insulin to help the body use the sugar we eat in foods). It decreases the beta cells response to glucose (which is a breakdown of the sugar foods we eat, to enable the sugar get into the smaller body cells, for the body to use to make energy. Also, it is used by all body organs for day to day, minute by minute functioning. It can lead to abnormal glucagon secretion (which is a form of sugar that our body produces on emergency bases when our cells are not getting enough sugar. 2. When the pancreas that makes the insulin gets dry and cannot make any at all; and 3. When the pancreas makes enough insulin but our body cells are not receiving the insulin. Something on the walls of the cell is resisting insulin, leaving a lot of insulin floating in our body, instead of being inside the cells to break down sugar. Before the symptoms of insulin

PHOTO: fp notebook

Only exercise of moderate intensity, not aggressive type is encouraged, and an evaluation of heart and kidneys by simple laboratory test needs to be done

shows up in the body, it takes a lot of years with some signs like mild tiredness, waist line expansion (love angle) without the patient being aware of the need to do something. Risk factors Some of the risk factors are obesity, history of diabetes while pregnant, family history, age over 40 years (increases with age), sedentary lifestyle - decreased physical activity) western diet like consumption of red meat, processed food, high fat food (French fries, high fat dairy, eggs,) high sugar foods like dessert and drinks. Also, cigarette smoking decreases cells being sensitve and receptive to insulin as well as ethnicity (being black) is a risk factor. DAIGNOSIS: Checking blood sugar on an empty stomach (fasting) at two different occasions, with a level of more than 126 each time is considered diagnostic. The latest most definite diagnosis is a HGBA1C of >6.0. Less than <5.2 is non diabetic while between 5.2-- 6.0 is borderline, and will need diet modification and exercise to manage. HGA1C- is considered the most reliable way to assess the body’s blood sugar management over an average of 120 days. It is a sugar molecule that attaches to the red blood cell that helps the body carry oxygen. An average red blood is broken down over 120 days and kind of renewed. So, measuring how much sugar your body carries within your body and how effective your body uses insulin to transport sugar/glucose into the cells. With less than 6.0 meals your body is doing well in managing the amount of sugar that one eats in the food. HGBA1C OF 6 means blood glucose of 130, each one percent increase in hgba1c is a 30 increase in blood glucose, e.g hgba1c of seven means blood glucose is 155-160, so knowing your hgba1c when diabetic gives you an idea of how well you are doing as a diabetic Management Have a blood sugar log and blood pressure log. The goal is to have blood pressure less than 130/80, weight yourself weekly, clean and check your machine weekly to ensure accurate reading. Examine feet daily and do not walk around the house on bare feet. Do annual yearly check, yearly eye and dental examination, monitor glucose before meals and at bedtime or at most daily. The best way to effectively manage blood glucose is diet modification and exercise. Tight control of blood glucose is not advisable but if CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Health 29

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Surmounting health challenges in Bayelsa Chris Ejims

he wealth of a people or nation truly depends on their health. It is in recognition of this sacrosanct fact that the axiom “health is wealth” was weaved out of the vaults of wisdom, and it continues to gain currency in modern health phraseology. It is self-evident that maintaining good health is of strategic importance in a people’s ability to realise their full potential- considered individually or collectively. This is why the issues of providing essential public health services, and that of safeguarding the health of the nation are the main focus of public health policies, at all levels of political administration in the country. There is no gainsaying that sound health is indispensable to high productivity in virtually all sectors of the economy. The economy needs healthy workers to man its industries; the military needs healthy men and women to realise the national goals on internal security and territorial integrity; healthy hands are needed on the farms to turn out high agricultural output; and in like manner, healthy minds are demanded in the education sector to groom students who are the future leaders of the nation. The foregoing helps underscore the importance of prioritising the provision of essential and affordable health services to the people. Now, this is the concern of the Bayelsa State Government lead by Governor Seriake Dickson, for its pioneering inroads made in the allimportant health sector in Bayelsa State. It is heartwarming that right from the inception of his administration, Dickson has shown remarkable commitment in reviving the health sector to make it one of the most vibrant, efficient and responsive in the country. The present administration has indeed made it clear that the health sector is very dear to it. This fact can be excavated from the rich policy mix adduced to the Restoration Agenda in the state. This realisation does not come as a surprise because the administration has been generally faithful in the implementation of its development blue-print for the state and fulfilling its campaigns promises to the people of Bayelsa. It is worth recalling that during their 2012 electioneering campaigns, Dickson and his deputy, Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd Rear Admiral) promised the people of Bayelsa State the establishment of a robust health delivery system through the building of modern health facilities in all the local governments in the state. True to their promise, the building of the health infrastructure of the state is a crystallising vision, with the award of contracts for the construction referral hospitals in all the LGAs. Therefore, this is an ideal time to see what has been taking place in the health sector

Dickson

One of the greatest feats achieved so far in the health sector is the transformation of the State Action Committee on AIDS into a full-blown agency to tackle the menace and find out how the team has fared so far. As a government that has a clear focus and knows exactly what is best for its people in the area of healthcare, the Dickson Administration on assumption of office quickly made a forensic audit of all existing health facilities in the state. The audit helped provide a useful database for the articulation of the sound health policy for Bayelsa State. One of the key areas of focus under its health policy is the building of health infrastructure. The

Impact of diet on diabetes type 2 CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 28

diet and exercise fails then an addition of medication is needed to keep hgbaic less than six. Benefits of exercise in diabetes mellulitis Exercise lowers blood (serum) glucose levers by enabling the body to bur n off excess sugar during exercise by using it to produce the energy used in exercise and also encourages transport of insulin across the cells. Exercise increases HDL (the good cholesterol) as well as lowers LDL (the bad cholesterol) and in the long run lowers total cholesterol. It decreases both systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower) blood pressure, thereby lowers the risk of heart disease (heart attack) and stroke. It increase self-esteem and socialisation but before you start exercise, only exercise of moderate intensity, not aggressive type is encouraged, and an evaluation of heart and kidneys by simple laboratory test needs to be done. Over

exercising can lead to dangerously low blood sugar which might affect your brain functions. General exercise tips for diabetics Check for wounds on your feet daily. Before exercise, evaluate heart (stress test) and check blood sugar before exercise. If it is less than 100, have a snack before exercise and avoid late evening exercise. Aerobic exercise is recommended sic to seven days/week for at least 20 to 60 minutes. Allow time to war m up and cool down reduces injury risk, watch for low blood sugar after a strenuous exercise. This occurs mostly six to 28 hour after, mostly at night. Nutrition Diet modifiaction after diagnoses of diabetes, followed by gradual weight loss, moderately restricting your calories improves blood glucose and encourages weight loss. Modify fat intake, avoid saturated fat by switching to monunsatureted and polyunsaturate fats.

referral hospitals being built in the LGAs are some of the products of the new policy. Work on the referral hospitals is nearing completion. Other health facilities built around the state are primary healthcare centres, the new Government House clinic, renovation and equipping of the Diete Koki Memorial Hospital, amongst others. The Melford Okilo Memorial Hospital has been transformed into a health village, with the construction of the diagnostic and toxicology centres there. The sprawling health facility is to also house a shopping centre, helipad, and residential quarters for medical doctors. In order to provide first-rate medical diagnostic services for the people of Bayelsa, the administration has also built a standard diagnostic centre in the state. The goal is to provide such services at affordable rate and avert the high cost of travelling out of the state and country in search of such services outside the shores of Nigeria. In order to curb the incidence of fake drugs distribution and the attendant health complications and challenges in Bayelsa State, the Dickson Administration has since taken the bull by the horns to build a world class safe drug distribution and quality control centre. The project is nearing completion. According to Governor Dickson, “We need to be sure of the quality of drugs in supply, not only through public institutions, but also through all private retail outlets. This project, when completed, will curb the menace of fake and adulterated drugs, which has been the bane of the Nigerian drug market. In addition, it will address goals 4 and 5 of the Millennium Development Goals.” During the foundation-laying ceremony, one-time Minister of Information and Director-General of NAFDAC, late Professor Dora Akunyili had pledged the support of the Professor DoraAkunyili Foundation for Safe Medicines to the quality drug control project for the administration. One of the greatest feats achieved so far in the health sector is the transformation of the State Action Committee on AIDS into a full-blown agency to tackle the menace. The welcome transformation underscores the importance being attached to the fight towards the elimination of HIV/AIDS in the state. According to an Impeccable source in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, change was something that had been pushed for long before the present administration came into office in 2012. According to the source, it was one of the World Bank’s conditions for the state to benefit from the body in the critical area of HIV response. The Dickson Administration being a government that does not believe in taking only half measures in matters of public policy, has since provided the agency with adequate office accommodation and competent manpower that would drive the system. The monthly stipends to registered or enlisted HIV/AIDS victims have also been increased to alleviate their suffering. The government has also succeeded in training medical doctors in the Niger Delta University and secured the accreditation of the Bayelsa State School of Nursing, Tombia. Others are the accreditation of the Anaethesia, Surgery and Obstetrics & Gynaecology Department at the NigerDelta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri. To make health services more affordable to the common man, the administration has reintroduced the Bayelsa Health Service Scheme on a brand new template. A board to oversee the scheme has been inaugurated, with the Bayelsa State Gover nment committing N500 million for the take off of the scheme. Gover nment’s unbroken counterpart funding is crucial to the overall success of the scheme in the light of shortcomings that bedeviled the previous schemes. Therefore, gover nment is leaving no stone unturned in its drive to entrench a robust public-client-driven health services scheme in Bayelsa State. From the foregoing, it is abundantly clear that Dickson and his team are not here to play politics with the health of Bayelsa citizens.

Health

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

‘One in five women is at risk of stroke’

s the global community commemorate the World Stroke Day this October, an expert in the management of stroke has disclosed that one in five women is at risk for stroke, as opposed to one in six men. Also, women have higher mortality rate and worst stroke outcomes than men, said Rita Melifonwu, CEO of Stroke Action Nigeria, an NGO working with stroke survivors, their caregivers and at-risk individuals. “Six in ten stroke deaths occur in women, largely due to stroke occurring later in life in women, when strokes are more danger-

ous,” she said. Melifonwu disclosed this in a statement issued by Stroke Action Nigeria ahead of 2014 World Stroke Day. The statement was issued as part of plans for the third Stroke Assembly, which is an open access strategic advocacy conference, held annually on World Stroke Day to be marked on October 29 in Abuja. The Stroke Assembly aims at promoting partnership amongst agencies, professional associations, health and social care professionals, NGOs representing people with dis-

abilities, stroke survivors, their families and friends, to discuss the state of Nigeria stroke services, promote good practice in stroke care, and influence government policy decisions about stroke services development in the country. According to Stroke Action Nigeria, the Assembly will discuss issues pertaining to stroke and the female gender in line with this year’s global theme which is “Women and Strokes” because majority of stroke care givers and victims are women. Rita Melifonwu, CEO of Stroke Action Nigeria explained the theme

L-R: Country Manager, Roche, Herman Addae; Permanent Secretary, Office of Lagos State Environmental Services, Engr. Hakeeem Ogunbambi; Dr. Salako; Dr. Adesina,Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health; Mrs Azeezat Tijani; Prof J.T.K Duncan; and Director Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Mrs A.C. Omojole at the launch of Light Lagos Pink breast cancer awareness and fund raising campaign held in Lagos at the weekend.

saying that some stroke risk factors like diabetes and hypertension occur more frequently in women. She informed that the Stroke Assembly is designed to help eradicating stroke in Nigeria and improving outcomes for stroke survivors and their caregivers, through creating and sustaining awareness, forging partnerships and developing a sustainable stroke care policy in Nigeria. “We exist primarily to address the rising challenge of stroke in our communities. Given that little or no information is available to people about this ailment, we want to raise the awareness level as much as possible. The more awareness we create, preventability and management rate will rise. This is why we anchor the Stroke Assembly,” she said She called on Nigerians to partner with Stroke Action Nigeria in its mission. “We want individuals and corporate bodies in Nigeria to support us in our mission to stop stroke by coming together in unity to look for innovative ways to raise awareness of stroke and advocate better outcomes for stroke survivors and their caregivers in their communities, work places and faith groups”, she said.

Dr Biodun Ogungbo a Consultant Neurosurgeon and Clinical Director, Stroke Action Nigeria, highlighted that stroke has been identified as the third leading cause of death worldwide, and a major cause of death and neurological disability in Nigeria, accounting for 3.7 per cent of emergency admissions, 8.7 per cent of medical admissions, and 4.17 per cent of medical deaths. He said that Stroke Action Nigeria has been working with volunteers who have been trained as Stroke Ambassadors to tackle this silent killer. A Community and Faith Groups Outreach program for stroke awareness and primary prevention which was developed in 2013 is already being implemented. This volunteer-led model of stroke advocacy addresses key areas such as awareness, stroke risk assessments, health checks for body mass index, diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as stroke prevention advice and physical activity. Last year, Stroke Action Nigeria collaborated with Volunteer Stroke Ambassadors to host the walk and run activity across seven states including Anambra, Delta, Edo, Imo, Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja FCT.

‘High treatment cost fuels breast cancer ’ Ebola: FG will replicate efforts in future emergency CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 27

life of the breast cancer survivors could still be extended. “We must support treatment of cancer patients,” she said. Salako stressed that cancer is not a death sentence. “We truly have to map out plans to prevent cancer patients from dying.” A Patron of Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, Prof. J.T.F. Duncan, an oncologist said breast cancer occurs more often in women. It exists in men as well. “All lumps in the breast are guilty until proven innocent,” said Duncan who urged women to examine themselves and teach young ones how to do breast self examination (BSE). BSE is a conscious effort by an individual to examine (touch and look) at one’s own breasts for any abnormal changes. When to do BSE Cancer experts recommend that BSE should be done every month, five to seven days after a woman’s menstrual period while for menopausal and breast feeding mothers, they should pick a date in the month. For instance, pick 6th of every month and maintain that date monthly.

Why do BSE? The exercise is done mainly to: *know what one’s breasts look like, *what they feel like and to detect abnormal changes early. Salako said if one notices any change or abnormalities on the breast, “consult your doctor immediately for a clinical assessment.” Furthermore, she said there are many reasons why changes may occur in the breasts. Most breast changes are harmless but regardless of this fact every breast change no matter how little must be checked without delay by a medical doctor. “It is important to know what is responsible for the change,”

Salako stressed.

What to look for during BSE? • A lump or thickening in the breast • A change in skin texture such as dim pling orange peel appearance •Redness or a rash on the breast skin/around the nipple •A change in the size, shape or symmetry of the breast •Constant change in the breast or armpit •Swelling in the armpit or collarbone •A change in nipple position (inversion) or size, •Nipple discharge (bloody).

Breast Cancer Screening Screening detects unsuspected breast cancer at an early stage so that early treatment can improve survival. Cancer experts recommend: •Regular breast self examination starting from age 20 years. •Clinical breast examination by a health care provider starting from age 20 years. •Do mammogram screening every year starting at age 45 years. (Mammogram is used to screen for early detection of breast cancer). •Women under 40 years with a family history of breast cancer or other concerns should talk with a health care professional. For this category of women, screening may be needed more often and or started earlier.

Screening detects unsuspected breast cancer at an early stage so that early treatment can improve survival

Obinna Odoh, Abuja

he Federal Government has said that it has confidence that war against Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria has been won complete and also warn that the preventive measures still in place should be taken seriously as long as Ebolab Disease is still ravaging some African countries and beyond. The minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a courtesy visit of the South East/South Professionals to the minister. The minister said that though he has confidence that Nigeria has overcome the challenges of Ebola virus disease which has been globally applauded but he is not completely over confidence because it is a global problem. The union paid courtesy visit to the Minister of Health, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu to commend him on the proactive approach he adopted in overcoming Ebola Virus Disease and also present to him 20 year development plans developed by the union which they have come to seek partnership of the ministry. “Even as you are commending the country on its stability on dealing with Ebola virus disease ‘ first war were encountered and we have won. I mean first war just like world war’ I know the Americans will always remember what I was saying during the time we were batling with EVD. People thought it was restricted to Africa countries only because people were not taking what I was saying serious.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Industry

ICT

Industrialists launch cluster-investment Aquaculture can generate 500,000 concept jobs, say experts

Boosting technological skills in Nigeria

GSMA sees dangers in single wholesale networks

Business What's news

Buyers shun Nigeria’s crude Less than two weeks before Nigeria’s December export cargoes start coming to market, nearly 40 cargoes of its November-loading cargoes were still available for purchase out of a total of 63 originally offered.

p.32

FIRS recovers N333m from oil firms The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) recovered N333 million from corporate tax payers in the oil and gas sector during its two-day tax recovery drive in Lagos.

p.32

The Business Desk

Ayodele Aminu l Deputy Editor (Business)

Simeon Ogoegbulem l Dep. Business Editor

Bayo Akomolafe l Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme l Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro l Asst. Editor (Money Market) Adeola Yusuf l Energy Editor

Wole Shadare l Aviation Editor

SPAMS

A filtering mechanism is needed to stop cases of unsolicited text messages threatening Nigeria’s VAS market Kunle Azeez

pecial regulatory protection has been advocated by the licensed telecoms value-added service (VAS) providers to create sanity in the nation’s telecoms VAS market whose value is poised to reach $500 million (about N80 billion) in the next few years. Speaking through their umbrella association, the Wireless Applications Service Providers Association of Nigeria (WASPAN), the telecoms VAS providers specifically asked the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to establish a central body that will be in charge of filtering bulk short message service (SMS) or other forms of mobile applications in the country. Through this, the players said, the country would be in vantage position to prevent increasing incidence of spam or illegal unsolicited messages from reaching mobile phone subscribers. Speaking with New Telegraph on the outcome of the meeting held in Lagos early this month, the Coordinating Consultant of WASPAN, Mr Simon Aderinlola, said that the absence of such a unit was one of the reasons why mobile networks and wireless application firms continued to trade blames over the problem of spam mes-

L-R: Executive Director, NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture, Mr. Olasupo Shadiya; Managing Director, Richardson Oil & Gas Limited, Mr. Akin Osuntoki; Deputy Managing Director, Deep Water, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, Charles Ngoka; Managing Director, Environmental Resources Managers Limited, Mr. Victor Imevbore and Managing Consultant, Paradigm Environmental System Consultants Limited, Adebiyi Adeosun, during the PSRG-Richardson Health, Safety, Security and Environment forum, in Lagos.

sages in the country’s mobile networks. “WASPAN feels that until such a machinery is put in place, the system will remain reactive, always a step behind the realities plaguing the telecoms VAS consumer,” he stated.

Listing the benefits of such a central filtering unit, Aderinlola said that “these include the facilitation of short codes block issuance by NCC, daily tracking of all live codes and brisk handling of issues with better turnaround time.”

He also said that the unit would be in charge of retrieval of dormant and misused codes. WASPAN had earlier presented a position paper to the NCC during the landmark moCONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Norwegians flood Nigeria with N4.03bn mackerel fish Bayo Akomolafe

orwegian fish exporters have shipped 21,000 metric tons of mackerel specie valued at N4.03 billion to Nigeria between January and October this year. They have deliberately reduced the price of the specie

in a bid to flood Nigerian and Japanese markets with their catches. It was learnt that it cost $1,200 per ton to ferry the frozen food to port of destination. This year, the country has shipped 21,100 tons to Nigeria, up from just 1,000 tons during the same time in 2013.

Despite the high volumes, sellers said that sales are going at full speed in Nigeria and other countries as exporters and importers no longer have any problem in selling to Nigeria. Export statistics revealed CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

Dayo Adeyemi l Property Editor

Telecoms association seeks protection for VAS market

Chris Ugwu l Capital Market Editor Abdulwahab Isa l Finance Editor Kunle Azeez l Senior Correspondent Chuks Onuanyin l Energy Nnamdi Amadi l Reporter Johnson Adebayo l AsstProduction Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3% May 2014.................................8.2%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.75 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N254.68 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198.08

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N280 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N222

(Parellel As at Oct 3)

l Foreign Reserves – $39.47bn as at 2/10/2014

Source: CBN

(Official As at Oct 3)

Business | News

BEARISH

Angolan cargoes sold faster than Nigerian’s with relatively robust demand from Asia for the distillate-rich crude

Buyers shun Nigeria’s crude • November-loading cargoes struggle for buyers as apathy grows

Adeola Yusuf

ess than two weeks before Nigeria’s December export cargoes start coming to market, nearly 40 cargoes of its November-loading cargoes were still available for purchase out of a total of 63 originally offered. A large backlog of Nigeria’s November-loading cargoes were turned down by buyers, while market participants said that trade was the slowest they had ever seen due to ample supply and slack demand. “I think cargoes are starting to move later and later in the month. People are looking to see what’s happening with North Sea and Med programmes,” a trader told Reuters. Angolan cargoes have sold faster than Nigerian, with relatively robust demand from Asia for the distillate-rich crude. However, sales for these cargoes have slowed to a halt in recent days too. Nigeria’s Qua Iboe cargoes on offer for November was at around dated Brent plus $2, traders said. Traders said it was likely to trade closer to $1.50 above dated Brent. Vitol bought two cargoes of this grade, which it was expected to sell into Asian tenders. For Agbami and Akpo, Cargoes were sold out or almost sold out for November loading. The Angola’s Kissanje crude grades’ offered at dated Brent minus 50 cents, a trader said. Girassol was Offered at dated Brent minus 30 cents, having

FIRS recovers N333m from oil firms EVASION

Nigeria suffers large scale corporate tax evasion Dayo Ayeyemi

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) recovered N333 million from corporate tax payers in the oil and gas sector during its two-day tax recovery drive in Lagos. The affected companies are Baker Hughes, Line Trale, Techno Oil and Heyden Petroleum. It was learnt that FIRS got a N50 million payment commitments from Baker Hughes and Techno Oil and a 15 million payment commitment from Heyden Petroleum. Also, it was gathered that among two other companies whose names

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

were not disclosed, one made a payment of 148 million, while the other made a documented promise to pay N70 million after the holidays. Nigeria has continued to suffer large-scale corporate tax evasion due to administrative and legal bottlenecks that mitigate the enforcement of tax laws. Evasion of companies often lead tax authorities to venture into the street in order to compel companies to pay their taxes. Director of FIRS Tax Department, Olaitan Adediran, said that the latest enforcement drive of the agency yielded positive responses as it succeeded in making companies sign payment agreements, but lamented that such exercise would be needless if companies complied to pay their taxes as at when due.

been offered at above dated Brent when the programme was released. Indian Oil Corporation is running a buying tender this week and the result is expected today, a trader said. Meanwhile, the US Energy Information Administration trimmed its forecast of world oil demand growth next year and made even deeper cuts in its outlook for OPEC production, the latest signs of a shift toward surplus supplies next year. The EIA cut its 2014 global demand forecast to 91.47 million barrels a day,

compared with 91.55 million bpd expected last month, according to a monthly report from the agency. As a result, it now expects consumption to rise by 1.24 million bpd, down 100,000 bpd from the previous month’s report but still higher than the 1 mln bpd increase estimated for 2014. On the backdrop of weakening demand, the agency curbed its forecasts for OPEC oil and other liquid fuels production to 35.51 million barrels a day in 2015, down 350,000 bpd from last month’s forecast.

For crude oil output alone the EIA cut its forecast by 300,000 bpd to 29.24 million bpd. In September, OPEC pumped nearly 31 million bpd. The agency made little change in its outlook for U.S. crude oil production, which has consistently outstripped growth forecasts. The EIA expects U.S. 2015 oil production of 9.50 million bpd compared with 9.53 million bpd a month earlier. The agency also cut its expectations for Brent prices to $101.67 a barrel in 2015, compared with $103 a barrel expected

previously. “Weakening global demand helped North Sea Brent crude oil spot prices fall to an average of $97 per barrel in September, the first month Brent prices have averaged below $100/bbl in more than two years,” the EIA said in the report. The EIA projects that Brent crude oil prices will average $98 a barrel in the fourth-quarter of 2014. After hitting highs on unrest in the Middle East in June, Brent has retreated in the past two weeks, and is currently trading at $91.83 a barrel.

L-R: Fellow/First Vice President, Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria, Mr Yemi Akeju; Managing Director/CEO, Strides Energy and Maritime Limited, Mr Moritz Abazie and President, IoD Nigeria/former Attorney General of Lagos State, Mrs Eniola Fadayomi, at the ‘Best of Nigeria Gala Night’ in London.

Norwegians flood Nigeria with N4.03bn mackerel fish CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

that 7,000 tons were shipped in June when the bottleneck disappeared, compared to nothing a

year ago. These prices are considerably below the levels seen earlier this year, but the lower minimum landing price has given

processors more breathing room. They are also not as bad as could have been expected considering the huge volumes and the

problems in Ukraine and Russia and the problems in selling to Nigeria experienced by numerous exporters worldwide since October last year.

Telecoms association seeks protection for VAS market CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

bile VAS summit held in Lagos recently. New Telegraph learnt that the summit was part of a recommended bouquet of solutions towards addressing the complaints by mobile phone users about spam messages. In the position document, WASPAN said that setting up a body to oversee mobile messages filtering would provide a platform for detecting the origin of spam messages and controlling their con-

tent, among many other benefits. Aderinlola further said that the central filtering unit being proposed would be made up of representatives from NCC, each mobile network operator and WASPAN. “In addition, we will be supported by a highly interactive, state-of-the-art call centre/help desk and website and an interactive forum via various publicfacing media,” he said, stressing that the model was already successfully implemented in the Unit-

ed Kingdom and South Africa and that Nigeria would do well to adopt it. He added that such a unit must have a code of conduct, legal adjudication teams, penal provisions, performance rating, and research committees. “So, WASPAN already had a special presentation on how to build, equip and oversee such a unit from scratch in 90 days. It can be housed inside NCC or anywhere else, but it’s a collaborative effort that takes the load off operator and regulator but gives

them true power,” he said. The Executive ViceChairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, had stated that a plan to develop an industry-driven regulatory framework to strengthen the mobile VAS market would soon be unveiled. He said that the volume of business activities in mobile VAS segment of Nigeria’s highly competitive telecommunication industry was currently valued at $200 million year-on-year and would more than double in the next few years.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Steel workers laud FG for reviving Ajaokuta Steel p.34

Industry

SON accredits firms to monitor tokunbo cars p.35

Stories by Dele Alao

Industrialists launch cluster-investment concept

he Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI) has launched an Agro-Allied Industrial Cluster scheme to scale up the volume of investments and increase job opportunities in the agroprocessing sub-sector of the Nigerian economy. Under the scheme, established and specialised industries will be providing their platforms as cluster hosts for the convergence of small-scale entrepreneurs, as this will help overcome the challenges of acquiring a strategic location; market penetration, high cost of machinery and the scarcity of funds militating against enterprise development in the country. National Vice President of NASSI, Duro Kuteyi, said that under this scheme, entrepreneurs will be enabled to have production facilities for less than five per cent of actual cost, while equity investors will be entitled to profit/dividend sharing. He added that NASSI has been in the forefront of the introduction of cluster models to drive the growth and establishment of SMEs in Nigeria and that the decision to start with agriculture was based on the abundance of raw materials for production without relying on imports. The first model under the

scheme, according to him, has been built around plantain chips production and is being hosted by Spectra Industries Limited, Lagos, with an installed capacity of five tons per month. “It is just a matter of providing industrial facility access, one of the benefits of this arrangement is that for someone who wants to set up a plantain chips plant, instead of looking for about N10 million to set up, all you need is a minimum of N100,000 and you become a part owner of an already established plantain chips plant,” he said. Kuteyi explained that the plantain chips, which comes in a unique variant to what is common in the market, can be consumed in novel ways never before heard of, like the use of ketchup and peanuts. He said: “It is a far upgrade from what plantain chips are generally known to be in the country. The chips are also of exportable quality in terms of packaging and standards with a shelve life of 12 months, the product is packed in 380gm containers and 70gm sachets.” Kuteyi expounded that while Spectra has provided the equipment and factory space, financial contributions from cluster members will be used as working capital to sustain the expanded scope of production and cater for more employees that will be recruited.

STRATEGY Entrepreneurs device new strategy to reduce cost of doing business

ODUACCIMA gears up for maiden trade fair O dua Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ODUACCIMA), has said that preparations have reached an advanced stage for the maiden edition of a Regional International Trade Fair. Chairman 2014 Odua International Trade Fair Planning Committee, Asiwaju Olaitan Alabi, who said this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, disclosed that the fair, which will attract over 5,000 exhibitors and participants holds for 10 days between November 21 and 30. Alabi disclosed that the fair will hold at Trans-Amusement Park, Ibadan, Oyo State. He said: “ODUACCIMA in association with all the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the South-Western Nigeria comprising of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states is organising this trade fair in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and all the Odua south-west governments.” He further said that the

theme for the fair is “Promoting mass agricultural production and agro processing as panacea to unemployment and poverty in Nigeria,” explaining that the association’s mission is to complement the efforts of various state governments in their efforts to revitalise and bring back the lost glory of agriculture through annual international trade fairs. “The trade fair is where we bring together from Nigeria and abroad various stakeholders in agriculture - farmers, agricultural research scientists, manufacturers of agricultural and agro-industrial tools and machinery, storage experts, food processors, importers and exporters of raw materials and of finished food products and apparels. This is the only International Trade Fair in the whole of South-Western Nigeria and the only specialised international trade fair in agriculture in Nigeria by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.

According to Kuteyi, the mission of NASSI is to design and implement cluster and network development strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting processing and packaging of local raw materials for local and foreign markets, integrate into national value chains and adopt business strategies based on corporate social responsibility. “Through this, a strong brand will be built in five Lagos districts, once the product becomes popular; production will be increased by buying bigger

machines that can process about 30 tonnes per day from installed capacity of five tonnes. Our immediate target is to raise N10 million and reach N400 million in the next six months,” he said. Kuteyi believes that government could still be of much support to the scheme which has already taken off and plans to employ 35 persons in every ward of the 774 local government areas in the country, stressing that when it becomes widely adopted in Nigeria, it will make it easier for employment to be massively generated.

L-R: Secretary to Rivers State Government, Mr George Feyii; Deputy Governor, Tele Ikuru; Chief of Staff, State Government House, Sir Tony Okocha and Director, MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro, during the presentation of security vehicles to the state by the Foundation in Port Harcourt.

Firm gets FG’s $250m import duty waiver

he Royal Salt Limited has been granted $250 million worth of import duty waiver by the Federal Government. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Musa Sada, who was represented by the Director, Mines Inspectorate Department in the ministry, Dauda Awojobi, during an inspection visit to the company in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, described the waiver as part of the incentives provided by the Federal Government to attract foreign direct investments to grow and develop the country’s minerals and metals sector in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act of 2007. He said: “According to the Nigerian Mining and Minerals Act of 2007, any equipment that is brought in for the purpose of mining starting with mining ex-

ploration, exploitation and processing will be brought into the country duty free. Government, through the Federal Ministry of Finance, has granted a total of N251, 047,049.60k as waiver on import duty on equipment to Royal Salt Limited.” Sada explained that the Federal Government was committed to providing incentives such as waiver on import duty on mining equipment and expatriate quota system, among others, to mining investors for the minerals and metals sector to thrive in the country in line with the Transformation Agenda of the present administration. He said that the inspection visit to the firm was necessary in order to get first-hand information on their operations and assess the level of progress of its project in line with its minimum work programme as stipu-

lated by the law. The minister expressed joy over the level of work done by the company which started with the exploration work to mining development which would eventually lead to beneficiation whereby value would be added to the minerals mined in line with the minimum work programme the company submitted to the ministry. The minister said: “We are pleased as a ministry because they submitted minimum work programme which has highlighted the various programmes they are going to embark on from exploration.” He said that the company had recorded tremendous success with the establishment of a resource of 750,000 metric tonnes of Ore, which would enable them to commence mining operation in the country.

Business | Industry

POTENTIAL Nigeria’s fish industry has the capacity to provide 500,000 jobs in five years Stories by Dele Alao

f the Federal Government’s aquaculture value chain is well implemented, it is capable of generating no fewer than 500,000 jobs in five years. Also, according to experts in the industry, at least over 400 fish farmers have benefited from the government’s Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES) in Bauchi State. The Federal Government is creating an enabling environment for sustainable pro-

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Aquaculture can generate 500,000 jobs, say experts duction of over one million tons of fish annually through its Aquaculture Value Chain scheme. It was learnt that the country’s projected demand for fish stands at about 2.6 million tons while shortfall stands at 1.3 million tons. According to a Director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Mohammed Yusuf, under the scheme, each farmer had received 500 fin-

gerlings free and five bags of feeds at 50 per cent discount. This, according to him, was part of efforts to meet the country’s projected annual demand of 2.6 million tons of fish. Yusuf noted that one of the objectives of the initiative was to enhance the local production capacity and turn the country from being a net importer of fish and fish products to a net exporter. He said: “The estimated local fish production in Nigeria

currently stands at 600,000 tons annually, while importation is estimated at more than 700,000 tons. The Federal Government is, therefore, supporting the farmers to meet this demand such that Nigeria can be selfsufficient in fish production.” It will be recalled that the Federal Government had, in an attempt to boost fish farming, acquired a 10.1 million Euros research vessel for the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR).

FG, Oyo set to revive mining firm PARTNERSHIP FG and Oyo State govt engage in efforts to revitalise ailing industry

L-R: Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Daniel; Analyst, Event and Sponsorship, Martina Ogebor; Winner of a new Hyundai car, Edokobi Obiamaka and Vice Chancellor, Ebonyi State University, Prof. Francis Idike, during the presentation of the car to Edokobi at the Etisalat Cliqfest, Ebonyi State University.

KUDOS Staffers at Ajaokuta Steel Company express joy at the on-going resuscitation of the company

orkers in Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd have commended the Federal Government for its efforts at reviving the industry. National President of Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN), Mr Otori Salihu, gave the commendation at the annual leadership workshop of the association in Lokoja, Kogi State. The ISSSAN president said that the recent delivery of consignment of billets to the company in preparation for resumption of production was a good development for the country and workers in the sector. He called on stakeholders in the steel industry, including workers, to support government’s efforts towards reviving the sector. Salihu also called for a poli-

Steel workers laud FG for reviving Ajaokuta Steel cy that would stimulate the use of local content in the sector as a means of creating jobs and sustaining steel development. He called for effective implementation of good policy on the sector, insisting that the progress of the nation’s steel sector had been dragging due to failure in policy implementation. The ISSSAN president commended the workers of the

Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill

company for their dedication to duty despite the numerous challenges confronting the company in the past. He said that the workshop was aimed at preparing the workers ahead of resumption of production. The theme of the workshop was: “Strategic synergy for the development of national metal and steel sector in Nigeria.”

lans are underway by both the federal and Oyo State governments to resuscitate the Nigerian Marble Mining Company Limited, Igbeti, Oyo State. The latest move is part of the state government’s efforts at reviving ailing companies owned by the state through private public partnership (PPP). The mining company, which is supposed to be a money spinning venture is co-owned by the Federal Government, Oyo State government and the late business mogul, Emmanuel Ashamu, and has been moribund for years. Some of the companies are Clay Industry at Erunmu, Cashew Nut Company at Eleyele, Electric Pole Manufacturing Company at Moniya, and Asphalt Company at Ijaiye. Checks revealed that the Nigerian Marble company with Oyo State having 40 per cent shares, Ashamu – 25 per cent, the Federal Government – 20 per cent shares, and others with 15 per cent, will soon be revived following a meeting with Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Muhammed Sada. The meeting between the state government led by Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo-Alake, and officials of the newly established Bureau of Investment Promotion and Public Private Partnership (PPP), discussed the resuscitation of the company with the minister, which they agreed would create employment and economic growth for the state. Modalities were worked out at the meeting in Abuja between the parties while the state government had also met with the family of the late Ashamu for early resuscitation of the company. The meeting thereafter constituted a technical partnership with the ministry of mines on the holistic development of solid minerals

sector in the state. There was also collaboration for the establishment of an international gemstone buying centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Likewise, it was agreed to provide legal framework for value addition and regulation of transactions in gemstones in the state. To this end, a bilateral working committee to drive the process to fruition was constituted. The need for regulation, analysts say, is in the right direction as the country is said to be losing billions of naira to illegal miners. However, Special Adviser/ Head, Bureau of Investment Promotion and Public-Private Partnerships, Folakemi Akinleye, disclosed that government had identified governmentowned companies are not functioning properly. “Government is seeking both local and foreign investors to invest in them so as to bring the companies back to life in line with Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s vision to industrialise the state,” she said. While saying that the revival of the moribund companies is inevitable, she noted that it would create jobs for the teeming youths in the state, stressing that the companies were key to the economic development of the state. She added that the state had partnered some foreign investors in key areas like agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality industry, among others, to set up companies under the PPP arrangements.

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi

Business | Industry

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

SON accredits firms to monitor tokunbo cars QUALITY SON extends quality control assessment to include tokubo cars Stories by Dele Alao

he Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have accredited three companies for the implementation of its conformity assessment programme that would make used vehicles imported into the country conform to applicable standards. Companies accredited by the agency for the implementation of the programme are Quality Assurance Projects Limited, Meditech Scientific Limited and Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited. SON said that the compli-

ance verification process would involve physical inspection of the vehicles and testing based on risk assessment criteria. The organisation said that the three firms were chosen haven met the criteria of having certification to ISO/IEC 17020:1998. The Director-General, SON, Dr. Joseph Odumodu, while admitting that some progress had been made in the fight against the importation of low quality products into the country, observed that because SONCAP had been tailored in favour of products other than motor vehicles and other heavy equipment since inception, vehicles that have exceeded their permissible and useful life span have continued to litter the nation’s landscape and dominating the motor vehicle imports into the country. To this end, he said that the country has become a dump-

Chamber faults CAC’s claim to 24-hour registration

igeria’s foremost chamber, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has said that the 24-hour business registration by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as promised by the Federal Government, is not a reality after all. The Chamber in a communiqué by its Director-General, Muda Yusuf, made available to New Telegraph, said: “the LCCI council noted with concern the frustrations faced by investors in the course of business incorporation. Rather than live up to the high expectations of better service delivery promised a few months ago, the quality of service at the CAC has deteriorated. Rather than take the promised 24 hours, business incorporation now takes well over one week in most cases. “A major component of the Ease of Doing Business Report of the World Bank is the ease of business registration. The performance on this score is not satisfactory. Council urged the management of the CAC to urgently fix these shortcomings to realise the dream of making the country a leading investment destination in Africa,” it added. CAC is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade and Investment. Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, had, a few months ago, inaugurated the one-day start-to-finish business registration at the Alausa, Ikeja,Lagos, office of CAC. Also, the LCCI Council welcomes the proposal by the Federal Government to partner with Lagos State government to ensure the speedy completion of the reconstruction work of the Lagos–Badagry Expressway. This collaboration, the chamber said, is long overdue. “There is tremendous wisdom in allowing national de-

velopment concerns to take precedence over partisan considerations at all times. The Lagos-Badagry road is very strategic, not just for the development of the country, but the facilitation of trade between Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region. Over 70 per cent of freight and human movements between Nigeria and countries in the sub-region take place on this corridor. Its current deplorable state is thus taking a huge toll on economic activities in the country and the sub region,” it said. The council, therefore, called on the Lagos and Federal Government to urgently develop a partnership framework to accelerate the completion of the reconstruction work on the road. “It is in the interest of the Nigerian economy, the ECOWAS economic integration aspirations and the welfare of millions of citizens resident along this corridor to do so,” it said.

ing ground for substandard vehicles. The SON boss said that the new automotive policy had made it incumbent on the agency to aggressively monitor the importation of this class of vehicles. “Out of the over 2,000 parts that make up a typical car, government mandates only about 120 safety and environmental standards, hence the need to institute a regime that would ensure effective enforcement of these standards and monitor their compliance,” he said. The DG listed the areas the accreditation would cover to include vehicle structural, mechanical and safety inspection, vehicle emissions testing, valuation and appraisal of vehicles, vehicle odometer inspection and verification and regulatory documentation, verification and authentication. He also said that any vehicle seriously damaged vehicles that have reached their end of life or vehicles that have

outstanding date recall and remedial action and vehicles from areas that have suffered radiological contamination were not to be inspected and certified as fit. According to him, the new regime would ensure that used vehicles imported into Nigeria met the security, safety, health and environment requirements, provide assurance to the Nigerian auto users that the vehicles are free from potential hazards and fit for use and also help genuine and complying importers to quickly clear customs process without the risk of rejection of shipments. Also, the Director-General of the National Automotive Council (NAC), Mr Aminu Jalal, said that the vehicle inspection was an important part of the overall safe operation of motor vehicles. Jalal noted that the country’s accident statistics was alarming as a result of the weak vehicles regulations, inspection and maintenance.

L-R: Guest Speaker and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Seni Adetu and doyen of Nigeria management, Dr. Michael Omolayole, at the 30th Omolayole Management Lecture and book launch organised by AIESEC, held at NECA House, Lagos.

BT, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola, Unilever launch site

global group of companies led by BT Group, Carlsberg, Coca-Cola Co., Marks & Spencer and Unilever believes mainstream media coverage of sustainable consumer lifestyles is too subdued. So they’re teaming up with non-profit Forum for the Future to create their own dialogue in the form of a new site, called Collectively, targeted predominantly at millennials. Its mission: Expose the most sustainable options and innovations from the worlds of fashion, food, design, architecture and technology, among other things. Chief Executive Officer, Collectively, Will Gardner, said: “We’re interested in talking to

younger people, explicit. We want to engage them in making sustainable living the new normal. They are showing signs of leading the way.” The plan for the site took shape at the World Economic Forum, when the five companies realised they shared a common goal: an interest in accelerating demand for green products and services. Asked why this can’t be accomplished through existing sites focused on green products or environmental coverage, Gardner and one of the site’s sponsors, pointed to the need to reach a broader audience that has yet to make up their minds but that could become a powerful voice.

Chief Sustainability Officer for Unilever, Jeff Seabright, who held a similar position at CocaCola when the initiative got under way, said: “Our intent is not to reinvent the wheel. We just feel this is a real opportunity to create something where the sum is great than the parts.” The original sponsors were joined by 29 other companies prior to the launch, including Audi, C&A Foundation, Diageo, Facebook, General Mills, Google, Havas, IPG, Johnson & Johnson, Kingfisher, Lenovo, McDonald’s, Medialink, Microsoft, Nestle, Nike, OmniCom, PepsiCo, Philips, SABMiller, Salesforce, Dow Chemical, Twitter and WPP. The site was designed by

Vice Media’s creative division, Virtue, along with Forum for the Future and Purpose, experienced in developing social campaigns. Collectively will encourage readers to take action, whether that’s by buying a sustainably designed and sourced product, investing in a company that has embedded triple bottom-line principles into its overall strategy, or campaigning via social media for causes they support. Gardner said the content will be produced by an independent editorial team, although the sponsors will be able to pitch stories for consideration. Contributions will be judged on their ability to inspire positive change.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

ICT

Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19bn p.37 Global computer chip maker, Intel Incorporation, is partnering Nigerian universities to bridge the extant disconnect between university engineering curricula and technological skills required in the economy, reports KUNLE AZEEZ

Trade bodies task FG on fake IT influx p.38

Boosting technological skills in Nigeria of Arduino Uno R3 shields and additionally allows users to incorporate Linux firmware calls in their Arduino sketch programming. Leye said: “It is very important for us to collaborate with the Nigerian universities on technology innovation and we are completely ready to create the needed change and innovation to support the Nigerian economy.” He stated further that Intel is giving out 50, 000 Galileo boards globally and that the seven Nigerian universities had been chosen to benefit from the donation, following meticulous screening from all the Nigerian varsities that applied. “We are also thinking of doing a second phase later, during which ore schools will benefits,” he said.

uman capacity remains one of the major challenges confronting the digital or Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven economy in Nigeria. According to expert, the economy is today witnessing unprecedented technological advancement requiring special skill sets to manage all the various aspects of the nation’s digital economic environment. Recently, the Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, lamented the paucity of skills, which is not matching the growth and advancement being recorded in the nation’s telecommunications industry. According to her, this development poses a threat to the country, given that most of the engineering or ICT-related academic curricula being taught in the tertiary institutions of learning were not in tune with modern developments. Similarly, President, Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) Prof David Adewunmi, in a recent chat, maintained that there was a need for a ‘strategic and holistic review’ of engineering curricula in the Nigerian educational system. This view has also been expressed by the former President of the Institutive of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Dr Chris Uwaje, who called for the retooling of Nigeria’s educational curricula to conform them to the advancement in the ICT world. Threats to industry The apparent disconnect between the engineering curricula in schools and the requirement in the industry, perhaps, has more adverse effect on the country’s ICT sector, where a pool of IT skills is required to support the industry. Already, technology experts, who gathered in San Francisco, United States, for the recentlyconcluded 2014 Oracle World, a global ICT event, have identified poor ICT skills as a major challenge confronting the growth of technology in Nigeria, South

Mrs Johnson

Africa and other sub-Saharan African countries. According to them, though the ICT industry in Africa is on the upward swing, the lack of required ICT skills are responsible for about 70 per cent of the challenges in the region’s ICT industry. Addressing about 200 journalists from across the globe, the Executive Vice-President, Oracle Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Loic Le Guisquet, said though the region had been a star performer, the challenge of required and adequate skills had continued to hinder further growth of Africa. “The African continent is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, but still deficient in ICT development mainly because of poor skills, which account for 70 per cent of the challenges there. But we are ready to reduce that by investing hugely in the IT ecosystem across Africa,” he stated. Intel/varsities partnership Meanwhile, the current skill gap may soon be addressed with the ongoing collaboration between the global computer chip maker, Intel Corporation and universities in Nigeria. In the partnership, Intel had donated electric training chip boards to some selected universities across the country. The benefiting universities include Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti; Covenant

Intel Country Manager, Nigeria, Mr Olubunmi Ekundare

The African continent is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, but still deficient in ICT development mainly because of poor skills

University, Ota, Ogun State; Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, Osun State; Federal University of Science and Technology Akure (FUTA) and Federal University of Science and Technology Owerri (FUTO). With the donation of the electric training chip boards christened ‘Galileo Boards’ to the universities at an event held in Lagos, stakeholders say the schools would be able to teach their students modern technological skills that can rev up innovations in the areas of applications and devices development in Nigeria. Intel Galileo boards Technically, the Intel Galileo Gen 2 board is the first in a family of Arduino-certified development and prototyping boards based on Intel architecture and specifically designed for makers, students, educators, and Do It Yourself (DIY) electronics enthusiasts. According to the Director, Corporate Affairs, Intel, Mr Moise Adams Leye, providing users with a fully-open source hardware and software development environment, the Intel Galileo Gen 2 board complements and extends the Arduino line of products to deliver more advanced compute functionality to those already familiar with Arduino prototyping tools. The Intel Galileo Gen 2 development board is designed to be hardware-, software-, and pincompatible with a wide range

Expectations Speaking earlier at the forum, Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC), Dr Julius Okojie, who described the partnership as a welcome development, said, “It is hoped that the boards will be put to excellent use so that in the near future, we would begin to see the likes of Bill Gate, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page coming from Nigeria to dominate technology space.” Also, Head, Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Covenant University, Dr. Francis Idachaba, said the partnership would help in bridging ICT skill gap already existing in the country. To Dr. Olawunmi Adetan, a lecturer at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ekiti State University, the initiative will boost innovation and lead to the development of new skills and innovations. Going forward, Intel is planning an innovative two-week programme facilitated by a global team of Intel professionals to expose students to hands-on training on Intel Galileo development board. Corporate Affairs Director, Intel, Mr Babatunde Akinola, who stated this, said the workshop to be held at FUTA will enable students to create relevant technology solutions to address local socio-economic challenges. “By 2015, we hope to support any engineering faculties in any universities to help develop their curricula because that is our ultimate objective and this will ultimately help in boosting technological innovations in Nigeria,” he said.

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

QoS: Subscribers advised against vilifying telcos INVESTMENT Operators have invested over $7 billion in voice and data networks between 2012 and April 2014 Stories by Kunle Azeez

elecoms subscribers in the country have been warned to desist from disparaging the

quality of service (QoS) being provided by licensed operators in the country. Speaking in an interview with New Telegraph in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of Swift Networks, Mr. Charles Anudu, said the increase in the demand for data had been responsible for “all the noise about operators providing services perceived as unsatisfactory by the subscribers.” According to him, “Telecoms is one of the sectors that have transformed the landscape of

Nigeria economy in the past 13 years. It is the same globally.” He said while telecoms companies had invested additional $7 billion in their voice and data networks between 2012 and April 2014, the unprecedented demand for data services had been putting pressures on their network. He said, “For instance, global mobile data traffic grew 81 per cent in 2013. Also, video traffic account for 53 per cent of the global internet traffic. This is growing even faster

L-R: Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Mr Peter Jack; Senior Vice President, Digital Services, Etisalat, Abdulla Hashim; Senior Vice President of Venues at Dubai World Trade Centre, Ahmed Al Khaja and Executive Director, Planning and Development, Dubai Smart Government, Marwan bin Haidar, during a media briefing on the forthcoming Dubai Gulf Information Technology Exhibition in Dubai

in Nigeria, which is still an emerging market and fastestgrowing telecoms market in the world. “Indeed, telecoms firms are really trying in Nigeria but the growth in demand for data services, most especially, is outstripping the networks, putting more pressure on the operators.” According to him, the increase in the number of web-based applications being developed daily is another factor where demand for data is coming in the telecoms sector. “So, people should stop vilifying telecoms companies and begin to encourage them because Nigeria cannot do without MTN today. This is because MTN network carries more than half of mobile subscriptions in the country,” he said. Anudu claimed that a recent study carried out by Swift Networks showed that “people pay for internet subscription before pay-TV subscription in the country.” Meanwhile, the declining cost of accessing Internet is also contributing to the number of people accessing Internet on the telecoms networks. He said, “The internet cost is becoming much friendlier in the country because five years ago, a megabyte of Internet capacity cost $1, 480, but today the cost has come drastically to $80. By virtue of this, consumers are more demanding and they remain technologically hungry.”

Wiko takes 12 Nigerian partners abroad

Facebook acquires WhatsApp for $19b

head of its formal launch in Nigeria, a smartphone manufacturer, Wiko Mobile, has taken 12 channel partners from Nigeria on an excursion to Dubai to interact with other partners across the globe as it rolls out across the world. The Nigerian channel partners met with their counterparts from Kenya, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, countries of interest for the third largest phone maker in Europe. Speaking in a statement, Wiko’s Sales Manager for Nigeria, Mr John Peters, said the Dubai excursion enabled channel partners from Nigeria interact with other Wiko associates around the world so as to understand the Wiko brand culture, brand vision and brand attributes. He said the channel partners were drawn from key markets across the country, underlining the vision of the brand to take a significant share of the phone market from onset. “Wiko took 12 channel partners from Nigeria to a pre-launch function in Dubai along with their counterparts from across the globe. This was to explain to them Wiko’s value proposition, product proposition and also show them the

road map. “This is to enable them grasp the concept of how Wiko intends to operate in all the countries they will be launching their product. Countries like Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Kenya and Nigeria. So all representatives from these countries were brought to Dubai so they can get a full detail of what Wiko is all about,” h said. He said it was important that Nigerian Channel Partners, “understand the Wiko story and know what specifically Wiko intends to do in each market. So market-wise, coverage-wise and channelwise all these were explained to them at that meet in Dubai”, Mr. Peters said. Wiko Mobile will launch in Nigeria October 9 with the introduction of 10 products from the over 20 products in the Wiko stable. Wiko, in the statement, said it offers a value proposition of stylish yet affordable products across the spectrum from lowend to high-end. Wiko, the French smartphone brand, has redefined the mobile phone industry. It has challenged the position held by established global smartphone brands as it continues to grow. The success story in Europe

is changing the way consumers in mature mobile markets like to choose smartphones now. The European success story is resonating globally as new markets welcome Wiko, with Vietnam being the brand’s entry into South East Asia in August. Consumers in new markets are aware of Wiko’s strong brand and product proposition. Wiko has also built strong relationships with its channel partners in every market, ensuring wide distribution and excellent customer care. Wiko announced its next wave of expansion at IFA (the Consumer Electronics Show in Berlin) recently while September will see launches in Poland, Nigeria and Kenya. Making its debut in the Gulf region, the United Arab Emirates’s launch was done last month and this will also be followed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in mid-October. With the distinction of becoming France’s second largest selling smartphone after just three years, driving Wiko’s success story across Europe is its compelling proposition such as smart French design, the latest Android KitKat 4.4 operating system and exceptional pricing.

he world’s biggest social network, Facebook, has completed its purchase of mobile messaging application, WhatsApp, with the mostly stock deal tallying nearly $22 billion. The acquisition was given the colossal price tag of $19 billion when the deal was struck in February, but a rise in Facebook shares has pushed the value even higher. “We are looking forward to connecting even more people around the world, and continuing to create value for the people who use WhatsApp,” Facebook said in a statement emailed to AFP. As part of the deal, Co-Founder of WhatsApp, Jan Koum, is to remain head of the company and take a seat on the Facebook board of directors. Koum’s salary will be one dollar a year, according to a filing on Monday with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The symbolic annual pay mirrors that of Facebook chief, Mark Zuckerberg. Also, WhatsApp Co-Founder, Brian Acton, will remain with the company under terms of the acquisition, which promises “inducement grants” of millions of shares of stock that will incrementally vest during the coming four years for Koum and

Acton if they remain with the company, according to Facebook. European Union regulators on Friday cleared the buyout of the WhatsApp mobile messaging service by Facebook, despite opposition by telecom companies afraid of the growing power of United States technology giants. In a statement explaining its approval of the deal, the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, said Facebook and WhatsApp were “not close competitors” and that consumers would continue to have a “wide array of choices.” “We have carefully reviewed this proposed acquisition and come to the conclusion that it would not hamper competition in this dynamic and growing market,” EU Competition Commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, said in a statement. Facebook announced the buyout of the WhatsApp messenger service, used by 600 million people, in February and US authorities approved the deal in April. The buyout included 177 million Facebook shares plus $4.59 billion in cash. In addition, the social network agreed to provide 45.9 million restricted shares to WhatsApp employees.

Business | ICT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Trade bodies task FG on fake IT influx NEGATIVE IMPACT Connection of substandard devices onto mobile networks has negative effect on quality services provided to subscribers

Stories by Kunle Azeez

wo trade associations in the Information and Communication Technology retailing space in Nigeria have expressed worries over what they described as ‘unhindered influx’ of counterfeit and substandard ICT devices into the country. The bodies, Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN) and Phone & Allied Products Dealers Association (PAPDAN) also called on the Federal Government to prevail over regulatory agencies to curtail the trend. A visit by New Telegraph to major IT clusters across Lagos also confirmed the rising concerns being raised by the two bodies as substandard phones were being displayed by some in-shop as well as out-of-shop dealers at the Computer Village and GSM Village, both located in Lagos. It was learnt that the Nigerian Communications Commis-

sion (NCC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have, at different occasions, carried out enforcement exercises, closing down fake phone dealers’ shops while confiscating substandard products worth millions of naira. Speaking with New Telegraph on the trend, CAPDAN Secretary, Mr John Oboro, said, “Counterfeiting is a major problem in the industry and Nigerian government must ensure that all hands are on deck to tackle the trend, which is antithetical to economic development.” According to him, the reckless importation of disused or ‘second-hand’ or substandard mobile devices constitutes threats to the operations of genuine devices dealers and a threat to the national economy. He said, “Today, Nigerian telecoms market has developed to a stage where genuine IT devices can now be bought at affordable prices ranging from N3, 000 upwards. In essence, if people don’t see substandard phones at ridiculous prices, they would make do with genuine phones that do not pose health risks. “NCC has even told us that connection of substandard devices to mobile networks has negative effects on quality service. So, the NCC, the Nigerian Customs Service and SON should collaborate to tackle this dangerous influx of fake

IT products and see how we can, as a country, encourage manufacturing of IT devices locally.” In the same vein, PAPDAN’s President, Mr. Iyke Nwosu, said the association was committed to assist the SON to eradicate the menace of substandard and fake products in the market. Already, Nwosu explained that PAPDAN had provided an office for SON officials for the establishment of a market desk at Computer Village, saying two members of staff of SON were subsequently deployed to operate from the office in order to mutually fight substandard products. Besides, PAPDAN facilitated a joint trip for SON’s top

management to China, where they visited some phone factories and met with over 65 owners of phone factories to ensure that these factories no longer manufacture and import substandard phones into the Nigerian market. Nwosu also explained that the association and all importers of mobile phones in Ikeja Computer Village market agreed that from July 1, 2014, all mobile phones that would be sold in Nigeria would be products that had been duly registered with SON. In addition, the group agreed that all mobile phone brands sold in Nigeria markets needed to have a functional service centre, which would cater to “after sales services.”

Airtel to empower youths through music

igeria’s telecommunications operator, Airtel Nigeria, has partnered Trace, an international music video channel, to launch a unique mobile song contest designed to empower Nigerian youths and create robust platforms for them to achieve their aspirations. The competition, tagged ‘Airtel Trace Music Star,’ is a mobile song contest, which will allow contestants to audition right from their phones and earn a chance of becoming the next big music star in Nigeria. Contestants can participate by simply recording their songs with an Airtel line, using a short code and aided by an interactive voice prompt. The interactive voice prompt will be fortified with multi-lingual functionality including English and Pidgin, which will assist in eliminating any language barrier and will enable youths from all parts of Nigeria participate in the competition. Speaking on the initiative, the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa, noted that Airtel as a youth-centric telecoms company would be initiating the ‘Airtel Trace Music Star’ platform to empower Nigerian youths by giving them opportunities to develop their innate skills and achieve their dreams. He said, “Airtel is delighted to be associated with Trace in bringing excitement and provid-

ing entertainment opportunities for our teeming customers especially youths and the music lovers. “This initiative is geared towards supporting and nurturing talents of Nigerian youth. In the next few weeks, we will unveil the biggest platform for Nigerians to express their singing talent through their mobile phones from the comfort of any location they choose. ” Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Trace Group, Olivier Laouchez, described the collaboration as a perfect opportunity to showcase African youth talent to the rest of the world. According to him, “We are tremendously excited about this pan African partnership with Airtel. Trace is dedicated to African youth and this ground breaking competition is a great step towards our joint goal of empowering African youth.” As a pan-African initiative, the Airtel Trace Music competition is designed to hold simultaneously in other African countries where Airtel operates. The winners from each participating country will then compete in a televised pan-African grand finale where the African champion will win a trip to the United States to be mentored by megastar, Akon, in addition to a professional music video and a record deal with Universal Music.

L-R: Group Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc., Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo; Executive Director, Business Segment, Mr Lucas Dada; Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mathew Willsher, both of Etisalat Nigeria and Chairman, Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh, during the launch of TD-Mobile, a subsidiary of Zinox Group, in Lagos

PEN 2014 to drive Nigeria’s mobile penetration GROWTH Nigeria’s telecoms market hits 130.7 million active subscriber lines; 67.1 million Internet users and 93.41 per cent teledensity

he maiden edition of Phone Expo Nigeria 2014 (PEN 2014), four unique series of collocated events scheduled to hold in Lagos, is planned to be the largest annual gathering of the Nigerian mobile ecosystem, aimed at deepening mobile penetration in Nigeria. PEN 2014, scheduled to hold from December 2 to 6, 2014, under the theme, “Next Frontiers of Connected Nigeria,” has been designed to become the nation’s largest marketplace of the Nigerian Mobile Ecosystem, according to the producers of the show, Technology Times Events, the conferences and events subsidiary of Tech-

nology Times Media Limited. In a statement made available to New Telegraph, the Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Technology Times, Mr. Shina Badaru, said the show would offer an annual gathering that brings together diverse segments of the biggest market in the Nigerian economy and the vibrant mobile telephony subscribers. According to him, the four collocated events at the PEN 2014 show will focus on four key touch points that matter to the Nigerian mobile marketplace including business, innovation, thought leadership and entertainment (BITE). PEN 2014 will collocate PEN 2014 Exhibitions, PEN 2014 Mobile App Challenge; PEN 2014 Thought Leadership Conferences and Miss PEN 2014 Pageants, to deliver maximum benefits to show visitors, partners, sponsors and advertisers, according to him “We are pleased to be producing PEN 2014 with our partners to evolve the annual

must-attend mobile telephony show in Nigeria that will become the flagship exhibitions and trade show catering exclusively for the mobile ecosystem,” Badaru said Badaru noted that the latest telecommunications market statistics released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had shown that by June 2014, Nigeria’s telecommunications market base had grown to 130.7 million active telephone subscriber lines; 67.1 million Internet users and 93.41 per cent teledensity. “In the course of our PEN 2014 planning, we found out that except for the freely-given gifts of nature like air, sunlight and rain, the telecommunications market today ranks top in number of customers spread across the geographically-dispersed landscape of Nigeria. The indices and indicators also point to a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation, job creation and overall growth within the Nigerian economy,” said Badaru.

Business | ICT

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

COMPETITION Competing mobile networks drive greater innovation and investment Stories by Kunle Azeez

he global umbrella body of Global System for Mobile Communications operators, GSM Association, has warned against the dangers posed by policies in some countries trying to promote single wholesale networks in their telecoms sectors. In a new report released by GSMA, the global body predicted that a move away from traditional mobile network competition towards single wholesale networks would stifle innovation, restrict investment and take-up of mobile broadband services and ultimately be against consumer interests. Developed by Frontier Economics, the report, “Assessing the Case for Single Wholesale Networks in Mobile Commu-

GSMA sees dangers in single wholesale networks nications,” examines whether single wholesale networks could meet a government’s objective for improved coverage and explore more effective ways to achieve the same goal. The report analyses the historic performance of countries with a single network compared to those with multiple competitors to consider how a single wholesale network would likely perform in practice. It finds that in countries with competing networks, 3G covered 36 per cent more population and that overall coverage increased three times faster than in those served by a single network. “In 2000, there were as many countries served by a single mobile network as there were those with competing networks. Today, only 30 countries, representing less than three per cent

of the world’s population, are served by a single network,” Chief Regulatory Officer, GSMA, Tom Phillips, said. According to Phillips, “Network competition has produced unprecedented growth and innovation in mobile services, with 3.7 billion unique mobile subscribers globally in 2014, more than $1.7 trillion of total worldwide investment since 2002 and mobile 3G broadband coverage reaching over half of the world’s citizens. This indisputable success story should continue in the era of mobile broadband, across the globe and particularly in emerging markets.”

New Telegraph learnt that in Nigeria, the days of the Nigeria Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) as the single national operator in the country, signposted the era of single wholesale network, where monopoly was the order of the day. However, following the liberalisation of the nation’s telecoms’s market in 2001, healthy competition has set in among players, resulting in continuous reductions in tariff for telecoms services while investment inflows have increased from $500 million to over $32 billion between 2001 and April, 2014. Advocates of single whole-

sale networks argue they can respond to issues such as inadequate or slow coverage in rural areas, inefficient use of spectrum and a lack of incentives for the private sector to maximise coverage or investment better than the model of network competition. However, the GSMA report demonstrates that the existing approach of network competition offers better long-term benefits in terms of network coverage, innovation and new services, uncertainty for investors, impact of monopolies as well as subsidising network competition.

Etisalat backs radio summer concert

igeria’s fourth largest telecoms company, Etisalat, has indicated its support to developing entertainment in Nigeria with its sponsorship of the second edition of the Inspiration FM Summer Concert. Speaking at the event held in Lagos recently, the Head, Events and Sponsorship at Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Modupe Thani, noted that the company’s sponsorship of the concert was a demonstration of its commitment to delighting its customers. According to her, “At Etisalat, our customer-centric philosophy drives all our activities, including the programs we sponsor and the partners we identify with. The Inspiration FM Summer Concert meets our customers’ needs for recreation by providing an opportunity to relax and unwind while enjoy-

ing great musical performances from top Nigerian musical artistes.” The Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration FM, Mr Soni Irabor, expressed appreciation for Etisalat’s support, noting that the company had contributed greatly to the success of the event. Irabor added that the 2014 Summer Concert had provided a unique avenue for people to network and bond in a fun, stress-free atmosphere. The 2014 Inspiration FM Summer Concert featured great performances from top Nigerian artistes including TuFace, 9ice, Burna Boy, Ice Price, Seyi Shay and DJ Jimmy Jatt and Winners from Etisalat sponsored Nigerian idols Seasons 3 and 4, Evelyn Zibili (Evelle) and Moses Adigwe (Teddy Bear).

Multichoice steps up customer engagement

rovider of premium pay-TV content on DStv and GOtv platforms, Multichoice, has stepped up its consumer engagement drive in Nigeria with its DStv open house initiative. The DStv open house will provide consumers with instant access to a range of services, including customer care, subscription payment, self-help channels, technical support and much more. The activation is scheduled to hold in residential estates across selected areas in Lagos State between September 27 and November 1, 2014. Speaking at the first leg of the initiative in Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Public Relations Manager, DStv, Caroline Oghuma, reiterated the company’s commitment to deepening its engagement with its subscribers and providing them with platforms to access sound and convenient sales and service infrastructure.

“Given the overwhelming support that we have received from our customers, we have decided to bring our services to their doorsteps. This initiative amplifies our customer-centric approach to business. “With us, the customer comes first. Our customers in Ikeja, Egbeda, Ikoyi, Festac Town, Mafoluku and many more can look forward to the road show in their neighbourhoods in the weeks ahead,” she said. In addition to providing immediate resolution to customer queries, the DStv open house entailed an experience centre, where visitors can enjoy the exceptional viewing experience of the Explora decoder. The road show also features a children’s play area as well as a self-service centre where customers could resolve technical issues including clearing error messages on their decoders and retrieving information on payment due dates.

L-R: Founder, ICT with CFA.com, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata and Head, Corporate Communications, Nigeria Communications Satellite Limited, Mr Sonny Aragba-Akpore, during the presentation of ‘Outstanding ICT Reporter’ award to Aragba-Akpore at an event organised by the Centre of Value Leadership (CVL) to celebrate ICT sector in Lagos

MTN invests N10bn in social projects

igeria’s largest telecoms network, MTN, said it had invested in excess of N10 billion in various social projects in the key areas of education, health and economic empowerment in 341 locations across the 36 states of Nigeria and Abuja. The investment has been made through its corporate social investment vehicle, MTN Foundation. Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro, stated this during the donation of security vehicles to the Rivers State Government under the third phase of its Security Support Project (SSP). He said that the donation was in line with MTN Foundation’s continued commitment to support state governments’ efforts at reducing the security challenges in the country, stressing that the gesture would help in improving the quality of life in Nigerian communities.

“It is common knowledge that security of life and property is critical to the growth and development of any state and is therefore an area that should not be left for the government alone. “We are passionate about improving the quality of life in Nigeria and contributing to socio-economic growth. We constantly seek out opportunities to contribute to the development of the communities wherein we operate. The aim of the Foundation’s Security Support Project (SSP) is to contribute to government’s effort to improve security operations around the country,” he said. Rivers State has been a beneficiary of several other MTN Foundation initiatives, such as, the MTNF Rural Telephone Project, the MTNF Disability Support Project, MTNF Learning Facility Support Project, MTNF Scholarship Scheme for students, Widows Empowerment Scheme and now MTNF Security Support Project.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Features

Echoes of Kumuyi’s three-day visit to Osun

he recent three-day crusade of the Deeper Life Bible Church held at the church’s camp ground at Halleluyah Estate, Agunbeelewo area of Osogbo, Osun State, witnessed explosive miracles. God manifested these miraculous exploits through the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor Williams Folorunsho Kumiyi and other anointed men of God to deliver and save hundreds of souls as well as heal the sick and those with one challenge or the other seeking the face of the Lord. Apart from salvation of souls, a physically-challenged man who went to the crusade ground on a wheel chair and another with crutches received their deliverance and left the crusade ground walking on their two legs. These are some of the miracles witnessed during the crusade tagged: “Explosion of Supernatural Miracles.” Also, withered hands of 30 years were restored while Sunday Akeem was delivered from 15-year-long hernia. Joseph Abodunrin’s lump of six years vanished; Matthias Njoku’s three years’ deafness disappeared; Christiana Olaboyede’s 10 years of severe pains in the arm and hands healed; David Adegboye’s shorter leg grew out and 12 years’ severe pains in the leg of Tayo Olusosi disappeared among other several miracles that happened. Some of these miracles were witnessed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the state Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye, and members of the governor’s cabinet who also stormed the crusade ground in fulfilment of Aregbesola’s promise to Kumuyi when he visited him at Government House earlier. Thousands of people attended the crusade via free mass transit long buses provided by the church to convey the people to and from the venue each day of the crusade. On arrival to the state, Kumuyi visited Aregbesola at the Oke-Fia Government House and later Ataoja in Council to intimate them of the crusade and what God was planning to do with the crusade. Kumuyi arrived at the

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES EDITOR

abiodun. bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Pastor Williams Kumuyi’s visit to Osogbo, like Jesus Christ’s visit to Zacchaeus’ house, brings salvation to Osun State, writes DANIEL OLUSEGUN

Kumuyi (third left), his wife, Esther (second left), Aregbesola (second right) and others during a visit to the governor

Oke-Fia Government House in company with his wife, Esther; Osun, Ogun and Oyo State Overseers (Pastors Adeniran, Aruleba and Odumosu with their wives respectively); a Deputy Inspector General of Police, David Omojola; Region Overseers and other church leaders. Aregbesola received Kumuyi and his entourage with much anticipation and adulation. Some of the key government officials on ground were Owoeye; the state Chairman of All Progressives Congress Party (APC), Elder Adebiyi Adelowo; the state Secretary of the party; Prince Gboyega Famodun, commissioners, a member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Ayo Omidiran, a former Director of the State Security Service, Pastor Segun Babatope, and others. Babatope gave the opening remarks on behalf of the governor whom he described as “very distinguished, sincere and transparent”. Speaking, Kumuyi expressed warm greetings to Aregbesola and his cabinet, thanking God Almighty for the success of the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election which returned him to office for the second term. The general overseer stated that the purpose of his visit to the state was to assure the people that no matter how bad things had been with them (as individuals, families and a state) the Lord can turn everything around. Kumuyi observed that the

Aregbesola addressing the crusade

No matter how bad it may be for individuals, state and nation, God can still turn things around and can move things forward

governor’s life is characterised by humility, availability and people-oriented service. He said: “I have moved around and seen what Aregbesola has done in the first term, but there is still more to do, there is no way people will not point out deficiencies in government but you must not be distracted, you must be focused and move close to God, we are looking for a better and more successful second term. “We want you to believe in God that He can conquer challenges. That is the most significant aspect of our crusade here; to remind the people that no matter how bad it may be for individuals, state

and nation, God can still turn things around and can move things forward.” Responding, Aregbesola expressed appreciation to Kumuyi and his entourage for the visit. He drew an analogy between Christ’s visit to Zacchaeus’ house and Kumuyi’s visit to him at the Government House. While explaining that he had Christian exposure in his school days, the governor recounted the story of Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus and concluded that just as Christ brought salvation to Zacchaeus’ house, salvation had also come to him and the good people of the state with Kumuyi’s visit.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Banks’ profits to drop in 2015, says Fitch FOREX RISK

Foray into the euro bond market exposes banks to forexrelated risks Ayodele Aminu

oremost global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, yesterday said Nigerian banks’ asset growth and earnings will fall in the next 18 months because of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) moves to protect the economy and banking customers. “All these moves led to weaker profitability and stemmed credit growth” in the first half of 2014, Fitch said its report on ‘Nigerian Banks: Peer Review’. This is likely to continue into 2015, it said. The banking watchdog has increased cash reserve requirements on public sector deposits to 75 percent from 12 percent since July last year to curb inflation and limited how much banks can charge account holders when they withdraw money. The Asset Man-

•5% non-performing loans unsustainable agement Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), a state company created to buy bad debt from lenders after the country’s 2009 financial crisis, also last year raised its annual levy on banks from to 0.5 percent of their assets from 0.3 percent. “A lot more money could have been made if they had not increased the cash-reserve ratio,” Herbert Wigwe, the chief executive officer of Access Bank Plc said in an interview with Bloomberg. Fitch however noted that in spite of the twin hurdles of tight monetary policy actions and new banking rules, Nigerian banks are performing well. Acknowledging that the CBN’s stance also shifted towards protecting the consumer through its revised rules on banking charges introduced in 2013, the rating agency said “all these moves, led to weaker profitability and stemmed credit growth in H114 - a trend that is likely to continue into 2015.” Noting that all the lenders it rated were prof-

itable in 2013 and 1H14 but saw performance slip, Fitch said there were a few outliers and these were typically the smaller banks, which outperformed the sector. Earnings pressure it said was exacerbated by high operating costs at most banks due to a higher Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) levy and network expansion strategies. Fitch observed that lenders’ non-Performing Loans (NPL) remained below the 5 per cent prescribed by the banking watchdog but insist-

RenCap downgrades Skye Bank to ‘Hold’ Godson Ikoro

equel to the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)’s announcement of Skye Bank as the preferred bidder for Mainstreet Bank, Renaissance Capital has called on the management of Skye Bank to shed light on the acquisition. The research agency said, “it is critical for management to establish very quickly how this deal adds value to Skye’s shareholders.” Rencap argued that given

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

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

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

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

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

the weak details on the acquired bank, the implications of the transaction for Skye and the significant acquisition price, it was downgrading the bank to HOLD from Buy. While stating that it plans to revisit the valuation pending more details from management, Rencap predicated they maintain target price of NGN6.0 per share. Citing the FY13, Skye had market share of 4.5 per cent, 5.4 per cent, 4.5 per cent and 3.8 per cent by assets, net loans, deposits and equity, respectively, compared with Mainstreet’s 1.3 per cent , 0.3 per cent , 0.8 per cent and 2.1 per cent ‘ Rencap estimates Mainstreet had loans/assets of 11 per cent in FY13. Skye had previously mentioned its participation in the process, but there has been insufficient details available

on the acquired bank either publicly or from Skye’s management (possibly constrained by the seller) for us to give a balanced view on the value-adding potential of the acquisition. Given the disclosed deal price of NGN120bn ($741mn), which is four per cent larger than Skye’s 1H14 equity base, its initial estimates are that Skye is to pay 1.5-2x FY13 P/B for Mainstreet (the deal price is 3.2x Skye’s current market cap of NGN38bn/$234mn). Based on Skye’s reported 1H14 total CAR of 18.5 per cent vs. the 15 per cent minimum requirement (which rises to 16 per cent by March 1, 2015 for systemically important banks), Rencap estimates the bank had a buffer of about NGN25bn, which represents 21 per cent of the deal price.

Why we are celebrating customers –Sterling Bank

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

ed that it is not sustainable. “Banks are now seeing some asset quality deterioration with rising absolute NPLs, reflecting fast loan growth since 2011. Most banks’ NPL ratios remain below the 5% prescribed by the CBN but Fitch views this as unsustainable in the long-run.” Besides, it noted that very high loan concentrations by borrower and sector expose banks, particularly the smaller banks, to significant event risk. “Banks are also seeing moderate liquidity pressure

with rising loans/deposit ratios. In response, the banks’ large customer deposit bases are continuing to expand on strong GDP growth and increasing banking penetration. The focus is on raising low-cost retail deposits to strengthen funding profiles, particularly following the cash reserve requirement hikes on public sector deposits. “Several banks have successfully tapped the euro bond market to raise longerterm USD funding to meet the strong demand for USD loans from major corporates, although it exposes the banks to FX-related risks,” the agency said.

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

terling Bank has added a new dimension to its Customer Service Week celebrations as it gave out various gift items to its walkin customers in all parts of the country. Besides, the bank said the week also provided it the opportunity to raise companywide awareness of the importance of customer service and reward customer loyalty. The Customer Service Week is a week-long opportunity to raise awareness of customer service and the vital roles it plays in successful business practice and the growth of the economy. This year edition was celebrated worldwide between October 5 and 10.

Sterling Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communication, Mr. Shina Atilola, in a statement said, “Our success story so far is attributed to the overwhelming support we have received from our customers. This is why we consider them the most important to us and hence the reason for us as a responsible financial institution to celebrate them during the Customers Service Week.” He said that Sterling Bank had remained consistent in the provision of quality customer service excellence across its service points and “we are using the celebration to leverage on our planned enhanced customer service initiatives during the week.”

Naira closes at 7-month low

he naira closed at a seven-month low against the US dollar of 164.50, despite Central Bank of Nige-

ria intervention, as falling oil prices pushed investors out of domestic debt and equity markets, dealers said.

Business | Financiel Market News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

8-Oct-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Bonds

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

535.00 545.27 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 331.35 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 105.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,591.19

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,528.41

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

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.54 1.86 2.55 2.80 2.90 3.64 4.72 5.04 7.31 9.43 14.14 14.62 15.12 15.79 19.78

11.18 12.68 12.78 12.85 12.85 12.85 12.81 12.87 12.89 12.80 12.79 12.78 12.78 12.79 12.43

10.87 12.59 12.71 12.78 12.79 12.74 12.73 12.77 12.83 12.75 12.74 12.74 12.72 12.74 12.39

96.33 100.55 104.90 93.08 91.72 93.86 111.00 78.72 116.20 107.50 114.27 98.04 71.62 81.20 97.90

96.48 100.70 105.05 93.23 91.87 94.16 111.30 79.02 116.50 107.80 114.57 98.34 71.92 81.50 98.20

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

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

0.06 0.62 1.36 2.17 2.53 2.74

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

12.31 13.88 14.35 14.81 13.85 13.85

99.24 91.92 103.48 99.56 97.30 94.57

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 30-Sep-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.02 0.90 0.74 1.02 1.02 2.53 1.57 3.23 2.40 3.99 2.40 2.40 2.78 3.04 5.12 3.01 3.53 6.14 6.23 3.71 3.74

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

14.59 15.93 14.58 16.07 15.10 18.44 13.35 14.64 14.64 13.85 13.84 17.62 13.85 13.85 13.87 15.59 13.85 13.91 14.85 14.29 14.80

99.97 97.20 99.07 98.46 100.94 83.51 100.88 98.33 98.82 100.44 101.52 93.34 101.47 103.86 102.22 98.12 102.38 98.32 100.53 100.72 100.69

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,284.72

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

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

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 30-SEP-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

6.00 8.50 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

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

477.18 467.62

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA NAHCO

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.19

5.21

16.52

99.30

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.23

8.71

20.02

99.14

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.61

4.88

16.12

96.93

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.69

1.00

12.31

100.33 100.68

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.77

2.63

14.01

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.98

1.00

13.76

98.71

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

2.05

1.34

14.14

100.18

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.98

1.00

13.85

97.96

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.79

1.88

14.46

106.73

09-Apr-11

16.00

7.20

09-Apr-18

1.75

3.48

16.01

99.98

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.17

5.20

18.01

100.18

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.17

5.06

17.87

101.74

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.96

1.35

14.20

99.38

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.70

18-Oct-18

2.03

2.29

15.08

101.26

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.36

6.11

18.94

96.79

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.23

2.16

15.01

102.44

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.10

2.76

15.66

98.36

11-Feb-18

3.35

1.00

13.85

90.45

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

129.82

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

129.01

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 10.85 Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.06

4.93

109.01

109.76

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.17

3.96

103.27

104.02

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.35

5.24

107.09

107.87

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,596.88

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

7.37

105.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.20

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.56

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

8.57

8.14

94.86

96.14

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

5.90

5.66

100.35

101.21

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

8.67

105.75

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.35

99.63

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.92

8.66

99.35

100.31

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

7.72

101.63

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

7.50

95.75

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

8.65

8.48

103.25

104.13

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

7.51

101.63

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.42

8.20

100.75

101.88

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,825.56

**Treasury Bills DTM 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57

FIXINGS Maturity 16-Oct-14 23-Oct-14 30-Oct-14 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14

Bid Discount (%) 10.80 10.70 10.85 10.95 10.80 10.80 10.80 10.70

Offer Discount (%) 10.55 10.45 10.60 10.70 10.55 10.55 10.55 10.45

Bid Yield (%) 10.83 10.75 10.92 11.05 10.92 10.94 10.96 10.88

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.7750 12.6454 13.4089 14.3913

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.46

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.63

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

164.50 164.51 164.77 165.42 166.54 167.71

164.60 164.75 165.08 166.03 167.60 169.32

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.21

***LCRM

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

09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

112.22 116.70 66.49

09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.17 2.53 2.74

2.00 1.00 1.00

14.81 13.85 13.85

99.56 97.30 94.57

0.02 0.90 0.74 1.02 1.02 2.53 1.57 3.23 2.40 3.99 2.40 2.40 2.78 3.04 5.12 3.01 3.53 6.14 6.23 3.71 3.74

3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

14.59 15.93 14.58 16.07 15.10 18.44 13.35 14.64 14.64 13.85 13.84 17.62 13.85 13.85 13.87 15.59 13.85 13.91 14.85 14.29 14.80

99.97 97.20 99.07 98.46 100.94 83.51 100.88 98.33 98.82 100.44 101.52 93.34 101.47 103.86 102.22 98.12 102.38 98.32 100.53 100.72 100.69

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,284.72

Sub-National Bonds 15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 30-Sep-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

A-/GCR NIGER 14.00 NIGER 15-OCT-2014 A+/Agusto KADUNA 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 A/Agusto *EBONYI 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 A-/Agusto *BENUE 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 A+/Agusto *IMO 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 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 30-SEP-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

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

6.00 8.50 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

Business | Financiel Market News

Nigerian stocks lose points as financial market reopens offloading to enable them pay school fees for their wards who resumed yesInvestment value terday after Ebola forced dips N36 billion as holiday. market speculators Meanwhile, the key market performance take profits measures, the NSE All TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Share Index and market TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION capitalisation, dropped by 0.26 per cent as market Corporate Stories byBonds Chris Ugwu 13.50turned GUARANTY TRUST sentiments red 18-DEC-2014 Aa/Agusto GTB µ 17.00 31-DEC-2014 NGC Nil he Nigerian on the back ofNGClosses re10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC stock market decorded by high net worth 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 A-/Agusto generated *FLOURMILLS from stocks. 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS the Specifically , the29-SEP-2016 NSE 13.00 NAHCO A+/Agusto;sell A-/GCR offs as NAHCO FSDH 25-OCT-2016 All-Share 14.25 Index deprebears overshadowed the A-/Agusto FSDH UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCRleading to share UBAdebulls ciated by13.00 108.92 basis C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR & I LEASINGpoints or 18.00 0.26 per cent cline in most blue*Cchip # MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *DANA to return downwards companies. # MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER to 40,995.02 as TOWER against This was even as the# MPR+5.25 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR marketUBAre41,103.94 recorded last financial 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA Friday. opened yesterday after # MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS the country observed two The market capitalisa16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 BBB/GCR *DANA days public holiday to ention of equities equally 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO able Muslims celebrate plummeted by N36 bilTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Eid-Kabir. TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION lion or 0.26 per cent to Market watchers close at N13.536 trillion Supranational Bond believe investors were from N13.572 trillion re-

corded the previous day. At the close of trading, 20 stocks appreciated in price during the day as against 26 others that depreciated in value. Conoil Nigeria Plc advanced by N2.35 to close at N49.36 per share to lead the gainers’ table while Nigeria Breweries Plc followed with 18-Dec-09 13.50 a gain01-Apr-10 of N2.14 to 17.00 close 17-Aug-10 10.00 at N178.80 while Cham09-Dec-10 12.00 pion06-Jan-11 Breweries Plc added 14.00 N1.25 to close at N13.60. 29-Sep-11 13.00 Reversing the 14.25 day’s 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 13.00 gain, shares of Guin18.00 ness30-Nov-12 Nigerian Plc depre09-Apr-11 16.00 ciated by N8.73 to close at 09-Sep-11 18.00 N186.97 per share, Stan09-Sep-11 16.00 14.00 bic 22-Sep-11 IBTC Plc followed 15.75 to with18-Oct-13 a drop of N1.75 17-Feb-12 17.00 close at N33.25 while 01-Apr-14 16.00 Dangote Cement fell by 14-Nov-13 15.25 N1.00 to close at N219.80 per share. Meanwhile, a turnover of 408.8 million

EQUITY

T AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

shares worth N5.7 billion in 4,678 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. The banking sub-sector of the financial services sector was the most active during the day (measured by turnover vol477.18 467.62

X-GEN has improved trading activities-NSE 13.17

18-Dec-14

0.19

31-Dec-14Stock Ex0.23 he Nigerian 3.61 17-Aug-15 0.61 change (NSE) has said 13.62 09-Dec-15 0.69 that the X-Gen trading 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.77 platform it launched 15.00 29-Sep-16 last year 1.98 improved trading activities 2.05 on 5.53 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 2.98 the 20.00 nation’s local bourse. 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.79 The Exchange on September 7.20 09-Apr-18 1.75 30, 2013 launched X-Gen, the 2.90 09-Sep-18 2.17 next0.80generation trading plat09-Sep-18 2.17 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.96 form and catalyst for boosting 2.70 in Africa. 18-Oct-18 2.03 trading 0.41 17-Feb-19 2.36 Executive Director, Market 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.23 Operations and Technology, 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.10 Mr.129.82 Ade Bajomo, speaking on the129.01 trading platform yesterday said after a successful year of operations, X-GEN had demon12.00 11-Feb-18 3.35 strated its innovative trading 12.00 capabilities and the Nigerian 10.85 market has benefited capital immensely . Outstanding Value Maturity Date Bid Yield (%) “It Remains the ‘Game ($mm) Changer’. This platform has enabled the Exchange to create an 500.00 28-Jan-21 5.06 improved trading experience. With the launch of X-Gen, 4.17 we 500.00 12-Jul-18 have achieved so much in one 500.00 5.35 year; improved12-Jul-23 market order 1,500.00 flow, increase in the number of trades, 1,596.88high availability, direct market access, remote trading, and income diversification. 450.00 01-Feb-16 7.37 “We are mostly excited that 500.00 4.20 X-Gen has also19-May-16 brought about 25-Jul-17 6.56 the350.00 advent of mobile trading 300.00 02-May-18 8.57 technologies to the retail and 400.00 08-Nov-18 5.90 institutional segments of the 300.00 08-Apr-19 8.67 Nigerian capital market,” Ba500.00 22-Apr-19 6.35 200.00 21-May-19 8.92 jomo said. 300.00 7.72 He explained07-Aug-20 that the X-GEN 360.00 09-Dec-20 platform had the capacity to7.50 al400.00 24-Jun-21 8.65 low450.00 investors to23-Jul-21 have real time 7.51 access to the 14-Aug-21 market as well 250.00 8.42 2.00

10.20

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

LeapFrog sells minority stake in local insurer to Swiss Re

Description Rating/Agency Issuer Date Coupon (%) eapFrog Investments, ability benefits customers, ApolloIssue Chief Executive Ofa specialist investor in management and shareholdficer, Ashok Shah, said “LeapFGN Eurobonds financial services in Af- ers, and contributes signifi- Frog provided more than 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 07-Oct-11 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P rica and Asia, has sold its mi- cantly to job creation. capital; the team helped 6.75 us to BB-/Fitch; nority stake in Apollo Invest“LeapFrog recently raised scale our12-Jul-13 substantial health FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 5.13 BB-/S&P ments Limited to Swiss Re. a new $400m fund for invest- insurance offerings. They BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 6.38 The transaction follows ing in financial services busi- helped us 12-Jul-13 to launch a number BB-/S&P TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE nesses in Africa and Asia. Up of products for underserved LeapFrog’s recent successful exit from Express Life in Gha- to $100m of the fund will be clients, including last needs TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION na, which it sold to Prudential available for investment in and hospital cash insurance. Corporate Eurobonds Plc, marking Prudential’s en- East Africa, which is an in- These innovations will be cru11.50 FEB 01, 2016 01-Feb-11 11.50 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I try into insurance in Africa. creasingly attractive invest- cial not just for Apollo, but for 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 19-May-11 7.50 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I Ventures Africa GTBANK LeapFrog ment destination,” said Lacey. regional development.” 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 7.25 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC partner, Doug Lacey , who led Lacey noted that LeapFrog LeapFrog also has invest6.88 MAY 09, 2018 09-May-13 6.88 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC both investments, said, “Our worked closely 6.00 with Apollo ments in08-Nov-13 insurance underNOV 08, 2018 6.00 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC experience with both Apollo management as true partners writers and distributors 10.25 APR 08, 2019 08-Apr-12 10.25in B/Fitch AFREN PLC II countries22-Apr-14 such as Ghana, and Express that 6.25 APR 22, 2019in6.25 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P has shown ZENITH BANK PLC in building an enduring May“we 21, 2019 21-May-14 Africa and 8.75InB/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC stitution, adding 8.75 investors with specialist skills that are Nigeria, South AUG 07, 2020 07-Aug-13 8.25 of B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC and intimate knowledge of the delighted to have8.25 worked with dia. The group’s portfolio 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 09-Dec-13 6.63 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III market can add tremendous Apollo CEO, Ashok Shah, and companies currently reaches 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 24-Jun-14 9.25 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II over 22 million people across value to local businesses. The his team, and are confident they 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 23-Jul-14 8.00 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 16 countries. resulting growth and profitwill enjoy continued success.” 8.75 AUG 14, 2021 14-Aug-14 8.75 B-/S&P ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

ume); with 245.4 million shares worth N2.9 billion exchanged by investors in 1,844 deals. Volume in the banking subsector was largely driven by activity in the shares of GTB Plc and Skye Bank Plc.

5.21

4,760.00 4,825.56

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

16.52

99.30

8.71 20.02 99.14 web as their portfolios via the 16.12 96.93 and4.88 mobile phones (including 1.00 12.31 100.33 smartphones and tablets run2.63 14.01 100.68 ning1.00IOS and13.76 Android operat98.71 ing systems). 1.34 14.14 100.18 1.00said, “The 13.85delivery 97.96 He of the 14.46 106.73 new1.88 age technology serves as a 3.48 16.01 99.98 testimony that the NSE is devot5.20 18.01 100.18 ed to5.06 providing17.87 21st century tech101.74 1.35 14.20 99.38 nologies to support the growth 2.29 Nigerian 15.08 101.26 of the Capital Market. 6.11 18.94 96.79 “This gives investors the abil2.16 15.01 102.44 ity to execute market orders in 2.76 15.66 98.36 near real time conditions anywhere in the world. Riding on the new platform, many dealing member firms of the NSE have 1.00 13.85 90.45 tapped on the benefits of to introduce on-line trading platforms to deepen their businesses. “The launch of X-Gen showOffer Yield (%) Price Offer Price cases NSE’s Bid untiring commitmentPrices to & providing first rate Yields platforms that will enable all 4.93 109.01 109.76 stakeholders create durable wealth. has now 104.02 become 3.96 Nigeria 103.27 a global player with innovative 107.09 and5.24 market leading tools107.87 to compete not just in Africa but on a global basis.” The President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nige7.37 105.00 ria (ASHON), Mr. Emeka105.00 Madu4.20 105.04 105.04 buike, while commenting on the 6.56 101.72 101.72 trading platform, said, “The X8.14 94.86 96.14 GEN system is very robust, it 5.66 100.35 101.21 has 8.67 friendly 105.75 market features 105.75 that6.35 make the trading 99.63 experi99.63 99.35easy.” 100.31 ence8.66simple and 7.72 101.63believes 101.63that Madubuike 7.50 95.75 trading 95.75platthrough the new 8.48 104.13 form, market103.25 transparency has 7.51 101.63 101.63 increased. 8.20 100.75 101.88

8-Oct-14

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed FIXINGS income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury Money Market Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FMDQ OTC Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com. DTMPLC Terms of Use and Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%)

8 16-Oct-14 10.80 15 23-Oct-14 10.70 30-Oct-14 10.85 FGN Bonds22 29 6-Nov-14 10.95 36 13-Nov-14 10.80 Issuer Description 43 20-Nov-14 10.80 Rating/Agency 50 27-Nov-14 10.80 57 4-Dec-14 10.70 4.00 23-APR-2015 64 11-Dec-14 11.00 13.05 16-AUG-2016 78 25-Dec-14 11.00 15.10 27-APR-2017 85 1-Jan-15 11.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 92 8-Jan-15 10.85 9.35 31-AUG-2017 99 15-Jan-15 11.00 10.70 30-MAY-2018 106 22-Jan-15 10.80 16.00 29-JUN-2019 113 29-Jan-15 11.00 NA NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 120 5-Feb-15 10.70 127 12-Feb-15 11.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 134 19-Feb-15 10.80 14.20 14-MAR-2024 141 26-Feb-15 11.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 148 5-Mar-15 11.00 12.49 22-MAY-2029 155 12-Mar-15 11.00 8.50 20-NOV-2029 183 9-Apr-15 10.55 10.00 23-JUL-2030 197 23-Apr-15 10.85 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 211 7-May-15 10.75 302 10.70 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 6-Aug-15 330 3-Sep-15 10.60 TOTAL MARKETbonds, CAPITALISATION *from the Amortising the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.55 10.45 10.60 10.70 10.55 10.55 Issue Date 10.55 10.45 23-Apr-10 10.75 16-Aug-13 10.75 27-Apr-12 10.75 27-Jul-07 10.60 31-Aug-07 10.75 30-May-08 10.55 29-Jun-12 10.75 23-Oct-09 10.45 10.75 27-Jan-12 10.55 14-Mar-14 10.75 28-Nov-08 10.75 22-May-09 10.75 20-Nov-09 10.30 23-Jul-10 10.60 18-Jul-14 10.50 10.45 10.35

Bid Yield (%) 10.83 10.75 10.92 11.05 10.92 10.94 (%) Coupon 10.96 10.88 4.00 11.22 13.05 11.26 15.10 11.29 9.85 11.16 9.35 11.34 10.70 11.15 16.00 11.39 7.00 11.09 11.44 16.39 11.25 14.20 11.49 15.00 11.51 12.49 11.54 8.50 11.14 10.00 11.52 12.1493 11.46 11.74 11.72

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding Value 6M

(N'bn)

Rate (%) 10.7750 12.6454 13.4089 14.3913Date Maturity

535.00 23-Apr-15 545.27 16-Aug-16 NITTY 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.8919 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 10.9561 300.00 30-May-18 3M 11.1508 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 11.1761 233.90 23-Oct-19 9M 11.3465 12M 11.5455 600.00 27-Jan-22 331.35 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 NIFEX 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 591.57 23-Jul-30 BID($/N) 164.8000 105.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 164.9000

4,591.19

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.46

O/N

10.63

REPO

Tenor TTM (Yrs) Call 1M 0.54 3M 1.86 6M

Rate (%) (%) Bid Yield 10.25 12.21 11.18 12.85 12.68 13.66

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET

Sub-National Bonds A-/GCR A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

3<5 CAPITALISATION >5 Market NIGER KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA 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 Porfolio Market 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

1,023.26 1,087.14 939.35 3,049.75

998.07 951.30 1,027.92 2,977.29

2.55 12.78 12.71 2.80 12.85 12.78 2.90 12.85 12.79 3.64 12.85 12.74 :Benchmarks 4.72Bond 12.81 12.73 * :Amortising 5.04 Bond 12.87 12.77 µ :Convertible 7.31 Management Corporation 12.89 12.83 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria FGN: Federal 9.43Government of Nigeria 12.80 12.75 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.14 12.79 12.74 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.62 12.78 12.74 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.12 12.78 12.72 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.79 12.79 12.74 O/N: Overnight 19.78 12.43 Company 12.39 UPDC: UAC Property Development

15-Oct-09 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

164.50 Price 164.60 164.51 164.75 164.77 165.08 Offer Price 165.42 166.03 Bid Price 166.54 167.60 167.71 169.32 96.33 96.48 171.41 174.81 100.55 100.70 178.84 186.79

104.90 105.05 93.08 93.23 91.72 91.87 94.16 NA :Not93.86 Applicable 111.00 # :Floating Rate Bond 111.30 78.72 coupon bonds 79.02 ***: Deferred 116.20 116.50 †: Bond107.50 rating expired 107.80 114.27 114.57 98.04 98.34 71.62 71.92 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 81.20 81.50 UBA: United Bank for Africa 97.90 98.20

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,528.41 Coupon (%)

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

33.52 31.95 34.53 100.00

Spot 7D 14D Offer Yield 1M (%) 2M 3M 10.87 6M 12.59 1Y

NOTE:

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

Tenor

33.55 35.65 30.80 100.00

14.00 12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

INDEX978.35

24.56 3.00 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

0.34

1,301.32 0.32

0.35 1,284.72

1.00

6.00 8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

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

0.06 0.62 1.36 2.17 Implied Yield 2.53 2.74

14.70 31.29 54.01 100.00

15-Oct-14 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18

12.73 12.86 12.75 12.78

0.02 0.90 0.74 1.02 1.02 2.53 1.57 3.23 2.40 3.99 2.40

# Risk Premium (%)

1.00 2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price 1.00 1.00

117.5119 131.6797 101.4292 116.4862 3.29 4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00

Valuation Yield (%) 12.31 13.88 14.35 14.81 INDEX 13.85 13.85

1,116.12 1,115.01 1,185.89 1,112.34 14.59 15.93 14.58 16.07 15.10 18.44 13.35 14.64 14.64 13.85 13.84

Indicative Price 99.24 91.92 103.48 YTD 99.56 Return (%) 97.30 94.57

11.6124 11.5014 18.5886 11.2341

99.97 97.20 99.07 98.46 100.94 83.51 100.88 98.33 98.82 100.44 101.52

Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014

Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035

Business | Capital Market

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at October 8, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

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 AGRICULTURE Totals Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 CONGLOMERATES

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 3 19 18 40

Current Price 0.50 34.00 37.50

Quantity Traded 24,000 88,447 108,726 221,173

Value Traded 12,000.00 2,927,427.50 4,017,162.38 6,956,589.88

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 2.95

Quantity Traded 478,867 478,867

Value Traded 1,431,340.75 1,431,340.75

700,040

8,387,930.63

Quantity Traded 58,500 33,170,110 238,327 33,466,937

Value Traded 85,995.00 192,022,079.83 13,742,884.68 205,850,959.51

33,466,937

205,850,959.51

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

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol No. of Deals AGLEVENT 2 TRANSCORP 279 DailyUACN Summary (Equities) 39 320

CONGLOMERATES Totals

Current Price 1.47 5.75 58.00

320

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

ICT Computer Based Systems Computer Based Systems Totals

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 0.94

Quantity Traded 1,080,143Page

Value Traded 1 984,687.12 of 11

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

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 2,980 2,980

Value Traded 190,243.20 190,243.20

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

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 15.85

Quantity Traded 18,571 18,571

Value Traded 294,022.51 294,022.51

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals

Symbol UPDCREIT

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 8.68

Quantity Traded 35,000 35,000

Value Traded 297,500.00 297,500.00

1,136,694

1,766,452.83

Quantity Traded 70,400 110,726 22,508 3,665,494 80,000 3,949,128

Value Traded 957,120.00 20,681,434.26 674,964.28 654,356,415.49 334,400.00 677,004,334.03

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

CONSUMER Daily Summary as ofGOODS 08/10/2014 Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035

Symbol No. of Deals CHAMPION 3 GUINNESS 67 INTBREW 8 Daily NB Summary (Equities) 146 PREMBREW 2 226

CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Published byBeverages--Non-Alcoholic The Nigerian Stock Exchange © 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Current Price 13.60 186.97 30.90 178.80 4.18

984,687.12

Current Price 6.55 8.11 61.30 4.03 9.49 21.99

Quantity Traded 123,120 1,152,805 931,337 620,200 552,521 435 3,380,418

Value Traded 764,075.60 9,438,177.97 57,664,298.12 2,503,324.00 5,171,009.74 9,961.50 75,550,846.93

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

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 36 57 93

Current Price 53.69 1,050.00

Quantity Traded 100,168 918,286 1,018,454

Value Traded 5,492,255.02 964,823,761.26 970,316,016.28

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 9 2 11

Current Price 4.27 1.42

Quantity Traded 62,800 3,450 66,250

Value Traded 259,135.56 4,657.50 263,793.06

Quantity Traded 464,993 106,866

Value Traded 14,896,586.80 4,958,263.16

Page Quantity Traded 571,859

3 of 11 Value Traded

Personal/Household Products Totals

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as ofDIAMOND 08/10/2014 BANK PLC Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. FINANCIAL SERVICES

Daily

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Micro-Finance Banks Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035

NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA Summary PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS Activity on Board EQTY PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 156 DIAMONDBNK 59 ETI 62 FIDELITYBK 125 GUARANTY 347 SKYEBANK 346 STERLNBANK 41 Summary (Equities) UBA 193 UBN 44 UNITYBNK 60 WEMABANK 44

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

Current Price 9.00 6.25 18.74 2.02 30.50 3.00 2.31 6.51 9.10 0.50 0.99

4,237,605.20 4,237,605.20

1,747,227,445.46

Quantity Traded 34,726,919 20,419,416 3,759,400 24,789,972 50,205,809 41,295,422 9,318,093 11,802,625 529,316 17,931,942 3,297,619

Value Traded 313,009,453.19 127,571,822.09 70,307,254.96 51,608,796.36 1,506,423,609.67 127,993,519.84 21,426,676.49 77,288,527.68 4,809,422.87 8,965,971.00 3,245,222.10

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.97

Quantity Traded 719,999 719,999

Value Traded 700,149.03 700,149.03

Current Price 3.30

Quantity Traded 4,258,911

Value Traded 13,905,830.17

2,622 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

HEALTHCARE Totals

No. of Deals 1 17 20 19 7 1 65

Current Price 2.05 3.48 62.00 1.66 1.06 2.49

65 Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 6

Current Price 0.51

Value Traded 820,290.00 224,523,927.96 42,808,148.76 28,500.00 29,523,569.03 10,683,741.97 322,294,007.89

330,773,932

3,331,034,315.31

Quantity Traded 1,000 824,032 550,553 1,129,571 39,288 10,000 2,554,444

Value Traded 1,950.00 2,772,930.56 34,118,671.36 2,020,134.34 41,614.69 23,700.00 38,979,000.95

2,554,444

38,979,000.95

Quantity Traded 355,000

Value Traded 181,750.00

Page

Daily Summary

No. of Deals 53 8 13 17 37 3 1 50 (Equities) 182

Current Price 32.00 8.60 39.00 15.75 219.80 0.50 5.50 127.00

Quantity Traded 810,774 76,610 30,646 204,775 157,385 62,700 10,000 283,928 1,636,818

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Symbol

Value Traded

Page

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals Current Price 14 1.80 14

Quantity Traded 279,612 279,612

Value Traded 522,466.74 522,466.74

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals Current Price 4 20.00 4

Quantity Traded 7,105 7,105

Value Traded 143,558.54 143,558.54

1,923,535

101,833,488.86

Quantity Traded 39,704 39,704

Value Traded 206,857.84 206,857.84

39,704

206,857.84

No. of Deals Current Price 34 0.50 34

Quantity Traded 4,246,243 4,246,243

Value Traded 2,123,121.50 2,123,121.50

Symbol No. of(Equities) Deals Current Price Daily Summary OANDO 364 26.00 364

Quantity Traded 6,744,548 6,744,548

Value Traded 175,623,535.06 175,623,535.06

200 Symbol BOCGAS

No. of Deals Current Price 8 5.48 8 8

OIL AND Daily Summary as GAS of 08/10/2014 Energy Equipment and Services Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC

Symbol JAPAULOIL

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 37 16 61 23 4 24 165

Current Price Quantity Traded Page 8 of 11 49.36 150,964 3.70 351,101 225.00 59,432 173.08 22,460 56.00 2,500 180.00 8,961 595,418

Value Traded 7,426,246.63 1,300,421.38 12,975,654.85 3,907,340.99 133,000.00 1,600,695.97 27,343,359.82

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 639.50

Quantity Traded 83,756 83,756

Value Traded 53,560,377.96 53,560,377.96

11,669,965

258,650,394.34

OIL AND GAS Totals

583

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

SERVICES Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Value Traded 1,327,816.00 142,455.03 26,590,032.87 4 131,270.00 of 11 500,000.00 138,867.21 154,305.54 560,974.38 6,000.00 250.00 15,132.50 81,500.00 194,540.56 29,843,144.09

Value Traded 25,719,182.06 680,390.70 1,166,993.50 3,170,260.37 34,441,382.12 31,350.00 52,300.00 35,905,604.83 101,167,463.58

Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM FIRSTALUM PORTPAINT WAPCO

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.89

Quantity Traded 244,963 244,963

Value Traded 209,477.76 209,477.76

Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 3 1 4

Current Price 4.40 1.35

Quantity Traded 11,000 3,000 14,000

Value Traded 47,150.00 3,870.00 51,020.00

Quantity Traded 1,659,595 144,799 43,591,809 262,540Page 1,000,000 49,489 285,751 713,921 12,000 500 30,265 163,000 262,844 48,176,513

Page

2,309,272.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Value Traded 665,546,738.05 2,978,197,014.30

Quantity Traded 201,000 16,676,426 9,396,892 50,000 887,789 4,951,227 36,422,245

4,573,704

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC FIRST ALUMINIUM NIGERIA PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Current Price 0.80 1.00 0.61 0.50 0.50 2.90 0.54 0.78 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.74

Current Price 4.08 13.42 4.55 0.59 33.25 2.18

Value Traded 2,107,950.00 2,107,950.00

Courier/Freight/Delivery

No. of Deals 15 6 20 3 2 4 6 16 1 1 1 1 34 110

No. of Deals 4 401 82 2 39 80 663

Quantity Traded 4,215,900 4,215,900

RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC.

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE INTENEGINS LASACO LAWUNION MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE SOVRENINS STDINSURE UNIVINSURE WAPIC

Symbol CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Current Price 0.50

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

Quantity Traded 27,378,642 245,455,175

No. of Deals 7 7

OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Published by The Nigerian CONOIL PLCStock Exchange © ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Current Price 24.14

AFRIPRUD

Symbol CHAMS

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

No. of Deals 367 1,844

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

19,854,849.96

9,013,429

Value Traded 9,120.00 10,452.00 19,572.00

Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Symbol ZENITHBANK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Current Price

634

Banking ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC

No. of Deals 76

Quantity Traded 2,000 804 2,804

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

No. of Deals 27 47 71 29 35 1 210

Symbol

Current Price 4.80 13.50

NATURAL RESOURCES Chemicals B.O.C. GASES PLC. Chemicals Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 1 1 2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals

32.00 47.99

Symbol CWG NCR

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

2Value Traded of 11

45 31

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC NCR (NIGERIA) PLC. IT Services Totals

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

Page Quantity Traded 27,320 27,320

PZ UNILEVER

Value Traded 181,750.00

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Current Price 147.73

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 355,000

No. of Deals 18 18

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.EQTY Activity Summary on Board

Current Price

Electronic and Electrical Products

Symbol 7UP

Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Household Durables Printed 08/10/2014 15:08:35.035 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

No. of Deals 6

ICT Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

1,080,143

Symbol

Page Symbol IKEJAHOTEL

No. of Deals 48 48

Current Price 2.20

Quantity Traded 6,343,610 6,343,610

Value Traded 13,938,192.00 13,938,192.00

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000 2,000

Value Traded 1,000.00 1,000.00

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. LEARN AFRICA PLC STUDIO PRESS (NIG) PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol ACADEMY LEARNAFRCA STUDPRESS UPL

No. of Deals 6 3 1 12 22

Current Price 1.38 1.38 2.40 4.10

Quantity Traded 343,015 70,010 28,950 51,155 493,130

Value Traded 473,345.70 95,413.80 66,585.00 195,203.45 830,547.95

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.70

Quantity Traded 5,534,240 5,534,240

Value Traded 3,765,467.20 3,765,467.20

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 4 24 28

Current Price 2.01 5.04

Quantity Traded 2,200 269,643 271,843

Value Traded 4,611.00 1,355,859.96 1,360,470.96

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 12

Current Price 4.85

Quantity Traded 141,048

Value Traded 685,332.80

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Daily Summary as of 08/10/2014 Printed 08/10/2014 Support15:08:35.035 and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC

Page

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

SERVICES Support and Logistics Support and Logistics Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 12

SERVICES Totals

Current Price

Quantity Traded 141,048

Value Traded 685,332.80

135

13,044,834

20,841,508.67

EQTY Board Totals

4,678

408,897,218

5,717,087,626.40

Equity Activity Totals

4,678

408,897,218

5,717,087,626.40

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 2 3

Current Price 1,950.00 18.67

Quantity Traded 10 20 30

Value Traded 19,500.00 373.20 19,873.20

ETF Board Totals

19,873.20

ETP Activity Totals

19,873.20

Page

News 45

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014

Chukwu’s adoption splits Ebonyi PDP Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

olitical stakeholders in Ebonyi State yesterday disagreed over the adoption of the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) consensus gubernatorial candidate in the state. While a cross section of the stakeholders from six local government areas in the old Abakaliki political bloc has faulted the purported adoption of the minister, some other stakeholders and

leaders of thought under the auspices of the Ebonyi South Consultative Forum (ESCF) are supporting his adoption as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2015 elections. Leaders from the Abakaliki political bloc yesterday described as laughable, ‘how a negligible number of people from the political bloc’ would be led into the Government House and be presented with the personal choice of the governor, Chief Martin Elechi, as his successor. In a statement issued yesterday, the group

warned promoters of the purported adoption to desist from polarising the state along ethnic blocs capable of encouraging marginalisation and divisiveness. “This act of brigandage and intimidation has no place under our democratic setting in line with the principles of the PDP. The National Working Committee of the PDP had warned states to desist from the unwholesome practice of imposing candidates through disguised consensus and adoption of aspirants, which is a negation of the principles

of internal democracy,” the statement read. Meanwhile, ESCF, which is made up of leaders from all the five local government areas in the area said in a communique issued to newsmen as part of its resolution after a meeting held in Afikpo North, which was signed by the Chairman of the forum, Dr. Mike 0koro and 23 others that it is in support of the adoption of the minister. While thanking the old Abakaliki bloc for adopting Chukwu, ESCF urged people in Ebonyi South to close ranks and

support the candidacy of Chukwu to win the election and take Ebonyi State to the next level. The resolution reads in part: “On behalf of the people of Ebonyi South, we completely align ourselves with all efforts to strengthen the unity, solidarity and oneness of Ebonyi people as envisioned by the founding fathers of the state. “In pursuit of the goal of furthering the bond of brotherhood and accommodation in Ebonyi State, we subscribe to the noble idea of power rotation among the three zones of the state.”

L-R: Her Royal Majesty, Queen Juliana Ameh-Oboni; Vice-President, Arik Air, Mr. Rob Thomas; wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Ladi Wada and Vice-President, Igala Association in the Diaspora, USA/Canada, Mr. Jonathan Adejor, at the Annual Igala Convention in Washington, USA

Ex-LG chair eyes Lar’s seat Buhari Bello Jos

he former Chairman of Langtang South Local Government and now aspirant for the 2015 Langtang North/South federal constituency, Hon. Fankun Dadi, said he is set for a battle of supremacy with the incumbent member representing the constituency, Hon. Beni Lar. Dadi has boasted that he would defeat the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), adding however, that “he was worried at attempts being made to use political thugs in the forthcoming general elections. “Some people are trying to set a dangerous precedent; and if care is not taken, we will soon get to a stage where some disgruntled elements will get our beloved country into crisis.” According to him; “As members of the All Progressives Congress, we decry the extra-judicial killings being orchestrated in Plateau State, it is as dangerous to the sustenance of democracy in the state.” “The plan to use thugs to rig the general elections by the PDP is worrisome. Some people are trying to set a dangerous precedent; and if care is not taken, we will soon get to a stage where some disgruntled people will get the country’s democracy into trouble.”

Edo PDP condemns attack on Momoh 2015: Yero submits letter of intent Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

he Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the attack on a member of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Razaq Momoh. The party said it was worried by the ‘deteriorating security situation in the state occasioned by the heightening intolerance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole and his All Progressives Congress (APC) to opposing political views in the state. The PDP in a statement by its Chairman, Chief Dan Osi Orbih said: “PDP was alarmed by the Tues-

day night attack by loyalists of Governor Oshiomhole on Hon. Momoh.” Orbih said: “Momoh’s sin is that he dumped Oshiomhole’s APC for the PDP.” The chairman also alleged that according to eyewitness account, “APC thugs led by Hon. Phillip Shuaib, Governor Oshiomhole’s man in the House of Assembly, stormed Momoh’s official residence at the legislators’ quarters with dangerous weapons, which they unleashed on the lawmaker.” The party said: “We strongly condemn this bestial attack, which is a reflection of the growing desperation of the Oshiomhole

APC-led administration in the face of its fast dwindling political support:, adding that “in a democracy, the right to freedom of association is sacred and must be respected by all. “We call on the Inspector-General of Police to bring to book all those involved in the dastardly act of the near-assassination of Hon. Razak Momoh.” “We call on Governor Adams Oshiomhole to rise above party lines and become governor of all. We advise him to stop all manner of incivility and persecution of persons, who do not subscribe to his political ideology and actions.

Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

week after a coalition of over 100 support groups endorsed Governor Muktar Yero’s gubernatorial ambition for the 2015 general elections, the governor yesterday formally submitted his letter of intent to contest the governorship election to the Kaduna State secretariat of the party. Yero said “I cannot ignore the pressure mounted on me by the people, within and outside the state, to re-contest in or-

der to continue with the progress we are making, especially in the area of peaceful coexistence and development. “So, it is in that regard that I have come to submit a letter of intent to the party’s chairman in the state today,” he added. Receiving the letter on behalf of the party, PDP Chairman in the state, Mr. Abubakar Gaya, said he was happy that Yero has finally hearkened to the voice of his people to contest the governorship. It will be recalled that political office holders of southern Kaduna origin had endorsed Yero as the sole candidate of the

forthcoming gubernatorial election on August 14, 2014. Several prominent people from southern Kaduna and political groups from the area, had denounced the endorsement, with the Concerned Southern Kaduna Professionals/Coalition of Youth Groups, describing it as “21st Century show of shame.” Southern Kaduna PDP elders led by Senator Zego Aziz have criticised the endorsement, saying that it was done without consultation with the people. He warned that there should be no automatic ticket for anybody.

Sacked Nasarawa workers beg Al-Makura for unpaid wages Cheke Emmanuel LAFIA

t least sixty-nine members of staff of the Nasarawa State Transport Service sacked by the Governor Tanko Al-Makura’s ad-

ministration two years ago, have appealed to government to pay them their seven months outstanding salary arrears. Former Secretary of the State Transport Service Workers Union, Comrade Shetima Ka-

simu, said yesterday in a chat with journalists in Lafia, that the appeal became necessary following the hardship being experienced by the families of the affected staff. He said: “As it is now, we don’t know our fate,

therefore we are appealing to Governor Tanko Al-Makura to pity us and come to our rescue by either calling us back or paying us all our outstanding entitlements, so that we will no longer have grudges with

his government.” According to Kasimu : “We are begging the governor to either call us back to our duty posts or pay us our outstanding seven months arrears. This became pertinent, because some of our col-

leagues are now dying of poverty; early this year, one Hajiah Maimuna, died of heart attack, as well as a driver, Garba Adamu, while several others are sick, like our administrative manager, John Gimba.”

News

thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Labour Party insists on national convention ownership

There is confusion over the fate of Labour Party as unionists try to take over Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he national leadership of Labour Party (LP) yesterday insisted that the planned national convention of the party scheduled for Ondo State this Saturday will hold

notwithstanding the advertorial against it by the leaderships of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The statement signed by the LP National Chairman, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, also called on the leadership of the two unions to retract the advertorial or the party would press charges against them. Nwanyanwu, in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, said the union leaders have never contributed

to the administration of the party. According to him, the union leaders have never obtained the membership of the party through registration in the last ten years that the party has existed. The national chairman in his statement said: “The leadership of the Labour Party was jolted by the mischievous, bizarre and unprovoked propaganda promoted by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), which was broadcast by the African Independent Television

(AIT) on Tuesday, October 7, 2014, claiming that they have taken over the Labour Party; and calling on delegates of the party to its scheduled national convention slated for Saturday, October 11, 2014 in Akure, Ondo State, not to attend. “This brigandage is completely inconsistent with the tenets of democracy anywhere in the world and the ethics of the labour unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. “The Labour Party

is registered with INEC under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act. To qualify as a registered political party, the party met all requirements of the law, including a functional party constitution and manifesto, duly registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). “By the party’s constitution, NLC and TUC, including the chairman of Women Commission of the NLC are recognised as platform members

giving them a seat each and therefore one vote each in the National Executive Council, made up of about 100 voting members. “In more than about 10 years of Labour Party’s existence, the two trade unions have not taken up their membership of the party by registering and obtaining the party membership card. However, the party’s leadership has always tolerated the presence of the representatives of these unions in the party’s NEC meetings,” Nwanyanwu added.

Ekweremadu makes case for social welfare scheme Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

eputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday made a case for a social welfare scheme for the weak and unemployed in the country, noting that the challenge of every democracy was to prove to its citizens that it has the capacity to respond to the challenges of governance. He made the call while delivering the 54th Independence Anniversary Lecture of the University of Nigeria, Enugu State. He also said that the essence of governance was to restore the dignity of man, a motto the premier institution adopted since its inception in 1960. He spoke on the topic; “Key Governance Issues in Nigeria: My Perspectives,” Ekweremadu, noted that to achieve this, the nation must deal with the challenges of effective leadership, reform of the electoral process, reform of party politics, insecurity, corruption, poverty and unemployment, and the revamping of public institutions.

L-R: Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Victor Atta (left) and former Petroleum Minister, Chief Don Etiebet, during the South- South PDP reconciliation meeting, in Abuja… yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Scam: Ex-students besiege court as school proprietor is arraigned Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

cores of former students of the defunct OBFO Inter national Academy, Nsukka, closed down in 2013 by the Enugu State Government over alleged brazen examination

PUBLIC NOTICE

IMOLE AROJA EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF CHRIST The general public is hereby notified that the above CHURCH has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. of 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Prophet Abati Oluwajimi — Founder 2. Prophetess Olujimi Abosede Abiodun — Secretary AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ . 2. To advance the Christian faith throughout the world 3 To embark on evangelism and missionary work 4. To train Christian minister and welfare personnel 5. To deliver those who are spiritually oppressed. 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: TRUSTEES

malpractices, yesterday besieged the Enugu State High Court II, Nsukka, where the proprietor of the institution, Mr. Luke Oshi, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The proprietor is being tried for collecting school certificate examination fees from the students and denying them the opportunity to write the examination. In an interview after the case came up yesterday before Justice F. I. Ngwu, counsel to the EFCC, Edwin Arumeme, said Oshi, a lawyer, was being arraigned for allegedly defrauding the former students by collecting sundry fees from them on the pretense that he had registered them for WASCE, when in the end, they could not write the examination that year.

First Ebola patient dies in United States

NLC calls for total fight against Ebola

Appolonia Adeyemi

Yekeen Nurudeen

homas Eric Duncan, the first man that tested positive to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on American soil, died yesterday in Texas, United States, raising further anxiety that the country, which the world community is looking up to for a solution on the dreaded virus, failed to save the victim. According to sources at the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, where Duncan was treated, he died at 7:51am. About 48 people, who had direct or indirect contact with the man since he arrived in the United States from Liberia on September 20, are currently being monitored, but none has yet shown any symptom, according to health officials. As of October 1, 2014, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the CDC

and local governments reported a total of 7,493 suspected cases and 3,439 deaths (4,108 cases and 2,078 deaths having been confirmed), though WHO believes that this substantially understates the magnitude of the outbreak. “Duncan fought courageously in this battle,” the hospital said in a statement. “Our professionals, the doctors and nurses in the unit, as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas community, are also grieving his passing. We have offered the family our support and condolences at this difficult time.” Duncan had travelled from Liberia to the United States last month, about five days later, he started developing symptoms and sought treatment at the hospital, but he was sent home for reasons that still remain unclear.

Abuja

he leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday urged stakeholders, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and other bodies not to be complacent in responding to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) currently ravaging parts of West Africa. The union’s leadership also recalled the successes recorded in the fight against the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Avian-Influenza in Asia a few years ago, saying such pragmatism should also follow the outbreak of the EVD. The NLC called on the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria, not to rest on its oars until the ECOWAS sub-region is certified Ebola virus free.

News 47

NEW TELEGRAPH thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2014

tension

All is not smooth in Ekiti just a week to the swearing in of a new governor Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he crisis rocking the Ekiti State judiciary continued yesterday as courts in the state failed to open and adjudicate on matters pending before them despite expectations that the courts will open. Rather than open for normal business, court premises in the state were sealed off by armed policemen and soldiers, even the high court complex in Ado-Ekiti, was under lock and key. Commenting on the development, Ekiti State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Victor Babayemi, said the command was acting on instruction from Abuja to beef up security in the state generally. “We are not only beefing up security at the high court complex, we have also beefed up security around judges in the

Ekiti courts fail to open as security men seal off premises state. This is to ward off any possible attack. “We also beefed up security in public places, because we have intelligence report that some people are planning to protest in some quarters and we won’t wait for them to catch us unawares,” the PPRO said. Before yesterday, a lot of interpretations had been given to the intervention of the National

Judicial Council (NJC) in the crisis rocking the state judiciary. The NJC had last week decried the invasion of an Ado-Ekiti High Court by some people penultimate Monday. It also condemned the attack on Justice John Adeyeye, three days later by some people. The NJC also called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Abba

8.67%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Kenya in 2008. Source: Itu.int

Suleiman, to provide adequate security for judges and around courts. It added that it would look into the petitions filed by Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose and the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola. While it was Justice Daramola that ordered the closure of courts via a statement by the registrar, up until now, he has not given any order for the

N184.6bn

The IGR realized from direct assessment sources of Ebonyi State in 2010. Source: National Bureau of Statistics

re-opening of the courts. However, due to the political nature of the matter, supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had come up with insinuations about the re-opening of the courts. APC supporters are saying that the courts would re-open to continue hearing on the suits filed by E-11 and the Citizens

7.5%

The percentage of rural areas with electricity in sub-Sahara Africa in 2011. Source: Unesco.org

Popular Party challenging the eligibility of former Governor Ayo Fayose to contest the June 21 governorship poll, while PDP supporters are saying the case is now in the cooler as Fayose had appealed a ruling on the matter and also filed a Stay of Proceedings Notice. The continued closure of courts is also not helped by the strike embarked upon by judicial workers.

5,925

The number of refugees in Moldova at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

...We are vindicated, says PDP Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it has now been vindicated that the outgoing government of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is bent on causing mayhem in the state and stall the inauguration of the Governor-elect, Mr Ayo Fayose. That is following Wednesday’s filing of a suit by some cronies of the APC at an Abuja High Court. In a statement in AdoEkiti by the State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, the party noted that well-meaning Ekiti people and Nigerians should note that the APC and its allies were bent on fomenting trouble in the state. The party was referring to the suit no FHC/ Abuja/ CS 709/14 between Young Democratic Party V INEC, Fayose, Others. “The PDP has again been vindicated about our earlier alertness on the desperation of the ruling APC in Ekiti State to use the judiciary to truncate democracy in Nigeria as the party has now rushed to Abuja to file another exparte motion to stop the swearing in of the governor-elect on the October 16, 2014.

Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, acknowledging cheers from his supporters, during his visit to the secretariat of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Calabar, to declare his intention to seek re-election for Cross River Central Senatorial District in Calabar…yesterday

‘Ajase-Ipo-Offa Government must be road to feature in accountable — BPE boss 2015 budget’ ernance and Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

inister for National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, has promised that the AjasseIpo-Offa-Erin-Ile road would be given a facelift and be included in 2015 budget. The minister, who made the pledge in Offa, while addressing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters during a familiarisation visit to Kwara South, expressed concern over what he termed the deplorable state of public infrastructure the state, especially in the Kwara South senatorial district.

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

irector General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Benjamin Dikki, has cited reasons why elected leaders are always tasked on probity and accountability in the management of public resources. He said the fact that elected officials are custodians of the collective resources of the people and the resources are held in trust, various governments ought to give account to the people to justify the confidence reposed on them. Delivering a lecture on “Accountability in Gov-

National Development”, which he presented to Course 23 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja recently, the Director General noted that “governments ought to owe the ultimate owners of the resources an explanation on how the resources have been used in developing the people”, a statement issued yesterday by Chigbo Anichebe on behalf of bureau said. In relation to the Nigerian State, Dikki said that the articulated development objectives were indicated under Sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

Ethiopia Airline worker arraigned for swindling firm N20m Caleb Onwe ABUJA

36-year-old man, Itodo Emmanuel, yesterday appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Karu, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, for allegedly swindling his employer, Ethiopia Airline of the sum of N20 million. The offence, which was contained in the first information report and read to the accused person in court was brought under sections 314, 309 and 289 of the Penal Code Laws of Nigeria, according to the Penal Code provisions; which the prosecution relies on, the accused person is said to be cul-

pable of criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and theft. The first information report in case number CR/46/14, alleged that the accused person, who was in charge of ticketing and reservation of passengers on August 29, 2014 “asked one Mr. Adams Kashetu Jimo, a staff of the same company to issue tour tickets to passengers traveling to Dubai in the pretext that they have paid the sum of N627, 000” According to the complainant, one Mulugeja Zewdu, of Ethiopia Airlines, the accused person “cancelled several passenger tickets worth N20 million and converted the said money to his own.”

News

compensation Fishing community dumps law firm for short-changing it Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

law firm based in the United Kingdom, CW Law will appear before a High Court sitting in the United Kingdom (UK) today, over unlawful representation of Bodo Community, which is seeking claims from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). The law firm has been

thursday, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oil spill: Ogoni community, law firm battle in UK court sued to court by Leigh Day, a specialist law firm which is representing Bodo Community and the 35 villages that fall under it. CW Law will appear before Mr. Justice Akenhead, the President of the Technological and Construction Court at the Technology and Construction Court, at 10:30 a.m. today for allegedly benefiting from the claims of the fishermen and farmers whose livelihood were affected

$US166.9bn

The nominal GDP of Philippines (IMF) in 2009. Source: Blatantworld.com

by the oil spills. The people of Bodo have distanced themselves from the firm, saying that it is not its client. Bodo, a fishing community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State suffered two massive oil spills in 2008 and 2009 and has been locked in compensation battle with SPDC. Leigh Day has also accused CW Law of conniving with the oil giants to deny the people of

80%

Bodo the damages they seek in the UK. The principal partner of Leigh Day, who has spent three years gathering evidence on the case has visited Bodo and spoken to the chiefs and elders of the 35 villages that make up Bodo. Bodo is a fishing town where it’s almost entire 31, 000 population depend on fish and shellfish and farming until two oil spills hit the community in 2008 spills.

768m

The percentage of underdeveloped technical The number of mobile-cellular subscrippotential for hydropower in Australia/Oceania. tions of Europe region in 2012. Source: Unesco.org Source: Itu.int

According to Leigh Day, the spills have destroyed the fishing industry, while about 1,000 hectares of mangroves have been destroyed by the spills and a further 5,000 hectares have been impacted. The people of Bodo community and the Ogoni people have accused Shell of using different standards to clean-up oil spills in Nigeria compared with the way they operate in the rest of the world.

36.38

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Bahamas in 2009. Source: Itu.int

Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido (left), exchanging pleasantries with his cabinet members and supporters on his return from Hajj in Dutse, Jigawa …yesterday

APC begins continuous membership registration in Ondo Babatope Okeowo Akure

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is to commence Continuous Membership Registration (CMR) exercise in the 18 local government areas of the state in order to accommodate new members. The Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Adesanya said in an interview yesterday that since the Labour Party (LP) has been incapacitated with Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s defection to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party is ready to absorb its members to its fold. Adesanya said: “The

Continuous Membership Registration (CMR) was informed by the influx and exodus of politicians and professionals from the Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alliance for Democracy (AD) and other political parties to our great party, the APC. Of note, in a matter of weeks, many government officials and politicians would defect from LP and PDP to the APC. “The LP has been destroyed beyond redemption by the sick Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) which has further been infected with Political Ebola Virus, (PEV), and the defectors have realised that the APC will offer a purposeful, peoples’ government in Ondo State.

Governorship aspirant denies being a mole Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

eoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim has dismissed rumours that he is fronting for former Governor of the state, Dr. Bukola Saraki in the party. Ibrahim, according to a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of Jani Ibrahim Campaign Organization (JICO), Alhaji Tajudeen Kareem made the clarification while addressing hundreds of members of youth groups yesterday in Ilorin under the aegis of, JICO, where he also unveiled a four-point action programme. Some members of the PDP had raised eyebrows over the closeness between Saraki and Ibrahim, arguing that it might weaken the party’s chances if the ticket is given to him to contest in 2015. He was said to have sent a delegation to the recent 50th birthday celebration of the former governor’s wife, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, a move that was said to have irked some of his followers. He also debunked insinuations that he had been indicted by a probe panel on the defunct Nigeria Airways where he held sway as Managing Director. He said while government has the right to probe the activities of its agencies, no white paper was issued in respect of the examination of his tenure. The statement quoted Ibrahim as promising to banish poverty from the state if he is elected as the governor in 2015.

Stop maligning Alao-Akala, UPN decries arrest of its leaders in Ebonyi group urges politicians he Unity Party of Ni- bers reported to the NaSola Adeyemo Ibadan

eam Akala, a support group championing the return of former Oyo State governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala to the Agodi Government House by 2015, has frowned at the indiscriminate dissemination of untrue information about the personality of the politician to score cheap political goals. The group, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Prince Niran Adeyoju and made available to New Telegraph in Ibadan, cautioned against circulating fake and damaging stories about their principal both in the news and on social- media.

“Following the unprecedented and overwhelming acceptability of our principal, which was demonstrated by the people of Oyo State who trooped out en-masse during the declaration last month, we noticed the clandestine moves by some politicians, especially those in the opposition parties, to discredit the integrity and personality of Otunba Adebayo Alao Akala on the social media platform, especially on facebook and twitter. “Otunba Akala did not only perform creditably well, he was the first governor in the history of Oyo state to make remarkable achievements through socio -economic protection policy.”

geria (UPN) has condemned the arrest and detention of the chairman and secretary of the Ebonyi State chapter of the party, describing the act as grossly illegal, unconstitutional and a means of political intimidation. The party also blasted Governor Martin Elechi and the state’s Commissioner for Police for the arrests. Mr. Abah Thomas and Mr. Henry Amah, UPN chairman and secretary respective for Ebonyi State, were reportedly arrested last Friday by police at the People’s Club in Abakaliki, as party members gathered for their weekly meeting. UPN deputy national secretary, Prince Samson Ndubuisi said: “Our mem-

tional Executive that the two officers showed up at the club on Abakaliki Road, and were promptly arrested, while other members quickly disappeared from the scene in order to evade arrest,” The party said also that Amah and Abah had committed no crime whatsoever, describing their arrest as pure political intimidation. “What the Ebonyi police, under Commissioner of Police Mr. Dikko Maigari have done is grossly illegal and unconstitutional. It is a naked rape on justice and the rule of law,” the party said. Ndubuisi further noted that the Ebonyi CP and his men have trampled on their members’ rights as guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution.

News 49

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY OCTOBER 9, 2014

‘Nigeria has no policy on blindness’ Muda Oyeniran

L-R: Chairman, Tribunal of Enquiry into the crisis at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, Prof. Idowu Sobowale; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, at the presentation of the report in Lagos …yesterday

Umeh carpets APC, says Obi’s defection inconsequential •Ngige grieves Dominic Adewole and Tony Okafor

eceiving over 7,000 decampees from the All P ro g re s s ive s Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) yesterday in Asaba, Delta state capital, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, said the arch-rival party is dead in the state.

Umeh, who seized the occasion to handover the flag of his party to contestants of the October 25 council polls in the state, described the dumping of his party by the immediate past Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi, as “inconsequential.” Speaking at the Oshimili Arcade venue of the reception in Asaba, Umeh who spoke glowingly about President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election

Ezeh is deputy GSG chief Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

o reposition the Goodluck Support Group for the 2015 presidential election, the Political Adviser to the President, Prof. Rufai Alkali has announced the appointment of Prof. Nick Ezeh as the Deputy National Coordinator of the Support Group. Prof. Ezeh, who takes over from Dr. Oyefeso was formally the Nation-

al Vice Chairman of the Support Group. The Director Media, GSG, Gbenga Giwa, in his statement to this appointment said: “The Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Political matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali has announced the appointment of Prof. Nick Ezeh as the new Deputy National Coordinator for the Goodluck Support Group, GSG. Prof. Nick Ezeh was the Vice National Coordinator of the organization.

bid and the incumbent Governor Willie Obiano, said APGA still remains a party to beat in the Light of the Nation state. Meanwhile, former governor of Anambra State and current senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Dr. Chris Ngige yesterday said he was dumbfounded when he heard that erstwhile governor of the State, Mr. Peter Obi had dumped APGA for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Ngige who addressed

the press in Awka, Anambra state said “those of us who played one role or another in the formation of APGA in 2001, received the news with grief and sadness because they have finally destroyed that objective. “I had always had the view that most people in APGA leadership are traders and that one day, they would trade off the party. “With all the bogey being peddled that APC is a Yoruba party and APGA an Igbo party, suddenly and instantaneously they dumped the party. If

AWKA

overnor Willie Obiano of Anambra yesterday solicited the support and cooperation of the Judiciary, especially the magistrates in the fight against crime and criminality in the state. The governor made the appeal at the com-

mencement of the 2014 Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN) Week, Anambra chapter, held in Awka, the state capital. “I urge you to bear in mind that any attempt to give undue liberal consideration in favour of crimes, especially, felonious crimes will not augur well for the peace and security of the state,” he said.

Imoke’s CoS resigns Clement James CALABAR

he Chief of Staff to the Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Alex Egbona, has finally resigned from his position to contest for the House of Representatives, despite pleas by the governor for him to tarry awhile. Egbona, who breezed into the State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday to collect his intent form, caused a serious hold up at the ever busy highway in the state capital as his supporters massed around the PDP secretariat located on the highway.

IATA trains Bi-Courtney staff Group condemns politics of Ebola Wole Shadare

he International Air Transport Association (IATA), the clearing house for global airlines has begun a training workshop for members of Bi-courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2. The workshop, among other things, was designed to promote quality, effective and efficient services by airport professionals in the areas of

management, marketing, operations and security. While declaring the workshop open, BiCourtney’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Christophe Penninck, said the company being a major player in the aviation industry, cannot operate in isolation; hence the need for constant collaboration with industry regulators, airline operators and other airport users all in a bid to ensure a more secure environment.

Stakeholders task FG on Obiano tasks judiciary on crime unemployment

Tony Okafor

Ikemba (late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu) had been around, this defection would not have occurred because an APGA chieftain once confided in me that they were using Ikemba’s name to win elections and nothing more”, Ngige fumed. However, Umeh said the numbers of defectors from the Delta state chapters of the APC and LP agreeably outweighed the Obi saga, which he said removes nothing from the shining star of his party.

s Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the World Sight Day today (October 9), a Consultant Opthamologist who is the Chairman Subspeciality Group of the Opthamological Society of Nigeria(OSN), Dr. Adeola Onakoya has lamented that Nigeria was yet to have a policy on blind people in the country. “Blindness is classified as a non-communicable disease. So the federal government do not have any specific policy for blindness unlike what obtains for communicable diseases”, Onakoya explained.

Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

ollowing the increasing rate of unemployment in Niger Delta Region, the Federal Government and Oil multinational companies across the federation has being called upon to urgently provide adequate measure to stem the in-

creasing rate of unemployment in the region. Stakeholders from the Niger Delta region while making the call yesterday said it was time multinational companies exploiting oil in the region initiate policies that will generate massive employments for graduates and youths from the oil communities.

Appolonia Adeyemi

non-government organisation, Nigerians for Change has condemned political parties for politicising the victory Nigeria recorded in the fight to free the country from the virus. Also, the group has called on politicians and other stakeholders to adopt the approach of uniting forces among themselves just as it was used to con-

tain the EVD, to address the terror being perpetrated by the Boko Haram group. Addressing a news conference in Lagos yesterday, Coordinator for Nigerians for Change, Kingsley Omose said rather than politicise the Ebola victory, the unity that drove the success should be deployed to address the numerous problems plaguing the country including the Boko Hama scourge.

ERA warns on water privatisation Wale Elegbede

he Environmental Rights Action/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) yesterday raised the alarm that the planned Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State government and the World Bank to privatise water supply in the state, will over-burden residents with huge costs of procuring water. Addressing newsmen yesterday in Lagos, ERA’s director of corporate ac-

countability, Akinbode Oluwafemi said it is embarking on a sensitization campaign tagged, “This is Lagos: Our Water, Our Right-No to Privatisation,” adding that it is the responsibility of government to guarantee the rights of Lagosians to water. “As we speak, the Lagos State government is said to have appointed the World Bank’s private arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to design a public-private partnership (PPP) water privatisation scheme”, he stated.

WORLD | News

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

China overtakes US as World’s largest economy

hina just overtook the US to become the world’s largest economy, according to the International Monetary Fund. Chris Giles at the Financial Times flagged up the change. Basically, the method used by the IMF adjusts for purchasing power parity, the simple logic is that prices aren’t the same in each country. A shirt will cost you less

in Shanghai than in San Francisco, so it’s not entirely reasonable to compare countries without taking this into account. Though a typical person in China earns a lot less than the typical person in the US, simply converting a Chinese salary into dollars underestimates how much purchasing power that individual, and therefore that country, might have. The Economist’s Big Mac Index

is a great example of these disparities. So the IMF measures both GDP in market-exchange terms and in terms of purchasing power. On the purchasing-power basis, China is overtaking the US right about now and becoming the world’s biggest economy. We’ve just gone past that crossover on the chart below, according to the IMF. By the end of 2014, China will make

up 16.48% of the world’s purchasing-power adjusted GDP (or $17.632 trillion), and the US will make up just 16.28% (or $17.416 trillion): IMF, Google Public Data Explorer Adjusted for purchasing power, the IMF thinks China’s economy is now the

Ebola screening to begin at five US airports

he US will screen for Ebola at five of the busiest US airports for passengers from the three West African nations most stricken by the disease. According to a statement yesterday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agents at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport beginning this weekend, will take the temperatures of those passengers and ask about their health and contact with anyone infected with Ebola. The screenings will expand next week to Washington Dulles, Newark Liberty, Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta Hartsfield. “We’re screening for symptoms of people who may be in the early stages of Ebola,” a White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, told reporters yesterday. ‘What we’re trying to do

A Chinese celebrating China’s economy over US

Prosecutors fail to prove case against Kenyatta, says attorney

defence attorney for President Uhuru Kenyatta called on judges at the International Criminal Court to throw out allegations of crimes against humanity, saying prosecutors had failed to prove their case after five years of investigations. Prosecutors countered that Kenyatta’s government obstructed the hunt for the evidence and requested an indefinite postponement of the trial. They said sanctions should be considered to force Nairobi to comply with its obligations to cooperate. “The case has failed and it has failed in a way that means there is no prospect of it going further,” defence lawyer Stephen Kay said, calling on the judges to find his client not guilty. If the prosecutor doesn’t offer more evidence, “you act to terminate.” Kenyatta was summoned to the Hague-based tribunal to answer questions about his indictment on charges of orchestrating a wave of deadly post-election violence that swept Kenya in 2007. He is the first sitting head of state to answer a summons to the court, established 11 years ago to prosecute individuals for serious crimes when domestic courts are unwilling or unable to do so. Judges adjourned the hearings and are expected to make

a decision about the trial’s future before the end of the year. Kenyatta, dressed in a dark blue suit, did not speak in court, but was defiant in comments to journalists as he left the court to catch a flight back home. “We as Kenyans, we know where we came from, we know where we are going, and nobody will tell us what to do,” he said. Kenyatta denies charges that he acted as an “indirect coperpetrator” in crimes, including murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts. The legal impasse is unprecedented in international law. Previous high officials from conflicts in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda were under arrest when they appeared in court, and were no longer in power at the time of their appearance. Like his deputy and former rival William Ruto, who faces similar but separate charges, Kenyatta is attending voluntarily. Prosecutors have accused Kenyan authorities of refusing to hand over bank and phone records, obstructing the case which has faced a series of delays since it was launched five years ago. “If the Kenyan government was genuinely using its best efforts to comply, it would find and disclose those records and it would ensure that the telephone companies conduct appropriate searches,”

prosecutor Benjamin Gumpert said. Allowing the charges to be dropped in the face of such obstruction would set a dangerous precedent, encouraging politically powerful suspects to defy the court, he said. “It would be wholly inappropriate for the case to be withdrawn where there has been obstruction of the proper inquiries,” Gumpert told the tribunal.Gumpert said there was no evidence that Kenyatta himself had intentionally interfered in the investigation, but said Kenya was not handing over the evidence it needed. At the heart of where the violence started in the lush Rift Valley town of Eldoret, 300 km (190 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi, locals crowded around radios and television sets at restaurants and hotels to watch the proceedings. Kenyatta, from Kenya’s biggest Kikuyu ethnic group, and Ruto, a Kalenjin, were in rival camps in the 2007 election race. They were accused of inciting gangs who butchered people from opposing groups, using machetes and bows and arrows. In the town of Naivasha, where the worst revenge attacks by suspected members of a Kikuyu militia took place, more than one hundred people at a displacement camp got on their knees and prayed for Kenyatta before the court proceeding started.

world’s largest. It’s not all sour news for the US. It’ll be some time yet until the lines cross over in raw terms, not adjusted for purchasing power. By that measure, China still sits more than $6.5 trillion lower than the US and isn’t likely to overtake for quite some time.

is quickly isolate individuals who may be contagious.’’ The three nations hit hardest by the Ebola outbreak have been Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. US President Barack Obama has ruled out a ban on passengers from the region. The person with the first confirmed Ebola case in the US died yesterday. Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan arrived in Dallas on Sept. 20 from Brussels and showed no symptoms of the disease until he was in the US. Ebola has killed more than 3,800 people in West Africa. The US is sending as many as 4,000 military personnel to the region to build treatment centers and train health-care workers. The US has committed to spend as much as $1 billion.

South African court hears Briton Dewani agreed on fee for wife’s murder

ritish businessman Shrien Dewani agreed to pay 15,000 rand ($1,340) to have his wife killed on their honeymoon in South Africa, a witness told a court yesterday, saying he had been asked to make the murder look like a hijacking. Mziwamadoda Qwabe, a South African who is serving 25 years in jail for murdering Anni Dewani, told Cape Town’s High Court that taxi-driver Zola Tongo had asked him to participate in a job for “a husband that wanted a wife to be killed”. Shrien Dewani, Monday denied all charges of conspiring to kill his wife in Cape Town in November 2010. Three South Africans, including Qwabe, are serving jail terms for her murder. Qwabe told the court a 15,000rand fee was agreed for a staged hijacking in Gugulethu township on the edge of Cape Town. He said Tongo had told him: “It must look like a hijacking.” Qwabe, who is the state’s second witness, said he commandeered the car in which the Dewanis were travelling. Police later found Anni Dewani’s body in the back seat with a single gunshot wound to the neck. Under cross examination by defence advocate, Francois van Zyl, Qwabe struggled to answer questions directly, often saying “I don’t recall” or “It is possible”. Asked by Van Zyl whether he was prepared to do something

illegal when first hearing about the “job”, Qwabe said: “I’d say so, yes.” Qwabe is serving 25 years for murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and possession of an illegal gun, after reaching a plea bargain with state lawyers. Tongo is serving 18 years under a similar deal, while a third man, Xolile Mngeni, was found guilty of shooting Anni Dewani and sentenced to life in prison. Shrien Dewani denies plotting to kill his wife, saying the couple had been held up and robbed by gunmen as Tongo drove them around Cape Town, South Africa’s premier tourist destination. He told the court Monday he was bisexual, apparently a response to British media speculation that he engineered his wife’s murder to escape a heterosexual relationship. In his plea explanation read in court Monday, Dewani said Tongo had offered to organise a private helicopter flight for the couple at a cost of between 20,000 and 25,0000 rand, to which Dewani responded he would do it for 15,000 rand. Dewani, who lost a threeyear legal battle in Britain to avoid being tried in South Africa, took notes and repeatedly shook his head during Qwabe’s testimony yesterday. His trial is the second high-profile case this year to turn the spotlight on South Africa’s judicial system and high murder rate.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

International Football Ozil out for three months

NFF Case: Jos High Court adjourns case to Oct 23

Enyeama makes U-turn on retirement

Sport

Sports News

Did you know? That Basketball was made an official Olympic game in Berlin Germany in 1936

Underrating Sudan suicidal – Oboabona Emmanuel Tobi

uper Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona, has disclosed that the team would approach Saturday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sudan with the seriousness it deserves, adding that underrating the East Africans would be suicidal. Following the opening two rounds of matches, the Super Eagles lie third in Group A with one point, three points behind second-placed South Africa, and five points adrift of group leaders, Congo. Stephen Keshi’s side head to Khartoum to take on the Sudanese well aware that anything less than a win against the 1970 AFCON champions will further jeopardise their chances of defending their AFCON title at next year’s tournament in Morocco. And by virtue of Sudan’s unimpressive start to the qualifiers, which saw them lose 3-0 at home to South Africa before slumping to a 2-0 defeat away to Congo, the Super Eagles will likely be optimistic of returning home with all three points. But Oboabona is under no such illusions as he believes the Falcons of Jediane will do all they can to get the better of Vincent Enyeama in action for the reigning AFCON champions. Nigeria. Inset: Oboabona contesting “It’s not going to be an easy game; there the ball with andIran player are no such things anymore, especially in

Ifeanyi Ibeh

igerian basketball star, Festus Ezeli, who is currently recuperating from injury, has set his sights on being fit enough to feature for the Golden State Warriors in their opening game of the 2014/2015 NBA season against Sacramento Kings. The Warriors will start their

The Sport Team

Sports INTERVIEW

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

Ifeanyi Ibeh l Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan l Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Sports Correspondent

international football,” said the Rizespor of Turkey player in an interview with New Telegraph. “They may have lost at home to South Africa but that doesn’t mean they are ready to lose another home game, especially against us. “The fact that we are African champions means any team playing against us will do all they can to beat us, which makes it tougher for us. “Having said that though, we have our backs to the wall and know how important it is for us to win this game, especially as we don’t know what may happen in the game between Congo and South Africa,” added Oboabona. Congo and South Africa will lock horns in Pointe Noire on the same day as the Congo-Nigeria encounter in Khartoum. A win for the Congolese will give them a massive five-point lead over their nearest rivals, regardless of the outcome of the Congo-Nigeria game, while a win for the South Africans will see them overtake Claude Leroy’s side at the top of Group A. A draw in Pointe Noire, and a Super Eagles win in Khartoum, will however throw Group A wide open ahead of the next round of matches scheduled for October 15 in Abuja (between Nigeria and Sudan) and in Polokwane (between South Africa and Congo).

Ezeli sets sights on season opener

season in an away game against the Kings on October 29, and Ezeli, who only last week returned to training after missing 15 months as he recovered from surgery he underwent to reinforce the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee, has now missed just over a week of practice with shin inflammation after fully participating in last Tuesday’s first session of the Warriors training camp. There are still three weeks to go before the encounter against the Kings,

and the 24-year-old centre, when asked whether he would be ready for the regular-season opener, in an interview carried by the San Francisco Chronicle, said: “That’s the plan.” “The whole point of what we’ve been doing so far is reevaluating it every week. You never really know how it’s going to react until you’re on the court. I went through that process, and now we know how it stands. We just have to go back to the drawing board and make my leg stronger.” He added: “I was really excited to be out there with the guys (last Tuesday). It

Ezeli

had been a while. Now, I just have to wait until my next evaluation, which is later this week. We’ll go from there.” Ezeli, who was selected by the Golden State War-

riors as the 30th pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA draft, missed most of last season as he recovered from a knee injury he picked up in June 2013, is however optimistic about his chances. “At the moment it feels great,” he continued, referring to his knee. “I really have been busting my tail. Even when I got shut down, we went back to the drawing board and started doing a lot of stuff with strength and conditioning. I’m working on my strength and my stability, and it feels pretty good right now.”

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

2015 AFCON QUALIFIERS

Enyeama makes U-turn on retirement

uper Eagles captain and first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has reassured Nigerians that he has no plans of quitting the national team as of yet, after those rumours emerged when he missed Nigeria’s first qualifying games for Morocco 2015 against Congo and South Africa. The LOSC Lille shot-stop-

Sudan prepare to upset Eagles

man by South Africa, the Falcons also lost their away game against the Red Devils of Congo to leave them with no points after two matches. The team continued training on Tuesday at the match venue and will hope to get it right against Nigeria on October 11. The last time both teams met, Nigeria beat Sudan by 2-0 in an international friendly courtesy of goals from Ikechukwu Uche and Manasseh Ishaku in January 2008.

Cameroun duo to miss Sierra Leone matches

Bagnack

efenders Brice Nlate Ekongolo of Marseille B and Frank Bagnack of Barcelona B have been dropped from the Cameroun squad to face Sierra Leone in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches on October 11 and 15 in Yaounde. Bagnack was held back at his club for exceeding the limit for international assignments, according to Cameroun Football Federation. The 17-year-old was part of Cameroun’s U-20 national team that played in the 2015 African U-20 Championship qualifiers. Ekongolo sustained an injury during a club match, according to the FA’s media officer Vincent De Paul Atangana. Cameroun coach Volker Finke has called up locals Franck Essombo of Astres Douala and Landry Tabi Manga from Apejes de Mfou to fill in for the two players. The Lions won their first two matches to sit atop of Group D with six points and are favoured to carry off the upcoming encounters against the Leone Stars who have been forced to play their home match in Cameroun due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.

and out with the Super Eagles and club sides for the last 12 years and I just needed some time off for my family and unfortunately it coincided with the time my children had something to do in school. “I also had some issues in the family to settle. Pressing family issues so I couldn’t just let them roll by,” he explained.

Mashamaite to step up for Bafana

Enyeama

udan stepped up preparations for the crucial game against Nigeria as the team went through its paces at the rescheduled venue in Khartoum on Monday. The squad led by Coach Abdallah Mazda has a herculean task of beating the reigning African champions and getting points in the quest to qualify for the next Afcon in Morroco in 2015. Beaten 3-0 at the Al Merriekh Stadium in Omdur-

per’s future with the Super Eagles first came into doubt when he said he could quit the team after Nigeria’s ouster from the World Cup in Brazil. However, the 32-year old has regretted missing those games, but says it was unfortunate those matches clashed with some ‘pressing family issues’. “I wanted to take some time off, you know I’ve been flying in

Mashamaite

efu Mashamaite’s callup to Bafana Bafana’s home and away 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo could prove crucial as the Kaizer Chiefs centre back now seems certain to come in for the in-

jured Anele Ngcongca. Ngcongca was on Tuesday withdrawn from the squad for the matches in Pointe Noire on Saturday and Polokwane on Wednesday by club Racing Genk. The right-back is being taken for a scan for a knee injury, after playing 90 minutes in a 0-0 draw against Anderlecht on Sunday. Coach Ephraim Mashaba said: “We got an e-mail from his team yesterday (Monday) that he’s injured. They said he’s going for a scan and they’ll send us the

report. But he’s not going to be with us for this trip. “It’s not a setback — we had 26 players in the squad and each position has a backup. “We’re considering making a replacement. We can’t give you names until we’ve notified a club.” The rest of Bafana’s foreign contingent — Thulani Serero, Andile Jali, and Dean Furman — sat out training on Tuesday morning, having arrived in Rustenburg at midnight on Monday, but had a full afternoon session.

Cote D’ Ivoire trio to miss DR Congo match

ôte d’Ivoire will be without the services of centre-back Lamine Koné and defensive midfielders Geoffroy Serey Dié and Ismaël Diomandé who have all been ruled out of the Elephants’ double clash with DR Congo in the Morocco 2015 qualifiers due to injury. A source at the Ivoirian Football Federation revealed that the three players would not join the squad that would face DR Congo.

Côte d’Ivoire’s coach Hervé Renard called up Séwé Sport centreback Ousmane Ouattara, AS Monaco striker Lacina Traoré and newcomer Abdoulaye Bamba of Dijon to replace the three players. Yaya Touré and his teammates will first travel to Kinshasa where they will face the Léopards on Saturday before taking on the Congolese in the return encounter at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium Toure on October 15.

Keshi banks on Enebi’s report to axe Ik Uche lWarns media to end Villarreal star’s question

uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has revealed that he had to bank on the report from Eagles team Secretary, Dayo Enebi to drop Villarreal of Spain star, Ikechukwu Uche, from the 2015 Nations Cup qualifiers. He said at a media briefing in Abuja yesterday that Uche was originally on his list of call-ups for matches against Congo and South Africa, but was later forced to drop him after the player questioned why he would need a visa to South Africa. “Before the game against Congo, I did the list. Ike Uche’s name was on the list. He didn’t even know about it. Uche called me like four days later, and we spoke like brothers and that was it,”

Keshi

revealed Keshi. “The next time my secretary Dayo Enebi called the players asking them if they had South African visas. He called Uche and asked him and Uche said ‘why are you asking me? What do you

need that for?’ “I am not going to beg Uche and I will not ask (assistant coach) Daniel (Amokachi) to beg Uche, for what? We all played for this country for 20-something years. Nobody begged us to play, we were begging to play. “Why is it only Ike Uche? Obafemi Martins is also there, he is not saying anything.” The controversy stirred by the non-inclusion of Uche appears to have got to Keshi, who warned he should not be asked about the subject again. “So, why do you guys (reporters) want to tear this team apart? Please let it be the end today. Don’t ask me about Uche. Please nobody should ask me about Uche again,” said a very furious Keshi. “This is the last time I will speak about Ike Uche. And I do not want anybody to ask me about Ike Uche again.”

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Ozil out for three months

rsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil is set for a threemonth lay-off due to a knee injury, his country Germany revealed. Ozil underwent scans earlier on Wednesday to assess the extent of the problem ahead of Germany’s Euro 2016 qualifiers with Poland and the Republic of Ireland. And the 25-year-old could now be on the sidelines until the New Year after the German Football Association (DFB) confirmed that the midfielder has sustained ligament damage in his left knee. The DFB posted on Twitter: “@MesutOzil1088 out for 10-12 weeks with

SPORT | INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

partial lateral collateral ligament tear in left knee. Get well soon!” The news comes as another severe blow to an Arsenal side that has been dogged by a number of significant injuries so far this season. Striker Olivier Giroud (foot) and defender Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) are both out until December, while midfielders Mikel Arteta (calf) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring) remain out of action with striker Theo Walcott (knee). Ozil’s injury will see him miss the rest of Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign as well as the Premier League clash with Manchester United in November.

Bale urges Ronaldo to stay at Real

Bale (left) and Ronaldo

Wenger lost control, says Koscielny

rsenal defender Laurent Koscielny said manager Arsene Wenger “flew out of control” by pushing Jose Mourinho on Sunday. Wenger shoved Mourinho and exchanged words with the Chelsea manager in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 loss to their London rivals in the Premier League. It came after Gary Cahill’s reckless and dangerous challenge on Alexis Sanchez at Stamford Bridge. Koscielny, in the France squad preparing for friendlies against Portugal and Armenia, said the Frenchman had lost control as his rivalry with Mourinho boiled over. “It’s a long history of friendship between the two coaches,” he said. “The facts are that after Cahill’s tackle, I think the coach was a little upset because three days before Alexis Sanchez received the same tackle against Galatasaray. The player only got a yellow card.

areth Bale has urged teammate Cristiano Ronaldo not to leave Real Madrid amid rumours of a return to the Premier League. Ronaldo’s value to the UEFA Champions League holders has been evident in recent times, with the Portugal forward carrying his incredible goalscoring form from last season into the new campaign. The 29-year-old netted his 22nd La Liga hat-trick

and third treble of the season in last Sunday’s 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao to take his tally for the new term to 17. But speculation of a move back to Manchester United, who he left to join Real in 2009, has been rife, while Manchester City have also been linked with a sensational swoop for the former Sporting Libson man. “He’s shown what a world-class player he is

Ozil

Ibrahimovic doubtful for Sweden

year after year scoring the goals,” Bale said. “Obviously he’s a player we wouldn’t want to see leave. Of course [I] want to see him stay at Real Madrid.” Bale also rubbished any talk of him moving to pastures new, despite a poll in Ibrahimovic Madrid newspaper Marca revealing that 60 per cent of latan Ibrahimovic Real fans want the Wales inis a doubt for Sweternational to be dropped. den’s Euro 2016 qualiHe added: “I signed a six- fier against Russia on year deal last year so I don’t Thursday as he continreally think so.” ues to struggle with a

Falcao grateful for United ‘gamble’

adamel Falcao has expressed his gratitude to Manchester United for taking a “gamble” on him and hopes to remain at the club for a long time. The Colombia international moved to Old Trafford on a season-long loan deal from Monaco on transfer deadline day, with an option to make a permanent move at the end of the campaign. The deal represented something of a risk for United, with Falcao having only recently recovered from a serious knee injury which caused him to

miss the second half of last season as well as the World Cup in Brazil, and the 28-year-old is grateful to United for bringing him to England. “Manchester United were the ones that gambled on me when it was very difficult to do so,” he told Onda Cero. “It has been a very difficult year, not just in my professional career. “What happened at the start of the year affected me in every way, but it has also helped me grow as a human being, to think about many things, to mature.”

Catalonia Independence referendum:

Benzema wants Barca to remain in La Liga

eal Madrid striker Karim Benzema believes Barcelona must stay in La Liga, regardless of whether Catalonia gains independence from Spain. The autonomous region of Catalonia is set to vote on independence in a referendum on November 22. Javier Tebas, president of the Liga del Futbol Profesional (LFP) has indicated that 22-time Spanish champions Barca and city rivals Espanyol will be ineligible to play in Spain’s football system should

Catalonia vote for independence. But Benzema feels it is imperative that Real’s arch rivals remain in the Spanish top flight. “We need Barcelona to stay in the league,” Benzema said. “That’s what football is all about – two great teams like Madrid and Barca playing against each other. “If they need to leave La Liga then that would be a problem so I hope things stay as they are.” Real host Barca at the Santiago Bernabeu in just over two weeks.

Falcao

heel injury. The Paris Saint-Germain striker has not featured for his club since a clash with Lyon on September 21, missing their last four matches in all competitions. After a 1-1 draw with Austria in their opening Group G encounter last month, Sweden will be desperate to clinch maximum points from their meeting with Russia at Friends Arena in Solna and then Liechtenstein at the same venue on Sunday. But they may have to cope without their talismanic captain, as head coach Erik Hamren has conceded that the prognosis was not a good one. “Zlatan has improved these last few days,” he said. “We will decide [on Thursday] but I will be completely honest, it does not look positive for the game. “We have a little hope that he will be able to participate. “Zlatan is difficult to replace. He is unique. But we have shown previously that we can get a good result without Zlatan.”

Spain coach tips Costa to shine pain coach Vicente del appearances. S Bosque firmly believes “I have the impression, Diego Costa will shine for and maybe I’m wrong, the national team despite his slow start with La Roja. The Brazilian forward, who has yet to score for the Spaniards since becoming a naturalised player earlier this year, could feature in Thursday’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovakia. Costa has thrived for Chelsea this season following his move from Atletico Madrid, scoring nine times in seven league

that Diego is going to be very important for us,” Del Bosque said to Spanish newspaper Marca. “I believe in his possibilities. “He is going to be an important man. I have a lot of faith. “Diego has ahead of him a challenge to prove to everyone that we have taken the right decision. And if it’s not meant to be then this is part of football.

SPORT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NFF Case: Jos High Court adjourns case to Oct 23 election. The injunction according to the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mr Habila Ardzard, was because the NFF had held a general congress on August 26 and elected Chris Giwa and other officials. But the Aminu Magari faction of the body disobeyed the order, went ahead and held a general congress on September 20, an election which produced Amaju Pinnick as NFF President. According to Ardzard, the court then issued an order of contempt of court on the defendants for going

Musa Pam, Jos

ustice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Jos the Plateau State capital yesterday adjourned the case that restrained the Nigerian Football Federation from conducting another election into the body to October 23. Yahaya Adamu and three others on September 19, approached the court to restrain Aminu Magari (First defendant, NFF (second defendant) and Football Associations (third defendant) after the Chris Giwa led faction was elected. The presiding judge said the adjournment was meant for the plaintiffs’ counsel to personally serve the defendants with the contempt of court orders. According to him, the court could not grant the prayer of the plaintiffs’ counsel to commit the defendants to prison for failure to appear in court in their absence. New Telegraph Sport recalled that Adama and three others approached the court on September 19, and obtained an interim injunction to restrain NFF from conducting another

ahead with elections after the restraining order. The plaintiffs’ counsel prayed the court to commit the defendants to prison for disobeying the court. “My Lord, their failure to appear before the court is a sign of belligerence, they elevated themselves above the order of this honorable court. He further stressed: “I urge my Lord to issue an order of the court to commit the defendants to prison or in the alternative issue a warrant of arrest but we are more inclined to their committal to prison,’’ he argued.

Uyo stadium, gift to youth –Uko T

he newly constructed and soon to be commissioned 30,000 seater Uyo Stadium is a gift to the youth of Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general. Conducting the sporting media round the wonderful edifice on Wednesday, the state commissioner of youth and sports Mr Monday Ebong Uko, said “ this is a legacy to be handed over to our youths, not only in Akwa Ibom but Nigeria as a whole” He was all praise for the leadership of the Governor of the state Dr Godswill Akpabio whose uncommon transformational agenda has become a legendary trademark world wide when governance is the topic of discussion.

NPL: El-Kanemi dent Nasarawa title hopes Charles Ogundiya

first half brace by Malik Demba and an own goal by Seun Sogbeso gave El-Kanemi Warriors a 3-1 victory over title contender, Nasarawa United. The first game of the week 31 Glo Nigeria Professional Football League played in Kano saw Demba giving El-Kanemi the lead in the 33 minute of the game before making it two five minutes later. Ugochukwu Leonard reduced the lead in the 40th minute before an own goal by Seun Sogbeso secured the three points for the home side. The result has put a dent on

Nasarawa United’s quest for the league title as they are now six points behind Kano Pillars who defeated Crown of Ogbomosho 3-2 to maintain their lead at thetop. In Aba, Enyimba overcame a shaky start, coming back from two goals down to demolish Sharks of Port-Harcourt 5-2 while Sunshine Stars defeated Lobi Stars 3-0 in Akure. Warri Wolves were 2-0 winners over Akwa United while the game between Nembe and Gombe United was suspended after 10 minutes due to heavy rainfall, the game continues on Thursday (today) by 8am.

Extra-Joss Tourney: Blazing Stars wins Badagry zone S

eason 3 of the Extra Joss Football competition has been concluded at the Badagry centre with Blazing Stars Football Club emerging winner after defeating 36 Lion Football Club 5-3 on penalites in the final decided on Tuesday at the Nigerian French Village, Sports Complex, Ajara. Blazing Stars earned the sum of N50,000.00 for the feat while 36 Lion FC settled for twenty thousand naira L-R: Mr. Novan Bill (The Brand Manager of Extra-Joss) (N20,000.00). presents the winning prize to the Blazing Star FC (The To this end, Blazing Stars winner of Extra-Joss competition season 3 Badagry Zone) received by Paul James(the captain of Blazing FC, 36 Lion FC and Apapa Star FC)

Golden Stars, will now represent Badagry Divisional Football Association, BDFA, at the round of sixteen as eight(8) teams from Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry DFAs have so far qualified for the knock- out stage of the Inter-Local Government football competition. Speaking on the competition, Secretary, BDFA, Toyon Sonayon, said he was delighted that the tournament had produced credible players that are capable of winning the championship sponsored by Kalbe International.

Nigeria Breweries boosts chess players with N2.3m prize money

he 37th in the series of the annual Nigerian Breweries International Open Chess Championship received a major boost on Wednesday, following the 50 percent increase in the prize monies in all the categories. The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, who was represented by the Corporate Communication/ Public Affairs Manager, Mr. Patrick Olowokere, disclosed that the total prize money in all the categories of play would

Earlier, Architect Ime Ekpo project consultant who took the sports writers round the facility explained that it compared favourably with any of its kind in the world. He spoke about the training pitch annex, eight lanes Olympic-sized track and revealed that already the state is in custody of an IAAF certification to host any world class track and field event. He said outside perhaps the Abuja national stadium in terms of size, “this was the best stadium in the land” Facilities in the stadium include hospitality suites, bullet proof state box that sits 70 state-of-the-art dressing rooms, sick bay and enough parking spaces.

be N2.3m as against the N1.5m that was spent last year. According to him, “we are pleased with the level of organisation of the championship over the years and delighted to raise the level of the event. For us in Nigeria Breweries Plc, this sponsorship remains a key element of our youth empowerment and talent development initiatives. In the new arrangement, the star prize winner in the Master category will take home N400, 000 as against N250,

000 in the last edition. While the second placed player in the section would be rewarded withN150, 000. The third and fourth placed winners will win N100, 000 and N50 respectively. The nine-round Swiss event paring will hold at the Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos from 16th-19th of this month. In his response, the President of Nigeria Chess Federation (NCF), Mr. Lekan Adeyemi said, “We are particularly glad with the upward increment in the prize money which to me will encourage further participation of the players who have been calling for an upward review in the incentives.”

Uyo stadium

DStv to broadcast AFCON qualifiers on SuperSport

eading pay per-view station, DStv has promised African fans quality football as the qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco reaches the halfway mark this weekend. As many as 10 nations, including seven-time champions Eg ypt, are in danger of being knocked out of the qualifiers after just three of the six qualifying matches. Lesotho a g ainst Angola, live on Maximo from 6pm CAT, kicks of f SuperSport’s 18-match broadcast of round three and four of the qualifiers. Defending champions Nigeria also find themselves teetering on the brink of elimination, having failed to re gister a win in their first two matches. With Sudan, the g roup’s whipping boys up next for them, back-to-back, winning ways should be restored. The first match is on Saturday (live on SS3 from 6.30pm CAT) with the retur n leg on Wednesday (SS3 from 5.55pm CAT). For the first time in a long while, South Africa look destined to qualify for a major competition as they are on the road this weekend, in Congo – live on SS3 from 4pm CAT on Saturday – and have a realistic chance of leaving Pointe Noire with points. Meanwhile, Brazil and Argentina renew their 100-year-old rivalry - their first match was played in 1914 - in the latest edition of Superclásico de las Américas. The Saturday showdown is live on SS3 from 1.55pm CAT.

NEW TELEGRAPH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. – Henry David Thoreau

World Record

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014.

N150

The Santa Sophia (also known as Hagia Sophia) in Istanbul, Turkey has been church, mosque and museum since it was completed in 537 AD.

Militarisation of militant tendencies Talking Tough T he advertisement was direct, apologetic and, if reason had prevailed, unnecessary. But because many Nigerians watched the open show of shame, the apology became necessary from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Service, Wale Adeniyi, the advertisement, published on September 2, 2014 in some national newspapers, bordered on a clash between some Customs officers and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA). It read, inter alia: “While sympathising with the LASTMA officials who suffered injuries or embarrassment as a result of the avoidable incident, the Service wishes to condemn in strong terms, the attack on officials of agencies, especially government agencies, discharging their legitimate functions. It is worrisome to us that the BARBARIC (emphasis mine) action was said to have been perpetrated by officers wearing Customs uniform in official vehicle. This act is not permissible under our laws and, therefore, will not be tolerated. Accordingly, the ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, has directed that all the officers and men involved in this SHAMEFUL ACT (emphasis mine) be placed on ‘standby’ while a thorough investigation to determine their culpability has already commenced. Any officer found guilty will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the Preventive Service’s regulations.” My immediate reaction when I read the advertisement then was that for NCS to have paid for this advertisement shows the seriousness of the situation and embarrassment it suffered in the hands of some of its men fighting with officers of another agency and pitiably, such has become a daily occurrence. It is an understatement to write that Nigerians are aggressive, combative, warlike and belligerent. Sadly, this has become a way of life. Everybody is resorting to self help. It is no longer a drama watching two commercial drivers fighting openly. We are always active in an aggressive way, especially when the issue is political or selfish. Everybody has been militarised in agitating for one issue or the other. Of course, the modus operandi of militants is very clear: hold the government to ransom endlessly for one agitation or the other. This militancy is already affecting the psyche of many civilians. The other day, it was a free for all in one pentecostal church in Lagos as the elders struggled for leadership. Last month, the inspection by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of election materials used for the August 9 governorship election in Osun State was marred, following a scuffle by lawyers of the two parties. It took the intervention of security agents and some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to separate the combatantlawyers. INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Oladipo Bankole Oladapo, later invited the lawyers to his office to calm them. It will be pointless writing on frequent

GABRIEL AKINADEWO gabyfola@hotmail.com 08023010222 (sms only)

fights among commercial drivers and artisans. That is their stock in trade. Communal clashes have claimed the lives of thousands of Nigerians and the government seems helpless. Last Tuesday, some people were killed and vehicles, houses torched in a clash between the people of Gulu Angwua and Vatsa people of Lapai Local Government, Niger State. While going to the office the same day, I saw two security agents fighting at Ogba area, Ikeja, Lagos State and some ‘bloody civilians’ were trying to separate them. Dangerously, this militant tendency has crept into the circle of security agencies. Those mandated to protect Nigerians

Governments all over the world take public safety in terms of citizens and property serious but when security agents are becoming militant, especially toward themselves, who safeguards the society?

and maintain law and order are themselves becoming belligerent, fighting for any reason and no reason. It is no longer an issue to watch security agents fight openly over a matter as trivial as supremacy and that is where the danger comes in. Discipline has deteriorated among some security agencies that, if not checked immediately, can become cancerous. Even if civilians are not trained, security agents are noted for professional training to avoid acts of indiscipline, especially in the public. So, in a situation in which security agents openly attack themselves, where does that action leave civilians? Governments all over the world take public safety in terms of citizens and property serious but when security agents are becoming militant, especially toward themselves, who safeguards the society? And to worsen the situation, lives are lost in some cases. Nigerians remember the killing of a soldier by some policemen in Badagry area in May 2011 which led to the retaliatory killing of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Samuel Salihu, Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Mr. Samson Okedusi, and six others. It was the same thing that happened in 1992 when Colonel Domven Rindam was shot dead at a police checkpoint in Lagos. Last weekend, some policemen, soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) engaged in a free-for-all at the premises of Ecobank, Ogoja, Cross River State while a huge crowd jeered and clapped. It all started when a soldier allegedly tried to jump a queue at the ATM stand which infuriated a lady NSCDC official.

The soldier allegedly slapped her and one of the policemen guarding the bank slapped the soldier for slapping the lady. The soldier allegedly mobilised his colleagues to the bank to deal with the policeman and the manager sent a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who sent in his men. The NSCDC lady officer also called her boss who also mobilised to the ‘theatre of war’. After beating themselves, many civilians and bankers also got a dose of the beating, forcing the manager to close the bank because some hoodlums seized the opportunity to enter the bank to loot. The neighbouring Zenith Bank also closed due to the fracas. In June 2011, some Lagosians ran helter skelter at Obanikoro area of Ikorodu Road when soldiers clashed with policemen who were trying to stop the soldiers from using the BRT lane. In July this year, some BRT buses were also burnt by some security agents. In January, 2013, this ‘show of force’ reared its ugly head again in Apapa, Lagos as some naval personnel and policemen clashed after the naval personnel were accused of riding their motorcycle against traffic at Trebor Roundabout. Two policemen sustained injuries. Police patrol vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) were damaged in the process. If previous clashes were unrecorded, some Nigerians watched the video of the August 2014 clash between top NSCDC officials and policemen in Ikorodu, Lagos. In fact, the NSCDC Commandant-General, Ade Abolurin, escaped death by a whisker during the clash. The revelation in the video was a serious show of shame for security agencies. Surprisingly, it was a clash over who had the power to arrest suspected vandals. Some officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will not forget in a hurry how they were beaten mercilessly in Lokoja, Kogi State by some NSCDC personnel because a private security firm, and not NSCDC, was engaged to secure the Lokoja JAMB office. Also in March, Adeduyite Blesssing of the NSCDC and Afolabi Dorcas of Nigerian Prisons Services (NPS) were beaten mercilessly allegedly by some police officers in Kubwa, Abuja over a traffic matter. The list is endless. While it is permissible among civilians to engage in physical combat, are security agents allowed to do same? Obviously, the answer is no. So, what is being done by those in authority to stop this show of shame? The calling of security agents is different from that of civilians. Public workers can go on strike, resign any time or leave their jobs. It is not same among security agents. Even when their salary is delayed or not paid, they are trained not to agitate or threaten strike. Security agents must mandatorily collaborate with themselves to ensure a safer and better society, work together to fight criminals, not themselves. What can be done to stop this militarisation of militant tendencies among security agents?

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